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Creating Connections in Our Community

Healthy Together Now Grant 2026-2027

The Healthy Living team is pleased to offer a grant focused on ‘Creating Connections in Our Community’ in Southern Health-Santé Sud Communities.  This grant aims to build supportive spaces, help communities identify and leverage their unique strengths, address systemic barriers to connection, promote a culture of inclusion, and engage equity-denied and strategically excluded populations. When people feel connected to their community, they are more likely to engage with others, feel comfortable and safe in public spaces, volunteer, and take pride in their community.

“Promoting awareness of the importance of social connection is essential because these connections are foundational to maintaining physical and mental health, resilience, and overall well-being… While individual actions play a critical role in enhancing social connection, the broader community context significantly influences our ability to form and maintain meaningful relationships. Communities provide the social environments in which individuals live, work, and interact, and these environments can either facilitate or hinder social connection.” (Community Guidelines for Social Connection, 2025). Keep in mind there are groups and individuals that may not always feel like they belong. People in every community can experience barriers to accessibility and inclusion. These barriers can create unique vulnerabilities to loneliness, isolation, and disconnection. Communities can work together to:

  • Ensure that activities and programs are available for people of all ages, abilities, socioeconomic classes, cultural backgrounds, language groups, and with various social and recreational interests.
  • Actively seek to eliminate stigma, discrimination, and violence while advancing Reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Timeline

December 1, 2025 | Application Deadline

January 2026 | Grant Reviews

March 2026 | Funds Distributed

April 1, 2026-March 31, 2027 | Projects Take Place

March 31, 2027 | Monitoring Form (Final Report) Due

Grant Guidelines

  • This grant funds one application per organization with a maximum of $2000. Projects that follow these guidelines will be prioritized.
  • All communities within Southern Health-Santé Sud are eligible to apply and more than one application per community can be accepted. Not all applications are guaranteed to be approved.
  • For-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. Non-profit organizations will be prioritized over Not-for-profit organizations.

How to Apply

This grant is part of Healthy Together Now.

Access the funding guidelines.

Prior to applying, please reach out to your local Healthy Living Facilitator to discuss your application. Access the Application Form.

National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ – Oct 4th

“Change that matters – change that lasts – is never made alone” – the National Family and Survivors Circle Inc. has released a national Strategic Plan – Circles of Change: Honouring Truth & Igniting Action (2025–2030) — the plan responds directly to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and seeks to advance the 231 Calls to Justice.

This October 4th, the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+) is a day to recognize the role that each of us have in working together to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Educate yourself, read the Strategic Plan, and learn more at the National Family and Survivors Circle.

Circles of Change Strategic Plan

Southern Health-Santé Sud Urges Public to Protect Against Measles this School Year

As families across southern Manitoba prepare for a new school year filled with learning, activities, and reconnecting with friends, Southern Health-Santé Sud is reminding parents and caregivers to protect their children and communities against measles. With classrooms, extracurriculars, and sports bringing students together in close contact, now is the perfect time to review your family’s immunizations and ensure everyone is up to date.

Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease that spreads easily in places where people gather for long periods of time, such as schools, daycares, buses, and after-school programs. It can cause high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. Complications are more common in infants, young children, and pregnant women, and may include pneumonia, brain swelling, miscarriage, or premature birth. Because measles can spread before symptoms even appear, vaccination remains the best protection.

What Families Should do:

  • Review immunization records for every household member
  • Ensure children, teens, and adults are up to date with their MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine
  • Book an appointment with your local public health office or healthcare provider if vaccines are missing
  • Watch for symptoms like fever, cough, or rash, especially after travel or attending large events.

Two doses of measles vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing measles infection. Children typically receive their first dose at 12 months of age and the second between 4 and 6 years of age. Due to the severity of the current outbreak, Manitoba Health has expanded eligibility for the measles vaccine. Children aged 6 to under 12 months who fall into any of the following categories may receive one additional early dose:

  • Living in Southern Health-Santé Sud or Interlake-Eastern regions
  • Regular travel to and close contact with residents of those regions

The full list of eligibility criteria for the measles vaccine in Manitoba can be found on the Manitoba Health website.

For more information on measles and known exposure sites, please review the Measles General Information (Low German version) or visit the Manitoba Health website.

Wise Practices for Life Promotion

Wise Practices offers a number of resources for promoting life among young people based on what is working well and showing promise in First Nations Communities across Canada.

indigenous on drum

Resources and information are designed to be culturally responsive to the lived realities of young people.

Among the many resources you will find an ‘Action Guide for Communities’ and ‘Strengthening our Connections to Promote Life: A Life Promotion Toolkit by Indigenous Youth’.  To learn more please visit Wise Practices for Life Promotion – Indigenous Leadership for Living Life Well.

Truth and Reconciliation Week

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day

Truth and reconciliation

Truth and Reconciliation Week takes place from September 22 to 26, 2025. This year, a transformative five-day journey for students (grades 1-12), educators and the broader community to engage with the poignant history and enduring spirit of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.  

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) offers several ways to participate:

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

In honour of the fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, APTN, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, CBC/Radio-Canada and the Algonquin Nation have united to produce a 90-minute multilingual commemorative gathering, entitled Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  The live National broadcast will begin at 3 pm EDT on September 30, 2025. A YouTube link will be provided the day of the event. For more information visit: Parliament Hill – Truth and Reconciliation Week

Indigenous 360

Conseil des arts du Manitoba Arts Council

The Indigenous 360 grant program, offered by the Manitoba Arts Council, supports artistic and cultural activities by Indigenous applicants including artists, Knowledge Keepers, Indigenous-led arts groups and Indigenous-led organizations.

What you can apply for:

  • Creation of new artworks or works in progress
  • Public presentations (productions, performances, exhibitions, concerts, readings, etc.)
  • Community projects involving Indigenous artists (workshops, artistic collaborations, gatherings, etc.)
  • Publications
  • Training, apprenticeships, mentorship opportunities

Grant amount

  • Micro-grant: up to $1,000
  • Small scale: up to $5,000
  • Large scale: up to $15,000

Deadlines:

April 25 and October 25 For more information and to apply visit:  Indigenous 360 – Manitoba Arts Council

Jooay

Jooay is a free app and website that helps children with disabilities and their families to locate leisure opportunities that are:

  • close to where they are
  • accessible
  • suit their needs and abilities
  • match their preferences
  • can help them develop and participate in society
Jooay

Jooay is also a community, to help parents, rehabilitation professionals, educators and community to connect, exchange, and learn from each other. For more information visit Jooay.

Buddy Up – How to be a Champion

Sept 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day.

graphic of fist bumping

While all genders are impacted by suicide, The Real Face of Men’s Health: 2025 Canadian Report notes that males are almost three times as likely to die by suicide compared to females.

Buddy Up is a men’s suicide prevention campaign: a call to action for men, by men, to drive authentic conversation amongst men and their buddies. To support men’s mental health in your community and learn more about becoming a Buddy up Champion.

Healthy Together Now

Grant deadline applications are Dec. 1st, 2025!

The Healthy Living team is pleased to offer a $2,000 micro-grant focused on ‘Creating Connections in Our Community’ in Southern Health-Santé Sud communities.  

Details will be shared the first week of October. We strongly encourage interested organizations to meet with their Healthy Living Facilitator, prior to applying.

Projects will take place April 1st 2026-March 31, 2027.

Mental Well-being

September can be a great time to plan for the next year. It is also a great time of year to evaluate your routines and establish helpful habits, so we’re ready to tackle those shorter days & cooler temperatures! Eek!

Here are some ideas for incorporating self-care into your new year planning:

graphic of female hugging herself
  • celebrate your accomplishments and growth from the previous year
  • create a vision board for the coming year
  • jot down activities that help you relax, recharge and feel most ‘like you’
  • who do you want to spend more time with?
  • how can you invest in your family and community?
  • are there any new hobbies, courses, or volunteering you’d like to pursue?

Ask a friend for coffee and share these ideas together!

Healthier people. Healthier communities. Thriving together.