Driving positive change

Helping others has a way of being an automatic mood lifter. When acts of kindness happen, the residual effects for the helper are often invaluable. So when things get really rough, doing something for someone else can be just what the doctor ordered.

In 2017, after Winnipeg Transit bus operator Irvine “Jubal” Fraser died after being stabbed while on duty, morale among Transit workers was low.

Fellow bus operator Jon Rost came up with the idea of creating an employee-driven charity. He believed that this would be a way of improving staff well-being while giving back to the people of Winnipeg and showcasing the generosity of the employees who work at Winnipeg Transit. Rost was right on all counts.

A committee of transit employees, from bus operators to mechanics to office clerks, was formed to oversee the charitable effort. With the support of the Winnipeg Foundation and seed money from other sources — including private donors — the Transit Employee Community Fund was created in June of 2019.

Years later, the fund is still going strong. Currently, about 20 to 25 per cent of Transit employees donate to the fund through payroll deductions, and its on target to give away a minimum of $5,000 per year. The goal is to keep growing the fund to be able to give away larger amounts annually.

John Wotton has been conducting presentations to new operators about the fund for the last five years.

“It’s rewarding,” said Wotton, a 23-year Transit employee. “As front-end workers, we see a lot of changes that happened in Winnipeg. You can see the good and the not-so-good. The hope is to give back to the community that we serve, to help the unhoused, living in poverty — or otherwise struggling. We see the needs. We also see the organizations that are out there and the effects that these organizations have,” he said, adding that it’s a good feeling to be able to let the public know about these charitable organizations.

The permanent endowment fund supports initiatives related to community well-being including health, wellness, recreation, literacy, education, employment, arts, culture, heritage, environment and animal welfare.

The fund committee meets regularly to review where donations should be allocated. Before making a decision, members will visit an organization for a tour of its premises to get a sense of current resources and how it serves the community.

“I take a lot of pride in it,” said Wotton. “It’s a humbling experience too, something I’m very proud of,” he continued. “COVID wasn’t kind to a lot of people. Many are still trying to recover. You see the people out there that do need the help. They weren’t planning their lives to be this way.”

Wotton hopes the fund will be ongoing and long-term, and encourages every Transit employee to get on board and support the fund, noting that all contributions are tax deductible.

The fund’s biggest achievement to date was to purchase, in collaboration with the Winnipeg Foundation, a new outreach van for the Main Street Project. The van is used to help unhoused segments of the population in various ways.

Wotton says they continue to receive positive feedback about how the van has allowed the organization to transport supplies and food, while also getting people to sweat lodges and ceremonies.

Wotton and the committee are always on the lookout for additional ways to raise funds.

“We also had a public fundraiser early this year at Rumor’s Comedy Club, where we were able to raise $1,000 through ticket sales,” he said.

“I think we will probably do this again next year. It was a fun event.”

Future goals include being able to access specialty licence plates to spread the word about the fund and raise additional money also from the public.

Since the fund was created, donations have been made to West Broadway Youth Outreach, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre children’s program, Penny’s All Breed Animal Rescue (started by a former bus operator) and many others.

This year the fund has given to Resource Assistance for Youth for the vital work that they do in supporting under-served youth in the city.

The committee plans to give to the True North Foundation, which helps children who would otherwise never have the chance to leave the city to experience camping. They will also contribute to the Christmas Cheer Board. As an endowment fund, a portion of all donations is used to grow the principal amount, assuring that there are always available funds to give in the future.

Donations from the public are welcome anytime and can be made through the Winnipeg Foundation: wpgfdn.org. Find the Transit Employee Community Fund on Facebook and Instagram.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca