Our Mission
The Volunteer Guild of Victoria Hospital is a registered charity whose sole purpose is to enhance patient care at the Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg. We do this primarily by raising money through charitable activities; those funds are granted to the hospital for initiatives that support patient care. We raise money through our amazing Gift Shop, monthly prize raffles, and a variety of special events. We also accept donations which are eligible for a charitable tax credit. All income from sales and donations goes directly to patient care programs. Additionally, using investment income, we provide scholarships to student volunteers interested in a healthcare career, and to Victoria Hospital employees interested in upgrading their healthcare skills.
Who We Are
Our Guild is made up entirely of volunteers. While all of the volunteers at Victoria Hospital and Victoria Lifeline are included our membership, it is a smaller subset that focuses on fundraising efforts. Our volunteers range in age from high school students to retirees. We are fortunate to have some very experienced volunteers who give freely of their time; their generosity helps reduce our administrative costs compared to many other charities.
We are governed by a board of volunteers. During the 2024/25 year our board is made up of the following volunteers:
Brenda Catchpole – President & Social Media Director
Jackie Dutfield – Vice-President
Louise Horst – Immediate Past-President
Nadine Slight – Secretary
Marilyn Nash – Treasurer
Janet Evans – Fundraising Director
Corine Poirier – Gift Shop Director
Carol Oppermann – Gift Shop Treasurer
Boni Chowdhury – Assistant Treasurer
Roine Thomsen – Assistant Gift Shop Treasurer
Helga Smyrl – Education/Social Director
Helen Kirby – Membership/Archives Director
Zdenka Melnyk – Communications Director
Diane French – Member At Large
Making A Difference
Over the years we have raised over $5 million dollars to support the hospital. We take pride in providing “the extras” – items not traditionally funded through provincial budgets, but which make a big difference in the life of the hospital. Some of those items have included state-of-the-art equipment, renovations, recreational activities for patients, scholarships for staff and young volunteers, and hygiene products for patients in need.
It is a joy and a privilege for us to support the hospital, its patients and its staff through our activities. We are proud of the work we do, and proud of the percentage of our profits that go straight to the hospital. We will be honoured to have your support through your donations, your patronage, or your own volunteer work.
Thank you for helping us to support The Vic.