Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew made a stop in Ste. Anne on August 12, 2026, meeting with Mayor Yvan St. Vincent and local seniors at a luncheon organized by Seine River Services for Seniors. The visit focused on three major community priorities: the regionalization of Ste. Anne Hospital, the construction of a new vocational high school, and provincial investment in potable water infrastructure.
According to the Town of Ste. Anne, discussions continued after the luncheon with seniors, covering key initiatives important to the community. The hospital regionalization working group, an 18-member committee co-chaired by Mayor St. Vincent and Southern Health’s chief medical officer Dr. Aly Dhala, is developing recommendations for the province and aims to submit them by mid-September 2026.
The new vocational high school, initially approved under the former Progressive Conservative government for a 2027 opening, was paused and then cancelled after the NDP won the 2023 election. The project has since been reinstated with a target opening of September 2028 to serve Ste. Anne’s growing population, which reached 2,891 residents, a 36.8 percent increase.
Water infrastructure is also a key concern. The town currently relies on wells, which Mayor St. Vincent says is a drawback when trying to attract commercial development, and the town is pursuing a potable water study as part of a longer-term plan.
Mayor St. Vincent described the Premier’s visit as a sign of strong intergovernmental collaboration, with the town’s priorities now actively before the province. “This meeting reflects the importance of strong intergovernmental collaboration, and the Town remains a committed partner in advancing initiatives that support the growth, prosperity, and quality of life of our residents,” the Town of Ste. Anne said in a statement signed by St. Vincent.
