The Y-Not? Anti-Poverty Program

The Y-Not? Anti-Poverty Program The Y-Not? Program is a Charity that provides recreational and anti-poverty initiatives in Winnipeg.

Cornbread 🌽 One of our recipes from the Adagio Acres cookbook is Cornbread. Eve tested out the recipe and it was delicio...
02/02/2026

Cornbread 🌽

One of our recipes from the Adagio Acres cookbook is Cornbread. Eve tested out the recipe and it was delicious! We look forward to hearing from our participants as to what recipes they put together from the book.

Happy Cooking! 🧑‍🍳

Next, we began phase two. The Y-Not? team shopped for 45 hampers filled with all the other things needed to complete the...
02/02/2026

Next, we began phase two. The Y-Not? team shopped for 45 hampers filled with all the other things needed to complete the recipes - potatoes, carrots, onions, corn, tomatoes, broth, spices, chocolate chips, coconut, raisins, brown sugar, peanut butter, flax seed, skim milk powder, cooking oil, baking powder, baking soda, salt, tortillas, salsa, and more!

Another momentous day at Niji Mahkwa School – in spite of the blizzard, hampers of items to complete the recipes and to accompany the winter grain bundles were successfully delivered and received!

Over the next week, the Y-Not? team delivered the remaining grain bundle buckets, cookbooks, and accompanying food hampers to other Y-Not? participant families.

Toward Food Security 🌾In November 2025, Margaret and Amy of Adagio Acres connected to brainstorm a plan for increased fo...
02/01/2026

Toward Food Security 🌾

In November 2025, Margaret and Amy of Adagio Acres connected to brainstorm a plan for increased food security, recognizing that now more than ever, people are hard hit by high food prices, inflation, and food scarcity. Amy took action, putting together from a variety of farms, winter grain bundles that included ten items of healthy local organic food – organic rolled naked oats, wild rice, black beans, pinto beans, split yellow peas, split green lentils, Red Fife flour, cornmeal, locally grown popcorn, and local clover honey. 🍀

Continuing the grand endeavor, the 10 food items went into two three-gallon pest-proof pails for each of the 45 families we would reach, a total of 90 pails! Meanwhile, Amy and a designer, Heather Lee, also came up with an accompanying cookbook of easy recipes. Adding to the discussion, Fred, Community Support Worker at Niji Mahkwa School, suggested the school community could try out and learn the recipes in the school cooking facility. Participants and the Y-Not? team could create posts of recipes completed.

Grain bundle delivery day at Niji Mahkwa School was truly momentous!

Toward Food Security 🌾December 2025 was vibrantly busy with Y-Not? work. MacKinnon’s Y-Not? Anti-Poverty Program set in ...
01/30/2026

Toward Food Security 🌾

December 2025 was vibrantly busy with Y-Not? work. MacKinnon’s Y-Not? Anti-Poverty Program set in motion a wonderful innovation for 45 families in need, 32 through Niji Mahkwa School. Annually, we provide substantial long-lasting hampers to the school, but this year took a unique twist.

Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon of the Y-Not? connected with Amy Nikkel of Adagio Acres and Niji Mahkwa School staff, Principal Reuben Boulette, VP Leigh Anne Dysart, and Community Support Worker, Fred Boulanger, to make inroads and carry out a food security project, with loyal and new donors enthusiastically providing the funds to make it happen.

We are so excited with how the bundles turned out!

Toward Food Security 🌾In December 2025, MacKinnon’s Y-Not? Anti-Poverty Program engaged in a food security project that ...
01/30/2026

Toward Food Security 🌾

In December 2025, MacKinnon’s Y-Not? Anti-Poverty Program engaged in a food security project that brought together Adagio Acres Farms, Niji Mahkwa School, Students, Families and Inner-City Y-Not? Participants, made possible by our Generous Donors.

We each played, and continue to play a part, in this exciting project: innovating, co-ordinating, taking all the necessary actions—farmers growing food, packaging, delivering; organizers brainstorming ideas; cookbook creation; each group above working in partnership; Y-Not? administration, paperwork, shopping, hamper creation, delivering; Niji Mahkwa receiving, storing, dispensing food; families in need joining in to use healthy foods, try out new or familiar food uses and recipes.

Way to go everyone in this uplifting joint endeavour to challenge food scarcity! Good things happen when people co-ordinate over good ideas and take action! Watch and take part in our series of posts!

Photos via

The Jessie Cannon Health & Fitness Humanitarian Recreation Memorial Award 🏆 has been presented since June 2005 to except...
01/06/2026

The Jessie Cannon Health & Fitness Humanitarian Recreation Memorial Award 🏆 has been presented since June 2005 to exceptional physical education students as recommended by their teachers, in this case Sensei Alan Taylor, and Sensei Warren Hotomani.

Jessie Cannon was a 21 year old Queens University student who sadly passed away in a car accident. Jessie possessed great passion for life, was a dedicated, caring community volunteer who helped underprivileged youth and was pursuing a dream to become a teacher.

Jessie’s father, William T. Cannon set up this award in her honour. Our recipient for 2025 is Roxanne, who has shown promise, dedication, and special commitment to her chosen field of endeavour - in this case, karate!

Congratulations Roxanne! 👏🏻

Award presented by Sensei Alan, Margaret, and Eve of MacKinnon’s Y-Not? Anti-Poverty Program.

Y-Not? Retrospective Series 💪🏻November 27, 2024We signed up a new group of Churchill students in need - also immigrants ...
10/31/2025

Y-Not? Retrospective Series 💪🏻

November 27, 2024

We signed up a new group of Churchill students in need - also immigrants and refugees - with the great assistance of Teacher Kelly Friesen, Carol Frost (Director of Y Sales and Services), & Y Staff. In the photos below, we share students’ joy during the sign-up experience.

Photos: YMCA/YWCA Memberships & Hoodies for Churchill High School Students, with Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon, Eve MacKinnon and Teacher Kelly Friesen.

Y-Not? Retrospective Series ⛄️December 9, 2024We again helped elder Sue Caribou, renowned crusader in the fight to find ...
10/16/2025

Y-Not? Retrospective Series ⛄️

December 9, 2024

We again helped elder Sue Caribou, renowned crusader in the fight to find MMIW. Y-Not? was able to assist Sue in helping 15 elders in the poverty-challenged Main Street apartments in North Point Douglas Manor.

We brought a substantial grocery drop-off for hampers, which Sue and Carl then distributed in the building. Thank You, Sue and Carl! And a frigidly cold night it was!

Photos: Sue Caribou, Carl, Brian MacKinnon, & Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon

Y-Not? Retrospective Series ❄️November 21, 202450/50 Drop Off to Argyle & Isaac NewtonIn November, we continued our popu...
10/15/2025

Y-Not? Retrospective Series ❄️

November 21, 2024

50/50 Drop Off to Argyle & Isaac Newton

In November, we continued our popular 50/50 Drop Off, providing 50 Y-Not? Hoodies, and 50 Boxes of Granola Bars to stave off cold and take the edge off hunger.

Left Top: 50/50 Drop Off to Argyle, Anna Maria Coniglio, Counsellor, Students, Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon, and Olivia MacKinnon.

Right Top: 50/50 Drop Off to Isaac Newton, Jordan Fast, Phys-Ed Teacher, Students, Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon, and Olivia MacKinnon.

Bottom Photo: Another Happy Photo with Argyle Staff and Students.

Y-Not? Retrospective Series ✌🏻November 19 & November 26, 202450/50 Drop Off to General Wolfe & Isaac BrockIn November, w...
09/17/2025

Y-Not? Retrospective Series ✌🏻

November 19 & November 26, 2024

50/50 Drop Off to General Wolfe & Isaac Brock

In November, we continued our popular 50/50 Drop Off, providing 50 Y-Not? Hoodies, and 50 Boxes of Granola Bars to stave off cold and take the edge off hunger. ❄️

Top Photos: Taylor Hunter, Phys-Ed teacher, Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon, Eve MacKinnon, & students at General Wolfe.

Bottom Photos: Principal Chris Goring, Vice Principal Amber Pelletier, Staff and Students, & Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon, at Isaac Brock.

Bottom Left: Brian MacKinnon & Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon with purchase of 200 boxes of 64 Granola Bars at Costco.

Photos by Art Digital Media

Y-Not? Retrospective Series 🥋👊🏻🌳July 14, 2024Karate in the Park Class and Picnic 🧺In July of 2024, Sensei Alan Taylor an...
09/08/2025

Y-Not? Retrospective Series 🥋👊🏻🌳

July 14, 2024

Karate in the Park Class and Picnic 🧺

In July of 2024, Sensei Alan Taylor and the Y-Not? team organized the annual Karate in the Park picnic and instructional event. Families of karate members of diverse cultures came together in community to share in a potluck of delicious international cuisine, while the Y-Not? provided BBQ burgers and hotdogs, along with snacks, drinks, and cake for the birthday occasion of one of our members. 🎂

Photos by Art Digital Media

Y-Not? Retrospective Series ⚾️June 15, 2024Neechewam to CJMU SkysuiteThrough the generosity of Ross Robinson and a gift ...
09/03/2025

Y-Not? Retrospective Series ⚾️

June 15, 2024

Neechewam to CJMU Skysuite

Through the generosity of Ross Robinson and a gift from CJNU Radio, we were able to provide the CJNU Goldeyes Skysuite for use by Neecheewam Project. A gift-in-kind value of $1000.00.

We provided food and beverages (pizza, pop, perogies) to complete the festive occasion! 🥤🍕

*Photos Courtesy of Justine Hill*

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Winnipeg, MB

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