FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WHC receives investment of $10M from federal government for sorely-needed upgrades to building
Investment ensures intersectional feminist healthcare in Winnipeg for decades to come.
February 27, 2025 – Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg, MB: After Women’s Health Clinic (WHC)’s Graham location’s boiler gave out just last week and the air conditioning units broke down in the summer, we are relieved to announce an investment of $10 million from the Government of Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program.
This investment will support critical upgrades to the building’s aging mechanical, electrical, and elevator systems. It will also provide deep retrofits to enhance the building’s resilience, reduce carbon emissions, and ensure we are meeting accessibility requirements so we can provide care to any client regardless of ability.
WHC was founded in 1981 and has been delivering feminist, inclusive healthcare from our location at 419 Graham Avenue since 1983. Our building was a gift to us from the Halter Family, but it was never built to be a health care facility. Through the years, our programs and services have grown, and we have made it work within a space that was supposed to be an office setting.
“Over the past few years, our staff and clients have adapted to the challenges our aging building has thrown at us. WHC staff delivered care in sweltering heat last Summer when our air conditioning units broke, and pivoted by rescheduling appointments to virtual, over the phone or in person at one of WHC’s other locations, when our boiler stopped working just last week. With these sorely-needed updates to our infrastructure, we will be able to provide essential high-quality care in community to even more people who need it than we currently do,” says Kemlin Nembhard, WHC Executive Director.
“This isn’t just an investment in a building – it’s also ensuring we can deliver intersectional feminist, client-centred care in Winnipeg and beyond, on Graham Ave for decades to come. We are endlessly grateful to the Government of Canada for their support.”
These enhancements are expected to reduce the facility's energy consumption by an estimated 76.4% and greenhouse gas emissions by 72.9 tonnes annually. With this funding, we will be able to welcome clients into a building that is accessible, comfortable, modern, and designed to function as a healthcare facility.
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About WHC:
Women’s Health Clinic is an inclusive and intersectional feminist community health clinic in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since 1981, WHC has provided accessible education and services, created strategic partnerships and advocated for system change.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
WHC Communications Department
WHCComms@womenshealthclinic.org
