February 2022
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The Premier’s plan
A tasty surprise!
Manitoba’s Metis musical heritage
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Audience of half a billion: Manitoba’s most listened-to radio broadcast 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of radio broadcasting in Manitoba. Over the course of the year, Lifestyles 55 will be publishing a series of articles featuring a few of the highlights of local radio history.
Is space the final frontier? Imagine . . .
Garry Moir
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ing George the VI had good reason to be nervous as he made his way in the rain to Government House, just across from the Manitoba Legislature. The clock was ticking toward 1 p.m. on May 24th, Victoria Day, 1939. The King and Queen Elizabeth were on a cross-Canada tour. The Winnipeg stop was to provide the King with one of his biggest challenges. King George VI was to address the Commonwealth that day via radio. Public speaking of any kind was not his forte. Since early childhood, George had suffered from a speech disorder characterized by a severe stutter. He was working to overcome the problem, but the prospect of addressing millions around the world must have been daunting.
The Royal visit to Winnipeg in May 1939. Not only was the speech a challenge for the King, but also for local broadcasters. Nothing was left to chance by technicians from the recently-formed Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and radio station CKY, a CBC affiliate, owned and operated by the Manitoba Telephone System. Coverage of the event was to showcase the merits of public broadcasting. A makeshift studio was set up
in a small room at Government House. “Furnishings in the room will suggest relaxation,” the Winnipeg Tribune informed its readers. Those furnishings amounted to a desk, a chair and two small goldplated microphones made to CBC specifications. Only one microphone would be used. The other was there in the event of technical difficulties. u 6 ‘Audience of half a billion’
April 15 to 17, 2022 – first ever Living Green Show coming up at the Ex Dorothy Dobbie
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urrah! 2022 will mark the Year of the Garden in Canada, a celebration of our contribution to the horticultural world as well as a nod to the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association. And it will be extra special in Winnipeg, which has also declared 2022 the Year of the garden in Winnipeg, because the first ever Living Green Show will be held at Red River Exhibition, sponsored by the Exhibition, Kevin Twomey and Yours Truly, Dorothy Dobbie, owner of Pegasus Publications Inc., the publisher of Canada’s Local Gardener and your Lifestyles 55 magazine. We are very excited and delight-
ed to share that Keith Lemkey of Lemkey Landscape Design has volunteered to design a special demonstration garden to greet you as you come into the show. He will be partnered with Keystone Products of Warren MB who will supply the hard features. We are still working on the plant partner. The goal here is to present a down-home community garden exhibition and show that will invite local non-profits as well as vendors to take part. We want this to be very family- and garden-oriented and to kick start the garden
season with a lot of fun and joy! Garden clubs are welcome to set up booths and demonstrations this year as a courtesy to all the gardeners out there who make our lives better. Please contact Lisa Tully at the Red River Ex. Canada’s local Gardener will be at this show and at several others across the country for the first time in several years. Watch for our booths at major garden shows in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax, Charlottetown. This year will hopefully see the end of the pandemic, all the more reason to celebrate. And remember to plant red as the colour of the Year of the Garden! Visit our website at https://www. localgardener.net/ to learn more about Canada’s only garden magazine published right here in Winnipeg!
Randy Bolt
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ther than Covid-19, inflation, the collapse of Hong Kong as a free society, and a continuing bull stock market, the last two years have been a time of space development. We have also seen two companies offer space tourism, the development of the largest rocket in history, the landing of the Mars Rover, and the launch of the $10 Billion James Webb space telescope. These developments are likely to cost hundreds of billions of dollars – although critics question if such vast sums should not be spent back on earth helping the poor and disadvantaged. But if we look at the history of man, space exploration is inevitable and short of the collapse of modern civilization, it will continue. The history of Homo Sapiens is relatively new in evolutionary terms, perhaps only 200,000 years. In people terms, 200,000 years is only 2,500 lifetimes. And only 100,000 years ago did we leave Africa, about 1,250 lifetimes. Only 12,000 years ago – 150 lifetimes – we started to become farmers and herders. 600 years ago – eight lifetimes – the Portuguese and the Chinese started to explore the world through global ocean navigation. The Industrial age began in earnest 200 years ago – just 2.5 lifetimes. Space exploration began in 1957 with the launch of Sputnik 1, not quite a full lifetime. Our big brains, bipedalism and highly socialized structure, allowed primitive peoples to conquer every continent in the world (except for the Antarctic). We see Bushman in the Kalahari Dessert, Sherpas in the Himalayas, and ancient tribes in the Amazon Jungle. None of these habitats is our natural setting: we were built for long distance running in the Savanah of Africa. So how is it that a hairless ape can u
6 ‘Is space the final frontier?’
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whatsupwinnipeg.ca
February 2022
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 Hon. Bill Blaikie, Randy Bolt, Nancy Cooke, Dorothy Dobbie, Kevin Klein, Hon. Myrna Driedger, John Einarson, Michael Gibbons, Stefano Grande, Diane Grey, Jim Ingebrigtsen, Lesley Jensen, Doug Lauvstad, Ian Leatt, Gary Moir, Marty Morantz, Fred Morris, Manitoba Seniors Coalition, Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, Connie Newman, Peggy Pendergast, Brent Poole, Sanja Rossi, Senaka Samarasinghe, Trudy Schroeder, Elly Spencer, Hon. Jerry Storie, Wayne Weedon, Al Wiebe, Nathan Zassman. Canadian Publications mail product Sales agreement #40027604 ADVERTISING 1-888-680-2008 info@pegasuspublications.net SUBSCRIPTIONS If you would like to receive Lifestyles 55, we offer both monthly newspaper and online formats. To place your order, call 204-940-2700. Subscriptions are $48.00 per year, plus tax. 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. Any opinions expressed in columns by our contributors are their own opinions entirely and are not necessarily shared by Pegasus Publications Inc. All information presented by the contributors is the responsibility of the writers. Lifestyles 55 is published monthly. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without seeking permission in writing from the publisher. Copyright Pegasus Publications Inc. February 2022
Priorities: Urgent planning required to take us through the post-COVID period
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hat’s your number one priority for the coming year? Is it interfering with the relationship between Russian and the Ukraine (especially since President Volodymyr Zelensky says he doesn’t feel any particular threat) or is it something closer to home? I am betting that your worries are health care and the economy. How are we going to catch up the backlog of surgeries and other urgent care needs that have been created by the lockdowns? And how is inflation going to affect us now and into the future. Is my grandchild going to be able to afford that bloated mortgage I just co-signed under a really low interest rate or are rates going to jump and put both of us in jeopardy? How am I going to afford to use my car, which in Winnipeg, despite all the bike lobbies and transit plans out there, is a very big necessity especially for older people. Gas prices are up on the world market and they are compounded by carbon taxes which continue to rise. Grocery bills are astronomical. Heating and water bills are escalating. The fact that the Feds are pushing $10-aday childcare programs on provinces has no relevance to huge numbers of seniors, many of whom must live on their meagre CPP and OAS monthly stipend which is only a Dorothy portion of what most need to get by. More and more seniors are working till they die. All those who spent their lives as freelancers or in minimum wage jobs can be in very serious financial straits at this time in life. Even those who owned smaller, marginal businesses can be facing hardship. Small business owners tend to think of their employees as family and may have finished out their last few years of work by not taking any salaries themselves. So, chances are the much touted “threat” from Russia, now a mouse that tries to roar, is a nice attempt to take our minds off the waning pandemic and the ugly post-pandemic realities we will have to face, and we better be thinking hard right now about what will happen next and how to fix it. The picture of health . . . or un-health Let’s start with healthcare. Our premier and her health minister had a sensible answer to part of the problem: try to outsource it wherever you can. They are still in talks with North Dakota private operators. That is a short-term fix but what about the longer term? Is this the time to admit that the so-called public sector health system is not only broken but it is a lie? The fact is, many private sector practitioners are at work delivering services not just directly to the public, but to the government itself. The problem with this is that it simply layers expense upon expense. If we have real competition, where the private sector practitioner could operate openly and charge patients directly, there would be incentive to work better and harder, both for the private practitioners who would have to offer real value for money and for the public sector that would see its base erode if it didn’t step up to the plate. The last time I wrote about his was for the WFP and I got hate male, but save your effort, I know all the objections, and I do not think they are valid: 1. Some say that this would create a two-tier system one for the rich and one for the poor. The truth? The two-tier system already exists as above and further because if you have the energy and the money, you can go offshore for treatment and get it immediately, not when it is already too late. Having the option available locally would make health care available to a wider base and help free up space in the public system where it is most badly needed. 2. We all pay for health care and so we should all be able to access it equally. We all pay for many social services that we don’t access. This is no different. And the system is anything but universal. Many people can’t access a dentist which is totally private unless you are part of a company group program, and you pay there, too. Others cannot afford their drugs in the first several months of illness because their eligibility for relief is predicated of previous years’ earnings. 3. All the “good” doctors would leave the public system and just leave the duds in the public system. I suspect what would really happen is that docs would access both. Right now, I know an orthopedic surgeon who says the healthcare “quota” system means that he is idle as much as 30 per cent of his time – but there are long lineups for knee and hip surgery that he is not allowed by the system to attend. What a waste. This won’t fix all the problems and certainly nothing will fix them overnight, but it would be an important step into the future. It’s the economy, Stupid! The second issue is the economy. While there are many
economic forces beyond the control of Manitoba, or indeed, in some cases, Canada, there is no lack of money out there. The question is, how do we get some of it invested here? The Premier has appointed Cliff Cullen as minister of economic development, investment and trade. He did well in the department in the early part of this government’s mandate and his interests align with those of the premier on this important file. Over the past 25 years, the province has lost much of its business mojo. Countless firms have silently folded their tents and taken their headquarters to Calgary or Toronto. When asked why, they will tell you that it is everything from the anti-business climate to high provincial taxes – and Howard Pawley’s payroll tax still serves as a major deterrent to investment. It is not that we lack talent or have fewer entrepreneurs. Indeed, we have a great pool of both that is sadly spilling its benefits over to other jurisdictions. Take the guys who started Skip the Dishes… while they maintain a shadow presence here, they have mostly taken their millions to Calgary where some of them are bent on building a major digital banking system. If we don’t get them Dobbie back soon – and they would love to come back – they will be gone with their opportunities forever. This story can be retold in a hundred instances. Now is the time to deal with it. 1. We need to systematically go through the barriers that are preventing our finest to remain here. And we do not need high-priced “consultants” to do this, but rather we need smart thinking community people who understand the local dynamics, who have their feet on the ground and are up to their knees in practical considerations. Some work has been done about the top opportunities, the co-called cluster. This urgently needs to be reexamined as it has completely ignored the minerals sector and the tech sector, both. It will be no surprise that the study was conducted by a consultant who probably lived somewhere else, if not physically, in an out of business atmosphere that amounted to the same thing. Ridiculous! 2. We need a rational approach to trade. Currently, nobody is in charge. A great deal of what used to be handled by the Department has been parceled out to local agencies, but there is no policy planning or direction or goal setting. If this model is to prevail, and I am not saying that it shouldn’t, it needs a little repair. Other governments and even major corporate investors, need to feel that our local regime has their back, so the government cannot simply abrogate its responsibility to what is popularly termed, “the Group of Seven”. The seven include Economic Development Winnipeg, The Metro Winnipeg Region, Rural Manitoba Economic Development, Communities Economic Development Fund administering the Look North plan, the World trade Centre Winnipeg, North Forge over innovation and Travel Manitoba overseeing tourism. This can continue, but several things need to happen. The minister must continue to dictate policy and manage the diplomatic side of the work. There must be a reasonable budget allocated to each of the seven, so that they aren’t living off grants that expire and don’t allow them to do effective long-term planning. They need to meet regularly to share information and ensure cross jurisdictional clashes don’t happen. 3. We need a clear signal to the rest of the world that we are indeed open for business. This is the job of the premier who should be sent on a mission to Bay Street for starters. Her key economic ministers need to be with her, and they all need a crystal clear message to impart. We don’t have a long window of opportunity here so this should be in the planning stages now. Manitoba has everything it needs to become an important economic partner in our Confederation. We simply need to retrain our thinking toward success. I think we have the right premier to allow this to happen. I also think that our cabinet will need a corporate culture sea change to take advantage of what she offers: the opportunity to get it done and get it done right! So, the bottom line is: Set the goal. Create the plan. Execute. This will require the cabinet to act like ministers, adopt a vision, make decisions, take responsibility and look for results. Listen to the concerns of constituents with an eye to helping them rather than dodging them because you previously felt powerless to help. You premier has given you that power. Act on it! I have a feeling she will be looking for results. And we know for damn sure, that the public will be. whatsupwinnipeg.ca
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Third dose of the vaccine
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know that this has been a challenging time for so toolbox to protect ourselves and our community. These many Manitobans. The stress of the pandemic has tools include practicing proper hand hygiene, keeping taken its toll on many families in my constituency our physical distance from others, wearing a mask, and importantly, getting a COVID-19 vaccine. and all across Canada. Not only do we feel The creation of the COVID-19 vaccine is the stress of worrying for ourselves and a testament to the power of science. In a our loved ones, our businesses and our relatively short amount of time, scientists careers, missing out on friends and famaround the world were able to find a way ily get-togethers, we feel an added layer of to save so many lives. The first, second, stress due to the length of time in which and booster shots give Manitobans an we’ve been living in a pandemic. There is extra layer of protection. You’re eligible no doubt that these are challenging times. to get your booster today if: your second I would like to take a moment to redose was six months ago or longer; you are mind readers that it’s okay to not be okay. 50 or older, and your second dose was five Mental health issues are very serious and months ago or longer; or you are 18 or there are supports in place should you need older and live in a First Nations commuthem. Please do not hesitate to reach out to friends and family, connect with loved ones Hon. Myrna Driedger nity, and your second dose was five months ago or longer. and discuss how you are coping. Please do Broadway The third dose is especially important not hesitate to reach out to mental health Journal for people who are at increased risk of seriprofessionals and get the help that you ous illness, as well as their caregivers and need. While it may feel challenging to remember at this time, this pandemic will come to an close contacts. People who are not fully vaccinated are 20 end and there will come a point in which we can gather times more likely to end up in the ICU. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 virus has mutated into with friends and family like we once did, when we can celebrate milestones in our communities, and when our different strains. This is not a new concept, however, this lives will return to a sense of normalcy as it had in the newer variant, the Omicron variant, is much more conpre-pandemic times. tagious than previous variants. The Omicron variant has As Doctor Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s Chief Public become the dominant strain in Manitoba and Canada. Health Officer, reminds us often, we are not powerless Learning about each new wave can be challenging on the in this fight against COVID-19. We have tools in our mental health of Manitobans. I want to again remind ev-
eryone of the supports available. Please check out https:// www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/bewell/index.html for more information on the provincial resources at your fingertips. While this latest wave may be discouraging, we are not powerless in this fight against the pandemic. The COVID-19 vaccine is our best tool to protect ourselves and our community as a whole. If you haven’t already received your first and second dose, please book your vaccine today. If you’re already double vaxxed, now is the time to get your booster. The COVID-19 booster is yet another layer of protection in this fight. To find out where you can receive your first, second, or third dose, check out the government of Manitoba website at protectmb.ca/booster/. By following all public health guidance, we can protect our hospitals and health care professionals. Remember to stay home when you’re feeling unwell and be sure to get your flu shot. If you or someone you know is feeling hesitant about getting their first, second, or third shot, I encourage you to reach out to your primary care physician. Health care practitioners should be your resource for factual health information. As we continue on with this pandemic, please be kind to one another. Wash your hands, wear a mask, limit your close contacts, and remember to take care of your mental health. Always stay home when you are unwell. Remember that the vaccine plays a critical role in this fight against COVID-19. Hon. Myrna Driedger is MLA for Roblin and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Let’s grow to a million in Winnipeg by creating a city everyone wants to live in
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e have all heard elected officials state, "we are for over an hour at times? Is it because residents who have been victims of crime growing to a city of a million," Is that true? According to newly published data, it is not may have to wait hours or days for a police response bevalid. The population of Winnipeg dropped below the cause the service is busy with violent crimes? Is it because city services had been declinpublished population of our city for 2020. ing? Potentially, it's due to our infrastrucWe also often hear from City Hall, "The ture deteriorating. But, could it be due to only way to grow our city is through imthe lack of safety when using transit? migration." and "The housing market is Are people leaving Winnipeg because of booming because people are coming here." the lack of jobs available outside the miniSo, the question is, during the pandemic, mum wage, road construction, and house is immigration the reason why our populabuilding industries? tion dropped? Is it because City Council forces densiNo, it is not. fication onto residents where they don't International migration rates to Winniwant it? Maybe it's because residents dispeg remain strong. Even with the pandemagree with how their neighbourhoods are ic, the rates of new arrivals to the city are changing at the will of the City Council and well above average. Lots of internationals Councillor developers? are coming to Winnipeg. So, the issue is Could people be leaving because of the not a perceived reduction in immigration Kevin Klein lack available and the affordability of comnumbers because of COVID-19. Inside City Hall munity services for young people? Or is it The fact is that people are leaving Winnithe lack of arenas, indoor sports facilities, peg and Manitoba for other provinces. So, the truth is obvious, the decreasing population is because conveniently situated green space? Maybe they are moving away because we don't offer a vibrant and safe downpeople are moving to other cities and provinces. Statistics Canada data indicate that over 20,000 people town? What do we do to keep people here and attract more left the province last year for other provinces. Most of those people left Winnipeg, some to nearby RM's but from across the country? We get to work. most to other provinces. I believe people want to live in cities that offer great The real opportunity is to discover why people are leaving (20,000 a year?) and then start addressing the reasons. services, safe neighborhoods for everyone, activities both So, why are people moving out of Winnipeg? Is it be- indoor and outdoor. They want to live in cities that procause the city has increasing violent crime rates and is vide opportunities for everyone. They want to live in cities with safe, efficient, and effecconsidered unsafe? Is it because people are left to wait for ambulance care tive transit services.
Reflections on Indian on the Cabinet
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ver the holidays one of my goals ful person in the country, and those who was to read Jody Wilson-Ray- would do his bidding. At the core of the bould’s new book, “Indian in the matter was the fact that SNC-LAVALIN, one of the largest corporaCabinet.” For those who retions in Canada, was the call the SNC-Lavalin affair, subject of criminal charges this book is the ultimate relating to various alleged inside story told by Ms. criminal dealings. Wilson-Raybould, the MinNormally politicians nevister of Justice and Attorney er get involved in or inject General of Canada at the themselves into such cases time, from her perspective as to do so would result in as the person literally holdundermining the indepening back the barbarians at dence of the prosecutor, the gate. and ultimately weaken the It is a tale of real-life pofundamental principal that litical wrongdoing which Marty Morantz Canada is a nation governed ultimately resulted in Prime by the rule law and not by Minister Trudeau being sanctioned by the ethics craven political interests. commissioner and reduced to a minority In other words, politicians should not government in the 2019 election. be interfering, or attempting to interfere, It’s a tale of how one person with great in any criminal prosecution. But this is integrity stood up to the most power- exactly what Mr. Trudeau wanted Ms. 4
whatsupwinnipeg.ca
We need a mayor and city council who know how to build an environment where people can thrive. We need a mayor and council who knows how to get things done and respectfully care for our vulnerable residents. We need a mayor and city council who know how to create a prosperous business environment that supports entrepreneurs and diversity. I want a city council that residents are proud of, support, trust, and feel confident in its leadership abilities to build a better future for us all. Safe neighbourhoods for everyone, well-designed communities people want to live in, community services for all our young people, green space, amenities, well-paying jobs, and good city services are the only way to grow Winnipeg. I am confident we will successfully grow our community once we get to work building a Winnipeg where everyone wants to live. Kevin Klein is the city councillor for Charleswood-TuxedoWestwood.
Wilson-Raybould to do in her role as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Justin Trudeau wanted her to interfere with the independent prosecutor and cut a special deal for SNC-LAVALIN known as a “deferred prosecution agreement.” Although Ms. Wilson-Raybould was repeatedly pressured to interfere by the Prime Minister, and others, she resisted all attempts to influence her, and ultimately stood her ground. And what was her reward for doing the right thing? Mr. Trudeau removed her from her position as Minister of Justice and Attorney General and ultimately removed her from the Liberal Caucus. Even though Ms. Wilson-Raybould and I sat as MPs at the same time from 2019 to 2021, I never did meet her. Reading her book helped me understand her character, what she went through,
and the intense pressure she was able to resist. It made me pause to think how easily things can go wrong when those with political power ignore the rules that keep our society and our democratic institutions intact. It reminded me what a tremendous responsibility we have as elected officials to zealously guard the institutions that unite us all as Canadians. It also helped me understand her pride in her Indigenous heritage, the impact it had on her decision making, and the important work that remains to be done to make the path of reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous peoples a reality. For those interested in a unique and true to life first-hand view of a major Canadian political scandal and the lessons learned, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Indian in the Cabinet. Marty Morantz is MP for CharleswoodSt. James-Assiniboia-Headingley February 2022
Premier Heather Stefanson The first 90 days . . . and next steps Dorothy Dobbie
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eople are suffering from health and COVID-19 fatigue,” says Premier Heather Stefanson. “They are worried about surgical and diagnostic services.” She shares their concerns. “Now more than ever, we need to stay in touch with Manitobans and take a more collaborative approach to problem solving. We have to keep our heads about us, though, and stay on a steady path.” Talking to Premier Heather Stefanson is like taking a breath of fresh air. She is so lucid and clear in what she has to say. I am sure this completely flummoxes the traditional media who are used to a bunch of word salad coming from most politicians. I suspect that they keep looking for hidden messages because that is what they are accustomed to deciphering in most political speech. Heather just says exactly what she means and says it without embellishment. I asked her today about her first 90 days. Rather than focus on herself, she immediately turned to what Manitobans are dealing with – how they want COVID-19 to be over and to get on with their lives, how the transition itself is worrisome to many. She has been thinking deeply about this and says that we need to find innovative ways to deal with the health challenges, whether through using public or private services to get the backlog cleaned up. The Council of the Federation is meeting again soon,
and she says that this will be a topof-mind consideration to address with the federal government. “It is difficult for any single province to go ahead on their own,” she pointed out. ““We need a solid commitment by the federal government to provide a meaningful increase to the Canada Health Transfer base budget of health care funding to the provinces and territories.” The federal proportion of funding has eroded over the years from its original 50 per cent to 23.5 per cent in 2019, with provinces picking up the rest. Clearly, this is a critical issue for the way going forward and one that preoccupies the Council. “We either have to get an agreement on new funding or find new ways to deal with this,” the premier says. It is a major challenge but one
that she sees clearly as a top priority. She becomes very animated when talking about the overall future of the province and how to overcome the corporate malaise that has held us back for many years. “We have to come back together as a province.” Heather’s family has been part of the Manitoba story since the late 1800s. She remembers our once spirit of optimism and limitless potential. To forege ahead, the Premier believes government must be sincerely consultative, taking a more collaborative approach going forward. “We need to listen,” she emphasizes, making it clear that listening is hearing all the nuances and paying attention to them rather than brushing them off. It is the same in her government. “We need to encourage MLAs to speak for their constituents. If we don’t, we get nowhere,” she says, making it clear
that she expects her team to take a proactive, let’s-fix-it approach. “We need to change the culture from being top heavy with all the power vested in the prime minster or the premiers as opposed to being part of a responsible team.” As caucus learns to trust this more, she believes a lot of the negative pressure on government will disappear. We move on to economic recovery. The Premier lights up with positive energy and declares once again that “We are open for business!” She has already met with some of the mining companies and is firmly committed to moving the dial forward on development in the North. This is very important to our first nations and the Metis, she says. On the wider economic front stay tuned for some very exciting news about the economic development structure over the next few weeks. She intends to maintain a key role in the portfolio so that her vision and business experience can guide our road to recovery. We will discuss this more in the March issue of Lifestyles. The Premier has also noted concerns about the erosion of the work force in our province, both skilled and unskilled, and she has some forward thinking plans about immigration that will be rolled out soon. As we came to the end of our discussion, I asked her if she was exhausted, and she laughed. “It’s been up and down,” she answered. “But that’s just life! Lots of people are facing the COVID-19 malaise.” She pauses then adds in her optimistic, upbeat way, “I get very excited about the future.”
Rosser is open for business through collaboration
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entrePort Canada is a 20,000-acre inland port project with lands located in the Rural Municipality of Rosser and the City of Winnipeg. Development is booming at CentrePort, particularly within the 11,000 acres of CentrePort Canada that lie in the RM of Rosser; these lands are known as CentrePort North. Since 2019, there have been $275 million of development permits issued within the RM of Rosser for projects in CentrePort Canada. Frances Smee, Reeve of the RM of Rosser, says the reason for the boom is Diane Grey simple. “We offer a comThe Spirit of petitive advantage. We do Winnipeg things faster and better.” Strong relationships are a key factor in the RM of Rosser's ability to stay nimble and flexible throughout the development process. By working closely with the Inland Port Special Planning Authority, a dedicated planning resource for CentrePort North, and the South Interlake Planning District, the RM of Rosser is able to make turnaround times attractive to developers and provide a customized approach to development. “We create relationships that would not be possible in larger bureaucracies,” says Smee. Since the inland port's inception in 2009, the collaborative relationship between CentrePort Canada and the RM of Rosser has been instrumental in driving forward a larger vision for industrial development in the area. “In the beginning, we knew getting involved was an opportunity that doesn’t come along every day,” says Smee. “We committed then, and because our developers believed in us, we were able to fast track the infrastructure build-out.” This commitment to a purposeful infrastructure build-out and a development-friendly approach has February 2022
Frances Smee, Reeve of Rosser.
been key to laying the foundation for the flurry of construction activity we are seeing today; development is booming. In addition to the RM of Rosser's commitment to collaborative decision making and speed of delivery, benefits to locating in the area include access to trimodal transportation options, available industrial land and existing infrastructure that supports future growth. Fully-serviced industrial land, access to the inland port express way, CentrePort Canada Way, and proximity to the 24/7/365 operations of the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport allow companies in the transportation, distribution and manufacturing industries to thrive. Since the inland port’s inception, 100 new com-
panies have chosen to locate in CentrePort joining long established businesses in the area. Over the last three years alone, the RM of Rosser has welcomed 30 companies to four new industrial parks: Brookside Industrial Park West, BrookPort Business Park, InksPort Business Park and Steele Business Park. Customizable development options are giving companies the ability to grow and expand, or establish new operations. Companies that have chosen to custom build facilities to meet their growing business needs include Merit Functional Foods, Nutrien, Major Drilling, Rosenau Transport and Groupe Touchette. Freightliner Manitoba, long-established in the area, was able to expand its operations onto a 14-acre footprint to develop its Transolutions Truck Centre brand. Designed with customers and employees in mind, their new spacious facility offers a state-of-the-art showroom, expansive new-parts warehouse, and world-class service station. This pace of development shows no signs of slowing down. If you were to drive through CentrePort lands in the RM of Rosser today, you would see active construction sites, numerous signs with lots for sale and new industrial parks taking shape. Additionally, the CentrePort Canada Rail Park is expected to break ground in Spring 2022. This 665-acre rail served industrial park is the linchpin in realizing the vision for a true trimodal inland port and will combine industrial space with logistics infrastructure, making it a prime location for companies servicing regional and global clients. The evidence is clear. The RM of Rosser's longterm vision, collaborative approach and ability to quickly respond to company needs sets them apart and is paving the way for significant growth in the municipality. “In Rosser, we believe that strong relationships are vital to success,” says Smee. “We operate from a basic principle of fairness to create win/win/win situations for developers, our community and Manitoba. We really are open for business.” Diane Gray is the President & CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc. whatsupwinnipeg.ca
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Audience of half a billion: Manitoba’s most listened-to radio broadcast Continued from page 1
In fact, virtually every piece of broadcast equipThe monarch spoke slowly and methodically, noting ment had been duplicated to ensure there’d be no last- the place had changed a great deal since the time of his minute foul up. The King’s voice would great grandmother. “Winnipeg, the city travel by telephone line to the CKY from which I am speaking, was no more headquarters in the Manitoba Telephone than a fort or hamlet on the open prairie System building on east Portage Avenue. when Queen Victoria began to rule. ToFrom there it would be sent to the main day it is a monument to the faith and entransmitter and then across the CBC raergy which have created and upheld the dio network. The British Broadcasting world wide Empire of our time.” Corporation would pick up the signal Local media was consumed with the where it would be broadcast and relayed Royal visit. The speech ran on both to countries throughout the CommonWinnipeg radio stations. CKY and the wealth. privately-owned CJRC committed their The King insisted he be in the room entire broadcast day to Royal Tour covalone. Broadcast technicians and most erage. City newspapers were equally of their equipment waited just outside. enthusiastic. “King George Talks To All Gary Moir A small light would signal the broadcast The World From Winnipeg,” screamed was underway. Timing was crucial. The one Tribune headline. The Free Press one o’clock start in Winnipeg would enestimated a potential radio audience of sure the speech would be heard in prime time at 8 p.m. “500 million”. o’clock in England. For this brief moment in time, Winnipeg was the
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centre of the radio universe. The fifteen minute broadcast went off without a hitch, representing one of the great technical feats of early radio history. In London, the ailing Queen Mother was reported to have followed the address closely while resting in her bed. Thirteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth listened to her father’s speech in the sitting room at Buckingham Palace. The King’s Winnipeg broadcast took place three months prior to the radio address dramatized in the 2010 movie “The King’s Speech.” The desk where George VI sat can still be found at the home of the Lieutenant Governor. Whatever happened to the goldplated microphones he spoke into remains a mystery. They disappeared at some point after the Winnipeg speech, and despite numerous attempts to find them, they have never been located. Garry Moir has spent more than 50 years in the broadcasting industry. He has written extensively about local radio history including a book titled “On The Air: The Golden Age of Manitoba Radio.” He currently produces the daily “History Vault” feature on CJNU radio.
Is space the final frontier? Imagine . . . Continued from page 1
somehow adapt to live almost any- exploration and technological developwhere on earth using only primitive ment. The exploration of the China’s tools? The most remarkable must be Grand Fleet in 1412, the voyage of the Inuit people. I was lucky enough Christopher Columbus in 1492, and almost all the European to spend six months with Age of Discovery are ilthem in the near arctic. lustrations of how wealth These people live in the and exploration have most inhospitable place gone hand in hand. Our on the planet – where complex society can do Polar Bears are the apex 100 things at the same predator – not people. time – and exploration With no natural hair, they has always been one of should freeze in a minute them. through eight months of I was brought up in the the year. They have no 1960s, and for many of ability to cultivate crops. us, particularly teenage They do not herd aniRandy Bolt boys, space exploration mals. And there are not was one of our biggest even any trees in the arctic fascinations and inspirato build shelters, tools or tions. We watched almost every rocket weapons. Since humans first left Africa, they launch and never missed an episode of have learned to adapt to their envi- Star Trek – with the immortal words ronment and have literally taken over of Captain James T. Kirk spoken at the the world. Whether it is genetic, en- start of every show – SPACE, THE vironmental, or social, humans have FINAL FRONTIER. We read Isaac an insatiable urge to explore, develop Asimov science fiction about life betechnology, and push any limit that yond planet Earth. In the 1960’s, we confront. Contrary to most senior NASA was spending was four per cent members of the British Royal Family, of US government budget. Today, NAwho believe that self-made billionaires SA’s budget is only 0.5 per cent of the should use their wealth only for the al- US government budget. This lack of leviation of poverty and suffering, the US government funding will not stop history of man reveals that wealthy the human drive for exploring space. It people have always had an interest in is the biggest challenge we have ever
faced – and it may be our ultimate destiny to escape planet Earth and explore the Universe. Sadly, the world has recently become more divisive than at any time in living memory. We used to believe that in exploring space, it was inevitable that people of the world would come together as one (I am sure John Lennon was a fan of Star Trek). That countries of the world would join forces, economically and scientifically, as no country, not even the USA or the USSR, could shoulder the full burden of space exploration. The dream of government led joint space exploration seems unlikely at the moment – what is more likely is global commercial interests working together
to develop space. Unlike space exploration in the 1960s, global entrepreneurs are finding new and innovative ways to finance their dreams, which don’t necessarily involve massive reliance on public funds. Perhaps my dreams are stuck in the 1960s, where we heard time and again, from every astronaut who looked out their window and marvelled at how beautiful the world was, that there were no political divisions from space and that the world was really only one small vulnerable blue planet. I still cling to the hope that space exploration can and will bring us all together despite the recent rise of our polarized society. Randy Boldt is a senior fellow at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.
Which way now? Look North is still the place to start Doug Lauvstad
M
anitoba needs a big, bold, brash Northern Development Strategy. There is a confluence of geopolitical and other factors that present an incredible opportunity for increased prosperity for the province, for the North, and for the people; particularly the indigenous people of our province. It will take some foresight, some smart leadership, some big thinking, and a lot of hard work. But the benefits, for generations to come, will be worth it. Today we are in the midst of a worldchanging pandemic; tomorrow, we will step into a new world. World events such as increasing tension between east and west; the breakdown of some traditional alliances; changes to international monetary and power balances; and, of course, supply chain issues; have encouraged North America to “re-shore” 6
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manufacturing capability. Climate change and the move to a low carbon future have increased the demand for critical minerals, such as nickel, zinc, copper, cobalt, lithium, and others – which Manitoba has in abundance. There is also an ethical, moral, and social imperative, driven by the world’s largest companies and investors, for business to run their operations with green, clean, non-carbon emitting energy. The pandemic has emphasized that our supply chains and associated infrastructure are precarious, that we cannot rely on countries on the other side of the world to process our raw materials, and that the demand for the commodities Manitoba has in abundance – minerals, wood products, clean energy – is ever increasing. We can seize the moment or we can sit on the sidelines and watch other nations and provinces benefit and grow. And let’s not forget, that when we talk resources, we are not talking small. The
whole of Canada was built by “hewers of wood and haulers of waters.” Resource projects are measured not in millions of dollars, but in billions; jobs created are counted not in hundreds, but in thousands. And of course, the taxes and revenues these projects provide pay for roads, schools, hospitals, and the social programs we rely upon. What needs to be done: A New Northern Development Strategy, like any good strategy, is simply put, is to build on our strengths: an abundance of raw materials, natural resources and clean energy. We also have regional expertise and over a hundred years of experience. What else do we need: We need Manitoba’s strong, progressive indigenous leadership to lead the way in developing a prosperity agenda that is compatible with their values but creates wealth and opportunity for their people. The tragic impact of poverty and exclusion must end. Our provincial leaders must stand up and say to the world we have resources,
expertise, and capacity. They must create a supportive climate for investment and economic development. They must also ensure that the short-sighted, the naysayers, and the impeders, are not given room to breathe. Our national government must support Manitoba’s efforts and enable a growth agenda. They must provide the tools and capital for First Nations to engage in an equitable and profitable development of the North. All of us must embrace a broader vision for Northern Manitoba – one that focuses on jobs and opportunities; and yes, prosperity; for northern and indigenous people and communities. A good, sound, Northern Development Strategy is part of a good, sound provincial prosperity agenda. Development in the north means goods and services and jobs are being bought and created in the south as well as the north. In other words, positive action in the north has a positive reaction in the south. The time to move forward is now. February 2022
Debating a Legend
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his year will be the 30th anniversary of the great Accord. It also led him bring forward the Clarity Act, Canadian debate about the Charlottetown Ac- which stipulated that in any future referendum Canada cord and the subsequent referendum that took would only be obliged to negotiate with Quebec if place on October 26, 1992. The Charlottetown Ac- there was a clear majority on a clear question. Shortly thereafter Lucien Bouchard, cord was a response to the failure to the leading sovereigntist Quebec voice, ratify the Meech Lake Accord in 1990. resigned from political life. And of course, the Meech Lake Accord After this brief survey history of constiitself was a response to the Patriation tutional struggles, through all of which I of the Canadian Constitution in 1982, was a MP, I want to return to the subject when the British North America Act at of the referendum on the Charlottetown Westminster was returned and became Accord. The referendum on the Charthe Constitution Act 1982, which inlottetown Accord in the fall of 1992 was cluded the Canadian Charter of Rights a dismal political experience for me. I and Freedoms. And Patriation itself had supported the Accord, despite some of been Pierre Trudeau’s response to the its arguable flaws, but my constituents first Quebec referendum in 1980. certainly did not, and that may well have The fact that Quebec never signed the Hon. Bill Blaikie contributed to a close call for me in the patriated constitution was a problem federal election of 1993. The riding of that Brian Mulroney tried mightily to Reminiscences fix, but in the end he did not succeed. Inof a political life Winnipeg – Transcona had the highest NO vote in the province, a result which stead, the failure of the Meech and Charin my view reflected in part their feelings lottetown Accords unintentionally made matters worse and created the context for the second about Brian Mulroney as much as it did their feelings Quebec referendum in 1995, which fell only a percent- about the accord itself. But the debate on the referendum did have one age point short of initiating a process that might have highlight. I enjoyed the rare opportunity of meeting led to the end of Canada as we know it. The second referendum led Prime Minister Chretien and debating a political legend. Immanuel United to implement at the administrative and legislative level Church, in my riding, sponsored a town hall meeting much of what Quebec had sought in the Meech Lake on the accord, but there were no locals prepared to de-
bate me on the issue. Instead, the “NO” side sent then 97-year-old former Liberal Manitoba Premier Douglas Campbell, who had become a member of the Reform Party, and shared that Party’s opposition to the accord. He was the Premier of Manitoba when I was born in 1951. Mr. Campbell was not only unusually old, but also quite blind. Nevertheless, he seemed to have memorized the accord, and knew what he was talking about. You might say he was formidable, but he was also amiable, and we had a splendid evening as far as such evenings go. At some point in the evening, we realized our common affection for Scotland’s Immortal Bard, Robert Burns. At the end of the evening everyone had a good laugh when the former Premier said he was glad it was over, for if he stayed any longer, I might end up selling him an NDP membership. But he was on the winning side of the debate over the Charlottetown Accord, which laid the basis for the success of the Reform Party and the Bloc Quebecois in 1993. In the realm of unintended consequences, the Charlottetown Accord has a place of honour, or dishonour, as the case may be. Former Manitoba Premier Douglas Campbell lived to be 100 years old. Hon. Bill Blaikie was the NDP MP for Transcona from 1979 to 2015. He was Provincial Minister of Conservation under Gary Doer.
The answer is always Yes Dorothy Dobbie
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hether you are in business or in government, the answer is always Yes: Yes, I can understand your concern. Yes, I will meet with you. Yes, I will look in to this further. Yes, I will do what I can to help you. When you respond with Yes, it relieves tension and allows the petitioner to relax and get to the heart of the matter at hand. Being open and saying Yes, can reveal a lot you didn’t know before and lead to positive action because you are now armed with all the facts. Sadly, the first instinct is to say No, because it feels safer. No means no commitment to do anything further. People automatically saying No are raising objections to a proposal even before the proposal has been fully expressed. It is a sort of verbal fingers-in-the-ears gesture that limits the development of any engagement and reduces opportunities. Over 50 years in business, I have taught hundreds of salespeople how to anticipate and avoid objections before they had a chance to make their case. Individuals petitioning government, however, do not have that skill and training. The No is a bigger shock to them. It loses votes. No is not always just a two-letter word, either. It can be a body language gesture where the person being petitioned stiffens and makes gestures of objection or begins to interrupt the caller if the communication is telephone or through digital media. In business terms, we often say “let the customer sell himself ”. Listen to what the person on the other side has to say. Ask questions. “Explain to me why this is a problem?” “What impact will this have on you?” Why are you concerned?” “What is it you really want?’ Sometimes their answer is way simpler than you imagine. Sometimes what they want is just the opportunity to tell you their concern. Listening with a Yes attitude will win you friends, help you makes sales, or garner votes! I recently spoke to a friend who is in a position to do something good for himself and his colleagues. Without hearing the full story, he began to tell me why what I was saying was not valid, and explain how “everyone has that problem” in order to prepare the ground for No. He had not checked the facts or made any enquiries about the details behind the proposal. This is counterproductive. He could have said, Yes, I am hearing this is a big issue. Yes, I will look into this and see if there is anything that can be done. Yes, can you give me a few more details? Easy, please-y and just as safe as No, but a lot less relationship destroying. February 2022
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My first impressions of participating as a candidate in the political process
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have had the good fortune to encounter and da” singer. While I certainly did not play a leading work with many fine and dedicated Canadian role in those events, I had the opportunity to obpoliticians of all political parties in the course of serve the interesting interplay between the municipal, provincial, and federal politicians. my working life. These people clearly Even when the political parties were had a great love and concern for their very different, there was definitely evicommunities, their nation, and their dence of much collegiality and respect neighbours. While the political apbetween the politicians who attended proaches of the parties they representevents, celebrations, and major aned were different, their concerns for nouncements in their communities. the welfare of their community members were very similar. While I lived in Ottawa, I worked For some of my friends and acfor the municipal governments of the quaintances, my decision to become City of Gloucester and the City of Otinvolved in the political process as a tawa. Working with the politicians and political candidate is quite surprisother municipal employees to develop ing. Those who have known me since programs and initiatives to improve Trudy Schroeder high school just laugh and say, “Well, the community was passionately interof course this is what you would do.” esting to me. I quickly learned which Random They had expected this much earlier in of the other employees and which muNotes my life. I was active in school student nicipal politicians were most interested leadership, debating clubs, writing in the kinds of projects that were my clubs, and music performance. At some point when responsibility. The process of working with commuI was in grade twelve, a newly elected MP invited a nity groups to bring programs, facilities, and festigroup of student leaders from different high schools vals to fruition was fascinating. Starting with ideas to his home for a casual dinner and to talk about and needs of the community, the many steps, reports, current political issues. I can remember being a bit meetings, models, and budget processes needed to puzzled by the invitation at first, but I attended with bring a project to completion is quite a puzzle. Howseveral friends. I found the conversation and topics ever, the satisfaction of seeing a finished facility, or of discussion just fascinating, and I can remember the success of a much-needed program is trementhinking that I could really enjoy being involved in dously motivating. politics. So, if I become more involved in Manitoba’s When my husband and I moved to Winnipeg in political life, you can either thank or blame Bill Blai- 1995, I expected that I would continue working kie. within the public sector. When my children were very As a young adult, I spent many hours at political young, I found working as a project consultant both and community events in the role of the “O Cana- interesting and suitably flexible. After a few years the
opportunity arose to lead the Winnipeg Folk Festival and ten years later the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. I found working at both of these beloved Manitoba institutions fascinating and rewarding. I loved working with the volunteers, staff members, community members, and all of the other partners needed to make these organizations work. Last summer, after thirteen years at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, I found myself thinking about the things that I might be involved with in this next phase of my life. I found that I had a lot of enthusiasm for an interesting mix of projects that could use my expertise, and I also found that I was interested in engaging in the democratic process in a more engaged way. So many of the Manitoba politicians I had encountered, from all political parties, were inspiring people whose examples were worth emulating. I find many parts of the nomination and election process quite fascinating. The people in all parties are passionate and engaged. The level of personal commitment and volunteer time required of candidates is truly remarkable. As a society, we should thank every person who steps up and is willing to participate in our democratic system in this way. The time, resources, and personal sacrifices that people make to participate in the political process is greater than I had expected. The people I have encountered throughout the process so far have been energetic, smart, and thoughtful. Regardless of the outcome of the Fort Whyte byelection, I find that I am glad to have the experience of engaging in our community in this way. Trudy Schroeder provides project planning and management services to the community through Arts and Heritage Solutions.
The “sole” of your home is a matter of choice!
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re you looking for a change? Is your floor look- layer and finally a protective wear-and-tear layer. • The bottom layer is a melamine plastic layer that gives ing a little tired? What works for you? I am asked time and time again what is best, carpet or lami- stability to each sheet which helps guard against moisture. • Much like hardwood, the next layer nate? There are so many answers to conor substrate layer is typically comprised of sider including price, wear-and-tear, look, plywood or a high-density fiberboard and style. • The photo-realistic sheet comes next So many questions all relating to the made up of melamine as an impregnated floor. Is this a new home or older home? decorative film How much use will the new floor have, it • Finally, the topcoat is highly abrasive could be on the stairs or in rooms that are aluminum oxide impregnated protective not frequented as others. overlay. Make up of carpet: What does all this information tell us? There are three main types of carpet: cut In part, both products stand up extremely pile, loop pile, and cut-and-loop pile. well against each other. • Cut pile is straight up from the backing Toughness of Carpet: • Loop pile, stands straight up but loops There are so many types of carpet it is around and returns to the back Brent Poole difficult to say the toughness. Polyester is • Cut-and-loop pile is a mixture of both. Home much stringer than wool. Typically speaking, cut pile is the softest Improvements • The softer the carpet the weaker the of the three whereas loop pile is the most strength durable. Fiber also plays an important role, • Nylon is the toughest, if you look after a nylon carpet from the most common, nylon to polyester, wool and many, many more varieties. It really depends o n usage and it can last over ten years. • Polyester is stain resistant, not as strong as nylon what you want! • Wool is also stain resistant, but the cost is much greater Make up of Laminate: Toughness of Laminate: A composite material, its makeup is four separate layers: a base layer, supplement material, a photo-realistic image Laminate is extremely tough, due in part to its hard wear
layer, which makes it super strong. • UV resistant, it wont fade in direct sunlight • Not fully waterproof, but highly water resistant • Can be used over underfloor heating, and in humid areas. Carpet Installation: Carpet needs to be installed by a professional, there are so many applications to consider that most DIYers don’t even try. Laminate Installation: Most handy DIYers enjoy the challenge of laying a new floor and laminate makes it super easy. Typically, it is sold as a lock-together flooring which does not require nails or glue, ‘A floating Floor.’ How does the cost stack up against Laminate and Carpet? In truth there is not much separating the two, it is luxury over cheap. The judgement: neither one is better than the other, it depends on you, your budget, your style and what you are comfortable with. If you are considering a change, shop around there are always many deals out there, salespeople are genuinely there to help. You, at the end of the day, have to live with it. 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!”
Don’t want to miss a single issue of Lifestyles 55? Call us at 940-2700 and ask Shelly, she will be only too pleased to help you purchase a subscription that will bring the paper right to your doorstep! Shelly can arrange for a small monthly charge to your credit card. Or you can start by filling out and mailing in this form to: Lifestyles 55 c/o Pegasus Publications at 138 Swan Lake Bay, Winnipeg, MB R3T 4T8 q $36.00, 12 issues q $72.00, 24 issues q Cheque q VISA q Amex q MasterCard Card No .................................................................................................................... Expiry ........................ Signature ................................................................................ Name ........................................................................................................................... Address ........................................................................................................................ City.....................................Prov............... Postal Code ........................... Telephone...................................... Fax.......................................... Connect with us online: whatsupwinnipeg.ca | Facebook: Lifestyles55 | Twitter: @Lifestyles55
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February 2022
Mindfulness
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how yourself some love and kindness through practicing mindfulness. Self-care is an important aspect of living well, whether we are engaging in regular activities that keep us healthy, such as sleeping and eating well, or learning new skills that help us get through challenging times. For many people, mindfulness is a vital component of self-care. Mindfulness is the practice of bringing our attention to the present moment. It is a state of being that can become part of any activity, such as walking, eating, or simply breathing. Mindfulness involves noticing and accepting what we are experiencing in our minds, our physical bodies, and our environment. Noticing involves slowing down and allows us to be in touch with our current experience. Acceptance means that instead of fighting our cur-
February 2022
rent reality, we accept the thoughts, feelings, or experiences that we are having, knowing that they will pass. Being mindful does not require you to empty your mind or avoid distraction; rather, it allows you to notice thoughts, feelings, or sensations and approach them with curiosity rather than judgment. For example, one may notice the sensation of an upset stomach along with feeling overwhelmed. Judging or evaluating this observation may lead to focusing intensely on the feeling or ignoring the feeling in an effort to stop it. Acceptance does not stop the uncomfortable feelings but recognizes its presence and helps us to engage in self-compassion instead of judgment. Research shows that mindfulness can be beneficial in a variety of ways, including reducing stress, chronic pain, and
symptoms of certain mental illnesses. It can also promote healthier relationships with ourselves and others. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause disruption on some level for everyone. This has been a time of significant stress, loss, and hardship for many. Practicing mindfulness can be especially helpful during this difficult time, as it can change the way that we relate to our thoughts and emotions. While mindfulness is not a quick fix for the stress of our current reality, it can allow us to create some space between past challenges and future worries. The great thing about mindfulness is that anyone can begin to include aspects of it into their lives. The following, are a few basic exercises to begin your practice: • Settle in a comfortable position and
notice what happens in your body as you inhale and exhale in a rhythm that is comfortable to you. • Use your senses to describe what is happening in and around you – what are some things you see, hear, smell, or physically feel, such as your feet on the ground or the wind in the trees? • Imagine yourself in a place that feels calming and peaceful – focus on the details of this space and what you notice. • Take time to engage in your everyday activities in a mindful manner; from eating to walking. A & O: Support Services for Older Adults incorporates mindfulness practice into various programs and encourage staff to include mindfulness in their self care routines. For more information: contact A & O at 204-956-6440 or visit aosupportservices.ca.
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Directory
Northern AREA
Flin Flon Seniors 2 North Avenue, Flin Flon (204) 687-7301 Jubilee Recreation of Cranberry Portage Legion Hall, 217 2nd Ave. SE, Cranberry Portage (204) 472-3031 Snow Lake Seniors 71 Balsam St., Snow Lake (204) 358-2151 The Pas Golden Agers 324 Ross Ave., The Pas (204) 623-3663 Interlake AREA Gimli New Horizons 55+ Activity Centre 17 North Colonization Rd., Gimli (204) 642-7909 www.gimlinewhorizons.com Gordon Howard Centre 384 Eveline St., Selkirk (204) 785-2092 www.gordonhoward.ca
(204) 638-6485 www.dauphinseniors.com Grandview Seniors Drop In 432 Main St., Grandview (204) 546-2272 Herman Prior Senior Services Centre 40 Royal Rd. N., Portage la Prairie (204) 857-6951 www.hermanpriorcentre.com Minnedosa Senior Citizens Assoc. 31 Main St. S., Minnedosa (204) 867-1956 Morden Activity Centre 306 N. Railway St., Morden (204) 822-3555 www.mordenseniors.ca Neepawa Drop In Centre 310 Davidson St., Neepawa (204) 476-5103 www.neepawa.ca/district-drop-in-center Pilot Mound Fellowship Club 203 Broadway, Pilot Mound (204) 825-2436
Grand Marais & District Seniors 36058 PTH 12, Grand Marais (204) 770-6124
Plumas Senior Citizens Club Inc. 102 White St., Plumas (204) 386-2029
Riverton Seniors Activity Centre 12 Main St., Riverton (204) 378-2800
Portage Service for Seniors 40A Royal Road N., Portage la Prairie (204) 239-6312
South Interlake 55 Plus 374 1st St. W., Stonewall (204) 467-2582 www.si55plus.org
Sandy Lake Drop In Centre 100 Main St., Sandy Lake (204) 585-2411
Eastman AREA Beau-head Senior Centre 645 Park Ave., Beausejour (204) 268-2444 East Beaches Social Scene 3 Ateah Rd., Victoria Beach (204) 756-6468 www.ebseniorscene.ca East Beaches Resource Centre 3 Ateah Road, Victoria Beach (204) 756-6471 www.ebseniorscene.ca Pat Porter Active Living Centre 10 Chrysler Gate, Steinbach (204) 320-4600 www.patporteralc.com Central AREA Carman Active Living Centre 47 Ed Belfour Drive, Carman (204) 745-2356 www.activelivingcentrecarman.ca Crystal City & District Friendship Club Inc. 117 Broadway St., Crystal City (204) 873-2091 Dauphin Multi-Purpose Senior Centre 55 1st Ave. SE, Dauphin
The Comfort Drop In Spot 31 Main St., Erickson (204) 636-7895 Treherne Friendship Centre 190 Broadway St., Treherne (204) 723-2559 Winkler & District Multipurpose Senior Centre 102 - 650 South Railway Ave., Winkler (204) 325-8964 www.winklerseniorcentre.com Brandon AREA Age Friendly Committee of Council Brandon 638 Princess Ave., Brandon (204) 729-2259 Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op 311 Park Ave., East, Brandon (204) 571-2052 www.brandons4s.ca Killarney Service for Seniors 203 South Railway, Killarney (204) 523-7115 Prairie Oasis Centre 241 8th St., Brandon (204) 727-6641 www.prairieoasis.ca
Winnipeg AREA 20 Fort Street Seniors Club 2200 - 20 Fort St., Winnipeg (204) 233-6079 A & O Support Services for Older Adults Inc. 200 - 280 Smith St., Winnipeg (204) 956-6440 www.aosupportservices.ca Aboriginal Senior Resource Centre - Winnipeg 527 Selkirk Ave., Winnipeg (204) 586-4595 www.asrcwpg.org 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
Good Neighbours Active Living Centre 720 Henderson Hwy., Winnipeg (204) 669-1710 www.gnalc.ca Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre 1588 Main St., Winnipeg (204) 339-1701 www.gwensecter.com Headingley Seniors’ Services 5353 Portage Ave., Winnipeg (204) 889-3132 Ext. 3 www.headingleyseniorservices.ca Manitoba Korean 55+ Centre 900-150 River Ave., Winnipeg (204) 996-7003 www.ksam.ca Pembina Active Living 55+ 50 Barnes Ave., Winnipeg (204) 946-0839 www.pal55plus.com
Bleak House Centre 1637 Main St., Winnipeg (204) 338-4723 www.bleakhousecentre.com
Rady Jewish Community Centre 123 Doncaster St., Winnipeg (204) 477-7510 www.radyjcc.com
Broadway Seniors Resource Centre 823 Ellice Ave., Winnipeg (204) 772-3533 www.bsrc.ca
Rainbow Resource Centre 170 Scott St., Winnipeg (204) 474-0212, Ext. 211 www.rainbowresourcecentre.org
Brooklands Active Living Centre 1960 William Ave. W., Winnipeg (204) 632-8367
South Winnipeg Seniors Resource Council 117-1 Morley Ave., Winnipeg 204-478-6169 www.swsrc.ca resources@swsrc.ca
Centro Caboto Centre 1055 Wilkes Ave., Winnipeg (204) 487-4597 www.cabotocentre.com Charleswood Senior Centre 5006 Roblin Blvd., Winnipeg (204) 897-5263 www.charleswoodseniorcentre.org Creative Retirement MB 448 Burnell St., Winnipeg (204) 949-2569 www.creativeretirementmanitoba.ca Crescent Fort Rouge United Church 55+ 525 Wardlaw Ave., Winnipeg (204) 489-1925 Dakota Comm. Centre - Dakota 55+ Lazers 1188 Dakota St., Winnipeg (204) 254-1010 E206 www.dakotacc.com Dufferin Senior Citizens Inc. 377 Dufferin Avenue, Winnipeg (204) 986-2608 Elmwood East Kildonan Active Living Centre 180 Poplar Ave., Winnipeg (204) 669-0750 www.eekactiv.com Fort Garry Seniors Resource Working Advisory Group 2nd Floor - 280 Smith Street, Winnipeg 204-792-1913 www.aosupportservices.ca/resources/seniorsresource-finders/
Southdale Seniors 254 Lakewood Blvd., Winnipeg (204) 253-4599 www.southdale.ca St. James-Assiniboia 55+ Centre 3 - 203 Duffield St., Winnipeg (204) 987-8850 www.stjamescentre.com St. Mary’s Rd. Seniors 613 St. Mary’s Rd., Winnipeg (204) 257-0678 www.stmarysroad.ca Transcona Council for Seniors 845 Regent Ave., Winnipeg (204) 222-9879 www.transconaseniors.ca Transcona Retired Citizens Org. 328 Whittier Ave. West, Winnipeg (204) 777-5576 Vital Seniors 3 St. Vital Rd., Winnipeg (204) 253-0555 www.stmarymagdelenewpg.org Winakwa Active Seniors Club 980 Winakwa Rd., Winnipeg (204) 253-4418 www.winakwacc.ca Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association (204) 291-9028 www.winnipegchineseseniors.ca
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February 2022
What new “love” will this Valentines Day bring to your life?
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appy Valentine’s Day! Is Valentine’s Day, but to the small acts your lifestyle evolving with of kindness we all perform for one “LOVE” as a central theme another on a day to day basis. However there is also this month? another type of love I ended last month’s that those of us who article, as I recall, by sayhave been parents know ing: “Let’s live life and about, “Tough Love”. smell the roses along There were times when the way!” One image my children were a preof love is wine, roses, school age when they chocolate and romance, needed to be kept safe all favorites of mine. In and could not always my distant past lifestyles, run free when we lived romance was always in the city. We, as parthere. Now, I am alone, ents, had to put boundolder, but still “in love aries and rules in place with” wine, roses and Peggy Prendergast protect them and chocolate! The romance Exploring Lifestyle to then teach them what is distant, only pleasant 55 Possibilities the societally acceptable memories. behaviours are as their The tradition of wine and roses are gifts I give myself with age and development occurred. Now, a favorite movie. The chocolates, pur- since the beginning of this pandemic, chased from a very special Manitoba our lifestyles are, and have changed company, are delivered personally to with new boundaries and rules of my children and grandchildren on behaviour developing and becoming February 14, Valentine’s Day. Love acceptable as the government enacts has now a much fuller and broader a form of tough love. Are our old norms drastically meaning as I age. It is not only attached to the traditions of special changing within some families bedates like birthdays, Christmas, and cause of different beliefs about vac-
cination and what is normal family behaviour now? What effect is tough love having in any family situation? What about societal norms, what effect do they have upon our lifestyle and dreams of travel and work in the world we now inhabit? My lifestyle two years ago had different options then than now. In some ways I am feeling more constricted but (and there is a big but) the learning to communicate virtually has opened up a new opportunity and now my lifestyle has changed again with new dreams and plans to do the thing I still love the most to do, teach. I will be open to teaching people that have mobility problems and are looking for a respite from the social isolation they are experiencing at home. Learning a new skill or craft with a few people that are also interested in meeting new people and getting involved virtually with a new activity will open up a different door for everyone concerned. That is what evolving is all about; experimenting with new ways of learning and new
ways of occupying time in a fashion that is meaningful to your way of life at the moment and that provides hope for the future. It is said that the night is darkest just before the dawn and possibly that is the analogy for the time we are living through right now. Hope for all of us is that the end of this pandemic and isolation is near and we will come out of it with new virtual ways to live with ourselves and each other. Will you be open to new ways of learning virtually? Will ZOOM and other ways of connecting with others on the computer and face time on your mobile device fill your new improved lifestyle with people you will be prepared to meet and share some time and thoughts with? Will you adapt to this new social environment and take the opportunity to connect with people in no matter what part of our province, country or world that they happen to live? Let’s look forward to one of the opportunities that the pandemic has opened up to us and a new way love can be enacted. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sri Lankan Seniors year end get together (virtually)
Senaka Samarasinghe
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ri Lankan Seniors Manitoba (SLSM) planned to conduct in person Year End Get Together on Dec. 31, 2021. We invited more than ten distinguished guests to grace the occasion. Selected invitees are keeping close contact with us and have main-
tained continuous support for the last several years. Due to Manitoba provincial Covid-19 restrictions the Board of Directors decided to conduct virtual event on the above date. We allocated one hour to sing old hits. All our members were in high spirit and continued singing for more than one hour. Further, it was decided to upload all songs to SLSM YouTube Link.
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February 2022
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Finer “Things” of Life
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or more than fifty years, Things has brought a certain vintage style to the Winnipeg community. Operated by the Volunteer Committee for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet since 1967, the specialty boutique which is now called “Things Supporting the RWB”, sells consigned and donated items. It offers a large collection of gently used affordable antiques, vintage and contemporary collectibles, including furniture, jewelry, china, crystal, silver, artwork, linens and more. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the boutique has contributed more than one million dollars to Canada’s oldest ballet company over its more than five-decade lifespan, supporting the RWB to continue delivering world-class ballet to Winnipeg and beyond. The uniquely enduring success of Things derives from the cadre of volunteers that combines appreciation for beautiful objects with the expertise to assess their potential marketability. How-
ever, their guiding priority is to support the RWB’s artistic mission. On the occasion of the Committee’s 50th anniversary in 2017, The Honourable Janice Filmon, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba said in her remarks at Government House: “As members of the Volunteer Committee of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and volunteers with Things, you have helped to build one of Manitoba’s and Canada’s greatest cultural institutions. During those decades you, and the volunteers who came before you, have supported a ballet company that has consistently inspired audiences and advanced the art form. Those great accomplishments – the international tours, the reimagined classics, the innovative new works – would not be possible without a substantial base of support. You help to provide this so that the artistic minds at the RWB can focus on their art.” When Things reopened three months after closing during COVID-19, the
shop welcomed back many of its regular patrons, most of whom expressed gratitude and joy that “Things” was getting back to some degree of normal! The reopening also brought in many new faces, who seemed equally grateful for the friendly customer service that Things is known for. It seemed that the time apart had renewed interest in the boutique, reinvigorated the volunteer team’s spirits, and enhanced the appreciation of human contact all around. Recently retired Volunteer Committee President Ruth Gregory noted: “Things is a store for everyone. You won’t find anything here that can’t be had for the best price. Everything is affordable, everything is clean, and everything works.” If you are downsizing or clearing an estate, we invite you to consider consigning or donating quality pieces. If you are simply interested in Things Supporting the RWB or looking to add chinaware, objets d’art, vintage chic furniture, or
vintage jewelry to your home, be sure to visit the shop, located at 913 Corydon Avenue in Winnipeg, or call the volunteers at (204) 284-7331 anytime from 11am to 3pm, Monday to Saturday. Interested volunteers are also welcome. Your patronage helps Things to support a cultural icon…and a visit to the boutique is an opportunity to take in the finer “Things” of life! ••• Update: Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet The Sleeping Beauty Due to Public Health Orders and in utmost consideration for the safety of our patrons, artists, students, and staff, the RWB will be presenting the exquisite The Sleeping Beauty in a digital format from Friday, February 25 – Sunday, March 13, 2022, rather than through LIVE performances at the Centennial Concert Hall. Please check out rwb.org for more details. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.
Flin Flon a work of art in itself
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he weather is cold, the pandemic continues apace, and we need some significant cheer. My Beautiful Flin Flon has been in a -30° C degree deep freeze since before Christmas! You may think we are exaggerating but it’s true, though some of us still seem to get out there every day to take and post photographs. You can’t keep a good artist down, especially a landscape photographer. We can always see the beauty of the natural landscape in Flin Flon and environs after someone else takes the photograph. Some of that is because we only have an ‘eye’ after the picture is taken but most of it, truth be told, is our natural disinclination Elly Spencer to be tramping about in the bush at any time. Our The arts from idea of the great outdoors up here is a cool beverage on the screened-in deck, in July or August, perhaps with a bouquet of cut flowers on the table. Winter is most definitely a time to be warm and cozy, indoors. We are blessed though, with wonderful landscape artists in the north. We have an amazing number of indigenous artists as well, who draw much inspiration from the natural environment. The current Northern Visual Arts Centre (NorVA) gallery exhibition, ‘Honour and Reverence: For the land, the animals and the work of women and men’ by Pat Bragg, is an excellent example, to prove our point. Bragg spent some of her formative years in Flin Flon and has lived in Winnipeg before making her home in the Yukon. She makes wearable art from hand-dyed silk, wool and dyed fur and beaded photographs, pieces that are incredibly evocative. Bragg has had several exhibitions of her work including at Cre8ery Gallery, Winnipeg and Focus Gallery, Whitehorse, YK. The NorVA exhibit will be on display until February 15. 12
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Photograph by Randy Whitbread. The Northern Juried Art Show, a 45-year-old institution in northern Manitoba, is coming back to Flin Flon in 2022. There are or were, six regional juried art shows every year in Manitoba, Central, Eastman, Interlake, Parkland, Western and Northern. They encouraged all artists in that region to submit examples of their work for feedback from professional artists who were established in their art practice and careers. COVID-19 has played havoc with these shows and has made it necessary for them to go online. The artists still receive feedback from the jurors and art lovers get an opportunity to see all of the pieces from all over the province because photographs are uploaded, and the Manitoba Arts Network displays them on its website. Unfortunately, one is not able to get the entire feel of a work of art from a photograph but, we have enjoyed seeing them all when previously we could only see one or maybe two physical shows and that only with extensive travel.
We were hopeful that we might see northern works of art in person over the three days of the show in Flin Flon. The Omicron variant has put that idea to the test, but it may still be possible. The NJAS group that has taken responsibility to organize previous exhibitions will meet soon to determine dates for the show in Flin Flon. The last two iterations of the NJAS, in Thompson and in The Pas have been online and the 2020 and 2021 versions of the Manitoba Rural and Northern Juried Art Show, which brings together the pieces judged to be the best in the regional shows, were also online events. The categories of pieces run the gamut from painting, in oils, acrylic or watercolor to ceramics to beaded moccasins. The MRNJAS will certainly happen in September 2022. We will be sure to remind you! Of course, there will be several landscapes, but none will be as beautiful as Flin Flon. February 2022
Is that a violin? No – It’s a fiddle! The Red River contribution to great music
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he fiddle is at the centre of tra- his name. After an appearance on CBC ditional Métis culture in West- TV’s Don Messer’s Jubilee, Messer, no ern Canada, heard at weddings, slouch on the fiddle himself, is said to New Year’s celebrations and other so- have declared Andy Dejarlis the greatcial gatherings where dancing, includ- est exponent of old-time fiddling in Canada. ing the Red River Jig, is Reg Bouvette cut a a natural with fiddle mudashing figure with his sic. Not to be confused distinctive blue fiddle. with the classical violin, Little is known about fiddling is a distinctly Cahis early years but there nadian approach to bowis no doubting his ining the strings. Fiddlers fluence on young fidwere generally self-taught dlers. “I first met Reg with fiddle songs drawn Bouvette in 1977 at from Acadian music (from the Garden City Mall French settlements along fiddling contest,” Patti the Atlantic coast) and remembers. “I was just John Einarson Scottish jigs and reels a kid. My mom put me passed down from generaLocal Music on her shoulders so I tion to generation by ear. Spotlight could see and I was Often hand-made fiddles hooked. I spent hours were used. listening to his records. “Fiddling is extremely important to Manitoba culture in that we have such To me he was huge star.” In 1986, Patti long running fiddle and dance tradi- recorded an album of fiddling numbers tions,” notes renowned local fiddle with Reg Bouvette entitled The King champion Patti Kusturok, known as and the Princess on Sunshine Records. “Canada's old-time fiddling sweet- “Of course, it goes without saying heart.” A member of the North Ameri- that it was a huge honour for me,” she can Fiddlers Hall of Fame, Patti is a smiles. Hailing from Selkirk, Manitoba, fidsix-time Manitoba Champion and three-time Grand North American dler Mel Bedard was the first to use the Champion. “Here on the prairies, fid- term “Métis” on a record sleeve. A close dling and old-time square-dancing go friend to Andy Dejarlis, Bedard menhand in hand,” she notes, “and the style tored young Patti who also cites Métis of the music is always played with danc- fiddler Marcel Meilleur who played secing in mind. It all started with the house ond fiddle or harmony on all of Andy parties, usually in the kitchen, and the Dejarlis’s recordings and at live shows. music was accompanied by just the feet. Raised in the tiny rural community of Two of the best-known Métis fiddlers Vogar, Manitoba, Cliff Maytwayashing from Manitoba were Andy Dejarlis and is another talented fiddler in the Métis Reg Bouvette. Together they account tradition. “If you didn’t tap your foot for close to 100 fiddling albums and to his playing, you’d better check your toured across Canada. Accompanied pulse,” laughs Patti. Winnipeg-born fiddler Wally Diduck by the Red River Mates, Andy Dejarlis began performing on radio in Winni- cut a wide swath through the music peg in 1937, graduating to television world in his lengthy career, not only in the 1950s. After stints in Vancouver appearing on local television producand Montreal, he returned to Winnipeg tions like Red River Jamboree, Sesame where he continued to play festivals Street (portions of the Canadian conand dances. In his lifetime, Andy pub- tent were produced out of Winnipeg) lished over 200 fiddling songs under and My Kind of Country starring Ray
St. Germain. Unlike many of his selftaught contemporaries, Wally was a graduate of the Royal Conservatory School of Music at the University of Toronto. Besides playing alongside the likes of Rod Stewart, Anne Murray, Buck Owens and Kenny Rogers, Diduck also performed at Rainbow Stage and the Manitoba Theatre Center in productions of Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, West Side Story and Chicago. His colourful fiddling can be heard on singer, songwriter Ray St. Germain’s signature song “The Métis”. One of our province’s top fiddlers, Stan Winistock from Portage La Prairie, added fiddle to the 1973 Guess Who hit single “Orly”. Fiddlers like Oliver Boulette from Manigotogan, Tayler Fleming from Minitonas, and Portage La Prairie’s Melissa St. Goddard are carrying on the Métis fiddling tradition.
Old learners, new tricks?
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Andy Dejarlis.
Reg Bouvette.
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am not a fan of the word “old," but it fits the say- ated, part-time MBA. I had to adapt to all of the new ing, Can you teach an old (insert noun here) new technology implement my own organizing process to keep track of the reading, assignments and projects. tricks? I am a lifelong learner; I enjoy new challenging ap- There were late arrivals to class due to technical difproaches to problem-solving and skill development. ficulties late submissions due to missing the final step in a multistep submission process for In 2020, stuck at home 24/7, I embarked online homework. The various embaron one of my most significant challenges rassing moments of either forgetting yet, enrolling in an MBA program 30 to unmute or not muting and having a years since my last formal university exclassmate text me to let me know they perience. could hear all the conversations going My career path has involved working on in my home. independently in a variety of communiGetting past the technical challenges ty settings. In the early '90s, I travelled of online learning was one thing. Now around southern Ontario as an OccupaI wondered how this virtual experience tional Therapist working with clients in would compare to the only other unirural and remote communities on returnversity experience with direct, in-person to-work plans. I carried a huge, cumberinstruction. I have been using Zoom some laptop and tried to connect to the and Teams for work and personal meetinternet wherever I could. I loved it. I Nancy Cooke ings since the beginning of 2020. These continued to work from a home office From the meetings involved many people with and clinic office when my husband and Centre who I already had developed relationI bought our first dental clinic. As the ships. There was an easy banter and business manager, I could work from rhythm to those meetings. Would the anywhere with internet access. I chose to operate a mobile campaign office for my run in relationships develop as quickly online? The answer 2018 for the city council. We organized everything via for me was YES! The degree of success was related to computer, shared documents and scheduling. We held the comfort level of each professor. No surprise but meetings at local community businesses rather than the leadership and marketing professors lead the most rent a campaign office. These experiences added to my engaging classes. They required cameras on during the confidence in approaching a fully online MBA during course and active participation from all students. Stories were shared freely by students who all brought a pandemic. For me, the learning curve was adapting to the vari- professional experience to the table. These discussions ous virtual meeting formats new processes to review, enhanced the learning experience. Group projects provided the opportunity to meet research, and submit projects, papers, and homework. Despite my previous experience, I did have a few and learn new processes from a wide variety of felstumbles. The program I am enrolled in is designed low students. I have met and developed friendships for working professionals looking to take an acceler- with people from coast to coast in Canada. There were February 2022
Patti Kusturok.
only three out-of-province spots held in my undergrad degree. I loved the exposure to various provincial processes and economic realities as part of our learning. The professors are also from a wide variety of institutions. I have had Canadian and American professors who have expertise in leadership, marketing and finance lending a global perspective to our education. I will also admit that I enjoy the short, warm and safe commute to my home office from my kitchen to attend classes. Parking is cheaper too! I will never forget the long commute to the U of M Health Sciences campus for classes that ran from 8-4 p.m. daily. Standing at a bus stop in the dead of winter, hoping the bus would be on time and the connections would work out. Getting home and making dinner while I thaw out from the commute and then hitting the books. How much more studying could I be doing without that time spent on the commute? Four years of moving to and from the city every fall and every summer to return to my summer job and save money for the next school year added to the burden. How much money could I have saved if I had learned from home? Don't get me wrong, there are definite benefits from in-person learning, socializing and relationship building. Some topics must be completed in person, especially if you are planning a career in the humanities. I am about halfway through my MBA now, and I have discovered that I can continue my lifelong learning journey. The online environment has opened my eyes to endless possibilities. Yes, "old” students can learn new tricks. I look forward to returning to in-person contact in many aspects of my personal and professional life, and I would love to attend in-person graduation at the end of this! You can reach Nancy Cooke to comment on this article at nancycooke11@gmail.com. whatsupwinnipeg.ca
13
Child heroes show us courage and leadership Winning hearts and minds
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ebruary is heart month, and that got me think- who need HSC Winnipeg Children’s Hospital as the ing about “heart” expressions we use every day. 2020 and 2021 Champion Child, attending more than The heart of the matter. Follow your heart. Wear 40 events virtually or in-person when possible, to share his story and showcase what an amazing your heart on your sleeve (I can relate to hospital and research institute we have in this one!). Manitoba. He and his family also coorAt Children’s Hospital Foundation, we dinated several of their own virtual funare incredibly fortunate to be supported draisers to raise more than $34,000 for by a community with hearts of gold, who surgical equipment to help more kids like make a difference in the lives of kids and him. Thank you, Brady! their families. I’d like to tell you about In February, Brady is passing the baton two of these special kids today, kids who to another remarkable champion, Keira are sure to win your heart. Davlut, who will be the 2022 Champion Brady Bobrowich is 14 years old, and Child for sick and injured kids in Manidespite his young age, is a veteran of long toba. and intense surgeries and hospital stays. When Keira was born, her parents When he was just five months old, his parStefano Grande Melanie and Derek noticed her right eye ents, Corinne and Brad, noticed unusual seemed smaller and her head seemed a bit spots on his body. He was diagnosed with Healthy “bulgy.” At Keira’s two-week checkup, type 1 neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorLiving her pediatrician ordered an MRI and Xray der that causes tumours to form on tiswhich revealed craniosynostosis, a consue in the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and nerves themselves. For the first dition where the sutures in the skull fuse too quickly. few years, the only symptoms were small growths un- Craniosynostosis happens in one in every 2,000 births. der his skin, but by age six, an inoperable tumour had Without surgery, it can cause vision loss, facial disfiggrown so large that it was bending his spine. By the urement and developmental problems due to the skull time he was nine, he needed surgery to implant rods putting pressure on the growing brain. Keira had her first surgery at just nine months old, to help keep his spine straighter. He’s since had three more surgeries to implant and lengthen the rods and opening her skull and placing re-absorbable plates to address some of the other 100+ tumours growing in relieve pressure and help her skull naturally fuse back together as she grows. Because her skull will continue his body. Despite these challenges, Brady plays hockey and to change as she gets older, Keira has had more surbaseball, and is an avid fisher and hunter. He’s also a geries and will continue to see specialists like dentists, speech language pathologists, ophthalmologists and champion. Over the last two years, Brady has represented kids plastic surgeons.
Ways to show sympathy
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osing a loved one, whether a spouse, child, parent or friend is never easy. As friends or family members of those grieving, it can be a struggle to find the right words or gestures to adequately express sympathy, but the most important thing to remember is to be heartfelt and sincere. From sending cards and leaving comments online to sending flowers and doing household chores, there are many ways to offer comfort and support. Here are some ideas of things that you can say or do to support those who are grieving through this difficult time. Show sympathy with your words Kind, genuine and compassionate words can bring comfort to those who Michael are grieving. It can be a note or memory left in the online obituary guestbook, a text or email, a card in the mail, a phone call or a face-to-face interaction. Keep in mind that many times people grieving feel very alone. Reaching out with words reminds them they are not isolated, alone or forgotten. Many read and reread the online comments or sympathy cards, sometimes for years to come. As you express your sympathy through words, ges-
tures of condolences, or actions, keep a couple of small tips in mind. Don’t compare grief (“I know how you feel…”). Each relationship, each person is unique. Allow them their own grief and give them compassionate support. Don’t use trite answers, don’t minimize their pain and don’t trivialize the experience or tell them to move on (“you can remarry,” “you have other children” or “it was just their time”). Instead, you could say, “I hate that you’re going through this difficult time,” or “This must be really hard for you.” Show sympathy through gestures Many people choose to celebrate a loved one’s life through kind gestures. Flowers and plants are a common exGibbons pression of sympathy and caring. Consider sending a symbolic plant or one that will last year-round indoors that will serve as a welcome tribute to the person who has passed away. Personalized or hand-written condolence cards with the plant or flowers can symbolize your affection for the person who has passed away and their family. Other gestures may include a donation to a charity. Refer to their online obituary to see if a specific char-
Now 11 years old, Keira loves playing the piano, performing in musical theatre, playing Roblox online with school friends, and doing anything she can to support the Foundation. We can’t wait to get to know her better as she shares her story with people across Manitoba. Brady and Keira are just two examples of what happens when, as a community, we put our heart into making sure kids get the very best care. This February, show your heart and join us in making a difference for kids like Brady and Keira. Visit goodbear.ca. Let’s make anything possible. Stefano Grande is the president and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. To learn more, visit goodbear.ca.
ity or beneficiary is recommended. Donating to charity in honour of a friend or family member who has passed away can bring a sense of peace and purpose to their loved ones. Acknowledging what was important to them still matters and continues to be important to those who knew and loved them. Show sympathy through actions As you watch those you love grieve, and as you yourself mourn a loss, you may feel helpless and unable to take away the pain or bring comfort. This feeling often compels people to express sympathy by doing something practical to help, and chances are, these acts of condolences will be welcomed. If you want to help through action, be specific in your offers. “Let me know if/or what I can do to help” is a sweet sentiment, but many times those who have just lost a loved one feel as though they are drowning in all that needs doing or may not even know where to begin. Offering specific tasks may just be the lifeline they need. It’s tough to know what to say or what to do, but no matter how you express your sympathy, be sincere, listen and stay in contact. Be a caring presence in their life to offer encouragement and a shoulder to cry on, and let them know they are not alone. Shared with you by your local Dignity Memorial provider.
Angel of mercy
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hadn’t slept in 24 hours. Sleep the next day found myself at Miseriwouldn’t come. I’d cordia where the same been released from rude treatment greeted Crisis Stabilization Unit me. The nurse there said, after only three days, fol“You can wait for or five lowing a 2 a.m. bridge hours for a doctor, but jump to end my misershe can’t help you.” What able, homeless life. That kind of healthcare system was spurred on by the do we have when they rejection of help by HSC say, We can’t help you? emergency three times in As mentioned earlier, I two weeks when my life was sent to the Crisis Stahung in the balance. After bilization unit for three the third time, I jumped. I days not nearly enough could not fathom that the after fourteen harrowAl Wiebe system that was there to ing months on the harsh Of No Fixed help, had outright rejectstreets of Winnipeg. Address ed me three times because I went back to my I was homeless. “homeless home”, the I somehow survived the jump, and wreck of a ‘64 Mercedes in the back 14
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lane next to Diaz Auto at the corner of McPhillips and William. I lived in the back seat of that car through one of Winnipeg’s harshest winters and hottest extreme summers, while battling depression, anxiety, diabetes, and a long fight with pneumonia. There I was, after a failed bridge jump, no clothes, nothing to my name. I was really sick and had not been able to keep food down at the Crisis Stabilization Unit, yet they released me to the street. I lay in my car for twenty-four agonizing and painful hours. Trying to decide what to do. I finally used the last ounce of hope and energy in me to try to get to St Boniface Hospital. I had collected
enough drive-through change from the McDonald’s and Burger King at McPhillips and Notre Dame to get to the hospital. I didn’t trust myself to walk across those two bridges. I walked through the emergency rooms at St. B. I saw a friendly triage nurse, not like the one at HSC, whose attitude changed when she found out I did not have a home, and not like the treatment I had received from Misericordia. Twenty-four hours and six minutes later a doctor walked into the room I’d been placed in, a room where they put psych patients, and my life changed forever. The long journey forward began. Al may be reached at albelieve@hotmail.ca. Phone 204-960-0335. February 2022
Pain in the opioid crisis Lesley Jansen
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ain is not just an issue for seniors it is an issue for people of all ages/backgrounds, and physical pain can and will most likely lead to mental health issues if the cause of pain is left untreated. The form of treatment can lead to complications, such as the use (legal) and misuse (illegal) of drugs as was the case of the over prescription of oxycodone and the resulting opioid epidemic in both Canada and the United States. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (2019) stated: “Pain is one of the most common reasons for Canadians to seek health care, with 1 out of every 5 adults in Canada experiencing chronic pain.” That: “1. Prescription opioids, such as codeine, oxycodone and hydromorphone, are commonly used for treating pain. 2. Other reasons opioids may be prescribed include treating cough or opioid dependence. 3. Opioids, when prescribed and used appropriately, are effective drugs that play an important role in pain management for many Canadians. However, opioids can also produce a feeling of euphoria or a “high” and sometimes opioid use can lead to harms, including addiction, poisoning and death. In 2018, almost one in eight people were prescribed opioids. From January 2016 to June 2018, more than 9,000 Canadians died from apparent opioid-related harms.” In the United States, a documentary aired by PBS titled “Understanding the Opioid Epidemic” was produced on 17 January 2018, and was shown on TV and YouTube. It was found that part of the problem with the U.S. opioid epidemic was that U.S. doctors were over-prescribing opioids such as OxyContin (brand name for oxycodone) for individuals suffering in pain (for example, due to accidents, etc.). It was also found that some of these individuals had moved on from using legal drugs such as OxyContin to illicit street drugs such as fentanyl and heroin as they were cheaper. Doctors/researchers found a connection between alcohol and marijuana (cannabis) and the use of opioids (i.e., moving on from those two
substances to illicit street drug opioids, such as fentanyl and heroin). The doctors stated that addiction is permanent and life-long (to end of life). Once addicted, the person is like, for example, a diabetic, and that there is no cure. The affected individual will need to learn coping skills through (and) treatment for the addiction and, as well the pain.” In order to explain pain and pain disorders, medications for pain treatment and coping skills for living with pain, a book was written by three doctors (Vladimir Maletic, MD, Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, and Charles L. Raison, MD) (2012). The book was named “100 Questions & Answers About Chronic Pain.” This book explains: “Chronic pain sufferers can find themselves having three problems: fatigue, trouble sleeping, and memory difficulties. There is a bidirectional relationship between pain and sleep. Individuals with chronic pain conditions tend not to sleep very well. Sleep deprivation, in turn, intensifies pain. Both sleep disorders and chronic pain have been associated with a decrease in hippocampus gray matter volume. The hippocampus is a brain structure that plays a key role in emotional regulation and stress responses, but also in spatial and declarative memory (i.e., being able to find the right word and remember names). Evidence suggests that sleep deprivation, much like chronic pain, may increase inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines tend to be elevated in patients with sleep disturbances or with chronic pain. Chronic fatigue patients have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) a condition which is characterized by a sensation of exhaustion and inability to carry out physical and intellectual tasks. Over time, many CFS patients will suffer from headaches, migratory joint pain, generalized muscle aches, sore throat and chest pain. Patients with CFS typically suffer from a number of other related conditions, including fibromyalgia and mood and anxiety disorders.”
In the Legion Magazine January/February 2021 - the article (by Sharon Adams): “Pain Centre: A New Centre of Excellence – A Network of Clinics, Researchers and Patients – Aims to Find Chronic Pain Relief for More Veterans – stated that: “Many CAF (Canadian Armed Forces) veterans live with chronic pain. More than 40 per cent of veterans who left the military since 1998 have chronic pain – two to three times the rate of civilians.” It was found that “millions of Canadians struggle with chronic pain, but it is not fully understood how it develops or how best to treat it.” And that “the total economic hit is estimated at up to $60 billion annually.” “The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans, based at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., hopes to end the trial-and-error approach by identifying effective evidence-based treatments, recommending standards of care, and sharing that information so it can be rapidly put to use treating veterans. We spend a lot of money on diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol, cancer – but chronic pain research has been underfunded.” The research happening at McMaster University will benefit Canadians of all ages coping with physical pain and mental health issues. Any use and misuse of drugs will have an impact on the quality of life for individuals and their families, and the community. More research needs to be done and proper treatment methods must be implemented to save lives from the risks and dangers associated with opioid use. We need to limit and end the stress being placed on our health care system through proper treatment so that those needing timely access to mental health care will have access when they need it most.” Lesley Jansen is a senior and a life-long learner attending the Faculty of Arts, Psychology, at the University of Manitoba. She is interested in issues on chronic pain as she is an Army veteran living with a disability.
Boosting good gut microflora
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he old saying “you are what live microorganisms that when conyou eat” has never been more sumed at sufficient levels provide a true, but in recent years the health benefit. Normally, there should role of good bacteria and human be a healthy balance of good bacteria health has been a major focus of re- (probiotic), and bad bacteria (pathosearch. PubMed, the database of bio- genic), but health problems, poor medical citations and studies, lists diet, antibiotics, and many prescription drugs can lead to over 2000 peer-reviewed dysbiosis. Regular conpublications focused on sumption of fermented this burgeoning area foods, and avoiding the of research. Our gasdrugs and foods that can trointestinal (GI) tract have an adverse effect on is home to trillions of our gut microbiome can microorganisms includshift the balance of powing fungi, viruses, and er towards the good bacbacteria, which are colteria, helping to reduce lectively called the gut the harmful effects of the microbiome. Through pathogenic strains. the promotion of digesI recommend eating tive enzymes, vitamins, fermented foods which and short chain fatty acare naturally high in proids, our gut microbiome Nathan Zassman biotics including kimchi, is a major contributing Natural Health sauerkraut, yogurt, and factor in the process kefir. To further boost of achieving optimum the benefits of probiotics, eat foods health and wellness. Specific strains of friendly flora high in indigestible soluble and insolhave been shown to improve oral, uble fibre. The fibre acts as a 'prebiurinary tract, and vaginal health by otic' that feeds the probiotic bacteria helping reduce and prevent ear, nose, in the small and large intestine. Just and throat infections, urinary tract a few of the foods high in prebiotic infections, bacterial vaginosis, and fibre include chicory root, onions, yeast vaginitis. In addition to help- leeks, asparagus, barley, oats, apples, ing reduce the risk of developing cer- flaxseeds, seaweed, sweet potato, bertain cancers, studies have shown that ries, avocado, and legumes. Green those with a diverse, healthy micro- bananas are another good source of biome also respond better to cancer prebiotic fibre. The resistant starch in bananas is converted to sugar when treatment. Diet, age, disease, drugs (including they're allowed to ripen, so it’s best to antibiotics) and stress all negatively eat them green to preserve the prebiaffect our gut bacteria. An imbal- otic effect. Resistant Starch ance of 'good' gut bacteria versus too When you cook starchy foods like much 'bad' bacteria is called dysbiosis, which is associated with inflammato- potatoes, rice, and pasta, the starch ry bowel diseases, irritable bowel syn- molecules absorb water and swell drome, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascu- up. When the foods are cooled after lar disease, bone loss, inflammation, cooking, the molecules crystallize and become less digestible. This 'retrogradepression, anxiety, and cancer. Probiotics, which means for life, are dation' process transforms the starch February 2022
into resistant starch, and it converts into a prebiotic in the large intestine. This process increases beneficial bacteria, including a strain called Bifidobacterium which manufactures shortchain fatty acids and vitamin K2. Unlike other starches which turn to sugar in the small intestine, resistant starch resists digestion in the stomach and small intestine and provides food for good bacteria in the large bowel. Resistant starch has been compared to a super-fertilizer or compost for boosting healthy gut bacteria, leading to improvements in just about every aspect of human health. It boosts your metabolism, promotes balanced blood sugar, helps improve sleep, and improves gut microflora, which can all help promote weight loss. When we consume resistant starch, butyrate is formed in the large intestine. It's one of the most important short-chain fatty acids, with powerful anti-cancer effects. A major energy source for colon cells, butyrate helps lower blood sugar levels, repair leaky gut, and slow down carbohydrate digestion. It increases levels of leptin (a hormone that reduces appetite) while decreasing ghrelin (the hormone that triggers hunger). The best way to add resistant starch to your diet is to use potato starch. Unlike conventional grocery store starches, supplemental potato starch is designed to be safely consumed uncooked. As long as it’s used unheated, it brings all these amazing digestive health benefits. I recommend starting with a teaspoon twice a day and gradually increasing to a tablespoon two or three times a day. It has almost no taste (I often combine it with beet juice crystals, or add it to my super green food drink), and it can help you sleep better if taken before bedtime. Probiotic Supplements Synbiotic supplements combine
probiotic bacteria with prebiotic fibre that work together to amplify the probiotic effect. Look for formulas that include prebiotic fibre and incorporate natural fermentation in their production process like Living Alchemy’s Your Flora. Other quality supplements include New Beginnings from Olie Naturals (a liquid fermented probiotic supplement from Denmark), and products by Metagenics and Genestra that contain clinically-proven strains. Don't be persuaded by products hyping billions of colony forming units in their marketing. When it comes to probiotic supplements, it's not the quantity that matters, it's the strains. Prebiotic Supplements Two of my favourite prebiotic supplements are Fiberrific, a tasteless soluble hydrolyzed inulin powder derived from chicory that dissolves completely in water; and an insoluble superfine tasteless resistant potato starch powder that can be added to smoothies, green food drinks, beet juice crystals, or simply a glass of water. These products feed the healthy bacteria of our gut microbiome. Research indicates that combining both soluble and insoluble prebiotics may provide a more effective synergistic health benefit, as each type works in different areas of the colon. I've had clients with a variety of GI and digestive issues that have experienced relief by combining a quality probiotic supplement with a soluble and insoluble prebiotic supplement. A quality probiotic, prebiotic (or synbiotic) and fermented foods will nourish your inner garden and promote a healthy microbiome, bringing many lasting health benefits and reducing the risk of cancer. Nathan Zassman is the owner and president of Aviva Natural Health Solutions. whatsupwinnipeg.ca
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Food for thought! “He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dare not is a slave.” – Andrew Carnegie
ture President Abraham Lincoln, future Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), and Robert Green Ingersoll. These individuals loved debating, often arguing for one side and then the other side hen Andrew Carnegie was the wealthiest per- of a question, displaying how there is no such thing as black and white, there are always pros and son in the world, he built three cons for any question. Carnegie believed, libraries in Winnipeg. Throughif people could see all sides of a disagreeout the world Carnegie built more than ment, wars could be prevented. However, two thousand public libraries. He insisted Justice Holmes pointed out, it is nearly imhis libraries were to be literally FREE FOR possible to reach equitable conciliation and ALL; there would be no charges for serjustice, because MIGHT IS RIGHT, INvices, and nobody would be denied service FALLIBLE, IGNORANCE, and GREED, because of gender, age, race, ethnic origin, habitually shout-down REASON. political-affiliation, religion, or colour. In These young men studied history, scithe Deep South, where laws mandated all ence, mathematics, philosophy and theolpublic buildings must be segregated, Carnogy. They also read Shakespeare, agreeing egie was forced to bend his rules in order that Shakespeare's writings provide much to provide libraries which provided free Wayne Weedon food for thought. Under the threat of beservices to former slaves. Forty years after ing beheaded for speaking out against the American slaves were granted their freeFood for establishment, Shakespeare's honest truth dom, Carnegie's newly constructed library Thought is disguised as jocular fiction, and his charin Washington D.C. was the only building acters are indecisive, having no definite in that city where people of colour were allowed to share public washrooms with white people. It opinions. Becoming adept at discovering hidden truths took another sixty years before other buildings began re- in Shakespeare makes one more skillful at finding hidden truths in real life. moving WHITE ONLY signs from their walls. Carnegie and his friends did not believe in learning by Carnegie was born into an impoverished family in Scotland. With no free education, Andrew Carnegie re- rote, wolfing down knowledge and then regurgitating it. To them, people need to develop an ability to think, to ceived only two years of schooling. In the hope of bettering their lives, the Carnegies bor- reason. If one could think, one could live a life of value, rowed money and sailed to America with their two sons, solving all problems. Andrew Carnegie stated, "He that Andrew and Thomas, where, at age twelve, Andrew was cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that compelled to go to work to help support the household. dare not is a slave." These men were also prolific writers who described There were no free libraries and books were expensive in 1848 when the Carnegie family arrived in Allegany, how people who do not think become vulnerable to charPennsylvania. Each Saturday, Andrew Carnegie visited a latans who swindle the ignorant and gullible. Ingersoll well-to-do gentleman who allowed working boys to bor- wrote about how children are taught what caste their row a book a week from his library. Carnegie devoured family belongs to, resulting in some children being made these books and he began taking evening classes. As to feel superior, and others being made to feel inferior. Carnegie increased his salary by developing new skills, he Society is dishonest when it tells us we do not have a came to realise that knowledge is the key to success and caste system. Holmes noted, “We are all tattooed in our cradles with the beliefs of our tribe; the record may seem happiness. Carnegie befriended other eager learners, such as, fu- superficial, but it is indelible. You cannot educate a man
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Fully Integrated Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1900). Courtesy of the USA Library of Congress. wholly out of superstitious fears which were implanted in his imagination, no matter how utterly his reason may reject them.” Holmes acknowledged that charlatans who exploit the masses are immoral and unethical, but they do not break any laws. The Law allows everyone the freedom to run their own lives, to make their own choices. The Law does not interfere if people volunteer to become slaves by allowing others to run their lives for them. That is their decision, and we all must live by our choices. Do we have a caste system? When someone serves at a soup kitchen, do they feel smug? Do they feel superior? What about little children accepting the soup, do they feel inferior, worth less than their server, worthless? If children could drink from the fountain of knowledge, could they come to realise that caste is an invention of MIGHT IS RIGHT, that we are all equal, ALL-ONE, and nobody is worth more or less than anyone else? That is food for thought. Wayne Weedon is an Indigenous Manitoba writer of novels and short stories. To sample his wonderful work go to Wattpad.com. Wayne’s novels: For the coming few months, Wayne’s novel, Free To Think, is available for downloading at Archive. org. I have read Wayne’s novel and loved it. You may too. It is free to download for the next short period, as is its sequel, Victim No More.
Why the problem is us! We all wear the “Big H” for hypocrite on our foreheads
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inston Churchill once noted actually paying less than five cents a litre that people, “…occasionally toward climate change initiatives. No stumble over the truth, but one can believe that is a serious attempt to change our fossil-fuel most of them pick themaddiction. All that blah, selves up and hurry off as blah, blah from our leadif nothing had happened.” ers, as Greta Thunberg has He was talking about us. so eloquently paraphrased We have known for at it, deserves to be mocked least half a century that as a legitimate effort to fossil fuels were befouling limit our use of fossil fuels our atmosphere and more or change our behaviour. than likely destroying our Perhaps more imporplanet. As a country we tantly, the federal carbon have had many opportunitax as implemented fails ties to do the right thing. to acknowledge a fundaMost people will reHon. Jerry Storie mental truth. A carbon tax member the name Stéon gas and natural gas, as phane Dion. Before he minimal as it is, ignores became Liberal leader in 2006, he was the environment minister. that almost everything we do is impliAt the time he was quoted as saying he cated in our growing emissions into the intended to transform, “…the environ- atmosphere (and our oceans and rivers). ment dossier from the traditional tree- We need a way to put a price on everyhugger's last stand into a forward-think- thing we do or consume, so that the true cost of our lifestyle can be quantiing economic portfolio.” Unfortunately, in the 2006 federal fied in terms of its impact on our planet. election, Dion’s vision of a “green shift” Everything we use, eat, sit on or throw and the utility of a carbon tax was dis- out has a carbon footprint. We have stumbled over the truth missed by the electorate for the boutique tax breaks offered by Steven Harper’s of the moment. After COP 26, we all Conservatives. More than a decade later, know that the use of fossil fuels is the another Liberal government did imple- single biggest contributor to global ment a pale version of a carbon tax. The warming. If we hope to slow and evenproblem is, it wasn’t a meaningful effort tually stop the planet warming, we must to either change our behaviour or give not, as Churchill suggested we might, the government enough money to start pick ourselves up and move on. We to build infrastructure to facilitate the need to act, now. But what to do? It is no wonder transition to a fossil-fuel free world. When the federal carbon tax was first people feel paralyzed when a discusintroduced at $20 a ton, after the rebate, sion turns to our climate crisis. There the carbon tax cost consumers only ½ are no easy answers. The dilemma for cent per litre of gasoline. If the federal politicians, at home and abroad, is twogovernment continues to rebate 90 per fold. One, we want cheap, accessible cent of the carbon tax to consumers, in energy and we want … things. At the 2030 when Canadians are paying $170 same time governments need revenue carbon tax per ton, consumers will be to meet the endless demands of its citi16
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zens for better roads, better everything. The interconnectedness of revenue for governments, pensions funds, and jobs in our economy and the many ways our society benefits from fossil fuels makes deciding on how and what to change difficult. At this point, the oil industry is ground zero in the push for change. There is no doubt that “big oil” has an outsized influence on the policies of provincial and federal governments from time to time. But we, the driving public and plastic buyers of the world, wanted the oil and gas industry to serve our personal needs and wants, and we are collectively paying a heavy price for our habits. It isn’t “big oil” causing the problem – it’s our relentless demand for the convenience of cars and things. We all wear the big H (hypocrite) on our foreheads on this issue. The fossil fuel industry has trillions of dollars of assets, oil reserves and related infrastructure, invested around the world. According to our former Bank of Canada governor, Mark Carney, many of those assets are “stranded” and are already being written off. That is good, but there are consequences. Like every other solution being proposed, whether it is to move to renewable energy, electric vehicles or put in place a carbon tax to reduce the use of fossil fuels generally, the limits that we will put on the use of fossil fuels will have a public and individual cost. We have all been witness to a great shirking of responsibility when it comes to changing our gluttonous use of oil fossil fuels and unrelenting consumerism. Gas guzzling SUVs and trucks are still consumer favourites, travel to exotic places is a must, and we need ever more purchases delivered to the door. And, few seem willing to actu-
ally change their behaviour or pay more taxes to help solve the problem. Disengaging from fossil fuels comes at a price. There is a reckoning on the horizon. We have to avoid listening to, or voting for, the voices out there saying we don’t need to change; it’s too expensive or disruptive or inconvenient. Democracy is fragile and asking us to vote, to actively support something that costs us individually – inconvenience or money – is an uphill battle. As citizens, we must support those who are prepared to make the tough decisions. Politicians, like voters, are a fickle lot. They often do what people want, even if they know better. We must make it clear that we, the voters, know what needs to be done, and are willing to pay the price. Perhaps that will encourage our governments to do what needs to be done. It remains to be seen whether our commitment to protecting the environment will be matched by a willingness to adjust our expectations and our behaviour. Are we willing to contribute our share financially and personally to solutions? Or will we just move on and let the moment become, once again, our personal blah, blah, blah. My grandchildren will be coming of age in a decade, I want them to know that our generation, the people who ignored the problem for far too long, didn’t stand in the way of fixing the problems we helped to create through neglect and selfishness. Hon. Jerry Storie was the MLA for Flin Flon from 1981 to 1994, and held several provincial cabinet positions, including northern affairs, education and energy and mines. He served as a school superintendent from 1994 to 2004; until he retired in 2010, he was an associate professor and dean of education at Brandon University. February 2022
Manitoba through time
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id you already know that… ...pottery can survive in the ground for thousands of years. By studying it today, we can discover and understand how people lived in the past, what their places were like and how large their camps were. One of the first people to give significant contributions to the history of earliest pottery-making in North America were the Cree. They lived throughout the vast region of northern Manitoba. The Cree tradition of making pottery was 800 years long, and from their pottery it can be concluded that they were in communication with various groups in the vast region. Cree women of Sanja Rossi Southern Indian Lake Manitoba made pottery vessels Through Time from clay. The tradition of making pottery stretches throughout generations of grandmothers and young daughters. These vessels were used as containers, water jugs and cooking pots. Among the smaller items there were cups, bowls and plates. ...life for the first Icelanders, who arrived in 1875 in Canada on the land called New Iceland, wasn’t easy. With the support of Jón Sigurðsson, the leader of the Icelandic independence movement, they decided to settle on the land on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg, the place where town Gimli stands today. Those first days were very challenging, but settlers weren’t left on their own. Many Indigenous Peoples supported and helped Icelanders to adapt to their new home. They taught them farming techniques and how to fish on Lake Winnipeg. Leaving Iceland because of the terrible hardships which the island fell into, the newcomers didn’t know what to take to the new country, and what life would be like in the wilds of the Northwest Territories of Canada. Treasures they brought with them were democracy,
Nellie McClung. Photo by Cyril Jessop. literacy, law, religious faith and many books, the most treasured items in Icelandic homes. Icelanders teach their children to read before they start school and their favorite entertainment was listening to a family member read aloud. The main purpose of bringing as many books as possible was to keep their language alive, and to teach children the heritage of the Motherland. Their passion for learning the English language and strong willingness to accept a new way of life, made them one of the most successful immigrant groups. ...Canada’s most famous strike was launched on May 15, 1919. Around 35 000 ethnically diverse Winnipeg workers walked off the job and united in a massive “general strike”. They wanted fair treatment, better wages and better working conditions
as well as collective bargaining rights. On June 21st, the situation culminated and thousands of people gathered in Winnipeg’s old Market Square to protest against the arrest of ten strike leaders. Government declared the strike as a revolutionary conspiracy and used force to prevent a parade of “dangerous revolutionaries”. On that day, known as “Bloody Saturday”, thirty people were injured and two people were killed. The strike called off the first week in July 1919. Although workers returned to the same conditions against which they had fought, their effort inspired a well-trodden path in political movements and acknowledged workers’ rights to collective bargaining. ...Nellie McClung made a great contribution in defending and protecting women’s place in family, political and social life. She was truly concerned for the women and the conditions in which they lived and worked in the early twenty century. She believed that if women are better organized, and free in every aspect of life, they could create a better life for every nation. Apart from being an active speaker and feminist, she was very active in political life. On January 27th, 1916, her great success was accomplished, and Manitoba became the first province to grant the vote to women in provincial elections on equal basis with men. She wasn’t just a passionate fighter for justice and equality for all, her talent for writing, devotion in supporting the war efforts and the Red Cross, as well as being an advocate for other social issues, secured her special place in the history as a true Canadian heroine. In the beginning, man started to change nature and shape it towards his needs. This was the start of an indisputable social change that reflects in natural evolution. Migration as a social phenomenon has contributed to cultural, economic and political changes in Manitoba. One of the main reasons for resettlement was natural disasters, poor economic conditions and looking for better life across the ocean. Migrants transmit language, religion and culture and shape the life of the colony according to the model of the country of origin. With the examples of events herein, I tried to present part of natural, social and political changes that had great influence on social progress of Manitoba.
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.
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Seniors $200.00 $150.00 $ 50.00
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February 2022
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“Age isn’t a number, it’s an attitude.”
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have a head full of old adages that seem to slip ever. As an example, there were more technologiout of my mouth more often as I age. Someday cal discoveries and advancements during the 1960s they’ll all slip away when I slip away. A few fa- than all of history prior to. ‘We never wore a helmet while ridvourites that come to mind are: “Toing a bike. We sometimes played bemorrow is promised to no one.” No fore school then played outside until question about that. dusk. We never watched television. It was George Bernard Shaw Some of us never saw a television in who wrote “Youth is wasted on the the house until we were in our teens. young.” Man, is it ever! We played with real friends, not virAnd finally, words of wisdom that tual friends. Some of us still keep in certainly resonate with me: “When touch with those same old friends. I was 18, I was embarrassed at how ‘If we were thirsty, we would drink stupid my old man was. When I was tap water, not carbonated water. We 21, I was surprised at how much my never worried because we shared the father had learned in three years.” same cup of juice with four friends. I came across something recently We might have been lucky enough to I thought you might identify with Jim Ingebrigtsen eat carrots or tomatoes right out of and hopefully appreciate. It’s a short Is It Just Me... someone’s garden only after wiping conversation between a young boy the dirt off with your hand. and his grandfather. He asked the old “We never used food supplements gentleman, "Grandpa, how did you live in the past without technology? You know, no to stay healthy. I don’t even know if there was such computers, no internet connection, no T.V., you a thing. “We used to make some of our own toys. Our couldn’t email or text, you didn’t have cell phones parents were not rich. They gave love not the stuff. or Smart phones? The grandfather smiled and answered: "As your Cell phones, DVD’s, game consoles, an Xbox, vidgeneration lives today there is little or no compas- eo games, laptops, internet, I-phones, Instagram sion, there is no respect, there is no shame at all, didn’t exist. We seemed to have got along just fine there is no modesty, and there doesn’t seem to be without them. We didn’t have Facebook friends, we had true friends whose faces we saw often. the honesty there once was. “We may have had black and white photos, but “We, those of us born between the years 1940 and 1980, were the blessed ones. Any one of us will every one of them was filled with colorful memoargue we lived during the most interesting decades ries. We are a unique and the most understanding
Those old family photos may only be in black and white, but they are often full of colourful memories! generation, because we are the last generation that listened to their parents. And we are also the first ones who were forced to listen to our children. “We are a limited edition. Learn from us. We are a treasure destined to disappear. After all tomorrow is promised to no one. In the end, I have nothing against the aging process, as long as it comes in a bottle.” Jim was a writer-broadcaster, producer and performer on television and radio for 40 years. He is also a contributor to Lifestyles 55 Digital Radio. Find it at www. whatsupwinnipeg.ca Hear Jim Ingebrigtsen’s radio podcast at https://whatsupwinnipeg.ca/radio-redux/
Pat Riordan, Winnipeg King of Comedy Lifestyles 55 is pleased to share the stories of Memorable Manitobans for the archives of the Manitoba Historical Society.
walking as there was nothing to hear. Pat entertained at a number of venues including the lounge in the up-scale Pierre’s Restaurant on Portage Avenue. atrick (Pat) Michael Riordan Not long after, he connected with a was born on May 17, 1939, to couple of other talented musicians and parents Jennie and Albert Rior- formed a group that regularly filled dan. the Rolls Royce Room downstairs at Pat was raised in Winnipeg and at- Champs Motor Inn on Osborne Street. tended Isbister, Hugh John McDonald After that he, along with a few new facand General Wolfe Schools. Following es, performed five nights a week in the graduation from Tec Voc It’s a Gas! lounge at the High School Pat pursued Viscount Gort Hotel. He a career in the entertainruled the room for thirment field. He started in teen years. Pat was conthe late 1950s when he sidered to be the King of joined a group of friends Comedy in the city. His who became rubber face, wonderful The Balladeers, a popsinging voice and comeular vocal group around dic timing soon generattown at that time. Pat ed a huge demand for his appearances. Be it corpotold the story of their acarate functions, clubs, or pella group being hired television his unique talto perform in a window ent was much sought afdisplay to promote a loMemorable cal business. The owner ter and he never let them Manitobans down. He was booked assumed all the people for many years at the anwalking by would stop to nual Calgary Stampede. listen to the great harmoPatrick readily gave his nies the young men performed. He hadn’t thought about get- time to many charitable events both ting the sound outside of the building on the stage and in an administrative and so those walking by would continue capacity. He was past president (Chief Barker) of Variety the Children's Charity of Manitoba and in recognition received Variety International's Presidential Cita-
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Pat Riordan.
The Balladeers
tion for work on behalf of disabled and disadvantaged children. He also served on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers of Winnipeg. In addition to these organizations, Pat was past Commodore of The Royal Manitoba Yacht Club and past president of The Winnipeg Press Club. Pat loved spending time on his boat, the Jennie-May (named for his mother), which he moored at Gimli every summer for many years. Those who knew him well joked that his was the first boat in the water in the spring and the last
one to be pulled out in the fall. It was no joke. Pat was a very giving and thoughtful person. He always remembered to send his friends a birthday card every year. Pat Riordan passed away on November 13, 2008 at the Grace Hospice in Winnipeg. Jim Ingebrigtsen is a council member of the Manitoba Historical Society and submits the stories of Memorable Manitobans each month to Lifestyles 55. Visit MHS. mb.ca and discover thousands of other men and women in our archives or to become a member, please visit mhs.mb.ca
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February 2022
Salmon pasta surprise!
A
Ian Leatt
Foodies
Valentines treat that you will want anytime of the year; this dish is simple and so tasty, you will for sure want to make it time and time again. The discovery of this dish came as a complete surprise to me. My partner Shelly one evening asked what I wanted for dinner. My typical response is “no idea”. Sometimes we all say this, or is it just me? Anyway, I digress. She went on to say that she had an idea and thought I would like it. What I didn’t expect was this dish! From the first delicious taste of lemon and salmon to the last scrapings of the sauce with bread, it was a marvel, hitting all the right places. Simple and easy is sometimes all you need.
Here is what you will need: 1 red pepper, chopped, chunky 1 small onion sliced 2 cups sliced mushrooms 3 cloves garlic freshly crushed 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 400 grams (1 2/3 cups) fresh salmon, cubed ¾ inch dry capellini 2 cups fresh 36 per cent cream Salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley 1 lemon sliced generously Directions: Place a large frying pan on the stove and heat on medium. Add the oil then garlic. Stir for a couple of minutes then add pepper, onion, mushrooms, once softened remove from the pan and set aside.
Place the pan back on the stove and add the salmon. Cook on each side for 2 minutes then add the cooked vegetables back into the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in the cream and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce the heat and let simmer. Place a separate pot of water on the stove with a tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt. Bring to boil then add the capellini. Boil for 5 minutes, strain, then add to the pan of fish and vegetables. Blend together carefully, ensuring the pasta combines throughout. To serve, place portions in a stew bowl and dress with freshly chopped parsley and a slice of lemon. I usually have some fresh French bread and butter for dipping. Ian Leatt is general manager of Pegasus Publications and a trained chef.
Canada’s Wolf Cub Pack was born on Sackville Street To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of St. James (starting just west of St. James Street to Sturgeon Road) breaking away from Assiniboia to form their own municipality, I am doing street profiles. This column features Sackville Street.
St. James School Division. Joyce Frame served as the vice principal of Silver Heights Collegiate. In her later years, Joyce organized social events at Kiwanis Courts. Joyce lived to be 102. James Weir Cowan (2) was the principal of Bannatyne and Strathmillan School. Carol n May 27, and 28, 1928, the Winnipeg Ball taught French to my children. Jennifer Lawson Flying Club opened an airfield called the is a University Instructor and author of a series of Stevenson Aerodome. By 1931, North- books called Hands on to Help Teachers. Jennifer has led the polls in the last three St. west Airlines was running Flights James Assiniboia School Board elecbetween Pembina North Dakota and tions. There a two education awards Winnipeg. During the 1930's, Sacknamed after her parents. ville Street was the main road for cars The Norman E. Lawson award is going to the new Airport. The 1942 awarded at St. James Collegiate to a Henderson Directory records Sackville Grade 9 student for citizenship and Street as part of Douglas Park Road. academic achievement. Norm was a On November 18, 1941, St. James St. James school trustee. The Isabelle Council rejected a proposed to rename Lawson Home Care Award is awarded Sackville Street to Douglas Park Road. to a student in the Continuing Home During the post WW2 era, Hy Care Program. In 1970, Patty Power Rykiss and Dave Finkleman operated was one of 70 Manitoba students in Canada Drugs which was a neighFred Morris a Canadian Council of Christians and bourhood meeting place. Many St. Jews exchange student program with James Collegiate students visited the From the desk Quebec students. lunch counter after school. In 2019, of a gadfly Manitoba Hockey Hall of Famer Amherst Park was renamed Kapyong Kevin McCarthy grew up on Sackville. Park (1) The Park remembers Canadian sacrifices in the Korean War Battle of Kapyong. In 1976/77, Kevin while playing for the Winnipeg Let us remember some of the people who lived part Monarchs, recorded a then record 105 assists for a defenceman in the Major Junior Western Canada of their lives on Sackville. In 1914, Charles McPherson and Samuel Reid Hockey League . Kevin was player on the 1988 are the first Sackville Street residents listed in the AHL Calder Cup Champions Hershey Bears. As Henderson Directory. In 1915 , Frank Thompson's an Assistant Coach, Kevin won the Stanley Cup son Ron was too young to join his older brothers with the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes. Gary Frost Frank Jr. and Don in Scouts. In response, Frank played on the 1965 Deer Lodge Bantam B Manitoba championship team. Gary Frost and Garry Yelformed Canada's first Wolf Cub Pack. On December 9, 1915, the Cubs’ first meeting land played against each other in the First St. James was held in a vacant Belvidere Street house. Ron Civic Centre hockey game. Al Manley played for became a teacher. In 1938/39, he was part of a the 1964 St. James Jimmies team that won the Anteacher exchange with South Africa. Between 1956 nual St. James Holiday Basketball Tournament. Al and 1966, Ron became the Superintendent for the went on to play in Winnipeg's Senior A Basketball
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February 2022
League. In 1968, Fred Lewington, at the age of 77, scored a hole in one at the Assiniboine Golf Club. During the early days of the Winnipeg Airport, Stanley Knight lived on Sackville and worked as an engineer and a station manager for Trans Canada Airlines. In 1938 , Stanley was involved in the first flights that carried mail. Firefighter Tom Bilous has held various positions including vice president with the United Firefighters of Winnipeg. There are many Sackville Street human interest stories. On December 21, 1940, Donald Nisbet's story, the Ghost of Tiny Tim, won the Prize story in the Winnipeg's Free Press Christmas story contest. In 1950, Carol and Richard Limmert were christened in their Sackville Street home with five Great Grandparents in attendance. In 1957, the Winnipeg Free Press did a story on John and Maud Glassey attending every evening event of the Manitoba Music Festival. In 1959, Karen Tippet, age 18 months, is pictured on the front page of the Winnipeg Free Press looking into a microscope. In 1962, Albert Guichon a CPR Conductor saved a boy’s life. The boy was about to fall under a moving train. In 1969, Catharine and Robert Hamilton celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Robert, a Boer War Veteran, worked as a jeweller for Eatons. Between 1957 and 1970 Buster the family dog of the Frost family daily walked with postmen. Buster helped the postmen deal with unfriendly dogs. Your Feedback is welcome. The next story will be about a street that has two spellings. Fred Morris describes himself as a political activist and sometime political candidate. ••• Footnotes: 1. The Park has an Amherst Street address, but the western border is on Sackville Street 2. I used Mr. Cowan's middle name to avoid confusion with another James Cowan who was a backbencher in the Roblin Government whatsupwinnipeg.ca
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February 2022