1. The Good Will Social Club
2. The Park Theatre
3. The Handsome Daughter

This year marks the third time Uniter readers have named the Good Will Social Club their favourite local music venue. Since opening in 2014, the Good Will has worked to make live music accessible, which goes hand in hand with the club’s zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind.

Anthony Kowalczyk, one of the club’s owners, points to this inclusive environment as a reason for its success.

“It's a really good space that has a variety of different music types and genres. There’s a lot of young up-and-coming bands that play there. I feel like most people feel comfortable and safe,” he says.

The Good Will offers a concert experience that is harder to achieve in larger spaces. In this small and intimate venue, the line between the audience and the stage is blurred, making connections easier.

“We offer sort of a different style of venue than maybe your mid-to-large style. It’s a local place. It’s just a little different than what is currently out there,” Kowalczyk says.

In the past eight years, the Good Will has prioritized featuring local artists. “It was really created as a stage for Winnipeg musicians and artists to get a foothold in the industry and have a place to shine,” he says.

At the end of the day, the club is more than a building. It reinforces a belief in the value of local art.

“It's a pretty neat venue to be a part of, in that we’ve fostered a culture,” Kowalczyk says. “We’re really building visibility into all of what is offered in Winnipeg.”

Published in Volume 77, Number 12 of The Uniter (December 1, 2022)