Lifestyles 55 2022 01 January

January 2022

whatsupwinnipeg.ca

FAST DENTURES

New Happy Year!

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A rustic dish for a cold winter’s eve!

Happy New Year!

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Do you remember Schmockey Night?

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Who is our new premier?

She is just Heather, and she listens to you

Worried about Omicron? Copper masks can stop it in its tracks!

Dorothy Dobbie

S

he is just Heather, a serious, down to earth, fun-loving mother, businesswoman and politician who has stepped up to do the job of encouraging Manitobans to be all that they can be.

Manitoba’s new premier, Heather Stefanson, has her feet firmly planted in the Manitoba soil and her heart tied to its future. Like the endless prairies skies around her, she sees that future to be limitless.

She believes in us and our capacity to do great things if government gets out of our way.

Whether Conservative or NDP, those are the Manitoba values and that is the gutsiness that made this province great, values that we all share regardless of what political stripe we are. Heather believes in us.

“I can’t wait to get COVID-19

A copper mask.

Dorothy Dobbie

Premier Heather Stefanson after reaching out to Mayor Brian Bowman. behind us and to do what needs to be done to get our economy going again,” she says. “My first priority after COVID-19 is to create hope for our future.”

That does not mean that she plans to do it alone. It only takes a moment to understand that this Premier is all about collaboration,

listening and learning before making snap judgments. She values what others have to say and welcomes advice.

“I want to get the message to the world that Manitoba is open for business,” she says. “We have to find out what the barriers have u 4 ‘Who is our new premier?’

Gratitude from A to Z Stefano Grande

healthcare journeys and the many milestones they achieve along the way. Ethan had 68 weeks of chemotherapy for a tumour on his optic nerve and added a bead for every significant moment.

When he showed his class, they couldn’t believe it was taller than he is. Brave, indeed.

Our remarkable community.

Despite the pandemic, organizations and individuals #continuecaringforkids, through generous donations, event sponsorships, fundraisers, and activities like Winter’s Autobody’s campaign in memory of Paige for the PICU, and incredible matching gifts by Sharon and Mark Evans, and Bob u 6 ‘Gratitude from A to Z’

A

lpha, beta, delta and now omicron. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to return to some happier ABCs! Here’s an alphabet of your impact and our gratitude to celebrate 2021: All kids in Manitoba deserve the very best hospital experience possible.

Thanks to incredible support from people like you, the teams at HSC Winnipeg Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM) continue to have the equipment, tools and programs they need to ensure kids get the best care, right here at home.

Bravery beads help kids track their Jack.

H

umn Pharmaceuticals, a local pharma company owned by the same guy who brought you the topical painkiller TPR 20, has done it again. They have introduced the first clinically proven mask that kills COVID-19 within five minutes of contact.

The Copper Guard Mask has been through 31 clinical trials and has been proven to be 99.86 percent effective in slaying the COVID-19 dragon. Copper has long been known for its ability to kill bacteria, fungus and viruses. Gardeners with ponds use it in their water to prevent infection without any toxic side effects for the fish.

This is fabulous news at a time when the Omicron virus is spreading like wildfire. It appears that it takes a much smaller load of the variant to deliver infection than has been the case with the original virus or even Delta. Therefore, face covering protection must be more resilient against the virus, too.

Many people are turning to N-95 masks that are used in construction, but they are not all equal and as one medical person said, they were designed to catch sawdust particles, not viruses!

It is true that N-95s are 95 per cent effective and capture particles 0.3 microns in size. On the other hand, the Copper Guard Mask stops particles 0.1 microns in size.

The good news is that Humn, a local, Winnipeg company, has the exclusive right of distribution in the North America. Copper Guard masks were approved by Health Canada in September. Blair McInnes, the owner of Humn, says the company is planning to manufacture the masks and other copper products in Winu 11 ‘Copper mask’

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whatsupwinnipeg.ca

January 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 EDITOR Emeritus Joan Cohen ART DIRECTOR Karl Thomsen karl@pegasuspublications.net GENERAL MANAGER Ian Leatt ian.leatt@pegasuspublications.net CONTRIBUTORS Angela Birdsell, Bill Blaikie, Nancy Cooke, Dorothy Dobbie, Myrna Driedger, John Einarson, Stefano Grande, Jim Ingebrigtsen, Ian Leatt, Fred Morris, Manitoba Seniors Coalition, Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, Connie Newman, Peggy Pendergast, Brent Poole, Darlene Ronald, Sanja Rossi, Senaka Samarasinghe, Trudy Schroeder, Elly Spencer, Wayne Weedon, Al Wiebe, Nathan Zassman.

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Joy to the world, Happy New Year, the sun will shine again!

T

he sun was out today for the few magical hours that comprise daylight north of 49 on the solstice, the shortest day of the year. There was a light snowfall last night, so the world was powdered with white, glistening in the lemon light that only a northern winter sun can lend. The beauty lifted our souls out of the dreariness of another hysterical response to the COVID-19 virus and the Omicron variant.

Now I am triple vaccinated, dutifully cover my face with a mask, stay out of spaces crowded with strangers and wash my hands. But I refuse to live in perpetual fear that, despite all these precautions, I might get sick. I might get sick with just about anything, and it doesn’t have to be a virus. There are threats to our health everywhere, but we take sensible precautions Dorothy – we don’t eat food that smells bad. We wash our clothing and our eating utensils and clean our bathrooms. We don’t engage in clearly dangerous behaviour. Despite all that, we still sometimes get sick. Being afraid is of little help.

So today, with the sun shining, my old Dodge Caravan gleaming from the bath I gave it the other day and quite balmy temperatures of about minus 15 or so, I enjoyed life. There was a spring in my step that has been missing since I returned from Ottawa a week ago.

What a dreary place that is. And that is odd, because pretty well everyone there makes a very good living with all sorts of perks we ordinary mortals don’t enjoy, especially those who, like me, run a very small company that exists to support its employees, not its owner.

Working for the federal government is a sinecure that provides more security than most will ever have.

But the folks “up there” are terrified. All the people on the Hill have been sent home and the buildings are closed. They need special permission to just go and get the mail. A House of Commons middle manager advised me that she thought they would never go back to working full time in the office! Looking out from my hotel room at the mass of office towers that support the workings of the Canadian administration, I was appalled. I cannot see this working effectively, although apparently some of the buildings are already being converted to condos. There are also human casualties. One of the two staff of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians who are employed by the House of Commons to support the Association and the Spouses Committee, lives alone. She has been subjected to isolation for the past two years and that is not healthy.

I don’t know how she copes working off her kitchen island.

Do you remember that movie from the 1980s, the Gods Must be Crazy? That sense of living in an unreal world pervades everything we do these days. It very much feels as though, if not the Gods, then a lot

of men and women have gone around the bend all at the same time. They seem to have some sort of primitive system of communication and “understanding” of how the world works and what should be done to make it better. And yes, I do believe they think they can improve things, but experience tells us that no one person or indeed one group has all the answers and when they try to impose their wellmeaning agenda on others, things can go awfully awry.

Right now, the problem is that the reference point of the changemakers is a time when the world was enjoying one of the most prosperous, compassionate and peaceful times in its history. Yet the current narrative has so twisted the truth of this that anyone just happening upon the scene would believe these disruptors are Dobbie helping today’s youth escape an incredibly selfish and cruel regime run by their fathers. And they won’t hear otherwise.

I won’t belabour the point, except to repeat, the Gods Must be Crazy, because what else could explain what is happening with Cancel Culture, with doomsday prophecies about “climate”, with racial stereotyping that classifies everybody according to ethnic background or skin colour and pits them against one another?

It all begs the question, what will tomorrow bring?

What will happen in 2022? What new fears, anxieties and indignities will be visited upon the population by intellectually lazy leaders, by a chattering class that doesn’t know how to use the research tools around them, by an innocent youth who are being brought up to believe that black is white and this it only matters if that describes the colour of your skin, or your “sexuality”?

I am an eternal optimist, so I believe that the light will gradually begin to permeate the darkness again, that enlightened souls – and there are still many – will being to speak truth to power. Perhaps it will start with the sunshine of springtime as we prepare to go back to the garden – and 2022 has been declared the Year of the Garden – and get our feet firmly grounded in reality again.

So here is to all of you who are bolstered by optimism and positivity and who believe in compassion supported by freedom and enterprise. Here’s to you and me and our collective energy to right the ship and set us back on a course of progress that continues to build upon our past experiences, rather than trying to destroy their very memory.

Here is to a year filled with energy, and the joy that the satisfaction of hard work and accomplishment brings. I am counting on your heartfelt cries of HAPPY NEW YEAR to send a message of hope to the world. It will get better. We will survive. The light will shine. We will be joyous again!

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January 2022

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Who is our new premier? She is just Heather, and she listens to you Continued from page 1

been to more and better investment in our province.”

She adds, “And we have to deal with them.”

You have already seen and heard all this but who is the secret Heather? Surprise! There are no secrets. She is who she is; warm, understanding, sensitive to others but practical and pragmatic. She does what needs to be done, efficiently and calmly. She understands the need to separate the public persona from the private one, although there is little difference. She laughs, telling how in a recent interview, the interviewer started out with a question about how it felt to be booed when she showed up at the Bomber game.

“I didn’t take it personally,” she said. “People are frustrated with COVID-19 and all the restrictions. I don’t blame them. They feel the need to blame someone. It is natural to take it out on Government.”

She also realizes that people today have little respect for politicians. “I understand that it is about the institution. It is not personal.” Her maturity comes through as she says. “Actually, knowing this is kind of liberating.

I am still me.” That is very encouraging. There is no messiah complex here. She knows who she is, understands both her strengths and limitations and looks for the strongest and truest people to support the work she does. Note that it is about supporting the work, not herself.

By the time you read this, she may already have made public her choices for cabinet. If we can go by her early choices for support of her work, people such as Don Leitch and Sean Kavanagh who bring experience and maturity to their work, we can feel pretty good about who will take the top jobs in the future.

Her approach is to encourage, rule by example and have high expectations. When asked about making sure MLAs answer emails and phone calls, her answer demonstrates this. “I think that when members understand that their voice counts, that they can speak without fear at caucus meetings and that my door is open, they will have the confidence to respond to their constituents,” she says, making it clear that lecturing and scolding is

not her style.

In support of this was her early response to Bill 64 which had received widespread opposition from the public. Listening to her caucus and cabinet ministers, the Premier had the proposed legislation withdrawn.

While there is public support for reform, new legislation will take all voices into consideration.

Right now, the Premier is focused on dealing with COVID-19 and the health care situation. She is asking

critical questions, learning, getting right to the heart of the matter. She meets with chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin regularly to get a handle on what is really happening, such as the effect of the Omicron variant on hospital and ICU occupation. As of this writing, a day before Christmas, the numbers are flat, encouraging, but a situation that needs to be monitored closely for a while longer.

The Premier is also trying to create a reasonable relationship with the Opposition, something it is not easy to do. Wab Kinew is no Garry Doer, with whom Heather served as a member of the Opposition in her early career. She will keep trying though. She realizes that Opposition is an important part of government, citing Mr. Doer as a role model.

One of her clear priorities is mending relationships with Indigenous people, learning from them and consulting in areas that affect them. She has tremendous respect for the women in the communities.

Another priority is the provincial relationship with the City of Winnipeg. She backed up her assertion about this by reaching out to Mayor Bowman soon after being sworn in.

The Premier believes that government is responsible for governing, rather than abrogating its essential work to agencies that are not accountable to the electorate.

It has been an exhausting three months since she declared her intention to run for the top job. During the leadership campaign, she travelled to every corner of the province, listening to people, getting to know them. In the two months since her investiture, it has been a non-stop learning curve, constant meetings, and as Sean Kavanagh put it, “40 brush fires an hour”.

Heather takes it in stride, though. “I am exhausted,” she laughingly admits, looking forward to a few days off for Christmas.

Despite that, she is already thinking ahead to what comes next in her quest to support our province in being all we know it to be. To repeat her now famous comment, “Stay tuned!”

Youth Parliament of Manitoba

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s Speaker of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, I have had the privilege over the past five years of working with so many wonderful, unique groups. Manitoba is home to amazing organizations for all age ranges, communities, and topics.

One special organization is Manitoba’s Youth Parliament.

Every year, I get to know the fantastic leaders behind this amazing organization through working with their executive to host the annual Youth Parliament of Manitoba Winter Session. Their executive hold titles familiar to politicians, one role is the Speaker! I like to think that these brilliant young Hon. Myrna Driedger people are well on their way to holding the same Broadway titles again, like Premier, Journal later on in life.

Manitoba Youth Parliament is the longest running youth parliament in Canada. This organization began in 1922 and has been holding their ‘sessions’ ever since. Young Manitobans from all over the province aged 16-20 are able to participate in this great group.

The Youth Parliament of today is different from the Youth Parliament of 1922. This organization started as a program only for boys and was aligned with various churches through a Training Under Christ in Service (TUXIS) movement. In the 1960s, it became the Older Boys’ Parliament and opened up to non-protestant applicants. In the 1970s, the organization became fully open to female participants and changed its name to Youth Parliament of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. The name that it has today, Youth Parliament of Manitoba, came about in 2003.

2021 is a special year for the Youth Parliament of Manitoba. This is the 100th annual session- a remarkable milestone. Just think of the thousands of Manitoba youth who have participated in this organization and honed their debating skills. The lessons learned in 4

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this program are ones that each participant can take with them everywhere they go in life.

While Youth Parliament holds a variety of events, their keystone event is their Winter Session. Session for these future leaders is a weeklong model parliamentary session over the winter break. From Boxing Day to New Year’s Eve, participants debate a variety of mock legislation that they have created from topics about which they are so passionate. Much like the Manitoba Legislative Assembly’s session, the roles that members hold include members of cabinet, members of the opposition, the Speaker, and the Premier.

During session, these young members sit in the MLAs seats in the Chamber and debate just like their provincial counterparts. What a great way for young people to polish their debating skills and sharpen their public speaking skills! This weeklong event certainly makes an impression on the youth attending. Year after year, I hear from participants about their eagerness to return the next year. It is a place where life-long friendships start and a passion for debate ignites.

This year, during their 100th session, these brilliant future leaders participated in a session similar to how some of the current MLAs have been participatingvirtually. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and in order to keep everyone as safe as possible, our legislature has been working through a hybrid of an

online and in-person session. This means that some members are participating from their offices or home offices through web streaming while other are spaced apart in the Chamber. Adapting to the health restrictions in an institution so firmly based on tradition and procedure was a challenge and one that many staff members of the Legislative Assembly worked hard to overcome. Now, our Youth Parliament participants will experience these same technical adaptations as they participate virtually. I have no doubt that their Speaker will have to say “if the Member would please unmute” more than a few times.

If you know any young Manitobans between the ages of 16 and 20 who might want to get involved, I encourage you to share Youth Parliament of Manitoba’s web link at www.ypmanitoba.ca.

During my time as the MLA for Roblin and as the Speaker of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, I have met so many bright young leaders. I know that the next generation is one filled with kind, caring, intelligent, enthusiastic, and empathetic people who will lead our province well in the decades to come.

Your editor, Dorothy Dobbie, was one of the bears in the bear pit session this year, along with the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, former Premier Gary Doer and Judy Wasylycia-Leis.

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

January 2022

How does this work?

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he COVID-19 pandemic and our nologies to communicate with my conresponse to the threat stituents, fellow MPs, and was priority #1 and organizations; as we’ve all with the House of Comhad to become familiar with mons only sitting for three Zoom calls and other platmonths prior to the first forms. The frustration of wave, our job as MPs reremembering to mute and quired us to be quick on our unmute, (and those darn feet in order to address the internet connection issues!), concerns of our constituents is something we are all now as quickly and as concisely sadly familiar with, whether as possible. for work or communicating My experience as a memwith friends and loved ones. ber of the Class of 2019 I also think of the chalhas been unique to be sure, lenge of not seeing my however no more unique colleagues, of all political Marty Morantz stripes, in person, for long than the situation most of periods of time. Building us have seen ourselves in collegiality is difficult at the throughout the course of best of times in government. the pandemic.

I think of having to learn new tech- A least the technology, although not ideal,

did allow us to pass laws.

One of our greatest challenges was that of actually conducting a vote. Normally with all 338 members present in the House of Commons one vote takes only a few minutes. Over Zoom, many votes took close to an hour, as the clerk needed to identify each MP on their computer screen. Eventually though, we adapted by developing an app for our phones that allowed MP’s to vote using facial recognition. Thankfully this helped speed things up a lot!

I need to take this opportunity to also thank the hard-working public servants in Ottawa who made it possible for us to continue the work of government.

The Omicron variant has proven to be yet another unwanted hurdle, but be sure to remember that our best days are just around the corner. I encourage everyone to get their vaccines and boosters as soon as

A man’s a man for a’ that

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anuary brings many things, but it ends with a prolif- room adjoining the Parliamentary Dining Room.

The celebration of Burns is often dominated by stories of eration of events around the world, within Scotland and within the global Scottish diaspora, celebrating the whisky*, haggis, and the poet’s complicated love life, which tend to de-politicize Burns, who was in fact birth of Scotland’s Immortal Bard, Robert very political. So much so that he had to rely Burns, who was born 262 years ago on on friends in high places in Edinburgh who January 25th, 1759. appreciated his work to keep him from being As a Canadian of Scottish heritage, sent into exile for his defence of the common whose paternal grandparents came to Canman, his criticism of the rich and powerful, ada from Glasgow just before World War and his sympathy for the spirit of liberty that One, I was always aware of the great affecinspired the French Revolution. A sympathy tion felt by Scots for their famous poet and that did not extend to Napoleon when he was songwriter. After all, you might even say, as planning to invade Britain. Burns then joined some have said, that he wrote the world’s his local militia. international anthem, Auld Lang Syne.

A full account of Burns must recognize that And excerpts from his poems are arguably his real longevity, besides his songs, is related part of the vernacular, from “the best laid Bill Blaikie to the influence his egalitarian poetry and plans of mice and men gang aft agley” to withering satire of the high and mighty, the “O, would some power the gift to gie us, to Reminiscences see ourselves as other see us”. of a political life wealthy, and the self-righteous in politics and in the church had on significant historical figNevertheless, up until I got to Parliaures. ment, I was largely unaware of the social and political legacy of Burns. As a piper, I had piped in Abraham Lincoln knew many Burns poems by heart, a haggis or two at various events, but I had never heard recited them often, and kept a volume of his works at his anything more than the Address to a Haggis. It wasn’t un- bedside, alongside the Lincoln Bible that was used many til I had the privilege of hearing Tommy Douglas give the years later at the swearing in of Barack Obama. A book Toast to the Immortal Memory, the traditional after dinner published in 2008 by Southern Illinois University Press, speech at a full Burns Supper, that I realized there was a lot entitled Abraham Lincoln and Robert Burns – Connected more to Burns than I had previously appreciated. It was in Lives and Legends, makes the claim that Lincoln’s immer1981, at a Burns Supper organized by the NDP Caucus in a sion in Burns helped develop his egalitarian passions and

possible so we can all return to the healthy and prosperous Canada we all know and love.

I am both thrilled and honoured to have been reelected this past September to again represent the people of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley.

In my new role as the Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, I am ready to hold the current government to account on the world stage and help improve the lives of people from around the globe.

Once again, I would like to thank my constituents for putting their trust in me to represent them.

I am forever grateful.

Marty Morantz is the member of parliament for Charleswood – St. James – Assiniboia - Headingley.

the capacity for stirring rhetoric that helped Lincoln win the war and abolish slavery.

Keir Hardie, a Scot and the founding leader of the Labour Party in Britain, was inspired by Burns, and often quoted him in speeches. He is remembered as saying, “I owe more to Robert Burns than any other man alive or dead.” Not to mention the role that Burns has played in shaping the Scottish political ethos in general. A Scottish nationalist, Burns depicted the sellout of Scotland by its elites in his poem Parcel of Rogues in a Nation.

So, it wasn’t surprising that his ode to human equality, A Man’s a Man, was featured at the opening of the new Scottish Parliament in 1999.

Finally, and most important for Canadians, Robert Burns was an early and lasting influence on a young Scottish lad that came to Winnipeg with his family, first to Elmwood, and later to Point Douglas, where as a teenager he witnessed events related to the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919. A lad that went on to be a Baptist Minister, and to lead the first socialist government in North America, in Saskatchewan. A lad** who was to become known as the Father of Medicare, and to be voted the Greatest Canadian in 2004. *Bill spells this word the Canadian and Scottish way! We know our whisky, unlike our American and Irish neighbours who drink whiskey! The “legal” spelling is whisky, without the e! –Ed. ** Of course, Bill is speaking of Tommy Douglas.

Bill Blaikie was a Member of Parliament from 1979 to 2008, representing Elmwood-Transcona.

MLA Adams death should never have happened Volker Beckman

T

he shocking and tragic death of MLA Danielle Adams in a car accident on Highway 6 highlights the risk Northern Manitobans face. Adams was trying to pass a semi during a snowfall and hit another semi head on! A terrible, terrible accident. Sadly, it is indicative of what Northerners often deal with when they travel south and back.

As a part time downhill ski instructor, I taught Danielle freestyle skiing at Mystery Mountain Winter Park in Thompson in the mid-1990s. Two weeks ago, I saw her at Thompson’s Christmas parade with her MLA car. She mentioned to me she was excited and looking forward to teaching her 4-year-old son how to ski this winter. That would be the last time I would ever see her. More so, her little boy will never realize what his mother wanted for him.

Thompson is the Hub of the North, and a great amount of goods flow to here daily. Highway 6 is a well-traveled route that services northern Manitoba. It is also one of the most dangerous highways in the province, especially in winter. Accidents do happen everywhere, yet I personally know of over 25 people who have been in accidents from roll overs where they walked away to other friends who ended up with a broken neck, paralyzed, or dead like our MLA. I defy anyone in Winnipeg to make a list that long.

Dozens of freight semi-trailers travel the route daily. On two occasions my wife and I counted every semi we saw on that 750 km trip: 78 and 96. That’s about 10 an hour or one every six minutes between Thompson and Winnipeg. No problem in the summer on good pavement with long daylight hours. Yet, in winter, when you must pass a semi or stay behind one with billowing snow that can blind you, it becomes very, very treacherous.

I personally have had several close calls. It becomes a white-knuckle experience when you are driving to WinniJanuary 2022

peg with your family or students for a shopping trip, holidays, or sport teams travel. With shorter daylight hours in winter, it becomes even more dangerous.

Over 20 years ago, Northerners supported the idea of double length trailers with the promise it would reduce freight costs and improve economic development. All good for the trucking industry.

Yet, many groups have lobbied for years for wider shoulders and passing lanes. Is there anywhere else in Canada where they allow double length trailers on single lane highways? Considering all the taxes the North has generated over decades from hydro sales, mining taxes, liquor sales, income taxes from high income urban communities, and even VLT revenue, there is no reason not to improve northern roads for economic AND pure safety reasons. Whose job is it to speak up for the public and for safety’s sake?

For decades and regardless of which government, when Ministers come to visit the North, they fly… It’s quick and convenient. In and out on the same day. I challenge any minister to drive to Thompson and back. Maybe on a visit with your family. Maybe in winter when it gets dark by five. Experience for yourself the stress in your car each time a semi comes by. Would you be more fearful if YOUR family was in the car? Yet, Northerners just put up with it and assume the risks. Well, it’s time for a change and a determined effort for improvements.

I believe in 2021 the province is spending $100 million on road and bridge improvements down south along Highway #75 and #1 to improve trade corridors. All good. The province has provided passing lanes and rumble strips on Highway 6 between Winnipeg and Warren.

All good. Yet, the North still has none of that. Nor public restrooms for 100s of kilometres. Nor any trash collection at trucker rest stops or highway junctions. That’s another topic.

When my wife and I were in our 20s and 30s, our risk tolerance was high. We all believed we were bullet proof.

We’d drive anytime of the day or year to get to the south.

Now in our 70s, my wife and I hesitate to drive to Winnipeg anymore in winter in the evening. Daylight driving only for exactly those safety reasons. A friend, who works in the trucking industry, drove to Winnipeg recently with his granddaughter. He admitted the road and snow conditions were very challenging, and it was a very stressful drive. It’s totally unacceptable that Northerners must constantly endure this when we travel.

There are solutions that can alleviate these conditions.

There have been recommended for decades made by municipalities, First Nations, and Northern chambers of commerce. Regular passing lanes would be huge life savers.

Wider shoulders to park in full safety so no vehicle would have to stop and still be partially located on the pavement. More rest stops between towns that are 150 km apart would allow tired drivers to pull over to rest or nap during their 8 to 10 hour trip. In 2006, Sweden introduced a 2+1 lane highway model that has reduced deaths by 50-plus per cent. It’s been suggested for northern Ontario. The province could initiate a plan to make that happen. Where there is a WILL, there is a WAY. With all due respect to southern ministers, it’s time for the province to focus on where the Golden Boy on the Legislative Building is looking! Northerners deserve that.

Every northern municipality, First Nations, and chamber of commerce should send a strong message to make safer highways a priority for the North. We do not need this conversation again when the next traveler is killed.

Rest in Peace, Danielle.

ADDENDUM: https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/ transportation/lifesaving-2-1-highway-model-to-be-presentedat-sudbury-conference-1436074 https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2020/03/31/ road-innovation-from-swedensave-lives-around-theglobe/?sh=2810cff410ea whatsupwinnipeg.ca

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Gratitude from A to Z Continued from page 1

and Heather Williams to help your contributions go even further.

Research teams across CHRIM continued to make global impact on topics as diverse as allergies, breast milk, COVID-19, diabetes, emergency care, fetal health, genetics (see what we did there?) and more.

To learn about these worldrenowned teams working to understand disease and develop new treatments, visit chrim.ca.

We are grateful for each staff member and volunteer Stefano Grande who works tirelessly, every day – particularly in these Healthy ongoing challenging times Living – to care for all our kids.

Thank you!

“Fund the need” auctions at our annual golf tournament and GALAvant virtual gala helped purchase muchneeded child-specific surgical tools. Tools that help kids like 2020-2021 Champion Child Brady get back to playing hockey, and Janessa (and her new kidney, Bob) get back to her home community and the outdoors she loves.

In March 2021, the new Children’s Heart Centre opened, thanks to the leadership of Barb and Gerry Price and dozens of remarkable, community-minded supporters like you. What began as a $3.5 million campaign grew to an astounding $17.7 million, which not only built the new heart centre, but also new pediatric catheterization and fluoroscopy labs and specialized equipment, and will now extend remote monitoring capacity across the entire hospital, improving the experience for kids like Max. In June, we unveiled plans for the new Indigenous

Janessa.

Community Healing Space, which will provide families with a safe space for healing while they’re away from their home community and cultural supports. Led by Dr. Melanie Morris, Canada’s first Indigenous pediatric surgeon, the space is being developed in consultation with a group of Grandmothers, families and kids and will feature space for traditional ceremonies including smudging; place for Elders, healers and Knowledge Keepers to support families in care; library space for Indigenous children’s books; and a comfortable breastfeeding corner for mothers. More than 50 per cent of the kids who use HSC Children’s are Indigenous.

Jack, Keira, Liam and Morgan are just a few of the kids who shared their stories this year. We are incredibly grateful for families who reach out to other families who are experiencing the hospital to say, we understand and we support you. Read their stories at Goodbear.ca.

NoName and the Child Life team are experts in helping kids cope with anxiety and illness. Child Life programming is one hundred per cent funded by donors. Music,

humour and play therapy all help kids in hospital just be kids.

If you haven’t had a chance to meet Pacey, visit Goodbear.ca/pacey. Recently turned eight, Pacey has already had 28 surgeries and counting. He and his family are great reminders of how important HSC Children’s is for everyone.

We have been quietly working on a transformative campaign that you will hear more about in the coming months…

The Foundation is committed to ReconciliACTION, which includes the creation of an Indigenous Advisory Circle, a group of First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders and Elders who provide wisdom and counsel as we support culturally safe programming, resources, and spaces in the hospital. Members of the Indigenous community have also joined the board of directors and committees to provide leadership across the organization.

Our friends at Sobeys launched their Family of Support initiative for mental health last year. Thanks to staff, customers and Sobeys Foundation, the Telemental Health program is up and running and has meant kids in rural and remote communities can get the urgent help and support they need, close to home.

Valued, wonderful, eXtraordinary. We are grateful for YOU. In June, Zoë Richardson became the Foundation’s new chair. Under Zoë’s leadership, we will continue to work with our community in support of your children’s hospital.

We look forward to a successful 2022. We know that with your continued commitment and support, our kids will continue to have the best care. Let’s make anything possible.

Stefano Grande is President and CEO, Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

The health benefits of humidification Part II of a two-part series

Keep Wood from Cracking: If you have a hardwood floor, fine furniture, a piano umidity levels affect many as- (or other musical instruments made of pects of our health and prop- wood), dry air can cause cracking and significant damage over time. erty in our indoor Dry wooden bed boards can environments.

Humidity make it easier for dust mites reduces allergy symptoms, to find a home, and they mitigates airborne viruses, can migrate to your bedmakes your skin look and ding and sofas. For spaces feel better, and can help you with hardwood floors, a sleep. Humidified air actuhumidifier is always recomally feels warmer than dry mended to protect the floor air; it not only makes your from cracks and shrinkage. living spaces more comfortHumidification is part of able but allows you to lower proper maintenance that the thermostat, saving enwill lengthen the life of a ergy and money. hardwood floor.

Snoring and Sleep: While Nathan Zassman Healthy House Plants: many issues contribute to Natural Health House plants can benefit snoring, a dry airway and from humidified air, which nasal congestion are often helps moisturize the soil major causes. The added moisture in the air produced by humidifi- and keep the leaves from drying out - but ers moisturizes the throat, airway, and na- you still need to water your plants.

Humidifier Designs from Boneco sal passages, often eliminating or reducing Founded in 1956 in Switzerland (where snoring. This will result in improved sleep their humidifiers are still designed), Bonenot just for you, but for anyone nearby.

Skin Conditions: Many people ex- co produces a wide range of state-of-theperience dry cracked skin in the winter art humidifier and air purifier products. months. Healing and protective creams Depending on the model, Boneco units may help, but ensuring your environment can humidify spaces ranging from 430 is properly humidified is imperative. Ba- to as high as 1370 square feet. Square bies and young children in particular have footage ratings for humidifiers are based sensitive skin that is more prone to dry- on outdoor temperatures in the normal ness and skin conditions, including itching to cool range, but when the temperature and rashes. Lung and delicate throat irrita- drops below freezing, so does the efficientions can also make breathing difficult. A cy and coverage of all humidifiers, regardhumidifier can alleviate these symptoms, less of design. For use in environments like helping your children breathe and sleep Winnipeg, it’s important to take our winbetter without the use of harmful decon- ter temperatures into account and choose models capable of covering a larger area gestants.

Allergies and Asthma: A variety of aller- than the space where they’ll be used to offgens can develop and circulate more eas- set reduced efficiency when it’s cold.

Ultrasonic ily in dry environments. Dry air can also Ultrasonic humidifiers use a disc that make breathing more difficult for asthma sufferers, resulting in increased coughing, turns water into a micro-fine mist by viwheezing, and shortness of breath. As hu- brating at a high frequency. ‘Ultrasonic’ midity levels increase, airborne particles means producing sound that is beyond become heavier. This includes pet dander what the human ear can hear (usually (a common source of allergies), which will above 20,000 hertz). There are pros and see reduced circulation in the air. Humidi- cons to this approach, which may depend fied air keeps your pets feeling more com- on your requirements.

Ultrasonic humidifiers are quiet, work fortable throughout the winter months quickly, and the better models have builttoo.

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in hygrostats with digital displays so you can program the units to a specific humidity level. The problem with this design is that any impurities present in the water (including dissolved minerals and pathogens like mold and bacteria) may be atomized into the air. If you use plain tap water, the minerals in the mist will settle on surfaces. This fine white mineral dust can be dangerous to the lungs of infants. For this reason, a 2005 US government report on pediatric asthma warned against the use of humidifiers that produce white dust.

The better ultrasonic humidifiers allow you to choose warm or cool mist (choose warm in the winter, and cool mist during the warmer months), utilize carbon disks to adsorb odors, and a special cartridge that absorbs impurities and minerals.

These demineralization and purification cartridges help prevent the white dust common to units that do not use demineralization technologies. I only recommend models that use these cartridges and activated carbon, though another option is to only use distilled or reverse osmosis water, which are mineral-free.

If you’re looking for an ultrasonic humidifier, choose a model like the Boneco U350 which has the option of cool or warm mist, with a digital hygrometer that lets you adjust the humidity. I recommend using the warm mist option during the winter, and the cool mist setting in the spring and summer. It’s important to follow the cleaning instructions, as regular cleaning will prevent the growth of bacteria and pathogens in the humidifier. Boneco offers EZCal, an ecofriendly powder that dissolves minerals and makes it easy to clean and descale their humidifiers. You can also clean humidifier tanks with a 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide solution to help remove mineral solids; just be sure to rinse thoroughly after cleaning.

Steam Humidifiers: Steam humidifiers are often called warm mist humidifiers as they create steam by boiling water. There are noteworthy advantages to steam humidifiers, as the boiling process kills any bacteria, mold, or other pathogens, so the mist that’s generated is pure water.

Demineralization cartridges and carbon

filters aren't required, as the steam contains no minerals that can cause white dust. Steam humidifiers use more electricity than other designs, and may not be ideal for use in small bedrooms because of their sound levels (they sound like a water kettle), though some users like the white noise and find it soothing.

When placed and sized appropriately, a steam unit in a nearby area will still work well to humidify your bedroom.

The Boneco S250 and S450 are a great value, featuring digital displays and a built-in hygrostat allowing you to choose the humidity level you desire. They both produce humidity free of white dust and contaminants. Another nice feature of most steam humidifiers is the ability to add essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus to help you sleep and breathe easier. As quality essential oil diffusers can cost over $100, this is a terrific value-added feature.

Evaporative With an evaporative humidifier design, a fan blows air over a wick that absorbs water, adding an ultra-fine mist to the air that usually can’t be seen with the human eye. The mist is cool, and a great feature of this design is that the level of humidity is automatically adjusted, so you don’t have to worry about adding too much moisture into the air.

Over time, the wick becomes saturated with minerals and can become quite gross, and the cost of buying replacement wicks adds up. A major exception to the standard design is Boneco’s hybrid air purifier and humidifier, which uses an evaporator wick that can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

These units offer the bonus of superior air purification and humidification in one.

Like the steam designs, no white dust is produced by evaporative humidifiers, and you can add your favourite essential oils to provide additional health benefits.

Ensuring the humidity level in your home is in the ideal range brings a wide variety of health benefits. Not only does it increase the comfort level in your home, but you can reduce the chances of catching a virus, moisturize your skin, and get more restful sleep.

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

January 2022

Living in poverty at Christmas A note to Char on Christmas eve morning “Hey sweetie if you wake up and I’m not here, I’m out collecting beer cans.

We haven’t got any pumpkin pie and whipped cream yet, and we can’t have Christmas dinner without it can we? I know we are a bit short, so I’ll get the 6 bucks we need and our dinner will be great… Hope you had a good sleep and see you soon.

PS: It’s -25 this morning so have some hot coffee ready! “ – Al

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his is a glimpse of life in poverty at Christmas.

Many times there is just not enough to cover needs and never enough for wants. Char and I always love our pumpkin pie for Christmas dinner. We seldom eat the same things as Char is a very dedicated vegetarian and I certainly am not but we both love our pumpkin pie. I get my turkey for Christmas usually from the Christmas cheer board if I can get through. Many years I can’t, and I am often forced to call 80 or more times to get through, often pouring quarter after quarter into a phone booth phone if I was in between cell phones. Life in poverty at Christmas is worrying and draining.

I always would worry about what to get Char. I would buy things from the thrift store, and she wouldn’t wear anything I bought her. I gave up on that and started collecting cans three weeks to a month before Christmas to buy her something nice. She always likes inexpensive earrings and perfume, and scratch and win tickets, just in case, so maybe our lives could change. Of course, IT

never happened. She would pick up ill-fitting jeans (she forward to going because she really gets to indulge in her never gets my size right, but she tries) and a gift card veggies and deserts there and is anxious to see what the from Tim’s. bags will offer.

I am lucky in a way because Char has I have been occasionally asked out for never known another life, as she suffers a Christmas drink or to go to a party and from several mental illnesses and is unable bring something for potluck but have had to work. She truly finds joy in Christmas to refuse because of maybe having to give though, while I at times have not. The tree something else priority, and that really is up for months, and she always burns out hurts at times, because poverty is isolating, the lights, and each year she searches and and I have always been one to connect sosearches for a string of lights for 50 cents cially. at the thrift stores and complains when she There are many places to go for Christhas to pay a buck. Her two kitties are often mas dinner, like Siloam, UGM, Agape forced to go around wearing lit up antlers Sally Ann, Lighthouse and more. And to keep things in the spirit, and the apartthey are always full. Harvest does such a ment is decorated in red and green from great job, but numbers using their services Al Wiebe thrift shop items. She is creative. We all are growing. Is this really the solution, or Of No Fixed have to be at Christmas. answer to the poverty question, not only The sadness and grief for me would at Christmas, but the whole year? I don’t Address come from not being able to send my kids think so. The system we have that brings gifts like I used to do when I had a large income. Some- folks to these tables, because they have no other choice, times cards weren’t even an option because of the cost of is tragically broken. Those of us that can need to work postage, and if, as I often was, on cell phone minutes, a harder, and smarter and in collaboration to “Make povcall would be difficult. erty history “ and grant a better life and Christmas for Every Christmas eve lunch we still go to a bar on El- those in poverty today. lice that serves up a very festive Christmas dinner with Have a safe, happy and fulfilled Christmas. music, and very friendly people in the west central area.

Al Wiebe is a member of the Steering Committee of Make If I don’t get through to the Cheer Board, there is usually Poverty History Manitoba; chair of the Lived Experience a ham in the gift bag that they give out each year that Circle and he is a Peer Engagement Specialist, Canadian would take care of my protein needs. Char always looks Alliance to End Homelessness.

How the United Way changed my life

Al Wiebe

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’ve spoken over 100 times for the United Way Campaigns, live streaming, and in person, and through video for the campaigns. I’ve done media and other videos for their AGMs in the past.

The United Way helped launch my trajectory to the position I have today as a nationally known advocate and as a change maker for the homeless and those in poverty. Here is how it happened.

I met Jennifer Montebruno on the board of Aurora Family Therapy Centre when I was on the board. Jennifer also had a position with the United Way, and she got me involved.

Global News had asked the United Way if they knew someone who had a homeless

experience and had an interesting story. The United Way pointed to me. Global morning news carried my story in an 11-minute documentary, about my fall from a great career position to homelessness and then recovery, and my work to that point.

That documentary was a huge push and launched me forward into the conversation at every table on homelessness.

WRHA Area director Sharon Kuropatwa saw the piece and turned to the United Way hoping they might know how to reach me. Brian Bechtal, who was directing the Winnipeg poverty reduction council through United Way at the time, knew me through my work there. He told Sharon, that I was working at the U of W in research on the At Home Chez Soi project. (I was later able to do a farewell interview with Brian in his last day at

United Way, a real honour).

Sharon found me and she said, “Al, I need to know if you are the person to take on the WRHA, and if you are, are you ready and are you up to it?”

Seven months later I stood in front of 127 department heads and the entire hierarchy of the WRHA and spoke for 45 minutes on health care equity for those on Main Street as well as those in River Heights.

This is significant, as four years earlier I was a broken down, homeless person in a psych ward after receiving help I needed from an empathetic doctor at St. Boniface Hospital. I had been hoping one day to talk to the powers that be at the WRHA about the multiple rejections I had received in emergency rooms while in crisis and homeless and in suicidal ideation. I was a

nobody homeless person carrying so much trauma and so many mental health issues, how was that ever to happen?

The rest as they say, “Is history”.

All things come together for a reason.

Stars align at any given time in a person’s life for a reason. United Way was one of those stars that aligned and changed the trajectory of my life and sped up the process.

So, this is the OTHER United Way story in my life. Now we are working together, defying expectations and common norms and reaching far beyond our grasp, moving the dial at the highest levels in this country to change the lives of the homeless, the poor and vulnerable Thank you, United Way. Al may be reached at Al@albelieve@hotmail.ca. Phone 204-960-0335.

Do you know how Bruce Park happened? From South to North Albany Street To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of St. James (starting just west of St. James Street to Sturgeon Road) breaking away from Assiniboia to form their own municipality, I am doing street profiles. This column features Albany Street.

ing Ernest Sr. and his five sons promoted sales at the greenhouses. Between 1951 and 1963, John Nicholas Cholakis, one of the sons, operated the greenhouses.

John, Harriet and daughters Bertha and Angela lived on site. In 1963, John Nicholas Cholakis bought Headruce Park now stands on the land of the Bruce ingley's Nick’s Inn. Nick’s Inn is currently owned and Family. In 1933, the Bruce family donated their operated by John's daughter Bertha. During the 1980s, land to St. James on the condition that it remain a the greenhouses were demolished and replaced by eight green space for all to enjoy. The lilac bushes at the Gates new homes.

In 1924, a grocery store was built at 268 Albany of Bruce Park were planted by James Bruce. James and Street. Charles Hinchliffe, John Edwards, Anne were married for 69 years. Peter and and Michael Russin owned the store and Catharine (nee Hallet) Bruce farmed the lived on site. After Russin's retirement, the land. Also, Peter built many St. James and store became a Mini Mart. In 1978, Harry Charleswood houses. and Jean Monk bought the building for The Park includes the Cenotaph where their family business, College Electric.

Remembrance Day services are held, the In 2007, College Electric won a 50-year A. W. Hanks Walkway, and a wading pool. dealership award. College Electric recently The wading pool was partially financed relocated. The building is currently occuby a $500 donation from John Guest in pied by Next Gen Plumbing and Heating.

1936. In 1992, the Friends of Bruce Park In 1957, Deer Lodge Junior High were formed to help maintain the park.

School opened. In 1960, an addition was In 1951, a delegation of 300 citizens built. Ron McIntosh was the first Princiappeared before St. James in an unsucpal of the school. When the school was cessful attempt to stop a liquor license Fred Morris constructed, five houses were demolished. for the under-construction Assiniboine From the desk In 1965, two more houses right on the Hotel. The hotel on the northwest corner of a gadfly southwest corner of Ness and Albany surof Albany and Portage opened the followrounded on two sides by the school were ing year. In 1961, a motel opened on the northeast corner of Albany and Portage. In order to fa- demolished. In retrospect, I question whether the 1965 cilitate these projects including the parking lots, nine demolition of these homes was necessary. The school closed in 1982. In recent years, the building has been houses were demolished.

During World War 1, Henry Cull built the green- used as the Provincial Info Resource Center and as a houses around his Albany Street home. Henry grew school for the 2011 Lake St. Martin evacuees. flowers to sell at his flower shops. In a 1917 advertiseSome of the residents who lived part of ment the listed prices included 35 cents for pansies, and their lives on Albany Street 50 cents for a for a geranium plant. After World War 2, In 1907, Lars Larson, a carpenter, became the first the greenhouses were owned by the Cholakis family of Albany Street resident to be listed in the Henderson Broadway Florists. Newspaper advertisements featur- Directory. Alex D, and Annabelle Welsh held executive

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January 2022

positions with the Deer Lodge Curling Club. Annabelle was the president and a life member of the Deer Lodge Ladies Curling Club. Also, Anabelle was a life member of the Manitoba Curling Association. Their sons, Jimmie and Alex W., who grew up on Albany Street, won the 1947 Brier. The 1947 Jimmie Welsh Championship team is in the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Maurice Smith was the long-time Sports Editor of the Winnipeg Free Press. Maurice helped create the National School Boys Curling Championship. Maurice is a member of both the CFL and Manitoba Hockey Halls of Fame.

Bob Spencer coached hockey at the Deer Lodge Community Club. In 1965, his Deer Lodge Bantam B team won the provincial championship. The team played and won the first St. James Civic Centre hockey game. Walter Barg was a member of this great team. I wonder when the next St. James Civic Centre hockey game will be played???

The accomplishments of the young people of Albany Street are frequently mentioned in the newspaper archives. In 1916, Margaret Taylor's writing entitled A Scholar appeared in the Tribune Junior Club. In 1924, Alex Buchann, Jean Buchann, and Winfred Brynjolfson won prizes in the Winnipeg Free Press colouring contest.

Al Lennox was a member of the World War 2 Devil’s Brigade. Al, an Eaton's piano salesman, sold Burton Cummings his first piano. Margaret Barg lived to be a centenarian. The Margaret and Abe Barg Scholarship is annually awarded to a graduating Sisler High School student.

In recent years, many new replacement houses have been built. Albany is currently the only street west of Ferry Road to run both south of Portage Avenue and north of Silver Avenue. Your feedback is welcome.

Fred Morris is a Grandfather, Sports Fan and Political Activist. whatsupwinnipeg.ca

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‘Coq au vin.’ A great rustic dish for a cold winter’s eve

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hen we think about stew and hearty meals, coq au vin is often overlooked. Having first tried this many, many years ago it suddenly popped into my mind. As with most thoughts it lingered a little then, well, I just had to make it.

Time must be on your side for this is not your typical 30-minute dish. It takes time for the marinade to fully integrate into the meat. Time to spend cooking, ensuring each process is taken deliberately and methodically. The result, I promise you, is definitely worth the effort.

As the dish starts to Ian Leatt cook, so do the aroFoodies mas caress the air. Once fully cooked you will be amazed at the flavour and comforted by the inner warmth this meal brings.

Here is what you will need: 1 kilo chicken thighs 3 cups red wine 1 ½ cups chicken stock 5 sprigs fresh thyme 5 sprigs fresh oregano 150 grams pancetta (finely chopped) 2 medium white onion (diced) 5 cloves garlic 3 medium carrots cut into chunks 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons brandy 350 grams button mushrooms (sliced) 300 grams pearl onions (peeled) 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon sugar Salt and pepper to taste ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley

The all important how to: Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the chicken, cover with wine, and chicken stock. Add the fresh thyme and oregano. Cover and place in the fridge overnight.

On a medium heat place a large casserole dish, add the pancetta, and cook until crisp. Remove from heat and using a slotted spoon take the pancetta out of the dish and place on kitchen towel, so as to soak up any remaining fat.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry using a paper towel, place in the casserole dish back on the stove on a medium heat. Sear all pieces on both sides until a nice golden colour. Once seared, set aside on a plate.

Place the dish once again on the stove on a medium heat, stir in the carrots, onions, and garlic, add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste, cook for 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for 7 minutes.

Add the tomato paste and mix together. Finally add the flour and mix through. This whole process will take in and or around 20 minutes.

Turn the heat up and add the brandy, deglaze the dish, stirring constantly. Add the marinade wine

mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Continue to boil until the mixture has reduced by 1/3, about 12 minutes.

Place the chicken, and pancetta into the dish, reducing the heat to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 60 minutes.

About 10 minutes before the dish is ready to be removed from the stove, using a large frying pan, melt some butter and add the pearl onions. Cook on a medium heat or until the onions start to caramelize. Once you are at this stage, using a slotted spoon collect the onions and place into the ‘Coq au vin.’

Remove from the stove and garnish with fresh chopped parsley. Serve with mashed potato and some fresh sliced baguette with butter. Yummy… A real crowd pleaser.

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

A driveway design that adds value to your home

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o matter how long the drive, its appearance • Concrete aggregate can give you an exclusive can make all the difference driveway. It has a very adaptable when selling your property. appearance, is budget friendly and From an esthetic curve to a military looks good no matter the length. If straight line, it is all about what you you are eco-friendly this the drivedo. What we know though is that your way for you, as you do not have to drive deserves serious consideration. pour a new concrete pad.

A fractured driveway with weeds • Asphalt is the classic look. With crawling through gives the impression its clean appearance it can match of an unkept home. A well-maintained nearly every home. Easy to install, entrance, from the driveway itself to it also does well in extreme hot and the front door, sets up a favourable recold weather. sponse.

• Fast becoming very popular is It is not all that difficult to add plenthat of stamped concrete. There are ty of curb appeal to straight or curved many patterns to choose from and it Brent Poole drives. Here are some ideas for you to also offers colour choices.

Home help stimulate the mind: • Weed-Free brick has an artisImprovements • Tar and chip driveway. The illusion tic appeal from old. A larger home is that of depth and dimension which will have a wide driveway giving the will make for an impressive driveway, look of history behind it. This sets no matter how large. the tone for the home you will enter, signalling

that it is a quite charming place. Keep the weeds down with a herbicide sprayed before you lay the brick.

• Another way to add perspective and depth to the driveway is with stone edging. No matter what material you use in the center the stone-edge adds a little body.

• Find material that best suits your home design. Consider Indian stone. This eye-catching product makes the home even more significant.

The sandstone textured look comes in an array of colours good enough to harmonize with the very best homes.

Plants can give any home an appearance of grandeur: tall shrubs at the entrance, colour for the summer both lend a happy vibe. Height for shade adds significance to the entrance to your home.

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!”

Letters

Should Winnipeg be mixing in other province’s laws?

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he Mayor of Winnipeg and City Council raised a motion to donate $100,000 from Winnipeg taxpayers to fund legal challenges against Bill 21 in Quebec. Bill 21 is a Quebec law that bans public servants from wearing 8

whatsupwinnipeg.ca

religious garments at work.

Bill 21 is seen as legislated discrimination by various non-governmental organizations, three of which are the National Council of Canadian Muslims, the World Sikh Organization of Canada, and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

Quebec believes it has a Democratic right to pass Bill 21 because a majority of its own (Quebec) citizens have voted in favor of Bill 21. The person challenging the bill is a teacher who was transferred from her current position to another po-

sition within the school system (according to the Premier of Quebec). In other words, she was not fired for breaking the law (Bill 21).

Canada is a democracy where majority rules and Quebec, as one of Canada’s provinces, is correct in that it has a Democratic right to pass Bill 21 as it has jurisdiction over Education and its citizens voted in favor of Bill 21.

Bill 21 is a Quebec law that has nothing to do with Manitoba or Winnipeg laws. The issue of Bill 21 is between the

Federal government and Quebec. As a Winnipeg property taxpayer I do not want my property taxes funding legal battles in other provinces when Winnipeg has infrastructure issues that need urgent funding from collected property taxes such as Winnipeg’s own Water and Sewage Treatment Plants. The Mayor and City Council should know property tax funding is to be used for city infrastructure and city overhead expenses.

Lesley Jansen Winnipeg, Manitoba January 2022

Connect to thrive in 2022

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veryone wants to start the New Year fresh and anew. The one thing we know is certain, connecting socially is more important than ever, for you and the health of your community. Make it a priority in 2022 to connect.

Here are some tips to you help you cope with change positively, focusing on connections to help you thrive, what really matters.

As stated by Margaret Laurence, “It’s not what we have in life but who we have in our life that matters.”

Connections with nature Go outside! Enjoy the winter weather. Research shows the physical and mental health benefits of enjoying the outdoors. Play with your children or grandchildren – embrace winter!

Connecting with beauty and nature can have a profound impact on one’s health and happiness. People having access and taking advantage of large green spaces has shown to reduce both stress and morbidity Connect with technology It’s a great time to connect via phone or computer with old friends and distant family members. Plan to connect least once each week in January – reach out to someone you have not seen for a while. You have the power to be the highlight of someone’s day!

Connect pen with paper How excited do you get when you receive a letter or a note? Drop a note in the mailbox of your neighbours to wish them a healthy New Year. Write a letter to a distant relative or friend – to let them know you are thinking about them. Consider sending a personal note to an isolated older adult who can’t get out much.

Be grateful for your connections Take a few minutes today to think about all the reasons to be grateful. This is the time to thank all those who enrich your life by providing necessary services (mail person, grocery store clerk/delivery, etc.), along with your family, friends and loved ones.

Community connections Join some programs at your local community centre, or, gym, walking group, stick curling league. Staying socially connected is essential. Not only will you increase your physical activity you will make some new connections, re-new some connections, and feel part of a community.

Research shows that having strong social connections can improve longevity by as much as 50 per cent. Become part of a group; feel good about doing something for yourself!

Focus on sincerity, not perfection when connecting with others Sometimes we hold back from saying things that could enhance our social connections. Whether it’s paying a complement or expressing gratitude, we tend to focus too much on getting the words right. Studies indicate that people remember warmth and sincerity, not the words you use. They will remember the emotions.

Connect and give back to your community Share your expertise and help reduce social isolation.

Check out the opportunities with Volunteer Manitoba www.volunteermanitoba.ca Volunteering for a purpose has been shown to have a positive impact on our health and helps you to stay connected to your community.

Be happy and connect Every day take the time to be more mindful. The lat-

est research from Harvard indicates that the practice of being in the moment improves happiness which impacts your overall physical and mental health.

Connect with yourself Give yourself the gift of relaxation! Take time for yourself by curling up with a good book, watch a movie, or take a nap!

Connect with a friend or neighbour Invite them to go for a walk. Walking and talking is a great way to make a new connection, renew a friendship and get the benefit of some physical activity! Move more; sit less! Current recommendations are that we do not sit for more than 30 minutes at a time. Physical activity guidelines of accumulating 150 minutes per week can be broken down to 10-minute bouts. Remember to include some balance exercises each day. Try to follow this recommendation today!

Connect with your inner optimism Recognize your strength by thinking of moments in life that you overcame. Remind yourself that you got through it (even if you didn’t think you would) and you can handle this, too. Write out some of these experiences to draw on when the next challenge arises. Thanks to our survival instinct, our minds subconsciously focus more on negative things that are going on. By bringing awareness to your thoughts and feelings, you can choose to shift your focus and interrupt patterns of looking for trouble around you. Outlook can be contagious.

Produced in partnership with Active Aging Manitoba (phone 204-632-3947; www.activeagingmb.ca; Email: info@activeagingmb.ca) and the manitoba Senior Centres (phone 204-792-5838; www.manitobaseniorcentres.com; Email: ccnewman@shaw.ca).

Make it your New Year resolution to be socially engaged!

J

oin A & O: Support Services for Older Adults Senior Centre Without Walls program, it is the first of its kind in Canada and offers a unique opportunity for Manitobans, 55+, to join educational and interactive programs from the comfort of their own homes.

Programming topics include educational presentations, language classes, book clubs, travelogues and support groups.

The free programs are accessed through a toll-free number and are offered during the day and evenings.

Research has demonstrated that social isolation can be detrimental not only to one’s mental health but also to one’s physical health. Social isolation is linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, dementia, and mortality. Social isolation has been compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

While social isolation can occur at any point across the life course, this concern

January 2022

disproportionately affects older people.

The innovative Senior Centre Without Walls program is here to connect you to a community where you will find, support, resources, continuing education and just plain fun!

Check out the January – April 2022 program guide that has been thoughtfully compiled to provide a wide range of programs that are sure to be of interest! The following is just a sample of what the Presentation Series will be offering: • Welcome to Senior Centre Without Walls • What you need to know about Winnipeg Transit • Manitoba Underdogs- Dog Rescue • Indigenous Ways of Being – Spirituality • Celtic Music Voyage • Theatre Series • Grand Old Days of Grand Beach

• Hedgehogs This program guide will also provide many health and wellness presentations, highlight observances and celebrations and deliver book journeys and short stories that are read aloud. Exciting celebrity biographies and a variety of special features are also lined up for this term!

How does Senior Centre Without Walls Work?

1. You may register for programs anytime during the term 2. Complete the registration worksheet and email, mail or call it in to A &O 3. For programs that have presentation handouts, they will be mailed out 4. All participants will be called in ten minutes before the program is scheduled to begin New this year, all participants will be called in ten minutes prior to the pro-

gram start time using our new audioconferencing system. Participants will also be provided with a toll-free number should they need to call themselves in.

Information about this new system and FAQ’s will be provided upon registration.

Accessibility & Inclusivity • Large print guides and materials can be made available • All book club selections and short stories are read aloud • Bingo cards can be provided with raised numbers and Braille numbers • Participants can register for as many programs as they wish!

For more information or to register: In Winnipeg - (204) 956-6440 Toll-free - 1-888-333-3121 Email - info@aosupportservices.ca You are not alone! Join the community, join the fun, sign-up for Senior Centre Without Walls today!

whatsupwinnipeg.ca

9

Directory

Northern AREA

Flin Flon Seniors 2 North Avenue, Flin Flon (204) 687-7301 Jubilee Recreation of Cranberry Portage Legion Hall, 217 2nd Ave. SE, Cranberry Portage (204) 472-3031 Snow Lake Seniors 71 Balsam St., Snow Lake (204) 358-2151 The Pas Golden Agers 324 Ross Ave., The Pas (204) 623-3663 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

(204) 638-6485 www.dauphinseniors.com Grandview Seniors Drop In 432 Main St., Grandview (204) 546-2272 Herman Prior Senior Services Centre 40 Royal Rd. N., Portage la Prairie (204) 857-6951 www.hermanpriorcentre.com Minnedosa Senior Citizens Assoc.

31 Main St. S., Minnedosa (204) 867-1956 Morden Activity Centre 306 N. Railway St., Morden (204) 822-3555 www.mordenseniors.ca Neepawa Drop In Centre 310 Davidson St., Neepawa (204) 476-5103 www.neepawa.ca/district-drop-in-center Pilot Mound Fellowship Club 203 Broadway, Pilot Mound (204) 825-2436

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

Plumas Senior Citizens Club Inc. 102 White St., Plumas (204) 386-2029

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

Portage Service for Seniors 40A Royal Road N., Portage la Prairie (204) 239-6312

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

Sandy Lake Drop In Centre 100 Main St., Sandy Lake (204) 585-2411

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 East Beaches Resource Centre 3 Ateah Road, Victoria Beach (204) 756-6471 www.ebseniorscene.ca Pat Porter Active Living Centre 10 Chrysler Gate, Steinbach (204) 320-4600 www.patporteralc.com 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) 873-2091 Dauphin Multi-Purpose Senior Centre 55 1st Ave. SE, Dauphin

The Comfort Drop In Spot 31 Main St., Erickson (204) 636-7895 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 Age Friendly Committee of Council Brandon 638 Princess Ave., Brandon (204) 729-2259 Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op 311 Park Ave., East, 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

Winnipeg AREA 20 Fort Street Seniors Club 2200 - 20 Fort St., Winnipeg (204) 233-6079 A & O Support Services for Older Adults Inc. 200 - 280 Smith St., Winnipeg (204) 956-6440 www.aosupportservices.ca Aboriginal Senior Resource Centre - Winnipeg 527 Selkirk Ave., Winnipeg (204) 586-4595 www.asrcwpg.org 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

Good Neighbours Active Living Centre 720 Henderson Hwy., Winnipeg (204) 669-1710 www.gnalc.ca Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre 1588 Main St., Winnipeg (204) 339-1701 www.gwensecter.com Headingley Seniors’ Services 5353 Portage Ave., Winnipeg (204) 889-3132 Ext. 3 www.headingleyseniorservices.ca Manitoba Korean 55+ Centre 900-150 River Ave., Winnipeg (204) 996-7003 www.ksam.ca Pembina Active Living 55+ 50 Barnes Ave., Winnipeg (204) 946-0839 www.pal55plus.com

Bleak House Centre 1637 Main St., Winnipeg (204) 338-4723 www.bleakhousecentre.com

Rady Jewish Community Centre 123 Doncaster St., Winnipeg (204) 477-7510 www.radyjcc.com

Broadway Seniors Resource Centre 823 Ellice Ave., Winnipeg (204) 772-3533 www.bsrc.ca

Rainbow Resource Centre 170 Scott St., Winnipeg (204) 474-0212, Ext. 211 www.rainbowresourcecentre.org

Brooklands Active Living Centre 1960 William Ave. W., Winnipeg (204) 632-8367

South Winnipeg Seniors Resource Council 117-1 Morley Ave., Winnipeg 204-478-6169 www.swsrc.ca resources@swsrc.ca

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 448 Burnell St., Winnipeg (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 E206 www.dakotacc.com Dufferin Senior Citizens Inc. 377 Dufferin Avenue, Winnipeg (204) 986-2608 Elmwood East Kildonan Active Living Centre 180 Poplar Ave., Winnipeg (204) 669-0750 www.eekactiv.com Fort Garry Seniors Resource Working Advisory Group 2nd Floor - 280 Smith Street, Winnipeg 204-792-1913 www.aosupportservices.ca/resources/seniorsresource-finders/

Southdale Seniors 254 Lakewood Blvd., Winnipeg (204) 253-4599 www.southdale.ca St. James-Assiniboia 55+ Centre 3 - 203 Duffield St., Winnipeg (204) 987-8850 www.stjamescentre.com St. Mary’s Rd. Seniors 613 St. Mary’s Rd., Winnipeg (204) 257-0678 www.stmarysroad.ca Transcona Council for Seniors 845 Regent Ave., Winnipeg (204) 222-9879 www.transconaseniors.ca Transcona Retired Citizens Org. 328 Whittier Ave. West, Winnipeg (204) 777-5576 Vital Seniors 3 St. Vital Rd., Winnipeg (204) 253-0555 www.stmarymagdelenewpg.org Winakwa Active Seniors Club 980 Winakwa Rd., Winnipeg (204) 253-4418 www.winakwacc.ca Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association (204) 291-9028 www.winnipegchineseseniors.ca

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January 2022

How to stay optimistic, eat right and do what you can to bolster your income

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he New Year begins. As we look at our life- protein from a piece of meat, fish or poultry the size style today do we dare make resolutions about of a deck of cards, seven to 10 fruits and vegetables the future? The past, almost two years, have daily, two or three servings of milk products and a taught me that although I still remember past tradi- couple of servings of whole grain products daily. I tions and they are just wonderful memories, stay- listed my favorites in terms of dinner ideas and then re-invented how to put everything toing healthy requires a new and differgether. ent lifestyle. Living alone and isolated Cook up three or four pounds of pois not easy. As a city and province, we tatoes at a time. Mash them and freeze seem to go forward with excitement a them in small plastic containers that I step or two only to be reminded the buy containing chopped fresh fruit and “new” variant of the moment requires individual salads at my local IGA. Buy attending to by “locking down” and frozen vegetables for use in stews and staying home once more. casserole dishes because it is easier to How does one cope? Stay optimisdetermine how much to use for each tic! dish planned and keep the rest frozen.

For many of us the threat of inflaMy meat is often chicken pieces tion, the fear of the present new varibought in bulk and frozen in individual ant, and what that means for our imPeggy Prendergast serving amounts in Ziplock bags, a filmediate future and even beyond, with yet again more restraining measures Exploring Lifestyle let of salmon cut in individual servings and frozen for later use, and ground on our ability to socialize with family 55 Possibilities beef and stewing meat partially preand friends, seems more than any of us pared and frozen for a variety of future can bear. And yet, one of the ways to lighten the load of fear and depression is to face the uses. I now mix and match my items with partially reality and admit to ourselves that “this is the way prepared frozen food I like and new rice and pasta ideas added for variety. I like what I finally cook life needs to be to stay healthy”.

What are some of the positives that can come and eat.

I have discovered much more variety than ever I from just thinking up new things to do at home and actually start doing one of them? The latest endeav- had as there are so many cultural and exciting new or for me is one-dish dinners. How do I include all ways to prepare and serve food found on the interthe nutrition I need in my daily meals and snacks net. I am living in the present looking for new eatso I stay healthy? I made a list of the necessities: ing ideas in the future instead of lamenting the past.

Now I am looking forward to talking to someone else who is living alone like me and open to new ideas about cooking.

This has led me to looking at some ideas around Income Security. I have a pension that was part of my employment agreement many years ago. However, with the present concerns around inflation I realize I need to add to my fixed and thus diminishing-in-value pension. To live with the same standard of living that I enjoy now I need to add some income. Growing older costs money. I no longer can do things like cut my grass or shovel my snow as I did in the past.

I have assessed the situation and realize I have some marketable skills: I am a retired teacher. In the past I have taught all levels of junior and senior high school students, young, middle-aged and older adults. I have taught practical, how-to-do subjects. During the lock downs I was requested to teach older adults virtually. I accepted and now can add that to my list of skills. I really liked being able to help older adults find skills they have from their past that they can move into the future with to build new ideas for their future.

To be optimistic about the future means to feel secure there is a future. Keep healthy and safe as the future unfolds and let’s find ways together of securing small amounts of savings in our spending habits and possibly investing in our lifelong learning to add any needed income.

Life is an adventure, let’s live life and “smell the roses” along the way.

Sri Lankan Seniors Manitoba Christmas Party 2021 Senaka Samarasinghe

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hristian families among our seniors got together and organized a Christmas Party on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, at Whyte Ridge Community Centre.

It was a well-planned party. The first event was to sing two carols with all the participants. Last November all participants practiced these two songs and sang for the Christmas ceremony conducted by Sri Lankan Association of Manitoba. Therefore, there was no need to practice the songs.

Organizers introduced few games. The games were chosen so all seniors were able to participate without any difficulty. A gift parcel was arranged for each participant on male and female basis. These events were completed within one and half hours, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.

The balance one hour was assigned for the Christmas lunch. The organizing committee decided to offer a healthy lunch with low fat dessert. As our Program Coordinator is aware of individual food habits of our members, he was able to differentiate between vegetarian and non-vegetarian members.

u

Group photo of the Sri Lankan Seniors Manitoba.

Worried about Omicron? Copper masks can stop it in its tracks!

Continued from page 1

nipeg early in the coming year, adding up to 20 jobs to the local community.

The Copper Guard mask has a cloth layer that is permeated with an ultra-thin coating of 99 per cent copper, which can destroy the virus within five minutes. It is easy to breathe through, meaning wearing it is much more comfortable than some masks. The other good news is that it offers some protection from the virus entering our body through your eyes.

“A hefty dose of copper could diminish the chances of viable virus making it into the eyes, nose or

mouth via a wayward hand that’s touched the front of a mask,” says a study reported in the New York Times. Copper literally makes the virus explode when it comes in contact with copper mixed with oxygen.

The New York Times goes on to say, “Even our own immune systems appear to exploit copper’s protective perks. Some evidence suggests that immune cells like macrophages — which gobble up and destroy bacteria, viruses and other microbes — may be capable of engulfing and sequestering germs in an acidic “ball of death” chamber that’s then spiked with lethal doses of

copper…” Our bodies have been using this for warfare long before copper masks hit the market.

The mask can be worn casually for up to 30 days, but if you are wearing it frequently, you should dispose of it sooner. In a medical situation, it can be used for a full shift. Although it is made of cloth, permeated by copper, it is not washable because cleaning substances affect the efficiency of the copper.

The masks are available at Red River Co-op and Innovative Health, or you can order directly from https://ca.humnpharma.com/our-products/

Preparing for the next pandemic

Dorothy Dobbie

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andemics are bound to happen again in this world of international travel so now is the time to prepare for the future. It appears that the biggest cause of shutdowns throughout COVID has been the fear January 2022

of hospital overload, and a Canadawide shortage of nurses. How can we avoid this in the future?

Our fathers and grandfathers had a plan in case of another war. That plan is the military reserves. This force encompasses several service alternatives from part time service to full time careers.

The system provides education and ex-

perience in a wide range of career opportunities, as well as a place for those who have experience to volunteer or get involved. There are 18,500 of these helpful individuals serving Canada.

Canada could add a medical and nursing component, training the reservists in the areas now identified as most relevant. There is already a health services

component in the system that could be bolstered with the intent of providing a force for emergency requirements. This would be a national force, able to come to the rescue of any province when medical assistance is most needed.

The time to start planning this is now.

Let’s not get caught in this crisis again. whatsupwinnipeg.ca

11

Good triumphs over evil with a single kiss

Principal Artists Yue Shi and Chenxin Liu. Photo by Kristen Sawatzky

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riginally created in Russia just over a century ago, The Sleeping Beauty is based on the 1697 story of the same name by author Charles Perrault. The ballet marked the second creative collaboration between choreographer Marius Petipa and composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who had previously worked together on the iconic Swan Lake. This collaboration resulted in a truly “classic” ballet, which has stood the test of time and become an audience favourite for young and old around the world.

Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet first premiered a production of The Sleeping Beauty in 1992. The RWB later re-staged the production with new costumes and sets, and the Company’s new version of The Sleepy

Company artist Peter Lancksweerdt. Photo by Kristen Sawatzky.

Beauty had its world premiere in Winnipeg in March 2002.

The Sleeping Beauty is considered the most grand and intimate of the great ballets – a fairytale where good triumphs over evil with a single kiss. With the exquisite and technically brilliant choreography and incomparable, enduring score, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet honours tradition with its dreamlike version.

When the maleficent Carabosse lays a curse on the newborn Princess Aurora that casts her into a centurylong slumber, only the power of love can compel her back home.

In addition to the splendid choreography and magnificent composition, the ballet is brought to life in spellbinding luxurious sets, elaborate period costumes,

and an eclectic cast of storybook characters that are nothing less than captivating.

The production’s charms are further highlighted through celebratory dances by familiar characters – Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, and the Blue Bird – showcasing the exceptional artistry of the RWB artists.

“The Sleeping Beauty is exactly what a ballet should be: theatrical, sparkling, with lavish costumes, opulent architecture, extraordinary music and some truly superb dancing.” (- Times Colonist) The Sleeping Beauty takes centre stage from February 23-27, 2022 at the Centennial Concert Hall. Get your preferred seats online now at rwb.org or call 204.956.0183 to buy tickets. Don’t miss out!

Manitoba Remembers – A Covid Elegy WSO offers free concert Mar. 13, 2022

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he WSO has been blessed by so planned a covid-19 commemoration much support this past Fall, as we event on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 3:00 opened the 2021-22 season on pm in the Centennial Concert Hall and September 18, 2021, with live perfor- livestreamed across the province.

Manitoba Remembers – mances once again. We’ve A Covid Elegy will reflect got our fingers crossed for through music, stories our next concert on Januand images the profound ary 15, 2022. Since fall impacts of covid-19 2021, the WSO has held on families, businesses over 25 events in the Cenand ways of life across tennial Concert Hall and our province. It honours in schools and other locathe contributions of those tions. The WSO has conwho tirelessly showed up sistently worked to ensure to care for, serve and prothe safety of our audiences tect us at the height of the and our artists and we are pandemic. It acknowlhonoured that our patrons Angela Birdsell edges the impact of Cohave returned to the hall vid-19 on families and and to our digital platClassics communities and reflects form. As a result, we asked Live on loss of many kinds; ourselves how to best give loss of life, livelihood, digback to the community.

We know that Covid-19 and its vari- nity and social connection.

While we are unlikely to be wholly free ants will remain a concern for communities across Manitoba for some time. In of covid-19 for some time yet, the close to two years, the pandemic has been WSO believes that the two-year mark is overwhelming and in some cases devas- an important time to pause and reflect. tating for many who have worked long Through this service to Manitobans, the hours, suffered from burnout or depres- WSO will provide space to gather, reflect, sion, experienced isolation or loss of in- honour, commemorate and move forcome. To date, over 1,300 lives have been ward with a sense of hope as best we can.

Manitoba Remembers will present an lost, and over much of the pandemic, friends and families were unable to gather important lineup of exceptional Manitoas a community to commemorate those ba musicians in many music styles with the WSO. The music will be supplementlives.

The WSO believes in music as a power- ed by video content, including images, ful vehicle of expression, solace and hope. written testimonials and interviews. We We also believe that when important aim to attract and engage 5,000+ online things happen, the WSO must be there viewers and 2200 at the live event at the for its community, including all Mani- Concert Hall.

Hospital Foundations, media and tobans. To support this, the WSO has 12

whatsupwinnipeg.ca

Manitoba Remembers – A Covid Elegy takes place March 1 3, 2022. agency partners are generously assisting the WSO to spread the word, and helping us to reach out to those who most need this event the most.

Supported by the WSO’s generous donors, admission to the 2200-seat concert hall will be provided free of charge to those who need the event most. The livestream will also be free of charge to all. We will make seats available to the general public in early 2022. There are many ways for Manitobans to participate: • If you or someone you know was deeply impacted by Covid-19 contact the WSO for tickets (one pair per household). Stay tuned for ticket release date on the WSO website in early 2022.

• Tell us your story, or upload a picture of your experience on the WSO Manitoba Remembers webpage. This will be

launched January 15th 2022.

• Join the livestream on March 13 at 3:00 pm, or anytime in the following 30 days. Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (mywso.tv) • Donate to the event so that others may attend for free. This may be done through our Manitoba Remembers webpage or by contacting Theresa Huscroft thuscroft@wso.mb.ca.

The WSO thanks our donors and sponsors for making this important service available to all Manitobans.

The WSO also encourages you to donate to the hospital foundation, crisis line, arts organization or any other charity that improved your life or the lives of others during the pandemic.

Angela Birdsell is the Executive Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

January 2022

Let’s go shopping in Flin Flon – just a click away!

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y the time this column is pub- flinflonartscouncil.ca as of December lished and hopefully read, we 24th. This is the 25th Anniversary of will be in a New Year with the Flin Flon Community Choir which is led by Conductor CrysChristmas memories to tal Kolt and Musical Diwarm us and hopes and rector Mark Kolt and it dreams to guide us forhas been quite sad that ward. We certainly hope the celebrations that could that your Christmastide have been, actually were is/was jolly and filled with not possible. When we love but there is much finally get control of COdoubt on the horizon VID-19… with yet another new The Kolts arrived in strain, Omicron, of the Flin Flon in 1995 and COVID-19 virus lurking, initiated the Community as we write this. We have Choir shortly after that. been so lucky to receive Elly Spencer Flin Flon had history with our third, booster dose musical performances and of the vaccine already and The arts from wish that same good foreven had a Glee Club that up here presented full Broadwaytune for everyone. There style musicals for many have been many events of note happening in the arts and cultural years until the late 1970s. But the Kolts community in Flin Flon though so best arrival sparked new life into our community, and it just keeps getting better get on with recounting some.

The Flin Flon Community Choir re- and better. Crystal Kolt took a leadercorded a Christmas Concert that was/ ship role as Cultural Coordinator with is available for viewing on the website, the Flin Flon Arts Council and has

never stopped personally learning and growing, becoming a multi-faceted arts producer and most recently, an entrepreneur with the advent of the Uptown Emporium, an online and in-person shopping experience for the benefit of artists and artisans and customers alike.

Mark Kolt, since retiring from his ‘day job’ as City Administrator for the City of Flin Flon, has made it his passion to introduce budding musicians to the joys and the challenges of performing for an audience.

Even with the threat held by the pandemic we (that’s the royal “we” – I personally have not one clue) have been able to master technology and get into live streaming in a big way. It has always been remarkable to witness some of the performances at Johnny’s Social Club and other venues in town and now, the Community Choir Christmas extravaganza, come together and through the magic of the internet, now you can see it too.

It may turn out to be the silver lining to the great big COVID-19 cloud

that now people all over Manitoba and really the world can, within moments of searching the web, tune in to hear just how wonderful and talented our Flin Flon musicians are. The next step in this process is to establish and deliver educational workshops to young techno-wizards so that the shows can go on. Video- and sound-recording technology all apparently happens at the touch of a keyboard and uploading for broadcast makes performances ready to go. We are not even sure if the terminology is correct. Does one still use words like video recording or broadcast? Whatever - ask your grandchildren for assistance.

We are understandably proud of our homegrown talent, and it has been said by greater minds than ours (our dear Editor being one) that we needed to find ways to share the arts magic that happens in our little city with a wider audience. Well now we have, thanks in part to the restrictions of COVID-19 separation. Welcome to Flin Flon, World! We hope you are ready.

King of the Winnipeg music scene

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ne name is synonymous with Winnipeg music from the 1960s to the 1980s: Jimmy King.

Whether as an accompanist or band leader, Jimmy was one of the busiest musicians in the city. Born in Winnipeg, he studied piano in his youth and decided to pursue a career in music on returning from World War II. “I remember growing up, all these jazz musicians being at our house, which was kind of unusual for Woodhaven,” recalls youngest son Randall King, a noted journalist and former arts John Einarson critic with the Winnipeg Free Press. Jimmy’s big Local Music break came in the early Spotlight 1960s as bandleader on CJAY TV’s The Amateur Show. “A lot of people watched that show so that got his name around,” says Randall. “All my school friends knew who my Dad was because of that show and Uncle Bob & Friends. He would accompany the musical numbers by Petite and Marvin Mouse.” All the while he was a working musician playing gigs all over town. Jimmy also hosted a weekly CBC show called Nightcap and appeared on Pan-Americana with José Ponéira during the Pan-American Games in 1967. “He had the Jimmy King Trio, smaller bands, and the Golden Boy Brass big band in the early 1970s,” notes Randall. “They would play concerts in Assiniboine Park.” Jimmy learned to play the vibraphone and marimbas in the mid 1960s which led to even more gigs.

For several years Jimmy held down day jobs selling pianos at Eaton’s as well as organs in Polo Park but remained active gigging for just about anything, weddings, bar mitzvah’s, celebrations of any and all kinds.

By the 1970s, he contributed a weekly Winnipeg Free Press column entitled Night Beat keeping up with the local music scene and musicians. In the 1980s he hosted Downstairs at Jimmy King’s and Jimmy King Presents on CKND television. His son Bob King, who would go on to a successful career as a children’s songwriter and entertainer, made his television debut on the show singing a couple of western songs. Jimmy King was the consummate musician and mentored many up and comers. “My Dad had an expression, ‘Nine to five is jive’ and he lived up to that,” notes Randall.

January 2022

Another stalwart on the local jazz scene for many years was pianist José Ponéira. Born in pre-World War II Germany, José developed a passion for Latin-flavoured music after his family fled Nazi Germany for Argentina in the 1930s. By 1947 he was performing in New York nightclubs before arriving in Winnipeg in 1955.

José quickly became a fixture in local clubs like the Club Morocco and Rancho Don Carlos with the José Ponéira Quartet (Ponéira, clarinet player Jimmy Webber, Jim Cordupel on bass and drummer Ed Sersen). CBC TV Winnipeg gave José his own nationally televised weekly music show, A Song For You, running from 1962 to 1964. During Winnipeg’s hosting of the Pan-American Games in 1967, José hosted Pan-Americana on CBC TV Winnipeg. For more than twenty years he was the featured performer at The Hotel Fort Garry’s Palm Room (also known as The Oval Room). “José was an excellent pianist and a wonderful human being,” states Winnipeg’s best-known bandleader and pianist Ron Paley. “He was a musical inspiration to me.”

Following World War II, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan-born Leon Isenberg moved to Winnipeg where, having stepped up from accordion to the Hammond organ, formed The Leon Quintet performing in clubs and dancehalls across Western Canada. In 1962, Montrealborn trumpet player and vocalist Harry Ellsworth, who had previously worked with José Ponéira’s band at the Rancho Don Carlos, invited Leon to join him for a twoweek stint in the Scarlet Lounge in popular West End

Winnipeg restaurant Rae & Jerry’s. Two weeks stretched into a 22- year gig. Their lone album was recorded live in the lounge circa 1980 by local producer Wayne Finucan and features many of the duo’s best loved selections.

According to bandleader Jimmy King who furnished liner notes for the album, the live recording came after years of requests from loyal fans. Incidentally, Leon Isenberg was the long-time owner of American Hi-Fi in downtown Winnipeg.

John Einarson is author of Heart of Gold: A History of Winnipeg Music. It sold out in one day and John is thinking about a reprint!

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Join John On Lifestyle 55 Digital Radio

am extremely excited to be returning to radio as part of the team at Lifestyles 55 Digital Radio.

Join me for my two feature shows: My Generation and Off The Record weekdays. You can preview my podcasts right now at http://whatsupwinnipeg. ca/lifestyles-55-digital-radio whatsupwinnipeg.ca

13

The beauty of Manitoba’s natural heritage

The pitcher plant is one of the eight species of carnivorous plants in the Brokenhead Wetland. Photo courtesy of Sanja Rossi.

Ernest Thompson Seton. Photo cour- Seven Sisters Generating Station. Photo courtesy of Sanja Rossi. tesy of the U.S. Library of Congress.

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Plains physiographic region. Both soil and conditions id you already know that… ...the Brokenhead Wetland Ecological of the province are suitable for agriculture. Great qualReserve, formerly known as Scanterbury ity of native grass makes “fodder” as a very balanced Bog, is home to a number of unusual plants such as food for domesticated livestock. This hay consists of many species and varieties belonging rare orchids and carnivorous plants. to the pea family, which makes fodders This land is of a great cultural and spiriextremely nutritious. They almost extual importance for Brokenhead Ojibclusively are being used for cattle and way Nations (BON) as they have been horses. Cultivation of cereals is successgathering medicinal plants, tea, cedar ful in the prairie soil of western Maniand berries here, as well as fishing and toba, especially the growth of the vahunting on this area for approximately rieties of hard wheat which contains a 300 years. Brokenhead Wetland was high percentage of gluten. A farmer on declared an ecological reserve in 2005, the prairies of Manitoba can produce and soon some members of BON sugsurprisingly large amounts of this valugested building a trail so that elders can able cereal. safely pass on traditional knowledge ...Ernest Thompson Seton was to their children. These wetlands also Manitoba’s most famous naturalist. encompass a rare calcareous fen*. The Sanja Rossi He was a writer and artist who illustratBrokenhead Ojibway community esManitoba ed all his books. Among 42 books and pecially helped with the research conThrough Time many manuscripts, the one that made ducted in the area during 1998 and Seton famous is Wild Animals I Have 1999 by Native Orchid Conservation Known (1898) where he presents aniInc. They collected 350 plant species, including 28 species of native orchids. Eight species mals in a realistic form. His love towards nature began of insectivorous plants were found, including the rare in his early childhood when he enjoyed the wonders oblong-leaved sundew, the linear-leaved sundew and of woods as a boy, and curiously researched bird nests horned bladderwort. In all, 23 species of rare plants and nature around his father’s farm.

One of his greatest achievements is “The Woodcraft were discovered here including the one rare in Canada, the bog adder’s mouth orchid. The complete bo- League of America”, a guide written for youth teachtanical report on the research can be seen on website ing them how to track animals, how to read signs of nature, basically how to survive in the wilderness. www.nativeorchid.org. ...Manitoba consists of three regions: Hud- Some of the gold medals that he received are Natuson Bay Lowland, Canadian Shield and Interior ralist to the Province of Manitoba and a Gold medal Plains. First two are not suitable for agriculture there- from the American Academy of Science, but the list of fore most of the Manitoba population is concentrated awards of this famous scholar who dedicated his life to in the southeastern part of the province in the Interior science and teaching, is long.

...the first street lamp was erected in the city of Winnipeg outside of the Davis hotel March 12, 1873. Manitoba Hydro is a provincial Crown Corporation founded in 1961 as an amalgam of the province's two provincial electric utilities, the Manitoba Power Commission (founded in 1919) and Manitoba Hydro Electric Board (founded in 1949). There are 15 major generating stations in Manitoba. The largest one is Limestone built on Nelson River, and together five gigantic generating stations on the Nelson River guarantee Manitoba secured supply of electrical power.

Protection of the habitat should be our highest priority and the responsibility of all of us: communities, landowners and organizations. The rational use of natural resources, such as mining and logging, as well as heavy recreational use, must ensure minimal damage to the already fragile ecosystem. Indigenous people fight more than ever to protect and preserve their natural habitat where they can live in harmony with nature. Manitoba has beautiful parks, wilderness, natural areas with native and rare species. Let us cherish and protect them for their natural beauty as well as for cultural and spiritual wisdom they hold.

Federal and provincial government together with organizations and individuals are working together to protect biodiversity, but still a great deal must be done to protect the natural environment from human activities.

I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to appreciate the ultimate importance of biodiversity, and we must realize that it is our privilege to live in the natural world as this is our greatest investment for the future. *Calcareous fens are very rare, small areas, fed by groundwater that is high in calcium and magnesium carbonates. They support many distinct species of plant life.

10 Neat Things about Potatoes Dorothy Dobbie

1. The potato diet. Potatoes have a bad reputation as a heavy carb food that adds inches to waistlines. But an average spud weighing 3.5 ounces contains only about 110 calories. Not only that but, although the lowly spud is filled with starch, seven per cent of this starch in a raw potato is what is called resistant starch, meaning that it cannot be broken down in the small intestine and therefore passes through to the large intestine as bulk — just as fibre does and with the same benefits. Cooking decreases the resistant starch, but then cooling cooked spuds cause the resistant starch levels to rise again.

2. Lord Byron loved spuds. The portly poet went on a potato diet. He drenched his spuds in vinegar and melted from 182 pounds to 126 pounds. More recently, a fellow name Chris Voigt in the United States, decided he wanted to test the theory. Needing 2,200 calories a day to maintain his weight, he ate 20 potatoes a day for 60 days and lost 20 pounds. His blood glucose levels went from 104 to 94; cholesterol from 214 to 127 and triglycerides from 135 to 75. At the end of his diet his blood pressure was 112 over 70. He said getting 20 spuds down was his biggest challenge.

3. How potatoes changed the world. Potatoes have an incredible nutritional profile – in fact they are credited with the rise of the Western World between 1750 and 1950, nourishing northern European populations and providing the chief energy source that allowed these growing populations to dominate the world. Now they are feeding the rest of the world – China is the largest grower globally, followed closely by India. They are the world’s fourth largest food crop, following corn (first), wheat (second) and rice (third).

4. Almost perfect. Potatoes are high in a long list of nutrients, exceeding the daily requirement in some.

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They so well fed the Irish that, in the 19th century, the population became almost totally dependent on this crop until the late blight Phytophthora infestans – the same scourge that sometimes gets our tomatoes – destroyed the single variety grown then and caused the Great Irish Potato Famine of 1845 to 1852. One million people died of starvation and another million emigrated due to the failure of the crop, a 20 to 25 per cent reduction in Ireland’s population.

5. Just add meat. About the only major nutrient potatoes are somewhat deficient in is protein. Just add meat. And not a lot. Only one calorie out of 10 needs to come from protein. Potatoes are about two per cent protein measured by fresh weight.

6. Potato eaters. The average American eats almost 138 pounds of potatoes in their lifetime. That’s a lot of spuds: 50.7 pounds are fresh and boiled or baked, 55.3 pounds are from frozen stock as in hash browns and French fries, 16.9 pounds are from chips and 15 pounds are either dried or canned. The problems associated with obesity are not from the spuds themselves, but rather because of what people put on them: butter, mayonnaise, saturated fats, cheese, bacon and so on.

7. Red and yellow, pink and blue. Potatoes (Sola-

num tuberosum) and their flowers come in a variety of hues. The white-flowered plants usually produce whiteskinned varieties. The other, coloured flowers produce spuds with red skins. Although there are now over 1,000 varieties, the original plant has been traced to a single source in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, where they were domesticated at least 7,000 and perhaps 10,000 years ago.

8. The old ‘What’s in a name?’ game. The word potato is from the Spanish patata, which referred to the small sweet potato. The white potato was called the bastard potato or Virginia potato, while sweet potatoes were called common potatoes. And no, it is not true that the slang term, spud, is from the acronym for Society for the Prevention of an Unwholesome Diet, the name of an 19th century activist group that wanted to keep the potato out of Britain. Spud apparently comes from the word for the tool used to dig planting holes for potatoes, which are usually grown as clones from tuber cuttings.

9. True potatoes. Potatoes that grow from seed are called ‘true potatoes’. It is not known what they are “true” to since the spuds produced will not come ‘true’ to the parent. The seeds are produced after flowering, when you will see little green tomato-like fruits appear on the stems. These seeds, like the stems and leaves of the plant, are toxic, containing alkaloids that can make a person really ill and even kill them. Pollination is by the buzzing bumblebees in flowers, aided by some selfpollination.

10. The days grow shorter. Potato production is stimulated by a reduction in light as the days grow shorter.

••• 10 Neat Things is a free weekly newsletter of interesting and quirky facts about your garden and nature. Sign up today by visiting localgardener.net.

January 2022

Faithful flocks. True believers

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hy do Canadians insist upon having a to manage their own individual lives, these former pampered prince as their prime minis- slaves, like many other slavish people, stuck together, ter? Did Canadians not learn their les- seeking safety in numbers, safety in being part of a son the first time around with the father? They then flock. Barbara Hillary tried to explain that the pastors, rather than helping to free people, vote in the son, who, like his father, is a have been part of the problem. She exprivileged and spoiled child who refuses plained that when the slaves were freed, to grow up and take responsibility for “Numerically there were more blacks in his actions." most southern states than whites, so one Jack, a well-educated New Zealander, a of the first things that had to be done former Rhodes scholar, who has studied was to capture and control the mind… and lectured all over the world, smiled The white slave master couldn't control as he posed this question to Frank, an all those slaves effectively, so we got the Italian immigrant who has now lived black clergyman–the lieutenant of racin Canada for over sixty years. Jack was ism.” Many philosophers have written teasing Frank, whom, he knew, had votabout an analogy between the shepherd ed for both the father and then the son. and his dogs and the slave master workJack continued, "Trudeau can put Wayne Weedon ing with his lieutenants. across all he wants that he is 'one of us', Isaac Asimov, who was not only the but he was raised and educated to be a Food for world's most prolific author of science shepherd, while the average Canadian Thought fiction, but also the author of many has been raised and educated to be one serious non-fiction books, noted that of the flock. Have you ever watched a shepherd, with help from his dogs, managing a flock the world has a tendency to pigeon-hole people into of sheep? The shepherd never mingles with his flock, various flocks, designated by, colour, religion, race, he is not one of them. With a snap of his fingers, and et cetera. Asimov, despite never having a belief in a few whistles to his dogs, the sheep are herded to any god, and never being part of a flock, was ofform a pack, which is so tight, the dogs are able to ten referred to as a Jew. Is Judaism a race as well jump onto the backs of the sheep and run across the as a religion? If a race, how is it that we have black flock with no danger of ever falling through a crack Ethiopian Jews as well as white, red-headed Hunbetween the sheep." garian Jews? Asimov believed that the idea of race I could clearly see where Jack was going with this. was invented by Man and, scientifically, all people History teaches us, when people are living in servi- are of the same race. A bean is a bean, whether it is tude, that to gain freedom, they must be separated red, green, purple, yellow, fat, skinny, long or stubby. from the flock for at least forty years so that their off- People are like beans, they come in different shapes, spring will have no memory of being part of a flock. sizes and colours. This does not make one person If someone leaves the flock, they must look at them- superior or inferior to any others. Asimov believed, selves in a mirror. Most people doing this see what we must accept that people are different, but they they wish themselves to be, and they ignore the true are all the same, they are All-One. There is no such image. If they refuse to see what they really are, they thing as race. will never change, they will never develop.

Asimov, despite his many successes, admitted he One hundred years after the American slaves were saw himself as a failure. Being a very poor immigrant freed, they were still living in servitude; they were still to America, he managed to circumvent barriers to second-class citizens living under Jim Crow laws. For- earn a PhD from Columbia University. He failed in mer slaves kept living in sight of their oppressors, and his attempt to teach people, we are not born smart, they had daily reminders that they were deemed infe- we learn smart. He believed anybody could become rior. Rather than go their separate ways and learn how as educated as he had done. In the end, he came to

Wayne has a new book for you!

The isolation from family and friends during the current pandemic has been very difficult for some, especially for those of us who cannot be physically active. In consideration for shut-ins, Wayne Douglas Weedon is offering the public his newly published novel, Inheritance, at no cost.

This novel may not be for everyone. It has adult content and is intended for ages sixteen and older. This book has been described as being a romantic novel for free-thinkers. One editor has suggested that every high school student should read Mr. Weedon's books, especially this latest one, since all his books give opinions and arguments from various groups, providing much food for thought, which should result in students developing an ability to think, rather than learning just by rote.

Inheritance is not a religious story, even though it revolves around religion. Whether we know it or not, religion is deeply ingrained in our society. Religion is so much a part of our society, openly as well as surreptitiously, there can be no escape from religion; and beWayne Weedon cause Francis, our protagonist, is striving for truth, he must, at some point, questionFood religion. for Historical works are commonly promoted as truth, despite, for the most Thought part, being works of fiction, just collections of myths, fairy-tales, and legends.

Inheritance may be freely downloaded in various formats from https://archive.org by inserting the author's complete name, Wayne Douglas Weedon, in the search window.

I have personally read Wayne’s first book, Free to Think, and I loved it. His writing is imaginative, provocative and captivating. –Ed. believe the average person is too complacent and lazy to better themselves.

Is this true? Is a person on welfare or other guaranteed income too complacent to improve their situation? That is food for thought.

Wayne Weedon is an Indigenous Manitoba writer of novels and short stories. To sample his wonderful work go to Wattpad.com.

IF YOU ARE A SENIOR. . . . . .

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.

Standard Fees* Last Will and Testament Power of Attorney Health Care Directive * plus GST and PST - Rates are per person.

$225.00 $175.00 $ 75.00

Seniors $200.00 $150.00 $ 50.00

Home and hospital visits are also available $250.00* (includes both meetings) *plus GST and PST TACIUM VINCENT & ASSOCIATES 206 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, MB R2H 1J3 DAVID G. VINCENT (204) 989-4236 www.taciumvincent.com

January 2022

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15

The New Calendar Year: How to have a Happy New Year 2022

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oday I purchased my new planning calendar for 2022. Usually I make time to do this task much earlier in the year, but like most of you, I have found 2021 quite a challenging year on many levels, and frankly, I could not quite summon the necessary optimism for looking at the calendar for 2022. But today, not a minute too soon, I have a fresh new year placed on my desk before me. Despite all my misgivings, I cannot help but be filled with optimism for the adventures, joys, and accomplishments of the year to come. So, far Trudy Schroeder there is not a mark on the Random new agenda. So far the Notes year is perfectly unblemished.

Before I start adding meetings, tasks and deadlines to the agenda, I want to take some time to think of my priorities and plans for the year to come. How can I approach this year differently than any other year in my life? What will make the year distinctive and memorable? How will I know that I have made the best possible use of the minutes and hours that will comprise 2022? What can I do now, at the beginning of the year to fill the year with as much joy and positivity as possible?

What is the recipe for happiness and joy? I can remember reading an article in some eminent journal (the specific journal and author are now forgotten) about the ingredients in the recipe for happiness.

From what I recall, there were five main areas that a person needed to include in life, with different time allocations at different points in life.

Meaningful Work: We all have a need to do something useful in our lives. Work is essential to our wellbeing. It does not have to be paid work, but we should all have tasks that we can accomplish that provide a sense of satisfaction upon completion or even in the process of doing the work.

People We Love: We all need people within our lives that we care about and who care for us. This can

Focus on filling your agenda book with happiness and joy this year. be family members, friends, or lovers. The crucial factor is also that we must actively and deliberately make time to cultivate those relationships and to do good things for those people. This item came with a quote that said something like “We love people whom we treat well.” Think of the people you treat well, and voila, those are the people you love. And, if this list is not quite what you had expected, there is some work to do.

Some Volunteering and Charity: One of the important ingredients in the recipe for happiness is to live generously. For most people that can include spending a portion of their time serving a charity in some way that helps other people. Some people serve on the board of the organization and others find a front line task that is meaningful for them. This component also includes making financial donations to causes you care about. Make a financial donation that feels significant to you.

Learning: The fourth ingredient in the recipe of happiness is to deliberately go about learning something new. There is never a stage in life when we know everything we need to know. Just the process

of learning something new makes you a happier and healthier person. Attend the theatre, the opera, or the symphony, or learn to play an instrument. We all have pleasurable ways to learn. Learn a new game. (I am going to try to learn how to play bridge.)

Living a Healthy Life: The final element is somewhat obvious, but it is surprising how many of us leave this element to the end. The experts tell us that doing things that help our bodies to be healthy should be among our top priorities. Sleep well, eat well, exercise, have a spiritual life, (whatever that means to you) and laugh often. These are essential to a good life.

Apparently the percentages of these activities change at different points in our lives, but happy people touch on all of these areas on a regular basis.

These are ideas that I can build into my agenda book in a deliberate way this year. The happiness agenda book should be filled with joy this year.

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

Indian in the Cabinet, a look at JWR’s book Book Review – Indian in the Cabinet, Speaking Truth to Power, by Jody Wilson Raybould, 2021, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

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his year, I am ringing in the new year with a return to some of my favourite traditions. I have always been an avid reader, enjoying all manner of books. Immersing myself in a good book is very therapeutic. I mean an old-school, hard copy version. Cracking the spine on a new book and the smell of the pages are all part of the experience.

My latest book is Jody Wilson-Raybould's story, released during the final days of the 2021 Federal election. I was drawn to this book as a politically Nancy Cooke active woman. Regardless From the of political affiliation, the Centre story of JWR is compelling. The book is very well written, easy to engage with and speaks directly to the reader. You do not have to try to read between the lines to understand the experiences JWR details. Throughout to book, she emphasizes that this is her truth. She is not sharing details that were not already on the record, and she appears to have gone to great lengths to ensure she is legally and ethically able to share what she discusses.

The reader is taken on the rapid journey of a political neophyte. JWR admits that while she has extensive experience in the Indigenous government world, she was new to the Federal political systems, which traditionally require affiliation with a political party. She provides an informative view into the Indigenous governance model in her home province of 16

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B.C., which involves the election of leaders but does not have overtly organized political parties. This is an important distinction as it provides a glimpse into her motivation to run for office of any kind. She is driven by a desire to serve and not make a name for herself.

The story she tells provides a vivid description of how she got caught up in the aspirational messages espoused by the Liberal Party as they were preparing to run against Harper in a time of anti-Harper, anti-

conservative sentiment. Jodi's telling of her thoughts, feelings and experiences may be relatable by many readers who were also caught up in the promises being made about the possible "Sunny Ways" offered by the Liberals in the 2015 campaign. The rest of the book describes her journey of engagement in government, the steep learning curve of becoming a new Minister of the Crown and a new M.P. simultaneously. It highlights her sense of dedication to the roles bestowed upon her.

When I first picked up the book, I was interested in reading more about her thinking on the now-famous SNC Lavalin scandal. She doesn't disappoint as she describes how she arrived at her final decision to step down and eventually run in 2019 as an Independent.

These details are written plainly and provide a unique glimpse into the inner workings of government at the highest political levels. The book also describes her approach to various other pieces of legislation that she brought forward, including the legalization of marijuana and the medical assistance in dying or MAID legislation.

There are descriptions of the roles and interplay of elected officials, senior political staff, and the highest civil servants in the Federal government. The depth of detail provided about any political party's internal relationships and expectations is rarely written about in real-time. This is not a history book, as many characters are still in office and in cabinet. As expected, the book provides detailed insights into JWR's thoughts and feelings as she navigates these challenging relationships and the realization that all is not what it seemed when she agreed to run on the Liberal ticket.

If you are interested in politics and have been curious about what might happen behind closed doors as decisions are made on behalf of the people, Indian in the Cabinet is the book to read.

Nancy Cooke, BMR, O.T., MBA (Candidate) has been a candidate for office herself. She currently works in the public service.

January 2022

PUZZLES

Crossword Across 1. Operated 8. Behemoth 13. Disparage 14. Words to live by 16. Gives a detailed report 17. Thin 18. Rosie Perez or Jennifer Lopez 19. The ____ State (Pennsylvania) 21. Lucinda Williams’s “But Still ___ for Your Kiss” 22. Sicilian peak 23. Take out ____ (buy newspaper space) 24. “___ rabbi walks into...”

25. Lummox 26. Make ___ of (remember) 27. Fanfare horns 30. Homo sapiens 31. Socially inept person 33. Acetate or alcohol 35. “Are you calling ___ liar?”

36. Environmentalist’s celebration 40. Jazz standard “___ Me” 42. “Who does he think ___!”

43. Pipe player of myth 46. Faiths (abbr.)

47. Dickens’ Uriah ____ 48. Nepal’s southern neighbor 50. Longtime beaus 52. “I need ___ who won’t drive me

crazy...”

53. Door attachments 54. Summer camper’s complaint, often 56. Drake’s cakes 57. Bodily apertures 58. Far from friendly 59. Dreaded flies Down 1. Pyrite and silver 2. “Am not!” response 3. Present as a candidate 4. Growing older 5. Strip on the Mediterranean 6. French summer 7. Office computer 8. Tucker of country 9. Wells and Lupino 10. Plaid pattern 11. 4-H Club topic 12. Concerning newborns 13. East Timor’s largest city 15. Where Nobel prizes are awarded 20. German children’s author Michael 22. Shade tree 25. Havana’s home 26. The Charles’ dog 28. Mariner’s peril 29. Turner and Danson 31. Words removed 32. “Flying” family name 34. Trance practice

Word search

Acted Addendum Address Algae Argue Babes Brainy Buoys Bytes Cannot Consciences Crony January 2022

Crowning Depot Domains Dulled Dunce Feasting Glance Glassy Harts Hired Hoards Laser

35. Like a wetland 37. Onetime Korean president 38. Hole opening?

39. Haunch 41. Plains tribe 44. Reply from Ann Landers 45. Sibling offspring

47. ___ fit (tantrum) 48. Start of Tony Bennett’s signature song 49. Big boats 51. Shoulder muscle, for short 52. Lille lady friend 55. IV sites

Sudoku

Maniac Piping Pointed Preys Raider Ramps Rogue Sages Scale Scored Seize Shove

Spasm Springy Stills Surged Threshold Tousling Trait

Puzzles’ solutions on next page

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17

Schmockey Night

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In the dressing room, just prior to opent began as the March of Dimes in the early 1950s to raise money and aware- ing, I gave Walby a few tips on how to put ness for the polio epidemic. Eventually me in a fake choke hold with one arm and then beat his chest a couple it became a major fundraisof times with his other fist er for the Society for Manito make it appear as those tobans with Disabilities. he was punching my head.

The ‘it” was Schmockey This is all in good fun of Night. It was, for the most course, I tried to explain. part, a fun-filled broomball I suggested we go through game between members of the motions a few times so the Winnipeg Blue Bombhe, and especially I, was ers and personalities from comfortable with what we all media at the old Winniwere going to do. We did. peg Arena.

The bleeding from my left January of 1984, I was ear stopped later that eveworking for the CBC when ning.

I received a call from my Jim Ingebrigtsen The ringing didn’t. friend (I thought) Laurie Is It Just Me...

I also made a point of Mustard who was with mentioning to Chris that CJOB at the time. He I had a bad back so please asked if I would help out with one of the “gags” in the upcoming be careful not to screw with that. What I production of Schmockey Night. I asked neglected to do was find Mad Dog and run what I was going to be doing. He replied some of the same things by him so he, and that I didn’t need to know but, it was go- especially I, was comfortable with what we ing to be hilarious. I said yes. After all, it’s were going to do.

The sequence of what followed is thus: for charity.

The premise of the show opening was Paul, Chris and John are already on the ice. simple. Paul Robson, GM of the Winnipeg Mad Dog is ahead of me and as he is being Football Club and Chris Walby 6’ 7”, 325 introduced, he picked up a metal garbage lbs. offensive tackle headed up the Bomb- can and, while screaming, began swinging ers, Paul being the coach. They were in- it back and forth smashing it on the walls of troduced first followed by John Ferguson, the hallway between the dressing rooms. I head coach of the original Winnipeg Jets. don’t recall seeing this in the script. In fact, Teaming up with him was the special guest I don’t recall if there even was a script but, that year, wrestler Mad Dog Vachon. The I sensed Laurie Mustard had something to four men would come out on the ice and do with this. I now regretted not visiting begin rambling on about how their respec- the men’s room first.

I am introduced to the audience of altive teams were going to annihilate the other. I would enter a minute or two later most 10,000, most of whom are children. in an attempt to the de-escalate the increas- I now stand in the middle of the vicious circle of seemingly steamed sports celebriing (in fun) hostility.

Memories of Schmockey Night still live on. ties. All I remember is Paul Robson grabbing me, in fun, and tossing me toward Chris Walby. Chris picked me up with one hand and threw me in the air so my back fell neatly upon his shoulder. I should state here that it was mentioned to all the participants that when I fall to the ice, the gag, is over. Chris proceeded to give me a couple of small back breakers and dropped me to the ice. At this point the crowd is laughing.

Chris picked me up and threw me toward Ferguson who pretends to rough me up a bit and threw me to the ice. I’m not a religious person but I am now attempting to conjure up any passage in any language from any biblical writing ever written. I get as far as, “Now I lay me …”, when I feel my body rise from the ice. I think, “My God, I’m going to heaven!” Not so lucky.

Mr. Vachon has lifted me easily from the ice. I have no memory of what he did to me initially but I was once again face down

on the ice which was quite soothing on my swollen and bleeding ear. I opened my eyes and lifted my head in time to see Mad Dog rushing toward me with his usual crazed look in his eyes. I began praying, or whatever, just before his shoed foot made significant purchase very near the “soft spot” of my head.

The only laughter I heard was not from the audience, many of whom were children, not good people concerned about my well-being, but from the bench to my right. It was Laurie Mustard. I was told later he was laughing so hard, he had trouble standing. The end of the skit came when Schmockey volunteers sauntered onto the ice with large snow shovels and scraped me off to the Zamboni gate. The lump on my head took two weeks to heal.

It’s said in show business, “You have to pay your dues.” I am telling you now, I’m paid in full. Paul Robson, Chris Walby and I are the only ones left now. Sadly, Schmockey Night left us in 1994. Too bad. It was a fun night for the whole family.

Oh, Laurie Mustard is still laughing thirty-seven years later.

Hear Jim Ingebrigtsen’s radio podcast at https://whatsupwinnipeg.ca/radio-redux/

Memorable Manitobans: Edgar Stanford “Ed” Russenholt

Edgar Stanford “Ed” Russenholt He worked with Winnipeg Hydro and (1890-1991) Manitoba Hydro, Canadian Conservation Author, weatherman.

Institute, Ducks Unlimited, and Canadian Born at Uxbridge, Ontario on 18 May Wheat Pool, before retiring to “Happy 1890, he came west in 1899 to Hartney Acres” near Headingley in 1958, where and later homesteaded in he became active in comthe Swan River Valley. In munity affairs and was a the early days of the First staunch member of HeadWorld War, he enlisted in ingley United Church. He the 44th Battalion, earned continued, as he had for a battlefield commission, half a century, to research was invalided home after Canadian history and to Vimy Ridge and wrote write, broadcast and speak the Unit’s war history, Six out on the need for conserThousand Canadian Men vation and management of (1932). The book was Canada’s vast natural redescribed in the Canadian sources.

Historical Review as surAs CBWT television’s passing all such chronicles first weatherman, his “Ah, from “the standpoint of yes, the heart of the contiMemorable pure history, almost a nent” was a daily reminder Manitobans model of critical analysis.” of how he felt about his During the Second World community. He later used War, he served with the The Heart of the ConWinnipeg Grenadiers (Reserve) and re- tinent as the title of his published 1968 tired as Officer Commanding in 1947. project, a history of Assiniboia. He also wrote histories of the Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company and Winnipeg Hydro. His Meri-Ka-Chak - His Message

(with Hamilton Borradaile Chipman) and Follow the Trail for children were immediate successes and fifty-thousand copies were sold in nineteen countries. He was a Liberal candidate for the Winnipeg South Centre constituency in the 1962 federal general election but was defeated by incumbent Gordon Churchill.

He was married twice, first on 4 December 1917 to Ethel Thompson Kennedy (1895-1928), and second on 1 July 1931 to Kathleen J. Vanstone. He had three children: Lynne Russenholt (19322015, wife of Donald Ross Macfarlane), Edward Clark “Champ” Russenholt (1933-2020), and Ben Russenholt.

He was a charter member of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists, First President of the Historical Museum Association of St. James-Assiniboia, committee member of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation, Citizen of the Year in St. James in 1970, and Honorary Life Member of the St. James Chamber of Commerce. He won a Golden Boy Award, the Pioneer Historian Award of the Red River Valley Historical Association, a Manitoba Centennial Medal from the Manitoba Historical Society (1970), the Bern Lowe Memorial Award

from the Winnipeg Chapter of the Meteorological Society of Canada, and was inducted into the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt (1981). He spearheaded such community projects as the development of the Omand’s Creek Recreation Area, Grant’s Old Mill, and the St. James Assiniboia Museum. He also served with much pride and dedication as a member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and the Historic Sites Advisory Board of Manitoba.

He was both interesting and interested, a man who loved life, his country and his family, who took time to help others and to be a true friend. His unique story-telling talent moved listeners to both laughter and tears.

He died at the Deer Lodge Centre on 3 February 1991 and was buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. His papers are at the Archives of Manitoba.

You can also find his articles written for the Manitoba Historical Society website: www.mhs.mb.ca Jim Ingebrigtsen is a council member of the MHS and submits Memorable Manitoba stories each month as well as his regular column.

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