Leaf Rapids Residents Declare 'Humanitarian Crisis,' Demand Government Help

Residents of Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, are describing their town as being in "absolute chaos" and are urgently appealing to the provincial and federal governments for intervention to address what they term a "humanitarian crisis." An open letter details escalating concerns over public safety, drinking water, food security, healthcare access, governance, and community sustainability.

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He was covered up in a tarp on the basketball court in front of the school. They had to close the school the entire time while his body laid out there.

This plea comes after a violent week that included a murder and arson. The RCMP have dispatched specialized units, including a Major Crimes Unit and a canine unit, to assist the local detachment in managing what they identify as "gang activity." The community is grappling with the aftermath of a 21-year-old man's murder on June 17, whose body remained on school grounds for nearly 20 hours before removal. In the days following, police responded to numerous incidents of gunshots, arson, and theft, while a 17-year-old was shot and is recovering.

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That’s the only place where people can get drinking water.

These recent events exacerbate long-standing issues, including a boil water advisory in effect since 2013 and the imminent closure of the town's only grocery store, which is also a source of drinking water. The next closest store is a 90-minute drive away. Leaf Rapids, located a 10-hour drive north of Winnipeg, lacks a municipal government due to its inability to maintain a quorum, leading to a provincial administration with a limited mandate that does not prioritize community advocacy. The town's decline began after the closure of its copper and zinc mine in 2002, shrinking its population from 2,400 to 351 by 2021. A wildfire in 2025 further displaced residents, with many struggling with new challenges upon their return.

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The town is slowly dying. It was designed just to be here for the Ruttan Mine in the early ’70s and there was no plans for after it shut down… nobody paying their taxes and failing infrastructure and the (22-year) boil water advisory and, you know, it just accumulated problems.