Siloam Mission staffers demand CEO be removed one week into the job Board calls ‘anonymous’ claims unsubstantiated, says it stands behind CEO By: Scott Billeck Posted: 5:57 PM CST Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Siloam Mission staff members are calling for the removal of the inner-city shelter’s new CEO and its board chair, as well as an independent review of its executive leadership and board oversight.

They allege CEO Sonia Prevost-Derbecker, who was formally introduced in the role Feb. 20, has made derogatory and demeaning remarks about Indigenous people, individuals struggling with substance use, and the neighbourhood around the 300 Princess St. building. They said they were also concerned she had asked about her personal spending authority.

“Our position remains firm: meaningful governance change is required,” said a recent email from staff to the shelter’s board of directors.

“We believe this includes the removal of (chair Tracey Silagy) from the board and the replacement of Sonia as CEO. Without these steps, confidence cannot be restored.”

Workers at Siloam, who shared correspondence between staff and the board with the Free Press, say that since Prevost-Derbecker was hired, she has made several statements that “are deeply inconsistent” with the mission’s values and commitment to vulnerable members of the community.

“Our goal is not to harm Siloam, but to protect its future. The board now faces a critical choice: act to stabilize the organization, or risk long-term and potentially irreversible damage,” the email says.

Prevost-Derbecker was not made available for comment on Friday. In a statement, Siloam’s board said it is aware of the “anonymous” allegations that have been shared with the media.

“The board takes concerns about leadership, cultural respect, and financial stewardship seriously,” the statement said. “At this time, we have seen no evidence to substantiate the claims being circulated. As part of her onboarding, Sonia has been asking detailed questions about programs, processes, and financial controls as any new CEO would. We view that as responsible leadership.

“The board of directors has full confidence in Sonia Prevost-Derbecker and is committed to supporting her as she leads Siloam Mission into its next chapter.”

Staff allege that Prevost-Derbacker, who is Indigenous, has used derogatory language to refer to members of the Indigenous community, and has described individuals who are struggling with substance use as “walking zombies.” They say she has characterized the neighborhood as a “slum,” “ghetto” or “the hood.”

“Our goal is not to harm Siloam, but to protect its future. The board now faces a critical choice: act to stabilize the organization, or risk long-term and potentially irreversible damage.”

They claim the new CEO wants to build a fence around the shelter and when staff voiced concern about people being displaced, she allegedly responded: “I don’t care as long as they’re not here.”

Prevost-Derbecker is the third CEO since 2021, when Jim Bell resigned. He left amid accusations the shelter was not meeting the spiritual needs of Indigenous clients.

Staff told the Free Press they’re concerned that collaboration with sector partners could fall apart, including all three levels of government, which would have implications on funding, partnerships and long-term strategy.

Julianne Aitken, Siloam’s director of services, filled in as interim CEO following the departure of Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud in January 2025 to become an adviser to the province on the issue of homelessness. She had taken the helm at Siloam in late 2021.

“From the start, the (hiring) process was problematic,” a Siloam staff member told the Free Press, saying the executive team wasn’t satisfied with the hiring profile established by the recruiting firm (Waterford Global) or the priorities for the CEO role.

“The executive reached out to the board, a request that was refused. A few months later, still concerned, staff reached out to the board again, understanding we can’t be part of the process of hiring our new boss, but to help create the profile. The recruiting firm advised the board not do that, refusing the request again.”

“The board of directors has full confidence in Sonia Prevost-Derbecker and is committed to supporting her as she leads Siloam Mission into its next chapter.”

Staff who spoke to the Free Press said they wanted the recruiting firm to prioritize an experienced sector leader with knowledge of Winnipeg’s current homelessness issues.

“They hired somebody who worked for the past seven or eight years for Movember,” a staff member said. “The things that most aligned on her resume were probably 15 to 20 years old.”

Some workers questioned whether the board, which they say does not have extensive expertise in the sector, should have consulted employees who have years of front-line experience.

The board countered on Friday, saying in its statement that members of the executive team were invited to provide input during the search process.

“That input was valued and carefully considered; however, the responsibility and authority for the final decision rests solely with the board,” the board wrote.

Prevost-Derbacker was chosen after a nationwide search that attracted more than 1,100 applicants, the organization said Feb. 19.

In an email to staff to address their concerns, the board said Prevost-Derbecker’s experience includes “collaborative strategic leadership, organizational growth and sustainability, partnership-building, advocacy, and working thoughtfully at the intersection of governance and operations.”

“That input was valued and carefully considered; however, the responsibility and authority for the final decision rests solely with the board.”

The board went on to outline the hiring process that was undertaken.

It added that the CEO search is a legal responsibility of the board and was approached with “care, diligence, and prayer.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca