Community Centres

Community Centres are an important part of the City of Winnipeg’s recreation system.        

The City of Winnipeg owns Community Centre buildings and grounds. Community Centres are run by volunteer boards who manage the facility, hire staff, and provide programs for residents.

General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres (GCWCC) is a city-wide organization that supports Community Centres. GCWCC works to strengthen the Community Centre model through advocacy, support, and training. 

Volunteering

Community Centres depend on volunteers to: 

  • Be on their Board of Directors 
  • Plan and deliver programs 
  • Help operate their facilities 

To volunteer, contact your local Community Centre.

Community Centre facilities 

There are 63 independent Community Centres that operate 81 recreation facilities in Winnipeg. 

Find locations and programs: Community Centres & Programs

Many centres include indoor spaces, such as:   

  • Ice arenas  
  • Fieldhouses   
  • Gyms 
  • Multipurpose and meeting rooms 
  • Commercial kitchens     

Most centres manage adjacent outdoor spaces, including: 

  • Sports fields 
  • Basketball and tennis courts 
  • Outdoor ice rinks 

Some centres also have: 

Roles and responsibilities

Three partners are responsible for the success of Community Centres.

For a list of responsibilities of each partner, see the Universal Funding Formula Responsibilities Document.

  • Independent non-profit organizations  
  • Run by volunteer boards elected by community members  
  • Handle day-to-day work, including:  
    • Building and grounds upkeep and cleaning  
    • Staffing and volunteer coordination 
    • Programs and rentals  
    • Fundraising and budgets 
    • Reporting  

Contact your Community Centre
Community Centres & Programs

  • Community centre leadership
  • Provides training and support in: 
    • Non-profit governance 
    • Financial management 
    • Facility operations 
    • Programming  
  • Manages City-funded grants 

City Council appoints three community representatives to the GCWCC Board of Directors. 

Contact General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres 
General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres

  • Property owner 
  • Community centre support 
  • Responsible for:
    • Major structural repairs   
    • Approving development and building projects  
    • Providing Community Centre Liaisons (system navigators)  

The City also provides grants, including: 

Contact the City of Winnipeg Community Centres Division
395 Main Street, 7th Floor
Winnipeg MB, R3B 3N8
Contact 311

Long-term planning

The future of the Community Centre system in Winnipeg is guided by:

Funding

Universal Funding Formula

Centres receive annual operating grants if they meet the requirements listed in the Universal Funding Formula Responsibilities Document.

The Universal Funding Formula sets funding based on three factors:

  • Heated square footage 
  • Population base  
  • Number of outdoor ice rinks

The Universal Funding Formula does not cover all operating costs. Centres often raise funds through: 

  • Program registration fees 
  • Rentals 
  • Fundraising 
  • Other grant programs 

Additional grants

Other grants available to centers include:  

GCWCC keeps a list of all grants available to centres. This list is subject to change.  

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