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Gwen Buccini helped people one can tab at a time.
Gwen, who was 77 when she died April 15, was the founder of Tabs for Wheelchairs.
The local charity collects tabs from soda and beer cans, pudding cups, fruit cups, and pet food cans, sells them for scrap metal, and, with the proceeds, purchases specialized wheelchairs for children and adults — the ones the province doesn’t fund.
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Gwen started the charity in 1998 with her students while she was a librarian at Holy Cross School. Her son, Anthony, who was born with Down Syndrome, sorted and bagged about 80 per cent of the tabs for two decades. The charity continued on after his death in 2017.
Gwen told the Free Press in 2018 that it takes a lot of tabs to buy a wheelchair — and she had done the math. She said at that time there are 1,500 tabs in a pound and every pound was worth 60 cents. So, to buy a wheelchair worth $6,000, they needed about 9,500 lbs of tabs — or about 14 million individual tabs.
Gwen grew the program through the years and her family estimates that through the collection of millions of tabs, aided by more than 100 schools, 200 businesses and community groups, and numerous individuals, she helped more than 70 people get specialized wheelchairs.
Gwen also founded Open Arms Independent Living, raising funds for the new group home as well as a residence for Anthony.
Earlier in life, Gwen went to St. Mary’s Academy where she served as Head Girl and graduated from in 1967. She stayed connected to the school even as an adult, serving on its alumnae board for more than a decade.
Gwen’s family said her love and respect for the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, and her time at school, instilled her with values which “shaped her lifelong commitment to faith and service.”
“Gwen’s faith remained steadfast throughout her life — guiding her, sustaining her through life’s challenges, and carrying her with strength and grace.”
For everything Gwen accomplished for others, she was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, named a YMCA-YWCA Woman of Distinction in 2013, the St. Mary’s Academy’s Marion Award for Excellence, and — just last year — the Winnipeg 150 Medal.
Gwen’s funeral is today and, as you might expect, her family is asking people to bring their collections of tabs to drop off and, instead of flowers, to donate to Tabs for Wheelchairs at Canada Helps.
Gwen is survived by her to daughters and three grandchildren.
Read more about Gwen.
How They Lived
Gloria Camp was a teacher who helped many students.
Gloria, who was 87 when she died Dec. 6, went to college after her first husband, who was in the United States Air Force, died in a training crash in 1956.
She later began teaching Grade One students while taking her Master’s degree. She also published a book, Left Handed Teaching — Lessons in Affective Education.
Gwen became a founding member of the confluence education movement and led workshops across North America and Japan.
After coming to Canada in 1975, her family moved to Winnipeg two years later, where she worked with the Winnipeg School Division integrating boys with severe emotional and behavioural issues into the classroom.
The province hired her to create support services for students with autism entering school and helped families across the province while speaking at national conferences.
Read more about Gloria.
Bob Cameron helped wildlife.
Bob, who died April 19, began working as a wildlife biologist with Manitoba Conservation after graduating from university.
During his 37 years there, he rose through the ranks to become regional wildlife manager and later operations superintendent.
Bob’s favourite projects were working on the restoration of Oak Hammock Marsh and bringing wood bison back to Chitek Lake with Waterhen/Skownan First Nation. He also worked on nature interpretive facilities at the Narcisse snake dens.
Read more about Bob.
Shirley Winslow was active in the Whiteshell Provincial Park community where she lived.
Shirley, who was 90 when she died April 15, served on the local school board, was a volunteer at the Whiteshell Community Club, and was a Justice of Peace there.
She even worked as a park attendant until she was 75.
Read more about Shirley.
A Life’s Story
Famena Ally dished out warmth and hospitality along with food at her restaurant.
Famena, who died in February, was the namesake of Famena’s Famous Roti and Curry, a small diner she ran with her husband on the main floor of a Garry Street parking garage.
Famena and her husband Mohamad Ally gained a reputation for their popular rotis. (Boris Minkevich / Free Press files)
She was born in Guyana and came to Winnipeg with her mother and sister in 1991. Her husband followed three years later.
The couple first opened a restaurant in the Garrick Hotel and then moved to its present location.
“She was very good with customers… she treated everyone like a human,” said her husband, Mohamad.
Read more about Famena’s life.
Until next time, I hope you continue to write your own life’s story.
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