Winnipeg Harvest head says goodbye to joyous career at food bank

DavidNorthcott says he'll miss the people most when he retires from Winnipeg Harvest. Butafter a career that has spannedthree decades, he says it's timeto move on.

"In life, you get that sense every once in a while that it's the right time to take the next step," he said."This was the right moment."

The longtime executive director of the food bank announced Thursday he will be retiring this June after more than 30 years with the charity.

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Northcott began working at Winnipeg Harvest in 1984 and played a critical role in developing the organization.

"It's sobering how fast this has gone by," he said.Volunteers, clients and staff at the food bankmade his work "joyous," he said.

Over his career, Northcott said there were "divine moments" seeing former clients, once struggling in poverty, rebuild their lives and return to the charity as volunteers and even board members.

"That'sinspirational when people have got way more burdens on their shoulders than I haveand they take steps, move on and do really well with their lives," he said.

The role of Winnipeg Harvest isnot only to provide nourishing food but also to nudge people, asNorthcott said, toward making choices that will improve their circumstances.

One way you do that is to trust everybody, he said.

"If they are hurting, hungry and they're damaged sometimes if you do a little bit at the right time, then the journey and the road gets better," he said."Given that chance they do really well."

Northcott is also the founder of the Canadian Association of Food Banks and the Manitoba Association of Food Banks.

"Oftentimes, my three daughters would tease me and say it's my fourth child. So it was a big commitment, and this is the time. There's some very talented people around. This was the time to pass the empty bowl on to the next leadership,"Northcottsaid.

Northcott took a break from Winnipeg Harvest from 2004 to 2007 for an unsuccessful run for the federal Liberals in Winnipeg Centre. He also took part during that period in an African food study and did work in palliative care.

David Northcott looks to the future

8 years ago

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The longtime executive director of Winnipeg Harvest is set to retire this June. David Northcott began working at Winnipeg Harvest in 1984 and was critical to the development of the organization, a news release states.

"His commitment to the fight against hunger and poverty is well-documented," Winnipeg Harvest board president GailLoewenwrote in a letter Thursday.

"His compassionate perspective and advocacy accomplishments have long been valued locally, nationally and internationally," she wrote.

"We will miss him and his inspiring leadership."

Kate Brennerwill take over as interim executive director following Northcott's retirement onJune 30.

On July 1, Northcotthas big plans: "to sleep in," he said with a laugh, adding he'll be looking for less-intensive ways to stay involved in addressing poverty in Winnipeg.

"The lens and the horizon that we're pointing at is a community that doesn't need Winnipeg Harvest in it," he said.

"If we're there, then people are actively involved in the community, the safety net has caught them. Or they're all working in living-wage jobs," he said.

"That'd be the great finish."

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