Your invitation to fund Canada's only faith beat at the Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg is known for many great things: The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Folk Festival, Folklorama, the Leaf, the art gallery, the Blue Bombers — even for being the Slurpee capital of Canada. 

Add one more thing to that list: Winnipeg is the only city in the country that has a newspaper that covers religion on a regular basis. 

That’s right; no other daily media outlet in Canada dedicates resources to covering religion. CBC Radio used to do it through Tapestry, a program about religion and spirituality. But the broadcaster cancelled it in December when host Mary Hynes retired. 

So that leaves the Winnipeg Free Press, which has been covering faith since 2019 when the Religion in the News project was created. 

Since that time, over 1,100 stories and columns about faith in the province and beyond have been published — not only on the Saturday faith page, but every day through the whole newspaper and online. 

And it’s all thanks to the financial support from 25 faith groups and organizations, together with the hundreds of people like you who contribute annually to the Crowdfunder campaign. 

As we kick off the 2024 Crowdfunder campaign (see giving info below), here are some endorsements to remind you of how unique and special this is. 

“Sharing positive and engaging stories about how people of faith contribute to the larger Winnipeg story helps build community pride and encourages others to get involved,” said Jeff Lieberman, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. 

“We appreciate the awareness that it raises about news, events, and initiatives taking place in our community, allowing us to reach Winnipeggers of all backgrounds and beliefs.” 

“Faith coverage in the Winnipeg Free Press offers us all an opportunity to counter prejudice and hate with factual reporting in a compassionate and empathetic format,” said Tasneem Vali of the Manitoba Islamic Association. 

“The stories shared are personal, real, and impressionable, encouraging all communities to collaborate to benefit our neighbourhoods and all Winnipeggers . . . Faith reporting is crucial for our communities to connect with each other creating a safe space for us to ask questions that may not be otherwise addressed.” 

“I strongly support the Winnipeg Free Press and its brilliant initiative to provide faith reporting since it provides a space where people of diverse faiths can share their histories, ideas, and initiatives to positively promote what we have in common,” said Payam Towfigh, President of Manitoba Multifaith Council and Public affairs representative of the Winnipeg Baha’i Community. “This discourse can unite us and create a sense of harmony within our communities.” 

Added Christine Baronins, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “Faith stories in the Free Press provide a counterbalance to the often negative portrayal of the world by the media. Hearing positive and inspiring stories of individuals from different backgrounds striving to make a difference gives me hope, even in these challenging times . . . I commend the Winnipeg Free Press for their innovative approach to faith reporting.” 

“At the Manitoba Buddhist Temple, we support and are grateful for the Free Press coverage of religious news,” said sensei Tanis Moore. 

“We feel it is most important for the general reader to understand the viewpoints of various spiritual and religious temples, churches, and mosques in our city. It reflects the diversity of our population and helps to foster understanding between these groups as well as those who do not follow any form of organized and traditional religions.” 

“Reporting on religion in an ongoing way allows people to come to know their fellow citizens better, to understand the deeper motivations of others’ public words and actions, to grasp the complexity of the interface of differing values, and to grow in a desire for a fruitful public discourse and dialogue,” said Albert LeGatt, archbishop of St. Boniface. 

“Hopefully then reconciliation is fostered, hate is countered, complex poverty is addressed, and civic engagement and peace is advanced. For these reasons, I have a deep appreciation for the robust faith reporting of the Winnipeg Free Press.”

Today we are launching our 2024 Crowdfunder to raise funds to keep the project going. Your contribution of $20, $25, $50 or more will help us keep producing stories about faith in Manitoba. With your support, we will be able to continue reporting about the important role religion plays in the province — in politics, culture, education, health and other ways, and also in the lives of people in Winnipeg and beyond. 

To make a contribution, go to https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/support-faith or mail a cheque to Religion in the News project, c/o Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2X 3B6. And thanks!