Local organizations will soon have the chance to boost children’s access to outdoor play thanks to a new national program launching in the Westshore region.
Westshore Community Foundation Inc. has been selected as one of 22 community foundations across Canada to participate in Free to Play, an initiative designed to support outdoor play by creating safe, imaginative and inclusive environments. Applications for local funding open Nov. 28, 2025.
Eligible organizations in Riverton, Gimli, Fraserwood, Winnipeg Beach and Dunnottar are invited to apply for support that helps children move, explore, take risks and connect with each other in outdoor settings.
In its first intake, Westshore Community Foundation has $176,500 available for local disbursement.
“This is an exciting opportunity to help more children in our community access joyful and meaningful outdoor play,” said Teri Nicholson, president of Westshore Community Foundation. “Free to Play supports local projects that help children explore, take on challenges and build lifelong skills through outdoor play.”
Eligible applicants include registered charities, incorporated non-profit organizations, municipalities, Indigenous nations or communities, school boards, schools and other local groups registered federally or provincially.
“Free to Play is about more than outdoor play — it’s about equity, imagination and curiosity,” Nicholson added. “We’re excited to work with local partners to get children outside exploring, imagining and connecting.”
Applications open Nov. 28, 2025 and close Feb. 24, 2026. Interested organizations can contact the foundation at 1-204-642-9796 or admin@wcf-foundation.ca for details, including upcoming information sessions.
About Westshore Community Foundation
Westshore Community Foundation is a long-standing charitable organization supporting communities in Riverton, Gimli, Fraserwood, Winnipeg Beach and Dunnottar. It administers more than 40 endowment funds and holds $6.46 million in endowed assets. Since its inception in 1999, the foundation has granted $2.2 million in community grants and scholarships, including more than $318,000 in 2025.
About Free to Play
Free to Play is led by Community Foundations of Canada and seeded by the Waltons Trust, with support from the Lawson Foundation and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. The initiative strengthens outdoor play opportunities for children across the country through locally delivered projects.
