The origins of Rossbrook House

City Centre

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/01/2026 (244 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rossbrook House will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a luncheon on Jan. 20, which will take place on-site. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and lunch — a cream of mushroom soup, grilled chicken parmigiana, and an apple crumble with whipped cream and chocolate sauce catered by Urban Prairie Cuisine — will be served at noon.

The earliest iteration of the non-profit organization — which aims to provide safety and opportunities to children in vulnerable situations — was actually formed in 1974, when co-founders Sisters Geraldine MacNamara, Marylyn Gibney, and Lesley Sacouman invited local kids to play pool on their table in the basement at 588 Ross Ave., a house owned by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

That basement at 588 quickly became a safe space for youth with nowhere else to go. Many of these young people faced precarious home situations, and the sisters recognized the need for a permanent location. Its well-known location in a former church at 658 Ross Ave. – at the corner of Ross Avenue and Sherbrook Street, hence the name — wasn’t actually obtained until 1975 and it officially opened as Rossbrook House on Jan. 20, 1976.

Tickets are $50 each, and profits will go towards programming and supports for local youth.

There will be more 50th anniversary events in 2026, including the No Child Alone dinner on April 30 in Alloway Hall at the Manitoba Museum,  a souvenir book, video, a community barbecue, and more. Event and ticket details are available at rossbrookhouse.ca/rossbrook-house-turns-50

— Emma Honeybun