And the Nominees Are… 

Brittany Amorim is a 2SLGBTQIA+‑friendly, queer‑owned Realtor serving Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, and communities across Manitoba. Her mission is to ensure every client feels respected, supported, and celebrated throughout their home‑buying journey. As an emerging entrepreneur in Manitoba’s real estate sector, Brittany has built her practice around trauma‑informed, client‑centred care, creating safer and more accessible experiences for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and families. Her people‑first approach, grounded in inclusivity and trust, shapes every aspect of her work and reflects her commitment to helping clients find homes where they can truly thrive. Learn more.

Jake Gumangan is the founder of Prestige XP, a Manitoba‑based travel and events management company redefining inclusive tourism. Specializing in bespoke experiences for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, and accessibility‑focused travelers, Jake creates safety, dignity, and belonging where barriers once existed. A seasoned community leader with experience in Ontario’s Pride and advocacy sectors, he brought his vision to Manitoba and quickly became a key mobilizer. Jake has launched high‑impact initiatives such as Queers on the Quad, Rainbow Riot, and Echoes of Hope, bridging national advocacy with grassroots action to advance economic inclusion and social connection. Learn more.

Kathryn LeBlanc is a social impact communications expert and the founder of LeBlanc (& co.) Communications, an agency that uses strategy, brand design, campaigns, and training to help mission‑driven organizations advance social change. With a lifelong commitment to human rights advocacy, she works across nonprofit, philanthropic, labour, government, and values‑aligned business sectors, supporting clients locally and globally. LeBlanc (& co.) has partnered with leading organizations such as Oxfam Canada, YWCA Canada, Mama Cash, the Fund for Global Human Rights, and many others dedicated to advancing social good. Kathryn’s work helps organizations communicate with clarity, resonance, and impact. Learn more.

Chelsea McKee is the founder of Raven’s End Books (REB), Canada’s second horror‑focused bookshop and a welcoming cultural space for genre lovers in Winnipeg. Her path to bookselling draws on a diverse professional background, including work in the corporate sector, middle‑grade education, and accounting with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Beyond the shop, Chelsea is an active community contributor, having volunteered with the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, the Prison Library Committee, and the Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library. Since launching REB in 2024, she has cultivated a vibrant, inclusive hub for readers and local creators. Learn more.

Sheri Bailey is the Executive Director of Purpose Construction, a social‑purpose construction company dedicated to building affordable housing in Winnipeg’s North End while creating meaningful employment for people traditionally excluded from the sector. A member of the queer community, Sheri leads a team that is 97% made up of marginalized workers, including queer, trans, Two‑Spirit, Indigenous, newcomer, and justice‑involved individuals. In an industry still dominated by heterosexual white men, Sheri’s leadership demonstrates how queer entrepreneurship can redefine business models, proving that inclusive hiring and community‑rooted training can fundamentally transform who belongs in construction. Learn more.

Black Market Provisions (BMP) is a tiny‑but‑mighty South Osborne shop offering Tasty Food To‑Go and a curated selection of cute and rad things. Founded in 2019 by partners Angela Farkas and Alana Fiks, BMP brings together house‑made soups, salads, cookies, and ice cream with gifts, pantry goods, and joyful treasures. The shop is built on inclusivity, community care, and a workplace culture rooted in respect, transparency, and well‑being. With a commitment to diversity, fair compensation, and social responsibility, BMP creates a welcoming space where great food, fun finds, and good vibes meet. Learn more.

Kathryn LeBlanc is the CEO and Principal Consultant of LeBlanc (& co.) Communications, a communications and design agency working exclusively with organizations advancing human rights and social change. With a background in nonprofit communications and advocacy, she founded the agency to bring greater rigour, care, and accountability to social impact storytelling. Kathryn has grown LeBlanc (& co.) into a six‑person firm with a reputation for strategic clarity, thoughtful creative work, and strong client partnerships. She is recognized for building a healthy, values‑driven workplace and for contributing to major queer and feminist advocacy wins across Canada. Learn more.

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is a global financial institution guided by a purpose‑driven, principles‑led approach to helping clients thrive and communities prosper. With more than 100,000 employees and over 19 million clients across Canada, the U.S., and 27 other countries, RBC is one of the world’s largest banks by market capitalization. The organization combines a diversified business model with a strong focus on innovation and exceptional client experience. RBC is also deeply committed to community investment, supporting a wide range of initiatives through donations, partnerships, and employee volunteerism. Learn more.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) is the world’s first museum dedicated to the evolution, celebration, and future of human rights. Guided by the belief that understanding human rights can inspire positive change, the Museum explores human rights in Canada and globally, fostering reflection, dialogue, and respect for others. CMHR plays a vital role in preserving and promoting human rights heritage, contributing to collective memory, and offering research, learning, and cultural experiences in both official languages. Its work is grounded in principles of sustainability, relevance, and growing community engagement. Learn more.

Chloe Chafe and Andrew Eastman are the co-founders and co-directors of Synonym Art Consultation, a Winnipeg-based curatorial collective shaping public art and community-centered cultural projects for over a decade. Chloe’s practice focuses on street art, performance, and socially engaged work, grounded in accessibility, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Andrew brings thirteen years of arts-sector experience, specializing in business development, community building, curation, and operations, supported by a long background in hospitality. Together, they founded Wall-to-Wall Mural & Culture Festival, GORGE Queer Arts & Drag Festival, and Synonym Sound, creating platforms that celebrate diverse artistic expression. Learn more.

Good + Plenty Arts Collective is a grassroots, volunteer‑run nonprofit dedicated to increasing opportunities for women, trans, non‑binary, and 2Spirit artists in Manitoba’s audio production and tech industry. Through its flagship initiative, the Good + Plenty Producer’s Club, the collective offers workshops, producer showcases, collaboration sessions, networking mixers, and resources that support gender-diverse creatives entering music production and audio engineering. Led by organizers with intersecting marginalized identities, Good + Plenty also produces community events that celebrate underrepresented artists and advance equity across the music industry. Learn more.

Good Fortune is an inclusive barbershop in the heart of Winnipeg, offering non‑gendered hair services for all people and hair textures. Blending the simplicity of a barbershop with the comfort of a salon, Good Fortune creates a welcoming space where clients can feel fully themselves. The shop is committed to fostering a like‑minded community that cares about the environment and local initiatives, while providing an experience rooted in care, connection, and authenticity. Every visit is designed to leave clients feeling good about themselves and confident in choosing a business that reflects their values. Learn more.

Lisa Goss, MBA, PBDM (she/they), is the founder of Morning Star Consultive Services and a retired nurse with over 30 years of leadership across healthcare, labour relations, and nonprofit governance. Known for building inclusive, trauma‑informed, and sustainable systems, Lisa brings deep expertise in frontline health, harm reduction, and organizational transformation. Founded in 2019 and named after her gifted spirit name, Morning Star operates on a cost‑recovery model that ensures accessible governance and operational support. A long‑time advocate for queer, Two‑Spirit, and marginalized communities, Lisa is widely recognized for her board leadership and commitment to ethical, community‑rooted systems. Learn more.

The Imperial and Sovereign Court of Winnipeg and All of Manitoba, or The Snowy Owel Monarchist Society (SOMS) is a volunteer‑run nonprofit and local chapter of the International Court System, established in 1997 with its first Baronial Reign. In 2024, SOMS celebrated 25 years of Imperial Service, marking a legacy of community leadership and charitable giving. Over the past quarter‑century, SOMS has donated more than $250,000 to organizations supporting 2SLGBTQ+ communities, including Rainbow Resource Centre, Camp Aurora, Sunshine House, Nine Circles Community Health Centre, Our Own Health Centre, and Bahaghari Pride. Its members continue to champion visibility, celebration, and community care across Manitoba. Learn more.

Adam Kelly (they/them) is a queer ecosystem builder, organizational leader, and creative entrepreneur based on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg. They are the Co‑founder and COO of the Social Entrepreneurship Enclave (SEE), Manitoba’s oldest Indigenous- and Queer-founded entrepreneurial support organization. Adam’s background spans community arts organizing and nearly a decade as a leading portrait photographer, shaping their approach to ecosystem building through visual storytelling, harm reduction, and relationship-centered practice. At SEE, they translate values into action by designing programs rooted in Indigenous Ways and community knowledge, facilitating workshops and sharing circles that support founders across Manitoba. Learn more.

Kathryn LeBlanc is the CEO and Principal Consultant of LeBlanc (& co.) Communications, a communications and design agency working exclusively with organizations advancing human rights and social change. With a background in nonprofit communications and advocacy, she founded the agency to bring greater rigour, care, and accountability to social impact storytelling. Kathryn has grown LeBlanc (& co.) into a six‑person firm with a reputation for strategic clarity, thoughtful creative work, and strong client partnerships. She is recognized for building a healthy, values‑driven workplace and for contributing to major queer and feminist advocacy wins across Canada. Learn more.

Kathy Majowski is a dedicated community builder whose leadership has made a lasting impact on 2SLGBTQIA+ communities across Manitoba. A Registered Nurse working in community healthcare, she advocates for marginalized groups through her work in elder care, women’s rights, and as a strong ally to 2SLGBTQIA+ people. In 2025, Kathy and a team of twelve launched Eastman Pride, organizing seven Pride events across Eastern Manitoba—six of them inaugural marches. Their efforts brought Pride to communities including Pine Falls, Black River, Beausejour, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, and Victoria Beach, expanding visibility and regional support. Learn more.

The PXP Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing barriers and strengthening belonging for marginalized communities in Manitoba. Operating separately from its commercial partner, the Association focuses on advocacy, civic engagement, and community connection. It serves as a bridge between national movements and local action, creating vital “third spaces” that reduce isolation and build resilient support networks for queer, Indigenous, BIPOC, and newcomer youth. Through this work, PXP fosters safer, more connected communities and amplifies the voices of those often excluded from traditional civic and social structures. Learn more.

Reel Pride Film Festival is the annual project of the Winnipeg Gay and Lesbian Film Society, a volunteer‑run nonprofit founded in 1985 to bring 2SLGBTQ+ cinema to Winnipeg. Now the oldest 2SLGBTQ+ film festival in Canada, Reel Pride has screened nearly a thousand films that might otherwise never reach local theatres. The festival evolved from early monthly film nights to full festivals beginning in 1987, adopting the name “Reel Pride” in 2000 and expanding its programming with the Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ Short Film Competition in 2004. Today, its board, committees, sponsors, and volunteers proudly sustain this longstanding cultural tradition. Learn more.

Summit Search Group is a national executive search and recruitment firm committed to strengthening organizations and communities through thoughtful, values‑driven leadership placement. Working across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, the firm partners closely with boards and executive teams to support leadership transitions that create lasting community impact. Deeply engaged in the regions it serves, Summit Search Group views recruitment as a tool for community building—recognizing that inclusive, effective leadership shapes culture, service delivery, and public trust. Through long‑term relationships, pro bono work, and sector advocacy, the firm helps strengthen Canada’s nonprofit and social impact ecosystem. Learn more.