Lifestyles 55 2024 03 March

FortWhyte Alive says Goodbye, Ken!

From his friends and co-workers at FortWhyte Alive.

After more than 40 years serving as FortWhyte Alive’s Site and Wildlife manager, Ken Cudmore fed his last bison, ploughed his last snowy road and, with the humility he’s known for, quietly left to begin a much-deserved retirement.

In 1982, Ken graduated from a natural resource college in Lethbridge, Alberta. He then spent time working for the Canadian Wildlife Service and Manitoba’s Department of Natural Resources in several seasonal positions, banding ducks, conducting waterfowl population surveys and maintaining hunting checkpoints. “There’s lots of seasonal work in the summertime, but there’s not a lot of full-time jobs in that line of work,” he says.

One day he dropped off a resumé at the old Fort Whyte Centre for Environmental Education on McGillivray Boulevard. “I had no idea of the major expansion they were planning

in the coming year.” Without realizing it at the time, Ken now says, “that was the best decision of my life.”

One year later, while working at a duck banding operation at Dauphin

Lake, Ken’s Department of Natural Resources supervisor – a reference on that resumé – told him, “Some guy named Bill” at the new FortWhyte

Living Green the Manitoba way!

Gardeners rejoice! Manitoba’s only show dedicated to the gardening and green living is coming up in May. Sure, there are other local events that try to bring together all the topics that fall that under home improvement, gardening, and indoor and outdoor living, but if you’ve ever attended them, you know that there are more items for indoor kitchens and bathrooms than for outdoor spaces. Living Green offers guests the opportunity to talk to a huge variety of vendors who are just as enthusiastic to help you with solutions and to make your dreams come to fruition as you are. It is a show where passion meets purpose, ideas flourish, and innova-

tion blooms. At Living Green, gardening truly meets green living. Last years’ attendees found that the show was a valuable experience by having the

opportunity to chat with other attendees and experts. Everyone at the event believes that every plant you nurture is a step towards a more sustainable future. Last year, guests were delighted with the knowledge shared, the passion for gardening and commitment to environmental stewardship amongst the crowd and vendors. It really is an event that see like-minded people converge in a celebration of all things green. With a focus over the past few years on the importance of improving ones’ physical and mental health, and a push for a healthier environment, it is more obvious than ever that gardening is more than just a

Atheater revival project in Northern Manitoba leaves town members excited at the prospect of what’s to come in the culture sector of The Town of The Pas. The historic Lido Theatre located on Edwards Avenue in The Pas was built in 1929 by architect Max Zev Blankstein. The project was commissioned by Auguste ‘Irish’ Rivalin and his family ran the venue for four generations.

Theresa Cruz, the great granddaughter of the founder, recalls the love her grandmother and second-generation owner, Mrs. Margarette Rivalin, had for the theater. “She was an opera singer who landed herself in The Pas and was always very involved in the arts community of the day,” says Margaret.

On what must have been a memorable evening in 1929, in a town of 3,000 people, 500 of The Pas’ community members gathered for the opening night of what would become one of Manitoba’s finest atmospheric theaters. The yellow velvet curtains pulled back framing either side of the screen and the owner, Irish Rivlan, would start the projector for what would soon become the most popular place in town. That first evening the show was a talkie called The Hollywood Revue, and in the years that followed that same screen would bring to life films like One Night at Susies, starring Billie Dove; The Bad Man,

Gabrielle Swan

Ken Cudmore with a bison calf. Note that the bison calf pictured above is one that required special full-time care after being abandoned by its mother. As much as we adore them, FortWhyte does not touch the bison unless absolutely necessary.

Repairs to The Lido Theatre Sign on Fisher Avenue, Town of The Pas.

The Living Green show May 3 to 5.

u FortWhyte Alive says Goodbye, Ken!

Continued from page 1

Centre wanted Ken to call him. (Bill Elliott would go on to serve for 35 years as FortWhyte Alive’s president and CEO until his retirement in 2022.)

After calling Bill from a pay phone at a gas station – no cell phones then – Ken says that he had a short interview and they both discovered “we had a lot in common, many similar interests and knew a lot of the same people.”

In September 1983, Bill hired Ken to be the Site Manager for the soon-to-open FortWhyte Centre.

Four decades later, Ken has put in a lifetime’s work with FortWhyte. When asked what he has planned for the future, he says, “Nothing big as far as retirement plans go – fishing (of course!).” and simply spending time with his family, which consists of Ilka, his wife of 20 years, and their 12-year-old daughter, Katharina. He

also has two grown children, Shannon (40) and Tyler (38).

FortWhyte Alive would not be what it is today without Ken. As the second-ever employee hired, he shared over 40 years of care and devotion with this land. When Ken began work in September of 1983, FortWhyte was nothing more than “a gravel sidewalk out to a gravel parking lot. None of the trees were here; it was just a pile of mud with a beautiful, award-winning building on it,” he says, referring to the recently renovated Richardson Interpretive Centre.

Any visitor to FortWhyte knows that the picturesque urban green space is so much more than that now, but what they might not know is just how much of FortWhyte’s current condition is owed solely to Ken Cudmore.

“In the early days, I did everything

from planting all these trees and seeding the grass that’s on the hills.” Ken was a one-man crew, giving life to the one-time cement factory and clay mine, performing every site duty himself because, as he points out, “there was nobody else to do it.”

While Ken states he has “nothing big” planned for retirement, that claim all depends on one’s perspective. “More of ‘eat, sleep, get up and fish!’” he elaborates. “So pretty much same old, same old – just more of it!”

*

It’s impossible to list all the tasks and roles Ken has undertaken during his decades with FortWhyte but, in the words of President and CEO Liz Wilson, “He’s a wildlife manager, urban planner, landscaper, planter, wrangler, rancher, farmer, plumber, engineer, electrician, builder, fisherman, bird watcher, weatherman, snow clearer, tractor driver, protector, mover, storyteller, water steward, biologist, detective, and one heck of an incredibly talented, intelligent, kind and loyal man.”

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

*Plus

Ken’s time caring for the plants, trees, lakes, and wildlife of FortWhyte Alive means that visitors have been able to enjoy the property, and countless students have been able to experience vital hands-on environmental education. His contributions are immeasurable. He was at FortWhyte for the construction of the Alloway Reception Centre and supervised the move and placement of the Buffalo Rubbing Stone from its original location near Manitou; he saw the expansion of the property to Sterling Lyon Parkway; he saw the establishment of the world’s largest urban bison herd and has cared for it since 1999. Most importantly, he has been instrumental in the transformation of FortWhyte from a desolate industrial area to a now-lush and full-of-life natural environment.

Anyone who’s met Ken also knows he loves to share his stories – often colourful

yarns – and when asked what stood out during his time at FortWhyte, he recalls hitchhiking his way across Winnipeg in the aftermath of 1986’s historic blizzard so that he could tend to the waterfowl and move them inside to safety. Travelling solo, without the help of his usual migration helper, his beloved Labrador retriever, he traversed the snow-crippled city from North Main Street to the current site of Buffalo Crossing on McGillivray Boulevard. “I climbed over the fence, and I’m walking through this beautiful, incredible, winter wonderland, just waist-deep snow in places, because I had to catch those ducks.”

“It’s pretty amazing,” Ken says when asked how it feels to have had such an impact on FortWhyte’s growth. “I’ve never really considered it a job – it was more of a lifestyle. It was almost like my own farm or my own ranch, and when I thought it was time to pump some water out of this lake, I just went ahead and did it, or if I thought it was time to cut the hay, I just went ahead and did it, and it didn’t matter if it was a Friday or a Sunday.

“I always said I can’t believe I get paid for it. To do what? Look after bison, fill bird feeders, raise ducks and catch fish for the aquarium?”

While Ken wonders how he got so lucky to work at FortWhyte, we’re wondering how we lucked out having him.

Ken, we will miss you, but we know this isn’t the end of your FortWhyte story.

Home and hospital visits are also available $250.00* (includes both meetings)

Home and are $250.00* (includes both meetings)

*plus GST and PST

*Plus GST and PST.

TACIUM VINCENT & ASSOCIATES

206 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, MB R2H 1J3

DAVID G. VINCENT (204) 989-4236

www.taciumvincent.com

While you’re out enjoying your retirement with your family and going fishing, we’ll be here passing on knowledge because of you. Your passion has inspired us all and we’ll do our best to take care of this land just as you would have.

We’ll be showing kids the fish you caught to stock the aquarium, telling your stories over coffee, guessing which day the first goose of the year will arrive, and celebrating everything that happens at FortWhyte because of you.

We love you. We’ll miss you. Don’t be a stranger.

The Buffalo Rubbing Stone.

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ISSUES IN THE NEWS

CoViD-19 fallout and what should be happening now

For many, COVID-19 is already a blurred memory, its isolation and strangeness a thing of the past. Many of these folks were the fortunate who went to work every day, perhaps as a grocery store clerk or a bus driver, or a snow plough driver. They were the essential workers and while masks were a constant irritation for those working inside, at least they got to come in contact with their fellow human beings. Recovery for these folks is easier from that perspective. Normalcy slips back into place more quickly.

For others, the aftermath of COVID-19 is still alive and terrifying as they try to reassemble the broken lives that were lost when they were shut off from day-to-day contact with others, made to feel guilty for wanting to take a walk in the park, separated from loved ones, some of them perhaps dying alone in hospital because you could not come to their side.

These wounds will not heal soon.

including the workers until measures for the protection of all were implemented. Instead, governments shut down everyone and let the workers in the seniors home come and go, infecting and reinfecting those inside. This was a massive tragedy.

And what about the children? Many grew to school age with very little contact with other kids. Teenagers were cut off from friends just when they needed them most. University students studied alone in their bedrooms, just as they emerged into adulthood. Depression among kids is a concern.

What of the companies that lost all their business and had to shut down? What of the countless workers who lost their jobs and found a new uselessness in parents’ basements drawing a comfortable $2,000 a month to stay home? How does that promote normal development and entry into the workforce? What about the companies that desperately tried to keep their people and borrowed the CERB money and now, barely a year after the lockdown ended, were forced to repay in January 24 or double their debt? How could they recover in one year after such devastating losses? Twenty percent of them are in trouble and some will close as a result.

What about lost jobs by folks who could ne be vaccinated or were afraid to be vaccinated? What about the lost holidays as people were forced to stay home from much needed vacations? How about those who required the solace of church and the coming together of like-minded people to find communion, but were denied that right? What about those who could not get medical help while cancer was eating away at them?

The list is endless of those who were hurt, maimed, and irreparably broken by the shutdowns that occurred when COVID-19 panic set in.

And it was panic. I was in Ottawa the day Trudeau pulled the plug in Canada. One moment all was well: we were at a cocktail party laughingly kicking heels to avoid infections. An hour later Trump shut down foreign flights coming to America. My granddaughter was in Vietnam. I phoned her father and said, “Get her out. Canada will probably follow the US and shut down incoming Canadian flights.” (They did indeed do this, although we got our girl home in time.)

Despite this, even I was not prepared for the shutting down of Parliament that very next morning. Waiting in the Ottawa lounge as I headed for Winnipeg, I noticed the room was full of MPs. They had all been summarily sent home. How can you shut down Parliament if there is a crisis? Isn’t this just exactly where MPs should be at a time like that? What about democracy?

I won’t continue to belabour the point or go on about how confusion ruled for weeks. About how the government had recently discarded a whole storehouse of personal protection equipment. About how the work of the post SARS committee they had appointed to prepare a plan to deal with a future pandemic was thrown out the window with the personal protection goods.

But how can we fail to note that the largest number of fatalities occurred early in group living populations of vulnerable adults – particularly seniors. One of the ignored Committee recommendations was that the first step should be the quarantine of these homes

There were so many deficiencies in the handling of this pandemic. A huge one was and continues to be our hospitals’ ability to handle infections. In Canada, it is estimated that every year there are at least 220,000 cases of hospital-related infections and that 8,000 people die of an infection contracted during their stay. The incidence during an infectious disease outbreak skyrockets!

When COVID-19 started, it was sensibly noted that there were three steps to be followed: transmission prevention, prophylactic treatment, and cure. We failed at all three. Firstly, lockdowns did not prevent transmission. Fully 60 percent or more of the population had to go to work and most of the others had to leave home to shop or attend to a myriad of duties. Masks and handwashing may have helped but were largely ineffective; masks leaked from sides and at eye level and some people with asthma just couldn’t wear them for more than a few minutes. Effective treatment options were not on the table till near the end of the pandemic and are still being explored. Vaccinations apparently mitigated symptoms. But they did not prevent infections. And it’s a virus. There is no known cure for viral infections.

So what, you say? We did the best we could. I say, no we did not, and we are still not doing the best that we can. Globally, governments should be collaborating on a strategy for the next event. We need to be looking very critically at several issues as follows:

1. Do quarantines work in the short term? How long? What are the negative effects of longer-term shutdowns? If a virus has no vectors, what happens? If everything was shut down, what would happen to the virus? Would it become stronger to survive? Like every living thing, a virus wants to prosper – does its need to kill hosts diminish as it finds more hosts and better still, keeps them alive to reinfect??

2. How is the virus transmitted? Is it airborne, contact spread, or is there some other force at work as in the instance of isolated plants that can communicate? If airborne, how long is the virus viable in the air, how long does it persist before falling to earth? Can it be revived upon some sort of stimulus? If airborne, is there something that can break it down in the air as soap can break a virus down on contact?

3. Are some people immune? And if so, why? Are some more susceptible. Some reports have indicated that obese people were at more risk of death. Why? Is there a way to promote immunity or resistance aside from vaccinations?

4. Do vaccines really work? If the evidence doesn’t support that they do much more than reduce the risk of death, shouldn’t we be looking for other approaches? What are side effects of the vaccines being used. How serious are they and what is the negative incidence?

These are just some of the burning questions we all need to be asking and discussing. If doubt is raised in one quarter shutting down debate on the question does little to solve the problem. People should be urged to come forward with their concerns and those concerns should be listened to earnestly and taken seriously.

Finally, there is the issue of communication, which was terrifying and panic causing among the population. The heritage media took glee in painting the news of the pandemic in its most dire light. They interviewed only the gloom and doom people, shutting down voices that did not reflect what they considered the prevailing school of thought. This was not helpful. Many isolated people fell into deep depression as a result.

Most disturbing was the absolute shutting down of dissenting voices of those who disagreed with the remedies being imposed. This has had and continues to have a deleterious impact on our democracy. And that may be the most egregious harm of all.

Dorothy Dobbie

Public transportation in Winnipeg

The big complaint by newbies to Winnipeg from places such as Toronto with its 75-year-old subway and rapid transit system is that Winnipeg public transit system is inadequate. The reasons for this are many and some are being addressed as will be laid out a little further. But one reason is the urban sprawl of a prairie city, not hemmed in by lakes or other geographical features. To some, this is an undesirable situation, even deplorable situation.

I beg to differ. Prairie people are farseers. We are used to being in wide open spaces where we can watch the sun set over the horizon eight miles off. Most of us like our living space to be just as open and accessible. Many of us grew up in the country, where the land stretched out before us in a glorious panorama. Yes, we hear the density proponents, but for the most part their warnings of doom if we don’t learn to live in an anthill, fall on deaf ears. We like our space.

That does not mean we don’t think people should not have access to public transportation and our city fathers are working on a modernized program. However, the plan still leaves the farthest flung suburbs a bit lacking in rapid service and many will continue to rely on their a cars. That’s okay by me. If I want to be within a hop skip and a jump to the nearest store, I can move close to the inner city.

cells, and Winnipeg will be the first city in Canada to have them.

A pilot project started back in 2021 that was supposed to run for a year has also been expanded as part of the new plan. This is the on-request service where customers can use the city of Winnipeg On-Request app or call 311 to request a bus close to where they are and have themselves delivered to several key locations. The three routes that have been part of the plan since 2021 are 101 St. Vital, 102 Southdale, and 110 St. Boniface. “When you book a trip, you will be given a pick-up time and walking directions to a set pick-up/drop-off location – also known as a virtual stop – in your neighbourhood,” says the city.

Nevertheless, there has been a perennial debate over the last 20 or so years about the sad state of public transportation in Winnipeg. So, a lot of work has gone into finding a remedy. Part of this is the Winnipeg Master Transit Plan that is about to be rolled out in 2025. The plan will completely reorganize the routes that have been in service for decades, with three additional Rapid Line routes through major traffic arteries.

According to the plan, “East and West along Portage Avenue, North south along Main and another line down Regent to Transcona would run every five to ten minutes, frequent line service routes along busy roads would come through every 10 to 15 minutes, and direct lines serviced by feeder routes would have a 10 to 20 minute frequency rate.” You can look at the detail here. https://info.winnipegtransit.com/en/ major-projects/transit-master-plan/

In addition, the city will modernize its fleet over a period of years. A fleet of 150 new no-emission buses will be in service by 2050, produced by our own New Flyer Industries, North America’s largest manufacturer of public transit buses. The first of this new fleet, 16 60foot buses that will ply the main routes, will come online this June 2024. The buses will be powered by a combination of electric batteries and hydrogen fuel

Taking the bus in Winnipeg

IDobbie vs Dobbie

That still leaves a long way to go, but at least there is a plan to modernize the system and its equipment. Currently, the city has a fleet of 592 40-foot busses and 40 60-footers running on 87 bus routes and servicing 5,155 bus stops that host 870 bus shelters. We are number six, behind many Canadian cities of a comparable size, in terms of our service.

Safety continues to be a concern. We have been told that only a half dozen routes are dangerous but it seems that this may extend beyond what would be the usual areas of concern. Karl Thomsen, who uses buses regularly, says that he frequently sees very distressed and sometimes violent people board his bus in River Heights. “I don’t think the driver is allowed to do anything about it,” he remarks. His answer is to disembark as soon as possible. Why take a chance? However, the third week of February saw the new 20-member security team rolled out. The team will be equipped with batons and handcuffs, they have the power of arrest, and they have been trained in the art of de-escalation to deal with those in distress. They will patrol certain routes, mostly those going downtown.

Yet even with the security threat, Karl says, in many ways, the service is better now than it has been in the past. He points to the convenience of being able to track arrivals by cell phone. The plan is to improve communications, too, with a new wireless communication system that will accommodate additional security, mobile ticketing and better access to emergency services.

One complaint is the uncomfortable seats that have become part of the experience in newer buses over recent years. If there was more comfort would more people ride? Every bit helps.

don’t take public transportation in Winnipeg. I work from home, I have a car and I can drive. I took the bus when I was younger, but that was (gulp) over 30 years ago. I think it was 75 cents a ride. We lived in a new housing development, so I had to clamber over a set of railroad tracks and the ditch on either side (one side filled with water in the spring) to get to the bus, which ran about every halfhour. Being a teenager, I never wore boots, not even at -40°C, so my feet were pretty much frozen November through March, but once I got to the bus, it was warm and safe and it would get me downtown (we didn’t go anywhere else back then) in about 30 minutes.

If I took the bus in Winnipeg now, I would want it to be comfortable, affordable, and the route to be direct. And I would want it to be safe. The Winnipeg Transit Master Plan wants some of the same things. If nobody messes with it, it looks pretty good. But I spent almost 30 years in Toronto, where every new mayor brings in a whole new grand plan for new subways and streetcars and throws out the old one. Forgive me if I’m skeptical.

pect to take care of our own business in Canada, so we expect to own cars. Nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, but that doesn’t mean we can’t demand more from our public institutions. Public transportation is one of the things government should be responsible for; regardless of your political stripe (unless you are an absolute libertarian), we pay taxes so we can have services for the public good. Getting ourselves around, including those of us who can’t afford to have cars, can’t drive or are no longer allowed to drive, is a public good.

The problem is that we pay an awful lot in taxes and it doesn’t show in the price of admission to Winnipeg Transit. Why does it cost me the same amount to get across the city and back as it does to have a good coffee and a pastry? This, of course, is the going cost of public transportation in Canada. We’re on the high end in Winnipeg, and it’s more expensive for a monthly pass than Vancouver and Montreal, where there are subways.

Just the stats

Price of a bus ticket: $3.25

Number of buses running in Winnipeg: 632

Number of bus routes: 85

Number of Bus Shelters: 870

Number of bus stops: 5,155

Number of employees: 1,560

Number of riders weekly:

Approximately 170,000

The new transit system in Winnipeg will have more frequent service, with most routes having buses every 10 to 15 minutes. More than half the population will be within a six-minute walk of bus service and a whopping 73 percent within a 10-minute walk. Riders will have to make more transfers, depending on where you live, but with service coming frequently, that’s not so bad.

Right now, I’m spending a couple of months in the French Riviera. (I know, it sounds fancy, but it’s all pretty reasonable.) The population here is not high, but I can get to any place in a town – just about anywhere in France – that I want without a car, and the cost is even lower for short distances than the $3.25 one-way price for taking a bus from East Kildonan to City Hall. Everybody here takes public transportation at least sometimes, even if they own a car. It’s cheaper and you don’t need to find parking.

I recognize that distances are longer in Canada than they are in Europe and that the population is less concentrated, but I think that the real reason that public transportation is an order of magnitude worse at home is simply because of a lack of insistence. We ex-

Who gets around how

What percentage regularly use transit? 12% (50% say they use it from time to time).

What percentage walk for transportation? 4%

What percentage ride bikes as main transport? 2%

What percentage rely on taxis? 1%

(Before I go further, I need to address what’s better about subways than buses. One: a smoother ride. It’s not terrible to stand on the subway, but on a bus, you’re taking your life in your hands. Two: indoor stations, where you don’t wait in the freezing temperatures. Three: speed. Doesn’t matter if there’s a zombie apocalypse at street level, underground the trains keep moving. Winnipeg just isn’t densely populated enough to justify a subway system.)

As for security on buses, a community safety team has just been activated and they will be patrolling buses. There were 257 incidents on transit in 2023; that’s too many for me. The safety team won’t have guns but they will have batons and handcuffs, they will be able to detain people, and they have been trained in things like first aid, naloxone use and de-escalation techniques.

That’s not good enough for some folks. An academic at the University of Winnipeg says the funds that go toward the safety team should go towards things like mental health and drug rehabilitation. He may be right about those things needing money, but that money would take years to have an effect and people need to take the bus in the meantime. At the same time, the union that represents the police cries that non-police shouldn’t be allowed to detain people. Some people are never happy.

Overall, when it comes to public transportation in Winnipeg, what we have now is alright and what we plan to have is better. What about the best? I’ll join the chorus of Winnipeggers in giving my answer: we can’t afford it.

What percentage are deterred by safety concerns? 27%

What percentage would use buses more with better connections? 14%

What’s available for seniors?

Winnipeg Transit Plus (https://info.winnipegtransit.com/en/winnipeg-transit-plus/ winnipeg-transit-plus/) will transport seniors with mobility issues door to door.

Dorothy Dobbie

Shauna Dobbie

u Lido Theatre

Continued from page 1

This was the first theater in Western Canada to play movies with sound and it was independently run for almost 100 years. In 2019, after countless performances of film, live theater, and music, with the orchestra pit and bright red stage still intact, the theater closed its doors and the heart of the town slowed down a few beats.

Since the day it closed, the Lido has been a hot topic. Phyllis Scott, a local woman born just one year before the theater opened, shared with me what it was like to step foot in the magical room for the very first time. “It was 1936 and I was eight years old. A family friend had come by the farm and picked us kids up to go to town. It was the first time I’d ever left the farm to go anywhere other than church. The film was about quintuplets born in Quebec, but I could hardly pay attention to the film because I was enthralled with the room. It was very ornate, and I remember the walls inside were a dark blue colour and had wrought iron railings that made it look like the inside of an opera house. It was very dark and mysteri-

ous, and I always expected to see a ghost!”

Now, after five long years with the Lido closed, Mayor Andre Murphy and his council acquired the building from the Swan River Credit Union. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that community groups have come together under the leadership of Mayor Murphy to restore this lost gem at the heart of our town. He announced that the town will be working on an evaluation of the space in the coming months and has pledged the financial resources to get the initial phase of the restoration off the ground.

The town’s Community Development Corporation, along with the organization I co-founded, The Pas Guest List Inc., are working on a collaborative effort to renovate the theater and turn it into a thriving community space that will be available for all to enjoy.

The Lido Theater will provide its own programming to the community and additionally be available to rent for our local organizations, like the The Pas Arts Council and Theater 53, as well as for private

u Living Green the Manitoba way!

hobby—it’s a gateway to a greener, healthier lifestyle. It provides physical activity, is a stress reliever, improves mood, encourages mindfulness and being present, gets you outside to enjoy fresh air and natural light, encourages healthy eating, and brings a connection among other like-minded individuals creating a sense of community. It also instills a sense of purpose, pride and accomplishment.

Maybe creating your own incredible garden is still on your wish list, or maybe you’re already an expert. And maybe you’re somewhere in the middle. Explore Living Green’s bustling marketplace, where you’ll find a treasure trove of seeds, plants, and gardening supplies to help you cultivate your own sustainable paradise. Need to kickstart your garden? Look no further

than T&T Seeds for a wide selection of topquality seeds to fuel your gardening dreams. Want to nurture your soil naturally? Explore the wonders of Worm Tea Gardening and enrich your earth with their premium castings. Ready to take your green game to the next level? Horizon Sheds has you covered with custom-built greenhouse structures designed to elevate your gardening experience.

Have you ever started a project and found out that you didn’t know how much you didn’t know about it? The Living Green Education Stage offers an enlightening and inspirational lineup of esteemed experts, eager to share their wisdom and ignite your passion for sustainable living. Among these luminaries are Maggie Wysocki from Soil to Soul and Anna Hunter from Long Way

groups for parties, weddings and corporate events.

We are looking to model others like the Ellen Theater in Bozeman, Montana and The Park Theater in Winnipeg, that have successfully undertaken similar restoration projects and are thriving in their respective communities. With the financial support of grants and donations from our local business owners and Manitobans at large, we hope to complete the renovations and have the building open to the public within the next three years. We are excited and energized to finally have the type of space available to showcase the arts in The Pas in a respectful way that enhances the viewer’s overall experience.

To get more information about the project or to provide support please contact theguestlist.thepas@gmail. com.

Gabrielle Swan moved to The Town of The Pas 18-months ago after spending a decade in New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Design from Toronto Metropolitan University with a major in communications and a minor in marketing. Swan brings her love of art and non-profit experience to a community who is most welcoming to an outsider. Swan serves as the Chair of the Destination Marketing Committee, the Treasurer of The Pas Guest List Inc, is a board member of The Pas Arts Council and is a committee member of Imaginorthern.

Homestead, along with a multitude of other thought leaders who are poised to guide you on your journey towards seeing your dreams bloom.

The Education Stage is not just about showcasing individual expertise—it’s about fostering a community of learning and collaboration. Throughout the event, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with a diverse array of experts representing various facets of sustainability, from renewable energy to urban gardening, from zero waste living to eco-conscious consumerism.

What could possibly make this beautiful experience even more enjoyable? A visit the Garden Bar - a tranquil oasis where you can reflect on the information you’ve learned, and unwind with a glass of wine or your beverage of choice. With every sip, you’ll

The harmony of pets and plants

March is upon us and in the veterinary field, this is when we highlight pet poison awareness. With thoughts of spring just around the corner, it’s time to look around and think about some of the plants with which we’ve surrounded ourselves. Did you know that azaleas, rhododendrons, philodendron, lilies and even tulips are considered toxic? In some cases, every part of the plant is toxic. In others, it is just the flower, or just the bulb.

Many of us love picking new plants. Perhaps a beautiful leaf catches your eye while browsing in Ikea, or perhaps you are one who frequently heads out to the amazing greenhouses and garden centers in and around Winnipeg. Living in a city where much of the greenery is covered for several months out of the year, having a lively display indoors is therapeutic for many, and fun and challenging for others. But have you asked yourself if that new plant is safe for your furry friend? Although younger animals are much more

likely to explore, ingest or inhale something out of the blue, our older companions also like to keep us on our toes.

Annual lists compiled by the Animal Poison Control Center at the ASPCA report that the most common toxins ingested are over the counter medications, followed by food items. Plants repeatedly rank in the top 5. Many plants can cause at least mild gastro-intestinal upset depending on your pet’s sensitivities, but these are not necessarily considered “toxic.” As veterinarians, we consider plants toxic when they cause severe or systemic effects.

Creating a safe environment for your pets while maintaining a green haven is entirely possible. Observe your pet’s behavior and be particularly aware if they are the more curious sort. Here are a few tips for selecting and caring for indoor plants:

Research Pet-Friendly Plants: Choose plants that are known to be non-toxic to pets. Spider plants, Boston

ferns, and certain palms are excellent options that add vibrancy without posing a threat. The Pet Poison Helpline is a reliable source of online information, with an extensive poison list.

Be Aware of Toxic Plants and Create

Safe Zones: Identify plants known to be toxic to pets and designate certain areas as either pet-friendly or off limits. Keep toxic plants out of reach. You may need to get creative with this to help meet a particular plant’s needs and keep our agile feline friends away.

Secure Plant Containers: Ensure that plant containers are stable and not easily tipped over by curious pets. This prevents accidental ingestion of soil or plant parts.

Keep in mind that even if you’ve made every effort to keep your home safe, things happen! Being prepared for any unforeseen circumstances is a responsible part of pet ownership. It’s always a good idea to have your veterinary clinic’s information handy, and it’s also a good idea to be familiar with local emergency clin-

be reminded of the symbiotic relationship between gardening and green living, and the role each of us plays in shaping a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Living Green is set to take place at Exhibition Park from May 3-5 Mark your calendar and don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of greenery, growth, and endless possibilities. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning your journey towards sustainable living, there’s something for everyone at the Living Green Show.

For a complete list of vendors, event hours, or to purchase tickets now, visit redriverex.com. Don’t miss your chance to embrace gardening and green living at Living Green. Together, let’s cultivate a brighter, more sustainable future!

ics, in case of accidents during off hours. If you see your pet ingesting something they shouldn’t, time is of the essence for decontamination to be possible. The Pet Poison Helpline has a phone number available 24/7 in North America (1-800213-6680) to help guide you on whether care is necessary.

You know your pet best and you know when they aren’t at 100%. If your pet is showing signs of sudden onset confusion, incoordination, difficulty breathing, drooling, severe vomiting or diarrhea, seizures, or tremors, don’t hesitate to take action. Even if care is often limited to controlling symptoms and flushing out toxins with fluids, early intervention can save a life!

Until next time my paw-print loving friends.

Silver Heights Veterinary Hospital is proud to serve the Winnipeg region, and is located on Ness Avenue in St. James. Contact them at 204-504-5600 or visit their website at silverheightsvethospital.ca

Gabrielle Swan View from The Pas

The Lido Theater Schedule for September 16 to 29th 1960.

Actors take the stage for a local production of “Nothing but the Truth”.

A three piece band performs during an early Trapper’s Festival Event circa 1950’s.

Slavery – it’s not unusual

At a live concert, several thousand women were making complete fools of themselves. They were begging to be Tom Jones’ sex-slave as they slung their underwear towards him. Tom Jones seemed to be reading my mind as he began bellowing, “It’s not unusual.”

I soon discovered; this behaviour is not unusual. Similar things have happened with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Gerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Mick Jagger, and every other type of celebrity including politicians like John F. Kennedy, Pierre Trudeau, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, and even revivalist idols like Billy Graham. Why would a woman beg to be someone’s sex-slave?

When an audience is salted with a dozen or so paid manipulators, the susceptible audience is quick to follow their actions, whether it be to clap and cheer at the right moment, or to chuck their panties onto the stage. They act like sheep following a goat. Monkey see, monkey do.

in planning our own futures, to take control of our thoughts and actions. In religion, facts, inconsistent with the creed, are denounced as lies, and the person declaring these facts is called a blasphemer. Every theology professor breathes the air of insincerity, is mentally dishonest, and is a pious fraud. His students have been well-taught, they must not question, and they must not think.

I have discovered that this type of absurd behaviour, doing things with no rational forethought, stems back to fairy tales and religious stories which children learn when they are too young to think for themselves. Children, from the day they are born, are being taught that thinking is bad, and they must accept ridiculous fairy tales such as Santa Claus, Noah’s ark, and the boogey man as true facts. They continue to believe make-believe for the rest of their lives.

Anyone with the ability to think will eventually realise that theology is a dishonest science based on belief, on credulity, and on trust. Theology abhors investigation, despises thought, and denounces reason. True science teaches us to think and to reason, to use common sense

James Randi, the famous Canadian illusionist, known as The Amazing Randi, spent his lifetime trying to educate “True Believers” by exposing how “Magicians” did their tricks and how healing revivalists are fakes who are scamming the gullible public.

In 1964, Randi offered a prize of one-million dollars to anyone who could demonstrate evidence of a paranormal, supernatural, or occult phenomenon. Randi debunked over one-thousand people who challenged the prize.

of evil done through religion. Religious people are so accustomed to behaving in an irrational and insane manner, they see nothing wrong with killing, robbing, and torturing people if it is done in the name of religion. People have been somehow convinced that killing for one’s deity is a praiseworthy act, whether this deity is an imaginary god in the sky, or a mortal person who is commonly referred to as a king, queen, emperor, or dictator.

Sixty years later, nobody has managed to claim the million dollars. Despite this, the number of “True Believers” grows and will continue to grow until average people on the street begin to become educated and learn to think for themselves and admit, there is no magic, and there are no miracles, everything that happens has a scientific explanation.

Scientists such as Richard Dawkins are stating, religion is the root of all evil, and historians, such as Howard Zinn and David Edwin Harrell, give us many examples

To control millions of captured slaves, Roman emperors invented many religions which were geared to various cultures, often incorporating the local religion into the newly fabricated one. To create these new religions, these emperors followed the teachings of Marcus Tullius Cicero, who wrote, “We must persuade our citizens that the gods are the Lords and rulers of all things and what is done, is done by their will and authority; and they are the great benefactors of men, and know who everyone is, and what he does, and what sins he commits, and what he intends to do, and with what piety he fulfils his religious duties.”

While in a seminary studying to become a priest, Joseph Stalin read Cicero’s writings, and so did other ambitious men like Peter the Great, Napoléon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Pierre Trudeau, and many others. These men were also familiar with the Roman philosopher, Lucius Seneca who wrote, “Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.”

Next Month: Fear

Wayne Douglas Weedon is a Manitoba author who writes a combination of fictional and factual stories, essays, and novels.

Canada’s approach to carbon emissions is selfish, pointless and visits harm on less fortunate countries

Dorothy Dobbie

Having just returned from a study tour to Taiwan and Hong Kong as a member of a delegation from the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, I question the international strategy on carbon emission reduction where the onus is placed on individual countries to reduce fossil fuel use. Canada, Europe and the United States can do their level best, but if Asia cannot meet the standards, it is all for nothing.

Canada contributes only 1.6% of global CO2 emissions. Cutting consumption of fossil fuels to zero would not make a dent on the global issue. Yet Asia is responsible for more than half (53%) of the world’s emissions, most of that from China which derives 56% of its energy from coal. While China is ratcheting up the use of renewables and using increasing amounts of natural gas, coal is still the engine of Chinese enterprise and home heating and transportation use.

Evidence of this is hard to avoid. The skies are heavy with eye-stinging smog that hangs over neighbours such as Taiwan. Meanwhile, Taiwan is forced to produce more of the same particle-laden emissions from its meagre supply of local coal with only enough reserves to last one year so they also import coal from Australia. Hong

Kong and Macau get their energy from the mainland –derived, as we have seen – mainly from coal.

All these emissions, no matter where they are from, end up in the same place – the atmosphere. Air pollution is not a parochial matter, it is a global one.

So why does the world focus on one country at a time when it would make more sense to create a strategy to reduce global emissions on a measured international path?

Reality? Most of the world does not have the capacity to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy in the short term. Sources, such as solar and wind power, are also generated using high quantities of oil and petroleum derivatives such as plastics. Solar panels occupy vast acreages of land. Wind power kills millions of birds. Both are hard to recycle. Heat pumps are expensive and inefficient in very cold locations. They use electricity to maintain heat when the temperature drops much below zero and they are noisy. Battery production uses vast quantities of energy that comes from fossil fuels.

Nuclear power has been used to make up energy deficits but since the 2011 Fukushima failure in Japan, countries are shying away from the source. Taiwan is about to decommission its last nuclear plant.

China deserves kudos for reducing its reliance on fossil fuels but as we have seen, it still relies mostly on coal and its overall consumption of all sources is growing as

populations and production increase. It will take a very long time to replace coal consumption.

LNG is a much cleaner alternative that could be relied on in the short term. It produces 40% less carbon than coal and 30% less than oil, nor does it emit soot, dust or particles that cause lung and eye irritation. If the UN at COP28 had looked at the entire globe and calculated how to transition off fossil fuels by supplying LNG and other cleaner fuels to places such as Asia, they would have discovered that the net effect is greater than trying, country by country, to stop using these fuels entirely by 2050. Setting goals that countries cannot meet is not only magical thinking, it is also counterproductive and leads to disillusionment and ultimately abandonment of any attempt.

To make a real impact, Canada should be exporting its clean fossil fuels to countries currently relying on coal and other particle emitting fuel supplies. Investing in export infrastructure for LNG as we are doing for hydrogen will pay off for everyone.

Our country derives 60% of its electricity from hydro, 11% from petroleum and 14.6% from nuclear plants. Our efforts to replace fossil fuel have resulted in just 7.8% of electrical production, yet that is where we are spending billions of dollars instead of making billions of dollars and helping save millions of lives around the world by supplying them with cleaner energy.

Wayne Weedon Food for Thought

A poster for the magician Howard Thurston from 1910. Image courtesy of the us Library of Congress.

its St. Patrick’s Day, time for some yummy Dingle Pies

My Gran hailed from Ireland and there was always something cooking in her house, from buns to pies to stews. Good wholesome home cooked food is hard to find these days, temps passé have long been forgotten, everything is way too convenient. I look back with fond memories reminiscing the sounds of her working in the kitchen.

With Gran in mind, what better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than to have ‘Dingle Pies.’ Dingle, or Kerry, pies are savory lamb pies, a specialty of the Dingle Peninsula in southwestern Ireland.

Traditionally, the pastry crust was made with mutton fat; here we use butter and eggs to keep the crust flaky and melt in your mouth lip-smacking.

Here is what you will need:

For the filling

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large onion finely chopped.

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme.

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage.

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary.

1 boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces.

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 litre chicken stock

Salt & pepper to taste

For the Pastry

4 cups all-purpose flour.

1 teaspoon salt

1 2/3 cups unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.

4 large eggs, divided.

3 to 5 tablespoons ice water

The all important how to:

The Stew

Melt butter in a large skillet oven over medium heat. Add onion, thyme, sage, and rosemary; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent.

Place the lamb cubes into the skillet, stirring occasionally, until brown. Add the flour stirring constantly, until flour is lightly browned, and mixture has become sticky and thick.

Add the stock and bring to a boil stirring constantly. Once boiling reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, stirring occasionally, for up to two hours. Cook until the lamb is fall-apart tender, and the liquid has reduced to a very heavy gravy, if sauce becomes too thick before lamb is tender add a little more water. Roughly pull lamb using 2 forks.

Season the stew with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the stew to a large bowl; leave to cool completely, about 1 hour.

The Pastry

In a large mixing bowl add the flour and salt and mix. Add the butter cubes and rub together using your fingers until mixture resembles large breadcrumbs. In a small bowl beat 3 eggs. Make a well in the center of flour mixture; add beaten eggs combine using your fingers. Add 3 tablespoons ice water. Continue adding ice water, one tablespoon at a time, until you have a wet dough like consistency. Wrap dough tightly in surround wrap then refrigerate a minimum of 3 hours.

Remove the dough from the fridge and unwrap on a lightly floured work surface. Separate in to two pieces then roll out to roughly 1/4-inch thick. Using a 4-inch round cutter, cut 6 dough rounds place rounds on parchment paper in a baking tray. Roll out the second piece of dough and using a 5-inch round cutter, cut 6 dough rounds. Place loosely on top of the 6 4-inch pieces, cover baking sheet tightly with surround wrap and then place in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes minimum.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Once you have removed the pastry from the fridge, place the 4-inch dough rounds at least 1 1/2 inches apart in the baking tray lined with parchment paper. Beat the remaining egg in a small bowl.

Spoon the cooled stew onto the center of each 4-inch round then brush the dough edges lightly with beaten egg. Place the 5-inch dough rounds on top of the filling, pressing lightly to bond the pastry together. Using a fork, crimp edges to seal then place hole in top of each pie. Brush pies lightly with remaining beaten egg. Bake

in preheated oven until golden brown, once cooked, remove from the oven and place pies on a wire rack. I love fresh pie from the oven and always serve it hot. Great for a lunch break or an evening meal. To make it a true

66%

Irish night perhaps add some Colcannon Potatoes. You will love it.

Thanks Gran. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Ian Leatt is a trained chef from across the pond.

Choosing

Glen

Desjardins

*Research

Ian Leatt Foodies

Creative Retirement Manitoba Inc. 204-481-5030, hello@crcentre.ca www.crcentre.ca

WINNIPEG

20 Fort Street Seniors Club

2200-20 Fort Street / FortStSeniors@Shaw.ca

Manitoba Association of Senior Communities

Pembina Active Living (55+) 170 Fleetwood Rd. / 204-946-0839 office@pal55plus.ca / www.pal55plus.ca

Rady Jewish Community Centre 123 Doncaster Street / 204-477-7539 lmarjovsky@radyjcc.com / www.radyjcc.com

A&O Support Services for Older Adults Inc.

200 -207 Donald Street 204-956-6440 / Toll Free: 1-888-333-3121 info@aosupportservices.ca

www.aosupportservices.ca

Archwood 55 Plus 565 Guilbault Avenue / 204-416-1067 archwood55@shaw.ca

https://archwood55plus.wildapricot.org/

Bleak House Centre 1637 Main Street / 204-338-4723 bleakhousecentre@gmail.com

www.bleakhousecentre.com

Brooklands Active Living Centre 1960 William Avenue W 204-632-8367 / bpscc@mymts.net

Centro Caboto Centre 1055 Wilkes Avenue / 204-487-4597 ext. 1 executivedirector@cabotocentre.com www.cabotocentre.com

Charleswood Active Living Centre 5006 Roblin Blvd / 204-897-5263 info@charleswoodseniorcentre.org www.charleswoodseniorcentre.org

Crescent Fort Rouge 55 Plus 525 Wardlaw Ave. / 204-299-9919 cfruc55Plus@gmail.com

www.crescentfortrouge.ca

Dakota Community Centre 1188 Dakota Street / 204-254-1010 ext. 217 melissal@dakotacc.com www.dakotacc.com

Dufferin Senior Citizens Inc. 377 Dufferin Avenue / 204-986-2608

Elmwood East Kildonan Active Living Centre 180 Poplar Avenue / 204-669-0750 healthrelations@chalmersrenewal.org https://chalmersrenewal.org/

Fort Garry Seniors Resource Council 200 - 270 Donald Street / 204-792-1913 fortgarry@aosupportservices.ca www.aosupportservices.ca/resources/seniorsresource-finders

Golden Rule Seniors Club 625 Osborne Street / 431-866-6776 goldenrule@swsrc.ca

Good Neighbours Active Living Centre 720 Henderson Hwy / 204-669-1710 admin@gnalc.ca / www.gnalc.ca

Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre 1588 Main Street / 204-339-1701 becky@gwensecter.com / www.gwensecter.com

Headingley Seniors’ Services 5353 Portage Avenue / 204-889-3132 ext. 3 seniors@rmofheadingley.ca www.headingleyseniorsservices.ca

Indigenous Senior Resource Centre Inc. A1- 100 Robinson Avenue / 204-586-4595 executivedirector@isrcwpg.ca www.asrcwpg.ca

Manitoba Korean 55+ Centre 900-150 River Avenue 204-996-7003 / www.ksam.ca

North Centennial Seniors Association of Winnipeg Inc. 86 Sinclair Street / 204-582-0066 ncsc@shaw.ca / www.ncseniors.ca

North Point Douglas Seniors Association 49 Euclid Ave. / 204-880-1655

Rainbow Resource Centre 545 Broadway / 204-474-0212 ext 255 OTR@rainbowresourcecentre.org www.rainbowresourcecentre.org

The Salvation Army Barbara Mitchell Family Resource Centre 51 Morrow Avenue 204-946-9153 sheila.keys@salvationarmy.ca

South Winnipeg Seniors Resource Council 117-1 Morley Ave / 204-478-6169 resources@swsrc.ca / www.swsrc.ca

Southdale Seniors 254 Lakewood Boulevard / 204-257-6171 gm@southdale.ca / www.southdale.ca

Sri Lankan Seniors Manitoba 113 Stan Bailie Drive 204-261-9647 / www.srilankanseniorsmb.ca

St. James-Assiniboia 55+ Centre 3-203 Duffield Street 204-987-8850 / info@stjamescentre.com 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 / 204-222-9879 tcs@mymts.net / www.transconaseniors.ca

Transcona Retired Citizens Org. 328 Whittier Ave. West 204-222-8473 / trco328@shaw.ca

Vital Seniors - 3 St Vital Road 204-253-0555 / stmary@mymts.net www.stmarymagdelenewpg.org

Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association 204-291-7798 / wcsa.wpg@hotmail.com

www.winnipegchineseseniors.ca

Winnipeg Condominium Corp #238 3281 Pembina Hwy / 204-269-6363

BEYOND WINNIPEG

BEAUSEJOUR

Beau-Head Senior Centre 645 Park Avenue 204-268-2444 / beauhead@mymts.net

BRANDON

Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. 311 Park Avenue E / 204-571-2050 reception@brandons4s.ca www.brandons4s.ca

Health Checks - 204-728-1842 brandonmbhealthchecks.ca healthchecksbrandon@gmail.com

CARMAN

Carman Active Living Centre 47 Ed Belfour Drive / 204-745-2356 www.activelivingcentrecarman.ca

CRANBERRY PORTAGE

Jubilee Recreation of Cranberry Portage Legion Hall 217 2nd Ave. SE / 204-271-3081

CRYSTAL CITY

Crystal City & District Friendship Club Inc. 117 Broadway St. / 431-867-0122 crystalcityfriendship@gmail.com

DAUPHIN

Dauphin Active Living Centre Inc. 55 1st Avenue SE 204-638-6485 www.dauphinseniors.com

DELORAINE

Deloraine Community Club Inc. 111 South Railway Ave E 204-747-2846

Seniors’ Outreach Services of BrenWin Inc. 204-747-3283 sosbrenwin@gmail.com sosbrenwin.com

ERICKSON

Comfort Drop In Centre 31 Main Street 204-636-2047 / areas@mymts.net

FLIN FLON

Flin Flon Seniors 2 North Avenue / 204-687-7308

GILBERT PLAINS

Gilbert Plains and District Community Resource Council Inc. 204-548 4131 gpdcrc@mymts.net

www.gpdcrc-newhorizons.wix.com/gpdcrc

Gilbert Plains Drop In Centre 22 Main Street North / 204-548-2210

GIMLI

Gimli New Horizons 55+ Centre 17 North Colonization Road 204-642-7909 / gimli55@mts.net www.gimlinewhorizons.com

GLADSTONE

Gladstone Seniors Inc. 32 Morris Ave. North / 204-385-2205

GRAND MARAIS

Grand Marais & District Seniors 36058 PTH 12 / gmdseniors@gmail.com www.gmdseniors.ca

GRANDVIEW

Grandview Seniors Drop In 432 Main Street / 204-546-2272

HAMIOTA

Hamiota 55+ Centre & Restore Community Co-op Inc. 44 Maple Avenue / 204-764-2658

KILLARNEY

Killarney New Horizons Centre 520 Mountain Avenue www.killarneymbseniors.ca

Killarney Service for Seniors 203 South Railway / 204-523-7115 seniorservice@killarney.ca

LA BROQUERIE and STE. ANNE

Seine River Services for Seniors Inc./ Services Rivière Seine pour aînés Inc. 93 Principale Street 204-424-5285 / labseinerss@gmail.com seineriverservicesforseniors.ca

LUNDAR

Lundar Community Resources 35 Main Street / 204-762-5378 lcrc@mymts.net

MANITOU

Pembina Community Resource Council 315 Main Street 204-242-2241 / pembinacrc@gmail.com

MINNEDOSA

Minnedosa Senior Citizens Assoc. 31 Main Street S 204-867-1956 / mdsasca@gmail.com

MORDEN

Morden Activity Centre 306 N Railway Street 204-822-3555 mordenactivitycentre@gmail.com www.mordenseniors.ca

NEEPAWA

Neepawa Drop In Centre 310 Davidson Street / 204-476-5103 Neepawa-dropin@outlook.com www.neepawa.ca/district-drop-in-center

PILOT MOUND

Pilot Mound Fellowship Centre 203 Broadway Avenue / 204-825-2873

PLUMAS

Plumas Seniors Citizens Club Inc. 102 White Street / 204-386-2029

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE

Herman Prior Senior Services Centre 40 Royal Road N. / 204-857-6951 hermanpriorcentre@gmail.com www.hermanprior.com

Portage Service for Seniors 40A Royal Road N. / 204-239-6312 https://portageservicefors.wixsite.com/psfs

RIVERTON

Riverton Seniors Activity Centre 12 Main Street / 204-378-5155 rdfc@mymts.net / www.rivertonfc.com

SANDY LAKE

Sandy Lake Drop In Centre 100 Main St. / 204-585-2411

Municipality of Harrison Park - Age Friendly Initiative Committee 204-585-5310

SELKIRK

Gordon Howard Centre 384 Eveline Street / 204-785-2092

executivedirector@gordonhoward.ca www.gordonhoward.ca

SNOW LAKE

Snow Lake Senior Centre 71 Balsam Street 204-358-2151 / snowsrs@mymts.net

STEINBACH Pat Porter Active Living Centre 10 Chrysler Gate 204-320-4600 / ed@patporteralc.com www.patporteralc.com

STONEWALL

South Interlake 55 Plus 374 1st Street West - Oddfellows Hall 204-467-2582 / si55plus@mymts.net www.si55plus.org

SWAN RIVER

Swan River & District Community Resource Council 126 6th Ave N / 204-734-5707 resourcecouncil@srseniorservices.com

Swan River Senior Citizens Centre 702 1st Street North / 204-734-2212

THE PAS

The Pas Golden Agers 324 Ross Avenue / 204-623-3663 seniorsthepas@gmail.com

THOMPSON

Thompson Seniors Community Resource Council Inc. 4 Nelson Rd. / 204-677-0987 thompsonseniors55@gmail.com thompsonseniors.ca

TREHERNE

Treherne Friendship Centre 190 Broadway Street 204-723-2559 / jstate1066@gmail.com

VICTORIA BEACH

East Beaches Social Scene 3 Ateah Road / 204-756-6468 ebssinc1@gmail.com

https://www.ebseniorscene.ca

East Beaches Resource Centre 3 Ateah Road / 204-756-6471 ebresourcec@gmail.com

https://ebresourcec.weebly.com

WINKLER Winkler & District MP Senior Centre 102-650 South Railway Avenue 204-325-8964 director@winklerseniorcentre.com www.winklerseniorcentre.com

helping kids cope in the hospital

Being a kid in hospital can be tough, but a special team called Child Life helps kids at HSC Children’s Hospital cope.

March is Child Life month and Music therapy month. We at Children’s Hospital Foundation are celebrating the many ways the Child Life team at HSC Children’s helps kids and families all year long through purposeful and fun opportunities for distraction and play.

Child Life team members are experts in childhood development and programming includes music therapy, the library program, Children’s Hospital Television (CHTV), special holiday celebrations and of course, play.

turing. Child Life staff customize the play experience for each individual child, bringing comfort items to their rooms or supporting them during a visit to the HSC Children’s playroom.

“Play is what children do. In the hospital, it's so important to be able to provide that as well,” says Manuela.

Stefano Grande Healthy Living

Manuela says she’s experienced many meaningful moments in her time as a Child Life assistant, where play has helped children on their road to recovery including one child who went from not moving at all on their first visit with Manuela, to walking around, grabbing toys, and having a blast a few weeks later.

lies and to the health care staff who are dedicated to providing the very best care possible.

present is changing their future.

I want to introduce you to a very special woman name Manuela, who has been working with the Child Life at HSC Children’s for over 22 years.

“The hospital is a place where hope and healing happens,” says Manuela.

As a Child Life assistant, Manuela works with children staying in the hospital, especially ones that are there for long periods of time, are in isolation or have very little caregiver presence.

“I spend the one-on-one time playing with them, reading with them, doing rhymes and songs and hopefully bringing some distraction and helping them cope with the hospital stay,” says Manuela.

The goals of therapeutic play include having fun, providing a safe environment for kids, building trust, giving kids an opportunity to express themselves, and bringing comfort and nur-

“Those are the stories that will forever stay with me,” says Manuela. “What inspires me, are the children. They are amazing, so resilient, they go through so much and yet they're able to overcome so many obstacles.”

Manuela says she’s proud to be part of the Child Life team at HSC Children’s.

“I believe in healing and it comes in many different ways. One of them through medicine but I believe what we as Child Life bring is definitely a big part of healing as well.”

Your support means the world fami-

Donate today at goodbear.ca. Your

Stefano Grande is the president and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

advice from your friends at

Helpful

Dearest little sweetheart: a long-lost love letter

The letter, written on company stationery, from an address where the Winnipeg Centennial Concert Hall now sits, is dated March 26, 1923. The time is entered as 9:30 a.m. It is hand written in cursive and begins with “Dearest Little Sweetheart”. It is just over one hundred years old. In essence, it’s a love letter written by a man who was twenty-four to a girl who was sixteen at the time.

By today’s standards, given the ages, this would be unusual, suspicious and likely considered dangerous if not illegal. However, at that time, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Back in the day it was quite common for a young lady to be wooed, courted and then married to a man much older. As many families, especially farm families, had four, five, six or more children, if an opportunity arose for a young woman to marry a suitable suitor

of some means, so be it. One less mouth to feed.

The groom to-be quoted his mother’s concerns about this young lady stealing her only child away. She wrote, “Get a girl that doesn’t want you to always be buying you presents and chocolates and taking her to the pictures, save your money to buy a house. Also, this young lady must be sensible and not use powder and paint like some hussy.” He then went, in well-crafted words to extol his love for the young lady.

Not long after this letter was written, they were married. Although only sixteen and having lived most of her life with a single mother (as her father had died young) she was already adept at cooking and keeping a house. Although times were tight, it wasn’t long before she was pregnant with her first child, a son who was soon followed by two daughters.

Although the family struggled at times, as did most others, they lived together and loved together. That is, until the husband decided to love another. Somewhere in the late thirties they parted ways. The husband left with the two eldest children and the youngest daughter stayed with her mother.

The following years were tough for the still relatively young mother but she endured and did what was required to make a living. She found work at the Ninette Sanatorium which provided care for people living with tuberculosis. Her young daughter often in tow. Then, moving back to Winnipeg, she worked at the Fort Osborne Barracks during most of WWII. It wasn’t long before all three of her children were married and had moved to other

I’m back on Lifestyles 55 Digital radio!

Dorothy Dobbie

After spending my Sunday mornings up early on the air at CJOB for 10 years, I eased on over to the independent CJNU station to continue my weekly gardening broadcast for a short time. I took a hiatus with a weekly podcast for several years until my daughter Shauna took over during the pandemic.

But I am back. I missed the fun of interviewing great guests such as Kevin Twomey, Sherrie Versluis, Jan Pedersen, Mr. Tomato and Shea Doherty and so many other.

As one of a small group of former broadcasters who have launched Winnipeg’s first digital radio station, I have to say that I have never worked with a more dedicated group. They all have one thing in common – a love of radio, the theatre of the mind.

You know their music. You love their

music. And I hope you still love the garden show.

I run on Sunday at 9:00. Tune in to https://www.lifestyles55radio.ca/ ewExternalFiles/Lifestyles%2055%20 Program%20Schedule%20Winter%20 2024%20-%20Revised.jpg

parts of the country and had families of their own.

Now, in the late nineteen forties, she met a man who caught her eye and, as it turned out, they had a lot in common. Cupid struck again.

The now forty-three-year-old woman was long past thinking about, let alone wanting, any more children. So, in 1950, the year of the famous flood in Winnipeg, with some surprise mixed with consternation, she found herself in a family way once again and gave birth to a little boy. More than forty years after the woman passed away at eighty, that son was going through some old boxes in the basement and came across the old love letter his mother had hung on to for so long.

The letter closed with “Yours with love and lots of kisses. Till we meet again. Your future hubby. May God Bless you and keep you. Till death do us part”. It was signed with flair. Monte Cristo XXX

The two young lovers are long dead. So too, are their three children and her last husband. The only one who remains … is me.

Jim continues his on-going mission of cleaning out the basement. Who knows what he might come across next. Listen to his podcasts on Lifestyles 55 Digital Radio.

Summer of reading

One of the many great things about gardens is their ability to inspire and freshen imaginations. The International Peace Garden is taking it a step further this year with our Children's Reading theme for our annual flower beds.

Families will enjoy Clifford the Big Red Dog, Charlotte and her webs, Dorothy and Toto, Harry Potter and so much more!

Manitoba's and North Dakota's shared garden is increasingly focused on strengthening partnerships with school districts, youth-based organizations and all generations in families. Our horticulture team took this priority to heart in developing one of our most creative sets of floral designs in recent history.

Thanks to support from the Boissevain School, IPG will be placing Manitoba student-made book boxes throughout the formal area of the Garden. Books in various boxes will correspond with titles and themes of the planted beds in close proximity. Families will be able to pull from these boxes and read books while surrounded by flowers. It is a wonderful combination of fun, nature and learning.

Tim Chapman

We also have a great program to sponsor these beautiful flower beds. The Adopt a Flower Bed program can also be found at our website and is a wonderful way for businesses, families and foundations to support our horticulture department's creativity and physical work that goes into planting nearly 80,000 plants.

And our aim is to make this year's theme as cooperative as possible when it comes to including our visitors' and members' affinity for children's reading. By visiting our website and social media pages, you can contribute and put your stamp on this summer's theme by donating through our Amazon book lists.

Flowers and reading! Join us and spread the word to your kids, grandkids, friends and neighbours. Peak bloom is mid-July through August.

All the best.

Tim Chapman is the CEO at the International Peace Garden on the border of Manitoba and North Dakota.

Jim Ingebrigtsen

Dorothy and Alex Regeic, one the key individuals behind the station. Alex and John Panting produce the Retro Rec Room with Captain Alex & Johnny Lightning.

Pollock’s hardware still thriving as a co-op

100 year old store still stocks many vintage items

In this, the first of a series of stories that we will be running in Lifestyles 55 profiling some of Winnipeg’s – and Manitoba’s – historic businesses still in operation to commemorate our city’s 150th birthday. I am happy to be able to report that Pollock’s Hardware Co-op is still thriving as it begins its second century in operation.

Iremember it well. It was the winter of 2008, and I was writing at the time for a hardware store magazine (which is no longer in publication) about efforts by community members to save the venerable Pollock’s Hardware. One of the last of the independently owned hardware stores in our fair city, Pollock’s had been closed by its owners, Wayne and Lois Cash, several months before. The couple had been wanting to retire for some time and had been unable to find a buyer.

As I recall, Pollock’s long-time customers and others in the north Winnipeg neighbourhood were unwilling to lose a business which had become a local institution. Keeping the store going became a cause célèbre. The upshot was a series of meetings which resulted in the formation of a co-op run by a manager working for a board of directors.

My wife and I attended a couple of those meetings and were among the initial group of members of the co-op.

Pollock’s hardware was founded at the northeast corner of Main Street at Bannerman in 1922 by Scottish-born World War I veteran and contractor Alexander Pollock. He had arrived in Winnipeg in 1904 – at the young age of 22 – and had established himself as a contractor. He continued his work in construction alongside running his new hardware store.

Of its early history, little has been written. Pollock passed away in 1957 having had no children to pass the business on to and I would presume there may have been a few different owners before Wayne and Lois bought the business in 1994.

According to the Pollock’s Hardware website, the Grand Re-opening was celebrated on June 21, 2008, “with community members, food, drinks and special guest appearances from Mag Ruffman & Steve Smith (Red Green)”.

Fast forward to 2011 and Pollock’s continued to surprise by exceeding expectations and becoming a

financially stable business. In 2011, Pollock’s Hardware Co-op paid 5% interest to those who bought investment shares and had also expanded the investment share program. In 2012, Pollock’s rented 5,000 square feet to use as a warehouse and supply BUILD and Manitoba Green Retrofit, as well as other local contractors and the public with commercial building supplies. This second location opened its doors in the spring of 2012 and operated for several years. A third location opened in the community of South Osborne in the fall of 2013 and operated for over five years.

“We ran in to some financial difficulties and had to close our other locations, leaving us with only our original store.” notes Kaitlyn Peters, who has been the Co-op’s general manager since December, 2022. “The COVID-19 lockdown however helped re-invigorate our business.”

Present day, Pollock’s Hardware Co-op now solely runs out of its flagship store location in the North End. As is usual in hardware stores, Pollock’s carries paints (“We’re the oldest distributor of Benjamin Moore paints in western Canada,” Peters points out), tools of all kinds, a good assortment of screws, nails and other fasteners, electrical and plumbing, lawn and gardening supplies. The store offers glass and window repair, tool sharpening and tool rentals.

Where Pollock’s stands out is in the number of vintage products that can be found in the store – items such as stove pipes, washboards and lanterns. If you can get down there in time, you may still be able to buy some of the Nutty Club products from Pollock’s last order from the long-standing food processor in the heart of downtown Winnipeg which closed its doors for good in January.

Peters adds that management makes a point of stocking locally-made items. Just behind the counter, for example, you will see hanging an array of Raber Garbage Mitts. The store also carries Altona-based Blue Sky Opportunities wood products such as racks, small furniture and crokinole boards. You will also find in the store jars of locally produced honey, soaps and scents and an assortment of eco-friendly, retro kids toys.

Peters notes that Pollock’s has a staff of six dedicated year-round staff with additional staff on for the busier summer months.

Summer is also the time for Pollock’s annual outdoor market. “We get people from all over coming for the market,” Peters reports.

For the 100th anniversary celebration two years, street closure, a beer garden and speakers – talking about the store’s history – were added to the usual array of local vendors displaying their products.

“What I really like about working at Pollock’s is the strong sense of community here,” Peters observes. “Our staff, our members and our customers are really passionate about Pollock’s.”

Good news about Kennedy House

Marilyn Williams

In mid-February, I received an email with good news from the committee to save Kennedy House. For those of you unfamiliar with Kennedy House, for many years it was a popular teahouse, surrounded by a lovely garden on the Red River near St. Andrews. It was built in 1866, for Captain William Kennedy, a Hudson Bay Company fur-trader, sailor, explorer, and magistrate. He was born in 1814 at Cumberland House, Sask. as the fifth child of Chief Factor Alexander Kennedy and his English/Cree wife, Aggathas Margaret (Mary) Bear. William Kennedy married Eleanor Eliza Cripps, a well-educated, upperclass woman and an accomplished musician, businesswoman and a devout Christian, in 1859 in London, England. They had one son and one daughter.

When William’s mother, Aggathas, passed away, he inherited her property at Lot 63 in St. Andrews Parish. There he and Eleanor built Kennedy House, then known as Maple Grove, using stones quarried from the banks of the Red River nearby St. Andrews Rapids.

According to the Manitoba Historical Society, “The Gothic Revival style of the Kennedy House is architecturally distinctive, compared to the other old stone houses built in the Red River Settlement, which reflect Georgian

influences. By contemporary Eastern Canadian or British standards Kennedy House was simple and unadorned. By Red River Settlement standards, however, it was very fashionable. Since the destruction of several early stone houses along the Red River, Kennedy House now stands as one of only seven remaining.”

Husband and wife both had fascinating careers and roles in early Manitoba during its formation. One of William’s nieces married John Norquay, the first Manitoba premier of mixed Indigenous and European heritage. After William’s death, Eleanor spent several years in Virden. Perhaps we will share the whole story of this amazing couple with you at another time. Meanwhile, here is the good news.

Hello all!

Great news!

I received a call this morning from Tamara Stephensen, who oversees the Kennedy House resource for the province. Tamara reported that the Phase II interior upgrading and refurbishment of the main floor areas has begun. So, if you pass by the house, you may see some fencing and signs of construction activity.

To review: the Phase II work now in progress will ensure the building meets fire and life safety codes, necessary for public access. The main floor bathroom space is a primary concern. The building structure prohibits enlargement of the bathroom, and it requires relocation to what was Kennedy’s den, adjacent to the main entrance. The existing bathroom

space will be incorporated into the kitchen which will allow for a larger and more functional space. Equipment and food preparation areas will be upgraded. As reported previously, the kitchen will remain suitable for light food preparation only: grills and fryers will not be accommodated, as this would require significant structural changes not in keeping with the heritage building.

Interior finishes will reflect the era of the building, using wood, wallpapers, and paint colours to brighten the rooms but respect the history of the home.

Conclusion of this work is targeted for late spring/early summer. Possibly, Phase III waterproofing of the foundation and landscaping, including repairs and up-

grading to the patio may begin later this year.

Tamara and her team have been very forthcoming with information regarding progress at the house and their willingness to communicate with us is deeply appreciated. It allows us to keep you informed and respond to continuing enquiries from the broader public.

We have forwarded an information package and management proposal to the new Minister, Hon. Tracy Schmidt, and well as to Tourism Minister Glen Simard, and the Premier. In the package we introduce the Kennedy House Renewal Committee, review the progress made to date, and present our proposal and continuing interest in the reopening of the House to the public.

The management proposal suggests a partnership between the Province and the Municipality and is modeled after a similar agreement between Parks Canada and the Municipality for the operation of The Rectory National Historic Site, now in successful year-round operation for a decade. The KHR Committee has Council’s approval to enter into discussions on their behalf and we are hopeful that we will be able to meet with the Minister in the near future to discuss our proposed partnership in detail.

• • • Marilyn Williams is the Secretary for the Kennedy House Renewal Committee. We posted her letter on Canada’s Local Gardner Facebook Group page and to date there have been more than 53,000 viewers, which shows the interest and support for this project. She can be reached at secretary@redrivernorthtourism.com

Pollock’s Hardware can be found at 1407 Main Street. Raber garbage mitts behind the counter, Pollock’s supports local manufacturers.

Myron Love Celebrating 150 years of Winnipeg

Kennedy House.

What can you trust?

Several weeks ago, I was asked to comment on an opinion presented by a person who likened current government decisions to the approaches of the Nazi regime in Germany in the 1940s. The tone of the opinion seemed relatively calm, and the language was not alarming or sensationalist in tone. However, the comparison of the two situations was completely incorrect and misleading. The negative reference to Nazi Germany is one of the few things that most people are able to agree on these days. Nazi ideology and practices are bad, and those who behave like current day Nazis must also be bad. I tried to explain my concern with this illogical connection of unrelated issues, and I found myself going back to reference materials I have on hand related to classical logical fallacies.

to use flawed and illogical thinking to try to convince others of the correctness of an opinion throughout written history. Philosophers and educators have been trying to encourage people to look critically at information they receive. We know that humans can be swayed into dangerous ideas when they are presented passionately by people they trust or admire, even when the idea is dangerous or false.

Typically, we encourage people to consider the credibility of the source of the information, determine which elements of the information are factual and identify the parts that are opinion or fiction, try to determine the bias of the person or publication presenting the information, and assess the merits of the evidence presented.

News is right wing, and the slant you get from CNN is left leaning. There are standards of ethical reporting in the world of professional journalism related to checking sources, reporting the news without bias, and double-checking information received from sources. These days with so many platforms that allow all of us to present our opinions in pod casts, posts on social media, video clips on YouTube, and dance routines on TikTok, it is no wonder that people can become confused about reliability in the information they see and read. One of my American friends says he no longer trusts mainstream media to provide correct information. He then when on to share information he had seen about the war in Ukraine that exactly mirrored the information a communist leaning acquaintance of mine was posting on Facebook. How could that be?

they are creating false positions or arguments constructed on false premises. The study of these fallacies is often done in communications and language courses or philosophy courses in university. Many of the commonly identified fallacies retain their linkage to the history of logic through their Latin names. Personally, I find it interesting and reassuring in a way that we humans have been struggling to determine true from false since our earliest written history. Plato and Aristotle continue to be our friends in determining how to think clearly and fairly about information we receive.

It seems that people have been trying

Most of us are aware that the slant you get on American news from Fox

There are ways to train ourselves to be critical thinkers who can read or hear information and detect many of the most common logical fallacies. Logical fallacies are identified methods of using flawed reasoning and therefore

The St. James Junior Canucks

The next few stories will feature businesses with strong St. James ties. This story will feature the St. James Junior Canucks.

On January 26, 2024, 700 people attended the St. James Junior Canucks Community Club Night at the St. James Civic Centre. The crowd included about 300 young St. James hockey players. The honorary guests were U13AA Canadians captains Levi Wyatt and Benny Johnson. The guest of honour was former Junior Canucks captain Mack Whitely. Let us look at some of the 46-year history of the Junior Canucks.

In 1978, Tom Miller and Carl Wallum co-founded the St. James Junior Canucks. The Canucks joined the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League. The MMJHL was formed in 1970-71 as a league designed to give 17- to 21-year-old players a chance to continue playing hockey.

Carl Wullum worked at Wesco (Westinghouse) for 47 years. In the words of Kelly Ryback: “ I remember Carl as a tireless community sports volunteer. He was Crestview’s hockey convener and he also coached hockey and baseball.” Between 1984 and 1987, Carl was the president of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League. Carl died in 2002 at the age of 64.

the Canucks played the MMJHL All Stars to a 3 to 3 tie in the All Star at the St. James Civic Centre. (Perhaps the top team playing the All Stars from all other teams is the best idea for all star games?) The Canucks lost the semifinals to the Seven Oaks Raiders.

1996 to 98: a couple of seasons to remember

After about a decade near the bottom of the league the Canucks experienced two memorable seasons. In 199697, the Canucks finished second and improved from 23 to 58 points. They lost the championship final to first place Charleswood.

From the desk of a gadfly

Tom Miller was born in 1938. His parents, Elizabeth and Fred, lived on Nora Street in the West Alexander neighbourhood. Tom worked for the CPR, Canada Life, Eaton’s, and Olivetti Canada. Tom eventually opened his own business, Century Business Machines. In 1995, Tom ran for Winnipeg City Council in the now defunct ward of St. Charles. Tom was an avid golfer who held a Lifetime Membership in the Assiniboine Golf Club. Tom is best remembered for his 46-year association with the St. James Canucks, but he had many other achievements. In 2013, Tom was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey of Fame as a builder. In 2016 Tom was honoured at the Manitoba Legislature. St. James MLA Scott Johnston, wearing a Canucks Sweater, honoured Tom as an outstanding community minded individual. Tom received a standing ovation from the MLA’s. In 2022, Tom received the Queen Elizabeth 11 Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Tom’s wife of 62 years, Darlene (Terry) Miller, died in 2021. At the Junior Canucks Dinner, Zach Greenwood a Junior Canucks Player won the first Tom Miller and Family Memorial Scholarship in memory of Darlene (Terry) Miller. Tom, “Mr. Hockey in St. James”, died on January 19, 2024. Tom is survived by his children Tammy, Tom, Tim, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. A few highlights of the St. James Canuck’s 46 years

On Oct. 13, 1978, the Canucks played their first game at the St. James Civic Centre. The Seven Oaks Raiders won 10 to 4. Mike Sutherland, Andy Meers the Assistant Captain, Mike Fardy, and Craig Peturson scored for the Canucks. The Canucks finished their first season in fifth place with 43 points in 42 games. Charleswood won the Jack McKenzie Trophy for the playoff championship.

In 1982-83, the Canucks won their first Art Moug Trophy. The Art Moug Trophy is awarded to the team that finishes first during the regular season. In February 1983,

This is a good time to pull out our class notes from philosophy or logic 101 and brush up on the top 10 logical fallacies and for each of us to remember why it is important to know when you see a “post hoc ergo propter hoc” (after this, therefor because of this) argument. Or maybe just stick to watching cat videos.

Trudy Schroeder provides project planning and management services to the community through Arts and Heritage Solutions.

92 Days of Indecision

The future of the Arlington Street Bridge

I sent a questionnaire to all 16 members of the current City Council. Only two responded: Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge) favours rail relocation. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) responded, but his position is unclear.

The Following season the Canucks slipped to fifth, 23 points behind first place Charleswood. However, the Canucks put together a memorable playoff run. The Canucks reached the Final against Charleswood. Charleswood had won the four previous Jack McKenzie trophies. The “drive for five” seemed destined to succeed. After Game five, Charleswood seemed to be in control with a three to two games lead over the pesky Canucks. After winning game six, the Canucks headed over the new Charleswood Bridge to face Charleswood at the Eric Coy Arena.

Charleswood was up by a goal, with less than a minute left in the third period. The Canuck’s miracle playoff run seemed to have ended. The, with the goalie pulled, the Canuck’s Kerry Ross tied the game at 19:45 of the third period. At 8:50 of the first overtime, Kerry scored again to win the Championship. Kris Fillion was outstanding in the net.

In 2015, I began to wonder if there were any plans to celebrate the January 22, 2016, 50th Anniversary of the opening of the St. James Civic Centre. I approached Tom Miller and a regular season Canucks game was scheduled. This game was also the start of my writing career.

At 4:21 of the first period, Mitchell Lockhart scored the first goal of the Civic Centre’s second half century. Lockhart recorded a hat trick in the Canucks 8-0 victory over the Fort Garry-Fort Rouge Twins. Tyler Weiss recorded the shutout.

Reaching the top 2019-2024

The 2019 league Final between St. James and Pembina Valley proved that anything can happen. With the series tied at 2, the Canucks won on a Saturday night in Morris to move within one win of their second championship.

The teams played on Sunday Afternoon back at the St. James Civic Centre (strange scheduling). Pembina found a way to prolong the series. After another trip down Highway 75 for game seven, the Canucks opened a 4-0 lead. However, Pembina came back. The Final Score was Pembina 5, St. James 4.

The second championship seemed close but, due to COVID-19, became elusive. The Jack McKenzie trophy was not awarded in 2021 and 2022. Prior to the 202122 season , the Canucks had to find a temporary home because the St. James Civic Centre was closed for renovations. The Canucks ended up playing home games at the Keith Bodley Arena, and the Iceplex (just inside Winnipeg’s boundaries but not serviced by Transit). Also, Marc Wankling, the team’s equipment manager passed away just prior to the start of the regular season.

Despite this, the Canucks won the regular season Art

I could not find any mention of the Arlington Street Bridge on the agenda of any recent City Hall meetings. However, I have recently found out that in August 2023, the City awarded a contract to study the feasibility of repairing the current bridge. In other words, they have hired a consultant to try and prove that Council's adoption of the 2019 report saying that the bridge was done was an over-reaction. What does this mean??

City Council apparently refuses to admit that the bridge is finished. The current study will simply further delay a decision on whether to build a new bridge, relocate the yards, or tell the North End that nothing will be done. The provincial and federal governments are likely reluctant to interfere in a City decision. However, the City's reluctance to make a decision justifies the involvement of the provincial and federal governments:

In my view, both the provincial and federal governments should offer the City of Winnipeg conditional grants of $500 Million ($500 Million from the province and $500 Million from the feds) to build a new Arlington Street Bridge on the condition that the money can only be used for the construction of a completely new bridge at the same location.

Moug Trophy with a 37-4-4 record. The Canucks defeated Charleswood, the Raiders, and Pembina Valley to win the Jack McKenzie Trophy. One of the playoffs games was a memorable 15-1 victory over the Raiders.

In 2022-23, the Junior Canucks won both the Art Moug and Jack McKenzie Trophy for the second straight season. The Junior Canucks posted a .900 regular season winning percentage, winning 12 of their 14 playoff games against St. Boniface, Transcona and St. Vital to take the Jack McKenzie Trophy. Key players included Goalie Noah Gilbert, Rory Neill who scored 49 goals as a defenceman, Tyrone Willan, Kale Price, and Brad Whitely.

The current Canuck team is in first place as the regular season winds down. The current coaching staff of Blair Mooney, Blake Harris, Jordan Mikkelson, Mike Sigfusson, Scott Forcand, and trainer Natasha Gregorie are preparing the Junior Canucks for another playoff season.

The Junior Canucks are involved in the community. This season, Canucks players have helped with the delivery of Christmas hampers for sturgeon Heights Collegiate and participated in I love to Read Month at Bannatyne School.

The St. James Junior Canucks current executive consists of Justin Steeves, Gavin McLachlan, Kyle Brazeau, Jerry Jones, and Mike Mooney.

Note: I am currently compiling a list of St. James based Eaton’s employees. For further details, please email me at fredmorris@hotmail.com.

• • •

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

Fred Morris

Trudy Schroeder

Random Notes

Sri Lanka Seniors Association news

Using Mindfulness: To Develop Health Habits

Udaya D. Annakkage is a professor in the Dept. of Engineering at U of Manitoba. He is a versatile person, a song lover and teacher of mindfulness. Among those skills, Sri Lankan Seniors Manitoba (SLSM) identified his ability to conduct one-hour mindfulness training for SLSM members on Feb. 2, 2024, at Whyte Ridge Com. Centre.

habits whereas Kalpani demonstrated five methods to apply mindfulness.

For this task Uadya enlisted the services of his daughter Malsha and of Kalpani Kaushika. Udaya explained overall mindfulness practice principles with a short mindful rehearsal for seniors to pursue daily. Malsha described the mindful activities one-by-one to develop health

The questions and answers session was dragged on for a long time due to curiosity of seniors to know the correlation between health and mindfulness.

Commemoration of three events followed by lunch

Senaka Samarasinghe

Three flags namely Canada, Sri Lanka and Winnipeg City were positioned in three appropriate locations to commemorate the relationship between Winnipeg and Sri Lanka. The venue was at Chili Chutney, Indian Food Restaurant and the date was on Feb. 2nd (FRI) 2024. The three events were as follows:

(A) City of Winnipeg: Established 150-Years Ago (19-1-1874).

The three flags.

To acknowledge this, Sri Lankan Seniors Manitoba is planning to conduct a seminar to expose outcomes of the aviation history of two capital-cities specifically Colombo-Winnipeg. This historical event created mutual benefits not only for the two cities but for the two countries. Inhabitants of both cities will be the partners of the proposed session.

(B) Sri Lankan Association of Manitoba: Established (4-2-1984) 40-Years Ago.

In 1984, there were about 50 house-

Why am I going to school?

holds known as Sri Lankan origin. Out of which only 39 individuals were identified and 19 others we were unable to locate. Out of the total number, only 30 members were willing to work to establish Sri Lankan Association of Manitoba. The inaugural meeting was held on Feb. 4, 1984, in Room No. 2C01, Centennial Hall, University of Manitoba. The nominated office bearers were: (1) Castus Peiris (President) (2) Aloysious Perera (VicePresident) (3) Patrick Gomes (Treasurer) (4) Pauline Silva (Secretary) (5) Padmini Hapuarachchi (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer) (6) Tilak Abeysinghe (Director) and (7) Herbert Embuldeniya.

(C) Sri Lankan Independences Day: Obtained 76-Years Ago (4-2-1948).

All attendees stood up and narrated Sri Lankan national song. Although a dress code was not specified a few were dressed up in national dress with women in saree and men in sarong and white shirt.

The following story is part a new feature, a fictional work by our columnist Wayne Weedon, Why I am Going to School. Wayne is a brilliant writer whose style consists of simple declarative statements that stick in your mind as he leads you through an intricate web of circumstances to reach the lesson he set out to teach.

Why I am Going to School

Pregnant and deserted by her lover, a young girl moves in with her grandfather. When the baby boy is born, the grandfather agrees to look after him so his granddaughter may go to work. Despite the age difference, the relationship between the boy and his great-grandfather was more like two siblings than that of an adult and child. As this boy grew into a young man, he loved to look back and tell stories about his great-grandfather, whom he always called “Pops”.

Pops never intended to send me to school. He eventually gave in after months of me begging. I was envious of my friend Ralph who was telling me how much fun he was having at school with his new friends.

The principal suggested I should begin in kindergarten because I would be behind the other children. Pops handed me a primary reader, asking me to read it out loud, which I did, with no difficulty. The principal conceded to enrol me in the first grade.

Pops continued with my lessons at home, telling me, “You need to keep one step ahead of the others or you may begin to fall behind, and if you start falling behind, it can be very difficult to catch up.”

Pops had always advised me to not let my schooling get in the way of my education. “School is not designed to educate; real education takes place outside of school.”

Over the years, I could clearly understand, what Pops was teaching me at home was vastly different from what I was learning in school.

A few weeks ago, I told Pops about a substitute teacher who told us, several Christian churches in a Southern state made a request to ban Huckleberry Finn.

Pops thoughtfully looked at me and asked, “Did this teacher tell you why the churches want this book banned?”

I told Pops, the only reason this teacher gave was because the author had used the word “nigger” two-hundred and twelve times.

Pops stated there would be another reason, “Whenever someone puts on the appearance of helping someone, or righting a wrong, you will always find there is a hidden agenda. Do-gooders often come across as being selfless and altruistic, but, with a bit of research, you will find a selfish and greedy reason why they are “helping” someone.”

When I admitted I had not read this book, Pops quickly retrieved a copy from his bookshelf. Pops explained, “Quakers abhorred slavery and called for slavery to be abolished. However, during Mark Twain’s time, not only did most religious institutions condone slavery, but they also owned slaves, and profited from the slave trade. Christians owned millions of slaves throughout the world. Mark Twain wrote satire, and, in this book, he is pointing out the hypocrisy which Christians have. Huckleberry Finn was fretting because he believed what Christian people had been telling him, his helping this runaway slave was akin to stealing someone’s property, and because he was committing this sin, he would be spending an eternity in hell. Huckleberry lamented, if he had only taken religion seriously, he would not be in the

pickle he was in.”

Pops began to read, telling me, Huckleberry is speaking to himself: There was the Sunday-school, you could a gone to it; and if you’d a done it they’d a learnt you there that people that acts as I’d been acting about that nigger goes to everlasting fire. It made me shiver. And I about made up my mind to pray, and see if I couldn’t try to quit being the kind of a boy I was and be better. So I kneeled down. But the words wouldn’t come. Why wouldn’t they? It warn’t no use to try and hide it from Him. Nor from ME, neither. I knowed very well why they wouldn’t come. It was because my heart warn’t right; it was because I warn’t square; it was because I was playing double. I was letting ON to give up sin, but away inside of me I was holding on to the biggest one of all. I was trying to make my mouth SAY I would do the right thing and the clean thing, and go and write to that nigger’s owner and tell where he was; but deep down in me I knowed it was a lie, and He knowed it. You can’t pray a lie — I found that out.

“Using satire, this author is pointing out, it wasn’t Huckleberry Finn who was “playing double”, it was the Christian institutions who were telling Huckleberry that he would be condemned to hell for his sin of helping Jim, a runaway slave. He is also trying to have the reader understand that while Jim is physically a slave, Huckleberry Finn, because of his religious beliefs, is more of a slave, he is a mental slave who believes he is free. Like Shakespeare, Twain is trying to get his point across in an indirect manner, believing this to be the only way he can get the reader to understand and accept the truth. Mark Twain’s method is much different than his friend, Robert Green Ingersoll, who, in his writings, comes right out and directly states that religion is a form of slavery, and all religious people, because of fear, are in fact slaves. Ingersoll did not mince words, he openly declared, there are no gods, and there is no heaven nor hell.”

I was beginning to understand what Pops was talking about. When we were reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Pops told me that the author was using the wizard as a metaphor for God whom he showed to be false. The author was in fact an atheist, but he did not directly denounce Christianity like Ingersoll did. I asked Pops if he believed Frank Baum could be compared to Mark Twain.

“In his fiction, yes, but when he was serious, he sounded much like Robert Ingersoll. Listen to this, ‘When the priests acknowledge their fallibility; when they abolish superstition, intolerance and bigotry; when they abhor the thought of a vindictive and revengeful God; when they are able to reconcile reason and religion, and fear not to let the people think for themselves, then, and then only, will the church regain its old power and be able to draw to its pulpits the whole people.’ Wouldn’t you

say Baum is more direct when he wrote that? He was revealing what his real beliefs were. Don’t forget, when these men were alive, there were laws against blasphemy and by openly questioning religion they could have gotten into BIG TROUBLE. Rather than ignoring the truth, schools should be teaching how Ingersoll exposed religion in his defence of Charles Reynolds who, in 1887, was convicted in a New Jersey court of committing blasphemy.

Pops continued, “All people, including Christians, must come to understand, Yesterday, physical slavery was accepted as normal, today, physical slavery is not accepted but mental slavery is not only accepted, it is encouraged. We should be questioning what we are doing today. Our actions today may be viewed as being sinful acts in the future. We accept that the normal customs of today are good, but normal customs are continually changing. People who think for themselves, using rational common sense, usually do not follow the customs of the day. They do what they believe is the proper thing to do and, they do not follow a herd of sheep. Huckleberry Finn believed this runaway slave, who had become his friend and companion, should be free, but Huckleberry had been taught by Christians that slaves are someone’s property and must be returned to their rightful owner.”

“I see what you mean. But, what about the use of offensive words?”

“If you delete things that offend someone you are trying to erase history. A lot of history has been already erased and we should be trying to resurrect the truth which is hidden rather than trying to hide more. The same people who are trying to hide this book are the same ones who are falsifying history. These same people are telling us that religious organisations never owned slaves, and Adolf Hitler was an atheist, that he was never a Christian, even though Hitler’s baptismal certificate and his confirmation certificate tell us a different story. We are being told, Christians are good, and atheists are bad, even though true history is telling us a different story. The history being taught in schools has been sanitized just like many of Shakespeare’s plays have been sanitized for students. There are also edited, revised, and sanitized versions of Huckleberry Finn.

I suggest you read the original edition which Ernest Hemmingway stated is the best book ever written.”

The next day I found our regular teacher was back. Nobody mentioned the subject of banning books. Other than me, I wondered if anyone else even cared whether books were being banned or not.

Next Month, A new story: Killing Ourselves with Coke

Wayne Douglas Weedon is a Manitoba author who writes a combination of fictional and factual stories, essays, and novels.

Mark Twain Stained Glass Window in, of all places, a church. Photo courtesy of the US Library of Congress.

intrepid Winnipeg architect adds vitae

Ed Calnitsky and I have been friends since high school. In fact, my first trip overseas was with Ed and a mutual friend, Greg. While I spent our month in London wandering around that great city, Ed promptly found work with a London architectural firm and stayed for three months.

Over the years, I have done several interviews with Ed, most of them for articles I wrote for a construction magazine out of Vancouver detailing some of the projects the busy architect has been involved with across Canada. So, it was nice catching up with him again recently over lunch on Corydon and continuing to chart his career as an architect.

Ed comes from humble beginnings. The oldest of four siblings, he was six when his father passed away. He learned resiliency and the value of hard work from his widowed young mother. I remember how he put himself through university working at lumber yards and factories in the summers.

in a wide range of institutional and commercial projects. The management of these projects is challenging as every project is a team effort and can often be very complex requiring highly specialized skills from professional staff and associates.”

Ed has been an architect for more than 30 years –but he started his post-university working life as an interior designer. “From an early age, I was always interested in drawing,” he recalls. “While I initially considered going into architecture, I felt at the time that it would be too daunting.”

After his time in London, he traveled to Israel and spent some months volunteering on a kibbutz. On the kibbutz, he became friends with another volunteer from Caracas, Venezuela. That fellow had an uncle who was an architect in the Venezuelan capital at one of the country’s leading architectural firms. Ed spent the next summer working for the firm.

“Working for architectural firms in both London and Caracas gave me the opportunity to become involved in a number of interesting projects,” he recalls.

Back in Canada, he was hired to teach design at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. After three years, he moved back to Winnipeg where he met Linda, his wife-to-be, and decided to go back to university and earn his degree in architecture.

Ever the hard-worker, Ed went to school part time while working for the provincial government Design Services Branch. After graduating from architecture, he worked for a period in the Health Sciences Centre’s planning department, then interned with James + Rollier Architect Planner in Winnipeg.

In 1982, he and a partner, Ken Heshka, opened their own firm Calnitsky Heshka Associates. He went solo in 1986, forming Calnitsky Associates Architects.

“In our practice,” he says, “we are typically involved

Ed has enjoyed a much-varied career that has taken him far and wide. His projects have included hotels and hospitality projects, secure facilities including prisons, churches and schools, health care centres, aquatic and sports facilities and many others across Canada and in the United States.

His first big break came early in his career when he was hired by Lakeview Developments to design a chain of hotels after impressing then Lakeview President Jack Levit with work he did on a smaller project for the company. This led to steady work designing hotels with other developers across Canada and in the United States.

“Our most recent hotel designs have been the new Best Western Premier Hotel on Regent Avenue in Winnipeg,” he notes, “and two major hotels in Saskatoon, the Downtown Holiday Inn and the new College Quarter Hotel built on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan – one of the first hotels in Canada to be built on a university campus.”

Among Ed’s more prestigious projects have been the New Gillam Town Centre with PSA Studio Inc., receiving a Canadian Architect Award in 2013; the Manitoba Law Courts Building renovation involving the restoration of all courtrooms and judge’s chambers as part of a team led by Hans Peter Langes, Architect; and a major retrofit and upgrade to Assiniboine Park Pavilion in Winnipeg.

Then there was Ed’s design of the Canadian Embassy Reconfiguration in Kyiv, Ukraine, and the Canadian High Commissioner’s Residence and CIDA Offices in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Current projects he is working on are a major contract for The Department of National Defense at CFB Borden, Ontario, a fire hall expansion in Yellowknife and a new hockey arena in the RM of Tache that will include a running track, library and senior’s drop-in centre. Recent projects include two new prisons and a federal government research lab in Alberta. He is also working on several First Nations housing projects, schools and healthcare facilities in northern Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

In addition to his staff of architects and designers in Winnipeg – Ed has an office in a heritage house on Nassau. He also employs professional staff in both Toronto and Vancouver.

“With technology today,” he observes, “it’s much easier to work outside Manitoba. It allows for many

Ed Calnitsky

more opportunities and cuts back on the need for travel. Most of our meetings now are conducted on either Teams or Zoom.”

A few years ago, in the wake of Ed developing a thriving specialty designing churches, it occurred to him that he knew very little about Christian theology and taking some classes might help him develop a deeper understanding of the unique aspects of church architecture. As he delved deeper into the subject, he became more interested to the point where, just last October, he graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Masters degree in Theology.

His Masters’ thesis – should any readers be interested in reading it – is “Pauline Scholarship and JewishChristian Dialogue” – with an emphasis on reading the Pauline Epistles of the New Testament within the framework of Judaism.

After more than 30 years as an architect, Ed has not lost his love of architecture and his enthusiasm for tackling new and interesting projects. “I value the gifted individuals that I work with and the collaborative approach to creative problem solving inherent in the design process. I couldn’t do what I do without them.” he says.

How to become a geocacher: Let’s start again

Ihave had a few inquiries regarding how to join the Geocaching community. The process is actually quite simple and since I only covered it once about a year and a half ago I’ll go over it again. Back then the coverage of this topic was simplified so I’ll include a bit more detail and try to make it easy to become a Geocacher.

Trust me, it’s worth it.

The first thing that you need is a method of getting on the internet. You can use a Desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet or a cell phone. If you don’t have an internet connection that’s okay as you can connect to the internet by Wi-Fi. There are several ways to connect by Wi-Fi if you don’t have it at home. The local library is a good place to start. Most have free Wi-Fi, but if that is out of reach there are many other places such as coffee shops that offer it for free, grocery stores have free connections and many shopping malls. Sometimes a neighbor will let you use their Wi-Fi connection.

it for geocaching. If you only have talk and text or even if you don’t even have a sim card as long as the phone will hold a charge it will connect via WiFi. Cell phones, connected or not, are rapidly becoming the tool of choice for geocaching. I’ll discuss their use more in later articles.

Now, once you are connected, you need to go to “geocaching.com”. The page that opens will have a green rectangle in the upper right hand corner that has the words “sign up” in it. Click on it and another screen will open that allows you to sign up with the geocaching app. This is a good time to check out the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy.

wish to send you regarding the occasional cache you find or information that you can ask for to help you find your goal.

The next line is for you to add a user name. You can use almost anything you want with a few obvious exceptions. Whatever you may choose to use, remember that you will need to write your username on a logbook when you find a cache to show that you did find it and a long name can be a real pain, literally, at a very cold temperature.

Now you need to create a password. As with any other password it should be difficult enough that anyone you don’t want to have access to your account will not be able to guess it, but simple enough that you can remember it. Once done you can choose to allow Geocaching to send you tips and updates. This may be handy for a beginner.

The best bet for your first activity is to play the video on the opening page. It is just under two minutes long and worth the short time it takes to watch.

Once you have watched the video, click on “Find Geocaches Nearby” and a page will open with a list of geocaches, probably not near you as the app hasn’t located you yet. It will shortly. If you are on a computer without GPS you may need to type in where you are (Dauphin, Winnipeg, Brandon, etc). The page will open with a list where you are. Click on “Map Geocaches” and the geocaches will be displayed.

Now just look where you live on the map and you are ready to go get one. Remember to always take a pen or pencil with you to sign the logbook.

A cell phone does not need to be connected to a service provider to use

You can choose to sign up with your Google account, your Facebook account or your Apple account. I’ll only be going over how to sign up by creating your own account. The first line is where you put your email address. This is necessary for Groundspeak (the owners of geocaching.com) to contact you with interesting items such as messages that the geocache owners may

Of course, there is a Captcha (I’m Not A Robot) to click on. We don’t want any robots to join our group as they are too rough on the geocaches. Seriously though, virtual robots are sometimes used to create problems with a website. Now click on “I accept” and they will send you a validation email to the address you used for signing up. Open the email and click on “Validate Account” and you are in.

About this time, if you checked off “allow Geocaching to send you tips and updates” you will have received an email from Geocaching.com welcoming you with a few links to places that will provide information on the sport. As anxious as you probably are, take a few minutes to check these out.

I hope you enjoy your new hobby and watch for me when you are out geocaching. I’m out there.

Gary Brown is the President of the Manitoba Geocaching Association (MBGA) and can be reached at MBGAexec@outlook.com.

Gary Brown Geocaching

Myron Love

Get spring ready with these top attractions at the Winnipeg home + Garden Show

The Winnipeg Home + Garden Show is set to return to the RBC Convention Centre from April 4-7, 2024 with local guest speakers and hundreds of home and garden companies to choose from and find inspiration from. Connect with the best in the industry, meet HGTV Canada stars, and ignite creativity for any renovation endeavor, for inside or outside your home.

Make 2024 the year you finally makeover your backyard with the creativity and expert advice that you’ll find at the Winnipeg Home + Garden Show. Learn from leaders in the industry including contractor and TV host, Bryan Baeumler, celebrity contractor and host of HGTV Canada’s Island of Bryan, Megan Golightly, insta-famous organizer and founder of Simplified, presented by Signature Cleaning Services and an endless lineup of local favourites, all under one roof.

The Show is a place where home and garden enthusiasts alike can join in their shared passion and learn from the best of the best while making trusted connections. Start mapping out that home project that’s been on the vision board for years, finally transform the backyard to somewhere worth spending time, or make

this year the one that you finally conquer gardening - whatever the question, the Winnipeg Home + Garden Show has answers. Here are just a few of the must-see attractions Showgoers won’t want to miss at this year’s Winnipeg Home + Garden Show. Hear from the experts themselves

Expert advice for any home project!

Get it straight from the source on The Inland Fine Furnishings Stage, presented by HGTV Canada, where Bryan Baeumler and local experts alike will share the what’s what on everything home and garden. Don’t miss celebrity organizer Megan Golightly’s presentation where she’ll walk the audience through how to build and design a functional home that’s easy to organize in. These crowd favourites will be accompanied by some of the best Winnipeg experts in the industry. Discover the ultimate backyard inspiration

Is your backyard in need of some much needed TLC? Begin the transformation from a yard to a patio here. At Paradise Patio, landscaped by Belgard Hardscapes and furnished by E.G. Penner Building Centres, Showgoers can explore the ultimate inspiration for any backyard and talk to the experts about everything from

pool decks, furniture, outdoor kitchens and fireplaces. Make the most out of any outdoor living space and find out what it takes to gain an outdoor oasis.

Learn from a landscaper

Have a dream backyard in mind for this spring? Have any pressing questions answered at Ask a Landscaper, presented by the Manitoba Nursery & Landscape Association and the Winnipeg Free Press, where top local landscape and nursery experts will be on hand. Showgoers will be able to drop in for a FREE 15-minute consultation and leave knowing how to create the ultimate backyard sanctuary come spring. A landscape consultation is the perfect way to meet with an experienced professional who can guide you in the right direction. Get inspired!

Speak with a renovator

Dreaming of a spring refresh for your home? Make these dreams come true and have all your questions answered at Ask a Renovator, presented by the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association and RENO+ DECOR Magazine, where the city’s top home improvement experts will be available. Drop in for a FREE 15-minute consultation. You’ll leave with a better

LETTERS

understanding of how to make any dream home come true, including how to avert disaster. Make sure to take advantage of these complimentary consultations, where experts will offer insights, provide advice, and recommend the best path forward.

Green your thumb

Want to learn the basics of gardening and don’t know where to start? Gardening can be overwhelming without a little bit of guidance. Whispering Oaks Greenhouse will be on-site at the Show to help you learn everything you need to know to get started with gardening this season in a new Show feature.

Sip and Shop

Winnipeggers will also be able to enjoy a day out at the Show, grab a drink from The Subaru Lounge, or a cocktail from the Peachy Green Sidecar Bar and shop from the Pop-up Market filled with local artisans, goodies and more. Find these features and so much more at the RBC Convention Centre from April 4-7, 2024. To learn more and buy tickets visit – www.winnipeghomeandgardenshow.com. Get your tickets EARLY and save $2!

Reaction to Federal follies and how it is time for Justin Trudeau to take a walk in the snow

Neutral reader

Ihave recently returned to live in Winnipeg after many years of being elsewhere.

I enjoy reading this seniors’ paper, and like to read all the contributors’ articles, especially Fred Morris and Jim Ingebrigtsen.

The headline alone (Federal follies and how it is time for Justin Trudeau to take a walk in the snow) summed up the whole of the writer’s opinion. I was surprised to read such an out-there political statement, which I realize is supposed to be an opinion! In some ways it included all parties, so that was good.

I have an opinion concerning the Conservative Leader, and from day one I was concerned about his politics, and style. Change is good in many cases in politics, but a politician can only accomplish so much, however, their manner of doing so counts.

Today, when I got to Page A6 of the Winnipeg Free Press (so glad to live here and get my paper everyday) there was someone else’s Opinion. Not sure if that really is the Conservative Party’s opinions or just appears to be Pierre Poilievre’ constant comments! Conservatives would be much more successful without him, in my opinion!

But most times enjoy your column, Dorothy, but not so much this week?

Pat Moore

Appreciative Reader

Dear Pat: Our comments are much appreciated. I am very clear about my conservative bias, although I do try to be fair. Most important to me is that all readers can feel free to express their own opinions, counter or otherwise, without hesitation. That is what democracy is all about. – Dorothy

Disappointed reader

Dorothy, I am very disappointed to see what you personally wrote in your “Federal Follies” article.

Your own newspaper is UNNECESSARILY funded by the Government of Canada. The very government you detest. Hypocritically ironic. Take their money and slam them.

I may not be voting Liberal, but most of us are intelligent enough to know that Trudeau is not the root of all our evils.

Also, how dare you say you “understand” why Trudeau and his wife divorced! This is a very personal tragedy that only they could intimately understand. Shame on you. Furthermore, I was disheartened to read your statement; “(he) has so little regard for other human beings.”

Wow, Dorothy, that's a new low for you. Look at other national leaders and do the comparison; then tell us who actually has little regard for human beings! Assuming you understand the definition of “little regard for human beings.”

Since you are speaking on a platform

with the government's money, you should be responsible enough to take a more careful approach to your words.

Extremely disappointed,

David Bauer, Winnipeg P.S. Of course you would never print anything that goes against your bias opinions.

Dear David: Thank you for your thoughts. Please don’t confuse Lifestyles with the WFP which gets millions a year from the government and reflects their opinions very faithfully. We are a very small independent media. I don’t pretend to be neutral. I declare my bias as a Progressive Conservative, but I also encourage opposing opinions. How can anyone learn anything without hearing different points of view? – Dorothy

Happy reader

Your article about Justin taking a walk in the snow, or the rain or the evening (dark suits him better), was exceptional in different ways. I do not recall any Liberal supporter speaking out (I did hear about one in Quebec, but he was silenced) as you did, and I admire you for this. He has always seemed a “hollow man” to me for years and his escapades know no limits. He will do as he pleases.

I have e-mailed the local Liberals (the four of them) and the only one that hinted any concern was Kevin Lamoureux and he is the only one that responds. Dan Vandal, Terry Duguid, Ben Carr just sit on their hands, wearing shades and ear-

muffs to cancel the sound. I am sure they have received inside dope of their illustrious leader. But why would they make any noise?

Likewise, Chrystia Freeland, Melanie Joyal and Anita Anand whom I thought would provide some hope, have fallen to the sway of power and likely kiss the ring of the One PM.

I admire your stance and courage. We all hear rumours and read friends’ emails about the control the Liberals have over the media, of the CBC and the press. Still selling this guy.

It seems the Opposition like Pierre P. are quickly blackened and “painted red” as demons or Trump allies, despite not getting into power or given a chance. And the NDP and leader is playing games with the Liberals and not having the guts enough to call them, thinking he (they) are really making a difference.

Aside from that, I enjoy Wayne Weedon's articles. And others, too....

Take care. Stay well.

Kirk Kuppers

Dear Kirk: Kevin Lamoureux is one of the few old time Liberals who have survived and who understands what an MP is supposed to do. He is an effective opponent to my side and defends his government as he is pledged to do, but he also understands that the current track the Liberals are on is a very slippery slope. There are some sensible and decent folks on the government side of the House, but they must tread very carefully or suffer the fate of Jodi Wilson-Raybould. Thanks for your kind comments. – Dorothy