Tannis M. Richardson, who created an incredible legacy of philanthropy and volunteerism in Manitoba and across Canada, died on April 13, 2026, at the age of 99.
Breakthrough T1D is saddened by the loss of Tannis, a longtime champion for the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community who, with her late husband George T. Richardson, was pivotal to growing Breakthrough T1D in Winnipeg (then Juvenile Diabetes Foundation – JDF) and creating the annual A Starry Starry Night Gala in support of our mission. Tannis also lent her talents to Breakthrough T1D’s national and international boards. In 2021, she gave a transformational $1 million gift to fuel our global research in Canada and beyond.
Tannis played a vital role in building a community of passionate volunteers to rally around T1D research in Manitoba and throughout Canada. She was especially proud of A Starry Starry Night Gala, which became one of the most memorable and impactful events in the region – raising more than $8 million in support of Breakthrough T1D over the past half century. She created a culture of awareness and inspired a legacy of support for T1D, leading to the research breakthroughs and accessibility wins we’ve celebrated over the last 50+ years. It was our honour to work closely with someone who lived their life guided selflessly by the principles of philanthropy.
While she always led a life of service, it was the discovery that her daughter Pamela had T1D that found the family on the frontline of a battle they knew little about. Diagnosed at nine years old, Pamela and her family had to learn to manage a disease that was not well understood at the time, nor well supported by Manitoba’s and Canada’s healthcare system. Sadly, Pamela died at the age of 29 from complications of diabetes.
Hoping to spare other families from heartbreaking tragedy, Tannis became devoted to raising awareness of T1D and ensuring adequate support for Manitobans living with the condition. Her nearly 50 years of commitment to Breakthrough T1D led to tremendous breakthroughs in cure research, T1D management, and access. In 2023, Manitoba stepped up as the gold standard province in Canada for diabetes device coverage by removing all age restrictions to provincial coverage of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM), bringing Tannis’s tenured advocacy efforts to fruition.
Breakthrough T1D is deeply grateful to Tannis for her visionary support and dedication that created an unparalleled legacy for the T1D community. She brought us closer to a world without T1D and helped make living with T1D more manageable for nearly 300,000 Canadians.
We extend sincere sympathies to Tannis’s family and to all those whose lives she touched.
Tannis shared about her life and legacy with Breakthrough T1D in 2021. Click here to read the blog.
