Lifestyles 55 2022 August

August 2022

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How will you celebrate?

DENTURES

204-947-1807 Flin Flon and the new space telescope

Protection for seniors in long term care

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Arts and Culture get a $100 million boost

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Winnipeg’s next Mayor: Kevin Klein, problem solver Dorothy Dobbie

Planting companions

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he city I love and grew up in and took so much pride in is in a bit of a mess right now.

For many years, it has lacked the heart and inspiration that a good leader can bring. Instead, successive mayors have let the city drift off into obscurity. Nationally it is not even on the map. The CTV national weatherman\woman just skips right over us when talking about Canada’s weather trends and we have been the butt of advertising jokes about even coming here.

It is time for a change, for a return to the leadership role we took for so many years in so many fields and the only way this will happen is for a real leader to come along and take over the reins as mayor. Kevin Klein is just that person.

Not only does Kevin bring four years as an active and concerned city councillor where his fertile brain probed into many areas of lethargy, misdirection, misman-

Shauna Dobbie

Kevin Klein and Susan Thompson, the former mayor of Winnipeg. agement, and questionable expenditures at the city, he brings vital experience as a corporate problem solver to the job.

You think of him as the former CEO of Sun Media Manitoba and publisher of the Sun, but some of North America’s top corporations see him as the solution to their cor-

porate woes. They and other international companies have hired him to come in, study the situation and find answers to resolve their problems. How lucky can we get to have a man like this willing to serve us for the pittance we pay our councillors? u 8 ‘Kevin Klein’

Professional Associations need oversight Hon. Jerry Storie

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entists are nice people, and in my experience professional and caring, but like other professions, they defend their territory and incomes ferociously. Some time ago a company called Smile Direct expressed an interest in opening a location in Winnipeg. The Manitoba Dental Association opposed the idea.

Smile Direct said it was going to sue seven dentists and the Manitoba Dental Association because it believed that the dentists and

their professional association were trying unfairly to undermine the company’s efforts to provide a much less costly orthodontic service to Manitobans. The Dental Association said it is only protecting its interests based on current legislation and regulations. This may be true, but they also seem to be standing in the way of innovative and less costly dental care for the public.

Going to the dentist costs money and dentists have traditionally had little competition among themselves or with others interested in providing dental care.

One of the first public strains between dentists and their patients was a fight over who could make false teeth, or dentures. In 1974, after several years of lobbying, Ed Schreyer’s NDP government introduced the Denturist Act, siding with those making inexpensive dentures for the public. Dentists were not amused. More recently, dental tourism has evolved into another way people are expressing their dissatisfaction with the costs of dentistry. People who require expensive dental procedures in Manitoba are going to Mexico, u 8 ‘Professional Associations’

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ong before chemical fertilizers and pesticides appeared, there were planting companions where farmers and gardeners knew that certain plants grow and taste better when planted next to each other. One type of plant may help another by providing shelter from wind, sun, or frost. Plants help each other by improving the soil with minerals and nutrients, they can attract birds and other natural predators that will deal with harmful insects, and they can also repel specific insects. The relationship between plants and plants and insects is known as “companion planting.” Today it’s by far the safest, natural way to garden organically.

Mixed planting It’s easy to lure insects away from the plants they like to feed and lay their eggs on, by planting a variety of things together. So many different “smells” confuse insects, hopefully, to the point where they’re unable to locate their preferred food source.

Plants that naturally repel insects There are many beneficial herbs that keep insects away.

1. Peppermint repels ants, white cabbage moth, aphids, and flea beetle.

2. Since Mint is a notorious spreader that can easily get out of control. Establish it in pots that are above ground or sunk below where roots can’t escape drainage holes.

3. Garlic discourages aphids, flea and Japanese beetle, and spider mites.

4. Perennial Chives repel aphids and spider mites, two very common garden pests. u 18 ‘Companion planting’

Celebrate the Year of the Garden all year long with Canada’s Local Gardener by subscribing today!

Check us out at localgardener.net Official English Language Magazine

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August 2022

ISSUES IN THE NEWS

Follow us online at: whatsupwinnipeg.ca Facebook: Lifestyles55 Twitter: @Lifestyles55

PUBLISHER Pegasus Publications Inc. EDITOR Dorothy Dobbie dorothy@pegasuspublications.net ART DIRECTOR Karl Thomsen karl@pegasuspublications.net GENERAL MANAGER Ian Leatt ian.leatt@pegasuspublications.net CONTRIBUTORS Dorothy Dobbie, Shauna Dobbie, Hon. Myrna Driedger, John Einarson, Michael Gibbens, Stefano Grande, Jim Ingebrigtsen, Hon. Scott Johnson, Ian Leatt, Gary Moir, Marty Morantz, Fred Morris, Manitoba Seniors Coalition, Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, Connie Newman, Peggy Pendergast, Brent Poole, Sanja Rossi, Senaka Samarasinghe, Trudy Schroeder, Elly Spencer, Heather Stefanson, Hon. Jerry Storie, Wayne Weedon, Nathan Zassman.

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Two of Canada’s biggest killers of Indigenous people: welfare and promotion of victimhood

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othing destroys the psyche faster than dependency and being painted as a victim. Both undermine one’s self esteem and over time, one’s ability to help oneself. Victimhood creates a feeling of helplessness and promotes a self-destroying inner anger that eats away at the heart and soul of the “victim”.

Yet both these destructive weapons have been and are still aimed at the hearts of our Indigenous community in the name of “good”, much the same way residential schools were thought to do “good”. Both are clearly wrong.

When Europeans first came to this land, they found proud and independent peoples who had learned to live with their environment in a healthy and sustainable way. The European measurements of civilization were weighed against them but, really, both peoples were primitive in their own spheres. Europeans lived like pigs, often stinking, dirty, rowdy, drunk. King Louis XIV was said to Dorothy have taken only had three baths in his entire life. Bathing was only done for medicinal purposes and linen underclothes were kept clean because it was thought that they absorbed sweat and dirt.

But body washing was not a custom.

Native people, however, understood the benefits of bathing and even tried to convince the pilgrims of this, to no avail. Natives bathed in lakes and streams and used sweat lodges to purify their bodies. So, who was the more “civilized”?

Housing varied. Only nomadic peoples used teepees or wigwams, which were easily moved from place to place when new hunting territory was required. Other groups had substantial homes, often accommodating several families.

Iroquois villages had wooden longhouses. Very significant plank houses were built on the West coast. In some cases, on the prairies, sod houses provided accommodation. We have all heard of igloos in the north although the Innu also built some houses partly underground to obtain heat from the earth. These are just a few examples, but these homes provided for the specific needs of specific peoples.

Indigenous people were medically sophisticated with many cures from native plants that have been adapted to the drugs we use today. They understood how to preserve food and they used many herbs and spices to make that food palatable.

The point is that these two peoples were different but equal and, indeed, the indigenous people were superior when it came to living in this land. However, the Europeans had an advantage: metal and metal weaponry. While ancient American societies has once used copper, they abandoned it as too soft and not as effective as stone for tool making, never quite getting to the bronze age. Some historians feel that was because North American copper was of a high grade and it did not lead to the conclusion of mixing it with tin for strength.

This meant that the newcomers had superior weaponry which was effectively used to settle disputes with the native peoples. Added to this was introduction of new diseases by the Europeans to which Indigenous people had no immunity.

Gradually, Europeans prevailed, although not without many cooperative initiatives, some as allies in war, some in community life. The boundless riches of North America improved the lives of Europeans and while imports from overseas were certainly desirable for Indigenous people – metal weapons, woven cloths, and new technologies – those benefits did not keep up with the benefits that their trade lent to the people from across the sea.

Still, right up until the 19th century, Indigenous people largely held their own, being pushed further west and north but clinging to an independent way of life. Starting in the 1700s, many intermarried with the settlers starting a whole

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new group of people, the Metis, who were neither “Indian” or “white” and who developed their own traditions and way of life over the next 150 years.

During those early years, some Indigenous people concluded that it might be useful for their children to be educated in European ways as they saw that these people were not leaving, and in co-operation with the Jesuits in Quebec, a school system was started as long ago as 1639.

Sometimes the schools would take place in the Indigenous communities, but sometimes in residence. It was a cooperative education.

It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that assimilation of Indigenous people became an accepted policy, and this was the beginning of the great evil. You cannot run another people’s lives without enslaving them spiritually and psychologically. And in 1857, even before Confederation, the Gradual Civilization Act was passed. This was the forerunner of the Dobbie pernicious Indian Act, which, under Duncan Campbell Scott, the superintendent of Indian Affairs of the Department Indian Affairs from 1913 to 1932, was expanded to include compulsory residential school attendance. This senior public servant is worth looking into for those who are interested. He oversaw the management of the residential schools, and he directed an almost religious campaign against our Indigenous population.

There is not enough room here to go into all the wrongs of that system and those wrongs extended far beyond the violence perpetrated against the physical bodies of these children. This trauma is still having awful repercussions. Sadly, the way to deal with it is to not make the same old mistakes all over again.

Indigenous people are smart and canny and not all one homogeneous group. They do not represent a single block of thought or a single political view. Nor are they all downtrodden welfare cases. Many are successful financially and personally and serve as leaders to the wider community. As Leslyn Lewis says in literature for her campaign for the Tory leadership, and it is true of native people as it is of herself, “When people treat minorities as a single block it is a shocking display of identity politics and frankly a kind of racism.”

She says, they “don’t need to be rescued because they were “victimized” by a white system and only a progressive leaning white man can rescue them…” She calls this a “disrespect of visible minorities”.

She is right. It is time we accorded our Indigenous citizens the respect of open and frank dialogue. Some political guy telling us what reconciliation means without the dialogue is another top down, Mr./Ms. Do-gooder-knows-best approach that will take us nowhere except more supercilious nonsense.

I have asked several times of my Aboriginal friends on Facebook what reconciliation means to them. How do they see this being accomplished? I never get an answer, because I suspect, the answer is far too simple and yet also too complex. In my mind it is: “Respect us, work with us not on us, give us room to breathe and grow and become whole again.”

We must be ready to do this. They must fix themselves. We cannot do this for them, but we can be beside them as they make this journey, and we can offer an elbow if someone stumbles and expect an elbow from them if we do the same.

As the pope said in his recent visit, it is time to move forward in a new atmosphere of understanding, to learn from our past. I believe that together, and only together, can we build the kind of Canada we have always bragged about but which we never quite achieved.

In the true spirit of reconciliation and hope, perhaps we can regain that mutual respect and learn to laugh together, to build together and heal together.

Tune into whatsupwinnipeg.com and enjoy the ever expanding library of episodes today!

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Copyright Pegasus Publications Inc. August 2022

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Understanding your government: Role of the Speaker

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he Speaker is a key figure in the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker is the neutral, nonpartisan Presiding Officer of the Legislative Assembly, the position of highest authority in the Legislative Assembly, and represents the Legislature in all its powers and proceedings. The Speaker is an MLA elected in a secret ballot by all Members of the Legislative Assembly to preside over legislative proceedings and ensure that the Assembly’s established rules of behaviour, practices (written and unwritten) and procedures Hon. Myrna Driedger are followed during Legislative sessions. It is the Broadway Speaker’s duty to interpret Journal these rules impartially, to maintain order, and to defend the rights and privileges of Members including the right to freedom of speech.

The duties of the Speaker falls into three categories 1. The Speaker as Presiding Officer Balancing the right of the majority to conduct business with the right of the minority to be heard is one of the Speaker’s most important responsibilities.

The Speaker presides over the sitting of the Assembly and enforces the rules, orders and conduct of business. The Speaker oversees debates in the Chamber and ensures that Members follow the rules and practices of the Legislative Assembly as they ask or answer questions, debate or vote. The key aspects of being Speaker are authority and impartiality. The Speaker does not take part in debates, ask or answer questions, and does not vote except to break a tie. The Speaker

also defends the Legislative Assembly estimates in the Committee of Supply. All questions and statements during a formal sitting must be directed through the Speaker.

2. The Speaker as Administrator The Speaker is the head of the Legislative Assembly and is responsible for its overall direction and management.

The Speaker is responsible for the daily administration of the Assembly- financial, administration, human resources, legal, procedural and informationaland is supported by a team overseen by and Executive Director of Administration and Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.

3. The Speaker as Official Representative of the House The Speaker acts as the official ambassador of the Legislative Assembly, meets with elected officials, Ambassadors, Consul Generals and Honourary Consul Generals from all over the world and represents the Manitoba Legislature at parliamentary gatherings in Canada and internationally.

Other Roles and Responsibilities The Speaker oversees the Manitoba Legislative Assembly Education and Outreach services, is the Honourary Chair of the Association of Former Manitoba MLAs and provides a supporting role to the Youth Parliament of Manitoba.

Impartiality of the Chair The Assembly must trust in the impartiality of the Speaker, or it cannot function. Members are entitled to expect the Speaker to remain neutral and treat all Members fairly. At the same time, a Speaker is entitled to expect support from all Members regardless of their party.

History The name Speaker was first used long ago in England. The original job of the Speaker was to communicate information to the King or Queen on behalf

of the House of Commons, the commoners. The Speaker presented petitions and grievances on behalf of the people. If the King or Queen didn’t like what the Speaker had to say, the Speaker could literally lose their head! For that reason, the job of Speaker has not always been a desirable one. Today, out of respect for days when people really had to be forced to take this job, a Speaker is taken to the Speaker’s Chair for the first time by the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition. The new Speaker will pretend to resist as they approach the Chair. This is because of tradition, not because the Speaker does not want the job.

The Speaker as MLA The Speaker, when elected, does not stop being an MLA. That means that while remaining neutral and avoiding taking public positions on politically controversial matters before the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker must continue to listen to the people of his or her constituency and to effectively represent their interests. The Speaker does this by making private recommendations to government and organizations on issues affecting their constituency. The Speaker however does not attend Caucus meetings.

Legislative Assembly Security The Speaker is responsible for security for the Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker’s Uniform Another important tradition surrounding the Speaker is the “uniform.” The tricorn hat and black robes serve as a constant reminder of the Speaker’s special role.

The Mace The Mace is a large, heavy and richly ornamental rod used in the Legislative Assembly. It is the symbol of the authority of the House. The Sergeant-At-Arms carries the Mace into the Chamber each day as part of the Speaker’s Parade.

Hon. Myrna Driedger is MLA for Roblin and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

Canada Summer Jobs

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Marty Morantz

oung Canadians have been deeply affected by the loss of employment opportunities as we recover from the pandemic. The energy young people bring to Canada’s economy is oftentimes underrecognized as a powerful force in our financial recovery. They deserve meaningful, high-quality jobs that offer valuable experience in the workforce. After all, young Canadians are the key to a positive future.

From the cancellation of their high school graduations to prolonged virtual education, young constituents of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley have overcome countless challenges over the past two years. I know it has not been easy, and I know many of them are eager to move

forward with their lives.

With the help of the Canada Summer Jobs program, over 130 youth in our community will be able to do just that. They will receive valuable work experience this summer that will give them the opportunity to develop the foundational skills they will need to succeed in their chosen careers.

I cannot think of a better, more worthwhile investment in our community’s future.

One of my favourite things to do as a Member of Parliament is visiting young students who have found employment through the Canada Summer Jobs program. I will be continuing to make these visits throughout the summer so keep an eye out for me at local businesses in our community!

Throughout the summer, young people can find new job opportunities in our community on jobbank.gc.ca/youth and the Job Bank mobile app.

I’m really looking forward to meeting more students who have found employment they enjoy and seeing the positive impact that the Canada Summer Jobs Program has in our community. Please spread the word and encourage any student you know of to check it out! I know that by working together, we can ensure that this program can help more young people get the experience and skills they need to succeed.

Marty Morantz is the MP for St. James Assinniboiea–Charleswood– Headingley.

All 17 review recommendations being implemented to protect seniors in long term care

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Hon. Scott Johnson

Minister’s Message

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s Minister for Seniors and Long-Term Care, I am working hard every day to help provide better care and a more meaningful quality of life to seniors who live in personal care homes.

Last month, I launched a public engagement to ask Manitobans to weigh in on personal care home (PCH) standards together with Health Minister Audrey Gordon. We invited feedback from people from all walks of life, to consider the array of perspectives on this important topic. The feedback gathered in this process will help us to ensure the standards review process reflects the priorities and expectations of all Manitobans.

Family members, partners, children and friends of someone who is entering a personal care home should expect nothing but the best for their loved one as they are making the transition into a new lifestyle.

These major life transitions can be hard on people, but a personal care home that consistently meets the high standards set out in

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legislation is one that caregivers and family can feel confident and safe about.

There are 124 licensed personal care homes (PCHs) in Manitoba that must meet a specific set of standards to ensure safe and appropriate care to residents. The standards are set out in the Personal Care Home Standards Regulation under the Health Services Insurance Act and include admissions, care plans, nursing and medical care, pharmaceutical care, recreational and spiritual care, staff education and infection and disease control.

Following a serious COVID-19 outbreak in a PCH in October 2020, the Manitoba government commissioned an independent review led by Dr. Lynn Stevenson to understand what happened and reduce the likelihood of a similar event happening in the future. Our government accepted and is implementing all 17 recommendations arising from Dr. Stevenson’s review.

I look forward to seeing the responses from this survey as they will significantly

inform and help to guide our ongoing work.

We have made a lot of progress this year developing action and implementation plans in response to the recommendations outlined in the Stevenson Review. This public engagement on personal care home standards will inform next steps on ensuring personal care home standards are current and relevant to the changing needs of residents. Maintaining high standards for your lifestyle and care in a PCH is something that matters a great deal to us all.

To learn more about licensing and standards of PCHs, visit www.gov.mb.ca/ health/pch/licensing.html.

To view the final Stevenson Review and learn more about the province’s response, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/maples_review.html.

Thank you for taking the time to show you care about these important topics.

Scott Johnston is the Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care.

August 2022

The art of negotiation, part 3: Looking into the mirror O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!

eagerly flock to football, wrestling, boxing and ultimate fighting events.

Who decides what a country's national sport is? Less o see ourselves as others see us. Over two-hun- than ten-percent of Canadians are true, passionate, dred years ago, Robert Burns pondered this hockey fanatics, and less than ten-percent are the othidea. Believe it or not, we do have the power to er extreme; they detest blood sports and would have see ourselves as we really are. All we need to do is take such things outlawed if they had the power to do so. off our rose-coloured glasses and look into the mir- What about the more than eighty percent who are in between these two extremes? The majorror. In order to step back from the trees ity are sitting on the fence waiting to see to see the forest, pretend you are a space what the flavour of the month is. They alien who is looking at your friends and are the good consumers, the ones marfamily for the first time; the bickering, keting companies refer to as the gullible fighting, power struggles, criticism, petmasses who never make their own decity jealousies, and childish whining which sions. They look at what everyone else is you have been ignoring, should become doing before they join in. Northrop Frye plainly visible. gives a good description of these fenceWe are a militaristic and warring socisitters in his lectures, "The Educated ety, yet, we preach peace and declare that Imagination". harmony is what we are asking for. AcDuring the French Revolution, Austions, however, speak louder than words. tria and Prussia, believed France, being Why are we providing military aid and Wayne Weedon in complete chaos, would be easy picksending our troops off to war? The truth Food for ings. Like hungry hyenas, they quickly is, we are in the habit of combat and evmoved in for the kill. However, France erything, to us, is a fight. For peace to Thought was prepared for them. Will and Ariel happen, we must turn from the adulation Durant, in their book, "The Age of Naof warriors and the bedizened glory of martial strife to the majesty of the common people and poleon", described how these two armies, like any bullies, ran when they realised France could not be easily to the more glorious victories of peace.

To see what a person's true characteristics are, one taken. Looking for easier conquests, they withdrew must watch them at play, one must see what they do from the French, in order to join Russia. These three in their leisure time. If people are obsessed with blood parties conquered and divvied up what is now Poland, sports, one may safely refer to them as being antago- Ukraine, and several other countries. Struggles to connistic, belligerent, warring people. Canada's national quer lands and expand borders have been going on for sport is hockey, one of the bloodiest sports. Also, we thousands of years, but, who reads history? Ukraine is

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a young country, much younger than Canada. Who, today, has legitimate claims on Ukraine, a territory, which, for thousands of years, has had ever changing borders and rulers?

Russians and Ukrainians share the same DNA, they are brothers and sisters. In fact, all people of the world share DNA. We all have the same ancestors. We are all the same, ALL-ONE. When beginning negotiations, we must remember, we are not dealing with an alien species, we are negotiating with sisters and brothers. Rather than looking to win, maybe, we should strive to come to a fair and just settlement for everyone?

President George W. Bush began a war with Iraq, a sovereign country, which was on friendly terms with the USA. This was an illegal and immoral invasion. Over 70 percent of the public in USA, as well as Canada, backed the war. The New York Times, The New Yorker, and major Canadian newspapers, printed bogus front-page stories about how Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction; none ever existed.

Newspapers sometime print lies, and, if they do print the truth, it is never the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Some newspapers later apologized for their drumbeating and quasi-justification of the war in Iraq. Bush was never charged with warcrimes.

Negotiations will always fail if we are striving to win and we refuse to consider a compromise.

Next month: A Bird in the Hand, a look at gambling obsessions.

Wayne Douglas Weedon is a Manitoba author. Some of his works may be downloaded, free of charge, in various formats, at https://archive.org.

Reinstating the Vopni Street name and the issue of confusing and duplicated street names Where do the mayoral and city council candidates stand on recognizing citizens who have made a significant contribution to the city? Over the years the system for naming and renaming streets has been inconsistent.

Some street names that recognize the work of prominent Winnipeg immigrants have been changed and others cause confusion. One example of a name change is the 1982 replacement of the name Vopni with Park Lane.

In the early 1900s Vopni Avenue was named after Jon J. Vopni who came to Canada from Iceland in 1887. Here is his story.

– Dorothy Mills, a resident of Vopni Street

cluded Best Street (Queen), Winston Road (Sutherland), Day Street (Oxford) Larsen Avenue (Melrose Avenue), Whellams Lane (Ferry Road), and Collegiate Street (College Street). The 1982 renaming of Vopni Avenue proved that the early 1960s efforts to reduce duplicate street names had been a passing fad. More than a dozen streets scattered in every corner of Winnipeg can be confused with Park Lane Avenue.

The streets which existed before 1982 include Transcona’s Park Circle, Park Manor Blvd off North Main, Parkside Drive and Parkview Street in St. James, Parkhill Street and Parkdale Street in Assiniboia, Park Meadows Drive near the St. Charles Country Club, Park Blvd in n 1887, Jon Jonnason Vopni, age Tuxedo, St. Vital’s Parkville Drive, and 23, came to Canada from Iceland.

Southdale’s Park Terrace Drive.

Jon became involved in the conThe Inkster Gardens neighbourhood struction of the railway east of WinFred Morris with boundaries of Keewatin, Inkster nipeg. As a businessperson, Jon built From the desk Blvd, King Edward, and Jefferson was many west end homes, and some of of a gadfly developed in the 1980s. This neighbourWinnipeg’s first apartment blocks. hood is just north of the original Vopni He founded Art Press. Jon served the community in many ways including as a Winnipeg Avenue. The first residents of Inkster Garden Drive alderman, the president of First Lutheran Church, are listed in the 1981 Henderson Directory. The street the president of the Gimli Icelandic Festival, and on runs parallel to the 2000 block of Inkster Blvd. The the board of the Winnipeg General Hospital. Jon, numbers on Inkster Garden are similar and, in some his wife Sigurborg Magnusdotteer, and their family cases, duplicates of Inkster Blvd numbers eight to 10 of 11 children were longtime residents of the 597 of kms to the east.

Lyle Street has been part of St. James for over a cenBannatyne Avenue. The house still stands. tury. After the 2016 demolition of the St. James PoThe Vopni family has many ties with St. James.

Early in the 20th Century, a street in the Municipal- lice Station at 210 Lyle Street, it seemed as if the days ity of Rosser was named after Jon. The street even- of Lyle Street stopping and starting had finally ended. tually became part of Brooklands (1921), St. James Sixteen new Habitat for Humanity homes were built (1967), and Winnipeg (1972). In the 1980 election with help from former U.S. President Jimmy Cartyear, Winnipeg changed the name of Vopni Avenue er and his wife Rosylyn. Since all the residents were to Park Lane Avenue. The street name change came new at the same time, a new street name could have into effect in 1982. The Icelandic National League of been used. However, the new homes were given Lyle North America, in a resolution at their convention, Street addresses.

In the early 1990s, a new street in the Amber Trails described this change “as an affront to an ethnic group that has made and is still making a notable contribu- neighbourhood in Northwest Winnipeg was named Mike Ruta Court. We already had a Michael Ruta tion to the development and welfare of Winnipeg.”

Place in East Kildonan.

Duplication of street names On September 28, 2011, City byLaw 115 2011 One of the advantages to using Vopni as a street name is that it cannot be confused with any other regulating street naming came into effect. Article Winnipeg street name. Let us examine whether (13) 1 states: “A street must not be renamed if the Greater Winnipeg is really committed to eliminating new name (a) duplicates, sound similar look alike or is otherwise easily confused with another existing or street name duplication.

Between 1959 and 1963, many Greater Winnipeg former street name within the City of Winnipeg.”

After 2011, the Bridgewater neighbourhoods were streets were renamed to eliminate duplication. The list, with the former street names in brackets, in- developed. There are many new streets which can

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August 2022

be confused with streets in other parts of Winnipeg.

Some examples, with the existing streets in brackets, are Berry Hill Road (Berry Street in St. James), Castle Brook Drive (Castle Avenue in Elmwood), Chrystal Lake Ter (Chrystal Avenue in St. Vital). Cherry Wood Road (Cherry Crescent in Windsor Park), and Willow Creek Road (Willow Avenue in Tuxedo). Why are there so many streets which seem to be duplicates of existing streets? The answer lies in a questionable system for naming streets.

As we corresponded with the city on reinstating Vopni as a street name, we have been constantly referred to developers. This raises more questions than answers. Who are the developers? If there are two or more developers on the same street, who gets to name the street? How can the City follow its own street naming rules as set out in By Law 115 2011 if the developers have the final say?

Is the list of prospective streets compiled by the community committees a non-binding guideline?

Finding the political will is the key to reinstating the Vopni Street name. The ability of the current city council to find the political will to get things done seems to be questionable. The failure to provide transit service to the Assiniboia Downs neighbourhood is an example of a lack of political will. Council has endlessly studied this transit issue and even put it on the January 8, 2019, Assiniboia Community Committee meeting agenda.

As we again mention the issue of reinstating Vopni as a street name, the same pattern of finding a way not to get it done has emerged. The current council cannot seem to find the political will to reinstate Vopni as a street name. After the October, 2022 election, the new council should ensure that the city regains control over all street naming.

All City councillors the mayor and the candidates for these offices will receive a questionnaire with two questions: 1. Do you favour the immediate restoration of Vopni as a street name?

2. Will you work for a better, more transparent, accountable and less confusing system for naming Winnipeg streets.

The replies will be published in the October Lifestyles 55 issue. In the same issue, I will list all candidates who choose to ignore this issue. In the September issue, I will profile one of the streets that changed its name in 1959 to eliminate duplication.

Fred Morris is a grandfather, sports fan and political activist. whatsupwinnipeg.ca

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The power of opportunity to change young lives

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ince its founding in 1939, the Recreational Division of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) School has made a meaningful contribution in communities across Manitoba by providing quality dance instruction to dancers of all ages, levels, and interests. The School offers a range of classes in a variety of disciplines such as: creative movement, ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, modern, musical theatre, conditioning and hip hop, as well as specialized programs for boys and adults, combining the best in training, facilities and value in a positive and encouraging environment. We are Winnipeg's largest dance school for all skills and all ages.

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Recreational Division Opportunity Fund is a changemaker, ensuring young people have access to quality dance programming at the RWB School by helping to offset the cost of dance classes. Read on to find out how an investment in this Fund can support more youth at the RWB! Many of our Recreational Division students have been very lucky to be able to dance at the RWB since they were small children. They have access to our incredible teachers, first-rate training, and opportunities to create many lasting memories that they share with their fellow dance friends. Without a doubt, many of our students have learned the value of commitment and hard work through their dance lessons here.

As we have witnessed in the last two years though, the RWB and our students have faced many challenges – from shifting to digital performances and holding classes and auditions online, to adapting to new ways of learning. The pandemic has also highlighted that, unfortunately, some families do not have the means to support their child’s continuation of dance training at the School.

The RWB’s Recreational Division Opportunity Fund was created to ensure that as many young people as possi-

RWB School Intensive Training Program students. Photo by Kristen Sawatzky. ble have access to quality dance programming at the RWB School by helping to offset the cost of dance classes. Each year, the Opportunity Fund depends on donations collected at events and performances throughout the season.

Since many live, in-person events have not occurred since early 2020, your support is needed now more than ever, given the impact the pandemic has had on so many of our RWB friends and family. The more donations this Fund receives, the more youth we are able to support.

“Thank you to all our donors who have supported the RD Opportunity Fund. The impact your gifts have had on the recipients is immeasurable. Your generosity helps students to build their artistic talents, learn with our exceptional teachers in a state-of-the-art training centre, and develop lasting skills that foster success. The RD Opportunity Fund goes a long way in reducing barriers to training in dance within our community and we are so grate-

RWB School Recreational Division students. Photo by Kristen Sawatzky.

ful for all contributions!” - Nicole Kepp, RWB School’s Recreational Division Principal.

Following one’s passion and talent should never be determined by financial means. Your generous donations to the RD Opportunity Fund, especially during these uncertain times, will allow young dancers to continue to have access to quality dance education and instruction at the RWB School.

If you would like to give the opportunity to a young Winnipegger, whose family may not be able to support a child’s dance classes, please visit our web site and donate to the RD Opportunity Fund https://www.rwb.org/support/individual-giving/. 100 per cent of all gifts received will go to the Fund to help youth pursue the art of dance within the RWB community.

The power of opportunity to change young lives is in our hands!

How Flin Flon contributed to the Webb Space Telescope

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e write this today on the day that NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) released the first photographs from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

You might be forgiven if you are wondering why this event is appropriate fodder for a column from Northern Manitoba that purports to deal with arts and culture in the north but bear with us because it really is.

The photographs are extraordinary.

They are ‘taken’ in the infra-red spectrum of light, which the human eye is not capable of seeing. The science behind the telescope is well beyond this mind of ours to comprehend but we can marvel at it, An image of Carinae Nebula by the James Webb Space Telescope. with the rest of the world. The thought, Dennis with a model of the James Webb Space however, that attracted us to the event this Telescope (JWST). morning is that the beauty of the images, which apparently capture events that hap- guide new and more expansive technol- gies from an early age. His name was holds steady the ‘cameras’ that are recordpened literally billions of years ago, was ogy that will change lives. It is amazing to Dennis Henry. His father Roy Henry and ing the images we saw today. only able to be really exDennis passed away in 2009 at age 43 imagine and perhaps a little youngest sister Kendra still live here in pressed in the language of town. His mom, Pat West, and middle sis- after a strenuous battle with cancer, too terrifying. art and culture. Seasoned Authors will write new ter, Joanne, now live in British Columbia. soon to be sure. He made other amazing journalists reported on the Dennis graduated from Hapnot Colle- technological advances in his journey on science fiction; filmmakers images with awe usually rewill make wondrous mov- giate Institute with loads of scholarships this planet in the design and manufacturer served for paintings by Old ies, both fictional and fac- and the Governor General’s Medal. He of NASA’s NSCAT Scatterometer which Masters. tual/ documentary; visual went to university at McMaster in Ham- is an instrument deployed in space on a The images have been artists will represent new ilton as that was the one university at satellite to measure wind speed as it directs colourized by computer ideas in paint or stone. It is which he could pursue a degree in com- tides on earth and MOPITT (Measureprograms that comingle arts momentous and it also has a puter science. He went to work for COM ments of Pollution in the Troposphere) sensibility and science techvery direct link to Flin Flon, DEV International in Kitchener, a firm which was launched into earth orbit by nology. Several local artists MB. Whoa, you might be that specializes in the design, development NASA in 1999 and continues to transmit in our neck of the woods thinking, what? But it’s and manufacture of space hardware sub- data on pollution patterns and its effect on Elly Spencer (boreal forest ‘woods’ that systems. The company was contracted to the lower atmosphere. It was also funded true. is) utilize simpler versions In 1966, a particular baby the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and significantly by the CSA. The arts from of this technology every Flin Flon and the Henry West families boy was born in Flin Flon. was consequently a partner in the NASA/ up here day. The knowledge exploHe grew up in a time be- CSA/European Space Agency project to are justifiably proud of this exceptional sion that these photographs fore computers were widely build the James Webb Space Telescope. man who proves the value of what the crerepresent will certainly spill over into the available to the general public, but he was Dennis was the team leader who designed ative north has to offer to our community, development of new ideas and ultimately fascinated with rockets and new technolo- the Fine Guidance system that focuses and the country and the world.

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August 2022

Golden age of the accordion

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hile it may no longer be in vogue these days, back in the 1950s the accordion was one of the most popular instruments on the bandstand. Several of our best-known musicians including jazz band leader Ron Paley, the godfather of Winnipeg music Ray St. Germain, and Guess Who founder Chad Allan began their careers playing the accordion. The D-Drifters’ Dave Roman was a master accordionist.

Veteran local jazz musician and musicologist Owen Clark cites several accomplished accordion players from Winnipeg John Einarson who went on to significant careers. “GorLocal Music die Fleming was a world Spotlight class accordionist who moved to Montreal in the late 1950s and had a tremendous career,” notes Owen.

“Gary Gross, who played in local bands, moved to Toronto in 1966 and was the accordion, piano player and musical director on The Friendly Giant and hundreds of other CBC shows and recordings. I worked with him at Chan's Moon Room.” He also mentioned accordionist Tom Szczeniak.

Accordionists Ted Komar and Kas Siwik were constantly in demand for nightclub and dance hall gigs and became key members of the local music community.

Ted Komar was a pillar of the local dance music scene throughout the 1950s and ‘60s. Either alone with his accordion or fronting The Ted Komar Orchestra, he covered just about any style of music (he once toured Northern Canada with The Guess Who backing Juliette). Beyond an in-demand accompanist and band leader, Ted was instrumental in the founding of Winnipeg’s annual Folklorama and for many years participated in Dauphin, Manitoba’s annual National Ukrainian Festival.

Kas (Kasmir) Siwik began performing at age eight playing with his grandfather in a Polish band. “Accordion was a big thing in the 1950s so there was lots of work for him,” says son Rob Siwik, a noted jazz drummer in the city. As a member of accordion quartet The Accordionaires (Kas, Bert Beaton, Karl Kubow and Janice Mayer), the group came second at a major accordion competition in Chicago in the mid 1950s. Back home, Kas worked with Al Sprintz, Ray Moga and Del Wagner at Jack’s Place on Pembina Highway and later at the Town ‘n’ Country, Club Morocco, and Chan’s Moon Room with Ray St. Germain. “Kas played every club in Winnipeg,” recalls his wife Pat. He held down a long-time gig at Baileys Restaurant and Lounge backing singer Vicky Knight. Kas also played in the band at the French Pavilion at Folklorama with his son Rob.

Ted Komar backing Peggy Neville.

Avrum Rosner with accordion.

“My Dad loved to play,” notes Rob. “It was never a chore to him.”

Besides playing in Al Sprintz’s band at Club Morocco, accordion and piano player Dave Jandrisch served as musical director for Rainbow Stage as well as for the long running CBC TV children’s show Fred Penner’s Place. Dave went on to help create the Musicians’ Rights Organization of Canada and assisted in drafting the Canadian Content Production Rules for film production in Canada.

A dozen or more accordion studios sprang up throughout Winnipeg serving the growing demand for accordion instruction. Ted and brother Ron opened Ted Komar’s Accordion Studio on Arlington Avenue which held annual recitals and taught hundreds of young musicians. Earl Kittinger taught accordion for several decades at Komar’s. Kas Siwik opened Siwik Music Centre in St. Boniface in 1964 offering instrument sales and lessons. He taught accordion and piano at the store until it closed in 1972. Kolt’s Music on McPhillips at Boyd Avenue, founded by Jack Kolt and run by twin brothers Robert and Richard, offered accordion instruction.

Kolt’s also operated a second location on Henderson Highway in East Kildonan. Paul Zubot provided accordion lessons at his store on Pembina Highway. Fred Kent operated Kent’s Accordion College in Elmwood.

Lowe’s Music on Kennedy Street offered accordion lessons as did Deeley’s Music on Balmoral Avenue.

“I took accordion lessons for two years at Kent Accordion College,” recalls Avrum Rosner (photo above).

My teacher was Tom Struik. I had a Kentone accordion my parents bought used for $50. I still have it.”

“I remember when we were kids playing baseball or soccer on the Elmwood school playground,” says Crescendos singer Glenn MacRae, “and Chad Allan’s Mom coming over and dragging him home to practice his accordion.” Allan went on to teach accordion at Kent’s before discovering rock ‘n’ roll.

Michael Chaykowski recalls, “I took lessons at Ted Komar’s Accordion Studio when I was kid in the late ‘50s to early ‘60s and hated it. You needed to bring your accordion with you to your lessons. In winter, I would put my accordion on a sled. We lived on Jarvis Avenue but as I got closer to Flora Avenue and McKenzie Street, I had to run to escape the snowballs that pelted me. Here I was a chubby 10 year old kid wearing glasses and dragging an accordion through the snow.”

The golden era of the accordion came to an end by the latter 1950s, replaced by guitars once rock ‘n’ roll captured youthful imaginations. Fred ‘BTO’ Turner traded in his sister’s accordion for a guitar and never looked back.

Misadventures in the media

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have been involved with Winnipeg’s was particularly cold. The woman, let’s media in one way or another for call her Luna, woke up as usual and got more than four decades. So, you can herself ready for another busy and stressfilled day at work. Natuimagine, I have crossed rally an important part of paths with some extraorher morning routine was dinary individuals during to let her cute little poodle that time. Most of them puppy out for her early are the countless men and business of the day. women, members of the It’s not uncommon, public, I have had the opwhen a person is running portunity to spend time late, to forget something. with as well as interviewWallet, keys, locking ing thousands of people the door or not having on both radio and televiplugged your car on a sion. I am going share two brutally cold night are just stories with you today. a few things we have all One is about a woman Jim Ingebrigtsen done at one time or anwho appeared regularly on Is It Just Me... other. But you most cerTV a few decades ago and tainly wouldn’t leave your the other is about a welllittle pooch outside on a known and much-loved musician about town. I will not reveal minus -30 C day, would you? No, but, their names for two reasons. The woman that is exactly what Luna did. She didn’t in question will remain anonymous for realize her oversight until she returned reasons that will become obvious as I home that evening.

When she finally realized what she had share her troubling tale of woe. I believe the gentleman passed away a number of done she ran to the kitchen and opened years ago although, if he were still with us the back door. Her canine companion was he wouldn’t mind my telling his story be- laying on the back steps completely frocause it is funny and he would still laugh zen stiff, as in, frozen stiff. Understandat his gaffe. ably, Luna was momentarily distraught.

It was a frigid January morning as She knew she had to deal with the situamost January mornings are. This one tion in a respectful and intelligent manner August 2022

so she decided to have the dog cremated.

Not knowing where to go or what might be open to do that for her, she decided to do it herself. So off to the park she went with her former furry friend. She knew the park had barbeque stations set up in one area of the park and that became the site to say goodbye to her precious pet. Not being completely stupid, she brought some sort of accelerant to expedite the process. That was much easier than bringing wood and kindling to start a fire on such a cold night. It was then Luna made the second big mistake of the day. Frozen dogs don’t burn. But their fur does and that was the only part of the dog that did. Now, she thought, “What am I going to do with this thing?”

She couldn’t take it to a veterinarian as she would have to explain what happened. That’s when she decided to take what she thought was the most humane course of action in disposing the body.

After the singed puppy stopped smoking, she carried it to the river. And finally, that’s when she made the last big mistake of her day. She threw the lifeless body of her beloved little dog into the river. Well, more to the point … onto the river. In January, anywhere around this part of the world, the river waters are very hard.

They are as frozen as the dog that hit it.

And there she left it. The ice would melt

in the spring and unless some meat-eating varmint came upon it, it would float down the river like so much jetsam and flotsam. The last word in Luna is tic.

On a lighter note, many moons ago, a very recognizable media figure was on his way home late one night after consuming a number of adult beverages at the old Winnipeg Press Club. Two police officers noticed a car weaving slightly as it made its way west on Portage Avenue.

The officers pulled the car over and asked the gentleman to get in the back seat of the police car. It took no time at all to establish the fact that the gentleman was inebriated. But given he was very close to his home and after all, this was a local celebrity, the officers suggested he get back in his car and they would follow him home to make sure he was safe. He readily agreed. He stepped out of the police car and slid into his own vehicle. As the police officers were waiting for the gentleman to start moving they turned to the other vehicle and realized the confused offender was sitting in the back seat of his own car thinking he was in the front.

They drove him home.

Jim was a writer-broadcaster, producer and presenter on television and radio for 40 years. He is also a host on Lifestyles 55 Digital Radio. Find it at www.whatsupwinnipeg.ca whatsupwinnipeg.ca

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Kevin Klein, problem solver Continued from page 1

That Kevin has a fine intellect is just one of the qualities he brings to the table. Grit and determination, added to wide experience, are others. And he learned and earned these qualities the hard way, fighting for survival since he was just a kid, with the murder of his mother by her partner, and on his own for much of his young years even before that, sometimes living in shelters to get by. He started working at 16, doing summer jobs that included everything from being the hod carrier for bricklayers and the labourer for landscapers to bartending, waiting tables, and even planting trees for the forestry industry.

He doesn’t whine or complain about these early misfortunes, but he doesn’t flinch away from them either. He takes those experiences and applies them to his deep understanding of the world and tries to find solutions, eyes wide open to the many ills around him and in our city.

Understandably, he is deeply concerned about homelessness and the hopelessness that fuels so much crime in Winnipeg, but he doesn’t stop there. He listens to problems. He looks for answers. He explores alternatives.

He applied these qualities to how he moved forward in his own life, deciding early that the best way to get something was to ask for it then work very hard to keep it. His mother, who had to live with her own traumas, instilled in him a fierce determination to never give up, never quit. She showed him her grit by graduating from nursing a short time before her death at 42.

When Kevin was just 19, he pursued his dream of being a broadcaster. “I used to watch WKRP in Cincinnati and decided that was exactly what I wanted to do,” he says.

Deciding is action with Kevin, so he went to a local radio station in Calgary and begged for a job. “I pestered the program manager so much that he finally gave in and let me have chance as the overnight disk jockey,” Kevin laughs. The rest is history. This humble beginning propelled him forward to ever more responsibility within the station and then on to management and eventually to the executive suite. He became the youngest publisher ever at Southam (now Post Media) in his early 30s.

When he came to Winnipeg, transferred here from his job in Ontario, he decided then and there that he would never leave. “Winnipeg was the first place where I ever felt at home,” he says.

This is how it happened that he went to work (as had dozens of other Winnipeggers in the past) for Peter Nygard, who offered him the position as vice president of Nygard’s biotech medical research company. Kevin accepted the job, but it took only four months for him to learn that this was not a person he wanted to be associated with let alone work for. “I learned quickly I could not work with Peter Nygard. I strongly, very strongly, disagreed with how he treated his employees,” said Kevin. Nevertheless, he met a lot of people during that short time, and he ended up working for some of them. He has worked for and learned from many of the country’s top business leaders as part of the executive team at Post

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Kevin Klein is exactly what Winnipeg needs to bring our city back to life.

Media, Sun Media, MTS and New Cap. During this hectic life, Kevin met and fell in love, the first time as an 18-year-old, “too young to know what I was doing,” he says. But the result was a beautiful daughter, the mother of his three grandchildren today. He and his first wife remain friends. Then he fell again and this time there were two more children, but the marriage ended unhappily, and Kevin filed for divorce. He cherishes his two children from that union. Finally, about 15 years ago, he met Heather Churchill. They married and now and have a blended family of six kids, two dogs and those three lovely grandchildren.

Nor was Kevin’s life all about work and no play. Kevin is a long-time hockey coach, referee, and mentor for teens. He has a third-degree black belt in martial arts which he formerly volunteer taught to inner city kids.

As a hockey dad, he served as president of the local amateur hockey board, and he brought his well-honed negotiating skills to his volunteerism as a referee. “I wanted to make sure we had a respectful atmosphere among the kids and their parents,” he says, recognizing how excited people could get during playoffs. Later, his eldest son took up football and was good enough to be signed by the Hamilton Tiger Cats to play in the CFL, although COVID-19 cut that career short. He decided to go back to school to finish his law degree.

Kevin loves old-time movies and TV shows. “Kevin is a huge fan of Gilligan’s Island,” says Heather, his constant companion. “He can sing the entire theme song – he loves to sing.” She laughs. “Don’t ask him to sing in public, though.”

“My middle name is Elvis,” smiles Kevin, who also confesses to being an avid fan of 80s music.

The Kleins love to travel and enjoy horseback riding.

During COVID-19, Kevin took courses at the University of Alberta to learn more about his Metis and Cree background. His mother’s older brother, Uncle Dave, introduced him to his roots and helped him apply for and get his Metis membership card to express his pride in this heritage. His sons have also applied and received the card. Blond and blue-eyed Indigenous people were not uncommon among certain groups in middle America. His family says his roots are evident in his cheekbones which Kevin says he could never produce a proper beard!

Now, his corporate career behind him, Kevin wants to demonstrate his pride in his dearly adopted city.

“Nothing bothers me more,” he says, “than to watch our city fall behind Calgary and Regina. I want to return Winnipeg to its rightful place ahead of all the others. My goal is to make Winnipeg once again the city everyone wants to live in.”

He has spent the past four years diagnosing our civic problems. He has discovered some shocking mismanagement even though, he says, “there are many, many smart and dedicated people working for the city who know what needs to be done.” He is determined to set those hard-working people free to fix the ills of Winnipeg, while he deals with the negotiations required to get the support, both legislative and fiscally, needed to make real change happen.

In his corporate life, his ability to hold people occupying power positions accountable and to negotiate changes to the corporate culture and the work ethics of these people is what led to his success. This is exactly what Winnipeg needs and it is what Kevin Klein will bring to the job as mayor.

Read about Kevin’s plan in the September issue of Lifestyles 55.

Professional Associations need oversight Continued from page 1

or other exotic places, to have their dental back to the company. Shortly thereafter I work done. People who have done this received my mouth guard and my credit claim it costs, even with the travel, 50- card was charged about 70% less than my 60% less and they got a kind of holiday original dentist’s bill of a decade earlier.

The new guard works perinto the bargain. fectly.

The latest fight between The Manitoba Dental the Manitoba Dental AsAssociation is in this mess, sociation and an American in part, because the MDA company that offers its has had a governmentclients tooth straightening granted monopoly on our devices costing hundreds dental costs, and dentists’ of dollars less than mulincome, for many decades. tiple visits to your dentist is The question is should denworth following. At some tists be left on their own to point in one’s life, almost determine what is in the ineveryone is going to reterest of clients or the pubquire something a little Hon. Jerry Storie lic? The Board of Directors more expensive than a denof the Manitoba Dental tal filling. For me, about Association, the majority ten years ago, my dentist suggested a mouth guard. A simple, clear of whom are practicing dentists, may do soft plastic device that was to be placed a good job promoting good dental care, on the upper teeth to protect them from but are they as enthusiastic about protectthe damage of clenching my teeth. At ing the financial interests of their clients? one visit to my dentist, a mold of my If dentists are the sole arbiters of who teeth was taken and a few weeks later I is entitled to practice their specialty and returned to get my mouth guard and my set practice fees, are they not in a serious bill for more than $400 dollars. A decade conflict of interest?

Smile Direct, or anyone else infringing later my old mouth guard broke. With a simple internet check, I found a company on what the MDA considers dental care, that sent me a kit which I used to make a is running up against deeply entrenched mold of my teeth. I send it, postage paid, interests. Unfortunately, things are not 8

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likely to change because most professionals are bound together by the codes and guidelines of their professional associations, as are, lawyers, accountants, engineers, and literally dozens of other professions. Professional associations are gatekeepers for the profession. They help develop the criteria for who gets into dental programs, how practice is conducted, and many other aspects of professional life. Most importantly, they can establish “guidelines” for professional practice, including fees the public pays, without oversight or direct input from the people they serve. Dentists, or other professionals, looking to innovate have learned to stay within their associations guidelines, or subtle, or not so subtle pressure from their professional association will become part of their life.

The current Manitoba Dental Association Act requires that 1/3 of the governing board be representatives of the public and are appointed by the government.

To ensure that consumers aren’t denied more efficient and less expensive dental options, perhaps it is time the government appointed a majority of citizens to the MDA board. Other professional groups, such as teachers and doctors, have their fees and salaries negotiated with those responsible for the public

good. A simple amendment of existing legislation making citizens, and not those with a clear financial conflict of interest, like the majority of the MDA board, seems like a reasonable approach. Getting a look at the decisions that are being made, and how they are made, would certainly make professional groups, such as dentists, more accountable to the public.

With a majority of citizens on professional boards, a real effort could be made to balance the interests of the profession with the interests of those in need of dental care. Such measures would go a long way to protecting the integrity of the profession and the interests of consumers. And, maybe then, dentists would be more accepting and feel less threatened by new approaches to old problems.

And by the way, while Manitobans wait for dental care options for teeth straightening, Smile Direct is busy helping people in at least four other provinces. Manitoba should be next.

Jerry Storie was the MLA for Flin Flon from 1981 to 1994, and held several provincial cabinet positions, including northern affairs, education and energy and mines. He served as a school superintendent from 1994 to 2004; until he retired in 2010, he was an associate professor and dean of education at Brandon University.

August 2022

Arts, Culture and Sport: the things that bring communities together

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s I have travelled across the province over tiative achieves the goals set for it by the premier.

As we spoke, the minister was on his way to tour the past eight months, I can’t help but notice the crumbling infrastructure of so the Seagram’s plant where the award-winning Crown many of our arts and culture and even sports facili- Royal whisky is made near Gimli. This is just part of ties,” said the Premier. “COVID-19 didn’t help, but an extended tour of the province that has taken him to The Pas, Dauphin, Brandon, Gimli, Swan River, and these assets have been neglected for decades.”

On July 25, she and Minister Andrew Smith an- most recently the rodeo at Morris to mention just a few of the journeys of discovery he has nounced a $100 million fund to made to better understand what the provide aid for the infrastructure of province has to offer. The premier is enArts, Culture and Sport. This is part couraging ministers to go out and get to of the Premier’s long-term strategy know all parts of our province to hear to breathe life back into Manitoba firsthand how Manitobans feel, what through encouragement and support they need and how they want to see the for community engagement, investfuture develop. ment, and enterprise.

“We recognize the importance of conShe explained that the previous $25 necting Manitobans with one another million Building Sustainable Comand we also see that Manitobans are enmunities fund established January 17 joying the rediscovery of our province. was a good start to help municipalities Internal travel has opened up a new apand some non-profits, but many small preciation for the entertainment options community groups did not qualify – Heather Stefanson right here at home,” said the minister. groups such as arts organizations and The Premier’s “This sparks a renewed interest in our community initiatives like the Flin priorities local attractions provided by arts, culFlon arts organizations and festivals, ture and sports and this fund will help seniors’ organizations, community centres, and ethnic cultural groups such as the Sikhs to renew their resources.”

Not only small community groups can benefit and others. This new fund will support many more initiatives with a view to continued sustainability from the fund. The major performing arts can access matching funds up to $5 million to renew facilities and growth in the future.

“Many of the arts and cultural sectors have been continuing the province’s commitment to renew our neglected in the past,” the Premier said. “My goal Arts and cultures sectors. Earlier this year, the premier is to improve the quality of life for Manitobans, announced an investment of $7.5 million to help the making sure there is support to help generations to RWB in its $30 million campus expansion and modcome.” The Premier recognizes that these improve- ernization plan. The RWB is a major ambassador for ments will also benefit the tourism industry both for our province worldwide.

“This new fund will help support, promote and celcitizens travelling within the province and for those ebrate Manitobans by increasing access to a wide varivisiting.

It is part of her vision to return Manitoba to the ety of spaces and programing including sport facilities, prominent position we for so long held in our coun- festivals, museums and galleries.”

He wants to emphasize how important it is to get try and around the world. applications is as soon as possible once the program Spotlight on Minister Andrew Smith The Hon. Andrew Smith is the minister for Arts, is launched on August 16. Applications will close on Culture and Sport. He is responsible for Travel Mani- October 31 and it is hoped that some of those who did toba, the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation not qualify for the Building Sustainable Communities and recently had Liquor and Lotteries added to his Fund will quickly transition their request to the new portfolio. It is his job to see that the $100 million ini- program. This year, $34 million is available between

Minister Andrew Smith and the Premier announce $100 million for arts and culture. now and March 31, 2023, with $33 million in each of the following two years. There are three components to the fund: Large Capital Projects which can be funded up to $5 million on a matching basis and can include upgrades to buildings and infrastructure for performance or other cultural or sports activities; Small Capital Projects and Special Initiatives which will fund up to 100 percent of organizational development, training, technology, and the development of volunteers and equipment, enhancing abilities to increase engagement in arts, culture of sports programming.

Prior to running for office, first in Southdale where he was elected in 2016 and then in Lagimodiere where he was re-elected in 2019, Andrew worked in Ottawa for several members of Parliament. He says that while the work at the national level was interesting, he far prefers being in the Manitoba Legislature where he can engage with the folks in his constituency and really grapple with local issues. He is also very interested in new technology and how that might enhance our presence in the arts and cultural sectors.

“I am excited about this new initiative,” he said, recognizing that our province has always punched above its weight in arts and culture. “It will help Manitoba stay ahead of the pack for years to come.”

And that is exactly what the Premier wants to accomplish.

Three remarkable men of Lakeside and 100 years of service to Manitoba Dorothy Dobbie

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alk about loyalty in the political realm! While we often see it at a personal level, loyalty seldom carries as much weight as it has in Manitoba’s Lakeside Constituency over the past 100 years! Not only has the name never been altered (very unusual) but it has been home to only three MLAs in all that time: Doug Campbell for 47 years (the longest representation in the commonwealth!); Harry Enns for 34 years and six months and, to date, Ralph Eichler who has been in office here for 19 years.

Lakeside is bounded by Midland to the south, Roblin constituency (formerly Charleswood) and no less than six city ridings, including McPhillips, as well Portage la Prairie, the Interlake to the northeast, and Selkirk. You can see that this takes in the towns of Stonewall, Warren, Stony Mountain, Argyle, Rosser, Gunton, Woodlands, Inwood, Cartier and St. Francois Xavier, all small, tightly knit communities.

Douglas Campbell Created in 1886, the constituency was Liberal from its inception to 1903, then Conservative for the next seven years until a one-year interruption by a Liberal in 1914. It was regained by the Tories the following year, then back to the Liberals after another seven years, until it finally settled down with Douglas L. Campbell, who changed parties three times during his tenure from 1922 until 1969, holding the riding for an astonishing 47 years!

Doug Campbell, once premier, served first as a Progressive, then as a Liberal Progressive and ended his career under the Liberal banner, although he privately told this writer with some force that he was “never a Liberal!” He served as Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958 under the banner of the Liberal-Progressives, a coalition of Conservatives, liberals, CCF and Social Credit. This party later reverted to the Liberals. Born in 1895, Douglas Campbell died just short of his 100th birthday in 1995.

August 2022

Douglas Campbell, Harry Enns and Ralph Eichler.

Harry Enns In 1969, Harry Enns took the constituency for the Progressive Conservatives and served the next 34 years until 2003 when he handed the reigns over the current MLA, Ralph Eichler.

Harry Enns won no less than eight elections during his tenure and served in the cabinet of four Progressive Conservative governments. He came from a political family. His brother Sig Enns was a federal Progressive Conservative MP for Neepawa.

Harry served as minister of agriculture twice. He left a valuable legacy of legalized hemp production before he retired. This put Manitoba ahead of the curve when cannabis related products were finally legalized in Canada in 2018.

Ralph Eichler The third MLA in the century-long series of Lakeside MLA’s is Ralph Eichler, who served as the Minister of Agriculture under Premier Brian Pallister. He remains in office, serving this wonderful constituency with the same ferocity as his predecessors. Under Ralph’s tenure, Manitoba was able to snag the world’s largest pea protein production plant when he travelled to France and secured a $600 million deal with Roquette. “They weren’t really looking for a government money,” says Ralph. “They just wanted to know that they were locating in a supportive government environment.”

He developed enough rapport with the company

that they agreed to accept a six-month delay when another of Ralph’s investors, Simplot, was in the midst of expanding its investment to double potato production in Manitoba. Simplot had been wavering between Washington and Manitoba for its expansion that was worth $460 million. Our province is now the largest potato producer in Canada, far exceeding the production of Prince Edward Island.

“This triggered the development of Manitoba’s protein advantage strategy,” said Ralph. “It is the first such strategy undertaken in any province or state, and it focusses on a balance between plant and animal protein.” This positioned Manitoba to take the leadership in nutraceuticals, attracting companies such as Merit Foods which opened a production plant in Winnipeg 2021. “We are way ahead of the country in this field,” said Ralph. “Manitoba is the new leader.”

Among other initiatives, the strategy promotes crop rotation to improve production – planting peas one year and potatoes the next, for example, which helps both the potato and the pea production.

“We need to get back to some of the basics,” Ralph said, noting that the last few decades of corporate farming have left the land depleted in some cases.

“We have to go back to some of our practices of the past,” he says, “and make changes to soil management such as letting fields lie fallow for a year.” He noted that mixed farming has an advantage of letting pasture field become naturally fertilized through animal grazing and that grain production waste was then fed to animals. It was a more sustainable way of farming.

On July 18, Ralph Eichler and the community celebrated this century of three remarkable MLAs and their contributions to our province. Far-seeing common sense has been a hallmark of this constituency’s representation over the last 100 years. These three exceedingly productive MLAs have helped Manitoba grow and prosper with their roots firmly planted in the fertile ground of Lakeside constituency. whatsupwinnipeg.ca

9

Greek style steak, another way to try

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hat is it about steak that makes one hunger for it with just a mention of the word? I am sure the vegans and vegetarians of this world would not appreciate me saying this but being a true omnivore, I do crave the taste every once in a while.

A perfectly cooked steak to me is heaven on a plate, the aroma, the anticipation of that very first bite, the flavours that explode... perfect, right!

Steak is a very versatile protein, so it can be enjoyed in many ways. We mostly marinate it and Ian Leatt grill it over a flame. TypiFoodies cal barbecue seasonings, sauce etc. are used, but what if there is another way that you haven’t yet tried? What if this new way becomes the norm?

Lemon gives the steak a new spark, tenderizing the meat as it marinates.

Here is what you will need: 2 prime rib steaks, bone on 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon 5 cloves crushed garlic 2 tablespoons freshly chopped oregano 1 lemon sliced in half 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper to taste The all important how to: Using a large bowl, place the lemon juice, crushed garlic, oregano, and olive oil inside then whisk together.

Tenderize both rib steaks using a meat tenderizer,

then dip steaks into the marinade. Toss from side to side ensuring the marinade is evenly soaked in. Cover using saran wrap and leave to sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.

Turn the grill to medium heat – it should register around 375° F. Remove the steaks from the marinade and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Dip some paper towel into a little oil and carefully wipe the top of the grill. Then place the steaks on, closing the lid for six minutes then turn over; you should have some nice grill marks. Close the lid and

cook for a further six minutes, then remove from the heat. This should give you a nice medium rare steak, leave to rest.

Cut the lemon in half and place on the grill for two minutes then remove. When serving, place the steak on the plate with a slice of grilled lemon accompanied by your choice of vegetables or salad. I like a nice Caesar. Sometimes the simpler the food the better it is.

Ian Leatt is general manager of Pegasus Publications and a trained chef.

Home renos you can do on a budget

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efreshing the home can be as place to relax, snuggle and read a good good as an extensive renovation. book. It may be time to change the carThe heart of the home is the pet to a new hardwood flooring, adding kitchen and this the most popular room rugs for depth and balance, or changin the house to renovate. When working ing the curtains to a more modern blind option. You might even with a tight budget this add new furniture. Somecan lead to difficulties. times, though, the small You could change the things are all you need for ironmongery, or even a refresh. paint the cabinets giving contrast to the island if you The bathroom is one have one. Should you inof those rooms that we stall under counter lights? all use and don’t always Does your budget stretch know what to do with, to new countertops? No aside from the obvious matter it all adds up in the thing such as changing end, but improvements to the tub, shower, sink, and this room always brings toilet. If you are looking value to your home. to freshen yours up for Brent Poole The dining room is ease of budget why not Home not what it used to be, give the walls and even Improvements often used for special octhe vanity a fresh coat casions only. However, of paint, perhaps place a we all tend to eat there eventually. It’s a new mirror, change the faucets, or even good place for families to spend quality something as simple as hanging some time together. What can we do? A dash new pictures. of paint, maybe a wall gallery showing Many of us have experienced Mother the fun times spent with close ones. New Nature at her finest this year at work in light fixtures go a long way. A welcoming the basement with an excess of water. room is always a good place to connect.

This is traumatic if you have a finished The living room or family room is our basement. If your basement is unfin-

ished and you have experienced a leak or flooding it may seem less worrisome, but either way this might be the time to do some work. Always ensure waterproofing is completed first, otherwise all your hard work could come undone. That’s not to say once it is there is nothing to stop you from building stud walls to adding shelving the opportunity is endless.

Remember though if you need electrical or plumbing work call the professional. Also, a big must is whatever work you carry out get the correct permits.

You don’t want to do all the work for the city to make you tear it all down!

Cleaning up the garage is something I always enjoy; I can be a little messy at times and keeping order makes things that much easier to find. Open shelving for ease of access, storage for those dangerous products, racks for tools. One thing I always try to do is keep the floor as clear as possible. Check to ensure that the windows and doors are lockable keeping your stored bits and pieces safe.

The outdoor patio and yard can sometimes be overlooked. With COVID-19 keeping us home over of the last two years, it is no surprise to find that many of us spend more time in our own spaces than ever before. Many of us have start-

ed growing our own food, (inflation is at a premium level). Saving money on every day food is now a must more than anything. But, in saying that your yard too can be spruced up. Using trellises for decoration and shading adds depth to the space, your plants will feel better for it.

General landscaping must be kept clean and tidy, to my mind, so perhaps thin some perennials and move the divisions to a new spot. You might want to consider putting in a pathway, adding some balance to what might be straight lines. Decks can be stained, perhaps add a new barbecue and get some new furniture. How about a fire pit, we all love the smell of burning wood! The space will be more comfortable if it feels like your own Eden.

Final thoughts: no matter how large the project you set for yourself, always complete it before moving onto the next project. Enjoy what you undertake and have fun while doing so.

Brent Poole is the owner operator of Handy Hands Construction, which he has run with his father Jim since 1997. A carpenter by trade, Brent enjoys all types of projects. “We’re not happy until you are happy!”

Expressed gratitude to Augustus Vinayagaratnam Senaka Samarasinghe

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ugustus Vinayagaratnam (19381986) an award-winning lyricist and film script writer’s wife Ranjitha and daughter Sandhya Fernando were invited for the get together organized by Sri Lankan Seniors Manitoba (SLSM) on June 25th (SAT) 2022 at Whyte Ridge Community Centre.

Augustus was born in Panadura in Kalutara District. By profession he was 10

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employed as an English Sinhala English translator at the Government Treasury.

Information Officer was the promotion that he gained for his dedicated service in the Department of Government Information, Sri Lanka. Augustus wrote quite a few song lyrics, one of which was the theme song for the film Ganga Addara (Beside the River). Augustus created strong and meaningful lyrics. This film was a box-office hit in 1980 with five Sarasavi National Awards sung by Vijaya Kumarathunga. Nim Him Sewwa (I searched the limits of Sansara (wander))

sung by Pandit W.D. Amaradewa for the movie Seetha Devi in 1978. It is a love song with a philosophical background.

The wife of Augustus, Ranjitah Vinayagaratnam, was also from Kalutara District in Kalutara South (Left Bank of Kalu Ganga River) close to the landmark building, the Richmond Castle. She attended Holy Family Convent, Kalutara.

After the demise of Augustus, his elder daughter Sandhya and her husband Hiran Fernando migrated to Winnipeg with her loving mother. Subsequently, Sandhya’s younger sister Kavija and her

husband Namal Fernando also migrated to Winnipeg.

As a mark of respect for late Augustus Vinayagaratnam, the board members of the SLSM Jayawardena made a speech expressing the services contributed to enhance the culture of Sri Lanka. Further, Jayawardena and Upali sang (others joined, too) three popular songs and lyrics written by Augustus.

Last not but not least, this was the maiden event successfully conducted by the lady president, Indra Ariyaratne and her newly elected board of the SLSM. August 2022

Grandparents’ Day at the park A

& O: Support Services for Older due to population aging. It is only through inAdults will be holding its first Grand- creased education and awareness that progress parents’ Day: Connecting the Gen- will be made in establishing meaningful polerations and Celebrating Diversity event on icy and directing funding to support people Sunday, September 11th from 10:00 a.m. to in aging well. 16.9 per cent of the Canadian population was 65 years of age 2:00 p.m. at Assiniboine Park, or older in 2016, this number Lyric stage, and surrounding is expected to double by 2036 field. Join us with the older (Statistics Canada, 2016). people and children in your This event is free of charge, life for this fun filled day of there will be community reintergenerational activities, source booths, break out sesexhibits and entertainment! sions, active living demonThis event will raise awarestrations, story telling, music, ness about ageism, reinforce scavenger hunts, face painting, the value of respect while and so much more that appeal promoting the programs and A & O: to people of all ages! services of A & O and those Support Services for Brown bag lunches will be of our partners. Hosting this Older Adults available for purchase in addievent is an important step tion to a variety of food trucks toward intergenerational sensitivity and understanding. A & O is grate- that will be on site for people to choose from. ful for the financial support provided by the Plan on joining us, bring your lawn chairs, Winnipeg Foundation in helping us offer this water bottles and hats and get ready to celebrate an intergenerational, multicultural day event to the community!

The aging process is a shared experience, in beautiful Assiniboine Park!

A & O has many supports that can assist people want to age well no matter where they are along the life course. We have a respon- older people in aging well. Phone: 204-956sibility to deliver meaningful work and edu- 6440, Web: aosuppportservices.ca. Join the cational events regarding the issue of ageism conversation on Facebook and Twitter!

August 2022

whatsupwinnipeg.ca

11

Manitoba Association of Senior Communities Directory of Manitoba Association of Senior Centres Flin Flon Seniors 2 North Avenue, Flin Flon (204) 687-7301

Gilbert Plains and District Community Resource Council Inc. PO Box 567, Gilbert Plains (204) 548 4131 www.gpdcrc-newhorizons.wix.com/gpdcrc

Jubilee Recreation of Cranberry Portage Legion Hall, 217 2nd Ave. SE, Cranberry Portage (204) 472-3031

Grandview Seniors Drop In 432 Main St., Grandview (204) 546-2272

Snow Lake Seniors 71 Balsam St., Snow Lake (204) 358-2151

Hamiota 55+ Centre & Restore Community Co-op 44 Maple Avenue (204) 764-2658

The Pas Golden Agers 324 Ross Ave., The Pas (204) 623-3663

Herman Prior Senior Services Centre 40 Royal Rd. N., Portage la Prairie (204) 857-6951 www.hermanpriorcentre.com

Northern AREA

Thompson Seniors Resource Council 4 Nelson Rd., Thompson (204) 677-0987 Interlake AREA Gimli New Horizons 55+ Activity Centre 17 North Colonization Rd., Gimli (204) 642-7909 www.gimlinewhorizons.com Gordon Howard Centre 384 Eveline St., Selkirk (204) 785-2092 www.gordonhoward.ca

Minnedosa Senior Citizens Assoc.

31 Main St. S., Minnedosa (204) 867-1956 Municipality of Harrison Park Age Friendly Initiative Committee Sandy Lake (204) 585-5310 Morden Activity Centre 306 N. Railway St., Morden (204) 822-3555 www.mordenseniors.ca

Grand Marais & District Seniors 36058 PTH 12, Grand Marais (204) 770-6124

Neepawa Drop In Centre 310 Davidson St., Neepawa (204) 476-5103 www.neepawa.ca/district-drop-in-center

Riverton Seniors Activity Centre 12 Main St., Riverton (204) 378-2800

Pembina Community Resource Council 315 Main Street, Manitou (204) 242-2241

South Interlake 55 Plus 374 1st St. W., Stonewall (204) 467-2582 www.si55plus.org

Pilot Mound Fellowship Club 203 Broadway, Pilot Mound (204) 825-2436

Eastman AREA Beau-head Senior Centre 645 Park Ave., Beausejour (204) 268-2444 East Beaches Social Scene 3 Ateah Rd., Victoria Beach (204) 756-6468 www.ebseniorscene.ca

Plumas Senior Citizens Club Inc. 102 White St., Plumas (204) 386-2029 Portage Service for Seniors 40A Royal Road N., Portage la Prairie (204) 239-6312 Sandy Lake Drop In Centre 100 Main St., Sandy Lake (204) 585-2411

East Beaches Resource Centre 3 Ateah Road, Victoria Beach (204) 756-6471 www.ebresourcec.weebly.com

Swan River & District Community Resource Council 126-6th Ave N, Swan River (204) 734-5707

Pat Porter Active Living Centre 10 Chrysler Gate, Steinbach (204) 320-4600 www.patporteralc.com

The Comfort Drop In Spot 31 Main St., Erickson (204) 636-7895

Central AREA Carman Active Living Centre 47 Ed Belfour Drive, Carman (204) 745-2356 www.activelivingcentrecarman.ca Crystal City & District Friendship Club Inc. 117 Broadway St., Crystal City (204) 873-2109 Dauphin Active Living Centre Inc. 55 1st Ave. SE, Dauphin (204) 638-6485 www.dauphinseniors.com

Treherne Friendship Centre 190 Broadway St., Treherne (204) 723-2559 Winkler & District Multipurpose Senior Centre 102 - 650 South Railway Ave., Winkler (204) 325-8964 www.winklerseniorcentre.com Brandon AREA Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op 311 Park Ave. E. Brandon (204) 571-2052 www.brandons4s.ca Killarney Service for Seniors 203 South Railway, Killarney (204) 523-7115

Prairie Oasis Centre 241 8th St., Brandon (204) 727-6641 www.prairieoasis.ca

Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre 1588 Main St., Winnipeg (204) 339-1701 www.gwensecter.com

Winnipeg AREA

Headingley Seniors’ Services 5353 Portage Ave., Winnipeg (204) 889-3132 Ext. 3 www.headingleyseniorservices.ca

20 Fort Street Seniors Club 2200 - 20 Fort St., Winnipeg (204) 250-8644 A & O Support Services for Older Adults Inc. 200 - 207 Donald St., Winnipeg (204) 956-6440 www.aosupportservices.ca Archwood 55 Plus 565 Guilbault St., Winnipeg (204) 416-1067 archwood55plusinc.weebly.com Barbara Mitchell Family Resource Centre 51 Morrow Ave., Winnipeg (204) 946-9152 www.barbaramitchellfrc.ca Bleak House Centre 1637 Main St., Winnipeg (204) 338-4723 www.bleakhousecentre.com Broadway Seniors Resource Centre 823 Ellice Ave., Winnipeg (204) 772-3533 www.bsrc.ca Brooklands Active Living Centre 1960 William Ave. W., Winnipeg (204) 632-8367 Centro Caboto Centre 1055 Wilkes Ave., Winnipeg (204) 487-4597 www.cabotocentre.com Charleswood Senior Centre 5006 Roblin Blvd., Winnipeg (204) 897-5263 www.charleswoodseniorcentre.org Creative Retirement MB (204) 949-2569 www.creativeretirementmanitoba.ca Crescent Fort Rouge United Church 55+ 525 Wardlaw Ave., Winnipeg (204) 489-1925 Dakota Comm. Centre - Dakota 55+ Lazers 1188 Dakota St., Winnipeg (204) 254-1010 Ext. 217 www.dakotacc.com

Indigenous Senior Resource Centre - Winnipeg 527 Selkirk Ave., Winnipeg (204) 586-4595 www.asrcwpg.org Manitoba Korean 55+ Centre 900-150 River Ave., Winnipeg (204) 996-7003 www.ksam.ca North Centennial Seniors Association of Winnipeg Inc. 86 Sinclair Street, Winnipeg (204) 582-0066 www.ncseniors.ca North Point Douglas Senior Centre 244 Jarvis Avenue, Winnipeg Pembina Active Living 55+ 170 Fleetwood Rd., Winnipeg (204) 946-0839 www.pal55plus.ca Rady Jewish Community Centre 123 Doncaster St., Winnipeg (204) 477-7510 www.radyjcc.com Rainbow Resource Centre 170 Scott St., Winnipeg (204) 474-0212, Ext. 211 www.rainbowresourcecentre.org South Winnipeg Seniors Resource Council 117-1 Morley Ave., Winnipeg (204) 478-6169 www.swsrc.ca resources@swsrc.ca Southdale Seniors 254 Lakewood Blvd., Winnipeg (204) 253-4599 www.southdale.ca Sri Lanka Seniors Manitoba 113 Stan Bailie Drive, Winnipeg (204) 888-8253 www.srilankanseniorsmb.ca St. James-Assiniboia 55+ Centre 3 - 203 Duffield St., Winnipeg (204) 257-6171 www.stjamescentre.com

Dufferin Senior Citizens Inc. 377 Dufferin Avenue, Winnipeg (204) 986-2608

St. Mary’s Rd. Seniors 613 St. Mary’s Rd., Winnipeg (204) 257-0678 www.stmarysroad.ca

Elmwood East Kildonan Active Living Centre 180 Poplar Ave., Winnipeg (204) 669-0750 www.eekactiv.com

Transcona Council for Seniors 845 Regent Ave., Winnipeg (204) 222-9879 www.transconaseniors.ca

Fort Garry Seniors Resource Council, 200-270 Donald Street, Winnipeg (204) 792-1913 www.aosupportservices.ca/resources/seniorsresource-finders/

Transcona Retired Citizens Org. 328 Whittier Ave. West, Winnipeg (204) 222-8473

Good Neighbours Active Living Centre 720 Henderson Hwy., Winnipeg (204) 669-1710 www.gnalc.ca

Vital Seniors 3 St. Vital Rd., Winnipeg (204) 253-0555 www.stmarymagdelenewpg.org Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association (204) 291-9028 www.winnipegchineseseniors.ca

Keep an eye on what Lifestyles 55 is up to online

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August 2022

Happy Money, Sad Money, and the Buying Experiences

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ncome Security is a topic of primary clothing designer, the career that presentinterest today especially for older ed itself and provided me with an amazadults. Although all of us are con- ingly satisfying career was being a junior cerned about inflation, it seems to hit peo- and senior high school Home Economple with fixed incomes the hardest. The ics teacher. I initially thought it was the sky rocketing prices of gas “Happy Money” mentioned for our vehicles and other that paid for the education modes of transportation, that led to this happiness, but the price of food and enin essence it was the fact that tertainment means that we so many people supported are being forced to make my ambitions and saw the some pretty basic choices potential in me to be the sucwith our finances that cessful teacher and adminiswill change our lifestyles. trator that I became over my Underlying all of this is a 41-year career. During that question David Christiancareer I obtained a sabbatical son, the CEO of “Dollars leave to further my studies in and Sense” asked in his Education and Family StudPeggy Prendergast article in the Free Press ies and thus further the scope a couple of months ago: Exploring Lifestyle of my career and the possibil“Can money buy happiity of more “Happy Money” 55 Possibilities ness?” After all is that not in salaries as a reward for my what all of us have as our efforts. goal, happiness?

All of it was provided by “Happy MonHappiness can be defined in many ways ey” that allowed me to grow in a way that by many different people and money is I never thought was possible, although it involved in the answer in many different seemed at the time there was a considerways. Needleham, in his book “Money and able amount of sacrifice on the part of my the Meaning of Life” has, as his thesis, that parents and denial of things I could have money can solve all problems in life. My spent the money on for immediate gratiassumption is that all of us as we age want fication at the time. Because I now know pain-free health and the comfort of having how important it is to “Buy Experience” our basic needs for shelter, food and social I have donated my time for the past nine or family involvement met. Christianson years to foster and work for an endowreferenced a book by Dr. Elizabeth Dunn, ment award fund for high school students a social scientist, professor, and researcher to further their education experience in into happiness. She and Dr. Michael Mor- post graduate courses and thus to give ton came up with some very interesting to these students the same opportunities Principles of Money Happiness supported given to me by others. It is my belief they with recent high-quality research to back too will realize their potential in reaching up their joint conclusions. In discussing goals they probably cannot imagine they some of these principles, I would like to could achieve; “Happy Money” towards share some personal experiences in my life unimaginable happiness. to add support to their findings.

“Buying Experiences”, another PrinciAt the top of their list was: “Buy Experi- ple also means spending money on travel; ences.” What comes to mind for me that not just for sight-seeing but to experience, results in “Happy Money” is post graduate how other cultures live and find happiness education. On the advice of a high school in ways not imaginable to us unless we teacher recently returned from World War experience them for ourselves. For us, in 2 and based on my immigrant parent’s val- our North American experience and unues placed on education, I applied for and derstanding, we need to experience that was able to receive scholarship monies to- learning. Again, it is “Happy Money” that wards my university studies. My father was will allow us to be even slightly global in a career soldier during the depression and our understanding of another way of livveteran’s children were favoured after the ing. Thus, also spending “Happy Money” war in a variety of scholarships and bursa- to keep the world of freedom we are so ries. Added business education courses to fortunate to be born into and that our my high school University entrance classes forefathers saw fit to establish, is imporprovided the education to allow for a part tant. time office job through high school and “Buy Yourself Time” was another PrinUniversity to pay for the needed education ciple mentioned. From my perspective prior to obtaining a specialist’s certificate and life experience, when I found myself a to teach Home Economics in Manitoba widow at the age of 50 but with the posschools. sibility of experiencing life somehow with Although my initial goal was to be a seven grandchildren and loving camping

and “lake life”. I decided to build a cottage to spend some time with my grandchildren alone and give my three children and their spouses some time on their own at a separate cottage already owned.

The “Happy Money” seemed to turn into “Sad Money” right from the start!

Who was I to decide anything about how their children would spend their time!

On reflection however, the experience of spending small amounts of time with my grandchildren, by myself over time, reached the initial goal of providing me with an opportunity to develop individual relationships with my grandchildren (I sold the cottage meant for the adults).

Now as adults, that time with those grandchildren, though seemingly small in duration, and those relationships are very precious to me as an older adult.

The money spent as “Happy Money” has turned out to be golden. It has provided a base for those children to carry on their relationships with each other. Gender differences and values regarding ageing are still very alive and well within our society.

We all live in “goldfish bowls.” We need to provide children with a variety of interpretations of what they see and experience as

they grow so their opinions reflect positive interpretations of the world around them and ways they can contribute to the society they live within. We need to live by example but, when possible, define to them why we behave in some of the ways we do and define for them what is “Happy Money” to us, what are positive ways to spend and save from our point of view.

One of my grandsons who is in his midtwenties, has moved to a new job because he is searching for more and different kinds of experiences relative to his post graduate learning. He is also interested in experiencing different environments and living experiences. Each of us has our own definition of happiness and thus the definition of “Happy Money” and “Sad Money”. If we don’t reflect on how we spent our money over our lifetime we can’t pass down to our offspring what our real values in life have been. The old saying: “Put your money where your mouth is” is as true today as it has ever been and how and why we spent our money through our lifetime tells the tale of who we really are!

It also may answer the question what is Income Security and what is our legacy to the world.

Planning ahead is simple.

The benefits are immense.

No one wants to think about their death any sooner than they must, but planning your funeral and cemetery services in advance is a responsible, caring act that can reduce stress for your grieving loved ones.

Funeral planning in a time of immediate need can, oftentimes, be incredibly overwhelming for a grieving family. The process of choosing a funeral chapel, planning a funeral or memorial service, or settling an estate can take away from having time to honour a loved one. When you handle the details and decisions ahead of time, you give your loved ones the chance to say goodbye to you in a meaningful and peaceful way.

Letters

SCAM

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ova Anderson called this month in response to Lori Dobbie’s piece about having the wallet stolen from her purse in the Lindenwood’s Safeway parking lot.

Lori, who seldom lets go of her purse, set it down in the carrier part of her shopping cart in order to put her groceries in her car. A well-dressed person with a broken accent, whom she had seen earlier in the store, approached her asking for help to locate the nearest “hospital for the delivery of premature babies as his wife was there.” While she was acting the Good Samaritan, distracted for just a moment, someone opened her purse and took her wallet. By the time she realized what had happened, the thieves had already used her debit card and run up some credit card purchases. The man and his accomplice apparently watched her input her pin card into the terminal while paying for the groceries.

Tova wanted to tell everyone how to avoid having your purse stolen if you want August 2022

to set it in your cart. She ties it down with the zipper covered by the child straps. And she carries a tie for those carts that don’t come equipped with one. She says you need to keep an eye out for someone trying to take off with your cart, though as it happened once to her, although she detected the movement and called out STOP! before the would-be thief got away.

Canada Day

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any calls and comments on our Canada Day article where we express how important it is to see us as one nation indivisible by ethnic heritage, including from one of our Indigenous leaders. I say again how reconciliation means mutual respect and forging a better country where we value all contributions for their uniqueness.

Don’t let the disrupters discourage you from reaching out to your friends in the Indigenous community. They are just like us in our emotions and desire to live a good and peaceful life.

Dorothy

We can help you with your plans.

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The Manitoba past on postcards K

nown as the “Keystone Province”, Manitoba is located in the heart of Canada, bounded by Nunavut and Hudson Bay to the north, Ontario to the east, the United States to the south and Saskatchewan to the west.

Its 250,000 square miles of unique terrain include over 100,000 lakes, lush boreal forests, sandy beaches, crystal streams, a desert known as the sand dunes and wide prairies stretching out into rolling hills such as Riding, Duck and Turtle ‘mountains’ and Sanja Rossi the Porcupine hills.

Manitoba Visitors are offered Through Time excellent opportunities for hunting and fishing, camping, and boating.

Particularly impressive are beautiful landscapes of tall prairie grass and wildflowers as well as romantic prairie sunsets. Provincial parks are the natural jewels of Manitoba. They are filled with rich cultural and historical treasures and green oases. Another star attraction is Lake Winnipeg, “a prairie ocean”, with its white sandy beaches, bays and harbours as a favourite destination for sailors, cottagers and fishers. Lake Manitoba, Lake Winnipegosis, and Cedar Lake are just a few of the other major lakes in the province.

Threshermen’s Reunion One of the festivals that celebrates Manitoba’s rural history and commemorates the pioneer heritage is the Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion & Stampede, an event managed by the Manitoba Agricultural Museum in Austin. Here we can learn how early settlers rose from humble origin to prosperity. Back in the early days, establishing a farm was a daunting task. First, pioneers had to build their homes to provide food and clean water and prepare themselves for the harsh winter. Life was very difficult for the settlers since there was no necessary infrastructure such as roads or bridges. Second, there was a problem with money; even if the land was free there were many hidden costs, like

cash necessary for farm expansion and equipment.

Many didn’t succeed. A particularly interesting moment of the Threshermen’s festival is the parade of old agricultural machines which illustrates complicated and hard physical work of the first farmers. Also, live demonstration of early farming jobs such as threshing, sowing wood, plowing fields tells us how the tools and machines were used and how much muscle and strength a farmer had to put into work despite the risk of the unavoidable injuries. Homesteader’s village poses the unique charm of the common old prairie town.

This open-air museum of over 20 original and replica buildings holds one of the largest collections of vintage farm equipment in Canada.

Louis Riel Louis Riel – a hero or a victim? He fought and died for his ideals. The Canadian Metis leader was charged and convicted of high treason, in the most controversial state trial in Canadian history. Riel is the pivot of all irreconcilable differences and the centuries-old struggle between the French and the English, between the Catholics and Protestants. He was hanged in Regina on November 16, 1885. After the hanging, the relationship between francophones and anglophones in Canada forever changed. The French experienced Riel’s hanging as a direct opposition to their westward expansion. Some may consider him as a rebel, to some

he was an enigma and martyr. He is still greatly revered by many Canadians and by the Metis and Quebecois as an admirable political leader, a Father of Confederation and the founder of Manitoba.

Upper Fort Garry Situated on major river transport routes at the confluence of the Red River and the Assiniboine River, Upper Fort Garry was built in the year of 1822, when North West Company and Hudson’s Bay Company merged after years of competition. The Fort had a major role in Canadian history. First, it represented the social, law and economic center of a multicultural community of Metis, English, Scots, Cree, and Ainishinaabe families and Selkirk settlers. Upper Fort Garry maintained the legal monopoly in the trading of furs of the entire Red River Settlement. Second, the post played a crucial role in political developments of 1869-70. The Metis people and the leader Louis Riel feared they would lose their land and rights after Rupertsland was handed over to the Canadian government.

Within these walls, in the same year during the winter, they presented Canada with a Bill of Rights that led to the Manitoba Act. Today, Upper Fort Garry Provincial Park allows visitors to experience Manitoba’s history through a complex construction of artwork, interpretation and technology.

Lower Fort Garry When the severe flood in 1826 damaged Fort Garry, Governor George Simpson had to look for a safer location. Lower Fort Garry was built in 1830 on the west bank of the Red River, 30 km north of the original post. For decades this place served as a vital supply and trading center for fur and trade goods, food, York boats, labor and livestock.

Also, this powerful stone fort was the place where Treaty No. 1 (annual Treaty One commemoration event takes place on August 3rd ) was signed between the Ojibwa, Swampy Cree and the Crown, the first of the numbered treaties. The original buildings still stand within these walls as well as several restored and reconstructed buildings outside the walls. The friendly costumed guides demonstrate the daily duties at the Fort during the fur trading, such as making nineteenth century candles, forging a nail in blacksmithing, teaching about wool processing, fur treating, and a lot more.

Northern dancers Scrooge, he staged the musical numbers Paddy Stone – Dancer, Choreograand played the “Ghost of Christmas Yet pher and Actor (1924-1986) Paddy Stone was born in Winnipeg on to Come” He choreographed three Julie Andrews specials with the September 16, 1924 the Muppets. Working with son of Isadore Stone and Blake Edwards, he choLottie Setnor. He began reographed and appeared his career with the Royal in the film Victor/VictoWinnipeg Ballet. After a ria (1982) again, starring brief stint on Broadway Julie Andrews. as a chorus boy in AnStone returned to his nie Get Your Gun, he Winnipeg roots as a chomoved to London with reographer with the RWB the Sadler’s Wells Ballet in the early 80s. He died and joined the West End on September 23rd 1986. production of Annie Get Your Gun as Iron Tail and Rachel Minkoff Browne the indigenous ceremoMemorable – Dancer & Choreogranial dancer for the Wild Manitobans pher (1934-2012) Horse.

Rachel Browne was born He was acclaimed for Ray Minkoff to Russianhis performances on the London stage including in Annie Get Jewish immigrants in Philadelphia, Your Gun in the 1950s. In 1951, Stone Pennsylvania on November 6, 1934. teamed up with Irving Davies and Ber- Her early dance training was in ballet. yl Kaye to form a dance group called After high school she moved to New Three’s Company which eventually York City and worked with notable toured in Paris, Rome, London, Chi- teachers Robert Joffrey and Benjamin cago and New York City in 1953. They Harkarvy. When Harkarvy became artisalso appeared in the 1955 Broadway tic director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet revue Joyce Grenfell Requests the Plea- in 1957, he asked Rachel to come with sure. He choreographed and appeared him and join the company of dancers. in British musical comedies (with and She was a soloist there until 1961 when without Davies and Kaye) including As she decided it was more important to long as They’re Happy, The Good Com- raise a family with her husband Donald panions and the Six-Five Special (with Richard Browne.

Three years later in 1964 she founded Petula Clark and Cleo Laine).

Stone appeared twice on the Ed Sul- a new dance company now called Winlivan Show in 1955. He also appeared nipeg’s Contemporary Dancers. She was as a dancer in Gene Kelly’s Invitation to a dancer, choreographer, teacher, fundDance in 1956. He continued to work raiser and the administrator. By 1970, it in television and on stage through the was a professional dance company. It is 1960s and 70s. In the 1970 film musical Canada’s longest running modern dance 14

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Paddy Stone.

Rachel Minkoff Browne.

company. During her tenure with WCD she composed more than 80 works.

In 1972, Browne founded the School of Contemporary Dancers to train future modern dancers. The school is renowned as one of the foremost professional modern dance training programs in the country.

Rachel resigned from Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers as Artistic Director in 1983, but remained tied to the company and the school for the rest of her life. She worked with some of the greatest women contemporary dance artists such as Judith Marcuse, David Monk and Sharon Moore. Closer to home she had a huge influence on dancers such as Susie Burpee, Brent Lott, Deborah Lundmark and Gaile Petursson-Hiley.

Rachel continued to create dances for others as well, such as the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theater and the

dance departments at York University and the University of Calgary.

In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she received among numerous awards the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal and Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, and was inducted into the Order of Canada (1997). The WCD practice studio is named for her.

After leaving the company in 1982, she worked as a freelance choreographer and teacher. Rachel made a profound contribution to dance in Canada and has left a prolific artistic legacy. Rachel Browne died in Ottawa during a visit to see students perform in the Canada Dance Festival on June 9, 2012.

Jim Ingebrigtsen is a council member of the Manitoba Historical Society and submits the stories of Memorable Manitobans each month to Lifestyles 55. Visit MHS. mb.ca and discover more than 12,000 other notables in our archives.

August 2022

The world according to Crap (TWAC). The world according to Reason (TWAR)

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here are many over-the-top beliefs being taken as the Gospel right now. Here are some of the common beliefs and the refuting arguments.

1. TWAC. All Conservatives are extremists, and all extremists are Conservative.

TWAR. It is absurd to assume that extremists are always “far right conservatives”, when history shows that the left can be just as evil (two examples: Communism and the National Socialist German Workers Party – led by Hitler and nicknamed NAZI by Goebbels).

2. TWAC. Canadians paying a few cents more per gallon of gas and for their heating bills will save the world from climate destruction. Canadians should immediately stop using fossil fuels.

TWAR. There is nothing Canada could do alone that would save the planet. Even though we are an industrialized country, we have only .49 per cent of the world’s population and are responsible for just 1.6 per cent of global GHG, so even cutting our emissions completely would have very little net effect on climate change.

3. TWAC. It is evil to be white or Caucasian or to be proud of that heritage. It is even worse to be a white male.

TWAR. People are people. No group is entirely evil or good. We can all take pride in the best things about ourselves and our heritage and deplore the bad things. To attribute evil to any single group – white, pink, yellow, red, brown, black or purple with green polka dots (in case there are any space aliens reading this) is racism and bigotry.

4. TWAC. It is okay to mutilate your body because you don’t like the sex or gender you were born with – and the community should pay for the operation.

TWAR. People can do what they want to themselves and their bodies, but this activity should not be a matter that involves the state. Sadly, ten years on, the incidence of suicide among those who have had a sex change is 20 times higher than among their comparable peers. Based on this evidence, the Obama administration refused to cover gender reassignment under their Medicare program.

5. TWAC. Any development of Canada’s resources should cease if one small group objects, even though that development would benefit the vast majority of the community.

TWAR. Balancing majority rule with minority rights is the single most difficult task in a democracy. While minorities must be protected, this must be balanced against the will of the majority – otherwise, you have the antith-

esis of democracy. The balance is often achieved through compromise on both sides.

6. TWAC. It is better to let thieves walk out of a store with armloads of liquor than to have the “security” staff interfere for fear of themselves being harmed. It was better to let a man bleed out in a train wreck than to let first responders rescue him because of a small diesel spill.

TWAR. The act of providing security is synonymous with putting self at risk, otherwise “security” is not an occupation. You sign on to the risk when you take the job 7. TWAC. Any oil spill will destroy the entire B.C. coast – although, the same is not true for the Atlantic coast where they also have offshore drilling.

TWAR. Oil spills are local, so the idea that a spill would ruin the entire coastline is inaccurate. It could however do great damage on a localized basis that can last for years, depending on the location and the species affected. However, these same variables exist on either coast, so there is a dichotomy between the fact that no one protests the shipping of foreign oil not only to the East coast, but all the way down the St. Lawrence to inland Canada. Pipelines are the safest way to transport crude oil overland. Boats are the safest mode, but tanker spills are harder to contain and mitigate than land spills.

8. TWAC. Nobody with an unpopular opinion should be allowed to speak and that person should not be able to stand for office.

TWAR. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms clearly outlines our freedom of expression in Section 2.

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association.

Limitations: “…. subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.”

9. TWAC. Only Conservatives were responsible for the residential school system.

TWAR. The parties all agreed to residential schools. Liberals did not object when the system was created, and they were in power for most of the time the residential school system was in place.

Indeed, they were in power when the system was being most heavily expanded. It was ended by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

10. TWAC. A woman should be

automatically believed when she accuses a man of sexually assaulting or even offending her.

TWAR. There are always two sides to a story. When a woman accuses a man of sexual assault and makes that accusation public, the man is automatically judged by public opinion and his life seriously wounded whether the accusation is true or not. Due process needs to be followed regardless of the situation. Women are not above revenge or cruelty.

11. TWAC. People need to watch what they say in case another finds his speech offensive.

TWAR. While there are common rules of etiquette to guide what one says, it is not up to the individual to determine how someone else will react to a casual comment. Indeed, if the speech is respectful and not abusive, then there is no reason to assume another may be offended. Only the other party can determine what is offensive to themselves and they have a right to announce that they take offense, but that should end the matter.

12. TWAC. Putting things in the recycle bin will save the planet.

TWAR. Recycling, if it were all it pretends to be, would be a nice thing to keep our environment clean and to reduce the cost of replenishing things.

Sadly, little of what goes into a recycling bin is recycled, especially here in Winnipeg. It would be far better to produce goods that can be easily reused and repaired.

13. TWAC. All politicians are corrupt and only in it for themselves. Senators are a waste of time and money. They are all dozy and useless.

TWAR. Most politicians run for office because they have a burning desire to make something good happen. The odd one might do something corrupt and when that happens it becomes a great event as it should. The fall out however is that everyone is then painted with the same brush. Senators do some very good work in vetting and correcting carelessly present bills. They also have tine to study issues in depth and truly do add sober second thought. Senators are a critical part of our democratic system.

They also bring regional representation to the table.

14. TWAC. First-past-the-post elections systems are the worst of all democratic systems and changing to proportional representation or preferential ballot would allow the majority voices to rule.

TWAR. First past the post election systems are messy and full of problems, but the system, as Winston Churchill put it, is better than all the rest. Preferential ballots tend to elect mediocrity. It

is very hard to win on a first ballot with multiple individuals or parties running so the vote then goes to second or third persons on the ballot, and that second or third choice is second or third for a reason.

15. TWAC. If you disagree with the majority, you are at the very least stupid, but probably racist and bigoted, with serious Nazi challenges, too.

TWAR. Disagreeing with the majority adds a healthy balance to any popular tenet, even scientific ones. If we were to listen with our ears wide open, we might detect a flaw in the common logic that could lead to positive changes in a policy. Disagreeing and asking questions is a healthy symptom of democracy.

16. TWAC. All slaves were black people, and all slave owners were white.

TWAR. Both Black freed men and Indigenous people owned slaves in America. “ . . . some free black people in this country bought and sold other black people, and did so at least since 1654, continuing to do so right through the Civil War. Free black people could even “own” the services of white indentured servants in Virginia as well. Free Blacks owned slaves in Boston by 1724 and in Connecticut by 1783; by 1790, 48 Black people in Maryland owned 143 slaves. One particularly notorious Black Maryland farmer named Nat Butler “regularly purchased and sold Negroes for the Southern trade,” Halliburton wrote. – theroot.com, a Black website.

As well, Wikipedia states: “Ownership of enslaved Africans and Native Americans by Native Americans (existed) from the pre-colonial period to the U.S. Civil War. Waves of European colonization (and the concurrent Atlantic slave trade) brought enslaved Africans to North America. Following this development many indigenous tribes began to acquire Africans as slaves. Many prominent people from the “Five Civilized Tribes” purchased slaves from their white neighbors and became members of the planter class.”

Indigenous ownership of slaves predates colonialism. The spoils of local wars often resulted in the enslavement of the conquered.

17. TWAC. There are not enough family doctors in Canada. We should pay them more to solve the problem.

TWAR. There are literally thousands of doctors who qualify to practice in Canada but they are unable to receive registration which is granted by provincial colleges of physician and surgeons.

Canada ranks 26th in the patient to doctor ratio worldwide with only 2.4 doctors per 1,000 people. Meanwhile, these doctors are driving taxis or cleaning houses to survive.

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August 2022

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15

Your contribution DOES make a difference, every day!

Ollie.

Dominos Pizza fundraising.

Harlow.

L

Pauland Foundation Team.

ike many six-year-olds, Ollie bursts with enMy answer is simple – YES! ergy. He loves karate, swimming, and playIn June, at the celebration of the launch of our ing outside – but there was a time when he historic $75 million Better Futures campaign to couldn’t get out of bed. transform child health in Manitoba, In December 2017, pain in Olkids of all ages came up on stage to lie’s legs was so intense he woke up share the results of their own personal screaming in the middle of the night. fundraising activities. It was a tremenAn MRI revealed a tumour on his dous reminder that everyone can help spine that was putting pressure on his – no one is too small, and every gift is nerves. Doctors were able to remove plenty big. about a quarter of the mass, but OlEveryone can and does make a diflie’s journey was far from over. He ference. And there are so many ways needed 14 rounds of chemotherapy to help. and 30 of radiation, which meant long For example, Ollie’s dad, Ryan, hospital stays, hours of treatment and owns a Domino’s Pizza franchise and often having to stay in bed connected decided to donate a portion of sales Stefano Grande to an IV. in his stores in May 2021. His colAfter seven months, Ollie celebratleagues at Domino’s across the provHealthy ed his last day of chemotherapy on his ince joined in, and in just one month, Living sister Oaklyn’s first birthday.

Domino’s customers and staff donated Now Ollie is healthy and able to more than $21,000 that was used to enjoy his favourite activities, like playing with his buy special IV poles so kids like Ollie can move cousins and going for quad rides. He will continue around when they’re in hospital. They were so getting checkups at HSC Children’s twice a year to excited to help sick kids, that Domino’s ran the monitor his condition. campaign again this past May and raised $20,000 Ollie is just one of the thousands of sick and more. Thank you! injured kids who need Manitoba’s only children’s Manitoba’s farming community is another hospital each year. group that has found creative ways to get involved.

He’s one of the kids who needs you.

The Pre-Seed Shinny Round-Up hockey tournaI’m often asked by people whether their con- ment for farmers takes place every April in St. Jean tributions will make a difference, especially when Baptiste. During the pandemic, the organizers still they look at what can be daunting amounts of wanted to support sick kids, so they pulled togethmoney required to support research, specialized er a unique online auction that would appeal to equipment or renovations. their participants, with prizes like herbicide, canola

seed and wire welders. It raised over $23,000. In 2022, the tournament took place again in person, but because the auction was so successful, they kept it going too, raising another $30,000. Incredible!

And then there’s our friend Paul, a long-time supporter. Paul’s great-granddaughter was born premature and needed care at HSC Children’s. The amazing support she received inspired Paul to donate, including making a planned gift in his Will.

Most recently Paul sold his artwork and held a garage sale, raising $5,500. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

These are just a few examples of the thousands of meaningful gifts people like you make every day.

Gifts that are invested in life-saving research into diseases that impact kids in our communities. Gifts that fund vital programming like Child Life, that helps kids be kids in the hospital. Gifts that buy specialized equipment like custom IV poles for kids like Ollie undergoing cancer treatment, so they can be a little more comfortable during their stay, From lemonade stands, garage sales and birthday parties, to auctions and proceeds of sales, from monthly gifts to gifts in your will, there are countless ways businesses, organizations, schools, clubs, families and individuals across the province can make a difference for sick and injured kids in Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario and Nunavut.

You can help #GiveBetterFutures for kids like Ollie. Your present can change his future. Visit Goodbear.ca/BetterFutures to learn more.

Stefano Grande is the president and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba

Type sizes on pharmaceutical product labeling still too small

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ith an aging population and the eyesight degeneration that goes with this for most people, the size of type on non-prescription pharmaceuticals should be a matter of concern to Canadian and provincial regulators. Unless you have the 20-20 vision of a 15-year-old with perfect sight, labels can be extremely difficult if not impossible to read.

The type size can be as small as four points on some bottles, almost invisible without the aid of a magnifying glass, plus eyeglasses. To make it worse, some labels are printed in reverse type, with white on a darker colour or printed black on red, for example, making them virtually illegible, even for those with good eyes.

Health Canada recommended using “The largest type size possible... however, a point size less than 6 should not be used for key information.” Pretty loosey goosey. Manufacturers complain that container sizes will not accommodate smaller type. There are many ways to deal with this – put the medication in a larger container, increase the label size (a small bottle of Tylenol has plenty of room to accommodate 9 point type, but the label has been designed to cover only a portion of the container, the label too small itself to use a larger font); or reduce the size of the product advertising to make more room for critical information. The onus should be on the packager.

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Pharmaceutical products frequently require you to reach for a magnifying lens just to read the label.

Avoiding complaints from consumers should not be the chief motivator for change here, rather one would think the emphasis should be on the safety of the consumer; the information on these labels is critical to their safe usage, especially the list of ingredients, the dosages and any contraindications.

If you can’t read the dosage or the ingredients, you can be in serious trouble. Case in point: Steven, a 45 year-old-local manager, was recently suffering from muscle pain after a too-vigorous workout. He gobbled down two Aleve and four hours later, he took two more. He then suffered excruciating stomach pain – he thought he had eaten some contaminated food.

Turns out, it was the Aleve, an over-the-counter medication which should only be taken one tablet at a time, once every eight to 12 hours. How would he know, though? The instructions on the bottle are printed in 4 or 5 point type. The drug also has serious cautions about allergies. To be fair, there is a lot of information on the package, including how to read all the information which is cleverly available on a foldout panel on the back of the bottle. Problem is, you have to be able to read the instructions about how and where to find it.

I needed both a magnifying glass and my glasses.

August 2022

Helping yourself when you are a professional caregiver

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ou may be a hospice staff member, clergy person, funeral director, social worker, nurse, counsellor, physician or volunteer. Regardless of your title, good self-care is essential to truly “being present” to those we wish to help.

Self-care for caregivers How do we care well for others while at the same time caring for ourselves?

Consider the following guidelines, keeping in mind they are not intended to be cure-alls, nor will they be appropriate for everyone. Choose what will aid your efforts to stay physically and emotionally healthy.

1. Time-management skills • Create specific goals for personal and professional development.

Michael Divide your annual goals into monthly goals, weekly goals into daily goals. Ask, “What do I want to accomplish this year, this month, this week, this day?”

• Do one thing at a time.

Caregivers are notorious for trying to do and be all things to all people and all projects. Quality suffers

when you try to do too many things. Protect from constant interruptions. Schedule uninterrupted time as necessary to complete tasks.

• Work when you work best.

We all have certain natural peak hours of performance. Are you a morning person or a night person? Does a brief nap recharge you?

• Delegate tasks when possible.

Someone else might do “busy work” more efficiently.

• Throughout the day ask, “What’s the best use of my time right now?”

Focus on those tasks that need to be done first. This requires discipline, but will pay many dividends.

Build support systems Ideally, supportive colleagues and Gibbens friends provide the following: • Unconditional acceptance and support – provided through friendship, meeting our need to be nurtured and understood.

• Help with complicated situations – colleagues provide valuable advice regarding our efforts to aid the dying and the bereaved.

• Mentoring – inspirational role models provide encouragement to develop our professional abilities.

• Challenges – provide encouragement to stretch beyond our current limits.

• Referrals – connection with colleagues provides additional professional resources for those in your care.

The importance of "spiritual time” Nurturing my spirit is critical to my work as a bereavement caregiver. “Spiritual time” helps me combat fatigue, frustration and life’s disappointments. To be present for those I work with and to learn from those I companion, I must appreciate the beauty of life and living. Some people do this through prayer and meditation. Others might through physical “alone time” and hike, bike or run, or spend time in nature.

Ask yourself: How do I renew my spirit?

Listen to your inner voice As a caregiver to the dying and the bereaved, you will at times become grief overloaded (too much death, grief and loss in your day-to-day life). Listen if your inner voice says, “I cannot handle any more sadness right now. I need and deserve a spirit break.”

Micheal Gibbens is pleased to present this article written for caregivers by grief specialist Alan D. Wolfelt Ph.D.

Gum disease can kill

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nflammation is linked to just about between the tooth and bone. This can every health concern including ar- lead to further gum infection and result thritis, cardiovascular disease, neu- in chewing pain, sensitive teeth, receding gums, or even bone rological diseases, autoand tooth loss. immune conditions, and cancer. Inflammation isn’t One of the clearest indialways a bad thing, howcators of periodontitis is ever. When it lasts for a when you feel your teeth short period of time (up are loose and may fall out, to a few days), the inflambut the proliferation of matory process helps the oral bacteria can also cause body recover from injury persistent bad breath. or infection, and dissipates Periodontitis damages the once healing is underway. soft tissue and bone that This acute inflammation hold the teeth in place. stage is a normal and posiThis common condition tive process. It’s chronic, affects over 11 per cent of continuous inflammathe world’s population.

Nathan Zassman tion that is the cause of Research has found that Natural Health so many health probperiodontitis is associated lems. Chronic inflammawith cardiovascular distion is associated with accelerated ag- ease, kidney disease, and diabetes. Seing (sometimes called inflammaging), vere periodontitis is linked to a 24 per which is connected to many age-related cent increase in the risk of cancer. Rediseases including type II diabetes, de- cent research at Tufts University found mentia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. a strong association between the oral The importance of a good oral health bacteria F. nucleatum (associated with routine periodontitis) and Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the most common causes of Fortunately, there are some excellent chronic inflammation is gum disease. dental mouthwashes including PeriIn the United States, 47.2 per cent of Gum that can help heal gum tissue adults over 30 have some form of it. while reducing the pockets that harbor It’s more common in men than women, harmful bacteria. Proper brushing comand the prevalence increases with age: bined with regular use of an interdental 70 per cent of men over 65 have some proxy brush and an oral irrigator like the form of gum disease.

Hydro Floss can reduce dental plaque, If your teeth bleed when you brush, even below the gum line where bacteria this can be caused by excessive plaque thrives. Hydro Floss is clinically proven build-up which triggers inflammation. to remove 65 per cent more subgingival Plaque is the sticky layer of bacteria plaque than similar products. that accumulates on the teeth, especially Probiotics along and below the gum line (subginMost people are unaware of the tregival). Proper oral care can remove the mendous overall health benefits of oral plaque that causes gingivitis (the techni- probiotics. This exciting new area of cal term for inflammation of the gums research is showing that their regular and the first phase of gum disease). In use can help reverse gingivitis and periaddition to brushing and flossing, regu- odontitis by correcting imbalances in lar use of an oral irrigator, an interdental the oral microbiome. As with the gut proxy brush, and a tongue cleaner can microbiome, the oral cavity requires a help restore red, bleeding, or inflamed balanced ecosystem where beneficial gum tissue to pink, vibrant, healthy bacteria predominate. Poor oral hygums, as well as prevent gingivitis from giene and oral plaque increase levels of progressing. pathogenic oral bacteria like P. gingivaIf gingivitis is left to progress without lis, F. nucleatum and Treponema denproper treatment, gum tissue may begin ticola. Probiotic antimicrobial peptides to pull away from the teeth, and pock- produced by lactic acid bacteria called ets can develop where the teeth meet bacteriocins can help treat gum disease the gums. These spaces are a breeding by crowding out the bad strains that ground for bacteria, which can prog- thrive on dental plaque. ress to a condition called periodontitis, Specific strains shown to be effeccharacterized by a loss of attachment tive include S. Salivarius BLIS K12 and August 2022

BLIS M18. By increasing levels of these beneficial oral bacteria, harmful bacteria growth is inhibited.

With daily use, BLIS K12 and BLIS M18 are proven to help reduce bad breath and can work to reverse gingivitis and plaque buildup associated with periodontitis. Improved oral health may also help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and heart disease. A study found that 100 per cent of patients with cardiovascular disease had the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis in their arteries.

Oral probiotics can also help reduce ear, nose, and throat infections (including tonsillitis and strep throat). While originally indicated for oral cavity health, the BLIS K12 probiotic found in BLIS probiotic lozenges and in Theraneem tooth powder can also help reduce the occurrence and severity of secretory otitis media (infection or inflammation in the middle ear), a major cause of ear pain, tonsillitis, and scarlet fever in children.

Gingivitis and alzheimer’s disease Knowing that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients exhibit neuroinflammation which is usually associated with infection, researchers analyzed the brains of AD patients to determine the cause.

In 2019, a landmark study published in Science Advances found that P. gingivalis (the primary pathogen in chronic periodontitis) results in the production of toxic proteins from the bacterium gingipains that are found in the brains of over 90 per cent of AD patients. Research continues into drugs that block gingipains, potentially leading to treatments that could prevent symptoms or slow the progression of AD. I recommend a comprehensive suite of oral care products including the 30 Second Smile electric toothbrush (or the Collis Curve if you prefer a manual design), an oral water irrigator, the Clean Between Machine (or similar devices for removing interdental plaque), flossing, regular use of the BLIS K12 or BLIS M18 oral probiotics, and tooth powders including Theraneem and Good Gums.

I combine these tooth powders, as Theraneem contains the herb neem (known to help heal gum tissue), and the oral probiotic BLIS K12, while Good Gums contains myrrh, cranberry, French grey sea salt, and sodium bicarbonate. When combined, these tooth powders provide powerful gum healing properties.

C-Reactive protein Many studies have found a strong association between chronic periodontitis and high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). Produced by the liver, CRP is considered a specific marker indicating inflammation in the body and can be measured by a blood test (any acute or chronic infection results in elevated levels). High CRP levels are associated with cancer, as inflammation may facilitate the progression of tumors and angiogenesis (the development of new blood vessels to support cancer cell growth).

Surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatments have been shown to reduce levels of CRP which may lower the risk of various cancers. For nutritional support, vitamin E, magnesium, curcumin, omega-3, folate, high fibre foods, and berries can all help to lower CRP levels.

Research from Finland has found a link between gum disease and different types of cancer, and that the oral bacterium Treponema denticola may be responsible for gastrointestinal cancers. As published in the International Journal of Cancer, an analysis of almost 70,000 adults over ten years found a strong association between gum disease and pancreatic cancer. In another study at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, after controlling for potential effects from smoking, alcohol, and body mass index, researchers found that three types of oral bacteria are linked to two fatal forms of esophageal cancer. There is also evidence that specific types of oral microbiota that cause gum disease are associated with head and neck cancer.

See your dentist regularly, have frequent cleanings, and implement an oral care routine to help balance your oral microbiome. You should clean your teeth in the proper order, starting with flossing (use small floss picks or regular floss), followed by brushing, an interdental brush, and an electric oral water irrigator like the Hydro Floss (proven to remove subgingival plaque). I also recommend combining the tooth powders Good Gums and Theraneem.

A comprehensive oral care routine, and using healing mouthwashes and oral probiotics can help prevent or even reverse gum disease, lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Nathan Zassman is the owner and president of Aviva Natural Health Solutions. whatsupwinnipeg.ca

17

Save it to the cloud R

ecently I received a message from my phone informing me that I no longer had enough storage space to back up all of my documents and photos on the cloud. With a monthly charge of a certain number of dollars, I could purchase additional space in the cloud to store all of my documents.

I thought about this opportunity for several minutes, and I thought of all of the other services that I purchase on a monthly basis and somehow always manage to forget the required passwords when I actually do need to access the services.

It did make me consider all of the ways that we try to save important Trudy Schroeder documents, photos, and Random writings so that they can Notes be useful at a future date.

In other times, people took many fewer photos, but the photos that were taken were printed up and placed in photo albums or photo boxes so that the photos could be accessed at later dates. I have been quite a devoted photo album creator for many years, but even I have ceased keeping up with photo album making over the last few years. I have so many photos stored on my computer, my cell phone, and other devices, that I don’t really worry about accessing the photos for any project I have in mind.

A friend of mine who owns a photo shop warned me about the dangers of not making physical copies of some of the photos that are now stored electronically. He said that many people keep all of their photos on a phone or device, and when the phone is lost, or the device damaged, or technology changes, people lose track of many of the photos of moments they would want to keep in a permanent file. He mentioned that many people did not have any good quality printed photographs of themselves. He found it very sad when family members came into his shop looking for help in creating a photo that could be used for an obituary.

In a meeting with archivists and librarians that I attended at a conference several years back, these good

u

Nina Schroeder with her partner on May 21, 2022. people were sharing their concerns about the fragility of the means we have of saving the cultural and intellectual documents of our time. Our technological tools can fail, our technology can become out of date and inaccessible, and the quality of paper we use for the printed documents we make is not good enough to stand the test of time. While we have a huge quantity of documents, we do not often enough think about creating documents that others will be able to study and learn from hundreds of years from now.

I recall a rather heartbreaking project that several staff members worked on at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. More than 70 years of concert program books were painstakingly scanned and then saved to an electronic file by a team of archival staff and volunteers. This seemed to be a very good idea to provide a broader access to these historical documents of programs, guest artists and organizational news. That was until the volunteers and archival staff completed

the project and left, and the staff member who had organized the project retired, and when those who remained wanted to access the electronic file, no one could remember where the electronic file had been saved or how it could be accessed. I hope the missing file has been found, but no one seemed to know how to go about finding this file among the thousands of documents stored on our shared drive.

In a more hopeful example of saving our memories to “the cloud”, I had a conversation with my daughter before her recent wedding. She is an art historian who has been researching the artistic networks of artists, patrons, and art historians in the Dutch Golden Age. Following the challenging covid-19 period, she and her boyfriend had invited friends, family members, colleagues, and community supporters to attend a wedding ceremony and reception in a hidden church in the centre of Amsterdam. My daughter talked about the importance to her of having all of these people who were important to their lives attend this ceremony, she said that in other times there was a concept of “the great cloud of witnesses” to the important moments in life. She wanted to have a great cloud of witnesses attend the wedding service and witness her covenant of marriage. At the time of our conversation I did not think too much about this idea, but at the event itself, I saw the power of gathering friends from different circles, from Winnipeg, from various points of study and work, family members from near and far.

It struck me that in gathering so many people who were an important part of the young couple’s life together they were in a very real sense saving the memory of the moment to the cloud. This shared time seemed even more important in the face of the months of covid-19 restrictions that had reduced the numbers of attendees and gatherings for the past two years. In our sharing of experiences, we are able to save important times to a collective memory. Each friend or family member who is able to gather for these events becomes a part of the memory, keeps the memory, and draws on the memory at different points in time, from different perspectives. I love this way of saving to the cloud. It is our ancient and time honoured way of saving important occasions to a memory bank that is rich with nuance and meaning.

Trudy Schroeder provides project planning and management services to the community through Arts and Heritage Solutions.

Companion planting Continued from page 1

5. Chives are often planted among roses to keep aphids away and to resist the disease, blackspot.

6. Basil drives away flies and mosquitoes.

7. Borage deters that monster of vegetable garden insects, the tomato hornworm.

8. Rosemary and sage repel cabbage moth, bean beetles, and carrot flies.

9. Annual marigolds can be used anywhere to deter Mexican bean beetle, squash bug, thrips, tomato hornworm, and whitefly. They are also known to repel harmful root knot nematodes (soil dwelling microscopic white worms) that attack tomatoes, potatoes, roses,

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and strawberries.

10. The root of the Marigold produces a chemical that kills nematodes as they enter the soil.

If a whole area is infested, at the end of the season, turn the Marigolds under so the roots will decay in the soil. You can safely plant there again the following spring.

11. Nasturtium is another annual, in this case a trailing vine, that keeps away Colorado potato bug, squash bug, and whitefly.

Shauna Dobbie 12. The perennial, arteThe Gardener misia or wormwood, deters slugs that are so devastating to foliage.

13. Radish discourage cucumber beetle, squash bug, and stink bug. it at the other end of the garden.

Ideal planting companions for vegetables 5. Corn prefers to be near pumpkins, The following is a list of vegetables peas, beans, cucumbers, and potatoes. and their ideal planting companions, Keep tomatoes away. plus combinations to avoid.

6. Cucumbers like sweet corn, peas, 1. Beans like celery and cucumbers radishes, beans, and sunflowers. Dislikes but dislike onions and fennel. include aromatic herbs and potatoes.

2. Beets are compatible with bush 7. Lettuce grows especially well with beans, lettuce, onions, kohlrabi, and onions. They are also compatible with most members of the cabbage family. strawberries, carrots, radishes, and cuKeep pole beans and mustard away from cumbers. them.

8. Onions can be planted near lettuce, 3. Cabbage, celery, dill, onions, and beetroot, strawberries, and tomatoes but potatoes are good companion plants. keep well away from peas and beans.

Dislikes include strawberries, tomatoes, 9. Peas, carrots, cucumbers, sweet and pole beans. corn, turnips, radishes, beans, potatoes, 4. Carrots, lettuce, radish, onions, and and aromatic herbs are good compantomatoes are friends. Dill isn’t, so plant ions. Keep peas away from onions, gar-

lic, leek, and shallots.

10. Radish grows well with beetroot, carrots, spinach, parsnip, cucumbers, and beans. Avoid planting near cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or turnips.

11. Squash likes cucumbers and corn.

12. Tomatoes, carrots, onions, and parsley are good companion plants. Basil improves growth and flavour. Keep cabbage and cauliflower away from them.

First printed in Canada’s Local Gardener magazine. For more useful information such as this or to buy a subscription go to localgardener.net. You can also call 204 940 2700 for a subscription. Canada’s Local Gardener, previously Manitoba Gardener, has been in print since 1998.

August 2022

What a magnificent change, I really wasn’t expecting that!

Before.

After.

Ian Leatt

discussed many areas that I am concerned with. Rest assured Brent was very helpful.

One thing that did arise was the general condition of my front drive. Yes, for sure it needed work, it seemed to me that this would not make the list, but surprisingly Brent had a product that would take away many of my concerns.

Initially the cost, replacing the entire drive with concrete would be very high, similarly to asphalt, not only that but I would lose the use of my drive for two weeks. The idea Brent put forward seems very simple now having had the conversation.

Why not use rubber? Was his statement.

I know that’s what I thought at first.

There are many pluses to this, the drive can be completed in one day. Yes, you read correct one day! Once all has been applied leave for three days to fully cure then you can drive on it. You can even walk on the surface after 24 hours? No mess, no dust just a beautiful new drive.

You guessed correct, I did it, and I am so happy I did. Oh, did I mention it is so nice to walk on. I don’t mind falling over now, not that I will. If you want to reach out to Brent (204) 477 4459 he tells me he will be only to happy to help whomever.

O

ccasionally conversations lend there way to something we are least expecting. I have over time been thinking of having my drive resurfaced, but with the current economic movement and how costs are constantly escalating I always seem to leave it sitting on the back burner. Although, having had a couple of tumbles over the last year or so bruises can be painful; I thought I would once again consider this exercise. Initially I start my list of what-to-dos around the house.

You know how are the windows and doors? Is the roof, ok? Are there any leaks in the basement, we have had so much water this year? Do I need to update any rooms in the house?

I asked our resident contractor Brent, I am sure you all read his monthly column, full of useful and inciteful information.

One thing that he did mention in our conversation as he has stated many times before in his column is budget, plan your thoughts for the year and act on what you want to achieve, kind of a want, need and wish list.

Brent made the decision to stop by, we

Connect with us online at whatsupwinnipeg.ca

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Official English Language Magazine

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You should consider having the following in place Will The preparation of a will may seem like a daunting task, however, it is essential to ensure that your property is disposed of according to your wishes upon your death. If you pass away without a valid will, the law states what is to happen to your estate.

Power of Attorney A power of attorney is a document which appoints an individual to handle your affairs in the event you become mentally incapable of making your own decisions. Nothing prevents you from continuing to make your own decisions while you are still competent.

A power of attorney is an extremely valuable document to have in place in case anything happens to you which affects your mental ability, such as a stroke, coma or dementia.

Health Care Directive (Living Will) A health care directive, commonly called a living will, is a document which appoints an individual to make decisions with regard to your health care only, while you are alive but unable to express your decisions yourself. This document is distinct from a power of attorney and deals only with health care decisions such as whether life sustaining treatments, such as CPR or blood transfusion, should be continued or withdrawn.

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August 2022