This new program supports participants to set their personal and professional goals guided by their interests, culture and community.

A program designed by and for young people in Manitoba.

Led by local instructors, and featuring community leaders and entrepreneurs, Inspire Manitoba connects entrepreneurship, education and culture through experiential learning that’s accessible to everyone.

Applications for our Winter 2026 Cohort are now closed. Keep an eye out for future offerings.

  • Weekly live sessions with instructors and coordinators who come from Manitoba or have significant experience living in Manitoba

  • Group health and wellness sessions with local experts and community leaders who bring in cultural knowledge

  • Land-based activities and one-on-one check-ins with program coordinators to help keep participants on track

  • Weekly guest speaker sessions with local business owners who share their stories and knowledge of change, leadership and entrepreneurship

Program Features

  • Skills to start a business, community project or explore your goals

  • Learn marketing, operations, finance, branding and communication skills

  • Support from instructors, leaders & local business owners

  • Weekly allowance and other program supports.

  • Earn a certificate of completion

  • Cultural connections , beading, drum making and hide tanning

Inspire Manitoba Curriculum

The Inspire Manitoba Program focuses on providing participants with the opportunity to develop skills that are key for the future. Innovation, creative thinking and a growth mindset are at the foundation of this program, which explores the concepts of entrepreneurial leadership and community development, and provides participants with the foundational skills needed to achieve their personal and professional goals.

The Inspire program has three distinct levels which helps participants grow and apply their knowledge and ideas as they move through the program – Inspire, Innovate and Initiate. Learn more about them here.

  • Build confidence, self-awareness, and resilience to meet challenges in life and in community.

  • Cultivate connections to culture and heritage. Develop leadership skills that facilitate being a positive influence in community.

  • Engage with community members to investigate challenges, identify existing resources, and recognize opportunities for change.

  • Use empathy to understand and identify problems, develop creative solutions, validate ideas, design and test solutions, and make fact-based decisions.

  • Using storytelling techniques, develop brand identities to create messages that resonate with others.

  • Identify, evaluate, and connect with the key activities, partners and resources needed to sustain projects and businesses.

  • Identify channels and use techniques to create strong connections with people, from customers to future employers.

  • Develop financial literacy to accurately plan, track, report and sustain personal and project finances.

  • Develop professional skills - such as digital literacy, goal setting, and interpersonal communication - that can support the achievement of personal, employment or entrepreneurial goals.

Inspire Manitoba Team

  • Kelvin McKay

    Program Coordinator, Inspire Manitoba

  • Rhonda Taylor

    Program Instructor, Inspire Manitoba

  • Edna Nabess

    Cultural and Wellness Advisor, Inspire Manitoba

  • Rozy Singh

    Program Manager, Inspire Nunavut

Hear from Inspire Graduates from around the North!

  • Geela Kango

    Iqaluit

    Geela Kango is passionate about her community of Iqaluit, Nunavut and making it the best possible place for her and her family. Geela is a mother, a student, and is interested in mental health and wellness education, support and resources in her community. Read more

  • Shaia Davis

    Sheshatshiu

    The Inspire “program incorporated bits of Indigenous culture and focus and I appreciated that. Loved the basis for the Indigenous knowledge. Appreciate both Instructor and Coordinator that both had Indigenous backgrounds.”

  • Kourtney Bergen

    Gjoa Haven

    “I had a really good experience, I learned a lot. I met some awesome people, there are good guest speakers. That they (Inspire Nunavut) are willing to help people and other people to get more knowledge in all this stuff. It was my first time learning online and I did not mind learning online.”

  • Alexander Flemming

    Happy Valley Goose Bay

    “Inspire impacted my life, by giving me new ideas for the future. Now I believe I can do anything and move anywhere with my new ideas and skills. The highlight for me was the ice fishing and the soap stone carving cultural activities, as well as meeting new people and making more connections.”

  • Vanessa Flowers

    Hopedale

    “Inspire helped me build connections with people…getting to meet more people in person and making connections with the Inspire team! I was really happy with my Business Model Canvas and my business pitch and will be using it more in the future. I was happy with the sweat lodge experience, and LOVED the opportunity to teach the class the kamik workshop. Thank you!”

Watch our film!

Participants, community leaders and the Inspire team share their aspirations from the program, their experience, and the impact it has had on their lives.

  • While the program primarily recruits Indigenous youth, if you are committed to working on your business, professional or education goals, and are aged 18-30 years, we welcome you to apply for the program.

  • It’s a simple two-step application process. If you are interested to apply for the program, fill out our application form to express your interest. A member of the Inspire team will be in touch with for a short interview and to chat with you about the program, and your goals.

  • Participants are expected to be passionate about creating impact, learning about their community, and combining personal and cultural values with their business goals.

    The program runs for 12 weeks, three days a week (every Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays). Participants will be expected to participate in the classes and commit to the program.

  • Through the 12 weeks of the program participants will focus on setting some goals, and explore the vision for their businesses. We’ll create community and share values of ourselves and our community. We will look at what your business ideas needs in terms of resources, and we’ll explore different partners you might involve, activities you can carry out, and how others have done it in your community. We’ll look at how you can make your business stand out so you can get support from the community and start to engage potential customers. And we’ll finish with a fun pitch event!

FAQs

Apply Now

Our Partners

The Inspire Manitoba program has been made possible through collaboration between diverse individuals and organizations focused on innovation on locally driven responses to community challenges.

Contact us.

We’re always looking to meet and work with knowledgeable people from across the North to deliver the program or join us as guest speakers, instructors, business mentors and career coaches. Their insight and expertise ensure that we deliver the highest quality content-always from rural, remote and Northern perspective.

If you’d like to get involved, learn more about us, connect with a staff, use the contact form to drop us a message, and we’ll be in touch.