Working Draft magazine

Winnipeg’s music community is small and intimate. It’s isolated, far from any other major cities. In a famously non-lucrative profession, how do artists make money? Two Winnipeg musicians explain the good and bad of living and working in Winnipeg. 

For years, I wore a mask that wasn’t mine, bound by gender roles and expectations. Drag was a stepping stone — a space where I could explore pieces of myself that had long been buried, but it was my transition that finally brought me home to who I truly am.

Getting into a flow state has never been harder with the constant noise of notifications and overwhelming algorithms. These Winnipeg artists take “unplugging” to a new level by removing digital elements of their lives wherever possible. 

Women in motorsports battle stereotypes, scarce opportunities, and unequal recognition. Talent isn’t the issue — visibility and support are. Progress is happening, but the road remains anything but smooth.

Despite the well-known dangers associated with impaired driving, why are so many people in rural Manitoba still taking the risk?

What insights does Emmy-nominated film producer Marc Provissiero have about Manitoba’s booming film industry? How have two new multi-million dollar studios sparked this growth? Discover what the future holds for Manitoba’s road to Hollywood.

After years of success, the Winnipeg Goldeyes suddenly found themselves in uncharted waters: the bottom of the league. In the wave of new players, a coach with an unexpected outlook on the game ended up being the team's biggest asset.

Our voices reflect who we are and how the world recognizes us. Technological advancements in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are allowing people who use AAC to claim a voice they identify with.

When TSN 1290 shut down, Andrew Paterson and Michael Remis were left without jobs — but they quickly made a plan. What began as a setback turned into Winnipeg Sports Talk, and an opportunity for them to evolve within the changing media landscape.

Car accidents, fights with my mom in the car, and long drives in my childhood developed into driving anxiety in my teens and early 20s. Now at 26, I don’t want anxiety to limit how I move throughout my world.

Like many other Indigenous people, I have a complicated relationship with the education system. Racism, underfunding, and the legacy of residential schools make it harder for Indigenous students to graduate from high school and post-secondary, but innovative solutions can change this. This is how one Indigenous person and one Indigenous community has navigated the education system through three de...

Three provinces, five small towns, five cities — through all the changes, I’ve learned that music is the constant I need.

Riding Mountain National Park lost the battle to keep zebra mussels out of Clear Lake. This summer, boats will return, and the community will have to get used to a new normal — one of coexisting with this invasive species.

As an Indigenous woman, I often feel caught between two worlds. Intergenerational trauma, displacement, and my ongoing struggle for self-acceptance have lasting effects in a society that doesn't fully accept me.

When my mom died, grief cracked me open and left me feeling disconnected from myself and my identity. Mom always encouraged my creativity, but since she's been gone I've struggled to sing and paint. Could finding my way back to music help me find a new version of myself? By Grace Willmer

When rowdy nights of drunken celebrations with friends led to being diagnosed with a life-altering disease, I discovered what it meant to enjoy my life while avoiding the all-too-familiar pull of alcohol.

Two Winnipeg art projects use billboards to beautify the visual landscape and make important stories visible.

Gary Baker spent his whole life keeping a secret. It was only after a heart attack and quintuple bypass surgery that he was forced to face the truth in broad daylight: he could see spirits.

Every year there are headlines about Manitoba First Nation communities evacuating from natural disasters. For communities, the story continues long after the news cycle has moved on.

Mixed-gender teams aren’t as inclusive as they seem, especially at the Paralympic level. Alyssa White dreams of playing para hockey in the Paralympics for an official Canadian women’s team, but right now that team doesn’t exist. Written by Brielle Campbell

Women are disproportionately affected by invisible illnesses, often turning to alternatives when conventional medicine falls short. With symptoms can't always be measured, they're misunderstood — but that doesn't make them imaginary. By Emma Ko

My sixth grade goldfish had a nine-second attention span. Now in 2025, most humans have an eight-second attention span, making focus feel nearly impossible for students. How should schools and teachers approach a generation of students with goldfish-level focus?

Soot-covered clothes, bruised legs, and tangled hair were all physical proof of my first season as a wildland firefighter, but what left a lasting mark were the lessons I learned walking through the wilderness. Written by Georgia Dyck

Hollywood has always concealed acne, pressuring me to do the same. But online movements that embrace unfiltered skin are challenging me to rethink the beauty standards I grew up with and giving me the confidence to come out of hiding.  Written by Nassia Balaktsis

When it comes to translating manga, generative AI makes mistakes, and, more importantly, threatens the livelihood of hard-working people. And yet, as companies continue to pour money into developing it, there are people saying "Bring on the machines!" Why? Turns out it isn't just about money. Written by Duncan Storozuk