Dr. Tyler Pearce knows the philanthropic sector well. As Executive Director of Local Investment Toward Employment, aka LITE, Dr Pearce and her team are fundamental in helping people become employable and stay employed. Executive Director of LITE, Dr. Tyler Pearce joins us to talk about self-care and wellness during COVID-19, the dynamics of the philanthropic sector, and how we have to focus on changing systems of oppression to truly overcome poverty.
Jul 22, 2020•55 min•Ep. 47
Michael Redhead Champagne is an inspirational example of someone making a real difference at a community level. Award winning Community Organizer, Ininiwak Helper, Public Speaker, and Author, and Advocate, Michael is known by many different monikers, all under the umbrella of fighting for social justice, children’s safety, and community ideals. I sat down with Michael Redhead Champagne, to talk about his tireless work helping others, the 7 sacred teachings, and how we can navigate and dismantle ...
Jul 15, 2020•38 min•Ep. 46
The term heritage has been all over the news lately. From history to architecture and everything in between, now more than ever, society is discussing the importance and impact of our heritage. Cindy Tugwell is the Executive Director of Heritage Winnipeg, and thanks to over 28 years with the organization, her perspective is priceless. I sat down with Cindy Tugwell, Executive Director of Heritage Winnipeg, to talk about how to learn important lessons from history, the value of architecture and de...
Jul 08, 2020•43 min•Ep. 45
Trudy Schroeder understands the intrinsic value of the Arts. As Executive Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Trudy leads a team of passionate people creating world-class performances that put Winnipeg on the map. I sat down with Trudy Schroeder from the WSO, to talk about importance of music and art in every community, the value of human connection, and what the ‘new normal’ will mean for live music, and her organization in a post-COVID world.
Jun 30, 2020•50 min•Ep. 44
Javier Schwersensky says he’s got the best job in the world. As CEO of the Winnipeg Humane Society, Javier leads the oldest animal shelter and animal welfare non-profit in all of Manitoba, it is now 126 years old. Originally from Argentina, Javier has a wonderful success story in Canada, and has been giving back by working in Canada’s charitable sector for years now. I sat down with Javier to talk about the Winnipeg Humane Society and their devotion to animals, humble beginnings in Argentina, an...
Jun 24, 2020•41 min•Ep. 43
Mandela Kuet advocates for equity and equality and has for nearly his entire life. He participated in the Winnipeg Foundation’s Fast Pitch earlier this year, spoke at the Black Lives Matter rally in Winnipeg earlier this month, and recently started his own non-profit for at-risk newcomer youth. So, he’s a busy guy. I sat down with Mandela on a video chat, to talk about Black Lives Matter, his lifetime dedication to advocacy and equity, and what our communities need to learn and apply to make rea...
Jun 17, 2020•52 min•Ep. 42
Claudette Leclerc has been at the helm of the Manitoba Museum for the last 23 years. As Executive Director and CEO, Claudette has overseen the growth, expansion, and immense success of the Manitoba Museum, and continues to lead her team through the COVID-19 Pandemic. I sat down with Claudette Leclerc on a video chat, to talk about her incredible career, her devotion to arts and culture in Winnipeg, and the plan for reopening the museum in the post-COVID era.
Jun 09, 2020•38 min•Ep. 41
Roger Berrington is making a massive difference in the lives of youth in our city. As Founder and Executive Director of CanU, Roger and his team have made nutrition, health, academia, and leadership their focus, in the hopes that students in grades 5-12 can live up to their potential. I sat down with Roger Berrington, to talk about CanU and how it got started, the value of mentorship and leading by example, and what we can do to inspire actual equity in the world.
May 26, 2020•47 min•Ep. 39
Welcome to BeCause & Effect, a podcast from the Winnipeg Foundation, where we talk to people about the Causes they care about, and the Effect that it has on their lives. We are continuing to talk to guests on the show in the cause area of Arts and Culture, to see how they’re dealing with COVID-19 and what changes have been made to their programming. Today’s guest is Uyen Pham, Executive Director of Artbeat Studio. Artbeat Studio continues to prove, every day, the intrinsic connection between...
May 19, 2020•39 min•Ep. 38
Our first guest in a series of conversations in the post-covid era, is Thomas Morgan Jones, artistic Director of Prairie Theatre Exchange. Over the next few episodes we’re going to talk to different people that support the various causes in and around Winnipeg, and today we’re starting with Arts and Culture. PTE, like most charities and non-profits that represent Arts and Culture in our city, has not been immune to the challenges that COVID-19 presented. Although things are slowly starting to ge...
May 12, 2020•38 min•Ep. 37
Rick Frost became CEO of the Winnipeg Foundation back in 1997. Now, 23 years later, he is leading the organization into its monumental 100th year. Last year, In 2019, the Winnipeg Foundation distributed over $57.5 million to the community, thanks in large part to Rick’s vision and leadership. Now, dealing with the Covid-19 Pandemic means Rick’s team is responding to community need in an unprecedented fashion, while practicing social distancing and working primarily from home. I sat down with Ric...
Apr 02, 2020•41 min•Ep. 36
*** Trigger warning for this episode, as it deals heavily with child abuse. *** My guest today, Christy Dzikowicz has been helping to keep vulnerable children safe for over 25 years. As the Executive Director of Snowflake Place, Christy is helping to lead the way by changing systems, challenging norms, and advocating for the rights and comforts of abused kids. Christy was also the winner of The Winnipeg Foundation’s Fast Pitch 2020, where 12 non-profit organizations presented their stories in th...
Mar 17, 2020•53 min•Ep. 35
Kristy McFee gave up her life as a real estate agent, and completely shifted her focus to helping Children, Youth, and Families, through the Manitoba Riding for the Disabled Association. As Executive Director, Kristy continues to fight for inclusion and equality, while giving kids the experience of a lifetime. Kristy participated in the Winnipeg Foundation’s Fast Pitch, where she honed her presentation skills and competed against 11 other non-profits here in our city for a $10,000 grand prize. I...
Mar 10, 2020•37 min•Ep. 34
Diane Roussin is making the lives of children and families better. Diane is the Project Manager of the Winnipeg Boldness Project, and she uses her platform to empower and encourage the leaders in our community to live their best lives. I sat down with Diane Roussin, to talk about empowerment, equity, and vulnerability, her strong indigenous female roots, and what needs to happen to help the children and families in our city that need a hand.
Mar 03, 2020•53 min•Ep. 33
Spencer Duncanson is a champion for the arts. He fell in love with opera as a child, and has been obsessed ever since. As founder and Artistic Director of the Little Opera Company in Winnipeg, Spencer has built his career on making opera approachable, enjoyable, and digestible to as many people as possible. As a lifelong educator and mentor to countless young artists, Spencer is guiding the next generation of top tier singers, and helping create strong, capable adults. I sat down with Spencer Du...
Feb 25, 2020•49 min•Ep. 32
Connie Newman knows seniors’ issues. As the Executive Director of the Manitoba Association of Seniors Centres, Connie has been devoting her life to advocating for the needs of seniors here in our province for nearly 15 years. As a retired highschool teacher, Connie’s ability to bring people together and solve problems makes her perfect in this role. I sat down with Connie Newman, to discuss generational issues, mental and physical health in seniors, and the importance of staying connected to one...
Feb 18, 2020•34 min•Ep. 31
Janine Stephens is a Winnipeg-based Olympian-turned coach, who was recently awarded the Rowing Canada’s President’s Award for her dedication to the sport. After winning Silver in the 2012 London Olympics, Janine is now focused on coaching and helping the next generation of athletes compete, grow, and thrive. We sat down with Janine Stephens, silver medalist in the London Olympic Games in 2012, talks about sport psychology and the mindset of a champion, her transition into coaching and the lesson...
Feb 11, 2020•52 min•Ep. 30
Today’s episode features one of the greatest entertainers of our generation, actor, author, singer/songwriter and keynote speaker, Fred Penner. Mr Penner is gearing up for his upcoming cross-Canada tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Cat Came Back, released back in 1980. He joined my via video chat from Beautiful British Columbia, and we talked not only about his legendary career, but also about the current media landscape, mindfulness and meditation, reconciliation, and so much more. O...
Feb 04, 2020•46 min•Ep. 29
Welcome to BeCause & Effect, a podcast from the Winnpieg Foundation, where we talk to people about the causes they care about, and the effect that it has on their lives. My name is Nolan Bicknell. Loren Remillard is the President and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. He’s been with the organization since 1997 and has a great perspective on the importance of small business to our communities. We talk about business profits and social impact, national trends in entrepreneurship, and the...
Jan 28, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 28
Welcome to BeCause and Effect, a podcast from the Winnipeg Foundation, where we talk to people about the causes they care about, and the effect it has on their lives. My name is Nolan Bicknell. Today’s guest is one I’ve wanted to talk to since we launched this podcast, and could not be more excited to kick off season three with the amazing Jon Montgomery. Jon is probably best known for his work as host of Amazing Race Canada since back in 2013, but Jon gained international notoriety for his gold...
Jan 21, 2020•58 min•Ep. 27
Every episode of BeCause & Effect ends with a set of questions we call Just BeCause. It’s the same seven questions asked of all of our guests. Today’s show is both a highlight episode, showcasing some of the best answers to the Just BeCause questions, and an exclusive, unreleased Just BeCause with Mr. Ron MacLean as well. We were able to talk to Ron MacLean at a fundraising dinner for the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre earlier this year, where Ron co-hosted the event with Jann Arden. For those w...
Dec 10, 2019•43 min•Ep. 26
Kai Madsen is celebrating quite a few milestones this year: 50 years since he started volunteering with the Christmas Cheer Board , 25 years since he became their Executive Director, and 100 years that the organization itself has been in operation. Kai and the more than 5,000 volunteers annually have been such an incredible force in our city, bringing holiday cheer to under-served families for such a long time, and they’re still going strong. I sat down to talk with Kai Madsen, Executive Directo...
Dec 03, 2019•42 min•Ep. 25
Jeff Newman and Stephanie Scott learned a lot while working on their show First Contact . The reality style TV show brought Canadians from similar backgrounds together to learn about Indigenous culture and attempted to shatter their racist beliefs. As filmmakers, their goal is to educate not only the participants on the show, but people worldwide by shining a light on prejudice, stereotyping, and racism across our country. I sat down with both Jeff Newman and Stephanie Scott, Director and Execut...
Nov 26, 2019•52 min•Ep. 24
Oly Backstrom has been with SCE Lifeworks for a quarter of a century. 25 years of providing inclusive supports and services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As President and CEO of SCE Lifeworks, Oly has found meaning and purpose in helping others and educating communities on the abilities of all. I sat down with Oly Backstrom, to talk about how businesses thrive when they hire inclusively, social evolution over the last two and a half decades, and his career building ...
Nov 19, 2019•45 min•Ep. 23
Jim Gauthier went from humble beginnings, to successful businessman, to one of the most giving and philanthropic people in Winnipeg. The Association of Fundraising Professionals even awarded Jim their Outstanding Philanthropist for 2019. Jim and his late wife Joyce gave back as soon as they were able to, first as founders of The Dream Factory, and as well as supporters of many causes and organizations over the years, including the Humane Society and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. I sat do...
Nov 12, 2019•42 min•Ep. 22
When one of Paige Procter’s loved ones got a cancer diagnosis, she turned her grief into something positive, and her community of Gross Isle Manitoba has now raised over 130,000 dollars for Cancer Care. Through the Coffeehouse to End Cancer fundraising concerts, Paige and her team of volunteers have brought their friends, and family, and community together for a day of local artists performing and keynote presentations for nearly a decade now. Paige was awarded the Association of Fundraising Pro...
Nov 05, 2019•45 min•Ep. 21
Clare MacKay knows how, and why people gather. The public spaces provided through the Forks in Winnipeg are world-class and bring in people from all over the globe. Clare’s role as VP, Strategic Initiatives as well as Executive Director of The Forks Foundation has meant she’s front and centre of the Forks’ incredible growth for nearly two decades. I sat down with Clare Mackay, to talk about The Forks’ evolution from ancient meeting place to its modern model of success, the issues facing our city...
Oct 29, 2019•48 min•Ep. 20
Stephen Borys is one of the leading and most educated voices in art and art history in the country. He holds a PhD in Art and Architectural History from McGill, a MA in Art History from the University of Toronto, on top of being the curator or curatorial assistant at many acclaimed museums and galleries across North America. In his current role as the Director and CEO of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) he’s been tasked with building Canada’s first Inuit Art Centre, slated to open in 2020. I sat d...
Oct 22, 2019•48 min•Ep. 19
Joy Loewen is living a life in service of others. As the Acting Executive Director of The National Screen Institute, she and her team are empowering Canadians all across the country to tell their stories, and find careers while doing so. As a volunteer and board member for countless organizations in her city, Joy has made it a priority in her life to help lift up those in need. I sat down with Joy, to talk about the importance of giving a hand up to others, bringing out their potential, and how ...
Oct 15, 2019•49 min•Ep. 18
Dayna Spiring knows how compelling Winnipeg is when it comes to business opportunities, tourism, and leisure activities. As the President and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc, Dayna knows what it takes to be a great city. She also knows there’s a lot to be excited about in the city, not only for tourists visiting, but for the people living here as well – just think about the whiteout parties from a few years ago! Dayna is an avid volunteer and devotes much of her time to make Winnipeg be...
Oct 08, 2019•47 min•Ep. 17
