As winter settles in across Manitoba, the City of Selkirk is encouraging residents to do more than just hibernate, rolling out a wide-ranging lineup of winter recreation and learning programs designed to keep people active, engaged, and connected through the coldest months of the year.
Registration for Selkirk’s winter programs, running from January through March, opens Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m., offering everything from first aid and babysitting courses to outdoor skating events, cultural workshops, and free equipment lending programs.
Kyla Ray, the city’s manager of cultural and recreational programs, said winter programming has long been a priority for Selkirk, rooted directly in the city’s strategic plan.
“Providing recreation and cultural experiences is part of priority one for the City of Selkirk,” Ray said. “It’s about quality of life for our residents, but we also know Selkirk is a regional hub, so people come here from across the Interlake to take part.”
Ray, who has been with the city for nearly six years, said the winter focus is intentional. While many Manitobans tend to retreat indoors once Christmas passes, she believes winter can still be an enjoyable season if people are given the right opportunities.
“We’re a winter province, and honestly, a lot of us aren’t very good at being winter residents,” she said. “We want to help people learn how to live outside in winter, because it’s good for mental health, physical health, and overall well-being.”
A mix of practical, playful, and creative
This winter’s offerings range from practical certification courses—such as Standard First Aid, CPR-C, food handler certification, and the Canadian Firearms Safety Course—to playful and creative events like Paint the Ice, Glow Skate, Date Night Skate, and the Great Puzzle Race.
Ray said creativity is a big part of the job for her team.
“This is the fun part of recreation,” she said. “Some ideas come from seeing what works in other communities, and some come from looking at what equipment and partnerships we already have and asking, ‘What can we do with this?’”
The city has also expanded its programming to fill a gap left by the end of Lord Selkirk School Division’s continuing education offerings. Instructors and residents approached the city, asking if Selkirk could step in.
“We heard loud and clear that some of those programs were important to the community,” Ray said. “So we picked them up.”
Encouraging residents to embrace the outdoors
Among the programs Ray is most excited about is “The Frost Force,” a free three-part winter series designed to introduce residents to new outdoor skills without the cost barrier of buying equipment.
The series includes a ski lending day in January, a snow sculpture workshop in February at the Kin Centre Water Tower Park, and a guided snowshoe hike in March. Equipment will be provided for all sessions.
“It can be intimidating to spend a lot of money on gear if you don’t know whether you’ll like an activity,” Ray said. “These programs let people try it, learn the skills, and build confidence.”
That philosophy extends beyond organized events. Selkirk also offers a winter equipment lending program, exploration bins stocked with outdoor play equipment in Selkirk Park and Little Lake Park, and a toboggan borrowing bin at Little Lake Park.
“We’re trying to bring recreation to people,” Ray said. “Sometimes transportation, cost, or access to equipment can be a barrier. If we can remove those barriers, more people can participate.”
Building community, not just programs
While physical activity is a key goal, Ray said the deeper purpose of Selkirk’s winter programming is social connection.
“Whether you’re new to Selkirk or new to Canada, we want you to find your home here,” she said. “Recreation and cultural programming help people meet each other, build friendships, and feel connected.”
She credits much of the day-to-day success of the program to Selkirk’s recreation team, particularly program coordinator Courtney, who oversees operations and event delivery.
“For us, the most rewarding part is seeing people engaged and having a good time,” Ray said. “That’s what keeps us going, knowing these programs help people live well.”
More information and registration details for Selkirk’s winter programs are available through the city’s website.
