On October 28, Manitobans will vote in the 2026 municipal elections, choosing local councils and school trustees for the next four years.
Election season gives us an important opportunity to think about more than who will be on the ballot. It’s also a chance to discuss the community we want to build and how to get there.
Carman Wellness Connections (CWC) brings people and organizations together to address challenges affecting wellbeing in our community.
Through our six Working Groups – Food Security, Supporting Emotional Health, Education & Employment, Affordable Housing, Affordable Recreation & Leisure, and Transportation – we see how closely connected these issues are.
A family struggling to afford housing may also be struggling to afford groceries. Someone without reliable transportation may have difficulty getting to work, attending medical appointments, or participating in community activities. Children facing family financial pressures may struggle to access recreation, nutritious food and other opportunities that support wellbeing.
These aren’t challenges that any one organization, level of government, or community group can solve alone.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS
Leading up to the October 28 municipal elections, CWC will explore community issues through our blog and social media. Our goal isn’t to tell anyone how to vote or which candidates have the best answers.
Instead, we want to encourage conversations about the conditions that help people and communities thrive.
We’ll look at issues including affordable housing, transportation, food security, and support for children and families. Along the way, we’ll pose questions that residents can consider, and perhaps ask the candidates seeking to represent them.
Questions such as:
How can municipalities help create the conditions for more affordable housing?
How can we ensure transportation isn’t a barrier to employment, healthcare, or community participation?
What role can local governments play in strengthening food security?
How can schools and community organizations work together to support children and families?
Most importantly, how can local governments, organizations, businesses and residents work together to build a stronger community?
LOCAL DECISIONS MATTER
Municipal governments make decisions that influence many aspects of everyday life. School trustees make decisions that shape the environments where our children learn and grow. Those decisions also intersect with the work happening throughout our community.
CWC believes lasting change happens through collaboration. Addressing poverty, housing, food insecurity and social isolation requires collaboration and a broader understanding of community challenges.
Election season gives all of us an opportunity to think about that bigger picture.
Follow this series, share the articles and use the questions to start conversations in your community. You don’t need to agree on every solution to have a meaningful conversation about where we want our community to go.
Building a flourishing community is a shared responsibility, and elections offer an opportunity to consider our future together.