Over the last decade, there has been a steady loss of young people from Manitoba. More young people are leaving than are arriving, and that has business leaders worried. Recently, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce announced that they were partnering with the Canada West Foundation to investigate why young people choose to leave the province and how they could be attracted and retained.
The report, which you can find here, is expansive and looks at how youth view Manitoba and Winnipeg. Segments of the survey were broken down to focus on the perceptions of newcomers, First Nations people, and Francophones.
While the majority of the study focused on economic priorities such as housing costs or workforce retention, and other issues that could be addressed by the business communities, one section focused on societal issues. Regardless of the demographic survey, there was one societal factor that rose to the top every time:
“Of the quality-of-life factors surveyed, youth value walkability, urban recreation and outdoor recreation. They want things to do in their communities and do not want to have to travel far to get to those activities. If they do have to travel, they want quality transit options. Manitoba fares comparatively well in quality-of-life factors which attract youth…Walkable communities are the top quality of life factor when considering a move to another community for youth across Manitoba.”
Bike Winnipeg recognizes that a city that prioritizes walkability, public transit and a cohesive and safe bike network creates a community that young people can see themselves living in. We’re already seeing it in other Canadian cities. Montreal, with its expansive bike network, immediately comes to mind, but cities like Victoria and Edmonton are committing to these same quality-of-life investments.
With the average cost of car ownership in Canada at $1,387/month ($16,644 annually) many young people are looking for ways to maintain the lifestyle they want, without owning a car.
As Brent Bellamy said in his Oct 1, 2024 Winnipeg Free Press column:
“Understanding that we compete against these cities for our young people, we might instead prioritize mobility investments that are more attractive to the next generations. If we want our children and grandchildren to choose Winnipeg as the place they call home, we must begin by building a city that responds to their priorities and dreams, not only to those of their parents and grandparents.”
Bike Winnipeg continues to advocate for safe bike infrastructure and a complete bike network. We see our work going hand in hand with other partner organizations such as Green Action Centre, Safe Speeds Winnipeg and The Transportation and Land Use Coalition to further the goal of making Winnipeg a more liveable city. We also continue to find ways to partner with both the public and private sector to further these goals.
Your financial support of Bike Winnipeg ensures we have the resources to continue helping shape the City of Winnipeg into a city that our youth can see themselves in.