Residents of Gimli, Manitoba, have a new opportunity to support local youth leadership as a young resident named Gus competes in the national 2026 Jr. Ranger Competition. Online public voting, which helps narrow the field of competitors, began on March 30, 2026, and continues through April 9, 2026.
The Jr. Ranger Competition is a nationwide contest operated by Colossal Management, LLC to benefit the National Wildlife Federation. The event is open to children between the ages of four and 12 across Canada (excluding Quebec) and the United States. Last year, the campaign successfully raised $6.5 million to support conservation efforts led by the federation.
The top contestant in this year’s event stands to win a prize package valued at approximately $45,000. This includes a $20,000 honorarium, a feature in the organization’s magazine, and an exclusive wildlife experience with television personality Jeff Corwin.
Gimli, a community of about 6,569 residents, has a recent history of strong participation in national voting contests. Earlier this year, locals mobilized to secure a win in the Winnipeg Jets Town Takeover by casting more than 12,500 votes. Supporters looking to participate in the current competition can find voting details posted through the Meanwhile in the Interlake community group.
This contest highlights the importance of local youth programs in the region, such as The Wave/Interact drop-in centre. The community is also currently working on efforts to establish a permanent Gimli Youth Hub to continue supporting local programming.
