March 24, 2021
Province Provides $500,000 to Winnipeg Boldness Project to Help Protect Vulnerable Families
– – –Investment Supports Improved Health and Wellness for Children and Families in Point Douglas Area: Squires
The Manitoba government is providing $500,000 to the Indigenous-led Winnipeg Boldness Project that brings together the community, public, philanthropic and corporate sectors, in addition to arts and culture organizations to address community challenges and to help protect residents of the Point Douglas area in Winnipeg, Families Minister Rochelle Squires announced today.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the disproportionate challenges faced by marginalized communities, especially in times of crisis, and it is more important than ever to support innovative health and wellness solutions that protect vulnerable Manitobans,” said Squires. “The Winnipeg Boldness Project has been a Manitoba leader in social innovation, and our government is pleased to collaborate with this community-led organization that supports our shared goal of reducing the number of children in care.”
Established in 2014 with support from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the Manitoba government, the Winnipeg Boldness Project was launched as a seven-year social innovation process to explore new ideas for addressing early childhood outcomes in Point Douglas. Working with cross-sectoral partners, experts and stakeholders, the project uses a community-driven social innovation approach to rapidly develop solutions to improve outcomes for children.
“The Manitoba government has been a key supporter of the Winnipeg Boldness Project from the very start, walking with the community as we design and develop solutions to many of the complex challenges that our families face every day,” said Diane Roussin, project director, Winnipeg Boldness Project. “This funding commitment will enable us to further design and scale solutions to have a greater impact in our neighbourhood, city and province for our children and families.”
The minister noted the new funding will enable ongoing partnerships and collaboration with Granny’s House and the Community Helpers Initiative, two key child welfare transformation initiatives focused on Manitoba’s priority to reduce the number of children in care.
Recent successful initiatives launched through the Winnipeg Boldness Project include the Indigenous Doula Initiative, the Support for Dads program, the North End Well-Being measure and neighbourhood uptake of the Canada Learning Bond.
Over the past two years, the Winnipeg Boldness Project has scaled up its work to extend beyond the Point Douglas community to include additional partners and to find new ways to improve children’s outcomes.
The Winnipeg Boldness Project was one of the first social innovation initiatives in Manitoba, and is a leading voice in social innovation in Canada with a particular focus on Indigenous and community-led involvement.
- 30 -