High Poverty in South Winnipeg

Manitoba continues to have the highest rates of child poverty in Canada, according to findings released in the 2024 Manitoba Child and Family Poverty Report.   In Winnipeg, the highest area of poverty is in the  downtown,  BUT South Winnipeg has the second largest area of high poverty.

There is a popular misconception that South Winnipeg is a very affluent area and has little or no poverty. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In 2020, the City of Winnipeg released a report and a map, identifying areas of high poverty in the City of Winnipeg.  SEE: High Poverty Neighbourhoods

The second largest area of high poverty in the City of Winnipeg is located on either side of Pembina Highway, primarily south of Abinojii Mikanah. Two demographic groups significantly overrepresented in poverty are:

• Indigenous residents and children (0-14 yrs).
• Other demographic groups known to be overrepresented in poverty include recent immigrants, lone parents (particularly women), persons with a disability, and LGBT2SQ+, based on Census 2016 data.

This high poverty area encompasses both the City of Winnipeg’s  Waverley West ward and the St Norbert- Seine River wards,  and Province of Manitoba’s Waverley and Ft Richmond Wards.  According to the 2024 Manitoba Child and Family Poverty Report, improving people’s incomes and lessening key expenses such as housing and utilities are foundational in moving people out of poverty.   Please know that Councillor Chambers and I are working collaboratively with MLA’s David Pankratz and Jennifer Chen to address solutions.

How can you help ? Show compassion to those in need, if you are able, you can gift a monetary donation to the United Way who works with over 125 social service agencies in Winnipeg.