Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/6/2018 (257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Members and supporters of the Brandon and District Worker Advocacy Centre held a farewell event on Saturday ahead of the organization’s planned closure later this month.
The centre, located at 727 10th St., will officially close on June 20 after the provincial government chose to rescind its $75,000 in annual funding.
Kim Fallis, president of the Worker Advocacy Centre, said the group plans on biding its time, but she doubts the current government will change its mind about the funding.
However, she said the centre will apply for funding again at the first opportunity.
Get the full story.
No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
Join free for 30 days
After that, pay as little as $0.99 per month for the best local news coverage in Manitoba.
Already a subscriber?
Log in

Already a subscriber?
Log in
Subscribers Log in below to continue reading,
not a subscriber? Create an account to start a 30 day free trial.
Log in Create your account
Your free trial has come to an end.
We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article.
For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription:
Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
Your free trial has come to an end.
We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article.
For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription:
Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
We hope you have enjoyed your free trial!
To continue reading, select a plan below:
All Access Digital
Introductory pricing*
99¢
per month
- Unlimited online reading and commenting
- Daily newspaper replica e-Edition
- News Break - our award-winning iOS app
- Exclusive perks & discounts
Continue
Read Now Pay Later
Pay
27¢
per article
- Commitment-free
- Cancel anytime
- Only pay for what you read
- Refunds available
Continue
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
We hope you have enjoyed your free trial!
To continue reading, select a plan below:
Read Now Pay Later
Pay
27¢
per article
- Commitment-free
- Cancel anytime
- Only pay for what you read
- Refunds available
Continue
All Access Digital
Introductory pricing*
99¢
per month
- Unlimited online reading and commenting
- Daily newspaper replica e-Edition
- News Break - our award-winning iOS app
- Exclusive perks & discounts
Continue
Mon to Sat Delivery
Pay
$34.36
per month
- Includes all benefits of All Access Digital
- 6-day delivery of our award-winning newspaper
Continue
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
We hope you have enjoyed your free trial!
To continue reading, select a plan below:
All Access Digital
Introductory pricing*
99¢
per month
- Unlimited online reading and commenting
- Daily newspaper replica e-Edition
- News Break - our award-winning iOS app
- Exclusive perks & discounts
Continue
Read Now Pay Later
Pay
27¢
per article
- Commitment-free
- Cancel anytime
- Only pay for what you read
- Refunds available
Continue
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
We hope you have enjoyed your free trial!
To continue reading, select a plan below:
Read Now Pay Later
Pay
27¢
per article
- Commitment-free
- Cancel anytime
- Only pay for what you read
- Refunds available
Continue
All Access Digital
Introductory pricing*
99¢
per month
- Unlimited online reading and commenting
- Daily newspaper replica e-Edition
- News Break - our award-winning iOS app
- Exclusive perks & discounts
Continue
*Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year.
Your free trial has come to an end.
We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article.
For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription:
Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/6/2018 (257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Members and supporters of the Brandon and District Worker Advocacy Centre held a farewell event on Saturday ahead of the organization’s planned closure later this month.
The centre, located at 727 10th St., will officially close on June 20 after the provincial government chose to rescind its $75,000 in annual funding.
Kim Fallis, president of the Worker Advocacy Centre, said the group plans on biding its time, but she doubts the current government will change its mind about the funding.
However, she said the centre will apply for funding again at the first opportunity.
"Because we’re not going to go away quietly," she said.
The centre was established in late 2012 by the Brandon and District Labour Council and is run by a volunteer board, helping clients with a range of matters, including Workers Compensation Board claims, employment insurance hearings, disability, Rent Assist, and information on labour law.
The centre first received a notice that its funding was denied in May 2017 and in March 2018, a spokesperson for Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade told The Brandon Sun that the centre duplicated existing services and that services for employees and employers were available through the Brandon District Office of the Employment Standards Branch and the Brandon Service Canada Centre.
Fallis said the Worker Advocacy Centre, which has served approximately 100 people a year since it first opened, offered a different kind of service to its clients.
"Just as a place to turn where they know they’re going to walk in and there’s going to be a person. It’s not going to be someone at the other end of a phone or on a computer," she said.
The difference, she said, was that the centre provided one-on-one service with someone who cares.
"They become people, not just a number, which the government seems to think they are."
Along with the provincial funding, the centre has received $2,000 grants from the City of Brandon — a $3,000 grant was returned this year, Fallis said — as well as donations from other unions.
The loss of funding from the province, however, did not come as a surprise to the centre at first.
This was the first time it has applied for funding to renew its two-year service purchase agreement under a Progressive Conservative government and speaking to The Brandon Sun in March, Fallis said as soon as the PCs got into power, she knew the organization’s days were limited.
Workers advocate Susan Norman, the centre’s only employee, said the hardest thing will be turning away clients, most of whom come to the centre out of desperation in the first place.
"It’s hard to say no," she said.
With the centre expected to close in the coming days, Norman said she has committed on following through with some of the WCB claims she took on previously.
Fallis and Norman said the United Steelworkers Union Local 7184 will take over the centre’s existing space.
» mlee@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @mtaylorlee
You can comment on most stories on The Brandon Sun website. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or digital subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to The Brandon Sun print or digital subscribers only. why?
Log in SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to The Brandon Sun Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective January 2015.