Advisory Groups and Task Forces
Poverty and Education Task Force
The creation of the Provincial Task Force on Poverty and Education was one of the recommendations arising from the final report of the Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education. Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning launched the task force in the fall of 2021.
The role of the task force is to ensure engagement across sectors and communities through a child-centred approach to identify recommendations to support student success and well-being. The task force will undertake a targeted engagement strategy to
- address joint poverty and education issues in order to contribute to overall poverty reduction in Manitoba
- support an all-systems approach to identifying contributing factors, barriers, and solutions to the complex problem of the impacts of poverty on learning
- put forth advice on areas of action to holistically support the needs of children and youth and respond to the impacts of poverty on learning
The task force will be proposing tangible actions at the classroom, school, division, and community levels that will have a positive impact on student learning, well-being, and outcomes that will be shared with the Minister and inform the work of the Poverty Reduction Committee to support government’s overall work and strategy on poverty. Considerations for the unique needs of Indigenous children living in poverty will be at the forefront of this consultative process.
Areas of initial focus for the task force may include
- food access and security
- access to technology, transportation, and other socio-economic barriers as impediments to participation
- outcomes and continuity of education for children in care
For the terms of reference, see the Poverty and Education Task Force Terms of Reference (
204 KB).
Poverty and Education Task Force Members
Key stakeholders with expertise in poverty-related issues will be key to achieving diversity of perspectives, geographic representation, and experience.
| Mona Audet | Pluri-Elles |
| Jordan Bighorn | CEDA Pathways |
| Brenda Brazeau | Manitoba Association of Parent Councils |
| Chris Brens | City of Winnipeg |
| Kamryn Brown | Minister’s Student Advisory Council Member |
| Pauline Clarke | Manitoba Association of School Superintendents |
| Jackie Connell | Intersectoral Lead for the Task Force |
| Bunny Davis-Holstein | Minister’s Student Advisory Council Member |
| Davin Dumas | Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre |
| Fadi Ennab | University of Winnipeg, Urban and Inner City Studies |
| Meaghan Erbus | Harvest Manitoba |
| Rob Fisher | Council of School Leaders of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society |
| Sarah Gazan | The Manitoba Teachers’ Society |
| Janet Kanayok | Manitoba Inuit Association |
| Reg Klassen | Frontier School Division |
| Dilly Knol | Andrews Street Family Centre |
| Nathan Maertins | The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce |
| Tammy Mitchell | River East Transcona School Division |
| Michael Redhead Champagne | North End Community Renewal Corporation (NECRC), Fearless R2W |
| Dana Rudy | Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning |
| Rhonda Taylor | Career Trek |
| Kathy Valentino | Association for Manitoba Municipalities |
| Janelle Wotton | Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba |
| Heidi Wurmann | Manitoba Families |
Status
Established September 2021.
