VALERIE GARNEAU

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Valerie Garneau (Everton) on February 7, 2024 surrounded by family. 

Valerie is survived by her children Nicholas, Dora, and Blaise, Her brother Vincent (Tammy), nephews Jason (Jenn), Ferdinand, and Eric (Twila) and great nephews Jayden and Malachi. Sister Vanessa and nephews Tylor, and Geoffrey, great nephew Arthur, niece Kelsey and great niece Violet, niece Meghan (Brad), great niece Emree, great nephews Elias and Emmett.

She was predeceased by her parents Ferdinand and Joan, and her son Alexander. 

Valerie was born and raised in Winnipeg. She lived downtown most of her youth, until moving into the house on Pritchard Avenue in 1992 where she spent the rest of her life with her children. She quit school at 16 years old and started working at Aunty Nita’s Daycare. She spent the next 10 years working in the childcare setting until the passing of her son, Alexander. 

Valerie married Nicholas Janakas in 1990 and had two children, Alex and Nick. They separated and Val met Mervin Garneau. They had Dora in 2000 and married in 2001. 

In 2002 Valerie attended the Metis Social Worker program at the Manitoba Metis Federation and graduated as the class of the first Metis Social Workers. 

Her school placement was with Ma MaWi Chi Itata Inc as a community helper. Here she found her passion and grew within the organization helping families. 

She ended up changing organizations to Kanikanichihk in 2019, where she learned about the legacies of residential schools, the 60’s scoop, and the traumas faced by indigenous people in Canada. She found her home with the Medicine Bear Program working with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2-spirited people. 

While the family grew up in the centre of Winnipeg, we never knew the history of the indigenous people of Canada. We learned we were Metis in 1992, and when she attended the MMF social work program she found the culture spoke to her and she continued to grow and she found strength in it. Over the last few years, she truly felt in her heart that the families she worked with were where she wanted to be. 

Val touched so very many people over the course of her short life. From the children she cared for in daycare to the families she helped navigate loss and the court system, to the executives and donors of the organizations she worked for, and all the way to the house less people she fed and supported, Valerie treated everyone the same. As equals. This is truly what she believed in and lived for. 

The family would like to thank all the nurses and support staff at HSC’s ICU, and GA5 step down units for the amazing care she received while there for 46 days. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Medicine Bear program at Kaniknaichihk in her name. 

We will be celebrating Valerie’s life on Sunday, March 3, 2024 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place, 90 Sinclair Street.

Valerie's family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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