March 4, 2025

Manitoba Blue Cross wins two customer service awards

Company news
Five people stand in front of a balloon arch - the four on the left are holding awards

From left to right: Katie Carter, Chelsea Baker, Genevieve Clement-Dykstra, Bryan Bergen, Christina Kenny

Manitoba Blue Cross is proud to have received two customer service awards at the annual Manitoba Excellence in Customer Contact Achievement gala.

For the third year in a row, our Member Services team took home the Community and Health & Wellness awards, both in the Small Centre category.

The Community award recognizes outstanding voluntary contributions made by contact centres to Manitobans. The recipient is selected for demonstrating spirit and enriching both the workplace and the community. The Health & Wellness award recognizes contact centres that help their employees enhance their personal and professional lives through a wide-ranging wellness program.

“Everything our team does, they do to improve the health and well-being of Manitobans,” said Christina Kenny, manager of Member Services at Manitoba Blue Cross. “These awards confirm that our commitment to excellent customer service is as strong as ever.”

In addition to the organization awards, four individuals from Manitoba Blue Cross were recognized. Chelsea Baker and Genevieve Clement-Dykstra were named Leaders of the Year, Bryan Bergen was named Representative of the Year, and Katie Carter was named Support MVP.

The annual MECCA awards, held by the Manitoba Customer Contact Association, have recognized excellence in the province’s customer contact industry since 1999.

Congratulations to everyone in Member Services on their incredible work!

Manitoba Blue Cross funds warehouse space for Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Manitoba Blue Cross is excited to have committed to funding a five-year building lease for the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, enabling the non-profit to more than double bed production for children in the community without a bed of their own. Learn more

The Sleep in Heavenly Peace building, sponsored by Manitoba Blue Cross, will provide ample space for bed construction, assembly and storage, streamlining the entire process and ensuring that more kids have access to a safe and comfortable place to sleep. “A warm, safe bed should not be a luxury – it is a fundamental right. That’s why Manitoba Blue Cross is stepping up to support Sleep in Heavenly Peace for years to come,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “We are providing essential resources that Sleep in Heavenly Peace needs to expand their operations and reach more children in the community. This investment aligns with our own commitment to support the health and well-being of all Manitobans, and we are proud to play an ongoing role in ensuring no child sleeps on the floor.” This new facility will allow Sleep in Heavenly Peace to:
- increase production capacity: With a large, dedicated space and the ability to build beds in the colder months, SHP volunteers can now build and assemble more than twice as many beds, reducing wait times for families in need.
- improve storage capabilities: The facility will provide secure storage for completed beds before delivery can occur while allowing for more efficient and timely delivery.
- enhance the volunteer experience: The workspace will create a more comfortable and efficient environment for volunteers – who are the backbone of SHP’s operations – to build and store beds all year long.

“This generous support from Manitoba Blue Cross is a game changer for us,” says Jim Thiessen, co-president of the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. “This new space will allow us to drastically increase the number of beds we build and deliver, ensuring that more children in our community have a safe and comfortable place to sleep. We currently build approximately 400 beds a year and we hope to now increase that to 1,000. We are incredibly grateful for Manitoba Blue Cross’s continued commitment to our mission.”

Join us in helping local children find comfort: Manitoba Blue Cross holds annual bedding drive

Manitoba Blue Cross will be building 50 beds for local kids in need, and while we’re taking care of the frames and mattresses, we’re asking Manitobans to help dress the beds. Learn more

Support this valuable cause during our annual bedding drive. Donate new, twin-sized bedding items, including comforters, pillows and sheet sets for local children. Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Manitoba Blue Cross (599 Empress Street in Winnipeg) until June 20.

Online donations toward bedding purchases can be made at https://bit.ly/50beds.

“Our focus at Manitoba Blue Cross is the health and well-being of all Manitobans. We’re committed to building healthier communities – one bed and one good night’s sleep at a time,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “The outpouring of support that Manitobans showed last year did not disappoint and this generosity helped to create safe havens for local kids. I’m certain the same community spirit that Manitoba is known for will be seen again this year.”

Manitoba Blue Cross holds second annual bed build event

As part of our commitment to Sleep in Heavenly Peace and its important mission to ensure no kid sleeps on the floor in our town, Manitoba Blue Cross is holding its second annual charitable bed build event. Learn more

“The bed build event that was held in 2024 to celebrate our 50th anniversary had a profound impact on our staff and myself. Building those beds at Blue Cross Park was incredibly inspiring. We had to turn away staff who wanted to participate,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “That hands-on work really connected us to this important cause, and I believe it also helped us build stronger bonds within our team.”Employee volunteers from the health benefits provider, along with Sleep in Heavenly Peace volunteers, will be constructing 50 beds for local kids on June 6, 2025 at Blue Cross Park.To encourage the community to support this valuable cause, Manitoba Blue Cross is also holding a bedding drive once again. Donate new, twin-sized bedding items, including comforters, pillows and sheet sets for local kids. Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Manitoba Blue Cross (599 Empress Street in Winnipeg) until June 20. Online donations toward bedding purchases can be made at https://bit.ly/50beds.

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