FAQs

The project will be built on 19 acres of land in the Bison Run neighbourhood in southwest Winnipeg, on Bison Drive west of Frontier Trail and east of Ruth Crossing.

The City has 19 acres for development.

The South Winnipeg Recreation Campus will be an energy efficient, net zero carbon ready building. A net zero carbon ready building is one that is designed and built to be able to operate as a net zero carbon building in the future and prioritizes low-carbon investments. The building will follow the City’s Green Building Policy and achieve LEED silver certification.

The Province of Manitoba and Pembina Trails School Division have constructed an elementary school and a high school next to the City’s South Winnipeg Recreation Campus. The child care centre and the addition to the high school for vocational programming that will be constructed as part of the South Winnipeg Recreation Campus Phase 1 project are planned to span current property boundaries to make better use of the space and provide easier access between all buildings. 

The City of Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba, and Pembina Trail School Division are working together on the necessary agreements for this site layout along with agreements to support future programming and the shared use of facilities. All agreements require Council approval before moving forward.

The City is constructing a fire-paramedic station on the site. In addition, a new K-8 school (Bison Run School) and high school (Pembina Trails Collegiate) have been constructed on Pembina Trails School Division property, located next to the planned recreation campus.

 Phase 1 includes:

• Gymnasiums
• Multipurpose rooms
• An indoor walking/running track
• A fitness area
• A café
• A serving kitchen
• A child care centre
• An outdoor spray pad

Construction is expected to start in spring 2026.

The current Class 2 (-10% to +20%) cost estimate is over $118 million for Phase 1 of the project.

Phase 1 has been approved for funding through the Community, Culture, and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

• The Government of Canada is investing $31.66 million.
• The Government of Manitoba is investing $24.75 million for the vocation wing and childcare centre.
• The Government of Manitoba is investing $13.16 million for the recreation campus.
• The City of Winnipeg is investing $49.20 million.

Phase 2 is an aquatic centre that includes:

• A lap pool
• A leisure pool
• A lazy river
• Water slides
• Spray features
• Diving boards
• A whirlpool/hot tub
• A steam room
• A multi-purpose room for classes, birthday parties, etc.
• A viewing area

There is no timeline yet for construction. Construction of Phase 2 is subject to Council approval and funding.

Council allocated $1.5 million in 2026 to design Phase 2.

A Class 3 cost estimate (-20% to +30%) will be determined as part of the aquatic centre study. The cost estimate will be used for future budget approvals and will help us apply for potential Provincial and Federal partnership funding.

Council allocated $1.5 million in 2026 to design the aquatic centre. 

A new aquatic centre is needed to meet the target for indoor pools set out in the Winnipeg Recreation Strategy. The strategy calls for new regional recreation centres with pools that serve areas 4-6 km in size. These regional centres bring different activities together in one place, instead of having buildings that only serve one purpose, like a standalone pool.

Right now, there are no City-owned or operated centres in southwest Winnipeg that combine a pool with other recreation spaces, like gymnasiums. The strategy identifies the South Winnipeg Recreation Campus as a regional recreation centre that can fill this gap. 

The proposed aquatic centre will increase capacity, improve access to swimming lessons and aquatic activities, and address an existing service gap.