The Manitoba government has invested more than $15 million from the Building Sustainable Communities (BSC) and the Urban and Hometown Green Team (GT) programs to support approximately 500 projects in bilingual municipalities throughout Manitoba.

“Supporting sustainable projects in bilingual municipalities stimulates economic growth both within the local communities and throughout the province as a whole, while also enhancing the quality of life of Manitoba residents,” said Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke. “These investments support community efforts to rebuild and further develop resilience.”

Bilingual municipalities received a significant portion of the funding allocated through these programs. In 2022-23, the BSC program approved 143 projects and up to $9.2 million in funding to bilingual municipalities including the City of Winnipeg. This represents more than one-third of the BSC annual budget of $25 million. In the same year, the GT program approved 348 projects and up to $5.6 million for bilingual municipalities including the City of Winnipeg. This represents nearly two-thirds of the program’s budget of $9 million.

“The hard work and dedication of individuals and organizations in Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities are the driving force behind these community projects,” said Families Minister Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for francophone affairs. “Our government is proud to support these projects as part of our comprehensive approach to promote the development and vitality of francophone communities.”

Some of the projects funded through the BSC program located in bilingual communities include:

  • Municipality of De Salaberry: up to approximately $270,000 to support the St. Malo Arena renovation project;
  • Municipality of Ritchot: up to $75,000 to support the St. Adolphe civic site project;
  • St. Laurent Cooperative Recreation Center Inc. in the Rural Municipality of St. Laurent: up to $60,000 to support the facility upgrades project;
  • Société historique de Saint-Boniface in Winnipeg: up to $75,000 to support the facility upgrades project; and

Union nationale métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba in Winnipeg: up to approximately $11,000 to support the Vermette Park master plan project.

“By providing financial support for the initiatives of our members and their partners through the BSC and GT programs, the Department of Municipal Relations is playing a key role in the implementation of our Municipal Economic Recovery Strategy 2021-2024 and in the creation of enabling conditions to rebuild prosperous and resilient francophone and bilingual communities throughout Manitoba,” said Ivan Normandeau, president, AMBM.

The BSC program helps build thriving sustainable communities that provide a high quality of life for Manitobans by supporting planning activities, community and regional initiatives and capital infrastructure projects that build, extend, improve or enhance public-use facilities, said Clarke.

The GT program supports community development projects that improve neighbourhoods, promote community involvement and help develop young leaders while creating summer employment opportunities for youth.