Inner City Youth get hooked on fishing

WINNIPEG - August 28, 2007 - Young anglers helped celebrate the success of the Fish Winnipeg Inner City Youth at Risk Fishing Program today, a program which saw more than 600 Winnipeg youth enjoy an exciting day of fishing along Winnipeg's Red and Assiniboine Rivers throughout July and August.

Winnipeg children from local community clubs and drop-in centers participated in the program, offered through the City of Winnipeg's Community Services Department, in partnership with Fish Futures Inc. and The Complete Angler (members of Winnipeg's Urban Angling Partnership).

"The Fish Winnipeg Program introduces hundreds of inner city youth to a fun, challenging, outdoor activity that helps build self-esteem and re-connect them to their environment," says John Toone, Executive Committee of Fish Futures. "It provides an alternative for leisure time activity and provides an opportunity for the youth to develop important life skills."

"The youth caught a number and variety of fish, and had a great time as they experienced Winnipeg's world class sports fishing," said Doug Stevenson, fishing instructor with Community Services, "This was a great opportunity for participants to demonstrate independence and their newly learned fishing skills."

This exciting program was made possible through monies that were raised through local businesses as part of the Fish Winnipeg Corporate Challenge and the generous donation of funds by the Winnipeg Foundation for the van used to transport children attending the program.

The Fish Winnipeg Media / Corporate Challenge is sponsored by Fish Futures Inc. and The Complete Angler, in support of the Urban Angling Partnership.