EnRicher July 2017

Volume 20 Issue 2

July 2017

Richer Celebrates Canada 150

Between the Dawson Trail Museum and the Richer Community Club, all the stops were pulled out to celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday on July 1. The Knights of Columbus, Richer Firefighters, Papillon Creations, Richer Fellowship Church, entertainers and dozens of volunteers brought together music, crafts food and family fun for a full day and evening with everything FREE! Overwhelming crowds at both the museum and the park were quick to dig into the food, with both venues running out about 3 hours each into their programming.

LOTS OF PICTURES INSIDE...

Richer Inn Goes Green

By Marianne Curtis/Dawson Trail Dispatch

The Richer Inn will soon become the first hotel in Manitoba to take advantage of the Manitoba Hydro Solar Power Initiative by installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system to offset their hydro costs.

Kim Loewen, one of the four partners in the Richer Inn, said she is excited to announce the project. Thanks to a conversation with a customer a few months ago, the business expects to be 100% energy free in a few years and that by the end of summer the business will be completely connected to solar energy. “I met a customer and I found out that he makes these solar panels,” explained Loewen. “After learning more about the program and what he does, I realized that it would be really smart to do it here.”

Loewen estimates that her monthly hydro bill ranges from $2,500 to $3,500 per month. Once connected, the hotel will be selling hydro energy they do not use and in the winter, they will be able to operate on that credit.

“With the Manitoba Hydro incentives that are available right now, I can afford to take the money I would pay monthly on hydro and put it towards this project,” said Loewen. The system is being installed by local company AC/DC Utilities.

Lee Guetre, another partner in the hotel loves the fact that eventually they will not have to pay any hydro bills. “The idea is to create as much kilowatts as we use so it eventually doesn’t cost anything because we produce as much

energy as we would normally buy,” clarified Guetre. “When we looked at the cost of hydro and the cost of doing business; green energy seems to be the cost effective solution that will pay for itself as time progresses.”

Both partners are so impressed with the incentives they are planning to hook up their personal residences in hopes to eventually be completely “off the grid”. Richer Inn owners Lee Guetre and Kim Loewen finish signing the contract with Alphonse Pilon of AD/DC “You have to pay for Utilities that will make them the first hotel in Manithe system initially, but toba to be hooked up to solar energy. if you are paying for it with the value of your hydro, it ends up not costing you anything after a number of years,” Guetre continued. “It also becomes a future selling point as a homeowner because you can sell the home as “energy free”.

Guetre said that he is very thankful that Manitoba Hydro and the province have taken the lead to develop this green energy program. The Solar Energy Program was designed for customers who would like to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) system to displace their own electricity needs with solar energy. It is available to available to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

It must be a minimum size of 1 kW system to a maximum of 200 kW and it must be connected to the grid. Systems greater than 10 kW may be subject to a customer-paid feasibility study with the incentive paid at the end of the project, once the PV system is installed and passes inspection.

The incentive is limited by the average annual electricity consumption (kWh) at the site, and the amount of solar PV required offsetting annual electricity bills.

“It is a very good program; maybe the federal government should take that into consideration and follow our province’s lead,” Guetre concluded.

A Big Leap of Faith

On Sunday mornings the Richer Fireside Youth have gotten together to have church, to teach God’s Word, and spend time with Youth families in the community of Richer.

We are pleased to announce that 2 of our Youth will be getting baptized on July 8 along with 3 other Youth from Steinbach who have visited us on Sunday mornings. Relatives and friends will gather to celebrate with these young people as they are now ready to take this big leap of faith by getting baptized.

For the summer months, Youth will have wiener roasts twice a month.

We will teach life lessons based on the Bible, play games and of course eat a lot! Weather permitting we will have our first “Wiener Roast Monday” on July 10 at the Dawson Trail Park. For more info please contact Michelle at 204 424-5216

Community Club Receives Another Donation from Richer Inn The Richer Inn has donated another $400 to the Richer Community Club as part of its Chase the Ace Steak Dinner Special.

To date, the Richer Inn has cut cheques for $800 since the RCC game began.

MARK YOUR

CALENDAR! Saturday, July 8 and 22: Recycling Collection. 9:30 am - 12 noon. 1st stop Burnell’s Foods, 2nd Stop Richer Inn, 3rd stop Tibeauville, 4th stop Timberline, with the 5th stop at the Richer Husky where the recyclers will remain until noon. Recycling can also be dropped off in the recycling shed located in the Richer Husky parking lot at your convenience.

The Dawson Trail Museum hours of operation this summer are Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. Drop on by and take in the history of our region.

Wednesday, July 12: Richer Community Club Meeting, 7:30 p.m., LUD Hall. Everyone is welcome!

SPMF Monday Night Bingos in Richer.

Doors open at 5:30 pm; Earlybirds at 7 pm Followed by Regular Bingo. Check out our Facebook page “SPMF Monday Night Bingo in Richer” & “Like” us. LGA Lic. # 4164.

Vintage Tractors Roll into Richer

Richer Community Club Chase the Ace every Saturday at the Richer Inn. Tickets only $1 and on sale from 5:30 pm until 7:45 pm. Pot grows every week until won and is over $5,800!

Richer Fellowship Church at 50 Southeast Drive service is Sundays at 10:30 am with Pastor Ben Funk. Everyone is welcome.

Friday, July 28th: Deadline for submissions for the August issue of the EnRicher.

Every Monday: A.A. Meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at LUD Hall. Open to all.

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EnRicher

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For ads or news stories contact Dan at enricher@simplyconnected.ca or (204) 355-8798.

The EnRicher is published as a service by the Richer Community Club Inc.

The Richer Community Club hosted almost 50 vintage tractors in the park on June 10, serving up lunch to the drivers, volunteers and general public. This is the second year Tractor Trek has come to Richer.