True systemic change requires commitment from people in all walks of life, not just those who are most affected by the issue. For this reason, The Winnipeg Boldness Project has built a collaborative and diverse team that is community-driven and includes a broad spectrum of staff, partners, and stakeholders.
The staff team is based in the Point Douglas neighbourhood of Winnipeg and is responsible for organizing and completing the day-to-day research and development activities of the project.
Diane is a dedicated community leader and a proud member of the Skownan First Nation. Diane has worked tirelessly for over two decades with organizations and projects that respect the ability and the rights of Indigenous families, children and individuals to care for themselves and thrive. Diane holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work degrees. She is a cherished member of a large extended family and a loving mother of two daughters whom she adores.
Kara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta. She has experience navigating collaborative initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, which have included many community organizations in Winnipeg’s North End.
Lisa was born and raised in Winnipeg and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Indigenous Studies. She recently completed a Master’s of Development Practice – Indigenous Development Degree and spent time during the program working at Blue Quills First Nations College in northern Alberta and with the Saami in northern Finland.
Jenna is a woman of Métis/Italian descent who was born and raised in Winnipeg. She has been working and volunteering in the North End since the early 2000s in various capacities, with a focus on community development from an Indigenous perspective. She has completed several courses and workshops in business planning, and has a specific interest in marketing and communications, and entrepreneurship.
Acting as our compass throughout this journey, we work with four guide groups comprised of local residents, volunteers, workers, executives, researchers, and knowledge keepers. These guide groups meet on a regular basis to provide community-based insight and feedback around our research and prototypes, while helping to maintain a strong community voice in all aspects of the project.
Velma Orvis
Mae Louise Campbell
Billie Schibler
Lionel Houston
Mary Wilson
Margaret Lavallee
Currently 15 participating community parents/caregivers
Bobbette Shoffner (Mount Carmel Clinic)
Carolyn Young (Manidoo Gi Miini Gonaan)
Cindy Coker (SEED Winnipeg, Inc.)
Cynthia Drebot (North End Women’s Centre)
Dana Arabe (Wahbung Abinoonjiiag)
Darlene Klyne (Community Education Development Association)
Dawn Sands (North End Community Renewal Corporation)
Debra Diubaldo (University of Manitoba – Inner City Social Work Campus)
Dilly Knol (Andrews Street Family Centre)
Heather Leeman (The Laurel Centre)
Marileen Bartlett (Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development)
Tammy Christensen (Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad)
Tara Zajac (North Point Douglas Women’s Centre)
Tyler Pearce (Local Investment Towards Employment)
Dr. Shauna MacKinnon (University of Winnipeg/Manitoba Research Alliance)
Dr. Rob Santos (Healthy Child Manitoba)
Dr. Susan Prentice (University of Manitoba)
Dr. Jamie Cidro (University of Winnipeg)
Leona Star (First Nations Health & Social Secreteriat of Manitoba)
Dr. Jon McGavock (University of Manitoba)
Dr. Jino Distasio (University of Winnipeg)
The Winnipeg Boldness Project works with an extensive list of community partners who support and contribute to the work of the project in many important ways.
Rather than governance through a conventional board of directors, a Stewardship Group was formed to act as a guiding body for the project. It provides direction and accountability while encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing from some of Winnipeg’s most experienced members of the non-profit and business communities.
Gregg was formerly the president and CEO of Wawanesa Mutual. Now retired, he remains active in Manitoba’s business community on several company boards, and has taken an active interest in the well-being of Winnipeg’s Indigenous citizens in particular.
Susan is the outgoing President and CEO of United Way of Winnipeg and a visionary leader whose work has included leading the formation of the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council (WPRC) to address in real and measurable ways some of Winnipeg’s toughest issues.
Highly respected advocate of Indigenous rights, Ovide is the former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and former Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Manitoba. As an accomplished lawyer specializing in constitutional law, he has and continues to be an integral leader in First Nations issues in Canada.
Associate Secretary to Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, Government of Manitoba; Research Scientist, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, and Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. Rob is Winnipeg’s foremost expert on the science of early childhood development.
Kathy is the Vice President, Community Investment for United Way of Winnipeg. In this role, Kathy, together with the community investment team, collaborates with senior volunteers and staff to achieve the greatest impact possible on social issues in our community. Including numerous courses in leadership, change management, and project management, Kathy has attained a Bachelor of Nursing degree, a Master’s of Public Administration degree, as well as a Master’s Certificate in Municipal Leadership.
Dilly is the Executive Director of Andrews Street Family Centre and a strong advocate for Indigenous families. A woman of Metis decent, she was born and raised near Richer, Manitoba. She began her career in community development in her late 20s through volunteerism, and soon after made the decision to go back to school to obtain her degree in Social Work from the University of Manitoba. Dilly lives in the North End of Winnipeg and dedicates her life to making a difference in her community.
Jan graduated with her Master’s degree in Public Affairs in 1980. The first ten years of her career were spent in Saskatchewan working for first for the Federal government and subsequently for the Province. In 1989 she returned to her roots in Manitoba and began a 27-year career with the Province of Manitoba, spanning a range of progressive assignments in human resources, labour relations, and program management. In 2001, Jan became the CEO of Healthy Child Manitoba, reporting to the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet. In 2009, this role was merged with her new assignment as Deputy Minister of Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors. In 2012, while retaining her CEO role, Jan was appointed Deputy Minister of the newly created Department of Children and Youth Opportunities. In 2016, Jan left the Province of Manitoba and became a Research Chair at Red River College.
Bobbette is the Executive Director of Mount Carmel Clinic, a unique community health centre that exists to work together with people, families and communities to enhance lifelong health and wellbeing. She grew up in the North End and graduated from St. Johns High School. She spent many years as an Early Childhood Educator working with children and families and taught Early Childhood Education at Red River College for several years. Adding to her focus with a Bachelor’s of Human Ecology degree and Certificate in Health Leadership and Management, she works hard on affecting change at the community and systems level for the improvement of all families.
Sharon is a Metis educator from the Turtle Mountains in Southwest Manitoba. She has worked as a classroom teacher in the Inner City and a support teacher, writing Aboriginal curriculum for the Winnipeg School Division as well as the K-4 Social Studies Curriculum for the Government of Manitoba. Sharon is the General Manager of Louis Riel Institute, the culture and education arm of the Manitoba Metis Federation. She has represented the Metis Nation on numerous provincial committees, including the Premier’s Advisory Council (PAC), the Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Experience Program (LGYEP) and currently co-chairs the Blueprint for Collaborative Indigenous Education Implementation Plan. She received a Diamond Jubilee Award from the Lieutenant Governor for her work in the community. She belongs to a grassroots Metis local in Winnipeg, and is a proud resident of Winnipeg’s North End. Sharon is a wife, mother and grandmother of 6, which is her inspiration to make the Education system better for Metis people.
The following funders have supported or currently support the project through monetary contributions and organizational support.
The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
Province of Manitoba
United Way of Winnipeg
The Winnipeg Foundation
The Richardson Foundation
Investors Group
Public Health Agency of Canada
Anonymous Funder
The Funders Table serves as a strategic team to develop broad partnerships with stakeholders and look at potential finance models to fund the project on an ongoing basis.
Connie Walker (United Way of Winnipeg)
Stephen Huddart (The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation)
Rob Santos (Healthy Child Manitoba, Province of Manitoba)
Gregg Hanson (Stewardship Group Chair)
Kathy Knudsen (United Way of Winnipeg)
Diane Roussin (The Winnipeg Boldness Project)
Heather Block (United Way of Winnipeg)
