In 2010, at the age of 13, Kaitlyn Reimer, a teenager from the Pembina Valley, was diagnosed with cancer.
Throughout her onerous experience that included a 7-week hospital stay, four Intensive Care Unit admissions, two ambulance trips to Winnipeg, and more, Kaitlyn, rather than focussing on her own challenges, turned to those of others.
She developed Katie Cares, a charity that she dreamed would relieve some of the burden of children with illnesses who spend portions of their childhood in the hospital.
In 2025, although Kaitlyn has passed away, she has left an indelible mark on the Pembina Valley through her consideration for others.
In addition to the teddy bear program that she developed to match children in the hospital with a stuffed friend for comfort, Katie’s Cottage, an accessible accommodation for families with loved ones receiving treatment, has flourished and become a valuable resource in the community.
Another beloved event connected to Kaitlyn is the Katie Cares Fashion Show, which serves as both a fundraiser for the charity and a celebration of her life.
This year, the fashion show, which takes place on September 27th, will have its 12th iteration.
‘It was because of her, completely’
Ruth Reimer, Kaitlyn’s mother and the CEO of Katie Cares, said that the teddy bear program, the cottage, and the fashion show are all a part of a legacy that belongs to Kaitlyn.
“She wanted to be that person who would embrace anyone in her community, in her classroom. She wanted to be that friend that everybody liked and wanted to be around.”
-Ruth Reimer on her daughter, Kaitlyn.
“It was because of her, completely .... We don't want to take credit for that, because that was all Kaitlyn,” she said. “This whole thing that evolved with the charity and everything isn’t about ego, it isn't about putting myself out there, it's not about putting my family out there — it's about what she wanted, and only that.”
Being like Kaitlyn
Reimer said that even as a 13-year-old navigating growing up, Kaitlyn was sure of the type of person that she wanted to be, which is a resolution reflected in the charity that operates in her name.
“She wanted to be that person who would embrace anyone in her community, in her classroom,” said Reimer. “She wanted to be that friend that everybody liked and wanted to be around.”
For Reimer, Kaitlyn especially emulated her philosophy in life when it was time for gatherings with her friends. She said that because her daughter didn’t want to leave anyone out, there was often large groups of “giggling” girls at her house spending time together — Kaitlyn would invite everyone.
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Today, that same spirit of togetherness and unity marks how Katie’s Cottage functions. It remains a place where people from all over can gather.
Reimer said that recently, it has seen visitors from the furthest reaches of Manitoba, like Churchill, as well as individuals from outside the country, including from Ireland and England.
“Katie's Cottage is a place where people can come and they can feel safe,” she said. “They can feel that they're close to their loved one if they need to get [to the hospital] quickly.”
‘We’re not a New York runway, we’re a Pembina Valley runway’
When it comes to the Katie Cares Fashion Show, it’s not only a celebration of everything Kaitlyn was and a means to support the work that Katie Cares does, but also a chance for the Pembina Valley to shine as a community.
The energy of the event glows everywhere. From the large crowd that sells out tickets year after year to the models from all walks of life backstage, it's palpable.
“There's a lot of excitement [backstage] and laughing and joking and it’s pretty relaxed. That's what we want it to be,” said Reimer. “We are not a New York runway, but we're a Pembina valley runway, and what do we do in the Pembina Valley region? We have fun, we laugh.”
For Reimer, appreciating the moment is another part of embracing what the Katie Cares Fashion Show strives to be.
“Let's celebrate our lives and enjoy what we have, because we're here today,” she said.
“We don't know what tomorrow brings for us, so let's enjoy what we have right now, and that means great food, great music, great community involvement, and support from the sponsors to the models to everything — everything ... is about community.”
‘Bigger isn’t always better’
Reimer said that this year, the fashion show will look a bit different than it has in years past. The Katie Cares Board has decided “pull back a bit,” which means a smaller venue at the Access Event Centre in Morden.
“Sometimes bigger isn't always better,” said Reimer. “We wanted to get back to our roots, ... so we have a more intimate show.”
Despite the changes, Reimer said that the event will “still ... be great.”
“I promise you that [there will be] some really neat surprises,” she said.
This year’s Katie Cares Fashion Show will have both a matinée and an evening show. For musical accompaniment, Reimer said the M’Ladies will play in the afternoon, while the Bare Yogis will take to the stage in the evening.
The fashion shows will also include 25 raffle prizes per performance.
For those who can’t make it to the show, there is also an online charity auction that will be open from September 20th to the 27th.
Tickets for the show, which sell out quickly, will go on sale at 9 a.m. today (August 14th).
‘We never felt that our community didn’t care’
For Reimer, the overwhelming support of the Pembina Valley for the Katie Cares Fashion Show each year, as well as enthusiasm for the charity overall, does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
“We have never felt that our community didn't care or didn't want to be a part of it,” she said. “In saying that, we also want to support those families who are going through some of it.”
The 12th annual Katie Cares Fashion Show takes place on September 27th.
With files from Jayme Giesbrecht