Impact Report 2024-2025

2024-2025

IMPACT REPORT

Message from Sport Manitoba

About Us

Janet McMahonPresident & CEO | Sport Manitoba

Susanne DandenaultBoard Chair | Sport Manitoba

Strategic Priorities

Reflecting on Our 2024-2025 Goals

Move More Manitobans Through Sport

Build the Capacity of Sport

Nurture a Strong Culture

Sport Initiation

We want to make a kid’s first introduction to sport a positive one, where they can discover something they really enjoy that leads to being active for life. These events and resources helped get kids active while having fun, and just may have sparked an interest to take up the sport.

Engaging Kids toPick Up Sport

Girls Multi-Sport Series

Game Day

Getting Started in Sport

MOVE MORE MANITOBANS THROUGH SPORT

Night of Champions

Recognizing Athletes, Coaches, Officials, and Volunteers

Award Winners

Our annual Night of Champions presented by Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries recognizes Manitoba's top athlete, team, coach, official, and volunteer of the year.

• Susan Adey | Konica Minolta Official of the Year, Equestrian
• Carla Wolfenden & Clayton Swanton | 2017 Canada Games Legacy Fund Volunteer of the Year, Manitoba Games
• Raya Surinx | SBC Insurance Athlete of the Year, Volleyball
• Team McDonald | Calm Air Team of the Year, Curling
• Shari Hebert | Coach of the Year, Rhythmic Gymnastics

A Celebration

At an intimate invite-only event for the winners, their families and friends, each award winner did an interview with our host, Kahla Evans, and received a bursary to put toward furthering their involvement in sport. Plus, a banner with their name and award is displayed on Sport Manitoba's courts.

BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SPORT

Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame

Preserving and Celebrating Our Local Sport Heritage

Class of 2024

Jennifer Botterill | Athlete, HockeyBrita Hall | Athlete, Special OlympicsTed Irvine | Athlete, HockeyRuss Horbal | Builder, Sport MedicineDr. Sandra Kirby | Builder, Multi-Sport1999-2003 University of Manitoba Bisons | Team, Volleyball

This year, we are also proud to add Randy Turner to the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour. Click the plus next to their names to watch tributes and acceptance speeches.

NURTURE A STRONG CULTURE

Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame

Preserving and Celebrating Our Local Sport Heritage

The Gallery

Thanks to the generosity and dedication of our local sport community, our annual patron donor program raised $25,080 this year. We sold 849 tickets for the Winnipeg Whisky Festival presented by Manitoba Liquor Mart on February 28 and March 1, raising $115,284 between the event and its auction. The funds we raised go toward preserving and showcasing our sport heritage, including in our Gallery, inspiring generations for years to come.

NURTURE A STRONG CULTURE

Officials Development

Fostering Longevity

It Takes a Communityto Play

6,659

$92,488

Officials in Manitoba

Provided to support community coaches and officials

Sport Manitoba is proud to partner with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries to address some of the biggest challenges the amateur sport system in our province currently faces, including safeguarding sport, coach, official, and volunteer recruitment, training, and retention, and Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) development.

We help connect officials to their provincial sport organizations for training, provide grants and scholarships for financial assistance, and advocate for the positive treatment of officials across Manitoba.

BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SPORT

Coaching Development

Developing High-Quality Coaches

Coach Screening

We understand screening coaches is a vital part of providing a safe sporting environment. To be a recognized PSO, it is our requirement that organizations have a coach screening policy in place. Our staff collaborated with PSOs to ensure they meet our minimum requirements, including risk assessment for each coaching position, assigning appropriate screening levels, and supporting youth who are advancing into a new coaching role. This year, 53 PSOs have a coach screening policy and seven are in the process of updating their policy.

Sport Manitoba Coaching develops our province’s coaches through education and training, and providing programs, resources, and recognition.

7,690

16,810

Respect in Sport (new certifications & re-certifications)

Active coaches in Manitoba

1,679

$92,488

Coaches took NCCP modules

Provided to support community coaches and officials

BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SPORT

Grants & Funding

This scholarship will help to ensure that I have access to all of the training resources and competitive opportunities needed to help make my dreams come true. -Lara Denbow, recipient of the $3,000 Princess Royal Pan Am Scholarship

Opportunities for Sport Development

We support our sport partners through grants and funding in an effort to allow more Manitobans to play and excel in sport. Some of the highlights include:

• $1,415,429 in Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries grants

• 17 Women to Watch grants to 11 athletes and six coaches

• $1,000,946 in Canada-Manitoba Bilateral Sport Support Program, giving PSOs and organizations support to deliver quality sport

• $7,238,699 directly to sport partners
• $26,700 in academic scholarships to 19 high school students, 10 university students, and six Manitoba coaches
• $662,036 in KidSport grants, supporting 1,802 kids in 39 sports from 110 local communities
• $91,000 in Regional/Community Sport Development grants

BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SPORT

Multi-Sport Games

Supporting the athlete pathway

Manitoba Games powered

by Manitoba Hydro

The 2024 Manitoba Games hosted in Dauphin brought together thousands of participants from across the province, and it was more than sporting competition—they were a powerful display of athletic excellence and community unity. Across 12 sports, the many unforgettable moments set the stage for inspiring the next generation of champions. The Games secured $2.5 million in funding, resulting in lasting facility upgrades and new sports infrastructure that will benefit the community for years to come.

MOVE MORE MANITOBANS THROUGH SPORT

Multi-Sport Games

Supporting the Athlete Pathway

Canada Games

This year focussed solely on preparing Team Manitoba for the next two sets of Canada Games – 2025 Summer Games in St. John’s, and 2027 Winter Games in Quebec City. For both the summer and winter sports, programs were reviewed to find opportunities for Sport Manitoba to provide support and identify areas that could be addressed in order to better develop athletes in the Games pathway. Approximately $300,000 was allocated to 2025 sports to be used for pre-Games training, competition, and selection, all with the intent of delivering exceptional performances in Newfoundland.

The countdownto St. John's is on!

23:13:52:01

Days

Hrs

Mins

Secs

MOVE MORE MANITOBANS THROUGH SPORT

Abuse Has No Place in Sport

Pathway to Safer Sport

These initiatives play a crucial role in fostering an environment where individuals can thrive in sport – one that is built on principles of respect, safety, and inclusion. By providing education, guidance, and support, together with our sport partners, we’re helping empower Manitobans to collectively create a culture that prioritizes the well-being of participants. - Janet McMahon, President & CEO, Sport Manitoba on our first-ever Safe Sport Summit

Safe Sport Champions

Safe Sport Summit

Independent Complaint Management

Our Stories

Working Together

Sport Manitoba’s media partnership with The Free Press brings stories that raise awareness about safe sport.

• Staying safe in school sport and how to deal with hazing
• How to navigate the complaint system in amateur sport

NURTURE A STRONG CULTURE

Manitoba Action Plan for Sport (MAPS)

Shaping the Future of Amateur Sport

This year, Sport Manitoba led the renewal of the Manitoba Action Plan for Sport (MAPS) for 2025-2030. What is MAPS?

• A five-year plan for the future of sport in Manitoba
• Identifies areas of priority
• Facilitates collaboration within Sport Manitoba and its sport partners
• Produced by Sport Manitoba in consultation with sport community
• Aligns with the Province of Manitoba's sport policy

View the report

We held six (three remote and three in-person in Brandon and Winnipeg) consultation sessions to learn what Manitobans want to see prioritized in sport over the next five years.

BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SPORT

Facility Services

Reinvesting in Manitoba's Amateur Sport System

All facility services at 145 Pacific Avenue in Winnipeg generate revenue that is reinvested back into the amateur sport system and community programs across Manitoba. When you choose the clinic for your physiotherapy, purchase a membership at the Fitness Centre, register for a Performance training camp, or rent court space for your sport, that money goes back into amateur sport.

Sport Manitoba's accessibiltiy plan will be available on its new website in 2025-2026.

REINVESTING IN AMATEUR SPORT

Facility Services

Community Programs

When our facility was built as a legacy of the Canada Summer Games in 2017, part of the vision for the downtown organization was to give back to the community, particularly in ways that reflect its mission that every Manitoban should have the opportunity to play and be active. As a large facility with a variety of resources, we provide the space for community programs to run each week, welcoming several schools and groups. Many of the individuals who utilize this programming need access to gyms, training facilities, or health-related resources. By welcoming these groups to use the Sport Manitoba facility, people of all ages are able to engage in safe and accessible sport and recreational activities.

"Our agency has been able to facilitate basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, and badminton for our folks in a fun and non-judgmental environment they would not otherwise have accessed on their own. Having access to high quality facilities and equipment has had a huge impact in sparking interest in physical activity." - Life’s Journey

Community Groups

REINVESTING IN AMATEUR SPORT

Financials

Statement of Financial Position

Financials

Statement of Operations and Accumulated Operating Surplus

Our Partners

We couldn't do what we do without their support

Build the Capacity of Sport

We focused on:

• Grants and communications to sport partners
• Strong governance and capacity building
• Manitoba Action Plan for Sport

Move More Manitobans Through Sport

We focused on:

• Rural sport initiation
• Coach and official recruitment
• Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro

Sport Manitoba Clinic

• 9,290 total patient visits
• 2,570 new patients

Learn more about the Sport Manitoba Clinic

Known as the “Baby-Faced Assassin,” Winnipeg’s Ted Irvine was a fierce competitor in hockey. After a successful junior career with the St. Boniface Canadiens and Winnipeg Braves, Irvine played his first NHL game for the Boston Bruins. He is best known for his time with the New York Rangers in a career that included 154 goals, 331 points, and 657 PIMs across 724 games. Off the ice, Irvine was instrumental in bringing the Special Olympics to Manitoba.

Safe Sport Summit

Building a Safer and Stronger Sport Culture

Sport Manitoba held its first free Safe Sport Summit this year, providing an important opportunity for participants to learn from others, discuss current topics, and ensure leaders in the province’s sport system have the knowledge and the tools to provide quality sport experiences to all Manitobans. The event spanned over two days — a town hall-style evening with a keynote speech from safe sport advocate and founder of Generation Safe, Allison Forsyth (right), followed by a workshop-style event on Saturday morning, including an address from the Honourable Glen Simard, Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism. Leading up to the Summit, Sport Manitoba held three free webinars. The webinars were led by Allison Forsyth and provided an introduction to safe sport topics designed for different audiences.

Forsyth, being a two-time Olympian and eight-time National Champion (alpine skiing), offered a unique and critical perspective as a survivor of sexual abuse in the sport system. These events represent a shared vision for a safer and more inclusive sport community, empowering stakeholders to champion safe sport across the province.

For four consecutive CIS (now USports) seasons, the University of Manitoba Men’s Bisons volleyball team was all-out dominant, capturing three national championships and placing third once. Led by previous Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame inductees Jim Schreyer (1999-2000) and Garth Pischke (2001-2003), the Bisons ruled the court with few parallels in history. This dynasty includes 28 players, many continuing their passion for volleyball into their professional careers and volunteerism.

Randy Turner's acceptance speech after becoming a member of the MSSA Media Roll of Honour. Delivered posthumously by his father, Ron Turner, on November 7, 2024.

Sport Manitoba Performance

• 1,400 athletes
• 6,200 training hours
• 17 Canada Games sports leading up to 2025 Games

Learn more about Sport Manitoba Performance

Nurture a Strong Culture

We focused on:

• Independent third-party complaint mechanism
• Facility accessibility plan
• Sport Manitoba Safe Sport Conference

Russ Horbal was one of three founders of the Sport Physiotherapy Centre and its predecessor, the Institute for Sports Medicine. His passion for athletics shone in multiple arenas, including professionally with the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg Goldeyes, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Russ’ dedication also led him to three Olympics and several Pan Am and University Games as part of Canada’s medical team. Horbal continues to practice today and teaches at the University of Manitoba.

We're thrilled to see local athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers achieve great things across the province and around the world. Most importantly, we're happy to see Manitobans enjoy sport in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment, where they can explore their full potential. Thank you to the Province of Manitoba for their critical support and to the Board of Directors for their direction and commitment to our mission. Thank you to the volunteers and sport partners for your dedication to the growth of sport in our province -- we are sincerely appreciative and proud of our collaborative sports community. As a non-profit organization, the revenue generated from our facility services is reinvested back into amateur sport and community programs across Manitoba. This is a big part of our collective vision, and what drives us to innovate, improve, and enhance the delivery of our services every single year. Our impact report shows how our strategic priorities were at the core of this year’s major achievements and milestones.

Janet McMahon, President and CEO, Sport Manitoba & Susanne Dandenault, Chair of the Board of Directors

Bison Transport Girls Multi-Sport Series:

8 half-day sessions

212 girls ages 7-12

17 sport showcases

Multi-sport athlete Brita Hall has a combined six gold and eight silver Special Olympics Games medals in cross-country skiing and track and field (1993, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2007). Hall is the recipient of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the first-ever athlete to receive the Dr. Frank Hayden Lifetime Achievement Award from Special Olympics Canada, making her the first Manitoban with an intellectual disability to receive these awards.

Independent Complaint Management

Complaint management to support a healthy sport system

• Sport Manitoba worked diligently to provide public access and educational resources related to complaint management.

• We selected an independent third party, called ITP Sport, to manage complaints in sport in Manitoba after carefully reviewing submitted proposals.
• ITP Sport is Canada’s leading full-service Independent Complaints Management agency. With many decades of combined experience and unparalleled expertise, they are leading the charge in the safe sport movement, and specifically in providing efficient and independent complaint management services.
• We continue to take steps to ensure the networks and supports are in place to get ready to launch in 2025-2026.

Ottawa-born and Winnipeg-raised Jennifer Botterill holds the record for most points in an NCAA hockey career (men and women). The three-time Olympic gold medallist for the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team (2002, 2006, 2010) also won silver at the Games as the youngest member of the first Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team (1998), along with five IIHF Women’s World Championships. Botterill is now a hockey analyst for major sports outlets and a motivational keynote speaker.

We also partner with local and national leaders and experts to amplify the voices in underrepresented communities, and share resources and training that create and support a safer sport system.

A former Olympic athlete turned sports researcher and presenter, Dr. Sandra Kirby implemented standards for safe sport with numerous organizations, some of which she is a founding member. The proud Manitoban was an international multi-sport umpire at the Pan Am Games (2011) and the Paralympic Games (2012), as well as a founder and coach of the University of Winnipeg Rowing Team (1989-1995). As a trusted voice in the sport community, Kirby continues to advocate for gender equality and safe sport.

Safe Sport Champions

The Safe Sport Champions program in partnership with the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association (MHSAA) hosted three workshops:

• 60 student-athlete participants in Brandon

• 175 student-athlete participants in Winnipeg
• Keynote speaker and facilitator: Allison Forsyth, a sexual abuse survivor and safe sport advocate and educator

Summer Game Day presented by Qualico at Assiniboine Park:

Over 800 attendees

Over 20 sport stations

Winter Game Day presented by Qualico at Sport Manitoba:

Over 500 attendees

Over 15 sport stations

*Game Day in Souris, Manitoba was planned but postponed due to weather in September 2024.

Sport Manitoba Fitness Centre

• 628+ active members
• 811 average visits per week

Learn more about the Sport Manitoba Fitness Centre

Sport Manitoba Bookings

• 9,579+ hours reserved on the courts
• 3,327 hours reserved in the flex space

Learn more about Sport Manitoba facility bookings

Community Groups

2024-2025

• Salvation Army
• Health Fitness Protection Program
• Argyle Alternative High School
• Marymound School
• Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba
• Newcomer Sport Academy
• Seven Oaks School Division
• Division scolaire franco-manitobaine
• St. James Assiniboia School Division
• Shawenim Abiinojii