Winnipeg is taking an incredibly exciting and innovative approach to urban planning by partnering with local students and Minecraft, the wildly popular video game. The Level Up: Winnipeg initiative allows students to explore Downtown Winnipeg in Minecraft and reimagine the future of this vibrant area.
Thanks to the game’s immersive and engaging nature, students can visit block versions of recognizable landmarks, such as Old Market Square and Circle of Life Thunderbird House. With the guidance of tour guides like Mayor Gillingham and a Heritage Officer, students can learn about the area’s past, present, and future while having fun exploring.
After exploring Downtown Winnipeg, students are encouraged to channel their creativity and build something in the Minecraft Winnipeg world, and then upload a short video showcasing their project. Outstanding ideas that move the city forward will be considered for CentrePlan 2050, a long-term plan to guide investment and development downtown.
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This is an amazing opportunity for students to delve into Winnipeg’s history, learn more about what’s happening downtown today, and gain a unique perspective that can be integrated into the city’s planning process. According to Karin Kliewer, a Downtown Planner, this initiative is an exceptional way for youth to get involved in their community’s planning and development.
The Level Up: Winnipeg program is a collaborative effort involving all of Winnipeg’s six school divisions, as well as the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine, Lord Selkirk School Division, Balmoral Hall, Microsoft Canada, and Minecraft: Education Edition. Students from all grade levels can participate until May 26, 2023.
Even if your child’s school isn’t participating, they can still get involved by downloading Minecraft Education on their device and exploring the world on their own. They can either use their school credentials to log in or access the world in the New & Featured worlds section.
By engaging youth in the planning and development of their communities, innovative approaches like Level Up: Winnipeg demonstrate the importance of incorporating their ideas and perspectives into city planning. Cities can ensure that they are meeting the needs and desires of their future residents by embracing these creative and exciting opportunities.
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