Manitoba Marathon Earns Evergreen Certification from Council for Responsible Sport
BECOMES THE THIRD CANADIAN MARATHON TO REACH THE CERTIFICATION’S HIGHEST LEVEL.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WINNIPEG, MB - September 24, 2026 - The Manitoba Marathon has earned Evergreen Level Responsible Sport Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport (CRS), becoming the third Canadian marathon to reach its highest certification level. It joins the Toronto Waterfront Marathon and Halifax’s Blue Nose Marathon. Manitoba Marathon earned 60 of 66 possible credits on its first submission, recognizing its work in environmental stewardship, community engagement and responsible event operations.
“We are incredibly proud to achieve Evergreen certification on our first submission,” said Rachel Munday, Executive Director of the Manitoba Marathon Foundation. “This represents years of work by our team, volunteers, partners and participants to make Manitoba’s largest mass-participation sporting event more sustainable and responsible. It’s something our entire community can be proud of.”
The certification process was supported by The Winnipeg Foundation, whose financial support in the form of a recent grant, helped Manitoba Marathon advance and document its sustainability initiatives. The Foundation’s contribution was also specifically recognized by CRS in its official certification announcement.
“We’re incredibly grateful to The Winnipeg Foundation for believing in this work and helping us take our sustainability efforts to the next level,” said Munday. “Their support played an important role in making this achievement possible.”
Measurable Impact
Among the results recognized through the certification process, Manitoba Marathon:
● Diverted 91.74% of 3,216 kilograms of race-weekend waste from landfill through composting, recycling, donation and reuse.
● Reduced on-course generator fuel use by 79% after converting eight of nine event power locations from gasoline generators to solar power.
● Sourced 80% of event vendors within 50 miles of Winnipeg, including the majority of race-day food and beverage suppliers.
● Provided 250 Indigenous and newcomer students with new, personally fitted shoes, raised $58,822 for United Way Winnipeg, and launched a free Waste Pod Lending Program for other Manitoba road races.
“The Manitoba Marathon team worked hard to amplify their sustainability programs and measure their impact,” said CRS verifier Jen Cerullo. “By sourcing new funding opportunities and working closely with their suppliers and partners, they exemplified the meaning of sustainable sport.”
The achievement builds on more than a decade of incorporating sustainability into Manitoba Marathon’s event planning and operations. The organization plans to continue expanding its responsible event practices in 2027, including solar power and other initiatives aimed at reducing the event’s environmental impact.
About the Council for Responsible Sport
Since 2007, the Council for Responsible Sport has helped events and organizations measure, manage, and improve their social and environmental impacts. As a leading certification program for responsible sport and event production, the Council provides independent certification of responsible practices at both the event and organizational levels, from individual event commitments to sustainability and social responsibility embedded across organizational operations. Through this work, the Council helps events and organizations strengthen their practices and create lasting positive impact in their communities. The Council for Responsible Sport is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a vision of a world where responsibly produced events are the norm.
About the Manitoba Marathon Foundation
The Manitoba Marathon is Manitoba’s largest mass-participation running event, held annually on Father’s Day in support of Manitobans living with intellectual disabilities through United Way Winnipeg. Since 1979, the Manitoba Marathon Foundation has provided funds to help people with intellectual disabilities live more independent lives.
Media Contact
Kirsten Parker
Project Manager, Manitoba Marathon Foundation
Kirsten@manitobamarathon.mb.ca
