Lifestyles 55 2021 04 April

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April 2021

FAST DENTURES

947-1807

Don’t forget to Wash Your Hands!

Manitoba the green energy capital

Let’s talk about climate change

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Sherrie Versluis

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here is no question as to what season is the most exciting when it comes to wild birds; spring is IT! Migration brings many new species that are here for the summer season and bird lovers go to great lengths to attract all they can to their yards. Besides offering bird feeders filled with tantalizing treats, gardening is another big factor for encouraging wild birds. Some species may only be attracted to plants rather than feeders so to maximize the variety of birds in your yard this season, get gardening!

Hummingbirds For most people, hummingbirds Goldfinch on goldenrod. Plant some native plants to keep birds happy. are one of the most fascinating creatures they can attract into their yards.

To watch these sparkling little jewels some of the flowers that produce involved in providing hummingdance in the air with their remark- nectar that hummingbirds enjoy. birds with a nectar feeder. The feedable flight abilities is incomparable Hanging baskets are an easy way to ers should be changed a minimum to any other bird. Having the right offer flowers if you don’t have much of once a week, but it really is recommended two to three times a plants along with a quality feeder of a yard to plant a variety. can make all the difference in seeing I know in my own yard, there week. The sugar solution does ferthem or not. Plants to consider in- are periods the hummingbirds feed ment and produce mould in the heat clude basic petunias to bee balm, red mostly at my plants yet other times of summer, so it is important to keep columbine, hollyhocks, honeysuckle, they are ferociously feeding at the it fresh. You probably wouldn’t enscarlet runner, morning glory, nico- nectar feeders. I always like to make joy a drink that’s been outside for a u 18 ‘Gardening for the birds’ tiana, and impatiens. These are just sure people realize the maintenance

Pandemic couch potatoes can suffer injury

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The pandemic has exacerbated some of our bad habits.

ince the pandemic began, many people have started working from their beds, binge-watching Netflix, and not going to the gym. This has led to more sedentary lifestyles. Since March of 2020, 74 per cent of people have found themselves sitting for longer periods of time compared to prepandemic. Americans now spend an additional four hours a day sitting down. (Source:https://www. studyfinds.org/working-remotely-pain-in-backside/). The same is no doubt true of Canadians.

Sitting for too long causes possible weight gain, but it also has numerous other health ramifications.

Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, NYC area Orthopedic and Spinal Surgeon to discusses the effects of too much sitting. u 7 ‘Pandemic couch potatoes’

428 Portage ave

Connie Newman on the value of getting involved

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5

Gardening for the birds

208 Power Bldg

Rick Frost retires from the Winnipeg Foundation

The opening of Alloway Arch in Sept. 2015 with Her Honour the Honourable Janice Filmon, Manitoba’s Lieutenant Governor, The Winnipeg Foundation’s then Board Chair Susan Millican and Rick. The three were doing a symbolic coin toss into the Widow’s Mite fountain, which was part of the Alloway Arch project at the Forks.

Dorothy Dobbie

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t seems it is a season for the changing of the guard in Winnipeg as many of our long-time leaders have been stepping down: Annitta Stenning from Cancer Care, Claudette LeClerc from the Manitoba Museum, Larry McIntosh from Peak of the Market, and our own dear Trudy Schroeder from the WSO. This month, on April 26, another respected figure on the Winnipeg scene is leaving after 24 years of stalwart service. Rick Frost, the CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation, is retiring.

Rick deserves a rest. He has been working at one thing and another since he was 14 years old.

Working hard and making the best of life runs in the family, though. His Grandad, Dick Frost, was sent to the Hamilton area from England and indentured to a farm when he was just 12. u 4 ‘Rick Frost '

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Happy Easter

Brian PALLISTER

Heather STEFANSON

Eileen CLARKE

info@brianpallister.com

tuxconst@mymts.net

agassizmla@outlook.com

MLA for Fort Whyte

Wayne EWASKO

MLA for Lac du Bonnet

wayne@wayneewasko.com

Sarah GUILLEMARD MLA for Fort Richmond

contact@sarahguillemard.com

MLA for Tuxedo

Cathy COX

MLA for Agassiz

Scott FIELDING

MLA for Kirkfield Park

Reg HELWER

Audrey GORDON

Josh GUENTER

info@cameronfriesen.ca

kelvin@kelvingoertzen.com

mlaaudreygordon@gmail.com

Josh.Guenter@leg.gov.mb.ca

brandoneastmla@shaw.ca

MLA for Steinbach

MLA for Southdale

Derek JOHNSON

Scott JOHNSTON

interlakegimlimla@gmail.com

assiniboiamla@outlook.com

MLA for Interlake - Gimli

Martin SHANNON

Brad MICHALESKI

Andrew MICKLEFIELD

Janice MORLEY-LECOMTE

alanlagselkirkmla@mymts.net

mcphillips@shannonmartin.ca

dauphinmla@outlook.com

andrew@andrewmicklefield.com

janice.seinerivermla@mymts.net

MLA for McPhillips

Doyle PIWNIUK

Blaine PEDERSEN

MLA for Turtle Mountain

MLA for Midland

info@doylepiwniuk.ca

midlandmla@outlook.com

Jon REYES

MLA for Waverley jon@jonreyes.ca

Rochelle SQUIRES

James TEISTMA

rochelle@rochellesquires.ca

james@jamesteitsma.ca

MLA for Riel

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MLA for Dauphin

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MLA for Radisson

MLA for Rossmere

MLA for Seine River

ron@ronschuler.com

WHARTON

rrnorthmla@mymts.net

Bob LAGASSÉ

MLA for Dawson Trail

ca.lagasse@outlook.com

Greg NESBITT

MLA for Riding Mountain

gregnesbittmla@mymts.ca

Andrew SMITH

Ron R. SCHULER

MLA for Springfield-Ritchot

MLA for Red River North

MLA for Borderline

MLA for Assiniboia

Alan LAGIMODIERE MLA for Selkirk

mlalakeside@mymts.net

Kelvin GOERTZEN

MLA for Brandon East

reghelwer@wcgwave.ca

MLA for Lakeside

ccullenmla@mts.net

Cameron FRIESEN

Len ISLEIFSON

MLA for Brandon West

Ralph EICHLER

MLA for Spruce Woods

cathycox@mymts.net

MLA for Morden–Winkler

scott@scottfielding.ca

CULLEN

MLA for Kildonan - River East

MLA for Lagimodiere

andrew@andrewsmithmla.ca

Dennis SMOOK

dennis@dennissmook.ca

Ian WISHART

Rick WOWCHUK

ptgemla@mymts.net

rick.wowchuk@leg.gov.mb.ca

MLA for Portage la Prairie

MLA for La Verendrye

MLA for Swan River

April 2021

ISSUES IN THE NEWS

Follow us online at: whatsupwinnipeg.ca Facebook: Lifestyles55 Twitter: @Lifestyles55 PUBLISHER Pegasus Publications Inc. EDITOR Dorothy Dobbie dorothy@pegasuspublications.net EDITOR Emeritus Joan Cohen ART DIRECTOR Karl Thomsen karl@pegasuspublications.net GENERAL MANAGER Ian Leatt ian.leatt@pegasuspublications.net CONTRIBUTORS Gerrie Beachall, Volker Beckmann, Dorothy Dobbie, Myrna Driedger, John Einarson, Brian Giesbrecht, Kasey Hacking, Jim Ingebrigtsen, Kevin Klein, Ian Leatt, Nicole Matiation, Fred Morris, Manitoba Seniors Coalition, Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, Connie Newman, Peggy Pendergast, Brent Poole, Darlene Ronald, Dustin Rodgers, Trudy Schroeder, Elly Spencer, Krystal Stokes, Sherrie Versluis, Wayne Weedon, Nathan Zassman.

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American Express, MasterCard, Visa & cheque accepted. To view a back issue online visit lifestyles55.net Published monthly by: Pegasus Publications Inc. 138 Swan Lake Bay, Winnipeg, MB R3T 4T8 204-940-2700 whatsupwinnipeg.ca DISTRIBUTION Available at over 100 locations from Winnipeg, Brandon, Steinbach, Morden, Selkirk, Flin Flon and The Pas. If you would like bulk copies of this publication, contact Ian Leatt at (204) 940-2707 or ian.leatt@pegasuspublications. net. Also available digitally at whatsupwinnpeg/ lifestyles and on Facebook: Lifestyles55 EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Call Dorothy Dobbie at (204) 940-2716 or email dorothy@pegasuspublications.net for more information and guidelines.

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Copyright Pegasus Publications Inc.

April 2021

Not debating climate change is the way to extinction

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f no one ever questioned the status quo, we would still be hiding in caves, too afraid to venture out because you know for sure that there would be a bunch of people telling you all the horrible things that could happen to you if you did.

Predicting doom seems to be a way for folks to allay their fears by sharing them with everyone else. There seems to be comfort in numbers. But it is the contrarian, the curious one, the lone skeptic, responding to the opposite call of nature, who leads the way to discovery, change and progress.

So, it is with climate change and the current great non-debate. Based on observations, limited to certain assumptions, many people have concluded that increases in CO2 levels will lead us into the darkness of suffocating heat and the ultimate extinction of the human race if nothing is done to curb Dorothy Dobbie these emissions. Moreover, just as since earliest times, if we will only follow a simple ritual, all will be saved. In this case, we must simply stop using fossil fuels, which they maintain, are solely responsible for the changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide and hence cause global warming.

Now it is true that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have risen over the past number of years if we look at the moment in time that they prescribe. The reason for concern, they say, is that carbon dioxide absorbs infrared radiation at the wavelength that is being radiated back (and in all directions) from the earth. The carbon dioxide, they say, holds on to the infrared radiation and radiates it back to the earth instead of allowing it to escape the atmosphere. This sets up a cycle that warms the earth which causes the release of more water vapour which keeps in more heat and upsets the balance of heat gain and loss. Essentially, that is the argument.

Others argue that this is a fine theory, but there are a lot of things it does not explain, one of them being that 500 million years ago, carbon dioxide saturated the atmosphere at a rate of 4,000 parts per million, eventually settling to around 280 parts per million until the industrial age. Since then, they have watched it rise to 415 parts per million, much of that rise in very recent years. This, climate change proponents say, is a clear signal of man’s culpability in contributing to global warming through our use of fossil fields, agriculture, biomass burning and other practices.

The skeptics point to the many factors that have not been considered by the climate change modellers, including their statement that the first 20 ppm of CO2 contributes to over half the heating effect.

So, the discussions go, back and forth, with many graphs and logical arguments from all sides. Most of the issues discussed are theoretical with little empirical evidence to back them up. That is evidenced by the many “weasel words” (may, might, can, could) in the NASA reports.

Skeptics say that there are vast numbers of variables that have not been considered in the climate projection models. They also point to historic patterns that contradict the climate change models. They point out that CO2 is the stuff of life. Recently we were told that if we planted a trillion trees, enough carbon would be captured to mitigate the amount of carbon being released using fossil fuels and biomass burning, etc. Our Prime Minister acknowledged this by vowing to plant a billion trees, (so far, none have been planted under this directive).

And increased levels of carbon dioxide are greening the earth. NASA has reported that, “Satellite measurements found increasing leaf area index for 25 percent to 50 percent of Earth’s vegetated area over the past 35 years (i.e., a greening of the planet), providing evidence for a positive CO2 fertilization effect.” To my mind, this simply underlines the fact that CO2 is essential to life. Indeed, if levels were to drop as low as 150 ppm, plants, and consequently, all animals, would die.

I have spent hours reading reports and hearing from my friends in the climate business and, as one told me I would, I got a headache from all the contradictory information.

But that is the whole point of this article. We need to THINK and QUESTION the premises upon which such dire projections are being made. We must have room for informed debate, because to blindly follow anyone is an invitation to one day drink a glass of poisoned Kool-Aid. Right now, people are being told that they must invest their hearts and the proceeds of their hard work into replacing fossil fuel to “save the planet”. But so many of the proposals to do this are counter productive, in that such things as wind capture technology, solar panels and battery electrical power technologies use large quantities of fossil fuels, transforming them into products that will be hard to manage as they break down (as all manmade products do over time) and become waste.

Illogically, we are told that if you pay more for fuel (and get it back) you will somehow be contributing to a “cleaner and greener planet”. The logic of that escapes me entirely! Taxing necessities is not the way to change human behaviour.

I have no problem with exploring new ways to use energy. I think that this exploration is part of our natural quest to understand our world and to live in harmony with it. Energy is everywhere in every living and non-living thing. It assists us in making the world a better place for humans and, apparently, in reaching out to the universe in search of other homes to colonize in case our developing expertise allows the earth to become overpopulated. Thank you, Elon Musk.

The only thing that can hold us back from progress is our refusal to allow that natural curiosity, skepticism, and desire to question flourish. We MUST debate climate change and its causes.

That debate holds discovery and the key to our future.

For those of you who are looking for the other side of the argument, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=CA1zUW4uOSw.

whatsupwinnipeg.ca

3

Time to enjoy Assiniboine Forest O ne of the few positive things that has occurred during this pandemic is how people have taken to the many walking and cycling trails in Winnipeg. With most events cancelled and gyms, arenas and other centres closed, many Manitobans have been seeking fresh air and exercise the oldfashioned way. This winter, the Forest has been a perfect place for an energizing walk. Cross-country skiers, snowshoers and fat-tire cyclists are enjoying the trails. Situated between Charleswood and Tuxedo, this 700-acre gem Hon. Myrna Driedger of a greenspace almost Broadway didn’t exist. In 1920 it was slotted for development Journal by the Town of Tuxedo.

The trails that you find in the forest today were originally designed as roads for the proposed development. The depression came along putting an end to investment in the area and local residents began using the forest for recreation. In 1973 after persistent efforts by concerned citizens, the area was preserved as a municipal nature park.

There are a series of six paved and unpaved trails established within the southern portion of the forest for a total of 18 km of maintained trails. Some of the trails are paved with crushed limestone, others with asphalt, or wood chips. The trails make the forest easy to navigate, fascinating to study and a delightful place to get some exercise or to “commune with nature”.

The Rotary Club of Winnipeg Charleswood (RCWC) together with staff from the City of Winnipeg Naturalists’ office, are responsible for annual maintenance and upgrading of the Assiniboine Forest.

This relationship has been ongoing since an initial accord was reached with the City in 1990. Since 1990, RCWC in collaboration with others has provided more than $600,000 in funding and over 2,000 volunteer labour hours, to support various forest projects and initiatives.

The Assiniboine Forest Long Range Planning Study was initiated by the Rotary Club of Charleswood Winnipeg in August 2016, concluding in March 2019.

The goal of the study was to provide a clear direction for the next stage of forest management and all associated stages of development, to explore development

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It’s time to get out and enjoy the local wonders like the Assiniboine Forest! opportunities that will improve the visitor experience at the Assiniboine Forest while maintaining the ecological sensitivity of the site, and to investigate opportunities for the future of the Assiniboine Forest at a 10 to 15 year horizon.

The Planning Study Surveys identified many “Priorities” that are listed below: 1. Complete a signage program including an Interpretive Signage component 2. A new Parking Lot on the east side of the Forest 3. Interpretive Center at Taylor and Shaftesbury 4. Replacing the wood chip trail with “hard surface” on separate return path to the Grant and Chalfont Parking Lot from the Eve Werier Pond.

5. Developing Cross Country Ski trails 6. Control horse and dog traffic 7. Public Washrooms 8. Installation of Benches The Rotary Club of Winnipeg Charleswood is proposing to raise an additional $800,000 in funding and Grants and initiate actions in the near term and over the next 15 years to implement some of the Priorities identified in the Planning Study to enhance the “Forest Experience” for visitors, with the support of the City of Winnipeg Public Works Department, the

Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, Local Business and the Community.

Walking around the Forest, you may notice that trails on the west side of the Forest are heavily- used.

They plan to embark on design and construction of additional hard surface and wood chip trails on the east side of the Forest. With the addition of more trails, directional, informational, and wayfinding signs are required. These focus on the many plant and animal species, native to the Forest and will enhance public awareness of the plants and animals.

It’s important to make the Forest accessible and include plans to convert the wood chip portion of the trail to a hard pack” surface, enabling accessible travel to all. These exciting initiatives will take time and money to complete. The Charleswood Rotary Club will be establishing a “Fund our Forest” website, offering interested individuals the opportunity to enhance the Forest, financially and through volunteer labour.

On behalf of all Manitobans, I extend gratitude to these volunteers for their vision and efforts maintaining this urban forest and creating opportunities to make our experience even better.

Hon. Myrna Driedger is MLA for Roblin and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

Rick Frost retires from the Winnipeg Foundation Continued from page 1

It was years of hard labour, but when he regained his freedom, he got a farm and then was hit by the Depression. But he kept on working, eventually getting a job as a driller in a quarry.

His son, Rick’s Dad, started out as a milkman, a good steady job back then.

His career was abruptly ended by a modern convenience. “The invention of the three-quart jug pretty well ended the milk delivery business overnight,” said Rick. Fortunately, his Dad had managed to buy a fish and chips shop the year before, so Rick spent a lot of his young years peeling potatoes to help the family business. Rick grew up in the culture of small business.

Dogged and determined, Rick was the first of his family to go to University, starting with McMaster and then on to Queen’s where he took a degree in public service. Why public service? The most important man he knew was the mayor of his town. Rick went to the same church with him and a lot of other public service folks, so this seemed a reasonable road to success.

His first job was as an assistant clerk in the City of Burlington. Then he was promoted to Chief Administrative Officer for the rural municipality of Peel.

He worked there from 1978 to 1989 and made a good name for himself, so much so that he was recruited by Bill Norrie to come to Winnipeg to become Chief Commissioner for the City. Rick served us well in that capacity until 1997.

Meanwhile Rick had started a family.

He married a girl who moved to Dundas 4

whatsupwinnipeg.ca

in Grade 5. Their life together seemed preordained as they were cast as husband and wife in the grade 5 school play – you can’t fight fate! They had three children.

One son passed away from cancer 15 years ago. The remaining son is a power engineer, and his daughter is a lawyer, legal council for Red River College. They have three granddaughters.

In 1997, Rick was recruited to take over the role of CEO of the historic Winnipeg Foundation, Canada’s first community foundation. At the time, its funds were valued at about $150 million (about $234 million in today’s dollars) and under Rick’s leadership, this has grown to $1.4 billion in 2021. Back in his starting year, support for local causes totalled about $5 million in grants. Last year, our sesquicentennial as a province, the Winnipeg Foundation supported community initiatives to the tune of $73 million.

The community foundation was the brainchild of a city banker, William Forbes Alloway, with a gift of $100,000 back in 1921, 100 years ago. The second gift was three gold coins worth about $15, but this set the stage for the philosophy that no gift is too small. Nor is any gift too large. In 2001, the Moffat family made a gift of $100 million, which was then the largest gift to a community foundation in Canadian history. They topped that up with another $50 million in 2018. These significant gifts have helped to keep the Winnipeg Foundation at the head of the community foundation class, just below the assets of its next largest competitor, the Vancouver Foundation.

As for Rick, how did his training in public service align with running a charitable foundation? It was perfect. “The best parts of public service are wrapped up in the Winnipeg foundation,” says Rick. “We can make plans and basically stick to them, where in civic administration things are always changing.”

The Foundation was like a candy land to Rick. There were so many good things you could do – you had to choose, but gaining experience taught him that, “Once you start to learn how the system works, you can support good things in the city and find out how to make them happen. It is a generous community.”

His foresight and good work have been well recognized. Last year he was awarded an Order of Manitoba and he has honorary doctorates from both the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg. But he is most proud of the many ways the Foundation has made a difference to the community. Not every project turns out perfectly, but they all add up to a net gain for the people of this city, he says. Nor is the role of the Foundation to fund charitable works alone.

The Foundation’s mandate is to improve life in Winnipeg, including beautification and livability.

He is also proud of the role of his adopted province in developing more community foundations. “There are 191 community foundations in Canada”, Rick says. “And 56 of them are in Manitoba.” He has been working with the various small community foundations around the province to help them

manage and grow their funds through a program called Endow Manitoba that is staffed through the Winnipeg Foundation offices.

And in case we get the idea that it is only big money that rolls into the Foundation. Rick says that they still cherish and value the many thousands of small gifts they receive each year from people in all walks of life. “We open an average of three new funds a week,” he says. In total, the Foundation manages 4,300 funds, among them many endowment and other funds for arts organizations such as the RWB and the WSO. Now Rick looks forward to time at the lake and time to think about things he loves, such as history. It is no accident that the Foundation has a wonderful track record of providing history scholarships; the largest is $100,000 over three years available through both the U of W and the U of M – this in addition to over a dozen significant other history scholarships.

As for the future of the Foundation, Rick says it will be in good hands with the incoming CEO, Sky Bridges, at the head. He comes to the job with a stellar record in management as the COO of APTN Television Network responsible for daily operations of the network and co-ordinating strategic planning. He has a diploma in Business Administration and an Advanced Diploma in International Business among other credits.

Congratulations to both Rick and Sky as we ease into the next generation of leadership in our town.

April 2021

Manitoba as the green energy capital of North America Volker Beckmann, Board of Directors, Thompson Chamber of Commerce

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or over 30 years, Thompson, Manitoba has been a centre for winter weather testing for various transportation sectors: cars, trucks, snowmobiles, helicopters, and jet engines. Over the past few years, it has been predicted that a “disruption in transportation” is coming, as the world moves toward clean, sustainable energy use. Thompson is currently researching what needs to be done to attract new vehicle manufacturers to do their winter and cold weather testing in northern Manitoba.

Of course, not every transportation manufacturer wants extreme cold to test. Snowmobile companies often only need early snow and ice at just below freezing to test their latest sleds before they hit the race circuit in North America in November.

Jet engine manufacturers, Rolls Royce and Pratt and Whitney, bring the largest engines in the world to Thompson for icing testing that is found at 40,000 ft above sea level, even at the equator. This is a good thing to do for your air safety and mine!

As the world moves towards clean, sustainable energy and zero emission vehicles to provide a cleaner atmosphere, many companies are making the transition to electrical and other technology to meet marketplace demand. Tesla has become the fastest growing electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in the world. Ford, GM, and Chrysler are building their own electric platforms to compete. Fiat Chrysler is building a new EV plant in Ontario. Many countries in Europe are banning sales of gas-powered cars post 2025.

The oil giant, Shell, will install 500,000 EV charging stations across the world in the next five years. PetroCan and Canadian Tire are already doing this along the Trans-Canada Highway from coast to coast in Canada. (Oil companies are selling electricity? The world is changing rapidly!)

U.S. President Biden’s recent announcement to cancel the Keystone pipeline project may be bad news for Alberta, but good news for Manitoba. His directive to convert 600,000 federal government fleet vehicles powered by gas and diesel to clean electric vehicles is the impetus to spur the clean energy economy. His promise to have 50,000 fast charging stations installed in the USA is the icing on the cake. There will be more hydro electricity sales required.

There is no turning back. The global trend is clear.

The move to clean energy has many advantages for Thompson and Manitoba. As a 98 per cent sustainable energy province using hydroelectricity and windmills as its energy sources, Manitobans EV owners could divert some of the annual $2 billion spent on gas and diesel fuel that goes to oil suppliers elsewhere and instead keep that money for hydroelectricity in Manitoba.

Manitoba as the green energy capital of North America The world is realizing that the less fossil fuels are used, the cleaner our atmosphere will become. Reduced travel on the road and in the air during the pandemic showed how quickly air pollution levels can be reduced.

No doubt, this full transition may take a generation, and your old family car may be around for a while yet.

Or will it? That depends on government policies, incentives, and penalties, such as those currently being implemented in Europe and China. Some countries in Europe are already using a reward and malice plan… offer incentives to buy zero emission vehicles (ZEV) and penalties if you use your old gas-powered car too long.

Where is Manitoba in all this?

A tsunami energy shift is coming very quickly, and Manitoba should be ready. The opportunities are significant and exciting. Changes in transportation technology will require the use of Manitoba’s plentiful assets: winter weather testing facilities in Thompson for performance and durability research of vehicles and batteries, discovered and undiscovered nickel reserves that the EV and AV (autonomous vehicle) industry needs to meet the battery demand over the next 10-20 years, an abundance of clean hydroelectricity power, as well as some of the lowest electricity rates in North America. Why not a lithium battery manufacturing plant in Manitoba before the first one is built somewhere else in Canada?

These assets, collectively, can position Manitoba for a new industry in the making. Can public and private stakeholders collaborate and work on a strategic plan to develop and grow the EV and AV industry? If so, new investment, businesses, and jobs will arise and compound. Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia already have made great strides in this direction over the past April 2021

With many countries ready to make commitments to electric vehicles, Manitoba has a golden opportunity to get involved in the next gold rush. ten years. Will Manitoba catch up and take the lead?

Does it make more sense to sell electricity to Manitobans to charge their EVs over night at eight cents per kilowatt hour than to sell it to the USA at-off peak demand time for 1.5 cents? (Especially, if it cost Manitoba Hydro 12 cents per Kwh to build the latest Keeyask dam in northern Manitoba). There are many consider-

ations and some blue sky, strategic thinking is needed, because the EV and AV industry is moving at warp speed.

The economic and environmental benefits of clean energy use for Thompson, northern Manitoba, and the whole province are real. The Thompson Chamber of Commerce has just released a discussion paper titled “Manitoba as the green energy capital of North America”. It’s a bold, exciting, innovative concept that suggests numerous stakeholders can drive this action forward. Thompson wants to be part of that progress and prosperity.

Many northerners see the value in Manitoba becoming the greenest province in Canada. It could attract investment and job creation spurred by a post-pandemic recovery.

To realize this dream we need more mining investment, development of public EV charging infrastructure, better winter weather testing facilities, and more EV user changes in Manitoba Hydro policies to boost EV sales and use.

We need to take advantage of the many opportunities that will arise including large scale EV infrastructure projects in our rural and northern regions.

Our province can become the Green Energy Capital of North America. Let’s make it so!

Let’s protect each other.

Plan to get the vaccine as soon as it’s your turn, and encourage your friends and family to do it, too.

Sign up at ProtectMB.ca to find out when you’re eligible and for information about the biggest vaccine campaign in Manitoba’s history.

whatsupwinnipeg.ca

5

“Bonjour, Alexa!” How Victoria Lifeline Grant Program and technology are helping older adults stay connected

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s the pandemic continues to disrupt the rhythm discussed the difficulties they have faced: “The pandemof our daily lives, no one has been more impact- ic has dramatically worsened the ever-existing challenge ed than older adults. According to Global Health of isolation and loneliness for our seniors.” Technology Research and Policy, 89 countries around the world have that allows residents to place video calls to their family experienced lockdowns due to COVID-19 as people and friends can be a huge help, however, “Most of our residents cannot afford it nor do they unstay home to protect themselves and othderstand the technology well,” Yann says. ers. Because older adults are in a higher Family can drop in electronically withrisk category, physical distancing is even out residents having to answer a call more important for the 65+ age demoSo, on behalf of Villa Youville, Yann graphic. Subsequently, many older adults applied for a Victoria Lifeline Health are experiencing loneliness and isolation Promotion Grant last year and received at unprecedented rates. While it has been funding to purchase some Amazon Echo a difficult year to say the least, there are Show devices, which are voice activated some ‘good news’ stories about people so residents can easily make and receive who have stepped up to make sure older video calls. The devices also allow famadults stay safe and connected. ily members to ‘drop in’ without their In a recent survey, the number of older loved ones having to answer the call. adults who reported feeling lonely has The is dedicated to enhancing the welldoubled since the pandemic hit. This is Krystal Stokes being of rural Manitobans by providing not surprising, but it is very troubling.

Healthy funding for projects that support healthy Global Health Research affirmed that soLiving living among older adults. Grant funds cial isolation and loneliness are, “major risk factors linked to poor physical and mental health.” are awarded to senior serving organizations to purchase Before, COVID-19, many older adults regularly en- equipment or to support activities and programs that gaged in meaningful social activities outside the home. promote mental and physical health.

The residents have been using the devices for the last They also visited with family and friends and led full, vibrant lives. With COVID-19 however, staying home several months and Yann reports they have been, “life and avoiding public places are critical in reducing their savers during the pandemic. The Amazon Echo Show risk of transmission. Subsequently, older adults are more and its ability to ‘drop in’ has been well received by families. It’s a great way to stay in touch or check-in withcut off from the outside world than ever before.

Human beings are social creatures – it’s the relation- out Mom or Dad having to be technologically inclined.”

Paulette Pylatiuk, a resident of the Villa, said she talks ships we have with each other that give life meaning and purpose. As John Donne famously wrote in 1624, “No to six different people throughout the week using the man is an island, entire of itself.” But in the last year video calling device and said the experience has been we’ve all had to rethink how we connect with one an- great. “It’s really nice because you get to not only hear other and find new ways to do so. Technology can play their voices, but you see them while you’re talking to a key role in helping maintain those connections, but them and it feels more real. Being able to see them not everyone has access to technology or knows how makes all the difference.”

Yann said along with being able to communicate with to use it.

Yann Boissonneault, Executive Director of Villa You- their loved ones, the residents enjoy talking to the deville in Sainte-Anne, Manitoba, understands the chal- vice’s virtual assistant, Alexa! “She’ll tell you a joke, put lenges of the pandemic all too well. Their facility of- on a movie or even play some music. All this in the lanfers both independent and supportive living along with guage of their choice.” Villa Youville is a Francophone long-term care and they have about 200 residents. Yann community and as Yann explained, “Our Alexa’s bilin-

Paulette Pylatiuk, resident of Villa Youville. gual!” And while technology cannot replace those faceto-face connections, it has helped ease some feelings of isolation.

Sandra Duma, the Executive Director of Victoria Lifeline, said the Health Promotion Grant Program is an important part of their organizational social impacts as they look for ways to give back to the community. Sandra said Victoria Lifeline staff and volunteers are happy to have played a role in combating isolation for seniors who have been impacted by the pandemic.

“Working with older adults, we know how hard this has been for both them and their families. To hear that the video calls have helped residents stay in touch with their loved ones puts a smile on all our faces.”

To learn more about the Victoria Lifeline Health Promotion Grant Program, please visit VictoriaLifeline.ca.

Krystal Stokes is the Communications & Public Relations Manager at Victoria Lifeline, a community service of the Victoria General Hospital Foundation.

Your happiness may be closer than you think

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y name is Mary. I am a retired schoolteacher, mother and proud grandmother. I am on my way to celebrating my 82nd birthday. Unfortunately, I lost my husband a few years ago and now I live alone in our home with memories of happier days. I have three amazing children, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and a very hard-working son-in- law. I am a grandmother to six beautiful and smart grandchildren whose photos are everywhere in my home. My two sons live here in Winnipeg; however, my daughter lives out of province and I don’t see any of them as much as I would like these days.

They all have busy lives, balancing work responsibilities and the challenges of being parents with younger children. The lockdown restrictions of the pandemic have made visiting my family almost impossible, and I have been spending more and more time alone.

Prior to the pandemic I had moments of loneliness between periods of seeing my family, but I had activities to help fill my days. I enjoyed, traveling, walking, baking, sewing, visiting friends and family. These gave me purpose, joy and contentment. But the isolation created by the pandemic, compounded my loneliness, and I found I lost interest in the things I used to enjoy. One day somehow just blended into the next day, and then to the next and so on.

One night at my home, I had a serious fall in the bathroom. I am slowly on the mend. Still, months later the bruising is gone, but I am still experiencing some rib pain and now some loss of confidence. My children and the rest of 6

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Mary and Adaobi having fun in the kitchen! the family were all extremely concerned about what had happened to me when they learned of my fall. They were also becoming aware of my loneliness, lack of enthusiasm and lost confidence and started to push me towards considering care. I am not, and was not, ready to sell my home and move into assisted living, although I was persuaded to put my name on a wait list. The idea of losing my independence with any type of care did not appeal to me and my reluctance was evident to my family. My daughter became adamant that if I were to remain in my home, I needed to have regular help to manage my household and to have some companionship. A friend referred to Nurse Next Door Home Care Services. She made the call and, reluctantly, I agreed to a meeting with Nurse Next Door based on my family’s insistence.

Two lovely women showed up from Nurse Next Door to see me a short time later. We talked about my life, my family, my health, my goals, what makes me happy and my strong desire to stay in my own home. By the end of the Caring Consult, I decided to push past my fear and accept just a little bit of care. I would sign up with Nurse Next Door for a short trial period and reevaluate after a few visits, if for nothing more than to satisfy my family (especially my daughter).

The Nurse Next Door Care Designer came back the following week and introduced me to “my perfect caregiver match”, Adaobi. I was skeptical at first about things would progress with my scheduled visits. I have been very pleasantly surprised at how things have worked out.

During my weekly visits with Adaobi, we work together on projects like sewing or making my favorite muffins and have even made a holiday ham with fruits. She helps me to keep my household clean, tidy and fresh. We do laundry together and change the bed sheets.

She organizes my fridge, sweeps, wipes countertops and dusts. Although I bath myself, she draws my bath and ensures I am safe getting in and out of the tub (as I am scared to fall again). Every week is a little different in terms of what gets done here and what projects we start on or outings we plan and that’s okay, because it keeps things interesting.

The trial period has long since passed and I am on continuous visits now. I greatly look forward to seeing Adaobi and spending time with her. We laugh

a lot together. My disposition has completely changed and my whole outlook is much more positive. Having this little bit of weekly care has allowed me to stay safely and happily in my home. It has given me a new type of independence.

Really, it’s changed my life’s path.

Actually, the assisted living facility just called me the other day to tell me that my turn had come up and they had space for me to move into a nice twobedroom suite. I declined their offer and told them I was managing at home fine for the moment thanks to Nurse Next Door Home Care Services. I really just want to stay in my own home, and I think my family is happy with this decision as well.

I am enjoying my hobbies again and am looking forward to traveling one day, socializing with my friends, spending time with my family and giving big hugs. I have a happier life now because of the team at Nurse Next Door and I am feeling hopeful.

I wanted to share my story. I thought it might help others to consider care as I know how hard this decision was for me. Maybe as you read this you will see yourself in my words. Maybe you, too, are struggling and are not sure what to do.

There is help. You don’t need to be afraid. Your family’s worry can be lessened, and your happiness may be closer than you think. Call Nurse Next Door Home Care Services. They helped change my life and I promise you, you, too, can start looking forward to happier days.

Sincerely, Mary from Winnipeg.

April 2021

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Pandemic couch potatoes can suffer injury Continued from page 1

He says, “The pandemic has had a detrimental effect on many of our self-care regimens while also confining us to working from home and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. All of this, coupled with the high levels of stress compounds back pain that is long-lasting and possibly more acute.”

1. Back and hips. The commute to work no longer exists for some, and the number of steps we take a day has vastly decreased. Sitting for prolonged periods can cause extreme pressure on the back, muscles, and hips. Extreme pressure on the spine causes nerve damage, strained muscles, and weakness in the lower back, which leads to back pain. Poor posture, as a result of sitting too much, also puts more pressure on your hips than necessary, resulting in stiffness of the hip. Stiffness of the hip can cause pain, swelling, and tenderness in the hips.

2. Depression and anxiety. Lying or sitting too long can not only take a physical toll but increases your risk for mental health issues. Back, shoulder, and hip pain can lead to psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Dealing with chronic pain can cause a lack of sleep and prevent you from being physically active. This can affect your mental well-being and wreak havoc on your emotions.

Turn off the TV and go for a walk.

3. Shoulders and neck. Our bedrooms have now become our new office. This has led to slouching in front of our non-ergonomic desk setups. Slouching and hunching in front of our work from home setups can lead to neck pain. Overworking the muscles in your neck makes your muscles more vulnerable to painful spasms and leads to stiffness in the shoulders.

4. Heart. If you are inactive for long periods, you raise your risk of heart disease. When you stand or walk, you lower your cholesterol and blood pressure,

thus lowering your risk for heart disease. Heart disease can cause fainting, dizziness, chest pain and is the leading cause of death for men and women.

5. Dementia. Physical inactivity decreases blood flow to the brain. When we move around throughout the day, we increase the amount of blood flow to the brain. Exercise can also improve memory and prevent cognitive decline.

6. Clots in your legs. If you sit for too long, you put yourself at an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (forming clots in your leg). DVT may cause tenderness and/or swelling in the leg. It can be detrimental if the blood clot breaks free and enters your lungs.

The lesson from all this? Get moving. Spring is here.

Meet a friend and go for a walk. You are very safe outdoors. Not only will this get your blood flowing, but you will benefit from the fresh air and sunshine which will replenish your vitamin D, relieving depression.

Gbolahan Okubadejo, MD, FAAOS, leads The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care, with offices in the greater New York City area, as a spinal and orthopedic surgeon.

Board-certified and fellowship-trained, Dr. Okubadejo specializes in the treatment of degenerative spinal disease, spinal deformity, and cervical, lumbar, and thoracic conditions.

Bladder problems? Don’t accept it – treat it naturally

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rinary and bladder problems are serious a wonderful addition to salads, especially when comhealth concerns for both men and women bined with a quality extra virgin olive oil. that become increasingly common as we age.

A 2019 German study confirmed that an extract of Fortunately, there are longstanding orStyrian pumpkin seed oil significantly thomolecular therapies available for the reduced BPH symptoms after only four treatment of urinary incontinence, overweeks, which continued to improve afactive bladder, urinary tract infections, ter eight and twelve weeks. Of twenty and male bladder outlet obstruction. subjects, only one remained with severe “Orthomolecular medicine” refers to ussymptoms - a remarkable result. Over ing supplements that are natural to the 60 per cent of the men in this study rebody to restore and maintain health, as ported an improvement in their quality opposed to treatment with pharmaceuof life. In addition, nocturia (getting tical drugs. Clinical studies have proven up more than once at night to urinate) there are significant benefits to using declined as the study progressed. Simithese traditional natural therapies, withlarly, a subsequent twelve-week study of out the sometimes serious adverse ef2,245 German patients suffering from fects associated with prescription drugs.

BPH found that pumpkin seed oil capAbout 50 per cent of men over the age sules reduced symptoms by 41.4 per Nathan Zassman of 50, and up to 90 per cent of men oldcent, while quality of life improved by Natural Health er than 80 suffer from bladder outlet ob46.1 per cent. struction, which is usually caused by an I recommend combining Styrian enlarged prostate gland. For the technipumpkin seed oil (10 grams, or 2 teacally inclined, the condition is called BPH, for benign spoons), with Prostate Perform, the most complete prostatic hyperplasia – where “hyperplasia” describes nutritional supplement for prostate support. This the enlargement of an organ caused by an increase in powerful formula includes rye flower pollen extract, the reproduction rate of its cells. About the size of a beta-sitosterol, cranberry extract, stinging nettle, and walnut, the prostate gland surrounds the urethra (the the amino acids glycine, alanine, and glutamic acid. tube that connects the urinary bladder to the penis), Many of my clients have reported that not only did and produces fluid to nourish and transport sperm. their urine flow improve substantially (in some cases When it grows in size, it compresses the urethra, mak- in one or two days), but they also noticed improved ing it difficult to empty the bladder. sexual function (particularly in the mornings) when Hormonal Imbalance the two products were combined.

An enlarged prostate can be caused by a hormonal Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms imbalance between androgens and estrogens, parUrinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and post ticularly the overproduction of the enzyme 5-alpha- micturition (urination) dribble are collectively rereductase which converts testosterone to dihydrotes- ferred to as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). tosterone (DHT). Elevated DHT levels can cause hair LUTS consists of three major groups including loss, coronary heart disease, prostate cancer, and an storage (increased day frequency, nocturia, urgency, enlarged prostate. Aromatase is another enzyme that and urinary incontinence), problems voiding (slow can increase testosterone levels. stream, straining, intermittency, dribble), and postThere are commonly used prescription drugs like urination (dribble and incomplete emptying of the Proscar and Avodart that inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, bladder). but they are associated with a variety of adverse effects If you wake up more than once a night to urinate, including erectile dysfunction and lower libido. I'm or can't sleep for 6-8 hours without needing to use happy to report that there are many natural products the bathroom, you may be suffering from nocturia. including Styrian pumpkin seed oil, plant sterols (es- Nocturia can result if the body produces too much pecially beta-sitosterol), and defined rye flower pollen urine, or if you have poor bladder control. Nocturia extract that can help resolve bladder outlet obstruc- can be a side effect of some pharmaceutical drugs, or tion by shrinking an enlarged prostate gland. These from simply drinking too much before bed (including natural treatments can help restore the normal flow of water, alcohol, or caffeinated beverages). It can also urine through the urethra. In addition, studies have be a sign of underlying health conditions including shown that Styrian pumpkin seed oil can strengthen diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, bladder tissue to help the bladder contract and ex- enlarged prostate (BPH), or be related to one or more pand, and can be effective in reducing the symptoms of the three lower urinary tract symptoms. of an overactive bladder.

Storage LUTS (urinary incontinence and overactive Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil bladder) are disturbing and embarrassing conditions Grown only in Styria, a mountainous, forested state suffered by an estimated 15 per cent of the populain southern Austria, the Styrian pumpkin produces tion. This includes an estimated 33 million Ameriseeds with remarkable healing qualities. These pump- cans, with over one-third of them also suffering from kin seeds have a thin coating instead of a shell, mak- urgency incontinence where there is a strong urge ing the entire seed edible. Styrian pumpkin seeds and to urinate that is difficult to delay, which can result the oil produced from them are unique in their health in leakage. A 2002 study of Canada, Germany, Italy, benefits. Styrian pumpkin seed oil has been shown to Sweden, and the UK found that about 12 per cent inhibit the production of both aromatase and 5-alpha- suffered from overactive bladder, and about 9.4 per reductase, the problematic enzymes. An added bonus cent suffered from urinary incontinence. is that the oil has a delicious, nutty flavour and can be Approximately 25 per cent of women of reproducApril 2021

tive age, about half of post-menopausal women, and up to 75 per cent of women in nursing homes suffer from stress and urgency urinary incontinence (UI).

Often underdiagnosed, many women consider UI to be a normal part of aging. Factors that contribute to UI in women include childbirth, constipation, being overweight, and having had a hysterectomy or prolapse repair. For men, common causes of urinary incontinence include blockage from an enlarged prostate gland, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and prostate surgery.

One treatment option for UI and overactive bladder is bladder retraining, a behavioral therapy that can help regain control of urination. With this approach, you practice holding in urine for progressively longer periods of time, which can help prevent leaks and emergencies. There are also a variety of pharmaceutical therapies, but most are associated with side effects including dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation, blurred vision, nausea, drowsiness, memory loss, and an increased risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia that can be permanent.

Urox In terms of natural solutions, Styrian pumpkin seed oil and Urox Bladder Control have both been clinically studied for LUTS. In a 2014 Japanese study of 25 males and 20 females aged 41-80 years, researchers found that two teaspoons daily of Styrian pumpkin seed oil for 12 weeks significantly reduced overactive bladder symptoms.

Published in 2018, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Australian trial conducted at two primary care centres with 150 participants (59 per cent female aged 63.5 +/-, over eight weeks) found that Urox Bladder Control was very effective.

Developed in Australia (and sold in Canada as AOR Bladder Manager), Urox Bladder Control is a combination of Crataeva Nurvala (the herb of choice in Ayurvedic medicine for urinary disorders), Equisetum arvense (common horsetail, used in Western herbal medicine for urinary incontinence), and Lindera aggregate (popular in Chinese traditional medicine for frequent urination and urinary incontinence).

In the Australian study, Urox reduced daytime urination by two or three instances a day, cut nocturia occurrences in half, and slowed urgency episodes from an average of about four times a day to less than twice. Researchers also found it reduced the frequency of not making it to the bathroom in time from about three to once per day, and lowered stress incontinence (leaking) from over twice per day to less than once. The proportion of users that needed to use more than one pair of adult diapers or padded underwear dropped from 23 per cent to 6 per cent after only 8 weeks of use. Of the Urox users in this study, 60 per cent fell within the normal daytime range, while almost 25 per cent of those experiencing nocturia became symptom-free.

Increasingly common as we age and often difficult to talk about, the symptoms associated with urinary conditions are not to be accepted or ignored. Thankfully, there is nutritional support available from Styrian pumpkin seed oil and herbal formulas like Urox that can help address these conditions naturally.

Nathan Zassman is the owner and president of Aviva Natural Health Solutions. whatsupwinnipeg.ca

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Crown roast rack of lamb – a crown unlike any other ‘Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep And doesn’t know where to find them, Leave them alone, and they will come home Wagging their tails behind them.

¼ cup water 4 sprigs fresh rosemary

Sorry Bo. Maybe not this time!’

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ypically, this time of year is a big favourite of mine because springtime means lamb time. The difference between beef and lamb?

Usually, lamb has a more gamey flavour, a hint of smokiness even. In my honest opinion, it is one of the best meats.

Certain flavours seem to blend very well with Ian Leatt lamb, in particular mint Foodies and mustard. It seems an odd sort of combination but, it truly works. When the lamb is in the oven, I can’t stop my palette from salivating.

Enjoy this dish, it really is a show stopper.

A delicious crown unlike any other!

Ingredients: 2 full racks of lamb, (French tipped) 8 ribs 750 grams per rack 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon freshly ground sea salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 8 cloves of garlic freshly crushed 5 teaspoons freshly chopped thyme 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

Directions: Always start by washing the meat, then dab with clean paper towel. Bend each rack to form a half circle, the rib ends should face outwards, giving the look of a crown.

Using good quality kitchen twine tie the two pieces together. Once completed place in a roasting pan.

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Rub the oil all over the crown. In a small bowl, place sea salt, pepper, crushed garlic and chopped thyme. Mix together well, then rub over the rack, ensuring you spread evenly.

Place in the middle of the oven and cook for 35 minutes, or until the meat registers 130 degrees F. Remove from the roasting pan and place on the serving dish, cover with foil and leave to rest for 20 minutes.

Turn the stove on to a medium heat adding to it the water, mustard and sherry vinegar. Bring to a boil and stir, blending all the drippings from the crown to it. Once boiling, pour through a sieve into a serving boat.

To serve, present to the table and carve accordingly.

Roasted potatoes and a vegetables are always welcome with this dish.

Ian Leatt is general manager of Pegasus Publications and a trained chef.

Is your fence for privacy or just decoration?

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Having the all-clear leads to post positioning. Typihen is a fence meant for privacy or just decoration? I guess it depends on your neigh- cally, fence posts are spaced between six and eight feet borhood and what pleases your eye. From apart. The corner posts are set first. To align all of the posts in between, stretch a line from chain-link to the stereotypical ‘white each corner post to work as your guide. picket fence’, we all have our own viNow comes the question I get asked sion. most often. How deep do I put the post What do you do if you have a deterioin? That depends on the height of the rating fence on a shared property line ? fence you will be installing. The width Answer, knock on your neighbor’s door of the post hole would be three times and hope to come to some shared cost the width of the post, a four-inch post arrangement, perhaps even offer do the would have a 12-inch-wide hole. The job yourself. depth would be 30 percent of the height If, however, you have a property that of the post: a six-foot post would need you wish to make a little more private, to be two feet in the ground. The deeper, or wish to build a fence to use as a wind the more stability your fence will have. break there are many things to consider.

Brent Poole What do you use to secure the post • Height Home in place? Concrete is the best material • Length • Style for setting fence posts. Using premixed Improvements concrete rather than dry concrete will • Visual appeal ensure ultimate security. While concrete • Design is sturdy, it lacks the drainage of gravel and can trap • Standard panels moisture. I tend to use quarter-down limestone. It is • Dressed with trellis Having made the decision to install a fence in the made up of really fine pieces of crushed rock with a yard, first, it is always best to check with Manitoba powdery substance. The powder makes it pack really Hydro. They have a program ‘Call before you dig,’ well when wet then sets hard, similar to concrete, once whereby they will send out a person to scan below the dry.

Having set the posts in place, tie each post together soil line to check for hydro lines and gas lines. This is extremely important. You do not want to hit anything with a ‘top rail’ and a ‘bottom rail.’ Once all of these are in place, start at one end of the fence and slowly aflike this.

If you’re planning on installing or replacing your fence, it is a good idea to keep in mind it’s maintenance needs. fix the fence slats. When you are doing this, use a small measure to ensure that all slats are evenly spaced.

Some fences and top caps can be added for further decoration, another bonus to this is that the top caps protect the posts further.

If you don’t have the tools or are looking for a professional consult your contractor for advice, they are always willing to help.

Brent Poole is the owner operator of Handy Hands Construction, which he has run with his father Jim since 1997. A carpenter by trade, Brent enjoys all types of projects. “We’re not happy until you are happy!”

How much should you invest in renovations before selling your home?

Kasey Hacking

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hen our team does market evaluations, one of the most common questions is, “What should we do to get the best price for our home?” All things being equal the best answer is kitchens and baths. I mean, if the roof is curling and the aluminum sliders of windows are broken we have bigger problems, but sometimes even those things can be washed over with a quartz countertop and a soaker jacuzzi.

Kidding aside, according to the appraisal institute of Canada these are the Top 5 Renovations with the Highest Return on Investment. Here are their recommendations followed by my comments.

1. Kitchen – renovation or update with quality of materials and workmanship consistent with the area. This # 1 for me too, especially if you don’t have a master ensuite bathroom or another feature space. You want to have some feature that separates your home from the pack 8

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if possible, while maintaining budgetary and style balance. Usually a 10,000$ investment will yield a $19,000 value increase 2. Bathroom – renovation or addition with quality of materials and workmanship consistent with the home and the area. This another area where you can stand out. Everyone wants to see a clean bright space. With a typical room dimension of 8’ x 5’, efficiency and design matter.

3. Repainting interior/exterior – completed in tones with wide-ranging market appeal. I am sometimes torn on this one. If the colour is on point, as a buyer’s agent, I would prefer to see old paint. It gives me more structural confidence for my buyers that things are not shifting and have not been covered up. Still, if the area is renovated, it is expected to have new paint.

If something seems unusually painted or more commonly, painted poorly (i.e., roller marks on the ceiling) it can get the spider senses tingling.

4. Updating décor – lighting and plumbing fixtures, countertops, replacing worn flooring (vinyl or carpets) or refin-

ishing hardwood floors. This is one that can be challenging as in where to stop. I once had a house that was not selling so we pulled the listing off the market and refinished the hardwood floors. It sold with multiple offers two weeks later well over list price. It is better to do it if you have the funds and the time. Often the bank will provide a home equity loan to complete renovations but let them know why you are doing it as well. We can provide you with a before and after estimate to take with you.

5. Decluttering – removing all excess items to showcase the features of your home. To me this is the cheapest and easiest way to make money. It sends an instinctive “moving signal” when you make space in your closets, cabinets, and cupboards. The buyer can visualize their possessions going there. When four brooms and a bushel of shopping bags fall out of the closet it sends the wrong message.

There are many more areas that can add value, but their return is generally $ in $ out and difficult to predict. Not having central air conditioning is worse in the summer.

Geothermals and other efficiencies don't generally move the needle except in comparison to other listings on the market.

They may help you sell faster but are not cash-positive generally. That being said, shingles, furnaces, windows and doors are more important than they were 10 years ago. If your home has a structural defect or other major problem, disclose it. Honesty is the best policy.

Get two quotes for repairs and include them in your listing if you can't fix them before listing. If you are doing major work, please get permits. Agents are checking and if there's evidence of major work with no permit it is a major red flag. The city is also watching the market to find unpermitted work, and those fines to your new buyer could get you sued for damages. I could go on for hours, but I promise not to. Just call us or your trusted professional of choice to get some good advice before you finish the basement, pave your driveway, or buy new appliances.

Kasey Hacking is the daughter of George Hacking who is an award winning realtor at Century 21 Advanced Realty on The Hacking Home Team.

April 2021

Social connection is a determinant of one’s own health Connie Newman

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gathering of older adults/seniors is important.

Your local senior centre, senior support coordinator or senior resource finder is a place to start to get connected. Need the phone number – call 211 who will assist you in finding the place/number closest to you to assist you in connecting.

Do you know a Mary?

She is a very active 73-year-old and has been an active community member for well over 30 years. She loves mowing lawn, going for walks, visiting with friends and family and volunteering at the local Legion and church.

She is well-known for her ability to talk to anyone and her infectious laugh. One day while at the Legion she was going up the stairs and could barely make it. She couldn’t catch her breath and was uncomfortable, so she went to her doctor.

She discovered she needed major heart surgery. She had her surgery in October and the first thing she said when she woke up was that she would be able to mow her lawn again without struggling to breathe. She remembers feeling a sense of relief that the hardest part was over. Well, her recovery did not go well, and she ended up spending a lot more time in the hospital than most who are recovering from the same surgery. She got home from the hospital and became very frustrated that her recovery was too long. Her husband is 11 years older than she is and was doing his best to try to help her but, emotionally, she struggled and became very de-

April 2021

pressed and would say that she didn’t have much to look forward to in her life anymore. Her daughter visits her every morning for coffee and noticed she would not be very talkative; she would cry and some days just didn’t want to wake up.

Her daughter recommended she join the local senior centre and take in the fitness program that was run by one of the staff and volunteers there. Mary wasn’t too sure as she thought that she was still too active and young for a senior centre. For her daughter’s sake she tried it out.

She found her first class hard because her strength wasn’t there, and she couldn’t coordinate. The staff told her to be patient, her body had been through trauma and was still recovering. They encouraged her to come back.

She purchased a membership and came every Thursday after that. She also joined other fitness programs, began attending the Coffee Corner, which was a place where she met new friends. Her daughter joined her for the evening country jam session one night and off Mary went dancing the two-step with her friend. By the following summer she was mowing her lawn again. She had a new outlook on life and owes her biggest recovery, her mental recovery, to the local Centre and the friends and family she has met there.

Do you know a Dave?

Dave moved back to his home community and connected with the local senior centre on recommendation of a friend. Through conversations with the staff and volunteers, it was discovered he enjoyed gardening and maintenance. The volunteer coordinator spoke with him and asked for some help around the Centre. Dave was interested and started helping. Once the volunteer coor-

dinator told him to do what needed to be done. He felt empowered and took over the maintenance of the building and gardening and much of the yard maintenance.

Dave built his own little work desk in the maintenance room and has all his equipment there. He comes to the Centre, has a coffee, reads the paper, visits with his friends and then gets to work. He is open to working with others. He worked with summer students and taught them new skills.

Dave is very conscientious of the environment and reusing. He will save seeds for next years’ plants, coffee grinds for fertilizer, containers for planning, and so much more. He maintains the perennials and the memorial garden regularly. While working with the perennials he re-potted them and turned it into a fundraiser for the Centre as we sold many of them. He planted a vegetable garden next to the building and gave the vegetables to the kitchen for the meal program.

During the first Covid-19 closure he continued to work on maintenance in the building while it was closed.

We feel we have the best-looking building in town thanks to him. Without him we could not do all that we do.

At another Centre March 25th marked the first anniversary of the Steppin’ Up program through Zoom. No longer able to meet at the Centre last March 2020, a group continued the program on FaceTime and graduated to Zoom when their Centre purchased an account. The hour-long classes have grown to an average of 30 participants joining each day, six days per week. We ‘see’ friends and relations from Vancouver to Ottawa and South West Manitoba to Steep u 11 ‘Social connection'

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Directory Northern AREA Jubilee Recreation of Cranberry Portage Legion Hall, 217 2nd Ave. SE, Cranberry Portage 472-3031 Snow Lake Seniors 71 Balsam St., Snow Lake 358-2151 The Pas Golden Agers 324 Ross Ave., The Pas 623-3663 Interlake AREA Gimli New Horizons 55+ Activity Centre 17 North Colonization Rd., Gimli 642-7909 www.gimlinewhorizons.com Gordon Howard Centre 384 Eveline St., Selkirk 785-2092 www.gordonhoward.ca Grand Marais & District Seniors 90 Matilda Ave., Grand Marais 998-1509 Riverton & District Friendship Centre 24 Main St., Riverton 378-2800 South Interlake 55 Plus 374 1st St. W., Stonewall 467-2582 www.si55plus.org Eastman AREA Beau-head Senior Centre 645 Park Ave., Beausejour 268-2444 East Beaches Social Scene 3 Ateah Rd., Victoria Beach 756-6468 www.ebseniorscene.ca East Beaches Resource Centre 3 Ateah Road, Victoria Beach 756-6471 www.ebseniorscene.ca Pat Porter Active Living Centre 10 Chrysler Gate, Steinbach 320-4600 www.patporteralc.com Central AREA Carmen Active Living Centre 47 Ed Belfour Drive, Carmen 745-2356 www.carmanalc.com Comfort Drop In Centre 31 Main St., Erickson 636-7895 Crystal City Friendship Club 117 Broadway St., Crystal City 873-2091

Dauphin Multi-Purpose Senior Centre 55 1st Ave. SE, Dauphin 638-6485 www.dauphinseniors.com Grandview Drop In 432 Main St., Grandview 546-2772 Herman Prior Senior Services Centre 40 Royal Rd. N., Portage la Prairie 857-6951 www.hermanpriorcentre.com Neepawa Drop In Centre 310 Davidson St., Neepawa 476-5103 www.neepawa.ca/district-drop-in-center Morden Activity Centre 306 N. Railway St., Morden 822-3555 www.mordenseniors.ca Minnedosa 50+ Centre 31 Main St. S., Minnedosa 867-1956

Winnipeg AREA 20 Fort Street Seniors Club 2200 - 20 Fort St., Winnipeg (204) 227-7104 Aboriginal Senior Resource Centre Winnipeg 527 Selkirk Ave., Winnipeg (204) 586-4595 www.asrcwpg.org A&O: Senior Centre Without Walls 200 - 280 Smith St., Winnipeg (204) 956-6440 www.aosupportservices.ca Archwood 55 Plus 565 Guilbault St., Winnipeg (204) 416-1067 archwood55plusinc.weebly.com Barbara Mitchell Family Resource Centre 51 Morrow Ave., Winnipeg (204) 946-9152 www.barbaramitchellfrc.ca

Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre 1588 Main St., Winnipeg (204) 339-1701 www.gwensecter.com Headingley Senior Services 5353 Portage Ave., Winnipeg (204) 889-3132 Ext. 3 www.headingleyseniorservices.ca Winakwa Active Seniors Club 980 Winakwa Rd., Winnipeg (204) 253-4418 www.winakwacc.ca Manitoba Korean Seniors c/o 388 Waverley St., Winnipeg (204) 837-3470 www.ksam.ca Pembina Active Living 50 Barnes Ave., Winnipeg (204) 946-0839 www.pal55plus.com Rady Jewish Community Centre 123 Doncaster St., Winnipeg (204) 480-7550 www.radyjcc.com

Pilot Mound Fellowship Club 203 Broadway, Pilot Mound

Bleak House Centre 1637 Main St., Winnipeg (204) 338-4723 www.bleakhousecentre.com

Plumas Seniors Club 102 White St., Plumas 386-2029

Brooklands Active Living Centre 1960 William Ave. W., Winnipeg (204) 632-8367

Rainbow Resource Centre 170 Scott St., Winnipeg (204) 474-0212, Ext. 211 www.rainbowresourcecentre.org

Portage Services for Seniors 40A Royal Road N., Portage la Prairie 239-6312

Broadway Seniors Resource Centre 823 Ellice Ave., Winnipeg (204) 772-3533 www.bsrc.ca

South Winnipeg Seniors Resource Council 204-478-6169 www.swsrc.ca resources@swsrc.ca

Centro Caboto 1055 Wilkes Ave., Winnipeg (204) 896-1962

Southdale Seniors 254 Lakewood Blvd., Winnipeg (204) 253-4599

Charleswood Senior Centre 5006 Roblin Blvd., Winnipeg (204) 897-5263 www.charleswoodseniorcentre.org

St. James-Assiniboia 55+ Centre 3 - 203 Duffield St., Winnipeg (204) 987-8850 www.stjamescentre.com

Creative Retirement MB 448 Burnell St., Winnipeg (204) 949-2569 www.creativeretirementmanitoba.ca

St. Mary’s Rd. Seniors 613 St. Mary’s Rd., Winnipeg (204) 257-0678 www.stmarysroad.ca

Sandy Lake Drop In Centre 100 Main St., Sandy Lake (204) 585-2411 Treherne Friendship Centre 190 Broadway St., Treherne 723-2559 Winkler Senior Centre 102 - 650 South Railway Ave., Winkler 325-8964 winkler55plus.com Brandon AREA Brandon Seniors for Seniors Coop 311 Park Ave., East, Brandon 571-2050 www.brandonsfors.ca Prairie Oasis Centre 241 8th St., Brandon 727-6641 Age Friendly Committee of Council - Brandon 638 Princess Ave., Brandon 729-2259 Killarney Service for Seniors 203 South Railway (204) 523-7115

Crescent Fort Rouge United Church 525 Wardlaw Ave., Winnipeg (204) 475-6011 Dakota Comm. Centre - Dakota 55+ Lazers 1188 Dakota St., Winnipeg (204) 254-1010 E206 www.dakotacc.com Elmwood East Kildonan Active Living Centre 180 Poplar Ave., Winnipeg (204) 669-0750 www.facebook.com/eekalc Good Neighbours Active Living Centre 720 Henderson Hwy., Winnipeg (204) 669-1710 www.gnalc.ca

Transcona Council for Seniors 845 Regent Ave., Winnipeg (204) 222-9879 Transcona Retired Citizens Centre 328 Whittier Ave. West, Winnipeg (204) 222-8473 Vital Seniors 3 St. Vital Rd., Winnipeg (204) 253-0555 www.stmarymagdelenewpg.org Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association (204) 291-9028 www.winnipegchineseseniors.ca

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April 2021

Creating a welcoming and inclusive community: A & O

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oving to a new country can be challenging, especially for older adults. They leave their home, their life, their friends and possibly their families behind. This can cause many different emotions.

Some older adults may experience culture shock when immigrating to a new country. They may also feel isolated in their new home or find that older adults are valued in a different way than in their country of origin.

Being a newcomer older adult can sometimes be a very difficult experience. Many older adults come to Canada with their families, but some come alone. They may feel that their role in their family and community has changed. The skills they have may not be accepted.

Some older adults may also struggle with learning a new language. Language ability can have a major impact on employment, accessing services, ability to be independent (doctor, shopping, banking etc.) and even socializing with neighbours, which can all lead to social isolation. These are all common challenges that older adult newcomers may face.

Creating a welcoming and inclusive community that is free of discrimination can help make this experience a bit easier for older adult newcomers. In an effort towards this goal, the City of Winnipeg recently hosted their first ever Anti-Racism Week from March 21 to 27, 2021.

Anti-Racism Week was organized by the City of Winnipeg in partnership with Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba, Elmwood Community Resource Centre, Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, Human Rights Hub, and Black History Manitoba. The theme of Anti-Racism Week was “What would Winnipeg look like without racism?” and helped shape events and conversations during the week.

A number of initiatives were organized, in the hopes of starting a city-wide conversation exploring ways to identify and eliminate systemic racism. All Winnipeggers were encouraged to get involved with events offered throughout the week.

A & O’s Senior Immigrant Settlement Services strives to support older adult newcomers and make their settlement journey a bit easier. The program offers a wide range of settlement services for newcomers 55 years of age and over. Supporting initiatives like anti-racism week is a way to help make our city a more welcoming and inclusive place for everyone.

For more information about A & O please contact: Phone: 204-956-6440 www.aosuppportservices.ca Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter!

ADVANCING HEALTHCARE

Transforming care of older adults through community

Avoiding frauds and scams Peggy Prendergast

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his month RTAM will list for you the DO’s and DON’Ts about Income Security that have been sent from your federal and provincial governments. Many of us have been victims of fraudsters.

These people need to be stopped. Prevent it from happening to you and know how you can help yourself and someone you know who could become a victim.

Knowledge is power. Use it.

The latest update from Canada’s Minister of Seniors, Deb Schulte, states that “COVID-19 has created an environment that is ripe for fraud and cyber criminals to use the pandemic as an opportunity to profit.” We as Canadians, including older adults, are relying on the digital marketplace more than ever and are using online services for groceries, banking and everyday shopping.

Caution is advised when something seems suspicious.

Canada.ca/fraud describes how you can acquire “The Little Black Book of Scams.” The new edition of this book brings you the latest on fraud and how to recognize, reject and report it.

Service Canada will never make threatening phone calls of any kind, never request your personal information or ask you to complete a financial transaction in an email. There are many frauds and scams in Canada led by professional fraudsters with new ones invented daily. Protect yourself against fraud. Know how to recognize a scam claiming to be from Service Canada or 1-800 O-Canada. Go to Canada.ca/employment and Social Development Canada. Here you will learn how to protect yourself from identity theft and if you think you have been a victim of fraud you can ask for help from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

An investment opportunity that sounds too good to be true probably is. The Manitoba Securities Commission’s Investigation department looks into all types of

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Do Slow down, take a second look, stay informed to reduce FRAUD. If you’re not sure, ask someone you trust for help protect you and your money.

Check with the friend or relative you know when fraudsters pretend to be one of them in need.

Don’t Open email attachments or follow links to unfamiliar websites.

Don’t share personal information like banking or credit card info. scams throughout the year and takes a proactive approach that shuts down some scams before they even get started.

Factsheets for Seniors A series of plain language factsheets for older Canadians have been created on financial planning and protection.

• Financial abuse • Frauds and scams To receive a paper copy of any of the publications, please call 1-800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232).

The factsheets have been created by the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors’ Forum.

One last reminder – do file your income tax this year and don’t be late filing as there are COVID-19 Benefits with deadlines you may be eligible to receive.

Peggy Prendergast is president of Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM). To contact RTAM call 1-204-889-3660, email info@rtam.mb.ca or go online to www.rtam.mb.ca.

Donate Now at TheVicFoundation.ca

Social connection is a determinant of one’s own health Continued from page 9

Rock. Exercise and getting to know each other has been a boost to our physical and mental well - being.

Our Steppin’ Up connections led to jam-pail curling at a local frozen pond. The Crazy COVID Curlers had a very short inaugural season: First, it was too warm, then too cold and COVID-19 and finally, in February the ice was just right. There was definitely no curling experience required and it was more a game of crokinole. The rules changed approximately every five minutes with much cajoling and laughter.

We do ‘see’ each other through Zoom exercise classes but getting together again outside, in person was fantastic. Realizing the importance of social contact but in a safe manner brightens everyone’s spirits.

One of the participants writes: I have had the pleasure of being a part of this group since June 2020 and I must say that their exercise class has become a wonderful start to each of my days.

April 2021

This last year has been very difficult with the isolation and little to no contact with others. The girls have selflessly given their time and commitment to leading this program. Their warm personalities, their kindness and their knowledge, really make this program an honor to be a part of. The entire group has brought so much joy and encouragement that I truly look forward to it each day.

As we move through 2021, I am still feeling unsure of how things will unfold. I am very thankful to know that each day will begin with the positivity of these three ladies and the support of the entire group.

Get Connected – join your local centre. Call 211 for the phone number of the Centre or Coordinator closest to you.

Connie Newman is the Executive Director of the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres (MASC). To find out more about MASC visit www.manitobaseniorcentres.com

Victoria General Hospital

FOUNDATION HEALTHIER FUTURES

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Making a Difference in the World Remembering Els Kavanagh

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At a recent staff meeting, a number of ome people make a difference in our lives by the many kindnesses WSO personnel mentioned ways that Els they show to the people around had made them feel special through small them. Somehow you find yourself smil- acts of kindness. For some people it was just that she would learn ing every time you think of the names of people and them. Very fortunately at she would remember their the Winnipeg Symphony names and address them Orchestra, I have had the personally each time she great pleasure of encounencountered them. tering a good number of Our Associate Conducpeople of great character tor, Julian Pellicano, had and generosity. a lovely story to tell about Els Kavanagh was a his early days in Canada. great friend to the WinniThe New York City born peg Symphony Orchestra. young conductor had just She had a genuine love arrived in Winnipeg with for music, and her enthuTrudy Schroeder his family, and one of his siasm was infectious. She Random first concerts with the attended concerts with her WSO was to conduct a husband, Kevin, and she Notes children’s concert that feawould just beam with joy tured The Hockey Sweater after hearing symphonic works that moved her. She expressed her which was written and narrated by Roch appreciation to the musicians, and she Carrier. As it happened, Els and Kevin Kamade a special point of getting to know vanagh were in the audience that day with musicians and supporting and encourag- their grandchildren. Els and Kevin made ing them in many ways. I have attached a special point of finding Julian after the a photo of Els with the WSO’s principal concert and welcoming him to Canada flute player Jan Kochman taken in Kenora and to the WSO. Julian mentioned that he was brand new to Canada, and he was just in 2013.

Over the years, she sent me personal- learning about Canadians’ great love of ized cards, letters, and e-mails of encour- hockey. Several weeks later Julian received agement. One day when she called, I con- a letter in the mail from Els thanking him fessed that I was having a very hard day, again for the great performance and weland I listed a whole series of things that coming him to Canada. She also included had just tipped in the wrong direction that a Canadian five dollar bill. She explained day. She provided some helpful ideas, and that the Canadian five dollar bill (and this the next day she dropped in to the office is the previous version of the bill which with a small candle stand just to make her was used until 2012) had a real connecencouragement tangible. I was not the tion to the Hockey Sweater. She pointed only WSO recipient of her thoughtfulness. out that the reverse side of the bill depicts

Els Kavanagh with WSO principle flautist Jan Kochman. She was a thoughtful lady. children sledding, ice skating, and playing hockey. There is also a quotation from Roch Carrier’s story “The Hockey Sweater”, which says, “The winters of my childhood were long, long seasons. We lived in three places – the school, the church and the skating rink – but our real life was on the skating rink.” A little girl in the image wears a hockey sweater with the number 9 on it to honour Canadian hockey legend Maurice Richard who was idolized in Carrier’s story.

What a beautiful way to welcome Julian to Canada. Els knew the challenges of arriving in Winnipeg from another homeland and she knew how to make new comers feel welcome. She came to Canada with her family when she was a young girl. She and her family were seeking refuge from war ravaged Netherlands. She quickly perfected her English and worked hard to help her family make the adjustment to a new homeland. But, she also always kept her love for her first country.

She was delighted to hear that our Music Director, Daniel Raiskin, made his home in Amsterdam.

Several years ago the WSO started to plan a concert tour to the Netherlands to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian troops during the Second World War. I asked Els if she would consider serving on the tour planning committee. She readily agreed, and was able to assist that project in a number of significant ways. When we started the process of asking people to adopt a musician to make this project a reality, Els and Kevin were the first to sign up to adopt a musician. Several weeks later Els phoned to say that they had decided to support another musician as well. Because of the Covid-19 epidemic we were not able to go to Netherland in May of 2020, but we have been busy re-scheduling that trip to May of 2022, and I know that Els was looking forward to seeing that project finally come to fruition.

Of late, Els was a great fan of the WSO’s streaming concerts. She would send little notes with comments on most of the concerts expressing her appreciation for all the efforts the WSO had made to continue providing beautiful and inspiring concerts for audience members despite all of the challenges of these times.

What do we learn from memorable people like Els Kavanagh? I learned much about the importance of taking time with people and making the effort to show people appreciation and support in small and repeated ways. She was an inspiration and example to many of us of the impact that one thoughtful and kind person can make on the lives of the people around her.

Trudy Schroeder is the Executive Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

The richness of Manitoba Francophone community puts on the film making map

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Manitobans for local, national and interilence, moteur, action !

The saying may be a cliché – one national markets. While each company thing filmmakers typically try to has its specific focus, collectively, they avoid – but these French words (or some create all types and genres of content invariation of them) aren’t just heard in cluding documentary, animation, factual series, scripted series, and web series for Quebec.

Manitoba is home to one of Canada’s both general and young audiences.

A recent notable produclargest French-language tion is Edgar, coproduced media production secby Manito Média. Edgar tors outside of Quewas the first French-lanbec, a testament to guage scripted television our province’s vibrant series filmed in Manitoba.

French-speaking arts This landmark production and culture community opened the door to a whole and its entrepreneurial new realm of possibilities know-how. There are for our industry. Not only several active media did it showcase the filming production companies skills of French-speaking in Manitoba, numerous media production profesindependent writer-diNicole Matiation sionals in Manitoba, but it rectors and filmmakers created on-screen opportuproducing primarily for Movie nities for Francophone acthe French-language Making tors in Manitoba. A second market. In addition, scripted television series, there are a couple hundred industry professionals working in Gabrielle Roy, produced by Les Producvirtually every role from payroll accoun- tions Rivard — is in pre-production and tant, to actor, to grip, to casting director. will be shooting in 2021.

Both Les Productions Rivard and Among the Franco-Manitobanowned production companies are Les Manito Média have a rich collection of Productions Rivard in business for over work that includes documentaries, docu25 years, Manito Média for 10 years, series, scripted series, children’s series Wookey films for eight years and newly (some is animated content) and much of established Canoë Rouge. These produc- which has been nominated for national tion companies work almost exclusively and even international recognition.

Wookey Films has also been nomion French-language content created by 12

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nated for several prizes. Their docuseries on the art of the tattoo provides an intimate exploration of why people get tattoos and their relationship with the artists that make them. Other works by this company have been broadcast on internationally as well as nationally.

Turning now from production to look at the exhibition side of the industry, Manitoba is also home to several Frenchlanguage film festivals and industry development programs.

Cinémental, screens French-language films, documentaries and television series made in our province, in Canada and from around the world. Its most recent edition was held last year over two weekends in late October and early November (with COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place of course!). Cinémental includes some screenings with English subtitles to make their programming accessible to a wider audience.

Le Festival de films pour enfants de tous âges : Freeze Frame: International Film Festival for Kids of All Ages is a bilingual film festival for children that takes place in March each year. The Festival, which is popular with schools and families, screens acclaimed films for young audiences from around the world. Freeze Frame also works to promote and encourage media language awareness, filmmaking and storytelling skills in Manitoba’s youth through year-round workshops in both English and French

with young people aged 5 through 18 years of age.

The Festival des vidéastes du Manitoba is a project managed by Freeze Frame that works with French-speaking students from grades 8 to 12 to produce short films through workshops. The projects are then presented at a gala in the spring.

Registrations are currently open until April 2 if someone you know might be interested.

There is increasing demand for Frenchspeaking media production industry production professionals, including actors, musicians and other artists and artisans, it is clear that the Francophone media production industry has a bright future in Manitoba. This is why On Screen Manitoba is proud of its work to support the French-language media production sector. As the bilingual industry association in Manitoba, we work hard to advance and support all components of the sector. In addition to exclusive French programming at our annual industry forum, All Access, and providing our resources and services in both English and French languages, we advocate for this sector on local, provincial and national levels.

To learn more about the French language media production sector in Manitoba and how you can get involved visit the On Screen Manitoba and Get on Set Manitoba on tourne ! web sites.

Nicole Matiation is the executive director of OnScreen Manitoba.

April 2021

Love of opera is a home run for umpire Darlene Ronald

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espite a global pandemic, 2020 was the year that trivia buff, sports fan (Go Jets Go!) and nationally certified baseball umpire Mark Witiuk chose to become a Manitoba Opera monthly donor.

Mark has always loved classical music, but opera was something he had shied away from. A clarinet player himself, he credits his love of music to childhood lessons on his mother’s inherited grand piano and the influence of his grandfather. It wasn’t until an opera singer entered his life that he tuned into opera.

In 2016, Mark met his now-fiancée, who was a vocal student. They instantly connected over their shared love of classical music.

“Hearing her perform opened up the world of opera for me. I feel so fortunate to have happened across this wonderful person who introduced me to this wonderful art form, and I look forward to spending years exploring it.”

Little did he know that some of his favourite music was from opera. “As a kid, my grandpa gave me a three-CD set of great overtures and I loved that music; at the time I didn’t even realize that some of them were part of larger

Manitoba Opera’s 2016 production of Falstaff was the first opera that Mark and his fiancé attended. (L to R) Sasha Djihanian (Nannetta), Monica Huisman (Alice Ford), Lauren Segal (Meg Page), and Lynne McMurtry (Mistress Quickly). Photo: R. Tinker operatic works. Now, I love seeing the tone an overture sets with a story.”

The same year they met, the couple saw Falstaff, which helped cement Mark’s appreciation of the art form. “It was hilarious! So well executed and performed. I just loved it.

I’ve now been to every production that Manitoba Opera

has performed since Falstaff - except the most recent, Susannah – but only because we were out of town.”

“Opera has opened up a whole category of classical music that I hadn’t explored. I am hooked.”

When Mark talks about what he loves most about opera, he references a family friend who knows the history of every Manitoba Opera production since the 1970s. One of the things they both appreciate is how small changes can make an opera brand new. “He may have seen Werther a number of times, but he hadn’t seen a production that focused on mental health and suicide, as Manitoba Opera’s last one did. It really makes these stories timeless and the possibilities endless.”

When the pandemic hit, Mark knew he wanted to help.

While listening to Classic Radio 107, he heard about the work Manitoba Opera was doing to connect artists with audiences.

“I was in a position to help, and I knew that I wanted to do something. I chose to make a monthly donation and I’ll keep that going for a long time.”

When asked what his advice would be to others about donating, Mark said, “If you are fortunate enough to have the time or resources, it’s important to give back.”

“It has been very fulfilling, and it will continue to be part of my life.”

RMTC takes another step toward Reconciliation Kim Wheeler

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he inaugural The Bridge: A Festival of Ideas saw 40 Indigenous artists, thinkers, doers, movers and shakers come together to discuss and present their worldviews to Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre audiences.

I had the honour of curating The Bridge, whose theme was Art & (re)conciliation. First, let me introduce myself.

My name is Kim Wheeler and I’m in my 28th year of working in media and the Indigenous arts community. When I received the call to meet with Kelly Thornton, the artistic director of Royal MTC to talk about The Bridge, I immediately realized my career had been leading up to this moment.

I have covered the Indigenous arts and entertainment community since North

of 60 aired on the public broadcaster. I have either interviewed, booked, became friends with, or worked with almost everyone who appeared in front of the camera as a part of The Bridge.

So, it was easy to pick up the phone, drop an email, or shoot a message via social media to everyone. And they all immediately said yes, with zero hesitation.

No one asked if there was remuneration (there was), no one asked who else is on my panel (their friends/colleagues) and no one needed more information on this first-time festival (the RMTC is a big deal).

That’s what I love about this Indigenous community. We all love what we do, and we all want to talk about it.

But what about that theme? Art & (re) conciliation. My friend and Theatre Matriarchs panelist Columba Bobb shared a conversation she had with her father. He had told her this country has never had

a good relationship with the Indigenous people of this land. To have reconciliation you first must have a good relationship. At most our relationship is conciliatory.

Reconciliation has become a loaded term and has generated a lot of conversations among Indigenous peoples. But reconciliation isn’t up to us. It is up to non-Indigenous people to conciliate their feelings and teachings of Indigenous people. Kelly and Camilla Holland, the executive director for RMTC, have taken those first steps. They made space for Indigenous voices. And the Indigenous arts community accepted their invitation.

We have so many incredibly talented and driven people who have embraced the arts as their calling: actors, writers, musicians, fine artists, producers, directors, poets, journalists and many others from all entertainment sectors. To be able to offer a platform to help elevate their

voices is a great honour for me.

I would like to recognize some of those 40 voices. Sarah Brazauskas, Celeste Sutherland, Rachel Beaulieu, Ryan Black, Elders Barb and Clarence Nepinak, Rosanna Deerchild, Kent Monkman; Tomson Highway; Jesse Wente, Drs. Heather Igloliorte and Dr. Julie Nagam, Columpa Bobb, Margo Kane, Monique Mojica, Tracey Nepinak, a Koncan; Tara Beagan, Kevin Loring, Kenneth T. Williams, Marie Clements, Ian Ross; Dance Ogichadas: Buffy Handel, Waawaate Fobister, Sandra Laronde; Acimowin, Tasha Spillett-Sumner, Brett Huson, Katherena Vermette, David A. Robertson, Michael Hutchinson, Falen Johnson Michelle Thrush, Darrell Dennis and Cherie Maracle. David McLeod, Murray Porter, Ila Barker, Don Amero, The Johnnys, former Senator Murray Sinclair, Dr. Niigaanwewidam Sinclair, his daughter Sara and Meegwun Fairbrother.

Mark Godden remixes Mozart’s The Magic Flute for the 21st Century Dustin Rodgers, RWB

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he challenges of mounting a twohour ballet in a one hour format when the dancers and the choreographer are separated by thousands of miles.

For the first time in thirteen years, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet will present Mark Godden’s contemporary spin on Mozart’s Enlightenment-era opus, The Magic Flute. A thoroughly modern translation of the original story, this latest version of the ballet is also being brought to audiences in a thoroughly modern way, through the use of digital video streaming to screens around the world. For Mr. Godden, this sometimes meant having to find creative ways to recreate the ballet, first staged for the theatre in 2003, for an entirely new platform.

“With a digital performance, you want to keep the art alive, for the dancers and the community,” says Mr. Godden, regarding the new techniques and staging he introduced while rehearsing for The Magic Flute. “In previous versions of my ballet, all the characters overlap, and in April 2021

the end Sarastro and The Queen of the Night reconcile their differences in the final scene, but with the pandemic, the dancers are relegated to their cohorts. It took a few weeks to figure it out, but the solution I found is actually more relevant for our time and shares more in common with the original opera than before.”

Mozart’s original vision for The Magic Flute explores themes of light and darkness, chaos and order, and truth and deception, while managing to remain surprisingly funny in places. Those themes and the airy, character-driven humour all make an appearance in Mr. Godden’s latest rendition, which is being produced for film by the Indigenous-led StrongFront A/V Productions. As important as it is to reinvent and reimagine classic stories for modern audiences, Mr. Godden believes in his responsibility to them as close to the source material as possible.

“In the ballet world we’re more evolutionaries than revolutionaries,” says Mr. Godden. “We’re not trying to throw everything out and make something entirely new, we’re trying to take the things that we’ve inherited and keep moving it in the directions that we think it should go. I think that’s what we’re trying to

do when making this opera into a ballet, to continue what Mozart setup and to honour the ideas, the characters and the music.”

Restaging The Magic Flute for the screen has not been entirely easy for Mr. Godden, who lives in Montréal. The realities of the COVID-19 pandemic have meant that not only are dancers grouped into cohorts which cannot overlap, and physical distancing guidelines must be observed during filming, but Mr. Godden is also working with the dancers remotely. This has meant relying on his experience and technology to get the job done.

“Usually, I fly in and I’ll have a rehearsal with everybody in the room. It’s a threeor-four-week process where I slowly piece it together, scene by scene by scene, from A to Z,” says Mr. Godden. “Because of Zoom, I can communicate with the RWB artistic staff, who have been really instrumental in being able to put this together is such a short amount of time, but it took a while to get it all figured out.”

Part of the reason why recreating The Magic Flute for the screen has been so involved is the condensed runtime. Typically, The Magic Flute ballet utilizes every

minute of its two-hour runtime to tell a story, but for the streaming medium, The Magic Flute has had to be shortened to just over an hour in total. This restriction, however, led Mr. Godden to creatively examine each piece of the ballet for its weight and significance, while striving to remain faithful to the original vision.

“I loved the idea that somehow as long as I let the music keep the characters floating, they always stayed in perfect balance,” said Mr. Godden, of his working process on The Magic Flute. “Whenever I tried to use my mind to figure it out, I found that it never worked, it just collapsed. That’s the beauty and the genius of Mozart’s work, the music he created really legitimizes the fantastical nature of all these different characters. You can change some things and move them around, but you really can’t do it without the music.”

Tickets for the RWB’s latest iteration of Mozart classic opera, The Magic Flute, go on sale April 1 at noon. The digital performance will be streamed in the evenings of April 30 and May 1, plus a 2 p.m. on May 2, with a pre-show reel and a live Q&A after each stream. The following two weeks, the performance of The Magic Flute will be made available to stream on-demand. whatsupwinnipeg.ca

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Manitoba to invest $6 million in Arts and Culture

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he Manitoba government is investing $6 million and resume the activities that so many Manitobans enjoy for the creation of new Arts and Culture Sus- and treasure year after year.” tainability Funds to provide financial The new Arts and Culture Sustainability support for Manitoba’s arts and culture secFunds will be administered by the Manitoba tor, which has been significantly impacted Arts Council and Manitoba Film and Music. throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Pre“This funding is very welcome news for mier Brain Pallister announced March 24, the arts and cultural sector,” said Randy 2021.

Joynt, executive director, Manitoba Arts “We recognize the significant sacrifices all Council. “The importance of arts and culture Manitobans have made to follow the public has never been more evident than during the health orders in order to protect themselves, COVID-19 pandemic, yet the arts and cultheir loved ones and their community from tural sector has been devastated by the prothis deadly virus,” said Pallister. “Often defound disruption in its core work – bringing scribed as the ‘first to close, last to open’, people together. We thank the government Manitoba’s arts and cultural sector has been Brian Pallister for this critical support towards the sector’s hit hard by the pandemic. This $6-million inrecovery.” vestment will support the sustainability of this vital secArts and heritage organizations such as museums, galtor and build up its resilience until it can safely reopen leries, festivals, cultural facilities, community arts, pub-

lishing, artists and musical groups will be eligible for financial support, even if they have qualified for previous provincial or federal programming, the premier noted.

“Manitoba has an incredible, vibrant music industry which has been, and continues to be, heavily impacted by the global pandemic,” said Rachel Rusen, CEO and Film Commissioner, Manitoba Film and Music. “We are thrilled the government of Manitoba recognizes the cultural and economic importance of this industry.”

This announcement builds off the government’s recent commitment to provide $8 million to support the tourism and hospitality sector, which has also been significantly impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions and gathering limits, the premier noted. To date, the province has committed over $490 million in business support programs to help Manitoba’s business community through these uncertain times and position them for recovery.

How a private piano maker and music store encouraged the rise of Winnipeg’s famous musical history

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n the 1960s there were dozens of mu- Piano. That was such a great place. We’d sical instrument shops throughout get all those guitars down off the wall and Winnipeg. But the granddaddy of all try them out.”

By the 1960s, son Dick Grasby was runlocal music stores was Winnipeg Piano Co. Opened in 1903 by A.E. Grasby in ning the company and he had certain expectations for his staff. “He what was later the Daywas a stickler for product ton Building at the corner knowledge,” says longtime of Portage and Hargrave employee Glenn MacRae, Street, a fire forced the formerly of The Crescenbusiness to relocate further dos. “He held classes evwest to 383 Portage Avery morning with the staff enue at Edmonton where teaching us everything it remained until 1972. there was to know about Business was brisk dura product and making sure ing the Depression years we learned all we could. I as people sought to make think that had a lot to do their own entertainment with why the store was so around the family piano John Einarson successful. People came (the company had its own Local Music there to get information line of pianos). While piSpotlight and relied on the company ano sales and sheet music and its staff as a resource.” kept the business thriving, “When I started, the by the 1950s the music instrument business began shifting towards other employees used to hide me from the guitars and drums. The main floor was old man because I had long hair,” laughs exclusively for pianos, violins and brass Glenn MacRae. “I wasn’t your typiinstruments (imported from Europe) cal salesperson. I was a contemporary of along with sheet music and stereo equip- many of our customers who also played in ment. The basement, however, became bands. I could relate to them because they the hot spot for rock ‘n’ roll gear. The vibe were my friends.”

Grasby also encouraged a liberal credit couldn’t have been more different. Even policy that allowed many budding young the salespeople downstairs were cooler.

There was no pressure and wide-eyed players to acquire their first instruments. kids like me could ogle the instruments As Canadian Music Hall of Fame member for hours or chat with the genial staff who Fred Turner of BTO remembers, “I traded were as enthusiastic about the instruments my sister’s accordion for an electric guias we were. The Squires’ Allan Bates re- tar and amplifier at Winnipeg Piano, but I called, “Neil [Young] and I would hang didn’t have the money for the difference. I out on a Saturday afternoon at Winnipeg took the guitar and amp home and my fa-

Winnipeg Piano music store on Portage Avenue. ther just flipped out. I was a kid in school with no job. He refused to counter sign the loan.” Tail between his legs, Fred returned the gear only to have the salesperson tell him, “I’ve got a feeling you’ll pay for this. When you get some money, you stop in every week and give me one or two dollars.” Fred acknowledges that he might never have played guitar without that casual arrangement.

“What a concept,” states musician Gerry Gacek. “Treating young, long-haired musicians with respect and dignity.”

In the summer of 1970, the store hosted a guitar marathon in the front window as part of Get Together 70. The winner, Peter Bako, held the Guinness record for many

years after.

Bought out by Toronto’s Long & McQuade music store chain in the later 1960s, Winnipeg Piano moved to Osborne Street at Stradbrook in 1972 under the Long & McQuade banner. A further move to Corydon in the latter ‘70s was followed by a long-time location at Stafford and Pembina in a former A&P store. Long & McQuade is now at three locations in Winnipeg: Pembina Highway, Wall Street and Henderson Highway. Business is still booming.

“Winnipeg Piano was such a cool place to work,” reflects Glenn. “It felt like it was what I was meant to do. That job gave me a lifelong career and a focus.”

Flin Flon Music reaches Australia online!

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Just in case you are not familiar with the arts and social s we begin to see some hopeful signs of better weather and COVID-19 vaccination availability, scene in Flin Flon, Johnny’s Social Club is a small venue we can also look forward to the reopening of arts of 85 seats that shares space with the Northern Visual Arts Centre (NorVA) located on Green Street in and culture venues, around our province Flin Flon. It began life as a confectionary and throughout the world. London’s West and coffee bar back in the 1950s and was End and Broadway in New York City have owned by Johnny Boychuk, who is fondly both announced plans to reopen for patrons remembered in the name. The venue had in May 2021. We have not seen an indicaan occasional liquor permit PC (pre-COVtion of when live performances will resume ID-19) and hosted live music performances at Stratford, Ont. yet but they must also be two to three times per month, usually to thinking and planning for that event. It will sold-out crowds. Flin Flon has a long and be quite wonderful. storied history of musical excellence which Flin Flon patrons of the arts will also be was well represented at Johnny’s. glad that time is coming, we have certainly The quality of the on-line productions missed seeing our performing arts commuis very high and seemingly is not slowing nity live and in person. We are sure the perElly Spencer forming artists in our region are just as anxdown. Both producers and artists are beious to perform before a live audience again. coming more and more comfortable with The arts from Several members of that community have the format and more relaxed without auup here said as much on social media platforms. dience feedback in real time and internet In the meantime, we will make do with shows. The on-line audience is growing on-line offerings which have been sustaining us thus far. too. On a recent Friday night broadcast folks from British We have been the grateful recipients of many online musi- Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and even from Australia cal events with ever-improving production values over the tuned in and commented on the chat function about the last few months. Several artists/producers around town quality and content of the show. Most of the viewing audihave used this time of COVID-19 to develop and hone ence is former Flin Flonners alerted by family and friends their skills for presenting shows on-line and the latest but when a show goes on-line on a platform like YouTube batch of offerings feature some of the regular performers it becomes available to anyone who has access.

There is a ton of content already on-line but there is no from Johnny’s Social Club on the stage at that venue, with shortage of audience. One recent Flin Flon show had over lights, sound and three cameras to record the action.

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Johnny’s Social Club often gets sellout crowds to see its musical offerings.

300 viewers during the actual broadcast. That is many more than could fit into the venue. There is also the potential of reaching folks who just love your music, those whom you never would have reached without an on-line format. That is gold to a performer. Flin Flon artists are not, for the most part, participating in recording or trying to sell their music though we have all heard of internet sensations like Justin Bieber. But the thing they do best is entertain and bring joy to their audiences. Perhaps they will want to continue on-line to do just that.

Perhaps when COVID-19 has been inoculated into submission we will see an influx of new audience at Flin Flon’s Blueberry Jam Music Gathering, coming to see their internet favourites.

Perhaps even you will be here.

April 2021

Eddie Litzenberger

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ome hockey fans are hoping that to changing of teams, he played 73 the current seven-team Cana- games in the 70-game season. He won dian division continues in the the Calder trophy as the top rookie.

In his first four full seasons with post pandemic NHL. Less frequent travel and frequently playing the same Chicago, he scored 108 goals and nevopponents brings back memories of er missed a game. In 1958 -59, Litzenberger scored a careerthe 25 years of the sixhigh 77 points playing on team league. This article a line with Tod Sloan and is about Eddie LitzenTed Lindsay. During the berger who played for 12 1958-59 season, Litzenout of 25 years with five berger became the Black out the six teams. (1) He Hawks captain. Chicago played on teams with 36 had been transformed Hockey Hall of Famers. into a contender.

Eddie Litzenberger After being eliminated was born on July 15, from the 1959 playoffs 1932, in Neudorf, Sask.

Litzenberger, Pierre PiDuring his Junior career, lotte, Bobby Hull, and Litzenberger was a highFred Morris Eric Nesterenko were scoring forward for the From the desk loaned to the New York Regina Pats ( 2). In 1950 Rangers for a 23-game and 1952, Regina lost of a gadfly exhibition game tour of Memorial Cup Finals.

In 1951, Regina lost a best of seven Europe. All games were played against Western Final in eight games to the the Boston Bruins. Litzenberger Winnipeg Monarchs.(3) Litzenberger played on a line with Bobby Hull, and scored an overtime winner in game Eddie Shack. The Rangers won the series 11 to nine with three ties. seven at the Winnipeg Amphitheater.

In January 1960, Litzenberger was In 1953-54, Litzenberger began his professional hockey career with the badly injured in a car accident. AlMontreal Royals of the Quebec Senior though he returned to play six weeks Hockey League. He won the 1952-53 after the accident, he was unable to reQSHL Rookie of the Year. In 1953- capture his NHL scoring prowess.

On April 16, 1961, the Blackhawks 54, he played his first NHL game with the Montreal Canadiens. In the mid- with Litzenberger as captain won their dle of the 1954-55 season Montreal first Stanley Cup in 23 years. During sold Litzenberger to the perennial the off season, Litzenberger was tradlast place Chicago Black Hawks. Due ed to Detroit.

Ed Litzenberger. Photo courtesy of RastonPurina Company (maker of Chex cereals).

In January 1962, the Toronto Maple Leafs picked Eddie up on waivers. Eddie helped the Toronto Maple Leafs win 3 straight Stanley Cups between 1962 and 1964. He finished his NHL Career with Regular Season totals of 178 Goals and 416 Points in 618 games. He played in six NHL All Star games. He finished his hockey career by playing on two Calder Cup Championships with the AHL Rochester Americans. During his first year in Rochester, he regained the scoring touch of his younger years by recording 86 points in 72 games.

After his playing days, Eddie worked

as a stockbroker and in the family construction business. He is a member of the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame and the Etobicoke Sports of Fame.

He died in 2010.

Hall of Fame Teammates Jean Beliveau, Butch Bouchard, Bernie Geoffrion, Doug Harvey, Tom Johnson, Elmer Lach, Dickie Moore, Jacques Plante, Bert Olmstead, Rocket Richard, Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe, Terry Sawchuk, Norm Ullman, Marcel Pronovost, Bill Gadsby, Andy Bathgate, Tim Horton, Red Kelly, Dave Keon, Allan Stanley, George Armstrong, Bob Pulford, Frank Mahovlich, Dick Duff, Johnny Bower, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Pierre Pilotte, Glen Hall Billy Mosienko, Ted Lindsay.

Hall of Fame of Fame Head Coaches played for at the NHL level: Tommy Ivan Dick Irvin, Rudy Pilous, Punch Imlach.

••• Notes: 1. He was never under contract with the New York Rangers. However, he was loaned to the Rangers for the 1959 European Exhibition Series.

2. Exact Statistics for his first year in Regina could not be found.

3. Due to ties, some best of seven series went eight games.

••• Fred Morris is a Grandfather, Sports Fan and Political Activist.

Death by hockey: the other side of Canada’s national sport

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n Canada, hockey is like a religion; if someone games by badmouthing the players, the coaches, and says anything negative about it, it is akin to blas- other hockey parents. During children’s games, foul phemy. Some fans (abbreviation of fanatic) neu- language, threats of violence, and adults having childish outbursts are common place. rotically view their favourite hockey As young players progress, they learn players as gods, to be idolised and worabout goals, getting the puck into the shipped. People act violently towards net, and about the team’s goal, win at anyone who maligns Canada’s national all cost. All is fair in love and war and sport. Originally, the word “sport” it soon becomes apparent that hockey is meant abnormal. During a game both war. The players do whatever it takes to spectators and players frequently beget an edge over their opponents. They come extremely passionate, which is opmake furtive slurs about an opponent’s posite to sanity. Players are cheered and mother, sister, father, race, religion or jeered, fights often break out between sexual orientation; it doesn’t matter, as opposing teams and amongst the speclong as you can rattle your opponent tators. Spectators scream for blood, and enough for him to become obsessed it often flows as gloves are discarded and Wayne Weedon with retaliation and forget about playing mayhem breaks loose. hockey. An elbow into the ribs, a stick beIn Canada, as little toddlers, millions Food for tween the feet, a fierce ramming into the of boys and thousands of girls have Thought boards, all is fair, as long as you can get commenced playing hockey. Corporate away with it. The fans cry out for blood sponsors such as Tim Hortons encourage these children by providing equipment and finan- and players oblige by lunging at each other. Throughcial aid. Hockey is big business and people are serious out history, in countries where war and the military about it. Less than ten out of a million of these chil- are the major growth domestic products, blood sports dren starting out in hockey will make it to the Nation- are the main source of diversion and entertainment. al Hockey League (NHL), where only a few will ac- The USA has been constantly at war, internally and tually get to play a game, and fewer still will make any externally, ever since their war of independence. Cansubstantial money “playing” hockey. These children ada, as a good neighbour, frequently joins the USA have a better chance of winning a lottery jackpot than on “peacekeeping” missions which usually results in a becoming an NHL superstar. Yet, parents are contin- few casualties that “can’t be helped”.

Throughout the history of hockey, dozens of playually pushing their children to get into hockey. These parents teach their children how to behave at hockey ers have died on the ice from their injuries and many

more have succumbed to hockey injuries later, off the ice. We are witnessing gross numbers of players suffering premature deaths from brain trauma and from the effects of their hockey lifestyle, booze, drugs and constant nightlife. Why is it that fans cry for blood?

Of course it’s not just hockey, we also have boxing, kickboxing, roller derbies, rodeos, ultimate fighting and other blood sports.

In the locker room, especially in junior hockey, it is common for players to gang up and bully a fellow player, all in the name of “sport”. Sometimes groupies are brought in to molest. Why? Well one needs to vent one’s frustrations in some way, and it is all part of the “game”. Supposedly, it “makes a man out of you”.

Teachers are commonly remarking about the increase of bullying in schools. Is this surprising? Do we expect our children to differentiate between the ice and the classroom? We expect too much of them.

After all, they are children, very impressionable children, who learn more readily by example than by lecture.

Especially in the minor leagues, bullying, such as hazing, consisting of physical, mental and sexual abuse, are ingrained in the hockey community. Hockey executives downplay this, stating that hazing is like fighting, part of the game, and they claim that people who haven't played hockey just wouldn't understand this. We do understand, hockey, to the team owners, is not fun, it’s big business.

Wayne Weedon is an Indigenous Manitoba writer of novels and short stories. To sample his wonderful work go to Wattpad.com.

Letters Dear Dorothy: Thank you for writing the article involving the young president of the Manitoba Bar Association (March 21, Freedom of Expression, Page 3.) Socialism, Marxism, and Communism is definitely on the rise in the U.S. and Canada. It is moving very rapidly.

Trump was standing in the way and the democrats never ceased to attack him. Of course, our mainstream and many of our subsidized media never gave Trump any credit to say the least, but you probably won’t hear them criticize Biden much, even though he is apparently ruining the country with his progressive socialist agenda. Our news outlets should have been complaining about Trudeau’s policies not April 2021

Trump’s. It is an eye opener watching Fox and Friends news. There, they recognized Trump’s great achievements, and his love for America and its people.

I stand with you and will share your article. I guess it is not possible to reproduce this article legally, but it should be put in every coffee shop etc. Also, there should be a way of finding out who was offended in this wrongful demotion, and there should be a fight for her rights. Yes, where are the lawyers to stand up against this wrong?

Everyone has offended someone and hurt someone’s feelings at one time or another, and only those who are without fault can cast the first stone. I wonder who this perfect person was? There is so much

I read and also hear on television that offends me. Therefore, by the precedent set here, the words I don’t like and are so offensive, should be redacted, and there should be an apology, and loss of position but I know all they would most likely say is, you are free to change the channel because someone else may like what you don’t. So how can one person’s complaint justify curbing the free speech of another, and the loss of their position, especially when the speech was in defence of our democracy and in appreciation of those who died in battle to preserve our right of free speech? It is very important that we reverence Remembrance Day and teach our children about the dangers of Socialism, Marxism and Communism.

God is our refuge in times of trouble, and every day. He is alive and well. He is not blind and hears and answers our prayers. Let us read His Word and put our trust in Him. Psalms 91.

God bless you and Canada.

Colleen Watkins NOTE: The case of this young woman stimulated me to mount a digital panel on the topic through the Association of Former Parliamentarians. On the panel were former Prime Minister Kim Campbell, Former Liberal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler and former NPD MP and women’s advocate and activist Lynn McDonald. They all agreed that the Bar Association reaction was over reach. whatsupwinnipeg.ca

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Celebrating 100 Years of Women on Winnipeg City Council

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n March, we marked International Women’s Day and challenged ourselves to achieving an equal future.

In many ways, the global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted gaps that we need to close together as quickly as possible. As we see the ways in which COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted women economically, we should realize how important it is to take intentional actions supporting women. Appropriately, this year the United Nations declared the theme for International Women’s Day to be Women in leadership: Councillor achieving an equal future in Kevin Klein a COVID-19 world.

Inside City Hall I’d like to recognize and thank the women who have been elected to public office and are leading in government at all levels, as well as the many women community leaders committed to making a difference. On March 8th, a City Hall display celebrating a century of women in Winnipeg civic government was unveiled. This project was led by Speaker of Council Devi Sharma, and I appreciate her taking the time to put together this important initiative. History highlights the growth we’ve made in increasing representation and diversity, but we are very far behind where we should be.

In 1921, Winnipeg’s first woman City Councillor, Jessie Kirk, was inaugurated. Since then, there have been

Today's female councillors unveil a tribute to the all the women who have served in that capacity.

33 women who have served on Winnipeg City Council.

In our history, Winnipeg has seen over 450 men serve in the same role. This is an enormous gap. Similar gaps exist in many other sectors, including business and science.

It is our collective responsibility to make progress. We should elevate more examples of women trailblazers. To read more about Councillor Jessie Kirk, visit this page https://winnipeg.ca/ourstories/2020/201203.stm and to learn more about the display unveiled at City Hall, click

here: https://winnipeg.ca/ourstories/2021/210308.stm.

As joyful as it is to see women celebrated like this on International Women’s Day, progress cannot be made unless we take every day as an opportunity for positive change. While it’s important to dedicate a time in our calendar to mark the progress we’ve made and reflect upon the road ahead, our actions should be year-round. In short, every day is women’s day. I know this has been said by many people, and I strongly align with that sentiment.

Are you a Queen Bee or a Helper Bee? Gerri Beachall

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s a woman in leadership, I have had the opportunity to be part of many organizations. I have worked in both private and public sector workplaces. Many of those workplaces have been female-dominated. I have experienced a wide variety of leadership styles as both a colleague and a subordinate or follower.

Over the years, it has become clear to me that there are many ways to lead and mentor, but they tend to fall into two categories. Some lead by example and make every effort to support and encourage growth in those around them. They view the success of the team as a reflection of the effectiveness of the leader. In other words, a good leader works to see the team succeed and is more than happy to share the spotlight. I have witnessed female leaders who will work as hard or harder on projects as other team members. They

will spend time building relationships with the team and viewing everyone as valuable. Relationship building includes understanding the team members' short- and long-term goals and identifying ways they can move along the career path they want to follow.

The other type of leader is generally one who would be considered selfish. This leader is quick to blame team members when something goes wrong and take the credit when things go well.

These leaders usually create toxic workplaces and have difficulty retaining team members. Unfortunately, I have experienced this all too often. These leaders will pile work on the team with little direction, inadequate support and short timelines. The team members will become discouraged and frustrated which eventually can lead to deterioration of the team's relationships as no one has the energy to support each other. The impact of constant staff turnover on any organization can be devastating and result in significant inefficiencies or project failure.

In the workplace, an old, generally accepted female leadership phenomenon has come under review in the world of equality and diversity. The Queen Bee syndrome was first defined in leadership theory and writing in the 1970s.

It was explicitly created to represent qualities attributed to successful, strong female leaders. Writers were beginning to discuss the idea that when women succeed, they do so at other women's peril. The Queen Bee will distance herself from other women who are also looking to succeed in the workplace. In some cases, they may actively prevent other women's advancement to preserve their status in the organization.

Margaret Thatcher was considered an example of this style of a female leader.

Currently, researchers are reviewing this theory in light of the current understanding of gender stereotypes that may impact this theory. Are women working to thwart other women?

Are women singling out only other women? Has this been studied in men to identify if this phenomenon exists in

the male experience?

My current workplace is predominantly male. We strive to reach 50 per cent representation of women in leadership roles but are closer to 30 per cent. As we work to increase our female representation, gender stereotypes have come into play. I can identify cases where male leaders have exhibited the behaviors attributed to the Queen Bee. I have witnessed instances where both male and female leaders apply the Queen Bee's negative style and have used it to squash the development of team members who they may view as threatening or simply not helpful to their goal of seeking the spotlight.

I hope that leadership researchers and leaders will begin to recognize the behaviours that need to be corrected in the Queen Bees, regardless of gender.

I am glad researchers and writers are challenging these leadership theories.

We must continue to break down barriers to everyone in the workplace if we wish for both organizations and people to experience success.

Supreme Court: Only Francophone judges need apply Brian Giesbrecht

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he federal government has announced that it intends to promote the French language more aggressively throughout the country. A document entitled “English and French: Towards the substantive equality of official languages in Canada,” lays out 50 proposals to buttress the use of a French language that is said to be under threat.

One of the proposals is that all Supreme Court justices must be able to conduct all hearings in the French language without the use of interpreters. This would change the current exemption under the Official Languages Act that allows judges who are not fully bilingual to have access to interpreters.

Here is how the minister of Official Languages states her case for removing the current exemption: “Let’s all be clear here: If you’re a judge in a superior court across the country, you have access to free French classes. So, if you want to become bilingual, you can actually become bilingual if that’s a priority for you because you want to become a Supreme Court justice.”

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And the minister is correct when she says that superior court judges all have access to free French language training. Many anglophone judges are working right now with their tutors to become bilingual. Some learn faster than others, some work harder than others. But the reality is that few will attain the level of proficiency in the French language that will allow them to competently handle trials or other hearings entirely in French.

Why is this?

This anecdote might help explain why. I knew a hardworking and conscientious judge who took his French language training very seriously. As a prairie boy, he had only his high school French to help him and that wasn’t much. Despite that, he worked diligently with his tutor, until the day his tutor told him that he was functionally bilingual. The judge announced that he was now ready to conduct his first trial in French.

The results were disappointing. The francophone lawyers conducting the case took the judge aside and explained that simply being functionally bilingual wasn’t enough. Conducting a trial or appeal entirely in French requires a whole new level of competency. Even though the judge was able to speak, read and write French adequately, he was not nearly at a level that would allow

him to competently hear cases in French. So, in English he was a very good judge, but in French he was mediocre at best. He is not the only judge this has happened to. I don’t blame the francophone lawyers; they shouldn’t have to settle for “mediocre.”

So, the requirement that a judge at the Supreme Court level is not able to use interpreting services would probably make the job unavailable for the vast majority of anglophone judges. I suggest that this would be an unhealthy development.

The Supreme Court is a vital institution. We want only the best and most qualified judges there. To get them, we must not limit the pool of qualified candidates by imposing unreasonable language requirements. So, quite apart from the constitutional issues raised by the minister’s rather cavalier announced intention to remove the act’s exemption, it would be both impractical and unwise to do so.

The bilingual requirements for the federal civil service have already largely excluded anglophones from senior civil service positions. This exclusivity should not be extended to our highest court.

Brian Giesbrecht, retired judge, is a senior fellow at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.

April 2021

PUZZLES

Crossword Across 1. “...wing ____ prayer” 5. Web address abbreviations 10. Impertinent one 14. H.S. subject 15. Diva deliveries 16. First-rate 17. Unwillingness 19. Actress Drescher 20. Relieved 21. Opposite of “’tis” 22. Punky of ‘80s TV 26. Cardio-boxing routine 30. Brainless ones 34. Mistake 35. Indian flatbread 36. Exhibition offering 37. Pungent cheese of northeastern Italy 39. Gran ____ 42. Soft shoe, for short 43. Draft status 47. Nigeria neighbor 48. Seizing suddenly 51. Very wide shoe size 52. Feel assured 54. Joiner’s cry 57. List 62. Haus wife 63. No longer charged 66. Or more 67. Faith that rejects supernatural revelation 68. ___ San Lucas (Baja resort)

69. Teaching method 70. “Golden Boy” dramatist Clifford 71. Heidi of “Project Runway” Down 1. Indian tourist mecca 2. Alice ____ (American portraitist) 3. Voodoo item 4. Río filler 5. Rancorous one 6. Partial payment of a kind 7. Food container 8. ____-Man (arcade game) 9. Compass pt.

10. Firefox alternative 11. Purple seaweed 12. ____ instant (quickly) 13. Shut in 18. Part-human, part-machine 21. Sleuth, briefly 23. Microsoft audio format 24. Entrepreneur’s org.

25. Circus sight 26. Lions, Tigers and Bears 27. Pyromaniac’s crime 28. Susan Lucci soap role 29. Ostentatious neckwear 31. Frankie who sang “Mule Train” 32. Singer Ford from Tennessee 33. Peach pit 38. Cries of delight 40. Yes-man?

41. Ending for dec- or deg-

Word search

44. Something to pick?

45. Wind dir.

46. Vs. 49. Theatrical company 50. Corp. top dog 53. Poppy parts 54. Alfred Hitchcock’s “Dial ____ Murder” 55. Rubik who created the Rubik’s

cube 56. Pulled tight 58. Baseball Hall of Famer Connie 59. Tilted type (abbr.)

60. Humped bovine 61. Land given to Esau 63. Tokyo, once 64. Signed, in a way 65. Goose, in French

Sudoku

Puzzles’ solutions on next page

Banded Budded Chaste Chess Comas Dearer Deport Disagree Driest Dwindle Eddying April 2021

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Outright Pates Piques Prove Revivals Riots Ruinous Siren Slapping Solids Spars

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Gardening for the birds Continued from page 1

week so please keep that in mind when offering a feeder.

Look for feeders that have perches, are bug-proof, and can be properly cleaned.

To make the nectar, use 4 parts water to one part white sugar. You can make a large batch of it and leave it in the fridge for up to two weeks.

It is very important to never use other sweeteners of any kind or to add colouring.

Put your feeders up by the end of April for best results.

Trees for Birds In Manitoba, there are many species of birds that enjoy berries, so planting the right trees can bring special visitors. Some trees provide berries but others, Sherrie Versluis like the birch tree, provide Feathered seeds that are very desirFriends able. Mountain ash trees are a must for yards that can fit a tree that will grow outward. These juicy berries are a major attraction for Cedar and Bohemian waxwings which are a spectacular sight. American robins will also be happy to discover this tree’s offerings. Dogwoods, crab apples, hawthorn, and cherry trees are also very popular. Trees that offer seeds are maple, fir, pine, and spruce.

Certain trees even provide great nesting cavities that are suitable to many birds – from chickadees right up to owls. They include, cottonwoods, oaks, apples, aspens, and willows to name a few. Trees like spruce and

pine can provide shelter that is very much appreciated by birds in bad weather and in our cold winters. Mature oak trees are another bird favourite once they start producing acorns which blue jays, ducks, and woodpeckers enjoy.

Butterflies Butterflies are another creature that many people are dedicating their gardens to so they can see these gentle, colourful delights. Plants like goldenrod, sunflower and coneflowers are enjoyed by butterflies and as the plant matures, goldfinches will be seen too. Other butterfly

plants are Joe-Pye weed, butterfly bush, zinnia, bee balm, and black-eyed Susan. Don’t forget to plant milkweed, parsley and dill for the caterpillar stage; they need food too!

Offering plants is just another way to make your yard into a sanctuary that will invite an array of interesting creatures. Start planning your yard now so you don’t miss out on all the beauty this upcoming season has to offer and have fun!

Sherrie Versluis owns the Preferred Perch and is an avid birder.

A popular scam: “It’s a friend of your best loved nephew, grandson, best friend, calling. He needs help! Send money!”

I

recently had a telephone conversa- of money and was hoping she could tion with a woman in her late eight- help.

The details she shared were murky ies whom I have known most of my life. She has had an interesting life but, but, in the end, the smooth-talking man not always the easiest. She had seven on the end of the line preyed upon her good nature and generosity eventually children, six of whom are convincing her to withstill living. Her husband draw money from her of forty-plus years left her bank account and send twenty years ago. Alone him the cash. She fell for and elderly, she now has a the scam not once but list of medical issues that three times. Every penny have slowed her down she saved for years, which and perhaps made her she intended to pass on more vulnerable. to her family when she, I listened as she talked in turn, passed on, was about her kids, grandkids gone. Almost $10,000. and the great grandkids.

Gone.

She went quiet for a More often than most moment. Then she said, Jim Ingebrigtsen of us are aware, smooth “I have something to tell talking scam artists hit you.” Her tone lowered Is It Just Me... closer to home. Here’s and became very serious. an example of another se“I lost my life savings last nior I knew who was victimized. month.” “What happened?” I replied.

Picture a widow in her eighties. A She got a phone call from someone who seemed to know her nephew. He life-long member and supporter of her explained her nephew was in dire need church. She was a good wife, a good neighbour and a good mother. Too good as it turns out. Her only son, when he was a young man, got hooked. Not

March is fraud prevention month - stay vigilant for potential scams. on drugs or alcohol but, on the hope of winning the big one. Break-opens, Scratch and Win, lottery tickets and his very favourite, VLT’s.

He is now in his fifties. He lived at home for most of his life. He has never had a full-time job and he has never driven a car. He was well taken care of.

What the family and their friends didn’t know was that the parents provided him with the funds to feed his obsession for decades.

Sadly, the father passed away just months after cancelling the life insurance policy he could no longer afford.

The mother sold the family home and moved into a seniors’ facility. She was confident she had enough money to allow her to live comfortably for the rest of her life. Within a year she moved out realizing she couldn’t afford it. She moved in with her son. When extended family members finally caught on, it was too late. Why would a woman who is almost ninety apply for six credit cards?

Why would she have a maxed-out line of credit?

When the Public Trustee took over her finances, it was estimated the woman owed between two and three hundred thousand dollars. Just before being forced to file for bankruptcy, she died.

It’s believed the good parents were aware of the high cost of supporting their son but, shame and embarrassment kept them from seeking help. In the end, the poor woman was basically penniless.

In 2020, there were about 25,000 reported cases of telephone fraudsters in Canada, almost all of them taking advantage of seniors. It is believed more than 250,000 seniors experience financial abuse from family or loved ones. It is the most common and fastest growing form of elder abuse.

Puzzles’ solutions

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IF YOU ARE A SENIOR. . . . . .

You should consider having the following in place Will The preparation of a will may seem like a daunting task, however, it is essential to ensure that your property is disposed of according to your wishes upon your death. If you pass away without a valid will, the law states what is to happen to your estate.

Power of Attorney A power of attorney is a document which appoints an individual to handle your affairs in the event you become mentally incapable of making your own decisions. Nothing prevents you from continuing to make your own decisions while you are still competent.

A power of attorney is an extremely valuable document to have in place in case anything happens to you which affects your mental ability, such as a stroke, coma or dementia.

Health Care Directive (Living Will) A health care directive, commonly called a living will, is a document which appoints an individual to make decisions with regard to your health care only, while you are alive but unable to express your decisions yourself. This document is distinct from a power of attorney and deals only with health care decisions such as whether life sustaining treatments, such as CPR or blood transfusion, should be continued or withdrawn.

Standard Fees* Last Will and Testament Power of Attorney Health Care Directive * plus GST and PST - Rates are per person.

$225.00 $175.00 $ 75.00

Seniors $200.00 $150.00 $ 50.00

Home and hospital visits are also available $250.00* (includes both meetings) *plus GST and PST TACIUM VINCENT & ASSOCIATES 206 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, MB R2H 1J3 DAVID G. VINCENT (204) 989-4236 www.taciumvincent.com

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April 2021

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