Toasting Winnipeg is a new breakfast series that celebrates innovative, original and inspiring business stories in our city. Our goal is to shine light and share stories from our membership proving business success is possible, especially in Winnipeg.
7:30 a.m. – Registration, networking and breakfast
8:00 a.m. – Program begins
9:00 a.m. – Progream ends
Louise (Desmarais) Champagne, Coordinator, Management Team; President of Neechi Foods Co-Op
Louise has been the President of Neechi Foods Co-Op since its inception 24 years ago; recipient of the Cooperative Achievement Award from the Canadian Cooperative Association and the Worker Co-op Merit Award from the Canadian Worker Cooperative Federation; initiator of Payuk Inter-tribal (housing) Co-op; and co-chair of the Winnipeg Native Child Welfare Coalition that created the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Canada’s first urban Aboriginal child and family support agency.
Kyle J. Mason, Founder and Executive Director of North End Family Centre
The son of an Ojibway father and Metis mother, Kyle grew up in the North End of Winnipeg in a single parent family. Kyle’s family often struggled to make ends meet, at times struggled with secure housing, and had to make use of food banks and other social programs. Thanks to finding a sense of belonging and community in a local church youth group, Kyle avoided many unhealthy life options and stayed in school.
After graduating from college with a theological degree, Kyle joined the pastoral staff of a church in Stonewall, MB. From there he moved to Northwestern Ontario to provide leadership to a local food redistribution organization as it grew from renting a small space to becoming the largest organization of its kind in the region. Kyle served on staff at a homeless shelter in Saskatoon before he and his family moved back to the North End of Winnipeg in the fall of 2008. Soon after his return, without a budget or seed money, Kyle began to lay the foundation for the North End Family Centre, which opened its doors to the community in October 2009.
Kyle is currently doing graduate studies towards a Masters of Business Administration in Non-Profit Management through Trinity Western University. In January 2013, Kyle received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for founding and leading the North End Family Centre. In March, 2015, Kyle was chosen as one of CBC Manitoba’s Future 40 leaders, which highlighted leaders from different sectors who are making a difference in Manitoba. Kyle has been interviewed locally and nationally on radio, television, and print.
Kyle also sits on the following boards and committees:
Local:
Board Chair – North End Community Renewal Corporation
Member – Winnipeg Police Board’s Indigenous Advisory Council
Member – Winnipeg Boldness Project’s Community Leadership Guide Group
National:
Member – World Vision Canada – Canadian Programs’ National Advisory Council
Member – Mission Canada’s National Aboriginal Guiding Group
Kyle speaks often in churches, colleges/ seminaris, events, and service clubs on issues related to social justice, indigenous matters, and how everyone can make a difference. Kyle is passionate about motivating people to step outside their comfort zones and serve others who can be overlooked in our society. If you would like to book Kyle to speak at your event, you can contact him through our office or by email.
865 Main St.
Winnipeg, MB
