Summer 2026 E-Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE:
New Facility Update
Summer Program Support
Connecting with Nature
Volunteer Feature
Donation Needs
Executive Support Staff
Employment News
NEW FACILITY UPDATE
Breaking ground for a brighter future!
Thanks to this wonderful community, the new Willow Place will soon be a reality! Last year, we shared our plans to build a new facility, ensuring more women, gender-diverse people and children are safe and have the opportunity to build hopeful, violence-free lives. We reached out to the community and with the support of caring people like you and civic, provincial and federal government, $18.3 million of the $19 million dollarproject is now committed – thank you! As we approached one million dollars of the project goal, we were able to start construction this spring!
While the construction site does not look like much yet (especially with recent rains), we know that within about 18 months, women and children will have improved space, programs and resources to assure safety, recovery and healing. The new Willow Place has been purposely designed to help families break the cycles of violence and will include:
– 50 emergency beds so more people can access safety
– 6 transitional units for individuals and families needing more time to find safe, affordable housing
– A larger kitchen and dining area so everyone staying with us can eat together
– A bright, child-centered classroom and a child-minding room
– Dedicated spaces for healing care, private meetings, programming
– Comfy lounge spaces for quiet time and getting to know one another
– A fully-appointed medical examination room
– A secure outdoor rooftop space
If you would like to learn more about the new Willow Place facility project or if you wish to make a donation, please get in touch with Willow Place’s Executive Director, Marcie Wood:
Phone: 204-615-0313, ext. 230
Email: marciew@willowplace.ca
You can also give using the link below. Thank you so much for caring about your neighbours!
CLICK HERE TO DONATE!
SUMMER PROGRAM SUPPORT
Thankful for grants & donations
Willow Place is grateful for and would like to acknowledge grant funding from Canada Summer Jobs (Government of Canada) and The Winnipeg Foundation (Children and Youth Grant), which has allowed us to hire two summer day camp leads as well as a full-time HR Admin Assistant (summer term). The full-time summer day camp staff provide structured, play-based weekday programming for school age children in our busy shelter program. Without grant support, this support would not be possible.
We are also thankful for community donations of gift cards and supplies to help Willow Place provide daily essentials for the summer day camp program including craft activity needs, snacks, sunscreen and bug spray, as well as plants and seeds for our Sunrise Healing Garden –THANK YOU to all who have donated.
Finally, special thanks to community organizations who have generously provided free passes for children in the summer day camp program. Willow Place has received support from The Manitoba Museum, Assiniboine Park (The Leaf, Assiniboine Park Zoo), Winnipeg Goldeyes, The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, MANSO, and the Manitoba Children’s Museum. AMAZING! These valuable contributions will allow summer staff to coordinate weekly outings, which are often first-time experiences and a memorable highlight for children sheltering with us.
ENJOYING TIME OUTDOORS
Fun, no-cost ways to stay active
With technology playing such a central role in daily life, “disconnect” strategies are important. Healthy life balance includes setting boundaries around email. text and other digital communications and media. Being at ease with simply being and doing nothing may be difficult – it may be highly habitual to check messages, scroll social media or play online games. There are many simple, no-cost ways to support daily activity outdoors!
TIME IN NATURE
A short walk and some fresh air is a great way to reduce screen time and harness mental and physical health benefits. All that is needed is comfortable footwear! Walking can be combined with other sensory activities like mindfulness, breathing and sensory awareness to further rejuvenate both body and mind. With a bit of preparation, variety can be added to daily walks, either as solitary walkers, or with friends or family. For instance, why not vary the route, play a simple mental game (how many blue things can I count), bring some chalk and include a game of hopscotch or an art/doodle break during the walk, or include a book and lunch/snack for a nutrition and/or rest stop enroute.
CLEANUP WALKS
Many community groups schedule cleanup events in the early spring, often coinciding with Earth Day (April 22). Typically, cleanup walks leverage group efforts to pick up litter in a designated neighbourhood or location. Often, a social time like coffee or a BBQ is included. For a growing number of nature lovers who are concerned about our shared environment, cleanup walks are not restricted to Earth Day, but may be a weekly or even daily activity. You may have encountered or heard of “ploggers” – folks who combine neighbourhood cleanup with their regular jog or run.
Cleanup walk gear typically includes comfortable shoes, some gardening or rubber gloves, and a bag to collect any litter. After the walk or jog, litter is sorted for recycling and refuse. Where possible and practical, items may be dropped off at sorting bins along or near the planned route. HEALTH BONUS: In the process of reducing human litter, ploggers are also adding additional physical challenges to their regular walk or run (bending, reaching, carrying, balancing), and are possibly achieving some additional steps as well!
SCAVENGER HUNT
Another, no-cost way to add interest and enhance the benefits of walking is a nature-based scavenger hunt. Walkers use a prepared list and try to locate all items. Rather than physically collecting list items, and in the spirit of reducing use of technology (i.e., phone cameras), scavengers make a mental note of what they see and experience. If desired, a small notebook and pencil can be taken along to draw and record details about size, texture, colour, scent, etc. For those who choose to draw or take notes, this step can also be done afterword, and is a great way to challenge memory, and to reflect on what was noticed and felt while walking, Regardless of your approach, it is always important to be respectful of private property, park rules, local laws: e.g., do not pick flowers, deface property, or damage plants or trees – the goals are observation and connecting to the senses (sight, smell, touch, sound) while respecting for our shared environment.
We have prepared a sample Scavenger Hunt handout that can be used as-is or as a guideline to make your own scavenger hunt. Our Nature Scavenger Hunt combines sensory activities with a cleanup walk 🙂
CLICK HERE FOR DOCUMENT (downloadable file to print)
VOLUNTEER FEATURE
Meet Bruna C
How long have you volunteered for Willow Place?
“I have been volunteering with Willow place for a little over a year.”
Why did you choose to volunteer for Willow Place?
“I chose to volunteer for Willow Place as I believe all individuals should be treated with respect and feel safe in their surroundings. Support to those who do not is valuable.”
Do you have any volunteering highlights to share?
“Attending a resource fair at the Women’s Correctional Facility was eye-opening for me. Seeing all of the resources offered to these women was amazing. Meeting the women themselves was a pleasure.”
Do you have any tips for those interested in volunteering?
“Find a volunteer opportunity which matches your interests and comfort level.”
What other things do you enjoy in your free time?
“Outside of my volunteering, I enjoy playing pickleball, yoga, hiking and travel.”
What do you look forward to in the summer season?
“I love to go to the cabin in the summer, spending quality time with family.”
Do you have a favourite quote or saying?
‘”If your self compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” – Buddha’
Thank you, Bruna – we appreciate your willingness to help out, including in the shelter program, with donations, and for community events. We are honoured to count you among our volunteers, and excited to feature you in this edition!
DONATION NEEDS
Helping Willow Place help others
Are you looking for ways to help Willow Place? There are many ways to give. including monetary gifts, in-kind gifts, or by organizing a group collection. Here are some current needs in the shelter program:
REPLACEMENT – SHELTER PROGRAM
We typically have replacement needs due to the high numbers of people we support – this may include furniture and equipment. The following donations are needed right now:
$1,000 to repair commercial dishwasher
$1,000 to replace two bed frames
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Non-perishable food for shelter (breakfast cereal, coffee, tea, canned food)
Gently-used or new towels and blankets
Single size fitted sheets – new or gently-used
Infant diapers size 5 and 6
New underwear for women and children (all sizes)
Gift cards for groceries, medical needs, outings: grocery stores, Walmart, Dollarama, Shoppers, Tim Hortons
MONETARY DONATIONS
Cheque or bank draft payable to “Willow Place” – mail to P.O. Box 1786, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 2Z9
Donate online using Canada Helps – either one-time donation, or subscribe to donate monthly
DONATE ON CANADA HELPS – CLICK HERE!
Donation questions? Contact our Community Team staff, Pam or Kimi, weekdays, daytime hours:
Pam: 204-615-0313, ext. 237
Kimi: 204-615-0313, ext. 245
EXECUTIVE SUPPORT STAFF
Thank you, Renee R – Welcome Luella S!
This May Willow Place staff members enjoyed a coffee and cake celebration to mark Executive Support Assistant, Renee’s, retirement. Renee R was like the hub of the wheel, always supporting diverse team needs capably with a kind and easy-going manner. Renee will be greatly-missed by our whole team, but we are excited for her to begin this next journey, allowing her to spend more time enjoying life, including family and friends, travel and hobbies.
Prior to completing her time with Willow Place, Renee supported her replacement, Luella S, by mentoring her in the Executive Support Assistant role. As we bid fond farewell to Renee, we are also very pleased to welcome Luella to the Willow Place team. The Executive Support Assistant role is a vital one, requiring a broad skill set. This role provides admin support to the Executive Director and Human Resources, as well as performing bookkeeping assistance, managing in-coming and out-going email, mail and calls, helping staff with a wide variety of other needs including equipment, supplies and technology, and much more!
EMPLOYMENT NEWS
Career opportunities at Willow Place
Our shelter services team is growing and we are hiring part-time and casual Support Workers as well as a full-time Family Violence Counselor, and full-time term Children’s Counselor. Willow Place offers a supportive team environment with opportunities for growth and development.
For details on all open positions and to apply, visit our website careers page and click on the job links: www.willowplaceshelter.ca/careers/ or visit Indeed.com and search under “Willow Place, Winnipeg.”
Questions? Please direct careers inquires by email to careers@willowplace.ca
Willow Place is an Employer of Choice in the violence prevention sector with demonstrated commitment to staff wellness and professional development. We support survivors of violence and abuse using a person-centered and trauma-informed approach to support recovery and healing.