Lucille Bruce has informed the Board of Directors and staff of her plans to retire at the end of June, following 3.5 years of transformative leadership.
“End Homelessness Winnipeg is leading the change in Winnipeg from managing homelessness to ending it,” she shared. “This role offers an incredible opportunity to work with a dedicated and highly capable team on vital priorities for our community.”
“Lucille brought passion, experience, commitment and great leadership to the role of Chief Executive Officer of End Homelessness Winnipeg,” said Board of Directors chair, Jason Whitford. “Lucille will be missed by our Board of Directors, staff and partners working in the area of ending homelessness. Lucille is well deserving of rest and relaxation, following tremendous accomplishments throughout her career, where she has fulfilled roles of leadership professionally with dedication, empathy and expertise. Although several challenges lie ahead to fulfill strategic objectives of End Homelessness Winnipeg, Lucille’s efforts as CEO have provided a solid foundation for ongoing progress. On behalf of the Board, I wish Lucille all the best in her retirement and many years of health to enjoy with family and friends. Kitchi Miigwetch Lucille!”
Transformational Change
Lucille Bruce joined End Homelessness Winnipeg in January, 2018. Over the course of 3 years, she stewarded transformational change, transitioning End Homelessness Winnipeg to become an Indigenous non-profit, with predominantly Indigenous staff and board members reflective of the population impacted by homelessness in Winnipeg; as well as Community Entity for Reaching Home, administering federal homelessness funding locally. Her collaborative leadership style has ensured inclusion of Indigenous people and people with Lived Experience at all levels of the organization’s work, and successful coordination of a COVID-19 Response for Winnipeg’s homeless-serving sector. She has spearheaded partnerships for The Village Project and Housing Through Collaboration: innovative, Indigenous-led housing to address critical gaps in the city’s housing continuum.
Indigenous-led Solutions
Lucille’s work with End Homelessness Winnipeg caps a career-long commitment to Indigenous-led approaches for housing and healing. She previously served as Executive Director of the Native Women’s Transition Centre; Executive Director of Village Clinic; and Interim Chairperson of the Manitoba Urban Native Housing Association. From 2009-2013, she was the Indigenous Co-Site Coordinator for Winnipeg as part of the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s At Home/Chez Soi Project. This important work localized Housing First from an Indigenous perspective to address Urban Indigenous homelessness. Lucille recently shared her story with the Humans, On Rights podcast, which can be heard here. As she steps away from her role as CEO, she will continue to share her expertise and wisdom in an advisory capacity for research and community-based projects.
The Board of Directors is launching an executive search to recruit the organization’s next President and CEO.