Elba Haid, President & CEO, RealCare Inc.
Elba Haid has been the President and CEO of Realcare Inc. since 1995. Additionally, she is the President and CEO of Haidco Developments and former owner of Sutton Realty.
Elba contributes her time and expertise to several philanthropic endeavours in our community. Most notably, she chairs the Manitoba Opera Board of Trustees. In recognition of her excellent leadership of the Opera, Elba received the Opera Canada and Opera America's National Opera Directors Recognition Award in 2020.
Elba's community involvement has included serving on the advisory board of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the University of Winnipeg Global College, the Capital Campaign Cabinet of Winnipeg Art Gallery's Inuit Art Centre, and the Women of Winnipeg. She has also served on the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, CNIB, Historic Building Advisory and the Women's World Finance boards.
Because of her outstanding contributions to our community, the Nellie McClung Foundation recently named Elba as one of the Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazers.
She has also received the Heritage Winnipeg Award for Excellence for the Western Glove Building's adaptive reuse and was named one of the seven women entrepreneurs
advancing women during Manitoba's International Women's Day in 2012.
As well, Elba's entrepreneurial and business excellence has not gone unnoticed. She has received nominations for the Manitoba Women Entrepreneur of the Year, Rotman Woman Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year and a Certificate of Recognition from International Centre of Winnipeg and Immigrants Employment Assistance Services.
Elba came to know the Westland Foundation through her close friends Carol Bellringer, Susan Thompson, Cam Mackie and Doris Mae Olton. Impressed with the Foundation's work with inner-Winnipeg students, Elba has committed to volunteering her time and efforts on Westland's Honorary Board to this day. She is a regular supporter and attendee of the Westland Foundation Annual Fundraising Breakfasts and was the event sponsor in 2019.
"Westland Foundation supports those who would better themselves and their communities through education. Education is the silver bullet. It's our platform for building a better future," she says.
She advises students to continue to feed their curiosity, broaden their horizons, and try new things.
"The world needs passionate and well-rounded people. When you're done with studies, it's your responsibility to continue learning and growing," says Elba. She adds that the best and most accessible way to improve oneself is to read every day.
When asked about her legacy to the next generation, Elba wants to be a role model and mentor to many young women who are starting their future careers.
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