Winnipeg Foundation to Receive $500K Estate from Woman Under Public Guardian for Scholarships
A Manitoba judge has ruled that the estate of Minnie Blustein, a Winnipeg woman who died in 2017 while under the care of Manitoba’s Public Guardian and Trustee, will be donated to the Winnipeg Foundation. The estate, valued at about $500,000, will fund an endowment to provide scholarships in her family’s name.
Background
Blustein, who the public trustee placed under care in 2007 after declaring her mentally incompetent, lived a solitary life without close family. She spent her final years in a personal care home, with few visitors.
After her death, authorities found two handwritten notes among her belongings. In the first, dated November 1994, she expressed her wish to invest the estate and use half the interest to fund scholarships for the needy. The second, from February 1972, left everything to an orphanage in Israel.
The Court of King’s Bench determined the 1994 note was her valid holographic will—the last written expression of her wishes.
Judge’s Decision
Justice Shawn Greenberg found that Blustein’s intent was clear: to leave her estate to charity, reflecting her lack of family and solitary lifestyle. The court accepted the 1994 note as her final will, despite it leaving only $1 to any relatives or friends, with the judge noting:
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“There is no evidence anyone visited her during her final years, and no indication any family or friends sought to claim her estate.”
An heir-tracing search revealed distant cousins, but none have come forward.
Impact and Implementation
The Winnipeg Foundation manages the endowment because the Public Guardian and Trustee cannot administer the scholarship fund, and the foundation serves a broad community reach.
Jennifer Litchfield, lawyer for the foundation, said such gifts are rare but impactful:
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“This gift continues to give into the community year over year.”
The court’s formal order is pending, and the public trustee must wait for any appeal period before executing the will.
Why This Case Matters
This ruling underscores the legal recognition of holographic wills—handwritten, signed, and dated documents—as valid testamentary instruments, even if unconventional. It also highlights the role of public guardians in managing estates of those deemed mentally incapable and the importance of respecting the deceased’s wishes.
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More…
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-foundation-estate-court-ruling-1.7540839
- https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/500k-estate-of-woman-under-care-of-public-guardian-will-go-to-winnipeg-foundation-judge-rules/ar-AA1Fuenj
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