Mark Carney’s leadership looks a lot like the last guy’s
David Leis
Canadians voted for change in April 2025, choosing Mark Carney as prime minister. But months into his leadership, the same old problems – unaffordable housing, rising debt, stagnating wages – remain. Carney, once hailed as a financial saviour, now looks more like a polished steward of the status quo than a reformer.
His background as a former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England earned him a reputation as a steady hand during turbulent times. His global profile and polished demeanour offered the promise of competence and credibility. However, his approach so far suggests continuity rather than change. Many of the policies shaping the current landscape appear to build on, rather than depart from, the Trudeau years.
While his arrival was greeted by many in the politi-
The Avenue, part 2
Jim Ingebritsen
If ever there was a true ‘Memory Lane” in this city it must be Portage Avenue. A few months back I wrote a column on the much-storied “Avenue” as so many people called it back in the day. I somehow thought I could cover the busy stretch from Main Street to Colony in one go but, alas, I was hard pressed to barely make it to the Gaiety Theatre. I covered a good part of the north side but here are some of my memories from the south side. I didn’t know until very re-
Portage Avenue has had a long colourful existence.
cently that The Chocolate Shop is the oldest restaurant in Winnipeg. It opened in 1918. It was a candy store in the beginning but was, for decades, one of hottest spots on the Avenue. It was, and maybe still is, where you went to get your tea leaves and tarot cards read.
Perhaps the best-known jewellers and silversmiths in this old berg was Birks at 276 Portage at Smith. The Montreal company opened the location in 1903 and was a real gem until the location 12 ‘The Avenue' u
A salute to Frank Skinner and a tale of lovely trees that lead us to the International Peace Garden
One of my favourite pass times is landscaping both for myself and by contributing to projects in the Virden Area. I have developed landscape plans for projects including the Virden Wellview Golf Course, the Custom Closet, the Anglican Church, and a number of yards in Virden. In my own yard, one of my passions is growing trees that are less than hardy for Virden’s zone 3 climate. I believe that I have a small microclimate in the yard that is situated on a hill and provides very good shelter from the cold winter winds.
One of my favourite trees is a Gingko tree that I planted over 20 years ago. Other trees that we have in the yard that have done very well are as follows: four Korean Maples (a bit hardier than the Japanese Maple), three Norwood Red Maples, two Autumn Spire Red Maples, five different Sugar Maples, two Northern Pin Oaks, one Red Northern Oak, one Norway Maple, one Cherry tree,
Mark Carney in 2025. Official White House photo by Daniel Torok.
Doyle Piwniuk, MLA Turtle Mountain
Frank Skinner and two of his lily varieties: Lilium ‘Lemon Lady’ and ‘Dieppe’. Photo by Bruce Moss.
Graham Avenue is being reborn
Dorothy Dobbie
Winnipeggers are rediscovering their downtown. First, the barriers are down at Portage and Main for the first time in 46 years, opening up the heart of our city and returning it to pedestrians.
And now, Graham Avenue is working to be reborn in a green and playful way that hopes to make citizens feel welcome and safe again. One of the joyful events is the Farmers Market that is currently open every Thursday until October 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. amidst a sea of green at the outdoor garden behind the Hydro building. Previously the market was indoors at Cityplace where it runs year-round.
This new location, operated by the Downtown Biz, is a celebration, drawing people to Graham Avenue that is currently being rehabilitated into a pedestrian mall with street painting and games for kids, ping pong tables, picnic tables, and beautiful circular seating around potted trees thanks to a donation from Ron Paul Garden Centre.
East of Donald, the rehabilitation of Graham Avenue is the dream child of former Holy Trinity Church pastor Cathy Campbell and her merry band of committed citizens. Cathy wanted to expand the greenery beyond the Church to make the street welcoming for all. A small group have been working with city agencies and staff to expand the original plan and add more greenery.
The greenery of the first part of the pilot project is largely thanks to Ray and Jeanne Dubois from Ron Paul Garden Centre who have donated trees, circular benches, and the giant rocks to the plan. They have also appealed to other donors such as Aubin Nursery to get some very good discounts.
Thanks to Jeanne Dubois for designing the church garden, a 75-foot-long carve-out from the church property which is being turned into a perennials garden. Watch this space grow over the next two years. In phase one, false spirea will be planted by the fence, along with donations of peonies and dianthus. To complete the garden, Jeanne plans to recycle the perennials from the nearby Living Shore installation, which is a competition-winning design by Nyta Design (New York/Washington D.C). These plants will be moved to
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the garden this fall.
The Living Shore installation was fabricated by the local landscape firm Urban Jungle Inc., who provided a partial donation of the plant material. ECBVerdyol is the Manitoba-based manufacturer of the straw wattles and biotic earth used in the installation, which they graciously donated to the project. The perennials will become permanent fixtures on the street when they are replanted in the church garden.
This is just the beginning. The Police Department has been examining how it can beautify its space, and I am issuing challenges to all the corporate citizens along the street to step up and install plants outside their buildings. I know they will participate if I can just get the time to go and see them.
Everything good about Winnipeg can be encapsulated in citizen-involved projects such as this, working with our civic officials and other agencies to make something good even better. Take a trip down to see for yourself. Maybe you will be inspired to offer some help, some suggestions, some support. Maybe you even have a small business you would like to operate downtown. Let’s show our support.
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.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Marianne Cerilli, Dr. Romie Dhaliwal, Dorothy Dobbie, Shauna Dobbie, Zofia Dove, Carly Edmondson, Stefano Grande, Jim Ingebrigtsen, Ian Leatt, Britt Morberg, Fred Morris, Doyle Piwniuk, Seneka Samarasinghe, Trudy Schroeder.
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ISSUES IN THE NEWS
Do people really care about freedom anymore – or is it just too much trouble?
Iam beginning to think that freedom is just a nice concept that no longer holds any real value for the vast majority of Canadians. As long as many have enough to eat, have a decent roof over their heads and can buy a few luxuries, they seem content to allow their personal choices to be eroded by others, especially governments. At the same time as giving up personal freedoms, though, this same cohort is very permissive in the way they accept personal behaviours from those they see as downtrodden or “underprivileged” (whatever that means).
What are some of the choices? Well, the wearing of seatbelts, for example. It’s your body, your choice when it comes to abortions and tattoos, but not when it comes to driving in your car because if you are injured, “it will cost the state a lot of money” to deal with your injury. Yet that same group thinks the state, you and me, should pay for abortions.
counselled the current parents that the current grandparents were wrong in the way they brought up their kids that started this unfortunate turn of events.
I won’t even get into the damage done by teachers and counsellors who encourage angry and confused kids from preschool to high school that the reason for their confusion is sexual identity. Give me a break. If you weren’t confused and sometimes angry as a kid, you were highly unusual. But you got it off your chest through vigorous play and lots and lots of time outdoors. And we do have proof that being out in nature increases cognitive ability, soothes troubled minds and promotes overall health – even healing.
Dorothy Dobbie
Vaccinations are another personal choice. I know many people who are fearful of vaccines for whatever reason. They instinctively shy away from them and to me that is their choice. But during COVID, we saw people being first coerced and then forced to accept vaccines or suffer penalties, including the loss of their jobs, when they wanted to exercise their freedom of choice. Currently, the hysteria over the measles vaccine as presented a coercive media is edging toward some sort of force.
Another is the refusal of the current prime minster to withdraw a law that mandates twenty per cent of new car purchases/car sales to be electric in 2026. Are you kidding me?
Some freedom incursions are less directly impactful. They include the right to speak one’s mind in a manner that follows the Charter of Rights and is not hateful and does not counsel violence. Instead, those who don’t follow the mantra of a few radicals who have all sorts of divisive ideas about race, colour, sexuality, religion, and a litany of other commands are called out as racists, homophobic, right-wing-bible-thumpers and the like. That is a very harmful and intimidating assault on freedom.
An example of this is when I questioned a Facebook post that said the Premier was doing an excellent job, by saying, “Is he? Prove it.” The response was, “Manitoba is thriving. Only people not happy are the racists. Your not a racist are you Dorothy?” (I left his grammatical errors alone. He is just lucky that I didn’t name him.) But seriously? The premier is part Indigenous, good for him. That doesn’t make him immune from criticism.
That was a political ploy to shut me up. It might work with someone else. Indeed, those types of comments do work with others and consequently, people are afraid to speak up. It is easier to stay quiet, sublimate your inner thoughts and allow the vocal bullies to erode your freedom. But is it?
Because they have gotten away with this nonsense for so long a whole list of hardships are being visited on our youngest generation. “Gentle parenting”, where parents have been counselled to not discipline their youngsters, has resulted in assaults on teachers for trying to instill the order in the classroom. In some ways that is an ironic twist because it is sometimes mistaken teachers who
I worry that many of the coming generation will be so weakened by overcoddling, that they won’t be able to cope and that the legions of homeless will continue to grow.
But there is a backlash starting. We saw it with issues such as the Truckers Freedom Convoy and despite the truckers being reviled and persecuted, their courage started a worldwide movement of protest against overreach by governments.
Young men, particularly young, white, heterosexual, and – God forbid – of British heritage white men, have been marginalized for a decade. They are gravitating away from the “woke” narrative, taking a more conservative approach to politics and life choices. Good for them. Because we need men of all identities to be strong and assertive. That is their inborn nature, and it is complemented by the strong independent women who are their partners. These are the freedom leaders, unafraid to allow others to live their lives according to their own choices, uncriticized and unpunished by personal restrictions. We need those same men to care for and protect the less than strong and independent women, the nurturers who throw their hearts and minds into making others happy.
It is about finding a balance between the strong and independent and the less so, not about making artificial rules about who is right and who is wrong, by telling people who are less strong that they are “victims”, by labelling people with adjectives that simply describe irrelevant differences when we do know that, genetically, there is a very little difference between us.
Freedom is not just our right – it is our imperative. We are not born equal and that is a good thing. We are born with an equal right to be free to explore and exploit our individual talents and strengths as long as they don’t harm others in a malicious way. None of us is born to rule. We are born to serve and that includes those who accept the burden of governance. None of us is born to dictate how others should proceed or to decide, unilaterally, what is “in the public good” at a personal or other level.
Governments can suggest a course of action through the passing of temporary laws, but no law is written in stone. It can be changed in a free society by the Will of the people to elect a new government.
Yes, freedom is burdensome. You have to make judgement calls. You have to fight for a living. You have to be willing to stand up for your principles. But freedom is a sweet burden to bear. Just ask anyone who has lived in a dictatorial state.
The potentially high cost of legal protest .
. . for some
Ottawa, January 28, 2022, saw busy Ottawa police officers clearing the way on Wellington Street in front of the Parliament Buildings for the wave of protesting truckers expected to appear in town that day. The Ottawa Police chief held a meeting explaining what was about to happen. He talked about the freedom to demonstrate peacefully as an underlying function of Canadian Democracy. He went on to explain how his department was prepared to handle what was going to be a major influx of protestors, noting that this was a national protest. He pointed out that in addition to peaceful truckers, there would be a “number of other parallel demonstrators, lone-wolf individuals” who had other agendas, but that the Truckers vowed a peaceful protest.
The police were prepared for a full weekend of demonstrations, but the Chief added that the protest could extend into the following week. He also said that he expected there would be “significant impacts” on local residents who were advised to stay away from downtown. He also said, “We have also developed a plan to facilitate the orderly and peaceful departure of the truck convoy from Ottawa at the end of the demonstration.” Sadly, that was never put into action.
Why were the truckers protesting? It was because, for two years, before vaccines were available and afterwards, both the vaccinated and unvaccinated had faithfully carried out the mission to keep the supply chain between Canada and the United States moving. Then suddenly, as the pandemic was already waning, the rules were changed, and the Liberal government lifted the vaccination exemption that had been extended to cross-border truckers. While about 85% of the cross-border truckers had been vaccinated, the unvaccinated 15% still represented about 16,000 truckers, who were suddenly confronted with a threat to their livelihood. Those who had taken the needles were also outraged that their colleagues would have a “medical procedure” forced upon them against their will, beliefs, and sometimes medical tolerance. They felt that their country, the land of the “true North strong and FREE” had suddenly turned against them.
The protest was called and hundreds of trucks set off for Ottawa from Vancouver going east, picking up new supporters along the way. I watched them roll peacefully under the Perimeter Bridge at Roblin, marveling at the indomitable spirt of these men and women willing to stand up for freedom.
And the demonstration once it reached Ottawa, was peaceful. One trucker told CBC that they had all been required to sign a code of conduct to keep the peace and maintain the law.
It could have and should have ended Monday. Trudeau should have come out and listened to the demonstra-
tors’ concerns. He needed to show that he heard and understood their point of view and that he would take what they said into consideration. That would have turned down the heat and allowed a peaceful withdrawal. Instead, he said, “Over the past few days, Canadians were shocked and frankly disgusted by the behaviour displayed by some people protesting in our nation’s capital.” Trudeau was referring to those “lonewolf individuals” who were stirring the pot. There was no evidence to support the veracity of his follow up comments that implicated the convoy members. “We are not intimidated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small business workers and steal food from the homeless. We won’t give in to those who fly racist flags. We won’t cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonour the memory of our veterans.” This inflamed the situation. He also announced that he had “been exposed” to COVID and went into hiding an at an undisclosed location.
This protest crossed the line
For people who lived in downtown Ottawa in February 2022, the so-called “Freedom” Convoy wasn’t just a political protest, it was a siege. Residents were jolted awake by incessant airhorns at all hours. Streets were choked with diesel fumes and heavy trucks parked, blocking traffic, for days. Emergency vehicles were delayed. Parents kept children indoors. The atmosphere was not one of peaceful dissent, but of coordinated disruption.
Dobbie vs Dobbie
(My most esteemed mother will have you believe that it was a couple of days of discomfort for people who chose to live in an area where this could happen. I would remind her of her own bitter complaints of music drifting to her backyard from Assiniboia Downs concerts, a couple of miles away, and to have her imagine that going on, 24-seven, for a week.)
legal) boldness comes responsibility. Civil disobedience has always involved a tacit bargain: you defy the rules to expose injustice, and in return, you accept the legal consequences. That willingness to endure the fallout is part of what gives protest moral weight. When organizers deny their role or expect immunity from prosecution, they erode that contract. The court has every right – and arguably a duty – to reinforce that while dissent is protected, lawlessness is not. Protest is powerful when it is principled. It becomes dangerous when its leaders claim the right to disrupt without the duty to answer for it.
The “Freedom” Convoy caused tangible damage. The City of Ottawa reported over $7 million in municipal costs, with Ottawa Police estimating another $55 million in security expenses. Small businesses in the core lost customers and staff. Health-care workers were harassed. Downtown residents, already enduring a pandemic, were plunged into a second kind of lockdown, this one self-imposed, as a result of protesters.
Three weeks later, just as the demonstration finally began to wind down, he poked the demonstrators in the eyes again. He and his sidekick, Chrystia Freeland, froze the bank accounts of anyone who attempted to raise money for the truckers. It wasn’t just the first $12.2 million raised by Tamara Lich through a Go Fund Me account, but a handful of others, who attempted to help by setting up other fundraising accounts. In the end, some 200,000 people contributed to the cause, raising more than $24 million. Some of that money was returned to donors. About $8 million remains unaccounted for.
If that wasn’t enough, even though as mentioned, the protest was winding down, Trudeau also decided to impose the Emergencies Act to override the democratic rights of the protesters. This time, he went too far. In 2024, a federal court found “the invocation of the Act was unreasonable”, and that it “unjustifiably violated section 2(b) and section 8 of the Charter”. In other words, it was illegal!
Meanwhile, the convoy was disbanded, but three people were singled out as responsible. Number one was a guy named Pat King. Mr. King had a long history of protests of the “far right” kind.
He was arrested on February 18, 2022, and convicted on five charges including mischief and disobeying a court order. He was released on bail on July 18, 2022, and was subsequently sentenced to only three months less time served.
Tamara Lich had a similar background, including being an early
This wasn’t a march or a day-long rally. It was a deliberate, prolonged occupation of Canada’s capital, enabled by online fundraising, social media mobilization, and political defiance. The leaders of the protest, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, now face sentencing. They were found guilty of mischief in April, and the Crown is seeking a seven-year prison term.
Some argue this is excessive. The longest prison sentence following a protest to date has been one year, for someone named Coon, during the G-20 protests in Toronto in 2010; that was for smashing in storefronts. Plenty of very serious damage, but all of it to property.
Lich and Barber, on the other hand, orchestrated an event that damaged the psyche and freedom of at least 200,000 individuals in Ottawa for days on end. Seven years is not too long.
Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democratic life. But when a protest becomes a multi-week blockade that causes sustained harm to citizens, it crosses a constitutional line. The Charter protects the right to express dissent, not the right to occupy residential areas indefinitely, impede police, antagonize citizens or ignore court injunctions.
At the heart of public protest is the desire to be seen and heard, to interrupt the ordinary, to force a moment of reckoning. The most effective demonstrations are ones that are disruptive by design: they block traffic, halt business as usual, or stage symbolic acts that demand attention. This is part of their power. In a crowded media environment, ordinary protest actions get drowned out. Protesters know that to make headlines and shift public discourse, they must do something bold and possibly a little illegal.
But with such (possibly a little il-
The convoy’s leaders cannot be treated as ordinary demonstrators. They helped orchestrate the action, raised millions of dollars and urged protesters to stay even when injunctions were issued and tensions escalated. Leadership carries responsibility, and responsibility includes consequences.
The Criminal Code allows for up to 10 years in prison for mischief when it causes significant public harm. Though this is rarely applied to protest-related charges, the Freedom Convoy was not a typical demonstration. It was a sustained, unlawful action that aimed to strong-arm elected officials by inflicting maximum disruption.
If the justice system imposes only a symbolic sentence, it sends a dangerous message: that large-scale, organized civil disobedience, even when it paralyzes a city, can be undertaken with impunity, so long as it is wrapped in a bizarre discourse of freedom.
Stiffer sentencing would establish that peaceful protest is not a license to override the rights of others, nor to defy lawful orders and democratic processes. It would affirm the right of residents to safety, order, and dignity in their own neighbourhoods.
This is not about criminalizing dissent or stifling voices. It is about affirming that no one, no matter how passionate their cause, can be allowed to act above the law. Tamara Lich and Chris Barber had every right to protest. What they did not have was the right to help orchestrate the extended occupation of a city and then wash their hands of the consequences.
A meaningful sentence would not just be about punishing them. It would be about drawing a solid legal and moral line between protest and siege. The court now has the responsibility to draw that line clearly.
Dorothy Dobbie
Shauna Dobbie
Petition for National Silver Alert Program e-6491
Help save seniors with dementia
Britt Morberg
Our family has initiated a petition calling for a National Silver Alert Program in honour of our husband, father, and grandfather, Earl Moberg, who had advanced dementia and went missing in the North Kildonan area of Winnipeg on December 12, 2023. He is presumed dead and has not been found.
Public Safety: A Silver Alert Program can alert the public as quickly as possible when a person living with dementia goes missing in the area. Depending on the situation this could include the media, highway signs, sending geographically targeted alerts to mobile devices in the area.
We are asking the public to please sign and share our petition. It can be signed by Canadian Citizens or residents and there is no minimum age to sign. If you signed this petition before, please sign again, because with the election of a new parliament we lost all the 4,673 signatures that we had collected. The petition closes October 2, 2025.
The petition can be found on the ourcommons.ca petitions website and searching for 6491. We will also have paper versions of the petition for people who prefer that or where signing an e-petition is a barrier.
Why a National Silver Alert System is Needed
There is a growing population of people living with dementia with increasing missing person incidents –
nearly one million people in Canada will be living with dementia by 2030. It is an emergency when a person living with dementia becomes lost or goes missing. The risk is high, and time is critical in finding them. “Sixty per cent of people living with dementia will go missing at some point. If a person with Alzheimer’s disease is not found within 12 hours of being lost, there is a 50 per cent chance that they will be found injured or dead from hypothermia, dehydration of drowning. This makes any search an emergency.”
Most (90 per cent) of missing persons with dementia are found by the public or through clues provided to SAR.
Meet Marianne, part II
Last month, my first column for Lifestyles 55+, was an introduction ending off just shy of the 30-year mark, after I was elected in Radisson. I mentioned how I would go from rising to falling MLA.
The excitement made those first years as a young MLA a bit of a blur, with five critic areas and building trust with my constituency association after being a parachute candidate. Being responsible for the environmental portfolio was a huge responsibility that shaped me in important ways. There were so many issues to learn about from farming, to Hydro, forestry, other extractive industries and how to make those industries more sustainable. I was also critic for youth, sport and fitness, and multi-culturalism and I took on issues like a KKK recruitment phone line and immigration.
group that produced a document “Ready to Govern”, but the majority of Manitobans disagreed, and we spent another four years in opposition.
I worked for change. On issues like the Ayerst Plant in Brandon, I recommended a full Environment Impact Assessment that included the health impacts of the pharmaceuticals being manufactured from pregnant mare’s urine. I was accused of being against rural Manitoba development. PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, got hold of it and put my and Premier Filmon’s name in their campaign material. We got mail from across the globe. PETA cared more about horses than women.
I was seen as too cozy with environmentalists; I was now living with one. Before the 1995 election I was moved to the housing portfolio. I led a NDP
One of my favorite things about being an MLA was working in the community where I could apply my facilitating, planning and organizing skills. We did things like start tenant associations that convinced Jack Riemer, the Minister of Housing, to turn a Manitoba Housing storage shed into a community center. It became a hub for community events, gardening, recreation programs, homework club, with computers so people could get their GED. We organized for the rehabilitation of a contaminated site, stopped a highway to protect tall grass prairie, and started a trail association to join the two green spaces. For 20 years Transcona Trails carried on planting trees, building a network of trails for health infrastructure, naming one to recognize my trail blazing.
In 1998 I became a mom, having a daughter while an MLA was fulfilling.
The MLA work I enjoyed most was things like helping keep a local grocery store, ending polluting manufacturer emissions, establishing childcare centers, networking community organizations. What I enjoyed least was the internal party power struggles, the lack of democracy, and centralization of power. That’s what did me in. Soon after winning the 1999 election, the NDP budget was presented with a 4% corporate tax cut that was not discussed in caucus.
Benefits of a National Silver Alert Program
A National Silver Alert Program would save lives and reduce emotional distress.
Silver Alerts complement strategies for preventing a missing incident. Multiple strategies are recommended – options can include door cameras, locating technology, Project Lifesaver, if available in your community, and the MedicAlert Safe & Found program.
Despite all these prevention efforts, some people with dementia will still go missing, so Silver Alerts are still needed. For example: Christian Dube, who had dementia and went missing from a locked care facility in the Greater Vic-
Such a betrayal. I decided to leave my seat and move to where my partner wanted to live, in Wolseley. Mr. Doer claimed I was not a team player, someone who put issues ahead of party loyalty. A rumor was spread if I got elected again, I would cross the floor and sit as a Green.
Having been a parachute candidate, I had made a commitment to move to Transcona when elected, moving away meant to me, I could not run again in Radisson. But when Jean Friesen, MLA for Wolseley, announced her retirement, I entered that nomination. With three other qualified candidates, many people did not understand why I would run in a contested nomination when already a sitting MLA. Even though I signed almost 200 members in two weeks, I was one vote short of the final ballot. My supporters in the election went to Rob Altemeyer, not the establishment candidate. I was out, in more ways than one.
After I worked door to door once again in Radisson for the new candidate, I was asked to teach a UW course on women in politics. A good way to combine theory and practice, as contract faculty at UW and UM, teaching in Kinesiology, Politics, Education and Women’s Studies. I also started Marianne Cerilli – Change Agent, Community Development for Health, Sustainability, Peace. I was hired on a variety of projects, including organizing contract faculty at U Winnipeg. And UM Connecting Our Kids, a project to better link community groups and academics. I saw a job posting for an advocate/mentor at West Central Women’s Resource Centre but could not apply due to other commitments. And after 11 years together, I was separating from my daughter’s father.
toria area last November 2024 and was found deceased by hypothermia about six days later. These were days when he was in the public. Many people would have seen him. I believe an alert could have saved his life.
Challenges – in response to alert fatigue
Alerts can be geographically targeted to a local area; criteria can be developed for when to issue alerts and when to send them to mobile devices. The type of alert could vary depending on the circumstances and level of impairment, whether the person is on foot or driving.
History
Alberta and Manitoba amended their Missing Person Act to allow for ‘Silver Alerts.’ In my father’s case, there was no actual alert to mobile phones in the area. The night he went missing, unless you happened to be reading a CBC article online about him being missing, as part of the general public, you would not have known.
Other media was released over the following days, but I met people weeks and into the search who lived in the area and had no idea he was missing.
Thank you, Britt Moberg, Victoria, BC.
Editor’s note: Please support the initiative of this family to save others who will go missing in the future. A similar incident happened to a person in my extended family. The senior went for a walk. He did not return. A Silver Alert was issued. He was found many miles from his home – outside the city. It can happen to anyone.
Yes, life is ironic. But that job was open again. I remember being interviewed in a moldy basement on Ellice Avenue by ten community women. I spent eight years there sharing what I had learned as an MLA, mentoring women in empowerment, advocacy, community development and social change. They taught me, too. People would ask me, isn’t it depressing to work with homeless people? No. Sometimes it was frustrating to help someone find housing, get on welfare, and settled, only to have them break some rule and be back on the street. I would remind myself this is about them, not me and learn to be patient and care about them. One year, all the women I mentored that year went on to university or college. Caring and compassion work! People who are homeless are people who are homeless.
After a short two years at the Social Planning Council, I was hired back with the Community Development and Community Economic Development Program at Red River College. Teaching 15 courses, organizing the practicum, and recruiting students for six years was another dream job.
Since 2019, I have been back in the community as Marianne Cerilli – Change Agent, publishing the learning and social innovation resources I’ve created over the year, on three themes – The Politics of Unity, Healing for Change, and Community as Classroom. I lead process design and facilitation, especially collaboration for systems change. This is what my future columns here will be about. Join me at the intersections of education, community development and politics.
Marianne is an educator and former MLA who works in community development and social innovation.
Marianne Cerilli
Earl Moberg (left) and the call for the Silver Alert petition.
Savour the Summer in CentrePort Canada
August and early September are two of the best months to get outside and make the most of southern Manitoba’s beautiful late summer weather. Across its 20,000-acre footprint, CentrePort Canada has plenty of options to explore, from local breweries to ball parks, dog parks, and even go-karts.
As Canada’s largest trimodal inland port, CentrePort Canada is known as a hub for trade and transportation – but it's also a place to live, work, play and learn. Companies, residents and visitors can all take advantage of its unique mix of industrial innovation and local charm. And right now, it’s the perfect place to plan your next summer adventure.
Sip Something Local
Unwind on a patio or in a tasting room with a locally crafted drink. Torque Brewing and Half Pints Brewing Company are both serving up bold, flavourful beers in relaxed taprooms. Swing by after work or grab a pint with a pal.
Not into beer? Shrugging Doctor Beverage Company is Manitoba’s only commercial vineyard with headquarters in CentrePort. They make wine, sangria, cider, spirits, mead, and their tasting room includes a full menu of “Wondrous Food and Quenchers.” Check out their 2025 Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting, happening on September 7th. Get Active
If you're craving some fresh air, head to Little Mountain Park, a peaceful, 160-acre retreat just a 20-minute car ride from downtown Winnipeg. Once home to a limestone quarry, the park
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now features scenic walking and cycling trails, a large off-leash dog area, and quiet picnic spots by a quarry-turnedpond. Some picnic sites include bookable BBQ pits, making it a favourite for family gatherings.
Right nearby is Little Mountain Sportsplex, home to 28 softball diamonds, full-sized soccer fields, disc fields, and hockey rinks. A licensed clubhouse with a patio and picnic area makes it easy to spend the whole day, whether you’re participating in a game or cheering from the sidelines.
Or check out the recently expanded Optimist Park, now home to baseball diamonds, a full-sized soccer field, and a playground. It’s an ideal place for kids and grandkids to run around while you enjoy a moment in the sun.
Spend some time on the green at The Players Course This championshipcaliber nine-hole golf course is great for all levels. Amenities include a full restaurant, stocked pro shop and scenic clubhouse with great views of the lake and golf course. Book a tee time or go for a summer lunch, even if you’re not swinging a club.
If you prefer your sightseeing a little more off the beaten path, visit the hidden parcel of land known as the “Cement Cemetery.” Once part of the British-American Construction and Materials Limited cement plant, this abandoned industrial site features rows of mysterious concrete pillars rising from the ground. Located just off Sturgeon Road, it’s accessible on foot and a cool spot to explore and take great photos.
Carney’s
Explore Air, Rail & Road
For families and aviation buffs, the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada has pop-up programming every Tuesday and Friday in August. Drop in for scavenger hunts, pedal planes, and rotating hands-on activities: all included with the price of admission. It’s one of Canada’s largest aviation collections, and the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon or a curious morning.
Looking for speed? Speedworld Indoor Kart Track is open daily from 11 am to 11 pm, delivering high-octane thrills with European-style go-karts on a 0.2 km indoor track. There are 40 km/h sprint karts for beginners, 50 km/h race karts for licensed drivers, and new full motion racing simulators. Make a reservation or just show up and have fun!
For a relaxing ride, hop aboard the Prairie Dog Central Railway, one of North America’s oldest operating steam locomotives. Operating on
weekends and a few weekdays through September, the Prairie Dog Central will take you from Inkster Junction Station (located on Prairie Dog Trail, off Park Royale Way) to the village of Grosse Isle. Look for themed rides like the Great Train Robbery, Family Fun Days, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Book in advance as tickets tend to sell out!
A Complete Community CentrePort Canada is not just for business, but for everyone who lives and plays here, too. At its core, CentrePort Canada is a complete community, and successful businesses require more than just land and logistics. This August and September, we invite you to experience CentrePort for yourself. Come play baseball, taste a new Manitoba-made wine, ride a train, or take a sunset stroll. You’ll find there’s more happening here than meets the eye.
Carly Edmundson is the President & CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc.
leadership looks a lot like the last guy’s
cal and economic establishment as a new chapter, for everyday Canadians grappling with affordability and access to services, the gap between expectations and outcomes remains wide. The question is no longer whether Carney can bring order to complex systems – it’s whether he understands the urgency of tackling structural barriers that weigh down Canadians’ economic prospects.
These concerns became especially clear in a recent conversation I had with Bruce Pardy, professor at Queen’s University, and Dan McTeague, former Liberal MP and president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, about the June 2 First Ministers’ Meeting in Saskatoon, a gathering of the prime minister and provincial premiers to discuss national priorities.
meetings doesn’t matter a hill of beans. Governments don’t build economies. People do.”
Government-led initiatives, such as national energy strategies and net-zero mandates, may be well-intentioned, but critics argue they risk overlooking the importance of local innovation, market freedom and individual enterprise. Too often, these programs are rolled out without proper coordination with the provinces or attention to regional economic differences.
Both voiced concerns about the summit’s impact. Both suggested the gathering leaned more toward symbolism than substantive economic reform.
Carney’s technocratic style, emphasizing top-down economic management, reflects a belief that prosperity can be orchestrated through expert planning. But as Pardy put it, “Whatever you heard at the Saskatchewan
McTeague was equally blunt, describing the summit as “more theatre than it is, in fact, practical or necessary.” He observed that while premiers issued joint statements, core structural issues like interprovincial trade barriers and regulatory overlap remained unaddressed.
Beyond the lack of substantive reform, even the summit’s slogan “Building one Canadian economy,” a phrase intended to signal unity and collaboration across provinces, sparked debate. For some, it highlighted long-standing barriers that fragment the national market, such as labour mobility and transportation hurdles. These complications continue to frustrate efforts to create seam-
less economic integration.
This frustration is especially acute in provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan. “Alberta, in a sense, is the cash cow of Confederation,” said Pardy. “And the people who have power in Confederation are not going to be open to the idea that the arrangement has to be fixed.” Calls for greater autonomy for Western provinces are not rooted in ideology but in years of perceived inequity and exclusion from decision-making in Ottawa.
Stepping back from the summit itself, the challenges Canada faces, including housing affordability, immigration pressures and healthcare delays, are real and pressing. Carney did not create these issues, but his government has yet to offer bold departures from the status quo. A clearer vision for tackling affordability, economic growth and service delivery is still awaited. Canadians don’t just want refined messaging or polished leadership, they want results. And while new leadership always brings hope, what matters most is whether long-standing issues are being meaningfully addressed.
So far, for many, that change still feels out of reach. David Leis is President and CEO of the Frontier Centre for Public Policy and host of the Leaders on the Frontier podcast.
by June 26 for summer session!
Carly Edmundson CentrePort Canada
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. Photo by Empire Photography.
David Leis
Do we really want to change the way we elect our government?
Dorothy Dobbie
If you want to make your head hurt, start examining the many possibilities and permutations of the voting systems that could be proposed to replace our almost 170-year-old method of electing our governments. Everyone who favours reform has a different twist and a new label to mark their brilliance in band-aiding proposed alternatives when each of them is shown to be just as defective, in its own way, as First Past the Post, known hereafter as FPTP for simplicity. This is the last simple thing I will show you here. Everyone seems to have a bias. If you’re under 35, you are likely highly susceptible to media claims that the current system is broken and needs to be radically changed. That doesn’t mean you have a solution, but it’s obvious, isn’t it? If it doesn’t work, change it. How stupid can we old guys be?
If you feel under-represented in any way, you are also likely to be all for change. After all, if they pick the right method, your party might get to Parliament and you can have a say. Hey, why not start your own party to be sure you get on some ballot, in say, the MMP (mixed member proportional representation) system, where you get two votes, one for a candidate your party picks and one for your directly elected member. New Zealand does it this way. They have 120 seats. Since 1993, they have set aside 72 of them for your direct representation and the other 48 for the parties’ picks, chosen in numbers to represent the popular vote. They have given their First Nations Maoris, who get a special vote, representation proportional to their population – right now that number is seven. (In Canada, we can elect as many First nations reps as we want and they are there to represent all of us, just as do other MPs, whether we voted for them or not).
By the way, there are 13 parties in New Zealand (population 4.5 million). Any party needs to get five per cent of the vote, or one elected seat, to receive an allocation for the multi-member party seats. Don’t like the idea of your party selecting their buddies as candidates? Maybe you’ll like Australia’s system better. Here they make you rank your choices and have a run-off to select the winner. Voting – and ranking –is mandatory. Even if you hate all other candidates but the one from your own party, you have to number everyone on the ballot in the order of your preference.
Australians vote for both houses, using what they call “majority voting” to elect the Senate. Each senate seat is a multi-member seat, with senators elected according to the party’s proportional percentage of the vote. Five to six five per cent of the votes for the lower house are spoiled, apparently to protest mandatory voting and ranking.
There are around 75 to 80 registered parties in Australia, although two of them, the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Party of Australia, have them have formed a coalition called The Coalition, to fight the Australian Labor Party. Those two, plus the Greens, take up most of the vote. Even so, seven parties and 10 independents are currently represented in the two houses. Coalitions are formed after the election and are often forming and re-forming behind the scenes.
Not that this is all there is to it – Australians are constantly tinkering with a system that doesn’t work very well, partly because there are two elected houses, but also because of many of the same complaints we hear about FPTP here at home: it’s unfair, it doesn’t really represent the true demographics of the country, it’s too adversarial . . . Canadian proponents of this system laud the co-operation and harmony that is supposed to occur among representatives who “have to get along in a coalition”. Not so, say the critics in Australia. D. Klass Woldring, a professor at Southern Cross University, says that there is an urgent need for a fairer, simpler and less adversarial model. He goes on to say that “Politicians are recruited from an extremely small number of people,” because party membership is at an all-time low. Nevertheless, those who like preferential voting claim that it solves the “wasted” votes – read losing votes – of FPTP. I can’t see how that works when your first choice is likely to be discarded and allocated in favour of a person supported by some other group that you may heartily dislike. If that isn’t waste, what is? The two alternative systems above illustrate the kind of choices that Canadian special interest groups are lobbying for. These systems are clumsy, complicated, subject to manipulation, constantly changing, and they require greater third party intervention between
the electorate and their representative.
Before you get all excited about Germany’s Proportional Representation system, know that, according to Der Spiegel, it is considered so complicated that most Germans don’t understand it. And again, Germany has just tinkered with their PR system – really it’s a mixed member system now. In 2026, it will elect 630 members to the Bundestag. There are 299 constituencies at the moment. Basically, the voter gets two votes: one for a general candidate, who is elected according to FPTP rules, the second, and more important, for the party list candidate. After this, it gets much more complicated as the exact ultimate representation is decided on some proportional representation formula that seems to have been subject to many changes. Changes were made in 2023 and again for this election in February 2025. It is impossible to keep up with all the tweaks and fixes. Add to this the fact that voters have to chose from 41 different parties!
Nor do you know who the leader will be until after the election: the chancellor is nominated by the winning party after the vote. The president is elected by a special assembly. Yikes! I feel that headache coming on again.
So, with all these complications, why ditch FPTP?
The Longest Vote Committee, the former Rhinoceros group that has disrupted ballots in seven elections since 2022 (starting with Winnipeg South), believe that proportional representation is “fairer”. But is it? It relies heavily on backroom choices and gives voices to extremes that can drown out the majority in the middle. Nevertheless, they are very determined to change the system and you will see them again in the upcoming bi-election for Pierre Poilievre. Their intervention does little to change the results, but it is a nuisance for the voters and the vote counters.
As for those final results on election night? Apparently, not much changes under alternative systems: the party that was ahead before the vote is usually the party that wins, despite convoluted voting systems. Elections do get a lot more expensive and confusing, though, and your ability to choose your own direct representation is diluted. A lot more power goes to the back rooms.
As for getting the system right? Not likely for at least hundred years (Germany and Australia have been trying since 1918).
On the other hand, First Past the Post has been the most stable system since voting became the way governments were created. Why change it now?
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Honey mustard chicken, tomato and zucchini foil packs
Honey mustard chicken, tomato, and zucchini foil packs are a culinary delight that beautifully encapsulates the essence of simplicity and flavor. As you prepare to unwrap the foil, the tantalizing aroma wafts through the air, a seductive blend of sweet and savory that ignites the senses. Each pack is a vibrant canvas, filled with juicy chicken bathed in a luscious honey mustard glaze, paired with the bright acidity of ripe tomatoes and the tender crunch of zucchini.
The chicken, marinated in a harmonious mixture of honey and mustard, emerges from the foil with a golden glaze that glistens enticingly. As it cooks, the flavors meld together, creating a succulent dish that’s both comforting and exciting. The honey adds a touch of sweetness, while the mustard brings a delightful tang, creating a symphony of flavors that dance on your palate.
Nestled alongside the chicken, the zucchini and tomatoes soak up the rich juices, their vibrant colors creating a feast for the eyes. The zucchini retains a satisfying bite, while the tomatoes burst with sweetness, providing a refreshing contrast that elevates the entire dish.
Picture a warm evening, friends gathered around the grill, laughter filling the air as the foil packs sizzle and steam. The anticipation builds as you unveil each pack, the steam rising to reveal the beautifully cooked chick-
en and vegetables, an invitation to indulge.
Honey mustard chicken foil packs are more than just a meal; they’re an experience that evokes warmth and connection. Each bite is a reminder of life’s simple pleasures, a sultry fusion of flavors that brings together the best of summer cooking. It’s a celebration of good food, cherished moments, and the beauty of sharing a meal that’s as delightful to behold as it is to savor
Here is what you will need:
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium shallots, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons whole grain mustard
Manitoba Broadcasting Museum
Avirtual museum, dedicated to the history of Manitoba radio, is now up and running!
The museum utilizes vintage photographs and audio recordings to tell the story of the evolution of local radio since its inception in 1922.
Former CBC radio host Agatha Moir built the website, while her husband Garry provided the historic photographs and audio recordings from a large personal collection.
“The museum is a work in progress,” says Garry, who volunteers at CJNU radio and also wrote a book on the history of Manitoba radio.
Over the decades, radio has played
a very important role in the life of the province. The dollar value of products sold by radio is incalculable, as is the amount of money raised for charities.
Throughout times of crisis, radio has been a vital source of information.
The medium has helped shape public
6 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 medium zucchinis
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
2 teaspoons salt
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 skinless chicken breasts
Chopped fresh parsley for decoration
The all important how to: Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; preheat for 5 minutes.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat olive oil then add the chopped shallots and garlic, stirring occasionally, until light golden and fragrant. Add wholegrain mustard, honey, Dijon mustard, paprika, and red pepper flakes and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then continue to boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thickened and slightly darkened in color. Set aside and leave to cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, toss zucchini, tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Season chicken with salt and black pepper.
Arrange 4 (16") sheets of foil on a flat surface. Pull up each side forming a shallow boat then divide zucchini mixture among shallow boat. Place 1 chicken breast next to the vegetables. Using a confectioner’s brush generously paint the tops of each chicken with the honey mustard sauce. Once all the sauce has been used tightly fold foil boats to seal secure.
Place the sealed boats on the barbecue and cover. Rotate packets halfway through, until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 165º, 20 minutes. Carefully open foil packets and sprinkle with parsley. (remember steam burns).
Ian Leatt is a trained chef from across the pond.
opinion. It has also played a key role in launching the careers of numerous musicians and artists. There was a time when farmers would decide when and where to sell their products based on market reports heard on the radio.
“The list is endless,” says Agatha. “Just look at what local radio did recently to raise money for the victims of forest fires...which, by the way, emulated a similar effort mounted by Manitoba radio stations many years ago to
help victims of the devastating 1950 flood.”
One portion of the website provides historic recordings of events and voices that helped shape Manitoba radio from its beginnings until present day. Another section, titled “We Remember”, pays tribute to former broadcasters who are no longer with us, by offering brief recordings of their work in the industry.
“These people should not be forgotten,” says Garry. “Their work helped shape radio and touched a huge number of people.”
The organizers of the museum are hoping it will expand, as more vintage recordings and memorabilia become available.
“It's far from the definitive history of local radio, but it is a start,” says Moir. “We just hope visitors to the site enjoy it and perhaps learn a little local history in the process.”
The Manitoba Broadcasting Museum may be accessed at radiohistory.ca
Ian Leatt Foodies
An early CKY truck.
Joyce and Don Sobering are partners in business, life and philanthropy
In my many years of writing about Manitoba’s auto industry, I often heard the concerns about shortages of skilled technicians – the people who service and repair your vehicles. Well, Don and Joyce Sobering, the long-time owners of Sobering Auto Electric, decided to do something about it.
It was 23 years ago that Don and Joyce started the Motor Vehicle Industry of Manitoba (MVIM) scholarship fund. “We always had apprentices working for us,” Joyce says. “But we were never sure what kind of training they had received before coming to work for us.’
One of Joyce’s responses to that situation was to become actively involved in that training and recruitment. She joined the Provincial Trades Advisory Committee as well as having chaired the Apprenticeship Board.
Don points out that another major issue used to be that auto trades people – no matter whether mechanics or auto body workers – were not well respected. The Soberings founded the MVIM to try to improve the image of auto industry technicians, assist the next generation of technicians and to recruit more, younger potential technicians to the industry.
The couple started with just a couple of scholarships presented to a high school or Red River College student enrolled in an auto trades program. Today, Joyce is happy to report, the number of scholarships handed out annually has grown to 34 – which translates into about $51,000, or $1,500 to each recipient.
Over the years, she notes, a growing number of autorelated associations – such as, the Manitoba Used Car Dealers Association, the Automotive Trades Association Manitoba Inc, the Automotive Recyclers of Manitoba and many others have come on board with new scholarships. As well, individuals created new scholarships in memorium.
Joyce points out, for example, that Penny MacMillan, an active community leader and friend of Joyce’s – with family ties to the auto industry– established a new scholarship in memory of her parents Bob and Norma Struth, who for over 50 years delivered quality automotive services to the Killarney and Ninette communities.
“Over the years,” Joyce reports, “we have given out 357 scholarships.”
The scholarships are handed out once a year at an annual banquet for the honorees and their families, and representatives of the scholarship providers. “The banquet is important for the awardees.” Joyce says. “Each recipient is called up and is recognized for their achievements in the presence of their family, their peers and potential employers. We hire a professional photographer to take pictures of each of the students holding their framed certificate.
“It is the little things that count. Students have told us how important the banquet and public recognition is to them.”
Joyce also makes it a point to write a thank you letter to every sponsoring organization.
Don adds that each scholarship recipient also gets 50 per cent off when they go to buy their tools at Mac Tools. “It costs young people about $20,000 to buy the tools for their toolboxes that they will need to get started in the auto trades,” he says. “This discount is a big help.”
Joyce reports that a committee of 25, with representatives of the various industry organizations and past recipients, decides which students are to receive the scholarships.
“We’re not rich,” says Don, “but it feels good to be able to give back to the community and our industry.”
Both Don and Joyce have been part of the auto industry all of their lives. Originally from Lockport, Joyce’s family got into auto sales when she was still a child. The Rewucki Family purchased Eastern Chrysler in Beausejour in 1946. They relocated to Winnipeg in 1957 and continued to operate the business until 2013, when they sold to AutoCanada. Joyce recalls that in her younger years, she received a valuable education in business operations while working during the summers for the family-owned dealership, a task she continued at Sobering Auto Electric.
Don reports that his father, John R. Sobering, started the business in 1948 after serving as an instructor with the Royal Engineers in the war. “There was a real need for auto electric services,” he relates.
Sobering Auto Electric was initially located on York downtown, later moving to Marion and DesMeurons in St. Boniface.
Don earned his Red Seal certification in the mid-1950s. He didn’t immediately go into the family business – even though he had worked there growing up.
“My first job was at the provincial central garage,” he recounts.
It was during this time that he and Joyce met.
In 1966, they had the opportunity to open a White Rose gas station. That career was cut short two years later when the couple were in a car accident which left Don with a bad back and unable to lift. He sold insurance for a couple more years and in 1971 they purchased Sobering Auto from his father.
In 1974, Don and Joyce moved Sobering Auto Elec-
tric to its current location on Dugald Road. “We needed to expand,” Joyce relates. “This new industrial park was opening and property was available. The new location was accessible to our large customer base. I crunched the numbers to determine that we could pay for the property.”
She adds that she and Don put up a building which let room for expansion just by knocking out a couple of walls.
In their new building, they had room to offer a larger selection of products and open a body shop. “We brought in Winnipeg’s first dynamometer which simulates road conditions,” Don notes.
Sobering Auto Electric was also a licensed and bonded used car dealer.
Don and Joyce have spent a lifetime together celebrating both their family and business achievements. They are the parents of five children, 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren All of their children did work in the family business for a time – and Cal and Chickie still are involved in the auto industry as well as several of their grandchildren.
Last year their oldest son Jon retired when he sold Sobering Auto Electric to another local family.
“We are both in our 80s,” Joyce says. “It was time. And we are happy with the new owners.”
“We always strived to serve our customers with honesty, integrity and quality,” Don says. “I believe that we succeeded.”
Myron Love
Don and Joyce Sobering.
Continued from page 1 u
A salute to Frank Skinner and a tale of lovely trees that lead us to the International Peace Garden
two Northern Catalpas, a Silk Lilac tree, one Black Walnut, three Manchurian Ash trees, one Columnar Mountain Ash tree, one Kentucky Coffee tree and many cedars, spruce and junipers.
Just after high school, I travelled with one of our neighbours who was transporting cattle from Manitoba to Southern Ontario. In the early October morning after travelling 24 hours through northern Ontario, we arrived in Parry Sound where the outstanding display of autumn colours was in its full glory of bright red, yellows, orange and green leaves. It was amazing especially reflected on the still water of small lakes. I have always wanted to create a yard with the same colour and after many years I believe I have achieved that goal. My son and I took a father/son trip in the third week in October of last year to travel New England states and the colours there compared to our yard in September with the many maple, oak and ash trees turning vibrant colours of red, yellow, orange and green.
When I first took my evening landscaping classes at Assiniboine College in Brandon, I was encouraged by the instructor to look at magazines and books to get ideas for producing your first landscape plan and design. One of the books I purchased was Growing Shrubs and Small Trees in a Cold Climate. It explained that the current selection of trees and shrubs in colder climates can be credited to the contributions of Dr. Frank Leith Skinner.
I knew Dr. Frank Skinner was from my home community of Dropmore, Manitoba, but when I read more about him, I was amazed at what he had contributed to horticulture around the world.
Dr. Frank Leith Skinner was one of Canada’s most innovative horticulturist and plant propagators. He resided in Dropmore, where his farm served as the natural laboratory for breeding new strains of plants capable of surviving the harsh prairie climate. Although he was isolated from other breeders, Dr. Skinner’s rugged independence, persistent efforts and patience made him a leading authority on plant hardiness. Frank Skinner’s love of plants was a hobby when the first World War ended. It became his lifelong quest to develop hardy plant material that could survive the prairie winters in what is now known as climatic Zones 2 and 3.
In 1925, with encouragement from his colleagues, Skinner expanded his mixed farming operation to include a commercial nursery. The nursery business became his primary focus until his death in 1967. He passed away on August 27, 1967, the same year I was born on March 30, 1967.
Dr. Skinner’s major accomplishments were in hybridization; he introduced over 248 species of plants to the prairies, 144 of which were improved varieties. He was particularly successful with trees, producing a number of rapid growing and diseaseresistant hybrids of poplars, elms, and ornamental fruit trees, as well as early blooming lilacs and lilies.
Throughout his career he managed to balance scientific research with the demands of the small nursery that provided his income. For many years he wrote for the Winnipeg Free Press. Some of Dr. Skinner’s tributes include: Member of the British Empire (1943), an honorary doctorate from the University of Manitoba (1947), and the Manitoba Horticultural Association’s Stevenson Memorial Medal. He was also given a Manitoba Golden Boy Award (1964) and was inducted into the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt (1967).
I was honoured to be appointed to the International Peace Garden in 2018 by Premier Pallister to represent the Manitoba Government on the board and work with North Dakota to invest in the Garden to move it from Manitoba’s best kept secret to an international destination.
The Premier and the Governor of North Dakota, Doug Burgum, both grew up in the rural areas and shared a vision to make the International Peace Garden a world class tourist destination to attract people from around the world to celebrate peace between two nations.
In the last five years, together Manitoba and North Dakota have invested over $20 million to revitalize many attractions in the garden. We have now added a new greenhouse to the existing conservatory to house the largest cactus and succulents collection in the world, added new cabins for summer workers which are available for rent to tourists for the rest of the year, renovated the Willis Pavilion (a great facility for weddings), and added a na-
ture theme kids’ playground.
We are hoping to receive commitment from the current new Manitoba government and North Dakota to renovate the Heritage Lodge so we will have an additional facility to host wedding receptions and other events. Once these three major facilities are revitalized, IPG could easily host three-day conferences. The Willis Pavilion could host opening receptions. The Heritage Lodge could accommodate a casual theme dinner, and the Conservatory could host a formal dinner.
The Willis Pavilion, overlooking beautiful Lake Stormon, is just in the final renovation stages, with approximately $2,000,000 invested to attract many formal functions, including weddings. We are now ready to continue the update with a dock on the water and a major landscape project around the newly renovated facility. Since the Willis Pavilion is the only building on the Canadian side, it would be a great opportunity to dedicate the landscape project to Dr. Frank Skinner who developed so many varieties of plants. It would be fun to design a landscape plan using many of the trees, shrubs, and plants that Dr. Frank Skinner introduced to the world.
I would also like to see a plaque dedicated to this famous Manitoban who developed plants and trees to enjoy in northern climates everywhere. I have contacted the Skinner family, and I would like to establish a fundraising opportunity to make this happen. This newly landscaped garden around the Willis Pavillion could be a great place to take wedding pictures and for guests to enjoy while in the facility for an evening event.
Editor’s note: Interested donors can contact Doyle through his constituency office at info@doylepowniuk. ca. Doyle Piwniuk is the MLA for Turtle Mountain.
Whirlaway your troubles with some good old fashioned square dancing
Whirlaway Westerners’ is a Modern Square Dance Club
We are excited to celebrate 70 years of fun and friendship in St. James this year. In October, we are planning a gala event to commemorate the many volunteers and dancers that have come before us to make this club an amazing place to go on a Friday evening!
Square dancing is everything
we need to live happy, healthy, balanced lives. Psychologists have proven that square dancing helps you live longer! In one evening, you can dance at least 8,000 steps in a happy, healthy environment with other dancers who welcome new dancers into a friendly, supportive community.
Do join us for our Open house
on Friday, September 19, 2025. 7:00 to 9:30 pm at KirkfieldWestwood Community Club, 165 Sansome Ave. Singles, couples and new dancers are welcome. Dancing continues every Friday evening; Join in the fun! Keep fit! Live lively! Find great, new friends! Dress is Casual. For more info call Carole at 204-8318954.
Doyle Piwniuk News from Turtle Mountain
Dropmore Scarlet' honeysuckle, now a standard worldwide.
Skinner's 'Dropmore Hybrid'. 'Isabella Skinner' rose.
Dr. Frank Skinner.
Summer music and important lessons for starter grandparents
Manitobans know how to enjoy the more mellow summer joys of the month of August. Some of the initial summer zeal for frantic levels of outdoor activities – barbeques, water-based adventures, avid gardening, and family gatherings and weddings – has died down, and the serious relaxation of summer can begin. I think of it as the month for good books and enjoying the garden or lake without feeling compelled to work in the garden or conquer the lake. The month of August augments its attraction with the lovely pleasures of fresh tomatoes and local corn and potatoes. What could make that even better?
For me, a highlight of the second half of August is the opportunity to enjoy wonderful music in a lovely setting with a series of three concerts presented by the Roasamunde Summer Music Academy. This summer educational program for string players of all ages also brings together a stellar cast of instructors. The three Festival concerts on August 17, 19, and 21 feature locally beloved musicians like Gwen Hoebig, Yuri Hooker, Karl Stobbe, Elise Lavallee, Elation Pauls, Leeanne Sacharias, and Paul Williamson and augments these forces with the guest instructors.
set in the acoustically and visually pleasing Laudamus Auditorium at CMU at 500 Shaftsbury. The setting is lovely, the parking is plentiful and free, and the music is always engaging and enjoyable.
Trudy Schroeder Random Notes
This year the guest instructors include cellist ArneChristian Pelz, violinist Erika Raum, and composer David Braid. The three evenings of chamber music are
Somehow the sounds and more intimate concert setting provide a very enjoyable musical exploration at a time when there are not classical music performance choices every night of the week. I started attending these concerts a decade ago, and they have become a musical highlight for me each year. More information and a three-concert festival pass for $75 can be found at Rosamunde.ca. I will hope to see you there.
The summer is also a wonderful time for gathering family members to enjoy time together. For me, this includes spending time with my first grandchild. As always, one enters new stages of life wishing that there had been some kind of better and timely information available in a timely manner to prepare for this stage of life. Here are the three things about being a grandparent I wish someone had told me about when I was forty.
1. Save all the toys, books, and equipment from your children’s lives. I know they take up storage space and you are not planning to add more children to your family. However, grandchildren come along in due time, and you will wish you had kept that change table, stroller, crib, car seat, highchair, baby bath, potty, baby books, and toys of all sorts. It is ridiculous that we pur-
chase all these things when we have children and then cannot wait to get them out of the house when our children no longer have need of them, but it is definitely more painful to purchase all these things for the second time.
2. Take the time to spend with your grandchildren in play and activities that they love at stages that they appreciate. It really is all about the small moments when you can explore the world with a little person and take joy in repetition and learning and making messes.
3. While gifts are wonderful, somehow the most delightful thing for toddlers and cats are the boxes. Forget the gift, just give a child a pile of boxes of all sizes and practice opening them and closing them, putting things in the boxes and then taking them out. The biggest hit in my gift of boxes was a very small box I had purchased years earlier that contained a woman’s 19-piece emergency care kit. Well, I have now spent hours opening and closing the emergency care box and taking out all the 19 emergency care items and then carefully putting them all back in the box. My biggest takeaway from this emergency kit exercise is that apparently the biggest emergency that they think can befall a woman is a broken fingernail. Most of the items seem to be related to nail care, nail polish, nail files, nail polish remover, nail cream and nail strengthener.
I will continue to live a life that makes nail emergencies the least significant possible emergency possible. Enjoy these last 30 days of our precious summer.
Trudy Schroeder provides project planning and management services to the community through Arts and Heritage Solutions.
Language, culture and cuisine come together with Université de Saint-Boniface’s “A Taste of French”
Autumn is a season for gathering around tables, around ideas, and around new experiences. As the leaves turn and routines settle, it’s also the perfect time to explore something enriching and a little out of the ordinary. This fall, Université de Saint-Boniface (USB), Western Canada’s only Frenchlanguage university, is serving up a course that blends culture, community and cuisine in the most flavourful way.
A Taste of French is a beginnerfriendly language course offered through USB’s Continuing Education Division, which serves over 2,000 language learners annually through popular programs like Conversational French and Spanish. But this course adds a unique ingredient to the mix: food.
From October 20 to November 5, 2025, participants will dive into the basics of French through 18 hours of inperson learning. Held twice weekly over
three weeks, each three-hour class combines practical language instruction with culinary experiences designed to engage the senses and build confidence in conversation.
Tailored for true beginners or those with very limited French skills, A Taste of French requires no previous experience – just an open mind and an appetite for learning!
On the Menu
• Polite expressions like s’il vous plait, merci and de rien
• Vocabulary related to ingredients, meals and dining
• How to discuss and prepare a simple French recipe
• Ways to describe food preferences or dietary restrictions
• How to order in a restaurant with clarity and confidence
What truly sets this course apart is its interactive and communicative approach. Each week, participants will roll up their sleeves and bring their new language skills to life through hands-on food-based activities:
• Week 1: Make and share a snack while practising greetings and food vocabulary.
• Week 2: Prepare a simple recipe –a great way to learn cooking terms and practise speaking in a casual setting.
• Week 3: Visit a local restaurant, order your meal in French, and enjoy a full cultural experience.
"Last year’s session was an immense success," says Katia Moreau, Program Coordinator. "Participants were thrilled to make soupe à l’ognon and to converse in French. This year, we’re turning up the flavour with ratatouille – a vibrant French classic that’s as enjoyable to make as it is to eat!"
Course fees are $298, which include all course materials and food-related expenses. Whether you’re preparing for travel, exploring a new hobby, or want to connect with local French culture, A Taste of French offers a fun and relaxed way to do it.
Registration closes October 14, 2025, and spots are limited – so be sure to reserve your place at the table.
To learn more and register, visit: ustboniface.ca/taste-of-french
This fall, treat yourself to an experience that nourishes both mind and palate. Bon appétit et à bientôt!
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We know what you're thinking. “Facebook? Isn’t that where people post pictures of their lunch and argue with strangers?” Well, yes… but also no.
Lifestyles 55 is on Facebook, and we promise: no photos of avocado toast. It is a lively little corner of the internet where Manitobans 55 and better can catch up, reminisce, and maybe even learn a thing or two.
The Avenue, part 2
Continued from page 1
was closed in 2023 after 120 years in business. A lot of people still cherish the somewhat famous Birks blue box from which they might have received a very special gift.
The Somerset Building was the location of the “five and dime”. That’s how most folks referred to Woolworths. The merchandise was very affordable but it was likely the lunch counter that was most fondly remembered. My favourite was the lunch counter at Kresge’s. That’s where my mother would take me for a chicken salad sandwich and a glass of milk if I was a “good little boy.”
It is impossible to write anything about Eaton’s department store without writing a book about it, which Russ Gourluck did in 2006. I’ll mention him again later. My favourite memory of the building at 320 Portage Avenue is the display windows at Christmastime. To me, at that time, there was only one Santa Claus and he was at Eaton’s. I rarely got anything I wished for but then again, I came from a time and place where
We share stories from the magazine, of course, but also other things that don’t make it to print. We’ll include events going on, tidbits of information, mention things like the Indigenous-inspired space at Ikea in Winnipeg, and ask questions like “What’s your favourite place to go for a walk in Manitoba?”
And here’s the fun part: we want to hear from you. Whether it’s your opinion on the latest column, a memory sparked
you knew not to wish for very much.
Two of the more exclusive clothing stores on the south side were D’Allards, Hollinsworth’s and Holt Renfrew. The list of all the shoe stores, movie theatres, restaurants and specialty shops is long and the memories of them are slowly fading as is our aging demographic.
The last big building on the south side of the Avenue is The Hudson’s Bay Company or The Bay. It was perhaps a little more high-end than Eaton’s but with a clientele just as loyal. Rumour had it that if you were an Eaton’s employee and were seen shopping at The Bay, you would be at risk of being asked to leave the country. The Paddlewheel on the sixth floor was a cafeteria-style eatery where Winnipeggers of all ages would grab a quick lunch. Kids would ask their parent for a penny to make a wish and then throw it into the water under the rolling paddlewheel. If you were like me, a young guy with not a lot of disposable income, you’d take the escalator to the basement where just at the bottom on the right-hand side was the Malt Shop
by a photo, or your personal method for keeping squirrels off the bird feeder, we’re all ears. Or eyes, technically. It’s Facebook. So if you’re on Facebook already, or if you’ve been meaning to log back in since your niece set it up for you in 2018, now’s the time.
Search for Lifestyles 55 or visit: facebook.com/Lifestyles55 We’ll be there. No avocado toast, we promise.
where you could get a malt and a hot dog for not much more than a quarter.
Walking along Portage Avenue any weekday, but especially Saturday was cheek by jowl.
Where else could you get your shoes shined, your hat blocked or have your future told? But then things changed. Urban sprawl created shiny new shopping malls which for many downtown businesses was the death knell from the 1960s to the 1990s. Hopefully, after the redevelopment of Portage Place and transforming Graham Avenue from Garry Street to Vaughn into a pedestrian-friendly urban playground new life might return. It’s still unclear what effect these projects will have on the businesses there but time will tell. What was once an avenue of vivacity just may turn into a boulevard of broken dreams.
If you missed my first installment of The Avenue you can still read it by simply logging onto the April edition at Lifestyles55.net. Even better, if you ever come across Going Downtown – A History of Winnipeg’s Portage Avenue or A Store Like No Other – Eaton’s of Winnipeg by Russ Gourluck, buy it and treasure it as I do.
Take a trip down Jim’s free musical memory lane podcasts online at Lifestyles55radio.ca
Burn more cow dung and trees, not Canadian oil...
Why build a modern pipeline when we’ve got all this dung and wood lying around? It’s free. It’s natural. It’s plentiful. It might smell awful, choke your lungs with soot, and make your home resemble a 19th-century smokehouse, but at least it’s not Canadian oil, right? Estimates suggest that over one billion of the world’s poorest who burn dung and wood for their daily energy needs are forced to agree.
So, let’s take a moment to applaud the real MVPs of the environmental movement: cow patties, deadwood, and smokebelching campfires in poorly ventilated huts. Who needs a clean-burning LNG stove when you can crouch over a pile of burning manure in a dark corner of your home? According to this bizarre logic, so long as your energy source is primitive and inefficient, it’s “green.”
Never mind that open-fire dung stoves emit staggering levels of particulates and black carbon. Never mind the 6.7 million premature deaths each year caused by indoor air pollution. At least there’s no Canadian pipeline involved, and I am specifically stating no Canadian pipeline, because we all know millions of kilometers of oil and gas pipelines have been built around the world over the past ten years while Canada just can’t seem to build much of anything. And trees? Don’t even get us started on trees. What are forests for if not to be chopped down and shoved into stoves like firewood ATMs for the carbon-neutral elite?
Sarcasm aside, this is the tragic reality opposite cleaner energy delivered via Canadian pipelines. Here in the rational world, a clean, modern solution sits
right under our nose. A pipeline connecting Canada’s responsibly produced oil and gas to the global market through Manitoba would provide cleaner-burning alternatives to billions of people faster, safer, and with a smaller environmental footprint than the smokestacks of open dung fires.
Let’s get serious: the world needs energy. And in a world increasingly hungry for secure and sustainable supply, a northern pipeline through Manitoba isn’t just smart, it’s necessary. It opens up a new Atlantic trade route, bypasses congested southern export corridors, and slashes shipping distances to Europe by over 1,300 nautical miles compared to U.S. Gulf ports. Each voyage cuts hundreds of tonnes of fuel consumption and emissions. It’s good economics and good climate sense.
Right now, Canadian producers are leaving money on the table, billions annually, thanks to transportation bottlenecks and a reliance on one customer to the south. A Northern Manitoba route changes that, shrinking the Western Canadian Select discount and channeling those billions back into Canadian hands. That money means jobs, investment, and a higher standard of living here at home. It would finally mean Canadian producers are no longer forced to rely on a single foreign customer that’s happy to pay below-market prices.
Manitoba, in particular, stands to gain massively. Construction of the pipeline would create tens of thousands of jobs. Ongoing operations would revitalize Northern Manitoba, Canadian Arctic sovereignty, support permanent employment, and inject hundreds of millions into the provincial economy each
year. This means more tax revenue, better public services, and stronger communities across the province.
Technologically, we’re not stuck in the past either. Alberta is already exploring the use of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to provide low-emissions steam for oil extraction and cutting upstream carbon by over 60 percent. So, not only is the end product cleaner to burn, it’s cleaner to produce. Pair that with the efficiency of a Manitoba based, midcontinental, deep sea shipping route that’s closer to Europe than Texas, and Manitoba becomes a global supplier of some of the cleanest fossil fuels on Earth, not to mention all the other goods that could be shipped between the continents.
Still in denial about Canadian oil? Then, let’s address the feel-good fantasy of sending billions of dollars to developing countries to build solar and wind farms instead. Sounds noble, right? Except it’s been tried and repeatedly shown to be inefficient, very expensive, and unreliable. Grid-scale solar and wind require vast land use, battery storage that’s still not economically or environmentally viable, and a functioning local grid that many developing nations simply don’t have. Without reliable baseload power, intermittent renewables often sit idle when they’re needed most. Until fusion power becomes something more than a taxpayer-funded science fair project, or global nuclear expansion grows some backbone, fossil fuels remain the only scalable, immediate, and affordable solution.
So, Canada could spend billions of dollars helping subsidize solar panels in places with no grid, or it could build a pipeline that would deliver affordable, reliable energy today. One approach produces press releases. The other produces power for hospitals, technology, and economic infrastructure that would massively increase the standards of liv-
ing for the poorest in the world. And let’s not kid ourselves about global energy realities, energy demand is increasing on a global basis. If Canadian oil and gas don’t make it to market, that gap will be filled by regimes with little regard for human rights, environmental protection, or stability. Opposing Canadian infrastructure on ideological grounds doesn’t reduce global fossil fuel use, it just shifts production to places with lower standards.
So, if your vision of a cleaner planet involves burning cow dung in a hut while Canadian oil stays trapped in the ground, I’ve got a compost-powered rocket to the looney-bin with your name on it. Just be sure to pack your bullshit, pardon me, cow dung along, you know, for energy.
This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about common sense. If you believe the path to a cleaner, safer world lies in denying modern energy to those who need it most while clinging to fairy-tale alternatives, I would kindly ask you to open your mind to considering how Canadian energy can replace the burning of billions of tons of highly pollutive dung and wood, and also vastly improve the lives of billions around the world – especially those of us in Manitoba.
Romel Dhalla, is President of Dhalla Advisory Corp., provides strategic corporate finance advice to companies and high net worth individuals and was a portfolio manager and investment advisor with two major Canadian banks for 17 years. Contact him at romel@dacorp.ca. Any views or opinions represented in this article are personal and belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that the owner may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.
Jim Ingebrigtsen
Romel Dhalla On The Money
We cannot deal with our finances online alone
Bank branches are a vital part of life for most Canadians. The branch gives us a chance to monitor the proper direct deposit of our pay cheques and ensure that our bills are being paid. Bank advisors help us finalize $400,000 mortgages, and $50,000 car loans. If we need financial advice, we can arrange an in-person meeting with a financial advisor. In recent years, Canadians have become more exposed to scams over our phones and in our emails. As the number of scams continue to increase, a growing number of people of all ages will want immediate advice about dealing with scams from their bankers. The Canadian Banking System is dominated by the Royal Bank, TD, CIBC, the Bank of Montreal, and the Bank of Nova Scotia. In recent decades, the Big 5 have permanently closed dozens of bank branches. Let us examine some of the closures (1995-2025) in various Winnipeg neighbourhoods.
North End: Inkster, McPhillips, CPR Tracks + Red River
In 1997, Judy Wasylycia Leis was elected as the MP for Winnipeg North Center. Between 1995 and 2001, eight North End Banks closed in this area. Judy fought hard at a series of meetings. Judy's office put out brochure entitled RIP Bank Closures in Winnipeg North Center. Unfortunately, only two Bank of Montreal branches at 1083 McPhillips and 1468 Main Street remain in this part of Winnipeg.
in a new Super Center Bank at Ellice and Empress. The new Super Center Bank was at a congested corner that was at the time subject to a City of Winnipeg Traffic study. The West End lost a bank at 1020 Notre Dame. The closing of the CIBC at 1797 Logan left the Brooklands Weston Neighbourhood without a bank for the first time in almost a century. The third bank was located at 2025 Corydon. This closure and the more recent move of the TD Bank at 2030 Corydon to the Polo Park Shopping Center parking lot has left Tuxedo with only one bank. The fourth bank was CIBC in the Polo Park Shopping Mall. Pat Martin, the Winnipeg Center MP, criticized these moves at a meeting at the Polo Park Canad Inns. HSC area one bank left
The disappearing banks make absolutely no sense for the area around the Grace Hospital. The Courts of St. James has about 800 suites. The Grace Hospital employs over 2,000 people. Also, there are patients and visitors. There used to be a Bank of Montreal branch inside the Courts and another CIBC Branch at 2741 Portage, a now demolished building on a lot of the Courts of St. James.
A centennial celebration?
The middle of the west end along Portage between Furby and Strathcona (the Wolseley area, and south of Wellington)
In 2002, I became concerned when the sign at the 885 Portage Royal Bank disappeared. I contacted City Councillor Harvey Smith. The Bank reassured Harvey that they were only changing signs. In 2021, this Royal Bank at 885 Portage did close after over 90 years. This area has now become a bank branch dessert with no branches. The list of disappeared banks in this area includes five on Portage, two on Ellice, and one on Sargent, and another at 98 Sherbrook Street in Wolseley. The four for one trade
In 2004, CIBC decided to amalgamate four branches
On July 10, 2025 (perhaps a day early) the Royal Bank at 558 Sargent permanently closed. MP Leah Gazan led the campaign against this closure. HSC employees over 8,000 people. Many people from outside Winnipeg come to the HSC for surgeries and other medical services. Many of these people need in person convenient bank services. In 1965, HSC area was well served by banks. A Bank of Montreal branch was right inside the hospital at 700 William. Several banks were right across the street at 655 William, 648 Notre Dame, 810 Notre Dame, and 909 Notre Dame and 978 Notre Dame. The TD Bank at 648 Notre Dame is the only bank still operating. Will the HSC neighbourhood become the next Winnipeg banking dessert?
St. James: Madison, Notre Dame, Sturgeon Road + the Assiniboine River
Earlier this year the Bank of Montreal at 1596 Ness permanently closed. A notice to customers said, “We're moving to a new location”. The location as pinpointed on a map in the same brochure is 2025 Corydon. The (new?) Bank of Montreal located at 2025 Corydon has been in business for over 60 years at 2025 Corydon. There are no longer any bank branches in the old City of St. James (1921-66 Boundaries). A total of 13 bank branches has disappeared (eight on Portage, one on Madison Street, one on Berry Street, one on Dublin and two on Ellice).
In 1925, the Royal and Union Banks amalgamated. On July 16, 1925, the Winnipeg Free Press reported that Royal Bank Executive, C. E. Neill, was returning east after working on the amalgamation. Royal Bank now controlled the building of 504 Main Street just south of the gingerbread City Hall. For a century, the Royal Bank was located next to Winnipeg City Hall. In recent years, the Royal Bank had a branch at 540 Main just north of the current City Hall. The Royal Bank at 540 Main closed on July 17, 2025. What a way to celebrate a Centennial!
What should happen
1. A March 17, 2021, self-financial study predicts the elimination of all bank branches by 2034. This prediction is readily available on the internet. The banks should address this prediction and present a long-term plan for the continuation of bank branches.
2. Banks should publish statistics about the number of customers who use bank branch ATM's when the branch is actually open.
3. The politicians in this story are all associated with the NDP. The time has come for other political parties to get involved with this issue.
Concerned citizens should approach their local MP. The MP should ensure that the concerns are passed on to the Federal Finance Minister and all Federal Agencies that are involved with this issue.
Banks are profitable. In a digital magazine, Money Sense, published by the Canadian Press on December 6, 2024 details the 2024 bank profits. All the figures are in the Billions. There is no need for any bank branch closures.
My next story
I will be continuing my Bomber Road Trip in Toronto. The Argos have refused to sell me a ticket for the July 26 game. More details coming in my September Story.
What’s new with the Sri Lankan Seniors?
Living well with your joints: decoding arthritis
Dr. Prasanga Ketawala conducted a presentation on “Living well with your joints: Decoding Arthritis” at The Junction Medical Centre, 257, Osborne St., on June 20, 2025, from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm. Sri Lankan Seniors Manitoba was funded by the Arthritis Society Canada.
Before starting the presentation, Prasanga’s colleague Edward Osagie conducted a corporate briefing about the Medical Centre. Shyama introduced Prasanga to the participants. For the benefit of the attendees, Prasanga spoke in both in English and Sinhala. This approach was very helpful during the Q & A session and attendees raised their queries very freely. Prasanga agreed to share the presentation link and the recorded version of his discussion with SLSM.
to commemorate Father’s Day which was conducted just after the light meal for lunch. Organizing committee planned to share a token for each father.
David Pankratz: fundraising event
David Pankratz, MLA, hosted a fundraising event with a special guest Premier Hon. Wab Kinew. This was held on June 19, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at 73 Prairie Sky Dr., which was generously sponsored by Meetu Sidhu. The backyard of the above location was filled with invitees who were treated to a well laid outdoor dinner table. Catering was done by Holy Spice. I participated with Suranga, my son-in-law.
SLSM members are thankful for Prasanga’s two unexpected contributions, namely $2,500, for the benefit for the organization and a gift pack for each attendee. Prasanga’s loving daughter Neth delivered the gift parcels. Just after the presentation, Prasanga spoke with all participants as a courtesy. SLSM must be thankful for Junction Medical Centre for providing their spacious top floor as SLSM was unable to allocate a hall on this date for the above presentation.
Cake cutting ceremony was arranged
On a later date I met with constituency assistants, Mehr Un Nisa and Shamailah Islam. Both told me the fundraising event was completed successfully with long-term results.
In July 2019, Chandani and I went to Churchill by train. Based on our visit, I formulated a development proposal for the Port of Churchill. I discussed this proposal with David at the above event as Prime Minister Hon. Mark Carney met provincial and territorial premiers on March 21, 2025, in Ottawa to share his plan to build one strong Canadian economy. The Hudson Bay Railway and at the Port of Churchill was one of his priorities for Manitoba. Therefore, I promised to share my above proposal with David. Further,
Hon. Wab Kinew in his speech on the above fundraising event Premier stressed the importance of Churchill harbour development.
Member Premadasa leaving Manitoba
The loving Father of Sudesh, Mr. Premadasa, was an active member of Sri Lankan Seniors Manitoba. As his son Sudesh is leaving Winnipeg, SLSM will miss an active member.
Surani and Sudesh will be leaving for British Columbia (B.C.) to better their prospects. We were invited on Sunday, July 6, 2025, to wish them the best in their new life away from Winnipeg. At that time, we met Vidura and Sirini with their son, Dinesh, and Nadeesha with two kids.
Surani and Sudesh came to Winnipeg few years ago. Chandani invited both of them to our home for a meal. During that time, we learned that Surani came here to continue her post graduate studies at the University of Manitoba.
Having achieved her expectation within the stipulated period she was offered a job opportunity in the Province of B.C. based on her qualifications. Although neither is qualified in plant science their indoor creeper plant is well maintained
Another active member leaves the province Chandani (same name as my wife), an active member of SLSM have moved from Winnipeg due to her loving daughter Randima, who obtained a job opportunity in the Province of Ontario for her newly offered appointment.
All of them visited us on June 17th (TUS) 2025.
Chandani was a carrier as a banker in Sri Lanka. She came to spend her retirement life with her only child daughter Randima and her family.
Fred Morris From the desk of a gadfly
Senaka Samarasinghe
Arthritis presentation.
David Pankratz fundraising event.
Creative Retirement Manitoba Inc.
204-481-5030, hello@crcentre.ca www.crcentre.ca
WINNIPEG
20 Fort Street Seniors Club
2200-20 Fort Street / FortStSeniors@Shaw.ca
Manitoba Association of Senior Communities
Pembina Active Living (55+)
170 Fleetwood Rd. / 204-946-0839
office@pal55plus.ca / www.pal55plus.ca
Rady Jewish Community Centre 123 Doncaster Street / 204-477-7539 lmarjovsky@radyjcc.com / www.radyjcc.com
GET CONNECTED - JOIN A CENTRE!
Stay Active - Stay Connected
www.manitobaseniorcommunities.ca
ERICKSON
Comfort Drop In Centre 31 Main Street 204-636-2047 / areas@mymts.net
FLIN FLON
Flin Flon Seniors 2 North Avenue / 204-687-7308
A&O Support Services for Older Adults Inc.
200 -207 Donald Street 204-956-6440 / Toll Free: 1-888-333-3121 info@aosupportservices.ca www.aosupportservices.ca
Archwood 55 Plus 565 Guilbault Avenue / 204-416-1067 archwood55@shaw.ca archwood55plus.wildapricot.org/ Bleak House Centre 1637 Main Street / 204-338-4723 bleakhousecentre@gmail.com www.bleakhousecentre.com
Brooklands Active Living Centre 1960 William Avenue W 204-632-8367 / bpscc@mymts.net
Centro Caboto Centre 1055 Wilkes Avenue / 204-487-4597 ext. 1 executivedirector@cabotocentre.com www.cabotocentre.com
Charleswood Active Living Centre
A 357 Oakdale Drive / 204-897-5263 info@charleswoodseniorcentre.org www.charleswoodseniorcentre.org
Crescent Fort Rouge 55 Plus 525 Wardlaw Ave. / 204-299-9919 cfruc55Plus@gmail.com www.crescentfortrouge.ca
Dakota Community Centre 1188 Dakota Street / 204-254-1010 ext. 217 seniorresources@dakotacc.com www.dakotacc.com
Dufferin Senior Citizens Inc.
377 Dufferin Avenue / 204-986-2608
Elmwood East Kildonan Active Living Centre 180 Poplar Avenue / 204-669-0750 healthrelations@chalmersrenewal.org chalmersrenewal.org
Fort Garry Seniors Resource Council 200 - 270 Donald Street / 204-792-1913 fortgarry@aosupportservices.ca www.aosupportservices.ca/resources/seniorsresource-finders
Garden City Community Centre Seniors 55+ 725 Kingsbury Avenue / 204-940-6111 facilities@gardencitycc.com www.gardencitycc.com/seniors
Golden Rule Seniors Resource Centre 625 Osborne Street / 204-306-1114 goldenrule@swsrc.ca facebook.com/goldenruleseniors
Good Neighbours Active Living Centre 720 Henderson Hwy / 204-669-1710 admin@gnalc.ca / www.gnalc.ca
Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre 1588 Main Street / 204-339-1701 becky@gwensecter.com / www.gwensecter.com
Headingley Seniors’ Services 5353 Portage Avenue / 204-889-3132 ext. 3 seniors@rmofheadingley.ca www.headingleyseniorsservices.ca
Indigenous Senior Resource Centre Inc. A1- 100 Robinson Avenue / 204-586-4595 executivedirector@isrcwpg.ca www.asrcwpg.ca
Manitoba Korean 55+ Centre 900-150 River Avenue 204-996-7003 / www.ksam.ca
North Centennial Seniors Association of Winnipeg Inc. 86 Sinclair Street / 204-582-0066 ncsc@shaw.ca / www.ncseniors.ca
North Point Douglas Seniors Centre 244 Jarvis Avenue
Rainbow Resource Centre 545 Broadway / 204-474-0212 ext 255 OTR@rainbowresourcecentre.org www.rainbowresourcecentre.org
The Salvation Army Barbara Mitchell Family Resource Centre 51 Morrow Avenue / 204-946-9153 sheila.keys@salvationarmy.ca
South Winnipeg Seniors Resource Council 117-1 Morley Ave / 204-478-6169 resources@swsrc.ca / www.swsrc.ca
Southdale Seniors 254 Lakewood Boulevard / 204-257-6171 gm@southdale.ca / www.southdale.ca
Sri Lankan Seniors Manitoba 113 Stan Bailie Drive 204-261-9647 / www.srilankanseniorsmb.ca
St. James-Assiniboia 55+ Centre 3-203 Duffield Street 204-987-8850 / info@stjamescentre.com www.stjamescentre.com
Transcona Council for Seniors 845 Regent Ave / 204-222-9879 tcs@mymts.net / www.transconaseniors.ca
Transcona Retired Citizens Org. 328 Whittier Ave. West 204-222-8473 / trco328@shaw.ca
Vital Seniors - 3 St Vital Road 204-253-0555 / stmary@mymts.net www.stmarymagdelenewpg.org
Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association 204-291-7798 / wcsa.wpg@hotmail.com www.winnipegchineseseniors.ca
Y.A.H. Seniors Club
Windsor Community Centre, 99 Springside Dr. 204-233-0648 / yah@windsorcc.ca
BEYOND WINNIPEG
BEAUSEJOUR
Beau-Head Senior Centre 645 Park Avenue 204-268-2444 / beauhead@mymts.net
BINSCARTH / RUSSELL
Senior Services of Banner County 204-532-2391 seniorservicesofbannercounty@gmail.com
BOISSEVAIN
Seniors’ Services of the Turtle Mountain Area seniorservicetm@gmail.com / 204-534-6816
BRANDON
Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. 311 Park Avenue E / 204-571-2050 reception@brandons4s.ca www.brandons4s.ca
Health Checks - 204-728-1842 brandonmbhealthchecks.ca healthchecksbrandon@gmail.com
CARMAN
Carman Active Living Centre 47 Ed Belfour Drive / 204-745-2356 www.activelivingcentrecarman.ca
CRANBERRY PORTAGE
Jubilee Recreation of Cranberry Portage Legion Hall 217 2nd Ave. SE / 204-271-3081
CRYSTAL CITY
Crystal City & District Friendship Club Inc. 117 Broadway St. / 431-867-0122 crystalcityfriendship@gmail.com
DAUPHIN
Dauphin Active Living Centre Inc. 55 1st Avenue SE / 204-638-6485 www.dauphinseniors.com
DELORAINE
Deloraine Community Club Inc. 111 South Railway Ave E / 204-747-2846
Seniors’ Outreach Services of BrenWin Inc. 204-747-3283 / sosbrenwin@gmail.com sosbrenwin.com
GILBERT PLAINS
Gilbert Plains and District Community Resource Council Inc. / 204-548 4131 gpdcrc@mymts.net / gpseniors.ca
Gilbert Plains Drop In Centre 22 Main Street North / 204-548-2210
GIMLI
Gimli New Horizons 55+ Centre 17 North Colonization Road 204-642-7909 / gimli55@mts.net www.gimlinewhorizons.com
GLADSTONE
Gladstone Seniors Inc. 32 Morris Ave. North / 204-385-2205
GRAND MARAIS
Grand Marais & District Seniors 36058 PTH 12 / gmdseniors@gmail.com www.gmdseniors.ca
GRANDVIEW
Grandview Seniors Drop In 432 Main Street / 204-546-2272
HAMIOTA
Hamiota 55+ Centre & Restore Community Co-op Inc. 44 Maple Avenue / 204-764-2658
KILLARNEY
Killarney New Horizons Centre 520 Mountain Avenue www.killarneymbseniors.ca
Killarney Service for Seniors 415 Broadway / 204-523-7115 seniorservice@killarney.ca
LA BROQUERIE and STE. ANNE Seine River Services for Seniors Inc./ Services Rivière Seine pour aînés Inc. 93 Principale Street / 204-424-5285 src@seineriverservicesforseniors.ca seineriverservicesforseniors.ca
LUNDAR
Lundar Community Resources 35 Main Street / 204-762-5378 lcrc@mymts.net
MANITOU
Pembina Community Resource Council 315 Main Street 204-242-2241 / pembinacrc@gmail.com
MINNEDOSA
Minnedosa Senior Citizens Assoc. 31 Main Street S 204-867-1956 / mdsasca@gmail.com
MORDEN
Morden Activity Centre 306 N Railway Street / 204-822-3555 mordenactivitycentre@gmail.com www.mordenseniors.ca
NEEPAWA Neepawa Drop In Centre 310 Davidson Street / 204-476-5103 Neepawa-dropin@outlook.com www.neepawa.ca/district-drop-in-center
NOTRE DAME DE LOURDES Club D’age Dor Notre Dame ndslchezsoi@gmail.com / 204-248-7291
PILOT MOUND
Pilot Mound Fellowship Centre 203 Broadway Avenue / 204-825-2873
PLUMAS
Plumas Seniors Citizens Club Inc. 102 White Street / 204-386-2029
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE
Herman Prior Senior Services Centre 40 Royal Road N. / 204-857-6951 hermanpriorcentre@gmail.com www.hermanprior.com
Portage Service for Seniors 40A Royal Road N. / 204-239-6312
psfsmeals@shaw.ca portageservicefors.wixsite.com/psfs
RIVERTON
Riverton Seniors Activity Centre 12 Main Street / 204-378-5155 rdfc@mymts.net / www.rivertonfc.com
SANDY LAKE
Sandy Lake Drop In Centre 100 Main St. / 204-585-2411
Municipality of Harrison Park - Age Friendly Initiative Committee 204-585-5310
SELKIRK
Gordon Howard Centre 384 Eveline Street / 204-785-2092 executivedirector@gordonhoward.ca www.gordonhoward.ca
SNOW LAKE
Snow Lake Senior Centre 71 Balsam Street 204-358-2151 / snowsrs@mymts.net
SOUTH JUNCTION Piney Regional Senior Services 204-437-2604 / lgdseniors@gmail.com
ST. LAURENT Age Friendly Committee of St. Laurent 204-906-9607
STARBUCK
MacDonald Services to Seniors 204-735-3052 / info@mcdonaldseniors.ca www.macdonaldseniors.ca
STEINBACH
Pat Porter Active Living Centre 10 Chrysler Gate 204-320-4600 / ed@patporteralc.com www.patporteralc.com
STONEWALL
South Interlake 55 Plus 374 1st Street West - Oddfellows Hall 204-467-2582 / si55plus@mymts.net www.si55plus.org
SWAN RIVER Swan River & District Community Resource Council 126 6th Ave N / 204-734-5707 resourcecouncil@srseniorservices.com
Swan River Senior Citizens Centre 702 1st Street North / 204-734-2212
THE PAS The Pas Golden Agers 324 Ross Avenue / 204-623-3663 seniorsthepas@gmail.com
THOMPSON Thompson Seniors Community Resource Council Inc. 4 Nelson Rd. / 204-677-0987 thompsonseniors55@gmail.com thompsonseniors.ca
TREHERNE Treherne Friendship Centre 190 Broadway Street 204-723-2559 / jstate1066@gmail.com
VICTORIA BEACH
East Beaches Social Scene 3 Ateah Road / 204-756-6468 ebssinc1@gmail.com www.ebseniorscene.ca
East Beaches Resource Centre 3 Ateah Road / 204-756-6471 ebresourcec@gmail.com ebresourcec.weebly.com
VIRDEN
Seniors Access to Independent Living 204-851-2761 / sail.cao.2023@gmail.com
WINKLER
Winkler & District MP Senior Centre 102-650 South Railway Avenue 204-325-8964 director@winklerseniorcentre.com www.winklerseniorcentre.com
At the end, this is what matters
The sign outside the door, an electric candle, and a note asking for people to keep noise to a minimum, are clearly signaling that in this room, a life is coming to its end. Inside the room yet another person is nearing their death.
We have witnessed a few here recently. A rather unusual occurrence in this place filled with young people.
It is my day off work, yet I agreed to come in to provide support and care, not only for the dying person and their loved ones but also for those who provide care here. I love them like I love my own.
They work tirelessly!
Like many of those they care for, the caregivers are young, in their 20s and 30s. Witnessing the end of life – the departure of those they look after – is not easy at such a young age.
bles us and shows us that it is much greater than our five senses, our logical minds, want us to believe. It is here where we lose control, and the truth about Life is revealed to those who stay open.
Zofia Dove Dove's Discoveries
Sudden death, especially young death, disturbs the laws of nature, or so we think. This is not the end-of-life sequence anticipated by most of us. Our logical minds are shaken to the core with such unpredictability.
Death is the last and final frontier where Life hum-
I stepped into her room and sat next to her on the bed. She opened her eyes and smiled. I told her that I love her, and she replied, “I love you too.” Our smiles got even bigger. I asked if she wanted me to stay. “After all, I’m on your bed already,” I jokingly added.
She smiled and said, “Stay”. I held her hand until she fell soundly asleep, then tiptoed out of her room.
What a shocking twist of events! Two days ago, she was full of life and toughness. We are all in disbelief.
As I walked down the hallway, I briefly recalled her participation in the Memorial Service I had conducted for one of her neighbours who had recently died. When at one point during the ceremony the attendees were asked to share some special moments or memories, she unexpectedly (and atypically for her) shared with the group one of her favourite memories of her neighbour.
Thank you – every little bit helps
With a little imagination and a sprinkle of generosity, people across Manitoba have helped kids who need care at Manitoba’s only children’s hospital.
In fact, last year, $1.4 million in donations has been given to Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba from bake sales, lemonade stands and modest community initiatives throughout Manitoba. Thank you.
Thank you to the kids and families who put time and energy into inventive ways to help fund the purchase of equipment to care for kids who need it.
Stefano
Grande Healthy Living
All of us at the Foundation are so grateful for the generous folks who support children who need treatment and care. We are astounded by your creative ways to fundraise AND have fun doing so.
For instance, the Candy Cane Sisters, Chloe and Molly spent the past holiday season collecting donations while handing out candy canes. Their efforts brought in $3256 for Children’s Hospital. GingerCane, a gingerbread house building contest, raised $7208. There is also a group of gamers in southwestern Manitoba who host the Gingerbread Apocalypse, a Warhammer game held every year in December. During the event gingerbread houses get smashed and Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is rewarded for the destruction.
Then, there’s the Salo family who collect donations from their Christmas and Halloween light shows. Last year their efforts brought in nearly $2000!
Every little bit helps and I’m so grateful that so many people choose
As she stopped speaking, she broke into tears, something none of us had ever seen her do before. She never cried. That day she revealed to us how underneath the armour she wore – the self-protective toughness, her demanding and self-controlled demeanor – lay a tender, sensitive, and loving heart.
Now, inexplicably, many people have felt the need to come and visit her, if only for a moment. Throughout the day I have seen or heard about the many brief visits which have taken place. They all have a common, and not so common, theme.
At this final moment, all the manmade, institutional, artificial, emotional boundaries have become irrelevant. We are all equal human beings, feeling the pain of loss in the same way. The words most often shared are, “I love you”, “I’m sorry”, “Forgive me,” and “Thank you.” Many of us felt the need to share them today!
Regardless of previous experiences and hurts, at the end all that matters is the message of love. It annuls all faults, hurts and imperfections and brings solace to all involved.
Zofia Dove is an international keynote speaker, author and producer, host and director of the series “Discovering Beauty Everywhere”.
to give to kids who need hospital care. Here’s another example…Summits of Hope, a group of people who climbed peaks in Patagonia who raised over $27,000!
Here’s one more. You must know Winnipeg has an incredible speed skating community. Every February the Manitoba Speed Skating Association invites people to Skate the Oval. At this annual event they collect donations in support of our Foundation, raising over $3000.
Some community members fundraise to honour a loved one like Ireland’s family and owners of Willy Dogs. You might have seen one of their hot dog carts around Winnipeg. To celebrate Ireland’s successful cochlear implant surgery at Children’s in 2018, Willy Dogs sells specialty items in February with a portion of sales donated to our Foundation.
The list goes on and on.
For years, the Winnipeg Ghostbusters have been expressing their love of the Ghostbusters films by dressing up, attending events and collecting donations
for Children’s and other charities.
And Voyageur Technical leads first responders and superheroes-in-training to rappel down HSC Children’s as a special Halloween celebration for kids in hospital. Last year the Suspended Superheroes raised $50,000!
All these initiatives help kids who need treatment at Children’s have the best care possible. No matter what you love to do in your spare time, there are ways to make an impact for kids who rely on Manitoba’s only Children’s Hospital and our Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.
To start your own community initiative to #ContinueCaringForKids visit goodbear.ca/fundraise.
One more thing. I love ice cream. Who doesn’t? Please join me on August 14 where your love of cool treats can help kids too. Proceeds from the purchase of every DQ Blizzard on Miracle Treat Day will help kids at HSC Children’s Hospital who need care.
Stefano Grande is the president and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.
The potentially high cost of legal protest . . . for some
from page 4
member of what became the Wildrose Party in Alberta. However, she was always outspoken against forms of extremism at any protests, counselling peaceful protest. As spokesperson, she was arrested and charged with mischief among other things that did not stick. She was ultimately convicted of mischief.
The third person charged was Chris Barber, a vaccinated truck owner from Saskatchewan, who was convicted of Mischief and counselling others to disobey a court order with regard to horn honking.
Section 430 of the Criminal Code describes Mischief as destroying or damaging property, obstructing a person in the enjoyment of said property, etc.
In 2022, Tamara Lich was awarded the George Jonas Freedom Award by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms and invited to Ontario to accept the award. As a result, she charged with breaching a court order to stay out of Ontario and to avoid doing anything to support or related
to the Freedom Convoy. That charge was stayed.
On April 3, 2025, both Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were found guilty of Mischief. The sentencing hearings were called in late July with the Crown seeking a sentence of seven years for Tamara Lich and eight years for Chris Barber, plus the seizure of his truck!
I agree strongly with Lawrence Greenspon, Tamara’s lawyer, who said, "They stood up for thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of people, who believed that their human dignity and freedoms had been compromised by government-mandated vaccinations."
Asking for an absolute discharge for his client, he said, “This is an individual who came to this city with the best of intentions, as recognized by the judge. She has been under strict bail conditions for three-and-a-half years. She spent 49 days in jail for the offence of mischief.”
“And if one looks at the positive impact that she’s had on the lives of many Canadians and the community
service that she has continued to do, there’s absolutely no reason for her to not receive an absolute discharge.”
Pat King, supposedly their henchman, was found guilty on five charges: two counts of disobeying a court order and one each of mischief, counselling to commit mischief and counselling to obstruct a public or peace officer. His justice was handed down swiftly and leniently.
I cannot see how the judge could
possibly award a larger penalty for Ms. Lich on a single count, or Mr. Baber on his two counts, to receive more. An absolute discharge is in order.
