Honouring Indigenous ways of healing for children

In June, we honour National Indigenous History Month by celebrating the history, heritage, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. At Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, we’re seeing that heritage show up to help kids and families heal in a very special way.

Thanks to donor generosity, construction is well underway on an innovative Indigenous-led initiative at HSC Children’s Hospital — Canada’s first Indigenous healing space designed specifically for kids and their families in a children’s hospital.

The vision for this landmark project began in 2015 with project lead Dr. Melanie Morris — Canada’s first Indigenous pediatric surgeon and Physician Lead, Indigenous Health at HSC Children’s — and has been guided and supported by Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and health care experts as well as children and families from Métis, Inuit, and First Nations Communities.

At any given time an upwards of 60 per cent of the children in our hospital are Indigenous, many from remote and northern communities, but there are few visible signs of Indigenous lands, cultural beliefs, or worldviews inside the buildings. Many Indigenous kids at HSC Children’s have also travelled hundreds of kilometers from their homes, their families, and their cultural supports, as it’s the only children’s hospital serving Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario, and Nunavut.

HyLife donates $100,000 to the HSC Foundation for minimally invasive technologies

Every donation has the power to make a difference. For HyLife, that difference is life-changing. The Health Sciences Centre Foundation is proud to celebrate a remarkable first gift from HyLife, whose generosity will help shape the future of health care in our province.

Hylife’s $100,000 donation to HSC Foundation’s Operation Ex-cellence is an investment in expanded operating room capacity, leading-edge surgical technologies, and modernized patient-flow systems to improve timely access to care and patient outcomes.

“What makes this gift especially meaningful is that it marks the beginning of a philanthropic partnership. Every donor’s journey starts with a first gift, and this gift demonstrates how businesses can play a key role in shaping the future of health care,” says Jonathon Lyon, President and CEO, HSC Foundation. “Even more, I have come to appreciate the integral role HyLife plays in our province, and I am deeply grateful for their support in advancing care.”

While HyLife’s premium farm-to-fork pork business operates worldwide, they are proudly based in Manitoba.

Winnipeg tailgate event marks Blue Bombers opener with $25K donation for Kids Health

A tailgate-style event on Kenaston Boulevard brought together football fans, local leaders, and community partners on June 11, as Western Financial Group, a proud partner of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, marked the team’s home opener with a $25,000 donation in support of children’s health care across Canada.

The event combined game-day energy with a local community celebration while marking the transition of former Wyatt Dowling branded locations across Manitoba to the Western Financial Group name, a change that has expanded the company’s presence across the province. The celebration included tailgate activities, prize giveaways, and appearances by Winnipeg Blue Bombers mascots Buzz and Boomer.

“This was about bringing people together,” said Grant Ostir, CEO of Western Financial Group. “The home opener is always an exciting moment in Winnipeg, and it gave us a meaningful way to connect with the community while recognizing this important step for our team in Manitoba.”

A ribbon cutting also took place onsite, with Ostir joined by Wade Miller, president and CEO of the Blue Bombers, and Manitoba Finance Minister Adrien Sala.

Hail Damage in Manitoba: What Drivers Need to Know After the Storm

Recent hail storms have left thousands of Manitoba drivers assessing damage to their vehicles, from small dents and chipped windshields to more significant body and glass repairs. According to Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), approximately 20,000 claims have been received since last week’s severe weather event, putting 2026 on pace to exceed the highest number of claims received from a single weather event in Manitoba.

While some damage is easy to spot, many drivers may be unsure whether a few dents or a small windshield chip are worth addressing. The reality is that hail damage can affect more than just a vehicle’s appearance, potentially impacting its condition, value, and future repair costs.

Why Even Small Hail Damage MattersAfter a storm, many drivers assume that small dents are simply cosmetic. While some hail damage may be minor, dents, chipped paint, and damaged glass can impact your vehicle’s condition over time. Small windshield chips can spread into larger cracks, and paint damage can leave metal exposed to the elements resulting in early development of rust.

Having the damage assessed early can help identify issues before they become more significant concerns.

Manitoba Possible’s new home will be a model of accessibility

It’s ten-to-six on Tuesday evening. Supper Club hasn’t officially started, but the kitchen at Manitoba Possible’s 825 Sherbrook Street location is already alive.

Recreation Facilitator, McKenna, is on a mission searching for the hand mixer. She finds the whisk attachments first. But not the handle.

She pauses the search to greet every person with excitement and details about tonight’s meal they’ll be cooking together.

By 6:00 the room is packed. And everyone is helping search for the missing hand mixer.

Digital grocery: A modern household essential

Whether it’s a leisurely Saturday morning spent browsing the aisles for inspiration or a frantic Tuesday evening when the fridge is unexpectedly empty, Canadian shopping habits are no longer one-size-fits-all.

Recognizing that today’s consumers need their grocery experience to be more flexible than their schedules, Skip and Loblaw Companies Ltd. (“Loblaw”) have joined forces to ensure that convenience is always just a tap away.

The partnership means that Canadians can now use the Skip app on their phone or mobile device to order anything from milk and eggs to bread or meat from any Loblaw-owned grocery store in virtually any market without having to leave the comfort of home.

Paul Sudarsan, senior vice-president of marketplace and partnerships for Skip, says adding Loblaw to its growing list of corporate partners is part of an ongoing evolution aimed at better connecting the company with busy Canadians and their evolving needs.

Manitoba Games leave a lasting legacy

The 2026 Manitoba Winter Games powered by Manitoba Hydro wrapped up March 7 in Thompson, but the impact the multi-sport competition had on the northern community will continue to be felt for sometime to come.

This year’s Games brought together more than 1,100 athletes, coaches, managers and officials from across the province for seven days of competition and camaraderie in the so-called Hub of the North. Last time Thompson hosted the Games back in 2018, they helped generate more than $1.7 million in economic activity including a $591,696 boost to the provincial GDP.

As notable as those numbers are, the most enduring impact the event has on a host community is the lasting legacy it leaves behind, says Todd Hardwood, co-executive director of the 2026 Games. To put things in perspective, consider the facility improvements that were conducted in the lead-up to this year’s Games:

Sound system upgrades to C.A. Nesbitt ArenaNew benches in the dressing rooms at Thompson Regional Community CentreThe addition of public Wi-Fi at the community centreA new scoreboard and shot clocks at Bill Comaskey GymA new gymnasium curtain divider and railing at R.D. Parker CollegiateA new ice scraper, rings and measuring devices for Burntwood Curling ClubA new storage shed and snow machine for trail maintenance at the Thompson Community Ski Trails Cross-Country Ski TrailsUpgrades to the change rooms at Mystery Mountain Winter Park“In my opinion, I think the biggest benefit of hosting the Games was we were able to partner with our school division and the City of Thompson to do some really big, public-facing projects,” says Harwood, who shared co-executive director duties for the Games with Cristy Andres.

The workplace essential: Promoting financial well-being for employees

As Canadians continue to struggle with savings has become more challenging. As a result, in workplaces across the country, employees are looking to their employers to help them get better prepared for their financial future.

This is where a comprehensive group savings program can help employers provide that support, making it possible for employees to gain a better sense of control about both their financial present and future.

The emphasis is on “comprehensive.”

“What’s different today is the financial wellness focus that a good group savings program includes,” explains Rob Hotel, Vice President, RBC Group Advantage, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Western Ontario (MSNWO). “Through our program, for example, our advisors provide personalized and holistic financial advice to employees around top-of-mind topics like budgeting, credit, debt management, home purchase, education, wills, estate planning and retirement planning. We want to help employees better understand how to manage their expenses today and be able to build savings to reach their financial goals.”

Stronger together: businesses for health care innovation

"Supporting the Operation Excellence campaign reflects CGl's commitment to strengthening the health and well-being of the communities where we live and work. We're proud to support initiatives that improve access to care for Manitobans."- Dean Bosch, Senior Vice-President, CG/ in Canada

Thanks to CGl's contribution, we're helping improve surgical wait times for Manitobans.

Learn more about our Corporate Challenge at OperationExcellence.caor call 204-515-5612 or toll-free at 1-800-679-8493.

Inspired and Grateful

“For a variety of health reasons, about one in four of my patients are not candidates for traditional minimally invasive surgery. Some might be eligible for major open surgery; for others, there has been no surgical option at all. That changed with the acquisition of a donor-funded surgical robot. With the robot, these patients are getting the surgical care they need and going home with minimal pain, sometimes just hours after surgery. For these patients, robotic surgery is a gamechanger. And it’s only been possible because ofHSC Foundation donors. Your gifts are changing what we can do for our patients. Your gifts are saving lives. I am inspired by – and grateful for – what donors make possible.”

– Dr. Alon Altman, Gynecologic Oncologist, Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg

Robot-assisted surgery improves patient outcomes and hospital performance, helping patients recover and go home sooner, which frees up beds, improves patient flow, and eases pressure on the Emergency Department. With your support of the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence campaign surgeons at HSC can have access to leading-edge technology so they can do their best work for Manitobans. Help us make our next investments in surgical excellence. Please donate today.

Thank you for giving comfort to families and kids

When children are in hospital, especially for long stretches of time, it affects the whole family. Caregivers and kids can all feel stressed, overwhelmed and scared. That’s why at Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, we’re so grateful for the experts and donor-supported programs that help families and kids like Calvin cope while in treatment at Manitoba’s only children’s hospital.

In January of 2025, Calvin started to get very sick. At first parents Hannah and Scott thought he had the flu, but his symptoms escalated quickly. He began vomiting, complained of a severe headache, and became unusually sleepy. When he struggled to stay awake, they knew the situation was serious and he needed HSC Children’s Hospital Emergency.

In emergency, testing confirmed Calvin had meningitis and he was admitted to HSC Children’s where he stayed for about a week. Emergency was the first stop for Calvin, but to this day he still relies on the care at HSC Children’s.

Calvin lives with an autoimmune disorder called myasthenia gravis, which was well managed until his bout with meningitis and after his first stay Calvin had more flare ups of pain. Between January to March, he ended up at Children’s Hospital Emergency six more times overnight before a final 16-day stretch as an inpatient where he needed imaging, testing, medication, pain management and a nasogastric (NG) tube for nutrition.

Who are You walking For?

Every year, Manitobans come together at the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s to support the work of the Alzheimer Society, so families living with dementia have a place to turn for guidance and resources.

Some are first-timers, others are seasoned Walkers now joined by their children or grandchildren. Whether you’re walking for a parent, a grandparent, a spouse or a friend — or alongside your workplace team — we all have a reason to Walk.

Chelsea’s TeamChelsea Bernhard began walking in her mother’s memory more than 10 years ago.

“My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at just 48 years old. I was in my early 30s and unsure what to expect,” says Chelsea. “It was tough, but the support from the Society helped guide us through the next steps.”

Explore Ukrainian Canadian culture

The Shevchenko Foundation (TSF) is excited about the upcoming KOBZAR Book Award Presentation at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights – an evening celebrating Canadian authors and their Ukrainian Canadian stories.

Since settling in Canada over 130 years ago, Ukrainians have continued to make a significant contribution to shaping the Canadian mosaic. This Award honours the fascinating and diverse stories that spotlight the Ukrainian Canadian cultural legacy. This year’s KOBZAR Book Award entries include a biography, non-fiction, and graphic novel, one of which will be awarded the $25,000 prize.

The literary arts are just one facet of this leading nation-wide charitable organization that has worked for over 60 years to preserve, promote, and develop Ukrainian Canadian culture.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, TSF distributes in excess of $1 million annually in grants and community sponsorships for projects that support the dynamic, ever-growing Ukrainian community and fuel the creativity of its artists. Last year, 61 organizations and 55 individual artists across 8 provinces received funding in one of the four pillars that inspire the work of TSF – Arts, Community Development, Heritage Preservation, and Education.

Connecting Communities and Empowering Progress

In today’s digitally driven world, reliable and secure connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a business essential. This is especially true for organizations with operations spread across rural and remote areas, where infrastructure gaps can slow down productivity and limit growth. For Sunrise Credit Union, which serves more than 35,000 members across 19 branches across Southwestern Manitoba, improving connectivity was a key step in continuing to meet the needs of their communities.

In 2023, Sunrise Credit Union began looking to modernize their digital infrastructure. “Our existing systems were functional but outdated,” said Kelly Scott, Vice President of IT at Sunrise. “We were ready for a more future-forward solution that could grow with us.”

After weighing their options, Sunrise met with an out of province technology partner, SaskTel. Saskatchewan’s leading communications provider is best known in their home province, yet SaskTel has been steadily expanding its footprint, working with organizations across Western Canada that need customized, high-performance connectivity solutions.

From the very beginning, SaskTel approached the project differently. “They didn’t come in just trying to sell us something,” Scott noted. “They listened. They spent time learning about our needs, our environment, our challenges. Then they came back with a strategy designed specifically for us — not a one-size-fits-all plan.”