Women’s Health Clinic names administrator amid allegations of toxicity

Women’s Health Clinic has appointed an interim administrator after its executive director stepped down earlier this month, alleging racism and toxicity in the workplace.

Carolyn Loeppky, a former teacher and social services worker, was named to the interim position effective Saturday, the clinic said in a news release Monday.

“This appointment ensures continuity allowing us to focus on strengthening our organizational culture and governance. We are looking forward to Carolyn joining us to move things forward in a good way,” the release said.

“Carolyn will provide day-to-day oversight, work closely with staff and volunteers, and support the board in addressing organizational priorities, including workplace culture, equity, diversity and inclusion.”

Former director Kemlin Nembhard stepped down from the position at the beginning of September, citing a culture of “toxicity, hostility, racism, white privilege and white fragility.”

Clinic staff later pushed back against those claims, saying the facility became unsafe and dysfunctional after Nembhard took leadership in 2020.

Employees alleged Nembhard allowed homeless people unsupervised access to private spaces within the clinic, located at 419 Graham Ave.

“This created repeated chaos and danger, including assaults, fights, public sex, nudity, urination/defecation in hallways, overdoses, theft of staff food, and weapons on site,” a current staff member, granted anonymity to speak, told the Free Press earlier this month.

Nembhard declined to comment on the allegations at the time.

The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals filed a grievance in July 2024 accusing the clinic of being a source of sexual harassment and verbal assaults against staff. In January, the union called for a full review of workplace policies, process and culture at the facility.

The release said Loeppky will ensure the continued delivery of health services amid an organizational transition.

“We are dedicated to operating to the highest degree of accountability and transparency. The board is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace while continuing to serve the community and supporting our dedicated staff,” Faustine Muyenzi, co-chair of the clinic’s board of directors, said in a statement.

Loeppky’s career has spanned 40 years in the public sector, including experience working with organizations that were facing challenges and rebuilding, the release said.

“I’ve been a really passionate person when it comes to vulnerable people, vulnerable children, vulnerable families. Experiences that they have in our systems and in our service providing institutions,” Loeppky said in a statement.

“I see our roles in that kind of work as finding the right pathway so that people experience improved ways of life. In a workplace I look to identify problems, barriers, and then the solutions and the steps to move towards something that’s going to be positive.”

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca