TOYBOX Kids Programming at the Wildfire Evacuation Sites

Written July 17, 2025

Updated August 12, 2025

Starting mid-July, the TOYBOX team has started facilitating children's programming at evacuation site situated at the Axworthy Health & RecPlex. TOYBOX is serving the members of Garden Hill First Nation who have been displaced by the wildfires in Northern Manitoba.

Let's count with our friend, Nume!

Play is an essential part of a child's development. We recognize that these kids are now in an unfamiliar place and our goal is to let kids be kids by running activities that can hopefully provide a safe space and joy.

Programming includes wellness, cooperative, and non-cooperative games. Occasionally, our friend who loves numbers, Nume will stop by and we all play games together! At the end of the day's session, children get to keep a goodie such as activity pages and stickers.

Check out our interview with CBC news here to learn more about TOYBOX's involvement!

Update: TOYBOX Now at the Convention Centre!

After a couple of weeks at the University of Winnipeg, the TOYBOX team moved to the RBC Convention Centre to continue playing games with wildfire evacuees from several communities. At RBC, TOYBOX has welcomed a bigger space and more children to play games with! We’ve had a lot of fun leading activities and getting silly, with our favourite games ranging from red light, green light to banana tag. Connecting with children and their families this past month has allowed us to grow as leaders and get good at thinking on the fly. We are grateful to have been welcomed by this community to provide some TOYBOX filled fun in this difficult situation.

Written by: Wynonna & Maggy