On Friday evenings after finishing her studies, fifth-year University of Winnipeg student MacKenzie Zacharias heads from her East Kildonan home to the Women’s Correctional Centre just outside of Winnipeg. Working as a volunteer on behalf of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba (EFS), MacKenzie sets up her station and records the voices of a handful of inmates each night as they read chapters from children’s books for their loved ones at home. The Tell Me a Story initiative that MacKenzie volunteers for is a key service offered by the EFS to support the goals, needs, and skills of incarcerated women.
“Since joining the organization in May of 2024 as part of my practicum, I’ve had the chance to meet and talk with more than 40 women,” says MacKenzie. “It’s a rewarding process for me and the women I record. Giving these mothers the chance to connect with their children outside of normal visiting hours goes a long way in helping families stay together during difficult times.”
MacKenzie is currently working towards completing her double Honours in Criminal Justice, and Women’s and Gender Studies.
“Over the last year I’ve been researching materiel for my honours thesis on protest movements at different Canadian universities,” says MacKenzie. “I’ve been tracking how institutions like the University of Toronto and McGill handle campus protests, the responses from faculty and leadership, and the narratives that appear in these spaces as a result of the tension between opposing ideologies.”
Earlier this year, MacKenzie was one of two students selected by trustees to receive the prestigious Dr. and Mrs. Roderick Hunter Scholarship. Established in 2000 in memory of Dr. R.O.A. Hunter, third Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg, and his wife, Doris Hunter, the scholarship is awarded to two undergraduate students with high academic standing, outstanding leadership qualities, and significant extracurricular involvements on campus.
“It was such an honour to be chosen for this scholarship,” says MacKenzie. “I love giving back to the community through my volunteer work just like the Hunters. Being recognized for my work has shaped my final year at UWinnipeg in an incredible way and will help me continue in academia as a graduate student.”
While on campus, MacKenzie directs her passion for volunteerism towards the Women’s and Gender Studies Students Association. “In 2023, I worked with classmates Kim Atwell and Katie Buckburger to rebuild the association. It has been amazing working as a co-facilitator with the two of them and seeing the association grow since the pandemic,” says MacKenzie. “I’m also proud to be part of a student association that welcomes outside voices and encourages members to put forth their own ideas. Many of our most enjoyable workshops, reading groups, and crafting sessions have come from new members looking contribute in their own way to the organization.”
After graduating from UWinnipeg, MacKenzie plans to complete her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Toronto.
“Advocacy and policy work have always excited me,” says MacKenzie. “Finding a position where I am able to craft effective policy that shapes how governments and organizations interact with and provide for communities in need is my long-term goal—I want to be part of a profession that helps improve the lives of those who have been marginalized at both the grassroots level and beyond.”
