Inspirational work

Longtime volunteer says he’s still amazed at people’s resilience

Volunteers
By: Tiago Resko Posted: 6:00 AM CDT Monday, Jul. 20, 2026

After decades of helping blind and partially sighted Manitobans live their dreams, Ken Curtis says he’s still inspired by the courage and strength the clients of the CNIB demonstrate every day.

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After decades of helping blind and partially sighted Manitobans live their dreams, Ken Curtis says he’s still inspired by the courage and strength the clients of the CNIB demonstrate every day.

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After decades of helping blind and partially sighted Manitobans live their dreams, Ken Curtis says he’s still inspired by the courage and strength the clients of the CNIB demonstrate every day.

“For me, they’re just the most unbelievable people in the world,” he said.

Curtis has been volunteering for 40 years with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, which helps blind and partially sighted people find innovative ways to achieve their goals.

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS
Ken Curtis (right) and Bob Cameron have been working on fundraising efforts for the CNIB for decades. — BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS

Ken Curtis (right) and Bob Cameron have been working on fundraising efforts for the CNIB for decades.

“The bravery that these people show in terms of what they’ve accomplished and who they are and their positive attitude, I just fell in love with all of our clients,” he said. “And of course many of them are good friends now.”

Curtis got his start with the CNIB when his friend, Garry Nenson, who is now the organization’s chief revenue officer, was volunteering at bingo nights and asked Curtis if he wanted to help.

Volunteer opportunities

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to wfp.to/volunteers or call 204-477-5180.

The Winnipeg Humane Society seeks volunteers to join its board of directors, which meets monthly from September to June. Members must attend all meetings, engage in strategic planning and handle responsibilities like policy creation, financial oversight and volunteer engagement. Volunteers should be reliable, passionate about animal welfare and possess strong fundraising skills and financial literacy. Previous board experience is a plus. Apply by email: sandif@winnipeghumanesociety.ca. Deadline is Aug. 7.

Marlene Street Community Resource Centre seeks a talented and enthusiastic face painter to help bring smiles to its Unity in the Community barbecue. With approximately 150 attendees expected, this is a wonderful opportunity to add some fun and creativity to the event. The time commitment for the event is from noon to 2 p.m. on Aug. 21. Apply by email: mscrc123@outlook.com or by phone: 204-253-8994. Deadline is Aug. 21.

Siloam Mission is looking for volunteer hairstylists for its community hair salon. By providing haircuts and basic styling, volunteers help boost the self-esteem of those in need. The salon promotes kindness and respect, welcoming clients from various backgrounds. Flexible scheduling is available during their hours (Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Hairstylists are required to bring their own tools. Shampoo, towels, blow dryers, combs and Barbicide are available. Apply online: wfp.to/iMo. Deadline is Aug. 15.

Be a part of Team Folklorama — be a pavilion volunteer. A pavilion volunteer may be involved in tasks such as an admissions attendant, working in guest services or the parking lot, assisting with beverage services, and participating in food preparation or food line services. They might also engage in green team or eco-initiatives, serve as table servers, handle video or sound tech, assist with cultural displays, manage the souvenirs section or help with pavilion setup and teardown. Volunteers need to possess a friendly and outgoing personality, be punctual and reliable, and feel comfortable interacting and speaking with both children and adults. Apply online: bttr.im/46hcj. Deadline is July 27.

The Manitoba Down Syndrome Society seeks volunteers for the Walk With Us 2026 event on Sept. 20. Volunteers will assist with hosting more than 400 attendees by filling various roles such as setting up the event space, serving lunch, managing registration, maintaining the site, organizing raffles, entertaining children, and cleanup. No specific experience is required, just enthusiasm and a desire to contribute. For ages 16-plus. Apply online: wfp.to/iMS. Deadline is Sept. 13.

Leftovers Foundation reduces food waste and prevents greenhouse gas emissions while supporting organizations meeting food needs in our communities. Volunteers can download our app to learn the time, date and location of a donation pickup (could be from local grocers, bakeries, cafés, farmers markets) and will transport the donation directly to a service agency in need (could be a shelter, low-income seniors housing, programming that supports newcomers). Volunteers can pick up single routes or can create regularly scheduled weekly routes. No commitment is necessary. We make sure that good, edible food stays out of the landfill and gets into the hands of community members who need it. Download the Leftovers Food Rescue App through the App store or Google Play. To learn more, visit rescuefood.ca. Deadline is Sept. 30.

The Tetra Society of North America is seeking dedicated volunteers in Winnipeg. It is looking for technically skilled people with engineering expertise, as well as engineering students, to help design and build customized assistive devices for people with disabilities. Outreach volunteers are also welcome to support community engagement and awareness activities. For more information and to register, please visit Tetra Volunteer Opportunities and complete the online registration form. Applications close Sept. 30.

The Good Neighbours Active Living Centre is looking for volunteers for a variety of roles in its café, front desk and meal program, as well as big events. Whether you can help weekly, monthly or occasionally, they’d love to have you on their team! If you are interested in giving back to the community, please contact Paula Richardson at volunteer@gnalc.org or call 204-669-1710 to learn more. Deadline is Jan. 15.

Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation is looking for volunteers to help make Elmwood’s night market possible. The night market will be held on Aug. 14 at 180 Poplar Ave. Volunteer hours are from 2-9 p.m. for ages 13 and up. Roles include setup, maintenance, floater/vendor help, stagehands, greeter/counter, first aid and teardown. This is an outdoor, rain-or-shine event, so please prepare accordingly. Apply online at http://wfp.to/iMG. Deadline is Aug. 10.

The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Apply at wfp.to/0pE, volunteer@redcross.ca or 1-844-818-2155.

Curtis soon developed a passion for CNIB’s work and got heavily involved, securing a spot on the board and becoming part of the organization’s executive team.

He was chairman of the fund development committee for many years and in 2016 was briefly the organization’s chairman.

He has now come full circle, returning to the board and restarting the fund development committee.

Over 30 years, Curtis has helped raise roughly $1 million for CNIB through fundraisers like annual golf tournaments and fishing outings with former Winnipeg Blue Bombers player Bob Cameron.

“Those things have probably been the things I’ve enjoyed the most, especially the fishing experience thing, it’s been a blast,” Curtis said.

Another favourite memory is of the time he and a colleague, Malinda Lee, were able to secure special glasses for a boy named Benny that helped him see more clearly. Afterwards, they teamed up with the Winnipeg Jets to send the child to watch a game in the press box alongside right-winger Patrik Laine, who was sidelined by an injury.

“We still talk about it all the time — it was a lot of fun,” Curtis said.

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS
Ken Curtis (right) and Bob Cameron are dedicated to helping blind Manitobans achieve their dreams. — BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS

Ken Curtis (right) and Bob Cameron are dedicated to helping blind Manitobans achieve their dreams.

He said he was recently asked to return as CNIB’s chair, and while he’d rather focus on fundraising and securing sponsorships, he says he would be open to mentoring someone new.

He’s currently working to secure sponsorships to send blind children to Lake Joe in the heart of Muskoka, Ont.

Most summer camps across Canada don’t have the infrastructure to support children who are blind or partially sighted.

It costs $2,500 to send one kid to Lake Joe, and in previous years they’ve only been able to send a few at a time. Thanks to corporate sponsorships, Curtis said they’ll meet their goal of sending 10 kids to Lake Joe this year; his goal for next year is to be able to send up to 20 kids.

“The only focus of the camp, period, is to do with our blind kids across Canada, and to send them to camp so they can have the same experience (as other kids),” he said.

tiago.resko@freepress.mb.ca