Life in the Valley - Issue 10 - October 2022

Issue No. 10 October 2022

Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce

Janzen’s Paint & Decorating 30 year - page 32

Sunny Day Products 25 year - page 58

Shear Bliss Salon and Day Spa 20 year - page 24

Serious Marketing 10 year - page 64

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Issue No. 10 October 2022

Janzen Paint & Decorating - page 32 -

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Issue No. 10 October 2022

Sunny Day Products - page 58 -

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204.362.0049 Ken 204.324.7570 204.362.7726 Corey 204.362.6140

Duke Eric

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Issue No. 10 October 2022

Shear Bliss Salon and Day Spa - page 24 -

Herringbone Sherpa Throw Grey Herringbone ORDER AMOUNT

6

PRICE (PER UNIT)

98*each

$

12

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84*each

24

$

48

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79*each

74*each

*PLUS TAXES

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IN STOCK IN OUR WINKLER WAREHOUSE While Supplies Last

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310 Cargill Road, Winkler • prairieskypromotions.com • Office 204.325.0283

Issue No. 10 October 2022

Serious Marketing - page 64 -

10

life in the valley

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October 2022

18

CELEBRATING BUSINESS

First Word / LIFE Team

24 SHEAR BLISS SALON AND DAY SPA Styling for 20 years 31

GET A GRIP Presented by Sunvalley Tire

32

JANZEN’S PAINT AND DECORATING | Living in Colour for 30 years

38 MONEY MATTERS Presented by Access Credit Union 44 WINKLER AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 100 years 54 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Habitat for Humanity 56

PASSION FOR FASHION Presented by Dilis Boutique

58 SUNNY DAY PRODUCTS | Sunny for 25 years 64 SERIOUS MARKETING Helping businesses grow for 10 years 68 STROKES OF GENIOUS Presented by Janzen’s Paint 76

TASTE OF THE VALLEY - Sponsored by Derksen Finishing Co.

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Last word

Helping businesses grow for 10 years

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life in the valley

CONTENTS

Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce

COVER

100 years

Shear Bliss Salon and Day Spa

Janzen Paint & Decorating

Styling for 20 years

Sunny Day Products

44

Living in Colour for 30 years

24

Sunny for 25 years

58

32 lifemag.ca

15

Founded as the Empire Manufacturing Company Limited in London, Ontario in 1906, Emco Corporation is one of the oldest members of the construction market in Canada. On May 28, 2016, we celebrated 110 years of business success! This is no small accomplishment for a company that has witnessed two world wars and the Great Depression.

We’re excited to bring Emco, a known name in the industry to the Pembina Valley. Emco has for years served many customers throughout Southern Manitoba, but now was the right time to ‘set up shop’ here and support the incredible growth here in Winkler and surrounding areas. Born and raised, Sherri Hoeppner has been part of the business landscape for nearly a decade.

“Winkler – Southern Manitoba really, is a unique place to be part of a business community. We are entrepreneurial; even our kids are – just look at how many lemonade & iced tea stands pop up every summer, and the number of teens throughout our communities shoveling snow, mowing lawns and raking leaves has contributed to a work force that has driven forward thinking, innovation and growth.

Seeing this growth in the marketing realm has allowed me to see the ambition of the many manufactures and industries here, and bringing an Emco that supports the Plumbing, Heating and Hydronics segments just made sense. We’re here to serve both our many industry professionals, as well as homeowners and weekend DIY warriors! And we’re excited to be adding a full selection center to our location at the beginning of the new year!”

Our team is a mix of new teammates supported by knowledgeable familiar faces; all of whom are ready and excited to say “YES” as often as possible!

Emco strives to provide world-class service at every location, every day. We want to earn – and keep – your business and we’re committed to supporting your needs long term. We’re not just saying this. Our those commitments up.

Our partners

16

life in the valley

Our business owners and homeowners

Our neighbours

Our communities

lifemag.ca

17

FIRST WORD Rebecca Dyck Editor

I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. Fall is great, the leaves are beautiful and I love Thanksgiving, but I can’t help but feel that winter is always lurking around the corner. Every time snow flakes fall, I cross my fingers and wish they won’t stick. I don’t love the cold or the snow but winter does bring so many things to look forward to like Christmas, cozy snow days, and fun past times that bring back great memories. All that being said, I’ll take the bad with the good; just like everything else in life.

That is what we do everyday, we take the bad with the good. We make mistakes and then we learn from them, a crisis hits and we band together, we lose something and then realize we have so many other things to be thankful for. I don’t say that to diminish the bad but it is just a fact of life that it comes as a package deal. As we celebrate small businesses in this issue, I would say their stories reflect exactly that.

These businesses have grown and changed and evolved despite the

bad circumstances they had to go through.

As we were putting together this issue, we were feeling the wake of the last two years. Low energy, low funds and a sense of overwhelm have been the side affects of the chaos we’ve been through. Everyone is trying to find their bearings and a new way forward. It isn’t reasonable for us to think that because we don’t see the masks or the plexiglass that everything is magically back to normal, because it’s not. I am so thankful that period is over but now we have to do the work of sifting through the wreckage and finding our way back. Back to relationships, back to productivity, and back to community.

I hope you enjoy the magazine and the stories we were able to share, be sure to reach out to these businesses to congratulate them on all they’ve accomplished!

Carpentry 18

life in the valley

life team Alejandro Penner

Photography Designer

Judy Derkson Designer

Ryan Bueckert

Designer

Tony Wall Designer

Ryan Wall Writer

Kevin Friesen Sales

LIFE IN THE VALLEY

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life in the valley

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Styling for

20

years

Hairstyling is a career that has dated back to the Egyptians. The 20th century has brought this form of art and expression to mainstream life.

And now in 2022 Heidie & Lisa, co-owners of Shear Bliss, proudly call it their passion, their career, and lifestyle.

24

life in the valley

Their career path however didn’t start in the hair industry.

As teenagers, Heidie &Lisa worked together at Chicken Chef in Morden while in high school. They often were mistaken for each other or thought to be sisters. For the record, they are not related.

After High School, Heidie & Lisa went their separate ways. Both perusing University in Brandon and when university didn’t seem like the right fit for them, hairstyling seemed like a career to carry them through till they found what they really wanted to do. Unknowingly, they both entered the world of hairstyling; Heidie in Brandon and Lisa in Winnipeg. Upon graduating Hair School, the pair both moved back to Morden to begin their careers. They initially worked in separate salons, but it wasn’t long until life would bring them back together.

The owner of the salon that Heidie had been working for decided to expand and bought the salon where Lisa was working to amalgamate the two together. As time went on, they both were looking for a new challenge.

They transitioned together to a nearby salon where the owner was a hairstylist herself and offered chair

rental. This would allow the ladies to see what it might be like to be their own bosses on a smaller scale. It was also the place where they would start dreaming about what a meaningful career in the industry could look like. Something that both Heidie & Lisa desired was a workplace where they could grow both personally and professionally. The dream of owning and building a salon grew stronger. Ownership of the salon they worked at would change hands to someone who was not a hairstylist.

“It’s difficult to work with someone who doesn’t understand the services or the industry” said Lisa, as the day to day needs of a salon are difficult to understand when one is unfamiliar with the industry. It would become more and more obvious that in order to create the professional environment they had dreamed of, Heidie and Lisa would have to start their own Salon.

Frustration would build as opportunities for their own space would appear, and then fall through. “I was so mad one day after an idea fell through” said Heidi, “and my husband Tim all of sudden says, wait a second, runs out the door, and leaves!” Half an hour later he came back, saying that he had found the spot they had been looking for. It was a room connected to Java Junction in Morden, and had enough space for four stations to be set up. A trip down to the shop and a chat with the owner had finally secured them their own space. But they never dreamt it would become a nationally recognized salon and would give them the opportunity to travel the world learning their craft and tools to successfully manage a business.

“It was a scramble to get the finances together said lifemag.ca

25

Heidie, “but luckily, the Credit Union believed in us enough to give us our start.” As exciting as it all was, most would not see it as a practical time to be starting a business. Lisa was pregnant with her first child and Heidie already had two young kids. But with the help and support of their husbands and families, the business took off.

Clients were excited and happy to move right along with them. Dianne and Eve were stylists that they had worked with at the previous salon who also made the move with them to their new home, Shear Bliss (they are still a part of the Shear Bliss family). The four of them set up the place thinking they would live out their careers in the back of Java Junction. “When we opened the doors, we were booked solid and the business exploded,” said Lisa.

“All we ever wanted was a healthy and professional work environment” said Heidie, who wanted to give customers a memorable experience in their own town without having to drive to the city. After signing a fiveyear lease in June of 2002, it was

26

life in the valley

apparent after six months that they were far too small and would need to search for a space all over again.

During the first years of business, many valuable lessons were learned

We would go up and down Thornhill Street in Morden, looking at places. and held onto in preparation for the inevitable transition and expansion that would come. “We were able to notice what clients wanted and what was missing in this region, such as a spa experience, esthetics, manicures, pedicures, waxing, massage, and makeup. We also learned about hiring and finding a strong team that held the same goals for a salon focused on education and customer services” said Heidie “Us being behind the chair to this day keeps us relevant, in tune and in touch with what is going on.”

Another need that was recognized was the area of retail. “Women would come in and invest in a hair colour and go home and not use professional products. We recognized the importance of professional products” said Heidie, who saw the need for using quality products at home along with education to keep their clients hair healthy and to maintain the vibrancy of the colour.

After a couple years, the planning for their new space became very real, but with many false starts along the way. “We would go up and down Thornhill Street in Morden, looking at places” said Heidie, as their search would eventually bring them to the old Beatrice Milk plant which was being shut down and turned into a strip mall. It was here that in April of 2007 they were able to move in and immediately triple in size. This allowed them to develop the spa they had been planning, equipped with manicure and pedicure stations, treatment rooms, and eight styling stations.

Not long after moving in, ESP Salon

Sales, one of the main product suppliers for Shear Bliss contacted Heidie & Lisa, saying that they were sending someone from Toronto to meet with them. “I really did not know what it was about” said Lisa, “they just said his name was Frank and that he wanted to meet with us.”

It turns out that Frank was the Vice President of Schwarzkopf Canada, a leading hair colour company that supplied salons across the country.

They had noticed Shear Bliss from their impressive sales numbers and had come to see for himself what made them so successful. He also wanted to offer them a favourable opportunity with the company. “He told us that we would be a great match for their PH program” said Lisa, who had no idea what this program was or what it would mean for Shear Bliss. Little did she know that they had started a relationship that would dramatically change the trajectory of their business.

The PH program is a small group of selected salon owners across Canada to help Schwarzkopf grow the brand, it created a bridge between the consumer and the company. Twice a year they would meet as a group with the other salon owners across the country. “It was very intimidating” said Lisa of their first meeting which was held in Greece “There were many wealthy owners from big cities who had travelled all over the world and here were two girls from small town Manitoba.”

“I will never forget this one lady who asked me where in Manitoba I was from” said Heidie, describing her first meet and greet. When the lady found out that Morden was not a city of eighty thousand like she first understood and was in fact a town of eight thousand, a look of surprise and confusion came over her which told Heidie everything. “She was shocked

that we were there” said Heidie, as they were from the smallest community and the only salon from Manitoba.

While the trips are great, it is the relationships that they have built with Schwarzkopf and the other salon owners which have transformed Shear Bliss. It is here that they have access to a wealth of knowledge within the industry, have a place to network with experienced salon owners and can participate in advanced business training which has allowed them to operate at their absolute best. It has also given the staff at Shear Bliss many opportunities to grow in their technical skills with world renown educators and some travelling abroad.

“Through most of our journey we have been very naive about what have gotten into” said Heidie, “but what has worked for us has been the willingness to learn from others.” It was this humble and teachable spirit that helped them continue to grow, expanding and renovating their space in 2018 adding another 500sq feet to the front of the building. This allowed for a larger spa and a new layout in the salon. Now there was space to expand services. In summer of 2019 Cindy Fehr NP joined the Shear Bliss team. Cindy is a nurse practitioner who has found the entrepreneurial spirit and trained to offer services in medical esthetics.

She started by offering Botox, fillers, micro needling, chemical peels, PRP and has expanded to laser treatment and an Emsella chair.

While the business had grown beyond their dreams, nothing could have prepared the team at Shear Bliss for the whirlwind that was Covid 19 which brought them to the edge of collapse, with two decades of hard work hanging in the balance. Some lifemag.ca

27

salons shut down and others are on the brink of closing their doors; Shear Bliss has been able to weather the storm that hit salons very hard. “We had to step way outside our box and think a totally different way” said Lisa, as she explained their efforts to survive. With a total closure time of seven months, services such as providing colour at home packages were offered, the online store and website were re-vamped with incentives such as free delivery. “We wanted our clients to know that we cared about them by continuing to provide them with services” said Lisa of their creative efforts. With the challenges faced with Covid the long-standing support of husbands, families and clients gave Heidie and Lisa the strength to continue to persevere through. Covid has played a huge part in the story of Shear Bliss and will always be there to look back on and remember the challenges they were able to get through. “It cannot be underestimated what it took to survive Covid” said Lisa, as it took everything they had to keep the business alive; as it did for many businesses in the Pembina Valley.

While they are still recovering from the last two years, the outlook and future of Shear Bliss is bright. The culture that has been cultivated is one of family, with many long term staff who recognize hairstyling and

28

life in the valley

working in a salon as a rewarding career. With the changing employment landscape, there is also more flexibility than ever that is offered to suit employees needs.

From an hourly wage, to commission or rental agreements, many different options are available to work in the industry. Heidie, noted that changing to meet their employees’ needs has been a huge part of keeping a strong team.

Shear Bliss has also developed

It cannot be underestimated what it took to survive Covid a culture of being involved with community life and recognize their role in giving back. With their specific skill sets, they have been instrumental for South Central Cancer Resources, offering free head shaves, wig and scalp care along with a free manicure or pedicure for SCCR clients. They have also been active in gathering ponytails and raising money for Angel Hair for Kids, an organization that makes wigs for financially challenged kids.

Throughout the 20 years one core value Heidie and Lisa have

stressed repeatedly is the value of relationships. Staff and clients aren’t just people, they are key to Shear Bliss’s success. Success in business is about learning to fail, recognizing opportunities, leading by example and being generous with your time and knowledge. “Businesses came because of people, people did not come because of businesses” noted Heidie of a book she read.

What started as the simple vision of two young women wanting to serve their clients better in a professional atmosphere, has turned into so much more than either Heidie or Lisa had ever imagined. Through their journey over the last twenty years, the team at Shear Bliss has been able to show others that if being a hairstylist is your passion, then it is worth pursuing. “I always tell our girls that this industry is what you make of it” said Heidie. “If you work hard, get your name out there, get clients that want to see you, the sky’s the limit in this industry.”

lifemag.ca

29

Fundraising Pancake Breakfast November 5 9am - 11am Central Station

SPONSORED BY

Hamper Packing Days:

December 6 & 7

Hamper Delivery Day:

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TO MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION, MAIL TO: WINKLER & DISTRICT CHRISTMAS CHEERBOARD BOX 1225, WINKLER, MB R6W 4B2 OR DONATE ONLINE:

30

life in the valley

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WINTER TIRES

Whether you are a snow-lover or not, winter is coming. As the chilly season approaches, we prepare ourselves. We pull out the winter clothes to see what fits, we clean up the yard and winterize our summer engines. We get the shovels out of the back of the shed and put the winter tires on our vehicles.

Making sure winter tires are on and in good shape is an important step in preparing for winter.

Winter tires will give you considerably better traction when steering and braking in winter conditions below 7 degrees celcius.

Going into a tire dealer and asking their advice on the best winter tires for you and your vehicle is still the best way to find what’s right for you. They will take into consideration the type of your vehicle, your driving habits and destinations, as well as your budget.

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31

LIVING IN COLOUR

for

Every now and then, you come across a business that you can’t help but hope for their success. Whether reading about their story or experiencing their service for yourself, it was an experience that touched you.

Janzen’s Paint and Decorating, under the leadership of Doug Janzen, has always been one of those businesses.

This year they celebrate thirty years in the community.

And while the person most deserving of recognition will not be present, his legacy lives on through the store and the community he has so tangibly invested in.

dreaming of owning the place one day. This dream would be crushed at age fifteen when they could no longer compete with the bigger hardware stores moving to town and decided to close their doors. It appeared to be the sad ending of a long line of Janzen family stores that dated all the way back to the 1800s in the Ukraine.

Doug was many things. A husband, father, motorcycle enthusiast, legendary store owner and a rockstar in the paint world. He grew up working in his father’s store, the Janzens’s Variety Store in Winkler. It was a place with a little bit of everything. Hardware, paint, crafts, games, toys and hobbies bulged from the narrow aisles. Doug loved the store and the work that came with it, while

Doug found work with Winkler Building Supply for the rest of high school and proved to be a valuable and versatile employee. Along with his hard-working attitude, he thrived doing just about any role that was given to him.

By the time he graduated, he was working in the lumber yard, doing everything from forklift driving to deliveries.

32

life in the valley

YEARS lifemag.ca

33

When the lumber yard manager left, Doug was given the chance to run the yard at just twenty years old. It wasn’t a big space, nor was it even a yard in the typical sense, more of a grungy hole in the wall retail space that sold odds and ends of wood and paint. But it was the place where Doug’s leadership skills would be sharpened and the old fire of running his own retail space was re-kindled.

WBS knew that the lumber yard’s days were numbered. While they made good profit on their construction jobs, the lumber yard always just broke even. A year later, during May of 1992, the yard closed down. Following this, Doug was given job offers, with many seeing the potential of Doug’s knowledge, skill, and work ethic. He had learned how to run the lumber yard well and knew the Benjamin Moore Paint line that had been sold. Benjamin Moore sales reps had come to enjoy working with Doug and suggested he open his own paint store. While the idea was exciting, the challenges to make this happen would be enormous. The banks did not want to back a young kid whose only assets were passion and a dream. Eventually he would

34

life in the valley

get a small business loan that would be enough to buy some cans of paint and a few rolls of discount wallpaper.

His big break came when WBS allowed him to use the vacant space

We’re not the most organized company, but our combination of building strong relationships on top of good products and service made us successful.

where the lumber yard had been. He was given a rent-free year as a kind of transition period to see if he could make something of the place.

Doug opened his own store on June 15 of 1992, Janzen’s Paint and Decorating.

The first year, Doug was a one-man show, determined to make it work. Without a proper loan, he was forced to do it the hard way.

He got some help from the weather when a memorable hail storm came through the area, just before opening day. Of course, this was back when

people still painted their siding, and Doug was there to supply it.

Needing someone on the books, he reached out to his previous coworker at WBS, Sandy, asking if she would join him. “He told me he didn’t have a lot of money, but that we have to try to make it work.” That was enough for Sandy, who found that they worked well together and was excited to watch the store grow from its very humble beginnings.

“There was no guessing with Doug” said Sandy, “he was very genuine and knew what he wanted. If there was something that needed to be said, he just said it.”

A year later, Doug hired his first employee in the store, his little brother. Darryl had missed the retail atmosphere that he too was raised in, and was looking for a change. “I had just graduated and was working nights at Valley Bakery when I asked Doug if I could work for him. He said the max hours he could give me was 35 hours a week.” By the end of the summer, Darryl was working over 60 hour weeks. They had learned how much more they could do with the store having two people, and the

store quickly grew. Doug was now afforded time to go on sales calls and market his product to other companies, a huge turning point for the store. “The sales picked up and eventually Doug had enough money to pay me in money instead of paint” joked Darryl, remembering the sacrifices and difficult early days.

Doug never doubted that the store would succeed and always put in the work to make sure of this. He was never home early, and as long as guys were in their shop, Doug was doing sales calls. “Doug was just a very determined person,” said Daryl, “he would never allow himself to fail.”

On top of this, he was a man of many talents and proved time and again that there was no problem he couldn’t solve or a task that was too big for him. “I couldn’t figure out how Doug was as good as he was at so many different things” said Daryl, “it never made sense to me.”

By 1994, the team of two had doubled, giving everyone the time to do a proper job and offer the customer service they would become known for. Doug had success building relationships with cabinet and metal shops in the area, and would soon become one of the chief suppliers in finishing lacquers and industrial paint. He had also made connections with Hutterite Colonies in the area who were happy to give him their business. These relationships that Doug was good at building would be a key to their success.

While the store had started out with some cans of paint and some old wallpaper, it only took until Christmas of that first year for people to start reminding Doug of his Dad’s old store and the amount of games, puzzles, toys and hobbies that they carried. Doug had bought out some of this stock when the store closed, and decided to put it out for Christmas, just to see what would

happen. The demand was immediate, and within a year, an entire hobby section had been born.

It had always been a fast-paced store, where Doug lived in a state of perpetual chaos. But he thrived in it.

After five years, the little store was at its maximum capacity and Doug decided to build on. He was able to double in size, enough room to fit his expanding line of products and many other things that would catch his eye.

“Doug was a spender” said Sandy, remembering the arguments over how much stuff Doug could buy.

“If a customer wanted a gallon of paint that we didn’t have, Doug would buy twenty, just in case the customer came back needing more.” Doug always went big. The risks he was willing to take would be a big reason for their quickened growth. “When stores were closing down, they would call Doug to see if he would buy out their stock” said Sandy. “He would always buy everything, whether it was something we actually sold or not.”

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This would add to the chaos in the warehouse and would be the cause for their famous tent sales, a huge yearly event that Doug found ways to make fun and memorable. “We all looked forward to them” said Daryl, who remembers a festive atmosphere and the BBQ that Doug would have going. “He was always feeding people and he liked to give, even if people were just using us for the food, he didn’t care.”

With the success of the store, negotiations had started with Benjamin Moore about opening a second location in Steinbach. Darryl was the one to make the move, and opened up a new store from scratch in May of 1999. There were growing pains in both locations, as Doug had lost his most experienced employee.

Despite this, Doug and Darryl were able to make it work and would go on to expand in both locations.

Winkler and Steinbach had become hot spots for growth in Manitoba and the two locations were able to ride the wave of expansion along with them. “Doug had it worked out that Winkler always increased before Steinbach’’ said Darryl, ‘’ it was a little bit of a brotherly rivalry, even though

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it was all his business.”

Doug was ambitious and always saw opportunities to grow. In 2001 he took over an existing Benjamin Moore store in Brandon. He added

He was always feeding people and he liked to give a few product lines and put his own personal touch on the store.

During this time different product lines were brought in while others would get phased out. They brought in an artist line of canvases and drawing pencils, along with a selection of blinds and drapery, while crafts and wall-paper had run its course. Central vacuums have also been a constant in the store, as they have partnered with the brands Sebo, Beam, and Cyclovac.

“At our core, we’ve always been a paint store, selling Benjamin Moore

paint,” said Darryl. “They are a brand that keeps re-inventing themselves while rolling out new, unique lines that other brands often follow suit.”

2018 marked a final expansion in Winkler and Steinbach as well as the acquisition of an existing Portage location. In 2019, Doug was convinced to finally open a Winnipeg location, Janzen’s Commercial, which stayed as a commercial supplier and distributor.

“We’re not the most organized company, but our combination of building strong relationships on top of good products and service made us successful,” said Darryl. Doug’s motto was always customer service.

“Sale’s reps learned that if Doug had customers in the store, they would have to wait for a chance to talk” Sometimes a couple hours. The customers always came first.

When it came to hiring staff, Doug had a big heart and wanted to give everyone an opportunity. He never wrote anyone off. “We’ve had a colorful staff over the years” said Darryl, as Janzen’s has been a consistent participant with

community work programs such as Segue.

Doug was also very generous with his staff and the legendary Janzen’s Christmas parties became a thing of lore. “He loved being Santa Claus” said Darryl, as the parties were often weekend getaways with great food, games, and amazing gifts. This is the way Doug showed his heart for people.

As the owner and boss, Doug was never above anyone. If something needed to be done, he would do it.

Nothing was beneath him. This meant his hands and shirt were always dirty, often covered in paint, but Doug never minded the mess. Leading by example had a profound effect on his staff, as they would become loyal to him as their leader. At Janzen’s, everyone was family and on the same

level. He would fight for his staff and in return they would fight for him and genuinely wanted Doug to succeed.

organizations Doug was especially loyal to, and would support them every year.

In the summer of 2021, Doug’s motorcycle accident was felt by the whole community. It also left the store without its heart and soul, the person who previously had all the answers to the many questions that would come up. The challenges continued into this last summer when the Steinbach location was completely destroyed in a fire and the task of rebuilding has just begun.

“This last year has been a transition that no one wants to go through” said Darryl “but we want to keep his legacy going.”

“He would never say no if someone asked him for help” said Daryl, “whoever it was, he would always give them something. And if my kids were selling chocolates, he’d tell me to bring him a whole case.”

Doug loved his community and found many ways to give back every year. Teen Challenge, Eden Mental Health, and The Bunker were three

This way he could hand them out to his staff. He was just that kind of guy.

With this year’s thirtieth anniversary of Janzen’s Paint and Decorating, it’s a time to look back and remember the hard work and perseverance that took them this far, and to cheer on a business that is proven to be worth celebrating.

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Whether saving short-term to reward yourself with a small home renovation, new car, or staycation, or long-term for retirement, travel, or a new home, your future happiness depends on the decisions you make today.

The dictionary defines self-care as the practice of taking an active role in one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular, during periods of stress or overstimulation. But really… anything that makes you happy can be considered self-care.

Did you know that your future selfcare activities are dependent on your finances? Because the truth is, you can’t do the things you love without properly saving and investing your money.

Here are some financial products and services you should consider that will positively impact your future self-care.

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life in the valley

A TERM DEPOSIT

If you’re risk averse, a term deposit is a safe and guaranteed way of investing your money for a set length of time.

Many term deposit investors use a laddered approach, which means they divide their investment into several term lengths with different maturity dates. By using this strategy, you will enjoy the benefits of flexibility and reduce the impact of interest rate fluctuations.

Terms are available from one to five years and all deposits are guaranteed 100% by the Deposit Guarantee Corporation of Manitoba.

A TAX-FREE SAVINGS ACCOUNT

A Tax-Free Savings Account allows individuals to earn investment income tax-free.

Contributions to TFSAs are not tax-deductible and any money deposited—as well as any income earned in the account—is tax-free for life, even when it is withdrawn.

A TFSA is simply a great way to save for things that will make you happy in the near future.

A REGISTERED RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

An RRSP is an investment account that allows you to save for your retirement on a tax-deferred basis. Contributions are taxdeductible, and interest earned is tax-free until you make a withdrawal from the account.

Whether you’re saving for retirement or looking to contribute to your down payment as a first-time home-buyer (yup, you read that right!), an RRSP can certainly aid in your financial well-being.

A PERSONALIZED INVESTMENT STRATEGY

There’s much more to a financial portfolio than term deposits, RRSPs, and TFSAs, although they are a great start.

We offer access to stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds*, and insurance products. We help our members with planning for big life events, advising in many areas: insurance, retirement planning, savings for children, tax minimization strategies, estate planning, budget building / analysis, the list goes on!

However, it is important to look at what your goals are for your investments, how much money you have to invest, what your timeframe is, your risk profile and of course, your personality. There is no one-size-fits-all investing style.

Looking to get into investments? There are many options. Whether you want to manage your own portfolio with DIY investing through some our trusted partners, or work with an advisor, your future is in your hands.

Access Credit Union has the tools you need to start investing in you. Talk to your local branch or call our Member Solutions Centre to find out how you can start investing in you today.

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*Mutual funds are offered through Credential Asset Management Inc. Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Credential Securities, a division of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. Credential Securities is a registered mark owned by Aviso Wealth Inc.

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If you ate today,

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life in the valley

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Octo be r is Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.™ October is Fire Prevention Month! Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.™, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires.

Altona 42

life in the valley

Carman Dufferin

Morden

Fi re Preve ntion Month Escape

Planning ting Meeace Pl

Plan Ahead! If a fire breaks out in your home, you may have only a few minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Everyone needs to know what to do and where to go if there is a fire.

WINDOW

DOW WIN

DOW WIN

DOW WIN

DOOR

DOOR

DOW WIN

WINDOW

DOW WIN

WINDOW WINDOW WINDOW

Key home fire escape planning tips Developing a home escape plan with all members of the household and practicing it regularly ensures that everyone knows what to do when the smoke alarm sounds and uses that time wisely.

• Make sure your plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

• Close bedroom door at night - “Close Before You Doze” • Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.

Plum Coulee

• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible.

Make sure all doors and windows open easily.

• Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.

• Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.

Roland

Winkler

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A community without dreamers will die. While it may not die out completely, it will become a shell of what it could have been, leaving its people to wonder what went wrong.

To borrow from the wisdom of Proverbs, without vision the people will perish. Our modern story could include, without the ambition and bold ideas of the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce, the once promising Manitoba town could have missed out on becoming the influential and emerging city that it is today.

Every community has people that desire to be a part of something significant, to rise above simply surviving and put their stamp on the world. Communities need people who will dream big, cast vision, and instill a confidence in the people so that what seems impossible can become their reality. A team that will battle the flood of naysayers and rally the people to a cause that will meet the needs of many and push their way into a better future.

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The Chamber started as the Winkler Board of Trade and was first organized in 1922 to combat the negative effects of a nationwide recession. The group was organized by local businessmen in order to support the community through creating jobs and overall economic development.

The Board was very dedicated to the task and encouraged efforts to diversify from the community’s wheatdependent economy and incorporate dairy production and livestock as part of their economy. They even brought in experts on the subject and hosted workshops for the community to attend. They lobbied for better road and highway conditions and signs that could lead potential shoppers to Winkler. Further initiatives led by the Board included hiring a full-time policeman, while also bringing twenty-four-hour telephone service to the community.

By the mid 1920s, the ill effects of the recession had been forgotten in Winkler, as agriculture and businesses were buzzing and a great energy could be felt all around.

The Board of Trade had been very active in these years and had helped build a community that could be the hub of Southern Manitoba.

The Great Depression of the 1930s would bring great economic hardship to the area that no community could escape. The village of Winkler struggled greatly, as farmland was mortgaged and sold off, many stores and businesses closed their doors and families migrated elsewhere, looking for a better life. It was a time of simply trying to survive.

Everywhere you looked, the depression had taken its toll on the village, even sapping the life out of the once vibrant and active Board of Trade. John J. Loewen, the first leader of the Board, had been the one to champion its earlier achievements in the community. His passing in 1932 would mark a significant downturn in the Board’s involvement for the next couple decades.

The end of the war in 1945 marked an economical shift for many communities, with a great demand for goods and products that were unavailable during the war. As other communities started to grow and even thrive in this new industrial age, there was a fear that Winkler was falling behind due to their lack of industry. A change was needed. The newly named Chamber of Commerce took up the cause and began touring other communities’

success to learn how to bring industry back to Winkler and advocated for their discoveries to be implemented.

Walter Siemens is a former Chamber president and has a long history with the Chamber of Commerce. He remembers the first big industrial initiative taken by the Chamber which showed their ability in supporting the community’s overall growth and well-being. “They recognized a need at that time in Winkler,” said Walter, “there were not enough jobs corresponding with the amount of highschool graduates.” The goal from the start was to try and create as many jobs as there were graduates, which at that time seemed like a hopeful wish.

Their starting point was to focus on developing a garment factory with the help of local businesses. The Chamber approached local businesses to see if they would invest in the community and towards this project. “Of course the project didn’t come about overnight,” said Walter of the initial response to such an idea. The group kept trying and stayed committed to their goal, with much of this perseverance stemming from the Chamber’s strong leadership. “Once momentum started, other companies in the community invested funds into the factory,” said Walter. Eventually forty-five thousand dollars was raised by businesses that had a membership with the Chamber.

The garment factory was built in 1960 and immediately provided one hundred and fifty jobs, many of these jobs going to women.

The factory, later named Winkler Apparel, was a huge success and at its peak was close to supplying six hundred lifemag.ca

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jobs for the community. “The Chamber was able to prove to the citizens of Winkler that if we set our mind to it, we can achieve anything,” said Walter. The small town couldn’t believe how busy the factory became and the number of jobs that came to the community. It continued to grow to the point where there were not enough people to fill all the roles.

This led to the factory again relying on the Chamber, this time on their quest to bring people to the area.

This achievement built a relationship between the Chamber and many local businesses, as it was clear that they had the business community’s best intentions in mind and were willing to do what was necessary to support them.

The successful initiative to start Winkler Apparel marked a change in the relationship between the

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Chamber of Commerce and the City Council, as the Council was now more ambitious to help carry out their vision and ideas. “The city and Chamber have always needed to work together,” said Mayor Martin Harder.

If I look at all the projects that have been done in the past, the one thing in common has been they have never had any money to start with.

“It is the city’s responsibility to make an environment where businesses can flourish and the Chamber’s responsibility is to make sure they do flourish.”

The next big idea from the Chamber was to assist the retail community

through organizing a massive community-wide sale which doubled as a festival. All of main street was turned into a shopping party with unbeatable sale prices promoted as vendors and merchandise lined the streets. Coined as “Old Time Value Days” the festival launched in 1963 and proved to be a great success, bringing tens of thousands of shoppers to Winkler while providing a memorable celebration for its residents. Food stands were present for hungry shoppers and games and prizes were set up for the kids while stages were set up for evening entertainment acts. There was even a pageant where the Old Time Value Days queen would be chosen. The festival has changed a lot since its inception, with a new name, location and focus as the Winkler Harvest Festival.

By the mid 1970s Winkler was booming with many established industries and showed no signs of slowing down as aggressive plans for land development and expansion were laid out for the industrial park.

As a current industrial superpower in the province, it is difficult to believe the doubt and uncertainty surrounding Winkler’s future less than sixty years ago. Martin Harder has been involved with the Chamber for many years and has been the Mayor of Winkler since 2006, leading the city into many new projects and overseeing the significant growth in these years. He recalls the years when Winkler was thought to go nowhere and maybe even die out. “In those years, the provincial government had released a study of Southern Manitoba, outlining which communities were most likely to succeed and which

communities were going to die out” said Martin. “According to them, the surrounding towns were going to succeed and Winkler was going to die.” The reason for Winkler’s turnaround success was found to be their ability to work together and refusing to have “I can’t” as part of their vocabulary. “If it is shown that there is a need to be met, the people of this community will come to the table” said Walter, outlining what has been a consistent theme in Winkler’s history. “If I look at all the projects that have been done in the past, the one thing in common has been they have never had any money to start with.” Yet the job has always been finished.

The trait of unity and generosity is still alive and well today with recent evidence coming from how the city has navigated Covid 19 and

the difficulties of the last couple of years. Keith Gislason is the current Chamber President and has had a front row seat to the unexpected teamwork and generosity between rival businesses. “There is so much that goes on behind the scenes” said Keith, “I wish some people would let me tell the stories of direct competitors helping out businesses that couldn’t get parts or borrowing labor to a competitor because they had so many people get sick.” It’s a trait unique amongst a usually cutthroat business world, but has been a consistent part of the culture of the Winkler area and a big reason they have been able to weather storms, even thriving in the chaos and uncertainty.

Tanya Chateaneuf is the current director of the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce and has lifemag.ca

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recognized that while businesses in the Winkler area have achieved a lot, you won’t hear them touting their accomplishments. “We have a very modest business community,” said Tanya, “they will do great things but will never brag about it.” This is where the Chamber has set up a way to recognize outstanding businesses in the community. Nominations are taken for a number of business awards with the winners then chosen by a selection committee. The awards are presented at the yearend business gala put on by the Chamber in order to honour business leaders in front of their peers and the community. “This is the fun part of my job,” said Tanya, “being able to celebrate these businesses for their hard work and generous contributions.”

More recent Chamber initiatives over the years have been promoting tourism in the area, helping foster Regional Connections and the immigration services they offer along with the “Be Kind” campaign.

Included in the latter was the pooling of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars by teaming up

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with the business community and the Manitoba Chamber in order to purchase gift cards from small businesses that had been hit the hardest over the last couple years.

“Our Chamber has not been afraid to try new things and create new initiatives,” said Tanya. While some initiatives take off, others might only be around for a season, as the Chamber is always looking to find new and creative ways to best serve their business community. “Right now, we are doing a lot of research

Our chamber has not been afraid to try new things and create new initiatives on how to help businesses in this new and changed world,” said Keith. He is also aware that the challenges the community will face are much bigger than what the Chamber can do on their own and that collaboration will be necessary. “In order to be successful, the Chamber needs to work together with the Healthcare Board, Economic Development, the

Community Foundation, and the city, as well as many others.”

Along with new initiatives, the Chamber continues to offer innovative and relevant workshops and learning opportunities for its members. Many topics are covered from human resource management to technology skills as the constantly changing business landscape requires business owners to continually educate themselves.

This year the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce celebrates one hundred years of serving the business community and offering new solutions to current needs. Through it all, they have been able to maintain a great relationship with the city and have built a reputation to be proud of. With its long and rich history, the Chamber is a trusted voice which inspires action and innovation while fully embodying the city’s new slogan of “Dream, Build, Live.”

PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1983 - Harvey Friesen 1987 – Doug Homick 1989 – Abe Wiebe Jr. 1990 – Abe Wiebe Jr. 1991 – Carol Friesen 1992 – Carol Friesen 1993 – Judith Sawatzky 1994 – Judith Sawatzky 1995 – Judith Sawatzky 1996 – Robert Jones 1997 – Dave Penner 1998 – Dave Penner 1999 – George Klassen 2000 – George Klassen 2001 – Lloyd Thiessen 2002 – Lloyd Thiessen 2003 – Louis Tanguay 2004 – Louis Tanguay 2005 – Deb Penner 2006 – Deb Penner 2007 – Kenneth Thomas 2009 – Betty Hiebert 2011 – Kenton Doerksen 2014 – Ryan Hildebrand 2017 – Kori Da Kosta 2019 – Darren Heide lifemag.ca

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Proudly representing the communities of the

Pembina Valley/Central Region in the Manitoba Legislature

BLAINE PEDERSEN MLA for Midland

MLA for Morden—Winkler

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JOSH GUENTER

midlandmla@outlook.com 204-745-2203

info@cameronfriesen.ca 204-822-1088

info@joshguenter.ca 204-324-8957

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MLA for Borderland

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565 Cargill Road, Winkler, MB lifemag.ca

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United Way Pembina Valley was created from the merger of the Morden and Winkler United Ways, two entities that served their respective communities well for decades.

Working together, we’re able to do great things in support of local non-profit organizations who provide vital programs and services to countless people in our area.

We can’t do it without your generous donations. Please join us in building our community.

The money received from the United Way helps us continue the care we provide the animals while they're in the shelter, including food and enrichment and any medical requirements like spaying or neutering and vaccinations. It helps the animals start a new chapter in life happily and in good health!

Gateway Resources is grateful for United Way support from both Winkler and Morden chapters over the years!

These funds help us move forward with projects that improve daily life, safety and community connections for the individuals we support.

Pembina Valley Humane Society

Gateway Resources

www.unitedwayp

Ways to donate: 1 2 3 52

ONLINE BY CREDIT CARD www.unitedwaypembinavalley.ca MAIL A CHEQUE IN PERSON Drop off your donation at any local Access Credit Union branch.

life in the valley

CONTACT US..

We’d love to hear from you!

MAIL: United Way PO Box 758 Morden MB R6M 1A7

EMAIL: unitedwaypembinavalley@gmail.com

The generosity of the United Way means the doors at Pregnancy Care can stay open—and that means women, men, students, couples and families have a safe place right in their community to ask any question and receive support throughout their struggles with pregnancy and parenting decisions.

The United Way has provided our organization support that is essential to keeping our doors open. This allows us to provide developmental relationships through mentoring for our community. We are grateful for their continued support!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley

Pembina Valley Pregnancy Care Centre

We are so thankful for the United Way. Not only for their generosity, but for the relationship we’ve developed with them over the years. Thanks to the support from the United Way, no one in the community is prevented from seeing a counsellor due to their financial circumstances.

Pembina Counselling Centre

pembinavalley.ca

Who we support:

Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, Arthritis Society of Manitoba, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley, Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Association, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Canadian Red Cross, Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba Foundation, Eden Health Care Services, Gateway Resources, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Manitoba Schizophrenia Society, Many Hands Resource Centre, Mennonite Central Committee, Morden Caring & Sharing, Morden Christmas Cheer Board, Morden Parent & Child Resource Centre, Morden Services for Seniors, Morden Youth for Christ, MS Society of Canada, Northland Childcare Centre, Pembina Valley Pregnancy Care Centre, Pembina Valley Child Care Centres, Salem Home, South Central Cancer Resource, South Central Committee on Family Violence (Genesis House), The Bunker, Winkler and District Food Cupboard, Winkler Bible Camp, Winkler Day Care Centre, Winkler Senior Centre lifemag.ca

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HABITAT for HUMANITY H

abitat for Humanity got its start in Canada during the mid eighties, when a small group of Winkler businessmen wanted to take on the challenge of offering affordable homes for their community. They partnered with Habitat’s model for building homes, one that had already been established south of the border and was seen as a great success in aiding families that could otherwise not purchase their own home. The organization has since grown to forty nine operating locations in Canada, and operates in seventy nations as an international entity.

Habitat for Humanity’s model starts with building a new house with the help of both volunteers and tradespeople after the total cost has been fundraised. A partner family is then chosen, one that is currently renting and can not afford a down payment on a house. The family is able to buy the home at assessment value and is given an interest-

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free mortgage that has no down payment required. With the current housing situation, many families are able to make rent payments but need help with the leap required for home ownership.

It is a huge testament to the generosity of these communities

One of the biggest misconceptions about Habitat for Humanity is that they are simply giving away homes for free.

While this is an understandable assumption, the Habitat model allows for these homeowners to fully pay for the house themselves, becoming a part of the housing solution in the

community. The payments on the house then go towards funding the next home build, a self-sustaining system where the more houses that are built, the easier it is to build the next one.

The family even offers their own “sweat equity” to the process, as a required five hundred volunteer hours are put in by the family, either in building the home or serving in other areas within the community.

For a family, a home to call their own brings numerous advantages. It takes away the fear of potentially needing to move and the disruption of changing schools for their children. It is also an investment for their future and retirement, along with bringing a dignity of owning and taking care of their own home.

While Winkler was the frontrunner and pioneer for the movement into Canada, the small team was not able to keep up the momentum going and disbanded

feature sponsored by

after completing five homes, a commendable achievement in itself. Bringing Habitat for Humanity back to the area was initiated when Duane and Christina Falk had the desire to use their experience working with community development efforts in other nations to address the current housing problem. “We have seen that more and more families are struggling with the increase in housing prices” said Christina about their motivation to be a part of a solution. The couple initially met with Habitat for Humanity in 2017 and decided to bring the organization back to the area after local members of the community rallied around them to build a team. Their goal was ambitious, five homes in five years. With three of those homes being finished this year, they will have achieved their goal while showing the communities of Winkler and Morden that this is a successful solution to get behind.

“It is a huge testament to the generosity of these communities,” said Freda Lumgair, a member of the team for the last three years.

Ways to get involved include volunteering for build days,

regardless of construction experience, as well as participating in fundraising efforts. This has been done through creative

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT their facebook page, “Winkler/ Morden Habitat for Humanity Chapter.”

We have seen that more and more families are struggling with the increase in housing prices

events, government grants and receiving direct donations. One of their more recognizable events is the annual playhouse raffle, where the team builds a big, beautiful playhouse in time for the Winkler Harvest Festival. They put it in the parade for all to see and sell raffle tickets for a chance to win it. Other events have been their “twelve days of Christmas raffle” on their facebook page, a boat build and race, and garage sales.

They also gladly welcome third party fundraising events to aid in their efforts. To donate directly, you can visit habitat.mb.ca and specify the “Winkler-Morden Chapter” for your donation. You can follow their work through

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PASSION FOR

This year is speeding by, and the fashion world and its ever-evolving trends are following an equal brisk pace.

Autumn has brought us shackets and wide-leg jeans, cut outs and sleek suits. But, there is a whole new suite of trends to pay attention to as we barrel headlong into winter.

Whether we like snowy weather or not, it is that time of year that entices us to embrace luxe layers, rich textures and beautiful prints.

90’s nostalgia will continue to influence Autumn/Winter 2022 fashion, with mood-boosting hues like hot pinks, chartreuse, and slouchy, oversized blazers. And, it is that slouchy oversized blazer that appears to be on the spotlight.

In this season, we will continue to see oversized tailoring, classic suits, bomber jackets, maxi skirts and neutral colours for the minimalist in you.

But here is a list of more of what is in style: • • • • • • • •

Statement boots Trends from the Nineties and Y2K. Retro, recycled, upcycled and vintage looks heading into the fall and winter season are BIG! Oversized outerwear Pleated and maxi skirts Leather trousers and skirts paired with textured vests Cozy sweaters, and long coatigans -cowgirl hats (and boots) Leather (or vegan leather) jackets -colour blocking -fringing -preppy classics Plaid patterns in tops and bottoms.

Fashion is supposed to be joyous and at last, we can again dress up in our favourite outfit with somewhere to go other than the living room.

Have fun and keep stylishly warm this winter!

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25

FOR

SUNNY

YEARS

Sunny Day Products started as a way to share a culture while preserving relationships and has blossomed into a thriving family business with products available across Canada and Mexico.

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S

Sunny Day Products started as a way to share a culture while preserving relationships and has blossomed into a thriving family business with products available across Canada and Mexico.

The owners Dick and Mary Anne Plett moved to Bolivia in 1978 when they felt called to make a difference as volunteers working with the Mennonite Central Committee. Here they gave themselves to working on social development projects while building lifelong relationships within the local communities. After seven years in Bolivia they moved to Mexico where they continued their role with MCC for five more years.

During their time in Latin America their family grew, having four boys who saw Mexico as home and Spanish as their first language. After twelve years as volunteers, it was time to go “home”. “We wanted our kids to know where home is,” said Dick as getting the boys acquainted with their Canadian roots was part of the reason for coming back to Winkler.

The family came to Winkler, their new home, with minimal financial resources. While their living expenses were paid for while volunteering, that was it, making for a difficult transition home. Beyond the financial challenges, the boys had left the only culture they had ever known and needed to adapt to life in North America. Needing a way to provide for his family, Dick leaned

on the relationships he had built over the last twelve years. “Coming back to Canada I had a great interest in trading,” said Dick, “whether it be back and forth with Mexico or something else.” Along with strong, established relationships, he also knew the language and the culture of Latin America. The Manitoba Government even heard of his desire to trade with Spanish speaking nations and the sector of International Business and Development reached out to him. “They kept me informed of the current international business climate and countries needs along with their interest in trading and doing business” said Dick of his unexpected new resource.

His initial trading company was called Canmexus, a small company that traded with Canada, Mexico and the United States, which is where the name came from. As much as it was a means of making a living, it was just as much a way for them to stay connected to the outside world and the places they called home for so many years. “It was a way of keeping relationships alive,” said Dick.

This trading

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experience would prove to be a great asset when an opportunity came up to revamp a dormant family business of roasting sunflower seeds. While they were not given much from the bank, they were able to use the old roasting equipment after some repairs and a paint job.

They found a suitable building for their store when a shop down Manitoba Road in Winkler was made available. While it wasn’t much, there was room enough to set up their roasting equipment, have warehouse

Beyond roasting seeds and varieties of nuts, they had a vision of giving the community a taste of their previous home, selling authentic Mexican food products. “We wanted to focus on offering healthy snacks and nutritious food,” said Dick. “If we can contribute to the community and provide something to the customer that has value, then that’s worth getting up for in the morning.”

We wanted to focus on offering healthy snacks and nutritioius food

Mary Anne explained that the name Sunny Day came from the idea that no matter the challenges they faced, they never needed to have a cloudy day. Every day could be sunny with the right perspective. This is the attitude they have chosen while navigating the business through the last twenty-five years.

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life in the valley

space, and a small storefront.

Their first priority was always providing exceptional customer service. “We learned in Latin America that if you want to do business with someone, you first go out for a meal together and spend the first hour talking about everything but business,” said Dick, explaining the value of personal connection and building relationships. “We try to incorporate this into the business we do here.”

The first years running the store were very challenging, as they had spent the previous twelve years far removed from business and had to develop a feel for the Winkler business climate.

“We had enough confidence in ourselves that we could do it,” said Mary Anne.

The community support was immediate. H.F. Wiebe was the mayor of Winkler at that time and personally came to visit them. Along with welcoming them back, he also gave them a small financial gift from the community to help them get started. “It wasn’t much, but the mere gesture of him coming here, acknowledging we’re new to the community and wanting to help us went a long way in making us feel supported” said Dick. “From the community leaders to the Chamber of Commerce, they have supported us wherever they can, and we feel very fortunate.”

Since then, Sunny Day has needed to expand twice, first to make

room for their Mexican food line in 2005 which includes made in-house tortillas, burritos, flautas, tamales, and varieties of imported salsas and hot sauces. Their more recent expansion which started in 2019 may have also been the key to surviving the challenges of Covid 19. “If we only had our small store space during Covid, we may not have made it,” said Dick, as the maximum occupancy would have been set to a trivial five shoppers at a time. The six thousand square foot expansion has been a great addition for their warehouse space along with being able to triple the size of their storefront.

to once again be involved in missions work on a part-time basis with their long-time friends in Latin America.

Through it all, their reliable staff have been the backbone of Sunny Day and the reason they are still in business.

“This has always been a group effort” said Dick, “If it wasn’t for our staff, customers and the support of our community, we wouldn’t be here today.” With the ability to hand off more and more responsibility to staff and their son Ben, who is the current general manager, Dick and Mary Anne have been given the freedom

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N I K O 3 O 2 B 20 W R NO FO

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CALL US

1-(204)-829-3380 SALES@MOUNTAINRIDGERENOSROOFING.COM

WWW.MOUNTAINRIDGERENOSROOFING.COM 62

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Make Rede-Made Noodles and Perogies

a part of your fall meal plans!

Visit redemadenoodles.ca for a location near you Toll free 1-866-250-1552 lifemag.ca

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Helping businesses grow for 10 years

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NOVE MBER 14 - 20 !

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THE FIFTH WALL

Presented by

For more detailed information and answers to any related questions you may have, contact Janzen's Paint & Decorating Ltd. @ 204-325-8387 • Winkler 68

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Strokes of Genius Along with a fresh coat of paint on your walls and perhaps some new sheets, towels, or cushions, you’ve decided to give your ceilings a little love. Ceilings are often forgotten, ignored or neglected because of the attitude that white goes with everything or because the task of painting a ceiling is too daunting…or the ceiling has been textured or stippled and is therefore thought to be untouchable. In taking on the project of painting your ceiling, you’ll need to consider colour and sheen as well as application.

Janzen’s Paint & Decorating Ltd. can help you get the results you are looking for with our premium Benjamin Moore paint.

In determining the look you want for your ceiling, also consider the sheen of the paint you choose. A matte paint, such as Benjamin Moore's ceiling paint, will be the most amenable to a DIYer and to the substrate. A matte finish will greatly reduce glare and disguise imperfections in mudding and repairs. Matte finishes also touch up beautifully. If your situation requires regular wiping or gentle washing, an eggshell sheen on the ceiling is a good option as reflection is low and nap or overlap lines are still possible to avoid. For an eggshell sheen consider using Benjamin Moore's Regal or Ben for the results you are looking for.

When choosing a colour, would you prefer a crisp white that will reflect the most light or a softer white that would be less glaring? Would you like to use a lighter shade of the wall colour on the ceilings, which will bring a harmonizing seamlessness to the look? Or would you like to add drama to the space in an unexpected way by painting a ceiling with a bold colour?

For assistance in choosing the right paint for your ceilings as well as tools and painting tips, consult the staff at Janzen’s Paint & Decorating Ltd. Certain situations will require primer, adjustable extension poles to ease reach, roller refills with thicker naps to get paint onto textured surface, spray texture to patch existing stippling and so on. Partner with a friend and your ceiling will be done in good time!

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Home Insulation Rebate SAVE WITH OUR HOME INSULATION REBATE If your home was built before 1999, it may not have enough insulation.

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life in the valley

Here to help with your Residential Mortgages 204.325.9810 | 1.855.821.8120 | www.rcu.ca

Manufactures of quality exterior/interior stone

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Home Insulation Rebate SAVE WITH OUR HOME INSULATION REBATE December 5-18, 2022

If your home was built before 1999, it may not have enough insulation.

Adding insulation to your attic, walls, and foundation will improve your Christmas home’s Glow in the Country a great way spend quality comfort andishelp you cuttoenergy costs. time with your family or friends and celebrate the season! Come take a leisurely drive through the 2 kilometer route in the comfort of your vehicle, tune your radio to our Christmas Glow station and enjoy the festive displays and goodies.

Reserve your tickets online or by phone!

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Taste Valley of the

G a rd e n Garden T omato Tomato

S oup Soup Time: 30-40 minutes Serves: 8-10 people

Recipe created by Kevin Funk Instagram: @chefkevinfunk

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life in the valley

Autumn. Our favorite season in the Funk house. It’s bitter-sweet, as winter is just around the corner, however, there is no better time of the year for food. Gardens are being cleaned out and animals are where they need to be. For this recipe, we turn our garden harvest into a delightful bowl that just screams fall.

INGREDIENTS: 10-12 Roma tomatoes 1/2 yellow onion - diced 2 stalks celery - chopped 2 C chopped sweet potato 2 cloves of garlic - chopped 4 C chicken stock 2 C cream water (if needed for a thinner soup).

1/4 cup butter 2 tbsp canola oil 1 tsp celery seed 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp dried oregano salt and pepper

CHICKEN STOCK: 5 lb chicken carcass 3 yellow onions - peeled and

halved 2 heads of garlic. remove skils and chop off the tops fresh thyme 1 lemon 4 carrots - peeled and choppe 4 stalks of celery - chopped

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3 bay leaves

GARNISH: fresh basil leaves

fresh parsley

truf fle oil

fresh oregano

toasted pumpkin seeds

salt and pepper

shaved parmesan

3 tbsp olive oil 16 L of water

Chicken Stock: 1.

2.

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If you want to take your soup to the next level, homemade stock or broth is essential.

It rounds it out and brings it over the top.

Add a grilled cheese sandwich to the works and you’re in for a delight.

Dip that sandwich right into the soup.

preheat the oven to 400F Place the chicken carcass into a roasting pan. place half of the onions, and half the garlic into the cavity. squeeze lemon juice over the carcass. (add the lemon to the cavity after juicing). sprinkle the olive oil over the carcass and add salt and pepper.

Roast the carcass for roughly 30 minutes or until browned up.

In a large stock pot, add the carcass and all the contents from the pan into the pot.

Make sure to get all the drippings. Use some water to scrap off all the brown pits from the pan. You want this in the stock pot. add all the remaining ingredients and cover with cold water.

Slowly bring the pot to a boil. gently boil for a few minutes. (5-10 minutes) turn the heat down to a simmer and leave it like this for roughly 6 hours. over time, a foam will form on the surface. Carefully skim this off and discard.

Once the stock has simmered for roughly 6 hours, strain out the contents of the pot. put the liquid stock through a fine mesh sieve. put it through a cheesecloth.

Your stock is ready. I recommend canning the excess as you will have enough for several soups.

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Garnish: Method: (set oven to broil-high)

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Grab a pan and sprinkle a touch of the oil over the pan.

Lay out the tomatoes whole and sprinkle them over with the rest of the oil.

Sprinkle some salt and pepper over the tomatoes and place them into the oven on the top rack. (not too close to the element) Keep an eye on them. You want the skin to crack and slightly turn black, but they will burn quickly so watch them closely.

Meanwhile, in a medium-sized stock pot, add the butter.

Slightly brown the burn, being careful not to burn it.

Cool the butter down by adding the onions and celery.

Cook until translucent. (your tomatoes should be close to being done. Don’t forget them) If tomatoes are complete, remove them from the oven and set them aside.

Add the sweet potatoes and garlic. We add the garlic at this time because it will burn if you add it at the same time as the onions.

Stir the vegetables around. Brown up the sweet potato slightly.

Add the salt, pepper, and spices and mix.

Add the chicken stock to the pot and bring it to a boil.

Reduce heat, and add the tomatoes to the pot.

Turn to simmer and cook down for roughly 15-20 minutes.

Add the cream and heat through.

Remove the pot from heat and send the soup through a blender.

A vita-mix works best, however, an immersion blender can do the trick. (if you want your soup thinner, add some water) Top with freshly grated parm, basil leaves, a touch of truffle oil, and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Don’t forget to make a side grill cheese. You’re going to want to dip this into the soup.

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Financial Security Planning | Group Benefits & Pension | Estate Planning | Succession Planning

Mike St. Croix Senior VP - Western Canada mikestcroix@covellofinancial.com 204-881-2591 lifemag.ca

79

Business Directory Brad Klassen

204.362.0031 bradnail@sdnet.ca 625 Cargill Rd & 225 George St., Winkler, MB,

• Renovations • Decks & Fences

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(204)332-0580

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204.325.7386

info@extendinsurance.ca 309 Main Street, Winkler -- In the ALG Professional Centre Monday – Thursday • 830am-530pm | Friday • 830am-900pm | Saturday • 830am-500pm

Morden, MB Calvin Klassen

JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN

• Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning • 24 Hour Emergency Water Extraction • RV Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning • Residential & Commercial

brunnscleaners@live.ca Serving Southern Manitoba since 1981

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cell 204-362-3978

Cell. 362.2811 Res. 325.1349 INFO@CDKELECTRIC.CA

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SOUTHLAND MALL

204.325.4701 Auto • House • Farm Commercial • Bonding • Travel 80

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Mon - Fri: 8:30 am - 9:00 pm Sat: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm

Open later for your convenience!

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81

Henry Siemens Publisher

As I write this we’ve just finished municipal and school board elections. It was an interesting experience. I’ve never seen so many acclamations and empty seats that will need appointments in southern Manitoba. It’s almost as if an entire group of people used to serving have decided that it’s no longer worth it put themselves in the line of fire.

As we seek to move forward in this highly charged political climate, we will need leaders who can have calm respectful dialogue with even those they disagree with. That’s the challenge we face today. We believe that we don’t have to talk to, or listen to, or even engage with those who don’t think like we do.

We simply ‘block’ the people and ideas that don’t fit our narrative.

That’s a scary place to be. We need to hear new and different ideas that challenge us to consider other viewpoints. We have to be able to defend our positions. Without that we stop growing.

We need leaders who are able to clearly articulate a vision.

LAST WORD

Nothing can be done until you have a majority of council/board agreeing with you. In order to make anything happen you have to be able to present the pros and cons of projects in a way that resonates with your fellow leaders.

We should seek out team players.

Those that genuinely want to be a part of improving their community through a collaborative give and take to arrive at workable solutions.

We need leaders who are relationship builders. In today’s world no community is an island. Every project is too big (unaffordable) to do on your own.

If you want to get anything of significance done you will need partnerships.

Ultimately, and maybe most importantly, it comes down to not having an agenda. When you see leaders stepping forward with no platform other than a desire to serve, to simply show up to listen and learn, you’ve found the ones you should support. Despite what

some candidates will tell you, no one has all the answers. It’s about working together and being part of a group that collectively seeks the best way forward.

How do we get these leaders on our ballot?

Maybe even more importantly, how will we grow the next generation of leaders? Are we encouraging youth participation in the electoral process? Are we teaching it in school? Are we talking about this around the dinner table at home?

Are we inviting women, newcomers, immigrants and the marginalized community to forums and debates?

Are we making it safe for them to attend?

If we don’t find ways to engage more people, the absence of candidates willing to serve will grow to the point that we will lose our voices. Our communities are far too important to let that happen.

WE EXIST TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS. m a r k e t i n g 204.325.0283

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I’m Available 204.325.0284

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