Winnipeg Free Press

Nominated by: Bonnie Carlson

Why Anne Ross should be a Great Manitoban:

Claim to fame: Nurse. administrator, social activist

Manitoba dosage: 4

Fast Facts: Head nurse and executive director of Mount Carmel Clinic from 1948-1985...Surrounded by a poor neighborhood with many needs, the community-based clinic she created provided a day nursery, dental clinic, parenting programs and nutrition programs at the inner-city facility...At age 82 convinced the province to fund a new program aimed at allowing low-income seniors to live independently longer.

13 Comments

• I chose Ann Ross because of all the work she had done. It is easy to be famous if your rich, but to spend your life helping the poor just because it's the right thing to do makes her stand out from the crowd. There are a lot of people who have done a lot of good things for our city but she gave of herself. I admire that very much.

  Posted by: Linda Davies | 2008-06-22 17:02:36

• It should be mentioned that we lost my mother's dear Cousin Anne in 1998. Here is a link to a great photo and a bit about her from a movie that was done: http://www.nfb.ca/collection/films/fiche/?id=33413

  Posted by: Andrea (Gamberg) Calhoun | 2008-06-24 18:10:25

• In response to the previous posting, Mount Carmel Clinic was established by the Jewish Community on Pritchard Ave. in 1926 and then moved to a new facility on Selkirk Ave East in 1929. The building had not been an apartment block nor did Anne Ross ever inherit one from her father. Her father, an immigrant who struggled to earn enough money to bring the rest of the family to Canada, was able to provide the basic needs of food and shelter but little else. My mother, Anne Ross, grew up passionate about the North End in which she lived. She was determined to help make things better for the people living there. She came to work at Mount Carmel Clinic in 1948 and developed it into the first community health clinic in Canada. She understood intuitively, in the fifties, that a person needed to be treated holistically and developed programs based on needs she identified while walking around the community. She started a Day Hospital to give respite to families with sick children, provided free prescription medication, expanded the free dental program, provided counseling, started a Day Nursery and advocated on behalf of low income people on such issues as lower milk prices and better housing. Even after retiring from Mount Carmel she spent three years convincing government to fund a three year demonstration project which provided nursing support for seniors in low income housing. She was still working in that project up until a few months before her death at the age of 86. My mother was an incredible person and I am proud to see her legacy continue and grow at Mount Carmel Clinic today.

  Posted by: Dee Dee Rizzo | 2008-07-13 17:39:46

• I still maintain that Anne Ross should be the Greatest Manitoban. She gave most of her life to the very poor and unfortunate people of Winnipeg. Her unselfish generosity was not for fame and gain. Her concerns were for the health and wellness of those that could not afford them. These were the "little people" (the poor) and their children. All of this, regardless of race or religion. She gave clinics, play areas, day care, parental guidance etc. All of this for the people that could not afford the Big swimming pool, foot ball stadium and all other entertainment facilities meant for the rich. She Gave to the poor.

  Posted by: Bonnie Carlson | 2008-06-28 16:35:58

• Wow! to have any person at age 82 to convinced the province to fund a new program aimed at allowing low-income seniors to live independently longer is a major task in itself....

  Posted by: Steve Sawai | 2008-06-28 17:22:17

• What person responded when there were children that needed to be fed, bathed or hugged? Anne Ross!! When abused women needed counselling, who made sure they got help? Anne Ross!! What more can I say.

  Posted by: Bonnie Carlson | 2008-06-29 14:06:33

• Ann provided practicums for my students from Cnfederation College in the late 60's. She was tough, caring, witty and a true humanatarium. She fought for those who hand no voice. She was the Clinic.

  Posted by: Wray Pascoe, Ph.D. | 2008-06-30 11:43:11

• Do a search on "Anne Ross Rebel With A Cause". Anne was a Great Canadian Health Activist and serves as a testament to what ONE person can accomplish through love and commitment.

  Posted by: Bonnie Carlson | 2008-06-30 15:01:28

• I trained under Anne Ross from 1961-1963 at the Mount Carmel Clinic. She not only convinced doctors to give of their time freely for the poor, but she trained ladies such as myself to work in the community and give of their time, talents and put their abilities to work for the less fortunate. Anne solicited me to work in her new project AGR Health Services and help prepare for it's opening. I worked there for two years and saw first hand that this woman never stopped working for the good of humanity and the common person. Each patient was her personal responsibility and she said to me "You cannot keep your abilities to yourself...you have to put them to work where they'll do the most good." This dynamic humanitarian was Manitoba's shining example to young and mature people ...to give freely and to care about those who needed help. She taught that to remain idle when you see people suffering is unacceptable. In my opinion she is most deserving of the Greatest Manitoban honor. Sandi Bloomfield. sandbloom@shaw.ca

  Posted by: Sandi Bloomfield (Shaffer) | 2008-07-07 02:34:02

• Can someone clarify this for me? I believe that Anne Ross inherited a 2 or 3 storey apartment building from her father at the east end of Selkirk Avenue. This was the building where Mount Carmel clinic was born by Anne. She used this building for Doctor's offices, nursing stations, day care, clothing giveaway, parental guidance etc. all for the very unfortunate parents and kids in this poor community. I once had occasion to give someone a ride to this "clinic" and saw for myself, the results of Anne's hard work and devotion to the poor. Bonnie

  Posted by: Bonnie | 2008-07-07 12:40:58

• Dee Dee, thank-you for clarifying that for me. I will always be "in awe" of all of the work this Lady (Anne Ross) has done for the unfortunate in a poor community. I'm sorry to say that I never did meet this great Lady. Wish I could have.

  Posted by: Bonnie | 2008-07-14 14:06:57

• I remember sitting in a gymnasium as a young girl in elementary school and listening to Anne Ross speak of Mount Carmel Clinic. Being from a rural community the services that this place in Winnipeg offered seemed foreign. However,as a social worker of first nations background I now truly understand the impact that Anne Ross's work has done for "all" in need in the north end community. Years ago there was something that I connected with in Anne but did not know what it was. As an adult, I recognize it as her genuineness, compassion and humility. The work she did was not about her, it was for others. The work she did then continues to impact today. For this reason I vote for Anne Ross.

  Posted by: Lorraine | 2008-07-20 18:24:35

• What an incredible role model and pioneer Anne Ross was. To accomplish all that she did, advocating for others right up until her death - wow. Every generation needs an Anne Ross...

  Posted by: April | 2008-07-28 17:33:50

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