More than 30 Winnipeg executives and business leaders will sleep outside later this month as part of a fundraiser at the corner of Portage and Main.
The CEO Sleepout on September 29 is an initiative by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ to raise funds and awareness for homelessness and poverty issues in the city.
“Our goal is not just to support homeless employment programs, but also to bring about an end to homelessness,” said Stefano Grande, executive director of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. “The discomfort of sleeping on the streets is just a fragment of a larger reality that we hope to highlight with influential leaders of the corporate community. With their help, and yours, we can fight the issue of homelessness together.”
The next morning, the CEOs will eat breakfast while listening to a keynote presentation by Tim Richter, president and CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation.
Funds raised will go towards the BIZ’s Change for the Better program.
Participants include:
Arlene Wilgosh, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, President and CEO
Art DeFehr, Palliser Furniture, CEO
Ben Kramer, Diversity Foods, Executive Chef
Bill Crossman, Guppy Graphic Design, President
Bob Cox, Winnipeg Free Press, Publisher
Dr. Brian Postl, University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine, Dean and Founder of WRHA
Brian Scharfstein, Canadian Footwear Ltd., President
Colin Ferguson, Travel Manitoba, President and CEO
Carole Vivier, Manitoba Film & Music, CEO and Film Commissioner
Damon Johnston, Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg Inc., President and CEO
Dan Belhassen, Modern Earth Web Design, President
David McLeod, Native Communications Inc., President and CEO
Dr. David Barnard, University of Manitoba, President and Vice-Chancellor
Diane Gray, CentrePort Canada, President and CEO
Floyd Perras, Siloam Mission, Executive Director
Ginette Lavack Walter, Festival du Voyageur, Executive Director
Gloria Cardwell-Hoeppner, West End BIZ, Executive Director
Gord LeClerc, CTV, Senior Anchor
Harry Finnigan, McKay Finnigan and Associates, Principal
Ian Gerbrandt, Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council, Managing Director
Jim Carr, Business Council of Manitoba, President and CEO
John Corlett, University of Winnipeg, Vice-President Academic
Lana Hastings, University of Winnipeg Students’ Association, Vice-President
Margo Goodhand, Winnipeg Free Press, Editor
Marina James, Economic Development Winnipeg, President and CEO
Paula Havixbeck, City of Winnipeg, Acting Deputy Mayor
Richard Cloutier, CJOB, News Director
Rob Johnston, Royal Bank of Canada, Regional President
Ron Chartrand, Manitoba Metis Federation, Vice-President
Ross McGowan, CentreVenture, President and CEO
Shane Storie, SRS Signs & Service, CEO
Stefano Grande, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, Executive Director
Stephen Borys, WAG, Executive Director
Stephen Hua, Sound Republic, Owner
Stuart Murray, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, President and CEO
Taras Sokolyk, Canad Inns, CEO
Tom Ethans, Take Pride Winnipeg!, Executive Director
