Our Stories

Thank you to the Richardson Foundation and United Way Winnipeg Partnership for supporting important improvements at IRCOM’s Isabel location. Thanks to your generosity, our courtyard is now fully enclosed with protective netting, creating a safer and more functional space for children and youth to play, learn, and participate in outdoor activities. Your support also made it possible to install a new commercial refrigerator, helping us safely store food and continue providing nutritious meals and snacks to participants throughout the year.

@richardsoninternational & @unitedwaywpg

#ircom #unitedwaywinnipeg #richardsonfoundation #communitysupport #communityofbelonging

A heartfelt thank you to Ecclesiastical Insurance for supporting IRCOM’s Greening Program through the Community Impact Grant.

This season, the program is bringing together 20 newcomer families and more than 60 participants, including children and youth, to grow fresh food, share knowledge, build friendships, and care for their community spaces.

Through gardening, families are improving access to nutritious and culturally familiar foods, learning sustainable practices, and creating a stronger sense of connection and belonging.

Your support is helping these gardens grow into welcoming spaces where families can learn, connect, and thrive.

#CommunityImpactGrant #IRCOM #GreeningProgram #CommunityConnection #FoodSecurity #NewcomerFamilies

A true community leader and an accomplished woman, Emilienne found her way to IRCOM through volunteer opportunities and quickly impressed us all during her interview. One of the panellists even remarked, “We are hiring the future ED.” That impression was no surprise - before coming to Canada, Emilienne was a national leader in women’s development in her country of origin, bringing a depth of experience, vision, and commitment to community empowerment that continues to shape her work today.

Emilienne has been a truly dedicated ACBP team member who takes her responsibilities seriously. She consistently ensured that 100% of program spaces were filled, that participants who missed sessions attended make-up classes, and that homework was completed and program steps were thoughtfully followed. She transformed financial literacy workshops into vibrant, supportive spaces where participants shared resources, built confidence, developed relationships, and strengthened their sense of community.

Emilienne is fearless in raising issues that need attention and generous with her time, expertise, and skills. While we once thought we had hired a future leader in a formal sense, Emilienne has always reminded us that she prefers leading from behind the scenes. For more than ten years, she has remained the trusted and highly respected Matched Savings staff member, quietly but powerfully creating lasting impact.

Through the Saving Circle, Transportation Loan, and IDA programs, Emilienne has recruited, supported, and empowered more than 1,000 newcomers. She is widely known in the community for her encouragement, mentorship, and unwavering support.

We thank you for your commitment and dedication, Emilienne. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary - and here’s to many more years together.

Rania is an accountant by trade, and started her journey at IRCOM in our Childcare department and has worked across several departments over the years. Along the way, she quietly impressed us with her professionalism, adaptability, dedication to excellence, and commitment to continuous growth.



When Rania joined the Asset and Capacity Building Programs, where she continues to work today, she found a role that connected closely with her profession and strengths. Since then, she has consistently embraced new challenges and opportunities to grow. Rania is truly one of the most well-rounded employees at IRCOM. From nurturing children in our childcare program, to serving as a settlement worker, Access to Benefits Navigator, Matched Savings Program staff member, Team Lead, and now Program Coordinator, she has excelled in every role she has taken on.



Rania has also been a valued member of our leadership team. Most recently, during the busy income tax season, she mobilized her team and implemented a clinic-style approach that enabled the team to file over 1,000 tax returns. Her ability to organize, lead, and support her team contributed greatly to this success.



Her colleagues describe her best:



“Rania is someone you can always count on-kind, caring, and always willing to go the extra mile to support others.”

“Rania is smart, fun, and interesting, and she gets things done so fast that she makes me look like I’m still reading the instructions. She is also a great team player who somehow manages to move that fast while bringing everyone along with her.”



Rania, we deeply appreciate your expertise, passion, leadership, and dedication. Congratulations on your 10-year anniversary at IRCOM. Thank you for the countless ways you have contributed to our organization and community. We look forward to celebrating many more milestones with you in the years to come.

Lily has been one of the key staff members whose contributions have spanned multiple departments throughout her 10 years at IRCOM. She began her journey in the Childcare Department before moving to Housing, where she built deep and lasting relationships with the families she supported. For many tenants, Lily is IRCOM – as a Housing Assistant, she was often the very first person they met, welcoming them into their new home and helping them feel a sense of belonging from day one.

Over the years, Lily has become known for her warm, compassionate approach and her unwavering commitment to advocating for those facing systemic barriers. During the pandemic, she worked on site as an essential worker - at times carrying the tenancies team almost on her own. Despite the risks, she showed up every day for our families. To this day, people turn to Lily for quick solutions and thoughtful guidance.

For the past three years, Lily has been a valued member of our management team, leading the program where she first began her career. Her leadership has extended to Language Training, Common Ground, and the Volunteer Program.

Lily has made significant contributions not only to IRCOM’s programs but also to the organization’s overall development. She never hesitates to step in where needed, including recently taking an entire department under her wing during a management vacancy.

Above all, Lily is caring, open-minded, and an exceptional learner. Her intelligence, compassion, and leadership have left a lasting impact on our organization and the people we serve.

Thank you, Lily, for 10 years of dedication, community building, service, and leadership. We are deeply grateful for all that you have contributed and continue to contribute.