December 6, 2019

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Friday, December 6, 2019 • Vol.112 No. 18 • Rivers, Manitoba

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RiveRs BanneR Micah Waddell

Cell: 204-573-0702 Office: 204-328-7494 Email: info@riversbanner.com Box 70 - 529 2nd Ave. Rivers, MB R0K 1X0

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Gazette-Reporter

Winter wonderland

Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 109 years

March 30, 2018

Volume 110, Issue 37

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Banner Staff Rivers Banner

The Rivers Community Christmas Parade was a chilly evening of bustle and activity, startingBack offrow in L/R: Meghan the afternoon, with a free movie at the Legion Hall Erich Schmidt, Knelsen, Thom Heijmans, Heather for kids. Games and snacks were there as well. At 6:30 Gray, Liliane Dupuis. Front p.m. the parade kicked off starting at Rivers Collegiate. row L/R: Minami Kijima, Haile Santa, following the parade, made his way overHubbard, to the Chassidy Payette, Morgan Ramsay, Bryce Legion to take photos with the kids of all ages.

After Quinn Hrabok.

Summers, speaking to all of the kids, he made his departure to return to the North Pole until he makes his Christmas Eve deliveries.

Outside of the Legion just to the south in the Redline parking lot the Fire Department hosted a bonfire with hot chocolate, further south yet, the Rivers Co-op held a cookie decorating station. Hundreds of people attended the event and the main street in the Rivers was lined with people just waiting to see the parade come around the corner.

Can collections for canoes

Photo by Sheila Runions

PHOTOS BY MICAH WADDELL

Santa and his reindeer greeting those young and old and reminding them to be good in the weeks approaching the Christmas holiday.

By Sheila Runions Banner Staff

A

cans from the school foyer into and Chimo Beach areas for con- put away in the proper place on s r e p or t e d i n t he tion to the schools.

Pupils co-ordinated the entire the church basement the after- tributions from the community. the shelving units. They were March 9 edition, the Grade 12 Interdisci- month-long promotion, which noon of March 21, where the When all was said and done, fantastic! We are very, very plinary Studies in Science class culminated in a ceremonious food was weighed and sorted. the scales at Riverdale Harvest pleased.”

Elementary school staff memat Rivers Collegiate planned a presentation on March 20 to Although the project was a sen- noted a total of 434 pounds, “a project for Riverdale Harvest. Riverdale Harvest president ior students brainstorm, the en- fabulous amount,” says Heather. ber/Harvest volunteer Yvonne tire high school was encouraged “We are so pleased they decided Crouch initiated a similar camDubbed the Boat Load of Food, Heather Gray and Liliane.

Because the snow had melted to participate. The collegiate to help those we serve. A lot paign in her school. That threestudents secured a canoe from Rolling River School Division so much, the canoe could not hosted a poor boy floor hockey of times kids don’t get enough week effort simply encouraged with an intent to f ill it with be portaged across the street to tournament in which to play, credit but this group of students students to leave product in non-perishables. Although the Zion Church (home of River- athletes had to pay with food for certainly deserves some praise. the canoe; 87 pounds of food campaign was fully organized dale Harvest). Rather, the teens the canoe. Some students also All students stayed behind to was collected from the younger by that class, the original idea carried bags, boxes and garbage canvassed Rivers, Oak River help check expiry dates, sort and group on Thursday, March 22. came from a suggestion made by harvest volunteer Liliane Dupuis.

“I heard the idea at a meeting in Brandon. St. Augustine School had tried Fill a Canoe in conjunction with the 10-day “Santas Helpers” at the Legion, these young ladies assisted in set up and take Festival du Voyaguer in Windown of the movie before, and the activities following the parade, including nipeg in February. It was very facepainting, musical chairs and Santa photos for the kids.

The Rivers Co-op food store brought outsuccessful a very large tonkaI toy and whenever hearas their float for their first time in the Rivers Parade. food bank, my ears always perk up!”

She then brought the sugThe canoe at Rivers gestion to Riverdale Harvest, Elementary School was which supported the idea and adequately filled.

Photo by Heather Gray asked her to present the promo-

Holding a community event?

Contact us to help spread the news about your community event or fundraiser 529 2nd Ave., Rivers, MB RiveRs BanneR 204-328-7494 • info@riversbanner.com

2 Rivers Banner December 6, 2019

T

Bringing health care off the highway

his week, the provincial government announced a new plan to make health care more accessible to Manitobans. Manitoba’s Clinical and Preventative Services Plan was developed over 18 months and included the input of thousands of frontline health care providers and about 300 clinical leaders. The goal is to decentralize health care from Winnipeg, putting it closer to the province’s residents.

Along with the announcement, the Province said they’ll invest $2 billion into the health care system in the next four years. This includes $250 million for initiatives identified by clinical leaders.

Manitoba’s population is growing and the greatest area of growth is projected to be among those over 60 years of age, a demographic with higher health care needs.

Access to health care close to home is a concern for the many Manitobans who live in rural communities— 44 per cent of the province’s residents live in areas with less than 10 people per square km.

The plan has a lot of stuff that sounds great for rural medicine. For example, it would see more surgeries performed in underused operating rooms across the province. It sounds as though they plan to use a rotation of surgeons and anesthesiologists to achieve this. The plan would also expand Brandon’s capacity to provide critical care and acute medicine. Currently, 80 per cent of the province’s critical care services are provided in Winnipeg and the aim is to see 2,500 fewer patient trips to Winnipeg.

MY PERSPECTIVE

Kate Jackman-Atkinson The province also plans to provide more services in the community, such as adding more home care nurses trained in procedures like IV therapy, expanding the ability to remotely monitor the condition of patients with chronic diseases and expanding mobile prevention and screening services. These changes would reduce the number of people who need to be admitted to the hospital and allow those who have been admitted to leave earlier. Electronic consulting services would also be expanded, to cut down on the need for patients to travel for appointments with specialists.

To any rural Manitoban who has had to travel hours from their home for specialized care or to meet with a specialist, this is welcome news, but I have one nagging question— who will provide these services?

Neepawa remains one of the few rural hospitals that has an active surgical program and offers labour and delivery. A facility that can’t currently offer these services has a lot of capacity to build in order to be able to

reliably serve a community’s unpredictable health care needs. The problem is that a critical mass of staff with a certain skill-set is needed to provide certain types of health services, with more specialized skills required for specialized care. It isn’t enough to have an operating room, you also need a surgeon and an anesthesiologist and OR nurses and the equipment to perform not just the surgery, but also to save a patient if something goes wrong. Over the last 20 years, communities have lost the critical mass of health care professionals and without one piece of the puzzle, it’s unsustainable.

Staffing at current levels remains a challenge. According to Prairie Mountain Health’s website, the health authority is currently looking for about 100 Licensed Practical Nurses, about 100 Registered Nurses and a similar number of Health Care Aides. They are also looking for 12 physicians, seven of whom are specialists.

Locally, some of the health care professionals who would be delivering these expanded services are already dealing with staff shortages. The Manitoba Nurses Union expressed concern that frontline nurses weren’t involved enough in the consultation process. They want to see a concrete plan to recruit and retain nurses.

At the surface, providing health care to people where they need it sounds like a brilliant solution. But for decades, we’ve been told that health care needs to be centralized in the larger centres, reversing that tide won’t be easy.

Are we doing what we should be doing?

A

s we approach Christmas, it is often a time for reflection. Many thoughts go through my mind about the season and the core Christian message. Christmas and Easter are the two biggest events in any Christian church calendar. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Saviour.

At Easter, we pause with a mixture of sadness and gratitude that Jesus died on the cross so we could be saved. These two annual events have instructed and intrigued the world for a long time.

I have been part of a Christian church since I was born. Although we didn’t attend church a lot when I was very young, I can safely say I have been in church a lot more Sundays than not for 65 or more years. I have attended United, Anglican, Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches, almost all of them in rural Manitoba. Believe me, there have been many changes, but the biggest change is in how few people actually attend or participate in a local church any longer.

So why is church participation and church attendance so much lower than it was 30, 40 or 50 years ago? The answer is complex, but I think a lot of the blame, if that isn’t too harsh a word, lies within the churches’ insistence on a centralized organizational structure. Local churches tend to turn over what should be local decisions to a presbytery, a diocese, a head office in Winnipeg or Saskatoon or some place in the United States. Over the years, that has proven to be mistake number one. The far-away (and it may only be 100 miles) head office lays out the rules. The head offices get a huge say in the choice of pastor, minister, or priest. The required committees, credentials and all the inner workings of

RiveRs BanneR Est. 1908

STAFF

RIGHT IN THE CENTRE

Ken Waddell the church are laid out by committees and conferences. While many church organizations “say” they welcome local input, they don’t really. The annual conferences are almost entirely run by the clergy and rarely do the conferences have actual input from members. Members are called “lay people”, which is a somewhat antiquated and odd term, but whatever it used to mean in the past, it now really means lower class, with no real authority.

If a local congregation wants to build a building, add on or renovate, they are usually welcome to do so. However, should the local congregation want to sell or shut down an unused building, whatever money or local use might be made of the facility is often opposed.

Sometimes, it is opposed for so long that the building rots before a logical decision is made. And, often, the money that might be generated from a sale goes to the central office, when it should go to a local charity or cause in the community where it was raised.

Perhaps this flaw in church organizations stems from not really hearing Jesus’ words and intentions. There is little evidence that Jesus ever wanted his church (his people) to build buildings. Obviously, large groups of people couldn’t successfully gather for fellow-

ship, teaching and ministry without a building, so naturally churches were built. But Jesus wanted us to build “His” church, not buildings and bureaucracies. To some extent, that has been successful for 2000 years but there have been thousands of bad decisions along the way.

Back to rural Manitoba. Why are there so few people attending church and why are there so few pastors, ministers or priests? I think it is because the centralized, top down church organizations become remote and out of touch with the local reality, the local needs and, most of all, local ministry. The organization becomes the purpose, the rules and bureaucracy become God. The people, cast-offs to be ignored.

In short, we need to remember that Jesus didn’t come to save buildings or business models. He came to save people.

My point is that maybe our churches are a lot emptier than they used to be because we haven’t adequately followed Christ’s teaching in the way we organize ourselves.

Disclaimer: The writer serves as a volunteer chair of the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association. The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the MCNA board or Banner & Press staff.

529 Second Avenue, Box 70, Rivers, MB R0K 1X0 Telephone: 204-328-7494 Fax: 204-328-5212 E-mail: info@riversbanner.com Website: www.riversbanner.com Circulation: 1,974 Yearly Subscription Rates (excluding taxes): $45.00 in Manitoba, $55 elsewhere in Canada

Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement #40012782 Owner/Publisher/Editor Micah Waddell

Dec. 6: Rivers Legion Chase the Ace, 5 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 7: Rivers and Area Game and Fish Big Buck Night. 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 8: Rivers Legion Bingo, doors open 12:15 p.m.

Dec. 10: Woodworth Senior Services Social Club Christmas Party meal and entertainment, Kenton Hall, 12:00 p.m.

Dec. 10: Rivers and Area Community Foundation AGM, 6 p.m.

Dec. 10: Legion Auxiliary General meeting 7 p.m.

Dec. 11: Rivers and Area Game and Fish meeting 6 p.m.

Dec. 13: Rivers Legion Chase the Ace, 5 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 14: Rivers Lions Club Senior’s Christmas Supper, 6 p.m.

Dec. 15: Rivers Legion Bingo, doors open 12:15 p.m.

Dec. 17: Diabetes Clinic, Riverdale Health Centre, 8:15 a.m.

Dec. 20: Rivers Legion Chase the Ace, 5 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 22: Rivers Legion Bingo, doors open 12:15 p.m.

Dec. 24: Tarbolton Christmas Eve Service @ 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Dec. 25: Christmas Day Dec. 31: New Years Eve

PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY AD DEADLINE: TUESDAY 12 PM PRIOR TO ISSUE DATE Rivers Banner does not guarantee publication of any submitted articles or pictures. Such submissions, if printed, will appear at the discretion of the managing editor or publisher and only when time and space permit.

We are not responsible for fax and e-mail transmissions which are not confirmed either in person or by phone.

Staff Donna Falkevitch

Members of:

Everyday encounter

December 6, 2019 Rivers Banner 3

Home Bodies

By Rita Friesen Winter walk...

I

Name: Dee Wood Birthday: May 1 Occupation: Accounting Clerk at Riverdale Municipality First job: Waitress at Queen’s Hotel Hobbies: Curling, volunteering at local events and being a board member with Riverdale Early Learning Centre and Razzamatazz Dance Club.

In Rivers/Rapid City/Oak River since: Moved to Rivers in 2014 Where do you live? Rivers Hometown: Rapid City Where did you attend school? Elton Collegiate, Brandon University and A.C.C. Dream Vacation Spot: Greece Favourite Food: Tacos Favourite holiday: Hallowe’en Favourite Song or Artist: Thomas Rhett Favourite Sports Team: Winnipeg Jets and New York Yankees Favourite Animal: Sloth Favourite TV show: Call the Midwife and The Masked Singer.

Favourite Actor/Actress: I don’t really have one When you were 12, What did you want to be when you grew up? A teacher.

Comment: Jarred and I feel so lucky to be able to raise our family in Rivers and that our children get to grow up alongside their cousins and our childhood friends’ children.

Where am I?

If you recognize the location or landmark in this picture,please call Rivers Banner office at 328-7494 or email sales@riversbanner.com. We would love to hear your stories about these locally interesting sites.

Thanks for taking an interest in getting to know our community.

t was unusual for me to be out and about without my fur family. There was an opportunity for me to head up town, after dark, for a meeting, and I chose to walk rather than take the car.

I walk more slowly without the dogs and on icy sidewalks and streets– that’s not a bad thing. Walking more slowly, without distractions, allowed me to pause and be present to the wonder of the evening. It was easy to pause in front of the decorated store windows. The soft lights of the trees, blue is still my favourite, added to the calmness of my stroll.

It was an easy decision to go out of my way and stand in front of the town office, returning for a moment, to a small town, well laid out and festive. I counted the churches, noted the combination of natural horse power and mechanical horse power sharing the streets, trains trumping pulling power! For a moment, the cares and worries of my day slipped away and the peaceful scene became mine. Thank you to the creators and the town for providing a space for this holiday blessing.

Holiday items displayed in widows, baubles and bells, garlands and wreathes, some elaborate and some more like my home (plain!), all brought a ready smile. For a moment,

FAITHFULLY YOURS Neil Strohschein A celebration of love

W

e have a tradition in our family that won’t be changing any time soon. We do not put up any holiday decorations until Nov. 12.

It’s our way of showing respect for those we honour on Remembrance Day. Then, once Remembrance Day is over, we get into full Christmas mode. The decorations come out, the tree is put up, shopping begins, meals are planned and we start getting the house ready for our annual Christmas dinner.

My focus at Christmas has always been on the love shown to us and the love we are to show to others. So Christmas, for me, is a celebration of love.

To understand that love, we must go back to the beginning of time– to the day when, as Genesis 1 tells us, “God created the heavens and the earth.”

The ancient record condenses the creation story into seven 24-hour days; six of which were spent in the actual work of creation with the seventh being a day on which God rested.

At the end of each day’s activity, God looked on what he had done and said: “That’s good.” And after the whole project was complete, he said: “It’s very

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

December 10, 2019

6 p.m. LEE’S RESTAURANT

All are welcome to attend.

I slipped back to my childhood and reviewed the wonder of the windows of the T. Eatons and Bay in downtown Winnipeg. In my memory, these displays were filled with colour, motion and stories. Animation was not all that common way back then, and so to watch the carousel turn, and Santa wave, well, I still remember them. Lighted trees, brightly wrapped gifts, dreams galore…

Grounding myself in the present, I appreciated the holiday lights on our main street, loving the old ones that have returned and appreciating the new arrivals, and thankful, again, to the town council for contributing to the spirit of the season.

Having no escorts, I was able to follow the bright lights and get side-tracked by decorated yards. Reindeer are huge this year, candy canes abound, and a goodly number of inflatables, a wide variety of inflatables! Icicle lights, flashing lights, lights varying in colour and intensity, lit decorations in the windows, all lovely and festive. As I passed one home, there was the gentle sound of a carol being played. It was a magical walk, quiet, no wind, not many others out and about. Feeling safe and blessed.

Wondering, as I wandered, how I came to enjoy peace and plenty when there are so many in our world who will only ever know life in a refugee camp, or a life of uncertainty and despair. My backpack is so filled with privilege; educated, white, living with a purpose, secure, healthy– what more could one possibly want? My heart hurts for those who are suffering, those seeking courage to say “enough!”, those struggling each and every day.

As I rounded the corner, and the lights of my home, the noses of my dogs pressed against the window, waiting for me, I gave humble thanks. good indeed.”

But within a short time, something happened to God’s creation. The first humans he created and placed on this planet turned against him and chose to follow his arch enemy instead. What had been, up until then, very, very good, now suddenly became very, very bad. Everything was corrupted. The world was in a huge mess.

But despite the mess humans have made and, it can be argued, continue to make of this world, God hasn’t given up on us or on his creation. He continues to love the world and its people with a love that will never end.

Motivated by that love, he took the unprecedented step of sending his “only begotten son” (see John 3:16) into this world to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. His son, the one we know as Jesus Christ our Lord, was tested in every way, just as we are, but did not sin. And then, after completing everything he had been sent to earth to do, he was nailed to a cross and died as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all humanity.

In Jesus Christ, God gave us the best he could give so that we could become the best we can be. The Christmas story is the greatest love story ever told.

But there is more to this story than just the love God has shown to us. Today, as we prepare to celebrate his son’s birth, God calls us to love one another as he has loved us.

There are many people around the world who, for religious or other reasons, choose not to celebrate Christmas. I have no quarrel with them. They are free to act according to their beliefs, as am I. But we all can display the spirit of Christmas in what we say and do. We display that spirit when we let God fill us with his love and then share that love with everyone we meet. Jesus assures us that the love we show will draw others to us and to the God whose love for them will never end.

So this month, let’s do the one thing we all can do.

As Mother Theresa put it: “Let’s allow Jesus to love others through us.”

Rivers Community Church 447 Edward Street, Rivers

Sunday worship service/Sunday school, 10:30 a.m.

BG Club (age 3-Gr. 6), 204-412-0448 for details.

Junior youth (Gr. 5-9), 204-328-7854 for details.

Senior youth (Gr. 10-12), 204-328-7016 for details.

Phone 204-328-7882 or 204-761-2235

4 Rivers Banner December 6, 2019

Rivers 50+ Club receives funding from Westoba Inspire Westoba Credit Union’s Community Investment program supports community infrastructure.

Submitted Westoba CU Rivers 50+ Club is thrilled to receive $4,953 from the Westoba Credit Union Inspire program, for kitchen upgrades to their facility.

“Westoba has always been committed to helping build strong communities,” said Al Morken, Westoba Board of Directors member. “The Rivers 50+ Club provides a vital resource to seniors, improving quality of life through socialization and involvement. We are proud to support this program and the residents of Rivers.”

The Rivers 50+ Club has been operating from the basement of the Riverdale Municipality office since 1972.

“In the Rivers history book, there is a comment that the WWI women helped design this kitchen area.” said Myrtle Wooldridge, Rivers 50+ Club President. “That is when the countertop with the enamel sink and back splash would

have been installed, I assume between 1964 and 1966.”

Completion of the kitchen project is aimed at spring 2020. Rivers 50+ Club will host a community event to show off the kitchen upgrades in the new year.

About Inspire and Westoba Credit Union Created in 2017, Inspire is Westoba’s community investment program, in partnership with the Brandon Area Community Foundation. To be eligible for funding, requests need to support community infrastructure projects that: are initiated locally or have a clear local impact; are inclusive and bring people together; are long-term or multi-functional; and promote staying, participating and engaging in an enriched community. Westoba Credit Union Ltd. is one of Manitoba’s largest credit unions, serving over 37,000 members in 16 branches across Manitoba.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

(L-R) Henry Maryniuk, WCU Board Member; Glenn Maguire, Rivers 50+ Club Treasurer; Debbie Stanley and Brenda Gibson, WCU Inspire Committee members; Myrtle Wooldridge, Rivers 50+ Club President; Liz Roberts, WCU Board member and WCU Inspire Committee member; Kathy Roberts, Rivers 50+ Club Secretary; Carol Murray, WCU Rivers Assistant Branch Manager; Jim Rediger, WCU President and CEO; Al Morken, WCU Board Member; Patti McEvoy, WCU 1st and McTavish Branch Manager.

Believe It or Not (Part Three)

In last week’s letter, (Part Two), I said I would share what the United Church of Canada’s decision was regarding the fate of Gretta Vosper, a UCC minister in Toronto who declared herself an atheist and could possibly be defrocked by the UCC. The moderator of the UCC, Dr. Richard Bott, stated in an interview in 2018 that a settlement had been reached between Ms. Vosper, Westhill United Church and the local regional body (Toronto Conference), wherein Ms. Vosper would continue to serve as minister at Westhill.

Dr. Bott stated the following: •The decision does not affect the doctrine of the United Church. Our doctrine states that God is central to who we are.

•We have a very wide and diverse theology in the United Church.

•In 2016, the UCC did a God survey to find out what clergy believes and of the 55% that participated, an overwhelming number stated they had a belief in God.

Effective Immediately:

Rivers/Rapid City

Incorporated

The phone number for Rivers/Rapid City Senior Services has changed; please contact us at

•We are still God’s people and disciples of Jesus Christ.

•In a later survey, there was again an overwhelming belief in God, but it didn’t go too deeply into questions regarding Jesus Christ.

In a printed response, Dr. Bott also stated the following: •As a Christian church, we continue to expect that ministers in The United Church of Canada will offer their leadership in accordance with our shared and agreed upon statements of faith, celebrating the sacraments, and praying that all who are part of the denomination will help people to love, as Jesus put it, “God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, NRSV).

•I believe that God continues to call us to be people who love and, in that love, to be communities of faith where all are welcome, whatever you believe or don’t believe.

•... it is clear that as a denomination we believe in God: Creator, Christ, and Spirit, and that that belief leads us deeper into the Holy Mystery that is God, “beyond complete knowledge, above perfect description.”

If one is familiar with the Bible and what it has to say regarding the Church, Christianity and Jesus Christ

Himself, you will notice a discrepancy between Holy Scripture and the doctrine and beliefs of Ms. Vosper and the United Church along with apparent contradictions in their doctrine.

In Part Four I will begin to clarify things by revealing what God Himself has to say regarding these matters.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jgklassen@icloud.com John Klassen Rivers, Mb Manitoba’s Largest 36th Annual

Brandon Gun & Collectibles Show December 14 & 15, 2019

Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. & Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Keystone Centre Manitoba Room 1175 18th Street, Brandon, MB Admission $10.00 (per day) Youth 15 & under FREE

204-412-0484.

ALSO NOTE: The office is now located in Zion Church (Rivers). Hours are unchanged; they remain as Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Feel free to stop by and visit co-ordinator Sherry Wiebe.

To make an appointment, call 204-412-0484 or email rrcssi19@gmail.com.

“Brandon Wildlife Association” Lee Robins/Kim Kooistra Email: brandongunshow@gmail.com

December 6, 2019 Rivers Banner 5

Choosing Christmas tree

Patricia Hanbidge School of Hort.

Already as I am driving around town, you can see not only lots of Christmas lights adorning homes but you can also see many Christmas trees on display inside people’s homes and businesses. As Christmas is still a ways away, I can only assume that these trees are artificial.

As it gets closer to December 25t h, it i s traditional for many of us to grace our homes with a Christmas tree.

I n Ca nad a t here a re almost 70,000 acres dedicated to the production of Christmas trees. Did you know that every acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people? Think about buying local and buying a real Christmas tree this year and support real jobs for Canadians from the growers, to the equipment they use and of course all that needs to happen to get you a tree for your home!

For tree farmers, it t a ke s m a ny ye a r s t o produce a high-quality Christmas tree. Growers generally produce the trees from seed, and for the f irst few years are grown in a nursery bed.

In about the third year, they are transplanted to the tree farm and then pruned and studiously attended to until they are harvested. Once a tree is planted out it takes an additional 7 to 8 years to

grow a nicely shaped tree to the desired 2 metres (7 feet) in height.

I have fond memories dur i ng my ch i ld hood of goi ng a nd get t i ng a Ch r ist ma s t ree t he “traditional” way. It was usually bitterly cold but we would all pile into the car with a thermos of hot chocolate, and sing all the Christmas carols known to man while driving to the forest. These harvested trees were more natural and not even close to being as full and dense as a tree purchased from a tree farm. If you are thinking of getting your tree in this way, then do check with your local authority (in SK it is the Saskatchewan Environment Office) for the type of tree you can harvest and where this should occur.

For those of you who have never experienced a freshly cut Christmas tree you are in for a treat. Freshly harvested trees do not shed needles.

They emit a lovely scent that permeates the entire house. When purchasing a tree, try to find a lot that uses local trees as they are generally fresher.

When selecting your tree, simply give a fresh 2cm (3/4 inch) cut off the base of the tree and ensure while in the stand it is constantly covered with fresh water. Please note that no other additives other than water are required to keep your tree nice and fresh.

Also, as long as the tree

is kept in water it is not a fire hazard and can last an extremely long time before becom i ng d r y.

W hen it does become time to move the tree out, I like to use it as a lovely bird feeder/house for our fine-feathered friends. In spring, it is chipped and becomes garden mulch.

If you wish to simplify your journey to having a real tree and still wish to buy local and are having trouble deciding which loc a l lot to pu rcha se your tree then we have a suggestion for you. Our favourite tree lot is located at 201 33rd Street West, behind May fair Ha rdwa re. You may even get to meet the infamous Master Gardener Leo Mareschal who sells locally grown trees from Gaudet Tree Farm which is located close to Prince A lbert. (w w w.treesrus. ca). The Gaudet family have a super tree farm that sells retail, wholesale and more. Leo and Ray

Gaudet have partnered up for over thirty years to bring us some great quality Christmas trees to grace our homes through this holiday season.

Make this the year that you enjoy the scent of a “real” tree and create some lovely Christmas memories. Have a Merry (and more traditional) Christmas!

If you’re not reading the

RiveRs BanneR

you’re missing out on a lot!

Rivers and Area Lions Club 41st Annual Seniors Christmas Supper December 14th 2019, 6 p.m.

Rivers Legion Hall for take outs or handi-van call 328-5300 19121WW0 19121WW1

TEN Browning Rifle Give-A-Ways!

Africa Hunt Raffle (Only 100 Tickets!)

Door Prize Rifle Draw (18+) Junior Rifle (12-17) & Ladies Rifle Draw (18+) All Heads 130”+ Entered into Special Draw Free Draw for Donated Tagged Deer Hides

railers are very unsafe places to take shelter as not anchored to the ground. formed and stay safe. For more information blic Safety Canada http://www.publicsafety. /em/nh/to/index-eng.aspx or Environment 6 Rivers Banner December 6, 2019 http://www.ec.gc.ca.

December 6, 1929 follows Dunsmore-144, The weather Fr iday Johnson-88. last, when the election for the office of mayor of the December 7, 1939 Town of Rivers for 1930, Saturday next, Decemtook place, was cold and ber 9, is John Deere Day, bright and while those who an annual event of special registered their votes were interest to the farmers of one hundred per cent of Rivers and district. Jas. the possibles, the polling Taylor, local agent for this was in numbers that re- well known company, has vealed quite an interest in arranged for a free show EA a contest which had been of pictures in the I.O.O.F. ON conducted very quietly. Hall, commencing at 1:30 hygienist The candidates were p.m. These will include • Residential & Commercial Mayor Dunsmore, who “Joel Gentry in Hollyomes • Farm Wiring & Trenching held the office for four wood” and four other alle Brandon Rivers years; councillor A. -Johntalking pictures. A large 96 son, who for six years had attendance of farmers is l.com been a204-761-2192 good representative certain on this occasion. for ward three. C. H. Gabe For particulars see Jas. age acted as a returning offi- CMA Taylor, agent. cer, with J. Dyer, Jr. as poll ent.

Shaping the Future clerk,Athe vote being held December 8, 1949 CCOUNTING S ERVICE 7893 at Oddfellows Hall, from 9 What the military does Certied Management Accountants a.m. to 5 p.m. The result, and what the civilian does Hamiota: 71 Maple Ave. 204-764-2544 declared by Gabe was as are two different things.

Looking Back The Lord’s Day Act is a federal matter.

These–and other angles–came under discussion when the town council was asked, Monday evening, to consider allowing a dance to be held in Rivers on Sunday, January 1.

W hat occurs at t he airport, concerning such matters, is not contingent upon the regular laws of the land.

Dancing, council opined, could continue up until Saturday at midnight. The matter, however will be referred to other authorities.

CTORY TIPS

Place orium

we cherish

ceptions

30 or 8153

pel.com

KNIGHT

December 3, 1959 At a meeting of the Riverdale hospital board, held Monday, Nov. 30, applications were accepted for the position of superintendant

CANADA

Brandon: 20-18th St., 204-727-5927

of nurses (Matron). Miss Jean Paterson, formerly on staff at the Brandon General hospital was awarded the position of Matron, at a salary of $325 per month.

Assistant Matron will be Mrs. June Paterson at a salary of $300 per month.

December 4, 1969 Four NCOs of Canadian Forces Base Rivers Hospital have been commended for “quick lifesaving action under stress” by military authorities.

The four administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and external cardiac massage to Mayor Frank Taylor of the town of Rivers when he suffered cardiac arrest at the recent curling club event in the Legion Hall.

MARCH 16-20, 2020

Piano & Vocal/Choral in Minnedosa Dance in Rivers Entry deadline: Thursday, January 16, 2020 No late entries will be accepted.

Submit entries to: Rolling River Festival of the Arts Attn: Shelley Hume Box 333 Minnedosa, MB R0J 1E0 Printable entry form and addendum are available at www.discoverminnedosa.com under Community OrganizationsRolling River Festival of the Arts The syllabus (outlining classes) is at Regional and School Libraries; forms and addendum on-line and at Minnedosa Pharmacy, and Rivers Home Hardware Questions: Email rollingriverfestival@gmail.com or contact: Val Dornn 204-867-2432

knightcm@mymts.net

Hunt, For allMiller your & Co. LLP electrical needs

Jack Cram, Lawyer ALEXANDER Phone 204-727-8491 or 204-328-7540 (Thursdays, ELECTRIC 2-5 p.m.) for appointments.

204-721-4320

Business Directory PROS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Way-Mor Agencies Ltd.

Jeannie’s Interiors Professional Painting & Decorating

Jeannie Bos

204-573-1150

• Residential & Commercial • Farm Wiring & Trenching

Brandon - Rivers

Rapid City, MB jeanniesinteriors@hotmail.com

204-761-2192

Hunt, Miller ThisCo. space is & LLP

Phone 204-328-7540 204-566-2490

Ph. 204-328-7893

WWW.KROEGERBACKHOE.CA EXCAVATION-DEMOLITIONOUTDOOR WOOD BOILERS SEPTIC TANKS-SEPTIC FIELDS GRAVEL SALES-BASEMENTS PLUMBING & HEATING IN FLOOR HEATING 204-761-8765

Place Emporium

Hair Dynamics

available for, you!

Jack Cram Lawyer

Family Hair Care

As204-727-8491 low as or Phone 204-328-7540 (Thursdays, $13.50/wk.

2-5 p.m.) for appointments.

Hamiota ~ Brandon ~ Birtle   Souris ~ Pilot Mound   Killarney

OPEN Tues., Wed. and Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon

204-328-7494

This space is available for you!

As low as $13.50/wk.

204-328-7494

Insurance, Travel, Investments, Real Estate

Mini storage units for rent.



Ph. 204-328-7435

•

Residential & Commercial

•

Repair & Maintenance

•

HVAC Installations

•

Septic Truck Services

•

Licensed Gas Fitting

•

Duct Cleaning

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24 hr Emergency Service

•

Backhoe & Skidsteer Services

 

HAMIOTA: 1-204-764-2544  BRANDON: 1-888-726-1995 www.allianceaccounting.ca

• Residential & Commercial • HVAC Installations • Licensed Gas Fitting • 24 hr Emergency Service • Repair & Maintenance • Septic Truck Services • Duct Cleaning • Backhoe & Skidsteer Services

Hamiota’s

204-764-2744 FUNERAL DIRECTOR Dwayne Campbell ~ 204-764-2746

Ph. 204-724-6870 Fax 204-328-4407 alepp@redlinetransport.ca Dry bulk transportation

e and Stud Fram t Fram s e o P Farm Buildings

Johan’s Construction Ltd. 204-745-7628 cell 204-328-7310 office “Building for all your farm needs!”

Serving Rivers and area since 1906.

Phone 204-727-0694 or 1-800-897-5694 www.brockiedonovan.com

Andrew Babiak 1 (204) 647-5809 blowerupyourattic@gmail.com Asbestos Experts Insulation Pros & Basement Rapair

December 6, 2019 Rivers Banner 7

RIVERS

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

PLACE YOUR AD BY:

DEADLINE: TUESDAY AT NOON

PHONE: 204-328-7494 FAX: 204-328-5212 E-MAIL: info@riversbanner.com

Thank You

Minimum charge: $5+GST Extra insertions: 1/2 original price

Help Wanted

Manitoba Community Newspaper Association Provincewide Classifieds

FOODS Meat Cutter/Production Personnel GOOD LUCK! Riverdale Municipality would like to congratulate Marci Quane on her new position as CAO for the RM of Oakview.

We are sorry to see you go, but wish you all the best in your new position.

Council & Staff Riverdale Municipality

Financial

Need Cash?

• We Loan • Easy application • Approval with collateral • Title Loans • No Credit Check • We service ALL of Manitoba Call Dan Devloo (204) 526-7093 CAI Financial Unit K - 2151 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB

www.caifinancial.ca

Auction McSherry Auction 12 Patterson Dr. Stonewall, MB

Estate & Moving Auction

Sat Dec 7th – Featuring Restaurant Equipment Sat Dec 14th All At 10 AM Yard * Recreation * Tools * Antiques * Furniture * Misc * Household *

Consignments Welcome!

(204) 467-1858 or (204) 886-7027 www.mcsherryauction.com

For Sale Integrity Post Frame Buildings SINCE 2008

Built with Concrete Posts Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and More Craig.c@ Integritybuilt.com 1-204-596-8620 www. integritybuilt.com

Announcement

Power Builder Advertising

WORKS!

• GET SEEN by over 400,000 Manitoba Homes!

• Use your LOGO! • Create instant top of mind awareness • Showcase your info, business, product, job, announcements or event • We format it, to make it look great!

• Starting at $339.00 (includes 45 lines of space) • The ads blanket the province and run in MCNA’s 48 Manitoba community newspapers • Very cost effective means of getting your message out to the widest possible audience Contact this newspaper NOW or MCNA at 204.947.1691 or email classified@mcna.com www.mcna.com

Health

Invites applications for the position of

Assistant Administrative Officer Full-Time

HyLife Foods a division of the HyLife organization is engaged in the dressing and processing of hogs for both domestic and world markets.

To reach and sustain its position as a premier supplier of quality food products it strives to employ talented and motivated people who are capable of reaching the cutting edge of their discipline.

Riverdale Municipality is seeking applications for a full-time permanent Assistant Administrative Officer.

This position is based at the operations in the vibrant community of Neepawa, Manitoba which has a reputation for its beauty and high quality of life. Due to rapid growth we are looking for Meat Cutters/Production Personnel.

Under the supervision and direction of the CAO, the Assistant Administrative Officer will provide support in the running of the day to day business operations of the Municipality, with a primary focus on Planning & Development and Payroll.

Responsibilities / Duties include but are not limited to: • Slaughter, eviscerate and mark hogs for further processing • Cut pork carcasses into primal cuts for further detailed specifications intended for commercial, industrial, institutional or wholesale use • De-bone edible part and remove inedible organs or parts

The preferred applicant will have excellent interpersonal skills both written and verbal, be well organized and detail oriented. Applicants must be proficient in MS Word, Excel, and have experience in accounting software applications. Municipal experience would be an asset. Applicant must be willing to enroll in and graduate from the C.M.M.A. program.

Requirements: • Minimum 2 (two) years of progressive experience in Municipal Planning & Development or a financial related role or public sector accounting preferred.

• Minimum 2 (two) years of experience in Payroll and benefits preferred.

A detailed job description is available at the Municipal Office or on our website.

Wage will commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Qualified applicants are invited to submit a detailed resume to the undersigned not later than 12 noon, Friday, December 13th, 2019.

Kat Bridgeman, CMMA Chief Administrative Officer Riverdale Municipality Box 520 ~ Rivers, Manitoba ~ R0K 1X0 Telephone: 204-328-5300 ~ Fax: 204-328-5374 Email: cao.riverdale@mymts.net ~ website: www.riversdaly.ca

Rolling River School Division Rolling River School Division is in southwestern Manitoba, Canada near Riding Mountain National Park and Brandon.

Term TEACHERS required Tanner’s Crossing School - 0.5 FTE (Grade 1) Rivers Collegiate - 1.0 FTE (Sr Math plus one optional course)

The successful candidate should possess the following qualifications: • Be able to work in a culturally diverse workplace • Have a good work ethic • Focus on treating people with dignity and respect • Appreciate a stable long term work environment • Experience as an Industrial Butcher or trimmer is required • Completion of secondary school may be required Current starting wage is $14.15, ranging as high as $21 plus $1.00 per hour perfect attendance incentive!

We offer a comprehensive benefits package and competitive compensation based on experience and knowledge.

HyLife has been recognized as a Platinum Member of Canada’s Best-Managed Companies.

If you have the qualifications and the passion to meet this challenge then we would like to explore your potential.

Please apply online at http://www.hylife.com/current-opportunities/ at 623 Main Street E, PO Box 10,000, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0 We thank all applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted.

Winter Road Haul 2020 Class 1 Drivers needed for deliveries in MB & NW Ont. (800) 665-4302 ext. 251 or e-mail: orderdesk@penneroil.ca

NOTICES Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.mcna.com.

Do you have a PRESS RELEASE / MEDIA ADVISORY that needs to go out? Let us help you with that! Though we cannot guarantee publication, MCNA will get the information into the right hands for ONLY $35.00 + GST/HST. Call MCNA (204) 947-1691 for more information, or email classified@ mcna.com for details. www. mcna.com FOR SALE BATTERIES FOR EVERYTHING. Automotive, farm, construction, ATV, marine, motorcycle, golf carts, phones, tools, radios, computers etc. Reconditioned, obsolete and hard-to-find batteries. SOLAR equipment. The Battery Man. Winnipeg. 1.877.775.8271 www.batteryman.ca WINTER IS COMING! Are you ready? The Classifieds reach over 400,000 Manitoba readers weekly. Do you need CLASS 1 Drivers or Seasonal Staff for your business? Are you having a SALE, a Community Supper or do you have a Winter Craft Show to promote? Want to sell something before Winter?

Get results. For as little as

$189.00 + GST, you could book now! People rely on these classifieds to find what they need in your area and across the province.

Catch them looking at YOUR material in our 48 Weekly Community Newspapers.

Call this newspaper NOW or email classified@mcna. com for details. MCNA (204) 947-1691. www.mcna.com SALES – FINANCING – LEASING of Trucks, Truckbeds, Trailers, full repair and safeties. Vehicle Parts, Tires & Wheels, Vehicle & Trailer Parts & Batteries.

Best Products - Best Prices!

Kaldeck Truck & Trailer Inc., Hwy #1 MacGregor, MB. 1-888-685-3127 www. kaldecktrailers.com AUCTIONS BUD HAYNES & WARD’S FALL FIREARMS Auction, Saturday, Dec. 7th at 10 AM. 11802-145 Street, Edmonton, AB. Over 700 Lots, On-Line bidding Antique & Modern Firearms, www.

WardsAuctions.com. To consign, call Brad Ward 780940-8378; Linda Baggaley 403-597-1095.

EVENTS Last Chance Craft Sale! 2 floors, up to 100 crafters!

Sunday December 8th, 115. Canad Inns, Club Regent Hotel, 1415 Regent Ave W. Winnipeg, Admission $3. katherinebialek@gmail.com STEEL BUILDINGS STEEL BUILDING CLEARANCE ..."FALL BLOWOUT PRICED TO CLEAR!" 20X25 $6,687. 25X29 $7,459.

28X29 $8,196. 30X35 $9840. 32X37 $9,898. One End Wall Included. Pioneer Steel 1-855-212-7036 www. pioneersteel.ca

Please note our early holiday deadlines: Deadline for Holiday Greetings: Thursday, December 12 at noon

For more details and application information, please visit our website at www.rrsd.mb.ca select Employment then Teaching Positions. Thank you to all applicants for their interest in Rolling River School Division.

Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Thank you for Reading the Rivers Banner

Classifieds MUST be PREPAID Visa/Mastercard accepted

Deadline for December 20 edition: Tuesday, December 17 at noon Fishing for some bargains?

Check out our advertisers or place a wanted ad in our classified section.

Call Call 328-7494 476-3401 or 1-888-436-4242

There will be no December 27 edition or January 3 edition Deadline for January 10 edition: Tuesday, January 7 at noon

8 Rivers Banner December 6, 2019

Police report Nov. 2019

By Donna Falkevitch Rivers Banner In the R ivers Police Board’s round table discussion on policing in Riverdale Municipality held last month, one of the things mentioned was a wish for more information to be available to the public on a regular basis. The Rivers Police have made a concerted effort to have a monthly report available on Riverdale website and we will now try to keep you informed within our publication as well.

October 2019 Monthly and Annual Statistics - Month / Year Criminal Code. 13, 140 Traffic Including Criminal Code. 25, 143 LGCA and IPDA. 0 4 By-Law. 4, 31

Assist Files. 31, 163 Miscellaneous Files. 10, 33 Rural Involvement. 36, 213 Meth / Drug related. 0, 34 Total files to date: 614 In conversation with Chief Futrell last week, we came up with a few hot topics regarding policing in and around Rivers.

The Rivers Police Service would like to remind residents to be vigilant of phone scams. There seems to be a new twist on an old scam. Recently we have received numerous reports of phone scams involving SIN numbers. Scammers are claiming to be from the CRA, Service Canada, or police. Some will even spoof the government agency’s real number to gain validity with the victim, therefore

RiveRs BanneR 529 Second Ave Rivers, MB. R0K 1X0

www.riversbanner.com

info@riversbanner.com The Rivers Banner serves the communities of:

Rivers Oak River Rapid City Cardale Harding

Bradwardine Forrest Station Alexander Kenton

myWestman.ca

you cannot trust call display in this instance. Some of these calls will claim you need to pay using a gift card or iTunes card. This is most certainly a red flag to fraud.

If you are told that your identity has been stolen, or bank accounts have been compromised, hang up and contact the agency (your bank, CRA, Service Canada, etc) directly.

You can report these scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888495-8501 or online at http:// w w w. a nt i f r a u d c e nt r e centreantifraude.ca/indexeng.htm An interesting call last week had our members assist in rounding up a horse on the loose in the Chimo area. The escapee was apprehended without incident.

Speeding Tickets have been issued recently for motorists travelling be-

tween 130 - 140 km/hr on Highway 25. You are not saving that much time but you are putting all other motorists at risk. Please drive responsibly!

As the public's safety remains a top priority for the Rivers Police Service, we would just like to remind motorist to use care and caution when travelling during this busy holiday season. Beware of wildlife on or crossing the highway especially east of town to the Chimo corner. Slow down and stay safe. Give your vehicle and yourself time to react to the road conditions.

To wrap up for this week we are excited to announce that Rivers Police Cadet Program has started again for the year with the first meeting Dec.4. More than 30 cadets will meet twice a month December through June 2020.

On this day Dec. 6 1768- 1st edition of “Encyclopedia Brittanica” published in Scotland.

1917- French munition ship “Mont Blanc” explodes in Halifax, Canada killing 1,700.

1921- Mackenzie King, leader of the Labor Party and architect of a liberal coalition, is voted Prime Minister of Canada.

1956- Nelson Mandela & 156 others arrested for political activities in South Africa.

1989- Worst Canadian mass murder: Marc Lepine kills 14 women at U Montreal.

1990- Saddam Hussein announces release of all foreign hostages.

2001- The Canadian province of Newfoundland is renamed Newfoundland and Labrador.

Holding a community event?

Contact us to help spread the news about your community event or fundraiser!

RiveRs BanneR

529 2nd Ave., Rivers, MB 204-328-7494 info@riversbanner.com