Fine Lifestyles Parkland Manitoba Fall 2014

FineLifestyles FineLifestyles AUG/SEPT 2014 | VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3

PARKLAND MANITOBA

THE

EXPLORING THE LOVELY TOWN OF RUSSELL CELEBRATING CANADA’S NATIONAL UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL GLITZ AND GLAMOUR AT THE CANADIAN ARTS & FASHION AWARDS

DIAMOND DUO SHANNON TWEED AND DAUGHTER SOPHIE SHINE IN NEW REALITY TV SERIES

Something Missing

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BAUER • CCM • REEBOK • EASTON WA R R I O R • SH E R-WOOD • VA U G H N

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first word With Fine Lifestyles editor AnnA DelAney

O

h summer, how do I love thee?

The warm, sunny days turning into balmy, starry nights — these are the times to truly take advantage of Parkland and all its beauty.

In this third issue of Fine Lifestyles Parkland Manitoba we get to know more of the people and businesses that make this region so unique. Inside the following pages we take a special look at the town of Russell — a beautiful Manitoba gem with a vibrant community spirit. We also have highlights of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival. The festival is a summer staple and this year’s event was one to remember.

In our cover story we are thrilled to feature actress and model, Shannon Tweed, and her daughter, Sophie. We visited them at their Los Angeles family home to talk about their hit reality TV series, Shannon and Sophie. The mother-daughter duo is a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry and we are honoured to have them grace our cover.

We hope you enjoy this issue, Parkland, and we hope you cherish every summer moment as the season comes to a close.

Happy reading!

FineLifestyles PARKLAND MANITOBA

www.finelifestyles.ca August/September 2014 Volume 3, Issue 3 Editor Anna Delaney annad@finelifestyles.ca Art Direction Amber Moon (Senior), Lisa Redden (Associate) Design Natasha Burkholder Staff Writers Trina Annand, Henny Buffinga, Melanie Furlong, Tobie Hainstock, Rebecca Henderson, Tonya Lambert, Tori Stafford, Courtney Tait Cover Photography Austin Young Photography Dori Fee Photography, Heather Fritz, Ashley Johnson, Mark Keating, Jenna Ludwig, Al Marshall, Kelly Michaluk, Lori-Ann Munro, Todd Pedersen, George Pimentel, Julie Shiner, Terrie Welwood, Austin Young Contributing Writers Charlie Calarco, Angela Campagnoni, Heather Fritz, Rebecca Schneidereit, Sarah Vermette Associate Publisher Susan Gellert, susang@finelifestyles.ca 306.641.5616 Subscriptions kellym@finelifestyles.ca

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Fine Lifestyles Parkland Manitoba is published six times a year by Fine Lifestyles Ltd. All contents of Fine Lifestyles publications are copyrighted 2014 with all rights reserved, except for original articles submitted to Fine Lifestyles, where copyright resides with the author. No other part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Fine Lifestyles. The views and opinions expressed in the expert advice columns herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Fine Lifestyles or the companies it represents.

Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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16 20

Shannon interjects, “We might not chew with our mouths open, but what you see is really what you get!”

CONTENTS

Best friends mom and daughter have “always hung out a lot” but as Sophie is growing up and away, Shannon sees a bit of a role reversal.

STYLE.......................................................6 “Now without the boys in it, I’veHEALTH become the idiot and she’s the & WELLNESS........................8 smart one,” Shannon laughs. “Before, Gene was the idiot and the ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT....16 rest of us were smart! The juxtaposition is completely reversed SPORTS, RECREATION & TRAVEL......24 and now I’m getting a taste of what he went through.”

HOUSE & HOME...................................26

She’s philosophical about parenting children who are BUSINESS.............................................30 adults themselves.

WHEELS................................................34 Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards.....6

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COVER: The Diamond Duo: Shannon and Sophie ..................................................16 Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival ....................................20 Exploring Russell, Manitoba ................ 37

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CANADIAN ARTS AND

FASHION AWARDS

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By

By Angela Angela Campagnoni Campagnoni Photos Photos courtesy courtesy CAFA CAFA by

by George George Pimentel Pimentel

brought attention to Canadian talent on the world stage.

Jeanne Beker scored the 2014 Vanguard Award Honouree title. It was a muchdeserved accomplishment for Beker, considering she is one of the most recognized Canadian faces in fashion.

Winner for Menswear Designer of the Year went to Travis Taddeo. Jeremy Laing, who apprenticed for Alexander McQueen, took the winning spot for Womenswear Designer of the Year.

Ottawa-born twins Byron and Dexter Peart took home Accessory Designer of the Year, as well as honours for their brand WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie, which features a collection of bags and accessories.

LEFT Supermodel Coco Rocha, Twin Designer Duo Dean and Dan Caten of DSQUARED2 ABOVE Angela Campagnoni & Pamela Andrews

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strive to increase the visibility of the fashion industry, so you can imagine how honoured I felt to be asked to be a jury member for the first-ever Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA) held in Toronto earlier this year.

I was selected along with a team of industry professionals that have a strong understanding of the Canadian fashion industry and the impact of fashion worldwide.

Canadian designers struggle to establish themselves as international contenders.

Even top designers who have chosen to stay in the country have to work diligently to remain visible.

This is how CAFA was born. Organizers wanted to honour those who have had an impact on the industry and to support its growth.

CELEBRATING FASHION Twin designers Dean and Dan Caten earned a double victory at CAFA. The Torontoborn brothers behind the renowned Milan-based label DSQUARED2 were recognized with an award for outstanding achievement, and also received the award for the International Canadian Designer of the Year. This award honours designers who have had success abroad and have

Other categories included the Canadian Style Award, which was given to Joe Fresh creative director Joe Mimran, who was named honourary chair of the 2014 event.

George Antonopoulos, a contributing fashion editor at Fashion Magazine and Men’s Fashion, was named stylist of the year.

The beautiful Coco Rocha won Model of the Year.

Photographer Chris Nicholls took home the Image Maker award. This award is presented to a Canadian photographer or filmmaker who has made a significant impact on the Canadian industry.

Taking home the Emerging Talent Award was reining Toronto Fashion Incubator New Labels winner Sarah Stevenson.

At one point during the evening, I remember taking a step back and looking around the room filled with Canadian fashion elite. I wasn’t sure it was possible to top this experience, but later in the evening, I found myself getting a hug in the ladies’ room from Jeanne Beker. She’d discovered it was my 40th birthday that night. The hug became the cherry on the top of my fashion “Sunday.”

To see a link to the full album from the CAFA Awards, visit my blog at angelacampagnoni.com.

Angela Campagnoni is the director of City Models in Halifax and founder/director of Atlantic Fashion Week. For more information, visit angelacampagnoni.com

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The

VAST

WORLDof Alternative Health Part 2 of 3

BY SARAH VERMETTE

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t’s not uncommon to find certain alternative therapies being offered in hospitals and conventional health programs to help patients manage pain and side effects of treatment.

In part two of this three-part series, we’re looking at four alternative therapies often used as complementary approaches in conjunction with western medicine. Each of these can also be widely beneficial as stand alone therapies.

Acupuncture Acupuncture began in China and is one of the oldest medical procedures in the world still being practiced.

An acupuncturist inserts very thin needles through the skin at certain points on the body to help restore the flow of energy, called qi (pronounced chee).

Qi, the vital energy (life force), flows through the body along a network of channels called meridians, and affects a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health. Qi has two life forces, called yin and yang, which are opposite forces that work together to form a whole.

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Biofeedback Biofeedback is a technique in which people are trained to improve their health by using signals from their own bodies.

Clinicians rely on machines that act as a sixth sense, allowing patients to recognize activity inside their bodies.

One commonly used type of machine picks up electrical signals in the muscles and translates these signals into a form, such as a flashing light, that the client and practitioner can detect. The practitioner then works with the patient until they learn how to adjust their internal responses.

Clients can be taught relaxation exercises, learn how to identify what triggers their symptoms, and how to avoid or cope with stressful events. Biofeedback helps clients learn how to remedy some physical ailments and empowers them to take responsibility for maintaining their own health.

Osteopathy Osteopathic philosophy embraces the notion that the body is naturally able to heal itself. The practitioner of traditional osteopathy works with the body to enhance this natural ability to self-regulate and self-heal.

Palpation is a diagnostic skill the practitioner uses to feel or sense the state of the tissues or systems being examined. This sense encompasses the many sensory aspects of touch, such as the ability to detect moisture, texture, temperature and subtle motion. With experience, practitioners learn to palpate not just superficially, but also very deeply within the body.

Reiki Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Reiki treats the whole person, including body, emotions, mind and spirit, creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and well-being.

It is administered by laying on hands, and is based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s life force energy is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use.

Be sure to check the next issue for part three of this series, where we will discuss alternative therapies that treat a wide array of symptoms with the use of ingested or inhaled substances.

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Healing the Body, Mind and Soul

By Rebecca Henderson Photos Lorri-Ann Munro

H

eather Bednarski knows all too well the pain and suffering associated with illness. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the life-altering illness characterized by chronic and widespread pain. After discovering the immense healing benefits of alternative medicine, Heather knew it was her purpose to help others regain their health; she knew she ABOVE Heather Bednarski

had been given the gift of physical, mental and spiritual well-being and balance so she could share it with others.

Cura te ipsum is a powerful Latin saying which translates to “take care of your own self,” and it’s something Heather brings with her every day to her practice at Diamond H Essentials Pain Management Clinic in Swan River.

As a Manual Osteopath, Reiki Master, Registered Massage Therapist, and Certified Lensen Therapist, Heather offers treatments to balance the muscles and realign bones and joints, resulting in balance of body, mind and soul and offering physical, mental and spiritual tranquility.

Recognizing the body as a whole structure, rather than targeting a specific area, is Heather’s approach to holistic healing.

She started her extensive training at the Northern Institute of Massage Therapy, specializing in an osteopathic technique known as Lensen. Lensen focuses on methods to access and correct pain in order to provide long-term relief. Throughout her studies into alternative health practices, Heather consistently noted the immense relief her clients received from Lensen’s osteopathic techniques. Inspired by this technique, Heather went back to school to become a Manual Osteopath (DOMP) at the National Academy of Osteopathy in Toronto. Osteopathy is the practice of moving, stretching and massaging a person’s muscles and joints to relieve pain.

Many of Heather’s clients describe her non-invasive techniques as a feeling of rejuvenation; they say they feel whole again after an accident or illness. Heather recalls a client who had been in an accident almost 30 years ago and was still dealing with back pain. “It takes time, but there is a way.

Through these natural alternatives, we can decrease your level of pain,” she says. ”It’s about becoming balanced and accessing your own energy’s centre.”

Heather’s unique and powerful approach to wellness and healing has garnered her the attention of many clients, some of whom have even called her past instructors to show gratitude for how much Heather has helped them. Humbly taking the focus off of herself, Heather quickly adds, “It was really about telling them (the instructors) how much these types of alternative medicines have helped them.”

Because her business has been steadily expanding, Heather needs more room to let Diamond H Essentials grow. The clinic will still be in Swan River, however, it will soon be moving to 405 Westwood Road.

Diamond H Essentials 405 Westwood Road Swan River, MB 204.734.0998

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Cold Sores

Trevor Shewfelt Pharmacist

Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy 633–3rd Street South West Dauphin 204.638.4602 www.dcp.ca

C

old sores — which often appear on the gums, lips, inside of the cheek, nose and fingers — are caused by the Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV-1) virus.

HSV-1 infections happen when the virus gets on the skin or mucous membrane and makes its way into a nerve cell. The HSV-1 will then live in the nerve cell for life. In young adults, 20 to 40 per cent are infected with HSV-1. Each year beyond age 29 another 1.5 per cent of patients reportedly contract the infection, up to age 50. By age 70, 90 per cent of us will be infected.

Half the people who get cold sores describe a tingling, burning or stinging

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sensation in the area where the cold sore is going to erupt. We call these prodromal symptoms. The first visual sign is fluid filled blisters. Then the blisters break and ooze virus filled liquid. Finally, the broken blisters scab over and start to heal. Cold sore symptoms last about seven to 10 days. Then the virus retreats into the nerve cell.

docosanol 10 per cent and prevents viruses from entering the cells. Abreva should be applied five times a day as soon as someone has symptoms. If the cold sore doesn’t go away in 10 days, the person should see a doctor. Studies show Abreva treated patients had their cold sores heal 18 hours faster than placebo patients.

Outbreaks can be triggered by trauma to the skin, menstruation, sun exposure, stress, illness, fever or other insults to the immune system. Most people only have two occurrences per year, but five to 10 per cent of patients can have more than six episodes per year.

Lipactin contains 17.8 units of heparin and 0.56 mg of zinc sulfate per gram. As with Abreva, it should be used about five times per day and should be started as soon as possible. Studies on Lipactin’s use are hard to find. However, it is cheaper than Abreva and anecdotally many people have used it and have been happy with the results.

We can’t cure cold sore infections.

However, there are a few prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can help reduce the outbreak duration.

One amino acid may even help reduce the outbreak frequency.

The prescription product Valacyclovir 2000 mg twice a day for one day works well if started within six hours of the first symptoms. Valacyclovir suppresses cold sore virus replication. Studies say Valacycolvir heals cold sores 24 hours faster than placebo. But Valacycolvir is expensive and works best if your doctor prescribes it ahead of time so it is ready for early symptoms.

The two OTC products I recommend are Abreva and Lipactin. Abreva is the newer, and more expensive product.

Abreva is the only OTC approved by the FDA to heal cold sores. Abreva contains

There are no studies, but anecdotally the amino acid L-Lysine can prevent cold sore outbreaks. We’ve had several people with recurrent cold sores take L-Lysine 500 mg every day and get far fewer cold sores than they used to.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about these or other products, ask your pharmacist.

The information in this article is intended as a helpful guide only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional advice. If you have any questions about your medications and what is right for you, see your doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional.

We now have most of the articles published on our website www.dcp.ca

Natural Path to Wellness Our goal is to help you learn how to increase your health and vitality by having the tools to make healthy living a reality.

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Be Fit 24/7

By Trina Annand Photos Lorri-Ann Munro

W

ith a busy modern life filled with long workdays and fast food fixes, it is hard to remember to set time aside for yourself.

A healthy lifestyle is the best gift people can give themselves to ensure a better future. There have been numerous studies on the positive health and mood benefits of an active lifestyle, and as a result our culture is becoming more health-conscious. At Fit 24/7, owners Shane Unruh, Kelsa Ewasko and their dedicated team of instructors know the importance of a healthy

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LEFT Owners Shane Unruh and Kelsa Ewasko

lifestyle. As the newest fitness facility in Swan River, Fit 24/7 proves exercising can be fun as well as rewarding.

Fit 24/7 began with a simple concept: bringing a full urban-style gym to rural Manitoba. In their new 4,500- sq.-ft. facility, filled with state-ofthe-art new equipment, the team at Fit 24/7 helps guide clients on the road to success. “We love helping people achieve their goals. Seeing their confidence grow is an amazing thing,” notes Unruh. The business takes a unique approach to client success with programs tailored to each person’s goals, fitness levels and even mood on a given day. Each new client gets a tour of the facility, and an orientation on the equipment safety is key. It’s not enough to simply do the exercise — it is important to do it right, maximizing its effectiveness and avoiding possible injuries.

If a client is not comfortable working out alone, or needs help achieving specific goals, there are onstaff personal trainers at Fit 24/7. Once the cold weather sets in, there is no need to slow down a workout schedule; with a vast array of equipment to keep workouts fresh, and daily fitness classes, there is something for everyone at the gym.

Visitors to Fit 24/7 can take part in a bootcamp program, and for those who thrive on challenges, Zumba and high-intensity interval training classes are also available. “There is a common misconception that gyms are only for people who are in shape; in reality, a gym is the place you come to get in shape and feel better about yourself. We provide a very welcoming environment for our clients; people aren’t going to judge you and there is always someone here to help,” says Unruh.

The fully equipped fitness facility features showers and change rooms for those who like to work out before or after work. There is even a pro shop on site featuring nutritional supplements, as well as workout and yoga apparel. Every aspect of Fit 24/7’s approach is geared towards ensuring client success — whether you are a new mom, a person with a sedentary job, or someone who is looking to reach a fitness goal, such as training for a triathlon. When planning a journey to a healthier you, simply call or visit Fit 24/7 — where fitness becomes a way of life, not a chore.

Fit 24/7 204.734.8408 354 Currie Road, Swan River |

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The

Diamond Duo:

Shannon Tweed and Daughter Sophie Shine in New Reality TV Series

By Heather Fritz Photos Heather Fritz and Austin Young

W

hen the A&E reality show Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels premiered in 2006, fans began a voyeuristic love affair that lasted seven seasons. We laughed, cried, gasped, raised our eyebrows and shook our heads in disbelief as KISS rock legend Gene Simmons, actress and former Playboy model Shannon Tweed and their two children, Nick and Sophie, bared their all for our reality viewing pleasure.

The show ended in 2012, but fans can now get their Tweed-Simmons reality kick as the ‘diamond duo’ of the famous family star in their own show, aptly called Shannon & Sophie.

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Fans watched little Sophie grow up in the front of the camera; now that she is entering a more independent period of life, she and her mother thought bringing the old Family Jewels fans along for the ride might be fun.

attended college and stepped out of her parents’ shadow with a short run on the TV music competition series The X Factor.

Her Surrey-based charity, Sophie’s Place, is part of an outreach centre treating nearly 4,000 abused children a year.

“It seemed like a natural continuation,” Shannon says at home in the TweedSimmons mansion. “We ended Family Jewels kind of abruptly so there are a lot of fans sort of wondering what we’re all doing now.”

When Sophie wondered out loud about a show that focused on the motherdaughter pair, Shannon pitched it to Force Four Entertainment. Eight episodes were produced and the show premiered in May on the W Network.

What are they doing now? To say they’ve been busy is an understatement. Gene tours with KISS and is heavily involved in production and charity work. He has also recently taken on the rapidly expanding network of ‘family-friendly rock ‘n roll experience’ restaurants called Rock and Brews — the first Canadian location is coming soon to Shannon’s hometown of Saskatoon. Shannon’s doing voice over and television work, has a hand in The Smartest Person in Canada game show and works with the Canadian Cancer Society.

Nick finished college with a degree in English and World Literature, is a writer, voice over actor and musician. Sophie

“I think there is a lot of reality TV out there that focuses on the drama and fighting; I thought maybe people would just like to see a mom and daughter being happy and enjoying life,” says Sophie. “I honestly don’t know a lot of mothers and daughters who are as close as my mom and I.” Shannon & Sophie is billed as a reality show, and for the most part, that’s true.

“Of course we know we’re being filmed,” she adds. “So we’re very conscious that whatever we’re doing is permanent. If something happens, we just deal with it, get over it and go on with life. It’s a reality show, but it’s our life,” she says.

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“Eventually, your children grow up and become smarter than you.

I don’t know how that happens! The beauty of getting older is that stuff doesn’t bother you. You just want your children to flourish and grow. I’m just glad to be a part of that.”

For her part, Sophie is nonplussed about wading into another reality show with all the television cameras intruding in a good portion of her life.

“I grew up in the entertainment industry, so having cameras around is normal for me,” she shrugs. “Yeah, it’s kind of annoying they film everything but it’s nice to have those home movies we can look back on.”

It’s clear Shannon admires and respects the woman her daughter has become, perhaps with tougher skin than she had at that age.

“For Sophie, maybe it was good to get that public humiliation out of the way early,” Shannon laughs. “I mean having parents like us, having your baby pictures and your awkward growth phase up there for everyone to see. She’s stronger than I thought she was and can handle more pressure than I probably could have at that age,” she says. “When I made mistakes when I was 24, they were private. Now you do anything and the world sees it and judges you.”

Shannon interjects, “We might not chew with our mouths open, but what you see is really what you get!”

Best friends mom and daughter have “always hung out a lot” but as Sophie is growing up and away, Shannon sees a bit of a role reversal.

“Now without the boys in it, I’ve become the idiot and she’s the smart one,” Shannon laughs. “Before, Gene was the idiot and the rest of us were smart! The juxtaposition is completely reversed and now I’m getting a taste of what he went through.”

She’s philosophical about parenting children who are adults themselves.

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As the producers wait for the show to be picked up in the U.S. and Canadian markets, Shannon and Sophie are happy to be sharing authentic lives with new and old fans.

“I’m not interested in mothers and daughters who don’t get along. I think we see enough of that on TV, and we see enough fake interactions,” Shannon says, and suddenly studies her daughter closely.

“Hey, you’re wearing my pants!” she says.

“Yeah? Well, you’re wearing my shoes,” Sophie replies without missing a beat.

THUNDERS RESTAURANT & SALOON 19 Memorial Blvd., Dauphin 204-638-6080

Celebrating the Heritage and Culture of Ukrainian-Canadians By

By Tori Tori Stafford Stafford Photos Photos Ashley Ashley Johnson Johnson Courtesy Courtesy of of Canada’s Canada’s National National Ukrainian Ukrainian Festival Festival

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As the summer sun drenches the lush greenery of the season, thousands descend each year to the Parkland region to celebrate their heritage and engage in traditional music, dance and culinary delights.

C

anada’s National Ukrainian Festival is the quintessence of the multiculturalism that defines our country, celebrated by those of Ukrainian lineage and those who enjoy exploring the cultural makeup of this land. This year, approximately 8,000 people came together for the festival, held annually on the long weekend of August in Dauphin, a city rich in Ukrainian-Canadian history and idyllic for just such an event.

Now in its 49th year, Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival is a feast for all the senses. The soft, sweet aroma of fresh baking bread envelops.

The vibrant colours of intricately embroidered shirts and bright floral wreath headdresses light up in the sun. The sounds of both traditional and modern popular Ukrainian music tempt toes to tap. The sweet and savoury delicacies stimulate taste buds and satisfy cravings. And the feeling is nothing short of magical.

“Once you get involved with the festival, it kind of becomes a part of you,” says David Katcsma, president of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival.

“As an organizer, it basically takes up your whole summer, but it becomes a part of your life, and so it is a fun and interesting time each year.”

From Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday Aug. 3, this year’s event filled the Selo Ukraina festival pavilion, the only such venue of its kind in Canada, boasting a 12,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre and three outdoor stages.

The site is also home of the Ukrainian Centennial Memorial Park, which honours and pays tribute to the many Ukrainian-Canadians who fought for Canada over the last century. The Ukrainian Centennial Memorial Park commemorates the arrival of Ukrainian pioneers in Canada, as well as those lost in the Ukraine Great Famine from 1932 to 1933.

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Easter eggs — is a rewarding experience.

“Oh, they get right in there!” Katcsma exclaims with a laugh, explaining teens and those in their 20s seem to come to the festival in groups, and truly enjoy the experience. “They do things such as actual bread baking and learning how to braid the breads, make the fancy bread rolls and how to make the pyroghy (pierogi) and the cabbage rolls. It is great to see.”

In keeping with the objective of honouring Ukrainian-Canadian heritage, Selo Ukraina is also home to the Ukrainian Heritage Village, a living museum demonstrating a pioneer settlement circa 1896-1925. The museum is complete with re-enactors dressed in traditional attire, three pioneer homes, farm buildings with antique equipment, a shoe shop, a church, a prairie school and a general store. It is here young UkrainianCanadians, and those of other lineages, can learn about the earliest Ukrainian settlers in Canada and the lifestyles led

by Ukrainian pioneers.

While a majority of the festival is aimed at entertaining — with dance troupes, bands, musicians, and hands-on lessons in traditional Ukrainian-Canadian baking and

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arts — there is a constant undertone of education, Katcsma explains. “It is not only entertainment, it is also a huge learning experience,” he says, noting the younger generations of Canadians are less aware of the pioneer lifestyles of those settling in the Prairies less than 150 years ago. “The Festival is important primarily to carry on our heritage, the culture and the language for educational purposes.”

Katcsma was pleased this year to see a number of younger attendees in the crowds, as well as a large number of families. For him, and the other organizers who work year-round to ensure the festival is a success, seeing attendees engaging in the activities — and taking part in lessons on traditional arts, such as painting “Pysanky,” traditional Ukrainian

With Ukrainian superstar, Ruslana Lyzhychko, (more commonly known by just her first name) taking the main stage on the final day of this year’s festivities, more than 7,500 people filled the amphitheater to take in the “People’s Artist of Ukraine.” Both camping areas were quite full, as well, Katcsma says, but with the 50th anniversary of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival taking place next year, the president is certain even more people will flock to Dauphin to mark the event.

“It will be 50 years since the inception of the festival itself, and we’re actually working on strategies and planning things already,” says Katcsma, noting the 2015 festival will incorporate many classical Ukrainian-Canadian traditions and arts from festivals past as a “stroll through memory lane.”

“It’s going to be a huge event and we’re anticipating a large number of people,” he says. “It’s definitely one to mark on the calendar — it’s going to be fantastic.”

events PARKLAND MANITOBA

AUG/SEPT

AUGUST 24 Symphony Under the Sky Dauphin AUGUST 28 Farmer’s Market Swan River Gathering Place On Main Street AUGUST 30 Threshing Day Dauphin AUGUST 30 Color Blast 5K Dauphin Recreation Services Grounds AUGUST 30 Annual Guzzlers Car Show Between Mall & Canadian Tire Dauphin AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 1 RM of Lawrence 100th Anniversary Celebration Rorketon SEPTEMBER 1 Mafeking Duck Race and Barbecue Mafeking SEPTEMBER 6 & 7 MS Bike Tour - Riding Mountain Challenge Dauphin SEPTEMBER 13 Cachefest Dauphin SEPTEMBER 13 Johnny Cash Tribute Show Watson Art Centre Dauphin

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A R C R

ON THE ON THE

WILD WILD SIDE SIDE A Glimpse of the Galápagos Islands ByCourtney CourtneyTait Tait By

A Glimpse of the Galápagos Islands

By Courtney Tait

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alking with giant tortoises, observing blue-footed boobies perform their mating dance, snorkelling with sea lions, and watching iguanas feast on flowers aren’t the daily activities of a paradise resort. But the Galápagos Islands aren’t your typical vacation destination.

VOLCANIC LANDSCAPES AND FEARLESS CREATURES While the archipelago, which includes 13 main islands and seven smaller ones, features a landscape much more raw than you might expect in the tropics, its dramatic mix of cracked lava, rock pools, cacti forests, and fertile greenery display a unique beauty that’s almost as thrilling as

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the colonies of animals and birds that live amongst it… almost.

You’ll be struck by how unperturbed the animals are by your presence. The islands were never connected to a major landmass, so all the animals endemic to Galápagos arrived by swimming or flying.

Without large predators around (the giant tortoise is the biggest creature to settle there), the animals evolved without learning to fear them. For tourists, this means experiencing a multitude of upclose encounters and incredible photo opportunities.

THE HIGHLIGHTS No trip to Galápagos would be complete with seeing the giant tortoises for which the

islands were named by early Spanish explorers. Some companies will take you to a farm in the highlands of Santa Cruz, where you can see these endangered creatures — some of which exceed 1.5 metres in length — in the wild.

Isla Sante Fe boasts one of the best viewing spots for land iguanas, while San Salvador is home to hundreds of marine iguanas. Fur seals can also be spotted at San Salvador, and you can swim with them in pools that have formed under stone archways.

Watch out for nests built by blue-footed boobies on Isla Seymour, one of Galápagos’ best breeding grounds for seabirds. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a male blue-footed booby showing off his feet in a mating dance.

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alking with giant tortoises, observing blue-footed boobies perform their mating dance, snorkelling with sea lions, and watching iguanas feast on flowers aren’t the daily activities of a paradise resort. But the Galápagos Islands — the South American archipelago where Charles Darwin gathered the data that inspired his theory of evolution — aren’t your typical vacation destination.

Made up of volcanic rock, desert-like vegetation, lava formations and forested highlands, the islands are located 1,000 kilometres from mainland Ecuador and draw over 100,000 visitors annually, many of whom come face-to-face with some of the rarest species on earth. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, Galápagos will undoubtedly fulfill your vision of paradise.

BELOW Sally Lightfoot Crab, Blue-footed Booby, Giant Tortoise

Volcanic landscapes and Fearless creatures When Darwin arrived to Galápagos in 1835, he was initially unimpressed, writing, “Nothing could be less inviting than the first appearance. A broken field of black basaltic lava is everywhere covered by a stunted brushwood, which shows little sign of life.” While the archipelago, which includes 13 main islands and seven smaller ones, features a landscape much more raw than you might expect in the tropics, its dramatic mix of cracked lava, rock pools, cacti forests, and fertile greenery display a unique beauty that’s almost as thrilling as the colonies of animals and birds that live amongst it… almost.

Whether you’re watching pink flamingoes searching for krill, sea lions relaxing on rocks, or flightless cormorants stretching their wings, you’ll be struck by how unperturbed the animals are by your presence. The islands were never connected to a major landmass, so all the animals endemic to Galápagos arrived by swimming or flying. Without large predators around (the giant tortoise is the biggest creature to settle there), the animals evolved without learning to fear them. For tourists, this means experiencing a multitude of up-close encounters and incredible photo opportunities.

Galápagos was granted World Heritage Status in 1978, and 97 per cent of the area is a national park. Humans inhabit five of the islands, and the growing population (recorded as 25,124 in 2010) is a threat to the archipelago’s fragile

The coast of Plaza Sur is crowded with sea lions. Plenty of land iguanas are visible, and the island’s black cliffs are home to various seabirds and the rare Galápagos hawk.

The dark-red sand beach of Rábida is a lounging spot for sea lions, while further inland, flocks of pink flamingoes can be seen floating on a lake. Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) is a tidal lagoon where green Pacific turtles mate.

Bartolomé features an outstanding view of craters, fields of dried lava and the sharply-peaked Pinnacle Rock.

Excellent snorkelling around the rock gives the chance to see penguins as

they hunt underwater. On the other side of the island, observe reef sharks within metres of the waters’ edge.

The largest of the Galápagos Islands, Isabela still has volcanic activity, with five cones visible. At Tagus Cove you can hike a path to see the island’s lava fields. Watch colonies of penguins and other seabirds along the cliffs.

Fernandina is the most westerly island in the Galápagos. Because it is so remote, it’s also one of the least visited, which makes it even more pristine.

Lava flows, the archipelago’s largest colony of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and penguins can all be observed here.

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RESTORING

Beauty GIVING NEW LIFE TO ANTIQUE FURNITURE

By Charlie Calarco

Decorating in your home is very personal — it reflects your sense of artistry, colour, style and taste. This is especially true of your furniture. What was once favoured years ago is often not appealing today.

Yet, much of the furniture of yesterday has beautiful lines — whether simple or ornate — that can be morphed into absolute showpieces.

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piece strong. Replace missing or broken dowel pins and the like. This is especially important if you are doing chairs, since good appearance lacks something if your guests cannot sit on your piece of art without fearing that it will collapse under them.

Assuming all is now glued and solid, the next step is a good wash with detergent and warm water. Don’t be too liberal with the water, and dry things off promptly.

In the event there is old wax or the like, a wash with a rag dampened with paint thinner will remove that. Let everything dry completely for several days.

WhAT’S NeXT? If the piece is a family heirloom, or you want to reserve the ability to change later, it is a good idea to apply one or two coats of shellac before you do any painting. Brush on two coats with a half-day between them to dry properly. Work in a warm place away from open flame. Shellac serves as an isolation layer, allowing paint to be cleanly removed later, and also sealing in musty odors, which are sometimes found in old case pieces. The shellac should be applied to the inside and outside of the piece, as well as thoroughly to all parts of drawers, etc.

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all it shabby chic, rustic elegance or whatever name you desire, the path to presenting these older pieces in the impactful visual idiom of the present day can involve something as basic as creative use of paint.

Whether you have inherited an old piece, found a treasure at the antique store, farmers’ market or auction, before you strike out, it is always a good idea to search out examples of painted furniture and get a feel of what speaks to your sense of artistry.

The piece ought to be a visual triumph, not merely one that has had a coat of paint “slapped on”. You must also consider that you may change your mind later on, as fashion comes and goes.

fIRST STePS You should begin by examining your piece of furniture carefully. Are there loose or missing pieces of trim? This may be an asset if you handle them carefully. Are there open glue joints? Does the piece have the “wobbles”? Have the mice found a nice place to build their nests? Is there scaling or missing finish? Look for any serious defect.

First, you must clean old dust, dirt, cobwebs and the like by brushing or vacuuming. Then get some good carpenter’s white or yellow wood glue at the hardware store and make the

The Good STuff Now for the artistic part. What effect have you decided to achieve? Really, you are limited only by your imagination. The following will come in handy regardless of choice.

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5

9

A good grade of painter’s green or blue masking tape—to keep paint from places it is not wanted

Some #120 and #220 abrasive paper — garnet or aluminum oxide

Poly drop cloths to keep the work area neat

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6

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Medium steel wool – size #1- for rub throughs

Paste wax—the hard kind in the squat can—for final rub down

At least two good lamps like desk lamps to allow you to view how light falls on your work from different angles

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Fine steel wool—size #000 for smoothing between paint coats

Old absorbent rags to clean up gunk and paint spills

Natural glue (fish glue) for crackled finishes

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A good paint brush(es)—don’t be satisfied with cheap ones

Some paper towel

Paint of the colours in your design

While basic steps like taping off areas, toning and shading with different paint colours, rubbing through high points etc., are fairly straight-forward, some things like the glue crackle finish are, while spectacular, more difficult to achieve. Glazing is also a technique that requires a light touch and some practice.

Checking out the Internet for examples and advice is always a good idea. The finished piece, while showcasing your artistry, will also serve in day-to-day use for a long time hence.

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Ryan Keown, branch manager and real estate salesperson; Melissa Moffit, sales associate; Sara Eys, sales associate; Karen Goraluk, authorized official/real estate agent, JoAnn Zimmer, sales associate

For All of your Insurance & Real Estate needs contact the professionals at NorthStar Insurance & Real Estate!

227 Main Street, Roblin | 204.937.8357 | www.north-star.ca | www.mls.ca

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Telecommuting

The Changing Face of the Office

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By Tobie Hainstock

nother workday is upon you. You’re up with the alarm and make your way to the shower. As you eat your breakfast, you listen to the traffic report; sounds like another challenging commute to the office. Checking the time, you realize that you’d better hurry if you’re going to make it to work on time.

For many of us, that scenario sounds very familiar.

The stereotypical 9 to 5 job has been a thorn in the side of the average worker for decades.

Throughout the past century songs, television shows and movies have portrayed the way the big bosses have attempted to drain the life out of their lowly employees. Dolly Parton’s working girl’s anthem declares, “You’re just a step on the boss man’s ladder...but you’ve got dreams he’ll never take away.” It’s that indication of hope that keeps us motivated that times will change.

That era of workplace reformation is nearer than you think. Many companies are re-evaluating the structure of their environment and making changes that not only affect their productivity, but their employee turnover rate as well.

As a result of this, many businesses are going with the virtual office and allowing employees to telecommute. This involves working from home and keeping in touch with colleagues through telephone and Internet. According to Global Workplace Analytics, 2.9 per cent of the American workforce (that’s about 3.3 million paid employees) work from home.

There are many advantages and disadvantages to working from home. Statistics Canada states this arrangement allows employees to have more flexibility to schedule activities, makes it easier to balance work and personal or family demands, reduces expenses and cuts commuting time.

Employers can look at a work from home arrangement as an opportunity to increase employee productivity, reduce operating costs, improve recruitment and retention of employees and decrease absenteeism.

There are some possible negative aspects to this model as well. Working at home may reduce one’s social circle, stifle career advancement or even increase their workload. Other arguments observe communication as a weak area, as well as the lack of control over quality of work and possible information security issues.

“The whole point to the working from home experience is to find the right people,” says Anne Rhoades, founder of People Ink Pro. As a consulting firm, People Ink Pro works with businesses to help them create workplace cultures that treat employees fairly, build a strong sense of loyalty and ultimately increase productivity and profitability. With her own strong team of professionals working from home, Rhoades speaks from experience when she describes the situation as ‘win-win.’

“People like to be in charge of their work environment. By allowing that freedom to employees, everyone benefits,” comments Rhoades. “The only real downside to this model is getting leaders to see that it really does work.”

The work-from-home example requires a slightly different way of looking at things and a number of changes are required by the supervisors and managers. “You need to change the way you communicate with your employees,” Rhoades notes. It takes strong leaders with excellent communication skills to manage a work-fromhome business.

Although some companies, such as Yahoo, have chosen to bring their employees back to the office, Rhoades is enthusiastic about hiring employees to work from home. She describes this model as an exciting new way of thinking.

“Try it with the right leaders and your company will see the benefits,” she advises.

www.peopleink.com www.statcan.gc.ca www.globalworplaceanalytics.com

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Increase performance...

It’s easy as 1, 2, 3

It’s just 3 questions....

• What should I stop doing?

• What should I keep doing?

Mick Lautt President Taiga Consulting 506 Main Street N. Dauphin 204.470.4872 taigaconsulting.ca mick.lautt@taigaconsulting.ca

O

ur ability to perform effectively as leaders, managers and team players will determine the success we achieve in our lives.

For those of us who strive to be better at whatever we do, this journey into self-development can lead into a sea of academic models, never-ending lists of tips and techniques, and shelves of books and articles telling us what to do and how to get to where we need to go. It’s overwhelming, and often we just don’t know where or how to start.

Throughout my career as a leadership trainer and business team coach, I have consistently found people need tools that are simple, easy to use and applicable to a broad range of circumstances.

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• What should I start doing?

The SKS (Stop - Keep - Start) tool developed by Phil Daniels, a psychology professor at Brigham Young University, is a quick, behavior-focused method that asks us to assess the reality of where we are now and to lay out a map to where we want to go.

Who can use the tool?

For leaders looking introspectively at their own performance, team members looking to share feedback with their mates and managers committed to coaching their staff, this tool is a gem. hoW It Works 1 What should I stop doing?

Reality check: What behaviors are unappreciated or ineffective? What negative patterns need to stop? To target something for elimination we need to know specifically what it is, and why it is important to stop doing it. Understanding what needs to stop, and why, will often help answer the last question: What should I start doing?

2 What should I keep doing?

Asset-based thinking is a powerful tool in the hunt for success. This question helps focus on what we are good at — our strengths; those behaviors we should celebrate and maybe do more often. This question is inspiring and esteem-building; it helps us discover and reinforce the positive behaviors that people appreciate and that have led to success in the past.

3 What should I start doing?

Here we shift our thinking from problem to possibility. As courageous seekers of selfimprovement (or while coaching others), the opportunities to close the gap between where we are and where we want to be can seem endless. The key is to start with one or two things you can consistently deliver.

With focus, patience and perseverance, behaviors can change. Once you achieve consistent success in one area, move on to the next important change you want to make, develop the plan and do the work.

Effective and successful people know what they are good at and where they need to improve. Use this simple and powerful tool for regular self check-ins, for team assessments and for feedback discussions with your staff to help you and those around you to move towards success. 1,2,3 - go!

Mick trains leaders and builds teams. Please contact Taiga Consulting for more information about business performance coaching, team building, consulting and training services.

ExpErt Advice Responsive Improving Web Design Online to Boost Communication Your Business

Richard Richard Bankert Bankert Owner Owner Richard Richard Bankert Bankert Web Web Design Design Box Box 970, 970, Dauphin, Dauphin, MB MB 204.648.4952 204.648.4952 www.richardbankertwebdesign.com www.richardbankertwebdesign.com

T I

HOw Can yOu ImprOve yOur once was a business that OnlInehere COnversatIOns? wanted to give away — n the freeway that we$1,000 call the free,how no do strings attached.

So, Internet, you keep someone’s they made a poster up attention online?

Howand do put youit get them to stop going 100 the m.p.h., all over town.

Unfortunately, textpull on overposter to thewas side pay you the soand small noattention one couldtoread 30the seconds? that aiscorner the wrong itfor and images Perhaps so large only was vision. Instead how showing up on of thetrying page.toSofigure evenout though to slow the traffic, look at zero how they haddown an amazing offer,we they had we can start conversations with traffic. response.

Do you have an amazing offer, We do this by opening up a drive-thru. but zero response from your website?

Today, 55 perdrive-thrus cent of the Internet is viewed How these are created can [1] on mobile devices .

Responsive web vary greatly based on the type of website design allows you properly display your that you have.

Antoe-commerce website content, regardless of the device that your will focus on a slightly different set of customers areaon.

This means yourwebsite. website goals than brochure style isEither displayed properly across any device, way, here are three general with no need for a mobile website or app. principles that can help you improve the When your website is updated, quality of your conversations on thisyour fastcontent is updated everywhere. It is paced highway.

am I On Camera?

It is so easy to videovisitors, on your easy website. convenient foruse your to With tools like YouTube, Vimeo, andina manage for you, and saves you money smartphone, you can start producing the long run. videos about your products, services and Five Reasons WhY neeD promotions with little or no You effort on your a Responsive part.

The great thingWeBsite about videos is your customers already want to see your videos.

1. Google recommends it.

They are moving, fast-paced, engaging, With cent of Internet require70noper effort to watch and are searches therefore [2] , we want to make going Google perfectthrough for the fast moving freeway. sure we are building websites that Google Sometotypes of videos youresults. can create are: likes list in its search Google developers recommend using a responsive Virtual Tour website design because they are faster Productrequire Demonstration to index, no redirections, and haveEvent a single URL. Promotion 2. Improved search engine rankings.

HOw dId I get Here?

Onespend of the biggest reasons websites We a lot of time improving our become so stagnant due higher to poorinuser websites they willis rank the experience.

This canyou be have thought of the search engines.

When a desktopsame assite, designing a city like site, a maze. friendly a mobile-friendly and The goal of an theapp, city you planner is to keep maybe even are potentially the freeway moving fast, the goalsearch of the creating duplicate content - which maze maker is to get you lost.

There engines hate. It also means you have are to some simple questions you can look all for spend three times the effort to keep to improve your customers’ experience your sites updated. and start removing those dead ends.

3. Better user experience.

Is your website easy to navigate?

When a visitor arrives at your website, your website slow? youIswant to ensure they can get the information they need efficiently.

Is your design reflective Whether of your itbusiness? is an online purchase, a contact number or aIsquote responsive designs allow your form, content outdated? you to adjust your content to fit their device always easy to on read,our easy to Often,soif itwe are is working own navigate, and easy to make purchases on. websites too much, we do not realize the

bottlenecks or lost avenues in our work.

Make to get friends together and 4.

Staysure ahead ofsome the competition. have them navigate your website. Where We wantget our businesses to bethis able to do they stuck?

Remember, is not reach today’s your customers. not the as about training friends toWith navigate many businesses using responsive maze. It’s about understanding where web your designs, you get lost ahead them by customers arecan getting andofconnecting converting your website now. Leave those roads together. it and your customers will find your wHere Is site. yOur COntaCt competitor’s With an ever-growing InfOrmatIOn? number of mobile and tablet users, the Have you ever spent 20web minutes importance of responsive designon hasa company’s website trying to figure out never been higher. where their phone number is? Sometimes 5. Make more sales. it is downright painful to try and contact a According to BrandSpark, per cent company from their website.54When you of Canadians have used smartphones to have multiple ways for your customers [3] make a buying to reach you,decision. your conversations will increase, along with thefor quality those Is your website ready that of kind of conversations.

The simple fact is you mobile use? Customers are using their need to be easy toresearch find. So devices to reachable compareand prices, where is your contact info? products and make purchasing decisions, wherever they have On a contact page?cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. By not having a responsive On the every single page? website, youbottom are notofcatering to the large portion of your target market, and in the In a pop-up? process are losing money and business.

I’m not sure?

Improving your online conversations can http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/28/ pay big dividends. However, if you do technology/mobile/mobile-appsnothing, your customers will have to wait internet/ for your webpage to load, search around [2] tohttp://searchengineland.com/getfind the navigation, read a short novel ready-yahoo-slip-10-percent-searchjust to find out what you’re trying to say, share-191779 or spend five minutes searching for your [3] http://mobilesyrup.com/2014/01/ contact information.

Then, your website 15/54-of-canadians-have-used-theiris simply sitting beside the freeway with smartphone-to-make-a-purchasedecision/ your potential customers driving by.

[1]

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The New Amphibious Vehicles:

L uxurio u s Fun a n d ExcitEmEnt

By Rebecca Henderson Photos courtesy WaterCar

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American inventor, Oliver Evans, developed the first known self-propelled amphibious vehicle called the Orukter Amphibolos in 1805 — although it’s since been disputed whether it successfully travelled over land and water under its own steam.

Fast-forward more than 200 years and there’s not much to be disputed now.

Amphibious bicycles, ATVs, cars, buses, trucks, military vehicles and hovercrafts can be seen cruising through deserts, gliding over lakes and sometimes even submerging under water.

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hen you think of amphibious vehicles like, for example, hovercrafts, The Jetsons theme song may play in the back of your mind alongside a futuristic blinking sound. However, while George Jetson’s amphibious vehicle can fly through space, the ones currently being developed and used are a little more down to earth.

One of the most successful forays into the development of amphibious vehicles is California-based WaterCar, which established itself as a company to watch in 1999 for developing and marketing amphibious vehicles. “Growing up in southern California I was always involved in this kind of industry,” says WaterCar founder, Dave March. “We looked at the Second World War amphibious vehicles, which were real slow and realized we could do something better. We saw an opportunity.”

For March, what started out as a personal challenge to build the world’s fastest amphibious vehicle, turned into a successful and exciting career. “We weren’t really sure whether people would be interested in what we were doing,” says March. “No one has been very successful in the past, but once we started, people were really receptive to it.”

March says when they began developing their first model, millionaires from around the world continuously approached WaterCar looking to purchase their own amphibious vehicle. March has even taken a deposit from the Prince of Dubai. “We became overwhelmed by the reception,” he says. “We were doing it more for fun than anything else.”

However, March stresses that attaining a level of reliability and maintainability that was consistent with WaterCar’s standards and those of its prospective buyers was of the utmost priority. “Our team was adamant that we wouldn’t sell a product that we wouldn’t purchase ourselves,” says March.

After 14 years filled with successes and failures, it was in 2013 that the amphibious model, Panther, achieved the quality, reliability and maintainability March was looking for. “Each Panther is a custom-built vehicle,” says March.

In January 2010, March broke the Guinness amphibious speed record with WaterCar’s Python model. “I was driving,” recalls March, “and I was both excited and concerned because no one had ever gone that fast. We used a tremendous amount of caution.” March says the Python model reached speeds from 150 to 200 mph and looking back, he says, “I eventually became comfortable with the high speeds because once you get out there, it’s really cool. I can’t express what it’s like every time you drive one of these models.”

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WaterCar broke new ground when it came to developing amphibious vehicles.

It boasts a dozen different models that can go off-road, above water and even cruise down the highway. Models like the Turnkey Minus, which is a Panther package and includes everything you need to cover for land and water, is one of those vehicles. According to WaterCar’s website, all one has to supply is a new, rebuilt or a used Honda 3.5 or 3.7 V-TEC Engine and a 091 VW bus Transmission, along with your choice of custom paint and design. March says companies often reach out to WaterCar to market their brands in a unique way to pique consumers’ interest. “It’s definitely unusual, but it’s a great marketing piece of interest.”

While the military has used amphibious vehicles for years, it’s become more of a fun and exciting luxury novelty for those closer to a large mass of water. “Our models can keep up with other boats in the water,” says March. “You can even go water-skiing.” WaterCar’s Python model (a price tag of $200,000) used to break the Guinness record, reaches speeds of up to 60 mph in the water with a Dominator Jet and Corvette engine.

March says he was surprised by the various ways clients used their models.

“It’s been used in many ways we hadn’t even envisioned,” he says. “It’s very convenient for people who have an island and use it to travel to and from, as well as on land.”

Many clients also carry the models on their yachts when they encounter ports with restricted access. For those looking into purchasing an amphibious vehicle, the Panther is currently offered in three states of completion: Rolling Chassis, Turnkey Minus and Complete Custom.

However, please note, the Complete Custom version may be a challenge or impossible to license and register for street use in some states or provinces.

Visit watercar.fountainvalleybodyworks. com/ for more information.

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Russell Town Feature

Russell Manitoba: Live the Dream

I

By Tobie Hainstock Photos Al Marshall and Asessippi Parkland Economic Development Corp

magine living in the heart of lake country where the people are friendly, the air is clean and the lifestyle is active and healthy. Does it all sound too good to be real? Not for the residents of Russell, Manitoba.

Nestled in the heart of the Parkland, Russell offers residents and visitors the best of many worlds. Featuring all the major amenities — such as a school, health clinic, hospital, banks and shopping — this scenic town has a modest population of slightly

more than 1,600 people, but services a surrounding region of about 14,000 for trade purposes. “With all that we have to offer, Russell seems bigger than it actually is,” states Marcia Rowat, economic development officer. Being located on the Yellowhead Highway, and having so many services and businesses, adds a lot of life to this active centre.

Plenty of Opportunity Although the area is predominantly agricultural, with a potash mine only 40 minutes

away, the town enjoys a solid economy with many major employers in the area, such as Russell Redi Mix, Bungee Canada and other local businesses. “There are a lot of opportunities for residents of all ages,” comments Greg Boden, president of the Russell and District Chamber of Commerce. He goes on to say that over recent years there have been a number of unique small businesses open up in Russell. “We have a beautiful downtown that offers some truly unique stores that have recently popped up.” Those stores include such shops as Tin House Design,

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37

Russell Town Feature

Hometown Glory, Denim and Lace, Bin 22 Coffee Co., Russell Cut and Dried and more.

The variety of novelty shops provides a truly unique shopping experience for locals and tourists alike.

Boden adds he is thrilled the Russell and District Chamber of Commerce office is moving to the Travel Manitoba Booth. This new move will be an excellent opportunity to showcase the abundant tourism and business sector. “After the move, the Chamber of Commerce will also be pleased to extend tourism office hours,” he adds.

A Tourist’s Paradise Aside from agriculture and business, tourism is the next biggest industry, and

one of the key employers, for Russell. Rowat points out that, with Asessippi Provincial Park and Lake of the Prairies within close proximity of the town, visitors and residents can enjoy a number of outdoor activities, such as fishing, boating, golfing, downhill and cross-country skiing, baseball, hockey, swimming, ice fishing, camping, snowmobiling and more.

Many of the indoor activities take place at the Russell Regional Multi-Plex. This diverse facility is located on Main Street and plays host to hockey, figure skating, art workshops, ballet and belly dancing, weight training and anything else the community members can think of. The Russell Regional Multi-Plex is truly a well-used facility for such an active town.

Active Living

Beef and Barley Festival

Throughout the year the community is a hub of activities and events for all to participate in and enjoy. With street festivals, fish derbies, ice fishing derbies, sports, music festivals, snowmobile rallies, tradeshows and more, it’s easy for everyone to get as involved as they want.

Among the many events throughout the year is the very popular Beef and Barley Festival. What began as a fun homecoming festival for the Thanksgiving weekend has spiralled into an incredible weeklong event designated to celebrate the harvest.

According to festival chairperson Gillian

Russell Lions Prairie Lake Classic Walleye Tournament photo courtesy of Mark Keating

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Potter, this year’s Beef and Barley Festival runs from October 5 to 12.

There are a number of events that take place during the week, such as a scarecrow contest, old time country hoedown and family movie night. More fun-filled happenings take place as the weekend approaches. “The Home Works Trade Show starts on Thursday at the George P. Bulziak Centre and features more than 50 tables of unique exhibits,” states Potter.

On Friday, the festival king and queen are crowned. Potter explains this is a fundraising opportunity for high school students. Prior to the festival eight teams of four students each host a variety of fundraising events. The participants who raise the most money for their team are crowned king and queen.

Saturday starts off with a pancake breakfast and the day just keeps getting better. Folks enjoy taking part in such things as a cribbage tournament, three-on-three hockey tournament, kid’s farm day, beer gardens and the day ends with a cabaret.

Sunday is the final day of festivities with a local version of everyone’s favourite game show, The Amazing Race. A Rams hockey game at the multiplex closes the party for another year.

“It’s a lot of work but also a lot of fun,” remarks Potter. She goes on to say the Beef and Barley Festival wouldn’t be the success it is every year without the hard work and dedication of more than 30 volunteers. “We also draw a lot on our community groups to participate,” she adds, “They really do a great job.” For more information about the Beef and Barley Festival be sure to check them out on Facebook.

A Great Place to Call Home As a resident of Russell for the past 13 years, Boden is quick to sing its praises as a great place to live and work. “Russell is a very friendly and welcoming community and there’s always something going on,” he notes. Ideal for raising a family, Russell offers a healthy and active lifestyle, solid employment and business opportunities within a scenic location. Experience the beauty and simple life of Russell, Manitoba. www.russellmb.com Lamp Post – Main Street Russell, photo courtesy of Mark Keating FineLifestyles

Parkland Manitoba

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Russell Town Feature

D I N E AT T H E

TRAIL’S END

By Henny Buffinga Photos Julie Shiner

With the trail leading right up to the door, Tiff’s Restaurant and Lounge is the perfect spot for snowmobilers, locals and cottagers to dine on fresh homemade food and enjoy their vast selection of liquor and blended drinks.

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FineLifestyles

Parkland Manitoba Regina

“Awesome homecooked food in a relaxed atmosphere!

Can’t beat Tiff’s.”

—Cheri Totte, Russell, Man.

“Every time I come out this way I have to stop at Tiff’s! The food and atmosphere is amazing!”

—Rachael Luhowy, Winnipeg, Man.

T

aralee Chuchmuch is the proud owner of Tiff’s Restaurant and Lounge. Originally from Oakburn, Man., she moved to her home in Angusville with her husband in 2006, started a family and opened a coffee shop in the attached building. In 2012, they decided to go big and added another 1,000 sq. ft. to the building, including a full kitchen, a large dining area and a cocktail lounge. Their decision became reality within six months with the help of the excellent tradesmen from Legacy Builders, Lynn’s Electric and Birdtail Plumbing.

Visitors to the area might be surprised when they walk in the door to find such a stylish and spacious establishment in a small town with a population of 115 residents. “A lot of people have heard of my place because it’s a small town, and they need to see what we’ve done here in Angusville,” says Chuchmuch. “It’s the great atmosphere, home-cooked food and unique recipes that bring people back. A lot of people wouldn’t believe it’s in a town this size.”

With a fireplace in the wall, large comfortable chairs and banquet seating, Tiff’s has a great atmosphere for family dining and evening entertainment. With partitions separating the restaurant and cocktail lounge areas, Chuchmuch says she offers the best of both worlds.

Their menu is diverse, including homemade perogies, bacon scallops, Thai chicken bites,

ABOVE Taralee Chuchmuch

fresh-made pizzas and more. All items are freshly made on site, with few exceptions.

“I’ve created most of the recipes with my own tongue, so to speak,” Chuchmuch says. “You’re not going to find my food anywhere else.” Chuchmuch prides her establishment on providing high quality and consistent food for her customers, which really sets Tiff’s apart. They use “the real stuff” in all their recipes; you won’t find the pre-packaged food that comes with chain restaurants at Tiff’s.

Her restaurant also stays open late, so it’s a staple for regulars who get off the golf course late, or just don’t want to go home early. It’s one of the few places around that offers a full menu past 10 p.m.

Chuchmuch offers catering services to the area as well, which keeps her busy

in the summer. She offers a standard wedding-style menu for events, as well as one that caters to the needs of cottagers in the Silver Beach Lake area looking for a break from barbecuing.

Tiff’s is also busy in the winter season with snowmobilers. “Skidooing here is a big thing and everyone heads north from Angusville to Silver Beach. The trail comes right to my door, so it’s become quite a meeting place for skidooers,” she says.

Tiff’s Restaurant and Lounge is a work of passion, and Chuchmuch puts her heart into it. A mother of three, Chuchmuch is busy at work and at home, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tiff’s Restaurant 76 Main Street, Angusville 204.773.3344 |

Russell Town Feature

Small Town Service and Big City Prices at Parkland Computers and The Source Express By ByMelanie Melanie Furlong Furlong Photos PhotosJulie Julie Shiner Shiner

P

arkland is growing, but as Damien McNabb sees it, the people who choose to live in this area want a small town experience — and that means being treated like family. “Our customers want to be able to call us by name and not worry they’ll be treated like just another customer,” says McNabb, manager of Parkland Computers and The Source Express. “These people are family and they need our support. If there’s something they don’t understand, they can come to us and we will teach them.”

McNabb, with the financial assistance of two local investors, opened Parkland Computers four years ago with a focus

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on computer service repair and sales, network infrastructure and business solutions. In order to keep people shopping locally, the company decided to bring in a franchise. “At the time, The Source was interested in bringing the franchise to an existing, serviceable market within a store,” says McNabb. The Source Express has allowed the company to offer a full range of products including computer lines, cellular accessories, televisions, home entertainment and Internet services.

“We brought them in three years ago and we went from having 10 customers a day walk in to having 60 a day,” he says.

“It’s great for our community because

we have the same prices as any big city across the country.”

One of the latest products now available from Parkland Computers and The Source Express is Manitoba’s own wireless Internet, Netset. “It’s taken off quickly,” says McNabb. “And with a large tourism base like ours, it’s nice to be able to offer wireless Internet to clients in rural areas.

That falls right into what we do. We’re a solution-based company.”

McNabb and his staff want to see customers come to them to find out what their options are. “We want to find solutions that meet their needs and their budgets, too,” says McNabb. “We work

with everyone from students who are getting on their first tablets to seniors getting onto email and Facebook. We take the time to sit down with them and address their questions to make it as easy to use and as seamless as possible.”

Even snowbirds from the community get full support online too. “We’ll help them out with anything,” says McNabb.

“They know they can call us 24/7 if they run into a bind. We’re referred to as the computer gurus!”

In a large city your needs may be met, but it is unlikely you’ll ever see the same person again. “We’re in such a small environment that I will see the same customers over and over again,” says McNabb. “Our children may play together, I may meet them at a Council meeting or at the gas station. We have to make sure we’re not going to take advantage of a customer or dismiss the customer because they’re our customers for life and they’re our neighbours.”

Parkland Computers and The Source Express 213 Main St. North Russell 204.773.8324 techsales@parklandcomputers.ca www.parklandcomputers.ca Damien McNabb

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Parkland Manitoba

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Russell Town Feature

Hot Diggity Dog!

By Melanie Furlong Photos Terrie Welwood

O

n the picturesque Main Street of Russell, Manitoba, situated near the beautiful Lake of the Prairies, the delicious smell of barbecued smokies is drawing a crowd.

They're lining up for Guycho's hotdog stand outside the Sears Appliance store.

There's the eponymous Guy Dog, a beef hotdog; a Louie Burger, a beef burger named for Cindy; the Spud Dog, a regular smokie for his son, Brady; a Kake, a jalapeño cheddar smokie for his daughter, Kelsey; and the Bruzer Dog, an Italian smokie for his daughter, Brittany.

Next up on the Guycho's menu is a baloney burger, which Guy is certain will go down well with his patrons. “It's very unique,” he says. “And so far, the whole town is very supportive of this endeavour.

The lunch crowd starts at 11 a.m. and goes right until 2 p.m. ”

Guy Korell, who owns the Sears Appliance store with his wife, Cindy, recently added the hotdog cart and has been overwhelmed by its popularity. The cart sells five different sausage and burger options, plus specials, with all meats from Winnipeg Old Country. Each one is named after one of Guy's family members.

“The Jimmy Dog Special, which is a regular smokie with chili and cheese, chips and a pop, is named after our dog, Jimmy,” says Guy.

Besides the lunch hour on Main Street, Guycho's can also be seen at fairs, special events and outside the town's bar after hours.

Customers who know the family get a kick out of the nicknames for the dogs and some ask to have one named after themselves.

Guy is no stranger to entrepreneurship.

After retiring from his position with the telephone company 11 years ago, he

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TOP LEFT L-R Cindy, Guy, Brady, Brittany and Kelsey Korell

and Cindy opened the Sears Appliance store, bringing a much-needed service to the people of Russell and the rest of the Parkland area.

“If we didn't have it, people would really struggle with appliance purchases,” says Cindy. “We sell all national brands, and Kenmore, at very competitive prices so that people can shop in their own town.

We price match with big city centre stores, too.”

Besides the wide range of appliances in store, people from all over the Parkland area order through Sears' website and catalogues — for everything from clothes

to Christmas gifts for the kids from the latest Wish Book. “Sometimes it feels like we're running an old-fashioned general store,” says Cindy. “It's very convenient for locals to come in and pick up their parcels. We also have Purolator and UPS services available to them.”

Inside the Sears store is a tackle and bait shop for the fishers who come through on their way to the lake. “People come from Winnipeg and all around to stop in for bait and tackle to go fishing,” says Guy. “Now they can have a hotdog too!”

Guy started Guycho's as a fun thing to do and he's certainly having a good

time. “People love our hotdogs and I get compliments on them all the time,” he says. “My daughter created a Facebook page for Guycho's and we got a few hundred likes in just a few days. It was a great idea and it's a fun venture for our whole family.”

Guycho's Russell, MB 204.773.3781 signtist@mymts.net

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Parkland Manitoba

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Russell Town Feature

Vanguard Credit Union offers a Virtual Branch with Personal Service

By Tobie Hainstock Photos Terrie Welwood

I

t was October 1987 when the amalgamation of the Foxwarren and Rossburn Credit Unions took place.

Since then, Vanguard Credit Union has been a supportive financial institution providing the people of the area with friendly and professional service. These deep roots have established Vanguard Credit Union as a long time active member of Russell and surrounding communities.

SERVICE AT ITS FINEST “Our goal is to get to know each of our members,” says Kathy Brooks, vice president of corporate services. You’re not just an account number; you are a

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valued member of the community. With a full range of financial products and account services, Vanguard can assist you in all areas of your finances.

At Vanguard Credit Union, they recognize that the needs of their members are constantly evolving. “Because we are always thinking of our members’ needs, we have spent a lot of time and money on staff training and development,” comments Brooks. Whether purchasing a home, expanding your business or building your retirement portfolio, the staff at Vanguard Credit Union is trained and equipped to assist you in fulfilling your goals.

VIRTUAL BRANCH Through examining the needs of their members in detail, Vanguard has been able to develop a new service designed specifically to facilitate busy lifestyles. “A lot of our members can’t get to our branches during regular hours and we still want to have a relationship with them,” Brooks notes. This has led to the development of VIPConnect, the Virtual Branch.

Vanguard members are able to access their accounts from the comfort of their home computer or device, with the luxury of being able to perform a number of functions — such as opening a new account, applying for a loan, purchasing

OPPOSITE L-R Service Team - Pat McIvor, Le-Ann Robinson, Ashley McNair, Sherry Shewchuk (missing, Shari Parkinson) TOP RIGHT L-R Ag Business Service Team – Pam Galatiuk and Scott Stykalo (missing, Debbie Chuchmuch) BELOW L-R Financial Service Team - Thayne Pelletier and Branch Manager - Jennifer Seib

travel insurance and more. “Everything you can do at your branch, you can now do through our Virtual Branch,” remarks Brooks, adding that member service personnel will soon be available for live

chat assistance. The Virtual Branch hours have recently been extended and are now available to members Thursday and Friday evenings as well as Saturday mornings.

the opportunities to show support through sponsoring various activities and participating in fundraising events.

Brooks notes that VIPConnect is just another way of adding to the many services Vanguard provides to make the lives of their members easier. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback about the Virtual Branch and the popularity continues to grow.”

By focusing on the needs and well-being of its members, and the growth and professional development of its staff, Vanguard will continue to carry forth with a strong vision for the future of Russell and area.

HERE TO SERVE YOU

GIVING BACK As a strong community-based organization, supporting communities through volunteering and donations has always been important to Vanguard Credit Union. “We are committed to the communities we serve and community involvement is a strong part of who we are,” says Brooks. Vanguard appreciates

Vanguard Credit Union Binscarth, Birtle, Brandon, Hamiota, Kenton, Miniota, Oak Lake, Oak River, Rossburn, Russell and St. Lazare 1.877.226.7957 www.vanguardcu.mb.ca

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Parkland Manitoba

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Russell Town Feature

Professional Service with Small Town Charm

By Henny Buffinga Photos Julie Shiner

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“T

he feeling of fair and honest service is what we strive for,” says Laura Ewbank, manager of Selby Home Centre.

Ken and Helen Selby started Selby Home Centre in Russell 35 years ago as a flooring company, and it has since grown into a full decorating store, offering Benjamin Moore paint, window coverings, rugs, hardwood, laminate, ceramic and carpet flooring and Beachcomber hot tubs. It is also an independent RONA location, carrying many RONA products and prices, with full access to their catalogue.

Four years ago their daughters, Laura Ewbank and Virginia Huberdeau, moved to Russell with their husbands to get involved in the business, with plans to eventually take it over when Ken decides to retire. They are learning the ropes of the business from Ken, who is a wealth of knowledge after being in the industry for so long.

Laura now manages the store — and her father, she jokes. Her husband, Jeramy, is a certified Armstrong installer and is familiar with the problems associated with proper preparation. Now he is learning about the numerous types of products in their store and their correct application.

Virginia’s husband, Kris Huberdeau, comes from a family long associated with home decorating products, and he now specializes in sales, hot tub maintenance and repair. He and Jeramy have been to training seminars to learn the latest on the hundreds of products associated with this business. Both families are very excited to be in the vibrant community of Russell.

With more than half the staff comprised of family, and many of the rest having been with them for several decades, the company is very welcoming. “It’s a great atmosphere in the shop, everyone gets along and it’s very friendly,” says Laura.

Selby’s offers excellent customer service and many quality products at very competitive prices. Their RONA products include vanities, a selection of new area rugs and a large lighting section as well.

Selby’s specializes in flooring installation, but they will install pretty much anything they sell in the store. “Dad did a lot of research on the products before bringing them in and we take a lot of pride in the quality of the product and installation,” Laura says.

“We have always tried to put the needs of the customer ahead of our own, by finding the best value products for their circumstance.

This is what we believe is good business.”

The staff is able to help customers pick paint colours, and enjoy putting colour packages together. Many customers come in with a painting or a pillow, and can get help pulling together colours to create a colour scheme. They will also do in-home consultations to help decide how to effectively use colour throughout the home.

Selby Home Centre has consistently offered fair service and their success reflects that. “We’re not looking to move to bigger centres, although some of the companies have wanted to move us to the city,” says Ken. “We have tried to maintain small town values, and family has always been more important than big business. We just want to run a business that makes sense, not only as a means to make a living, but to offer honest service to people.”

Selby Home Centre RONA Russell 347 Main Street, Russell 204.773.3394 www.rona.ca |

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Staycations Right In Your Backyard Big Time Vacationing at a Small Town Price

Angusville is home to approximately 125 people. During the last decade, the town has experienced a resurgence of interest as young people look to settle down within a quiet community to raise children, and active retirees move into the safe, friendly town. With low taxes, top-of-the-line reverse osmosis water servicing the town and small businesses starting up, Angusville is starting to shine yet again.

The community has winter recreation through the Community Centre, as well as multiple cross-country ski trails, snowmobile paths and is a short drive to the Asessippi ski resort. In the summer, locals and visitors can experience the hidden treasure that is Silver Beach, where fishing, swimming, camping and trails abound.

New lots have been developed recently within Angusville. The old station grounds development has residential lots ready for your dream house — at 75 ft. by 125 ft., they can accommodate whatever vision you have. Also available are two commercial lots — the local rural municipality (RM of Silvercreek) is pro-business with incentives for startups and expanding businesses.

Please contact the RM office for pricing.

For more information, contact Cheryl Melnyk | 204.773.2449 | silvercreek@wificountry.ca | www.silvercreek.ca

Come experience the urban atmosphere in a rural setting

Tyler Kilkenny & Todd Sawyer

Get lost in the warm and welcoming environment at TinHouse Designs • Showcases and sells internationally-known artwork created by Tyler Kilkenny • Offers speciality coffee and espresso drinks, Italian sodas, ice cream and fresh, homemade baked goods • Daily specials include homemade sandwiches, subs, soups and salads • Featuring Canadian made art and gifts from coast to coast

Tuesday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

161 Main Street, Russell | 204-773-2291 | tinhousedesigns.ca