Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage


Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism is the department of the Government of Manitoba responsible for managing government programs and services that support the sport, art, culture, and heritage of the province, through developing, supporting, promoting, and celebrating the identity and well-being of Manitoba and its communities.
More specifically, sport refers both to the fitness and well-being for individuals as well as to the uniting of people in the spirit of competition and community pride; culture reflects the "societal values and shared humanity" within Manitoba; and heritage represents the history of Manitoba and its relation to the province's present and future.
The department is overseen by the Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, who has been Glen Simard since his appointment in October 2023.

Branches

  • Archives of Manitoba
  • Arts Branch — along with funding the arts and cultural organizations of Manitoba, the branch assists and supports community initiatives regarding the study, creation, production, exhibition, and publication of works in the arts. The branch also delivers support to the development of Manitoba's film and sound recording, publishing, visual arts, and crafts industries, including support to Manitoba Film and Sound.
  • Historic Resources Branch — provides support for facilities that serve to protect and interpret Manitoba's heritage resources; produces publications and research related to Manitoba's heritage, often in partnership with other heritage organizations; provides grants to assist in identifying, protecting, and interpreting Manitoba's human and natural heritage.
  • * The Manitoba Heritage Trust Program offers provincial support with matching grants of $1 for every $2 raised by community museums, archives, and supporting organizations. Initiated by the provincial government, the program is administered by The Winnipeg Foundation along with rural community foundations in Manitoba and with support from the Association of Manitoba Museums and the Association for Manitoba Archives.
  • Multiculturalism Secretariat — advances the goals of the Manitoba Multiculturalism Act by promoting awareness of the province's cultural diversity and by working with ethnocultural organizations to build capacity and support community development through funding, information sessions, and organizational support.
  • Public Library Services Branch — responsible to the Minister to ensure Manitoba libraries are following related laws and standards, aiming to foster and strengthen the network of community-based public library services in the province. The PLSB is governed by The Public Libraries Act and associated regulations.
  • Status of Women Secretariat

    Legislative Library of Manitoba

The Legislative Library of Manitoba promotes and preserves knowledge of the province's published heritage. Under the current Legislative Library Act, S.M. 2008, c. 12, the Library collects and preserves the print and electronic versions of documents published by Manitoba government departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and independent offices of the Legislative Assembly, as well as publications from Manitoba's book, magazine, and newspaper publishers. The Legislative Library has two locations that are open to Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly, to government employees, and to the public. Following the National Library of Canada's regional meetings on resource sharing, Manitoba's Legislative Library became one of the founding members of the Manitoba Library Consortium.

History of the Legislative Library

The Legislative Library is Manitoba's oldest library and one of the major resource libraries in the province. It was established by the first Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, Adams G. Archibald. Prior to leaving Ottawa to take on his new duties, Archibald employed the help of Parliamentary Librarian Alpheus Todd in buying publications that would support the work of the new Legislative Assembly. Though originally planning to place this library in the residence of the Lieutenant-Governor, Archibald decided instead to make it the center of a Provincial Library and had the books placed in the Government Offices instead. After his arrival, Archibald learned of a much older book collection, the Library of the Red River Settlement, founded by Lord Selkirk and originally used by the Red River Settlers. Archibald would purchase the collection from a local citizen who had been storing it in his home.
Bernard R. Ross would be appointed Provincial Librarian around 1870, succeeded by Felix Trudel and George Roy. As these men all had other responsibilities, it was not until 1884 that John Palmerston Robertson was appointed the province's first Legislative Librarian. Over the next three-and-a-half decades, Robertson would build up the Library's collections of books and government publications; establish exchange agreements with other libraries and governments; and promoted the Library's role as a collector of published and unpublished records of Manitoba's history. He established the Provincial Archives, as well as a map and museum collection, and planned for the Library's new quarters in the Legislative Building. Robertson, however, would die before the move took place in 1919.
Robertson was succeeded upon his death by W. J. Healy, who built up the Library's collections in the social sciences and economics, as well as introducing the use of a card catalogue to replace the book-catalogues system. During the Great Depression, budgets and subscriptions to newspapers were cut. However, the Library's collections continued to expand due to the exchange agreements established with other libraries and institutions, as well as provision in the Provincial Library and Museum Act of 1919 requiring that all Manitoba publications be deposited with the Library. This legal deposit program continues under the authority of the current statute, The Legislative Library Act, which enables the Library to collect and preserve a research collection of Manitoba publications.
Tannis Gretzinger, in spring 2011, became the 8th Legislative Librarian, and would retired in spring 2014. Since then, Provincial Archivist Scott Goodine has been the Acting Legislative Librarian.

Agencies, Boards, and Commissions

The following are the Agencies, Boards and Commissions to which Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage makes appointments :
  • Centennial Centre Corporation
  • Manitoba Film Classification Board
  • Film and Sound Recording Development Corporation
  • Manitoba Museum*
  • Winnipeg Art Gallery
  • Women's Advisory Council
  • Advisory Council on Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism* — responsible for providing information, advice, and recommendations to the Manitoba Government, through the Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, on matters relating to "citizenship and immigration, including the attraction of immigrants to Manitoba and the retention of immigrants, the long-term settlement and integration of immigrants, and the full inclusion and participation of immigrants" in the economic, social, and cultural life of Manitoba and "matters relating to multiculturalism, including intercultural relations and ethnic and linguistic diversity." The council, established under the Manitoba Advisory Council on Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Act, is chaired by Christina Semaniuk.
  • Brandon Manitoba Centennial Auditorium* — responsible for operating a centre for the performing arts serving the city of Brandon and western Manitoba.
  • Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain* — a governance board responsible for presenting, promoting, fostering, and sponsoring cultural and artistic activities in the French language for all Manitobans; as well as managing and developing the facilities within the area where the corporation has jurisdiction. The board is chaired by Réal Cure.
  • Combative Sports Commission — responsible for regulating all contests and exhibitions of professional boxing and mixed martial arts matches in the province in accordance with regulations as set out in the Boxing Act. The commission was incorporated under the provisions of the Manitoba government by a proclamation dated 16 October 1993.
  • Heritage Council — provides impartial, objective advice to the Minister on matters relating to The Heritage Resources Act by recommending the identification, protection, and commemoration of people, places, events, artifacts, and structures that best represent significant aspects of Manitoba's historical development. The council is chaired by Sharon Reilly.
  • Public Library Advisory Board* — tasked with advising and making recommendations to the Minister regarding all matters outlined in the Public Libraries Act.
  • A ministerial representative and the Public Library Services Branch's director participate on the Board and support the appointed members in developing advice for the Minister. The branch also provides administrative support to coordinate meetings and develop board policy.

    Manitoba Arts Council

The Manitoba Arts Council is an arm's-length governance board of the Province of Manitoba, funded through Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage, that is responsible for promoting the study, enjoyment, production, and performance of works in the arts through grants, scholarships, or loans. The council, established in 1965, is chaired by Roberta Christianson.
Assessed by artistic merit, the Council makes awards to professional arts organizations, educators, and individuals in all art forms, including theatre, literature, dance, music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and graphic arts. The Council uses a peer assessment process in making awards. Historically, the main criterion used to assess applications is artistic merit.