Remembering Dr. Barry Lavallee

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Published Wednesday, January 21, 2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Barry Lavallee, a respected physician, leader, and advocate who had an immense impact on the health of Indigenous people and healthcare in Manitoba.

Having had the privilege of working with Dr. Lavallee, we knew him as someone who was always focused on what patients, families, and communities needed most, and who spent his career working to dismantle anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare system.

He was an active participant in the engagement process as we developed our 2023-28 strategic plan, naming the inequities and barriers that the system places on Indigenous people as well as other equity-deserving groups. He challenged all of us in the health system to do better: to listen more, to act with humility, and to make meaningful, lasting change. Along with the knowledge and insights he shared, this directly informed our organization's priorities and goals.

Dr. Lavallee was also a valued teacher and mentor, a trusted colleague and friend, and an inspiration for many physicians and health care workers across the region. This was not only because of what he achieved, but because he led with compassion, and a deep commitment to community-led solutions.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Lavallee's family, loved ones, colleagues at Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc, and to all the communities and individuals whose lives he touched. We will honour his legacy by continuing the work of truth and reconciliation in healthcare, and building a system that is safer, more respectful, and more equitable for everyone.