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Homelessness is a (Systemic) Choice

The 2024 Street Census showed us that homelessness in Winnipeg is getting worse. The count returned 2,469 folks this time, up from 1,256 in 2022 (nearly doubling in two years). It’s obvious to see that the challenge has grown – all one has to do is look around.

While it’s easy to blame the individual, it’s misguided and detrimental to progress ― sure, something the person did might have prompted their experience of homelessness, but those ‘decisions’ take place within a context shaped by countless factors beyond their control. If the likelihood of homelessness were random, and the situation prompted simply by individual choices, we should see various demographics represented in line with the broader city’s demographics.

But we don’t ― not even close.

From the Street Census we learned that, of those experiencing homelessness:

Full Circle

Sixty years after moving to California, Jean Lang still cherishes the memories of her time training as a nurse in Winnipeg. She enjoyed a wonderful career and remains grateful for the education she received in Manitoba. As an expression of her gratitude, Jean has joined the Bannatyne Legacy Circle by making a planned gift to the Health Sciences Centre Foundation. Here is an excerpt from her legacy story:

"By 2012, Lang started to plan her 'exit strategy' with an eye to retirement in 2014. Working with a financial advisor, Lang decided to make sure that charitable giving was part of the plan and ultimately decided to support the Health Sciences Centre Foundation, thereby joining the Bannatyne Legacy Circle. The gift to the Foundation will come from an insurance policy that Lang's father bought for her when she was young. 'It seemed like giving back to where it all started was the right thing to do,' she says. 'It was full circle."

Her decision was reinforced by her family's many experiences with the hospital. Her late father received treatment there for his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, her brother-in-law was recently a patient, and her niece, Sandra Lang Donald-a member of the 100th nursing graduation class at HSC-continues to work at HSC as Manager of Health Services in the Renal Health Program.

Lang has also attended a number of class reunions over the years and stays in touch with former classmates. 'Whether I'm there or my family is there, HSC is still part of my life, still touching me,' she says."

Meeting over coffee, connecting through care

Dementia is a tough diagnosis. Having people to lean on, who deeply understand, is so important. The Alzheimer Society is your place to connect, ask for help and grow your support system.

The ‘coffee ladies’ can attest to that. Every week, these five women bring their husbands to the Society for their support group for people living with dementia, and then, together, head across the street to a local coffee shop.

What began as a simple coffee break turned into a regular get-together — a time to talk, laugh and support one another. While each of their experiences is unique, they’ve found comfort in knowing they’re not alone.

Bev’s story

FPDI has something special cooking

A new program being offered by First Peoples Development Inc. (FPDI) is cooking up something special.

FPDI has partnered with the Manitoba Tourism Education Council (MTEC) to deliver the Line Cook Program. The immersive five-week training session provides two weeks of in-class instruction as well as three weeks of hands-on training in the kitchen that covers a variety of subjects including the fundamentals of food preparation, cooking techniques and plating.

Participants also receive certification in several customer service and safety initiatives such as CPR training, budgeting and how to deal with difficult situations. Tuition as well as items such as a jacket, hat, paring knife and all necessary food supplies are provided at no cost to eligible participants.

The first cohort of five students graduated from the program in June. A second intake of students commenced studying in September.

Operation Excellence: A community campaign for surgical innovation at HSC

| With donors stepping forward to support Operation Excellence, HSC is purchasing and deploying new, state-of-the-art surgical and diagnostic equipment, and is developing new spaces for surgery and patient care.

With the goal to reduce diagnostic and surgical wait lists, your continued support will make a difference for generations of Manitobans.

Learn more and donate at OperationExcellence.ca or call 204-515-5612 or toll-free at 1-800-679-8493.

Events With Impact

Did You Know?

Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation is the fundraising entity for the Rehabilitation Centre for Children which supports children and youth discovering their full potential and participating in their communities.The Rehabilitation Centre for Children operates out of the state-of-the-art SSCY Centre on Notre Dame Avenue. It manages over 25,000 clinical visits annually and provides outreach services to homes, schools and daycares across our province, including First Nations communities.Through its investment in the Rehabilitation Centre for Children, CRF supports essential programs, clinical services, research, technology and equipment for youth up to the age of 21 living with a range of physical and cognitive disabilities.You can be a difference maker. Host your “Event with Impact” this fall and winter.

Get involved: crf.mb.ca/fundraise

Returning to Routine

| In November 2024, Al Simoens was one of the first urology patients at HSC to be treated with the da Vinci Xi surgical robot, funded by the HSC Foundation's Operation Excellence campaign.

"I've always been aware of prostate issues. Sadly, my dad passed away from prostate cancer when he was 74. When my PSA levels spiked outside of the normal range, and a biopsy confirmed that I had early-stage prostate cancer, I knew that I would need to undergo a radical prostatectomy–surgery to remove the entire prostate gland and some lymph nodes around it.

I'm so glad that robot-assisted surgery was available!

FPDI program provides a supportive learning environment

Jordan Beach had a comfortable job working as a customer service representative for a large corporation, but there was something about the work that had him feeling unsatisfied.

“When I was doing the office job, it was pretty nice. But being inside all day was not for me. I prefer being outside and doing more physical work,” he says.

It was about the same time this past spring when Beach learned about the plumbing course offered through First People’s Development Inc. (FPDI) a non-profit organization that facilitates partnerships aimed at developing and delivering training-to-employment programs in partnership with 28 Manitoba First Nations communities.

FPDI’s plumbing program is offered in conjunction with the Piping Industry Technical College of Manitoba. It’s a 10-month program that teaches students about the latest plumbing industry techniques and tools and provides them with hands-on opportunities to learn everything from cutting and measuring pipe to installing valves, readblueprints and interpret plumbing code. Tuition is free for qualifying applicants.

Operation Excellence: A community campaign for surgical innovation at HSC

| With donors stepping forward to support Operation Excellence, HSC is purchasing and deploying new, state-of-the-art surgical and diagnostic equipment, and is developing new spaces for surgery and patient care.

With the goal to reduce diagnostic and surgical wait lists, your continued support will make a difference for generations of Manitobans.

Learn more and donate at OperationExcellence.ca or call 204-515-5612 or toll-free at 1-800-679-8493.

Raymond James Ltd. Brings Over $1B in Client Assets to Manitoba in Landmark Expansion

Raymond James Ltd., Canada’s largest independent financial services firm, has entered the Manitoba market—bringing with it more than $1 billion in client assets and a bold new chapter in the province’s financial landscape.

The firm’s arrival in Winnipeg is anchored by the integration of three respected local teams: Martin Wealth Management, Miles Wealth Management Group, and Ruban Stark Wealth Partners. Together, these teams form the foundation of Raymond James’ newest corporate branch—its 12th in Canada and the first in Manitoba—marking a major milestone in the company’s nearly 25-year Canadian journey.

“We’re honoured to be among the founding partners bringing Raymond James to Manitoba,” said Ken Martin, Senior Financial Advisor at Martin Wealth Management. “This partnership allows us to continue putting clients first, now with the backing of a firm that shares our values and offers the scale to help us grow.”

For Manitoba, this expansion signals more than just a new name on the skyline. It represents a strategic investment in the province’s economic future, offering enhanced financial services, new employment opportunities, and a deeper commitment to community engagement. With a national footprint now spanning six provinces, Raymond James is poised to contribute meaningfully to the region’s growth and stability.

Improving health outcomes of Indigenous children

| Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, it honours the children who never returned home as well as Survivors of residential schools and their families.

On this day and always Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is taking time to listen to Indigenous Elders, leaders and community members so we can reflect and walk together with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples on a path of reconciliation and healing.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action about the health of Indigenous communities provides us with a guide to support healing in ways that go beyond healthcare.

The Alzheimer Society is Your Path Forward

Being diagnosed with dementia can be scary and often leaves families feeling like they are all alone in dealing with it.

That’s why the World Alzheimer’s Month campaign is so important, says Erin Crawford, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

“It’s so important that families know that they are not alone,” Crawford says. “There’s thousands of Manitobans experiencing the challenges dementia brings and they don’t have to figure it all out on their own. We listen to where you’re at and then help you access the right resources and guidance to move forward.”

The campaign titled, “Your Path Forward” is an opportunity to raise awareness about dementia, reduce the stigma and let families know that the Alzheimer Society is here to welcome you into a community of support.

Connecting Communities and Empowering Progress

In today’s digitally driven world, reliable and secure connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a business essential. This is especially true for organizations with operations spread across rural and remote areas, where infrastructure gaps can slow down productivity and limit growth. For Sunrise Credit Union, which serves more than 35,000 members across 19 branches across Southwestern Manitoba, improving connectivity was a key step in continuing to meet the needs of their communities.

In 2023, Sunrise Credit Union began looking to modernize their digital infrastructure. “Our existing systems were functional but outdated,” said Kelly Scott, Vice President of IT at Sunrise. “We were ready for a more future-forward solution that could grow with us.”

After weighing their options, Sunrise met with an out of province technology partner, SaskTel. Saskatchewan’s leading communications provider is best known in their home province, yet SaskTel has been steadily expanding its footprint, working with organizations across Western Canada that need customized, high-performance connectivity solutions.

From the very beginning, SaskTel approached the project differently. “They didn’t come in just trying to sell us something,” Scott noted. “They listened. They spent time learning about our needs, our environment, our challenges. Then they came back with a strategy designed specifically for us — not a one-size-fits-all plan.”

Bracing for excellence

| An HSC Foundation grant, funded by donors from throughout Manitoba, is helping Health Sciences Centre deliver better care to patients recovering from spine surgery, or dealing within juries or illnesses affecting the spine.

The $200,000+ grant allowed HSC to acquire a suite of equipment to produce thoracic-lumbar-sacral orthoses (TLSOs) in-house. A TLSO is a customized hard plastic body brace that stabilizes a patient’s spine. In-house fabrication allows for faster and more accurate production.

“The equipment is a home run, and we are seeing even better results than we expected,” says Nick Gilmour, an orthotist at HSC.