Our Flag

The Story that Led to the Design of our Logo

There are two times in our lives when we are especially vulnerable and dependent; when we are very young and when we are very old. When we are very young our brains are forming, sculpting the person we will become. When we are very old we may be frail and alone, without friends, family and advocates. Our housing, support systems and care may be inadequate.

When we are very old we may be frail and alone, without friends, family and advocates. About growing old Lord Byron wrote:

Circle of Life Flag
What is the worst of woes that wait on age? What stamps the wrinkle deeper on the brow? To view each loved one blotted from life’s page, And be alone on earth as I am now. (Child Harold’s Pilgrimage)

Both the young and the very old are going through change.

The very young learn how to walk. The very old try to maintain their ability to walk. The very young learn how to be independent while the very old try to maintain their independence.

Nurturing environments are important to the young and the old.

Our logo was initially designed to be a flag.

It tries to underscore the similarity and differences through life’s course. The old man and the young girl, a grandfather and granddaughter, are walking towards a stylized sunset/sunrise. He is approaching the end of life while her sun has just risen.

Our Endowment Fund at the Winnipeg Foundation is designed to serve the young and the old.

These most vulnerable parts of our society share much and require similar nurturing. Out Fund is built to support, for example, the education and training of professionals in fields relevant to the early years and the environments that seniors find themselves in. Educational programming for parents, parents-to-be, caregivers and school students are also of interest. We also envisage supporting advocacy activities, the development of innovative solutions, applied research projects designed to improve the lives and outcomes for the young or the elderly, enhancements to care settings, and projects that are aimed at improving the quality of programming.