Corporate Sponsorship
Is your company looking to take advantage of unique marketing opportunities by sponsoring an event, a program, or an iconic piece of infrastructure here at The Forks? We would love to hear your ideas and get to know you more! Please reach out to our Sponsorship Manager to see what is possible.
A note from our Sponsorship Manager:
In my role redeveloping our current sponsorship portfolio at The Forks, I am excited to partner with companies that have intrinsic tie-ins to the work we do on the site. I specialize in moving beyond traditional sponsorship and marketing models in order to offer creative opportunities for companies to engage with our shared audiences and to establish and maintain long-term connections. I approach these sorts of negotiations from a framework of “win-win-win,” considering the goals of the sponsor (your company), the rightsholder (The Forks), and the part of the equation that is arguably the most important and often overlooked, our visitors, who are the people who will encounter your brand at The Forks. I see sponsorship as a way to enhance the user experience with partners and with the site, therefore resulting in genuine goodwill and name recognition for both.
I hope you will consider working with me and my team on an exciting sponsorship opportunity. Together, I am confident in our ability to make loyal fans of The Forks, who return again and again to the site, equally engaged with your company.
Sincerely,
Andrew Eastman,
Sponsorship Manager
andrew.eastman@theforks.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn!
CN Railway Company
Since 2018, CN has been an anchoring contributor to the success of The Forks. As title sponsor of CN Stage and Field, their company logo has been viewed by millions of visitors and has become a recognizable, nameable landmark in the city. Whether visitors are celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community together at Pride Winnipeg, shooting hoops with the Winnipeg Sea Bears, skating with the family, sweating it out in a group fitness class, or taking a selfie in front of the Winnipeg sign, they continue to gather and make memories at CN Stage and Field.
CN powers the economy by safely transporting more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year for its customers. With its 18,800-mile rail network and related transportation services, CN connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. Midwest and the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to sustainable trade and the prosperity of the communities in which it operates since 1919.
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries was the Presenting Sponsor of Learn to Winter at The Forks 2026. The Forks and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries are both committed to providing Manitobans with access to educational and community-based activities in every season.
Learn to Winter is one of The Forks' Signature Events, where visitors can participate in a range of fun winter pursuits at no cost. Learn to Winter activities were offered every weekend from January 1 to March 31. They include Warming Hut Tours, a Learn to Skate program for all ages and skill levels, DJs on Ice, Winter Wellness fitness classes, Storytelling in the Teepee with Elder Barb Nepinak, and Ice Basketball.
The Learn to Winter program is popular with children and adults, providing a great way to get outside and embrace our wonderful winter season.
Through their Small Capital Sponsorship Program, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries also supported The Forks by funding the creation and installation of the new All-Season Entertainment Kiosk. This multi-use piece of infrastructure houses Winnipeg Waterways during the summer, allowing visitors to sign up for river boat tours and to get information on how to use the waterbus. In the winter, the structure is transformed into a weather-resistant stage for performers, which will provide much needed shelter from the wind and the cold for DJs on Ice and for other signature event performances.
These two sponsorships allow visitors to engage with a wide variety of programming, across seasons and also give you tenants and performers a more comfortable place to work.
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) is responsible for distributing and selling liquor, providing gaming and entertainment experiences, and the sourcing and distributing of non-medicinal cannabis to provincial retailers, all in a socially responsible manner.
A Crown Corporation of the Province of Manitoba, MBLL enriches the lives of Manitobans by making the greatest possible contribution to the economic, environmental, and social well-being of our province.
MBLL profits are returned to the Government of Manitoba and are used to support provincial programs and initiatives that touch the people who live here. Additionally, two per cent of its anticipated annual net income is committed towards responsible gambling, responsible liquor and cannabis consumption, and to research and treatment programs.
Learn more about Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries
Southern Chiefs' Organization
In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Southern Chiefs' Organization was the presenting sponsor of the Wáhkóhtowin Powwow. The event brought together Indigenous dancers, drummers, singers, families, and community members in a vibrant celebration of culture and community. The Forks is extremely grateful for the support from SCO and looks forward to many future collaborations.
The Southern Chiefs' Organization (SCO) represents 33 Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations in what is now southern Manitoba, adn more than 92,000 citizens. SCO was established in March 1999.
The Southern Chiefs' Organization is established to assist member First Nations in the advancement and achievement of their goals as mandated by the Chiefs meeting in Summit; to provide a common front for initiatives mandated by the Chiefs meeting in Summit; to promote and assist member First Nations in providing good government for their First Nations; to assist member First Nations in promoting and defending Treaty and Aboriginal rights as mandated by the Chiefs in Summit; to assist member First Nations in holding the Crown, and holding the Federal and Provincial governments responsible for the fulfillment of their fiduciary duties and other responsibilities and obligations.
Learn more about the Southern Chiefs' Organization
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation was a supporting sponsor of the Wáhkóhtowin Powwow. The event brought together Indigenous dancers, drummers, singers, families, and community members in a vibrant celebration of culture and community.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) is a place of learing and dialogue where the truths of residential school Survivors, families and communities are honoured and kept safe for future generations.
The NCTR educates Canadians on the profound injustices inflicted on First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples by the forced removal of children to attend residential schools and the widespread abuse suffered in those schools.
We preserve the record of these human rights abuses and promote continued research and learning on the legacy of residential schools. Our goal is to honor Survivors and to foster reconciliation and healing on the foundation of truth telling.
The NCTR is located on Treaty One Territory, original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewak, Dakota Oyate and Dene, the homeland of the Red River Métis, and home to many Inuit.
Learn more about the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
The JUNO Awards
As a Supporting Sponsor of Many Nations, One Heartbeat, The JUNO Awards were invited to curate and host "Countdown to The JUNOS," a one-night showcase of local music on the patio at The Forks. This concert helped to build excitement about The JUNOS, which is coming to Winnipeg April 1st – 4th, 2027. As Winnipeg's premiere meeting place, The Forks will be a site for further activations in the lead up to The JUNOS, welcoming locals and visitors alike to join in the excitement.
The JUNO Awards
What started as the RPM Gold Leaf Awards in 1964 by RPM editor and publisher Walt Grealis and record label executive Stan Klees, soon became The JUNO Awards in 1971. Named in tribute to Pierre Juneau, the first chairperson of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), The JUNO Awards were founded to raise the public profile and recognition of musical artists in Canada.
The JUNO Awards has evolved from an industry awards event to a weeklong festival that travels city to city across the country. It encompasses both public-facing fan events and industry/networking opportunities featuring a diverse array of Canadian artists and emerging talent. In addition to The JUNO Awards Broadcast, JUNO Week event programming includes JUNO Songwriters' Circle, JUNOfest, and more.
In 2002, The JUNO Awards went on the road to take the music to the fans and expanded its scope to include a series of public and private events outside of the Awards broadcast. Each host city has embraced their opportunity to support The JUNO Awards and build an enduring legacy of music programs in their market.
Learn more about The JUNO Awards
Indigenous Music
For the final event of the weekend concert series of Many Nations, One Heartbeat, Indigenous Music presented a concert under the canopy at The Forks, featuring three stellar Indigenous artists from Manitoba. The title of the event, "Zhoonguweh nuhgaamwin" was gifted by Knowledge Keeper Colin Mousseau and means "The powerful song."
About Indigenous Music
The Indigenous Music Development Program (IMDP) at Manitoba Music was launched in 2004 to support First Nation, Inuit, and Métis artists and music companies as they build sustainable careers in Manitoba's music industry. The program delivers projects and services that respond to the needs of the industry as identified by a steering committee.
IMDP hosts workshops about the business side of the music industry, career consultations, industry showcases, an online Indigenous artist and music company directory, a streaming playlist, a website and social media and exports market development opportunities.
Learn more about Indigenous Music
sākihiwē festival and The Winnipeg Folk Festival
sākihiwē festival and The Winnipeg Folk Festival teamed up to present a one-night concert, "Indigenous Coffeehouse Live," taking place under the canopy at The Forks. This event was a showcase for two Indigenous musical acts and served as a pillar of sākihiwē's4-day programming, a promotional opportunity for the upcoming edition of Folk Fest, and a key event of Many Nations, One Heartbeat 2026.
sākihiwē festival
sākihiwē festival was launched as Aboriginal Music Week in 2009 and the organization received its festival name from Sundance Chief David Blacksmith during a sweat lodge ceremony in 2018.
sākihiwē, meaning "love another" in Cree, takes music to Indigenous families in divested neighbourhoods so they can participate in the arts without sacrificing their family responsibilities, personal safety, or their ability to make ends meet. They also serve as a launch pad for emerging Indigenous artists and a stepping stone for mid-career or export-ready artists who need additional support.
Learn more about sākihiwē festival
The Winnipeg Folk Festival
The summer Festival's cumulative attendance exceeds 70,000 annually and includes visitors and performers from across North America and around the world. There are nearly 2,700 dedicated volunteers who contribute well over 60,000 hours each year to create the magic that is the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
The organization has evolved from a one-weekend event in July to a year-round charitable, nonprofit arts organization with folk music at its heart, presenting dozens of concerts and event throughout the year and community support through outreach programs.
Learn more about The Winnipeg Folk Festival
