Our Stories


Family update from CEO Shirley Labossiere – May 14, 2020

May 14, 2020

Dear Families:

It’s been a long challenging couple of months, but please know that we think of you often and of how difficult this has been on families and their loved ones who have been separated by the pandemic. Never have we experienced such dramatic and sudden change in the provision of our services or the amount of government direction.  We know this has been hard for everyone: you, your family members, staff and our community as a whole. Thank you for your understanding, your patience, your questions and your kindness. Your support has made this time just a little easier.

Manitoba Public Health recently announced its first phase of re-opening, which didn’t change much for St.Amant. Over the past week we did however receive some direction that the guidelines had loosened for outdoor visits for people supported in the community programs. In the meantime, we continue to advocate for outdoor visits for people in Health & Transition Services. We are still waiting for information about a reopening strategy for the rest of our services: day services, clinical services, autism programs, child care and the school. The Department of Families sent an update this week that you can see here:

Update for Children’s DisABILITY Services

Update for Community Living disAbility Services

This is a time and situation we’ve never experienced and we will continue to rely on the experts to help guide the process and protocols for opening services to ensure the safety of your family and our team. At this time, our program leads are in contact with our government partners at least weekly, to discuss the current situation and consult about reopening services. At this time we do not have any information about timelines. We do know that services may have to look different. Currently we are looking at the spaces where programs and appointments are held and evaluating social distancing protocols within those spaces. Beyond those discussions, our program teams are focused on continuing to offer services remotely until we receive further direction from Manitoba Public Health.

Thank you for your continued support and patience. We are very grateful for every kind word to our staff, and for every show of appreciation. If you or your family needs any support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your program team. We continue to update our website with resources for families and links to updates. You can find the information here.

Again, thank you for your understanding as we navigate this time together; please stay well and safe.

Shirley

Shirley Labossiere
A/President & CEO

More News

Tania Douglas, Executive Director of St.Amant Foundation pictured with captains of Manitoba Moose and Chicago Wolves during puck drop at Autism Acceptance game.

April 8, 2025

Plush Moose Sell Out in Support of Autism Programs


Sunday’s Manitoba Moose Autism Acceptance game was filled with energy, excitement, and generosity — and one of the most popular stars of the night was, without a doubt, the adorable reversible plush moose. Fans couldn’t get enough of them, and by the end of the game, they had completely sold out! These cuddly keepsakes weren’t […]

April 2, 2025

Autism Acceptance Month Shows What’s Possible


Autism Acceptance Month is a celebration of a more inclusive world. It is about respecting and embracing people for who they are. It is a reminder of how to create an inclusive society. Inclusion is more than a physical space. It is beyond accommodation. It is actions celebrating and appreciating differences. It also is a […]