I am young and I am not leaving Winnipeg

A series on CBC last week brought up the age-old claim that young people were choosing to leave Manitoba for greener pastures.

Be it the allure of jobs, a more vibrant cultural scene or the purported severity of a one per cent increase to our provincial sales tax, word on the street has it that our best and brightest are leaving the province in droves.

In no way can I claim authority or ability to act as a spokesperson for young people, the current residents or recent emigrants.

The realities of an ever-changing national economy were the likely cause for thousands of Ontarians, Manitobans and Quebecers to pack up and leave for rosier economic pastures in Alberta, which saw over 38,717 Canadians move to the province between 2013 and 2014.

For the record, I’d be willing to wager that at least some of those expats are now looking to move back home with the recent difficulties in the Wildrose province.

What I can claim and state with some degree of certainty is that for me, Winnipeg, and Manitoba to a larger extent, is the place that I plan to make my home in the long term.

A lifelong Winnipegger, I elected to attend University of Winnipeg in the heart of the city and was amazed from my first day there to find myself immersed in a growing and rapidly changing central core, which also reflected the incredible diversity that we find in Winnipeg.

My university experience allowed me to learn from my professors in a personal and informal setting that was extremely conducive to my needs as a student. My involvement in university governance and the student association gave me the chance to advocate for the issues I was passionate about. The opportunities to develop my skill sets, network and make a positive difference for my own city may not have happened if I had left the province for post-secondary education.

The amazing cultural riches that Winnipeg presents me on an almost daily basis frequently blow me away.

Every night, it seems as if there is something to do and most of it is accessible and affordable. From the richness of the music scene to the wide variety of cultures originating from across the globe, to the fact that we live on Treaty One land and yet still have so much to learn, Winnipeg has transformed into an international hub of culture.

Don’t even get me started on the range of culinary options that dot our city — it makes choosing a place to go for dinner next to impossible.

It seems to me that Winnipeg lacks a certain sense of hustle and bustle: People here almost have time to settle down and enjoy their time here.

I rarely feel rushed and have ample time to enjoy with friends, family and to appreciate the finer things in life. However, the city has a substantive population that gives us that big city feeling which strikes a fair balance for us Winnipeggers that gives us the best of both worlds.

Is Winnipeg perfect? Far from it.

The Macleans article earlier this year brought perhaps our systemic racism, especially against our indigenous population to the forefront, and Winnipeg is starting to take the first steps to talk about the problem.

Furthermore, the rates of poverty in Winnipeg and the broader province should be cause for alarm for every resident of both Winnipeg and Manitoba.

The endless debates around rapid transit also serve as a point of frequent frustration for me and other young people.

The continuous progression of urban sprawl also plagues the city, to its own detriment as we move further and further out toward the perimeter highway.

The densification of neighbourhoods has to be seen as a priority for our city in the short and long term if we want to create vibrant and exciting spaces that everyone can utilize and enjoy. I’m an optimist though, and I’d like to think that Winnipeg is starting to finally move forward on these longstanding issues.

At the end of the day it is true that I may find greater financial prospects outside of Winnipeg.

There may be greater chance that I’ll gain more exposure on whatever form of work I end up in. As we are neither a resource powerhouse nor a financial hub, we are unlikely to ever be on the vanguard of economic prosperity like Ontario or Alberta.

Instead of consistently comparing ourselves to other jurisdictions and noting our failure to follow their measure of success, lets focus on what defines us and makes us unique instead. And let’s celebrate it.

I feel a sense of duty, responsibility for this city and its general well-being. Winnipeg has proven to be hospitable to both sides of my family, giving them second and third chances that allowed them to make a living, have a family and build a life here.

The city has offered me similar chances and opportunities, so the least I can do is make a life here, work to improve it where it needs and strive to make the best of it here, so that others can also have the same chances. In my mind, leaving the city and province for greener pastures only abdicates the responsibility that we as citizens have to improve our neighborhoods, communities and cities.

We have a duty to make the city the place we want to be and that means working together to include everyone in this vision, regardless of where they live, how much money they make or the colour of their skin.

It is a daunting task, often hampered by negativity and hostility to the emergence of new ideas. I for one feel up for the task and would welcome anyone who wants to join me. In the meantime, I’ll be rooting for Winnipeg.

Zach Fleisher is a student and community organizer in Winnipeg.