Adult residents in Morden and Winkler, Manitoba, are calling for more indoor gym space to play casual basketball during the winter months. While there are good outdoor options in the summer, players say it is difficult to find a place for adults to play indoors once the snow falls, particularly in winter 2025–2026.
Local players are using social media groups and forums to organize informal games at facilities managed by the City of Morden (Access Event Centre) and the City of Winkler (Meridian Exhibition Centre). According to municipal schedules and local organizers, many gym hours are already allocated to youth leagues and popular activities such as pickleball and volleyball, limiting options for adult drop-in play.
The push for more court time followed the opening of the Valley Fiber Basketball Court in 2022, which drew a large turnout and showed strong local interest in the sport. Demand has also increased alongside recent population growth that includes newcomers from countries such as the Philippines and India, communities for whom basketball is often an important social and cultural activity.
Recreational programming is coordinated regionally — including through the RM of Stanley recreation portal — and residents are asking municipal recreation departments for a simple weekly drop-in night where anyone can pay a small fee to play without joining a competitive league.
