Who We Are & What We Do
The StoryBridge Network is a community-driven nonprofit that uses storytelling, expressive arts, and dialogue to strengthen mental well-being, cultural understanding, and social connection.
Founded in 2025, StoryBridge creates inclusive spaces where people can explore their stories, share lived experiences, and build meaningful connections across communities.
Our programs serve newcomers, youth, seniors, and individuals experiencing displacement or isolation—communities whose voices are often missing from mainstream conversations.
StoryBridge brings people together through storytelling programs, community dialogue, and expressive arts performances.
Our work includes:
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Storytelling workshops and training programs
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Storytelling Cafés and community storytelling projects
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Outreach storytelling circles and pop-up events
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Youth storytelling and creative expression programs
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Public storytelling events and conferences
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Consulting and facilitation services for organizations
Many of the stories and performances shared at our public events grow from the programs and circles where participants first develop and explore their narratives.
Our Mission
To empower individuals and communities through the transformative power of storytelling—creating inclusive spaces where every voice is valued and where belonging, resilience, and social change can grow.
Our Vision
A world where stories bridge divides, reduce isolation, and strengthen community well-being. A place where everyone can build meaningful connections and feel seen, heard, and valued.
Our Core Values
Inclusion
Everyone deserves to be seen, heard, valued and respected.
Resilience
Stories help individuals and communities navigate challenge and change.
Creativity
Creative expression opens pathways for understanding and connection.
Community
Relationships built through storytelling strengthen social bonds.
Integrity
We practice ethical, trauma-aware storytelling that honours lived experience.
Our Approach
Our storytelling and expressive arts programs, facilitator training and consulting services are grounded in:
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Lived experience as a source of knowledge
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Conflict transformation and peacebuilding through community engagement
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Trauma-aware and ethical storytelling and arts-based practices
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Dialogue and reflective listening
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Creative storytelling frameworks and expressive arts
Our goal is not simply to tell stories, but to create spaces where stories become catalysts for connection, empathy, and meaningful social and systemic change.
Our Free Community Programs
StoryBridge's free and low-cost storytelling and expressive arts programs create welcoming spaces where people can share stories, strengthen confidence, and build meaningful connections across cultures and generations.
We focus on creating inclusive spaces that bring people together, particularly newcomers, seniors, and youth, who often face barriers to participation in the arts and are disproportionately affected by loneliness and isolation.
For Newcomers
Storytelling Cafés are day long or multi-week programs where participants develop and share personal stories through writing, performance, and dialogue. These programs build confidence, strengthen English communication skills, and foster cross-cultural understanding.
Open Circle Pop-Up
Open Circle gatherings are low-barrier storytelling circles hosted in community spaces such as libraries, community centers. These pop-up events create welcoming environments where people from all backgrounds can share experiences and build connections.
For Youth
StoryScape is an expressive arts program for people age 10 to 16 that supports confidence, creativity, and cross-cultural learning. Participants explore identity and community through storytelling, wellness, visual and performance art, and collaborative creative projects.
WAAS Residency
Each year StoryBridge invites a group of volunteers to learn storytelling and performance techniques so that they can develop their own story and share it at We Are All Stories, a space designed for dialogue and intercultural learning.
For Seniors
Life Story Club is a multi-week social club that brings together older adults aged 65+ to share memories and experiences and to engage in storytelling and dialogue that supports their sense of well-being and connection, while decreasing loneliness and isoloation.
The Story From Here
The Story From Here is a community book project featuring narratives of migration, identity, resilience, and belonging from StoryBridge program participants and network members. A new volume is published every two years.
Our Fee-Based Services
We provide professional training in trauma-sensitive storytelling and community engagement for new and experienced facilitators who want to deepen their knowledge and impact when working with diverse communities and underrepresented voices.
We also offer consulting and program design and development services to groups and organizations looking to build deep civic engagement, launch a community program, or foster empathy and communication with their members, clients or team.
Our Flagship Events
Our annual flagship events bring storytelling, dialogue, and creative expression into shared public spaces. These gatherings highlight the voices of our community members while inviting audiences to join meaningful conversations and help raise funds for our community programs.
Each Spring, StoryBridge hosts We Are All Stories (WAAS), a live storytelling and musical event celebrating the diverse, underrepresented voices and lived experiences that shape our communities.
Each Fall, we host the StoryStrong Conference, a weekend event where diverse Manitoban voices and lived experiences come together to learn, share stories, and build a culture of care and belonging.