JOIN US on Friday, April 24 at 8am at the Forks Market (2nd floor event space) to explore how to fuel your creativity with our global CreativeMornings theme of EMBER! Our speaker is Matt Jenkins of Cloverdale Forge -- a modern blacksmith artist. 

APRIL TALK: "Tending the Embers: Keeping the Flames of Creativity Fueled."

Our tech-driven world often celebrates the spark, but rarely do we talk about what keeps creativity burning over time. 

At CreativeMornings Winnipeg this April, we welcome Matt Jenkins of Cloverdale Forge—a modern blacksmith whose work is rooted in patience, precision, and the daily practice of tending the fire. 

Through fire, steel, and story, Matt will explore what it means to stay with an idea after the initial excitement fades, when all that remains is the ember. He’ll reflect on the discipline and resilience behind steady, intentional creativity. 

After all, it’s not the spark that sustains the flame—it’s the focus.

MEET OUR SPEAKER: 

Matt Jenkins is a Manitoba-based artist blacksmith dedicated to designing and forging highly crafted work. His early interest in making was shaped by childhood exposure to tools and building, and later sharpened through work at the blacksmith shop at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site. Over the past 30 years, he has honed his skills through hands-on practice and study with master smiths across North America, developing a body of work that combines traditional blacksmithing techniques with a strong sense of design.

Matt has earned international recognition at the World Forging Championship in Stia, Italy, receiving an Honorable Mention in team forging in 2009 and first place in Drawing and Design in 2015. In 2016, he undertook the #366Hooks project, designing and forging a different hook every day for a full leap year. That ambitious exploration of variation, utility, and sculptural form later evolved into his 2024 book, HOOKED: A Blacksmith’s Study of Function Through Form.

Using hand tools and early industrial equipment, Matt creates forged work with the timeless feel of handmade objects. Alongside his studio practice at Cloverdale Forge, he teaches workshops, gives demonstrations, and has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Center for Metal Arts. His work continues to balance craftsmanship, inquiry, and a desire to keep blacksmithing active, relevant, and alive.

APRIL THEME: EMBER

Our theme for April is EMBER. It was chosen by our Poulsbo chapter in Washington and illustrated by Sarah Gordon.

What ember is quietly glowing inside you? And what new fire will it ignite in your life?

Embers represent the quiet, enduring remnants of fire—what remains after the intensity fades. They carry a smoldering potential, a subtle strength that holds heat long after the flames have gone. As a quieter community outside the city, we may not always burn the brightest, but we never burn out. Our spark lives in reflection, resilience, and the space we have to pause, think, and grow.

In those calm moments, we find what many others miss: the steady glow of ideas, relationships, and dreams that don’t need noise to thrive. Embers remind us that even after challenges or change, something powerful remains—ready to reignite when needed. We hold that same quiet fire within ourselves, and in community with each other, we kindle more.

Together, we tend the quiet fire—fueling one another through presence, care, and shared warmth.

Bring your reusable coffee mug and join us for coffee, community and creative inspiration!

** What to expect at a CM Winnipeg event (besides inspiration and fun)**

8:00am Arrival and check in -- grab a coffee, a breakfast treat and make a new friend (or just smile at someone while making a cool nametag)

8:25am Refill coffee and settle in for a great event!

8:30am Welcome to CreativeMornings and listen to our featured local performer

8:45am Community creative engagement activity -- introvert approved (and introvert friendly!)

9:00am Intro of Headliner (speaker)

9:30am Wrap up and exchange contact info with your new friend!

We aim to have the event wrapped up by no later than 9:45am. 

PICS FROM OUR MARCH EVENT: Celebrating Local!

Join CreativeMornings Winnipeg at The Forks (2nd floor) on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 8am to explore the global theme of LOCAL!

Our headline speaker is Carly Edmundson -- President and CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc and a proud RRC Polytech alumnus.  

Local Power, Creative Pathways: Building Community Where You Stand

What does it really mean to invest in the place you call home? Carly Edmundson’s work at CentrePort Canada sits at the intersection of economic growth, community well-being, and long-term local impact — and her story is a reminder that meaningful change takes doesn't happen opernight. It takes a bold vision, hard work, and a community of people.

In this talk, Carly shares how creative thinking can unlock local opportunity: building partnerships across sectors, creating pathways for people and businesses to thrive, and shaping development that strengthens both the economy and the social fabric of Winnipeg. She’ll reflect on what it takes to lead with intention, stay rooted in community, and build a 20,000 acre inland port that directly benefits the people who live nearby.

This is a conversation about building local — and finding creative pathways to drive development, foster resilience and grow Manitoba's economy.

Meet our Headliner: Carly Edmundson

Carly leads the development and growth of CentrePort Canada and is driven by a desire to make a positive impact for her home province of Manitoba, and for Canada. 

Building from her education at RRC Polytech, her previous experience includes other positions with CentrePort Canada, Cushman & Wakefield | Stevenson, Price Industries, Wellington West and Winnipeg Airports Authority. 

Currently, Carly serves as Co-Chair of the Blue Ribbon Infrastructure Panel (Province of Manitoba), Co-Chair of the Digital Learning Centre Cabinet (Canadian Museum for Human Rights), Vice-Chair of the Goods Movement Advisory Committee (City of Winnipeg), Vice-Chair of the North Forge Board of Directors, and member of the Premier’s Business and Jobs Council Trade Diversification subcommittee (Province of Manitoba).

 

 

Join us to explore the March 2026 CreativeMornings Global Theme of LOCAL! 

 

Our theme for March is LOCAL. It was chosen by our Santos chapter in Brazil and illustrated by Simone Matias.

Local (pronounced lo·cal) in Portuguese means “being a resident or native to a particular area.”

Our Santos chapter had this to say about the significance of this month's theme:

“We are proud to be from Santos. The feeling of loving the city but sometimes moving away. The benefits of belonging somewhere.”

Watch this video from our Santos chapter for more on what local means to them.

So, how does where you’re from define who you are? How do different spaces foster that sense of connection? How can we develop and strengthen bonds with the people around us?

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED US AT OUR FEBRUARY EVENT on the theme of CAMINO! 

Photos by the amazing Gabrielle Touchette are now live at our Flikr account: HERE  Here's a sneak peak! 

 

SUNRISE CAMINO
Skate | Walk | Run | Roll

Choose your pace / all abilities welcome!

Join CreativeMornings Wpg for a Sunrise Camino before our "Camimo" event at The Forks!

6:45am: Meet our participating team behind The Forks elevator.
7:00am: Be ready to go on the river!
7:00 - 7:30am: Enjoy some movement and the stunning sunrise view from the Red River.

This Camino is lead by Lyndsay Lambert -- intrepid CM WPG volunteer and movement enthusiast! 

Gabrielle Touchette Photography will be joining us to catch you in action!

Registration is not required - simply show up. See you for the sunrise!

Join us on February 27, 2026 at 8am at the Forks Market (2nd floor event space), as we explore the theme Camino—the ways and paths that shape innovation—with entrepreneur and U-Pro Soccer founder, John Barbosa. We are proud to be a partner of MB Tech Week! 

Our Global theme for February is CAMINO. It was chosen by our Oviedo chapter in Asturias, Spain and illustrated by Marta Vila.

Camino (pronounced Kah-Mee-Noh) is a Spanish word meaning “path” or “way.”

You don’t have to know exactly where your path leads, just trust that you’ll learn what you need along the way. Wherever you are headed, we wish you, as they say in Oviedo, “buen camino.” May you have a safe and meaningful journey.

 

 Our Speaker: John Barbosa

John is redefining athletic training with an AI-powered platform that uses computer vision and biomechanics to transform any living room into a world-class soccer academy. Supported by North Forge, U-Pro Soccer is opening new pathways for young athletes to access professional-level coaching from home. Discover how John’s journey from idea to impact is paving a bold new way forward in sports tech and beyond.

In John's Own Words: 
I’m the CEO and founder of U-Pro Soccer Technologies Inc., where we’re re-imagining how kids and families experience sports. Our mission is simple: turn screen time into skill time.

U-Pro was inspired by my own son, after he accidentally broke our TV while training indoors, I realized kids need a safer, smarter, and more engaging way to practice the game they love. That spark grew into a platform that combines AI-powered biomechanics, gamification, and a freemium model to make world-class training accessible to every child, no matter their background.

I believe in a future where sports and play aren’t limited by cost, geography, or access, but available to every family, everywhere. That vision has guided U-Pro to early recognition, including the Leadership in AI Award and partnerships across youth soccer ecosystems.

Originally from Brazil, I moved to Winnipeg in 2017. My background spans tech, business strategy, and community-driven growth, but my focus is always the same: building companies that create lasting impact.

Camino to Creation: The Lived Journey of an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is rarely linear - it’s a Camino shaped by experimentation, values, and persistence. In this talk, John Barbosa shares the lived journey behind creating U-Pro Soccer, exploring how creativity emerges through problem-solving, iteration, and commitment to impact. From a simple moment of insight to building an AI-powered platform expanding access to elite training, John reflects on what it means to create something meaningful while becoming the kind of leader the work requires.

** What to expect at a CM Winnipeg event (besides inspiration and fun)**

8:00am Arrival and check in -- grab a coffee, a breakfast treat and make a new friend (or just smile at someone while making a cool nametag)

8:25am Refill coffee and settle in for a great event!

8:30am Welcome to CreativeMornings and listen to our featured local performer

8:45am Community creative engagement activity -- introvert approved (and introvert friendly!)

9:00am Intro of Headliner (speaker)

9:30am Wrap up and exchange contact info with your new friend!

We aim to have the event wrapped up by no later than 9:45am.

  

Thanks to everyone who came out to our 5th birthday party! We had SO much fun exploring our global theme of KOORSOO ("faint glimmer of hope") and celebrating 5 years of CreativeMornings Wpg. We look forward to seeing you at our February event! 

Event photos can be found on our Flickr site here, with thanks to our amazing photographer, Gabrielle Touchette photography. 

As we welcome a new year, CreativeMornings Winnipeg is finding many reasons to celebrate! Join us on January 30 at 8am at our NEW venue -- The Forks Event Space (2nd floor) -- for our 5th birthday party, featuring Christian Robin and Christine Watson speaking on the origin story of CM Winnipeg. 

Okay -- that's a lot to take in. So, we'll break it down for you. 

Venue Change: Celebrating the Growth of CM Winnipeg 

We shared an update at our December event and, if you weren’t there, we want to make sure you know about it.

Starting in 2026, CreativeMornings Winnipeg will be moving from Launch Coworking Space to The Forks Event Space (2nd floor, above the arcade).

We’ve grown a lot as a community, and the new venue will give us more room. We also want to offer a heartfelt thank-you to Launch Coworking Space and the Exchange District Biz, who have supported our chapter for years. We’re grateful for everything they’ve done to help this community thrive.

January Celebration: CreativeMornings Winnipg Turns Five! 

Join us on January 30th to celebrate the beautiful community of CreativeMornings Winniepg built through the curiosity, passion and hard work of so many people. 

A Faint Gimmer of Hope: The Origin Story of CreativeMornings Winnipeg

CreativeMornings Winnipeg was never supposed to work. It was the start of a pandemic and the idea of launching a new creative meet-up was badly-timed —or so people said. Who were we to believe we could start and sustain a free monthly gathering at 8:00am built purely on joy, curiosity, and community?

But in the uncertain early days, when the odds were stacked against it, the founders—Christine Watson and Christian Robin—held tight to a KOORSOO: a faint glimmer of hope that somewhere in Winnipeg, a creative community was waiting to find itself.

As a celebration of CreativeMornings Winnipeg’s 5th birthday, this talk traces the improbable, quietly radical origin story of CreativeMornings Winnipeg: how a small group of passionate people were stubborn enough to believe that creativity thrives everywhere and to trust the process (and each other) to create moments of beautiful connection,

The founders will describe how they invested in possibility rather than prediction and how a small spark lit by “what if” conversations grew into a vibrant community, supported by amazing partners, that now shows up—month after month—to celebrate ideas, make connections, and champion each other’s work.

The story of the building of CreativeMornings Winnipeg and the celebration of the community’s 5th birthday is a reminder that building community is an act of courage, that belonging often begins as a whisper, and that even the smallest glimmer of hope can illuminate an entire movement.

Our CreativeMornings Global Theme: KOORSOO

کورسو or Koorsoo (pronounced Koor·Soo) is a Farsi word meaning “a glimmer of hope.”

Our Tehran chapter had this to say about its significance:

"In our darkest hours, when everything seems to have dimmed, sometimes a light remains—not bright, not certain, but real. That is Koorsoo. A faint glimmer of hope that dares to survive. Koorsoo is not about triumph or clarity; it is about the fragile yet unwavering light that keeps us going. A glance, a memory, a word. Small things that prevent collapse. It represents the quiet resilience of those who continue in spite of the weight, who believe without guarantee. In a world that often normalizes despair, Koorsoo is a rebellion; soft, but profound. It reminds us, even the smallest spark matters.”</em>

As a new year begins, ask yourself, “what is giving me hope right now?”

It’s up to each of us to keep that little light shining. Protect it and hold it dear. But be careful not to smother it. Share your koorsoo with the people around you. Because the world needs all the hope it can get.

All the Deets! 

** What to expect at a CM Winnipeg event (besides inspiration and fun)**

8:00am Arrival and check in -- grab a coffee, a breakfast treat and make a new friend (or just smile at someone while making a cool nametag)

8:25am Refill coffee and settle in for a great event!

8:30am Welcome to CreativeMornings and listen to our featured local performer

8:45am Community creative engagement activity -- introvert approved (and introvert friendly!)

9:00am Intro of Headliner (speaker)

9:30am Wrap up and exchange contact info with your new friend!

We aim to have the event wrapped up by no later than 9:45am.

 

Join us for our final CreativeMornings Winnipeg event of 2025. We will be meeting at 8am on Friday, December 19th at Launch Co-Working in the Exchange District -- and would love to see you there! 

Register here: Dec event registration

There's no better way to wrap up this year and prepare for the next than by exploring our global monthly theme of INNOVATION with our speaker, Joelle Foster. 

OUR GLOBAL CREATIVEMORNINGS MONTHLY THEME:

Our theme for December is INNOVATION. It was chosen by our Isfahan chapter in Iran and illustrated by Nazanin Emamieh.

Innovation rarely arrives in a limousine. It shows up as a question or a pet peeve. A hunch that the default setting could be better. An inability to accept the status quo.

Innovation is risky and rebellious. It means breaking the routine and reimagining the familiar. It treats uncertainty as an invitation instead of a barrier. Innovation doesn’t take a genius, it just requires curiosity and willingness to try. And try again.

The world needs more tinkerers, experimenters, and fixers. People who believe change is possible and start with whatever they have. Then don’t stop until they’ve made something new or better.

Creativity asks, “what if?” Innovation replies, “here’s how.”

MEET OUR SPEAKER: Joelle Foster

Joelle Foster, co-founder and President/CEO of North Forge, has over two decades of experience supporting entrepreneurs across Canada. She co-founded the Women's Equity Lab (WEL) MB to increase the number of women angel investors and developed North Forge’s four-stage digital Founders Program, driving a 300% growth in tech-enabled and advanced manufacturing companies in Manitoba. Joelle also established the Angel Network (2021), Global Entrepreneur Initiative (2023), and Women in Innovation Lab (WiLab, 2023). Under her leadership, North Forge won two Diversity and Inclusion awards in 2024. 

Previously, Joelle served as Executive Director of the University of Calgary’s Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking and as a Director for Futurpreneur Canada, where her efforts led to the launch of over 325 businesses in Manitoba, including notable startups like Skip the Dishes and Callia Flowers. Joelle has recently been appointed as a national board director for the Canada Foundation for Innovation, a government-led non-profit that gives over a billion dollars toward research initiatives.

OUR EVENT AGENDA: 

** What to expect at a CM Winnipeg event (besides inspiration and fun)**

8:00am Arrival and check in -- grab a coffee, a breakfast treat and make a new friend (or just smile at someone while making a cool nametag)

8:25am Refill coffee and settle in for a great event!

8:30am Welcome to CreativeMornings and listen to our featured local performer

8:45am Audience engagement ("Raise Your Hand If") and community creative engagement activities -- introvert approved

9:00am Intro of Headliner (speaker)

9:30am Wrap up and exchange contact info with your new friend!

We aim to have the event wrapped up by no later than 9:45am.

🌿 November CreativeMornings Winnipeg

This Is Not My Mountain – Creating Growth Where Grief Once Lived

Featuring Dorota Blumczynska (speaker)
📅 Friday, November 21, 2025
📍 Launch Coworking (Exchange District)
🎨 Global Theme: Growth

Grief has a way of reshaping us — quietly, relentlessly, and often against our will. Yet within that reshaping, something remarkable can take root: growth.

In our November event, This Is Not My Mountain – Creating Growth Where Grief Once Lived, Dorota Blumczynska invites us into an intimate and deeply human conversation about loss, resilience, and the courage it takes to rebuild after everything falls apart.

With raw honesty and poetic grace, Dorota shares her journey through displacement, violence, and devastating grief — including the loss of her mother — and the unexpected ways healing has remade her life. This is not a story about triumphing over pain, but about learning to live beside it; to find tenderness amid the wreckage, and to create meaning where none seemed possible.

Dorota reminds us that trauma does not define us — our becoming does. Her words offer both solace and strength for anyone who has faced a mountain that felt insurmountable and wondered if they could ever move beyond it.

Come listen. Feel. Remember. You are not alone.

🌱 About Dorota Blumczynska

Dorota Blumczynska is a storyteller, leader, and lifelong advocate for belonging. Born in Poland and raised in Winnipeg after her family arrived as refugees, Dorota has spent her life working to make communities more just, inclusive, and compassionate. She is the CEO of the Manitoba Museum and the former Executive Director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM).

Her work is rooted in the belief that stories — especially those born from struggle — have the power to heal and to grow something beautiful from what was once broken. Dorota brings that same spirit to every conversation, reminding us that growth is not always upward or easy — sometimes it’s simply the act of choosing life again, one breath at a time.

🎟️ Join us:
Friday, November 21, 2025
Launch Coworking, Exchange District
Doors open at 8:00 AM | Talk begins at 8:30 AM

Free coffee, warm community, and inspiration to start your day — always.

CreativeMornings Monthly Theme of GROWTH

Our theme for November is GROWTH. It was chosen by our Sacramento chapter in California, illustrated by Amber Rankin, and presented by Adobe.

Creativity demands growth. Not the kind that can be measured with a ruler. It’s about taking stock of your character. Who’s ready to chase wild possibilities and meaningful progress? We must unlearn the need to be perfect and busy. Remember how to play and get our hands dirty again.

 

THANK YOU ADOBE!!

Adobe has been our Global Partner for ONE YEAR! 
Our global partner Adobe is all about helping creators grow. They know that creativity takes time, persistence, and community.
Big thanks to Adobe for supporting connections and conversations at CreativeMornings chapters around the world AND especially in support of the Winnipeg chapter!

** What to expect at a CM Winnipeg event (beside inspiration and fun)**

8:00am Arrival and check in -- grab a coffee, a breakfast treat and make a new friend (or just smile at someone while making a cool nametag)

8:25am Refill coffee and settle in for a great event!

8:30am Welcome to CreativeMornings and listen to our featured local performer

8:45am Community creative engagement activity -- introvert approved (and introvert friendly!)

9:15am Intro of Headliner (speaker)

9:30am Wrap up and exchange contact info with your new friend!

We aim to have the event wrapped up by no later than 9:45am.

Join us on October 31st (in costume, if you please! ) to explore the CreativeMornings monthly theme of SOFT with our headliner, Carmen Puente! It is also Latin American Heritage Month and we’ll have Latin American music and energy infusing our event.

We are meeting at Launch Co-Working in the Exchange District at 8am on Hallowe'en (Oct 31) and would love to see you there!

A Soft Force: Creating Possibility from the Latina Immigrant Experience
This talk offers a heartfelt reflection on the immigrant journey of Latina women in Canada, exploring how cultural roots and personal resilience help shape our path through change, challenges, and growth.

Blending personal narrative with collective insight, Carmen Puente invites the audience to rethink resilience-not just as endurance, but as an act of self-compassion. Through stories of identity, adaptation, and empowerment, this talk highlights how Latina women not only seek opportunities but also learn to create them, while embracing tenderness, creativity, and leadership along the way.

About Our Headliner: 
Carmen Puente is a Venezuelan-born business administrator with a Master’s in Business Management. She immigrated to Canada in 2013 with her husband and baby, seeking a better future Now working at RRC Polytech supporting newcomer integration, Carmen is deeply passionate about helping others thrive. As founder and Executive Director of the Training and Empowerment Women Congress MB, she leads with heart – creating opportunities for immigrant women to grow, lead and believe in their dreams again. 

Our theme for October is SOFT. It was chosen by our Victoria chapter in British Columbia, Canada and illustrated by Leah McInnis.

The world feels hard in so many ways. Soft is gentle, empathic, and vulnerable. But being soft is not a weakness. It is a sign of deeper strength. Having the courage to walk through life without armor. 

Let’s snuggle up and let down our guard.

Join us on Friday, September 26th at 8am at Launch Co-Working (Exchange District) for a inspiring morning on the CreativeMornings theme of BLOSSOM! Our headliner is Tedi Gilmartin – super thrifter, RRC Polytech alumna, and content creator.

Blossom: The Year I Learned I Could Create My Own PathTedi is a content creator celebrated for her Manitoba thrifting expertise, playful personality, and dynamic creativity. By day, she works as a content marketing specialist for a multi-billion-dollar company, and by night, she’s a creative photographer behind billboard campaigns, a videographer, and an editor passionate about storytelling-driven video content.

Over the past year and a half, Tedi has stepped fully into her creative confidence, growing her audience, taking her freelance work to new heights, and partnering with local brands. 

In this talk, she shares the lessons learned from starting fresh, leaning into her strengths, and embracing the unexpected seasons of life. It’s a story about growth, resilience, strength in community, and discovering that sometimes the moments we think will end us are exactly the moments that allow us to truly blossom.

Exploring our CreativeMornings Global Theme

Our theme for September is BLOSSOM. It was chosen by our Pereira chapter in Colombia, illustrated by Edwin Morales, and is presented by Adobe.  

Every blossom is an act of becoming. The quiet force of roots pushing through the dark, the slow unfurling of a bud, a sudden burst of color. But plants don’t blossom on command. Each flower requires the right amount of sunlight, water, and nourishment across the cycle of the seasons. 

To truly blossom, you must take the risk of opening up. This is your season. You deserve to be seen. Offer your abundance of color and creativity to the world! 

Ask yourself, “what within me is ready to blossom?” “What can I nurture to help others do the same?”

Here