Press Release
From: Infrastructure Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba, July 2, 2024 — The Neeginan Centre is getting infrastructure upgrades after an investment of more than $21.1 million from the federal government.
This was announced by Minister Dan Vandal and Kevin Chief, Neeginan Centre Board Member.
The Neeginan Centre is an important hub in downtown Winnipeg that provides programs and services to support the educational, social, and economic needs of Indigenous Peoples in the community. Incorporated in 1990, this non-profit organization operates in the historic Canadian Pacific Railway Station located at Higgins and Main.
Funding will support improvements to this 100-year old heritage building to address safety, accessibility, and environmental concerns. This work will include upgrades to the building’s envelope, lighting, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, resulting in energy savings and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts will help ensure that the centre can keep serving Indigenous communities for generations to come.
Quotes
“Having dedicated and permanent spaces to share culture is a key component of fostering strong Indigenous identities. The Neeginan Centre has long served as a gathering place for people to learn, share knowledge, and celebrate Indigenous heritage, and we couldn’t be prouder of this investment towards energy-efficient improvements to this architectural gem. We will continue working with partners to support meaningful infrastructure investments with a net-zero future and reconciliation at the forefront.”
The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“Thirty-two years ago, a group of leaders of not-for-profit Indigenous organizations and their stakeholders, took an extraordinary risk to restore and renovate Winnipeg’s historic Canadian Pacific Railway Station into a one-stop centre where the organizations could deliver services to their Indigenous clients in a much more efficient and coordinated manner – and – from a ‘place of their own.’ From the outset this building has benefited from the joint efforts, cooperation, and friendship between Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples who continue to make the Centre a better place to serve our communities. The GICB funding being a great example.
It is said a ‘house is not a home until it has experienced a birth, a marriage and a death.’ No marriage can be stronger. In the process of working together we have created new and lasting initiatives that have led to other developments like the welding, technical, and aerospace programs and spaces, as well as the student housing and child care facilities. Yes, these initiatives are the many ‘children’ that have born and nurtured here. As important though, are ´deaths’ of many of the stereotypical perceptions of Indigenous people prior to the advent of the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg ten days before Christmas 1992. Today we are in Neeginan Centre – Our Place. Truly, it is now a genuine home. It has been, is and may it always be a place worthy of our continued support and investment.”
Mr. William (Bill) Shead, Chairperson of the Neeginan Centre Board of Directors
Quick facts
Associated links
Contacts
For more information (media only), please contact:
Micaal Ahmed
Communications Manager
Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
343-598-3920
micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
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Web: Infrastructure Canada
Heather Ranville
Executive Assistant
Neeginan Centre Incorporated
204-989-7111
hranville@abcentre.org
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