Wab Kinew represents the Manitoba New Democratic Party’s best chance to speak to the next generation of voters and reconnect with its traditional voting base, MLA Matt Wiebe said Sunday during an endorsement announcement.

Using the rebuilt East Elmwood Community Centre as a backdrop, Wiebe and other community leaders from the northeast side of the city showed their support for the first term MLA who won the Fort Rouge riding for the party in October.

“I believe Wab is someone who can inspire compassionate, progressive people to come together and to communicate an important message of hope to all Manitobans,” said Wiebe, who also put the brakes on any leadership aspirations of his own to throw his support behind a former classmate in economics at the University of Manitoba.

Recent party candidates Preet Singh and Barb Burkowski, along with former cabinet minister Vic Schroeder were among those in attendance at the centre, which reopened in October 2015 after its Beach Avenue location was destroyed by fire in March 2011.

As it stands, Kinew is the only potential architect offering to rebuild the party’s fortunes after it was swept from power in October following nearly 17 years of government.

Relative newcomer Michelle McHale dropped out of the race to replace former premier Greg Selinger a little over a week ago, citing personal health concerns.

“Our party needs to reconnect with the grassroots. It needs to bring new members in and win some of our old supporters back,” Kinew said. “And so whether or not anybody else puts their name forward, I’m still going to be putting the work in over the summer, and if I’m successful, over the next three years to bring those people on side with us.”

It’s believed the party will select its next leader in September, though few details have been made available.

Kinew said the party owes it to Manitobans to get its house in order and provide a strong opposition to the ruling Progressive Conservatives and Premier Brian Pallister and some of the “harmful policies” they are promising, including the loss of about 900 jobs at Manitoba Hydro and the closure of three Winnipeg emergency departments including the one at the nearby Concordia Hospital.

“We’ve got to make sure that there’s health care close to home for people all across the province. But I think the huge point is I’m not ready to concede that these hospitals are going to close,” Kinew said. “To me, it’s not a foregone conclusion.”

Though work is underway to take the party in a new direction, Kinew said they’ll continue to fight for “hallmark” NDP values such as good jobs, strong health care close to home and quality education.

“I’m confident that if we do that, Manitobans will come back to the Manitoba New Democratic Party.”

Kking@postmedia.com