WINNIPEG โ A new provincial institute aimed at equipping Manitoba organizations to recognize and respond to antisemitism was formally launched this week in Winnipeg. The Manitoba Institute to Combat Antisemitism will deliver free, tailored training to businesses, government, faith communities, universities, health care providers, and non-profit organizations.
Organizers said the initiative is a response to a documented rise in antisemitic incidents across Canada and at the local level. The institute will provide courses that teach participants how to recognize antisemitic patterns, identify common tropes and conspiracy theories, and respond effectively when incidents occur.
Belle Jarniewski of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada will lead the institute, the Winnipeg Free Press reported. Jarniewski said the program is intended to reach as many sectors of the community as possible and to foster a more peaceful and inclusive civic environment. She told reporters the training will be customized for each audience, with specific modules for sectors such as health, law, and religion.
The Asper Foundation is a principal supporter of the institute. The foundation described the project as an action-oriented initiative based on the conviction that education is the most effective tool to combat hate. The Asper Foundation noted its financial and organizational backing in materials announcing the launch.
Course materials posted on the institute website indicate a multi-layered approach. Sessions will cover the history of antisemitism, contemporary manifestations online and offline, identification of coded language, and practical steps for organizational response, including reporting, safety planning, and community outreach. The training is described as free to participants and adaptable to organizational needs.
Officials and community leaders said the institute complements recent provincial steps to strengthen Holocaust education and hate prevention. Manitoba has undertaken a series of measures in 2025 to expand Holocaust studies in school curricula and to support community-based programs addressing hate crimes, officials said. Sponsors positioned the institute as part of a broader, multi-pronged effort to reduce prejudice and improve public safety.
Jewish community organizations welcomed the launch. In statements distributed with the announcement, leaders emphasized the need for education that helps institutions of all kinds identify antisemitic speech and conduct that can be subtle or disguised. They said tailored training will enable employers, educators, and service providers to respond quickly and appropriately.
The institute will offer online and in-person sessions and will work with partners to deliver provincewide programming, the organizers said. Materials cited on the institute’s site include a land acknowledgement, partner lists, and contact information for organizations seeking to arrange training. Organizers encouraged institutions to request sessions that reflect their operational context and concerns.
Critics of similar initiatives have urged care to ensure that training is balanced and respects free expression while protecting vulnerable communities. Organizers said the instituteโs focus is educational and practical, aimed at improving recognition and response to discrimination without curtailing legitimate debate.
Registration details and a schedule of upcoming sessions are available through the Manitoba Institute to Combat Antisemitism website. Organizers said they aim to reach organizations across urban and rural Manitoba and to provide rapid, practical tools to reduce risk and improve community safety.
This article is based on verified information from the Manitoba Institute to Combat Antisemitism, the Winnipeg Free Press, the Asper Foundation, and official Manitoba government announcements.