2023
Power of PJs
November is DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH and Willow Place is collecting donations of new pajamas for women and children in our shelter program. In 2022-2023, our shelter program saw an increase in numbers seeking shelter, counting over 13,450 stays (average yearly is about 9,000 stays). More than ever, we need community support to raise awareness of violence prevention needs in our region, in our nation, and throughout the world.
To donate, please call Renee at 204-615-0313, ext. 231 or Pam at 204-615-0313, ext. 237
Monetary gifts can be directed for the Power of PJs campaign through Canada Helps:
CLICK HERE TO DONATE
2023
Willow Place Summer 2023 E-Newsletter
GROWING SPACES
Grant funding supports shelter
Outdoor growing areas at our family violence shelter program received a welcome boost this spring, thanks to an Urban Ag and Community Garden grant (City of Winnipeg). Funds received enabled us to purchase plants, supplies and equipment, including expandable garden hoses.
Willow Place’s healing garden is a small, welcoming space where those sheltering with us can putter and reconnect with the outdoors. For many, it is a first-time experience to plant or tend a garden. This year our growing spaces include containers and raised beds, and include tomatoes, squash, flowers and aromatic herbs. Special thanks to our teacher, Lisa S., and to donor, Dick M., for their support with gardening tasks and acquiring plants.
Are you looking for ways to enjoy summer produce? Here are some ideas!
MINT: delicious watermelon salad
CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE!
CUCUMBERS and RADISHES: cool & creamy salad
CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE!
ZUCCHINI: yummy one pot pasta
CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE!
GOVERNOR GENERAL VISIT
Willow Place Shelter Program
June 6, our shelter program was honoured by a visit from Her Excellency, the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon. Her Excellency met with shelter program participants as well as Willow Place staff, and walked through our program spaces with her team. Program participants expressed the importance of services for those fleeing family violence, and that expanded supports were needed. One mother with young children expressed her appreciation for our on-site school.
Thank you to her Excellency and her team for including Willow Place family violence shelter program on their Manitoba visit itinerary. Manitoba consistently experiences some of the highest crime rates, child poverty rates, and family violence per capita in Canada.
2023 ECUADOR CHALLENGE FOR SHELTER
Chris Pennycook sets $100k goal
Winnipeg resident and Royal LePage Dynamic real estate agent, CHRIS PENNYCOOK, is once again participating in the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation’s Ecuador Trek fundraiser. This November, Chris will be traveling to a rugged and remote region of Ecuador for an arduous 5-day hike to raise money for Willow Place, and has set a fundraising goal of $100,000.
We are so grateful for the awareness and funds Chris and other Royal LePage agents are raising through the Trek initiative! Willow Place relies upon donors and third party fundraising events like the Trek to sustain our work, and we encourage you to share the word, to follow Chris, and to donate if you are able.
CLICK HERE FOR INFO! Thank you, Chris & the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation!
DONATION HIGHLIGHTS
Caring community makes a difference!
Thank you to the many amazing donors who have helped our family violence shelter program in recent weeks. We tend to receive fewer donations in the summer months, so these supporters have been especially helpful. Sadly, family violence does not take a vacation, and our donation needs continue year-round. Willow Place could not provide many daily essentials without the support of caring community; we are so grateful for your thoughtful generosity.
Each year Willow Place supports about 1,000 women and children in the shelter program alone.
DONATE: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/27770?v2=true
WISH LIST: https://willowplaceshelter.ca/wish-list/
AMAZON WISH LIST: https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/3KAE8O4STE7GS?ref_=wl_share
Note: for all donation inquiries, call 204-615-0313, ext. 237 or ext. 231 (weekdays, daytime hours)
Thank you for your thoughtful support!
ROYAL LEPAGE DYNAMIC
Declutter for a Cause a huge success
Royal LePage Dynamic’s DECLUTTER for a CAUSE garage sale on May 28th was a resounding success, raising over $10,000 for Willow Place. THANK YOU to the Royal LePage Dynamic team, and to all those who donated sale item and/or shopped the sale. Your support will help Willow Place sustain 24-hour family violence supports for diverse needs!
HOCKEY HELPS THE HOMELESS
Annual fundraising tournament returns
Plans are underway for the next annual HOCKEY HELPS THE HOMELESS fundraising event in Winnipeg, November 2 and 3, 2023. November 2 is draft night and November 3 is the tournament day. HOCKEY HELPS THE HOMELESS allows players to fundraise while they skate with the pros, with each team having a professional hockey captain. Willow Place is grateful to be one of three charities who benefit; other beneficiaries include Resource Assistance for Youth (RAY), and Red Road Lodge.
Teams are close to being sold out, including four women’s teams, but sponsorship, donation and volunteer opportunities are still available. If you are interested in joining the Winnipeg event committee, please email Lacey Tryon[email protected] or Scott Sullivan [email protected]
For game day or draft night volunteering info:https://hhth.akaraisin.com/ui/F2023WPG/volunteer
Be a GAME-CHANGER! Donate, volunteer, play, sponsor – THANK YOU!
THIRD PARTY FUNDRAISING
Inspiring ways to help Willow Place
Third party fundraising is a significant contributor to Willow Place’s donation needs. We are continually inspired by the creative ways individuals, businesses and organizations opt to help us. Third party events not only raise much-needed revenue for Willow Place, they also help to spread awareness of both community need, and also about available supports. These events are especially meaningful, as the majority of Willow Place’s staffing component is directed to 24-hour family violence crisis supports, leaving very little time for staff to fundraise.
Thank you to the following groups and individuals who helped with third party fundraising in recent weeks, and who are currently planning events – we appreciate you:
Yoga in the Park – June event raised $1,500
J’Adore Body Sugaring – promotion to collect wish list items for the shelter
Blush Beauty Bar St. Vital – collected donations for their July grand opening event
Insurance Institute of Manitoba – September Trivia Night fundraiser planned
Lilystone Gardens – August “appetizers and entertainment” event planned
For questions and for information re: planning a third party event, please contact Willow Place Community Coordinator, Pam: 204-615-0313, ext. 237 (weekdays, daytime hours).
2023
FVCM REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
The Family Violence Consortium of Manitoba (FVCM) is seeking an independent contractor to evaluate creating a collective impact backbone organization for the gender-based violence sector (in transition from Gender Equity Manitoba (formerly the Family Violence Prevention Program, Manitoba Government.
SCOPE OF WORK
Conduct a comprehensive review of the needs of current agencies funded by Gender Equity Manitoba (GEM), Province of Manitoba, and provide recommendations for creation of a collective impact backbone organization to support gender-based violence sector moving forward.
COLLECTIVE IMPACT
Is a network of community members, organizations and institutions who advance equity by learning together, and via aligning and integrating their actions to achieve population and system-level change.
The FAMILY VIOLENCE CONSORTIUM OF MANITOBA (FVCM)
Represents a network of over 30 family violence prevention organizations funded by GEM, and consisting of family violence shelters, second stage family violence programs and housing; resource centers, urban support programs, and specialized services, who provide service and support to Manitobans impacted by violence and abuse.
VISION
Healthy, strong communities and people with women, gender diverse individuals, and families who are proud and empowered; well-supported by organizations and programs which honour their stories, recognize the impact of colonialism, and which work collaboratively to share, undertake and give voice to best practices.
WE BELIEVE
That all elements of the overall caring and support systems, both public and community, have a responsibility to eliminate violence and to support conditions favourable for thriving and successful outcomes, within Manitoba and beyond.
TIMELINES
Consultation and scope of work to begin August 2023, with all deliverables completed by March 31, 2024.
Draft report to be completed by January 22, 2024.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT/CONSULTANT
Required to conduct consultations with all GEM-funded organizations to determine priorities, capacity and needs, as well as overall system strengths and challenges within family violence prevention sector.
Travel to all regions of the Province of Manitoba may be required. Research will inform recommendations re: establishing a backbone organizations in a formal report. The report will summarize all interviews, outline the process used, and resulting recommendations.
The consultant will communicate directly with the FVCM Executive. Dissemination and recommendations resulting from the report are the responsibility of the FVCM Executive.
SCOPE OF CONSULTATION
-GEM-funded agencies, each requiring consultation
-GEM (formerly FVPP), Department of Families, Province of Manitoba
-Literature review/sector scan relative to the sector (family violence and gender-based violence) that may inform a collective impact model
-Specifically address current gaps, priority areas for advocacy, capacity-building, collaboration and collective impact, that would form the focus of a backbone agency
-Collection of data, analysis, and comprehensive report including recommendations based upon collective stakeholder feedback, including (but not limited to) structure and governance; required staff positions and job descriptions; budget, work plan (e.g., action items and target dates)
-Develop a process for selecting the recommended structure
SECTORAL REVIEW
Creation of a comprehensive report and recommendations focused on key areas, including:
-Collective impact two-day sector retreat (February 9 and 10, 2023)
-Assess funded agencies’ resources, capacity, and priority needs, including systemic barriers
-Assess gaps in sector’s continuum of services, and collaboration across funded sector
-Assess and identify recommendations for possible options re: Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters (MAWS) and backbone organization to work together (e.g., amalgamation, co-existing and collaborative structures, etc.)
-Assess ways in which 2SMMIWG+ Implementation Committee and new backbone organization may work collaboratively
-Identify areas of advocacy and shared voice that are priorities
-Assess capacity and training needs across funded sector
-Assess data collection gaps across funded sector
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
-Understanding of non-profit environment, collective impact models, and gender-based analysis
-Ability to implement priorities identified by Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Calls for Justice, into research, analysis and recommendations
-Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; specifically community outreach and community conversations
-Exceptional written communication and ability to produce comprehensive report documents
-Exceptional project management skills, collections and analysis of data; ability to brainstorm strategies, organization, and ability to disseminate information clearly and concisely
-Driven, reliable, analytical problem-solver, able to meet all required deliverables within established timeframes
-Demonstrated ability to work from a decolonizing, anti-racist lens, with strong understanding of intersectionality and inclusion of lived-experience and local context
PROPOSED GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS
Proposal must be submitted by email and must include the following:
-Qualifications and knowledge re: consultation and organizational design projects (including research, data and interview collection; report writing)
-Detailed description of methodology (approach and process) for developing and implementing a consultation plan; methodology should balance engagement as well as efficiency per project timelines
-Detailed project outline including activities, work plan, timelines with clear deliverables, and progress toward milestones
-Detailed fee proposal including costs and timelines for invoicing and payment schedule (inclusive of all expenses, including consultant fees, technology, travel, etc.)
-Three letters of reference from former professional service clients or similar project from past five years
-Provide example document reflecting similar past project
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2023 AT 4:30 P.M. (CDT)
Please submit proposal to Cynthia Drebot ([email protected])
Please state “RFP FVCM Hiring Committee” in the subject line of your email.
2023
Willow Place Spring 2023 E-Newsletter
SPRING WELLNESS
Taking time for self-care
Wellness is defined as our “state of being†and individual needs vary greatly. The SMILE acronym can be a helpful reminder for maintaining universal wellness basics: S-sleep enough, M-move your body, I-inhale and exhale, L-love and connect, and E-eat to nourish. Asking “how’s my SMILE score today?†can be a helpful support to keep on track. Some tips: set reminders on computer or phone; write SMILE on a post-it note where you will see it throughout the day; and schedule in time daily to do something you enjoy. Setting boundaries with wellness can also be very helpful. Many face competing demands for time and energy, so it is necessary to be protective of self-care and wellness-related time.
HEALTHY EATS!
Looking for an easy nutritious meal? Social media has popularized the meal-in-a bowl, sometimes called Buddha bowls, power bowls, hippie bowls or macro bowls.  Healthy meals-in-a-bowl allow for creative customization centered on favourite foods and/or nutritional goals, and can be enjoyed at any time of day.  Further, ingredients or completed bowls can be prepped in advance for make-ahead lunches or easy dinners for busy humans. Generally, meal bowls combine a healthy grain, fresh, cooked and pickled vegetables; legumes and/or nuts, and a dressing. Protein add-ins include eggs, tofu, tempeh, chicken, beef, and fish, etc.  Meal bowls are a great way to reinvent leftovers as well.  We hope you will be inspired to create your own custom creation – maybe even a breakfast bowl to switch up your morning routine!
Here are some recipes links to inspire:
https://www.loveandlemons.com/buddha-bowl-recipe/
https://minimalistbaker.com/sweet-potato-chickpea-buddha-bowl/
https://www.delish.com/cooking/menus/recipes/a50768/buddha-bowls-recipe/
INDIGENOUS CULTURE
Artist Brooklyn Rudolph’s Purse Project
Willow Place’s shelter program was fortunate to receive one-of-a-kind hand-made purses featuring original artwork by award-winning Manitoba Indigenous artist, Brooklyn Rudolph. A young woman with many gifts and abilities, Brooklyn previously gifted the shelter program with ribbon skirts from a prior Indigenous culture project.Â
We felt very fortunate to receive these beautiful items, which were the outcome of a six-month project within Brooklyn’s culturally-based art practice. Each purse will be gifted to an Indigenous woman or girl sheltering with Willow Place, in support of their recovery and healing from family violence.
Chii megwetch, Brooklyn! We are certain the purses will be treasured by those who receive them.
Follow Brooklyn:Â CLICK HERE!
VOLUNTEER FEATURE
Meet music volunteer, Tannis
1) What motivates you to volunteer at Willow Place’s family violence shelter program?
“I really feel that music is vital to healing, it evokes that connection to one another, and it is a comfort. I really don’t know where I would be without music, it grounds me and also inspires me to reach further. I want to share that with everyone, and I need the interaction as much as anyone else does, maybe more.”
2) Can you share one or two highlights of your volunteer experience with us?
“It is a different experience every single time I start playing, I love when people sing along! When I pull out the guitar the kids line up for turns and are so creative, some even make up their own songs or dance routines. I try to teach a little about the parts of the guitar and have everyone strum a song while we sing. “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” is a beginner favourite (because I refuse to learn “Let it Go”)! I also love those times when only women are in attendance, sometimes someone will borrow my guitar to play from their own soundtrack which makes my music hour at Willow Place so much more rewarding.”
3) If you could have lunch with any person in history, who would it be and why?
“My hero is Gord Downie so instead of lunch could we just sing together?”
4) What’s your superpower?
“I have transformed being shy into my superpower, it has let me quietly observe everyone without much expectation. I write most of my songs in one sitting because I finally have all the information gathered it needs to form. I have been collecting this data for years and hopefully my next song is something that applies to you :)”
THANK YOU, TANNIS – WE APPRECIATE YOU!
Volunteer program inquiries: Shannon at 204-615-0313, ext. 224
ROYAL LEPAGE DYNAMIC
Agent contributions and fundraiser!
Willow Place recently received a donation of over $24,000.00 from the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, representing agent contributions from Winnipeg’s Royal LePage Dynamic real estate team.  We feel very fortunate to enjoy the ongoing support and awareness raised by Royal LePage, enabling us to sustain vital family violence prevention supports in Manitoba.
We wish to share that Royal LePage Dynamic is hosting a GARAGE SALE: “DeClutter for a Causeâ€Â in support of charity, including Willow Place, on May 28th. IMPORTANT: If you have some articles to donate to the sale, call 204-989-5000.
MORE INFO:Â CLICK HERE!
SUMMER DAY CAMP
Thank you, Canada Summer Jobs!
Willow Place is hiring two students for summer day camp programming (June to September) thanks to granted funds from Canada Summer Jobs. We look forward to providing fun, educational summer activities for children sheltering with us this summer! Â
We would also like to acknowledge free admission from the following community organizations:
Winnipeg Goldeyes, Manitoba Museum, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Assiniboine Park (The Leaf and Assiniboine Park Zoo), Living Prairie Museum, and the Manitoba Children’s Museum.
SUMMER EMPLOYMENT INFO AND APPLICATION:Â CLICK HERE!
DONATION SUBSCRIPTION
Easy, Secure Giving with Canada Helps
Were you aware that monthly donation subscriptions are available through Canada Helps?  Canada Helps is a secure, online platform that enables donors to provide monetary donations for charities.  Willow Place continues to promote the online giving program in 2023 with a goal to obtain new monthly subscribers. Reaching this goal would provide Willow Place with assured monthly funds to bridge funding gaps, and would enable us to better-serve program participants. A commitment of just $20 a month can make a positive difference, and helps Willow Place support those in need! Â
Those with questions are welcome to contact Community Coordinator/Supervisor, Pam Hadder:
Phone: 204-615-0313, ext. 237 (weekdays, daytime hours)
Email:Â [email protected]
DONATE TODAY:Â CLICK HERE TO DONATE!