May 6, 2022

City Councillor Challenges Ward to Donate In Support of Toba Centre’s We Will Capital Campaign

Winnipeg, Manitoba (Friday, May 6, 2022): Toba Centre for Children & Youth announced today that City Councillor for Charleswood–Tuxedo–Westwood, Kevin Klein, has donated $50,000 from his city of Winnipeg designated funds to support the We Will Capital Campaign. The donation will support the $15 million renovation of a city of Winnipeg-owned facility in Assiniboine Park, creating a new multi-disciplinary child advocacy centre for children and youth who have been abused or been witness to abuse. 

“Toba Centre helps kids who have been hurt, who have been abused, and who have witnessed abuse,” says Councillor Kevin Klein. “As someone who also experienced childhood violence, I know personally how much these kids need a safe place to get help and heal. So, when Toba Centre asked who would help, I knew I had to. Furthermore, I ask all of the folks who live in my ward of Charleswood, Tuxedo and Westwood, to join in and say that you too will help. Match the gift if you can, or give whatever amount you are able to, and support Toba Centre at TobaCentre.ca/event/Kevin-Klein-challenge.”

“We are grateful to Councillor Klein for the contribution and welcome his challenge to inspire others to support the We Will Campaign,” says Ken Talbot, Campaign Chair. “Every gift is an important gift as we make our way towards raising the $15 million needed to build this child advocacy centre.”

Councillor Klein received permission from the Standing Policy Committee to designate funds from the Community Incentive Grant Program for this special donation. Previously announced, Mayor Brian Bowman donated $100,000 of his discretionary funds for the project. This is in addition to a generous multi-year agreement for Toba Centre to relocate to, and renovate, a city of Winnipeg property at 710 Assiniboine Park Drive. 

The $15 million capital campaign will enable Toba Centre to create a new, multi-disciplinary child advocacy centre in Manitoba to ensure every victim of child abuse, and every child witness to violence, is heard, helped, and healed. The province of Manitoba has contributed a lead gift of $2 million for this project.

With this new centre children and their care providers will visit one location to receive the full continuum of services. They will be provided with consistent and continuous support from the point of intake and throughout their journey towards healing and recovery.

This new Toba Centre invites community support to a dire community issue and completely shifts the culture of how we respond to child abuse. With this new centre, we will put the needs of children first, we will work to restore childhood, we will help when it’s needed most.

We Will For Children.
We Will For Families.
We Will For Manitoba.
We Will…because we have to! Will you join our efforts? 

We Will Capital Campaign Cabinet

The new Toba Centre is currently under construction and set to open in spring of 2023.

-30-

About Toba Centre for Children & Youth
Toba Centre for Children & Youth opened in 2013 offering a safe, neutral, family-friendly setting to coordinate forensic interviews for children and youth who had been abused. Over 2,500 interviews have been conducted to date. Toba Centre is now set to evolve into a full-service child advocacy centre for Manitoba. The We Will Capital Campaign is set to raise $15 million for the new centre located at 710 Assiniboine Park Drive.

Backgrounder on Toba Centre & Child Advocacy Centres
Learn more about Toba Centre’s leadership team, child abuse in Manitoba, societal impacts, and what a child advocacy centre (CAC) does.

Media Contact:
Amanda Meikle
Project Manager
P. 204-799-8177
E. [email protected]