What Knowles Centre does

Knowles Centre Inc. is a Winnipeg-based, registered nonprofit social service agency (charitable registration no. 11898 4624 RR0001) founded in 1907, originally as a home for boys and rebranded in 2019 from "Knowles School for Boys" to a co-ed treatment centre. The organization delivers six core programs — Group Care Treatment (Healing Homes), Treatment Foster Care, Supported Advancement to Independent Living (SAIL), Day Treatment, Sexual Abuse Treatment, and Moving Forward counselling — supplemented by the Biimautaziiwin Indigenous Cultural Program, Camp, Recreation, and Culinary Arts programs, plus external training in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and ASIST suicide intervention. Approximately 110 full-time, part-time, and casual staff serve children, adolescents, and young adults facing trauma, abuse, neglect, addiction, and intergenerational harm, with 60–70% of clients of Indigenous descent.

The business model is a hybrid of government block funding and charitable donations rather than fee-for-service. Foundational operating funding flows from the Province of Manitoba through Child and Family Services (CFS) agencies, which also serve as the primary referral channel and pay direct costs (rent, food, clothing, furniture) for youth in programs such as SAIL. Services are delivered free of charge to clients. Revenue is supplemented by individual and corporate donations (e.g., McFadden Benefits and Pension presenting the annual Charity Croquet Classic fundraiser), grants (e.g., a $20,000 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund grant for Self-Reg training), and the United Way Winnipeg network. The embedded John G. Stewart School partnership on Knowles Centre property creates additional operational integration with the River East Transcona School Division. The organization does not operate proprietary technology platforms and uses only Google Analytics for digital tracking.

Customer access is entirely mediated by CFS referrals, making the provincial child welfare system the de facto sole institutional buyer. Knowles Centre is governed by a Board of Directors under Dr. Ryan Anderson, who became CEO in July 2024 following the retirement of Dr. Michael Burdz after 27 years (including 19 as CEO), during which the organization grew by over 300%. Operations are concentrated in Manitoba, with a single headquarters campus at 2065 Henderson Highway, Winnipeg, on Treaty 1 territory.

Name

Knowles Centre

Legal name

Knowles Centre Inc.

Website

https://knowlescentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Knowles Centre is a Winnipeg-based nonprofit social service agency (founded 1907) that delivers therapeutic, skills-based, and culturally grounded programs — including group care, treatment foster care, independent living support, and Indigenous cultural programming — to children, adolescents, and young adults referred by Manitoba Child and Family Services agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Residential and Therapeutic Care Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Therapy-Integrated Childcare Support (coordination with OT/PT/SLP/ABA) (HSAAAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Behavioral Support & Positive Behavior Intervention Childcare (HSAAAIAF)

Keywords

• Youth residential care
• Therapeutic foster care
• Trauma-informed counselling
• Independent living support
• Mental health training

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Foundational funding from the province through Child and Family Services for core programs. This funding supports basic care but does not cover additional resources needed for comprehensive and individualized support.
2. Charitable Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations to fund trauma-informed programs, staff training, holistic interventions, overhead, program growth, service expansion, quality improvement, and new initiatives. Knowles Centre is a registered charity with Canada Revenue Agency (charitable registration no. 11898 4624 RR0001).
3. Grants: Knowles Centre receives grants such as the $20,000 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund grant for mental health training programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Knowles Centre is a nonprofit social service agency delivering therapeutic residential care, treatment foster care, independent living preparation, day treatment, sexual abuse treatment, and counseling for children, adolescents, and young adults in Manitoba. It supplements these core programs with the Biimautaziiwin Indigenous Cultural Program, recreation and camp experiences, and accredited training courses such as MHFA and ASIST for youth-care professionals.

Product overview

Knowles Centre is a nonprofit social service agency operating six core programs and four supported programs. The core programs include group care treatment (Healing Homes), Treatment Foster Care, Supported Advancement to Independent Living (SAIL), Day Treatment, Sexual Abuse Treatment, and Moving Forward counselling. Supported programs include the Biimautaziiwin Indigenous Cultural Program, Camp, Recreation, and Culinary Arts programs. The organization also provides training opportunities for professionals working with youth, including Mental Health First Aid and ASIST certification programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supported Advancement to Independent Living (SAIL) A three-stage independent living program that helps youth aged 16 and over who are connected to a CFS agency develop life skills through apartment-based support, progressing from preparation through a 24-hour supervised SAIL apartment in southeast Winnipeg to post-graduation support and a 24-hour help line.
• Treatment Foster Care A therapeutic foster care program providing specialized placement for children and youth with complex needs in licensed foster family homes, including training, respite support, and resources for foster parents.
• Healing Homes Group care treatment homes providing residential support for young people in a therapeutic environment for those facing difficult times.
• Sexual Abuse Treatment A specialized therapeutic program for children, adolescents, and young adults who have experienced sexual abuse, providing trauma-informed treatment services.
• Day Treatment An educational and therapeutic day program allowing youth to attend school while receiving treatment services, operated in partnership with John G. Stewart School on Knowles Centre's campus.
• Moving Forward A therapeutic counselling program for young people aged 12 to 21 living in care, as well as their families and caregivers, addressing trauma and supporting mental health.
• Biimautaziiwin Indigenous Cultural Program A voluntary Indigenous cultural program assisting clients in exploring all aspects of Indigenous culture through teaching circles, weekly gatherings, and sweat lodge ceremonies to develop self-esteem and self-identity.
• Camp Program A recreational camp program in the Whiteshell offering outdoor activities and experiential learning opportunities for youth.
• Recreation Program A recreation program providing youth with opportunities to participate in events and activities throughout the Winnipeg community.
• Mental Health First Aid for Adults Who Interact With Youth (MHFA) Certified training program teaching mental health first aid skills for crises including substance overdose, suicidal behaviour, panic attacks, acute stress reactions, and psychotic episodes, delivered to youth-care workers, foster parents, teachers, social workers, managers, and supervisors.
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Suicide intervention training program teaching participants to recognize when someone may be thinking about suicide and how to provide skilled intervention, including development of safety plans.

Quantifiable outcome

• Knowles Centre grew by over 300% during Dr. Burdz's 19-year leadership tenure
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• United Way WinnipegminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 November 2025Knowles Centre supports United Way Winnipeg through the Here For Winnipeg Silent Auction, demonstrating community partnership and shared mission alignment.
• McFadden Benefits and PensionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 June 2023McFadden Benefits and Pension is the presenting partner for the 2023 Charity Croquet Classic, Knowles Centre's annual fundraising event. The partnership provides sponsorship support for the tournament.
• John G. Stewart School (River East Transcona School Division)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowles Centre partners with John G. Stewart School for education of youth from Healing Homes and Day Treatment Programs. The partnership includes daily communications, cultural program collaboration (Biimautaziiwin Aboriginal Cultural Program with daily smudging, drumming, sweat lodge ceremonies), joint recreation activities, and resource sharing. The school is located on Knowles Centre's private property.
• The MEHRIT CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MEHRIT Centre, founded by Dr. Stuart Shanker, trained Knowles Centre staff in the Self-Reg framework through the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund grant. Dr. Shanker endorsed Knowles Centre's Self-Reg implementation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Macdonald Youth Services: Winnipeg-based nonprofit providing residential treatment, group homes, and community-based programs for children and youth facing challenges. Directly comparable as a Manitoba-based residential/social services provider serving CFS-referred youth.
• tikinagan Child and Family Services: Indigenous CFS authority serving northern Manitoba First Nations communities, providing child welfare services under Bill C-92. Comparable as a Manitoba-based child welfare authority with overlapping client populations.
• Southern First Nations Network of Care: Indigenous-led CFS authority for southern Manitoba First Nations, providing child welfare and family services. Comparable as a Bill C-92 designated Indigenous CFS authority with shared client demographics.
• Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre: Indigenous-led Winnipeg organization providing community-based family services, group homes, and cultural programming. Comparable as an Indigenous-culturally-grounded child and family services provider in the same Manitoba market.
• Child & Family Services of Central Manitoba: Mandated CFS agency serving central Manitoba, providing child protection, foster care, and family services. Comparable as a Manitoba-mandated CFS agency with overlapping referral and funding dynamics.
• Marymound Inc. Winnipeg-based nonprofit offering residential treatment, foster care, and community programs for girls and young women in care. Comparable as a Manitoba therapeutic residential provider with similar CFS referral pathways.

Emerging players

• Kids Help Phone: Canada-wide e-mental health service for youth offering counseling, information, and referral. Comparable in serving at-risk Canadian youth, with complementary rather than directly competing service delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada: National nonprofit providing youth development programs, including after-school and residential supports. Comparable as a broader nonprofit youth services incumbent, though less therapeutically specialized than Knowles Centre.
• YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg: Winnipeg-based nonprofit providing childcare, youth programs, mental health, and immigrant services. Comparable as a broader community-services incumbent in the same Manitoba market with some programmatic overlap.

Regional players

• Children's Rehabilitation Foundation (Manitoba): Manitoba nonprofit supporting children with disabilities through funding and programming. Comparable as a Manitoba-based child-focused nonprofit serving some overlapping populations, particularly youth with complex needs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/ucnot2c0iqamsnsce1s6au0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/knowlescentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knowlescentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Knowles Centre