2026
Featured Autumn 2026 E-Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Thankfulness & Gratitude
- Volunteer Recruitment
- Summer Program Highlights
- Community Support
- Comfort at Home (Recipe)
- Donation Needs
THANKFULNESS & GRATITUDE
Building daily practice for wellness
Thankfulness and gratitude are often used interchangeably. However, thankfulness is typically a response to good experiences, whereas gratitude is a state of being that is cultivated, and can sustain us in good times and bad. Both gratitude and thankfulness contribute to good health by reinforcing a more positive state of being, which provides both physical and emotional benefits.
There are many ways to “grow” gratitude – here are a few suggestions:
1) Start a gratitude journal or blog, or social media page. If using social media, you may choose to be anonymous, or you may prefer to share or collaborate.
2) Keep a gratitude jar – have a note pad or scrap paper handy. Aim to contribute daily, and set up a time to reflect on your entries (monthly, every six months, etc.). This can be an individual, family or workplace practice. If participating with others, agree on guidelines together and be sensitive to varying perspectives and needs.
3) Try meditation – mindfulness and gratitude practice go hand in hand.
4) Spend quality time with loved ones – investing in relationships creates shared memories and helps to establish a reserve of support and gratitude.
5) Give, share donate – clear clutter and un-used items for giving to others. Appreciating how much we have and understanding the positive ripples created through generosity help to deepen gratitude.
6) Volunteer – everyone has gifts that can benefit others in a multitude of ways. Find a cause you care about and a volunteer role that aligns with your values, schedule and interests.
LEARN MORE: CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
Growing our volunteer team!
Were you aware that Willow Place volunteers contribute over 500 hours of support every year? Our volunteers include board members, shelter support volunteers and donation volunteers. We also have some specialized volunteers that help with community events and shelter program repair needs.
From September 15 until October 15 we are accepting volunteer program applications for shelter support, donation support and cultural support areas. We offer flexibility of hours and training, and volunteers must commit to 120 hours or an average of two hours weekly in their first year. Background checks required.
For info and to apply, visit our website volunteer program page:
QUESTIONS? Contact Willow Place Community Coordinator, Kimi at 204-615-0313, ext. 245
SUMMER PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Making a difference for children in shelter
his past summer, Willow Place was fortunate to access grant support from the Winnipeg Foundation’s Children and Youth Grant, as well as from Canada Summer Jobs. These amazing supports enabled Willow place to hire three summer staff including two summer day camp leads, Arafat and Berhanesh, and an HR-Admin support staff, Isabella.
Arafat and Berhanesh adeptly managed diverse needs and provided fun and educational weekday programming for school age children in shelter throughout the summer. Isabella capably assisted our HR Coordinator with a variety of document management and other important HR tasks. Isabella also organized a special staff BBQ gathering that was a big hit with our hard-working team! We are so proud of our fantastic summer staff who contributed in such meaningful ways.
Thank you to the following community donors who provided no-cost admission to local attractions for children in our day camp program: Manitoba Museum, Manitoba Children’s Museum, Goldeyes Baseball, Assiniboine Conservatory (The Zoo and The Leaf), the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, and MANSO. For many children in shelter, these were first-time experiences and left lasting impressions.
Special appreciation to Red River Coop for their timely and generous donation of $2,000 in gift cards to support Willow Place’s summer programs, including summer day camp and our healing garden project. Your generosity helped us provide adequate healthy food, treats, sunscreen and bug spray, first aid supplies, and much more!
Another summer highlight was a $2,000 grant from Aramark (University of Manitoba location) to purchase school supplies for children attending our on-site shelter school. This wonderful gift will assist children in in shelter, in grades K-8, over the next few months.
Thanks to all of these supporters and funders for making Summer 2026 a very special one for our shelter participants, including their vital assistance to Willow Place’s program staff!
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Fabulous fundraisers!
Willow Place relies upon third-party fundraising to fill funding gaps and provide many daily essentials in our busy shelter program. The following are recent supports we would like to acknowledge and celebrate – thank you for the awareness raised and for the valuable donation dollars your efforts provide:
Royal LePage Shelter Foundation and Royal LePage Dynamic $8,000 in agent commissions donations and fundraising (received in September). THANK YOU!
Kinsmen 3rd Annual 50-50 program (ongoing until December 26) Willow Place receives 25% of ticket revenue when purchaser selects Willow Place as the charity of choice. The last raffle winner received over $60,000! PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!
Shopper’s Drug Mart Giving Shelter campaign (September 15 – October 9 in seven Winnipeg locations) staff promotions to collect community donations (average of $10,000 – $15,000 yearly). Amazing!
Urban Barn – Blanket the Country campaign (ongoing) matching program to provide donations and new blankets for our shelter program. Visit your local Urban Barn for details and to donate: 1585 Kenaston Boulevard, or 1594 Regent Avenue in Winnipeg.
If you are interested in third-party fundraising, please contact Pam at 204-615-0313, ext. 237 or Kimi at 204-615-0313, ext. 245. THANK YOU for supporting Willow Place!
COMFORT AT HOME
Heart-warming soup recipe
horter days and cooler temperatures are here, and what is better than a cozy meal at home? We hope you will try our Spicy Vegetable Soup recipe – it is easy to prepare and tastes amazing!
SPICY VEGETABLE SOUP
Hearty & healthy vegetarian recipe
INGREDIENTS:
2 Tbsp – 30 ml olive or canola oil
1.5-2 cups – 375-500 ml diced cooking onion
2 ribs diced celery
3 bay leaves
2 – 3 cloves minced garlic
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
3 – 4 medium tomatoes, blanched, peeled and diced (or small can diced tomatoes)
1 tsp – 5 ml sea salt (or to taste)
Ground black pepper, to taste
1 tsp – 5 ml crushed chilies (or to taste)
1-½ tsp – 7.5 ml ground cinnamon
1 tsp – 5 ml ground turmeric
1 – 2 Tbsp – 15-30 ml paprika
5 cups – 1.25 L vegetable broth (or vegetable bouillon mixed with water)
1.5 cups (750 ml) cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained (canned work great also!)
1 medium-large sweet potato (about 1.5 cups – 2 cups – 375-500 ml) peeled and cubed
½ cup – 125 ml chopped fresh basil (or 2 tsp – 5 ml, dried basil)
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
METHOD:
Heat oil over medium-low temperature in a large stock pot. Add in chopped onion, salt, bay leaves, celery. Cook until onion is translucent, stirring often. Add in garlic and cook another 3-5 minutes. Add bell pepper and tomatoes, along with chilies, black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and paprika. Cook for another 5-7 minutes, adding half the broth midway. Add in the chickpeas and sweet potatoes along with the remaining broth and the basil. Increase heat to medium-high to bring to a slow boil. Reduce, heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until vegetables are at the desired softness. Add water as needed to suit your preferred consistency. Add in chopped parsley, optional, and serve. YIELD: 6 servings
TIP: add 1/4 tsp – 1.25 ml of baking soda and 1 tsp – 5 ml of sugar to tomatoes before adding to the soup – stir in and set aside. The soda neutralizes the acidity and the sugar enhances the bright tomato flavour. Especially helpful if you are using canned tomatoes.
NOTE: This soup is easy to customize – great add-ins include a few cut green beans, or some chopped zucchini, diced carrot or sliced mushrooms. If using carrots, add them with the celery in the early stages of cooking. Beans, zucchini or mushrooms can be added with bell pepper and tomatoes. Spicy Vegetable Soup can be portioned and frozen for later use. Enjoy!
DONATION NEEDS
Ways to support Willow Place
URGENT NEEDS!
Our busy shelter program currently needs pajamas for children and women, new underwear for children and women, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, and non-perishable food items (e.g., breakfast cereal, juice boxes, coffee, tea and canned goods). We are also seeking donations of candy, craft kits, costumes and accessories for Safe Halloween activities and food or monetary sponsorship for Thanksgiving meals and activities.
REPLACEMENT – SHELTER PROGRAM
Due to the high numbers of people we support yearly, we need to repair or replace items from time to time. Current replacement needs include:$1,000 to repair our commercial dishwasher and $1,000 to replace two bed frames.
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Always needed items include gently-used or new towels, blankets and single size fitted sheets; infant diapers size 5 and 6, Winnipeg Transit tickets (women, children and youth), and miscellaneous gift cards (for groceries, medical needs, outing and program supplies – e.g., Walmart, Dollarama, Shoppers, Tim Hortons).
MONETARY DONATIONS
Monetary gifts are always appreciated. Send cheque or bank draft payable to “Willow Place” to P.O. Box 1786, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 2Z9, or donate online using Canada Helps.
DONATE ON CANADA HELPS
A safe way to donate to Canadian charities online as a one-time donor, or as a monthly subscriber.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE!
Donation questions? Contact our Community Team staff (weekdays, daytime hours)
Pam: 204-615-0313, ext. 237
Kimi: 204-615-0313, ext. 245
2026
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.
2025
Winter 2025 E-Newsletter
Valentine’s Day
Focus on self-love and self-care
Valentine’s Day is traditionally a day for expressing affection and admiration between close connections, often with a romantic theme. For those who have survived violence and abuse, Valentine’s Day can be especially stressful. Survivors may experience complex, conflicting emotions, including love and hate, comfort and unease, attraction and fear. Unhealthy relationships may not be violent and abusive every day, and survivors cling to the happier memories, hoping that abusers will change, and that the latest episode of maltreatment will be the last. Unfortunately, it is common for incidents of abuse to become more frequent and increasingly severe over time. Survivors will often experience multiple cycles of violence, reconciliation, hope, regret and self-loathing.
Focusing on self-love and self-care are great ways to move forward from unhealthy relationships, and Valentine’s Day can be a time to highlight and practice this positive shift. Rather than being influenced by social pressures and expectations of idealized romantic love, exploring concepts of self-acceptance, nurturing, and supportive relationships can help survivors move away from old patterns, toward improved physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
In preparation for Valentine’s Day, we polled our Willow Place team to find out what self-care looks like for them – here are some of their tips!
“Spending time with family and friends…time at the lake…Exercising and walking helps me maintain my physical and mental health.” Lisa L.
“It is a habit of love, love for myself…I eat healthy and always have two books on the go… Self-care is about making time for what you love. I love my children and my grandchildren, and I spend lots of time with them. Long-time friends are important as well.” Diane P.
“I make soup and muffins to freeze and share with family.” Pam H.
“I seek out nature and feel most grounded near…water, trees and sunsets! Doing so…reminds me to appreciate life.” Renee R.
“I smudge at least once a day…It makes me stop, breathe, reflect and re-set with good intentions and an open mind. I also love to bead. When beading I…think good things and send out that energy into the piece I am making.” Lisa K.
“I have plants…My plants have…become my support system. They’ve heard everything, and they’re still…growing.” Vishakha
“I…prioritize…my physical and mental health. I engage in activities that I love, but I also…do things that I may not enjoy as much, yet I know are good for me…I believe…sometimes what feels challenging can also be beneficial, and my goal…is to keep pushing myself to improve.” Kimi B.
“I like to go for massage, watch comedy, talk with important people in my life, and cook, sometimes, depending on how I feel.” Louisa S.
“I…stay away from my phone…relax on my bed…while at other times I…choose to relax with movies. I practice…gratitude and affirmation. Spend time with my family…take time to listen to soft music…I do a long walk and connect with nature.” ‘Lola I.
Board of Directors Update
Thank you to our volunteer board members
In Fall 2024, we bid farewell to board member and Secretary, Pamela McLeod, after ten years of service. We also welcomed new board member, Serena Bevilacqua as a member-at-large. Existing board member, Scott Robillard assumed the Secretary role for our board. Special thanks to Pamela for her many years of diligent support and valuable insight. and thank you, Scott and Serena for your commitment – we appreciate you!
View our board member profiles: CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION!
Volunteer Recruitment
Open positions in the shelter program
We are excited to be engaged in a volunteer recruitment this winter for a variety of roles that support our shelter program. Currently, we are accepting applications for shelter support, donation support, cultural program support and translation support (Arabic and French languages). All Willow Place volunteers must apply and go through a selection process like applying for employment. Regardless of their role, all prospective volunteers must supply current background checks and complete our online and in-person training.
To view our current volunteer opportunities:
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION!
International Women’s Day
Women’s rights are human rights
International Women’s Day (March 8) is an annual worldwide observance to draw attention to the contributions of women, and to women’s issues. Sadly, we are experiencing a time where, despite past progress, women around the world are denied basic human rights, such as a right to safety. Women are experiencing increasing rates of physical, sexual, economic, emotional, reproductive and social violence.
Women make up half of the world’s population and are equally capable in all areas of life. In developing nations, it is estimated that women produce 80% of the food and help to sustain the environment for future generations. Despite this, women are among those most-impacted by food insecurity. Former communist leader Mao Zedong once declared, “Women hold up half the sky,” to highlight the essential contributions of women, but all too often women’s rights are not upheld, and they face extreme hardship and marginalization, including violence and harassment in the work force, and a disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work.
Patriarchal systems of oppression assert and preserve male dominance in all areas of human life, and democratic governments that are more supportive of equal rights for women are under systemic attack globally. Less than 30% of world nations have democratic governments. For those wishing to diminish and control women, democratic nations pose a threat to agendas of dominance.
Technology, which has enabled real-time communications and has removed barriers for many who were previously isolated, is also being manipulated to spread hate speech and misinformation. Too many people struggle to distinguish fact from fiction while extreme political and paramilitary groups infiltrate, normalize and circulate hate-speech, dismantle cultural tolerance, and encourage criminal behaviours.
Historically, wars and political agendas have been waged over women’s bodies, and these crimes against humanity are being experienced today with disturbing frequency: abduction, torture and rape of women and girls (e.g., Sudan, Ukraine, by Russia; In Israel by Hamas; in Republic of Congo, called the “Rape Capital of the World”). Extreme examples of gender-based violence are escalating in Afghanistan where the Muslim-extremist Taliban have restricted women to their homes, banned windows and education, and have forbidden women to communicate with women outside of their home. In the United States, long-established female reproductive rights have been dismantled in many states (Roe vs. Wade), leaving victims of rape and incest scrambling to find doctors who will help them with therapeutic abortions.
Female genital mutilation, forced marriages and child marriages continue in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab States as well as Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America, estimated to have impacted over 230 million women and girls. Despite education and intervention efforts, it is anticipated that 68 million more girls will be victimized between 2015-2030. Several countries have no minimum age for marriage, including Gambia, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan and Yemen. In Canada, the legal age for marriage is age 16, which is not old enough to vote or drive a car.
Human rights, especially women’s rights, are fragile and under attack. It is especially important to not be complacent, to not minimize threats to rights and freedoms; to speak up for women and girls, to seek improved conditions and protections, and to hold elected officials accountable – our shared future depends upon it.
Staff Feature – Meet Lisa K., Housing Support Specialist
Please share a few things about your background, and things you enjoy.
As a proud Métis woman, I have a passion for supporting and empowering women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+individuals, while on their journey of healing. For over 19 years I have been working in the Gender-Based Violence sector in various roles, within numerous organizations. I have stayed dedicated to this line of work because I value the importance of humanity, and everyone has the right to live a life free from violence. Even though my impact may be small I believe that the ripple effect will be everlasting and that matters.
Please tell me about your role at Willow Place – what are your main responsibilities and tasks?
I feel honored to have the opportunity to work in partnership with participants while they seek, explore and hopefully obtain housing. Some of the responsibilities and tasks I have are:
– Finding viewings for participants to attend alone or I can accompany them
– I can offer transportation for a variety of reasons if it assists with securing housing,
– I frequently provide advocacy and encouragement when the process is overwhelming
– I help complete paperwork, applications and letters of support
– Making referrals to partnering agencies and organizations
Moving out of shelter can be exciting and new for participants but it may also be a lonely and scary time. As part of Outreach services, I offer home visits to help participants transition and adjust to their new home, navigating conversations with landlords/property managers and referrals and advocacy to other supports in the community.
What are three things you enjoy about this role? What are some difficult aspects of your role?
I enjoy having the opportunity to work directly with participants, going out of the shelter and working in the community, and working with my incredible co-workers and fantastic leadership team. One of the difficult aspects of my role is when a participant works hard to secure housing and is not successful within their shelter stay.
Can you tell me about trends or common needs that you are seeing among the vulnerable populations served daily in the shelter program?
Over time I have seen affordable and safe housing options become less and less available to individuals who are experiencing GBV. Subsidized housing waitlists have grown, and the housing markets have spiked. This trend has left survivors of GBV even more at risk and vulnerable.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future in terms of the valuable role you play in violence prevention?
Is there a person or experience that has shaped your interest in violence prevention, or has motivated you to help others?
One of the people who has inspired, encouraged and taught me to find and use my voice while working in the GBV field was Anna Pazdzierski (former ED of Nova House, Manitoba). Not only was she a role model and leader but an inspiration. She gave me opportunities to speak up and question societal expectations/norms for women. Without Anna giving me my first job in a violence prevention shelter and the experience I had there, I don’t know if I would have chosen this as my life career.
Third Party Fundraising
Were you aware that the majority of Willow Place fundraising is third-party fundraising? Each year we are very fortunate to be approached by a variety of groups who hold fundraising events on our behalf.
Those who support us are diverse and include faith-based groups, schools, universities and colleges, the health sector, policing, business community members, and service clubs. We also have had individuals and friend groups organize fundraising efforts.
These fundraisers provide much-needed funds to fill funding gaps in areas such as food security, cultural programming, children’s programming and more! They also help to raise awareness of violence prevention services and the prevalence of gender-based violence in the Manitoba region, and help to supply our shelter program with a wide range of in-kind items listed on our WISH LIST.
If you are interested in third-party fundraising, feel welcome to contact our community team to request information: Pam 204-615-0313, ext. 237; Kimi 204-615-0313, ext. 245
