Latest news with #ManitobaMétisFederation
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Where to donate, how to volunteer to help Manitoba wildfire evacuees
Wildfires have forced more than 17,000 Manitobans to flee their homes and into temporary shelters in Winnipeg and beyond. Several organizations are accepting donations, co-ordinating volunteers and distributing supplies. Here's how you can help: Canadian Red Cross Donations to the Red Cross for Manitoba wildfire relief are being matched by the federal and provincial governments until June 27. The Red Cross is only accepting monetary donations at this time; they are not accepting donated items. Donate on the Red Cross website or by phone at 1-800-418-1111. Manitoba Métis Federation The Manitoba Métis Federation is accepting supplies and monetary donations for wildfire evacuees. They are in particular need of baby items, including diapers, formula, strollers and car seats. There is also high demand for men's clothing, size large and up. Cribbage game boards are also being sought as a leisure item. Drop off donations at 25 Ray Marius Road in the Transcona Industrial Park area. Donate money online here. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has established a relief fund and is taking donations via e-transfer to emergencyresponse@ Donations of supplies are being accepted at the RBC Convention Centre from 11 a.m to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday (Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.). Go to the second floor of the North Building and look for AMC banner. First Nations Family Advocate Office Donations of new or gently used items can be dropped off at 200-285 Smith Street from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are accepting: Southern Chiefs' Organization The Southern Chiefs' Organization is accepting donations at SCO offices: They are collecting: More information is available on the SCO's website. Winnipeg Humane Society Donations for displaced pets can be dropped off at the Winnipeg Humane Society at 45 Hurst Way. They are collecting: A full list of necessary supplies is available on their website. City of Winnipeg Animal Services The City of Winnipeg animal services department is collecting donations in partnership with Veterinarians Without Borders. Donate here. The Manitoba Métis Federation is co-ordinating volunteers in Winnipeg to help distribute supplies and take on other urgent tasks as part of the emergency response for evacuees. Call the MMF's volunteer co-ordination line at 431-294-7452. Check for updates on the MMF Facebook page. Winnipeg Humane Society The Winnipeg Humane Society has set up a temporary animal shelter at St. Norbert Community Centre to support families with pets affected by Manitoba's wildfires. Intake hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The temporary shelter can support about 60 animals. Phone 204-982-2021 with any questions about volunteering or donations. Evacuees with pets are asked to register with the Red Cross and to check the society's website for more information.
CTV News
01-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Manitoba Métis Federation assists wildfire evacuees with needed supplies
One of several piles of items for wildfire evacuees collected by the Manitoba Métis Federation. Uploaded on June 1, 2025. (Gary Robson/CTV News Winnipeg) With roughly 17,000 people being evacuated in northern Manitoba due to ongoing wildfire danger, various supports have been put in place to assist the evacuees. The Manitoba government noted on Sunday that congregate shelters have been set up in Winnipeg, Thompson, Winkler and Portage la Prairie. 'The hotels are already full across Manitoba,' said Premier Wab Kinew during a press conference last Wednesday. In Winnipeg, Billy Mosienko Arena (709 Keewatin Street), Eric Coy Arena (535 Oakdale Drive), Century Arena (1377 Clarence Avenue) and the Winnipeg Soccer Federation North facility (770 Leila Avenue) have been closed to the public to be used for emergency shelters or reception areas. Billy Mosienko Arena The Billy Mosienko Arena, seen on May 31, 2025, is being used to offer assistance to wildfire evacuees from across the province. (Gary Robson/CTV News Winnipeg) The City of Winnipeg stated that all programming and rentals at those sites are suspended until further notice, adding that they are working closely with the provincial government and the Canadian Red Cross. Evacuees who do not have a place to stay are being asked by the provincial government to proceed to Billy Mosienko Arena, staffed by provincial emergency social services and the Canadian Red Cross. The centre will be open all hours of the day until further notice, according to the provincial government. Manitoba Métis Federation provides supplies to evacuees Manitoba Métis Federation command centre The Manitoba Métis Federation is offering supplies and meals to evacuees at 406 McGregor Street. Uploaded June 1, 2025. (Gary Robson/CTV News Winnipeg) Since Thursday, the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) has established a command centre at 406 McGregor Street, offering donated supplies and meals to evacuees. 'Being evacuated from a place from up north to (Winnipeg) is stressful,' said JoAnne Remillard, MMF Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Remillard said that 'well over a hundred' evacuees dropped by the command centre on Sunday. 'The donations keep coming in,' she said. 'We've also opened up our pharmacy for those that had to evacuate quickly and may have forgotten their prescriptions.' She stated that the command centre offers a wide range of supplies, including clothing, shoes, children's toys and hygiene products. Items for fire evacuees can be donated at the command centre between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. Donations outside of those hours can be received by calling 1-888-362-2012. University of Manitoba housing evacuees and firefighters B.C. firefighter B.C. firefighters, as shown in this undated image, are being housed at the University of Manitoba. Uploaded June 1, 2025. (B.C. government) The University of Manitoba is also assisting wildfire efforts by housing evacuees and firefighters, after initially being contacted by the provincial government last week. Nick Sears, government and community relations officer with the University of Manitoba, stated on Sunday afternoon that approximately 30 firefighters from B.C. have been staying on campus since Friday night. Sears said the university is expecting the possibility of 100 additional firefighters from the U.S. staying on campus after they arrive later this week. Evacuees from Flin Flon, Pukatawagan and other northern communities in Manitoba are also staying on campus, with a total of 87 beds presently available for evacuees. 'About half of the beds have been occupied,' said Sears. 'The number does change, sort of every hour, depending on who's going and coming.' He added that 'a lot' of the evacuees housed on campus are single individuals. 'It's been a very challenging couple of days, but it's also been a very proud moment for the university to be able to step up and help in what is a really challenging and difficult time.' Over 8.9K evacuees registered with Red Cross, says province The provincial government is encouraging all evacuees to register with the Canadian Red Cross as soon as possible, stating that registration 'ensures the province can allocate supports where they are most needed.' Registration allows evacuees to be contacted 'about services and assistance that may become available to them,' according to a provincial press release. The Canadian Red Cross has already registered more than 8,900 people from over 3,500 households as of May 30 that were evacuated due to wildfires in the province. Evacuees can register online or by calling 1-800-863-6582 (toll-free) between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. CDT. The provincial government stated that 'while donations and public support is appreciated,' individuals are advised to coordinate support 'through official channels' as evacuation centres are not set up for uncoordinated drop-offs. -With files from CTV's Gary Robson
Winnipeg Free Press
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Changing school's name carries risk of erasing colonist's racist history, MMF warns trustees
The Manitoba Métis Federation made a case Monday against trustees renaming a city school honouring a military leader who has gained infamy in recent years. Wolseley School is the latest subject of debate over educational sites named after historical figures whose actions do not align with 21st-century values. Col. Garnet Wolseley (1833-1913) played a key role in the colonial crusade against Louis Riel and the Métis people who lived under his provisional government in the Red River Settlement. '(He did) horrible things to our people, to our nation — murders, rapes, the reign of terror, burning homes down to the ground, chasing us away…. We need to make sure that the atrocities of people like Wolseley are never forgotten,' the MMF's Will Goodon told a school board meeting. The Winnipeg School Division has — at the request of the nursery-to-Grade 6 building's parent council — spent more than a year collecting community feedback on the decorated commander's legacy. Senior administration announced recently that it was committed to change and began accepting new name suggestions. Goodon, speaking on behalf of the national government of the Red River Métis, made a presentation to the superintendent's team and board of trustees Monday challenging their decision. The MMF housing minister was joined by the MMF education minister Joan Ledoux and a handful of other Métis supporters. Goodon warned about racism in the form of denialism related to Canada's historic treatment of Indigenous people. 'We need to fight hate with education,' he said. Goodon noted MMF president David Chartrand's concerns that renaming landmarks — streets, statues or otherwise — can erase history. If the school division cannot preserve Wolseley's history via the school name, there needs to be another way to do so, he added. The school's online biography currently states that Wolseley led troops who were tasked with an 1870 expedition 'to quell the Riel insurrection; it does not mention the accompanying bloodshed and the lasting impact on Métis people. Goodon suggested one option could be adopting a phrase in Michif — the Métis language, a blend of Cree and French — as the school name. Board chair Kathy Heppner thanked Goodon for his input. WSD initially asked community members to submit ideas that represented the neighbourhood and 'connect to learning for students' online before April 8. Suggestions for the facility at 511 Clifton St. 'must avoid the names of people,' states a March 28 social media post about the initiative. Maggie Macintosh Education reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press . Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press 's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press 's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Cision Canada
30-04-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
MMF celebrates ribbon cutting on multimillion dollar mixed use residence for Elders and seniors in Selkirk
WINNIPEG, MB, IN THE NATIONAL HOMELAND OF THE RED RIVER MÉTIS, April 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the National Government of the Red River Métis, officially opened our mixed-use residential complex in Selkirk, Manitoba with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The six-story property on Eveline Street represents a multi-million-dollar investment into the City of Selkirk and will provide 49 residences to Red River Métis Elders and seniors, with more than half dedicated to affordable housing. The building also includes common areas for residents to enjoy, along with commercial space for facilities like a Red River Métis-owned pharmacy, along with other businesses or service providers. "Our goal is to provide our Elders and seniors with a home where they will feel safe and comfortable, and we believe we have done just that with this beautiful building overlooking the Red River, which holds such a symbolic and important place in our history," said Will Goodon, MMF Minister for Housing and Property Management. "We're proud to offer these beautiful, accessible residences for our Citizens, who blazed the trail for us. It's the least we can do to give back to those who have given us so much." While the 77,900 square foot property on Eveline is the first of its kind for the MMF, it will be a template for other developments, most notably, a similar building on Henderson Highway, which will also offer a mix of affordable and market price housing options for Red River Métis Elders and seniors. "Housing remains a critically important issue for all Canadians, which was clearly shown in the recent federal election," said David Chartrand, President of the MMF. "For our Citizens, who have at times in Canada's history been called the road allowance people, adequate, safe and accessible housing has been a long-cherished dream that was once out of reach. I know that this housing complex, along with our other housing initiatives in all Regions, is not just a place to call home, it is a source of pride and a demonstration of our strength and advancement as a Nation."
Winnipeg Free Press
27-04-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Greatest honour' representing Manitoba
Manitoba Sen. Gigi Osler was moved to tears as she described attending the funeral of Pope Francis, who was laid to rest in Vatican City on Saturday at a ceremony attended by hundreds of thousands from across the world. 'It was a very bittersweet, but solemn and beautiful day. He was so deeply loved,' Osler said by phone Sunday, speaking slowly and, at times, overwhelmed with emotion. 'It was truly the greatest honour to be able to represent Manitobans and Canada at the funeral of such an impactful pope who really embodied humility, compassion and love for all of us.' SUPPLIED Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand waits in line at the Vatican to pay his final respects to the pope. Osler was among a delegation of Canadian officials and Indigenous leaders who travelled to pay their final respects to the late pontiff, who died of a stroke and heart failure Aug. 21 at age 88. Osler returned to Canada on Sunday, and said she was 'still processing' the experience when she spoke with the Free Press. Several notable Manitobans were among the mourners, including Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand, Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Cindy Woodhouse and Phil Fontaine, who is a former head of both the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and AFN. Senate speaker Raymonde Gagné, who is also from Manitoba, made the trip, as did Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, Osler said. Osler, who did not have an opportunity to meet Pope Francis before his death, said the roughly 90-minute ceremony reflected the humility that was a trademark of his 12-year papacy. He was buried in a plain wooden casket, and with simplified funeral rights, she said. According to Vatican estimates, some 250,000 people attended the funeral in St. Peter's Square while 150,000 others lined the motorcade route that stretched about six kilometres through downtown Rome. Osler said the pontiff will be remembered for his dedication to building bridges and extending compassion to vulnerable and marginalized people. 'I think Manitobans loved Pope Francis, and not just Catholics,' Osler said, referencing the pope's 2022 visit to Canada, during which he apologized for harms the Catholic Church inflicted through the residential school system. SUPPLIED MMF president David Chartrand met Pope Francis as part of an Indigenous delegation at the Vatican in 2022. About 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools, more than 60 per cent of which were run by the Catholic Church. Francis met with Indigenous people who survived the schools and listened to their stories. 'His recognition of the ongoing trauma was powerful, not just for First Nations, Indigenous and Métis people who experienced abuse. I think, as Manitobans, we need to offer all of our deepest condolences and (recognize) his impact,' Osler said. Chartrand was part of a 50-person Indigenous delegation that went to the Vatican in 2022 and encouraged the pope to come to Canada. Francis demonstrated respect to the group, shaking each person's hand despite concerns over the then-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the delegation were moved to tears by the gesture, Chartrand said. When the pope later arrived in Canada, Chartrand remembered feeling 'the healing will truly progress and begin now with his personal attendance,' he said. The Métis president waited in line for more than three hours Friday to view the pope's body and pay his final respects. He attended the funeral service the following day. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. 'To me, it was such an honour to be here and to show respect back to him, as he showed to us,' Chartrand said by phone from Rome on Sunday. X Manitoba Sen. Gigi Osler (far right) with a group of Canadian dignitaries and Catholic officials who made the trip to the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis. 'I saw people cry, I saw people hug, I saw young and old with their families… To me, he was the pope of hope.' Chartrand carried a rosary in honour of his late mother — a devout Catholic — with him as he walked several kilometres through the press of bodies that formed the crowd, he said. 'Just to be there was priceless. Nobody can replace that. It's something I will cherish forever,' he said. Tyler SearleReporter Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press's city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic's creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler. Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
