Philanthropy Briefs

Canada Day helps people with disabilities

Wish Canada a happy birthday and help Manitobans with disabilities at the same party. The Society for Manitobans with Disabilities will have an If I Am Lost booth at the Canada Day Picnic in the Park on July 1, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., where you can buy Go Canada Go! T-shirts for $5 and long-sleeved shirts for $7. The booth also features games for kids, balloons and a colouring area. As well, Winnipeg Blue Bombers Pierre Luc Labbé, Chris Cvetkovic, Cory Watson and Chris Kowalczuk will be signing autographs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Have your cake and cattails too

Still with the Canada Day theme, the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre is offering a free piece of Canada's birthday cake on July 1 at 2 p.m. As well, nature interpreters will paint an animal on a child's cheek or take you on a guided history walk of the marsh. There will also be a horse-drawn wagon tour at an extra cost. And if you've ever had a hankering for eating cattails, the marsh is offering a cooking workshop on July 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The fee for that workshop is $20. For more information call 467-3300.

Candace House fundraiser

A fundraiser is being held to create a safe house for victims of serious crime in honour of a homicide victim. The Candace Derksen Family Fun Day is being held at the Fort Garry Community Centre, 880 Oakenwald Ave., on July 7 at 4:30 p.m. It will feature children's entertainment, games and a barbecue dinner. As well, Sagkeeng's Finest, the winners of Canada's Got Talent, will perform. Tickets can be purchased at www.candacehouse.ca . Candace House is named for Candace Derksen, a Winnipeg girl who disappeared in November 1984 only to be found murdered two months later. When it opens, it will help crime victims find support, information and encouragement in a safe environment. For more information on the event call 255-2757.

Yoga helps women with cancer

You can help women living with cancer by doing some yoga moves. Yoga Public is holding donation-based Karma Classes five times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. All funds collected will be donated to the Guardian Angel Benefit for Women's Cancer, a fundraiser held by CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. Yoga Public is located at 280 Fort St. For more information go to www.yogapublic.com .

Wash your car, build a house

Simply by getting your vehicle washed on July 14, you can help build a house in the Dominican Republic. Ten students from the Programme alternatif of Collège Louis-Riel will be washing cars to raise money for construction costs of a house in the Caribbean country. The car wash is being held in the Holy Family Parish parking lot, 778 Archibald St., from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Golf helps wishes

Golfers will be helping children with life-threatening illnesses get their wishes on July 12. The Tee Off Fore a Wish Tournament, a fundraiser for Children's Wish, features golf, auction, barbecue lunch and buffet dinner at the St. Boniface Golf Club. A spot costs $195 and teams of four are $750. For more information or to request sponsorship information, call Erica Vogt at 945-9474.

Soroptomist award winner

Susan Berthiaume is this year's recipient of the Soroptomist's Western Canada Region Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women. Berthiaume, program co-ordinator of Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad Inc.'s child and youth care certificate program, was honoured for helping women formerly in the sex trade break the cycle of violence and poverty to attain education and employment. The award also brought a $1,500 cheque for Ndinawe. Soroptomist International is a worldwide organization that pushes for human rights and the advancement of women and girls.

New St. Amant head

John Leggat is the new president and chief executive officer of St. Amant. Leggat, the province's former acting assistant deputy minister for child and family services, begins his new job July 1. Leggat replaces retiring president Carl Stephens.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 1, 2012 A27