Monthly Volunteer Profile: Cynthia Stewart

Cynthia Stewart volunteers at the Winnipeg Humane Society as a Food Bank Delivery Driver, a position she has held since April 2023. She is one of many drivers who deliver dog and cat food on a bi-weekly basis to people with low income or who have mobility issues. Cynthia began volunteering at the WHS in 2007 and has mostly worked at special events, such as Paws in Motion, the Bow Wow Ball, Bark in the Park, the Book Sale, WHS Telethon, and dog walking at the old shelter on Nairn Avenue. Now her efforts are mainly dedicated to pet food … Continued

MONTHLY VOLUNTEER PROFILE: TIM & GORDON

Editor’s Note: For personal and professional reasons, this month’s Winnipeg Humane Society MVP has requested anonymity, so we’ll just call him Tim. Tim has been volunteering with the WHS for approximately one year. His three-year-old English Bulldog Gordon is also a WHS therapy dog. Their story will be told mainly from the perspective of Gordon. “About a year ago Tim and I came to the Winnipeg Humane Society,” Gordon recalls. “Dad had wanted to find something for us to do together that was fun for us both. Also, I’m a working dog by nature so it’s good for me to … Continued

MONTHLY VOLUNTEER PROFILE: LORELLE SELINGER

For more than two years, Lorelle Selinger has managed to combine an executive career with a commitment to fostering animals for the Winnipeg Humane Society. Many people might find such a commitment taxing, but in May of 2023, Lorelle doubled down on her volunteering with the WHS. She and her almost four-year-old Siberian Husky named Meika took the required training and testing and Meika began work as a therapy dog. A few times a month, Lorelle and Meika visit with people in nursing homes, Stony Mountain Penitentiary or the Eagle Urban Transition Centre, a facility for people who have moved … Continued

MONTHLY VOLUNTEER PROFILE: Brenda Yaworski

Brenda Yaworski may have only started volunteering as a doggy foster parent for the Winnipeg Humane Society last spring, but it that short time she’s gained a tremendous amount of experience. She started off with a Doberman that won over her heart – so much so that Brenda’s family and friends had a pool going to see if her first foster would be a foster fail. That first dog she fostered stayed with Brenda three or four times, so she had him for almost two months. “When they called me the third time, they said ‘You don’t have to take … Continued

Monthly Volunteer Profile: Ava Almdal

Cat Condo Assistant Ava Almdal is getting a school credit for volunteering at the Winnipeg Humane Society, but after having the opportunity to meet hundreds of cats and experience the WHS community of animal lovers she says she’d do it anyway, credit or not. A grade 12 student at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg, Ava began volunteering in January 2023. Once a week, she can be found in the cat condos, playing with the cats and giving them the attention or affection they need. This helps the cats get more used to people, which ultimately makes them more adoptable. Her … Continued

Monthly Volunteer Profile: Jareth Blais-Renaud

Jareth Blais-Renaud never had a dog growing up in the Ottawa area but moving to Manitoba for work 14 years ago gave him the opportunity to enjoy something he’d missed. “I never grew up with dogs,” he explained.  “I always wanted one but unfortunately, we were never allowed, for financial reasons. “But then I moved here for work, and I met Michelle, who would become my wife. She had a long-haired Dachshund. I just became so fond of him and fell in love with him so much.” Jareth’s relationship with the Winnipeg Humane Society began simply with a visit to … Continued

Monthly Volunteer Profile: Philippe Lajoie

When Philippe Lajoie retired from teaching, he looked for something to do with his new-found time. And if he could bring Biden, his Labradoodle pup with him, so much the better. “I went on a Winnipeg volunteer web site and saw that the Winnipeg Humane Society was looking for somebody in the Education department,” Philippe explained. “I came down for an interview and asked if I could bring Biden to the events. They said fine, as long as he passes the requirements. So, I brought him down and sure enough, he passed and we’ve been doing the Dog Ambassador stuff … Continued

Monthly Volunteer Profile: June Catrijsse

With a love of animals since growing up on a dairy farm in Manitoba’s Interlake, you can understand how volunteering at the Winnipeg Humane Society came naturally for retired nurse June Catrijsse. She got her start at the WHS about 20 years ago as a dog walker and over the years has held a variety of volunteer positions in animal care, animal receiving and special events, to name a few. But in January she found a position that let her combine two of her passions – animals and knitting. She is now the facilitator of the Knitting and Purling Group. … Continued

Monthly Volunteer Profile: Alison SanFilippo MVP

Like so many Winnipeg Humane Society volunteers and staff, Alison SanFilippo has an unbridled love for all animals. But for Alison it’s a passion around which much of her life has revolved. Her WHS volunteer service dates back almost two decades, she has two rescue dogs and four cats (three from the WHS) at home and, in addition, has her own pet sitting business. “I began volunteering in the old building,” Alison explained. “I’ll be going into my 18th year in October. I started as soon as my daughter was old enough to go to school.” She’s a self-proclaimed advocate … Continued

Monthly Volunteer Profile: Jaelyn Friesen

For Jaelyn Friesen, a life-long love of animals has evolved into a volunteer role at the Winnipeg Humane Society. A Grade 12 student enrolled in carpentry at Murdoch MacKay Collegiate in Winnipeg, Jaelyn grew up with pet gerbils. “I really liked having the gerbils,” she said, smiling. “They were nice with me and they enjoyed cuddling. They’re very affectionate. One would escape from its enclosure and it would come and find us.” At the age of 11, she got her first dog. Now she and her family have two small dogs – a Poodle and a Shih Tzu. On weekends … Continued