Whiteout Street Parties bring in nearly $235K to help Winnipeg’s most vulnerable

Nearly $235,000 was raised for local charities in Manitoba from the Winnipeg Jets’ Whiteout Parties.

Two rounds of Winnipeg Jets playoff hockey have resulted in almost $235,000 being raised for United Way Winnipeg.

There were seven Whiteout Street Parties held throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs this year, which resulted in 35,000 fans showing up to cheer on the Jets.

Half of the price of each ticket plus money from the Party in the Plaza tickets on Hargrave Street was going toward United Way.

The money has now been tallied up, and $234,890 was raised.

The money will go back into the community, helping support mental health, addictions, recovery, and homelessness in Winnipeg.

“We are so excited that these dollars raised will go to support frontline agencies doing the incredibly difficult and important work,” said Connie Walker, the president and CEO of United Way Winnipeg.

She said four organizations that help Winnipeggers will each be receiving a portion of the money: Downtown Community Safety Partnership, N’Dinawemak-Our Relatives’ Place, Okichidah Pimahtisiwin Kiskinawmatowin, and Kã Ni Kãnichihk-Velma’s House.

“While this is about hockey and it is about community spirit, this is also about making a difference for people. This is about being a caring community. I could not be more grateful or more proud.”

Whiteout Street Parties have been taking over a portion of Donald Street since 2019, as thousands of fans have been packing the area to celebrate Winnipeg Jets hockey.

Since then, more than $546,000 has been raised.

Speaking at the news conference Monday, Mark Chipman, the executive chairman of True North Sports + Entertainment, said so much work goes into putting on the parties, and the result afterward is so important.

“A friend of mine once said we’re a collective act of will. Nothing has ever really come easy to us here. Once upon a time it did, but those days are long past, and everything we have here, whether it’s our cultural institutions or our social service network, has been willed by the people who are here and will it every day,” said Chipman.

“This is really a small sum when you think of the totality of it. But we know it’s going to places that can really use it, where people are engaged daily, who really, really care about making the most vulnerable people in our community safer.”

Chipman said he hopes to be back next year with another cheque in hand, but with more money, which would mean a deeper run for the Jets in the playoffs.