Bear Clan Patrol to headquarter downtown operations out of Women’s Health Clinic building; marks beginning of partnership to better serve folks in the downtown area.
Women's Health Clinic and Bear Clan Patrol are working together to make the community stronger.
April 26, 2024 – Winnipeg, MB: Bear Clan Patrol Inc. (BCP) and Women’s Health Clinic (WHC) are thrilled to announce a grassroots partnership to enhance community care in downtown Winnipeg. Beginning in Spring 2024, BCP’s downtown headquarters will be in Unit D of 419 Graham Avenue. The street-level unit will be used as a patrol hub, meeting space, and offices.
To begin this partnership in a good way, BCP and WHC started with a Ceremony and come-and-go lunch on April 26, 2024. In attendance were His Worship Mayor Scott Gillingham, City Councilor Sherri Rollins, MLA Nellie Kennedy, Assiniboia, offering greetings on behalf of The Honourable Bernadette Smith, Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness, members of WHC and BCP's staff, board, and volunteers, and members of the Winnipeg Police Service's Missing Person's Unit.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a lack of programs and services for community members in downtown Winnipeg. To help address the service gap, WHC began providing harm reduction supplies and naloxone to the community, as well as offering much-needed access to bathrooms. Additionally, WHC began training staff on how to use naloxone to intervene in the event of an overdose.
Bear Clan Patrol’s roots are in community care – working with community to create systems that work for everyone and to meet people where they are at. On any given patrol, BCP serves anywhere between 50-100 community members, providing food, water, clothing, hygiene products, or other essentials anyone may need.
“Having BCP headquartered out of WHC’s building means that we can serve community and build a partnership who aligns so well with our clinic and our values,” says Kemlin Nembhard, Executive Director of WHC. “Community care means several different organizations working together for the greater good of everyone we serve, and that is being exemplified here.”
In addition to starting patrols out of 419 Graham Avenue, BCP will offer safe walk services to WHC clients and staff, as well as marshalling services for any rally, parade or walk WHC organizes.
“We look forward to our new working relationship between Bear Clan Patrol Inc. and Women’s Health Clinic. We’d like to say Miigwech for the opportunity to utilize this space so that we can continue our dedication to our West Broadway areas as well as establish a presence and offer much needed resources to our relatives throughout the downtown region,” says Kevin Walker, Executive Director of Bear Clan Patrol.
“It is wonderful the Bear Clan Patrol and Women's Health Clinic are forging this important partnership to help improve community care in downtown Winnipeg,” says Mayor Scott Gillingham. “By working
together, the Bear Clan Patrol and Women's Health Clinic are creating a stronger, more inclusive downtown for everyone. I thank them for their efforts and look forward to seeing the positive impact of this partnership."
The operating hours for Bear Clan Patrol out of 419 Graham are*:
Monday and Tuesday - closed
Wednesday - 10 AM-2 PM
Thursday and Friday - 5:30-9 PM
Saturday and Sunday - 12:30-4 PM
* operating hours subject to change based on volunteer availability.
