Elgin House

There's more to Rossbrook House Inc. , the inner-city drop-in centre in Winnipeg, and its history than you may know.

Back in November of 1980, 429 Elgin Avenue served as a temporary residence. Once abandoned, the Neighbourhood Improvement Project purchased it and offered it to Rossbrook House. After renovations, a few young men moved in. All the residents shared house duties.

The house was open to young men who were affiliated with Rossbrook House- staff or attenders, who needed temporary residence or time away from their living situations. Volunteers, including many of the Sisters in the Rossbrook House community helped to keep the place running smoothly. The stories of antics and shenanigans are endless as are the memories. Former Rossbrook House Executive Director, Phil Chiappetta, started at Rossbrook House in 1980 as the house supervisor.

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In the fall of 1982, Rising Sun High School became a daytime tenant, so to speak. Sister Bernadette O’Reilly started the high school program and taught there until she moved into the Co-Executive Director role at Rossbrook House. A variety of inspiring teachers and Educational Assistants have followed.

Read more about the three off-campus school programs: https://rossbrookhouse.ca/schools/

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In 1984, Elgin House also hosted an Adult Education evening program that benefitted 60 people during its first year alone.

In the summer of 2021, Rossbrook House Foundation staff moved into Elgin House. The top floor offers a large boardroom as well as office space for the Foundation.

Evening meetings might include writing groups, youth groups, and board meetings. The basement and main floor are used by the school with plenty of room for the students to spread out. The main floor also has a kitchen that is used every day to provide meals and snacks for the students.

Read more about Rossbrook House: https://rossbrookhouse.ca/

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