At this year’s Linkages conference in The Pas, hosted by the University College of the North and proudly supported by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, one message resonated throughout every conversation: the North’s future is Manitoba’s future.
The two-day gathering brought together Indigenous leaders, industry, policymakers, educators, and economic development organizations to explore what it truly means to build One North — a connected, collaborative, and prosperous region where growth benefits all Manitobans.
Manitoba’s North is once again having a moment. With the Port of Churchill shortlisted as a strategic national project, the region sits at the centre of a renewed conversation about Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, trade, and infrastructure readiness. Against this backdrop, Dr. Ken Coates, a Distinguished Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and Professor of Indigenous Governance at Yukon University, offered both context and caution: “Is the North ready for Canada’s great major projects surge? No. We haven’t got the systems in place. We haven’t got the planning in place. Can the North rise to the challenge? Maybe.” He also reminded participants that “consultation is yesterday’s business — today’s is partnership.” The message was clear: readiness must be rooted in collaboration and locally led planning if the North is to achieve lasting prosperity.
Reconciliation and readiness were recurring themes, but so too was responsibility — particularly the responsibility to ensure the children and youth of northern communities are not left behind. True prosperity means developing people alongside projects, equipping young Northerners with access to education, skills, and opportunity so they can thrive as the next generation of leaders.
Technology and connectivity also emerged as pivotal topics. As Manitoba’s Minister of Advanced Education and Training, Renée Cable, noted, “Folks in the south are sprinting, but folks in the north are still dealing with connectivity issues. We need to be mindful about creating further inequities with the adoption of AI.” Her comments captured a central tension in northern development: innovation must move at the speed of inclusion.
Through it all, Linkages showcased the North’s greatest strength: its collaborative spirit. The conversations were grounded in optimism, pragmatism, and a belief that when communities, governments, and business work together, prosperity follows.
MCC is proud to continue supporting the Linkages conferences in both The Pas and Thompson, helping connect people, places, and opportunity — and advancing a vision of One North, where every Manitoban has a role in shaping the province’s future.
