city | SMART Macdonald Youth Services


moves into new building New Therapeutic Centre will help thousands of Manitoba youth.


Winnipeg’s first Indigenous Accord


H New location of MYS at 175 Mayfair Avenue.


175 Mayfair Avenue. Te $7.5 million Terapeutic Centre is expected to help more than 9,000 youth per year in Manitoba through life skills training, counselling, and mobile crisis intervention. MYS was previously working out of four separate


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buildings throughout many different areas of the city. Te move will save MYS approximately $80,000 in operating and maintenance costs. CEO of MYS Dr. Erma Chapman says in addition to the financial benefits, having every- thing in one building will make helping the people who need their services a lot easier. “We are so thrilled to have a space that brings all of us


together and where our clients will have better access to us no matter what their needs are,” adds Chapman. “It’s a one-stop shop if they need crisis services, emergency care; clothing, therapists, or any other services, it’s all available under one roof now.” At the grand opening announcement, MYS announced


it had raised over $2.8 million through its year-long capital campaign. All funds raised were through private donations. “We are grateful for the support and generosity of our donors who have taken the therapeutic centre from a


acdonald Youth Services (MYS) off icially opened the doors last month to their brand new, state-of-the-art, 33,000-square-foot facility at


Ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the doors to MYS new 33,000 state-of-the-art square-foot facility.


dream to reality,” Chapman says, adding that the project was first dreamt of by staff back in the 1990’s. The new building has 18 customized therapy and


meeting rooms, two smudge rooms, as well as a life skills, money management and computer technology lab. Te new facility has three floors, with one-third of the space being devoted to therapeutic programs such as art, music and cultural activities, as well as individual and family counseling. "Society depends on well-educated, engaged and


contributing young people. Our donors know this and we are very excited to open our doors to the youth and families who need our help." Established in 1929, MYS helps children, youth, adults


and families through six key programs: a walk-in shelter for youth, full-time foster family care, specialized coun- seling, group homes, mobile crisis teams, and work and life skills programs. Chapman said about two thirds of MYS clients are


Indigenous youth and it was very important throughout the process to recognize this. “We really wanted to recognize our indigenous clients


through ceremonies and blessings, the land we are on as it’s Treaty 1 land, and the water that flows outside of our building, these were very important to us to ensure that every step of this process honoured indigenous cultures.”


for the benefit and value of the membership as well as to support the mission of the organization may feel left out in the decision-making process. Of course that is why there is an elected board of directors in place, to, on behalf of the membership, guide the or- ganization according to the mission, vision and values. Certainly there are very few organiza-


tions that could progress forward in any meaningful way if they had to poll their membership on every decision, idea or activity. Imagine our federal elected offi- cials submitting a survey or questionnaire on each bill that came before Parliament to their constituents. Not only would this be timely and cumbersome, the desired outcome may not be achieved given the many and varied opinions held by the constituency. As an alternative, the time and tested


When a members voice counts I


n many membership based organizations, espe- cially in the non-profit and non-profit charity or- ganization, the members who remit an annual fee


Richard Halliday President and CEO of the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce


process to establish an elected board of directors from amongst the membership has been implemented. While this system works and there are few alternatives if any, there are bound to be flaws. Are the individual directors serving the needs of the organization or is there an ulterior motive for their time and dedication? Are the decisions being made the best decision or should there have been more research and input? Naturally we expect that the individuals being put


forth for directorship do have the best intentions and in almost all situations we believe this to be true. Most non-profit boards are comprised of volunteers who have an affinity in one way or another for the organization. Teir altruism should be celebrated and appreciation given for their time and dedication. So where does this leave the regular member who


consistently pay their annual membership dues, who may or may not participate in various events and offer- ings of the organization however may want to have a say in the organization. While organizations are open


May 2017


State of the City Brian Bowman


ello and Welcome to the May issue of Smart Biz! Spring is here, and there’s a lot to look forward to this summer in Winnipeg – namely the Canada Summer


Games and Canada’s 150th birthday! Tis month I’ll be talking about Winnipeg’s first Indigenous


Accord, which I’m so excited about. Our goal for this Accord is to have it serve as a catalyst for organizations and individuals all across Winnipeg, to set meaningful goals they themselves identify, to im- plement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Through the Accord process, the


City wi ll encourage individuals, groups, and organizations (in the public sector, the private sector, and the not-for-profit sector) to commit to the Accord as partners. The City’s Indigenous Relations


Division will develop an annual pro- cess for organizations to set goals and share successes. Te Indigenous Rela- tions Division will also coordinate the process of tracking signatories’ goals and successes in an annual report. Te Accord will create no new bu- reaucracy. The City’s work to assist


signatories, and to record their progress each year, will utilize existing resources. Te Accord will not prescribe outcomes. Te goals will be


chosen by the participants themselves, in harmony with the reconciliation principles set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Tat’s why the Accord has been developed not as legislation,


but as an invitation to the citizens of Winnipeg. An invitation I hope that many individuals and organizations (in the public sec- tor, the private sector, and the not-for-profit sector) will embrace. What the Accord will do is help Winnipeg keep moving for-


ward, in strengthening our relationships with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit governments, organizations, and individuals. Last year was the Year of Reconciliation for Winnipeg. It


marked moments of significant self-realization, the beginning of new conversations about the future, and a resolution to work together to make our community more inclusive, as it was always meant to be. My hope is that the Year of Reconciliation will one day be


seen as a milestone on our journey to a better Winnipeg. But it will only prove to be a milestone if we continue our journey and continue the work we’ve begun with partnership and leadership from Indigenous and non-Indigenous citizens alike. I am very thankful to the Mayor’s Indigenous Advisory Circle


to connecting with their members and have various opportunities and channels to do so, the ability to make any meaningful change comes once a year at the annual general meeting. Tis comes to the forefront for us as at


the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce as our Annual General Meeting is sched- uled for April 20, 2017. Throughout the year we provide many opportunities for our membership to engage with their chamber. We develop monthly topics and speakers for the member meetings, pro- vide organizational updates through our E-news and event notices, have a variety of sub-committees that develop actions and guide the chamber operations, implement educational/professional development seminars, monitor government actions and present position briefings to our elected officials and much more. Trough these annual operations events


we look to have our members participate and engage in their organization through attendance, feedback and referrals. How- ever, we have seen the current work/busi- ness environment creating a high demand


on our business owners and managers and time away from the business is valuable. We are fortunate in the Assiniboia Chamber that our membership has and continues to have a vested interest in the organization. While member events are continually evolving to better reflect the needs and interests of our membership, there is still room for more member engagement and input. Tis is achieved at the annual general meeting where


our members have a vote in the chamber operation and the composition of the board of directors to rep- resent the needs of the business community and our community in general. Te democratic process of our society is something to be cherished and valued. It is at the time of these annual meetings that the members have a true say in the organization through their vote. Whether you are a member of our chamber organiza- tion or other organization, we suggest that you consider being engaged with your organization and attend your annual general meeting.


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for their leadership and tireless work to develop an Accord that is right for Winnipeg. I am very thankful to the many individuals and organizations – more than 38 community organizations – who met with me to share their ideas and their wisdom and their passion for this Accord. Te Truth and Reconciliation Commission posed many criti-


cal questions for Canadians to answer. Questions about justice. Questions about human rights. Questions about how to move forward. Trina Qaqaqq from Nunavut recently brought these questions


into sharp focus once again. She is a young woman who, with young women from every federal constituency in Canada, was attending “Daughters of the Vote,” an International Women’s Day conference in the Canadian Parliament. She spoke about problems and injustices faced by Indigenous


people in Nunavut, but also in many places across the country. Problems of youth suicide, poverty, housing, and mental health care. She said, “All we are asking for is our basic human rights. . . .We


need support and allies to assist us, work with us, and most im- portantly, to listen to us. Where are our non-Indigenous allies?” Te Winnipeg Indigenous Accord is a way to help answer


Trina’s question so that non-Indigenous organizations and individuals who want to be allies and partners have a place to say, “Here we are.” And so Indigenous organizations and individuals, too, can say,


“Here we are”, and offer leadership and guidance and partnership as we work together toward reconciliation in Winnipeg. I want young Indigenous people (and all Indigenous people)


in Winnipeg to feel confident and assured, as full partners in this community we share. And to feel confident and assured that their knowledge, wisdom, leadership, and priorities, will be respected by the City of Winnipeg, and all signatories to the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord. Te Accord will help bring together partners in the goal-setting


process. It will make the signatories’ goals visible and accessible for the whole community. And, as time passes, it will give us all a tangible sense of the progress that’s being made, by many dif- ferent people, in many different areas of endeavour. With the members of the Mayor’s Indigenous Advisory Circle,


I have a strong conviction that establishing this Accord is the right step for Winnipeg. I would like to say a heartfelt meegwetch and merci to the


Indigenous Advisory Circle and to all whose ideas, inspiration, and good counsel contributed to the preparation of this Accord. Let this be another milestone as we take one more step in our city’s journey toward healing, hope, and reconciliation.


Smart Biz 5


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