InSeine April News

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Vol. 9 Issue 11

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April 2019

ACES Senior Hockey League Champions

The Ste. Anne Aces win the Carillon Senior Hockey League championship again making a streak of four years in a row and dynasty of skilled players! Here is a look back on the last four championship pictures.

Congratulations to all.

2018-2019

2016-2017

2017-2018

2015-2016

Mourning the Manitoba Moose!

By: Derric Trudeau, Wildlife Management Graduate, Natural Resources Management Technology Program, University College of the North, The Pas Campus Being raised on the outskirts of SteAnne, Manitoba provided me a ‘country lifestyle’ as a child. This modest life granted ample opportunities to explore wildlife and cherish the outdoors directly in my backyard. As I aged, my family moved into the town of Ste-Anne. My love for wildlife and the environment, however … never diminished. My very first hunt in this same region was introduced to me by my Grandfather at the age of 12 which resulted in the successful harvest of a young deer!

As the years passed and high school was coming to an end, I realised I needed to choose a career path I was passionate about; employment that would continue to provide me the opportunity to enjoy this same environment, and experience wildlife in the outdoors.

Following multiple informative encounters with local Conservation Officers, I was intrigued by the type of responsibilities their employment entailed.

I had many questions. For instance, how many deer and moose are in the province? How is it that we can hunt?

Where did this ‘right’ come from? And, what education is needed to become a ‘protector of wildlife’? Suddenly, a career path that provided all the opportunities I cherished as a child be-

came visible! The following autumn, I enrolled at the University College of the North (UCN) in the Natural Resources Management Technology (NRMT) Program, a two-year diploma designed to emphasize technical skills required in resource conservation.

As a mature student, I was exposed to countless wildlife issues and one that really hit home with me was the realisation that Manitoba’s most iconic species, the moose (Alces alces), is in a critical state due to a decline in its population numbers making this ungulate extremely susceptible to extirpation in certain regions of the province. To exemplify, moose are currently threatened by 1) the increased loss, degradation, and fragmentation of suitable habitat generally owing to anthropogenic factors (i.e., winter and summer sport activity, and overhunting); and 2) natural processes such as disease, liver flukes, brain worm, tick infestations, predation, climate change.

My education has also provided one answer to the very first question I presented to that Conservation Officer so long ago … “how many moose are there”? Well, with my new and developed research capabilities, I have been able to determine that historical provincial populations were once estimated to be over 45, 000 moose in comparison with today’s population estimate of under 20, 000 (The Manitoba Wildlife Society, 2015). Disheartened by the fact moose populations are in such decline, I now consider the privilege of even the ‘opportunity to potentially harvest’ a

moose very seriously, as there are obvious responsibilities for each and every one of us!

Wildlife lectures also brought to my attention that our government is constantly trying to manage moose numbers in order to prevent a further decline with the intent to hopefully restore populations in the province. To accomplish this, Manitoba Sustainable Development has unfortunately and indefinitely put an end to moose hunting in 15 game hunting areas.

Subsequently, only 25 game hunting areas remain open, while 8 of these zones are restricted to a moose conservation licence season. A ‘moose conservation licence season’ signifies the government has set special restrictions to mitigate hunating pressure and minimize the number of moose extracted from a specific area by requiring a special licence to hunt in these zones.

Moreover, Manitoba Sustainable Development has also incorporated ‘selective harvest strategies’ which set restrictions on the gender harvested. Setting these restrictions helps stabilize the ‘bull: cow ratio’, as cow moose numbers are thought to be the limiting factor in populations, and high numbers of cows are desperately needed to sustain elevated levels of reproductive success.

With wildlife conservation on my mind, and countless wildlife lectures to

browse upon, I have learned that the abundance (and diversity) of wildlife we live with today is neither luck nor accident. I have also learned the most important part of ecology is to save all the pieces; to hold these pieces in trust for people in Canada. This concept of ‘public trust’ is based on the principle that there are some things so valuable to all of us that they cannot be owned by any individual, government, or culture.

Manitoba Conservation’s knee-jerk response has applied a number of potential ‘solutions’ including: 1) closing hunting in some localized areas; 2) placing restrictions on rights-based hunting in some regions; 3) extending seasons on wolf hunting and trapping

province-wide - actually giving an incentive of $250 for each wolf trapped so long as the hunter/trapper submits samples; and 4) the closing of select road and trail access following harvest

by Manitoba’s Forestry Branch and forest-related companies.

But listen… managing moose populations throughout the province is surely a difficult task, particularly considering the lack of funds provided to Manitoba Sustainable Development. However, further potential solutions to drastically improve moose population numbers could include terminating hunting during the rut. During this period, bull moose are attracted to cow estrus calls which are easily imitated by hunters.

Resultantly, moose populations face increased pressure during this time, and I perceive this practice to be unethical.

Changing hunting season dates would additionally make it more challenging for hunters as calling in bulls would not be as effective resulting in an alternate

but more ethical hunting strategy being employed during these dire times.

These student-generated and alternate solutions to the long-standing debate on how to increase moose population numbers may be a few more optional strategies to preserving these species for all future generations and cultures to enjoy.

As a ‘near’ graduate of the Natural Resources Management Technology Program at the University College of the North, I do not want to have to relocate East to Newfoundland … simply to increase my chances of seeing this near mythical beast! My advice … read through some literature… and make yourself more aware as a responsible citizen … because as illustrated in my photo below, this creature’s “dewlap” is waving goodbye!

My name is Derric and I have taken the time to learn a little more about ‘our’ wildlife, and I am Canadian! derric1@myucn.ca.

New Bibliotheque Ste. Anne Library Hours!

Tuesday: 10:00am-7:00pm Wednesday: 10:00am-7:00pm Thursday: 10:00am-7:00pm Friday: 10:00am-4:00pm Saturday: 10:00am-1:00pm

Upcoming Events...

PTSD Projects Canada Peer Support Group Next Taché meeting is April 11 at 7pm, Located at the Taché Municipal Office, 28007 Mun 52N (Corner of Hwy 206&PTH #1), Contact: Lou Savard 1-204-392-2235 or Lesli Brandt 1-204-270-0279 Service Canada will be in the community at the Bilingual Service Centre from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (closed 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.) on April 18, May 16 and June 20. Client services include: Social Insurance Number (SIN), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), Employment Insurance (EI), My Service Canada Account (MSCA) and Standard passport applications. If you have any questions, please don`t hesitate to contact Brigitte Hébert Gosselin at brigitte. hebertgosselin@servicecanada.gc.ca or 204-433-7374.

Paint Party - April 23, 7pm at the Ste. Anne Hotel, only $30 includes all supplies and instructions for tickets call 204290-5336 or email lovemyarts@outlook.com.

PTSD Projects Canada Peer Support Group Next Steinbach meeting is April 25 @ 7pm, Located at the Royal Canadian Legion 294 Lumber Avenue (Across from the T.G. Smith Centre) Contact: Lou Savard 1-204-392-2235 or Lesli Brandt 1-204-270-0279

Town Clean up Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out, clean up will be held on May 11, meet in the park behind the church prior to 10am to pick an area of town to clean garbage bags and gloves provided, meet back in the park after where a thank you lunch will be provided by the Ste. Anne Lions Club.

Clean up usually takes one hour.

Seine River Services for seniors is pleased to invite everyone to its AGM, which will be held at the Young at Heart Community Centre in Richer, MB at 22 Dawson Road. Doors will open at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

Everyone is Congratulations! welcome. To register call Juliette Rowan at 204-424-5285 before May 6.

Bulky Waste On May 14 & 17, 2019 on your respective garbage day, the town will accept/pick up bulky waste. What is considered bulky waste: “an item or thing having weight which exceeds 32kgs (75 lbs.) or a total dimension which exceeds 3 cubic meters (7 cubic yards) and without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes appliances, furniture, auto parts, large crates.”

Have an Event?

Email InSeine@Live.ca

By Janet McPherson

Skinny Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes INGREDIENTS 7 medium sweet potatoes (the ones with the orange flesh), skin on 30 oz / 800 g skinless, boneless chicken breast 7 tbsp Blue Cheese dressing or Ranch dressing cilantro or parsley, optional Buffalo sauce 2/3 cup Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce 4 tbsp unsalted butter 1 1/2 tbsp white vinegar 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400F/200C. Line a large baking sheet with aluminium foil, place sweet potatoes on it and bake for 30 minutes or until flesh is very tender.

Turn off the oven and keep the sweet potatoes inside to keep them warm.

In the meantime, place chicken breasts in a large pot, cover with water and cook on medium-high heat for 30 minutes. Drain and transfer breasts on a cutting board or a plate. When cool enough to handle, shred using two forks or your fingers.

In another large pot (you can use the same one you used for the chicken) over medium heat, combine hot sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder. Add butter and whisk while it’s melting. When butter is incorporated, stir in cornstarch dissolved in 1 tbsp water. Whisk until sauce thickens, about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat and add shredded chicken. Mix thoroughly to cover chicken with sauce.

Take the sweet potatoes out of the oven, cut them in half lengthwise (without cutting them all the way down so that the two parts stay attached together) and stuff them with shredded buffalo chicken.

Drizzle one tablespoon of blue cheese sauce on each sweet potato. Top with fresh herbs if using. Serve immediately.