A visit to Turning Leaf Support Services

St. John’s

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/04/2025 (346 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A little while ago, I had the honour of visiting Turning Leaf Support Services, an organization that provides essential support for low- or high-risk individuals living with mental illness and intellectual challenges.

I toured one of their facilities in St. Johns, where I met with staff and participants of some of their programs. The scope of the services they provide is truly astounding. They help build up participants’ life, social, and vocational skills through their day program, ensuring folks have the resources they need to live in community. For those needing intensive care, Turning Leaf also has a home share program to provide a safe and supportive environment for folks who need long, or short-term support, transitional support, and crisis support. For folks who are looking for greater independence, Turning Leaf’s supported cluster program has folks living in the community in apartment-style housing with 24/7 on-site support. Everyone deserves to live in community, and I’m so proud of the work Turning Leaf has done to support folks on their journey to independence.

Turning Leaf Support Services provides essential clinical and mental health services with their highly qualified team of clinicians and consultants to ensure folks get the necessary physical and mental health care they need. Spiritual and cultural programming is also provided through their Indigenous services program, with an Elder always available for one-on-one teachings. Turning Leaf also does lots of work to uplift Indigenous women, and I would like to say miigwech for their work in helping them live in empowerment. When Indigenous women are doing well, all women are doing well, and I’m so happy to see the good work they’re doing to support Indigenous women in Manitoba.

The support they provide is essential to the health and well-being of vulnerable individuals in our communities. Turning Leaf Support Services provides unconditional acceptance to help folks get the resources and knowledge they need to really and truly thrive. I’m always pleased to see firsthand the work being done in our community to protect vulnerable people, and I uplift you for your dedication and commitment. While this is not a full list of the resources and programs they provide, I encourage all Manitobans to look through their website to see the incredible work they do to support the community.

As your MLA for St. Johns and the Minister of Families, it is an absolute honour to continue serving you. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns you would like to share, feel free to email us at nahanni.fontaine@yourmanitoba.ca or call us at 204-582-1550.