Youth organizations across Winnipeg had Christmas come a little early this year.
The preliminary budget released by the city on Wednesday included $1 million directed specifically towards youth recreation programming in high-needs neighbourhoods.
“Coming out of COVID, it has been tough to do what we do,” said Ron Brown, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club Winnipeg. “One of the things is we don’t charge for what we do, so we have to raise all the money that we spend, and that’s tough these days. So, to see a funding opportunity like this in front of us is heartening. It will really make a difference should we be able to access some of that money.”
In the press conference unveiling the preliminary budget, Mayor Scott Gillingham spoke to the youth program funding being multifunctional, calling it an investment in crime prevention in the future.
“Theres a lot of organizations within the City of Winnipeg that exist right now that are running very important and positive programming for young people,” Gillingham said. “So, part of what this is investing are young people. Investing in crime prevention, investing in organizations that are giving young people positive role models.”
The decision from the city is a far cry from just six months ago, when it proposed to slash $2 million from the community grant program.
That proposal never came to fruition after stakeholders voiced their opposition. Brown was one of those who opposed, and he’s pleased to see that the city is now valuing youth programming.
“It could be because of the efforts of organizations like ours and others who banded together to, I think in a way educate council and mayor to say we have a value, and this is the good work that we do,” Brown said. “And I think clearly that message has gotten through because now there’s a million dollar line item in this proposed budget. So it’s a different mindset, and I’m glad to see it.”