Sister MacNamarra and Rossbrook House

Sister MacNamara and Rossbrook House

Guy Hansen, Public Relations Chair

Geraldine MacNamara was a Winnipeg girl. She attended U of M, BA ’59, BEd ’65. She was a teacher in St. Vital. She entered the Sisters of Holy Names. Another seven years in the classroom, then studied Law, getting her LLB in 1974.

She now had roots with both the Manitoba court’s system, and also with the inner-city youth whose problems often found their way into those law courts.

About 1976 she joined a group of these local young folk as they approached City Council. Though they had no money, they certainly had moxie; they asked for help. They asked for more recreational facilities in their area. The city had an abandoned church in exactly the right place, the group was “gifted” that church for $1. The first staff was drawn from these youth. Rossbrook House was born, just North of Health Sciences Centre.

Today Rossbrook House has daycare for single Moms, teachers from Winnipeg One, an alternative classroom system, sports and recreations facilities, a certified kitchen, overnight beds for those with no homes. Some of its local families are now in their third generation. Many of the kids identify as First Nations, and yet have never seen the homeland of their fore folk. Now they get to camp out.

March 8 is International Woman’s Day. Sister has already received The Order of Canada. On March 8 she will receive a Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazer Award .

Summing up her life, “No child who did not want to be alone, should ever have to be.”

To recognize the celebration of 45 years for Rossbrook House, the RTAM Board approved a financial donation. §