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Readers like you are key to securing a future for our independent journalism

A family looks at the Forest Of Hearts snow sculpture at the Festival du Voyageur Sunday, February 16, 2025. Big crowds showed up in their white attire and some in costume to celebrate the Winnipeg JETS Whiteout parties officially kick off in True North Square’s plaza Tuesday. A public and media event with live music unveiled details about the 2025 Winnipeg Whiteout Street Parties Tuesday. Little Charlotte Moar, who will be 18 months on June 2nd, enjoys checking out the flowers in the English Garden with her mom Victoria Penner while strolling around the park with family members Friday morning. Hundreds of Canada geese shelter in the frigid waters of the Little Saskatchewan River in Minnedosa on Friday afternoon following a snow storm that dropped several centimetres of snow on the western Manitoba town. Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) leads a march along Broadway, Tuesday afternoon, from the CMHR to the Manitoba Legislative Building to honour the lives and raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys (MMIMB). Gardening crews with Assiniboine Park Conservancy are busy planting in the English Garden and around the Boy with the Boot statue Friday. The gardening crews started work last week but with the warmer temperatures are now in full swing. The province hosts a Pride Month celebration in the rotunda at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Man., Thursday, May 29, 2025. Pictured: Special Advisor on Indigenous Women's Issues in Manitoba Cora Morgan (left) and Amber Laplante help to raise a pride flag banner in the Rotunda. Photo of pedestrians and event goers as the high-five each other crossing Portage and Main over the lunch-hour Tuesday. The crowd listens to Allison Russell on the main stage at Folk Fest on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Cycling advocates fill the galleries at City Hall, as council makes a final vote on the contentious Wellington bike project today, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Take Pride Winnipeg unveiled a new mural at 492 Main Street Monday. The mural titled “Pray for Ukraine” would not have been completed without tireless effort of Ukrainian activist Liudmyla Shykota. Hundreds of women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse Manitobans gather on the Grand Staircase in the Manitoba Legislative Building Wednesday afternoon to celebrate new legislation, Bill 44, which formalizes the role of the Matriarch Circle in government. Wpg Jets, Connor Hellebuyck looks over a locker of hockey sticks before heading into a scrum in the Jets dressing room with the media. Players pack up for the season Tuesday.
Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) leads a march along Broadway, Tuesday afternoon, from the CMHR to the Manitoba Legislative Building to honour the lives and raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys (MMIMB). Gardening crews with Assiniboine Park Conservancy are busy planting in the English Garden and around the Boy with the Boot statue Friday. The gardening crews started work last week but with the warmer temperatures are now in full swing. The province hosts a Pride Month celebration in the rotunda at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Man., Thursday, May 29, 2025. Pictured: Special Advisor on Indigenous Women's Issues in Manitoba Cora Morgan (left) and Amber Laplante help to raise a pride flag banner in the Rotunda. Photo of pedestrians and event goers as the high-five each other crossing Portage and Main over the lunch-hour Tuesday. The crowd listens to Allison Russell on the main stage at Folk Fest on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Cycling advocates fill the galleries at City Hall, as council makes a final vote on the contentious Wellington bike project today, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Take Pride Winnipeg unveiled a new mural at 492 Main Street Monday. The mural titled “Pray for Ukraine” would not have been completed without tireless effort of Ukrainian activist Liudmyla Shykota. Hundreds of women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse Manitobans gather on the Grand Staircase in the Manitoba Legislative Building Wednesday afternoon to celebrate new legislation, Bill 44, which formalizes the role of the Matriarch Circle in government. Wpg Jets, Connor Hellebuyck looks over a locker of hockey sticks before heading into a scrum in the Jets dressing room with the media. Players pack up for the season Tuesday. A family looks at the Forest Of Hearts snow sculpture at the Festival du Voyageur Sunday, February 16, 2025. Big crowds showed up in their white attire and some in costume to celebrate the Winnipeg JETS Whiteout parties officially kick off in True North Square’s plaza Tuesday. A public and media event with live music unveiled details about the 2025 Winnipeg Whiteout Street Parties Tuesday. Little Charlotte Moar, who will be 18 months on June 2nd, enjoys checking out the flowers in the English Garden with her mom Victoria Penner while strolling around the park with family members Friday morning. Hundreds of Canada geese shelter in the frigid waters of the Little Saskatchewan River in Minnedosa on Friday afternoon following a snow storm that dropped several centimetres of snow on the western Manitoba town.
The crowd listens to Allison Russell on the main stage at Folk Fest on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Cycling advocates fill the galleries at City Hall, as council makes a final vote on the contentious Wellington bike project today, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Take Pride Winnipeg unveiled a new mural at 492 Main Street Monday. The mural titled “Pray for Ukraine” would not have been completed without tireless effort of Ukrainian activist Liudmyla Shykota. Hundreds of women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse Manitobans gather on the Grand Staircase in the Manitoba Legislative Building Wednesday afternoon to celebrate new legislation, Bill 44, which formalizes the role of the Matriarch Circle in government. Wpg Jets, Connor Hellebuyck looks over a locker of hockey sticks before heading into a scrum in the Jets dressing room with the media. Players pack up for the season Tuesday. A family looks at the Forest Of Hearts snow sculpture at the Festival du Voyageur Sunday, February 16, 2025. Big crowds showed up in their white attire and some in costume to celebrate the Winnipeg JETS Whiteout parties officially kick off in True North Square’s plaza Tuesday. A public and media event with live music unveiled details about the 2025 Winnipeg Whiteout Street Parties Tuesday. Little Charlotte Moar, who will be 18 months on June 2nd, enjoys checking out the flowers in the English Garden with her mom Victoria Penner while strolling around the park with family members Friday morning. Hundreds of Canada geese shelter in the frigid waters of the Little Saskatchewan River in Minnedosa on Friday afternoon following a snow storm that dropped several centimetres of snow on the western Manitoba town. Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) leads a march along Broadway, Tuesday afternoon, from the CMHR to the Manitoba Legislative Building to honour the lives and raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys (MMIMB). Gardening crews with Assiniboine Park Conservancy are busy planting in the English Garden and around the Boy with the Boot statue Friday. The gardening crews started work last week but with the warmer temperatures are now in full swing. The province hosts a Pride Month celebration in the rotunda at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Man., Thursday, May 29, 2025. Pictured: Special Advisor on Indigenous Women's Issues in Manitoba Cora Morgan (left) and Amber Laplante help to raise a pride flag banner in the Rotunda. Photo of pedestrians and event goers as the high-five each other crossing Portage and Main over the lunch-hour Tuesday.

Free Press Patrons help keep our journalism independent

The Free Press is one of the largest independent newspapers in Canada; we aren’t owned by a large media company with dozens of titles under its umbrella. Our coverage decisions are our own and we are beholden to no one except you, our subscribers and readers, for whom we work to bring trustworthy local journalism every single day.

By becoming a Free Press Patron through an annual contribution of $150, you not only show you care enough about your community to play an even bigger part in our mission to deliver trusted information, but you also unlock a series of exclusive benefits as a show of appreciation for your extended support.

Join now to safeguard the future of the Free Press and journalism that matters with an annual gift of $150.

Become a Patron
Paul Samyn

If not for the Free Press, where would our city and province be?

Would we still have a place to turn to that delivered the depth and breadth of coverage of news, sports, arts and business?

Would there still be dedicated beat reporters able to write with authority and credibility from the Manitoba Legislature, City Hall and Law Courts?

And who could we depend on day and night to do the heavy lifting of journalism, especially when faced with a crisis like a pandemic or the recent wildfires?

I’m asking these questions because the answer has been pretty clear since 1872 when we first began publishing as part of our mission, which continues today and will be strengthened tomorrow because of the support of readers like you.

Paul Samyn, Editor
-Paul Samyn, Editor

 

I dread the thought of ever losing the Free Press, please maintain the good reporting you do for this city.
Dennis Ogden

A truly independent press that publishes factual stories and presents a diversity of opinions is hugely important in a democracy. I think the Winnipeg Free Press is doing a very good job informing readers and balancing op ed points of view. I am happy to support that work by becoming a WFP patron.
Jane MacLatchy

I am appreciative that we have a newspaper here in Winnipeg that we can rely on to bring us news that we can rely on to be factual. We are kept informed on a variety of subjects and events of interest. During the worst days as Covid ran rampant here, I was able to put my trust in the daily newsletter from Paul Samyn as a base to make decisions on how best to keep safe and healthy. Thank you for your continued excellence, and I look forward to continuing my subscription for another 40 years.
Marie Nault

As a Free Press Patron, your annual gift of $150 will allow you access the following benefits for one year:

  • Regular impact updates via a new newsletter exclusive to patrons which outlines how your contribution is helping sustain our journalistic mission.
  • Concierge-style customer service to respond to any of your inquiries from subscription information to editorial concerns.
  • A series of free events that will strengthen the connection between patrons and our journalists, whether it is attending a Jets game with one of our hockey writers, tickets to the Free Press table at a gala or a tour of the Free Press with Editor Paul Samyn
  • The ability to gift a one-year, all-access digital subscription to the person of your choice, and a discounted subscription rate code to share with additional friends and family members.
Become a Patron

Note: As the Free Press is not a registered charity, we are unable to provide taxable receipts for your gift.

As part of your patron benefits, you will have access to a slate of events throughout the year.

All of the events are completely free for you as patrons, and often also offer the option of bringing a +1. Here’s a list of some recent patron events we have hosted:

Meet and Mingle event

Meet and Mingle Dec. 2, 2024

Free Press Patrons, as well as book club members, were invited to The Forks to meet and mingle with some of the Free Press’s arts and life reporters, have some snacks and hot beverages, listen to editor Paul Samyn and CEO Mike Power speak (among others) and be treated to some music by Madeleine Roger. Attendees also received exclusive, one-night-only discounts at several shops within The Forks Market.

Drama and drinks event

Drama and Drinks Mar. 2, 2025

A group of patrons were treated to some drama — in the form of murder-mystery A Killing at La Cucina at Prairie Theatre Exchange — and a wine tasting led by Free Press wine and drinks columnist Ben Sigurdson. Patrons sipped on a trio of wines from the Winehouse and enjoyed small bites from Sharecuterie while Ben talked through how to taste like a pro, shared information about his wine-tasting credentials and travels, and fielded many questions about wine.

Trivia night event

Trivia Night Apr. 8, 2025

Teams of patrons were treated to five rounds of news trivia at Trans Canada Brewing Co. Hosted by columnist Jen Zoratti and arts reporter Eva Wasney, the patron teams competed against Free Press staff teams to crown the ultimate trivia champions. Patrons also enjoyed a complimentary pizza dinner and beverage from Trans Canada’s menu.

Federal Leaders Debate watch-party Apr. 17, 2025

Columnist Dan Lett hosted a Federal Leaders Debate watch-party at X-Cues’ Cafe and Lounge, where patrons gathered to watch leaders from each major party go head-to-head before folks headed to the polls on election day (Apr. 28). An Italian pasta dinner and drink was offered to those who attended.

Free Press Building Tour Jun. 18, 2024

Patrons were offered the chance to see the inner workings of the Free Press on a guided tour of the building with editor Paul Samyn. Prior to the tour, Paul chatted with patrons about the daily process behind putting the paper together and about some upcoming initiatives, and patrons were encouraged to ask any questions they might have about the paper, the company, the future of news, or whatever was on their mind.

Niigaan Sinclair, Columnist

I am proud of the work I produce and those I produce it with. For the first time in history, the Free Press truly embodies Manitoba in all of its complicated and complex parts, and it is better for it.

– Niigaan Sinclair, columnist (joined the Free Press in 2018)

Become a Free Press patron

Join from $150 a year

Your Patron status helps us in many specific ways, including:

  • Allowing us to allocate resources into investigative, long-form journalism
  • Ensuring we can continue to offer the broadest breadth and depth of coverage in the province
  • Moving us toward our goal of a reader-funded newsroom
Become a Patron

At a time when other newsrooms across Canada are sadly shuttering or shrinking, the Free Press remains committed to supporting in-depth investigative journalism. It is a privilege and an honour to work at a paper dedicated to holding power to account and uncovering the truth, benefiting all Manitobans.

– Katrina Clarke, investigative reporter (joined the Free Press in 2022)

Katrina Clarke, investigative reporter

Have questions?

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a Free Press Patron before joining, you can contact us at patronservices@winnipegfreepress.com, and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.