Our History

1950s

Founded in 1950 as the Society for Crippled Children, we quickly expanded to serve all ages, introducing wheelchair services, ‘Lakeside Fresh Air Camp’ near Gimli, the ‘Industrial Workshop for Employment Training’, and services for Deaf individuals—programs that continue in various forms today.

black and white photo of seven girls stand around a tree. some are trying to climb it. Some have crutches and braces.

1960s

In 1963, the society moved into a state-of-the-art facility at 825 Sherbrook Street. ‘The Kinsmen Centre for the Handicapped’ paved the way for expansion of our speech-language services for Deaf preschoolers. In the mid-1960s we provided services to 2,200 Manitobans with disabilities.

A black and white photo. A woman in a plaid dress with short hair points to a sign that says "Cerebral Palsy Program". A man in a suit and tie looks on.

  • 1950s Industrial Workshop

  • 1955 Expansion and Renaming

  • 1957 Rural Clinic

  • 1957 March of Dimes Well

  • 1963 Sherbrook Building Announcement

  • 1960 Stanley Knowles

  • 1955 Child at Camp

1970s

In 1971 we opened our first regional office in Brandon as a preschool program pilot project with one rehabilitation counsellor. In Winnipeg, we expanded our therapy services to include children with intellectual disabilities. By 1975, therapists started visiting children in their homes, marking the beginnings of our community-based services.

A black and white photo. A woman sits at a table doing occupational therapy with two young children.

1980s

In 1985, we rebranded as the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities and expanded our reach, opening in Dauphin, Thompson, and Steinbach. Our employment preparation programs guaranteed minimum wage and began providing support to both employers and clients on work placements. By the late 1980s, we transitioned from the sheltered workshop model to focus on community-based evaluation and training.

  • A black and white photo of a woman with curly shoulder length hair holding a wheelchair wheel.

    1980s Wheelchair Services

  • 1970 Employment Preparation at 422 Notre Dame, Winnipeg

  • 1975 Guy LaFLeur at Camp

  • 1980s preschool computer program

  • 1980s Occupational Therapy

  • 1980s preschool physio therapy

1990s

In the 1990s we founded our Ethno-Cultural Program—now named Newcomer Navigation and Support. Wheelchair services expanded to include lightweight wheelchairs. Residential camping at Lakeside Fresh Air Camp transitioned to integrated community-based camping, rapidly expanding outreach programs across the province.

A photo from the 90s of staff in the newcomer navigation program. There are five people are posing for a photo inside an office.

2000s

The province’s first Easter Seals Drop Zone was held in 2005, close to 1,000 rappellers have raised nearly $2-million since. We launched our social enterprise initiatives with the Mobile Vision Care Clinic, followed by Clean Ventures, and now, Care Possible.

A photo of a wheelchair user rapelling down a tall building. In the background you can see the street is far away. The rapeller is wearing a yellow helmet and smiling at the camera.

2010s

In 2015 our childrens programs moved to Specialized Services for Children and Youth (SSCY) at 1155 Notre Dame Ave in Winnipeg. Shortly after, we began serving Indigenous children in their home communities through Jordan’s Principle. 

The front of the SSCY Building. It is an old brick building updated with modern doors and windows and large awnings in front.

Now

In 2020, we became Manitoba Possible. Driven by our mission of an inclusive and accessible society for all, serving 75,000 Manitobans with disabilities through three Winnipeg locations and six regional offices throughout the province.

A group photo of Manitoba Possible staff. They are wearing birthday hats and waving birthday flags. Behind them is a the bright purple van with the logo "manitoba Possible" on it.