U Radio

📱💭 Social media can connect us, but it can also fuel anxiety, addiction, and loneliness. Finding balance, setting boundaries, and reconnecting with real-life community are key to keeping our mental health strong. 💚✨

Take a Mental Health Break with U Radio and the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba.⁠

🎬 The lights are back on in Saint Boniface as Cinémental 2025 kicks off its 34th year, celebrating the strength and beauty of French culture through film. 🇫🇷✨ From Menteuse to Les Barbares, Winnipeg’s francophone community continues to keep its language and stories alive on the big screen.

https://u-channel.ca/how-cinemental-became-a-cornerstone-of-french-culture-in-winnipeg/

🎭✨ Kids in the RETLife Drama Explorers and Playful Performance programs are learning confidence, teamwork, and creativity, all while having a blast pretending to be mummies, aliens, and British characters! 🚀💬 Through laughter and imagination, they’re proving that #LearningNeverEnds and #CreativityConnectsCommunities.

📸 Over 100 newcomers, job seekers, and aspiring professionals in Winnipeg received free headshots to boost their confidence and career opportunities. 🌟 Thanks to photographer Mark Eadie’s community initiative, participants left feeling seen, empowered, and ready to shine.

https://u-channel.ca/how-one-photographer-is-helping-job-seekers-make-their-mark/

Thousands gathered at The Forks on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 🧡, honouring survivors and calling for urgent action on housing, food security, and mental health. ✊🏽 Change is happening, slowly, but advocates stress reconciliation must be a collective journey, walking together for justice. 🌎

https://u-channel.ca/change-is-slow-but-coming-indigenous-organization-urges-action-beyond-symbolism/

Nonprofits in Manitoba are stepping up their digital game 🎯, with Volunteer Manitoba launching workshops on tech, social media, and AI to help organizations thrive online. 💻✨ The focus is to empower people, not replace them, and finding balance in the human–AI–human cycle. 🤝🤖

https://u-channel.ca/volunteer-manitoba-embracing-technology-to-strengthen-the-nonprofit-sector/

Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Conservancy 🌿 is the first in Manitoba to join PaRx, Canada’s nature prescription program helping patients improve health through time outdoors. With discounts on memberships at The Leaf and Zoo 🦋🦁, the partnership makes wellness in nature more accessible for all.

https://u-channel.ca/assiniboine-park-conservancy-becomes-first-manitoba-organization-to-partner-for-new-nature-prescription/

Winnipeg’s Nuit Blanche lit up the city with glowing art, powerful storytelling, and high-energy performances, drawing thousands to celebrate culture and community. 🎨✨ From beadwork that honours ancestors to neon “Plant Parties,” the night showed how art strengthens connection and fuels downtown vibrancy.

https://u-channel.ca/nuit-blanche-brings-thousands-to-winnipeg-streets/

🎬🌈 Winnipeg’s Reel Pride Film Festival kicked off its 40th year with record-breaking ticket sales, bold storytelling, and a powerful message of visibility. ✨🙌 As Canada’s longest-running 2SLGBTQIA+ film festival, organizers say the celebration is about joy, resilience, and ensuring queer stories continue to shine.

https://u-channel.ca/canadas-oldest-2slgbtqia-film-festival-marks-40-years-in-winnipeg/

🌿 Tending the Wild, a new exhibit at Galerie Buhler Gallery, invites visitors into a living garden of art, history, and hidden perspectives, blending Métis and Indigenous artifacts with contemporary works by Winnipeg artists. 🎨 Through themes of healing, playfulness, and community, curator Hannah_g hopes each visitor discovers their own story in the collection.

https://u-channel.ca/new-exhibit-explores-healing-history-and-hidden-perspectives/

🧶🇨🇦 At Winnipeg’s 14th annual Fibre Festival, farmers and makers raised concerns over U.S. tariffs, rising costs, and Canada’s shrinking wool infrastructure. 🌾 Yet amid challenges, the event highlighted community, creativity, and efforts to rebuild a sustainable local fibre industry.

https://u-channel.ca/winnipeg-fibre-festival-highlights-tariff-struggles-and-push-to-rebuild-canadas-wool-industry/

🏘️ The City of Winnipeg is moving forward with plans to build supportive housing at five sites, holding public sessions last week to provide information and gain community input. 🤝 These projects aim to provide stability, dignity, and on-site supports for residents facing housing insecurity.

https://u-channel.ca/winnipeg-hosts-public-discussions-on-supportive-housing-at-five-proposed-sites/

🏛️✨ Dalnavert Museum marked its 130th anniversary over the September long weekend with Dalnavert Days, a free community festival featuring tours, crafts, and games. 🎉 The celebration brought Winnipeg’s history to life, connecting families, first-time visitors, and longtime residents with one of the city’s most iconic heritage homes.

https://u-channel.ca/dalnavert-museum-marks-130-years-of-history-in-downtown-winnipeg/

✂️💇🏳️‍⚧️ Free haircuts at Vq Salon gave trans and non-binary youth a safe space to explore their identities. 🌈✨ Stylists Darla, Ava, and Tyler created a space that inspired confidence, community, and celebration.

https://u-channel.ca/local-salon-hosts-free-haircuts-for-trans-and-non-binary-youth/

🎮🦬 The Manitoba Museum launched a free game, Anishinaabemowin with the Amik, teaching 21 animal names in Ojibwe through fun levels for learners of all ages. 🌿✨ This initiative supports Indigenous language preservation and community engagement, aligning with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

https://u-channel.ca/new-game-teaches-the-basics-of-anishinaabemowin-to-support-language-revitalization/

🚍⚡ Winnipeg has become the first city in Canada to put 60-foot zero-emission buses on the road, giving riders 30 days to test out the new fleet. 🌱🔋 The trial will help transit officials refine performance before expanding to 90 ZEBs, marking a major step toward greener public transportation.

https://u-channel.ca/30-day-trial-of-60-foot-electric-buses-paves-the-way-for-expansion/

🌾🦬 Manitoba’s Living Prairie Museum is uniting community, art, and Indigenous teachings through a bison sculpture that will help plant native seeds and inspire prairie conservation. 🎨🌱 This interactive project celebrates cultural respect, biodiversity, and hope for restoring the vanishing tallgrass prairie.

https://u-channel.ca/bison-sculpture-carries-hope-for-manitobas-tallgrass-prairies/

🎟️✨ This summer, the Canada Strong Pass is opening doors for youth with FREE entry (17 and under) big discounts for ages 18–24, making museums, parks, & cultural sites more accessible than ever! 🏞️🏛️ It's also an opportunity for greater insights into how these experiences can be improved for youth and young adults.🍁💡

https://u-channel.ca/summer-pass-sparks-new-insights-into-youth-engagement-at-museums/

🚴‍♂️ Thirty years after moving into a Habitat for Humanity home, brothers José and Carlos Castro are biking 400 km to give back to the organization that helped their family start a new life in Canada. 💙 Their ride is a full-circle moment of hope, community, and family legacy.

https://u-channel.ca/three-decades-later-two-brothers-ride-to-support-the-organization-that-helped-them/

Winnipeg is rolling out quick-build traffic solutions 🛑🚶‍♀️ to reduce speeds and improve safety in high-risk areas—fast, flexible, and cost-effective. From curb bump-outs to pedestrian islands, these pilot installations aim to create safer streets without the long wait of full construction. 🚧💡

https://u-channel.ca/winnipeg-implements-pilot-project-for-quick-build-traffic-solutions/

A travelling scam ring is targeting kind-hearted Winnipeggers in broad daylight at gas stations, malls, and grocery stores—using distraction tricks and fake jewelry to steal valuables. 🛑 Police urge the public to stay alert, avoid engaging with strangers asking for help, and report any suspicious encounters.

https://u-channel.ca/travelling-fraud-ring-targeting-kindness-in-winnipeg-warns-police/

🔥 Despite wildfire smoke lingering over Winnipeg, the Pegcity Steppers’ Health and Wellness Day powered on with yoga and vital conversations on air quality and wellness. 💪🌫️ From humble beginnings to a full-blown community movement, the event keeps growing stronger. One breath and one step at a time. 👟💬

https://u-channel.ca/poor-air-quality-sparks-health-discussions-at-downtown-wellness-event/

🎬 Welcome to a special U Radio podcast! The 25th Gimli International Film Festival is here—celebrating incredible films from Manitoba and around the world. 🎞️ David Knipe, Lead Programmer of Fiction Features, gives us the inside scoop on what’s playing at GIFF 2025!

https://www.gimlifilm.com/

🎥 Don’t miss the Gimli International Film Festival, July 23–27! And be sure to check out part 1 with Teya Zuzek on the heart and history of GIFF.

🎬 Welcome to a special U Radio podcast! Today we're chatting with Teya Zuzek, Executive Director of the iconic Gimli International Film Festival. 🌊✨ It’s the 25th anniversary! What surprises are in store? Let’s dive in and find out!

The Gimli International Film Festival runs July 23–27! And stay tuned for part 2 with David Knipe as we dive into the heart of the fest—the films! https://www.gimlifilm.com/

🚍 Big changes have been rolling out with Winnipeg's new Transit Master Plan, featuring high-frequency routes, easier transfers, and a long-overdue modern upgrade to a system decades outdated. While some longtime riders face tough adjustments, early feedback is hopeful.

https://u-channel.ca/city-rolls-out-new-transit-master-plan-will-it-be-an-improvement/

🦴🔍 A 390-million-year-old fossil found by Dr. Melina Jobbins near Lake Manitoba is helping scientists unlock the origins of jaws and teeth in early vertebrates. 🌊🦈 This rare discovery of Elmosteus lundarensis adds a crucial piece to that puzzle.

https://u-channel.ca/how-an-ancient-fish-is-helping-scientists-understand-the-evolution-of-jaws-and-teeth/

🎨🌳 Downtown Winnipeg is transforming! Graham Avenue is being reimagined from a bus corridor into a vibrant, art-filled public space with murals, greenery, and games, bringing beauty, joy, and community back to the heart of the city. 💫🏙️

https://u-channel.ca/graham-avenue-pilot-project-could-shape-winnipegs-downtown/

🍽️ The Dalnavert Museum in Winnipeg is serving up history with a twist by letting guests Eat Like a Victorian, blending immersive food experiences with class-based culinary education. 🕰️👒 With a sold-out debut and more sensory events on the way, they're proving that the way to the past might just be through the stomach.

https://u-channel.ca/exploring-the-past-through-food/

A new pack of five grey wolves has made an energetic entrance at the Assiniboine Park Zoo, quickly becoming a visitor favourite with their playful personalities and powerful presence. 🐾🌲 This new wolf family is helping the zoo inspire a deeper love for wildlife and conservation. 🐺

https://u-channel.ca/grey-wolves-capture-hearts-at-assiniboine-park-zoo/

Dr. Zephania Matanga, Executive Director of the Canadian Multicultural Disability Centre, shares his powerful journey from losing his sight to becoming a global advocate for inclusive education. 🙌🏿📚 Raised in a small Zimbabwean village, his story is one of unwavering family love, community support, and transformative leadership.

This initiative is proudly in partnership with Accessibility Manitoba. Working together for a more inclusive future.

🌟Colin Mathieson, four-time Paralympian and wheelchair athlete, shares how meeting Rick Hansen as a child sparked a lifelong passion for racing and resilience. From custom-built chairs to global competitions, Colin opens up about the real cost of sport, the joy of speed, and the evolving conversation on accessibility. ♿

This initiative is proudly in partnership with Accessibility Manitoba. Working together for a more inclusive future.

У новому випуску “Breaking Barriers” ми говоритимемо про досвід материнства, еміграцію та виклики, з якими стикаються батьки особливих дітей у новій країні. Наша гостя переїхала разом із сином з України до Канади два роки назад. Її історія – це не лише про адаптацію, але й про силу, терпіння та любов.Ця розмова розкриває очі на такі важливі теми як - доступ до медицини, навчання у школі, фінансова підтримка від держави.

In the new episode of Breaking Barriers, we talk about motherhood, immigration, and the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs in a new country. Our guest moved to Canada from Ukraine with her son two years ago. Her story is not only about adaptation but also about strength, patience, and love.

This initiative is proudly in partnership with Accessibility Manitoba. Working together for a more inclusive future.

🎙️ Darrin Luke from Manitoba Possible educates organizations on accessibility, emphasizing that barriers aren't just physical, but often attitudinal and rooted in stereotypes and assumptions. ♿ Through inclusive outreach, disability advocacy, and adaptive sport programs like sledge hockey, he's helping shift mindsets and expand possibilities for all. 🏒✨

This initiative is proudly in partnership with Accessibility Manitoba. Working together for a more inclusive future.

🎓 Talitha Kaethler from Booth University College champions accessibility through personalized student supports, collaborative policy work, and inclusive programming like Disability Dialog Week. ♿ Her vision challenges fixed ideas of “disability,” emphasizing flexibility, empathy, and barrier-free education for all learners. 💬💡

This initiative is proudly in partnership with Accessibility Manitoba. Working together for a more inclusive future.

🚨 The new Windsor Park Fire & Paramedic Station is open and built to serve, with community-first design, onsite hazmat training, and eco-friendly features reducing emissions by 98.6%! 👩‍🚒🏫 Its open layout invites the public in, inspiring the next generation and setting the standard for future stations.

https://u-channel.ca/inside-winnipegs-newest-fire-paramedic-station/

🎨💬 The Minds in Bloom fundraiser by MDAM sparked vital conversations on mental health, highlighting how art can bring calm, connection, and healing. From youth programs to wraparound supports, the event showed how creativity empowers communities. 🌱🧠

Take a Mental Health Break with U Radio and the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba.

🏠🌈 Kelly’s Corner by Sunshine House offers life-saving, culturally safe housing for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks who are too often failed by traditional shelters. With wraparound care, peer-led support, and cultural healing it provides people with hope.

https://u-channel.ca/safety-dignity-and-housing-the-mission-of-kellys-corner/

🐾 As wildfires displace thousands in Manitoba, the Winnipeg Humane Society, with Red Cross and Humane Canada, is providing emergency care for pets to keep families together.

❤️ Thanks to community support and creative fundraising like Pets on Pints, WHS continues saving lives and spreading love.

You can take part in Pets on Pints until June, 20!

https://u-channel.ca/reuniting-pets-and-families-a-full-time-job-especially-during-ongoing-wildfires/

✨Manitoba is making big strides in child care with $10-a-day programs, new spaces, and a long-overdue wage boost for ECEs, but demand still far outpaces supply. 🏫 Community groups like the South Osborne Child Care Coalition are stepping up with creative solutions, proving that child care is everyone’s responsibility.

https://u-channel.ca/the-path-to-quality-and-affordable-child-care/

🌫️ Wildfire smoke is choking even distant cities like Winnipeg, putting everyone, especially vulnerable groups, at risk with worsening air quality. 😷 Stay safe with air purifiers, check the AQHI daily, and mask up when needed.

https://u-channel.ca/wildfire-smoke-putting-winnipeggers-at-risk/