Discover Lac du Bonnet 2022

PINAWA

WHITESHELL

WINNIPEG RIVER REGION

Featuring stories on

Lac du Bonnet’s Road to Reconciliation Canada Day’s Big Return John Barnard’s Filmmaking Dream Team PLUS Josh Crabb Hits the Ski Trails Guess Who’s Back in Town?

How Ukrainians Paved the Path to Brightstone Get Back to Live Music on August Long Who is Grim Willard?

4 | Editor’s Note

Contents

TECHNOLOGY 10 | A Game‐Changer for Nuclear Waste Retrieval 51 | People Want Fast Internet Speed. A Local ISP is Providing it

12 JOHN BARNARD’S

SPORTS 9 | LdB Ice is Coming Back 20 | Why CTV’s Josh Crabb Loves our Neck of the Woods 26 | Black Bear Golf Club is Still Driving the Golf Community After 22 Years 53 | Up for an 18‐Hole Golf Challenge?

HEALTH & WELLNESS 31 | As the Need for Physio is Growing, so is This Local Business HISTORY 5 | Fascinating Facts About the Town Dock 6 | At 94, Gord Emberley is Still Restoring Planes OUTDOORS 22 | Take Care to Protect Your Pet Against Ticks 24 | A Trail for All 4 Seasons 29 | Outdoor Ed Centre to be Completed Soon 48 | It Costs More Than You Think to Maintain Snowmobile Trails/Lee River Snow Riders Celebrate Three Decades 49 | 5 Great Things About Pinawa REAL ESTATE 8 | Why our Real Estate Market is on Fire 38 | Now is the Time to Make Your Real Estate Dreams a Reality COMMUNITY 14 | Rising to the Call for Truth and Reconciliation 16 | Reconciliation is a Chance For us All to Learn About Our Heritage 24 | Spend Your Saturday at the Farmers’ Market

DREAM TEAM

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18 DONNIE M DOUGALL’S LOST & C

FOUND TOWN

Get Ready for Canada Day Weekend

For the first time in two years, we’re ready to party on July long!

34 | Popular Roadside Café Gets a Rebrand 36 | 7 Amazing Things to do This Year 37 | Drifters Has it All 40 | These Volunteers are the Foundation of our Community 50 | Looking for a Unique Gift? Visit Manitoba Made ARTS & CULTURE 21 | Let’s Get Back to Live Music 41 | Winnipeg’s Mayor Gave This Kids’ Book a Big Thumbs‐Up 42 | Get Artistic on the BSAT Tour 43 | Arts Thriving in Pinawa Despite Pandemic Challenges 44 | Our ‘Boreal Writer’ Won a Major Award/Winnipeg River Arts Council Still Connecting People Through Art 52 | How a Victoria Beach Artist Caught the Eye of the Winnipeg Jets 54 | Get Hooked on The Adventures of Grim Willard

THE 46 PAVING WAY TO BRIGHTSTONE HOUSE & HOME 7 | Looking to Build a Cottage? Look No Further Than Olympic Homes 17 | Brighten Up Your Home with a Sunroom 27 | Need Potable Water Delivered? Call This Guy 28 | Looking for Blinds?

We’ll Help You Find What’s Best 30 | 5 Ways to Achieve Energy Efficiency 32 | Trust us When we Say we Know the Water Here

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EDITOR’S NOTE

T

his time last year, we were all still living in the throes of a pandemic, looking at a second summer of cancelled events and wondering when life might return to some semblance of normality.

A lot has changed, and we have turned the corner and have much to look forward to in 2022.

Our beloved Canada Day weekend festivities will return, including the fireworks. The Fire and Water Music Festival is back on, as is the Boreal Shores Art Tour.

This is the eighth edition of Discover Lac du Bonnet.

Every year we feature our annual attractions but also stories on little‐known facts about the region and its history.

This year we’re proud to present some history on Ukrainian settlement of the area and how Ukrainian pioneers opened up the area now known as Brightstone.

We’re also proud to feature stories on our area schools and what they have done to bring education on truth and reconciliation to the public.

CTV’s Josh Crabb talks to us about why he likes to ski here. Filmmaker John Barnard, who went to school in Lac du Bonnet, reveals his fascinating connection to the Crash Test Dummies.

Oh, and we caught up with Donnie McDougall of The Guess Who to find out why he now calls Lac du Bonnet home.

You’ll find some QR codes (those funny square‐shaped things that look like ink blots on a Rorschach test) interspersed throughout the magazine. These can be scanned with a phone and will guide you to specific locations and websites having to do with our region.

To scan, simply open your phone’s camera and point it at the code. On older phones, you may need a separate QR code scanning app, which can be download for free off the App Store or Google Play.

Thanks for reading, and please check out the great businesses and organizations who partner with us to make this magazine a reality. Without them, it wouldn't be possible to publish it!

—Marc Zienkiewicz Publisher

Discover Lac du Bonnet 2022 edition Discover Lac du Bonnet is an annual general interest magazine profiling people and events that make the Lac du Bonnet region a great place to visit. It is published by: InDemand Media Solutions Box 1679 Lac du Bonnet, MB R0E 1A0 Ph: 204‐340‐6575 Publisher, editor, writer, layout, sales, distribution Marc Zienkiewicz mzienkie@live.com

Ad and cover design Sandra Barnes, Sandra Barnes Design sandrabarnes.design SandraBarnesDesign@gmail.com Additional cover photos courtesy of: Lac du Bonnet Senior School/Donnie McDougall/Crash Test Dummies/Farpoint Films/CTV Winnipeg/Jamie Hogaboam/Winnipeg Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada/LdB Ice/Lac du Bonnet Historical Society Archives Additional writing Donna Besel/John Fleming/Brian Smiley/Kathy Picard/World of Water Selkirk

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions that may occur. The publisher will not be responsible for injury, loss, or damages resulting from readers’ participation in any event or activity featured in this publication.

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FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT THE TOWN DOCK Amazing that so much history can come out of one dock. Among the town’s most historic sites, the dock recently underwent a rebuild to restore the structure and ensure it continues to be a part of the fabric of our community for years to come. The upper wharf of the dock will be replaced but the original shape kept due to its historic value and the fact the public knows it so well.

The Lac du Bonnet Town Dock has played an important role in the community throughout the decades.

Photos courtesy Lac du Bonnet Historical Society Archives (ldbhistorical.ca)

1921 1927 1987 2005 The year the town dock was completed.

Early the next year, Western Canada Airways became the first commercial airline to operate out of Lac du Bonnet. Based at the dock, these fearless, trailblazing bush pilots opened up the North and secured Lac du Bonnet’s place in Canada’s aviation history.

The year Manitoba's first airmail was flown from the dock.

Hard to imagine a time when flying mail in planes was a novelty. On June 1, the first scheduled flight from the Lac du Bonnet dock took place. Capt. F.J. Stevenson flew the province’s first semi‐ official airmail to Bissett, Long Lake and Slate Lake (in Nopiming Provincial Park). The first official airmail was flown out of Lac du Bonnet on Oct. 4.

When Lac du Bonnet’s first Canada Day fireworks show was held at the dock. The show has gone from a mere 125‐shot presentation in 1987 when it first started, to well over 6,000 shots today. After being cancelled in 2020 and 2021, the Canada Day weekend festivities are planned for July 1‐3, 2022.

The year the first Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby was held.

Derbies have been held at the dock for decades, but it was 17 years ago that our annual community ice fishing derby began.

Although it was cancelled the last two years, the derby will be held on Feb. 25, 2023 and will celebrate its 15th anniversary that day.

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At 94, Gord Emberley is Still Restoring Planes “Here I am, back restoring airplanes again,” laughs Gord Emberley in his garage, proudly showing off a piece of historic plane he is working to restore.

The 94‐year‐old is a well‐known name in eastern Manitoba, known as an avid history buff and former pilot who is a walking encyclopedia of aviation history.

Emberley is a founder of the Winnipeg Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, which celebrated its grand opening of its new Winnipeg location on the May long weekend. The new purpose‐built state‐of‐the‐art building is prominently located on Wellington Avenue — the main entrance/exit road for Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.

The new museum wouldn’t be possible without the knowledge of people like Emberley, whose passion for history earned him the Order of Canada. The aircraft he recently worked on to help restore is a Fairchild Super 71. Unique in Canadian aviation history, it was the first aircraft with a metal‐skinned fuselage to be built in Canada for bush‐flying operations.

The one on display at the museum was abandoned in the woods next to an Ontario lake for more than 70 years, until it was recovered by museum volunteers in the 1970s. It was that exact aircraft that Emberley worked on in his home workshop.

“This is the heritage of our region. Lac du Bonnet is known for its aviation history,” he says.

Emberley’s passion for restoring aircraft has been a huge help to the museum, and staff there are constantly amazed by him and his dedication to the craft, says museum president Terry Slobodian.

“Gord told me a great story about how he was sitting at his dining room table in 1974 and one of his sons said, ‘Dad, how come there are no Vickers Vedettes left?’ And that’s how the museum began; they went looking for the

The Winnipeg Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada.

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Lac du Bonnet’s Gord Emberley works to restore an airplane wing at the Winnipeg Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, which celebrated the grand opening of its new location on the May long weekend.

Vedette and the one we have in our museum is an amalgam of three wrecks. It took 20 years and 100 volunteers to restore,” Slobodian says.

“He’s definitely a legend when it comes to aviation and its history, especially living in a community so steeped in aviation history. Everyone here looks up to Gord. Even at age 94 he drives from Lac du Bonnet to Winnipeg every week to restore aircraft to have them ready for the opening.”

For information on the new Winnipeg Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, visit royalaviationmuseum.com

A Ready‐to‐Move (RTM) cottage is just one option provided by Winnipeg’s Olympic Homes.

Looking to Build a Cottage? Look No Further Than Olympic Homes They can construct your cottage right on your property or build it in the city and move it to your dream location.

Lac du Bonnet is a hot cottaging destination. With our population skyrocketing in the summer months from around 4,000 into the tens of thousands, our region has become known as one of the province’s top cottaging meccas.

Greg Harrison makes it his business to help people build their ultimate dream cabin, whether it’s on‐site or as a ready‐to‐move structure that is built in Winnipeg and moved to their Lac du Bonnet property.

Harrison is a sales expert at Winnipeg’s Olympic Homes, which specializes in home and cottage builds.

“We’re one of the few builders that does it all,” Harrison says. “A cottage is a big purchase. We understand the gravity of people’s decisions. With a lot of other builders, you have to do things this way or that way. With us, we let people be creative and allow them just about every possibility they can think of.”

And the market is indeed taking off, as people look to turn the corner on the pandemic and get outside the city.

“A lot of people are flocking to the

Lac du Bonnet region, as the prices out there are fairly decent as compared to closer to the city. In developments close to the city there are waiting lists with hundreds of people on them. In Lac du Bonnet, you have more leeway as far as land prices and lot availability go.”

That’s where Olympic comes in.

Olympic’s two building options provide you with flexibility to build your cottage the way you want, Harrison says.

“Following our social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook is a great way to see what we do and what options might be best for your situation,” Harrison adds. “Of course, giving us a call or coming in to talk to us will give you an even better idea of how we can make your dreams a reality.”

Search Olympic Homes on Facebook or Instagram for photos and info on new builds that might be right for you, or visit their website at olympichomes.ca.

Or, scan the QR code and pay them a visit!

On‐site shell builds: With this option, Olympic builds your cottage right on your property.

Having a cottage shell built on‐site offers a number of benefits, including: •More square footage. By building on‐site, Olympic can give you a full two storeys.

•No parting with trees. With site building, property owners don’t have to part with valued trees because the home is built right where they want it, with no chance of damage during a move.

•Peace‐of‐mind during construction.

Some home‐buyers like to watch their home being built right in their future yard — it gives them peace‐of‐ mind to see every step of the process being carried out.

The main benefits of a Ready‐to‐ Move (RTM) cottage are: •A faster build. Because an RTM is built at a central location, its construction can happen more quickly than a home built on‐site.

•Easier cost control. An RTM is built to specs and delivered to the site, meaning no unforeseen changes that could result in higher‐than‐ anticipated costs.

•A simplified process. An RTM can be less stressful since the homeowner doesn’t have to deal with day‐to‐day decisions that building on‐site might require.

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Why our Real Estate Market is on Fire

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Our real estate market in 2021 was nothing short of crazy, says Stacey Harron, associate broker for Evergreen Realty based in Seven Sisters.

“It was probably the craziest real estate market I have ever worked in. There was no inventory, with buyers desperately wanting cottages and record high sales. 2022 is shaping up to be just as crazy. I predict we will see prices skyrocket as inventory remains low and demand high,” she says.

Why the high market activity? A little thing called the pandemic, she says.

“The general theme has been, ‘Well, we don't want to leave the country, and we’ve been stuck in the house all these months, so why not buy a cottage,” she says. “Usually we’ll see up to $10 million in sales in an average year. Now it’s more like $40 million. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Harron says the market activity has been right in line with pandemic restrictions.

“The more restrictions government imposes, the better the real estate market. We have a lineup of people waiting to list. I have a list of over 400 buyers wanting to buy something.

There are way more buyers than sellers, which just drives the prices up. It’s incredible.”

Lac du Bonnet becomes a cottaging mecca in the summer months, when its population swells from around 4,000 into the tens of thousands. Harron moved to Lac du Bonnet in 2006 to work as a graphic designer for a local newspaper. Her dream was to sell real estate in one of the province’s most beautiful regions, a dream she soon realized when she was hired by an area real estate firm. Her mom Nancy was a realtor in Steinbach, which is what got her interested.

“Lac du Bonnet has a very diverse real estate market. You’ll find something for everyone in all budgets from the $15,000 vacant lots to the million‐dollar waterfront homes. Many subdivisions also have private amenities such as beaches, boat launches and marinas,” she says.

Evergreen Realty celebrated 20 years in business is 2019. It was founded by ex‐RCMP officer Debbie McLean. Its head office is located in Seven Sisters.

For listings visit evergreen‐realty.ca, or scan the QR code and pay them a visit!

LdB Ice is Coming Back Lac du Bonnet’s favourite winter event is coming back in 2023, so get your fishing rod ready and prepare yourself for a day of great fishing at the town dock.

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby will return on Feb. 25 of next year, after a two‐year absence.

Planning for the event starts in September and ends in June, and derby proceeds go back to the Lac du Bonnet community. Over 1,500 holes are drilled for the derby.

Even though the derby hasn’t been held since February of 2020, board members have been hard at work helping the community by awarding scholarships and helping in a myriad

Photo courtesy Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby will take place in February 2023, which will be its 15th anniversary. of other ways.

“We love bringing people to town one day a year for great ice fishing, but we exist primarily to help our community all year round,” says derby president Dennis McGuffin.

The derby committee is proud that it has been able to help so many great projects over the years. Funding support has helped over 75 projects in Lac du Bonnet and the surrounding area come to fruition.

Over the years a variety of groups have benefited from derby funding, totalling nearly 40. These groups have benefited from grants supplied to their organization and/or by being paid for supplying volunteers to work at the derby in various roles such as hole drillers, fish measurers, ticket sellers, security, merchandise sales, raffle sales and more.

The amount given back each year is dependent on the amount of profit from the derby.

In 14 years of operation, $188,717 has been given back to the community through grants, bursaries, and community volunteer hour payments.

The average yearly give‐back to community over

the last five derbies was $20,967.

In addition, the derby has spent over $204,000 for local goods and services. It is estimated that the Lac du Bonnet area has received an estimated direct economic benefit of $385,588 through sales at local businesses as a result of the event.

Because the 2023 derby will be its 15th anniversary, it will be going bigger and better than ever with increased prize money including a $15,015 grand prize (up from $10,000) as well as 14 other cash prizes.

You don’t need to catch a fish to be a winner as there will be 70 random draw prizes for all ticket holders and an additional 25 random kids draw prizes.

And of course, the event has benefited not only from the hundreds of people who come out for it, but from dedicated board members, past and present, like the present board of McGuffin and fellow volunteers Darlene Lamoureaux, John Fleming, Ron Clinton and Bianca Tetrault, the latter of whom is a recent addition to the board.

“I love just being out on the ice and seeing people that I only see at the fishing derby, people from all over Manitoba and sometimes outside the province. It creates a real sense of community on derby day, but throughout the year as well as the funds go to such good causes. I’m so happy to be a part of it,” Tetrault says.

For more information, to become a sponsor or volunteer, visit the website at LdbIce.ca, Facebook page @Icefishingderbylacdubonnet, Instagram @ldbicefishingderby or email gm@ldbice.ca.

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A Game‐Changer for Nuclear Waste Retrieval The Whiteshell Laboratories Decommissioning Project is a first in Canada: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is undertaking the safe and permanent closure of a nuclear research site and a research reactor, while returning the vast majority of the site to its original state.

And it’s using a groundbreaking new invention to do it.

The decommissioning process requires a lot of creative thinking, and employees have overcome individual challenges through sheer ingenuity. One example: the invention of the Standpipe and Bunker Waste Retrieval System is employing first‐of‐a‐kind equipment — a solution that will help CNL safely and efficiently handle radioactive waste.

It weighs 1.4 million pounds — or 635,000 kilograms — and will take more than 150 trucks to ship to the Whiteshell site, located near Pinawa. When it arrives and is assembled, this gargantuan piece of equipment will be the safest and most efficient way to clean up radioactive and other hazardous waste now in temporary storage.

David Gilson, CNL’s Whiteshell site senior manager for waste management area demolition and decommissioning, considers it a ground‐breaking innovation.

“This is going to be a game‐changer not just for Canada, but for other countries with nuclear programs,” Gilson said. “For us to show you can do this type of work remotely will be significant for the industry.”

The system is the brainchild of CNL employees who were trying to figure out the best method to remediate intermediate‐ level radioactive waste while protecting employees.

CNL’s specific challenge was to develop a plan to remediate 171 in‐ground concrete standpipes (vertical in‐ground waste storage structures) and seven in‐ground concrete bunkers — while making sure the people doing the work were as safe as possible.

As a result of the radioactive hazards and other contaminants, the solution was to use remotely operated equipment as part of a first of a kind system using commercially available parts and components and some specifically designed parts assembled in a unique configuration.

Part of this solution, the Bunker Waste Retrieval System, will sit over one bunker at a time and using remotely operated excavator arms, will remove the roof, extract materials, and deliver them for processing. Once the bunker is cleared of materials and decontaminated, the Bunker Waste Retrieval System will then be moved to the next bunker using a series of self‐propelled modular transporters situated underneath the building.

The second part, the Standpipe Waste Retrieval System, will sit over two standpipes at the same time, pulverize the concrete caps into rubble, extract the materials and then deliver the waste for processing. A crane will then lift and move it along to the next two standpipes. The heart of the system is the Sorting and Conditioning Unit which will receive the packaged waste materials from both the bunkers and

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The invention of the Standpipe and Bunker Waste Retrieval System is employing first‐of‐a‐kind equipment — a solution that will help CNL safely and efficiently handle radioactive waste. standpipes. It contains two pairs of remotely operated manipulator arms that will open, segregate, analyze, sort, and package the waste into shielded canisters for safe transport.

Everything is directed from a control room that is an entire football field away. David Gilson says keeping workers at a safe distance is key to this unique system.

“You don’t have to put someone right on top of the bunker or the standpipe to retrieve the waste,” Gilson said. “You can do this remotely and remove any danger to people and the environment that this process could present.”

The components of the system are now under construction in the Greater Toronto Area and Cambridge, Ont. They are due to be transported to Whiteshell in late 2022 and reassembled.

It is estimated it will take six months to empty and process each of the seven bunkers and a week for each of the 171 standpipes, putting the total time to clear both at less than four years.

John’s Dream Team

Our hometown filmmaking hero surrounds himself with talented people, including the drummer for the Crash Test Dummies.

John Barnard’s next movie is all about a pandemic, and how it makes people, well, a little bit nutty.

Wintertide is Barnard’s second feature film. Lac du Bonnet’s best‐known filmmaker, Barnard’s first feature Menorca was released in 2017. While that movie focused on a hedonistic soccer mom, Wintertide centres on a plague of depression that transforms its victims into zombie‐like automatons, and a woman who discovers that the key to immunity lies within her dreams.

Yes, you read that right: it’s about a pandemic. But it wasn’t inspired by COVID‐19, oddly enough.

“It was written long before COVID. I had no idea it was going to work out this way and we’d actually be in a pandemic. Making this movie felt so bizarre. I certainly didn’t plan it this way,” Barnard says.

“The idea of a community wrestling with a misunderstood illness and the stigma around mandatory medication really seems like it’ll resonate for audiences in the framework of a genre film.”

Wintertide stars newcomer Niamh Carolan, originally from Ireland, in her first feature film.

“Niamh really stood out. There was just something about her that was unique and

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Photo courtesy Farpoint Films

John Barnard directs his latest film, Wintertide, which is about people living through a pandemic. different. She's the only out‐of‐ town actor in the film; all the others are from Winnipeg,” he says.

Going to high school in Lac du Bonnet helped Barnard make his dream of working in TV and movie production a reality, though learning to make movies wasn’t so easy as a high school student in the 1990s, he says.

Although Lac du Bonnet Senior School has a media production course today, no such thing existed when Barnard was a teen.

He’s become a legend of the Manitoba film scene, having

founded Winnipeg’s Farpoint Films, known for producing the popular TV shows Escape or Die! and the award‐winning The Illegal Eater.

In 2018 he directed Bachman, a documentary film that follows rock legend Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman‐ Turner Overdrive fame. But Barnard is no stranger to working with musicians — he also collaborates regularly with Mitch Dorge, best known as the drummer for the Crash Test Dummies. The pair have had a close working relationship for years.

Photo courtesy Rob Porter (RMSMedia.ca)

Mitch Dorge performs with the Crash Test Dummies in Surrey, B.C.

Photo courtesy Farpoint Films

John Barnard went to high school in Lac du Bonnet, which helped him realize his dream of making TV shows and movies.

“I liken my relationship with John to be somewhat like David Lynch, who has an Italian composer that he works with pretty much all the time. Whenever John’s got a project looming in the distance, he’ll call me and say, ‘This is the kind of direction I think it’s going in, and I'm just planting the seed now,’” Dorge says.

Mitch Dorge (far right) has been the drummer for the Crash Test Dummies since the band released its first album in 1991. They are currently celebrating their 30th anniversary with a tour of the United States, Europe and Canada.

“Wintertide he planted in my mind probably two‐and‐ a‐half years ago, and he had an idea of what he wanted the music to do. When a director says to you, ‘This is what I want the music to do,’ as opposed to ‘This is what I want it to sound like,’ that really gives a musician something to work with.”

The two also have a lot in common personally, like a love for Lac du Bonnet and area. While Barnard grew up here, Dorge enjoys the wide open spaces and the beauty of nature he experiences when visiting friends in Lee River.

“If you don’t know where Lac du Bonnet is, you’re quite possibly not breathing,” Dorge says with a laugh.

Of course, Dorge is only one part of a large team that Barnard says has helped make him successful in the film world. From producers to writers to musicians and everyone in between, he says after years in the business he’s finally found the group of people he considers a work family.

“I now have the same group of about 40 people that make up a team that’s taken about 25 years to build. I feel like I can do anything with these people,” he says. “It's a total game changer for me to have the right group of people around who understand each other and always do great work together.”

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Students, teachers are rising to the call for truth and reconciliation.

By Becky Reynolds Lac du Bonnet Senior School students, staff, and supporters have been exploring Reconciliation and Resurgence for some time now. Each activity, story, artwork, political movement, song, visit, ceremony, and project has led us to where (and how) we walk today.

Our journey began in 2015, when a group of Indigenous leadership students attended the Flight of One Feather conference. It was here that we were given the great gift of witnessing the Honourable Mr. Justice Murray Sinclair’s words, wisdom, and call to action.

We rose to this call when two of our students gained membership on a provincial leadership group called Educating for ACTion: Our Human Rights Journey. Around this same time, we were welcomed by the late Elder Dr. Dave Courchene into Sagkeeng’s Turtle Lodge to witness elders, knowledge keepers, and scientists from around the world discuss climate change at the Onjisay Aki conference. Later, young men and women from our school returned to the lodge for Rites of Passage.

Our work outside the school led to transformations inside the school. In 2017, LdBSS offered the Grade 12 First Nations, Metis, & Inuit Studies course for the first time. Here, in a circle around our Medicine Wheel table, Indigenous and non‐Indigenous students came together to tackle difficult truths, speak suppressed languages, challenge old narratives, and gain new understandings about Canada’s past, present, and future.

Our studies led students to engage in leadership, education, and outreach campaigns in the broader community. Initiatives included spearheading Orange Shirt Day activities, performing the Blanket Exercise at the Centennial School, and painting Winter Counts on the liner of the LdB District Museum teepee. This class and our work continues today.

In the art room, students began to explore the most famous art form of the Manitoba Métis: The

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Photos courtesy Becky Reynolds

At top, one of the Four Directions Murals created at Lac du Bonnet Senior School. Above, the Medicine Wheel Garden.

Flower Beadwork People. Metis artist Christi Belcourt’s paintings and resource book Medicines to Help Us, inspired students to engage in their own explorations and beadwork. In a show of solidarity and support for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirit People (MMIWG2s), students added their beaded vamps to the commemorative project called Walking with Our Sisters.

Today we are engaged in a large and ongoing project involving over 100 Indigenous and non‐Indigenous students, teacher leaders, staff, community members, local tradesmen, knowledge keepers and artist mentor Annie Bergen. We are transforming the spaces around us, inside‐out and outside‐in.

Everything we build and create is connected, as we and all things are.

Our project began inside with the creation and installation of Four Directions Murals whose imbedded teachings include ancient and holistic understandings of the seasons, mental, physical, and spiritual health, medicines, the life cycle, animals, and our encircling connection to Mother Earth.

Outside, our Medicine Wheel garden grows. It is here that we hope to call the people back to the land, back to the circle. We planted shade trees, high bush cranberry, and built a shade

structure. Inside the garden, we engaged in purposeful planting, choosing Prairie Originals native to Turtle Island. Our plants nourish and provide homes for bees, butterflies and birds. Holding the circle together are the medicines cedar, sweet grass, sage and tobacco.

Overlooking our garden is a stunning 16‐foot round mural whose inspiration is Ogichi Tibakonigaywin, Kihche Othasowewin, Tako Wakan: The Great Binding Law, written at Turtle Lodge. The Great Binding Law teaches us that “Mother Earth is alive and she is the Original Mother. She has a living spirit and she is sacred.” We are connected to her, as are all Natural Laws and other living beings. Our mural reminds us that Mother Earth will take care of us if we take care of her.

In the spring, we will install tables and seating around our Medicine Wheel Garden. Thirteen Grandmother Moon mosaics will embellish eight table tops. Our mosaics represent the teachings inherent in the full moons of the lunar calendar as told by the grandmothers at The Turtle Lodge.

Inspired by the artwork of Leah Dorian (Metis), Frank Polson (Algonquin), and Betty Albert (Cree), we have brought Manito‐Debiki Giizis (Spirit Moon), Makwa Debiki Giizis (Bear Moon), Aandego_Debiki Giizis (Crow Moon), Waabiggwene_Debiki Giizis (Flower Moon), Ode’Minikewe‐Debiki Giizis (Strawberry Moon), Miinikewe‐Debiki Giizis (Blueberry Moon), Waatebagaawe‐Debiki Giizis (Leaves of Colour Moon), and Gashkadin‐Debiki Giizis (Freezing Moon) into artistic being.

We are transforming our spaces hoping that we might transform ourselves in the process, inside‐out and outside‐in, one heart at a time. We are not finished, yet.

Another of the Four Directions Murals.

—Becky Reynolds is a teacher at Lac du Bonnet Senior School

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Reconciliation is a chance for us all to learn about our heritage.

There’s no better example of our community's commitment to reconciliation than some recent initiatives undertaken by our two community schools, Lac du Bonnet Centennial School and Lac du Bonnet Senior School.

Here’s a few things the youth of our community are learning to help make Lac du Bonnet — and all of Manitoba — a better place.

Reconciliation benefits everybody.

“Good Indigenous education is just good education, plain and simple. That means that it is consciously and purposefully planned to support indigenous children but it still benefits all children. Something that benefits one child benefits all children,” says Dave Ogren, principal at Lac du Bonnet Centennial School.

Reconciliation is a process that will evolve and continue on indefinitely. Ogren says: “I'm old enough to remember when all the pronouns were ‘he’ and ‘him’, and always referenced men. Then it started changing to include ‘she’ and ‘her’. Now it’s changing again to include different pronouns. That’s how change works, it happens bit by bit and might seem new at the time, but it becomes normal. That’s what we’re doing with making ‘Indigenous education’ into ‘everybody education.’”

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Reconciliation improves the curriculum. According to Andrea Maxwell, support teacher at Lac du Bonnet Centennial School: “All of our classrooms have used books about reconciliation and about Indigenous history. We’re putting that history right into the hands of children, so they know the real story of Canada’s past and that helps them know more about the present.”

Reconciliation helps us all strengthen our identity. Faith Homeniuk is a Grade 10 student at Lac du Bonnet Senior School.

While an elementary school student, she taught other students about her Indigenous identity by leading drum‐making workshops.

“It brings me a lot of joy when people ask me about my heritage, and it’s a great opportunity to teach them about it and help them discover something they also enjoy doing, and maybe learn more about their own backgrounds,” she says.

She also participated in the construction of traditional healing gardens at her elementary and high schools.

“The reconciliation experience has been a great occasion for teamwork and communication. The students really worked together to create something nice and give back to the school and other students,” she adds.

“I think that was my favorite part

Faith Homeniuk is a student at Lac du Bonnet Senior School.

Photo courtesy Lac du Bonnet Centennial School

Students at Lac du Bonnet Centennial School learn about truth and reconciliation.

about it, along with just helping the process along and seeing it all come together.”

Brighten Up Your Home With a Sunroom

Marc Jenvenne is a busy guy, running his own construction business and now taking the reins of Sunspace Sunrooms in Lac du Bonnet.

Marc, owner of Golden Prairie Construction, recently took over Sunspace from previous owners Marie and Eldon Hiebert, who spent years making a name for the sunrooms provider in the Lac du Bonnet region.

Now, Jenvenne is showing customers why Sunspace Sunrooms are the best on the market. Marc and his wife Grace offer both design and installation to guide you through creating your dream indoor/outdoor living space for home, cottage or commercial use.

Custom design your sunroom, screen room, patio cover, decks, railings and more. Built to extend enjoyment of the outdoors without common annoyances like wind, rain, insects and harmful UV rays, Marc says Sunspace Sunrooms and

Marc and Grace Jenvenne operate Sunspace Sunrooms Lac du Bonnet.

WeatherMaster Windows & Doors add beauty, comfort and style to any space while increasing its value.

“I’m a contractor and I know how much it costs to make things that look nice and that function well.

Sunspace does such a good job at providing a quality product; they’ve designed a nice package to fit any home,” he says.

While some sunrooms he installs are standalone gazebo‐style structures, most are attached right to a home.

“When it’s attached, you can sit and enjoy the morning sun without having to leave your home,” he says. “That’s a very popular option that most people want when looking to add a sunroom to their home.”

Marc is passionate about bringing clients’ dreams to life. From the first call to the finishing touches, he loves working directly with clients to create something that surpasses their expectations.

Clients’ satisfaction and excitement about a project is something that motivates Marc to deliver quality work, he says. He strives to stay on top of new and innovative products and trends, like those offered

by Sunspace.

Born and raised in Lac du Bonnet, he moved to Winnipeg after high school where he began his journey into carpentry. After gaining a lot of experience in the construction and home renovation world, he moved home to Lac du Bonnet to raise his family.

In addition to growing Golden Prairie Construction and Sunspace Sunrooms, Marc and his wife Grace enjoy life with their three children and being a part of the Lac du Bonnet community; Marc serves as a volunteer firefighter with the Lac du Bonnet Fire Department. He loves relaxing outdoors, camping, boating and soaking up all that the Winnipeg River area has to offer.

If you’re looking to add a sunroom experience to your home or cottage, don’t hesitate to contact Marc and Grace at 204‐213‐1114 or email them at gpconstruction.mb@gmail.com. You can find their website at sunspaceldb.ca.

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Donnie McDougall’s Lost and Found Town Donnie McDougall has many badges of honour from his decades in the music business, but there’s a big one everybody knows well: in the mid 1970s he joined The Guess Who and shared lead vocal duties with Burton Cummings on the band’s 1974 album Artificial Paradise.

It was on that record that McDougall stepped up to the mic to sing “Samantha’s Living Room” and “Lost and Found Town”.

He looks back on those days fondly, but from his kitchen in the RM of Lac du Bonnet (he recently moved back here from British Columbia with his wife Bonnie Bruchanski, who’s originally from here), it’s the future he’s focusing on after two years of a pandemic that hit the performing arts community hard.

“COVID has been so challenging for artists, but also the fans. Live music keeps people happy. When we don’t have that everybody sort of hides in their house, and it’s like, ‘Well, we can't go anywhere, we can’t do anything.’ It’s really hard on people,” McDougall says.

“So many of our shows were cancelled, and it’s only now that we’re finally getting out on the road again. I can’t wait.”

McDougall now performs with a group of musicians he met while living in British Columbia — Ron Sahlstrom (keyboard and vocals), Leslie Wilkins (vocals and percussion), John Baxter (drums) and Rob Rowe (bass). The show consists of songs from McDougall’s solo career (his latest album Best Wishes was released in 2001), tunes from his time with Mother Tucker’s Yellow Duck, and, of course, material from his years with The Guess Who. He particularly enjoys what he calls a “surprise” portion of the show where the band switches it up and treats the audience to songs they might not expect to hear.

Shows lined up for the months ahead include gigs in B.C. (Blind Bay June 30/July 1, and Revelstoke May long and July 8‐9). On June 20‐21 he'll perform at the iconic Royal George Hotel, one of Winnipeg’s most storied music venues. On June 24 he’ll appear at the Red River Exhibition in

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Donnie McDougall at home in Lac du Bonnet.

Winnipeg.

“We put so much work into the show. When we started performing together, we knew if we were going to do this, we needed to do it right. You have to work hard to learn all the parts and to do everything properly, because people expect to hear those songs performed as they remember them,” McDougall says.

“It’s like memory lane for our audience. It’s for anybody who ever loved The Guess Who and music from that era.”

McDougall is a walking textbook of music history, and history in general. Whether it’s stories from his time performing next to Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman or seeing the Twin Towers fall in New York on 9/11 while on tour with Joe Cocker (“I’ll never forget that as long as I live,” he says), tales of the people he’s met and experiences he’s had singing and playing guitar for the past 50‐plus years could fill an entire evening on stage — never mind the catalogue of songs he performs for adoring crowds.

Will he be performing in Lac du Bonnet in the future?

“You never know,” he says with a chuckle. “People are just itching to get out and do stuff, and they really appreciate hearing all those old songs again. I’m so happy to be back here in Manitoba. Stay tuned.”

Donnie McDougall with the legendary Les Paul (left) and with Mother Tucker's Yellow Duck.

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Why CTV’s Josh Crabb Loves our Neck of the Woods As a video journalist for CTV News Winnipeg, Josh Crabb is a recognizable face on TV just about every evening during the dinner hour. But there’s another place you might spot him, and that’s at the Lac du Bonnet Ski Trails where he likes to go each winter to enjoy some outdoor time.

“I’ve been skiing for around seven years, been slowly getting into it more and more.

It wasn’t something I did as a kid; for me it’s been a hobby I’ve taken up later in life,” says the 37‐year‐old Assiniboine Community College Media Production program graduate.

“We try to go somewhere new every time, but we find ourselves returning to Lac du Bonnet. The trails are terrific.

“Pinawa and Seven Sisters are another couple of great go‐to spots. As part of my job I get to see a lot of the province, and it takes you to places that you may have never travelled to before. Often I'll make a mental note and maybe try and get back to a certain place on my personal time to do a little bit more exploring.”

Crabb has learned to treasure his personal time, as being a news reporter is hard work.

“I’ll start a

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little bit early, and sometimes stay a little bit later, depending on what’s going on.

I’m researching in the morning, and then having a meeting at 10 a.m. Then I’ll go out and gather the news and build a video report for that night’s news and our website.

It’s a lot of work packed into a short period of time, but often there’s work going on outside of those hours, too.”

Skiing allows Crabb and his partner, Elise Watchorn (an aquatic ecosystems scientist for Environment and Climate Change Canada), to enjoy the fresh air and wide open spaces of many of Manitoba’s most beautiful spots.

“I really like the warmup huts at all the different ski areas. That’s sort of one of the things that appeals to me.

Obviously I like skiing and getting exercise and being in the fresh air, but it’s really neat that all these different

Josh Crabb enjoys the Pinawa ski trails. trails that we visit have a little warm‐up hut. Some of them are maybe only three‐sided. Others are fully enclosed with a little wood stove inside. It’s kind of nice after a tough ski to stop and have a quick snack and build a fire if possible,” he says.

The Lac du Bonnet Ski trails are located along PR 317 just west of town. They’re maintained by the Lac du Bonnet Cross Country Ski Club which you can find on Facebook. Give them a like and scan the QR code and let your phone guide you there!

Let’s Get Back to Live Music The Fire and Water Music Festival returns this August long weekend.

Great live music returns to Lac du Bonnet this August long weekend when the Fire and Water Music Festival holds its first event in two years.

Artistic Director Anthony Kost says the past two years have given organizers the opportunity to reboot the festival and put on a show that will attract audiences from around the province to the festival’s new location at the former Laker’s Ski Club property along PR 502 near the La Verendrye Boat Launch.

“The pandemic has been really hard on artists trying to make a living songwriting and playing music.

As both a regular patron of live shows and a hobby musician myself, it gave me a window into how hard it is for venues and smaller

organizations, even bigger organizations, to keep things going.

The good news is the crowds are going to be back with a bang,” says Kost.

“We’re going to get back on the horse and blow the proverbial roof off the place. We’ve got some good energy and good momentum, and have a couple of new people involved in the organization to freshen things up. It’s important to have the community involved.”

Already booked is Ridley Bent, nominated four times for Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) awards — as well as the Gecko Band from Puerto Vallarta. Kost says a night of rock and R&B cover tunes is also in the works.

The new location right on the

Facebook photo

The Gecko Band are based in Puerto Vallarta.

Winnipeg River waterfront will also be a boon to the festival, he says. A volunteer drive is also in the works.

“We need helpers, and volunteers help get people in the chairs,” Kost adds.

If you’re interested in volunteering or for general information on the festival, visit firenwater.ca or find the event on Facebook.

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Take Care to Protect Your Pet Against Ticks When your pet is having fun outside this summer, remember to take precautions to protect them from tick‐borne disease.

If you if you really want to reduce the risk to near zero, having a combination of a Lyme vaccine and tick prevention medication is the way to go.

Lyme disease among pets is rising in our region, and is something to guard against this season as you head out to the wilderness to enjoy the wide open spaces.

That’s according to Dr. Stephen Atkinson, veterinarian at Beausjeour Animal Hospital, which has a satellite office in Lac du Bonnet (scan the QR code above for directions).

“Between 2015 and 2020, we were seeing a consistent increase year to year in the percentage of dogs that were testing positive. So for example, when we started out in 2015, we were seeing about 7% of the dogs testing positive. That increased each year up until 2020, where we were seeing approximately 14% of animals test positive,” he says.

In 2021, positive cases went down a bit, possibly due to increased awareness around Lyme and how it affects pets.

“That said, it’s an emerging and increasing problem, for sure.”

Antibiotics are used to treat Lyme disease in dogs, notes Dr. Wendy Wilkins, disease surveillance veterinarian for the Province of Saskatchewan. Rapid improvement is usually seen in limb and joint disease; however, some dogs do not recover completely. Infection in animals may persist in spite of antibiotics and may require a second round of treatment. Additional treatments to help affected organ systems may be needed when the disease affects the kidneys, heart or nerves.

Some animals may experience permanent joint damage from the infection.

According to Atkinson, the best defense is preventative medicines and the Lyme vaccine for pets.

“You have to assess the risk associated with each animal. A dog living out of town on a larger property spends a lot of time roaming through through bushes and such is at greater risk of tick exposure versus a dog living in town,” he says. “The Lyme vaccine is not 100% protective, and there will be occasions when dogs that are vaccinated can become infected, but it does provide good protection.”

If you really want to reduce the risk to near zero, having a combination of a Lyme vaccine and tick prevention medication is the way to go, he says.

“The other issue is, it’s not just Lyme that we’re dealing with around here now; we’re also seeing an increasing frequency of infection with other tick‐borne diseases. Now, these are diseases that are also carried by

the same ticks that carry Lyme.”

A single tick could pass on two different diseases to the same dog, he notes. One that’s increasing in prevalence is called Anaplasmosis, which can be extremely severe if not treated.

“So, having a Lyme vaccine is not going to prevent dogs from contracting those other tick‐borne diseases. We also know that we’re constantly getting reports that there are new tick‐borne diseases that have not previously been present in Manitoba that are making their way towards us. Tick prevention is probably the most essential means of preventing these diseases. The vaccine itself is an added layer of protection.”

For information on tick prevention methods, contact Beausejour Animal Hospital at beausejourvet.ca or find them on Facebook!

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Get ready for Canada Day Weekend Lac du Bonnet’s most beloved summertime event is coming back.

Our annual Canada Day weekend festivities will take place for the first time in two years. From July 1‐3, the town will be abuzz with activities for the entire family, including the fireworks display on July 2 at dusk.

“We’re so excited to be back for the first time in two years,” says Joel Spearman of the Lac du Bonnet Lions, who host the town’s signature event each year.

After two years of no Canada Day events, the club has been busy with other initiatives including hosting blood donor clinics and a very successful winter clothing drive, “Share the Warmth”.

Through November of 2021, the community donated over 100 jackets, helping dozens of people in need. An even greater number of hats and mitts were collected and distributed.

Some of the remaining items moved

to the Lac du Bonnet Arena to complement their free offerings of skates and hockey equipment, while the rest were donated to a neighouring school whose winter clothing campaign was just starting as the Lions drive was ending.

Spearman says the two‐year break from hosting Canada Day festivities has allowed the club to regroup and host an extra‐special event in 2022.

The fireworks have become known as Manitoba’s best fireworks display, if not one of the best in all of Canada.

The show has gone from a mere 125‐ shot presentation in 1987 when it first started, to well over 6,000 shots today.

New this year at the Lions Family Fun Zone will be free vision screening for preschool and early‐ learning‐aged children as part of the Lions KidSight program.

Trained Kidsight volunteers screen children from five months to

Lac du Bonnet’s annual fireworks display is known as one of the best in Canada. six years of age.

Potential vision issues for this age group can be detected through the KidSight screening process. This information is shared with the child’s parent, encouraging the parent to take the child to see an eye specialist (optometrist/ ophthalmologist).

For up‐to‐the‐minute info follow the Lions Club on Facebook @LdBLionsClub.

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A Trail for all Four Seasons The Trans Canada Trail focuses on accessible and inclusive outdoor activities, specifically hiking, biking, cross‐country skiing and more.

The Lac du Bonnet Trails Association is the local trails group responsible for the section of Trans Canada Trail in our area known as Bluewater South Trail.

In spring, summer, and fall hiking and biking are preferred activities on all sections of trail. From Great Falls south to Mackenzie Point Road, the trail is located on the Manitoba Hydro dike along the Winnipeg River.

This trail section provides bird and wildlife watching opportunities, as well as expansive views of the water.

Bike riding is a favourite activity on the hard packed, elevated dike.

Continuing south, the trail veers off the gravel road and winds through the forested rock ridges of Blueberry Rock hiking trail. This is a favourite spot for locals and visitors in every season.

Heading south on Blueberry Rock Drive, the trail turns east alongside

Kathy Picard

Hwy. 313 to cross the Winnipeg River Bridge. From there it continues east on Old Pointe Road for about four kilometres to where there is a small parking area and trailhead structure.

At this location the trail turns south and winds through crown land and a wildlife management area for ten kilometres. This section of trail is called the Lee River Trail, and is well used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding in spring, summer and fall. For the past two winters it has also been used for hiking and snowshoeing north of Tower Road, and has been tracked for cross‐ country skiing south of Tower Road, providing year‐round opportunities for outdoor activity.

The trail turns east at the south end of the Lee River Trail, following Pinawa Hill Road for almost four kilometres right to the gates of Pinawa Dam Provincial Heritage Park. Following the road into the park, a trailhead structure near the parking lot marks the junction of Bluewater South Trail and Pinawa Trails. This provincial park is a Manitoba marvel, showcasing the

The Blue Water South Trail stretches from Great Falls Dam to Pinawa Dam. ruins of the first hydroelectric generating station in the province, and is a perfect spot for a picnic and a hike.

For a detailed online map of the Bluewater South Trail, scan the QR code!

Spend Your Saturday at the Farmers Market

According to Lita Toms, secretary for the Lac du Bonnet Farmers Market, the annual market could be the second‐biggest one in the province.

That’s a major accolade for one of our most beloved weekend events, which has been going strong for over 30 years.

You won't find any commercial merchandise here. It features only items that are handmade, handpicked, homegrown and home‐ baked. It also features live music.

Your place for fresh veggies, baking and a lot more. Pick up a treat for yourself or a loved one!

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After two years of public health restrictions, Toms says the market is happy to return to normal and welcome the public back to the market as they remember it pre‐ COVID. “We’re pretty much back to normal. We're allowing each vendor to decide if they want to keep the six foot spacing we implemented when restrictions were in place, as well as the sanitizer and the masks. So they can do that for themselves if they like, but as a market rule, it won’t be required,” she says.

In 2020 and 2021, the market’s

popularity became even more evident as the pandemic prevented many indoor events and mass outdoor gatherings from taking place. With social distancing protocols in place, the market was able to go ahead and give the public something to do and support the vendors at the same time.

The market opens on the May long weekend on the grounds of the Lac du Bonnet Community Centre.

For updates visit the Lac du Bonnet Farmers Market on Facebook @lacdubonnetfarmersmarket.

ARENA, COMMUNITY & YOUTH CENTRE FARMERS MARKET MAY THRU SEPTEMBER LEGION & PIONEER CLUB FOR SENIORS LIBRARY WITH INTERNET ACCESS SPECTACULAR PARKS & WATERFRONT WITH WALKING PATHS MANITOBA’S BEST CANADA DAY FIREWORKS DISPLAY

204-345-8693 | 8:30AM - 4:30PM | Monday-Friday | townoflacdubonnet.com

Black Bear Golf Club is still driving the golf community after 22 years.

After 22 years in business, the people who operate Black Bear Golf Club know a thing or two about the importance of community.

Lac du Bonnet’s only nine‐hole course, Black Bear has earned its reputation as a family‐friendly business that caters to golfers of all skill levels and diners of every taste, says owner/operator Allan Gould.

“We know our customers and the kind of experience they’re looking for. That kind of familiarity only comes with time,” says Allan, whose father Al and mother Marjorie founded Black Bear over two decades ago.

“The staff we have are amazing. We’ve got the best of the best. We’re very lucky to have people here who take pride in their work, whether it’s keeping the greens in perfect shape or managing the restaurant well so patrons have a great experience every time.”

Black Bear attracts serious golfers, hobby golfers, and people who have never golfed before. Allan has seen his share of politicians, doctors, lawyers, and other well‐known faces on the course over the years.

Despite being known as a friendly course to play, Allan says the ninth hole is a particular challenge — golfers shoot at a blind green.

But golfers will be glad to know there are no challenges

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Photos courtesy Black Bear Golf Club

The Black Bear nine‐hole course is an institution in Lac du Bonnet, attracting golfers of all kinds.

back at the Black Bear Golf Club restaurant, where a full slate of menu options is available to tantalize the taste buds in an inviting, comfortable atmosphere.

The menu is always changing. Manager Jacquie Morris is always finding new ways to keep the menu fresh and ensure patrons can enjoy their old favourites but also have something new if they wish.

“I’m very much a foodie. When I find something I want to try I ask myself, ‘How much real estate is this going to take up in the kitchen? How popular might it be? We’re known for our food and our friendliness. Even new customers who come in say, ‘Oh, I wish I knew about this place before. I’m coming back again.”

Black Bear is also increasingly becoming known for hosting events like weddings and fundraisers, and of course golf tournaments. With pandemic restrictions being lifted, Gould says he’s looking forward to a year of getting back to some normality and welcoming the community to Black Bear for great golf, food and camaraderie.

Need Potable Water Delivered? Call This Guy If you see a big red fire truck on the road, it might not be on its way to put out a fire. Instead, it might be Dan Nilsson delivering potable water.

Nilsson is a licensed pilot and a volunteer firefighter, so it’s fitting that he would buy a water tender from a Wisconsin fire department, emblazon his brand On‐The‐Fly Water Guy along the side, and launch our region’s newest water delivery service.

As owner of On‐The‐Fly Water Guy, Nilsson plans to deliver potable water throughout the RM of Lac du Bonnet, RM of Alexander, Nopiming, Whiteshell and Brokenhead regions.

“There’s a growing demand in the area for potable water delivery and I thought there’s always room for some added

competition,” he says.

Nilsson had been thinking about getting into the business for awhile, but before he could launch his new brand, he needed a truck.

“I thought to myself, ‘Well, I know fire trucks. They’re made to haul water.’ So I looked across Canada and even into the U.S. Fire trucks tend to be much lower in mileage and much better maintained than regular water trucks.”

Finally he tracked one down that looked promising in a small Wisconsin city called Shawano, population 9,305.

So, Nilsson drove the 12 hours it takes to get there and the truck ended up being everything he was looking for. The truck holds 4,000 U.S. gallons, which is more

Dan Nilsson operates On‐The‐Fly Water Guy, the area’s newest potable water delivery service. than enough to fill most cottage/home water storage tanks.

Nilsson’s name might be familiar to many around the Lac du Bonnet area, as his dad Albert operated an excavating business for many years, and prior to that ran a septic service

for the region.

“Driving big trucks kind of runs in my family,” he says with a laugh.

Contact On‐The‐Fly Water Guy at 204‐345‐ 9473 or email dnilsson@mymts.net.

27

Looking for Blinds?

We’ll Help You Find What’s Best for You Child safety rules implemented in 2019 mean the blinds market has changed, and new options are available to make your cottage or home look great.

Ron Slobodian

If you’re looking for blinds for your cottage or home, things have changed a bit since the federal government instituted some new child safety rules in 2019. Those rules remove most lifting cords on window coverings sold in Canada.

That means a whole new landscape when it comes to product offerings in the

blinds market.

We’re getting a lot of questions about what’s out there and what the options are. In a nutshell, the safety rules mean that the two most popular styles of lifting options on the market now are motorized and cordless.

Blind Adventures works with clients to determine what options are best for them.

Cordless blinds work very well, especially with young kids in the house or if cords are an issue for you. With cordless blinds, you use your finger to raise and lower the blind.

They’re not truly “cordless” in the sense that they do rely on cords to function, but said cords are hidden away inside the blind and not exposed.

Motorized blinds/electric blinds work by using a small motor to rotate the blind shaft which raises and lowers the blinds at the touch of a button.

Cordless blinds are usually cheaper than motorized blinds of course, but they each have their advantages.

Cordless blinds offer a streamlined look. For a home or cottage with side‐by‐side windows, cordless blinds are easily adjustable so they sit at the same height. However, if your

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Photo courtesy Blind Adventures

If you're looking for blinds for your cottage or home, things have changed a bit since the federal government instituted some new child safety rules in 2019.

windows are large or out of reach, they may not be the best option.

Motorized blinds offer easy adjustment either manually or by remote controls. Some models even have timers so you can have the blinds open and close automatically at certain times of the day. They are usually battery powered, and the battery that operates them lasts an average of one year on a single charge, meaning you won’t be having to charge batteries very often at all.

With the new child safety regulations, manufacturers are going to be coming out with many different types of both cordless and motorized blinds at a variety of price points, so we can help you figure out what works for you.

We’ve helped cottage and homeowners in Lac du Bonnet, the Whiteshell, Lee River, Powerview‐Pine Falls, White Mud Falls, St. Georges, Crescent Bay, Bird River, Poplar Bay and surrounding areas.

We’re happy to talk with you about what you’re looking for, and answer any questions you might have on styles, installation and more. We’ve been doing this since 1996, and in that time have learned a lot about how to make your cottage or home look great with the best the blinds business has to offer.

Visit blindadventures.ca for contact info or email me at ron@blindadventures.net

Outdoor Ed Centre to be Completed Soon Work has started on a first‐of‐its‐ kind outdoor education centre that will give youth and adult conservation enthusiasts an opportunity to experience hands‐on involvement in educational programs that introduce them to the outdoors and outdoor skills.

The Lac du bonnet Wildlife Association’s Outdoor Education Centre will take the form of a 1,600 square foot building located 15 minutes south and west of Lac du Bonnet off of PR 214 (also known as Milner Ridge Road). Features will include a large meeting room with audio‐visual equipment, kitchen facilities, an outdoor cooking area, archery range, trapshooting range, rifle shooting range and more.

This recreational facility will provide a complete set of archery, trap, and shooting ranges constructed in accordance with the range design and guidelines of the Canadian Firearms Centre.

Construction is scheduled to be complete later in 2022.

“What excites me most about the project is its uniqueness. It’s going to be a real destination attraction for our area. That will be a big draw for tourists, residents and for outdoor education seekers,” says Sharalyn Reitlo, executive director for Community Futures Winnipeg River, who has aided with governance aspects of the Wildlife Association.

“The Wildlife Association really impresses me — they have so many dedicated members and volunteers in their organization. They had great success with the trout pond project.

Now they have taken on an even larger project, and I have no doubt they will be very successful with this one, too.”

Groups other than the Wildlife Association expected to use the facility include First Nations, survival training experts, trappers associations, corporate trainers,

The Outdoor Education Centre is expected to be completed this year. snowmobile clubs, fire departments, Métis groups, geocaching groups, law enforcement, schools and more.

It will also be a first‐class recreational facility for the community to use and enjoy.

At an expected total cost of $375,000, the association is looking for community assistance in working on the centre and is also seeking grant money. If you can help in the effort contact the association at ldbwildlife@gmail.com.

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5 Ways to Achieve Energy Efficiency Tom Wegier of Sunrise Heating and Cooling says ensuring your heating and cooling equipment is as efficient as possible will help you in the long run. Visit sunriseheatingandcooling.ca for info.

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2 3 4 5 30

REPLACE OUTDATED EQUIPMENT If your furnace, air conditioner or other equipment is 25 years old or older, it may be time for an upgrade to a higher efficiency heating/air conditioning system. Older electric furnaces, for example, use technology that uses more power than modern ones do.

CHANGE YOUR FILTER! Have you changed your furnace filter lately? Change it frequently (once a year is not enough) as it can get clogged with dust/dirt/pet hair.

CLEAN OUT YOUR AIR CONDITIONER/HEAT PUMP Leaves and other debris can collect inside your air conditioner unit or heat pump. Washing it out with a garden hose a least once a year is a great idea to keep it running efficiently.

REPLACE YOUR THERMOSTAT BATTERIES Many wall‐mounted digital thermostats use batteries. If you find your furnace/air conditioner isn’t working properly, your thermostat might just need a simple battery change. This can save you a service call.

WORK WITH A GOOD EQUIPMENT PROVIDER Larger models typically use more energy, so you need to purchase one that is appropriately sized for your needs. A qualified professional will know exactly what size heating/cooling unit you need for your home.

Sunrise Heating & Cooling Ltd. is a full‐service cooling and heating contractor with the ability to service and install complete heating and air conditioning systems. In addition to scheduled service checks and installation of new equipment, owner Tom Wegier (at right) has an extensive history of repair service on all brands of central air conditioning and heating systems. Visit sunriseheatingandcooling.ca for info.

As the Need for Physio is Growing, so is This Local Business

The number of Canadians who have consulted a physiotherapist has been steadily increasing across Canada. However, a big challenge for those seeking treatment in rural communities is the lack of physiotherapists out there.

About 90% of Canada’s physiotherapists are employed in cities.

Enter Joe Caldwell and the staff of Lac du Bonnet Physiotherapy. Caldwell and staff have made it their business to serve rural communities. It’s been 13 years since Lac du Bonnet physiotherapy first set up shop here, and it just moved to its third (and biggest)

location at 40 Park Avenue.

As the demand for physiotherapy grows, the practice is also growing.

“It’s so important to us to help our rural clientele,” says Caldwell, who graduated from the Wellington College of Remedial Massage Therapy in 1996 and University of Manitoba, School of Medical Rehabilitation with a degree in physiotherapy in 2007.

In that same year, South Winnipeg Physiotherapy was born, and he went on to open several rural satellite offices, including Lac du Bonnet Physiotherapy.

Each clinician adds to expanded service offerings at

From left: Jodi Griffith, Joe Caldwell, Stephanie Oversby, Lisa Stepanik, Kendra Santiaguel, and Gafar Adeogun.

Lac du Bonnet Physiotherapy.

Stephanie Oversby is an osteopathic manual therapist, a non‐invasive alternative therapy that aims to improve health across all body systems through specific assessment and treatment.

“By working with the interrelated systems and functions of the human body, osteopathic manual therapy can help return the body to normal health so it can self‐ heal and self‐regulate,” she notes.

Lisa Stepanik is Lac du Bonnet Physiotherapy’s full‐ time registered massage therapist who trained in Manitoba before moving to Alberta. Originally from Pinawa, she graduated in 2009 as a registered massage therapist.

“I’ve worked with a lot of people who have lost the ability to move, and have a hard time doing basic things each day. I just can’t imagine myself not being able to put on a shirt, or walk or be mobile. I want to help those people get back their daily living routine,” she says.

Gafar Adeogun is a physiotherapist and one of the newest members of the staff. Originally from Nigeria, he was inspired to get into physiotherapy by his parents, who both worked in the health care field.

“I’ve always wanted to

help heal people,” he says, and especially enjoys helping people with sports‐related injuries.

Jodi Griffith is an Ayurveda practitioner, and has been learning about ayurveda for over a decade.

Ayurveda, or ayurvedic medicine, is a healthy lifestyle system that originated in India 5,000 years ago.

Ayurveda emphasizes good health and prevention and treatment of illness through lifestyle practices (such as massage, meditation, yoga, and dietary changes) and the use of herbal remedies.

Kendra Santiaguel of Pinawa spent many years in finance administration and recently decided it was time to realize her longtime dream of being a massage therapist and will soon be completing her practicum with Caldwell.

“Joe’s been a terrific teacher. I never thought I’d be going back to school at this point in my life but it’s been so worth it,” she says.

Lac du Bonnet Physiotherapy offers a wide range of therapies including acupuncture, exercise rehabilitation, treatment for back pain and vertigo, orthotics and more.

“We’re here to help everyone,” he adds.

For info visit lacdubonnetphysio.ca.

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Trust us When we Say we Know the Water Here Did you know World of Water Selkirk is owned and operated by longtime Lac du Bonnet cottagers?

World of Water Selkirk is not only a bottled water company and supplier for residential and commercial customers, but also sells, services and installs home and commercial water softener systems.

You can get the “Purest Water Possible” at depots in many local locations including in Lac du Bonnet at Petro Canada, Drifters and Tall Timber Lodge.

Photo 1: Whole‐home lake water treatment with a reverse osmosis system (Lac du Bonnet). This is an industry‐leading 1:1 water to waste NX 400 RO system with a larger tank for water to meet all your household needs.

Photo 2: 20” Triplex Filtration Unit with UV Light. This is a great option for cleaner water to grab debris and kill bacteria that comes into you home or cottage.

Photo 3: Softener System. We can work with any water chemistry from well to lake to treat hardness, iron,

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tannins or any other problem that your water source may have.

Photo 4: Before and After. Did you know that there is a life expectancy of your water softener and filters? Talk to us about service plans.

Check us out online!

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Popular Roadside Café Gets a Rebrand A culinary landmark is under new ownership.

Pay a visit to Dencross Cornerstone Café at the junction of PR 317 and Hwy. 12 and you’ll be greeted by the friendly staff led by manager Huong Dao, who is a graduate of the Red River College food program and brings her experience to the well‐known restaurant with the red roof that thousands of people pass by on their way to Lac du Bonnet each year.

Dencross Cornerstone Café serves the same menu that patrons have come to know and love, like sandwiches, wraps, fish ’n chips, ice cream and milkshakes. A few favourites are the club sandwich, reuben, quesadillas, perogies, homemade french fries, bacon

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cheeseburgers and poutine.

She’s added new items including homemade spring rolls and a signature chicken burger, which won the Beausejour Chamber Eats Burger Culinary Contest in 2021.

Huong decided to rebrand the restaurant by naming it after the intersection where it’s located, which used to be known as Dencross. The RM of Brokenhead erected a memorial plaque at the site to commemorate the postmasters who served in the postal district of Dencross from its establishment in May of 1938 to its closure in 1970.

They included the post office’s namesake John Dehn.

You can like Dencross Cornerstone Cafe on Facebook. Scan the QR code to be guided there!

Huong Dao operates Dencross Cornerstone Café.

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LDBice.ca

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

7 Amazing Things to do This Year 2

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4 Lac du Bonnet is a wonderful community, surrounded by hidden gems and adventures around every bend. Some of these gems are even well‐kept secrets from the residents who call this four‐seasons playground home. Whether you live here, are just passing through, or are joining the community for a weekend getaway, here are seven amazing things to do in Lac du Bonnet this year.

1. The Lac du Bonnet Farmers Market is one of Manitoba’s

largest farmers markets. Over 90 vendors attend the market which features homegrown vegetables, farm‐raised meats, homemade foods, unique handcrafted products and live musical talents. Open on Saturdays from May to September, the Farmers Market is located on McArthur Avenue in Lac du Bonnet.

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Lee River Winter Trail is a new 17.5 km long winter skating trail running from the Pinawa Bridge to Osprey Boat Launch. Watch for the Trail opening late this year as the volunteer crew looks to expand the trail to include skiing and snowshoeing with our eyes set on creating the world’s longest ice skating trail.

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Reclaim your winters by enjoying over 500 km of crisp, groomed snowmobile trails that wind through the Boreal forest and over the frozen waterways of Lac du Bonnet.

Operated by two local snowmobile clubs, our trails are always well‐groomed and provide several warm‐up huts to stop for a break.

4. Blue Water South Trail is a breathtaking display of Boreal

forest, peaceful waterways, spectacular granite outcroppings and wondrous wildlife. Approximately 37 km long, the Blue Water South Trail provides many year‐round activities like hiking, swimming, paddling, snowshoeing, skiing, horseback

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riding and snowmobile trails and is the perfect place to escape into nature for the day.

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Every year on the August long weekend, music takes over Lac du Bonnet during the Fire & Water Music Festival. This award‐winning festival boasts over 20 acts on multiple stages over three days. The festival features an eclectic combination of local emerging artists and a weekend filled with friends and family fun.

6. Enjoy a round of golf at one of our stunning courses,

perfect for golfers of any level. Whether you’re in the mood for 18 holes at Granite Hills or a round of nine‐hole golfing at Black Bear Golf Club, you’ll have a day of impressive golfing surrounded by the beautiful Boreal forest and granite outcroppings that provide stunning views for you to enjoy.

7. Lac du Bonnet has a fantastic selection of unique shopping

experiences and boutiques for a beautiful shopping day in our cozy community. Spend the day browsing through Manitoba‐ made products at the Manitoba Made store at 66 Second Street. Pick up fresh produce, flowers, and honey at the Silo Store and Pit Stop Produce Market along PR 317 west of town.

Step up your fashion game with a trip to Carnation Corner Plus along Park Avenue and Lee River Design and Gifts on Wassahow Drive. Watch for pop‐up markets coming to a boat launch near you this summer!

With new and exciting adventures, the return of our beloved community events, and the natural beauty surrounding our four‐seasons playground, there is no shortage of things to do in Lac du Bonnet. Find out where you can bask in the natural beauty, launch your boat for the day, shop ’til you drop, and enjoy great food and good company by visiting myldb.ca.

Bait, Gas, Great Food, and a Place to Stay. Drifters Has it All. A community fixture for snowmobilers, cottagers and more, Drifters Gulf, Restaurant and Lounge marks a new chapter in its life as it was recently taken over by new owners Kiley and Leah Horvath, who are ensuring the business's legacy continues.

Drifters, located at the junction of Hwy. 11 and PR 315, was honoured by the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations as one of its best Snow‐Related Companies. It’s not the first time it’s won a snowmobile‐related award, but shows how Drifters continues to be a community meeting

Kiley and Leah Horvath are the new owners of Drifters, a Lac du Bonnet institution. place during both the warm days of summer and the cold days of winter, and everything in between.

“I’ve been in this business for a long time,” says Kiley, who used to have a seasonal campsite at Granite Hills and owned his first hotel in Pinawa in the late 1990s.

“I knew Drifters well from coming out this way to go fishing. I love living out here. I love the cottage country, the snowmobiling. It’s home. Drifters has always been part of that.”

When previous owners Frank and Lynn Loreth decided to retire and turn the business over to new owners, the Horvaths jumped at it.

“Frank and Lynn stayed on for quite a while to help us in the transition, and we’re very thankful for that. Also, the staff that was in place at the time was a great help with the transition as well. We couldn’t have done it without them,” Kiley says.

Various upgrades and renovations are coming as they expand the business with growth in mind.

“Lac du Bonnet is becoming more than just an area to visit; it’s becoming a place to live and as people transition from just looking at it as cottage country, they need local businesses like ours to fulfil their needs. The next few years are going to be super exciting for us.”

Drifters is multifaceted. Besides its motel rooms, it offers beer sales and great food in its lounge and restaurant. Its Gulf gas station and convenience store serve countless people over the course of the year. Bait is a massive seller, Kiley says, so it offers a selection of those important products as well.

Drifters continues to play a crucial role in bettering the community; it recently partnered with the LdB Minor Hockey League to help raise funds, donating $1 from every Tuesday Wing Night order.

Follow Drifters Gulf, Restaurant and Lounge by searching them on Facebook or visit their website at driftersinn.net.

You can follow them on Instagram as well @drifters_inn_and_gulf.

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Now is the Time to Make Your Real Estate Dreams a Reality Rising interest rates are making the market heat up as people look to sell and buy properties. These guys can help you navigate that market.

Canada’s economy is strong right now, so much so that the Bank of Canada has raised interest rates since the beginning of 2022, and is estimating it will raise them even more by the end of the year.

That means a hotter real estate market, as people want to get their property buying — and selling — done before interest rates go up again, which is a wise move. Now is the time to get a hold of a realtor who knows the local market and can work with you to obtain the best deal possible.

That's according to Cam Harland, who operates John Angus Realty.

“We’re seeing a big rise in demand. In recent months people haven’t been able to travel abroad, and often not even out of province, so they’re looking here at home,” says realtor Cam Harland, who operates John Angus Realty.

“They’re spending their money elsewhere, and real estate is one of the things they are drawn to.

Interest rates having been especially low for the longest time, things are getting very busy for us as of late.”

Harland himself discovered Lac du Bonnet when his family bought a cottage here when he was six. He grew to love it so much that he’s now a full‐time resident and in 2017 took over as the owner of John Angus Realty, which he operates along with Kevin Edwards, a longtime Pinawa resident.

The business is now becoming a family affair too, with Harland’s

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From left: Kevin Edwards, Scott Harland and Cam Harland of John Angus Realty.

son Scott getting involved himself.

Although dealing in waterfront properties is a big passion for the staff at John Angus Realty, Harland and staff also specialize in town properties, back lots, commercial land and a lot more. He says available properties in the area are as varied as one can imagine.

“We tend to be known for our great cottaging experience, especially along the river, but we’re really as varied as it comes,” he says. “Not only do we have many listings ourselves, but we also know of people selling privately. We regularly comb the market, including Multiple Listing Services (MLS), private sales and properties not yet listed.”

The benefits of working with a realtor who lives in the immediate area are many, as they know what properties provide what

in terms of view, proximity to water, privacy and topography.

Visit johnangusinfo.com for property listings and more!

How interest rates affect you: •If you’re a seller: Interest rates affect the value of your property .

•If you’re a buyer: Interest rates determine how much it will cost you to get a mortgage.

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These Volunteers are the Foundation of our Community The Lac du Bonnet & District Charitable Foundation has been a part of our community since 2008.

The Foundation’s main goal is to support worthy projects that benefit the citizens of Lac du Bonnet and the surrounding area today, tomorrow, and well into the future. Any project of a charitable nature, big or small, that benefits the community in a way that makes Lac du Bonnet a more livable, secure and caring community is considered for financial support.

It takes a team of dedicated volunteers to help achieve this goal.

Foundation President Gary Rollins got involved in order to give back to the community and bolster the many important initiatives found here.

“The reason I got involved was all about giving back to the community.

The Foundation has supported health, the arts, sports, and students in the past, and we need to continually evolve to support the current and future needs of our community,” he says.

“COVID obviously created some real challenges here. Through that, though, there were also opportunities created. Our goal is to make sure that we foster an environment that allows our kids to be successful out in the

world no matter what is going on around them.

“Despite the trials and tribulations we experienced in the last two years, we brought on three new board members. We have a tremendous board that works very well together.

Our continued challenge is to help people to understand what our Foundation does. We want to get out and reach as many people as possible, just to let them know that all of the money that we raise goes to support all of our community members in one way or another.”

In addition to the awarding of grants, the Foundation, in partnership with the RBC Future Launch Community Challenge, hosted two Vital Conversations in spring 2021 via Zoom. The purpose of these events was to bring youth and community leaders together to discuss vital needs in our community and how youth could help.

All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Unless directed otherwise, donations are invested in endowed funds, the earnings from which provide funds that allow the Foundation to support worthwhile organizations and groups who are working to improve the quality of life

Dick Campbell, Dave Johnson, Gary Rollins, Geoff Blacklin man a booth at the LdB Night Market. in our community. Donations can be made online at lacdubonnetfoundation.ca

In 2021, the Foundation awarded close to $24,000 in grants and an additional $3,000 in scholarships and bursaries •$3,387 – Lac du Bonnet Health Centre: Purchase of new equipment to perform ankle brachial measurements (ABI) and toe pressures •$1,000 – STARS Air Ambulance: Incubator mount •$5,000 – Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association: Excavation and riprap work at the Lac du Bonnet Trout Ponds to improve angler accessibility and opportunity •$5,300 – Sunrise Education Foundation (Lac du Bonnet Senior School): Purchase of laptop computers to assist students that do not have access to technology for remote education •$2,000 – HEROS Alliance: Purchase of kitchen equipment for the Lunch is on Us program •$1,000 – Ronald McDonald House Charities: Received the second payment of a five‐ year commitment towards a $20 million project constructing a new 40‐bedroom Ronald McDonald House in Winnipeg

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Winnipeg’s Mayor Gave This Kids’ Book a Big Thumbs‐Up Do dogs eat soup? At first you might say no, but the whole point of Jolene Olive’s new children’s book is that we can all challenge the status quo and do incredible things we didn’t believe we could.

Dog’s Don’t Eat Soup was published in 2021 and was chosen by Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman as one of his favourite picks during I Love to Read Month back in March, and Olive was also featured on CBC Radio One in an interview with host Faith Fundal.

“I didn't really expect it to get so much attention. It was kind of surprising to me how many people bought it and how many news outlets picked it up,” Olive says, noting that Bowman read the book at 10 schools around the Winnipeg area.

Olive says while the book is a fun one filled with soup puns, it’s also a metaphor for overcoming stereotypes,

leaving your comfort zone, and doing something that society might have said you won’t be successful at.

By day, Olive is the communications manager for Agriculture in the Classroom — Manitoba. She’s been writing ever since she started her career at the Lac du Bonnet Leader as a journalist in 2004.

She wrote the story years ago about her dog, Frank, who would always beg for food at the dinner table. She says the story “collected cyber‐dust deep in the bellows” of her hard drive until the day she met illustrator Josie Ta in 2020. Ta is a recent graduate of the graphic design program at Red River College.

“It was fascinating to see how she depicted things that I had written. For some things I gave her fairly specific instructions, but in other ways she kind of just took it and did what she envisioned,” Olive says.

Photo by Amy Usackis

Jolene Olive is author of Dogs Don’t Eat Soup.

Dog’s Don’t Eat Soup is now available at several stores in Winnipeg (including McNally Robinson, Good Local and Toad Hall Toys), Beausejour (Trading Post) and Lac du Bonnet (Manitoba Made) or online at joleneolive.com.

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The Boreal Shores Art Tour returns this August long weekend.

Get Artistic on the BSAT Tour

Another much‐loved annual event is coming back after a two‐year absence.

The Boreal Shores Art Tour takes place Aug. 20 and 21, 2022. A free, road‐trip worthy, self‐guided art tour, it features artists at their studios and group locations scattered throughout the beautiful and diverse boreal forest and shore regions of eastern Manitoba.

From the eastern shores of Lake Winnipeg through the Winnipeg River System to the Whiteshell Provincial Park, the tour showcases artists from diverse communities throughout the region who love to explore all aspects of visual art.

The resumption of the tour comes at the perfect time, says tour member and spokesperson Mary Louise Chown.

“The tour has created a wonderful opportunity for both artists and tour‐goers alike. The last two years have been so challenging. There’s a lot of articles you read about people getting through uncertain times, and they’re turning to art forms for enjoyment or they’re trying their own hand at painting, or going to an art class,” she says.

“The point is that art is an extremely important part of our spiritual and mental health.”

As far back as Chown can remember, she’s always drawn and painted. She taught school for many years in Winnipeg and also toured with the Manitoba Arts Council Artists‐in‐Schools program. After graduating in

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1994, she rented a studio in Winnipeg’s Exchange District.

Her art installation “The Skin of This Planet” has been shown Winnipeg, in Edmonton and Inuvik, and more recently at her magnificent barn at River Hills Farm & Apiary near Lac du Bonnet.

Joining her on the tour this year is Louise Kress of Balsam Bay along Lake Winnipeg. Throughout her former career as a commercial artist and graphic designer, her passion for personal creative expression was explored through pottery, oil painting and watercolours before becoming an enthusiastic wood carver.

“I was a commercial graphic artist, and then I was a potter for 12 years. I like to work with my hands. And I do painting, too, but I just love to carve. That’s what makes me happy now,” she says. She joined the tour in order to introduce the world to her carvings, which are made from driftwood deposited along the waterways leading to Lake Winnipeg. She also welcomes the chance to meet fellow artists and art enthusiasts from around the region.

Artist Janice Charko founded the tour in 2017, and it has flourished ever since. In 2019, when it was last held, over 700 people travelled on the Boreal

Louise Kress joined the BSAT tour in order to introduce the world to her carvings, which are made from driftwood deposited along the waterways leading to Lake Winnipeg.

Shores Art Tour route making an average of six stops each. There were 38 artists located at 22 stops with five group locations spread along the way. Many people made it to every stop — an accomplishment that can only be done by devoting the entire weekend to driving the route.

The artists sold just under $40,000 worth of art on those two days and that art went all over Canada as well as the U.K., Germany, France and the United States. Less than half of the tour’s visitors were from the Eastman region itself while the rest came from all parts of Manitoba as well as every province from B.C. to Quebec and the Maritimes. Tour‐goers bought 63 tanks of gas, ate 154 meals and paid for 10 overnight accommodations during the tour.

For info visit borealshoresarttour.ca or find them on Facebook!

Arts Thrive in Pinawa Despite Pandemic Challenges After closing to the public numerous times during the pandemic, the Pinawa Art Gallery is back to its regular hours and art classes have resumed, according to gallery spokesperson Arlene Bohn.

Despite the complications posed by the pandemic, the gallery has been busy helping art to thrive in the region. In November its hosted an art exhibit at the W.B. Lewis Centre called Confluence, which featured the work of rural artists Kelly Murray, Alexandra Ross, Cyndi Wiebe and Kelly Klick. It also hosted a Christmas pop‐up shop event as well.

“For 2022 we will probably have a new executive board, so there will be lots of new ideas coming forward, lots of energy and excitement to really build some buzz around the gallery. We’ve been working with Eastman Tourism on a partnership program we started last summer, and news on that will be coming out

soon,” Bohn says.

She also helps organize the Whiteshell Winter Arts Festival, which despite not being held during the pandemic, stayed in the spotlight with initiatives like its recent Celebration of the Arts Contest, a juried visual art competition for artists of all skill levels. The contest called on visual artists within the Eastman area to submit their art for a chance to win cash prizes and the opportunity to display their artwork at the Pinawa Art Gallery. Over 3,000 people voted.

The Whiteshell Winter Arts Festival brings together artists in a fun community setting where lots of other activities are available to partake in. Art workshops include clay sculpting, photography, puppet making, snow painting and much more. Local authors will showcase their work, offer writing workshops and perform readings, and local

musicians perform as well. Then head outside for curling events, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing and a bonfire.

The Whiteshell Winter Arts Festival is scheduled to take place again in 2023, and along with the Pinawa Art Gallery, helps raise the profile of art in the Pinawa area and surrounding region. Bohn says volunteers put public health at the top of their priority list and are ready to act should public health restrictions come back into place.

“We’re in a rebuilding phase. The pandemic was tough on the arts community but people are getting excited again,” Bohn adds.

For info on the Whiteshell Winter Arts Festival visit whiteshellfestival.com or find it on Facebook @WWAF20.

For Pinawa Art Gallery hours visit pinawaartgallery.com or find it on Facebook @PinawaArtGallery.

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Our ‘Boreal Writer’ Won a Major Award WI N N I PE G R I VE R AR TS CO U N CI L

Donna Besel has been awarded the Rural Recognition Prize, one of the Manitoba Arts Council’s 2021 Prizes in the Arts.

Donna describes herself as a “Boreal writer”, drawing inspiration from the forests of Eastern Manitoba where she has lived her whole life.

Her work has gained recognition from CBC Literary Awards and national contests. Her collection of short stories, Lessons from a Nude Man, earned two Manitoba Book Award nominations and a spot on McNally Robinson’s annual bestseller list. Most recently, Donna was awarded first prize in Prairie Fire’s 2019 Creative Nonfiction Contest.

In addition to her accomplishments as a writer, Donna

has had a substantial impact on Manitoba’s arts community throughout her career. Beyond the boreal forests, Donna has made her mark all over Manitoba — in Neepawa, Minnedosa, Selkirk, Flin Flon, Falcon Lake, Brandon, and many more communities through readings, workshops and mentorships.

In 2009, she worked to establish and develop the Winnipeg River Arts Council in Eastern Manitoba and has served on its board as secretary and communications chair. Also, she has taught creative writing and storytelling for over 10 years to hundreds of students through MAC’s Artists in Schools program.

—Manitoba Arts Council

Donna Besel (left) receives her award from Cathleen Ens from the Manitoba Arts Council.

Winnipeg River Arts Council Still Connecting People Through Art During the past two years, Winnipeg River Arts Council has faced, like every arts organization, the seemingly endless roller coaster of uncertainty created by COVID. In spite of the many cancelations of exhibits, events, meetings, and workshops, WRAC has continued to promote artists and arts activities in the region.

Here are some ways WRAC stays connected with the community: Newsletters: Members share arts‐related stories and triumphs.

These information packages highlight local events and achievements, introduce people to WRAC, and update artists on relevant arts news and submission information. In between issues, WRAC sends out emails containing fast‐ breaking arts news.

Social Media: WRAC posts photos and information on Facebook and Instagram (@winnipegriverartscounc

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il) and invites members to send in arts stories, announcements, and pictures so they can be shared, liked, and followed.

Monthy Profiles: WRAC is always looking artists and for organizations to highlight.

Any member can be a featured artist. Check it out — there are now around 120 profiles on the website!

Virtual Communications: WRAC promoted Manitoba Arts Network, to develop skills of emerging rural artists.

Art created during this mentorship was displayed in November and early December of 2021 at the Pinawa Art Gallery.

WRAC brochures can be picked up at municipal offices, libraries, and locations throughout the region. Also, WRAC places advertisements in local media and distributes posters, inviting residents and tourists to attend

events. Thanks go out to David Schellenberg for designing the new logo and

Bill Campbell (Data Helps) for maintaining the website.

LAC DU BONNET, MB Lac du Bonnet is where the Manitoba Prairies give way to the vast boreal forest and the Canadian Shield, where miles of natural trails allow you to hear nature’s sounds and relax within her bounty. In Lac du Bonnet, miles of prime waterways stretch out before you, calling you towards your next adventure, and a rich history remains to be discovered among the ruins. Culture and arts flourish along the streets where neighbours gather

for events and festivals, inviting you to discover the true passion behind our community. Lac du Bonnet is more than a place on the map; it is the place that connects with your heart. The place where you will create a lifetime of memories and unleash the adventure to reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. This year we invite you to explore Lac du Bonnet and discover that your heart is home here!

DISCOVER THINGS TO DO, COMMUNITY EVENTS, PLACES TO EAT, WHERE TO STAY & MORE!

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Come for the Weekend, Stay for Life!

From Ukraine to Lac du Bonnet How Ivan Hrysyo helped pave the way to Brightstone.

Ivan Hrysyo, like thousands of others from Ukraine looking for a better life during a difficult time, was drawn to the land.

In 1907 he bought a farm in the Beausejour‐Ladywood district of Manitoba and moved there with his wife and one child to begin life as a Canadian farmer. On the farm, there were three acres of cleared land, a small house, a barn, two oxen, one cow and a lot of swamp and turf.

Later, he would move his family to the Lac du Bonnet area. The area was a wilderness. There were no roads. The land was covered with swamps. One had to walk in water up to one’s waist. Later, new settlers gave this community the English name of Brightstone.

It wasn’t easy to get a homestead here. The famous J.D. McArthur, a powerful lumber baron considered the father of Lac du Bonnet, stood in the way. The land that Ukrainians decided to settle was covered with birch forest.

McArthur hired workers to cut down the trees, which he sold as cords of wood. This, of course, hindered the parceling of the land, though McArthur, recalled Hrysyo, had already cut down a lot of the forest.

Before the settlers could put up a fight for the land, they had to put up a struggle with McArthur for it. Hrysyo himself began to organize the future farmers. They had to go to Winnipeg and demand the homesteads from the authorities.

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The area settled by Ivan Hrysyo and 20 other homesteaders had nothing — only forest, swamp and stream.

The organized farmers finally won.

The land was divided into quarters for each family and they were warned: “Work! Clear the land, build, plough and sow, or we’ll take it back!” The homesteads were sold for $10 with the condition that the settlers had to clear a certain part of the land within a specified period of time.

It is not only Hrysyo who could tell a similar story. This story can be told, practically word for word, by other settlers in this district. And not only these, but thousands of other Ukrainian immigrant settlers who pioneered the Prairies on homesteads in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta could tell a similar story — a story of constant

struggle for survival.

No matter where they settled, the first Ukrainian immigrants in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta had something in common. This was long and hard hours of labour to survive, to conquer the land, to clear the forest, the mud, the swamps, the most primitive conditions of life — poverty, misery, the endless back‐ breaking toil.

The area settled by Ivan Hrysyo and 20 other homesteaders had nothing — only forest, swamp and stream. There were no roads. They lived, at first, in earthen dugouts. They carried bags of flour and other produce on their backs for miles, often up to their waists in water, cleared the bush and with it the

Thousands of Ukrainian immigrant settlers who pioneered the Prairies on homesteads in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta could tell a similar story — a story of constant struggle for survival. three‐foot deep sod. They harvested the grain, cutting it by hand and carrying it on their backs, threshing it with flails — when there was something to actually thresh.

This life of Ivan Hrysyo and other Ukrainian settlers in the Lac du Bonnet area was one long struggle — for land, with the land, with poverty and illness, with stumps and stones, for reasonable prices for their farm products and relief, against priests, against deceitful politicians and the injustices of a system built on exploitation and deception.

Brightstone still exists, and while its population has dwindled, it is home to the Brightstone Hutterite Colony and a lot of farming is still done in the area. Some families still live in the area and this is the result of the struggles waged by Ivan Hrysyo and his friends.

—This article, originally written by Steve Macievich and printed in 1990, has been reprinted with permission of the Taras Shevchenko Museum in Toronto, Ont. The museum is dedicated to the art, life and literary legacy of the founder of the modern

Ukrainian language, who has twice been celebrated as a cultural leader of world acclaim by UNESCO. Visit them at shevchenko.ca and like them on Facebook! Scan the QR code below to be guided to Brightstone and see the area pioneered by Ivan Hyrsyo and others like him.

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Lee River Snow Riders Celebrate Three Decades

It Costs More Than You Think to Maintain Snowmobile Trails

2022 brought the winter that snowmobilers in Eastern Manitoba have been wanting for the last couple of years!

The Eastman SnoPals groom 323 km of trails and due to increased sled traffic, we expand the width from the basic 9ft requirement up to 15’ to 18’ making our total grooming requirement each week of 612 kms.

And its an expensive operation. Our groomers burn something in the neighbourhood of 2L per km. In 2015 a litre of diesel fuel was $0.69 and today we are paying a lot more than that. Then we have to factor in oils, fluids, wear and tear, parts and then the unavoidable breakage.

Snowmobile clubs in this province need to secure an additional funding stream. Manitoba snowmobile clubs get their main funding directly from the sale of SNOPASSES. The cost of our SNOWPASS is $150 which is the cheapest in Canada. We have not had an increase since 2015 but all of our operating expenses have doubled or tripled during that time.

Our club is made up of volunteers. Some of them spending over 40 hours a week performing administrative tasks, equipment maintenance, shelter maintenance, trail brushing, trail signing and trail grooming. Follow us on Facebook @eastmansnopals.

We need the continued support of the recreational snowmobile rider to acknowledge that clubs need additional funding and when your MPI invoice reflects an increase, smile, pay it and go for a ride on some of the best trails in Eastern Manitoba. —John Fleming

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Lee River Snow Riders have been maintaining snowmobile trails in the Lee River/Bird River regions for more than three decades.

Rudi’s Hut was the first warm‐up hut built (1988).

The current Alf’s Hut was actually one of several constructed on the site, including one hut which was burned to the ground by vandals in 1998. (Note: Alf Jarvis has since passed away but continues to be fondly remembered.)

Rose’s Hut was named in honour of Gretschman’s wife, while Joyce’s Hut and Trail were named in honour of Joyce Tumak, whose husband Joe (and family) spent considerable time developing the trail and constructing the hut.

Anson Hut is named after Anson Lake, a small body of water near the hut. Steve’s Trail was named in honour of original executive member Steve Czamecki.

Reder Trail (from King’s Hut to Rose’s Hut) is named in honour of former director Don Reder, who oversaw the project of pushing trail through that area. Lionel’s Trail was named in honour of Lionel Roberts.

Over the years, hundreds of dedicated volunteers have given their time to improve the club for the betterment of snowmobiling within the Lee River/Bird River region. Volunteers continue to be an invaluable resource for the LRSR, from clearing the trail of fallen trees to putting down reflective sticks on the trails.

The LRSR now boasts a membership of nearly 300 family memberships. We owe much to its pioneers; too many to name. Thank you! Here’s to another three decades. Get more info at lrsr.ca! —Brian Ross This is a condensed version of a much longer story on the Lee River Snow Riders 30th anniversary! Scan the QR code to read the full version

5 GREAT THINGS ABOUT PINAWA Nestled along the Winnipeg River on the northern edge of the Whiteshell Provincial Park, this community is considered one of the best‐kept secrets in our province. Visit pinawa.com for more!

110 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, Pinawa is situated on the Canadian Shield.

PINAWA WAS BUILT IN the 1950s to house employees of a nearby research facility. It has since become known as one of Manitoba's most picturesque communities, located only 110 kilometers from Winnipeg. People are choosing Pinawa’s quality lifestyle for their home, recreation, cottage living and as a place to do business.

IT’S HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Pinawa is a beautiful resort‐like community nestled along the Winnipeg River, only 110 kilometers from Winnipeg. People are choosing Pinawa’s quality lifestyle for their home, recreation, cottage living and as a place to do business.

IT’S FAMILY‐ FRIENDLY

Its elementary and secondary schools, hospital with medical clinic, dental clinic, full daycare services, public library, hiking trails, bike paths and playgrounds make it a great place to raise a family.

IT’S AN ENTREPRENEUR’S DREAM

Pinawa includes municipal tax incentives; W.B. Lewis Business Centre; access to high‐speed internet; a business incubator program; mall retail space; commercial land options; and a subdivided industrial park.

THERE’S LOTS TO DO

Pinawa offers tubing, golfing, sailing, hiking, curling, pickleball, canoeing, tennis, fishing, swimming, snowmobiling, and cross‐country skiing.

The recreation opportunities are truly endless!

SEE THE NIGHT SKY LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Pinawa is prime viewing territory for the northern lights.

Other great opportunities to see nature include the local suspension bridge and the Old Pinawa dam.

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Looking for a Unique Gift? Visit Manitoba Made

Looking for made‐in‐Manitoba products? Look no further.

Manitoba Made recently celebrated the grand opening of its new location at 66 Second Street. The new location has more floor space and allows for a great selection of products from food to crafts to clothing and more.

Manitoba Made is operated by owners Krista Houle and Lita Toms, who started it last fall in its original location along Park Avenue. The store’s success has surpassed their wildest dreams, says Houle.

As president of the Lac du Bonnet Farmers’ Market, Houle's mission is to showcase Manitoba‐made products and give exposure to artisans who live, work and play right here in the keystone province.

“It was actually Lita’s idea to open up the store. She and I have done craft sales at farmers markets together for awhile. We’ve been friends for a really long time, and we were at a market one day and she said, ‘It would be so cool if

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we had all of these Manitoba‐made items in one store.’ The more we thought about it we realized that people are all about shopping local and even more so now that COVID has brought home to them the importance of shopping local,” Houle says.

“I had been coming out to Lac du Bonnet since I was a kid and she and her husband have a history here, too. I ended up buying a cabin here a couple of years ago. So, we spent a couple of summers out here and then our former location on Park Avenue came up for rent. It seemed like the right time to start the store.”

So, with the pair now living full‐time in Lac du Bonnet (Houle moved here from Winnipeg and Toms relocated from Beausejour), they opened up Manitoba Made in August 2021 to great fanfare. So much fanfare that it outgrew the old store.

“It just kind of exploded and we needed to expand,” Houle says.

They now have over 75 Manitoba

Lita Toms (left) and Krista Houle operate Manitoba Made. vendors who sell products at the store.

Houle and Toms both sell their own products which include their own queso brand.

“The community itself is so supportive. People are so happy to have somewhere close that they can do Christmas shopping, birthday shopping, Mother’s Day shopping and they don’t have to travel all the way to Selkirk or to Winnipeg to buy a gift,” Houle adds.

Like Manitoba Made on Facebook at facebook.com/manitobamade.litatoms.

They’re also on Instagram @manitoba_madeshop and you can find them on TikTok as well.

People Want Fast Internet Speed. A Local ISP is Providing it In a world where many rural areas are forgotten by large corporate internet companies, Lac du Bonnet’s own Waterside Wireless has stepped up to the plate to bring rural residents online with high speeds and rock‐solid service reliability.

According to Waterside’s Ken Hampshire, internet traffic on the Waterside network went up 65% after the start of the pandemic and people began staying home in droves. Despite the lifting of restrictions and a return to some semblance of normality, the demand for bandwidth has remained: video streaming services like Netflix now reign supreme, as does the use of videoconferencing apps like Zoom, all which require a fast connection and large amounts of bandwidth.

“The rural areas won't be left behind. We’re here to service people who need to be connected and need a good local provider to do it,” says Hampshire.

In just 15 years, Waterside Wireless has gone from a

Photo courtesy Waterside Wireless

Waterside Wireless and its network of towers connects the Lac du Bonnet region to high speed internet service.

handful of customers to over 1,400. The company is a family affair and is composed of Ken and his wife Linda, Ken’s brother Dan and wife Sherry, and Ken’s son Darryl. They also recently added two more employees to help do installations.

Waterside owns and operates a network of 17 towers and provides high‐speed Internet service from Milner Ridge Road north to St. Georges, east to Bird River, south to Old Pinawa and back west through to the Brightstone area.

The Hampshires started Waterside Wireless after area residents began taking an interest in their own personal internet tower, which they erected for their own use after getting tired of sluggish dialup service back in the days of old‐ fashioned dial‐up modems.

“We’re working to not only keep our network up‐to‐par but ensure it’s better than other ones out there,” Hampshire adds.

For info visit watersidewireless.net.

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How This Victoria Beach Artist Caught the Eye of the Winnipeg Jets One day in 2017, Jamie Hogaboam’s phone rang, and his art career changed forever.

Let’s rewind a moment: prior to the phone call, Hogaboam had written a letter to Winnipeg Jets management hoping to raise money for Winnipeg’s Artbeat Studio, which provides social supports, art studio/gallery space, and mentorship for people living with mental illness. Along with the letter he had enclosed one of his “art cards” he was selling at the time while living on the streets of Winnipeg.

The card featured a portrait of NHL great Terry Sawchuk, who himself lived with mental illness.

Back to the phone ringing. On the other end of the line was Hogaboam’s friend Ernie Bart, a board member for Artbeat.

“Ernie said, ‘Jamie, you’re going to hear from someone important. I won’t tell you who it is, but watch your inbox,’” says Hogaboam.

Sure enough, an email soon arrived in his inbox from none other than Mark Chipman, chairman of True North Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Jets. Chipman wanted Hogaboam to paint some portraits of well‐ known Jets players. It was easily the biggest opportunity Hogaboam had received in his many years of being an artist.

Soon, the Winnipeg Jets began commissioning his artwork, beginning with a painting of the late Dale Hawerchuk that was unveiled at a Jets Hall of Fame ceremony that same year. The partnership has continued since then.

Born in California in 1965 to Canadian parents, Hogaboam and his family moved back to Winnipeg in 1966, where he has spent most of his life. He always dabbled in paint since he was a young child, when he began painting sports

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figures (starting with L.A. Kings goaltender Rogie Vachon) but didn’t attempt a career in it until 2001.

After receiving a grant from the Manitoba Arts Council in 2008, he spent seven weeks in a tent at Grand Beach painting and photographing the area. He fell in love with the East Beaches of Lake Winnipeg and Boreal Forest, and spent the next five summers working in the parking lot at Victoria Beach to finance his artwork.

Now living full‐time in Victoria Beach, Hoagaboam has become involved in the Boreal Shores Art Tour, which takes place this year over the August long weekend.

“I love being an artist. I need to be a creative person; it’s what’s best for my physical and mental health. I want to share that with people,” he says.

Living in Victoria Beach has inspired him to create and helped him flourish as an artist, he says.

“Every day I get up and I go down to the beach, even in the wintertime. It’s a very peaceful existence, and helps me be creative. I think this tour can help so many artists like me get their names out there and be successful,” he adds.

“A lot of strange coincidences have led me to where I am, but in the end it was all worth it because it helped me to succeed and make a living as an artist,” he says.

For info on the Boreal Shores Art Tour visit borealshoresarttou r.ca, and find Hoagaboam on Facebook at facebook.com/hoag ieartworks/

At top, Jamie Hogaboam with the late Dale Hawerchuk. Above, his painting of Hawerchuk commissioned by the Jets.

Up for an 18‐Hole Golf Challenge?

Try Granite Hills Golf Club for a scenic and challenging experience.

After a long two years of pandemic health restrictions, Granite Hills Golf Club is looking forward to hosting your tournament and offering our region the best 18‐hole golf experience you could ever hope to have.

“It’s great to get back to normal. For months we haven’t been able to host as many tournaments as we normally do, because of the capacity limits. We’re very excited to be able to allow groups to come and have large tournaments again,” says Lisa Collins, club manager for Granite Hills Golf Club.

Granite Hills Golf Club is

located in the Lee River region just 20 minutes from Lac du Bonnet situated in the heart of the Canadian Shield.

The golf course began as a dream for Walter Zarecki and Robert Kost in 1983.

The pair teamed up with Les Furber, renowned golf course designer, for some input into the layout of Granite Hills. The project was eventually taken over by Fred Jeschke, and after his passing the project was taken over by a group of investors. Walter Zarecki lived to see his dream become a reality as Granite Hills Golf Club opened for

After a long two years of pandemic health restrictions, Granite Hills Golf Course is looking forward to hosting your tournament and offering our region the best 18‐hole golf experience you could ever hope to have. business on Aug.11, 2007.

All holes boast four sets of tees ranging in yardage from the back, black tees at 7,082 yards to the forward, gold tees at 5,428 yards. The championship‐calibre golf course is challenging, but fair playing and will accommodate golfers of all skill levels.

On hole number six you’ll find a water hazard with a sand trap behind it. To make it more challenging for players hitting from the white tee box, maintenance crews also change the markers from one side of the cart path to the other.

“When it’s on the left hand side you kind of have more of a straight hit to the green, but on the right hand side you have to hit over the water. It depends on the day you come what challenges you could be faced with.”

Recent landscaping has created breathtaking new views of Lake Lac du Bonnet. The clubhouse restaurant is known for its artisinal homemade burger, so you can enjoy a delicious meal after your round of golf.

To get there search Granite Hills Golf Club on Google Maps, and find their website at granitehills.ca. You can also follow them on Facebook @GraniteHillsGolf.

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Get Hooked on The Adventures of Grim Willard

There’s junior fiction, and then there’s junior fiction written for all to enjoy. Forget Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings — there’s a new game in town, and this one comes out of Canada.

Catching the eye of a new generation of readers, The Adventures of Grim Willard is a series born of modern times. It’s written in a manner to help guide our youth to become critical thinkers and to see the world through the eyes of others — necessary skills in these days of fake news. Follow our young protagonist, an orphan referred to by his guardians only as “boy child”, as he and his friend, Anileah, navigate a world of worlds like no other.

Growing up in a massive secret library/archive — a storehouse to knowledge untold hidden deep within a remote mountain range — follow them as they are about to have their worlds turned on their head.

Having just learned that they are about to be inducted into a prestigious, secretive learning academy called Alchemy Hall, we follow these two as they learn about their world and how it fits into others, as they are groomed to become agents in service of Artemus Cephalus, the Holder of the Seat to All Knowledge. Is he evil or benevolent? That’s up to the eye, and mind, of the reader.

That’s the short version (The Grim Beginning), but the real hope is that those who enter the world of Grim Willard will expand their critical thinking skills, allowing them to avoid herd mentality (A Grimmer END)!

“Generation Z is a unique one. We find countless sources of information in social media, not all of it correct and much of it intentionally manipulative. Because of this, young and old alike need the skills to properly discern between reliable information and fake news. It’s a challenge, but it’s what makes this project so engaging and important,” says Lac du Bonnet’s Alana Hinton.

She’s the brains behind PR firm Elemental Pages, which represents a team of Canadian and international artists working together to develop this exciting new series.

“This project isn’t about one person, but about the concept

From left: J.D. Edwards, Alana Hinton and Andrew Scott are all part of the new Grim Willard junior fiction project.

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of encouraging young people to think for themselves in an effort to make a better, more compassionate and conscientious society,” Hinton adds.

Lending his voice to the Grim Willard project is Alberta’s Andrew Scott (a Global Country Star Search winner). University of Winnipeg theatre professor Sean McMullen is team content editor. Hinton, of course, also serves as publicist.

The Grim Willard project is only beginning. Fans are signing up to become members of the Legion of Grim Willed Warriors, who will be granted exclusive glimpses into the World of Grim through a members’ website portal. These may include advance viewing of new chapters, sneak peeks at book illustrations, exclusive invitations to special Grim events, and access to the author’s Q&A forum.

For musician and voice actor J.D. Edwards, also contributing his voice to the Grim Willard project, he describes it as one of the more unique ones he’s had the pleasure of getting on board with.

“I have three kids of my own, and we read a lot. That’s a big reason why this is so exciting for me to be a part of.

There’s also a real sense of freedom with this project,” says the Winnipeg Folk Festival alumnus and frontman for the Winnipeg‐based six‐piece J.D. Edwards Band.

“I don’t know who the author is. I’ve never spoken with them; I’ve always spoken with the team. And although I’m getting some direction from them, I have the freedom to create what in my mind the characters sound like. I think that’s a big message of the Grim Willard project — be an active member of your community but at the same time, think for yourself and learn to question what you see around you, with the intention of making your community better.”

For Edwards, reading the book has been a multifaceted experience.

“The Grim world is a fun one to just sort of sit and get lost in. You as the reader really are a character to some degree within this book, which is so fun, especially for younger readers.”

The Adventures of Grim Willard, A Grim Beginning, A Grimmer END! will be available soon at Chapters Indigo bookstores or you can get your copy now and become a Grim Willed Warrior by visiting grimwillard.com, or scan the QR code to take you to the site.

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