{
  "id": 19937044,
  "title": "Five decades and counting",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/five-decades-and-counting",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T07:01:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/2026/11/14/five-decades-and-counting"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This article commemorates the 50th anniversary of Community Financial, a Winnipeg-based non-profit agency that has dedicated its efforts to helping residents facing financial challenges. Established in 1974, the organization has evolved over the years, starting as Community Income Tax Services and providing tax filing assistance to economically disadvantaged Manitobans to access government benefits. Over time, it expanded its offerings to include debt counseling, financial literacy, and gambling addiction support. Now known as Community Financial, the organization's mission remains focused on financial empowerment for Manitobans.\n\nSally Massey Wiebe, the financial empowerment lead at Community Financial, explains that the organization's programs are based on five pillars that promote financial inclusion and information for individuals. These pillars include tax filing, financial counselling, safe banking access, consumer protection, and asset building. Community Financial has collaborated with various government agencies to expand the scope of its financial assistance, particularly in rural communities, where there is an increasing demand for problem gambling counselling.\n\nA significant part of Community Financial's offerings is its free annual tax filing assistance program, which has helped over 13,600 Manitobans file over 20,000 tax returns in the past year, resulting in more than $77 million in tax refunds and benefits. This program addresses the issue of many struggling Manitobans missing out on government supports due to not filing their tax returns. Community Financial has sought to dispel the misconception that some individuals do not file taxes, as they may have recently been incarcerated, are in health-care facilities, experiencing domestic violence, mental health crises, or lack employment and income. By helping these individuals file their taxes, Community Financial has made a substantial difference in their lives. The organization will celebrate its milestone anniversary on Tuesday at the Millennium Centre in Winnipeg with former Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger as the keynote speaker.",
  "summary": "Community Financial has gone by a few names over its five-plus decades of existence, but its focus has always been helping Winnipeggers facing money challenges. The United Way-supported non-profit agency […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}