MLA: HON. KERRI IRVIN-ROSS - FORT RICHMOND * MINISTER OF FAMILY SERVICES, MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR STATUS OF WOMEN

Lord, we thank you for Hon. Kerri Irvin- Ross as she represents us in the Manitoba government.  Lord, you have given Kerri insight into the health and welfare of children and those seeking affordable housing. We ask that she would put her trust in your unfailing love. Lord, let Kerri see you as the Master Builder of our lives.  We thank you that you have blessed her in her influence. May she experience your strength and blessing in all that she does.  In Jesus Name,  Amen.

"My job is to help people in our community imagine the possibilities – to keep looking ahead and finding new ways of building a better future for Manitobans."
MLA for Fort Garry 2003–2011
Re-elected as MLA for Fort Richmond in 2011

First elected as MLA for Fort Garry in 2003, she has served as Minister of Healthy Living, Minister responsible for Healthy Child Manitoba and Seniors, Minister of Housing and Community Development and was appointed Minister of Family Services by Premier Greg Selinger on October 18, 2013.

Raised in a small farming community in southern Saskatchewan, Kerri and her family moved to Winnipeg over 15 years ago. They established roots in Winnipeg and become a part of many community and school organizations. Kerri accepted a position at the Winnipeg Child Guidance Clinic and through her work as a school social worker she grew increasingly aware of the importance of providing positive opportunities in order to create and maintain healthy communities.

As a community builder Kerri has been recognized for her role in developing crime prevention initiatives and spearheading efforts to improve community recreation facilities. She regularly works with community clubs, parent councils, child care centres, schools, seniors groups such as the Fort Garry Seniors Resource Council and Pembina Active Living 55+, as well as other community initiatives. Kerri is also a strong supporter of groups such as the Fort Garry Historical Society and the Fort Garry Community Network. Her constituency office has become a meeting place for many such groups.

During her three years as Minister of Healthy Living Kerri was responsible for introducing Healthy Child Legislation, implementing Age-Friendly Manitoba, establishing nutrition guidelines for schools, designing new suicide prevention initiatives, expanding the diabetes prevention programs in the North, introducing a new eating disorders program, providing children with low-cost bike helmets, and building on our anti-smoking initiatives.

As Minister of Housing and Community Development, Kerri prioritized a positive experience for tenants, which has led to customer service training for staff, improved security services, and a bed bug remediation strategy for Manitoba Housing properties. She has worked to meet housing needs in Manitoba through a variety of initiatives, which has resulted in hundreds of new units of affordable housing tailored to families, seniors, students and people with disabilities.

A strong supporter of community economic development, she has championed the department’s partnership with Warm Up Winnipeg/BUILD and other community based employment training programs which has resulted in reduced energy and water costs for Manitoba Housing Properties and job experience for hundreds of worker with barriers to employment. She believes in the power of Co-op Development for Manitoba, and champions grassroots empowerment and neighbourhood revitalization through Neighbourhoods Alive!.

Kerri enjoys working with government departments, community groups, and citizens to support vibrant, healthy communities across Manitoba.