Manitoba Opera

CANADA LIFE: BUILDING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW

Feb 25, 2026

The mission to enhance the well-being of all Canadians has long been central to Canada Life’s values, and it starts with our youngest citizens. As the lead sponsor of Manitoba Opera’s education and community engagement initiatives. Canada Life develops healthy communities by ensuring young people have access to arts education and the transformative power of opera.

Through Canada Life’s support, free educational programs are delivered to schools across the province. These initiatives are in high demand, as educators recognize the meaningful impact they have on students. Opera Class invites students to create their own opera, inspiring them to explore their creativity and make artistic discoveries. Participants collaborate with one another, engage in a safe and supportive environment for sharing ideas, and through the power of opera gain deeper insight into themselves, their classmates, and the world around them.

Canada Life also recognizes the arts as an important platform for fostering meaningful conversations about diversity. With their backing, Manitoba Opera has ensured that programs like Opera Storytime reflect the inclusivity of our community. Their support has made it possible to access cherished opera stories in languages spoken by Manitoba students, including English, French, Ukrainian, Tagalog, American Sign Language, French Michif and Ojibwe. Experiencing these stories in their own language helps students feel seen, valued, and included.

Together, these programs allow Manitoba Opera to broaden the dialogue around how opera can serve as a creative tool for young people to understand and interpret the world. Canada Life believes this forward-looking approach is essential to strengthening communities and sees arts education as a key pathway to achieving that goal.

Thank you, Canada Life, for your continued commitment to the next generation of opera lovers, and your support of a better future for all.

 

Image: Stephen Haiko-Pena reads Opera Cat to grade 2 students at Donwood School during I Love to Read month. Photo: P. Refler.

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