Ronald McDonald House Manitoba is committed to creating and sustaining an environment that values equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work. This affirms our commitment to ensuring that our programs, services, governance, and workplace practices are accessible, inclusive, and respectful of the diverse communities we serve.

This policy applies to all directors, officers, employees, volunteers, contractors, and representatives of Ronald McDonald House Manitoba. It applies to governance, service delivery, partnerships, recruitment, hiring, training, and all interactions within Ronald McDonald House Manitoba and with external stakeholders.

A Safe, Inclusive Space for All Families

We are committed to creating an environment where every family feels at home. Our House and Family Room programs welcome families of all cultural backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. We strive to ensure our spaces, programs, and practices reflect compassion, respect, integrity, and equity.

Our Commitment to Reconciliation

In 2025, Ronald McDonald House Manitoba began foundational work toward the development of its Reconciliation Action Plan (2026–2030).

As a first step, staff from across the organization participated in a virtual engagement session to share their perspectives on what reconciliation means at Ronald McDonald House Manitoba, why it matters, and where our efforts should be focused. These conversations highlighted the importance of respect, inclusion, cultural safety, relationship-building, and listening to Indigenous voices.

The insights gathered through this early engagement will help inform the development of the Reconciliation Action Plan, including the foundational pillars that will guide this work. These pillars are currently in development and are expected to be confirmed by the end of 2026 to early 2027, following continued learning, engagement, and relationship-building.

This work reflects Ronald McDonald House Manitoba’s commitment to reconciliation as an ongoing journey—one grounded in listening, learning, accountability, and meaningful action.

We are proud to share our Land Acknowledgement, which guides our work and reflects our commitment to Indigenous families and communities:

Ronald McDonald House Manitoba respectfully acknowledges that our House is located on Treaty One Territory, and in Manitoba on the Treaty Territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anisininew, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline, and Nehethowuk Nations; the National Homeland of the Red River Métis; and the ancestral lands of the Inuit.

We acknowledge that our water comes from Shoal Lake, on the lands and waters of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation.

As a home away from home for families with seriously ill or injured children, we recognize that many of the families we welcome are Indigenous. We are committed to creating a place where every family feels safe, respected, valued, and supported in ways that honour their cultures, traditions, and lived experiences.

Reconciliation is not a destination but an ongoing journey. It calls on us to listen with humility, learn from Indigenous voices, build authentic relationships, and take meaningful action that extends beyond words. Guided by our values of compassion, respect, integrity, and commitment, we strive to ensure our actions contribute to a more equitable future for Indigenous children, families, communities, and generations to come.

Honouring Indigenous Cultures & Knowledge

Smudging & Meditation Room

Our House features a dedicated Smudging and Meditation Room, created to be a culturally safe and welcoming space. The room includes a specialized ventilation system designed for smudging, sacred Indigenous medicines including sage, cedar, sweetgrass, and stick incense for families who prefer alternative options. The sage and sweetgrass are grown in our backyard and sustainably harvested.

Families of all cultural backgrounds are welcome to use this space for reflection, ceremony, or quiet moments of care.

Knowledge Keeper, Jaime Grasby

Knowledge Keeper Engagement

We are honoured to work with a Knowledge Keeper who regularly visits our House and Family Room programs to share teachings of Indigenous knowledge, support families with cultural practices and questions, engage volunteers and staff in meaningful learning.

During Truth and Reconciliation Week, we also welcome additional Indigenous leaders to share their wisdom with families, volunteers, and staff.

Indigenous-Inspired Meals

To honour the many Indigenous families we serve, our culinary team prepares one Indigenous‑inspired meal each week at both our Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room programs.

Diversity Within Our Team

Since opening our new House in September 2022, our team has grown significantly — and with that growth has come a rich diversity of cultural backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. We are committed to:

• Welcoming team members from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Encouraging staff to share their cultures through Lunch & Learn presentations
• Creating a workplace where 2SLGBTQI+ team members, volunteers, and families feel safe, respected, and supported
• Providing accommodations for physical, mental, or emotional health needs for families, staff, and volunteers
• Value staff’s lived experiences and the strengths they bring to our organization.

Our team’s diversity strengthens our programs, enriches our community, and helps us better serve families and communities.

Looking Ahead

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is always evolving. We continue to seek new ways to:

• Support Indigenous families
• Honour diverse cultures and identities
• Strengthen accessibility and inclusion
• Build meaningful relationships with community partners
• Advance reconciliation through action

We are proud of the steps we’ve taken — and dedicated to continuing this important work.