Community Champion – Joanne Roach is a Tour Guide de Force
Our Community Champion series highlights Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries employees that are making a difference in the lives of Manitobans through their work or volunteer efforts.
We appreciate all the charitable efforts of our employees – whether you volunteer time, raise money for a needy cause, lead a collection drive for urgently needed items, organize a charitable fundraiser for your peers to support or make a payroll donation through our annual workplace giving campaign. No matter how big or small your efforts throughout Manitoba, know that what you do makes a difference!
When it comes to volunteerism, Joanne Roach truly is a Renaissance woman, a Joanne of all trades and a tour guide de force.
She has generously donated her time to volunteer with such organization as the Winnipeg Football Club (Blue Bombers), Festival du Voyageur, Jazz Winnipeg, Assiniboine Park Conservatory, Dalnavert Museum and Visitors' Centre, Pride Winnipeg, Siloam Mission, Rainbow Stage and more.
Working as a Customer Service Clerk at the Dominion Liquor Mart for nearly five years, Joanne first became a volunteer after the passing of her husband Frank. Her son suggested that she work with Festival du Voyageur as it was a treasured experience that she had shared with her husband.
“When I’m there I can see Frank and I being there together and I hold that in a special place in my heart,” said Joanne.
Joanne is bilingual, and her ability to speak both French and English has been not only a valuable asset to Festival du Voyageur, but also for the Dalnavert Museum where you can find her guiding historical tours. She has been volunteering for both organizations for the last decade.
Joanne remembers how it took months to become fluent on all the information about Dalnavert she needed to know to be able to provide a comprehensive history for an hour-long guided tour. This in addition to all the museum’s various seasonal events including a live reading of A Christmas Carol amongst festive décor and the spooky haunted tour about the Victorian era, their love of the macabre, and the museum’s haunted reputation.
“There’s always something new to learn because they’re always putting a new artifact out,” said Joanne.
Through her various volunteer opportunities, Joanne has enjoyed many valuable moments and interactions ranging from a surprise introduction with cousins she had never met to a fun-filled exchange with a child dressed as a football at a Bisons game.
“Leaning down to interact with kids is so special because you become part of their space and shared perspective,” said Joanne.
Her most recent accomplishment was becoming a Goldwing volunteer with the Winnipeg Airports Authority. As a Goldwing, Joanne will welcome and provide assistance to travelers and visitors at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport. Her achievement has a measurable merit given that out of 500 applicants, only 70 successfully transition into the role.
Joanne continues to follow her passion in volunteerism and encourages fellow coworkers to become involved with the MBLL Volunteer & Employee Giving Program and learn more about the many incentives and incredibly valuable experiences available.
“I get a lot of satisfaction in being able to help people and connect with people,” said Joanne. “Every single time you volunteer somewhere there is a memory that you take away with you.”
#MBLLGoodTogether demonstrates Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries’ (MBLL) commitment to partnering with Manitoba communities, non-profits, and charitable organizations that help make our province an even better place to live. Our Community Champion series highlights MBLL employees that are making a difference in the lives of Manitobans through their work or volunteer efforts in the spirit of being “good together”.