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Five First Nations in Manitoba are marking milestones in improving access to safe and reliable drinking water for nearly 10,000 community members. Through completed and ongoing projects, these communities are strengthening local water systems, reducing health risks, and supporting long-term confidence in drinking water infrastructure. 

Indigenous Services Canada contributed more than $122.2 million to support these water infrastructure projects.

Long Plain First Nation

Long Plain First Nation completed the upgrade and expansion to its water treatment plant, allowing the community to lift its long-term drinking water advisory on May 25, 2026. This work has strengthened the Nation’s capacity to deliver safe drinking water.

ISC funding: $16.2 million

Tataskweyak Cree Nation

Tataskweyak Cree Nation has completed a new water treatment plant, along with major system upgrades, strengthening the community’s water infrastructure. The project included a new plant drawing from Assean Lake, conversion of the former plant into a booster station, and upgrades to the watermain and piping to support reliable water delivery. 

ISC funding: $64.1 million

Berens River First Nation

Berens River First Nation completed upgrades and expansion to its water treatment system, allowing the community to lift its long-term drinking water advisory on January 6, 2026. This work has strengthened the Nation’s capacity to deliver safe drinking water.

ISC funding: $21.7 million

Misipawistik Cree Nation

Misipawistik Cree Nation completed upgrades and expansion to its water treatment plant in April 2025. This work improves system reliability and supports the community’s long-term drinking water needs.

ISC funding: $15.9 million

Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve

Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve has had a drinking water advisory in place since July 2023. The community is now nearing completion of the repairs and upgrades to its existing water treatment plant. 

ISC funding: $4.3 million

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program. Its goal is to strengthen seniors’ social inclusion so they can benefit from, and contribute to, the quality of life in their communities.

The objectives of the NHSP are:

• to promote volunteerism among seniors and other generations;
• to engage seniors in the community through the mentoring of others;
• to expand awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
• to support the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and 
• to provide capital assistance for new and existing community projects and programs for seniors. 

Since 2004, the NHSP has funded over 45,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, with the Government of Canada total investment now surpassing $1 billion in funding. Program funding supports community-based projects and pan-Canadian projects.

Community-based projects

Community-based project funding supports activities in which seniors are socially engaged, connected and actively involved. Seniors lead and inspire projects that make a difference in their lives, the lives of others and in their communities. More than 400 communities benefit from community-based projects each year.

This year, more than 2,600 community-based projects were approved for immediate investment, representing over $54 million. Organizations were eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding.

As part of the 2025–26 NHSP community-based call for proposals, organizations were encouraged to apply for funding that supported the national priorities for this cycle:

Priority 1: Supporting healthy aging, which includes:

• addressing social isolation, including through supporting seniors’ digital literacy;
• addressing ageism; and
• supporting mental health and seniors living with dementia.

Priority 2: Preventing senior abuse, which includes:

• providing measures to reduce crimes and harm against seniors, including elder abuse; and
• developing educational material to prevent unscrupulous practices, financial fraud and scams from happening to seniors.

Priority 3: Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion, which includes:

• promoting intergenerational mentoring and engagement;
• advancing reconciliation with Indigenous people and helping to secure a better quality of life for Indigenous seniors; and
• collaborating with diverse communities, notably by serving members of the following vulnerable groups: low-income seniors, Indigenous people, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, members of official language minority communities, seniors who primarily speak languages other than English or French, members of racialized and newcomer groups, persons with disabilities, veterans and seniors living in rural or remote areas.

Priority 4: Supporting financial security, which includes:

• helping seniors navigate and access government services and benefits and providing support to file their taxes; and
• supporting the financial empowerment of seniors.

For more information, visit About the New Horizons for Seniors Program – Community-based projects.

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