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Willard Reaves visits the Evergreen School Division February 11
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By the late 1990s and early 2000s there were large reviews done in the United States, in the United Kingdom and in Ontario which clearly showed that an approach called structured literacy which included phonics was most effective way for children to learn to read. In 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada, in a case dealing with a boy with dyslexia, Jeffery Moore, led to a ruling that the public school system had to be able to teach all children to read, including children with dyslexia. Jeffery and his parents had been told that the school division in British Columbia where they lived could not help Jeremy because of his dyslexia and he would have to go to a private school. Today, many families in Manitoba still have to send their children with dyslexia to a private school! Worse even that this, in 2024, less than half of children in grade 3 were reading at grade level, an appalling result, and one which has not improved in the last ten years. Thankfully, this may be changing. The change coming is due to efforts by the Manitoba Liberal Party (MLP) by the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and its report in late 2025, and to the leadership of people in the Evergreen School Division. In 2024, the MLP held a Forum and produced a report which provided details of the situation in Manitoba and the need for change.
In early 2025, Cindy Lamoureux introduced a bill (Bill 225) which mandated early screening of children for their reading ability, ensured that parents must be informed of results, and mandated schools to ensure that children found behind in reading received the extra help they needed to learn to read. Cindy Lamoureux, supported by many families, managed to get this bill passed unanimously in November 2025. It will come into effect for September 2026.
Fortunately, the Evergreen School Division, over the last few years has led the way in transforming Manitoba’s education system. Using a made-in-Manitoba approach to structured literacy, they now have about 80% of children in grade 3 reading at grade level. The advance they have made in education has resulted in children learning to read and then reading to learn. Children in their classes are all engaged, are paying attention and doing well. There are remarkably few behavioural issues in their classrooms and almost no bullying. They are finding that 25 to 30% of the children need an intervention to improve their reading. These children get either half an hour or an hour of structured intervention each day depending on their reading level. And it is working.
Willard Reaves, together with Jasbir Singh and Jon Gerrard spent February 11 visiting classrooms in three schools in Gimli, an early years school (Kindergarten to Grade 3), a middle years school (Grade 4 to 6) and a high school (Grades 7 to 12). It was obvious that children were engaged and were happy and smiling. Improving children’s reading in our province will have many long-lasting positive impacts. Congratulations to the Evergreen School Division for leading the way in the transformation of education in Manitoba.
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To Celebrate Black History Month,
here is a piece of Black History in the Manitoba Liberal Party
Back in 2019, the Progressive Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party both claimed to have elected the “First Black person to the Manitoba Legislature”. The thing was…it wasn’t true.
The first Black person to be elected to the Manitoba Legislature was George Waldron Prout- and a Liberal, in the constituency of Kildonan – St. Andrews, back in 1915.
George was born in the Bahamas on June 5, 1878, and came to Canada as a teenager. He was a financial agent prior to entering politics.
He first ran in 1914 and lost a very close election- by one vote! He won in the next election in 1915, by 541 votes.
In 1917, he introduced the Rural Credits Act which provided for the establishment of credit societies that could obtain short term loans on behalf of members to purchase seed, livestock, implements, machinery, and other supplies.
Prior to the next election - 1920, a change in Manitoba's Electoral System redesigned Winnipeg as a ten-member constituency, with members chosen by a single transferable ballot and he wasn’t re-elected.
By the 1930’s he was living in Toronto and working as a financial agent (possibly as a senior executive at Canada Packers), and he spent the rest of his life there.
Sources: Elections Manitoba, the Manitoba Historical Society Archives and Wikipedia
Joint Nomination
River Heights, Tyndall Park, and Seine River
It was a full room as we nominated our Candidates for River Heights, Tyndall Park and Seine River.
MLP President Terry Hayward welcomed the crowd and acted as the Meeting Chair
Co-Deputy Leader Jasbir Singh-- a business owner, is now our candidate for Seine River.
MLA Cindy Lamoureux has been re-nominated in the Tyndall Park Constituency.
We took a moment to thank Jon Gerrard for his long service, and who better than his wife Naomi, who has been there all through it, to do the thanking!
River Heights President MaryAnne Welham came forward to do the formal nomination of Willard Reaves.
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Willard's long time friend Councillor Marcus Chambers, stopped by to give a personal endorsement.
Willard Reaves accepts the formal nomination as Manitoba Liberal Party Candidate for River Hieghts!
September 29, 2025
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The Manitoba Liberal Party is proud to confirm that Willard Reaves has officially assumed the role of Party Leader, following his victory in the Leadership Contest earlier this week.
“The party membership looks forward to working with Mr. Reaves as he leads us into a new chapter,” said Terry Hayward, President of the Manitoba Liberal Party. “His commitment to service, his integrity, and his deep connection to communities across Manitoba position us strongly as we prepare for the next provincial election.”
With the transition now complete, Leader Willard Reaves begins his mandate with a clear focus: rebuilding the party, strengthening its presence in the Legislature, and championing the issues that matter most to Manitobans.
“Mr. Reaves brings a wide range of experiences to the position of party leader,” added Mr. Hayward. “He will work closely with Cindy Lamoureux, our sitting MLA, to ensure that the concerns of Manitobans are heard, respected, and acted upon.”
As Leader, Mr. Reaves will continue to advance the values that have defined his life’s work—equity, dignity, accountability, and community. His leadership marks a renewed commitment to building a Manitoba where every voice is valued and every person has the opportunity to thrive.
nitoba Liberal Party is proud to confirm that Willard Reaves has officially assumed the role of Party Leader, following his victory in the Leadership Contest earlier this week.
“The party membership looks forward to working with Mr. Reaves as he leads us into a new chapter,” said Terry Hayward, President of the Manitoba Liberal Party. “His commitment to service, his integrity, and his deep connection to communities across Manitoba position us strongly as we prepare for the next provincial election.”
With the transition now complete, Leader Willard Reaves begins his mandate with a clear focus: rebuilding the party, strengthening its presence in the Legislature, and championing the issues that matter most to Manitobans.
“Mr. Reaves brings a wide range of experiences to the position of party leader,” added Mr. Hayward. “He will work closely with Cindy Lamoureux, our sitting MLA, to ensure that the concerns of Manitobans are heard, respected, and acted upon.”
As Leader, Mr. Reaves will continue to advance the values that have defined his life’s work—equity, dignity, accountability, and community. His leadership marks a renewed commitment to building a Manitoba where every voice is valued and every person has the opportunity to thrive.
Liberals Online
