Topic: Community Outreach

Road safety community presentations and education programs are available throughout Manitoba, free of charge.

We offer live, interactive presentations ranging from 30 to 60 minutes on a variety of road safety topics, which are outlined below. Most presentations are offered both in-person or via Microsoft Teams and are available at various times during the week. All presentations are designed to help Manitobans gain the knowledge and awareness they need to protect themselves and others.

To register or inquire about a community presentation, please fill out the Contact Community Relations form. If we are unable to fulfill your presentation request due to scheduling or availability of resources, we will work with you to provide the educational materials your group needs.

See more information below, including any space or technical requirements that must be met to host specific presentations. Don’t see the road safety topic you’re interested in? Contact us to talk to a Community Relations Specialist.

Winter Driving

Manitoba winters can pose a challenging driving environment. Our Winter Driving safety presentation reviews winter driving hazards that we as Manitobans must navigate for up to six months of the year. Available in-person and online.

Target audience: Licensed drivers

Presentation length: 45 minutes

Impaired and Distracted Driving

Nearly 100 Manitobans die on Manitoba roads each year. Distracted and impaired driving cause roughly 60 per cent of these deaths.

This presentation:

• Informs participants about how alcohol and drugs affect driving abilities and behaviours.
• Shares statistics that show the most dangerous and preventable driving distraction is using a hand-held electronic device.
• Reviews the different impaired and distracted driving penalties and how much they can cost a driver.
• Available in-person and online.

Target audience: Licensed drivers, young drivers

Presentation length: 45 minutes

Car Seats and Seatbelts

The four different stages of car seats are reviewed along with instruction about where to safely place them in the vehicle, how to secure a child in the car seat and how to identify if a child has outgrown their seat. This presentation is perfect for parent and baby groups, daycare staff and anyone who will transport children in their vehicle. Available in-person and online.

Target audience: Parents, grandparents and people who transport children

Presentation length: 30-45 minutes

New to Manitoba and MPI

This presentation is geared to those who may have relocated to Manitoba, and are less familiar with public auto insurance and driving in winter weather conditions. The presentation can be tailored to meet the audience’s needs – we can review the basic requirements for licensing and insurance, as well as various road safety topics, including: pedestrian & cycling safety, car seat and seatbelt use, distracted and impaired driving, and winter driving safety. Groups can chose all or some of these topics, depending on the needs of their participants. Available in-person and online.

Target audience: New drivers, new Manitobans or any licensed driver.

Presentation length: 45-60 minutes

Cycling

Our cycling safety presentations provide an overview of cycling safety and best practices, the benefits of cycling and the basics of cycling in traffic. Content covered includes the proper size and fit of bike, use of safety equipment such as helmets, hand signals and the importance of communicating with other road users, and safe use of bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure. Available in-person and online.

Target audience: Can be modified for all age groups

Presentation length: 30-45 minutes

Bike It!

This cycling safety course includes cycling theory and on-road lessons to give you a clear overview of cycling safety and best practices. The course is perfect for those who want to build on their cycling safety knowledge and gain confidence on navigating the roads and pathways of our city. Only available in-person.

Target audience: Amateur to experienced cyclists ages 16 and up.

Duration: Four hours.

Workshops are available from early spring into the late fall (April to October), weather permitting. You can organize a session for a group of coworkers – custom dates and times can also be scheduled for groups of six or more.

Upcoming dates: 

Saturday, July 13, 2024: Bison Drive Service Centre (15 Barnes St.) 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

To register, email [email protected] by July 10th.

Cycling Champions

If you are looking to become a leader in cycling safety or are a leader in the cycling community looking to brush up on your cycling knowledge, the Cycling Champions workshop may be for you. This course gives you instruction to become a ‘cycling champion’ and educate others in your community. As a cycling champion you’ll be empowered to deliver your own safety presentations to your peers at school, work or community groups.

On completion of this one-day workshop, all the materials required to deliver a cycling presentation are provided to you at no charge. This includes a ready-made presentation kit that contains a facilitator’s guide with speaking notes and PowerPoint presentations geared towards both children and adults.

Duration: Full-day workshop to prepare you to deliver cycling-safety presentations. Includes four hours in the classroom and four hours gaining hands-on riding experience.

During the session, you will learn:

• The proper size and fit of bike.
• Use of safety equipment such as helmets.
• Skills to recognize and avoid road hazards and dangerous situations.
• Strategies on how to safely ride in traffic.
• Safe use of bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure.

Workshops are available from early spring into the late fall (April to October), weather permitting. Workshop times typically run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Custom dates and times can also be scheduled for groups of six or more potential champions. Only available in-person.

Cycle Safely Bike Rodeo

This interactive presentation teaches children about bicycle safety and is great for school classes and other large groups. The rodeo consists of two parts – a 25-minute theory presentation and a 25-minute practical component riding on a course to practice what was learned. Students learn the rules of the road, hand signals, helmet fitting and to how to properly check that a bike is safe to ride. Only available in-person.

Target audience: Ages 6-10.

Duration: 50 minutes total.

What you need to host a bike rodeo:

• A minimum of 20 students and a maximum of 30 students are required. If more than one class or group of children is participating, one theory presentation will be scheduled for the entire group. The children will then be scheduled for the practical course by grade or in groups of 20 to 30.
• Theory component: Indoor (preferred) or outdoor space for participants to sit and listen to the presentation.
• Practical component: An outdoor paved area 90 feet x 90 feet (approximately the size of a basketball court) is preferred. A grass surface is not sufficient as we will need to use sidewalk chalk to direct the participants through the course.
• We strongly recommend that students bring their own bike and helmet to the Bike Rodeo. In cases where students do not have one or have forgotten them, we can bring a small selection of bikes and helmets with us that students may use for the duration of the bike rodeo. This will be pre-arranged with the organizer.
• It’s the law in Manitoba that anyone under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet while cycling. Helmets are mandatory for all children participating in the practical course.
• A teacher/organizer must be present to supervise the children.

Children and youth

Teach young people about road safety with the following presentations delivered by our Community Relations team.

Pedestrian Safety (for ages 5 to 12)

Help children understand the basics of pedestrian safety with the interactive presentation. This 30-minute session covers topics including sidewalk safety, reminders for walking on the road and how to be more visible. Children are encouraged to participate through review of basic road signage and hazard identifying activities. Available in-person or online.

I Cycle Safely (for ages 3 to 12)

Prepare young children to ride safely. This 30-45-minute presentation is perfect for school classes, daycares and community groups. It is recommended children have bike helmets on hand for the session (bikes are not required). Available in-person or online.

Bike Safe (for tweens and teens)

A great way to teach older kids to learn about the benefits of cycling and the basics of cycling in traffic. This presentation is ideal for middle schools, high schools, and community groups. It is recommended children have bike helmets on hand for the session (bikes are not required). The presentation runs 30 – 45 minutes. Available in-person or online

Manitoba Public Insurance takes tremendous pride in supporting and enhancing the quality of life in communities throughout the province. We believe in funding initiatives that contribute to local economies, support key business partnerships, demonstrate social responsibility and promote road safety.

Contributions and sponsorships

MPI accepts applications for sponsorship and contributions towards different types of initiatives:

• Community events in Manitoba, such as fairs, festivals, parades and celebrations. MPI supports events that contribute to local economies, attract visitors, foster community pride, engage participants in positive social relationships, and allow MPI to promote its products and services or promote road safety.
• Business partnerships that are critical to the core business interests of the Corporation, such as partnerships with stakeholders in industries related to claims, loss prevention and medical rehabilitation.
• Road safety programs and organizations that increase education or awareness of issues that align with the road safety priorities of MPI.

Our Community Contributions and Road Safety Programming Contributions Policies offer a consistent and objective framework for a corporate contributions program that directly aligns funding to our core insurance, road safety and loss prevention mandates, while at the same time balancing our obligation to be fiscally prudent.

To submit your program or event for funding consideration, visit MPI’s Contributions and Sponsorship application portal.

Corporate merchandise

Support for specific initiatives may also come in the form of donations of corporate merchandise where appropriate.

Promotional merchandise is a direct promotional tool that offers the Corporation the ability to target road safety messaging or to support strategic partnerships.

Corporate merchandise is not available to raise funds for personal or commercial gain (such as a social), or to private companies, community club sports teams, private clubs, sporting events that do not involve a registered charity, and fraternal, political, religious or racist groups.

Requests for donations of corporate merchandise can be made by contacting our Community Relations unit.

Additional community support

Manitoba Public Insurance takes pride in supporting and enhancing the quality of life in communities throughout Manitoba through an annual United Way Workplace Employee Campaign and related support for charitable foundations in communities where we have service centres but where no United Way agencies exist.

Road safety support

We work with road safety partners to support programs, particularly those aimed at seatbelt use, drug and alcohol impaired driving, speeding and aggressive driving, and distracted driving. These activities are designed to help Manitobans gain the knowledge and awareness they need to protect themselves and others behind the wheel.

Our partners include:

• Safety Services Manitoba – MPI provides an annual grant for motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV and mature driver education and training. Safety Services also delivers driver improvement courses on behalf of MPI. See the Safety Services Manitoba website for more information.
• Operation Red Nose – Manitoba Public Insurance is a founding provincial sponsor of the Operation Red Nose “safe ride home” program that runs over the December holiday season. The program is administered by Safety Services Manitoba and works with community groups in Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, Flin Flon, The Pas, Selkirk, Portage, Shilo, Steinbach/La Broquerie and Gimli to ensure that Manitobans can get home safely in their own vehicles after festive celebrations. Visit the Operation Red Nose website.
• MADD – MPI is the provincial sponsor of MADD‘s multi-media presentations to junior and senior high schools across the province. The presentations, which are seen by more than 20,000 students each year, challenge false perceptions about drugs, alcohol and driving.
• Enhanced Enforcement – MPI funds enhanced enforcement conducted by police agencies in Manitoba, to help raise awareness of the risks associated with poor driving behaviour and reduce the instances of impaired driving, speeding and driver distraction.
• Manitoba School Boards Association: Safe Grad – We provide funding support to this program that encourages safe alcohol practices for high school graduates, through a partnership with the Manitoba School Boards Association.
• Manitoba School Boards Association: Teens Against Destructive Decisions (TADD) – TADD is a volunteer association of Manitoba high school teens that encourages students to drive safely by sponsoring school events that raise awareness of road safety issues, such as distracted and impaired driving. In partnership with Manitoba School Boards Association, MPI provides impaired and distracted driving presentations to TADD members.
• Friends for Life – The annual Friends for Life speaker series is an initiative of MPI, Teens Against Destructive Decisions (TADD) and the Manitoba School Boards Association. The series uses eye-opening, real life stories delivered by the people who were impacted, to educate high school students throughout the province, about the consequences of unsafe driving behaviours.
• Halloween Pedestrian Safety Promotion – The Corporation distributes more than 110,000 highly-visible safety Halloween bags to schools across the province each year, along with educational materials and safety tips for trick-or-treaters, and for motorists.
• Manitoba Brain Injury Association – MPI is the provincial sponsor of the MBIA’s Mock Car crash event, which takes high school students through a portrayal of a motor-vehicle accident that resulted from risky driving decisions.
• Transit Free Ride – MPI supports the Free Ride program to provide free transit on New Year’s Eve in Winnipeg and Brandon. The program encourages alternate transportation options and discourages impaired driving.
• BEST – Bicycle Education & Skills Training in Schools – BEST is a partnership between Manitoba Public Insurance, Bike Winnipeg Green Action Centre and Seven Oaks School Division to develop grade-school cycling education lesson plans and on road instructions for the physical-education curriculum in grades four through eight.
• Campaign 911 – This program operates in several communities to educate the public on how to spot and report impaired drivers.
• Active transportation – We provide support to a number of other groups and events that promote road safety and safe active transportation, such as the annual Bike to Work week events and Bike to School events.

Automotive trades

We support education in automotive trades through assistance for apprentices, scholarships, and Skills Manitoba.

Financial assistance for apprentices

Manitoba Public Insurance is committed to ensuring that vehicle owners continue to have access to high quality repairs when they need them. We offer financial assistance to apprentices in the Motor Vehicle Body Repairer Program and the Motor Vehicle Body Painter Program, provided through Apprenticeship Manitoba.

Manitoba Public Insurance provides the following financial assistance:

• A $5,000 (maximum) Tool Allowance.
• A $2,000 Apprenticeship Grant after successful completion of each level of your program. That’s up to $8,000 for apprentices in the four-level Motor Vehicle Body Repairer program and up to $4,000 for apprentices in the two-level Automotive Painter program.

These grants help to attract and retain a skilled collision repair workforce in Manitoba, and foster a strong working relationship between the trade and Manitoba Public Insurance. The financial assistance program is offered through an agreement among the Automotive Trades Association, Manitoba Motor Dealers Association and MPI.

Interested? Apply now. Or visit Apprenticeship Manitoba for more information about becoming an apprentice.

Automotive trades scholarships

MPI provides high school and post-secondary scholarships to the top three Skills’ Canada Manitoba competitors in Autobody Repair (Collision), Auto Service (Mechanical) and Auto Painting. Through the Motor Vehicle Industry of Manitoba, we support scholarships for high school and post-secondary students.

Skills Canada Manitoba

MPI sponsors the annual Skills Manitoba competition, which rewards and encourages excellence among automotive trade students. We also sponsor the organization’s annual Young Women’s Conference. These events help young people learn about careers in the automotive industry and the education options available.

As part of our commitment to road safety, helps present several initiatives in schools across Manitoba.

Programs

Friends for Life: The Friends for Life speaker series is an ongoing annual initiative of MPI, Teens Against Destructive Decisions (TADD) and the Manitoba School Boards Association. The program aims to educate high school students through programming focused on the risks associated with dangerous driving decisions.

This program attempts to influence a traditionally hard to reach target demographic, high school youth, with compelling personal peer-to-peer stories about the risks and consequences of impaired driving and other illegal or dangerous driving behaviours. The speakers have consistently been well-received by students and educators. Evaluation survey results indicate the presentations help students understand the importance of making responsible choices related to safe driving behaviours.

Friends for Life debuted over 10 years ago and has occurred every year since in Winnipeg and across the province.

Halloween Pedestrian Safety Promotion: MPI distributes high-visibility safety items to elementary schools each October to help ensure a safe Halloween. For more than a decade, MPI has provided a Halloween safety item (such as a trick-or-treat bag or safety flasher) to elementary students across Manitoba. Each item features a “be safe, be seen” message along with a reflective element to promote visibility for drivers.

Children and youth presentations: Programming includes the Cycle Safely Bike Rodeos for ages 6-10, I Cycle Safely for ages 3-9 and Bike Safe for tweens and teens. See more information.

Driver Z: MPI coordinates and subsidizes the driver education program for high school students. See more information.

More information

School administrators are encouraged to use the Contact Community Relations form to seek more information on programming opportunities at your school.

Support

MPI also supports a number of programs and partnerships offering safety resources and services for schools. These include:

CAA School Safety Patrols: Patrols help protect young children as they walk to and from elementary schools across the province.

Teens Against Destructive Decisions (TADD): TADD is a volunteer association of Manitoba high school teens that encourages students to drive safely by sponsoring school events that raise awareness of road safety issues, such as distracted and impaired driving. In partnership with Manitoba School Boards Association, MPI provides impaired and distracted driving presentations at schools.

Safe Grad: Safe Grad promotes safe driving behaviours to high school students. MPI partners with the Manitoba School Boards Association to provide support.

P.A.R.T.Y.: The Prevent Alcohol Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) program supported by MPI, and presented by the Manitoba Brian Injury Association, takes high school students inside emergency rooms to see first-hand the consequences of risky driving behaviours.

MADD: MPI is the provincial sponsor of MADD’s multi-media presentations to junior and senior high schools across the province. The presentations, which are seen by more than 20,000 students each year, challenge false perceptions about drugs, alcohol and driving.

Road safety is a big part of our mission at MPI.

We are committed to increasing public concern about risky driving behaviours and to providing more opportunities for Manitobans to enhance their driving skills.

Our goals

• Making road safety a priority for Manitobans as well as for decision-makers who have a mandate to enhance public safety.
• Reducing public tolerance for injuries and fatalities related to road transportation and promoting an environment where crashes will become (and remain) a significant public health concern.
• Ensuring that Manitobans become more safety conscious, and the organizations tasked with improving road safety will incorporate the principles of safety conscious planning into their programs, projects, initiatives and campaigns.

To achieve our goals, we focus on the following major issues:

• distracted driving
• speed and intersection safety
• impaired driving
• vulnerable road users
• occupant safety

Our strategy

• Develop and manage awareness and education initiatives about the causes of accidents and how to prevent them.
• Support community-based initiatives that promote road safety awareness and education.
• Work with stakeholders and partners, including enforcement agencies, to support their programs.
• Conduct and enhance research and analysis to better understand road safety issues and come up with solutions best suited to Manitoba.

Road safety behaviours

In 2017, there 12,659 victims (or casualties) of traffic collisions. Of these, 73 people were killed and 442 were seriously injured. Many of these deaths and serious injuries were related to preventable actions.

The behaviours most responsible for traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Manitoba are:

• Distracted driving
• Speed
• The dangers of drinking and driving
• Drug impairment

In addition to addressing these and other unsafe driving behaviours, we recognize the importance of protecting our most vulnerable road users – bicyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists – to reduce their likelihood of traffic injuries, as well as to improve the future of active transportation for a healthier Manitoba.

All Manitobans have a role to play in reducing injury and death on our roads. Remember, the next victim could be someone you know.

Road safety partners

We work with a diverse group of partners across the province who share our vision for road safety.

MPI is a key partner in The Road to Zero: Manitoba Road Safety Plan 2017-2020. The vision of The Road to Zero is for Manitoba to have the safest roads in Canada and we are committed to one day achieving zero traffic fatalities on our roadways. In May 2019, a report was provided on our collective progress. A final report outlines Manitoba’s progress under the Road to Zero plan.

Book a road safety community presentation

To book a road safety presentation for your community group, school or business, visit our Road Safety Community Presentations page for more information.