Every year in June, our network leaders, board chairs and vice-chairs come together for our Annual General Meeting. It’s a chance to connect, to share our experiences, to hear what’s happening in our communities, and for Réseau Compassion Network to share the areas we think need our attention.
Many of the social and health challenges our city, province and country are facing are complex and multi-factorial. We know we can’t solve every concern on our own, but we know that we can form partnerships and support important work going on every day, as we bring our expertise and values to the table. During our most recent AGM, I shared how I hoped Réseau Compassion Network will continue to make a difference in Manitoba by highlighting a few key initiatives:
- Immigration support: we know that Manitoba is bringing in many new Canadians to help support our economy and our population, or simply to offer them refuge from difficult circumstance in their home country. What can we do to better support newcomers who are trying to make a new start in our community? We are in discussion to create more transitional housing and supports with community partners.
- Elderly care strategy: a coalition of the willing, as we call it, are working hard to reimagine an approach to long-term care that is largely based on an institutional, out-dated model of care that is medical- and task-oriented and does not promote holistic well-being and quality of life. Actionmarguerite, Charités Despins and several other leaders from partner organizations are working on transforming these environments to meet a philosophy and approach to living and care that is relationship-focused and supports the person (or those closest to them) as they direct their life and care with the aim to maximize their well-being, growth, and life meaning and purpose.
- McLaren Hotel project: affordable housing is in dire need in Winnipeg. We have partnered with Equal Housing Initiative to renovate and renew the McLaren Hotel, which will offer a safer and more comfortable home for residents with wrap-around supports offered by Sara Riel. While the renovations have yet to begin, we are proud to have contributed funds to the planning process that centred residents, and we look forward to the project beginning soon.
- French-language staffing: over 55% of mandated bilingual positions in health and social services in Manitoba are currently vacant. We are leading a project with stakeholders such as Saint-Boniface University, Santé en français, Shared Health, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and other employers to find a solution that will to find solutions that will ensure more young people are attracted to health and social service-related fields of study in French, best hiring practices and other ways to build and retain a strong francophone workforce in Manitoba to serve the most vulnerable francophones in the health care system.
- Reconciliation: our network organisations are continuing on their journey. We have engaged the services of Rhonda Forgues to support some of our members as they plan the actions required to create safer and more welcoming space for all Indigenous staff and clients. We are planning another network-wide gathering in 2025 to continue to share learnings and create important space for dialogue.
The energy in the room for our AGM was palpable, as always. I am always so grateful, inspired and impressed at the talent we have in our network. There are volunteers who greet guests and lend a listening ear; staff working 24 hours a day to keep patients safe, warm, fed and cared for in our hospitals; therapists helping clients find healthier ways of being; and leadership teams at every organisation who are working hard to balance competing priorities and increasing demands on our systems.
While we look forward to all that is to come, I want to thank each and every single person who has contributed to our mission this year. Your contributions make a difference, today and every day. May you find moments of peace, rest and connection with those you love over the summer.
Wishing you all the best,
Daniel Lussier