Programs

The following summaries provide an overview and contact information for various programs offered by the City of Winnipeg.

Preschool Programs – You provide the kids, we provide the setting and activities.
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• A wide variety of preschool programs to suit a young child’s interests and a parent’s busy schedule.
  
• From parent and child drop-in facilities to developmental/educational and fitness/sport programming, there are plenty of activities to fit your child’s personality at a time that fits your agenda.
  

View a copy of the current Leisure Guide

Children’s Programs – Designed to pique your child’s interest in a setting where he or she can develop new skills and abilities.
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• Creative programs include creative arts and dance.
  
• Sports activities include martial arts, gymnastics and other popular sports.
  
• Wide variety of children’s programming to suit every child’s needs and every parent’s budget.
  
• Children's Drop-In Programs - various locations and FREE of charge!
  • Children’s Drop-in Program Schedule: July 5 – September 5, 2010
• Click here for Free Summer Mobile Play Van information

Summer Camps

• Creative programs for both children and youth.
  
• Variety of progam arease such as creative arts, sport, fishing, free play and golf.
• Click here for Summer Camp information

• Registered Programs
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• Youth in grades 6 -12 (unless otherwise specified).
  
• Variety of program areas, such as creative arts, sport, dance, cooking, education and pottery.
• Refer to the youth registered programs section of the Leisure Guide.
  
  
• Youth Action Centres
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  • Youth in grades 7 - 12 (Some sites cater to preteen; refer to leisure guide for details).
    
  • Onsite activities include basketball, volleyball, crafts, floor hockey, board games, badminton, video games and special events. (Times, sites, activities, ages and days are subject to change).
  • Youth Action Centre Summer 2010 schedule - effective July 5 - August 13, 2010
    
    
    

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View a copy of the current Leisure Guide

Active Living for Adults – Being physically active is essential to good health.
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• Features a wide selection of entry level and advanced fitness, dance and sport programs.
  
• Information sessions to help you adopt a healthy, active lifestyle.
  
• Programs specifically designed to contribute to your overall well-being
• Personal Trainer Considerations:
  • The City of Winnipeg and the Manitoba Fitness Council (MFC) have developed key points to consider when utilizing Personal Trainers.
  • Click for more information

Adult Leisure – Something for everyone.
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• If you want to renovate your home or yard – we can help!
  
• If you want to discover some new recipes – we can help!
  
• If you want to learn to sew, knit, make mukluks, paint, invest, play guitar, take a great picture, work with clay – we can help with these and many more activities.

Older Active Adults – Stay active!
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• Being physically active is essential to health at all ages.
  
• A variety of leisure programs, active living programs, and senior centres.
  
• Designed for adults 50+ years old.

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Family – Promoting family time together.
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• An environment where you can spend quality family time together.
  
• Family-oriented programs including pottery, cooking, fitness and crafts.
  
• Dates and times vary.
  

• A variety of French Preschool, Children, Adult and Family programs are available. 
• Participants must be fluent in French to participate.
• For French Skate program descriptions, click here
• For French Swim program descriptions, click here
  

• Nous proposons une variété de programmes en français pour les préscolaires, les enfants, les adultes et la famille.
• Les participants et les participantes doivent parler le français couramment.
• Pour des renseignements sur les cours de natation en français, communiquez avec la piscine Bonivital.
• Pour une description des programmes de patinage en français,cliquez ici .
• Pour une description des programmes de natation en français,cliquez ici .

View a copy of the current Leisure Guide

Special Needs and Deaf Services – Designed to assist individuals of all ages with special needs to participate in the recreation programs and services. For a complete PDF list of Special Needs and Deaf Services programs click here

People who have special needs or who are deaf are invited and encouraged to participate in all Community Services-sponsored programs offered within the Leisure Guide. Programs are modified, as appropriate, to suit individual needs and to ensure a positive recreation experience.

• Special Needs Inclusive programming:
  
  • Special Needs Inclusive programming provides opportunity to participants to register and attend a mainstream program. The program may be modified to meet the participant’s needs and/or a caregiver assists the participant in program activities.
  • Caregivers may be those supplied by the participant or the Department may provide a Leisure Attendant to qualifying participants.
    
    Requesting a Leisure Attendant
    Participants must have a physical, acquired or developmental disabiltiy and do not require toileting or the administration of medication.
    • Registered Programs:
      • Make your request for a Leisure Attendant while registering through , by phoning 311 or visiting an in-person location.
      • You will be contacted 10 business days prior to the start of the course to confirm your request
      • Summer Programming maximum is 2 weeks
        
    • Drop-in Programs: Submit a completed Requesting a Leisure Attendant form.
      
      
  • Requesting a Sign Language Interpreter
    For Deaf individuals; mainstream programs are available within the Leisure guide. If required, the participant can request a sign language interpreter to participate in the program. The interpreter is paid for by the Community Services Department in accordance with the City of Winnipeg Sign Language Interpreter Policy.
    There are also programs designed for deaf individuals, visit for more information.
    
  • Registered Programs:
    • Make your request for a Sign Language Interpreter while registering through , by phoning 311 or visiting an in-person location.
    • You will be contacted 10 business days prior to the start of the course to confirm your request
    • Summer Programming maximum is 2 weeks
      
  • Drop-in Programs: Submit a completed Requesting a Sign Language Interpreter form.
    
    
  • A “Trailrider” is a revolutionary mobility device that provides unparalleled access possibilities for persons with a disability. The “Trailrider” is lightweight and maneuverable; it carries its occupant across rugged terrain, over snow, sand, rocks and trails.
    • The City of Winnipeg has a Trailrider available for loan.
    • Please contact us for free loan information.
• To view the Adapted Services Listing click here
  

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Leadership Development
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Leadership Development courses are available for year-round registration.

Aquatic Instructor Courses
Successful completion of Aquatic Instructor courses certifies registrants to be swimming Instructors. 

• Red Cross Courses offered include Red Cross Assistant Water Safety Instructors Plus; Red Cross Water Safety Instructors; Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Recertification and Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Splashback.
  • NEW in 2010 Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Splashback - for all Red Cross Water Safety Instructors whose award has expired beyond the 5 year grace period. Successful completion of the pre-course theory work combined with the 5 hour course will certify candidates to teach all levels of the Red Cross Swim program. Successful completion of the Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Splashback course will re-certify candidates as a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor.
    
    Prerequisite: Red Cross Water Safety Instructor award that expired 5 or more years ago. (Candidates holding awards that expired less than 5 years ago may re-certify by successfully completing a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Recertification course)
    
    
    
• Lifesaving Society courses offered include Lifesaving and First Aid Instructor; Lifesaving and First Aid Instructor Recertification.
  

• Emergency First Aid & CPR- 8 hour course introducing basic first aid skills and CPR Level A or C;
• Standard First Aid & CPR C-  16 hour course providing comprehensive first aid and CPR training.
• Recertification courses are offered for both Red Cross Standard First Aid & CPR C and Emergency First Aid & CPR A or C.
• Emergency Child Care First Aid & CPR B - 8 hour course targeted for those that care for babies or children.
• CPR courses instruct participants in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.  Certification course - 6 hours; Recertification course – 4 hours 

• Lifesaving Society levels offered Rookie, Ranger, Star, Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross.
• National Lifeguard Service Core & Pool course – the minimum standard for Lifeguards in Manitoba
• Recertification of National Lifeguard Service Core & Pool course

Fitness
In addition to our extensive list of fitness classes we offer Manitoba Fitness Council courses which certify successful registrants to be Fitness instructors. 

Personal Wellness
Personal wellness programs are a variety of free lectures aimed at improving quality of life through exercise.  Topics include Arthritis, joint replacement, Fibromyalgia and many other health and fitness related topics.

Skating

Skating Lessons – Learn the fundamentals of the sport.
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• Learn-to-Skate program offers ten weeks of lessons with an emphasis on fun and progressive skill development.
• Trained instructors teach the various skills associated with each skill level.
  
• Learn-to-Skate program has four skating categories: Basic Skating, Figure Skating, Power Skating and Hockey Skills—each category has multiple levels.
• Wondering which level to register your child in . . . . click to view the skate program descriptions

  
  
  To participate in the Learn-to Skate program, please note the following:

  • A proper fitting CSA approved hockey helmet is mandatory for all children’s and adult’s Learn to Skate programs. This does not include parents who are participating in the Parent & Tot programs; however, it is highly recommended that you wear one
  • Sharpen hockey or figure skates prior to the start of lessons. New skates also require sharpening.
  • All children should wear mitts or gloves. Layers of warm clothing are recommended. Snow suits are appropriate for preschool-aged children

• Printable copy of the Public Skate Schedule at City-operated arenas
• Public skating opportunities are available at 14 City-operated arenas in Winnipeg.
• Times and dates are subject to change without notice at all locations.
  
• We strongly recommend the use of a proper fitting CSA-approved hockey helmet with a mask for all age groups
• For a list of public skate times at non-City operated facilities click here.
• All City run public skating sessions are free of charge.
  
  Due to safety and liability concerns, we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers, sleds or toboggans on the ice during public skating sessions.
  

Top of PageView a copy of the current Leisure Guide

Swimming

Swimming Lessons
Swimming is a life skill; register to learn to swim for safety, fitness and fun.
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Aquatics - swimming lessons have 3 categories: Learn to Swim, Lifesaving / Lifeguarding courses & Specialty programs

In addition to our regular classes:
Premium classes have fewer students and are priced accordingly. These courses are suited to people wanting smaller classes and lower student to teacher ratios.
Registration is available on leisureonline, by phone or in person.

Red Cross Swim- People with disabilities classes are available for individuals with developmental, cognitive and/ or physical disabilities. These classes focus on developing sound water safety skills.  They are designed to follow Red Cross Swim programs and provide an opportunity for supervised water activities.
Registration is available on leisureonline, by phone or in person. 

Red Cross Swim-Private classes are for 1 student per instructor.  Services will be customized to provide opportunities for candidates to participate in Red Cross programs or to improve specific stroke/skills.
Registration is available on leisureonline, by phone or in person.

Red Cross Swim- Semi-private classes are for 2 students of like age and ability per Instructor.   Class time will be customized to provide opportunities for candidates to participate in Red Cross swim programs or to improve specific strokes or skills.  For safety reasons and to ensure these are successful classes they are designated by age: 6-12 years; 13-17 years; 18 years and older and by swimming ability: level 1-3 (are primarily in shallow water); levels 4-10 are primarily in deep water.
Registration is available on leisureonline, by phone or in person. 

• Participants must be minimum age by the course start date
• Programs are offered at a variety of times throughout the year at many pools
• Certified, trained instructors teach all classes
• Wondering which level to register your child in? Click to view the swim program descriptions.
• Wondering how the levels fit together? Click to view the swim program continuum
  
• Contact your local indoor pool to arrange for a free skills evaluation. This information is helpful when selecting a program.

Public Swim
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A great oppotunity for family outings; swim for fitness or come to play. Swim times are available at 12 indoor pools and 10 outdoor pools. Times and dates are subject to change without notice at all pools.

There are 7 types of swim times offered:

• Public Swim: designated time for safe activities for all people that meet admission requirements
• Lap Swim: designated time for safe fitness swimming in lane formations
  
• Free Swim: designated time for safe activities for all people that meet admission requirements; no admission fees apply
• Loonie / Toonie Swim: designated time for safe activities for all people that meet admission requirements, admission fee for under 18 years is $ 1.00; admission fee for 18 years and over is $2.00
• Family Swim: designated time for safe activities for families, adults must be accompanied by children and children must be accompanied by adults (admission requirements apply)
• Adult Swim: designated time for safe activities for people 18 years and over
• Youth Swim: designated time for youth swimmers that meet the admission requirements
  
  Indoor Pools | Outdoor Pools
  
  
• Admission requirements
• Height requirements
• Admission rates

Sport Programs in Inner City Neighborhoods (SPIN) – A FREE sports program designed for children who are 6-14 years old and who reside in inner-city neighborhoods.
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SPIN enables eligible children to participate in sports and to learn basic skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership and fair play in a non-competitive environment. As an initiative of Live SAFE, a crime prevention policy developed by the City of Winnipeg, SPIN tackles some of the barriers that inner-city children face when they want to participate in sport programs by providing transportation, financial, equipment, leadership and volunteer supports

Community Incentive Grant Program (CIGP) – Get involved!
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• A grant program designed to encourage non-profit community recreation and sport organizations to undertake capital projects.
  
• Capital projects result in long-term benefits to the community in terms of new facilities.
• Click here to download brochure in PDF format.