This year’s Winnipeg Crime Stoppers website redesign challenge saw Hamza Haque, a U of M student, take home the top prize. The competition aimed to modernize and enhance the nonprofit’s online presence.
Haque’s interest in technology began in high school, where he built the foundation that later informed his work on the redesign. “During high school, I completed a software developer diploma at MITT through the PTEC [Pembina Trails Early College] program, which gave me a strong foundation in programming, cybersecurity and IT,” he said. The experience guided him “from building real-world projects to representing Manitoba at national tech competitions.”
Haque described the win as meaningful both personally and for his local community. “Winning this competition honestly felt very nice, especially because it’s something that directly impacts my own community here in Winnipeg,” he said. “I get to contribute my skills to an organization that plays such an important role in keeping our city safe and building a bridge between everyday people and the police.”
The challenge also gave him a chance to put his abilities into practice. Haque noted the process felt natural rather than overwhelming. “It didn’t feel ‘hard’ in a stressful way. If anything, it felt like another great opportunity to apply what I’ve learned and grow even more.”
Discussing his design approach, he said, “The first thing I focused on was simplicity.” So “making the website easy to use was absolutely essential” for Haque. “I also plan to keep improving the Winnipeg Crime Stoppers website,” he added.
He encouraged other students to give back and explore similar opportunities. “I really believe that if you’ve been given opportunities to learn a skill, you also have a responsibility to bring it back to your community,” he said. For students considering joining future competitions, his main advice is “to go into competitions not with the expectation of winning, but with the intention of learning. Don’t put pressure on yourself to build the ‘perfect’ project.”
Haque plans to continue “providing web development services for organizations […] using those skills to support nonprofits and community-focused initiatives across Canada.”
Looking ahead, he said his goal “is to keep learning, keep building [and] make a positive impact in [his] neighbourhood, [his] city, the province or beyond.”
The competition, limited to U of M students, offered a $1,000 award to the top individual or team. Entrants were tasked with creating a functional website prototype along with a brief presentation showcasing their design and key features. The project was designed to provide students with practical experience in digital design, user experience and community-focused technology work.
Established in 1988, Winnipeg Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit organization focused on enhancing public safety through anonymous tip submissions, education and community involvement. The group invites students and residents to volunteer in activities such as outreach, event assistance and awareness initiatives.
