WSD x Huddle: Turning Barriers into Bridges

Today’s youth encounter numerous challenges, ranging from depression and anxiety linked to social media to dealing with the aftermath of a global pandemic and grappling with political tensions, war, and climate change.

“Our students are growing up in an incredibly complex world. They’re carrying more than ever,” says Lorelei Bunkowsky, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services at Winnipeg School Division (WSD). “Supporting their well-being has never been more urgent—and it’s something WSD is deeply committed to every day.”

Since 2022, Huddle and Winnipeg School Division have collaborated to help students access the support they need. Four Huddle staff members, known as Service Navigation Specialists (SNS), work in Winnipeg School Division high schools, meeting youth where they are.

“Research highlights schools as some of the best places for universal mental health promotion, stigma reduction, and as spaces to link children and youth with appropriate support and resources,” said Jón Olafson, Director of Student Support Services at Winnipeg School Division, Manitoba’s largest school division.

“Students can’t thrive academically when their mental health and basic needs aren’t being met,” shared Alysha Oliver, Huddle’s Systems Transformation and Strategy Lead.

The right support, right where youth are

Over the course of a year, 586 students and 92 families in Winnipeg were supported through this partnership, positively impacting 29 schools.

A student who lost their home and belongings in a fire was among those supported. A Huddle SNS helped them obtain a new backpack, school supplies, and clothes, enabling them to return to school without falling behind.

Another student, who was shy and struggling to make friends, was connected to a counsellor at Huddle through the SNS at their school. He was pleased to also have access to a nurse practitioner at the same youth hub.

Whether organizing back-to-school campaigns focused on coping with anxiety or simply eating in the cafeteria alongside students, Huddle SNSs are a friendly presence in schools. They connect students to nearby Huddle youth hubs, which offer a full continuum of mental health, substance use, and wellness services for youth ages 12-29.

One youth shared their experience at Huddle, “At one of the lowest points of my life, my high school’s guidance counsellor set me up with the Service Navigator at Huddle. At Huddle, I get to do so many opportunities I never thought I’d be able to do.”

Huddle also assisted a newcomer student who recently moved to Winnipeg from Nigeria, “Through the help of the Huddle Service Navigator at my school, I was able to settle down and get connected to great services for newcomers…and I found a good friend,” they explained.

Growing the model, scaling the impact

With a recent $3.5 million investment from the federal Youth Mental Health Fund, Huddle Service Navigators will continue supporting Winnipeg students, and more will be embedded in schools in Brandon, Selkirk, northern Manitoba, and southern Manitoba over the next few years.

What began as a pilot project with Winnipeg School Division is rapidly expanding to impact more youth, schools, and communities around Manitoba.

“We believed from the outset that this model could be scaled to other jurisdictions,” shared Laura Horodecki, Huddle’s Evaluation and Research Lead.

Huddle x WSD also recently co-presented at the 2025 International Association for Youth Mental Health (IAYMH) Conference, bringing the message of this partnership to an audience of 944 delegates from 48 countries, all committed to improving youth mental health.

“We co-designed the framework together,” explained Horodecki. “Everything was entirely collaborative.”

And that’s the true magic behind the Huddle x WSD partnership.