SHAWNDAH RENNIE
Program Facilitator & Advisory Board Member
Shawndah Rennie is a proud Métis woman and Juris Doctor candidate at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law, with over a decade of experience in legal and community support roles. Her professional journey is grounded in a deep commitment to helping others—particularly youth. From her early work as a Child Youth Care Worker to nearly seven years with Legal Aid Manitoba—across the Child Protection, Youth Criminal, and Adult Criminal Law Offices—Shawndah has consistently supported individuals and families through some of life’s most challenging moments.
Her dedication extends beyond the legal field. She’s been actively involved in Indigenous youth mentorship, community volunteerism, and initiatives like her 2023 “Socktober” campaign, where she collected and donated over 200 pairs of socks to the Main Street Project in Winnipeg, MB.
In 2025, she played a key role in organizing the first national Symposium on the Continuum of Legal Education in Truth and Reconciliation, hosted by the Council of Canadian Law Deans and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. As a Research Assistant and member of the Planning Subcommittee, she supported the development of new initiatives aimed at reshaping legal education in response to the TRC Calls to Action.
Shawndah is also conducting research with Marc Kruse, Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services at Robson Hall, focused on improving the application of Gladue principles and highlighting the lasting effects of their dismissal in court. Her legal interests include both youth and adult criminal law and child protection law. She brings empathy, resilience, and a strong work ethic to every role, always striving to make a meaningful impact in both legal and community spaces.