The Pas Trappers Festival celebrates our history and community
Gabrielle Swan
For the Town of The Pas and the Tri-Community area, the Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival is more than just a good time for locals and tourists each February. The Festival represents a way of life in our communities and is a nod to our history and those trappers making a living off the land.
If you have never attended a Trappers Festival, there are over 20 different events, many of them competitions for the title of King and Queen Trapper. The festival also boasts the World Championship Dog Race, where mushers and their dogs from around the world converge in our community to race the 105 miles. For Mayor Andre Murphy, dog sled racing has always been a highlight. “The Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival is a time when our communities come together to celebrate the rich history and traditions of our area. It also showcases the incredible volunteers, sponsors, and community members who make our Tri-Community such a remarkable place to call home,” says Andre.
You might be asking yourself, why on earth would the folks in Northern Manitoba plan what is the longest-run-
ning outdoor festival at the absolute coldest time of year? “It all came down to when it was best for the trappers,” explains Chris Perchulak, a 6-time King Trapper winner. Chris Perchulak, a local trapper, and his 16-year-old
Eye hygiene is critical to eye health
Dr. Romie Dhaliwal
With all the events, parties, and dinners we are attending during this busy holiday season, we can’t forget about our daily eye hygiene. Keeping our lids and lashes clean is so important in preventing conditions like blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), dry eye disease, and eye infections in general.
Blepharitis can be caused by seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff
of the scalp and eyebrows), eyelash mites or lice, a blocked oil gland on the eyelid, rosacea, or allergies. Women are more
prone to these eye conditions because of their makeup. If makeup is not removed properly, it can clog the oil glands and inhibit proper oil production. Makeup buildup in the meibomian glands can lead to problems like styes, eyelid skin problems, demodex mite infections, chronic pink eye, and eyelash growth problems.
Eyelash extensions are another popular trend and are one of the leading causes of blepharitis. The eyelids can become red,
here’s a small hydroponics business in Winnipeg that is making a big impact, turning the dream of fresh, sustainable produce into reality for schools, seniors' residences and homes. Les Verts Living, co-founded by Rachel Green, her father Kerry and former colleague Jennifer Bailes, offers innovative indoor gardening systems designed to empower anyone to grow their own fresh, gourmet leafy greens at any time of the year.
The name Les Verts (French for "the greens") reflects the company’s focus on fresh, vibrant produce and their commitment to sustainable living. Rachel and Kerry worked at a plant nutrition company when they became deeply enthralled by food science and horticulture. The company was sold and moved but they contin-
Shauna Dobbie
Chris and Colin Perchulak, the 2024 King trapper winners. Photo courtesy of The Perchaluks.
Beauty doesn't have to be toxic.
u The Pas Trappers Festival celebrates our history and community
Continued from page 1
son Colin are the current reigning King Trapper and Jr. King Trapper, titles not held simultaneously by a father and a son in 40 years when Walter and Randy Koshel were the first father-son pair to accomplish this in 1984. But before the men, there were the women! Liz McLean and her daughter Vanessa jointly held the Queen Trapper and Jr. Queen Trapper titles in 1983, winning these titles 4 years in a row! This has not been achieved by any family before or since the McLeans.
When I asked Liz about her favourite events, she shared, “It's more for the fun than for winning. We would donate all the money we won to support children with special needs.” Liz’s daughter Vanessa also won the title of Fur Queen in 1988 and then won Miss Canada the following year.
the furs for the market. He was the one that took great pride in having the furs to be properly done so that they could be showcased. I am more than often the one that learns from him to this day and he is passing the tradition on to his children.”
Walter, now 84 years old, was proud to tell me that both his sons, Randy and Monte, have held the Jr. King Trapper title. After Randy won the Jr. title in 1984, he went on to win the King Trapper Title.
Walter’s best-scoring events included Pole Climbing, Log Splitting, Canoe Packing, and the Snowshoe Race, his favourite. He began competing in 1961, and in 1967, in honour of the town's centennial year, Walter walked on snowshoes to Winnipeg, a journey through the bush and across the lakes that would last two weeks –all this generated excitement for the community and the upcoming festival.
His son Randy first started competing in junior events in 1982 at the age of 14. “There were older competitors that were bigger, stronger and faster. It was the challenge of keeping up with and being pushed by them that I could perform best in the speed and endurance events such as Pole Climbing, Log Cutting and Splitting, Pack Race, Snowshoe Race and Trap Setting,” he tells me. Like his dad, Randy’s favourite event was snowshoeing.
“As far back as I can remember, we as a family have always been part of the Trappers Festival and the harvesting of furs. My brother Monte honed his skills at a young age going out on the trapline harvesting and preparing
u
For the current King Trapper, Chris Perchulak, it was his wife who encouraged him to try his hand at the competition. “We had talked in the house for a while about competing, and I was going to start the year Colin was born in 2008. He was born on Trappers weekend, so that didn’t work out. However, from 2009 until now, I’ve competed most years. For Colin, 2023 was his first year, and he was honoured with the Rookie of the Year title and finished the competition as runner-up. Seeing his dad compete each year motivated him to take on such an incredible challenge.
To prepare for competition, the reigning champs spend their time running, making fires, chopping wood, and making bannock. “We actually made snowshoes last year to compete in, which was really cool,” Colin tells me, “I raced in that pair we made last year”.
Chris tells me, “It’s about staying in shape all year. Some events you train for religiously, and others are just part of your way of life. Like ice chiseling, we’re doing that on a regular basis, so your body is already conditioned.” The event that the duo agreed sets them apart is the tea boiling. “It’s a bit of technique to split the wood because they don’t give you any paper,” says Chris, “You get three or four logs of wood, an axe, and a couple of matches, and they say make a fire. So you have to cut it into kindling, literally shave it down into little shavings to start your fire and then build it up from there”.
When asked what qualities make someone a good competitor, Chris replied, “You have to be a little bit cuckoo. You don't necessarily have to be a trapper or an outdoorsman, but I think that helps a lot, and then be willing to put in the time and be a little bit stubborn. Stubborn would be a good word, because not all comes easy. Even with the years that I put in, there are still a
few events that I struggle with.” For Colin, the word, drive comes to mind.
Colin will need all of that drive to continue on his Trappers Festival Journey, as he now has a title to defend, and in two years’ time, he will be competing in the Sr. category. There are many differences between the senior and junior event categories for both the King and Queen sides of the competition; the biggest distinction is that the senior categories hold almost twice as many events to win as the junior categories. Of the events that the seniors must contend with, flour packing has to be the most ominous, at least for the viewers.
What exactly is flour packing? Just like it sounds… the person who is the strongest, most able-bodied carrier of flour wins. According to Chris, “Flour packing is putting your head in a harness drop and then loading up anywhere from 600-900 lbs. of flour stocked up on your shoulders and back, and it's all being supported through that harness that goes around your head. You then have to walk a distance of 20 feet with it.” And other than to score points and win, why would people do this? “Because in the early days of the festival, the flour was part of the prize. However much flour you could pack, if you won King Trapper, you got to keep it,” says Chris.
“The festival's timing, the third week of February, makes perfect sense for the reason that the festival was started. Historically, when people trapped for a living, that was a way of life; these people would be out on their trap lines, actually living there for months, and then in early February, they'd start coming out of the bush to town to sell their fur. The community saw this as a good opportunity to have a festival for all these people and for them to sell their furs. The festival was based on the fur industry. It’s a dry time on the trap line, and why we're still carrying on that tradition,” says Chris. Chris and Colin Perchulak are 3rd and 4th generation trappers. Will they compete at this year’s festival from February 12th-16th, 2025, to defend their King and Jr. King Trapper titles? Will a mother-daughter duo come in and claim the Queen and Jr. Queen Trapper title? The best way to find out is in person! For more details on the festival, check out www.trappersfestival.ca.
Les Verts Living – growing a sustainable future, one leaf at a time
Continued from page 1
ued their research, setting up a lab of their own along with Jennifer Bailes. Their experiments in indoor growing led to some success. Friends, family, and neighbours eagerly snapped up their fresh greens, with some driving over 30 minutes to pick up
their weekly supply. Positive feedback poured in, with customers marvelling at both the flavour and beauty of the produce.
Encouraged by this enthusiasm, the team at Les Verts spent six years perfecting their systems, refining lighting,
nutrient blends, and seed varieties to optimise growth, taste, and nutrition. In 2022, they launched Les Verts Terrace Pro, a growing system about the size of a double-wide gourmet fridge and able to grow up to 80 plants at once. Shortly after, they launched Les Verts Terrace, a smaller unit about the size of a regular fridge and suitable for a family.
The hydroponic units are about more than the food they grow, they’re about creating experiences. Seniors’ residences use them to promote wellness and provide hands-on activities, and schools integrate the systems into science and sustainability education.
Now, with their home-friendly size, Les Verts is bringing these benefits to kitchens and living rooms across Canada.
"We want to decentralise food production," says Rachel. "Our systems make it easy for anyone to grow fresh produce, whether it’s for their family or their community."
With a legacy of agricultural research and a team of indoor farming experts, Les Verts Living combines science and passion to address challenges like food security and climate adaptation. Their systems save water, eliminate pesticides, and reduce transportation emissions, offering a sustainable alternative to store-bought greens.
Rachel and her team believe in the power of small, local actions to make a global impact. "Growing your own food is a simple but powerful way to connect with nature and your community," she says.
Gabrielle Swan View from The Pas
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ISSUES IN THE NEWS
Let’s make 2025 the Year of Development in Manitoba by getting that economic horse out of the barn
As we prepare to enter a new year, we are all thinking ahead to what comes next. I believe this will be a year of change. It is our task to make it a change for the better.
On the political front, there will be a change in the leadership of our country and we need to make sure our incoming government understands what we want and expect.
At the local level, there will be a change in the leadership of the PC Party, and once again, it is up to members to think carefully about what they want and expect from the new leader. Choose carefully because it is commonly thought that Mr. Kinew will leave the province for a kick at the federal leadership of the Liberal Party. This could mean a change in provincial leadership sooner than expected.
More importantly, there is a change in attitudes. People are fed up with the divisiveness that has been promoted over the past ten years. We are one country; one people; and we have one citizenship. We do not go around with stickers on our heads proclaiming us to be different colours, different genders, different religions, different political stripes. We all have our own ideas of who we are, how we think, what we believe and who we may love. That’s our personal business and not for anyone to judge. To me, you are either Canadian or you are not. Period. And if we are Canadian, we are free to think, free to choose, free to love and live our own lives with dominion over our own bodies, our own ideas and our own fates.
greenhouses by a small business. We must continue to promote interprovincial trade and the removal of barriers to that trade.
2. Invest in infrastructure modernization and maintenance. That means roads constructed to international standards along with a program of maintenance. It means a long-term plan to meet energy needs all across the province, entertaining novel ideas such as allowing secondary energy sales from Hydro installations, allowing the market to invest in small nuclear plants and even small hydro generation dams to support the energy grid. It means paring down bureaucratic growth in crown operations and putting more people to work at the delivery end of the operation.
3. Encouraging development of Manitoba resources through a program of active trade and investment recruitment. That means making it easy for mining projects to get underway. It means going to international trade events and selling the opportunities in Manitoba. It means welcoming investors when they get here and aggressively pursuing business. It also means allowing northern communities to manage their natural advantages. It means actively pursuing ideas such as NeeStaNan, the northern rail route and port near Port Nelson on Hudson Bay.
FEB 8, 2025 | 7:30 PM
FEB 9, 2025 | 2:00 PM
With that settled, let’s look ahead to the wonderful opportunity that opens up when we have set aside artificial differences, old angers, old hurts and current resentments. Once we have done that, we can decide to push forward together. We are all on the side of prosperity for our fellow citizens and that comes through fellowship and working together.
Taking stock, here in Manitoba, we have a great deal to be happy about. We are a province of endless resources supported by open and forgiving people with many talents and great vision brought on by the wide-open spaces where nothing limits our imagination except our own willingness to take on new challenges.
So, let’s make this a year of growth and development. Let’s help Wab get that economic horse out of the barn and onto the road where he can do some good work. Here are three ideas to give that eager animal a needed boost:
1. Business wants to invest. Allow them to do this by reducing the pointless regulations that stifle enterprise and do little to protect or support anyone except the myopic people who write the rules. It should not take two years to get a permit to prospect for minerals up north. It should not cost thousands in permit fees to do such things as repair aging
I can hear some readers saying, what about health care? What about crime? What about housing? And you are correct – all those things must be addressed, but the key to this is having the money to address them. The taxpayer is tapped out. We need new resources. We also need better management.
The government (and by that, I mean the civil service) needs to do some self-examination. It has grown top-heavy and unwieldy. They are hiring managers to manage managers. This is counterproductive. Move people to the font lines where there is actual production or let them go. The private sector could use the labour.
We hear that Wab Kinew is not a socialist. Wab, people clearly want to support you so get off your duff and make some things actually happen. Start with approving NeeStaNan and helping Alberta and Saskatchewan complete the engineering studies needed to proceed and to send a signal to waiting investors that you are onside. Do this and you will benefit all of Canda, increasing your chances of getting the big job out East. Push aside the barriers to the waiting mining operations that are stuck in Manitoba’s bureaucratic tangle. Put some teeth into your directive to health care to move services to the front lines.
And you Tories out there, elect Wally Daudrich as your new leader because he is the one who can make all this happen when the government changes.
Happy New Year, everyone!
A night of powerful emotions and musical mastery featuring two titans of classical music
Daniel Raiskin, conductor Anna Geniushene,
Dorothy Dobbie
piano
Urban sprawl, good or bad
Even the words, Urban Sprawl, seem to herald some sort of doom, implying that finding a green place to live where you aren’t hemmed in by neighbours is a bad thing.
But is it?
How is living on the outskirts of a town some sort of evil? I would say that all it does is cater to the preferences of people who want some trees, shrubs, grass and flowers and a little space to themselves and their families.
That this preference is recognized by developers, among them government regulators, who are quick to quick to fit high density living into every green space there is because the green space is what makes the apartments and other density living arrangements desirable to potential dwellers.
If you ask Google for the negative impacts of urban sprawl, the answer, no matter what the country, boils down to the need for “road expansion, more transit, new shopping malls and mega-stores, new suburban developments, and stresses on existing water and sewage facilities”, all apparently a headache for city managers. Then there is a litany of weak arguments about “negative consequences for residents and the environment, such as higher water and air pollution, increased traffic fatalities and jams, loss of agricultural capacity, increased car dependency”. Those issues exist no matter where you live!
them break down when small differences occur. Witness recent protests that turned violent.
Kids are forced to live indoors instead of spending the necessary countless hours outside learning about nature, taking chances that increase their ability to cope with the unexpected in the future. Medical scientists are even revealing that the eyesight of current generations becoming myopic earlier because kids don’t have the practice of looking at the horizon, never mind at the stars.
They also lose immunity advantages that come with playing in the dirt where along the way they breathe in and absorb useful bacteria, including the “happy bacteria”, Mycobacterium vaccae. According to some, “dirt-deficiency in childhood is implicated in contributing to quite a spectrum of illnesses including allergies, asthma and mental disorders.”
It is clear, even amongst the most ardent proponents of high density living, that this is a lifestyle that requires mitigation through a number of artificial and unproven interventions. Some of the effects are counter intuitive – loneliness being one. “Higherdensity can breed stress and social isolation, often associated with depression and anxiety disorders.”
Winnipeg is sprawling too far
As a gardener who spent years starved for land in Toronto, I understand the appeal of having a spacious yard. There’s something deeply satisfying about having room to spread out and grow. At the same time, I’m married to a man who hates driving and insists on living within walking distance of buying milk and bread. That keeps us firmly planted in an urban environment. I love the bit of space we have in St. Boniface, but the question remains: why do so many people in Winnipeg have big yards filled with nothing but lawns?
It’s none of my business, really, but I can’t help wondering. Why buy land you don’t use? The answer, I suspect, is simple: because it’s cheap.
Yale University pipes in with “It (urban sprawl) has been criticized for its numerous negative effects on the environment, social life, and economy of cities and the countries they reside in.” It claims, absurdly, that “Problems include increased strain on transport infrastructure, social segregation leading to increased crime, and decreased political participation.”
I get item number one but not increased crime and decreased political participation. Really?
The opposition most often claim urban sprawl “uses up farmland” as if we were in danger of losing our daily bread because the former field would soon be occupied by homes. That is nonsense, Today’s intense farming methods are far more productive than ever before, and the world is actually producing more food than it can consume. The problem is distribution, not production.
My daughter spent the last thirty years in downtown Toronto just off the Danforth, but even she and her husband chose to buy a home across from an open playground on a street with trees and gardens, although the gardens were small.
So, let’s turn to the other side of the discussion, the harm that city densification is doing to people.
Crowded quarters ratchet up tensions. They cause behavioral changes by vast numbers of people who form artificial societies designed to support their own salvation only to have
The article goes on to say, “There is evidence, for example, that highrise living in particular is associated with lower levels of satisfaction and a poorer sense of community in older adults. The needs of children in higher-density housing also deserve special attention.” (1)
This is just one of dozens of articles along the same theme, although it points out “advantages such as forcing people to walk more, lowers services costs (for the cities)”, as well as more retail diversity, and easier access to various services.
To me, it comes down to preference and family situation. People with kids should probably try to find a place where there are trees and gardens so the children can grow up as healthy as possible. The younger socially active adults may want to live in dense neighbourhoods close to all the amenities of city life. Middle generations who suffer from depression might be well advised to live where they can easily access lots of outdoors spaces, whether downtown or in the suburbs. Older people may prefer tighter living arrangements where grass cutting and snow clearing is not a necessity.
The important part is freedom to choose without guilt or any attempt to force preferences on the individual.
Note:
1. Michelle Daley, Senior Manager, Active Living, at the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
We have a few Jacobs-style neighbourhoods in Winnipeg, the largest of which is Wolseley, and the price of housing shows that they are desirable areas in which to live. How do we make our existing neighbourhoods more desirable? To be walkable and vibrant, a neighbourhood needs to have a certain population density, otherwise restaurants, retailers and grocery stores cannot afford to set up shop. Population density cannot occur if everyone has a big lawn around their house.
Infill housing is one option –building homes on unused or underutilized land in established areas. It’s not always a comfortable change, though. For example, severing my double-wide lot to make space for another home could help, but it’s a mixed bag. Many feel the pain when a quaint cottage finds itself overshadowed by a newly built monster house next door. Still, these are the compromises we make.
But urban sprawl in Winnipeg isn’t just a quirky lifestyle choice. It comes with significant costs. In a paper released in 2014, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives reported that since 1970, Winnipeg’s land area had ballooned by 80 percent while the population had only grown by 33 percent, a trend that continues. This lopsided expansion burdens the city with ever-increasing infrastructure costs. Roads, sewers, and public services, which cost more as the city becomes bigger, are stretched thin, with maintenance and upgrades siphoning funds from other vital projects.
Suburbanisation isn’t unique to Winnipeg; it’s a North Americawide phenomenon that gained steam after World War II. Prosperity made suburban homeownership accessible, and families flocked to bigger houses with private yards, leaving urban centres behind. The result? Cities were drained of resources, and sprawling developments often came at the expense of farmland and natural ecosystems. Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, I didn’t think much about it as my family moved further out a couple of times. Back then, downtown still had a magnetic pull for those of us in the ‘burbs. Today, suburbanization has left us with a city without a centre.
Urban thinker Jane Jacobs, whose 1961 book The Death and Life of Great American Cities remains a classic, saw this trend early on in the United States. She argued that suburban sprawl eroded the vibrancy and social fabric of cities. It made cars indispensable and isolated people in low-density, single-use neighbourhoods. Jacobs championed walkable, densely populated communities with a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. These kinds of neighbourhoods, she believed, were the antidote to the environmental and social challenges of sprawl.
Even those who advocate for dense urban living can struggle with change in their own neighbourhoods. Margaret Atwood, famously progressive, opposed an eight-storey condo development in her Toronto neighbourhood. While new builds bring needed housing, they also bring challenges: overcrowded schools, increased traffic, and loss of privacy for long-time residents. But cities grow, and people need places to live.
Urban planners can help ease the pain of change by making developers bear the cost of new infrastructure. Winnipeg attempted this with the 2017 Impact Fee, but it was overturned in 2020. (We need to try again, with fees or taxes that won’t be overturned.) The city does consider the impact of new developments on existing communities, but some people are never happy about change.
St. Boniface often serves as a testing ground for Winnipeg’s urban planning experiments. Divided bike lanes on Goulet, the reduced speed limit on Marion – it’s all part of the effort to reimagine the city’s future. Some neighbours grumble about the government encroaching on their freedoms. Others protest the minor inconveniences of a slower commute. And while these initiatives spark debate, they also remind us that cities are dynamic, everevolving places.
Change can be hard, even for me. I don’t always like seeing familiar things transform. But by clinging to the status quo and building ever further outward, we’ve arrived at this unsustainable sprawl. That costs a lot of money. And that expansion should be paid for by the builders and buyers who create it.
The truth is, every new subdivision sits on land someone once cherished just as every infill housing development does. The fields and open spaces that are now paved over were part of someone else’s story. As we plan for the future, perhaps it’s worth remembering that.
Dorothy Dobbie
Shauna Dobbie
Dobbie vs Dobbie
Winnipeg’s fiscal reality: A budget lacking discipline
Winnipeg’s 2025 preliminary budget unveiled a shocking 5.95% property tax increase –the city’s largest in 34 years. Mayor Scott Gillingham defended it as necessary to address years of underfunding, depleted reserves, and rising service demands. But let’s not mince words: this budget reflects fiscal mismanagement, not sound stewardship.
Mayor Gillingham claims the budget aligns with what Winnipeggers want, but how was that determined? Well, the Mayor commissioned a poll engaging fewer than 400 participants, which hardly represents Winnipeg’s population. Worse yet, how much taxpayer money was wasted on a poll designed to justify a predetermined outcome – a massive tax hike?
pant issue – remains unaddressed. This is a glaring example of neglect, forcing law-abiding citizens to subsidize those who exploit the system.
The Mayor insists, “People expect us to prepare for the next emergency by rebuilding our rainy-day fund.” Yet, provincial legislation already requires the city to maintain the Financial Stabilization Reserve. Doing the bare minimum dictated by law isn’t a feat of financial acumen.
For years, Gillingham held the purse strings as finance chair, introducing the five-year budget – a smoke-and-mirrors exercise in deferral and obfuscation. The result? A financial crisis exacerbated by property tax increases totalling over 25% since he first took office.
How many spending cuts has this administration implemented? Zero. Not a single dime saved. Instead, they boast about a pilot program to reduce snow-clearing thresholds from 10 to 15 centimetres, as though cutting vital services is a substitute for fiscal responsibility.
While snow-clearing budgets are slashed, councillors’ spending habits remain untouched. Rookie Councillor Evan Duncan spends over $11,000 annually on promotional materials, while others, like Councillors Lukes, Wyatt and Sharma, operate two taxpayer-funded offices. This waste is ignored as residents shoulder ever-growing financial burdens.
Meanwhile, water and sewer rates are poised for another hike, ostensibly to cover critical sewage upgrades. Yet, the $40 million siphoned annually from the Water and Waste Department remains a hidden tax on ratepayers. Why is no one addressing this? Instead, the Mayor stands on a soap box, assigning blame to other levels of government and demanding more money, ignoring systemic inefficiencies.
Transit fares will also rise, yet fare evasion – a ram-
Gillingham frequently compares Winnipeg’s property taxes and fees to those in Edmonton, Ottawa, and Vancouver, claiming we’re still among the lowest. However, these comparisons lack context. For instance, Vancouver boasts the lowest property tax rates in Canada. A $1 million home in Vancouver incurs property taxes of approximately $2,968, whereas in Winnipeg, the rate on a similarly valued home exceeds $10,000. Such rhetoric manipulates perceptions rather than presenting an honest picture.
This budget includes 18 new police officers, a move I have long supported. However, the Mayor has yet to clarify if these are additional positions funded by the city or merely part of provincial commitments. Transparency is critical, yet it’s conspicuously absent.
What Winnipeg truly needs is a zero-based budget review. This approach requires every expense to be justified from the ground up, ensuring taxpayers’ dollars are spent prudently. Instead, we see a parade of fee increases and tax hikes without a single meaningful attempt to rein in spending.
Take the $91 million slated for councillor projects and discretionary accounts. Why isn’t this scrutinized? Why not eliminate unnecessary expenditures, combine redundant offices, and prioritize core services? The absence of any meaningful austerity measures in this budget is a glaring oversight.
Compare Winnipeg’s bloated governance to other municipalities where fiscal discipline reigns. Cities like Calgary have implemented performance-based budgeting, where every department must demonstrate measurable outcomes for their funding. Calgary also introduced accountability frameworks to curb unnecessary spending, achieving significant cost savings without compromising essential services.
Another example is Toronto’s “value-for-money” audits, which uncovered millions in potential savings by identifying redundant programs and inefficiencies. This is what responsible fiscal management looks like.
The glaring truth is that neither Mayor Gillingham nor Councillor Jeff Browaty possesses the executive experience required to manage a billion-dollar corporation like the City of Winnipeg. Neither has run a business, balanced payroll, or been responsible for generating revenue. Their budgets rely solely on extracting more from taxpayers – a limitless well in their eyes.
Winnipeggers deserve better. They deserve leaders who understand the value of every dollar earned and spent. They deserve a government willing to make tough decisions, eliminate waste, and prioritize fiscal accountability.
The 2025 budget represents a failure of leadership and imagination. Instead of tackling inefficiencies, addressing systemic waste, or even considering alternatives like public-private partnerships, this administration defaults to the easiest path: taxing residents further.
Mayor Gillingham campaigned on promises of responsible governance, including capping property tax increases at 3.5%. Yet here we are, facing the steepest hike in decades. This is not just a broken promise; it’s an abandonment of trust.
As a former city councillor, I know the pressures of balancing budgets, but I also know that fiscal discipline is possible. It requires courage and the willingness to challenge entrenched interests. It means being accountable to the people you serve, not the political apparatus that sustains you.
This budget is not just about numbers; it’s a reflection of priorities—or the lack thereof. The absence of spending cuts, efficiency measures, or a zero-based budget review reveals an administration out of touch with the realities facing ordinary Winnipeggers.
We cannot afford to continue down this path. It’s time for real fiscal accountability, not hollow promises or creative accounting. Winnipeggers deserve a government that works for them, not one that treats their hard-earned money as a bottomless resource. Leadership isn’t just about making difficult choices; it’s about making the right ones. This budget proves that Winnipeg’s current leadership is unwilling or incapable of doing either.
Time to get politics out of healthcare
Never have two bedfellows been more poorly matched than politics and healthcare. One is founded on caring for those in need and the other is politics.
Governments are reaping what they sewed when it comes to healthcare politics. For too long incumbent governments promise and/ or boast about the truckloads of taxpayers’ money poured into healthcare annually while their opponents decry all the funding cuts (real or imagined).
Healthcare employees and professionals learned from the antics in the political arena. And they learned well. The lesson was how to use leverage. Most specifically leveraging the politicians in power for more funding including higher wages by pointing out flaws and hot spots in the system. And so, the game within the game began.
stripe, men and women alike.
Political ideologies are usually based upon a specific perspective. And politicians, being human, sometimes raise their ideological beliefs above their best sense. This flaw affects every political
Healthcare unions and professionals are not guided by ideology but rather by their perspective on the tasks, duties and responsibilities within the healthcare conglomerate. But like their political counterparts, they too are subject to human overreach. On occasion that turns into tunnel vision, turf protection and similar self-serving behaviour. Over the years we have seen the results of ideology driven decisions. Progressive Conservative governments, while improving efficiency and system performance, sometimes took fiscal responsibility too far and unintentionally starved the system. The New Democrats are service oriented in healthcare and the default champions of healthcare workers and professionals over the years. But their ideological blind spot has resulted in bad decisions like eliminating a working group that was reducing surgery waiting lists by referring Manitobans to out-of-province services – an ideological no-no for an NDP administration. Similarly, the NDP
Health Minister recently declared allout war on private nursing agencies because they were being paid with taxpayers’ money. Last time I checked, private nursing agencies were being employed to ease an acute nursing shortage. This decision only makes sense if your goal is to serve your ideology.
Healthcare professionals and workers are guilty of similar transgressions. When the Health Minister preached scorched earth for private nursing agencies, the Manitoba Nurses Union President cheered her on. Are private nurses not nurses? It seems their only sin was/ is not being a member of the Nurses’ Union. Doctors too, play the game. I recall working as a media advisor for a Health Minister who was suddenly inundated with frightening media stories featuring doctors complaining about how terrible the healthcare system had become. An old pro in the civil service told me the province and the doctors were negotiating a new contract and the negative news coverage was a pressure tactic. I was initially skeptical but saw the light when the contract negotiation was concluded and the negative stories stopped as quickly as they started.
Healthcare is the worst possible place to “play politics”. It is the most cru-
cial of our public services and one of the most complex. The combination of public reliance and the network of inter-dependent functions make it one of the most fragile as well. Absolutely the last thing healthcare needs are various actors using scare tactics and media leverage to achieve narrowly focused, self-serving goals. But how do we turn down the volume in an over-politicized system?
We are all well aware that pouring more and more money into healthcare does not guarantee improved performance. So why is healthcare spending by government continually referred to as a primary benchmark? I suppose politicians like that measuring stick because it is easy to understand, and it is something politicians have at least some control over.
The healthcare system is operated to serve Manitobans and Canadians not politicians. Meaningful performance measurements like waiting lists have been receiving increased attention in recent years. That’s a step in the right direction. More focus on public access and system performance would be incredibly helpful for the people who need care. Politics seldom makes anyone feel better.
Kevin Klein
Ron Arnst
The decline of the provincial PC Party in the downtown West End of Winnipeg
While researching another story, I discovered something that I should have noticed over 50 years ago
The 1958 Manitoba election was the first election with the West End and Downtown area of Winnipeg being divided into single member constituencies. The five constituencies were Winnipeg Center, Wolseley, St. Matthews, Wellington, and Logan. The 1958 election saw the election of the Progressive Conservatives (earlier known as the Conservatives) after 43 years in the political penalty box. In the 1958, 1959, and 1962 general elections, Duff Roblin's PC's won four out of these five seats. Logan was the only seat that eluded the PC's. In the 1966 Election, Wellington went NDP. In the 1969 election, Winnipeg Center and St. Matthews went NDP. In 1969, the NDP defeated the PC Government. This story will examine if the exclusion 1958-69 exclusion from cabinet of PC MLAs from these ridings was a major reason for the long-term decline of the PC's in the West End Downtown part of Winnipeg.
cabinet ministers? Between 1930 and 1934 during the depths of the Depression, William had served as Ontario's Public Welfare and Public Works Minister.
Robert Steen, St. Matthews, 1966-69
Fred Morris From the desk of a gadfly
During his years (1958-1967) as Premier, Duff Roblin represented Wolseley. Between 1958 and 1969, no other PC MLA from the West End Downtown area served a day in cabinet. Let us look at the qualifications of these back benchers. In a couple of cases, I will make a case to include a couple of these MLAs to cabinet.
William George Martin, St. Matthews, 1958-66 William was a clergyman and historian. William served as pastor of Grace United Church between 1936 and 1955. Also, William was involved as the Manitoba chair of the Save the Children Fund. In 1958, William age 72 was elected as the St. Matthews MLA.
In his memoirs Duff Roblin (page 98, Speaking for Myself) points out that Eric Willis was the only member of his first cabinet with any cabinet experience. Willis had served four years (1940 to 1944) in the cabinets of John Bracken and Stuart Carson. Although the Conservatives were not in power, they held cabinet posts as part of a coalition government. When Roblin first became Premier, why did he not appoint William John aged 72 to the cabinet as a second mentor to his inexperienced
As a young man, Robert had been the Speaker and Premier of the Tuxis Boys Parliament (an Alberta Youth Parliament). Robert was called to the Bar in 1959. In 1961, Robert was the executive assistant to Veteran Affairs Minister Gordon Churchill. Churchill was the last Federal West End PC cabinet minister. In the 1966 election, Robert, aged 32, was elected to succeed Mr. Martin. After becoming premier in 1967, why did Walter Weir, a rural based premier not appoint Robert, a young Winnipegger, to cabinet? Appointing Robert may have kept St. Matthews in the PC column. After his years as MLA, Robert became a Winnipeg City Councilor before serving as Mayor of Winnipeg. Steen died in 1979. The Robert A. Steen Day Hospital at One Morley and the Robert A. Steen Community Center at 960 Palmerston are named in memory of Robert.
Richard Seaborn, Wellington, 1958-1966
Richard was a musician. Richard served as the music director for CJAY Television, the director of the Sokol Polish Folk Ensemble, and the assistant conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony.
James Cowan, Winnipeg Center, 1958-1969
James was a lawyer and operated a general insurance agency. Between 1955 and 1958, James served on Winnipeg City Council. He was president and manager of the Memorial Housing Foundation for veterans and widows housing. Also, James was the president and manager of the Cosmopolitan Club for elderly housing. In retrospect, a downtown MLA with a knowledge of housing issues would have been beneficial to the PC Government.
Leonard Claydon, Wolseley, February 1969- July 1969.
Leonard operated Claydon's Sherbrook Hardware at 116 Sherbrook Street. Leonard was a member of Winnipeg City Council from 1960-71. Leonard served as the chair of Winnipeg’s Public Works. Leonard was
Why is Canada failing?
Let’s not sugarcoat it – Canada is failing. The country once celebrated for its prosperity, fairness, and high standard of living has become a shadow of its former self. Canadians are poorer, less productive, less educated, and, yes, even dying younger than they used to. This isn’t hyperbole; it’s reality, backed by facts. And it’s time we stopped pretending otherwise.
What went wrong? Many point fingers at Justin Trudeau, and while there’s a strong case to be made that his leadership – or lack thereof – has exacerbated our problems, he’s not the mastermind of Canada’s decline. Frankly, he doesn’t have the intellectual horsepower for that. The man is a political accident, a product of his name and his photogenic smile. But Trudeau’s incompetence is just the tip of the iceberg. The rot runs deeper, rooted in an overgrown bureaucracy that serves itself instead of the people it was meant to help.
better retirement benefits, and you’ve got a bureaucracy that looks more like a privileged aristocracy. The rest of us, meanwhile, are footing the bill.
And what are we paying for? A system that doesn’t work. Healthcare is a disaster, with ER wait times averaging over seven hours in some parts of the country, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Education is no better. Canadian students are slipping in global rankings, particularly in math and science, where we’ve fallen behind countries like Estonia and Poland. A 2019 report by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed that Canadian 15-yearolds’ math scores have been on a steady decline since 2003. Yet, the bureaucracy expands, choking any attempts at reform with layer upon layer of red tape.
Canada’s public sector has ballooned into a monstrous entity that eats away at the country’s wealth. As of 2022, nearly four million Canadians work for the public sector, making it one of the largest employers in the country. These jobs come with generous pensions, gold-plated benefits, and near-immunity from layoffs. According to a 2023 study by the Fraser Institute, public sector workers earn 10.3% more on average than private-sector employees in comparable roles. Add in job security and
It’s not just inefficiency; it’s outright obstruction. Consider Canada’s resource sector, one of the backbones of our economy. Billions of dollars in investment have fled to friendlier jurisdictions like Texas and Norway because companies can’t navigate our endless environmental reviews and overlapping regulations. According to the Canadian Energy Centre, pipeline delays alone have cost Canada’s economy $20 billion annually in lost revenue. This isn’t protecting the environment – it’s strangling progress. The rest of the world is developing the energy assets they need for people to live
elected in a February 1969 by-election to succeed Duff Roblin as the Wolseley MLA. Leonard was a government backbencher for only a few months before Walter Weir called an early election. Early elections were legal in those days. In the June 1969 general election, Leonard was reelected and became an opposition MLA . In the summer of 1969, Leonard suffered a stroke. He showed tremendous courage as he briefly resumed his duties as both an MLA and a Winnipeg City Councillor. Leonard died on December 8, 1971.
Despite electing people with political experience and impressive resumes, these PC MLAs were passed over for cabinet. After the 1969 Election, Phillip Petursson, NFP MLA for Wellinton, a Unitarian Clergyman became the first Manitoba Cabinet Minister from the West End Downtown Winnipeg ridings. Part of Phillip's responsibilities was overseeing Manitoba's Centennial Celebrations. After the reelection, in 1969, of Leonard Claydon in the general election, the PC's have only won two seats in this part of Winnipeg.
Bob Wilson won Wolseley back for the PC's in a 1975 by-election. In the 1977 general election, Leonard Domino in St. Matthews, and Bob Wilson in Wolseley were elected. Neither Domino nor Wilson became cabinet ministers in Sterling Lyon's Majority Government. Mr. Wilson was charged and convicted and did jail time for conspiracy to import and traffic marijuana. On June 17, 1981, the Wolseley seat was declared vacant. Bob has not held any political office since this legal trouble. However, he has run in multiple School Board Elections.
The current NDP Government is not making the same mistake of leaving their West End Downtown MLAs on the back bench. Cabinet Ministers Malaya Marcelino, Bernadette Smith, Uzoma Asagwara, Lisa Naylor, and Adrian Sala all represent ridings that are entirely or partly in this area.
The PC's need an issue to return to the game of West End Politics. May I suggest that the PC's promise to commit $500 Million Dollars of Provincial Funds if they again form Government for the construction of a completely new Arlington Street Bridge connecting the West End Arlington Street to the North End Arlington Street. Merry Christmas.
Fred Morris is a Grandfather, Sports Fan and Political Activist.
better lives, while Canadians are being left behind.
And then there’s crime. While the country hasn’t officially declared war, it’s waging one on its streets. Major Canadian cities have become battlegrounds for gang violence and drug trafficking. The opioid crisis, fueled by the influx of cheap and lethal fentanyl, has claimed over 30,000 Canadian lives since 2016, according to Health Canada. Meanwhile, violent crime is on the rise; Statistics Canada reported a 5% increase in violent crime rates in 2022, with firearm-related offenses leading the surge. This flies in the face of the government's so-called crackdown on guns – either a blatant lie or yet another testament to the ineptitude of our bureaucratic machine.
All of this requires more money –endless streams of it. Taxes are at their highest levels since post-World War II, consuming 45% of the average Canadian family’s income, as reported by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Yet, we’re still running massive deficits. As of 2024, Canada’s national debt has surpassed $1.3 trillion, translating to over $35,000 per Canadian. Interest payments alone cost taxpayers over $50 billion annually – money that could have gone to schools, hospitals, or infrastructure.
The cultural fabric of the country is fraying, too. Once a symbol of unity and inclusivity, Canada now feels like a patchwork of factions, each fighting for its slice of the pie. Indigenous communities are still waiting for clean drinking water. Quebec continues to flirt with separation, and Alberta is fed up with equalization payments. The federation is broken, and no one seems interested in
fixing it.
Canada’s decline isn’t inevitable – it’s a choice. It’s the result of decades of complacency, mismanagement, and the unrelenting growth of a bureaucratic machine that serves no one but itself. And while we virtue-signal our way through international summits, countries like India, South Korea, and even Poland are eating our lunch. We’ve gone from being a country others admired to one they pity. Canada is jokingly being called the 51st state – we are being laughed at. If this angers or offends you, good. It should. Canada wasn’t supposed to be this way. We were supposed to be a land of opportunity, innovation, and progress. Instead, we’ve become a bloated, directionless mess, dragged down by a bureaucracy that grows fatter while its citizens grow poorer. The question now is whether we have the courage to do something about it – or whether we’ll simply continue our slide into irrelevance.
Wake up, Canada. Time is running out.
Romel Dhalla, is President of Dhalla Advisory Corp., provides strategic corporate finance advice to companies and high net worth individuals and was a portfolio manager and investment advisor with two major Canadian banks for 17 years. Contact him at romel@dacorp.ca. Any views or opinions represented in this article are personal and belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that the owner may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.
Romel Dhalla On The Money
The story of Marshall Murdock and his role models
Iwas born on the Fisher River Indian Reserve now called the Fisher River Cree Nation to my parents
Walter and Violet Murdock. Dad and mom were my role models growing up, particularly my dad.
"Human beings learn a lot simply by ob servation".
I am the youngest of four other siblings – sister Kathy and brothers Ted, Ken, and Stewart. Dad passed in 1967, Mom in 1994, and Ted in 2004. My dad was mar ried twice. His first wife and four daugh ters died of tuberculosis (TB) and the three remaining died from cancer. In the 50 and 60s, TB was the cancer of the day in many First Nation communities.
My mom was a local housekeeper to dad's first family, and they ended up getting married. We came from the second family.
Watching my parents as a young child taught me a lot. My dad was the main provider for the home and mom was the main caregiver. It's amazing what we learn from our parents and those close to you.
Dad was a commercial fisherman on Lake Winnipeg for thirty-five years. He fished all seasons of the year. I remember, as a little boy growing up, dad always employed local men in the community with his commercial fishing trade. He was a very hard-working individual, and always made sure we were the same growing up in the household.
We were tasked with many chores. Everything from gardening, hauling wood from the bush, cutting it into cordwood piles, sawing and chopping into wooden pallets for household usage. We had no electricity those days. Not until 1962. We carried water from the local river for drinking, cooking and washing purposes. We picked vari-
ous berries during the summer season. We did household chores like washing dishes, sweeping floors, cooking our own meals, and keeping up the maintenance of the home. We had protocol in our household. Dad set the precedence at all times. He always made sure mom was in charge when he was out working on the lake. And mom did and always followed through on his direction for his daughter and four sons.
Work ethic, accountability, and following through on your responsibilities was what my dad role modeled. I learnt a lot from his teaching and by just watching him.
Dad was not a warm and fuzzy guy when it came to demonstrating his love and compassion for his family. When I look back growing up and have now figured out why and how he rationalized his ways of living his own life's journey. I firmly believe my dad was a man of deep sorrows because of his first marriage and family tragedies and losses. But he is still my hero.
Other role models
As technology changed our communities it slowly changed our lives as well and that continues today. Our biggest technological change was the advent of hydro into our communities in the early 60s. That of course brought first the radio and then television. Television especially brought a whole new way of looking at the world through the lens of various television programs and services. We began to see all kinds of people who inspired us to become just like them. (We cannot forget the advent of the radio, especially in that dark time of Nazism attempting to take over the world. Voices like Prime Minister Winston Churchill who was constantly on the radio communicating that famous speech that "we
shall never give up", which inspire me still even though it happened before I was born.)
Other role models both Indigenous and non-Indigenous who personally inspired me throughout my 72-year journey in various categories are the following:
Prime Minister John Diefenbaker; he gave us the right to vote in 1957 declaring us as citizens of Canada just like the rest of society.
Elijah Harper: defeating the Meech Lake Accord in 1987, which opened the door to bring First Nations to the table in the Charlottetown Accord which offered equal access to the Constitution of Canada as equal citizens of this country.
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney: inserting Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution recognizing the First Citizens of Canada - First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.
Phil Fontaine: former Grand Chief Assembly Manitoba Chiefs and National Chief Assembly First NationsOttawa. Took the Residential School File to the national level which lead to Prime Minister Steve Harper delivering the National Apology in 2008 to all Indigenous citizens of Canada which lead to doors opening on the issues of trauma and the beginning of healing for our Indigenous communities Canada wide.
There are other role models that have inspired me to become a better person and be a role model to others that are in these industries: Music, sports, ministry, and eldership.
Here are a few examples:
Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Reggie Leach, Jordan Tootoo, Bobby Hull, Kobe Bryant, Dr. Billy Graham, Dr. Stan Mckay, Uncle Norman and auntie Ellen Murdock.
**Always remember we are role models to not only our Indigenous society, but also to the non-Indigenous society.
Canada is crumbling under a growing burden of debt and mismanagment
The recent resignation of Chrystia Freeland from her position in Justin Trudeau's cabinet is a telling indicator of a government mired in dysfunction and toxicity. As Canadians watch the alarming rise of our national deficit and debt, this development underscores the deep fractures within the Liberal Party and the growing dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister's leadership.
Ms. Freeland’s departure is a stark reminder that even seasoned ministers are unwilling to remain complicit in a government that seems increasingly detached from fiscal responsibility and public accountability. Under Trudeau's leadership, Canada’s debt has soared to unprecedented levels, burdening future generations with the consequences of unchecked spending. Despite promises
TURTLE MOUNTAIN
of careful fiscal management, the federal deficit continues to balloon, now sitting at $61.9 billion – far exceeding the $40 billion "guardrail" announced earlier this year. Freeland’s departure letter, which was posted online just hours before she was supposed to table the Fall Economic Update, said the government should “eschew costly political gimmicks”. Gimmicks such as the two month GST tax trick that the Prime Minister was pushing for.
Freeland’s resignation comes amid a wave of discontent among Liberal MPs and cabinet ministers, many of whom have privately voiced concerns about the Prime Minister’s leadership style. Reports of an increasingly centralized decision-making process, where dissenting opinions are dismissed and collaboration stifled, paint a picture of a toxic political environment. This atmosphere has pushed several MPs to publicly
distance themselves from Trudeau, signaling a lack of confidence in his ability to lead the country through mounting economic and political challenges.
After nine long years of Justin Trudeau, everything is spiraling out of control. The rising cost of living has reached a point where even those earning $60,000 a year find it nearly impossible to afford a home. Out of control immigration has led to encampments in suburban Canada and 500,000 people are in the country illegally. Out of control crime has taken over our streets with gun crime having doubled. Out of control drugs and disorder add to the chaos with over 47,000 people having died of overdoses. Out of control inflation has followed out of control money printing which has sent out of control demand to our food banks that are running out of food all together. Out of control spending has doubled our national debt, boosted interest rates, and threatened our social programs.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s unwillingness to confront these challenges with a unified and coherent strategy ex-
acerbates the problem. Instead of fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, Trudeau has presided over a government that prioritizes image over substance, leaving Canadians frustrated and disillusioned. This growing discontent is evident not only among MPs but also among voters, as recent polls suggest declining approval ratings for the Prime Minister and his government.
Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party have consistently called for fiscal responsibility and solutions to tackle inflation and housing affordability. Conservatives offer a vision of a government that prioritizes hard-working Canadians and plans for a future where owning a home or building a secure financial future is within reach. It’s time for an election so Canadians can choose leadership that will focus on practical solutions and real accountability – qualities that Poilievre and our team promise to deliver. The stakes are too high to allow this ongoing mismanagement to continue.
Marty Morantz is MP for CharleswoodSt. James-Assiniboia-Headingley.
Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum’s appointment to the Trump’s cabinet offers a great opportunity for the International Peace Garden
As we emerge from this holiday season it is a great time to reflect and think about the things that draw us together. There is much conversation about our relationship with the United States in relation to President-Elect Trump's threatened tariffs, but we cannot ignore opportunities as well.
In the heart of my Turtle Mountain constituency, we have the International Peace Gardens. Regular readers will be familiar with my absolute love for this gem of a park. It is a symbol of international cooperation and the unique bond that Canada and the United States share. I have had the pleasure over the years of having many conversations with American counterparts about what we can all
do to preserve and help these gardens flourish.
In 2021, I had the pleasure of joining Premier Brian Pallister and Governor Doug Burgum as we announced funds to match North Dakota's contributions. What really stuck with me from that moment was Governor Burgum's acknowledgement of what that space could be when we all work together. He said, “These improvements will enhance the gardens not only as a symbol of peace, but also as a tourism destination and economic driver for the region, providing benefits for generations to come.”
Now we have an unprecedented opportunity for the region. The Governor has been
tapped for Secretary of the Interior with the incoming cabinet and while this will have a vast array of responsibilities. It means we will have a senior decision-maker that knows the value of this unique feature. We as a province and a nation need to capitalize on this opportunity and seek to build what unites us as allies and neighbours. I really believe that the stars are lining up very well for the future of the International Peace Garden, to make it become an International Tourism Designation. Doyle Piwniuk is the MLA for Turtle Mountain. His column will be an ongoing feature in Lifestyles to help promote our knowledge and understanding about the amazing things happening in the part of our province.
Doyle Piwniuk News from Turtle Mountain
MP Marty Morantz
Darrell Brown is bringing clean energy to Tadoule Lake
Darrell Brown
The theme for our 2025 Lifestyles 55 is focused on growth and development in Manitoba. This year, we will be profiling a number of the many First Nations folks who are building a better Manitoba. The first partnership in economic development started here more than 400 years ago between the Indigenous people who lived here before it was called Manitoba and the newcomer Europeans. They engaged for hundreds of years in a positive trading relationship. Now it is time again to work together to build a new economy to support our shared future.
My name is Darrell Brown and I am a Cree business owner located in Treaty 1, Winnipeg. I have owned an office furniture dealership, Kisik Commercial Furniture, for over 20 years now and I also work in renewable energy under my other company, Kisik Clean Energy.
Since 2016, I have been an advisor working with remote, off-grid First Nations on how to integrate renewable energy into their diesel power systems to offset the use of carbon-based fuel for their energy needs.
I am very committed to both of my lines of business, and I am very grateful to be able to execute in both sectors. In 2016-2019 I was a junior advisor to Gull Bay First Nation in Northwestern Ontario for their solar powered integration of renewables into their diesel system.
Currently I am working for Sayisi Dene First Nation (SDFN) located on the shores of Tadoule Lake, Manitoba. This remote, fly in community of 350 Chipewyan people wants to integrate solar power, battery energy storage and a microgrid into their diesel-powered isolated grid to reduce the 760,000 liters of diesel burned each year by 25%.
The community would sell each clean kilowatt of renewable energy to Manitoba Hydro under a power purchase agreement. The assets would be managed by Manitoba Hydro and Sayisi Dene. Construction is estimated to begin in 2026.
Job in the construction of the project and operations and maintenance will benefit this remote community. We also studied wind power for SDFN in great detail and, with the direction of leadership, we would look at adding small wind turbines to the renewable energy system to increase the offset of diesel by 60% as phase 2 after establishing phase 1.
The next major patron of the arts
Recently I watched segments of a Sotheby’s art auction in which one of Monet’s water lilies paintings was up for sale. I found it fascinating to watch the auctioneer and the serious bidders in their pursuit of ownership of this wonderful piece of art. With telephones in hand, discreet hand signals to the auctioneer, and hands covering their mouths while they held secret consultations with the actual bidders, who were apparently in other locations, the bidders gradually built up the bid to the eventual sales price of $65.5 million dollars. What a remarkable thing it must be to bid that amount of money to own a painting.
ket. I had to think about all of the artists I have had the honour to work with over the course of my career in arts management. They work very hard, train extensively, and are extraordinarily gifted people. Most of the time they also struggle for many years to make a reasonable living.
Of course, I also had to think about the beneficiary of this extraordinary purchase price for the painting. The creator of the work does not benefit financially from the sale of his art. (For one thing, Monet died in 1926, but his art lives on.) The art, as beautiful as it is, has become a commodity to buy and sell on the secondary mar-
It is unrealistic to think that many of us could make multi million-dollar art purchases part of our lives, but we could all benefit from becoming regular purchasers of the art of living artists from our community. There are many fine painters, sculptors, and craftspeople who live and work in our community. In most cases, the purchase price of their creations is very reasonable, and there are many benefits from having art in our homes and our places of work. Living and working in the presence of original art is life changing and transformative. We can begin our art collections with items we can afford such as pottery mugs, glass work, or small paintings and sculptures.
This project will be one step in the reconciliation process for these people who were badly mistreated by Canada after a forced relocation to Churchill led to decimation of the community. The resilience of these people to move back to their traditional territory after suffering grinding poverty and deaths of their members is a testament to their spirit.
SDFN is concerned about their way of life, the caribou migration patterns, hunting and fishing and the environmental changes due to climate change. The assistance of Federal Funding from multiple sources will be used to build and co-manage renewable energy with Manitoba Hydro.
After four years of studies, planning, negotiations, and lobbying at the federal and provincial levels, the project is finally entering the procurement and contracting process with timing focused on the small windows of winter road access annually for shipping.
Stay tuned for more milestone announcements as we progress to construction of these renewable energy components.
Darrell Brown is a Cree business owner located in Treaty 1, Winnipeg.
Some couples purchase a local work of art to commemorate each wedding anniversary over the years of their marriage. Other people purchase works of art to celebrate special achievements or accomplishments in life. There are many reputable galleries in Winnipeg selling the works of local and Canadian and sometimes international artists. You can spend as much as you wish to spend, but I would like to encourage you to start 2025 with purchasing a small work of art or craft from a local artist. Become a patron of the arts. Purchase art that you like, place it in a location in which you can interact with your art regularly, and experience the joy this brings into your life.
Many of our very generous local artists also help community organizations by making donations to the silent or live auctions that are held by almost all of the charities in our community. You can learn about local artists, help a local charity, and start collecting art by bidding on the art works that can be found at these charity auctions. But, if you know artists personally, find a way to purchase art through showings that they have at local galleries or through their own studio sales. (They will not undercut their art dealers, so do not do this to try to get a bargain, but to make the
experience more personal.)
Manitoba is known as an excellent location for developing artists, and we can all make a difference in making it possible for them to thrive here. I have recently read a book by Patrick Bringley called All the Beauty in the World. He writes about his working experience as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He is transformed and inspired by being in the presence of this art, and he observes that “Meaning is always created locally. The greatest art is produced by people hemmed in by circumstances, making patchwork efforts to create something beautiful, useful, true. Michelangelo’s Florence, even Michelangelo’s Rome was in this way rather like Loretta Pettway’s Gee’s Bend.” It is also possible that the best art in the world can be created in Winnipeg, Manitoba. If we can make it a little easier for our local artists to make a living in our community, and we can improve the quality of our lives by living with art that inspires and refreshes us, we have all come out winners. This year you can become the next major patron of the arts in your household. Now that is a new year’s resolution I can keep.
Trudy Schroeder provides project planning and management services to the community through Arts and Heritage Solutions.
What will become of you as you reach retirement age?
If you are over 55 and still here, we have something in common.
Like mine, your children (if you had them) are most likely grown-ups, single or in a relationship, having families or living on their own. Maybe you are a grandparent or maybe great aunt or uncle. Maybe you still hold a professional role, still running your business or are working from time to time. Maybe you are partially or fully retired. No matter the circumstances of your journey, you most likely have never experienced this chapter of your life before. Neither had I. It arrived here swiftly, didn’t it?
Do you remember that when you were 18, 55 seemed old? Not anymore! Here we are, over 55 and still here. Let’s pause and celebrate, because many didn’t make it this far. Even though we thought we had life all figured out, many of us find ourselves in the midst of this new, unknown, unrehearsed, uncharted chapter. Our physical body may be slowly changing, yet deep within we still feel young, capable and willing to contribute to life and live it to the fullest. At least I hope so.
Do you remember, when our children were young, we had hopes for them as to who they might become and how their lives might unfold? Some of our predictions were correct, others not so much. The unfolding of their lives was nothing we could fully predict. Let’s be honest, some of our children’s choices disappointed us, while others made
us proud. After all, it is part of life and growing up.
We silently wondered, years ago, what would become of our youngsters, and now we know.
I was raised in a traditional Polish home. How about you? I followed the examples of my mother, grandmothers and ancestors. I was totally focused on and devoted to my family. The well-being of my loved ones was at the centre of my attention.
If you had asked me in the past what kind of grandmother I would be, I would most likely give you the stereotypical answer: supporting my children by cooking, helping raise my grandchildren, and knitting while sitting in the recliner.
I’m certain, if you had asked my children what kind of grandmother I would be, they most likely (based on my previous behaviour) would have painted a similar picture. But to my surprise, now when all my children are grownups with their own significant others and their families, life has suddenly opened up time and space I never knew possible, and with that, extended freedom – freedom to choose how I live my life.
If years ago you had told me that at this stage of my life I would rediscover my earlier long-buried passions, dreams and hopes, I would have told you to check yourself. And yet here I am, acting on my dreams.
As I watch other people my age around me, I far too often see how people totally abdicate that freedom, and out of a sense of obligation continue totally focusing their lives on others.
Please don’t get me wrong, I am the first to extend a
helpful hand, especially to aging parents, elders, those who are unfortunate or sick, and those who are truly in need. There are others who may need help in working on themselves, and who will appreciate it, but there is a big difference between enabling dependency and weakness and assisting and encouraging growth. I stand for the latter.
Getting back to us, who do think you’ll become, now when you have the time and space to create a new lifestyle at 55 plus?
If you haven’t figured out yet what brings you joy, happiness and love of life, maybe this is a good time. I strongly encourage you to discover it!!
Now we have freedom!
Now we can make the time!
Now may be the last chance to brave the unknown! You might want to go out there to explore. Get a taste of something new. Your comfort zone is a very safe space, except nothing grows there. Step out of your routine, your known and predictable patterns, your world. Take the leap! Are you planning to sit in the rocking chair and wait to arrive at the exit of your life? That’s ok if you do, but wouldn’t you rather rediscover and act on your unfulfilled desires, passions and dreams?
What will become of you in this chapter of life?
The possibilities are endless.
Free yourself up from the expectations of others and live your best life.
It might be your last chance!
After all, the next generation is watching and takes examples from us!
Trudy Schroeder Random Notes
Zofia Dove
After 50 years in the theatre, Harry Nelken is still passionate about his craft
At the age of 77, and over 50 years in show business, Harry Nelken has lost none of his passion for his chosen profession. And Winnipeg’s oldest and longest continuing actor says that he is still eager to tackle the next theatrical challenge that comes along.
In the past three seasons, he has had one theatre role a year. In 2022, he was cast in The Hockey Sweater at Rainbow Stage. Last year, he had a role in the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre’s production of local playwright Daniel Thau-Eleff's Narrow Bridge.
And this past fall, he played the lead role of Morrie in the WJT’s staging of Tuesdays with Morrie.
“Playing Morrie has been my most fulfilling role,” he notes.
In past years, he said he has done as many as four plays per year. Luckily the paucity of theatre gigs has been balanced by film gigs. Since March, he has had roles in two locally shot Hallmark films, one episode of Acting Good and a part in a new feature film, Normal, which stars Bob Odenkirk and Henry Winkler, the Fonz.
“It was a real thrill to meet The Fonz. He has a youthful face for a 79-year-old, and he's gentle and soft-spoken,” the local actor observes.
Harry Nelken and I go back a long way. I first did an interview with him in 1988 for the Jewish Post. He is one of the friendliest people I know and his love for people shines through as you listen to him reminisce about his lengthy career.
In that earlier interview, he spoke about his call to embark on an acting career. Like many of us of a certain age, Harry trod the boards in high school theatre. At the University of Ottawa, while studying Criminology, he auditioned for and got a role in a play. From 1972 to 1979, he immersed himself in local amateur theatre.
After university, though, his first job acting was as a probation officer in Brandon. After a year, he returned to Winnipeg and began a 40-year career as a cabbie.
As he points out, even the busiest of working local actors – of which he has been one – barely scrape by and need a second source of income.
“I got my cab driving license in 1966 when I was 19 and I drove for 43 years,” Harry recalls. “I worked for all the old taxi companies at one time or another. I have a lot of stories to tell of driving taxis. Particularly in my early years, when acting roles were sparse, driving a cab was my lifeline.”
He notes that on occasion even when doing a play at MTC, he would report for taxi duty for a night shift.
Harry qualified for hi Actor’s Equity (union) card in 1976 and became a member of ACTRA (the Alliance of Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) a year later.
Among the roles that stand out in Harry’s memory was that of Shelley Levene in a production in 2000 of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross in which he had the opportunity to work with Broadway star and former Winnipegger Len Cariou.
Another highlight was the opportunity 15 to 16 years ago to play the role of the Jewish moneylender, Shylock in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. “I modelled the character after my father,” Harry recounts. “There was the same wit and intelligence.
“My dad died in 1976. But, if he had lived, I think he would have recognized himself in my portrayal of Shylock.”
Over the years, Harry has worked with many prominent directors among them John Hirsch and Robin Phillips with whom he did workshops. One director in particular had a major influence on him: the Danish writer director Ulla Ryum.
“I worked with Ulla on productions of Strindberg’s Dance of Death and Ibsen’s John Gabriel Borkman,” Harry recalls. “She pointed out to me the hierarchy in the theatre. The most important factor is the audience followed by the playwright the actor and the director in that order. The actor category also includes the backstage crew.”
A successful stage production, he continues, creates a shared feeling of community between the actors and the audience. “It is a powerful experience,” he observes. “An actor on stage can literally feel if the audience is with you or not.”
Working in film presents a different kind of commu-
nity, Harry observes. The actor is part of a production team of about 75 people. Another difference between film and theatre is that in film, unlike live theatre, there is no three weeks of rehearsal where actors work on collaboration.
There are compensations though, and not just the much greater pay level for film than theatre work. “Everyone – the make-up people, the wardrobe people, the food service staff, even the drivers – treats the actors with so much respect,” Harry notes. “And everyone is really friendly.”
Also unlike the theater, sometimes, you can be called to the set for 7:00 AM, get hair, make-up, and wardrobe done, and still not be called until the afternoon.
“That’s show biz!”
But Harry doesn’t mind the waiting. “I enjoy sitting around talking to the other actors,” he says. “We talk about anything under the sun We talk about sports, politics, our careers, our life stories There is always a lot to talk about.”
Harry Nelken still loves his chosen profession. He describes acting as “the most wonderful of gifts.
“So long as I can talk and walk, I'm ready, willing, and able.”
He remains confident that something will come up soon.
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Myron Love
Harry Nelken.
A yummy stew for a cold blustery winter's day
Who doesn’t love a hearty bowl of rich and flavorful beef stew. It’s such a traditional winter comfort food. As the first chill settles in, there's something inherently comforting about a hearty beef stew simmering gently on the stove. The rich, savory aroma wafts through the air, wrapping around you like a warm embrace, inviting you to come closer. Each ingredient tells a story, from the tender morsels of beef, lovingly seared to a golden brown, to the earthy vegetables – carrots, potatoes, and onions – softening and melding into a tapestry of flavors.
day can inspire. The tender beef melts in your mouth, while the broth – robust and velvety – wraps around your taste buds, leaving you craving more.
It’s a dish that transcends mere sustenance; it’s a celebration of life’s simple pleasures. In the company of loved ones, laughter mingles with the aroma, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. A heart beef stew isn’t just a meal; it’s a ritual, a moment frozen in time, a sultry reminder that warmth and love can flourish even in the coldest of seasons.
Here is what you will need:
The magic of slow cooking lies in its alchemy. As the beef bathes in a deep, flavorful broth, infused with red wine and aromatic herbs, time becomes a willing accomplice. The hours stretch, allowing the flavors to intertwine, deepening and evolving. It’s as if the pot is whispering secrets, coaxing out the best of each ingredient, creating a dish that feels both luxurious and rustic.
Picture this: you settle into your favorite spot, a crackling fire nearby, the wind and snow howling outside. You lift a spoonful of the rich, steaming stew, and with each bite, the warmth radiates through you, igniting a sense of contentment that only hot food on a cold winter's
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 lb stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 teaspoon garlic salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
½ lb baby potatoes, quartered
4 carrots, peeled and cut 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 litre beef broth
1 cup dry red wine
1 can tomato paste
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons corn starch
The all important How to:
Trim the beef into 1-inch cubes, discard any large pieces of fat. Place the trimmed meat in a large bowl of cold water, this will remove some of the excess blood. Once washed empty the bowl, then dry on paper towel.
Place the beef back into the bowl, then season with pepper, garlic salt. Toss the bowl to ensure all the beefs is coated. Sprinkle flour over the meat and toss once more.
Using a large skillet over a medium heat add olive oil and sear the meat, do this in batches for 1 minute per side until the beef is brown then transfer to the preheated slow cooker.
Add the potatoes, carrots, onion and garlic into a slow cooker. Stir in beef
broth, red wine, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, paprika, and bay leaves until well combined; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours.
Once cooked and to thicken, combine 1/4 cup cold water + 3 Tablespoons corn starch and slowly stir it into the broth. It will continue to thicken for several minutes keep stirring. Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 30 minutes, or until thickened to your liking.
Remove the bay leaves, serve and enjoy, don’t forget some fresh French bread to soak up all that yummy gravy. Happy New year! Ian Leatt is a trained chef from across the pond.
Proposed commercial area: For Prairie Pointe and South Pointe
On Oct. 9, 2024, I had a meeting with Mr. Alan Borger, President of Ladco and Ms. Andrea Clow, Manager, Commercial Properties. I indicated that the residents wanted to know about the allocated commercial area located on the intersection at Kenaston and Waverley. The development is to proceed as soon as possible.
Mr. Borger said that he is working with several anchor tenants. I asked for more specifics, but Mr. Borger indicated that he is not at lib-
erty to make any promises. However, his goal is to develop two mixed, grocery anchored centers on the North-West and SouthEast corners and comprising approximately 125,000 to 200,000 and 115,000 square feet, respectively.
When I inquired about the South-West block, Mr. Borger indicated that Ladco has redivided the SouthWest corner, adding a new street. They have also created a number of parcels for multi-family (Townhouses, Rowhouses and Midrise).
On the North-East corner where construction of an office building is almost completed. Mr. Borger said the remaining ground could be used for office, multi-family and a neighborhood centre.
As well, based on the secondary plans, Waverley would grow from two to four lanes, and Ladco hopes to add two signalized intersections between Kenaston and Tim Sale Drive/John Angus Drive and between Kenaston and Ken Oblik Drive/ Eaglewold Drive.
Mr. Borger explained his ancestors too contributed for Winnipeg City development process. Therefore, I thought to share my integrated human settlement experiences by handing over my book named as “Accelerated Mahaweli Development Pro-
gram: Memoirs of a Staffer”. I am thankful to Mr. Borger because at the end of the meeting he offered to meet again if I have more questions in future. I am sharing a sketch map sent by Mr. Borger for your easy reference.
Ian Leatt Foodies
Senaka Samarasinghe
A full-circle tuba story
Ask a classical music lover to name their favourite concertos, and the usual suspects might come up – violin, piano, maybe even the cello. But the tuba? Now that’s a curveball.
Yet, the tuba really is a cool instrument. In the extensive brass instrument family, the tuba is the biggest and lowest instrument and, as such, serves to anchor the harmonies of the orchestra. It gives the overall sound a richer and fuller feel. Think of it like the subwoofer to your home entertainment sound system.
Considering its usual role, it’s rare to find many concertos written for the instrument. Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote over 230 concertos for the violin alone. By comparison, the tuba’s complete repertoire only consists of 33 concertos!
rienced this rare treat on November 14 when it was performed at the WSO’s Miller Conducts Marsalis & Liszt concert. Led by guest conductor Tania Miller, Chris Lee, Principal Tuba of the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO), featured as guest soloist.
The tuba also has a notable history in jazz, especially in early jazz and brass band music. Its distinct sound made it essential in the ensembles of both genres. In 2021, renowned musician and composer Wynton Marsalis composed a concerto for it. Marsalis, who himself bridged the worlds of classical and jazz on many occasions, composed his Tuba Concerto for Philadelphia Orchestra’s Principal Tuba, Carol Jantsch. He worked closely with Jantsch to understand the intricacies of the instrument, drawing on elements from both classical and jazz traditions to highlight the tuba’s distinct flair.
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra audiences expe-
Interestingly, Lee presented the Canadian premiere of the concerto in 2022 with the NACO, who co-commissioned the piece. “I find the piece to be profound and very complete – a sort of musical journey through a variety of American styles,” he shares. “Each movement of the Tuba Concerto feels fresh.”
Lee’s history with the WSO also made this performance a sort of homecoming. Lee was the WSO’s former Principal Tuba – a position he held for over 15 seasons producing numerous memorable performances, including the orchestral premiere of the Victor Davies Tuba Concerto in 2009 with the WSO. “Coming back to perform with the WSO feels like returning to my roots,” Lee shares. “This orchestra shaped so much of my early career, and performing this piece with them is exciting.”
One WSO musician was especially eager to the stage with Lee. Justin Hickmott, who was recently appointed Acting Principal Tuba at the WSO for the 2024/2025 season on a one-year contract, studied under Lee during his time at the University of Manitoba.
Hickmott was first introduced to Lee through a chance encounter; when a fourteen-year-old, aspiring
Hickmott was encouraged to seek lessons from Lee by a former WSO musician at the International Music Camp. “Chris completely changed how I perceived music.” He describes Lee as a remarkable blend of “old school and new school,” – despite his disapproval of the terms – emphasizing the importance of both discipline and creativity in music.
Earlier in the week on November 12, Hickmott also organized a masterclass in collaboration with the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba for the upcoming generation of Canadian musicians.
“When a great musician comes to town, you want to take full advantage of it. I want the students to witness the inner workings of someone who’s truly mastered their craft – someone who plays some of the hardest music in the world and thrives in that high-pressure environment.”
Teaching isn’t new territory for Lee who has dedicated much time to sharing his knowledge with his students. “I love teaching. I was fortunate to have mentors who made time for me, not for money, but because they wanted to share their knowledge. I try to pay that forward.”
Lee often conducts similar masterclasses across the country. He reflects fondly on his time teaching in Manitoba. “It’s a mix of emotions. Some of my students didn’t pursue the tuba professionally, but they’ve gone on to be very successful in life. I’m equally proud of all my former students.”
Avi Bhatt is the Communications Specialist for the WSO.
Royal MTC brings music to the stage this January
Happy New Year from Royal MTC! After closing Little Women in December, Royal MTC has been hard at work preparing for all the exciting productions making their way to the stage in 2025.
During the run of Little Women, Royal MTC ran a donation drive at the John Hirsch Mainstage, collecting warm clothing, shoes, boots and hygiene items. Royal MTC is happy to announce that thanks to your support, a full truckload of items was donated to RaY, North End Women's Centre and Ndinawe!
What better way to start off your 2025 than by settling into a warm night at the John Hirsch Mainstage? Royal MTC is bringing the award-winning musical Waitress to life from January 7 to February 1! Whether you’re familiar with the original film by Adrienne Shelly or are a super fan of Sara Bareilles’ music, Waitress is sure to captivate audiences with its incredible score and powerful story.
Jenna is a small-town waitress with a passion for baking pies. When she becomes pregnant by her no-good husband and falls for a nice guy, Jenna realizes she needs to face the music. When a pie-making contest is announced in a nearby county, Jenna sees a chance for a fresh start. With the support of her fellow waitresses, and one crusty regular, she finds the courage to pursue a
long-held dream. Hilarious and heartfelt, with gorgeous music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning Sara Bareilles, this sweet musical serves up more than delicious pie.
Ann Hodges, recently named Prairie Theatre Exchange’s Artistic Director, will be directing the production. “Waitress tells the story of a woman learning to be her own best friend. The music is gorgeous. And, it’s one of those rare musicals where the scenes hold up on
their own, like a really good play. It’s terribly moving at times, but also super funny. It’s my all-time favourite musical,” Hodges said.
Royal MTC is also offering an audiodescribed performance of Waitress on Wednesday, January 29 at 7:30 pm. If you or a loved one are visually impaired and could benefit from described performances, get your tickets today! You'll be provided with a receiver and earpiece to hear about the visual elements of the
production including a brief introduction and description of details during the show.
Over at the Warehouse, Corey Wojcik is taking audiences on a journey of the best and worst day of his life. On stage from January 29 to February 15, Mix Tapes From My Mom is a production that can’t be missed.
Winnipeg theatre veteran Cory Wojcik, backed by a band of incredible musicians, shares a deeply personal story of the day he travelled back and forth between two hospitals, for two very different reasons. Be prepared for Cory to break every rule of theatre (in the best way). Pairing a soundtrack of songs you know and love with a story so unbelievable it could only be true, Mix Tapes From My Mom is a testament to the love of family, and the ways we are able to share it.
Mix Tapes From My Mom will also be participating in First Fridays, offering a free musical performance before the show! On February 7, the Warehouse lobby will be open from 6:15-7:15 PM for patrons who have tickets and for those who just want to drop by for some free live music. The bar will be open and music starts at 6:30 pm.
You can get your tickets for Waitress and Mix Tapes From My Mom at RoyalMTC. ca or by calling the Box Office at 204 942 6537.
Avi Bhatt WSO Communications
Cory Wojcik (centre) performs in Mix Tapes from my Mom. Supplied photo.
Chris Lee performing Marsalis’ Tuba Concerto with the WSO directed by guest conductor Tania Miller.
Chris Lee performing the Canadian premiere of the Tuba Concerto in 2022 with the NACO.
Justin Hickmott, WSO Acting Principal Tuba.
When do we start walking together?
Our leaders need to understand that our future is working together, not against each other
James McCrae
There are parts of our country’s history of which I am exceedingly proud. There are parts of our country’s history of which I feel ashamed.
Following his response to the destruction of statues at the Manitoba legislature on Canada Day 2021, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister (as he then was) was condemned for his references to the good parts of our history, and not enough comment about our country’s failures.
Two months later, Pallister was no longer Manitoba’s premier.
In response to the same destruction, former TRC chair Murray Sinclair posted this on his Facebook page:
“I am not at all impressed by acts of destruction such as this. The people who commit these acts and those who condone them, need to understand how much they set back any chance of moving the dialogue on changing the bad relationship we have, forward. Do you really think this is going to help? Of course you don’t. That’s not why you did it. You may have been instigated by those who want nothing to do with changing the relationship. You may have been instigated by people bent on making you look bad. You may have easily acted to do this because of the anger you feel and some sort of sense of getting even. I feel no pride in any of you who did this.”
Like Pallister, I am proud of my country, but I regret the history of the Indian Act, the treaties, the residential schools, and much more. I am equally troubled that the Act and the treaties remain in place because they treat First Nations citizens as second-class wards of the state – as children – and continue many of the wrongs of the past.
Our shared history
For me, all of this is personal. I am a fifth-generation Canadian, the descendent of “settlers” who contributed to the development of this country, often described as the finest country in the world. Three more generations have come after me.
Eight generations ago, Jane Armstrong and William McCrea (as our family’s name was then spelled) escaped the poverty and lack of opportunity that existed at the time in Europe to seek better lives in Lower Canada (Quebec today). Other ancestors left the United States, as United Empire Loyalists, after the American Revolution. They
too “settled” in Lower Canada. (Famous Mohawk leader Joseph Brant {Thayendanegea} and his people left New York in 1784 and “settled” in what was to become Upper Canada because they wanted to remain loyal to the British crown.)
Two generations after the arrival of the first McCreas, in 1905, my paternal grandparents moved from Quebec and established their homestead in the new Province of Alberta. Their neighbours were Indigenous people, good neighbours. They were described to me sixty years ago by my aunt as “the real Canadians.” My maternal grandparents and their family – including my mom – arrived as homesteaders in Alberta from Ohio in the mid 1920s. Successive crop failures in Ohio forced their emigration.
Another generation later, my father and 1.159 million other Canadians – including Indigenous Canadians – risked their lives to defend the free world against Nazi tyranny. Forty-five thousand of them, Indigenous and non-Indigenous – offered their lives and paid the ultimate price for our freedom. A freedom we should all be enjoying - together, equally.
Seven of eight generations of my family have belonged to no other land but Canada. It has been 16 years acknowledging the past I supported former prime minister Stephen Harper when he offered, in 2008, a sincere apology to those who were hurt by their Indian residential school experiences. I supported the financial compensation that accompanied the apology. I supported the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission because I (naively) hoped it would help heal our country. Instead, we see today that all those efforts and expressions of regret have resulted in still more pain, blame and shame. I am sad today to observe that since 2008, “reconciliation” has moved in a direction directly opposite to what was intended. The destruction of public property and churches over the past several years is only part of the evidence of that failure. Such acts of destruction simply continue the pain, shame and blame. Indeed, as Murray Sinclair noted, these acts “set back” any chance of healing relationships.
I am at a loss to understand why contemporary, ordinary Canadians have been unable to persuade a certain segment of vocal Indigenous leadership of the sincerity of people who desperately want better lives for the people those leaders purport to represent.
But I realize that those First Nations Canadians
who remain angry remain so because, even now, in 2024, they are governed by a regime that sets them apart from other Canadians. For human beings in a democratic society, Canada’s apartheid system is fundamentally wrong, especially so after all these years. If equality and freedom for all are not the solution, please, someone, enlighten me.
The challenge is for Indigenous leadership as much as it is for government. This essential point is missing in the discussion. We rarely hear about the intransigence of some Indigenous leadership when it comes to playing a positive role in making things right. It serves no one simply to protest and throw up the past without working constructively with governments to provide a better deal for ordinary Indigenous folks and to make all Canadians equal.
Until a more co-operative approach to change happens, I fear there will be more destruction, blame, shame and pain.
Or does the continued dysfunctional, unhealed relationship evidenced by protest and destruction simply serve the purposes of some Indigenous leaders. Do they continue to profit from it?
My ancestors, and the ancestors of millions more Canadians, cannot defend themselves today; they are long dead, but we can hope they were ordinary and decent, as we profess to be. Nonetheless, their Indigenous neighbours were treated very badly by the system in those times. Sadly, they still are. NonIndigenous Canadians today bear the burden of blame for all that was – and is – wrong, but we keep electing governments that prolong the injustice. All the while too, First Nations people keep electing leadership who refuse to demand and work toward Indigenous equality. That leadership prefers instead to maintain – and make worse –- the perverse “special” First Nations status that continues to hurt so many.
Much of our made-in-Canada apartheid system remains. Read the Indian Act. Read the treaties. Their continued existence is the most damning evidence of the failure of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadian leadership.
As for me and my family, we are grateful for the opportunity to live in a land as great as Canada. Our wish is that we could share that greatness equally with our Indigenous fellow Canadians. Our regret is that our leaders – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – still stubbornly insist on failing everyone.
James C. McCrae is a former Attorney General of Manitoba who was “cancelled” by woke activists for his views.
Happy 2025! Let's get our pets back in shape!
Happy New Year from your friendly, neighborhood veterinary team. Have you made your New Year’s resolution yet?
How about one that involves your pet?
Just as many Canadians make resolutions about weight loss, we thought it would be of benefit to remind you to take a critical look at your dog or cat. Did he or she tip the scale a little on the heavier side this year? Did your veterinarian mention something about weight gain at their last check up?
The latest statistics from Canadian Veterinary Medical Association place almost 50-60% of pets as overweight or obese. Further, many pet parents struggle to identify obesity in their own pets. While research in many species has shown that obesity is a chronic, inflammatory condition, thanks to a recent lifelong study in Labrador retrievers, we also know that it leads to a reduced lifespan. If that isn’t enough, there are so many other good reasons to think about keeping your pet’s
weight in an ideal range. We know that certain diseases such as diabetes are more common in obese pets, and since their mobility is often limited by excess weight, it can severely affect their quality of life as well.
What is this ideal range that we talk about? Your veterinary team uses a simple scale called the Body Condition Score, or BCS, placing your pet on a scale from 1 to 9. There are many online visual aids to help you identify where your pet falls on that scale, but a 4-5 is generally considered ideal.
For most animals, assuming no underlying genetic or metabolic conditions, losing weight is a matter of managing calories taken in vs calories out. However, getting your pet to lose weight isn’t always as simple as portion control, as we want to avoid nutrient deficits while getting their weight down. Another important piece of the puzzle involves paying attention to extras, and making a list of everything your pet ingests during a typical day - How many treats
do they get? What about food scraps? Getting a scale to measure food weight can also be very helpful. When it comes to “calories taken in”, what to feed your pet is an interesting topic of conversation. It may surprise you that dogs do NOT have the same nutritional requirements as wolves. The thousands of years of domestication have changed more than just their looks and temperament, and it should come as no surprise that it has changed their dietary requirements as well. Your veterinary team has nutritional training that exceeds that of the workers at the pet store, as well as that of many breeders. Don’t be afraid to use them for guidance, as they are always happy to play a part in helping a pet reach a healthy weight.
Prescription diets are one of our best tools for healthy weight loss. Certainly, not every animal needs a prescription diet. However, if your pet is overweight, and especially if you have tried on your own to get their weight down without success, it might be time to consider a food change, even if it’s just a temporary one. This doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the food he or she eats. It might just mean that it isn’t the right one at this
moment to help with your long-term weight goals for them.
Of course, this discussion wouldn’t be complete without mentioning exercise. This is where “calories out” comes in. Exercise comes in many forms - from chase and fetch to tug, wrestling, walks and runs. Even simple enrichment games help to keep them active. Giving them regular exercise helps burn calories and maintain lean muscle mass. We know that it’s hard here in Winnipeg. Our winters are cold, long and brutal and getting our pets out requires dedication, and sometimes even a separate wardrobe. But if getting active is one of your own 2025 goals, I can guarantee that your pet would love to play a part in helping you reach it!
Finally, we should mention that rapid weight loss can be dangerous, so any diet plan should be gradual and consistent. Your veterinary team can help you formulate a diet plan and schedule regular weight checks.
Until next time fellow 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
From the mouths of babes – definitions of love
Agroup of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8-year-olds, What does love mean? The answers they got were broader, deeper, and more profound than anyone could have ever imagined!
When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore, so my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love. Rebecca, age 8
logne and they go out and smell each other. Karl, age 5
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth. Billy, age 4
Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving co-
The Journal
Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs. Chrissy, age 6
Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired. Terri, age 4
Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK. Danny, age 8
Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen. Bobby, age 7
If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate. Nikka, age 6
Love is when you tell a guy you
like his shirt, then he wears it every day. Noelle, age 7
Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well. Tommy, age 6
During my piano recital, I was on a stage, and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore. Cindy, age 8
My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night. Clare, age 6
Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken. Elaine, age 5
Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford. Chris, age 7
Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day. Mary, age 4
I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones. Lauren, age 4
When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you. Karen, age 7
Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet, and she doesn’t think its gross. Mark, age 6
You really shouldn’t say I love you unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget. Jessica, age 8
The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, Nothing, I just helped him cry.
Listen to Jims podcasts and many others online at Lifestyles 55 Digital Radio.
The following story is part a new feature, a fictional work by our columnist Wayne Weedon, The Journal. 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.
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”.
Hank, a former Blood Indian from Alberta, gave Pops a journal. Pops gave it to his great-grandson, asking him to read it. It became a lesson in history.
June 26, 1947
Old Cecil took hold of the talking stick. He is old but not frail, although, in the last while I have noticed he does not walk as upright as he used to. Are his years finally catching up to him? He is still slim and quick in motion. He is no more than five feet tall, and he is slight of build, but I would imagine him to have been wiry and strong in his younger years. He still has dark wavy hair, albeit peppered with white. He speaks both clearly and precisely and he speaks distinctly enough so that everyone in the hall has no trouble hearing and understanding every word he says.
Everyone knows me as Cecil Sinclair. But Cecil is not my baptismal name. The name my parents gave me at birth was Dosithé. I was born on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in 1847. You should be able to easily figure out how old I am. I will tell you how I came to take the name of Cecil Sinclair.
It wasn’t just the Indian on the prairies who has had problems with powerful land thieves. I have experienced many examples of this. I was born in an Indian settlement, but my people never called themselves Indians. To do so would have been an invitation for a scalping. The English put bounties on our peoples’ heads about two hundred years ago and those bounties are still in effect today. Canada has never repealed scalping laws. Edward Cornwallis and later Charles Lawrence issued bounties for Indian scalps. In answer to this, my forefathers proclaimed they were not Indian, they were French. Even today when even a blind man could see that we have American Indian features, my people still refer to themselves as French.
I grew up speaking a bastardised French known as Chiac, but you may notice, I currently speak correct English. I will get to that part of the story later. My family had lived on the same piece of land for several hundred years. They farmed, fished, and hunted in that area. Just like their neighbours, they believed they owned the land they lived on. But the English authorities told them otherwise. These people could not produce titles to their land when asked to do so. The government confiscated the land and auctioned it off to the highest bidder. Most of the residents did not have money to buy back their own farms. The people referred to the investors who purchased the lands as being English, but nobody in our village has ever met these investors who always worked through their
agents. Later, when I lived with English people, I realised, the people in authority had treated them unjustly the same as the rest of us. We were using the English as scapegoats for our troubles, while our true enemies are investors whom nobody has ever seen. Who are these investors?
When a civil war broke out in the United States, I found myself in the Union Army. How did this come to be? In 1861, when the American Civil War began, service in the Union army was mandatory for all ablebodied males. But, as usual, there were loopholes in the conscription laws designed for anyone who has money and influence. One of these loopholes stated that any conscripted citizen has the option to send someone in their place. Agents went north into what is now Canada to hire soldiers of fortune. The going rate at the time was five hundred dollars, which to a poor farmer was a huge fortune. My father accepted fifteen hundred dollars to have his three sons join the United States army. At the time, I was thirteen, turning fourteen in a few months.
During the height of a battle, when I realised what war was all about, I deserted from the army. As the bloody fighting unfolded, I crawled into some scrub bush and when I crawled out of that bush some distance away, I ran. After making my way up to British Territory, rather than going eastward to get back home, I went westward. I was hoping I would be declared either dead or captured.
I knew I had distant relatives living on the prairies. These relatives were Indians and half-breeds who had migrated westward after Edward Cornwallis had placed an extirpation bounty on our heads. Others had followed for adventure and profit. I came to a settlement whose inhabitants understood Chiac. Many of these people had the same surnames as me and my relatives. Since I was an army deserter, I gave a false name, and I told them that I was from Québec. When they started asking me about their relatives living in Québec, fearing they might catch me in a lie, I told them I did not know their relatives and Québec is a big city; I couldn’t possibly know everyone who lived there.
I befriended a man who spoke English and from him I learned basic English. The two of us travelled westward and then to the south, eventually ending up in San Francisco where, in a hardware store, my friend pointed out, hanging on the wall was an advertisement for a rifle which could pay for itself by hunting Indians and selling their heads to the government. The poster stated, in 1852 alone, the government had paid out more than a million dollars for adult male Indian heads. Bounty hunters could also profit by selling captive Indian women and children as slaves. Not realising things had changed and bounties were no longer being paid for Indian heads, I was fearing for my life, and I wanted to get out of California as fast as I possibly could. My decision to take a boat to Vancouver changed my whole life.
Having no money for passage, I began inquiring
about getting a job on a boat going to British Columbia. As I was mingling amongst a group of people on a wharf, a little girl fell into the water. Instinctively, I jumped in and saved the girl from drowning. I pulled her from the depths and held her up so someone on the wharf could heist her to safety. She survived and she grew up to be a beautiful young woman.
Despite being broke, I refused a reward for my bravery. I believe taking money for saving a life would be immoral. Knowing I had been looking for work on a boat, this girl’s grandfather offered me a job on his farm. This, I believed I could accept, and I believed I would be safe there.
I soon learned the government was no longer paying out bounties for Indian heads. However, I feared someone would recognise me as an army deserter. As I look back, I realise I was in all probability just being paranoid. However, when one is in that kind of a situation, it is difficult for one to think rationally.
While working on this man’s farm, I became very proficient in English. I was not satisfied with having just rudimentary English, I became a voracious reader, and I have studied on a variety of subjects. Also, I have taken lessons in elocution.
One thing I learned while I was living and working with this English family is, it is not the English who are our oppressors. You will hear people talking about how the English did this or that. The ordinary English people are no different from the rest of us. They are not bloodthirsty and greedy for possessions any more than anyone else is. The true imperialistic oppressors are investors who nobody seems to be able to identify. What nationality are they? The only thing we do know is that ordinary uneducated people are their victims. Looking at the peasants of Ireland, England, Germany, or India, you will find the same type of people who are being taken advantage of. Through the years, most people I have met just want to live in peace.
Eventually I went back into British Columbia where I met the man whose identity I now have. Cecil Sinclair was born in this area and was part of this group of Indians. He was working alongside me in a lumber mill. A log came flying off a chute and struck Cecil on the head, killing him instantly. After his death, I took Cecil’s papers and possessions back here and handed them over to his mother, relating to her how Cecil had died. After I gave her his belongings and what little money he had, in confidence, I told her I was a refugee from the United States where I had deserted the army. She was the one who devised the plan for me to impersonate her dead son. Because I was grateful to her, I always tried to be a good and loyal son until she died.
Old Cecil went on to tell us he felt so much better now that he had revealed his secret. He stated it was a heavy weight lifted from his shoulders. I don’t know if it is my imagination, but when he left the room, I am certain he was walking straighter and taller.
Wayne Douglas Weedon is a Manitoba author who writes a combination of fictional and factual stories, essays, and novels.
Jim Ingebrigtsen
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 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 A 357 Oakdale Drive / 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 seniorresources@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 chalmersrenewal.org
Fort Garry Seniors Resource Council 200 - 270 Donald Street / 204-792-1913 fortgarry@aosupportservices.ca www.aosupportservices.ca/resources/seniorsresource-finders
Garden City Community Centre Seniors 55+ 725 Kingsbury Avenue / 204-940-6111 facilities@gardencitycc.com www.gardencitycc.com/seniors
Golden Rule Seniors Resource Centre 625 Osborne Street / 204-306-1114 goldenrule@swsrc.ca facebook.com/goldenruleseniors
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 Centre 244 Jarvis Avenue
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
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
Y.A.H. Seniors Club
Windsor Community Centre, 99 Springside Dr. 204-233-0648 / yah@windsorcc.ca
BEYOND WINNIPEG
BEAUSEJOUR Beau-Head Senior Centre 645 Park Avenue 204-268-2444 / beauhead@mymts.net
BINSCARTH / RUSSELL
Senior Services of Banner County 204-532-2391 seniorservicesofbannercounty@gmail.com
BOISSEVAIN
Seniors’ Services of the Turtle Mountain Area seniorservicetm@gmail.com / 204-534-6816
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 / gpseniors.ca
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 415 Broadway / 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 src@seineriverservicesforseniors.ca 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
NOTRE DAME DE LOURDES Club D’age Dor Notre Dame ndslchezsoi@gmail.com / 204-248-7291
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 psfsmeals@shaw.ca 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
SOUTH JUNCTION Piney Regional Senior Services 204-437-2604 / lgdseniors@gmail.com
ST. LAURENT Age Friendly Committee of St. Laurent 204-906-9607
STARBUCK
MacDonald Services to Seniors 204-735-3052 / info@mcdonaldseniors.ca www.macdonaldseniors.ca
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 www.ebseniorscene.ca
East Beaches Resource Centre 3 Ateah Road / 204-756-6471 ebresourcec@gmail.com ebresourcec.weebly.com
VIRDEN
Seniors Access to Independent Living 204-851-2761 / sail.cao.2023@gmail.com
WINKLER
Winkler & District MP Senior Centre 102-650 South Railway Avenue 204-325-8964 director@winklerseniorcentre.com www.winklerseniorcentre.com
Thank you for giving better futures in 2024
While the start of a new year brings excitement at the thought of all the wonderful moments to come, it also offers us the opportunity to reflect on last year’s achievements, accomplished through the generosity of our donors and sponsors and the hard work of volunteers, community supporters and staff.
2024 was a meaningful and rewarding year. Thanks to an astonishing 60,000 donations, this was the year that the Better Futures campaign surpassed its five-year goal of $75 million, reaching an extraordinary $87 million. These funds are all in use. Your gifts have helped fund critical infrastructure, life-saving medical equipment and technology, innovative programming to bring comfort to families in hospital, and leading-edge pediatric research at Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM).
remote and isolated communities face to get specialized pediatric care. She received a kidney transplant in 2020 and makes a 12-hour journey to Winnipeg with her family every six to eight weeks for checkups.
Despite the distance and the frequent hospital visits, Janessa attended over 20 events to represent the 140,000 kids who need HSC Children’s every year, up to 60 per cent of whom are Indigenous. She’s raising funds to support the Nephrology Clinic and Hemodialysis Unit and you can help with a donation at goodbear.ca/Janessa.
The Government of Manitoba saw your commitment, and in November, they responded by investing $25 million to improve pediatric care at HSC Children’s Hospital. This brings our Better Futures campaign impact to an astounding $112 million and is a testament to what can be achieved when the community and our leaders unite toward a common goal.
But that’s not all that happened in 2024! In February, we celebrated 2023 Champion Child, Pacey Wall who attended more than 40 events to share his story and showcase the amazing health care and research being done in Manitoba. This 10-year-old raised $34,000 to split between HSC Children’s Hospital and CHRIM!
In March, we were delighted to welcome Janessa Dumas Colomb as our 2024 Champion. Janessa, from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, is the first Champion Child from a remote northern First Nations community, highlighting the challenges children in Manitoba’s
These kids are among the thousands of volunteers who put in hours and hours of hard work to make our fundraising events a success last year. More than 300 volunteers contributed to the success of our Children’s Hospital Book Market in the spring and fall. In partnership with Keeping Kenzi Close, the Children’s Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament raised more than $270,000 – a new high! Thanks to over 1,000 volunteers, we revived the beloved Teddy Bears’ Picnic for its 35th anniversary! This event hosted over 35,000 participants for a fun family day filled with learning about health care and research. The Ice Crystal Gala’s Rhinestone Rodeo committee raised a record-breaking $1.5 million!
With donor support, a framework for the development of the Indigenous Community Healing Space continues to move forward, taking the time to ensure First Nations, Métis, and Inuit voices are heard through consultations with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Indigenous community members, and health care leaders.
Thanks to your generosity, CHRIM announced its newest research theme, PROMISE: Pediatric Research in Oncology in Manitoba: Innovation, Science, Excellence, which will help improve the outcomes for chil-
dren and youth living with cancer.
We’re deeply grateful to our Children’s Miracle Network and Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations partners, like Walmart, The Brick and Costco, whose teams make important asks at the checkout for donations. Every dollar counts!
Big bear hugs to Heather and Bob Williams for matching donations of up to $400,000 for surgical needs, Qualico and anonymous donors matching donations on Giving Tuesday to raise more than $254,344 and the Talbot Family Foundation for matching donations at Dr. Goodbear’s Holiday Give-a-thon and throughout the holiday season – all to help kids who need life-saving surgical care.
This year we also had support from hundreds of sponsors and media partners who ensured the success of all our events and thousands of community events organized by good people doing amazing things to help kids in hospital. We could not do any of this without you all!
We packed a lot of good into 2024! We at the Children’s Hospital Foundation are truly grateful for your unwavering commitment to continue caring for kids. We are humbled by your dedication. As we move through 2025 together, let’s make anything possible.
Stefano Grande is the president and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.
Eye hygiene is critical to eye health
Continued from page 1
swollen, irritated and itchy from the glue used. Lash extensions can trap dirt and bacteria, holding them close to your eyes and leading to eye infections.
Proper and consistent lid hygiene is critical in preventing eye infections. Here are some tips to consider:
• Clean your eyelids every night with a foaming wash containing teatree oil or okra.
• Use hypochlorous (HOCL) acid to help improve your skin and eye health.
• Discard old eye makeup and mascara wands, sponges, and eyeliner every 3-6 months and clean your brushes regularly.
HOCL comes in a spray bottle. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial actions help fight skin bacteria, reduce flare-ups and soothe skin and eyes.
Beauty does not have to be toxic! We can now use eye-care-forward beauty lines and products that will help to enhance natural beauty while still being able to promote and preserve eye health. A new study found high levels of a marker for toxic PFAS sub-
stances in 52% of 231 makeup products purchased in the United States and Canada. Some of the highest levels were found in foundations (63%), waterproof mascara (82%) and longlasting lipstick (62%). It’s scary to hear that 88% of the tested products failed to disclose on their labels any ingredients that would explain those chemical markers. The most common PFAS is polytetrafluoroethylene, the ingredient commonly known as Teflon. If you want to eliminate PFAS chemicals in your makeup, start by avoiding using any waterproof or long-lasting products. Most of the makeup with the highest levels of PFAS markers were labeled as "wearresistant" or "long-lasting”. Let’s take the right steps and open our eyes to
using more safe and natural products around our eyes. Clearly the FDA has not changed anything since 1938, maybe it’s time we take action and make a change!
Stay tuned for next month’s article where I discuss dry eye syndrome. Academy optical is excited to announce that we will now be offering customized dry eye treatment options using IPL and Radiofrequency from InMode medical. IPL and radiofrequency are proven treatments to safely and effectively treat the root cause of dry eye disease, offering long term symptom relief for patients who have been suffering with dry eyes.
Dr. Romie Dhaliwal, B. SC., O.D. is the owner and optician at Academy Optical.
Stefano Grande Healthy Living
Dr. Romie Dhaliwal All About Eyes
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IF YOU ARE A SENIOR. . . . . .
You should consider having the following in place
Will
The preparation of a will may seem like a daunting task, however, it is essential to ensure that your property is disposed of according to your wishes upon your death. If you pass away without a valid will, the law states what is to happen to your estate.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is a document which appoints an individual to handle your affairs in the event you become mentally incapable of making your own decisions. Nothing prevents you from continuing to make your own decisions while you are still competent.
A power of attorney is an extremely valuable document to have in place in case anything happens to you which affects your mental ability, such as a stroke, coma or dementia.
Health Care Directive (Living Will)
A health care directive, commonly called a living will, is a document which appoints an individual to make decisions with regard to your health care only, while you are alive but unable to express your decisions yourself. This document is distinct from a power of attorney and deals only with health care decisions such as whether life sustaining treatments, such as CPR or blood transfusion, should be continued or withdrawn.
(formerly
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