The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association was founded on April 24, 1962 as a result of a government commissioned study of "physical education and recreation in Manitoba".
One of the recommendations from the commission, headed by the late Dr. Frank Kennedy was the "definite need for a secondary school athletic association to define policy, standards and participation regulations for all parts of the province and membership should include teachers, principals and inspectors". After the commissions recommendation, a group of sincere, dedicated individuals worked very hard to set up an organization which would respond, at that time, to the needs of the schools, their student athletes and teams in high school sport. Resources were very limited, but the resolve and spirit of those committed people were of a very high degree. Thus, the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association was born.
Today, we see the MHSAA as a positive influence on the lives of young people and a strong voice in speaking out about the role that high school athletics plays in the total education process. The MHSAA's primary function is to guide the operation of fair and equitable school sport activities for high school student athletes in Manitoba. High school sport provides young student athletes with positive experiences that will better prepare them for future endeavours in society.
The story of the MHSAA is one of steady growth in organization, numbers, and the promotion of the value of school sport in Manitoba. With over 200 member schools and approximately 40,000 student athletes participating, the association operates 11 official sports and more than 50 Provincial Championships.