Al
Wiebe

Peer Engagement Specialist for the CAEH Housing 1st Team, Winnipeg, CA

After losing a 150,000 a year position in advertising sales in the fall of 2009, and suffering from clinical depression, Al found himself unable to handle the trauma of losing the one thing that was everything to him, his job.

Months later, Al found himself homeless on the streets of Winnipeg. Over a year later Al found himself rejected multiple times by the healthcare system while in suicidal ideation that resulted in a bridge jump to end his life. 

Al did get help eventually and after a lengthy stay in a psych ward, was released to a shelter. After another 14 months there, Al was finally housed.

His first position was as an intensive case manager in the at home Chez Soi housing program.

Today, Al’s work is in 24/7 advocacy for both lived experience and the homeless.

He works with and for the federal government and three different departments leading national homeless and lived experience initiatives. Al also is a consultant and advisor with the city of Winnipeg in homelessness and poverty. Al directs a non govt funded innovative housing program that is lived experience led and empathy driven.

Al is dedicated to improving the lives of those most vulnerable through programming and media working in and around the community and through his peer and community engagement training.

His mantra is “Those of us that can, have to”.