March 8 is International Women’s Day.
It’s a day to celebrate women’s achievements.
It’s safe to say that Rossbrook House has had many amazing women sharing their ideas and their time with the children and youth in the community.
Including the admirable Sister Geraldine MacNamara who helped neighborhood youth to start Rossbrook House. Her list of accomplishments is inspiring and continues even after her death. She recently received the Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazer award.
Lasting Legacies
So many women have created lasting legacies:
Maria Vigna, former teacher and co-executive director of Rossbrook House, had a huge heart and warm smile for all. Former participants still talk about her and how she helped them out.
Sister Lesley Sacouman helped to open Eagles’ Circle junior high school with Rossbrook House and currently serves as Executive Coordinator of Holy Names House of Peace.
Sister Bernadette O’Reilly established Rising Sun high school and as a former co-executive director of Rossbrook House, is still a supporter of the children and youth who walk through our doors. Every year, scholarships are handed out in her name to deserving students.
Sister Margaret Hughes was a teacher at Wi Wabigooni elementary school and established the annual Rossbrook House Pow Wow.
Carrying on the legacy
Many long-time staff are former students/participants and are mentors to the younger staff and participants. They are carrying on the legacy of the amazing women before them. They are teachers in the Rossbrook House schools. They are youth workers. They are friends.
Forging their own paths
Many former staff and participants are also paving their own paths- becoming teachers, social workers, nurses, and educational assistants- and are inspiring future generations through their hard work and kind hearts.
The Rossbrook House board and the Foundation board has (and has had) many caring, kind and generous board members who have given their time to Rossbrook House and the children and youth who drop-in.
And we also have so many women who are donors and supporters- those who knit and crochet warm winter wear, or drop off food items, or make hampers on holidays, or volunteer during programming… We’re very fortunate and grateful.
We applaud them all on International Womens’ day and every day.
#ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021