Manitoba Possible Launches Breaking Barriers Campaign

Manitoba Possible is setting a new benchmark for accessibility with the launch of its Breaking Barriers Capital Campaign. The community‑driven effort to raise $3.8 million will help transform 1680 Notre Dame Avenue into the non-profit organization’s new home, shaped through extensive community collaboration and guided by design decisions that prioritize accessibility from the start.

“Every Manitoban should have the common human right to access spaces that include them, respect them, and value them,” says Lindsey Cooke, CEO of Manitoba Possible. “We believe an inclusive and accessible society is possible. The Breaking Barriers Campaign is an exciting opportunity to work together towards that goal through thoughtful, community-informed design.”

Construction on the purpose-built space is already underway and will be home to programs that support over 75,000 Manitobans with disabilities. The new location will also bring together over 100 staff in a collaborative environment designed to advance service excellence.

Manitoba Possible is working closely with accessibility consultant Peter Tonge, who—through extensive collaboration with the community and a staff‑led committee—developed comprehensive accessibility directives informed by lived experience. These features include hearing loop systems, tactile navigation paths, mechanical lifts, washrooms equipped with an adult change station and a height‑adjustable toilet, and hundreds of additional elements integrated throughout the building.

Manitoba Possible’s new home will provide critical services in innovative spaces including:

• Wheelchair Terrain Lab – An innovative, real‑world environment where more than 12,000 clients of the Manitoba Wheelchair Program can test mobility equipment alongside occupational therapists.

• Fully Accessible Kitchen – An 1,800‑square‑foot community kitchen with multi‑level countertops, pull‑down shelving, roll‑under sinks, adapted appliances, hearing loops, and spotlights for ASL interpretation.

• Community Classrooms – Welcoming hubs for programs that support financial literacy, disability education, and American Sign Language learning for Deaf newcomers.

“With accessibility at the forefront of every decision, this space will stand as a model of what’s possible in our province,” says Gavin Rich, Breaking Barriers Campaign Chair. “We can show how communities are strengthened when everyone has equal access. We cannot do this alone. We need bold partners who will help make this vision a reality.”

Your support will create a place where every Manitoban feels valued and included. Give today.