A message from our Board Chair

Evolving As An Organization

Message From The Board Chair

By: Diane Roussin

Being the first Indigenous person to step into the role of Board Chair at Winnipeg Foundation is an honour and a responsibility.

As a member of Skownan First Nation, and through my work alongside children, families, and communities, I have seen the strength that exists across our city. I have also seen the importance of creating conditions for that strength to be supported and sustained. Strong communities are built through relationships, shared leadership, and a commitment to long-term change.

Winnipeg Foundation is in a period of change, which is reflected not only in its renewed brand but in how it is evolving as an organization. This year marks the final year of our current Strategic Plan, offering an important opportunity to reflect on what has been learned and to consider how we move forward. As we begin working on our 2027 Strategic Plan, we are deepening our understanding of what is working well in our community, and where we can evolve to better support those we serve.

Our next plan will build on this foundation, with a continued focus on C.A.R.E. (Community Area for Revitalization and Equity) and supporting children and families, including those involved in the child welfare system, through community-led approaches. Supporting families is central to strong communities. In this issue, “It Takes A Village”, a story about the For Every Family Initiative, highlights the importance of collaborative, community-driven approaches that help families thrive and strengthen the systems that support them.

Reconciliation calls on us to support Indigenous leadership, respect Indigenous knowledge systems, and ensure that communities can shape their own futures. This work is already happening across Winnipeg, led by Indigenous organizations and community leaders whose impact continues to grow. You can read about some of this work in this issue of Working Together, from the impact of the Murray Sinclair Fund and Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, to the leadership and innovation found in community organizations like Life’s Journey and Oshki-Giizhig.

As Board Chair, I see governance as essential to enabling this work; ensuring accountability to community, and stewardship of the Community Fund in a way that balances present needs with our responsibility to future generations. I am grateful to be part of this work and look forward to what we will continue to build together.