Connie Walker

BN, MBA

Honorary Doctor of Laws

Connie Walker is a devoted community builder who developed a deep understanding of the community and issues of poverty, racism, inequity, and exclusion early in her career as a public health nurse working in Winnipeg’s most impoverished neighbourhoods. 

In addition to her Bachelor of Nursing and MBA from the University of Manitoba, Walker also graduated from the Executive Development Program at the Ivey School of Business.

After 22 years in public service at the City of Winnipeg, Walker returned to the community, joining United Way Winnipeg in 2008 as Vice-President of Community Investment. In 2014, she was named President and Chief Executive Officer.

During her tenure with United Way Winnipeg, Walker has been a passionate leader who's inspired thousands of Winnipeggers from across the community to work together to make Winnipeg better for all. Under her leadership, United Way Winnipeg volunteers and donors raised more than $160 million, enabling stable, multi-year funding for the-more-than 125 frontline agencies and programs that help youth achieve their potential, families move out of poverty, and improve the health of people and their neighbourhoods.     

Deeply committed to working in partnership and to addressing systemic inequities, Walker also led the organization’s focus on social innovation to end homelessness and create youth mental health hubs.

Among other things, Walker championed the strengthening of family resource centres, the introduction of the 211 phone service to make it easier for all Manitobans to connect with local supports, and the creation of a consortium of Winnipeg businesses to increase Indigenous youth employment. 

Walker’s strong leadership was evident through the global pandemic when community needs grew significantly and fundraising became more challenging. United Way Winnipeg played a critical role, serving as a testimony to Walker’s unwavering commitment to the city’s most vulnerable populations.

For her staunch belief in the value of ongoing learning and her decades-long commitment to building a more inclusive and caring Winnipeg, The University of Winnipeg is proud to bestow an Honorary Doctor of Laws on Connie Walker.