Rossbrook House Turns 50!

On January 20, 1976, SNJM Sister Geraldine MacNamara and a group of young men from Winnipeg’s Centennial neighbourhood founded Rossbrook House as an alternative to the streets. Their vision was to create a safe space for young people when other doors were closed. Sister Geraldine inspired all who walked through the open doors at 658 Ross Avenue, and although she passed away in 1984, her spirit remains forever a part of the legacy—and the future—of Rossbrook House.

While receiving the Order of Canada (1983) for her work founding Rossbrook House, Sister Geraldine articulated the guiding principle: “No child who does not want to be alone should ever have to be.”

She would have been the first to say that Rossbrook House was never her dream alone, but rather the dream and creation of the young people she met on the streets near her home in Winnipeg’s inner city in the early 1970s.

The operational philosophy, then and now, is based upon two fundamental principles: self-help and self-referral. Rossbrook staff are drawn from the community of regular attendees, allowing for a realistic understanding of the participants’ needs and aspirations. The hopes, dreams, and ideas of the youth are what determine the programs and direction of the centre.

You can learn more about Rossbrook House here: rossbrookhouse.ca

Read more about Rossbrook House in this article by the CBC: Winnipeg youth drop-in centre Rossbrook House a ‘home away from home’ for 50 years, executive director says