A rural Manitoba entrepreneur was among those recognized last week as women business leaders from across the province were celebrated at the 2025 Manitoba Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Shannon Dupont of Inwood, founder of Madeline’s Closet Inc., accepts the Rural Nominee Award at the 2025 Manitoba Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Shannon Dupont, founder of Madeline’s Closet Inc., was named the Rural Nominee Award winner during the Jan. 29 gala at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. The award honours women entrepreneurs driving economic growth and opportunity outside major urban centres, recognizing leadership, innovation and community impact.
For Dupont, the recognition reflects nearly two decades of work building a volunteer-run charity focused on supporting women and families across rural Manitoba.
“Standing here tonight is honestly a little surreal — mostly because when you run a charity in rural Manitoba, you don’t exactly expect to end up on a stage like this,” Dupont said during her acceptance speech. “This recognition means more than I can fully put into words because it shines a light on work that often happens quietly, behind the scenes and far from the spotlight.”
Founded in Inwood, Madeline’s Closet was envisioned as a space where women and their children could access new or gently used clothing and household items regardless of their financial situation. Dupont said the idea grew out of an experience nearly 17 years ago, when she learned that retail stores were cutting up usable clothing and discarding it as damaged or written-off merchandise.
“As a social worker, I knew how many people could benefit from receiving new clothing,” she said.
When Dupont asked retailers whether they would donate items if she ensured they were given directly to individuals and not resold, the answer was yes. From that agreement, Madeline’s Closet was born.
The organization was named in honour of Métis Elder Madeline Sanderson, who provided guidance and teachings to Dupont in her youth. Dupont said Sanderson emphasized the importance of staying true to one’s roots and using that strength to help others.
“Madeline’s Closet is the embodiment of kindness and community,” Dupont said. “I felt it was fitting to name it after someone who taught me those values.”
Today, Madeline’s Closet works with a network of more than 24 retail partners that provide clothing and household goods. Volunteers repair damaged items, launder donations and prepare them for display. Individuals can access the program once a month and receive up to three clothing or household items at no cost.
Items that cannot be repaired are repurposed into patchwork blankets, which are given to families who have lost their homes due to fire.
Dupont said the program addresses both social and environmental needs. Manitoba has one of the highest child poverty rates in Canada, and providing free clothing helps ensure children are prepared for the province’s diverse weather while easing financial pressure on families. At the same time, the initiative diverts thousands of items from landfills each year.
To date, more than 750,000 individuals have accessed the program over its 17 years of operation. Madeline’s Closet is entirely volunteer-run and receives no government core funding.
The organization now serves between 1,000 and 1,500 individuals each month at its Inwood location, along with an additional 800 to 1,000 people monthly through partner sites across Manitoba.
“There’s a huge gap in services for rural Manitoba, and Madeline’s Closet fills a real need in the Inwood area,” Dupont said. “I’m very proud to be part of that.”
Dupont said the work has come full circle for her both personally and professionally, having been born and raised in Inwood in the RM of Armstrong — the same community where Madeline’s Closet continues to operate.
The annual awards are coordinated by the Winnipeg Women’s Community and drew finalists from across the province, selected from more than 200 nominations. Now in its 34th year, the program aims to spotlight women strengthening Manitoba’s economy and communities.
Also recognized during the evening was Chantelle Dione Enns, owner of Chantelle Dione Photography, who was named a finalist among the province’s top women entrepreneurs.
Enns said being named a WEYA finalist was a meaningful moment of reflection, both personally and professionally.
“Being named a finalist was incredibly affirming,” she said. “The work I do is deeply rooted in confidence, identity and personal evolution, and that kind of impact is not always easy to measure. To have it recognized alongside so many inspiring entrepreneurs across Manitoba meant a great deal.”
Enns’ photography work has earned a reputation for visual storytelling that centres authenticity and connection, particularly through portrait and branding photography for women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. She said strong imagery can play a critical role in how business owners show up in their work.
“When a woman-owned business has imagery that reflects her confidence, clarity and authority, it changes how she shows up in her marketing, her sales and her leadership,” Enns said. “I don’t just create beautiful photos — I help women see themselves as the face of their brand in a way that feels true and powerful.”
Her business began photographing rescue dogs and the people who loved them, before evolving into a broader focus on personal storytelling and brand identity. Over time, Enns said she recognized a gap between traditional portrait photography and the deeply personal moments people were actually living.
“I wanted to create space for personal celebration and for branding images that feel like the person themselves, rather than something copied from a template,” she said. “That curiosity is what shaped the work I do today.”
While only one recipient is selected in each category, organizers emphasized that being named a finalist represents a significant achievement.
“Being selected from more than 150 nominated women across Manitoba is no small feat,” awards chair Christine Thiessen said in a statement following the event. “Every finalist represents excellence in entrepreneurship, leadership and community impact.”
The gala also recognized award recipients across several categories, including emerging business, young entrepreneur, contribution to community, BIPOC nominee, 2SLGBTQIA+ nominee, lifetime achievement and overall woman entrepreneur of the year.
Organizers said the event serves not only to honour individual achievements but also to connect and inspire women business owners across Manitoba, from urban centres to rural communities.
For Dupont, the award represents both recognition and renewed motivation.
“I’ll take this back to Inwood as proof that the work being done there matters, is seen and is making a difference,” she said. “Rural voices matter. Women’s work matters. And meaningful change doesn’t only happen in big cities.”