Imagining a Brighter Future

Valerie Henderson first discovered Rossbrook House when she was just 12 years old. Today she is a long-time staff member, mother, and grandmother, who has seen many young people walk through the doors of Rossbrook House.

“I’ve been working evenings at Rossbrook House for a couple decades. When I’m driving to work most people are going home after a long day,” Valerie says. “Children and youth are making their way to their ‘second home’ Rossbrook House because it’s a safe and fun environment. They tell their friends and more children and youth gravitate to Rossbrook House after school.”

One who found his way to Rossbrook House is 15-year-old Asher who, for the past 4 years, has been hanging out every day. “It was a hot summer day, me and my friend were just trying to find a cool place to hang out. So, we walked to Rossbrook House and from the moment I walked in it just felt like home.”

Valerie understands what today’s children and youth are feeling because she went through similar circumstances. “I was hungry for food, acceptance, and a sense of belonging. Children and youth come here to fill that need. My home life was not one to be desired. Some of the children and youth experience this as well.”

NCN Thompson Bus

Imagine living in a remote community, hundreds of kilometres away from a major urban hub and relying on a bus company to make that trip to access vital services.

And then it disappears.

When Greyhound abandoned its bus routes throughout Manitoba, Jimmy Pelk and Sid Varma saw more than a business opportunity. They saw potential. By committing to and partnering with the local community, they could meet the immediate need and find untapped resources to help keep the north thriving.

“Our mission is connecting the north, and the thing that we live by is a ‘solution for northerns from northerns,’” says Sid Varma, chief operating officer at NCN Thompson Bus.

I belong.

Jacoby lives with cerebral palsy, a condition which affects his movement, posture and eyesight. He has been receiving exceptional care from the amazing Rehabilitation Centre team for a decade. His condition is chronic and Jacoby will require ongoing support for his development and quality of life.

He is spirited, engaging, kind-hearted and playful. This 12-year-old youth loves sports, Mama Mia, pizza and spending time with his twin sister Addison.

Donor support of the Foundation has made a difference to Jacoby in profound ways. He is an active participant in the donor-funded Leisure in Fun Environments (LIFE) Program, attending summer camps and Saturday Night for Teens sessions. He has also received specialized equipment including an adaptive tricycle to enhance his mobility and independence, a cruiser and smart home technology.

Inclusion is often overlooked as opposed to expected for children and youth living with disabilities. Generous support from donors to the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation helps Jacoby and his peers actively participate with their families, schools, friends and communities.

From hope to healing from addiction

Daniel Emond was in his first year of university when he fell into the grips of addiction. He’d been studying to become a doctor, though his path changed with his father’s diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

“I was socially involved with drinking and smoking pot, but knowing my father was dying and having no concept of what happens when you die affected me,” Emond says.

That’s when he tried cocaine for the first time. Six months later, he’d dropped out of university and spent all his savings on the drug.

Emond went through addiction treatment, but relapsed. Then, he began shoplifting to feed his habit.

Wellington-Altus celebrates $30B AUA milestone

Wellington-Altus recently achieved a major milestone when the Winnipeg based wealth management firm reached the $30 billion mark in assets under administration (AUA).

While that achievement is remarkable in and of itself, it is even more noteworthy when you consider the company was founded just seven years ago.

It’s an accomplishment Wellington-Altus Founder & CEO Shaun Hauser says everyone associated with the company takes pride in.

“Our journey has been extraordinary from day one and surpassing $30 billion AUA in such a remarkably short span is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our clients and advisors, and also to our vision of revolutionizing wealth management in Canada,“ says Hauser.

Together, we can end diagnostic and surgical wait times at HSC

“Operation Excellence isn’t about taking small steps. It’s about taking giant leaps forward. The campaign is funding the acquisition of impressive new equipment that helps HSC take surgical care to the next level. When it comes to supporting important initiatives, Manitobans always punch above their weight. Let’s all support this vital campaign for Manitoba’s hospital.”

— Christine and Paul Soubry, Operation Excellence Donors

Your Support will help HSC innovate, excel, and deliver tomorrow's health care—today.

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

Trade Talks: Winnipeg Entrepreneurs Share Stories, Spark Connections

Winnipeg's World Trade Centre (WTC) brings Manitoba entrepreneurs from all industries together to share their experiences, successes, and challenges in its monthly WTC Talks series. Last week's event at Little Brown Jug featured two founders in the food and beverage space: Landon Kroeker of Von Slick’s Finishing Butter and Kevin Selch of Little Brown Jug. The event, hosted by WTC CEO André Brin, was a candid look at the ups and downs of navigating a product-based business.

“At its core, it's about two entrepreneurs telling their story and inspiring others,” says Brin. “It's to feature entrepreneurs from Manitoba, to show that there are unbelievable success stories here, and to inspire others that it is possible to grow your business to the point of being very successful in Manitoba, Canada, and maybe all over the world. The idea is to inspire but also to learn and network.”

Selch shared that while working as an economist in Ottawa in the early aughts, he became enamored with the burgeoning craft brewing scene in Ontario, Quebec, and Vermont. He decided to bring the concept back home just as Manitoba's regulations began to shift, creating opportunities for local producers. He says he returned to his hometown with just one B – a business plan but didn't have any of the other B's he knew he needed: a building, a bank, a beer, a brewmaster, or a brand.

Kroeker and long-time friend and business partner Rob Sengotta knew they wanted to work on something together. When Sengotta, a French-trained chef, proposed the idea of finishing butter in a push tube, they knew they had found a unique gap in the market and started down the path of entrepreneurship.

When Community Comes Together

When it comes to health care, I think Manitobans all want the same things: timely access, improved patient care, modernized technology and facilities, and an ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation.

In recent weeks, the Health Sciences Centre Foundation has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the provincial government, medical leaders, patients, and Foundation donors to celebrate important developments that demonstrate what's possible when the community comes together in common cause.

In March, we announced the opening of the donor-funded Unit 858, a step-down unit for neurosurgery patients, including those who have undergone procedures for epilepsy. In April, along with our friends from Transplant Manitoba, we celebrated the news that 83 kidney transplants were performed in Manitoba in 2023—a new record! Together, we shone a light on the vital role played by the Transplant Wellness Centre, which was funded in large part by HSC Foundation donors. Also in April, the provincial government announced the creation of a provincial spine program that will reduce wait times for consultations and surgeries. New, state-of-the-art equipment funded by the HSC Foundation's Operation Excellence campaign will be an important element of this program's success.

Each time we have a new development to announce—a new milestone to celebrate—I am energized by the potential we all share to set new standards in care. I am optimistic; and I am grateful for the partnerships we are nurturing and for the generosity of our donors.

Finding comfort from start to finish with Daytona Homes

When you think of building a comfortable home you can enjoy for the long term, you might think of a kitchen with ample space to cook a gourmet meal. Or, maybe a place to kick back and watch the game, with room to do a little gaming yourself.

With more than 30 years of experience crafting comfortable homes, Daytona Homes is committed to making your home right for your family and their individual needs. “We have a home model to fit the dynamics of your family, recognizing that different families have different needs. We have floor plans that allow for main floor bedrooms, which are popular with multi-generational families, we have offices or flex spaces which can be used as workspaces, to accommodate the growing number of people working from home.” says Alana Yaren Sales Manager for Daytona Homes, “And, we have started to incorporate prep kitchens into our models, which has been increasingly popular with homeowners” adds Yaren.

Daytona Homes is also committed to providing comfort before you even set foot in your new home.

It starts with the personal connection the company makes with prospective homebuyers.

Sport Manitoba’s Safe Sport Summit

Sport Manitoba’s Safe Sport Summit

What does safe sport mean, exactly? Safe Sport is an environment where individuals can have a healthy, supportive, and respectful sport experience, free from all forms of harassment and abuse.

The Sport Manitoba Safe Sport Summit in collaboration with Sport Law, True Sport, and Generation Safe, held in person on May 3 and 4, is an opportunity for participants to learn, discuss current topics, and ensure leaders in the province’s sport system have the knowledge and the tools to provide quality sport experiences to all Manitobans.

A Two-Day Event 

Together, we can end diagnostic and surgical wait times at HSC

"At Canada Life, we recognize quality health care builds the foundation for strong communities. That’s why we’re proud to support the HSC Foundation’s capital campaign to develop surgical and diagnostic capacity. We invest in the development and expansion of innovative care at regional hospitals because we care about the well-being of Canadians."

— Stephanie Halligan, Manager, Community Relations, Canada Life

Your support will help HSC innovate, excel, and deliver tomorrow’s healthcare—today.

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

Healthy for the Long Run

Kayla Krahn remembers her first run after surgery at Health Sciences Centre to remove a brain tumour in July 2022.

"I remember running down Highway 12. I must have the dorkiest grin on my face," says Steinbach resident and accomplished long-distance runner.

Krahn had been getting migraine headaches accompanied by aura symptoms. She wasn't too concerned because migraines run in her family. But the migraines became more frequent, and her vision became increasingly impaired. Her symptoms worsened and included dizziness and numbness on one side of her body. So, she went to her GP, then an optometrist, then an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist suggested she go to the Emergency Department at HSC because there was fluid at the back of her brain pushing on the optic nerves.

"HSC took a CT scan and the doctor knelt down beside me," recalls Krahn.

Together, we can end diagnostic and surgical wait times at HSC

"With your support, HSC’s talented and committed staff can deliver improved patient outcomes. By funding better equipment and better spaces, Operation Excellence donors can ensure that Manitobans get more timely surgical care so they can get back to living their best lives as soon as possible."

— Margaret and John Proven, Operation Excellence Donors

Your support will help HSC innovate, excel, and deliver tomorrow's healthcare—today.Learn more and donate at OperationExcellence.ca or call 204-515-5612 or toll-free at 1-800-679-8493.

Cypher Environmental blazes trail to success

A local Winnipeg company that offers eco-friendly road management solutions is leaving its competition in the dust.

Cypher Environmental provides clean-tech products for dust control and road stabilization that are biodegradable, non-corrosive and non-toxic.

The company’s fully proprietary concentrated liquid DUST/BLOKR® creates a semi-soluble blanket over the road’s surface that performs well in wet weather and requires less frequent reapplication than more commonly used but harmful road salts. The product is non-toxic, non-corrosive and fully biodegradable – this means that in addition to being eco-friendly, its use won’t corrode vehicles or other equipment.

Another popular product is the company’s ROAD//STABILIZR® which increases density and enhances stability of soil with high clay content.

HSC Foundation Donors Fund Improvements for Women’s Health

HSC gynecologist Dr. Margaret Burnett recently treated a patient who was seven weeks pregnant and had experienced some worrisome spotting. An emergency ultrasound showed that she had a tubal pregnancy, meaning that the fertilized egg implanted itself in one of her fallopian tubes instead of the womb.

“Her tubal pregnancy could have burst and caused life-threatening internal bleeding,” says Dr. Burnett.

Fortunately, HSC’s new, donor-funded laparoscopic equipment was up and running. Dr. Burnett performed a minimally invasive procedure that saved the patient’s life. Laparoscopic surgery requires only small incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon inserts a camera and views her work on a high-definition monitor.

“The patient went home the next day to recover and cope with the loss of her pregnancy in the company of loved ones,” says Dr. Burnett. “Without this upgraded equipment, we likely would have had to perform an open surgery which would have meant a longer hospital stay, more post-operative pain, more blood loss, and a higher risk of complications.”