The hottest place to be in 2026 for social impact is… Winnipeg?
Far be it from me to make fun of my city, but it appears that if you want to rub shoulders with Canada’s trend-setters in social impact, you’re going to have to come to my ‘hood this year.
So far, it appears that there will be at least five major social impact conferences in 2026 in Winnipeg, including the National Conference on Strategic Philanthropy in April, the Catalyst Community Finance Summit in May, the PFC National Conference and the National Black Canadians Summit in September and The National Conference on Ending Homelessness in November. Edited to add: Ignite Winnipeg in February! Missed one! And another edit: Peacebuilding Through Truth and Reconciliation in August! They just keep coming!
This is… weird. While we get our fair share of events, conferences, and cool things, having y’all come at once is odd, so best be prepared.
Now, I’m aware of Winnipeg’s reputation in Canada as a hotbed of crime and mosquitoes.
These are vicious lies.
We are a hotbed of music, restaurants, culture and… OK, mosquitoes. (Except lately. We’re in a bit of a drought. While this is not great for our farms and forests, it is great for those wanting to avoid West Nile Virus.)
Those of you who have been to Winnipeg before know that it’s a city of hidden gems, friendly folks and a ridiculous number of restaurants and cultural activities for a city of about 850,000.
It’s like this because we have nothing else to do in the winter, so why not create something?
@futureofgood A must-read if you’re heading to this city this year‼️#nonprofitsoftiktok #socialimpact #Winnipeg @Winnipeg
@winnipeg.memes This is a necessity now #winnipeg #lol #viral #manitoba #winnipegmeme #memes #winnipegmanitoba #wpg ♬ original sound – Winnipeg Memes
“OK, Elisha,” you say, “I’m utterly charmed and convinced by your bodacious argument. I am going to come to all of these events and check out the city while I’m here.”
That’s wonderful! So while you’re here, what’s someone who has a keen interest in making the world a better place to do?
(Keep in mind I’m not personally endorsing anything here, I’m just giving you some ideas.)
Where to stay
While some of you might be inclined to stay at a place like The Fort Garry Hotel (snatch up room 202 if you like ghosts) or the modern Mere Hotel (our only hotel right on the Red River), I’d actually point you in the direction of the Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport Hotel (Ode Akiing), if only because it’s the only hotel in Winnipeg with Indigenous owners.
Built in 2022 on Winnipeg’s only urban reserve by Long Plain First Nation, it’s close to the airport, a major shopping mall and my house. It also looks cool inside.
It also features the Manoomim Restaurant for Indigenous-inspired food, and it has a waterslide. Since I’m close by, can I come out and hang so I can go on the waterslide, too?
Where to eat
Depending on the list you look at, Winnipeg has either the second-most restaurants per capita in Canada or the seventh. Either way, we have a ton of them.
Yet despite having the highest percentage AND number of Indigenous people in Canada’s major cities, there are relatively few Indigenous restaurants.
This is annoying, because Indigenous food is fantastic.
@prairie.spoon Indigenous owned and using only local source ingredients?! I’m in 😍 #winnipeg #eats #wpgeats #patio #local #indiginous #restaurant #canada #foodie #food ♬ Cherry – Jordan Susanto
That’s not to say there aren’t any, including the restaurant in the hotel I mentioned above, but we need more.
Anyway, to enjoy Indigenous cuisine, your top two places are Feast Cafe Bistro in Winnipeg’s West End, adjacent to downtown, and Bistro on Notre Dame. Both places serve up bison and bannock dishes, and you might also find arctic char, pickerel, walleye and wild rice dishes. I guarantee you will find dishes that are focused on local, sustainable Manitoba ingredients, and both places are warm and welcoming.
Winnipeg is also home to Canada’s largest Filipino population, and to try that cuisine, you have many more choices. However, some local favourites are Mangkok International Cuisine and Tito Boy Restaurant. I will also point out Jolibee for fast food (also near my house, and please invite me if you’re going. To any of these places.)
What to do
First stop for any social impact professional should be the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, if your conference isn’t already happening there.
The CMHR is the only national museum west of Ottawa, and it is a world-class destination. I don’t say that lightly. It’s a place that every Canadian should visit at least once in their lifetime, if not many more times. (OK, I’m personally endorsing the CMHR.)
Just down the road and through a field, you’ll come to The Forks, which is historically Winnipeg’s gathering spot. Indigenous tribes met and traded at the conjunction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers for thousands of years. I highly recommend getting on a boat tour.
If you want a slightly more unusual place to gather, walk back up the road and over a block and you’ll come to Portage and Main, which is where modern Winnipeggers get together to celebrate.
I say it’s unusual because it looks like… an intersection. But this intersection was closed off to pedestrians for 46 years in an ill-conceived plan to force people into the (leaking) underground mall. After fighting about it for a couple of generations, the barriers finally came down last year in a win for the rights of people, especially those with disabilities, to easily access this public intersection downtown. Here’s some reading about it for you social policy nerds.
@energy106fm After 46 years, Portage and Main has finally been reopened to pedestrians! Here’s what Mayor Scott Gillingham had to say about it. #wpg #winnipeg #manitoba #mb ♬ I Need a Dollar (Instrumental Version) – Beats Nation
For a deeper dive into Manitoba’s history, just down on Main Street is the Manitoba Museum, which houses numerous interactive displays, and an honest-to-stars pirate ship. (OK, it’s not a pirate ship, but it kinda looks like one and every Goonies child loves roaming on it.) The museum also boasts a science gallary for us geeks and a planetarium for us dreamers.
Now, if you’re a music lover, there is no shortage of places to go in Winnipeg for some tunes. But if you can, try to check out a show at the restored Burton Cummings Theatre (lovingly called The Burt by Winnipeggers) for some gorgeous architecture, and then walk around the historic Exchange District for even more awesome architecture.
Do you know how many movies are shot in Winnipeg? Lots and lots, because of the buildings. Playing “Hey, that’s Winnipeg!” is one of my favourite movie-watching games.
If you want to get out of the downtown area, head to Assiniboine Park and check out Assiniboine Park Zoo, because polar bears.
I get it, zoos can be controversial, but Assiniboine Park Zoo’s reputation is stellar for numerous reasons, the least of which is the thoughtfulness and care they put into not only taking care of their animals, but for their conservation, research and education efforts.
Next to the zoo is The Leaf, which is Winnipeg’s newish plant conservatory, and the best place to go to breathe in damp air in our dry winters. Feel free to hang out with some butterflies while you’re there.
@futureofgood A must-read if you’re heading to this city this year‼️#nonprofitsoftiktok #socialimpact #Winnipeg @Winnipeg ♬ original sound – Future of Good
If you are here for longer than a few days and find yourself in a warm spell, then I also recommend a trip outside the city. About 40 clicks north of Winnipeg, you move out of farmland and into forest, and there are several spectacular beaches in Manitoba’s cottage country for a social impact professional to clear their head.
Check out Grand Beach with its three kilometres of soft sand if you like party vibes, Patricia Beach if you like family vibes, and if you really want to be, uh, at one with nature … head south from Patricia to Beaconia Beach. Do not post the selfies you take there on LinkedIn!
Our closest provincial park is Bird’s Hill, and it’s a great little day trip with swimming, trails and sweet prairie air.
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