The Manitoba government is providing $1.5 million to help the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre.
During an announcement at the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre on Tuesday, the province said $1 million would go to help cover construction costs, while $500,000 would be used for more detox beds and treatment options.
“We believe and know that every woman deserves the opportunity to heal, not just for herself, but for her children and for her community. Anne Oake will be so important to the community. It will allow mothers to heal while continuing to nurture that sacred relationship,” said Nahanni Fontaine, the Minister of Families.
The facility, which is being created to provide treatment for women battling addiction, will feature up to 70 beds as well as a child-care centre so the women attending can still be with their kids.
The centre is named after Anne Oake, who was a driving force in getting the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre completed. She died a week before the first cohort from the centre graduated.
“The journey for people experiencing addictions can be challenging and unpredictable. Any person who asks for help along their journey shows immense courage and strength, and I want to especially uplift them for taking that step. That is why it’s so important that when people are ready to seek treatment to change their lives, that those supports are there, especially our women,” said Bernadette Smith, the Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness.
According to data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, there were 530 suspected substance-related deaths in Manitoba between January and November of 2024. Of that, 198 were women.
In 2023, there were 568 suspected substance-related deaths, 222 were women.
Data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also shows that between January 2022 and June 2024, 131.6 women per 100,000 Manitobans, between the ages of 20 and 29 died from suspected substance-related deaths. Those numbers are almost identical to men of the same age range at 137.9 per 100,000.
“Women will be able to have their children with them as they get healthy again at Anne Oake,” said Scott Oake, Anne’s husband and the president of the Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation. “A lot of women are reluctant to go into recovery for fear they’re going to lose their kids. So we’re happy that need shall be answered.”
A capital campaign for $25 million was launched to build the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre and so far, $13 million has been raised.
