Prairie to Pine Regional Council

Prairie to Pine Affirming celebration
2021-05-30 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Winnipeg) | YouTube, Canada
All the people of the Regional Council and beyond are invited to gather Under the Same Rainbow in worship to celebrate Prairie to Pine becoming an Affirming ministry. Join us with your rainbows, noisemakers, and communion elements.

An Affirming ministry is a ministry formally designated as fully including and celebrating Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, intersex, bisexual, asexual, lesbian, and gay people, within the Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble movement in the United Church of Canada. Our service will be a public worship. All welcome.

We will gather around an open table in all of our individuality, our many colours, languages, abilities, ages, gender identities and expressions, sexualities, and more, to share communion and celebrate Jesus’ love for us all. Together we will commit to the next stage of our Affirming journey together.

This celebration builds on the past and present work of many, including the Affirming presbyteries within the Affirming Conference of Manitoba and NW Ontario, and the many Affirming ministries and people within our Regional Council. More details and information on the link will be sent out soon. For now, please hold the date and discuss in your community of faith whether you wish to bring your entire worshipping community to this service. This Affirming celebration will be part of Prairie to Pine’s annual meeting, May 28-30, and all are welcome.

Affirming get together for the Regional Council
2021-11-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Affirm United S’affirmer Ensemble
Affirming get together, 18 November, 7:00-8:30 PM (CST). Calling all Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ Affirming, in-process, and seriously curious ministries! Join the Regional Equity and Diversity Committee for a get to know each other and support time together. Bring your good news, your questions, and your struggles to this time of prayer and conversation.
Click here to register in advance.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Traveling Youth Group Christmas Extravaganza
2023-12-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Fort Garry United Church, 800 Point Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 3L8, Canada
Join us for an evening of Candle lighting, Nativity Exploration, Music, Christmas games and a potluck hosted by the church. All youth, Young Adults and Youth leaders Grade 7+ Welcome!
Where: Fort Garry United Church, 800 Point Road Winnipeg
When: Friday December 15th. 7-9pm
Sign up here to attend… https://forms.gle/NFCNxsXwCRuA8dh99

Affirming PIE Day preparation!
2024-01-31 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
The Affirming movements in our three Regional Councils are hosting open houses online to talk about our local plans for celebrating Affirming PIE Day: Public, Intentional, and Explicit support for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and allies. It’s also a great excuse to share in whatever desserts are a sign of celebration in your culture and area. PIE Day takes place Thursday March 14.
Come with your plans, hopes, and questions on January 31 and join Prairie to Pine’s Equity and Diversity Committee for some good discussion and planning. Bring dessert or pizza pie if you like. All welcome, from all Regional C0uncils and from ecumenical extended family, whether you’ve been thinking about the Affirming process and aren’t there yet, or you’ve been Affirming for decades. Please share the information by email, but do not post it on social media.
Wednesday January 31 at 7:00PM CST/ 6:00PM MST. Here is the Zoom info:
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/81578258746?pwd=[REDACTED]

PIE Day In The Public Square with Comedian Lara Rae
2024-03-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Knox United Church, Brandon, 451 - 18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 5Y2, Canada
National Affirming PIE Day in the Public Square with Comedian Lara Rae, Brandon, MB!
The Affirming ministries of Trinity and Knox United invite you to be our guest for this special community-wide celebration. Lara Rae, stand-up comic, comedy writer, former Artistic Director of The Winnipeg Comedy Festival and proud transgender woman, will be our guest speaker as we celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ diversity and identity in our communities.
Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024
Location: Knox United Church, 451 – 18th Street, Brandon, MB
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3 p.m.
More details
Lara Rae, stand-up comic, comedy writer, former Artistic Director of The Winnipeg Comedy Festival and proud transgender woman, will be our guest speaker as we celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ diversity and identity in our communities. PIE Day is a time to recognize people and programs in The United Church of Canada and be-yond that are Public, Intentional, and Explicit in celebrating, educating, and creating awareness of 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion. National Affirming/PIE Day was co-founded by Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble and Affirming Connections. The day is observed every on March 14th. Hence the name, PIE Day, 3.14.
PIE Day also reminds and challenges us to continue widening our welcome and using the concepts of PIE Day to embody love and celebrate gender and sexual diversity in all its forms. Our theme this year is PIE In The Public Square, and who better to speak than Lara Rae?
Lara was the first trans woman to host the CBC news program The Current, and she won the 2020 Chris Johnson Award for her play Dragonfly, which is the story of a trans woman’s journey, related by two characters named “They” and “Them.” The Affirming ministries of Trinity and Knox United invite you to be our guest for this special community-wide celebration.
For more information, please go to:
https://knoxunitedbrandon.ca/
https://trinitybrandon.ca/
www.pieday.ca
Photo Credits: Lara Rae

Planning for Prairie to Pine Pride!
2024-04-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Planning for Prairie to Pine Pride: open house for all, Wednesday 24 April, 7:00-8:30 PM Central Daylight
Come out and let’s plan for Pride, beginning in early June. Bring your plans and ideas, your concerns and hopes, and let’s support each other in creating some fun, faithful, and fabulous spaces in our communities for Pride season 2024. All ministries and people invited, whether officially Affirming or not!
Hosted by the Prairie to Pine Equity and Diversity Committee.
Zoom info:
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/85981966470?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 859 8196 6470 Password: [REDACTED] 855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

Affirming conversations: Pride prep debriefing
2024-06-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Community connection and conversation for Affirmers: the (post) Pride edition! Wednesday June 19, 7:00PM- 8:30 PM. Hosted by the Prairie to Pine Equity and Diversity Committee.
Come out for an informal check in about how your Pride went, or how your plans are going; bring your glitter and fun, and any stories about struggles that you would find helpful to have heard by a supportive group. You do not need to be an Affirming ministry to attend- just someone who embraces God’s message of wide open love. Here’s the Zoom information:
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/88221127104?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 882 2112 7104 Password: [REDACTED] 855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

ALF 2024 Regional Youth Retreat in Winnipeg, MB
2024-10-25 18:30 - 2024-10-27 13:00 | Gordon King Memorial United Church, 27 Cobourg Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2L 0H4, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2L 0H4, Canada
If you are a grade 7 to 12 youth, we welcome you to register for the upcoming region-wide youth retreat, being held at Gordon King Memorial United Church in Winnipeg, MB, Friday, Oct 25th to Sunday, Oct 27th.
Make friends with other youth from across the United Church’s Prairie to Pine Region while exploring an Olympics inspired theme through Worship, Song, and Inter-active “Sharing the Torch” Theme Times. The retreat wouldn’t be complete without social time — dancing, games, chatting over meals (and canteen treats)! …and then rolling out your sleeping bag on the church floor to dream sweet dreams surrounded by new and old friends resting up for another busy exciting day!
The retreat is planned by young people for young people.
Invite your friends, neighbours, cousins (the ones you see often and the ones you would like to see more often!)
Haven’t been to a retreat before? – See: Retreat description for potential participants.
To allow all to attend, no matter their family’s financial status, the fee is suggested on a “pay what you can” scale from full fee of $95 down to $0.

First time registrant fee stays the same right up until the deadline, to give us time to get the word out to new families – $80

All return retreat-goers:

$5 off early bird fee if registered by 10am Sept 14th -$80
Early bird fee if registered by Sept 26th – $85
Registration deadline: Oct 14th – $95

REGISTER HERE
We are also looking for leaders age 16+. Interested? Apply here ASAP.

The Affirming process: the good, the bad, and the ugly!
2024-10-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Come join the Prairie to Pine Equity and Diversity Committee in its continuing community connection series, open to all who support 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming journeys and commitments. We’ll take a deeper look at the process for becoming an Affirming ministry: struggles, joys, and strategies. All welcome.
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/87806217155?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 878 0621 7155 Password: [REDACTED] Phone: 855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

YAAY Leadership Event
2025-01-10 19:30 - 2025-01-12 11:30 | Trinity United Church – Portage la Prairie, 15 Tupper Street, South, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, R1N 1W7, Canada
For Future Leaders wanting to Pursue Leadership Roles
Where: Trinity UC in Portage la Prairie
Who: Youth from Prairie to Pine Region, interested in learning leadership skills
Will include leadership games, travelling youth group leadership, attending a YAAY meeting, meals/snacks, social time, and a sleepover for 2 nights.
Limited space available. Register now to reserve your spot!
Registration

Sing Out Proud Prep for Affirming PIE Day!
2025-02-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Prep for PIE Day! Wednesday 5 February 2025 at 7:00-8:30PM CST on Zoom.
All Affirming, in-process, and exploring ministries welcome, and all individuals too. Hosted by the Prairie to Pine Equity and Diversity Committee, we’ll explore our plans for the nation-wide Affirming PIE Day on Friday March 14. This year’s theme is Sing Out Proud, so come with your creative and in-harmony ideas to share or your questions to ask. Have a look at www.pieday.ca for all the new materials.
Please share the link for this event, but don’t post the Zoom info on your site or social media.
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/83439529462?pwd=[REDACTED] |
Meeting ID: 834 3952 9462 Password: [REDACTED] 1 855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

Zeebu 2025 Regional Youth Retreat in Selkirk, MB
2025-02-15 18:30 - 2025-02-17 13:00 | Selkirk United Church, 202 McLean Avenue, Selkirk, Manitoba, R1A 0T6, Canada
If you are a grade 7 to 12 youth, we welcome you to register for the upcoming region-wide youth retreat, being held at Selkirk United Church in Selkirk, MB, Saturday, Feb 15th to holiday Monday, Feb 17th.
Make friends with other youth from across the United Church’s Prairie to Pine Region while exploring a theme through Worship, Song, and Inter-active Theme Times. The theme is “Biblical Allyship – A Work in Progress.” We will explore what that means and how we can be part of that work. The retreat wouldn’t be complete without social time — dancing, games, chatting over meals (and canteen treats)! …and then rolling out your sleeping bag on a church floor to dream sweet dreams surrounded by new and old friends resting up for another busy exciting day!
The retreat is planned by young people for young people.
Invite your friends, neighbours, cousins (the ones you see often and the ones you would like to see more often!)
Haven’t been to a retreat before? – See: Retreat description for potential participants.
To allow all to attend, no matter their family’s financial status, the fee is suggested on a “pay what you can” scale from full fee of $95 down to $0.

First time registrant full fee stays the same right up until the deadline, to give us time to get the word out to new families – $80

All return retreat-goers:

$5 off early bird fee if registered by January 9th -$80
Early bird fee if registered by January 23rd – $85
Registration deadline: Feb 4th – $95

REGISTER HERE
We are also looking for leaders age 16+. Interested? Apply here ASAP.

Western P2P Youth Event
2025-03-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Prairie Breeze Stables, Baker Road, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 7R2, Canada
An afternoon of fun with friends and horses!
For Youth Grades 5 to 12
Planned by YAAY’s* Western Reps, especially for youth in their part of the Prairie to Pine Region
Throughout the afternoon, there will be 3 main stations. Each one will be about compassion and patience.
We will not be riding any horses instead we will be focusing on connecting with horses and seeing their compassion and patience with us. You will get to brush multiple horses, lead them and let them show us things we don’t understand.
You will also have time to connect with other youth and explore your faith while reflecting on the theme.

See this letter for more details.
Prairie Breeze Stables requires this Prairie Breeze Stables waiver to be signed for each participant. This is pretty standard procedure for businesses that offer activities where there is potential for risk, even though the risk is low when participants follow the instructions of the guides.
Register here
Note: if we don’t have 12 registrants by March 16th, we will have to cancel the event, so please register now! Hannah awaits your registration!
*YAAY is the regional Young Adult And Youth Committee

Youth Forum at General Council 2025
2025-08-05 - 2025-08-12 | Manitoba
Abbreviations that may be used:

YF = Youth Forum

GC = General Council
GC45 refers to the fact that 2025 will be the 45th session of General Council since the United Church formed in 1925

What is the purpose of the Youth Forum at GC45?
Youth Forum is an opportunity for young people to participate in the education, decision-making, and community of General Council 45 of The United Church of Canada. Its aim is to ensure that young people have a voice in the denomination-shaping issues and decisions for the next three years in the life of the church. It is an opportunity to speak to issues that matter to young people, to share ideas, and to connect with peers and other members and leaders of the General Council.
When and where will GC45 and Youth Forum take place?
There will be three online sessions for General Council: Sunday, April 27 from 3-6 pm CDT, Sunday June 22 from 3:30-6 pm CDT, and Saturday June 28 from 10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm CDT. The first session includes worship, introduction to the theme, agenda, reports, proposals, and business procedures of General Council. The second session includes worship, introductions of global and ecumenical guests, community building and discussion groups. The session on June 28 begins the Learning and Discussion sessions for GC45.
In addition, Youth Forum delegates will gather once via Zoom (Sunday, April 6th from 3 to 5 pm CDT) as a chance to begin to connect with other youth forum delegates before attending the GC Zooms listed above. YF delegates will finally meet in person August 5-7 in Calgary (just prior to the meetings of General Council). There will be two age groups, 15-17 years and 18-25 years.
General Council and all YF delegates will meet August 7-11 at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre. Youth Forum will close August 12 by noon. Travel home will begin in the afternoon of August 12.
Who can join the forum?
Youth Forum is open to young people, ages 15 to 25, selected by regional councils. Youth Forum leaders have the ambitious and achievable goal of having 100 young people under age 30 attend General Council 45. While this remains the goal, the 2024 Youth Leadership Animators have prioritized the participation and inclusion of Racialized and Indigenous young people, therefore these young leaders are calling on each region to select a maximum of 50% non-Indigenous and non-Racialized, and a minimum 50% Indigenous and Racialized youth, which means at minimum there should be an equivalent number of Racialized and Indigenous youth to white youth. Each region is asked to select up to six youth, including commissioners.
Is there a fee to join?
Registration for Youth Forum at GC45 is free and travel arrangements are made by the General Council. While some events or activities may potentially have associated costs, no one will be excluded due to difficulty in payment.
Info session:
Click here to register for Zoom info session – Nov 30th at 12 noon (Central Time) aimed at young people ages 15-25 to answer questions and encourage participation in YF@GC45. Max 1 hour. Attendance not imperative but a chance to meet some of the youth planning team members and get your questions answered.
How do I apply?
Click here for the application form!
Application deadline was Dec 4, 2024.
UPDATE: We now have 4 excellent Youth Forum delegates, but we still have 2 spots left!
Deadline extended to Dec 30th. After that, any extra spots will be offered to another region, so if interested, please send in an application.

Apology to 2SLGBTQIA+ communities: live participation circle
2025-08-08 09:00 - 11:30 | Transcona Memorial United Church, 209 Yale Ave W., Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2C 1T9, Canada
All welcome to join us for the livestream of the Service of Apology at Transcona Memorial United Church; please see more about the Apology here. The address is 209 Yale Ave. W., Winnipeg, MB. Limited parking, attendees may want to consider carpooling.
We will gather in the sanctuary and we are a wheelchair/mobility aid accessible space. Doors at 9:15am and we will join together in worship and safe space at 10:00AM, participating in the Apology service by livestream. We will have coffee, tea, etc, and a time of discussion after the service. Everyone is welcome to this time. We are an Affirming Community of Faith.
For more information, email Breanna at bdbilyk@gmail.com

Apology to 2 Spirit LGBTQA+ United Church people
2025-08-08 09:30 - 12:30 | Westworth United Church, 1750 Grosvenor Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3N 0H9, Canada
Zoom connection of the Service of Apology at Westworth United Church; please see more about the Apology here.
With coffee, tea, etc, and a time of discussion after the service. Everyone welcome to this time. We are an Affirming Community of Faith.
For more information, email hrobbins@mymts.net

Neechi Camp
2025-08-17 - 2025-08-21 | Fisher River United Church, CJRQ+99, Fisher River Cree Nation, Manitoba, R0C 0S0, Canada
2024 Neechi Campers and their leaders in their tent village at Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre
Neechi Camp will take place this year in Ochekwi Sipi Cree Nation, also named Fisher River, MB.
We will set up camp on the beautiful grassy area beside Fisher River United Church. We will use the church as our home base and other spaces in the community such as the brand new Red Turtle Lodge, the river, the land, and the lake as additional places of learning.
Neechi Camp will give 7 Indigenous and 7 non-Indigenous youth (ages 14 to 17) the opportunity to connect and build friendships while experiencing and learning about Indigenous culture through activities and ceremony led by elders and other community members.
Youth will have the opportunity to:

experience net fishing; cleaning, preparing, and frying fish
choose to make either a hand drum or a ribbon skirt
watch and learn from traditional dancers
learn ceremonial drum songs
take part in a sweat lodge ceremony
cook some of our meals, play games, enjoy a campfire
learn stories and a little bit of the Cree language from Elders as we gather in daily sharing circles

Photo Story from Neechi 2023
If you are interested in attending, please fill out this expression of interest.

ALF 2025 Youth Retreat
2025-10-24 - 2025-10-26 | St. Paul’s United Church, Virden, 286 Nelson St W, Virden, Manitoba, R0M 2C0, Canada
If you are a grade 7 to 12 youth, we welcome you to join us in Virden, MB from October 24th to 26th to explore the history of the United Church in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada.
Make friends with other youth from across the United Church’s Prairie to Pine Region while exploring the theme through Worship, Song, and Inter-active Theme Times. The retreat wouldn’t be complete without social time — dancing, games, chatting over meals (and canteen treats)! …and then rolling out your sleeping bag on a church floor to dream sweet dreams surrounded by new and old friends resting up for another busy exciting day!
The retreat is planned by young people for young people.
Invite your friends, neighbours, cousins (the ones you see often and the ones you would like to see more often!)
Haven’t been to a retreat before? – See: Retreat description for potential participants.
To allow all to attend, no matter their family’s financial status, the fee is suggested on a “pay what you can” scale from full fee of $95 down to $0.

First time registrant full fee stays the same right up until the deadline, to give us time to get the word out to new families – $80

All return retreat-goers:

$5 off early bird fee if registered by Sept 12th -$80
Early bird fee if registered by Oct 5th – $85
Registration deadline: Oct 15th – $95

REGISTER HERE
We are also looking for leaders age 16+. Interested? Apply here ASAP.

Zeebu 2026 Youth Retreat
2026-02-20 18:30 - 2026-02-22 13:00 | Harrow United Church, 955 Mulvey Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3M 1G8, Canada
If you are a grade 7 to 12 youth, we welcome you to join us at Harrow United Church in Winnipeg from February 20th to 22nd to learn about different faiths.
Make friends with other youth from across the United Church’s Prairie to Pine Region while exploring the theme through Worship, Song, and Inter-active Theme Times, probably including visits to one or more places of worship of people who practice other faith traditions than Christian.
The retreat wouldn’t be complete without social time — dancing, games, chatting over meals (and canteen treats)! …and then rolling out your sleeping bag on a church floor to dream sweet dreams surrounded by new and old friends resting up for another busy exciting day!
The retreat is planned by young people for young people.
Invite your friends, neighbours, cousins (the ones you see often and the ones you would like to see more often!)
Haven’t been to a retreat before? – See: Retreat description for potential participants.
To allow all to attend, no matter their family’s financial status, the fee is suggested on a “pay what you can” scale from full fee of $100 down to $0, with discounts for early registration.

First time registrants enjoy a discounted fee of $85 right up to the registration deadline, to give us time to get the word out to new families

All return retreat-goers:

$5 off early bird fee if registered by Jan 9th -$85
Early bird fee if registered by Jan 28th – $90
Registration deadline: Feb 9th – $100

Subsidized fees of $50 or $0 are also offered in the registration form for use by those who need that option.
REGISTER HERE
We are also looking for leaders age 16+. Interested? Apply here ASAP.
