Be a part of it all!
Connect with fellow participants, learn from inspiring speakers, and gain new ideas to support your YiP journey.
2026/2027 Youth in Philanthropy Conference
GROWING FORWARD
November 4, 2026
8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park
1405 St Matthews Ave
Winnipeg, Manitoba
What’s in this program
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A message from the Winnipeg Foundation Youth Programs Team
Dear YiPpers,
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 2026 Youth in Philanthropy Conference. We are excited to come together once again to celebrate your passion, creativity, and commitment to making a difference in Winnipeg.
This year’s theme, “Growing Forward,” recognizes that creating positive change is a journey of continuous learning, leadership, and action. Growth happens when we challenge ourselves, embrace new ideas, and work together to address the issues that matter most. As young leaders and changemakers, you have the power not only to respond to the challenges facing our communities, but also to help shape a stronger future for everyone.
Throughout the day, you will hear from inspiring speakers, engage in meaningful breakout sessions, and connect with peers and community leaders who share your passion for making an impact. This is an opportunity to explore new perspectives, develop your leadership skills, and deepen your understanding of the causes and communities you care about most.
We hope this conference inspires you to continue growing as individuals, as leaders, and as advocates for change. Together, we can build on what we’ve learned, strengthen our connections, and move forward with confidence, purpose, and hope.
Enjoy the day, embrace new opportunities, and be courageous in your conversations. Your ideas, energy, and commitment are helping create lasting change, and we are excited to see how you will continue Growing Forward.
Daniel Reimer
Youth Engagement Team
Agenda at a glance
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Doors open
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Registration Networking, table activities, morning snack/light breakfast8:30 – 9:30 a.m.The Aspen Ballroom Hallway
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Opening Plenary Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Blessing and Song, Keynote Address – Roger Berrington9:30 – 10:30 a.m.The Aspen Ballroom
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Break10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
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Breakout Sessions and Community Expo Sessions:
Small Actions, Big Impact: Ending Mental Health Stigma
Culture & Belonging: Creating Inclusive Communities
Education & Learning: Empowering Through Education
Growing Your Community Ecosystem
Health & Wellness: Nurturing Healthy Communities
Standard of Living: Building a Thriving Community
Staff Advisor Session: Helping Youth Lead (Mandatory)
10:45 – 11:30 a.m.Breakout Sessions: Crocus, Bullrush, Silverberry, Clover, Bluebell, Willow, Aster
Community Expo: Birch -
Lunch11:30 – 12:30 p.m.TYC
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11:30 – 1:15 p.m.The Aspen Ballroom Hallway
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Activities and Community Expo Activities:
ArtCity
Graffiti Art Programming
St. Johns Ambulance
Community Expo12:30 – 1:15 p.m.ActivitiesArtCity: Spruce
Graffiti Art Programming: Cedar
St. Johns Ambulance: The Aspen Ballroom Hallway
Community Expo: Birch -
Break1:15 – 1:30 p.m.
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Breakout Sessions and Community Expo Sessions:
Small Actions, Big Impact: Ending Mental Health Stigma
Culture & Belonging: Creating Inclusive Communities
Education & Learning: Empowering Through Education
Growing Your Community Ecosystem
Health & Wellness: Nurturing Healthy Communities
Standard of Living: Building a Thriving Community
Staff Advisor Session: Talent, Time & Advocacy in Action
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.Breakout Sessions: Crocus, Bullrush, Silverberry, Clover, Bluebell, Willow, Aster
Community Expo: Birch -
Break2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
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2:30 – 3:00 p.m.The Aspen Ballroom
Quiet and Prayer room: A Quiet and Prayer room will also be made available throughout the day.
Location: Room D/Silverberry
Youth Committee Photos
Committees will be called individually to take committee photos during the lunch and activity hours (11:30 – 1:15). Photos will be used for the YiP Yearbook at the YiP Celebration in May 2027.
- Balmoral Hall School
- Children of the Earth High School
- College Churchill High School
- Dakota Collegiate
- Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute
- École Secondaire Oak Park High School
- Elmwood High School
- Fort Richmond Collegiate
- Garden City Collegiate
- Gordon Bell High School
- Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba ( IRCOM )
- Institut Collégial Vincent Massey Collegiate
- John G. Stewart School
- Kelvin High School
- Ma Mawi Chi Itata Centre
- Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute
- Murdoch MacKay Collegiate
- Pembina Trails Collegiate
- Seven Oaks Met School
- Sisler High School
- St. James Collegiate
- St. John’s High School
- St. John’s-Ravenscourt School
- St. Mary’s Academy
- St. Paul’s High School
- Tec-Voc High School
- Transcona Collegiate
- University of Winnipeg Collegiate
- Westwood Collegiate
Plenaries
Morning Plenary
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
YiP Leader
Transcona Collegiate
YiP Leader
Fort Richmond Collegiate
Tiago Bueno
Humanities Teacher and Youth in Philanthropy Staff Advisor, St. John’s High School
Elder
Drummer
Megan Tate
Megan Tate serves as Vice President of Community Impact at the Winnipeg Foundation, where she leads grantmaking and community programs. Since joining the Foundation in 1999, Megan has taken on diverse roles in communications, youth engagement, donor stewardship, and grants — giving her a unique, 360° perspective on community philanthropy. Her work reflects the Foundation’s vision of “a Winnipeg where community life flourishes for all” and her own passion for equity and creating opportunities that make a lasting difference.
Originally from Treherne, Manitoba, Megan remains deeply connected to her roots in the region served by the Tiger Hills Community Foundation.
Megan is also an avid curler, and while you did not see her at this year’s Olympics, she is hopeful that this is the year her team wins the Women’s Wednesday Night League.
Daniel Reimer
Daniel Reimer, JD, serves as Winnipeg Foundation’s Senior Youth Program Officer and is passionate about helping people connect their ideas, talents, and energy to meaningful community change. A lifelong volunteer, Daniel believes in the power of service, collaboration, and philanthropy to build stronger, more connected communities. Through his work, he supports initiatives that encourage learning, engagement, and positive social impact, and he is inspired every day by the creativity, leadership, and commitment of young people working to make a difference.
Roger Berrington, Executive Director
Roger Berrington believes every young person is a leader today, not just tomorrow. It is the conviction behind CanU, the University of Can, the charity he founded to pay forward the mentorship that once changed his own life. Since 2011, CanU has walked with thousands of Winnipeg youth, helping them discover their strengths and dreams, and use both in service of others. When he is not with young leaders, Roger loves to walk in the forest with his wife, Tammy, and their two pups, Kal and Barli.
Closing Plenary
2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Kakeka Thundersky
Kakeka Thundersky is passionate about the protection of the land, water and sky for future generations. She believes it is all our responsibility to take care of the land, water and skies, and believes in our sacred obligations to be good relatives and good ancestors.
Kakeka has been organizing in Winnipeg for several years now including public speaking. She has helped run weekly anti-violent community gatherings that align with the themes of youth opportunities, cultural resurgence, harm reduction and MMIWG2S. She has helped in organizing actions, campaigns, and facilitating community meetings and direct action training.
Kakeka has helped in Winnipeg to answer nationwide calls to action and has travelled across so-called-Canada to stand in direct solidarity with Indigenous land and water defenders against mancamps and industry. She believes direct action rooted in culture and ceremony is necessary to get the land back and get justice.
Currently Kakeka is the Northern and Rural Engagement Coordinator for the Climate Action Team Manitoba and sits on the steering committee of 8th Fire Rising.
Salena Starling
Kiln and Tell as well as Community of Big Hearts
Salena Starling, 21, is a Winnipeg-based public speaker, advocate, and entrepreneur. She is the President and CEO of Community of Big Hearts, the founder of The Anita Project, and the Co-Chair of the Indigenous Women’s Circle at WAGE Canada. She has spoken at the UN, NATO, and APEC, and gave a TEDx talk on reconciliation. She hosts Kiln and Tell, a talk show blending painting with candid conversation.
Michele Wikkerink
Spence Neighbourhood Association Inc.
Michele hopes to see a more free and more fair world. She works to achieve this end, most recently in Spence Neighbourhood. On the days when she feels like she’s failing, she picks up a garbage bag and cleans up litter, because she believes you can always do the very smallest thing to make something a tiny bit better. As a leader she is most interested in developing young leaders who care about people, the environment, and the neighbourhoods in which they live.
Breakout sessions
Morning sessions:
10:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon sessions:
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Location: Crocus
About this session:
What can young people do to make a difference in mental health? Students will learn what mental health stigma is, how it affects children and families, and how KIDTHINK works to challenge misconceptions, create supportive spaces through our mental health programming and remove barriers to care. Together, we’ll explore how small actions can help build a community where everyone feels comfortable talking about mental health and asking for help.
Lindsay Pateman
KIDTHINK Children’s Mental Health Centre Inc.
Lindsay Pateman is the Fund Development Manager for KIDTHINK. She joined the organization in 2024. Lindsay helps to raise funds through donations, grants and events, to provide subsidized or free mental health services to families facing financial barriers to care.
Mira Davey and Caitlin Coyston
Mira Davey and Caitlin Coyston are student interns providing marketing, fund development and administration support for the organization. They also lead the KIDTHINK Student Ambassador Program.
Location: Bullrush
About this session:
Coming soon!
Jillian Calais
Jillian Calais (she/her) is an experienced nonprofit educator with a strong background in curriculum development, facilitation, and inclusive programming. She brings over a decade of experience supporting equity-deserving youth, advancing reconciliation, and delivering impactful learning experiences across Manitoba. Her prior experience includes delivering career counselling and supporting equity-deserving youth and women in accessing post-secondary education and obtaining their high school diploma.
Location: Silverberry
About this session:
Coming soon!
Noelle DePape
Noelle DePape is a community leader and the CEO at BGC Winnipeg. Dedicated to grassroots social change, her career has focused on supporting children, youth, and refugee populations. She previously shaped social policy within the Premier’s Policy Secretariat for the Government of Manitoba, and held prominent leadership roles at IRCOM and the City of Winnipeg. A Rotary World Peace Fellow, DePape holds a Master’s degree in International Peacebuilding from the University of Queensland, Australia.
Katie Reid
Katie Reid is the Assistant Director of Programs at BGC Winnipeg and has been with the organization for just under five years. She began her journey with the agency as a Club Manager, leading one of BGC Winnipeg’s after-school clubs before moving into her current leadership role.
Throughout her career, Katie has worked with youth and vulnerable populations and is passionate about ensuring that young people have access to the supports, opportunities, and services they need to thrive. She is dedicated to creating inclusive, community-based programs that help children and youth build confidence, develop new skills, and reach their full potential.
When she is not working, Katie is a proud dog lover and enjoys spending time with her four-legged babies.
Location: Bullrush
About this session:
Join the Manitoba Eco-Network to discuss environmental justice, growing your community’s connections, and the power of collective action. Participants will hear environmental stories from the Eco-Network team, and have the opportunity to share some of their own.
James Beddome
James Beddome is the Executive Director of the Manitoba Eco-Network. He has been in this role since 2024, having previously served as a board member from 2014-2018.
Alex Hadeon
Alex Hadeon is the Communications Coordinator for the Manitoba Eco-Network. They have been with MbEN since 2025.
Location: Bluebell
About this Session:
Coming soon!
Allison Kolynchuk, Manager of Advocacy & Education,
Allison Kolynchuk (she/her) is a Manitoba-based activist at Harvest Manitoba. She graduated from the University of Manitoba (2016) with a degree in Evolutionary Biology, which she applies to her focus on food security and local food systems. Her passions include gardening and camping on her time off, while she coordinates a large community garden at Harvest Manitoba in inner-city Winnipeg. Allison has been a leader in activism for over a decade; at first environmental, and currently social issues. She believes we must support our communities first to protect the Earth we call home.
Location: Willow
About this Session:
Coming soon!
Cindy Titus
Cindy Titus is a communications and fundraising professional with over 13 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, much of that focused in the field of mental health, substance use, and homelessness support.
Lindsay Felstead
Lindsay Felstead is a 20-year database & fundraising professional dedicated to donor centric fundraising, focusing on fulfilling a donor’s desire to make an impact to foster a deeper relationship with the organization.
Location: Aster
About the morning session: Helping Youth Lead (Mandatory session)
A peer-learning session where new and experienced staff advisors exchange practical approaches for developing youth leadership within their YiP committees. The focus is on helping students take greater ownership while providing the guidance and structure they need to succeed.
About the afternoon session: Talent, Time & Advocacy in Action
An opportunity for staff advisors to share how their YiP committees are contributing beyond grantmaking and learn from one another’s experiences with advocacy, volunteering, fundraising, outreach, awareness-building and other youth-led initiatives.
Roxanne Tackie
Roxanne Tackie is a Senior Learning & Community Engagement Advisor at The Winnipeg Foundation, where her work focuses on learning, evaluation, community engagement and strengthening how the Foundation uses and shares knowledge. She has spent nearly 15 years working in the nonprofit sector, with extensive experience in program development, facilitation and bringing people together to learn from one another. She is passionate about equity and inclusion and creating spaces where diverse perspectives, experiences and voices are valued.
Activities
Graffiti Art Programming
Location: Cedar
We will be running a breakdance workshop led by instructor Flexum. Majo and Jonel, our Studio 393 Coordinator and lead staff will be onsite to talk about the programs we run at 393.
St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program
Location: Ambassador Grand Hallway
Meet with volunteers and their therapy dogs from the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program and learn how they bring comfort, joy and love to those in need of some unconditional love across Canada. The program brings volunteers and their dogs to hospitals, senior residences, care facilities, schools, and other community centres each week.
Community Expo
Location: Birch
10:45 – 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Conference Map
