Wesmen Athletics

Wesmen Community

GROWING COMMUNITY ATHLETICS

UWinnipeg recognizes that participating in sports can be a critically important part of development in a young person’s life, and offers youth a sense of belonging.

UWinnipeg now supports six teams of youth aged 9-13 in partnership with organizations such as the Spence Neighbourhood Association, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba and the NEEDS Centre. All of our teams participate in the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association. 

The Junior Wesmen Inner City team that was founded in 2007 now attracts about 40 neighbourhood girls to play basketball at the Duckworth Centre.This year we have expanded to include three boys teams. Currently there are 80-90 kids involved, aged 14-18. The Inner City Wesmen program is funded through private donations and support from Wesmen Athletics. 

In addition to our community clubs, UWinnipeg provides support to The Junior Wesmen. These programs are competitive club teams with boys and girls volleyball and basketball teams. Soccer will be added in spring 2011 and programs for both baseball and wrestling are in development.

Other community athletics include the newly created College Wesmen Basketball programs for Men and Women. The league includes local schools, Red River College, Christian Mennonite University (Canadian Mennonite University) as well as Providence College, Assiniboine College and Oak Hill Christian College (Bemidji). There are plans to add College Wesmen Volleyball teams in fall 2011.

On May 20, 2011, the Thomas Sill Foundation Inc announced a generous donation of $75,000.00 for UWinnipeg's Community Athletic Programming making it the first major gift towards this program. This donation puts emphasis on inner city soccer and inner city basketball programming. Details here.

 University of Winnipeg Athletics Community Outreach Report (PDF)