Life in the Valley - Issue 3 - October, 2020

Celebrate Business

October 2020

50 YEARS

Gateway Resources - page 30

40 YEARS

Border Real Estate - page 90

30 YEARS

Winkler Plumbing - page 42

20 YEARS

Heatmaster - page 98

10 YEARS

Ironmen - page 20

GROWING FOR

60 YEARS Southern Potato - Page 58

Who We Are We believe a strong foundation of sales driven strategy sets the course for impactful marketing efforts. Great design, coupled with a concrete plan and the right metrics in place create a map for successful growth for your brand.

Who We Serve We have some of the best clients from all over the globe! Everything we do is focused on a results based sales approach; whether it be products or services, our mission is to help our clients reach their business goals.

Let’s build your brand together.

www.thunderstrucksales.com

Celebrate Business

October 2020

CARING FOR

50 YEARS Gateway Resources - Page 30

What We Do Design is in everything.

We start with strategy, and based on established goals, we execute on the tactical. That’s as complicated as it is. We’ve built a team of experts to help you generate leads, convert them into sales, and build your brand from the ground up.

Let’s build your brand together.

www.thunderstrucksales.com

Celebrating Business

October 2020

SELLING FOR

40 YEARS Border Real Estate - Page 90

Digital Marketing If you’re not online, where are you?

A presence online is not a suggestion anymore, and a conscious social media feed on multiple platforms, in addition to digital ads is one of the best ways to ‘hang out’ where your customers are.

Let’s build your brand together.

www.thunderstrucksales.com

Celebrating Business

October 2020

PLUMBING FOR

30 YEARS Winkler Plumbing and Heating - Page 42

Websites & Apps If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.

Development is the magic that brings a website and your favourite apps to life. It turns your product or service into an online solution the your customers can connect with, visualize using and cannot imagine living without.

Let’s build your brand together.

www.thunderstrucksales.com

Celebrating Business

October 2020

HEATING FOR

20 YEARS Heatmasters - Page 98

Creative Put your creative foot forward.

Presentation is important, but more importantly, your business tools need to work. Good design is more than the visual representation of who you are, what you do and the services you offer.

Let’s build your brand together.

www.thunderstrucksales.com

Celebrating Business

October 2020

BUILDING FOR

10 YEARS Ironmen - Page 20

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CONTENT Southern Potato

Gateway Resources

58

30

Growing for 60 Years

Caring for 50 Years

Heatmasters

Ironmen

Heating for 20 Years

Building for 10 Years

98

20

16 MONEY MATTERS

26 THE DESIGN CENTER

28 PASSION FOR FASHION

50 STROKES OF GENIUS

57 PHYSIO FACT

64

66 SAFE AND SOUND

105 SERVICE DIRECTORY 118 LAST WORD

Access Credit Union

Janzen’s Paint

Infinity Security

Canadian Lumber

Pembina Valley Physiotherapy

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Dilis Boutique

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Why Join the Chamber?

CELEBRATE BUSINESS ISSUE Border Real Estate Selling for 40 Years

October 2020

Winkler Plumbing & Heating

Plumbing for 30 Years

42

90 Word of Mouth Pembina Valley Dental

Rise

Meridian Exhibition Centre

Apothecary of Morden

36

48

52

68

The Hub Community Spotlight

Taste in the Valley Smoked Duck Breast

Harval Homes

VB Entertainment Center

78

80

82

106

• Collision & Glass Experts • Spray-In Box Liners

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MONEY

MATTERS

Unveiling Our New Brand Identity Our brand goes far beyond a logo and colour scheme—it represents who we are, what we stand for and who we work for.

I O N /C H A

N

AC

C E S SIBILI T Y

16

ON

S + RIGHT

CH

CE

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OI

E

LU

SIT

SO

AN

AN INSPIRED EMBLEM: CREATING A LOGO TO UNIFY The new Access Credit Union brand is visually expressed in our “Triple Cheque Mark” logo. In this logo, Crosstown Civic is represented by the blue check mark, Access by green and together, we represent the teal triangle that also reflects a capital “A”. This logo is inspired by arrows to represent forward and upward motion and transitional change, a check mark to represent solutions and making the right choice, a knot to tie together two histories into togetherness, and an “A” to represent accessibility. Visually, the brand is uniquely identifiable and clearly unites the legacy brands in positive, aspirational “togetherness”.

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GE

T H E R + H I STO

RY

AR

G

F

ARD + UP W

D

O

RW

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TWO PATHS CONVERGING: DEFINING OUR BRAND IDENTITY Our shared values and approach to member experience is part of what made this merger such a good fit. Going forward, the new Access Credit Union will continue to keep our members at the centre of everything we do by communicating, building relationships, and being there when you want, how you want. To translate these values into a brand, we needed a unique, recognizable

identity that balances both traditional and modern elements. We needed a brand that evokes positive, aspirational emotion and represents the coming together of our two paths.

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With the amalgamation of Access Credit Union and Crosstown Civic Credit Union, and the preservation of the “Access” name, we needed a focused and inspiring brand that captures our essence and embodies what the new Access Credit Union stands for. To do so, the two credit unions embarked on a brand journey together to help develop our vision to be a credit union that knows and understands every member’s story, and where every member feels connected to, and taken care of by us.

ACCESS

C R E D I T

U N I O N

Where you need us to be.

OUR PROMISE TO YOU: WRITING A TAGLINE WITH MEANING Our new tagline, “Where you need us to be,” makes a pleasant nod to the geographical range of the new credit union, as well as the new digital frontiers for banking and communicating.

Online, offline, any milestone in your life, we are where you need us to be. Experience banking that is there for you every step of the way, helping you get where you want, how you want. Whether you’re on the go and need digital services that are cutting edge or prefer face-to-face service from friendly staff, we are here for you.

A POSITIVE FUTURE: CONTINUING THE JOURNEY WITH OUR MEMBERS Our new brand reflects both credit unions in a celebration of who we are. It demonstrates the beginning of a new organization while respecting the legacies of our pasts. The future is prosperous for our members, communities, and

employees, who will enjoy a strong, sustainable credit union committed to the financial wellbeing of individuals. A credit union that is rooted in cooperative principles and passionate about supporting the communities in which we all live, work, and play. From banking online wherever you happen to be, to receiving a warm welcome when you walk in our branches, our brand will be reflected in exceptional service and convenience to members. Our new brand is innovative, bold, and modern. It’s friendly, sincere, and approachable.

It’s professional and competent, yet youthful. But most of all, our new brand is unique—just like each member we represent!

Where you need us to be.

You’ll start to see the new branding on our website, social media and in our branch locations beginning in January 2021. We’ll be sharing new information on our shared website as soon as it’s available (www.cusuccess.ca). We look forward to a successful 2021 and beyond - with all of you.

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life team

FIRST WORD

Alejandro Penner

REBECCA DYCK editor Happy small business month!

We are so excited to dedicate this issue of our publication to celebrate the businesses in our area and to recognize their accomplishments.

The Pembina Valley is booming with industry and businesses big and small. We would not be the community we are without them and their many contributions to our towns and cities. So here is a message to all you business owners and entrepreneurs: THANK YOU, WE APPRICIATE YOU! Thank you for serving us through this crazy time we are in. Thank you for donating to our non-profit organizations, our kid’s sports teams and our fundraisers. Thank you for employing our citizens. Thank you for contributing to the culture that is Southern Manitoba.

In this issue, we are focusing on milestones. Milestones are important in life; they allow us to reflect on the time that has gone by and serve as a reminder of all that has been accomplished. A range of business anniversaries are being showcased leading up to a company

design lead photography

celebrating 60 years! I bet if you would ask each and every one of these business owners if they had ever thought about quitting, the answer would be YES. But they didn’t quit, they continued to maneuver around each obstacle in their way and have made it to where they are today.

Everyone loves a good success story. To know that with a lot of hard work and commitment, you can create something out of nothing. That is what the entrepreneurial spirt is all about, having a dream and bringing it to life. With every new generation rising up we see new ideas, new innovation, and new ways to succeed in a world that is constantly changing. With that, let us never forget who came before us and the people who blazed a trail, making a way for all who venture out after them.

We hope you enjoy these profile stories and celebrate with us. If you know the faces within these pages, reach out to congratulate them on a job well done!

Ryan Wall writer

Tony Wall

graphic design

Kevin Friesen sales

LIFE IN THE VALLEY

IS PUBLISHED BY

SERIOUS MARKETING

admin@seriousmarketing.ca 204.325.0283

Carpentry 244 Cochlan Dr., Morden • 204.822.1234 life in the valley

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B E F O R E

A F T E R 2 0 4 . 3 3 1 . 4 0 1 2

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BUILDING FOR

10 YEARS

“If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you’re not sure if you can do it, say yes -then learn how to do it later”. This well-known Richard Branson quote could be the perfect summary of the first ten years of Ironmen Industries; a company always looking to take risks, innovate, and meet the needs of the world around them. Through their diverse skill sets, this family business has positioned themselves to build anything that they can fit into their shop and thrives on designing new products while improving the old ones.

If If somebody somebody offers offers you you an an amazing amazing opportunity opportunity but but you’re you’re not not sure sure ifif you you can can do do it, it, say say yes yes -then -then learn learn how how to to do do itit later. later. life in the valley

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eyond growing up under the same roof, David and Johnny Krahn also worked together doing home renovations for a season and knew they made a good team. David also had the experience that came from managing a fabrication plant, while Johnny had his structural steel certification and years of experience in the field. Their father John was an expert in maintaining potato equipment from his thirty plus years in the industry and brought a level of quality assurance that companies in the area had come to trust.

Like many families, they had entertained the idea of going into business together; bringing all their abilities under one roof. It felt like they had all the pieces of the puzzle to build something great. It was now a question of what that something would be. Their first idea was to build equipment for potato farming. “We decided we were all going to take some time and pray about if this was the right thing to do and whether we should move forward with our idea” said David. During that year, John received a call from Southern Potato, asking about having all of their equipment rebuilt in one of their facilities. The timing was perfect. The aspiring family business saw this as an answer to prayer, and their opportunity to start building something together.

The job took six months to complete, enough time to make the big decision to have their own shop built for future projects. The family business decided on the name Ironmen and after moving into their new building, was ready to take on an array of projects involving metal manufacturing.

After a couple months, Ironmen realized their modest sized shop was not going to have capacity for the projects being asked of them. It was Novid Industries that first contacted Ironmen about building a custom trailer. While they didn’t know how they were going to build a trailer that couldn’t even fit in their shop, they took the job anyways believing they could figure that part out later. “That week we got a call from a local company who was looking to sell their manufacturing equipment” said David. “When we told them we didn’t have enough room for it, they offered we move into their building which they were willing to lease”. Just like that the new business had a building which was twice their original size, more than enough space to complete the trailer. The risk paid off while also opening the door to other clients coming with their own custom trailer needs. This is something they have become known for over the last ten years.

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Word of mouth spread regarding the start up, bringing in much more work than they had anticipated. “We had a bigger customer base than we initially thought” said David, as he explained how each of them had built a network of potential clients within their previous places of employment.

While the work was increasing, the company was still fairly new and any financial hit could be felt. Like any small business starting up, challenges are always going to happen along the way. “We were in our second year of business when we took an $8000 hit after one of our customers went bankrupt” explained David. “To us, this was huge.” At the same time, they were just finishing a trailer order for a client and noticed that the paint supplier they had used made the mistake of charging the client, instead of the business for the paint. The amount was exactly $8000. “When we approached the customer to fix the mistake, he told us to keep it, that it could be a bonus for a job well done.” The timing, the specific amount, and the improbability of this generous gesture could not be taken as a coincidence. The event further cemented their trust in God as their ultimate provider, in the good times and the tough times.

Business continued to grow as contracts for custom projects kept them busy. These innovative projects included Tundra Crawlers used for Polar Bear sightseeing in Churchill, and trailers needing unique axle systems for carrying oversized loads.

It was in the third year of their lease that they knew they needed more space. The time had come to build their own shop. In 2015 they bought a lot at 735 Roblin Boulevard East and joined the new development of the expanding industrial park in Winkler. They were determined to build the right shop to meet their future needs, deciding on doubling their space again with a 16000 square foot shop, fully equipped with overhead cranes and the latest production equipment. While the excitement of moving into their new shop had just started, the mood quickly changed as they were told that their largest and most consistent customer no longer needed their services.

After ramping up production abilities with their brand new shop, they now had a gaping hole that needed to be filled. What seemed to be a recurring theme with this business, the uncertainty was met with their biggest opportunity yet. “Within the month we received a call from FB Industries, they were looking for a partnership to take on the huge amount of work coming up in the oil industry”. While they initially wanted to buy life in the valley

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a manufacturing plant, Ironmen had the idea to sell a minority share of their company; which still ensured the partnership. The amount of work they received would skyrocket from this agreement, and within two years, Ironmen would go on to double their annual sales. The amount of employees also doubled, and the need to expand came up again. In 2017 they built a welding shop, and started to rent another large shop close by which was used for assembly. A whole new world had opened up for the team at Ironmen, as they were able to use leading technology in developing innovative designs and products for the unique demands of the market. Much of this technology revolved around advanced hydraulic systems and computer controlled operations integrated into the products. These demands pushed the team to figure out new ways to solve problems and stretched them to assemble complex designs they had never seen before. The main product they were building at this time was equipment used in moving many tonnes of frac sand, a specialty sand used in the process of extracting oil from the ground. The advancements made on these products further equipped the team to take on new projects and solve more complex problems with their increased capabilities.

In January of 2019 there was talk of business in the oil market ramping up again, prompting the team to build on to their main shop in preparation. Another 28 000 square feet of production space was added, allowing them to cancel their lease on the rental building, bringing most of their production under one roof. While the oil market did not pick up like they were hoping, at this time they had some great opportunities to work on various industrial sites including the Duff Roblin Provincial Parkway and other Winnipeg structures.

Ironmen also focused on installing products they had built which naturally led into research and design of more intricate products. Now they were in the position to start developing their own products, which was another risk they were willing to take; trying to correctly judge the market and the current needs.

The product they saw potential in was JobJon, Portable Solutions – a series of portable sanitary facilities used to make sanitation easier, cleaner, and much more efficient. In addition to portable washrooms, JobJon introduced The Hot Hand Wash mobile sanitation unit to the market. This hot water hand washing station is designed for use at events, public gatherings or worksites. This product alone has solved many issues regarding sanitation in this past year and is another life in the valley

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example of how Ironmen strives to solve new problems with innovative solutions.

“We have a great team here at Ironmen” says David, “And we believe that this teamwork ventures out far beyond our own walls” Ironmen continues to build partnerships with businesses throughout the community. With a level of trust built to do a project together, the team says they are able to expand what is possible by relying on the strength of companies around them to help complete the unique projects they continue to design.

While the team has always found a way to quickly bounce back when encountering obstacles over their last ten years, 2020 has been their biggest challenge yet. “This is the most I have ever been concerned about the economy” said David, who has seen the ups and downs over the years but nothing to this degree. “We can’t keep spreading fear and expect the economy to rebound” he said in an appeal to politicians and news reporters causing unnecessary fear in an already fear saturated society. He also points out that the need for a healthy economy is not only for those running a business but for everyone who benefits from public services such as healthcare, schools, and other emergency responders.

While not everyone can appreciate the struggle of local business owners at this time, many like David are hoping that a balanced approach in responding to this virus will be employed and that the solution will not cause more harm than the problem itself.

Though some companies have unfortunately needed to throw in the towel, Ironmen has been able to weather the storm by holding fast to their values and principles that have gotten them to this point. “A consequence of our growth is having to fight to keep a family culture within the business and personal relationships with our employees” said David. The work done in this area has continued to pay off as the family has continued to get closer over the years of working together. “Our work ethic, values, and mindset are all the same in running the business, which along with the support of our incredible wives has made all the difference.

“We have had so many confirmations along the way that have helped us know we are on the right track” said David “and we can move forward with confidence, faith, and peace of mind during this difficult season.”

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Discover a world of endless inspiration inside Canadian Lumber’s 5000 square foot Design Center, at 139 North Railway in Winkler.

This Design Center was created with you in mind, to give you the greatest experience and confidence when it comes to making the right decisions for your project. Whether it’s windows, doors, siding, shingles, trim, countertops, cabinets, sinks, showers and everything in between, nearly every item (and it’s variety of options) is on display and installed in the same way it would be in your home.

Discover a space where you can literally walk through that entrance door you’ve been dreaming about. Where you can feel the craftsmanship of Canadian-made windows. Discover the vast variety of styles and colours available with all our siding and roofing options. Where we go beyond a brochure, and bring you into a world of possibilities.

With the latest products, innovations and designs scouted out by our knowledgeable staff, you can rest assured you’re getting the best options available for your project.

Come by today and experience the confidence of exploring our life-sized displays, paired with our knowledgeable staff at Canadian Lumber’s Design Center.

Dream it, Plan it, Build it…Let us help!

139 N Railway Ave., Winkler life in the valley

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204.325.5319

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PASSION FOR “Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” Lovely words from Emile Bronte. Fall is my favorite season! It is wonderful to see the once green leaves, change to yellow, red and orange hues.

And as I watch the swirling leaves stirred by the wind, I am reminded that a season of change is upon us. And also, so is the need to transition our summer wardrobe to fall. And how do we do that? Below, I will give you some tips that will make this transition easy for you to fall in love with transitional pieces that are going to make you look fabulous this season!

The best part of fall fashion is all the layering options.

When the cooler temperatures start to set in, that is the time to bring out all of your cute jean and moto jackets, cardigans and blazers.

Begin with the basics. Base layers include anything from tanks to tees, to camis and blouses. Put away the light florals of summer and exchange for darker colors like tan, black and brown.

Mix seasonal colors associated with fall into your wardrobe, like rust, mustard and greens.

Embrace long and ¾ length sleeves.

Choose the best style of denim pants that fits your body, and a non-denim pant in a neutral color that will allow for versatility as you mix and match your layers.

Over these, the sky is the limit!

Throw a cape or poncho, or a leather (or vegan leather) jacket over top of a dress, pants or skirt. Choose a solid top to wear underneath. Instant fall outfit!

Layer a cardigan (long cardis are very flattering) over a cami, paired with jeans and a nice fall color scarf. You can extend the wear of your favorite summer dress, by topping it with a long cozy boyfriend cardigan and switching your sandals for booties. Wear opaque tights in solids.

Speaking of booties, boots are an essential for fall. The styles vary from open toe ankle booties, to tall leg extending boots that are more appropriate for when the weather turns colder. Wear them with “everything”. Booties are fun, stylish and comfortable.

Long tunics in a chunky knit with leggings are super cute and comfortable.

In short, here is a list of the “must haves” this season: 1. Boots, flats and mules and fashion sneakers 2. Denim.

3. Pullover sweaters, tunics, cardigans 4. Base layers 5. A transitional style dress that you can wear now with bare legs and open toe bootie and continue wearing with tights and tall boots when the temps drop.

6. A lightweight jacket is best for outerwear.

7. A good quality crossbody bag will make the transition between seasons simple. It is an anchor piece that will tie together different colour schemes.

Dark colour are your best options.

8. Introduce animal prints in bags and belts.

9. And finally, don’t forget to accessorize! A scarf will update any outfit. Choose a fun fall color scarf, and a suede fedora or knit cap or a dramatic belt. Keep your jewelry simple.

Have fun this fall as you play with all the different pieces that will make your fall wardrobe fun and super stylish!

- Dina Harder

PRESENTED BY 10 - 880 15th St., Winkler

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Need a sign?

204.325.0284

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Caring for

50 YEARS

the participants model the joy and meaningfulness of having work.

They show us the value of having a place to be productive and contribute. life in the valley

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The need to participate in meaningful work and contribute to society is a need that everybody shares. Gateway Resources has been a place that offers this to their staff and program participants for over fifty years. They have developed into a thriving community for people with intellectual disabilities, who have found a place where they can truly feel like they belong.

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riginally called Valley Rehab, the vision for this community started in the 1960’s with Dr. C.W. Wiebe, who believed that people with intellectual disabilities could still contribute to the community in meaningful ways and be productive in life. He saw that they needed more opportunities than what they were getting and originally started a program for them in the basement of the Eden Mental Health Centre. The program grew with the help of many contributions from the local community, with it came the need for their own space. In 1969, Dr. Wiebe contributed part of the funds needed to have their own facility built, while fundraising the rest of the money which was needed to operate.

Verna Towarnicki started working for Valley Rehab in 1985, but years before that she could remember her in-laws donating the use of their farm trucks and fuel to the program to be used for hauling used tires from Winnipeg to make rubber linked mats. It was a way to generate income for the small community of people and allowed the participants a chance to be involved with meaningful work. They also had an apple orchard and a large garden for selling produce. At harvest time, everyone could be involved with picking, washing, and packaging the produce for orders that were made.

“Everyone had quite a bit of fun working together” said Verna.

Jake Heide started at Valley Rehab in 1980 and was the director of the workshop where the rubber mats and other products were made. However, as tires were starting to be built with steel cords, they had to let go of their rubber mat operation and look for something

else. “We saw the need that businesses had for proper packaging in order to ship their products” said Jake. We saw an opportunity there and started building crates and boxes for them. As these businesses expanded, so did the crate building; as supplies for crates and boxes began being brought in by the semi-loads. Along with the crates, other goods were made in the workshop and were sold, such as patio furniture, chairs, stools, and planters.

“Another one of Dr. Wiebe’s goals for the participants was for them to learn how to cook, set the table, and live life together” said Verna. They cooked meals together, with the help of staff, and everyone came together at meal times to eat. “All of us were like family” said Verna, “and as staff, our roles were held loosely, we were often called upon to help out in many different ways.” Staff could be counted on to help with everything that went on throughout the day, from cooking, to office work, to working on products that needed to be finished for a deadline. “Nobody ever complained about having to move from one place to another or working a little overtime” she said. “It was living life together, and a great place to work.” Overall, the history has been marked by people who really care and have given their lives to see those with disabilities be given a chance to grow, reach their goals, and be a part of a special community that is as close as family.

In the late 1980’s, the Manitoba government started getting more involved with recycling and came to Valley Rehab to ask questions about their existing recycling program. A contract was made between them and the

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town of Winkler, officially making Valley Rehab the local recycling depot. The recycling depot building was built in 1990 to accommodate the growing number of communities that were getting involved with the program. Not long after, they were handling a large portion of southern Manitoba’s recycling. “Our product was always sought after, as we sorted it by hand" said Jake. The recycling program proved to be a major change that took place within Valley Rehab and played a huge role in their growth and expansion.

There was almost always a project being worked on, whether it was additions to the original building, or constructing entirely new buildings for the work they were a part of. Due to their continued success and innovative ways of generating revenue, they were continually able to expand as well as add more people to the program.

While the workshops and day programs were great for most people, there were still those who needed more and did not quite fit in with the opportunities they were given. “We always knew there was something that should be done for these people” said Verna “but it seemed like nobody could figure out what to do about it.”

The answers to this problem started to come in 2001 when Valley Rehab and the Association for Community Living; which had locations in Morden and Winkler, planned to amalgamate under one umbrella.

The Association for Community Living was the first organization in the area to offer options for group homes when it came to housing for individuals with intellectual disabilities. It was largely run by parents looking for a place for their adult children to live and consisted of homes being built for ten to twelve people to live; which included house parents. This massive operation of bringing the three entities together was led

by Wayne Benedict, who was the first CEO of the new organization that was created. They gave it the name Gateway Resources. The whole purpose of merging was to provide a broader range of services, including housing, recreational opportunities, meaningful work, learning opportunities, and community involvement to those with intellectual disabilities. These programs would be designed to meet individual needs, with endless possibilities to further help people learn, grow, and meet the goals they had set for themselves. The new organization was divided into three divisions, consisting of residential, programs, and operations, with each division being led by a director. Other significant

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changes that took place were the acquisition of all the homes owned by ACL, as they now came under Gateway, while many of their staff came to join them at the original Valley Rehab building. A board was also created, made up of volunteers from both Morden and Winkler to help govern the organization.

While the development of programs started slowly, they have grown tremendously over the years, now providing many different options. The building of the wood room in 2004 opened up space in the building for programs to be run out of and really kick started the growth of the many programs that Gateway Resources now offers.

The Community Learning Program is an umbrella over many different programs. This includes a learning center, where participants can learn skills such as budgeting, resume writing, safety within the community and on the internet, gardening, sewing, fitness, sign language and more. “If someone says that they want to learn something, we want to develop a way to help them learn it” said Kim Nelson, the current CEO of Gateway Resources.

The Job Development Program offers participants work experience in local businesses, as many had a goal of

working within the community. Now participants can be seen working all over the community such as Katie’s Cottage, CO-OP, Hometown Ford, the Winkler DayCare, Kings Deli, and multiple schools, just to name a few. Clay Owl is also the new social enterprise that was started and is used as a training program. There is a job coach working with the individuals, teaching skills that will help participants be successful in a job following their training. The Director of Programs is Brenda Pohl, who leads a team of Direct Support Professionals who help connect participants within the community and walk along side of them through their growth and development.

In 2014, Gateway Resources had to contend with a devastating fire that wiped out their entire recycling depot. This included the loss of their recycling truck, their bus, and all of the equipment they used for recycling and making the compressed bales. This caused a lot of initial difficulty as many participants were out of work and needed to be re-located. “The community support that was offered to us was phenomenal” said Kim, as the community rallied together to help them rebuild; with a local business even borrowing out one of their trucks. While the fire posed a real challenge for

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Gateway, it also allowed them to rebuild better than ever and completely upgrade their recycling system. “We probably wouldn’t be where we are today without that fire” said Kim, looking back at the expansion that was able to happen because of it. One of the upgrades was a new conveyor belt sorting line, which allowed many more people to be a part of sorting the recycling, while also making it much easier. “In the past, people needed to be familiar with all of the material” said Loni Derksen, who is the Director of Operations. “It was a much slower process before this.” Overall, the system became much more efficient, it was also equipped with an automated baler that can keep up with the heavy demand.

For years now, every division within Gateway continues to grow. Dianne Hildebrand is the Director of Residential Services and has seen the amount of homes under their care go from eleven - when she became the director in 2013 - to currently seventeen throughout Morden and Winkler.

They have also seen success in the Supported Independent Living Program, where those who want to can live on their own while still receiving assistance from staff. It started with four people and has now grown to thirty, ranging in age from twenty years old to people in their eighties.

A real strength for the leadership team at Gateway is that they have all worked in the different divisions of the organization. This gives them a good understanding of the entire operation and what all goes on within. This helps with open communication among leadership, being open to hearing about what is all going on and overall make better, more informed decisions.

The growth of the organization called for hiring a Human Resources Director in 2008 and currently PattyAnne LePage holds this position. She is responsible for recruiting new employees while also providing support for their current employees; which have grown to two hundred and twenty-five staff. And while Verna is no longer working at Gateway, she is very excited to see it continue to grow and is glad to see so many people committed to walk alongside the participants while being committed to their development.

With the staff doing life with the participants every day, they are constantly learning and growing from the experience. “Anything that life can throw at them, we’re walking alongside” said Dianne. While there are often many surprise situations and scenarios, Loni said that by

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now, nothing surprises them anymore. This has led to an open mind for the staff as they are looking to respond and not react to the diverse circumstances that arise.

“Something we often talk about with our staff is modelling work behaviours and life skills for our participants” said Dianne. “But for us, the participants model the joy and meaningfulness of having work. They show us the value of having a place to be productive and contribute.”

Another big part of the culture at Gateway Resources is celebrating every success and positive shift that goes on within the participants and staff alike. Goals are constantly being reached, and growth can be seen in everybody, whether it’s learning to be a better reader, attaining a driver’s license or someone transitioning to living on their own. “We have seen success in everybody” said Kim who views herself and the staff incredibly lucky to be able to walk alongside so many people who allow them a glimpse into their lives. “It’s an honour to be able to help them” she said of her job.

To also show the community how their support has impacted Gateway and the participants, they started an annual gala. It is a glimpse into the life of Gateway and a way to say thank you to the businesses that have supported them over the years.

And if the staff ever needed a reminder of just how much the community at Gateway Resources means to the participants, they experienced it when COVID-19 broke out in the spring, keeping the participants at home. “They kept calling and calling," said Loni, “they were always asking when they could come back to work.”

Currently, the programs are back up and running. The participants are now able to return to the community they know and love.

Now over fifty years after the small program was started, Gateway Resources has had a far reaching impact on the entire surrounding area. Gateway continues to be a place of opportunity, growth, and belonging and has successfully built on the original vision that started everything.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

DENTURES AND IMPLANTS

ONE

A FIXED BRIDGE (or fixed partial denture).

One or more false teeth are held between healthy teeth on both sides. You cannot take this kind of bridge out by yourself.

TWO

A PARTIAL DENTURE (or removable partial denture).

One or more false teeth are held in place by clasps that fit onto nearby healthy teeth. You can take the false teeth out yourself, for cleaning and at night.

THREE

COMPLETE DENTURES. If you lose your teeth, these dentures can replace all your natural teeth.

FOUR

FOUR MAIN TYPES OF DENTURES

DENTAL IMPLANTS. Dental implants are used to support false teeth or a fixed bridge. You must have healthy gums and bone (under your teeth) to support the implant. Your Prosthetic attaced dentist (or oral surgeon) will put a small metal post tooth to abutment into your jawbone.

Over time, the post will bond with the bone around it. The post (or implant) will act like an anchor to hold one or more false teeth in place.

PRESENTED BY 260 R O B L I N B LV D E , W I N K L E R, M B 204.325.4774

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WORD

of

Mouth

LOOKING AFTER YOUR DENTURES You need to care for complete and partial dentures as carefully as you would look after natural teeth.

• Clean them every day. Plaque and tartar can build up on false teeth, just like they do on natural teeth.

• Take them out every night. Brush your teeth and gums carefully, using a soft toothbrush. Be sure to clean and massage your gums. If your toothbrush hurts you, run it under warm water to make it softer OR try using a finger wrapped in a clean, damp cloth.

• Soak them overnight. They can be soaked in a special cleaner for false teeth (denture cleanser), in warm water or in a mix of warm water and vinegar (half and half). If your denture has metal clasps, use warm water only for soaking. Soaking will loosen plaque and tartar. They will then come off more easily when you brush.

CARING FOR IMPLANTS Because the implant sticks to bone, it can be treated more like a natural tooth. But it is NOT as strong as a natural tooth. You must brush and floss the implant very carefully. Be gentle, but make sure you brush all sides of the implant. At least once a day, floss very carefully. You will need to be gentle with the floss where the implant meets

the gum. After flossing, roll it up in a tiny ball and put it in the garbage. Never flush floss down the toilet.

If you have false teeth, see your dentist regularly. Your mouth is always changing. This means your false teeth will need to be adjusted from time to time to make sure you have a good fit.

If you have a bridge or implants, dental exams will help you make sure that your natural teeth get good care. If you have problems with your false teeth, your dentist may suggest you see a special dentist who knows more about false teeth. This kind of dentist is called a prosthodontist.

IMPORTANT People who have complete or partial dentures can also get gum disease around any natural teeth that are left. If you have gum disease: • Your false teeth will not fit well over gums that are sore, swollen or bleeding.

• Your partial dentures (or removable dentures) will not be held firmly in place if your natural teeth and gums are not strong.

Be sure to see your dentist regularly for professional cleaning and dental exams, so that he or she can detect any early signs of gum disease, and provide appropriate treatment.

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NOVE MBER 9-15!

Give to your local community foundation during the Giving Challenge and your gift will be stretched thanks to funding from The Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba government. Contact your local community foundation for details and gift options.

Go to endowMB.org to give!

Plum Coulee Community Foundation life in the valley

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Where MORE is

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wner / Sales

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Winkler Plumbing and Heating Winkler Plumbing and Heating is one of a kind when it comes to the services and quality of work they provide, and as this year’s P.W. Enns Business award winner for customer service. The company has built up their reputation and are currently reaping the rewards that come from hard work. You might not always be able to describe exactly what makes up quality customer service but you know it when you get it. It’s the difference that comes with someone caring about every aspect of the customers experience and going the extra step to ensure that everything is done the right way. This is what the team at Winker Plumbing and Heating aspires to bring to their work every day and are thankful to their customers for trusting and supporting them throughout the years.

This year marks their thirtieth year in business and is a milestone worth recognizing. life in the valley

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t all started on the farm where Abe Kauenhofen was experienced in doing his own repairs on equipment and buildings and had learned how to handle just about any job that came up. While still running the farm, he started the education he would need to become a certified plumber. After several years in the trade Abe together with his wife Mary Anne would go on to found Winkler Plumbing & Heating Ltd. in 1990. The operation took place in their double car garage, which functioned as their warehouse, shop and anything else that was needed. They started with one employee and initially were only involved with hot water tanks, furnaces, new housing and service work done in Winkler and the surrounding villages.

The garage could only serve its purpose for so long, and Winkler Plumbing soon needed to expand; building an addition to the back of their house. They turned the garage into the warehouse and used the new addition as shop space.

While Abe’s son Steve knew the basics of plumbing from what he learned growing up on the farm, he was originally uninterested in joining his Dad at work. “I had worked at Canadian Tire for thirteen years” said Steve who tells the story of how he became a plumber. “I got married in 1992, and shortly after moving into our house we started renovating.”

One day after supper, Steve started the work of cutting apart some water lines, which he would struggle to make water tight until nearly midnight. “I called my dad at quarter to twelve. He came down and it took him ninety seconds.” After that frustrating experience, Steve vowed to never be a plumber, as if he could already feel the tug to join the trade. “Six months later I starting working for him” said Steve, who finally gave in despite his prior dismissive assertion.

As the business grew, the location of a garage and backyard shop could not keep up and it was clearly time to build a commercial building of their own. Abe bought a lot on Manitoba Road, which runs adjacent to Highway thirty two on the south end of Winker. This was where their new home was built in 1995.

“We were one of the first buildings on this street”, as they are now in the middle of a full neighbourhood of businesses in the ever expanding industrial part of town. There were many benefits that came with the move, and with greater space they were able to offer more services. “Going into this building we saw a big increase in retail sales from the added showroom.

People wanted to see fixtures and equipment before it went into their home.” The shop would expand twice, settling at their current size in 2008. This was right before the major economic downturn, which turned out to significantly change the way the company did

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business. Steve explained how many plumbers in the area would go on their own looking for work instead of working for a company, resulting in the birth of many one or two man operations in plumbing and HVAC. “We went from a couple shops in the area to over thirty” said Steve of the sudden saturation of the market. This was something that would force them to evolve in order to continue doing business. “In this industry everything on the surface is price driven said Steve, commenting on the pull towards going with the cheapest option.

We had to find areas of service that that others were not offering, or could not offer.” It was a less travelled path that led them into areas such as installing and revamping geothermal units, servicing commercial buildings and advancing in their certifications which would open up more opportunities. “Geothermal has been in the area since the seventies” said Steve, but because it was price driven, the cheapest guys would always be installing them.” That would explain why people at this time found their systems not working very well, giving geothermal a bad name. This is something that Winkler Plumbing and Heating is seeking to rectify. “When corners were cut during installation, it resulted in a loss of efficiency and overall poor performance” said Steve who guarantees better in-

stallation with their units. This goes along with the ability to fix existing problem units, as they have overhauled many systems, while also offering better overall technology in regards to what is now available within geothermal.

The business also went about getting internationally safety certified through ISN to go along with their Canadian COR safety certification, which allows them to branch out in servicing large international companies like Bunge in Altona. “We go where others can’t” said Steve, “it’s a costly road and you need to invest a lot to get here.”

Another thing the team has really focused on over the last eight years is customer service and has operated on the principal of completing the level of work that they would be happy with in their own home. Focusing on how the customer feels at the end of the day is what is most important, this includes making sure they are able to make informed decisions on the many different options available to them. “A big part of service is education” said Henry Schmitt one of the current partners in the company. “Many just think there are only 2 options for heating, gas or electric. We help them make a more informed decision.”

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his type of customer service was of utmost important to Abe and was something that had been passed down to the next generation of owners who took on the leadership roles in the company when he officially called it a career in 2018. It took several years of succession planning and building a team to take over for him, and was made up of four of the current employees at the time. His son Steve, Henry Schmitt, Michael Penner, and Abe Peters were all asked if they wanted to buy into the company, with all of them happily accepting the offer.“I had only been working here a year when Abe approached me” said Henry, who was shocked at the offer. “I was very young, with little money, and I was a newlywed. Together we are a group of team players, a trait which is highly regarded at the company and a necessity to finishing jobs on time, especially when needing to work with other trades on a job site.” Abe Peters had been with the company for a long time, joining in 1995 and said it was an emphatic “yes” when asked about being a partner. “I love the work that I do” said Abe, who enjoys the constant challenges that present themselves and said it was only natural to take on the opportunity of partnership. Mike was hired in 2002, switching vocations after needing a change from his previous work. After six years, he felt ready to take on the extra responsibility and says that few days go by that he doesn’t learn something new. Steve was a natural fit for the team, having been with the company since just after its inception and was someone who saw the change which was needed in order to serve a new generation of clients. “It was a case of old school meets new school” said Steve when describing his working relationship with his father.

“With both of us being type A personalities, we bumped heads quite a bit but we still remained open to change.”

Now Steve is able to combine the quality of work and the service he learned while under his father along with vision on how to run a business in today’s world.

It has been a continued evolution in the way they approach their work, with advances that allow them to work on projects remotely and run diagnostics before even stepping on site. This ability is especially helpful when working on projects a long distance away as they service the far corners of the province. Along with high quality work, after- sales service is also vitally important to the company. Being consistent in the manufacturers they are supplied with helps for ensuring that continued service is offered long after a purchase.

For most companies, the presence of Covid 19 has made this a very different and often challenging year.

While the company saw the initial downturn, the overall retail and business has done better than average this year. “Once the initial six weeks were over, people started working and getting out again” said Henry.

“People also had time to do renovations that had been put on hold and chose to invest money into their projects rather than travelling.” While they may not have been affected financially, the changes have kept them from properly celebrating their thirtieth anniversary. “Putting on a concert that only we could watch did not make sense to us” said Steve, who said they had planned to celebrate, but it was really the customers who had brought them this far. Instead, they will plan a celebration for next year and include everyone who got them where they are today.

“Ultimately we are very blessed to be given what we have” said Henry, also adding, “We thank our valued employees past and present. Their drive to meet the customer’s needs is a great example of our customer

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commitment to service. Each employee possesses a certain gift they contribute and we greatly appreciate them.” He also added “it comes down to the people that we’ve served that keep coming back to us.”

This relationship extends out into the community, as Winkler Plumbing and Heating is very actively involved in helping out where they can and have been a part of numerous projects. This includes doing work for different churches, supporting sports teams, working with the Bunker, Central Station, and Teen Challenge to name a few.

“Being involved in the community is important to us” said Steve, who believes in giving back and showing that they are not doing business to only benefit themselves.

The team at Winkler Plumbing and Heating is proud to continue this relationship with the community and the customers who haven’t only supported them, but have cheered them on along the way with tokens of appreciation appearing as plates of cookies, care packages, and thank you cards. “They have no idea how much that is actually worth” said Henry of even the smallest act of recognition showing that the work they did was appreciated. It is because of these relationships that the team is continually motivated to offer the best service and quality of work as possible, and look forward to continue meeting the needs of their valued customers.

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ATHLETICS They call it the un-gym experience. This is the word used by the team at Rise Athletics and Wellness and is just one of the ways to describe their unique fitness community.

The team is made up of certified coaches that privately run fitness and nutrition programs out of their state of the art facility, with an end goal of helping their clients move toward a lifestyle of overall health and wellbeing.

Rise was initially started by Kurtis Fox, and grew out of his passion for personal training and seeing people from all different experience levels achieve the physical and mental benefits that came from fitness. The problem he kept bumping into was personal training in a traditional gym setting. “The issue in gyms was that the client was often uncomfortable and self conscious, and we were always waiting around for equipment to be available.”

One day the idea came to him, what if he could control the environment they were working in? A dream came alive in his heart to offer a safe place for people to work out, and remove any barriers for those who hadn’t been able to experience proper fitness training. After a year of planning, he left his career as a firefighter and opened up a small studio on 1st street in Winkler. “Everybody except my wife thought I was crazy, and if she did, she didn’t tell me.” With the support of his wife, Kurtis set out to pursue his dream. With the studio and a small team of like minded coaches, he now had the ability to ensure his clients felt safe and could remove all negative stereotypes

WELLNESS

sometimes associated with gyms and fitness centres.

After a year in the new facility, feedback from clients highlighted the fact that some people wanted to work out alongside friends, while keeping the element of a personal trainer. This was both for social reasons and to help offset the cost of having a coach present. While the idea was initially attractive to the team, there was still some concern as to how it might affect the atmosphere they had worked to create. The question turned to, how do we add this service, while maintaining the environment? After all, that was the main reason for starting. What came next would launch them into being the thriving workout community they didn’t realize was initially possible. Group training was never in the original plan, but has now become a big part of what is offered.

Following the addition, a real sense of community began to form among clients and coaches. A positive and welcoming atmosphere was further created due to the relationships that came from training in groups. It’s this unique setting and structure that has proven to be a huge contributor in now reaching and motivating people who might not otherwise come to a gym. Several different group programs were created to meet the different needs of clients looking for strength gain, fat loss, overall health, functional aging, and sports performance for Youth Athletes, all available in a group or private setting, and all with personalized help from certified coaches.

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One of the greatest benefits of joining the Rise community is the continuity that comes with making fitness a sustainable lifestyle through the ongoing workout programs and the support to keep going despite any roadblocks that may come up. To help overcome any obstacle, there is a team of ten coaches, each offering their own area of expertise. And with continued access to the different members of this dedicated team, clients are able to find the specific help they need in order to keep moving towards bettering their overall health and reaching their fitness goals.

online coaching sessions. Clients were able to borrow equipment and continued to have their needs met during the time they could not meet in person. The shutdown was lifted on June 1, allowing the team at Rise to again offer the same product and experience that clients were accustomed to.

The shutdown came with some unexpected benefits, as it afforded a standstill moment for the team to zoom out and get a fresh perspective on the business. This was a time of planning that might never have happened otherwise, but it helped the team at Rise operate more efficiently and add to their existing programs. “Long-term, I think the shutdown will provide a one step back, two steps ahead situation for us” said Kurtis, as he explained how they were able to deeply look at areas of the business that would otherwise go unnoticed. Pulling something positive out of the unfortunate situation, the team at Rise has made improvements to their existing programs, while also creating a new feature through this reset which is focused on overall client wellness. This includes help in areas such as nutrition, stress management, motivation, proper sleep, recovery after workouts and anything else that can propel clients into being the best version of themselves. This is offered through joining any program in their private facility, where ongoing wellness coaching is offered to all clients.

Rise is committed to continually growing and adapting to meet the needs of the community, while keeping to their first priority of offering personal care for every client, and maintaining the safe and welcoming culture they’ve become known for.

Like many businesses, Rise was forced to shut their doors for a period of time during the initial outbreak of Covid 19. The team was set on going into the shutdown with a positive mindset and together they quickly put a plan in place to offer

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While we have the technology for tracking precise metrics in fat loss and muscle gain, we see intangible growth just as important as the physical results.

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Visit Rise online at belifestrong.ca

These additions forced an expansion to a new, larger location in 2015 where they could provide the space and equipment to deliver all these programs. The results are telling. Every month, clients can write their progress on something called a “non-scale related victory poster”, with the purpose of sharing their success and encouraging others. “I can touch my toes”, “I’m sleeping better”, “coming here was the best thing I’ve done for my mental health.” These are just a few of the many updates which clients happily post around the gym. “While we have the technology for tracking precise metrics in fat loss and muscle gain, we see intangible growth just as important as the physical results” says Kurtis, who shares how the client’s feedback is what inspires him and his team to stay true to the vision they started out with. Word of mouth spread through the local community and the business grew as people came to try it for themselves through the free beginner’s trial that is offered. Growth would force them to expand again into an even bigger facility, and in 2018, Rise found their current home. Along with the latest move, they decided to undergo a rebrand, changing their name to Rise Athletics and Wellness, replacing the initial name of The Muscle Hut. This was to better represent their vision and goals.

Strokes of Genius

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DESIGN TIPS When planning your next decorating project you may want to consider the following:

1 2 3 4 5

Where should you begin when selecting the colour palette for your next painting project? Perhaps from your favorite theme, fabrics you already possess, a family heirloom piece of furniture or a cherished piece of art. When selecting colours, start by choosing your more permanent elements first. Things like cabinets, flooring, tile and window dressings are likely to stay for long periods of time, whereas paint can transform a space at a low cost and in a short amount of time.

When choosing your paint colours always view your selections under a variety of different light settings. View your colour at different times of the day and take note of light filtering through window coverings; this will also have a very strong influence on your colours. Seasonal changes will also play a role in how colours will look in your space.

Autumn colours will cast vibrant yellow and orange tones into your home, changing the look of the colours on your walls, ceilings and floors temporarily.

Set a colour goal for the transformation of your home that you can work towards.

Choose your colour palette based on the knowledge that certain elements may only change several years down the road, but the whole time knowing the overall look you are aiming for. This is where small painting projects can really assist you in the meantime.

The paint industry is very diverse, offering painting solutions for a wide range of surfaces, often at a minimal cost compared to replacing. As an example, projects such as painting cabinets, counter tops, furniture, picture frames, bathtubs, light fixtures and other house hold accents are projects that most can do on their own. These projects can provide you with a great sense of accomplishment in a very short period of time, all the while working on your transformation goal.

Visit Janzen Paint & Decorating Ltd. or janzenspaint.com for an endless myriad of options, providing you with painting solutions for most surfaces. Benjamin Moore offers a full range of primers and finishes to help you accomplish professional results every time.

Presented by life in the valley

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MERIDIAN EXHIBITION CENTRE With the challenges that this year has brought for many, the opening of the Meridian Exhibition Centre in Winkler has been something to anticipate, and is now only weeks away from being completed. Located at the heart of the city, it will be a core meeting place for the entire community to come together and will offer something for many different interests. Designed with the regional perspective in mind and with 84 000 square feet of operating space, it will provincially be the largest facility of its kind outside of Brandon and Winnipeg. The multi-purpose facility combines the best of recreational activities, commercial capabilities, and corporate events. Already, it contains an exciting atmosphere. The final finishes are being applied to complete the modern look and pleasing aesthetics throughout, while carrying the functionality and endless potential for housing a variety of events.

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s Mayor of the City, Martin Harder has played a key role in seeing this project through the many years of planning and preparation that was necessary for this dream to be fulfilled. “It’s important for the community to understand that this project is eight years in the making” said Harder, who added that the city needed to go through many hoops to finally arrive where we are today. The first challenge was attaining the necessary land behind the existing arena. Harder said that the city settled on the location based on the other facilities that are attached to it, as well as the walking access for many close by families. The location also meets their continued goal of developing the city from the inside out, ensuring that the heart of the city is a thriving place that draws people in.

While initially having a larger blueprint in mind for the facility, which would have needed to be built in conjunction with the provincial and federal government, the partnership and funding never came through and the initial plans had to be scaled back for meeting a budget that the city could handle. However, these changes would only affect the size of the building, while keeping the quality, functionality, and unique features that were originally presented. The design allows for multiple activities at once. There is a full sized hockey rink on one side, balanced with a large turf playing surface on the other side, presenting a place for a variety of sports to be played year-round including spectator seating. This space doubles as a multi-purpose hall for large events and is designed for a hard floor surface to be easily placed over top of the field. Built with acoustical material it is also a suitable venue for concerts, while the large catering kitchen will be used for serving banquets and gala events; with a capacity of up to twelve hundred

people. Trade shows and other commercial gatherings can also take place in this space. Walking through the impressively large hall, with its high ceiling and ample natural light streaming in from the south wall of continuous windows, leaves you with an excited feeling and an eagerness to participate in anything that could be hosted at the facility. The first public event will be held in December, a Christmas artisan market hosted by Fawn and Cub; which offers a unique shopping experience by bringing together many small businesses. The facility also offers multiple meeting rooms, including an executive board room with a glass wall overlooking the versatile floor space. These rooms are a great place for having a meeting, seminars, or holding breakout sessions within bigger events.

Jordan Driedger is the Director of Community Services and explains how there will be two seasons for hard floor events to happen in the space; taking place in winter and summer. Events can still be planned for outside of these seasons but planning for the specific seasons offers the easiest logistical situation.

The extra ice surface and concession now makes it easier to run sporting events held on the ice and has promoted Winkler as an even better destination for hosting these events, such as the previously held women’s U18 hockey tournament, curling events, and minor hockey tournaments.

The local community will also greatly benefit from the added ice, as the single indoor arena was having a difficult time keeping up with the demands from the many programs, leagues, and skating clubs that were all held at the same rink. Driedger says that the ice surface will be exceptionally high quality due to the new

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zamboni’s laser leveling system that creates a perfectly level ice surface, taking out any human error. The new rink also comes with an energy efficient cooling system, which uses the heat generated from cooling the ice surface to provide heat for the building. It also regulates the ice with both cooling and heating, allowing for a year round ice surface without the risk of problematic frost build up.

The up close seating at the new rink makes you feel like you’re right on top of the ice and provides an intimate viewing experience, getting you as close to the game as possible. You also won’t have to worry about keeping warm while you watch, as both the floors and seats are heated, combined with back rests for added comfort.

An elevator allows for wheelchair accessibility, as the rink has designated wheelchair seating to make sure everyone can take in the action.

“Accessibility was a large priority when planning” said Driedger, as another unique feature about the rink is its design with sledge hockey in mind, one of few of its kind in Manitoba. Driedger explained how a transparent board system allows the players to see the action when they are not on the ice, and they will have a smooth transition on and off the ice without any barriers to navigate.

Another useful aspect of the facility is the walking track located on the second floor which weaves through both sections of the facility, overlooking the rink and turf. This is available to the public, and is a great option for being active, especially in the winter months.

The facility also offers a play room for children, with virtual games to enjoy which are simple and easy to operate.

The Meridian Exhibition Centre was planned with the whole community in mind and will be a place to gather for decades. A celebration is in order as a landmark project has been accomplished; however, the grand opening will be postponed until next year due to Covid-19, when the building can be celebrated properly.

“I don’t think there is any project that we have done in the city that will have a bigger impact than this one” said Mayor Martin Harder of the importance of this impressive building feat. “It brings multiple facets of the community together, and is the destination point for the valley.” He also extended a large thank you to the city council for their agreement that this facility adds value to the community now and for decades to come.

For information on programs at the MEC or to book a space visit themec.ca

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CHRISTMAS IS COMING, Shop early for best selection

GAMES LEGO PUZZLES PLAYMOBIL and MORE!

Winkler (204) 325-8387

Brandon (204) 727-7717

Portage (204) 239-1411

Steinbach (204) 326-8387

Winnipeg (204) 783-0707

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PHYSIO

THE BUSINESS OF MOVEMENT What is “business”? Is it a commercial enterprise? Is it a transaction involving goods or service? The juggernaut - Merriam-Webster - defines business as “an activity which engages the time or labor of any individual as their principal interest or purpose”.

If we were to analyze the “business” of being human, under this definition most would argue that sustaining life is our most principal interest or purpose. It is why we labor each day. We work tirelessly to fulfill our most primitive needs - air, water, food, shelter, and sleep.

However, the essence or the true business of being human is not simply to survive – it is to thrive.

The key to thriving has led to probing underneath countless rocks and peeks between innumerable crevices. Repetitively these quests have led to common “X” on the map - the answer to what will keep us thriving. The answer is movement.

It seems like the simplest thing in the world. Our bodies are designed to run, jump and manipulate objects, among other miracles of locomotion. Despite that how often do we use our bodies at their full potential? No, instead all too often the sequence remains as: sit, stay, repeat.

We have made sitting into an art form. Statistics indicate that sedentary behavior contributes to over three million preventable deaths worldwide each year.

It is the fourth leading cause of death due to associated negative health outcomes. Sedentary behavior is associated with increased incidence of detrimental health conditions. These conditions include (however, not limited to) obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, specific cancers, anxiety and depression.

FAC T

moderate-intensity physical activity or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity throughout the week.

Moderate-intensity physical activities can include brisk walking, gardening, or dancing. A vigorous intensity activity pushes the body a little further to where one may feel “out of breath”. These activities may include running, cross country skiing, swimming laps, or heavy yardwork like continuous digging.

As demonstrated by the examples above, the choice to be more active is within reach for everyone.

Nevertheless, this decision can be tarred with apprehensions. It is common to doubt one’s ability to participate in different movements. It is common to have uncertainties about which activities may be best suited to satisfy different goals, lifestyles and preferences. Yet the presence of these concerns must not quash the quest of bettering health. Instead it is recommended to seek the guidance of a medical professional like a physiotherapist.

Physiotherapists are highly educated experts in physical function, movement and mobility.

Physiotherapists have advanced knowledge of how the human body moves and are well positioned to provide appropriate education, prescription and planning for the achievement of health goals.

Contact your local physiotherapist.

Get in the business of movement.

Stacey Braun (Physiotherapist, MPT, B.Sc, ASc)

With that in mind, just how much activity is recommended to combat the big-bad “sitting” monster? The World Health Organization specifies that adults should do at least 150 minutes of

Presented by

pembinavalleyphysio.com W I N K L E R • M O R D E N • A LTO N A • C A R M A N

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GROWING FOR

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R

60

YEARS Southern Potato In the current conversation of essential workers, farmers get a place near the front of the line; especially if you live in southern Manitoba. Farming in these parts is as synonymous to the area as the game of hockey and is a core pillar of our local economy, which many industries have been built around. As a grass roots farm, Southern Potato takes pride in offering their customers safe and affordable food, while continuing to move forward, always looking for ways to change in meeting the current demands. This story is about celebrating one of our larger and longstanding farms. It gives a glimpse into the sixty years of Southern Potato’s existence and the continued family generations which have navigated its growth through the years.

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he Kuhl family first came to southern Manitoba when Sam Kuhl settled in the Burwalde area in the 1870’s, just a few minutes’ drive north-west of Winkler. Almost fifty years later, his son Henry bought a farmyard in the village of Gnadenthal where together with his wife Maria and their family operated a mixed farm. In the 1950’s, farming was a lifestyle, personally owned, primarily with the purpose of a family livelihood. John was the youngest son and when his older brothers left home for their own personal pursuits, he was left to work the family farm with his dad. Initially his dad had encouraged him to pursue a career in medicine, but after taking his first course, John realized his heart was still with the farm and returned home.

John’s older brother Henry had already ventured out growing sugar beets on his own, prompting John to make the move to also take on this new crop. Sugar beets was the first cash crop that John grew and was an important asset to surviving the dismal farm economics of the fifties.

John married Lillian in 1949 and bought the farm from his father two years later, making some initial changes to make it his own. “I didn’t really care for raising animals” said John who immediately looked for a way to get by without them. “I still had my dad around to give me advice when I needed it, and when he saw something he didn’t like he was sure to tell me.”

With his father always in earshot, John was able to learn how to run the farm on his own while still having the help and advice that he needed.

At the time, the Kroeker family farm was already growing potatoes, and having a friendship with John, they were willing to help him get a start in growing the crop. Constantly looking to diversify and improve his farm, John decided to partner with his brother Henry and their brother-in-law Dave Bueckert to take on the new challenge of growing potatoes. “It was an entirely different experience for all three of us,” said John, describing the transition that took place.

At the time, many families in the village and surrounding areas were getting away from farming, seeking an education and a different way of life.

“I asked my father to help me buy land,” said John, when he saw all the acreages being sold. He was met with disappointment when his father Henry refused to invest any more of his money into the farm. Living through the great depression, Henry was relieved to be free of debt and nothing John said would convince him to take on any more risk. While his initial plans were shut down, it did not stop John from dreaming and looking to grow the farm.

The three partners decided to come together and made a large investment into potato farming equipment and storage; as Dave’s father was willing to loan them the necessary money. They also decided to incorporate their farm at this time, shifting from simply farming as a lifestyle, to creating a business together. They would call their farm Southern Manitoba Potato Co. and as of May 1, 1960, it became one of the few incorporated farms in the area.

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A few years later they formed a partnership with Kroeker Farms to build potato storage in Winkler to prepare for their biggest client yet, Old Dutch Foods.

This partnership formed another company called Winkler Potato Co. which provided a place for both farms to wash, store, and grade their chipping potatoes before sending them to Old Dutch. To this day, Old Dutch remains Southern Potato’s largest and longest lasting customer, a relationship that spans fifty-six years.

The 1960’s posed many options for growth in the farming business as many lifelong farmers were ready to retire, not having children who wanted to stay on the farm. Looking to grow, the partners started taking every opportunity that came up and were continually buying and renting land. By 1978, the farm had grown to 8000 acres and was one of the largest in Manitoba.

Along with potatoes, the farm also grew sugar beets and rotational crops such as wheat, canola, and corn, while also being one of the first farms in the area to grow beans.

Soon the business would start to involve the second generation in the operation, with some of the oldest sons taking management positions. In 1978, the partners made the decision to sell the farm. John and his family were interested in continuing the operation and bought a scaled down version of the initial farm, keeping some of the equipment and retaining thirty-five hundred acres of land. John offered his six children the opportunity to buy shares into the farm and gave his two sons management positions within the company. Douglas was the oldest of the children and took care of the marketing and administration, while Keith loved to do the actual farming. “Growing up, I could never keep my mind on school until harvest was finished,” said Keith, who said he was nothing but trouble for the teachers when he had his mind set on farming.

In 1999, Douglas passed away unexpectedly, leaving the Kuhl family to mourn their tragic loss. With no children to pass on his shares in the company, they were distributed to his nieces and nephews. This would introduce Keith’s children to ownership. Keith would later become the president of the company and reached an agreement with his remaining three siblings, purchasing their shares along with their children’s, leaving ownership control to Keith’s immediate family.

This included his wife Karen and their three children, Marlon, Jeremy and Andrea. By 2009 both Marlon and Jeremy had become full partners and were responsible for running the day to day activity. “I wanted to find a way for the whole family to retain ownership of the operation,” said Keith, “but I also wanted to simplify things so Marlon and Jeremy could continue to make decisions and benefit from their hard work and taking risks.” This prompted the creation of a second company. Southern Potato Co. was created on May 1 of 2015, and is owned by Marlon and Jeremy who lease the assets from the original company, Southern Manitoba Potato Co. This would ensure that the entire family benefited from ownership of the original company, while the brothers who were running the new operational company also benefitted.

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arlon now runs all operations regarding table and chipping potatoes while Jeremy manages the company’s seed potato and rotational crop farm. The seed potato operation started in 1985, it is a farm within the farm, which initially only served as a seed potato supply for their farm.

Now it supplies other local farms, as well as customers in Ontario, Quebec, and North Dakota, with others coming from all over North America. Keith deals with the financial and legal matters of the business, but still enjoys having the freedom to jump on a tractor the odd time, doing the work he still loves to do.

Currently the company is finishing up the harvest, both an exciting and exhausting time of year where an extra thirty staff are added to the forty-five who work year round to meet the heavy demands. Many of these harvest workers enjoy the work so much that they come back every year, recruiting family and friends with them for the months of seemingly endless work. “It’s a huge sacrifice to be here” said Marlon of their staff come harvest time, who spend way more time at work than with their families. “This is why it’s important to us that we create an environment where people like working and where people are treated with respect.” This is all part of

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continuing to live out the vision of being a family farm, which goes beyond biological membership and out to every employee who joins. “A phrase we like to use is that people work with us, rather than for us” said Marlon when describing the atmosphere of what every day work is like. “We’re very dependent on the people that make up this company” said Keith, who commented on how a large part of the company’s success comes from being successful in hiring the best people. Right now, the goal for harvest is to be done by the end of October, marking the bittersweet ending to the season where the flurry of activity comes to a sudden halt.

Through all the change and growth, Southern Potato is still a family business with no intention to sell any time soon. The company is continually looking to grow and advance in their farming practices to reduce risk while improving their yield and overall product.

Southern farms 6500 acres, of that 2200 is used for growing potatoes, with Old Dutch and Peak of the Market being their largest customers. “It’s a tough crop to grow,” said Keith, who continually faces high expectations from his customers and ongoing overall challenges in farming. “You have to develop a critical eye to look at all stages of growth, harvest, and processing in order to make modifications and store the crop with as little damage as possible.” Another

team of horses, to currently witnessing tractors drive themselves. A few years ago, John operated a tractor for the final time; you might call it a victory lap to mark the end of a job well done. “He even made sure to bring along a book,” said Keith of his dad, who was pleased to be able to read until the tractor beeped, letting him know it was time to turn around. John still enjoys going to the farm, and watching the activity go on, especially when it involves seeing his great grandchildren who are starting to be involved. “It’s not unusual to see the span of four generations on the farm,” said Keith, as it goes to show how strong the history of farming runs in the Kuhl family.

challenge they face, and the company’s greatest overall focus is farming sustainably, taking care of the land for generations to come. “We are very fortunate to be where we are today because of the risk that our grandpa took and the vision that he had,” said Jeremy, who was fortunate to not only learn the business of farming from his dad, but also from his grandpa who is still around. “As a father and a grandfather, I am very proud of my son and grandson’s for the type of operation they run,” said John who explains how it is fairly rare for a farm to survive past the second generation. He has seen the farm progress from using a

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WHY JOIN THE CHAMBER LEARNING

VISIBILITY

Get a competitive edge over non-members with exlusive and / or discounted training opportunities & business resources.

Stand out & get noticed with increased exposure through our e-news, website, directory & social media presence.

VOICE

CREDIBILITY

We work hard to inform, educate & advocate on your behalf! Gain a say in what happens through our Chamber’s advocacy efforts.

TO LEARN MORE ON HOW

Raise your reputation through membership in the Chamber of Commerce!

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TO BECOME A CHAMBER MEMBER REACH OUT TO YOUR CHAMBER TODAY AND FIND OUT WHY

mordenchamber.com | 204.822.5630

winklerchamber.com | 204.325.9758

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Celebrating Small Business Week Oct. 19th -24th,2020

As of December 2018 The CANADIAN economy

R?

totaled 1.2

MILLION

employer businesses.

Of these,

1.18 MILLION - 97.9% were small businesses,

22,266 - 1.9%

were medium-sized businesses and

3,010 - 0.2%

NETWORKING

were large businesses

Build & strenghten your business network with more than 350 members, at events designed to help you attract new clients and create partnerships.

In MANITOBA

38,735 - 97.6% were small businesses,

COMMUNITY

824 - 2.1%

Creating a strong local economy means creating a quality of life that a growing workforce wants to live, play & stay in!

were medium-sized businesses and

123 - 0.3%

were large businesses.

Small businesses have a HUGE impact on the job market.

Small businesses alone provide 70% of all jobs in Canada.

These jobs give individuals buying power, allowing them to support other small businesses and keeping Canada’s economy running.

carmanchamber.ca | 204.750.3050

shopaltona.com | 204.324.8793

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Safe

— and —

Sound

security | cameras | automation | wellness

infinitysecurity.ca • 204.325.4637

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204.362.0579 315 N Railway St., Morden

My name is Annie, and together with my husband Henry we started the Morden Discount Centre.

MDC is a small family owned business and we have always operated it as such with our 3 children being very much involved. Colton, Breanna and Brooklyn learned early on that it was a family effort.

At MDC you’ll be dealing with either me or as I like to call her, my best sales rep Mary-Anne. We are a small company and I insist on keeping it that way. We absolutely love meeting and getting to know the fine folks who come through our doors. I honestly believe we have the most amazing customers. It is always a pleasure to get to know these people and to really understand what it is they are looking for. In order to do this, we feel it is necessary to take one on one time with every customer. We often get special requests for certain items, and the search begins. Over the years we have often been asked how it’s possible to have the prices we do and keep our doors open. The answer is simple, we don’t have a large space, our overhead is low therefore we can pass those savings on to you…the customer.

MDC MORDEN DISCOUNT CENTRE

In addition to offering furniture, mattresses, appliances and home décor we offer locally made custom design, solid wood bedroom furniture. In the last year this side of the business has become one of my favourite roles in the business. We now sell our custom-made pine furniture throughout Western Canada.

Many years ago, I was told no matter what I end up doing in life make sure it’s something you enjoy because you’ll spend most of your life doing it. I believe I nailed it because I look forward to going to work every day.

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APOTHECARY OF MORDEN

WELLNESS CLINIC AND PHARMACY

The pandemic is a worldwide challenge, but some challenges need not feel like the “weight of the world”. If you are having additional stress due to navigating through this era of Covid, PLEASE seek help!

The Apothecary has many options that are beneficial for stress, and Dr. Lisa can meet with you online or in-person to discuss a customized de-stressing plan.

or those wanting to invest in their health and feel the need to explore further options beyond the conventional system, the Apothecary of Morden is a unique experience in the realm of healthcare. As a Doctor of Pharmacy who has undergone extensive further training, Dr. Lisa Zaretzky combines holistic, person centered treatment options, along with the services of a pharmacy, allowing the patient a choice in the matter of their own health.

Dr. Lisa’s Apothecary model is based on a collaborative approach, which involves her working with Dr. Victoria Baldwin, a Naturopathic Doctor, while incorporating multiple forms of treatment to assist people with illness.

The Apothecary is equipped with a room for flotation therapy, and will also offer a Calming Room in the near future; a peaceful atmosphere proven helpful in treating anxiety and depression. There is a wide array of health products available

in the storefront with knowledgeable staff to answer the many questions that come up with making these purchases.

Growing up in small town northern Manitoba, Dr. Lisa developed a strong work ethic from her parents and learned how to be resourceful. She had her sights set on becoming a doctor from a young age, and was able to take the first step to accomplishing this dream when she enrolled at the University of Manitoba, already a mother of two children at the time. While not the typical situation, the difficulties she faced going through school gave her the strength and courage to face the upcoming challenges that lay ahead.

Dr. Lisa initially started her practice as a pharmacist in 1995, eventually moving to the Pembina Valley in 1999 and then into Boundary Place in Morden to start her own pharmacy in March life in the valley

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of 2005. This was the beginning of the Apothecary. With the intent on further developing herself and her practice, she went back to school for her Doctorate in Pharmacy, achieving her dream in May of 2013. A part of this process was an internship at a teaching hospital in Denver, an experience that opened up her eyes to a different treatment approach.

“Parts of our daily rounds included all kinds of genres of healthcare, such as naturopath, reflexology, nutritionist and massage therapy.” This experience added a spark to her already holistic mindset and the desire she had to work with other practitioners. “I thought this was wonderfully exciting” she said of her experience in Denver, emphasizing that anything the patient wanted to invest in was considered equal at the decision making table. Desiring to incorporate these alternative approaches into her pharmaceutical practice, Dr. Lisa began

looking at how to offer appointment based services and take on more responsibility with her patients. This would be a time to get to know her patients on a deeper level, discovering underlying issues that could possibly be treated without the use of drugs. Wanting the independence and freedom to implement this collaborative approach, Dr. Lisa made the decision to design her own building and opened for business in the fall of 2018. The new space comes equipped with office spaces for patient interactions, rooms for practicing different therapies, a storefront, and a large dispensary. “There currently is a trend in healthcare to “deprescribe”, which is something that I had incorporated in my own career years ago; with my main goal to get people off of drugs as much as possible.” While this may sound counterintuitive, Dr. Lisa prefers to look towards the overall health of her patients. During appointments, she focuses on gathering health information about a patient, looking for underlying issues that may be treated with non-pharmaceutical options. An action plan is created and sent along with the patient, which would focus on lifestyle changes – including nutrition and exercise, alternative therapies, and appropriate over the counter options.

Prescription medication is always reviewed and discussed for both benefits and risks. Dr. Lisa also offers a DNA testing service called Pharmacogenomics to understand which medications will work as expected for an individual.

“The first moral commitment we have to make in entering healthcare is Do No Harm” said Dr. Lisa, and the moment she decided to fully live out this principal was a defining time in changing the way she went about her practice.

Often an overlooked tool, pharmacogenomics can be especially helpful to guide against excessive side effects and allow for the custom prescribing of medications to best suit the patient.

a dark tank, partially filled with extra buoyant, magnesium saturated water, kept at skin surface temperature. In a sensory deprived environment, the body feels endless and weightless, and enters into a favourable state for healing of the mind and body. This includes relief from chronic stress and pain, along with overall greater ability for the brain to learn, focus and meditate, free of any interruption.

While building her own business has had its challenges, Dr. Lisa is grateful for the support of her family and the dedication of her staff. She has embraced being an entrepreneur, and is proud of the options she now offers for health and wellness, with the near future bringing telehealth. Dr. Lisa is dedicated to the community of Morden and the surrounding areas and is committed to the long-term health of every patient who visits her.

“

Another treatment option she was dedicated to offer with having her own building was flotation therapy, also known as sensory deprivation therapy. It involves entering

life in the valley

A few weeks ago I decided to try the float room. I didn’t know what to expect but I had heard positive things about float therapy. My experience was very positive. I experienced total relaxation not just during that time, but for the entire week. I highly recommend it.

Rayanna.

You cared when it mattered! We’ve been down a long road together. When I came to you I was broken. I had no self-worth, no self-esteem…everything scared me.

I was suicidal and I never came out of my room for a year. Then you came into my life, your caring voice & kindness meant the world to me. You didn’t scare me.

You played a huge part of me getting better. You’ll always be a part of my life, because I’m grateful and I won’t forget that.

Carol.

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PRINTING

DESIGN

DIGITAL PRINTING • OFFSET PRINTING IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION • DESIGN AND MUCH MORE LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

204-822-4877 management@eagleyedesign.ca 222 South Railway St. Morden, Manitoba

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SIXTY YEARS IN THE PEMBINA VALLEY The company was established in 1959

by Jake Buhler and Frank Morden. I purchased it in 1999 with many owners in between. I have over 37 years of personal experience in the printing industry, and have strived to keep current in an ever changing industry with regular upgrading of equipment, techniques and education.

When I started in this trade it was cut

and paste, a manual labour of extensive time. Small runs of product were not cost effective and time lines of weeks to produce the finished product were not unheard of.

Today’s technology has stream lined much of the process. We are able to do small, cost effective, short runs for our clients to allow them the benefit of changing their product as needed.

Colour printing was rare and costly in previous years, now it is the norm, a visual delight…

We specialize in creating the visual appeal that companies require to achieve better marketing objectives.

I began with 1 part time employee in 1999, to a compliment of 4 full time and 1 part time staff today. We are the only full in-house print shop in the Pembina Valley.

I feel my staff is my biggest asset to the company, a team effort to provide our customers with the highest quality of printing, design and service.

- Dale Stambuski

CHEQUES · INVITATIONS · NOTEPADS · BUSINESS CARDS · ENVELOPES POSTERS · BILLBOARDS · RECEIPTS · TICKETS · HANG TAGS MANUALS · INVOICES · GIFT CARDS · BROCHURES · MENUS ENVELOPES · FLYERS · PROGRAMS · MAILINGS BILLS OF LADING · FORMS · CATALOGUES RAFFLE TICKETS · ID TAGS

AND TO MANY MORE TO LIST life in the valley

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THIS WINTER, LET US HELP! As the leaves change colour and start to fall and the nights get cooler and cooler, it is a good idea to ask if your vehicle is ready for another Manitoba Winter. We put away our outdoor furniture, winterize the lawnmower and get the snow blower ready, but do we make sure the car we depend on everyday to get us around the sometime wretched conditions of winter get the same attention?

Like the vast majority of vehicle owners you probably get your car serviced at regular intervals for its oil changes and tire rotations and do other recommended maintenances as they arise. When you take a vehicle for an oil change, the technicians are also visually inspecting many other points on your vehicle, checking condition of tires, air and cabin filters, looking for obvious leaks, and checking the various fluid levels. This type of basic inspection is great, but that alone will not prevent you from unpleasantness of a nostart or car that does not heat the cabin properly.

Three very important items to have checked before winter are your battery, coolant strength and tires: Your battery may be in good enough condition now to start your car on most days, but as a battery ages or if the vehicle doesn’t get ran often or for much distance, the cold cranking amps (CCA) may not be strong enough to start your vehicle when the temperature drops to -30 degrees.

A Battery Test is a good way to ensure that your battery is up the task of starting on those frigid days. The test will confirm if your battery is good to go, needs some charging or ready to be replaced.

Testing the coolant strength is the first step in identifying if your vehicle’s coolant is capable of efficiently pulling heat off the engine and holding it long enough to transfer to your vehicle heater core where it can be blown into the cabin.

Having your tires measured and condition inspected is crucial to ensuring your vehicle has the best chance in slippery conditions. If your tires measure 4/32 or less you will experience reduced handling in normal driving conditions and that will only be compounded in winter conditions. Winter tires have become the popular choice among drivers looking to have the best traction they can during the winter months. Winter tires are made from softer compound rubbers to increase friction at lower temps. Once temperatures dip below 7 degrees Celsius a regular all season tire’s traction is reduced. So once the temperatures start to dip it’s important to schedule your seasonal tire changeover before the snow hits to avoid the rush. And did you know that you don’t have to go to a tire shop for winter tires, your local dealer can get those for you too and at a competitive price.

One of the most convenient ways to get your vehicle ready for winter is to take advantage of our Peace of Mind inspection with your next service. This 60-point inspection includes a battery check (including terminal condition), coolant strength test, block heater cord check, brakes, tires, tire rotation, and a road test for vibrations and noises. If you already have winter tires and pay a shop to have them changed over seasonally, for only a few dollars more you can maximize your value and get the Peace of Mind Inspection and have the confidence that your vehicle is ready for another winter!

PRESENTED BY

220 Stephen Street, Morden 204-822-6296 222 4th Avenue SE, Carman 204-745-2888

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Pharma Focus

Almost every year, a rumour pops up about the flu - and that rumour spreads more easily now through email or the internet. Do you think you know the truth about the flu?

Here are some common flu myths, busted.

MYTH

MYTH

“I am already vaccinated and therefore protected from the flu.”

“Antibiotics and herbal products work to treat the flu.”

TRUTH

TRUTH

Although the flu vaccine does provide protection from the flu, it is not 100% effective for everyone. If the vaccine closely matches the influenza virus strains that are circulating this year, then the flu shot can prevent the flu in about 70% to 90% of healthy people. However, this also means that even if you received the flu shot, there’s still a chance that you may get the flu (but if you do, you may experience milder symptoms).

The flu is caused by the influenza virus. To treat viruses, medications that work against viruses must be used; these are called antiviral medications.

Antibiotics, on the other hand, fight against infections caused by bacteria, which are different from viruses.

Herbal products have long been used to help treat illnesses, including flu infection and the common cold. Echinacea, ginseng, vitamin C, and zinc have been studied for their effects on flu infection. There is some evidence that some of these products may possibly help prevent or treat the common cold.

Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to support that any of these actually work to treat flu.

MYTH “I can let the flu run its course.”

TRUTH For most healthy people, the flu will run its course of making you feel sick for about 7 to 10 days, and then it will go away. However, for some people, the flu is a more serious infection and can lead to other illnesses such as pneumonia, sinus infection, bronchitis, or ear infection.

It can also make existing medical conditions (like asthma or congestive heart failure) worse and increase the risk of hospitalization. For these high-risk people, it’s important to get a flu shot to help prevent the flu and to recognize flu symptoms as soon as possible. As soon as they notice flu symptoms, they should talk to their doctor, who may recommend antiviral medications. It is important to start antiviral medications as soon as possible.

Presented by

360 Stephen Street, Morden MB 204.822.4444 life in the valley

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ore than ever, the subject of the economy has been a growing topic of concern in nations and communities around the world. With obvious limitations and changes that have been put in place, communities are being forced to go the extra mile to keep their economy alive and well. Naturally, the question of how to steward our ecosystems of interconnected resources, goods, and services must be asked, as more and more are seeking out answers to best pull through on the other side.

Community Futures Heartland is a community-based economic renewal initiative that has served rural Manitoba for over 27 years. In simpler terms, they are an experienced group of people that are committed to meeting the needs of businesses, non profit organizations, entrepreneurs and all types of entities in between. Funded by the Government of Canada, they are able to offer most of their incredible services at no cost and offer resources that communities across Southern Manitoba can benefit from. This includes, but is not limited to, hands on training, business loans, mentorship, workshops, strategic planning, and facilitating meetings or transitions. Their investment in communities also includes the next generation, as many services and initiatives are geared towards educating youth and encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit.

Penny Schoonbaert is the Community Economic Development Coordinator at CF Heartland and has become a household name among many Manitoba communities and organizations due to her thirty five years of work in this field. “We were raised to support each other” said Penny, speaking of her small-town upbringing which instilled a lifelong excitement for helping people succeed. It was three years ago that Penny took her experience to CF Heartland to join a team of people focused on seeing people and communities succeed.

While many think of economic development to be primarily focused on businesses, Penny spends much of her time helping Non-Profit organizations, which quietly contribute a major piece to any successful community and are one of the largest forces for employment nationwide. This work is done alongside the Business Development component of CF Heartland, as the two sides consistently work together in meeting the diverse economic needs. A bulk of this work looks

like running different workshops, ranging from online customer service, teamwork, leadership, finances or social media. One workshop that is particularly close to Penny’s heart is called Accessible Customer Service, which offers training for interaction with people who have disabilities. “Any organization that is interested in growing in a certain area should contact us” said Penny, “and if we don’t have the skill or experience, we have the contacts and sources to find someone who does.”

Educating youth is another main focus for Community Futures Heartland, as there is no better way to prepare for the future than to invest in those who will one day be leading the way. They offer many programs focused on educating youth with business skills, opening their eyes to the opportunities of being an entrepreneur. This is Penny’s favourite part of her job, and takes a lot of joy in entering classrooms to teach kids how to start their own business. While there wasn’t initially a program like this in place, Penny went about creating a program for students in grade nine called “Yes you can be an Entrepreneur.” After a week of teaching, the students get to participate in a “Dragons Den” like competition, pitching their ideas to a panel of judges with cash prizes on the line. JA Canada is another program that runs throughout schools in all grade levels, with a focus on being money smart and the value of staying in school.

Kids Biz Camp is a summer program run in communities that show interest and are open to youth age nine to twelve. The camp is one week long with a focus on learning the fundamentals of business in a fun and engaging setting. Kids are able to develop their own product to sell at a local farmers market, with a large majority coming home with a profit for the week. This real world experience helps develop confidence and shows youth what they are actually capable of.

With all of these resources made available through Community Futures, now is the time to invest in yourself, in your kids, and your organization or business.

It’s often the little things that keep us one step ahead, and with our changing world, new skills and training will have to accompany organizations that want to continue to be successful.

Find Community Futures Heartland at cfheartland.ca or at (204) 239-0135.

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Community Futures life in the valley

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We appreciate everything you’re doing during this time!

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Millennium

Join us at our OPEN HOUSE Thursday October 29th • 6:00 - 8:00 PM

LD SO SOLD

Selling from $53,000 to $60,000 Reserve yours today

life in the valley

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PENDING

SOLD

SOLD

T

H H

or the last twelve years Brian and Denise Thiessen in Morden have been on a mission to feed as many people as possible and to connect those in need with the proper help. With the forming of The Hub Community Centre, they offer bi-weekly food hampers with no questions asked, and are continuing to look for the best possible ways to help people acquire healthy, affordable food. More recently the vision of The Hub has started to expand beyond their original goal and towards developing a sustainable community that offers support, tools and training for those who need it.

The Hub started as a simple initiative that Brian and Denise Thiessen took on when they were willing to serve as a central point for goods to be brought in and sent out to those who were in need. Whether it was food that could be donated or furniture and appliances that were no longer being used, Brian and Denise did their best to connect the products with those who required them.

“It was a hub of movement and activity” said Brian, “we needed volunteers with their ear to the ground, learning about needs and then being able to support those people effectively.” Eventually the group of volunteers that had gathered to help were able to organize themselves into a board to more evenly distribute the work and now effectively operate as Morden’s food bank. There would be many challenges to face in moving forward, such as acquiring an operating location, food consistency, and adequate donations to keep the different parts of the mission going. “We’ve moved around a lot” said Brian, who said they have operated in multiple different churches, and even moved everything into their personal garage for a season in order to keep it alive. What kept

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

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them going through the ups and downs is knowing that their work is making a difference in people’s lives. You don’t have to look too far back to when the Hub’s volunteers would deliver the food hampers straight to people’s door, and Brian was able to see firsthand the gratitude that families had in receiving their groceries.

“One day I was going about finishing the route I had and I was delivering my two bags of groceries and a jug of milk to a home. There was a little girl who came running out onto the driveway to meet me screaming that it was milk day, absolutely elated that she was getting milk.” After having these experiences, he realized that we don’t always realize how much of an impact that simply giving away food can have.

Over the years, The Hub has also expanded their vision for what kinds of food they want to make accessible to the community. “Cans of food are always the easy choice” said Brian, “however they’re not always the healthiest, especially for people who already struggle to find healthy food.” In search of ways to offer healthier food, Brian and Denise joined a group of service agents from the area on an eye-opening tour of a thriving community in Winnipeg called Nor-West Co-op Community Food Centre and the Chalmers BAG program. “This experience breathed new life into us” said Brian as they saw what was all possible in regards to providing food for those in need and was inspired by how effective this community was. They left believing this could also be done in Morden. One of the programs that caught their attention was the BAG program that offers low-cost groceries where participants would buy in for ten dollars and receive a bag of groceries

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containing between twelve and twenty dollars worth of fresh produce.“We bulk buy produce in the winter months” said Brian, “the more people who buy into it, the better deal we get.” While not free, this program helps people to acquire healthier food at a discount. Unfortunately, the Hub had not been operating the program this year due to Covid however, the Morden BAG program starts up again in October.

Within the community they visited they also saw cooking classes being offered, something especially helpful for immigrants who are not accustomed to a southern Manitoba diet. They would practice cooking as a class and then serve what they made as a free community meal.

They even offered areas outside where people could grow a small garden plot that otherwise did not have access to one. “Giving away food sometimes feels like a band aid to the solution,” he said, “but it is the start to bringing people over to maybe not needing the band aid anymore.” Brian realizes that their dream of operating as this type of community is big, but he believes that with the right support, relying on the food bank does not have to be forever. “We’ve had instances where people who are struggling are supported by us through a hard season” he said, “and after coming through on the other side have turned around and helped us support others.”

hundred percent of the donations go towards running the program. Drop off bins for food donations are located at Giant Tiger and Morden CO-OP, and the latter of these also offers a milk program where you can pay for a four litre jug of milk along with your grocery purchase. This will go towards the Hub’s weekly purchase of milk. You can also donate directly to the Hub through cash, cheque, E-Transfer or Pay-Pal. Some of the Hubs current needs are ensuring greater food security, building a better financial base, continued volunteers and reaching those who need help but don’t want to ask. They operate out of Morden Mennonite Church every Tuesday from 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm when people can come to pick up food. Physical donations can also be dropped off at the back door at this time.

Brian and Denise are incredibly thankful to the many people who have joined their vision over the years and know that they could not have done this on their own.

Originally supporting twenty families, the operation has grown, now being able to help one hundred and ten families, while continuing to look for ways to meet needs and offer lasting solutions.

but it is the start to bringing people over to maybe not needing the band aid anymore

Currently the Hub is completely dependent on donations both physical and monetary to provide their services and offer many ways to donate. With no paid staff, one

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Taste of the Valley

life in the valley

Recipe created by Kevin Funk.

Instagram: @chefkevinfunk 80

Smoked Duck Breast (Sub Chicken Breast)

Summer’s over, and with that comes the opening of select hunting seasons. September long was opening weekend for both geese and ducks in our region. After a few days of scouting out some areas, my brother (Ryan Funk) and our friend Patrick Hildebrand found a spot that had the potential to become the perfect hunt. With their guidance we decided to commit to it. We (Garret, C.J, Ryan, Pat, Kevin) headed out at 3:00 am the next morning and began our set up (with the help of local guide Dino Branfield ) roughly around 4:00 am. By 6:20 am the birds started to move in. We patiently waited for it to be legal. Once legal time on the clock hit, we started to call them in. It was a great day. Being a part of the entire process start to finish is truly something special. Knowing where your food comes from is incredibly important as is educating yourself about the food systems in our area. This dish started in the field and ended on the dinner table. Manitoba has some amazing wild game and it is my hope to share with you some unique recipes and ideas.

INGREDIENTS BRINE: It is important to soak your game meat (duck) in a salt water bath for a few hours. Try not to exceed 24 hours as this will leave your meat too salty. Only a few hours is needed for small cuts like this.

Water (enough to cover) Salt (ratio : roughly 1/4 c kosher salt to 8-10 c of water) “DIRTY RICE”:

1 c wild or brown rice (rinsed) 1 red jalapeno pepper (diced) 1 sm yellow onion (diced ) 2 cloves of garlic (minced) 1 duck heart (chopped) Can sub in chicken liver here ( this is the more traditional approach to the dirty rice.

1 tbsp rendered duck fat ( great way to use the entire bird or you can buy it) sub : canola oil .

1 tbsp butter

DUCK: 2 duck breasts Salt Pepper pinch of Garlic salt (per drumstick) Your favorite BBQ sauce (just a thin layer is required)

You can sub in chicken breast works as well (be sure to cook through to an internal temp of 165ºF)

1 c chicken broth (divided in half) 1 1/2 c water (to boil and cook the rice) Salt and pepper 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp dried thyme 1 bay leaf Juice of half a lemon

METHOD (preheat smoker to 225ºF) 1) Remove duck breasts from brine and pat dry.

2) Season the meat with salt, pepper and a pinch of garlic salt and add it to your grill.

Brush with your favorite bbq sauce.

3) Meanwhile, bring 1/2 c chicken broth and 1 1/2 c of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.

4) Add the bay leaf, and the rice. Reduce heat , cover and cook until done (roughly 30 minutes).

5) Add the duck fat or canola oil to a seperate large saucepan .

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6) Heat over medium high and add the onions.

Cook until translucent.

11) Simmer while you wait for the duck to finish.

7) Add the garlic, jalapeno , duck heart (or chicken liver) and cook through.

12) This is a small piece of meat. It does not take long to smoke. Remove from the grill at the recommended safe internal temperature of 165ºF. I pull mine at a temperature far lower than that as I like my duck a little pink, however this is done at my own risk.

8) Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, cumin, paprika, chili powder and thyme. Stir .

9) Add 1/2 c chicken broth making sure to stir and scrap all the brown off the bottom of the pan (there is a ton of flavour here) and reduce heat to medium. Reduce by half and add the butter.

10) Once your rice has finished cooking, strain and add to the vegetables . (be sure to remove the bay leaf) .

**Always be aware of what is safe and recommended when cooking any game meats.** 13) Once the duck is done, you can remove the rice from heat and plate. Slice the duck breasts and lay on top and enjoy!

Derksen Finishing Co.

12 Hespeler Street S, Reinfeld • (204) 331-1742 • info@derksenfinishing.com life in the valley

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Building a house is often considered a once in a lifetime experience, and is the chance to create the house you’ve always dreamed of, suited with every detail perfectly placed, and a design to meet every unique need. Harval Homes exists to make this process as easy and exciting as possible, and is committed to creating quality custom built homes for an array of lifestyles and a wide spectrum of prices. With over thirty years of building experience in southern Manitoba, they’ve established themselves as leaders in the field of general contracting and full service home building.

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Harval Homes started in 1990 when brothers Harv and Alvin Thiessen combined their collective construction experience to take on the booming housing market of Winnipeg. After ten years, they decided to come home to Winkler, where they steadily grew with the community over the next twenty years. Soon after the transition, the team at Harval were able to develop a house model that met a price point which was comfortable for many families and first-time homebuyers. “We found a need within the community and addressed it” said Arlen Thiessen, who at the time worked for the company as a journeyman carpenter but has recently taken over as the company’s general manager. Now after four hundred houses built in the area, Harval has continued to be a trusted choice for homebuyers in the community twenty years later, as their product has withstood the test of time. Harval Homes has recently been under transition, with the initial founding partners taking a step back due to “medical adventures” as Alvin playfully put it. This has allowed Alvin’s son Arlen to take the reins and bring fresh energy and vision to the business. This has included a complete rebrand to better represent the new era of building houses that the company has entered, as well as a change in office space. life in the valley

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“They are not building how I used to build” said Alvin, the veteran of over forty years, who notes the increased attention to quality of living, customization, and energy efficiency. This is combined with the ever increasing technology to plan and build a house, as Harval Homes continues to be at the very tip of building construction practices. “I wanted to refocus on what building custom homes means” said Arlen, as the common misconception is that it takes a million dollars to build a custom house. This isn’t true, as Harval has created a way to build a custom home for many different situations and price points, from retirement dream homes to first time buyers.

“The process starts with getting to know you” he said, putting every detail into a plan and walking you through every step of the home building process. New technology has made this process a lot of fun, and has removed all the guesswork for the customer, as they no longer need to imagine what the decisions they are making will turn into, but can experience it all before the house is built. It is the combined ability of 3D house modelling and a virtual reality setup that allows for a guaranteed end product. The modelling system allows for a perfectly accurate visual of how each house will look, including colors, lighting and different finishes. “You can place a pot light in the model, and know what it will look like” said Alvin, “you can even see exactly what the light pattern will do to change the look of the house.” After the planning, it’s time to walk through your new home with the virtual reality set up to clearly observe your plan put into action. If you realize you don’t like where a window is placed, or would prefer a different set up of colors, you can keep tweaking the plan until you get it perfect. You can even try out new, daring looks that you may normally not have thought of, with zero risk or commitment.

After the house has been thoroughly planned and every detail placed, Harval is able to give an exact quote that will not change throughout the building process. “We want you to come to us with your dream home ideas” said Arlen. “Nothing is off limits, and if it seems impossible, we’d sure love to try”. Harval’s many years of experience life in the valley

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combined with their diverse connections in the business, have set them up to build anything, in any style, including a blend of styles that allows the customer to be more creative. This technology is equally as useful in renovating your current home, which is something the team takes great pride in accomplishing. “If you love where you live, it’s worth investing in your home” said Arlen, who sees many people who don’t necessarily want to move, but would still like to live in their dream house.

The team’s experience and understanding of existing houses allows them to build seamless additions and have the ability to blend existing parts with the newly finished, and in the end, making the house look like it was always meant to be this way. Energy efficiency is another area of continued development for the company, and they have taken advantage of Manitoba Hydro’s Energuide System to help produce more energy efficient homes. The energuide system conducts a pressurized test to measure any amount of air loss, and when compared to the systems standards if the performance is equal to or better than these standards, the homeowner is eligible for a rebate. “We’ve actually kept exceeding their models’’ said Arlen, who can confidently speak about the energy efficiency that comes with Harval built houses. One day, the team was approached with the opportunity to help build something different than what they were used to, it was called a Chiara House, and would house families needing help getting back on their feet. The team at Harval Homes were able to use their experience in the building industry to successfully coordinate fifteen thousand volunteer working hours performed by various groups in the area, and oversaw the completion of completely renovating and transforming the one hundred year old apartment complex. The project would take over three years to finish, resulting in a safe community for families who need it.

The project would turn into a partnership that continues today, as Harval is currently a part of operating the Chiara House, located in the West End neighbourhood of Winnipeg.

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This project and partnership is one example of how Harval Homes seeks to give back, as they look for ways to build into the communities around them and work for a higher purpose. “We have a core set of values that we run our company by,” said Arlen, explaining how the company has been able to continue to succeed in the housing market. “We believe the little things matter” said Arlen, and as a company, they take pride in doing the things that often get overlooked or put off when building a house. Harval also operates on the premise of working hard and playing fair. “We are going to be fair, honest and upfront about the pricing of each house,’’ said Arlen, who explained how their transparent pricing practices allow the customer to see exactly what they will get in a house for the fixed initial price. “There are no surprise costs that you have to go back to the bank with” said Arlen, who is aware of the frustration that comes with add on costs and hidden fees that often come with buying a home. Along with transparent pricing, Harval also supplies a copy of their superior warranty coverage before construction begins. These core values, along with a strong commitment to their families and continually investing in their staff have created a strong culture of success. Their annual weekend getaway for the staff and their families to review the year and celebrate their

accomplishments is an anticipated event, and just another way to show their appreciation to the team members that make everything possible. Harval Homes is now entering the latest chapter of their story with the move into their own office, after having shared an office with WBS Construction for the last twenty years. Harval has purchased their own building, and the new office will be located at 620 Centennial Street in Winkler, after the current renovations of the building are complete. Arlen is eager to take on the new challenges that come with leading the company through the current times, and has confidence that they will continue to build on the strong foundation that has been created by Harv and Alvin over the years. “Right now we really get to develop our own identity and find our own voice” said Arlen regarding the transition. Harval Homes will keep pursuing ways to innovate and adapt to meet the needs of the coming generations, and are focused on designing what you need to live your life well.

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We believe the little things matter

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Selling for

40 YEARS

For over forty years, Border Real Estate has been taking the stress out of buying and selling homes in Altona and the surrounding communities, while offering a personal approach to business through their caring and experienced staff. This is the story of the people who make up the history of their success, and those who work at ensuring quality service in the community for years to come.

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Dick and Dorothy Hildebrand got their first taste of the real estate business when they joined Royal Lepage Realty in Altona. After some time, they felt confident to venture out on their own, and started a real estate company called Border Real Estate, located next to the Altona Mall. “It was just the two of us at the time” said Dorothy, as Dick was involved with the farmland in the area, and she took care of the office work and sold property in the community. “When we started, it was just a matter of asking ourselves - do we really want to do this?” Dorothy always had a love for houses and was very willing to do the necessary work and get the right education for the job which involved taking courses in Winnipeg. “It was very full time work” said Dorothy who recalled how it took a lot of effort to keep up with the market and always know what was going on. There was also the task of keeping up with different housing trends and knowing the different ways that houses were being built over the years. A prime example is when wooden basements started becoming a thing. “We quickly learned that there is a right way and a wrong way to build a wooden basement” said Dorothy. Over the years they grew and took on more staff in their office which had since transitioned to a location within the expanded Altona Mall. “We had tremendous staff" said Dorothy, “we had people working for us all over the place such as Morris, Steinbach, and Grunthal.”

In 2004, Mike Kroeker bought into the company which seemed very fitting, as Mike had his first experience in

real estate with Dorothy many years ago as a teenager who was looking to buy a rental property. With money saved up from his job at the local grocery store, he thought that buying and renting out a property was a smart thing to do. “At the time, I figured I could either invest in a vehicle or invest in real estate. When I first bought the rental I wondered why everybody wasn’t doing this.” However, after a few difficult tenants, he started to understand the challenges that came with rental properties. Despite these challenges, he had a really good experience doing business with Dorothy, something he has held on to all these years and has applied to helping clients navigate their own house buying experience. “She took the headaches out of the process” he said, which is something he wanted to continue to do for others after buying into Border Real Estate. “At that time, I never thought I’d be involved in the company, I didn’t see myself as a realtor at all” said Mike, thinking back to his early days and first experience buying a house. Working at the grocery store, Mike was close by and would often see the activity going on at the real estate office. “They were always making things happen, which really appealed to me.” As time went by, Mike felt he was ready to make the transition into real estate and joined the ownership group of Don Penner and Harry Hildebrandt, not really knowing what he was getting into. “If I had expectations going into it, they would have been very different” he said of his first taste in the business. Luckily for Mike, he joined at a good time when the market was hot, with many new building

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When we started, it was just a matter of asking ourselves - do we really want to do this?

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projects in Altona at the time resulting in ample work for the rookie realtor.

Frank Doerksen was first introduced to the business of real estate when he was asked to help with showing a spec home which he had been a part of building. “The realtor wasn’t very familiar with the house and asked if I would accompany her” said Frank. “After the showing, I saw how I could use my background in construction, and a spark ignited around the idea.” The opportunity came up in 2009 when an owner of Border Real Estate was looking to sell, and Frank bought out Harry Hildebrand.

Unfortunately for Frank, the flurry of activity that had been going non-stop up until that point turned to crickets by the time he joined. “It was a pretty harsh awakening” he said of the difficulties that came with starting his new career. “I definitely caught myself say, wow, what timing.” It would turn out to be a time of learning the trade, as Frank admits there was a lot more to the job than meets the eye. “You can’t just put up a for sale sign like you can with a used car.” Since his start, the market for houses has steadily gone up and is in a good place today. A big part of this has been the steadily growing manufacturing in the area, as well as lowered interest rates and good value options in and around Altona.

Mike and Frank found out early on that they made a good team and continually work towards putting the right person in the right role for the job to be done well.

Frank has taken advantage of being familiar with the structure and building process of houses and can assist clients with knowing what they are getting in a building.

He also takes special interest in helping first time home buyers navigate through the process. Mike is drawn to the psychological side of the process, and wants to ensure that the house makes the buyer feel at home and really fits their life. “Because it’s a home, you’re selling to the emotional side as well as the physical side” said Mike, “we don’t want to force something that doesn’t fit.” He takes great joy in charting the buying process that can sometimes involve a third or fourth house which finally sets up the client in the home they always wanted.

Even more than salesmen, the team at Border Real Estate see themselves as coaches and educators to both home buyers and sellers, trying to get the right person into the right house. They operate from a relational approach, with a focus of getting to know their client, recognizing where they’re at and understanding what they want in a house.

“Realistic expectations are also very important” said Mike, “we help people to not have false illusions, like thinking they can sell their place for a million dollars, or buy a mansion for cheap.” With the team having an understanding of where the market has been, where it is at currently, and having a good idea of where it’s going, they can ensure that their clients make the

For the company to be a success you need God’s help, the community’s support, and great people to work with.

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most informed decisions as possible. “We don’t have all the answers, but we do have more information than someone who doesn’t deal with the market on a regular basis” said Mike.

While their main office is located in Altona, Border Real Estate covers a large area, going as far east as highway 59, north up to La Salle, and west to Plum Coulee.

With the diverse group of communities in this region, along with different native languages and cultures, Border offers tri-lingual services including French and German. They do their best to have agents from each of the different communities to relate to people on a personal level. This is also an advantage with the agent knowing the different features of a community such as the local businesses and the school system. They offer a diverse team of eleven realtors coming from different backgrounds such as farming, construction, sales, and business ownership. The common thread that binds them together is their belief of doing business with integrity and ensuring that a sale never becomes more important than the people they are serving. “Everybody here has a strong sense of Christian morals and values” said Frank, “we seek to do business that reflects this by doing everything as honest and upright as we can.”

With the amount of business going on north of Altona, in 2014 Border Real Estate decided to open up a second office in Morris. It started when Bruce Third, an agent

from Heritage Realty, came on board with Border, and was willing to take on the role of managing the new office start- up in his home town. “He was the type of realtor you wanted to have” said Frank, “an amazing man who’s lived in that community his whole life, was on town council, and overall very involved.” Bruce has since passed away, but leaves behind an influence in the Morris office that he pioneered.

In looking back on the many successful years at Border Real Estate, Mike and Frank know that they could not have done it on their own. “We can’t make it all happen” said Mike, “for the company to be a success you need God’s help, the community’s support, and great people to work with. In return, the business keeps looking to give back to the community in different ways and wants the community to know just how very grateful they are for the years of support. This includes finding creative ways to help put people in a home such as two year rent to own offers and different options that have been outside the box. Added to that is the supporting of local sports teams, school fundraisers, local chamber members and Children’s Camps International. For the team at Border Real Estate, it is always an incredible honour to lead people through both the home buying and selling process and they look forward to continually help people navigate through the exciting and sometimes unpredictable journey that comes with buying a home.

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WE HAVE BIG TOOLS!

AND LITTLE ONES TOO

EST. 1978

@centennialsupply life in the valley

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ROOFING • SIDING • FASCIA

LOOKING TO: SHINGLE, RESHINGLE, REPAIR, TIN ROOFING, SIDING, FASCIA, SOFFIT, EAVESTROUGHS, WINDOWS, DOORS. CALL TODAY! life in the valley

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HEATING FOR

TWENTY

YEARS Steel Tech & HeatMasterss nless you own an outdoor wood burning furnace or at least know someone who does, you probably wouldn’t even know what it was upon seeing it. Think of a tiny shed on legs with a little chimney on top, and you’re starting to get the picture. Those who are familiar with it know that it’s a multi-faceted product that can be set up on a property to heat multiple buildings at once, including the water for a house, swimming pool or hot tub. As it uses wood for fuel, the furnace drastically cuts a building’s heating bill. It differs from a woodstove located inside, as it keeps the mess and safety hazards outside; while also being able to keep a consistent temperature.

It was over twenty years ago that the founders of the company now called Steel Tech were first introduced to the unique product, of which they too were initially unaware of what it was. After becoming more familiar with the helpful product and its features, they had the idea of venturing out on their own and building outdoor wood burning furnaces. life in the valley

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s independent people who had experience in manufacturing, Jake Friesen and Ben Wall had been intrigued by the idea of being self employed, and hoped to make a difference in the lives of others through their work. At the end of 2001, the two of them saw an opportunity to build a product together which would help people achieve an efficient way to heat their homes or businesses. Within in their first year, they had built eighty furnaces. Their goals were simple, make a living for their families, become independent, and work towards helping people receive a quality product that would be a blessing for years to come. The company got their start in a very small building, and when they decided to start doing their own manufacturing, the whole family was called upon to help get the business off the ground. “We were put on the band saw, cutting steel, drilling holes and making parts” said Ryan, Jake’s oldest son. “If you knew our family, you would know that we didn’t normally do this type of work” he said of the unlikely team that had been assembled to help manufacture furnaces, including his two brothers Derek and Devon. It truly became a family business, as it was all hands on deck when it came to working together throughout the summers to build furnaces.

At the end of 2003, they entered an especially challenging year in the businesses life, which would be the first major test of the young company. Things would get extremely hard, as they were fighting to keep the company alive. The families were forced to dig deep.

When nobody believed in them, they believed in each other and showed the type of support for each other that money can’t buy. They came together like never before and finished with a record year in 2004. Now thinking back to the difficult years starting up, the team can see how they wouldn’t want to be where they are now without first going through hard times; as it made them stronger and showed them who they really were.

“Those are the days that give you strength” said Ryan, an important quality needed to keep the business growing and rising to meet challenges that came along.

As the company grew, Jake approached his oldest son Ryan to see if he wanted to join his dad. Ryan hadn’t paid any attention to the company at first, as he had been going to university during its early years. “I had never really planned on coming home” said Ryan, and I certainly didn’t plan on working for my dad.” As he was finishing up with university and saw how the business was growing,

he was given the option to make less money initially than he would have made starting with a different company, but with more opportunity for ownership working for the family business. He said yes to the offer, and went to work. “I had just graduated with my degree in business” said Ryan, “I could really have gone anywhere, but I ended up at a mouse infested office that didn’t have air-conditioning, to work for my Dad.” Looking back, Ryan can laugh about the humble beginnings in which the company started, but doesn’t miss the hairy little intruders he had to share an office with, or having to shield his papers from being ruined with sweat. “I took a very different role than almost everyone else in my graduating class” he said, however, the initial sacrifices would pay off soon enough.

In 2004 things really took off, to the point where they no longer had room in their little start up shop. The search for a new building took them to Winkler’s industrial park, where they bought a shop that could house the bigger manufacturing equipment they were growing into.

The six thousand square foot shop was located on George Avenue and was initially seen as an enormous space for what they needed. “We didn’t think we would ever need anything bigger than that first shop that we bought” said Ryan.

The company could not have foreseen the amount of growth they were about to experience as a result of the culture they had built, one of hard work, sacrifice, and belief in the product that was evident throughout all positions. It was only a year after their move when they had already outgrown the shop and needed to buy a neighbouring building. Over the next few years they would add on multiple times to the two buildings and when that still wasn’t enough space, they rented a third building, then a fourth, and finally rented a fifth building that was used as a warehouse. As well as acquiring more buildings, Ryan’s brother’s Derek and Devon would join him, while Ben’s son Abe also came on board as they filled various roles within their fathers company.

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onstant innovation, hard work, and a team of incredible people were all responsible for the company’s success. They turned the reputation of wood burning furnaces around from initially being thought of as a dirty, inefficient option, to a product that was now clean and efficient. They branded their furnaces under the name Heatmasterss, and have since become internationally recognized.

A big shift came in 2012, when the leaders of the company were foreseeing the coming government legislation of emissions for their product. Time and energy were invested in advance to change their product accordingly. The legislation ended up coming to pass as they anticipated, and the innovative new design helped the company go from a being a small player, to being at the forefront of the outdoor wood furnace industry. “We had some exceptionally talented people in the company who worked to build a fantastic product line” said Ryan of the shift that took place at that time Some of the most challenging moments over the years have been these drastic times of growth within the company. This meant getting a lot more of the right people to join the team, while getting them trained and placed in the right spot. “We have been extremely lucky to have so many fantastic people work with us” said Ryan “the people who are with us now, and those who have come through and left something special behind.” The business has continued with its initial family dynamic, as the whole company, including dealers and customers, are all considered part of the Heatmasterss family. It’s the type of atmosphere that could only be created from really spending time with

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the people they work with, and travel life together. “It’s things like celebrating when people have their first kid as well as walking with those going through low points” said Ryan of the honour that comes with building meaningful relationships with the people around him. “The more I think about it, the more I see that the story of us is more so the story of our people.” Looking back on the many people that have come through the company, he recalls how they were all important in leaving something behind, and many of them are still talked about to this day for what they brought to the company. “We have no small positions here” said Ryan, whether you’re at the front desk, in sales, or working in the back, they are all important positions that need to be done well in order for us to succeed.”

For a few years, the business would operate while being completely spread out over five buildings, before the call was made to bring everything under one roof. “In order to grow, we needed to do this” said Ryan of the big decision. While they looked for a building in the area that could house them, nothing met the specific needs of the company, so they decided to build it themselves.

The designing of the facility and having it built would prove to be an enjoyable project, while they were also

happy to provide the best working environment as possible for their employees.

The future of the company looks bright as ever as with ongoing advancement in the design and technology within their products. These changes are geared towards maximum energy independence and full automation to suit the next generation of wood furnace customers. As a transition of leadership has started to develop, the next generation who will take their place have been given important and strategic roles within the company and ensure the company will be on solid footing for many years to come. The founding partners can feel at ease knowing that the company runs just fine, even when they’re not around, but are still having too much fun to call it a career just yet. With the families still all working together, they see themselves as incredibly blessed to work within the tightly knit family business. “None of this would have happened without my mom supporting my dad, and our own wives and kids supporting us in the work that we do” said Ryan. “They made all this possible.” To this day it’s not unusual to see employees bringing their kids to work with them, whether on a Saturday or after hours, as the culture of family working together and supporting each has continued within the company.

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ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IT WAS OUR PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU TO CREATE YOUR BEAUTIFUL NEW FACILITY

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R

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VB’S ENTERTAINMENT CENTER For decades one of the most popular ways to spend an evening has been at the local bowling alley; where social hangout meets friendly competition. Valley Bowling Lanes has been proud to offer years of entertainment to the Winkler area and have opened their new location this year.

With a completely revamped bowling experience and a wide variety of entertainment options, VB’s Entertainment Center has a lot to offer. This is how they came to end up in their new building, a project many years in the making.

The previous main street location was built in 1974, after the first bowling alley in Winkler had burned down. In 2005, Abe Hildebrant started working for his in-laws Pete and Marge Klassen who owned Valley Bowling Lanes.

He balanced working construction in the summer and doing the maintenance and mechanical work at the bowling alley during the winter months. It was a never ending task for Abe, as the aging machines needed constant work each day just to get people through their games. This, combined with the overall lack of space, both pointed towards a bigger change that was needed.

Valley Bowling Lanes had taken on a special place in the community. It was a favourite location for many who kept

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coming back to enjoy the fun atmosphere, especially when it meant escaping the long Manitoba winters. “Bowling has always been popular,” said Abe, “a part of it is that everybody can do it, from toddlers to seniors.” A special part of the job was seeing the same people coming back every year, which included Christmas parties and other traditions or events that still continue on.

When his in-laws were looking to sell the bowling alley, it only made sense for Abe to buy in. He was one of the few people who had an understanding of the old pin machines. While he wouldn’t say he gets as competitive about the game as many around him, he loves the social aspect of it, bringing people together for a fun night out.

Abe was willing to do whatever it took to see the business do well and did his best to revamp the space. A few years into his new role, he was tasked with the job of replacing the old scoring system which was on its last life. There was a brand new, top of the line scoring system available that Abe was interested in buying, with the only issue being the steep price tag. Wanting to test it out before committing, he found a bowling alley in Minneapolis that had just recently installed the system and he drove out for a visit. To his surprise, when he called the bowling alley for directions,

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he found out that the new scoring system was actually for sale, as the building was about to be torn down and replaced with a car dealership.

With the owners urgent need to sell off as much equipment as possible, Abe got an incredible offer and bought the system for a fraction of the would be cost, ending up paying almost ten times less than the other system he was looking at. It was necessary for him to pick up the equipment right away, so he drove down with his brother-in-law and their friend over the weekend. That Sunday evening, Abe started the lengthy task of replacing his scoring system and amazingly had it up and running for the following evening of bowling.

The time came to seriously look at solving the buildings long-term problems of inadequate space and faulty machines, to offer a better overall experience. While they looked at a lot of possibilities, even building on a second level, nothing that involved keeping the existing building ever seemed to be a feasible option.

“My goal from the beginning was always to build new” said Abe of his vision to build something bigger for the community. This desire came from the countless experiences of having to turn people away who had come to bowl, as there was simply not enough room to keep up with the growing

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community. “It’s not fun to see a family that has packed up their kids and driven twenty minutes in the cold weather, fully expecting to bowl, to then be turned away.” Abe said this was often the case, as many days they were either at full capacity, or it was a league day, which meant the bowling alley was not open to the general public. They needed a space where they could operate their leagues while still having lanes available.

To go forward with his dream, Abe knew he was going to need help and asked Christina Dyck who was a current employee, as well as Marv Thiessen, if they wanted to become partners in the business. They both signed on, with the understanding that change was starting to happen, as Abe told them about the big opportunity they had to build something special. Six months later, everyone was in agreement that planning should start on a brand new building. “We were drawing it up with the mindset that it would probably happen within the next two or three years” said Abe. When land came up for sale along highway fourteen, they bought a lot, and were going to hold onto it until the right time to build. Around the same time, they discovered that plans had been made to conveniently place a hotel right beside their lot, which now seemed like the

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perfect business location. “It was a no-brainer” said Abe “if we were ever going to do this, now was the time.”

Planning went into high gear, as the ownership group travelled all over North America to find inspiration and look at all the options that were available in building an entertainment center. They weren’t just looking at building a bowling alley, but wanted to offer other activities that people were interested in. An important feature of the new building is a Vegas inspired mezzanine, a second floor that overlooks the bowling action down below, while offering a lounge and entertainment options such as a virtual golfing system, mini golf and billiards. The second floor space is designed in such a way that it would be easy to switch things out, and replace one activity with another if there was a need for change.

“I didn’t want to be in the same position as I was in the other building, with the feeling of being stuck and without options” said Abe of the reasoning behind the mezzanine.

This feature was one of the more challenging parts of completing the building, a process Abe and Christina said was overall a good experience. “It was a lively atmosphere in here throughout the whole building process” said Christina as the team was able to work with great people to finish the unique project. “We still get people coming in here saying, we can’t believe we’re in Winkler” said Abe,

“this is exactly the response we wanted.”

Along with the buildings distinctive look that involved using signature pieces taken from the previous building, is their increased

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space. Having two sections of lanes allow for public bowling to take place at the same time as league bowling, making the bowling alley open to the public every day of the week. The brand new bowling machines allow the staff to be freed up from performing constant maintenance and are able to put their energy into a better overall experience for the customer. “There wasn’t a lane at the old bowling alley that you could use and walk out without having had some sort of issue” said Abe, as the new lanes offer interruption free bowling. The lanes also offer new features like playing unique built in games you can play within the round of bowling. King Pinz Pub and Grill is the in-house restau-

rant which includes the option to order food straight to your lane through the provided tablet. The new place offers a lively setting that has an overall appeal to more people. “We have a better ability to control the atmosphere” said Christina, as VB’s is the perfect place for a fun night out with friends, family, or to go for a date night.

Entertainment for younger children is also provided with a large, two story play center that is exciting for any kid.

After a lot of hard work, the new entertainment center opened last year on December first. It opened in stages, and by mid January the entire business was open, including the kitchen. With the huge push it took to open, it was disappointing when the sudden March shutdown hit, halting the activity for a while and postponing the grand opening until next year. Currently they are operating at a reduced capacity and have plenty of space to spread

D e s i g n Pa r t n e r s w i t h Va l l ey B o w l + Ed Pe n n e r C o n s t r u c t i o n

Verne Reimer Architecture life in the valley

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people out. “You play the hand that you get dealt” said Abe of the current situation. Overall, this has been another big step for a business that has been in the community for many years and looks forward to many more years of experiences and memories made at their new location. “Hopefully we can do well and bring even more options to the community” he added in regards to the future aspirations of the team. They also want to extend a huge thank you to the community and surrounding area that has supported them all these years and allow them to do what they do.

Congratulations on the new facility!

486 Jefferson St, Morden, MB R6M 1Y9 (204) 822-9511 life in the valley

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Congratulations on the new facility

WINKLER

PLUMBING & HE ATING

Proud to be a part of your amazing building. All the best

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ray@pioneerwooddesigns.ca 204-384-7484

Address • 2-500 Main Street Phone • 325.4615 Fax • 204.325.6712 Website • fhwlaw.ca Mailing Address • Box 99, Winkler, MB R6W 4A4

595 George Ave. Winkler MB R6W 0J4

CONGRATULATIONS on your amazing new building It is our hope that you continue to see growth and success.

Congratulations on your new building!

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best

WINKLER STEINBACH 675 Norquay Dr. 178 Main St. 204-325-7579 204-326-6842

Congrats on a great looking facility Providers of Tip Roofs Residential Steel feature walls Custom Siding & Soffit panels “NEW” woodgrain panels in several colors

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Happy to help power VB’s Entertainment Center Cell: 204.362.2811 • Res: 204.325.1349 22089 PTH 14, Winkler, MB cdkelec@mymts.net life in the valley

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Congratulations VB’s Entertainment Centre! We wish you success in the years to come!

CONG

310A C argill Rd., W 204.331 inkler .4012

Specializing in Commercial & Residential Concrete

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- Shop Pads - Grade Beams - Parking Lots

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- Potato Storages - Basements - Driveways / RV Parking - Sidewalks

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Mark Fehr 204.362.4765

CONGRATULATIONS

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men.

Colossians 3:23 1-915 Navigator Road Winkler, MB R6W 0L7 W: steckley.ca

P: 204.325.5114 F: 204.325.0618 E: info@steckley.ca life in the valley

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Henry Siemens publisher Covid 19 has been one of the hardest things most of us have ever faced in our lives . . . but not for the reasons we might have expected.

There are so many strong feelings. Some people love the government supports and feel they couldn’t survive without them. Some believe it’s creating a welfare state. Some people support mandatory mask mandates and can’t understand why we don’t have more of them.

Some are opposed and can’t believe that people would ever voluntarily wear one. Some people can’t wait for a vaccine. Some swear they will never take one.

If you spend a few minutes online you’ll quickly become demoralized. There is so much anger.

Both sides are mad. Both sides have their own science that says they’re right. It’s so easy to find support for what you believe. It’s hard not to take to heart the negativity that you read on your social media feed and then get drawn into arguments.

Everyone demands that we choose a side. There is no room for ‘opinions’. We have to take ‘positions’. There seems to be no opportunity for discussion and debate. If I don’t agree with your view, I’m wrong. Not only am I wrong, I’m evil. As a society, we’re turning against each other and it’s sad to see.

LAST WORD It’s time we take a deep breath and start to listen to each other again. We are given two ears and one mouth and we should use them in that proportion. If we do, we will actually ‘hear’ another perspective . . . and we may just change our mind if we open it to new ideas and new thoughts. We may grow in knowledge and understanding. We may even find that we can disagree and still be friends.

Let’s get to a place where we can extend grace to each other. None of us truly deserve it but all of us desperately need it.

Let’s show kindness when someone doesn’t deserve it, forgive someone who hurts us, believe the best about someone who didn’t show their best, hold our tongue when someone insults us and most of all, encourage those who are struggling.

2020 is nothing like any of us expected. Each one of us is fighting a battle that no one else knows anything about. That battle becomes a bit easier if we agree to be nice to each other.

Let’s help each other finish 2020 strong . . . even those we disagree with.

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WHERE YOUR FAMILY ’S NEEDS COME FIRST

@CROCUSREALESTATE

204.325.1300 775 Main St, Winkler, MB life in the valley

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Local growth. Local causes. Local people.

Winkler Consumers Co-operative Ltd. 370 Main Street, Winkler, MB. 204-325-9595 winklercoop.com life in the valley

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@winklercoop