2023 Riverview Reflector Summer Issue

In This Issue

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. ”

- John Lubbock

Who’s Who at the Riverview Community Center GM’s Notes

President: Jason Oliver president@riverviewcc.ca

Vice-President: Dom Lloyd

Treasurer: Diane Lee Sousa

Secretary: Laura Reimer

Past President: Dennis Cunningham

General Manager: Krista Fraser-Kruck 204-452-9944 gm@riverviewcc.ca

Facility and Grounds Manager: Janice Gray

Communications and Programs Coordinator: Tessa Allen bugle@riverviewcc.ca

Events Coordinator: Quinn Fletcher

Sports, Recreational, and Leisure Director: Shayla Vokey

Neighborhood Group

Liaison Director: May Wady

Renovations and Grants Director: Dave Bynski

Buildings & Grounds: Colin Pochailo Scott Brown

Youth Soccer: Vacant

Mini Soccer: Trish Faurschou

Jackrabbit Hockey: Aaron Letts

Jackrabbits Skiing

Convener vacant

Basketball: Kevin Shand

Cross-Country Skiing: Vacant

Baseball: Jason Hoeppner

Softball: Brad Ewankiw

Members at Large: Dave Temmerman Dom Marinelli

Associate Member: Jon Gilmore

by Krista Fraser-Kruck

I’d like to thank our board members, volunteers, and so many community members for the warm welcome I have received these past weeks as I have moved into the position of Riverview Community Centre’s new general manager.

I am beyond excited to be back at the community centre and look forward to growing all that our club has to offer! As a past board member and employee, I have a rich history with the community centre and cannot wait to start building our future. With the amazing staff and key volunteers that are in place, I feel so much is waiting to be accomplished. I encourage community members to reach out with ideas for events and programming that they feel could enhance our community centre.

As a parent and a Riverview resident since 2011, the idea of seeing our community reach its full potential inspired me to move on from my work at Riverview Montessori, to lead the community centre and put that vision into action. I’ve always loved Riverview for its walkability, services, big yards, and safe streets, and want to keep expanding the things we all love about this community. I already recognize so many of you, and I look forward to meeting even more of you as we work to expand the club’s programs and events throughout the upcoming year.

With the additions to the staff and volunteers at the club, there are now more hours to implement the ideas that I spent years dreaming about during my time on the board. I want to see a centre filled with people young and old. We now have the capacity to grow our existing programming and add new programs on top of that, which will bring in more revenue, allowing us to provide even more programs and services.

That said, I think we already have so much awaiting us this spring! Read on for our upcoming events and additional details about our AGM, Garage Sale, Spring Carnival, and Softball and Pickleball Tournaments. Our summer camp promises to be the busiest yet with many families already registering that will keep the club busy all summer long.

President’s Notes

by Jason Oliver

Summer is soon to be here, and it's time to trade in your winter coats and rubber boots for sunscreen and shorts, and your Netflix binge sessions for BBQs and Pickleball with friends.

I want to first start by welcoming Krista Fraser-Kruck as our new General Manager, we couldn't be more excited. With her wealth of experience and dedication to making the club the best it can be, Krista is set to lead the Riverview Community Centre to new heights.

The Club has been a hub of activity in recent months, with a flurry of events that have brought neighbours together for some friendly competition and fun. From Puzzle night to the Spring Trivia Night, the community club has been buzzing with activity, and we're excited to share some highlights.

Puzzle night was a huge success, with over 30 teams competing to complete a challenging puzzle in record time. The event brought together neighbours of all demographics, and everyone had a great time working together to solve the puzzle. Puzzle night was a reminder that sometimes it's the simple things that bring us together, and we're grateful for the opportunity to share a fun evening with our neighbours.

The Spring Trivia Night was another highlight, as the very best minds of the neighborhood came together for a battle of wits. The competition was fierce, but everyone had a great time testing their knowledge and enjoying some friendly banter. Trivia night is always a crowdpleaser, and this year was no exception.

A special note of thanks to our amazing volunteers who have worked tirelessly to get our fields and diamonds ready for spring and summer sports. Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and we're grateful for all that you do to support the Riverview Community Centre.

A particular thank you goes to our volunteer lead, Brad Ewankiw, and Board Member, Colin Pochailo, for their outstanding leadership and contributions. Your commitment to our community club is truly inspiring, and we are fortunate to have you as part of our team. Lastly, we are excited to announce our upcoming Volunteer Appreciation Night and Annual General Meeting, which will take place on May 29th. The evening

will begin at 6pm with a social food spread and drinks to celebrate the many volunteers who have generously given their time and energy to support the Riverview Community Centre. This event is an opportunity for us to express our gratitude to all those who have helped make our community club a success.

Following the Volunteer Appreciation Night, we will hold our Annual General Meeting, where we will cover the business of the centre including finances, reports and elections of the board. This is an important event for all members of the community, as it provides an opportunity to learn more about the workings of the club, as well as to participate in the election of the board. We encourage all members to attend and to participate in shaping the future of the Riverview Community Centre.

We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers who have contributed to the success of our community club, and we look forward to showing our appreciation at this special evening. We hope to see you there!

Best regards,

Jason Oliver President, Riverview Community Centre

Reflector Delivery Opt-Out

In an effort to reduce our printing and environmental impact, those who wish not to receive a hard copy of the Reflector in their mailbox may opt-out.

We will be publishing each issue on our website so you will still be able to enjoy it. If you provide us with your email address, we can also add you to a mailing list that will be notified when a new issue has been published online.

To opt-out, please visit www.riverviewcc.ca/ reflector, click the “Opt-out” link, and fill out the online form.

Upcoming Community Events

At the Centre

Get ready for the return of some of our favourite events, and the addition of some exciting new ones. Watch our website and social media for more info.

Volunteer Appreciation — Monday, May 29, 6pm

Our volunteers are invited to join us for our volunteer appreciation reception before our AGM.

RVCC AGM Monday, May 29, 7pm

Everyone is welcome to join us as we review our past year, and discuss what comes next for our community.

Riverview Garage Sale — Saturday, June 3, 9am-3pm

Drop off your garage sale donations for our big community centre garage sale till 9pm, June 1st. Hold your own garage sale the same day, and consider donating a portion of the proceeds to the community centre.

Spring Carnival – Friday, June 16, 5pm

We’ll be welcoming back our family favourite classic spring carnival once again, featuring bouncy castles, petting zoo, hot dogs, burgers, penny carnival, dunk tank, cash bar, and much more.

RVCC Slo-Pitch Tournament – Saturday June 17

Get your teams together for the Riverview Slow-Pitch Tournament. You can also support the centre by showing up, watching a game, and purchasing some barbecue and beer.

Movie Night – Friday June 9

Join us for a free summer movie night, and enjoy the full theatre experience with your friends and neighbours. Watch our website and social media for more updates about this movie night and others.

RVCC Pickleball Tournament – Saturday June 17

Help break in our new outdoor pickleballs at this new annual event.

Programs

At the Centre

The following community programs are still running through the spring. Contact the club or check our website to find out which programs will still be running through the summer month.

Pickleball

Mondays 10:00am-2:00pm

Thursdays 6:30pm-9:30pm

Indoor pickleball is offered in hour long time slots. Sign up for a slot online through the Riverview website. In the summer, the paved surface of the new rink will allow for outdoor pickle ball sessions, with multiple courts, and new times throughout the week.

RV Lounge Open Mic

Tuesday from 7-9pm

A friendly, unplugged open mic.

Adaptive Fitness Class

Wednesdays 10:30am-11:30am

An adaptive fitness class aimed at anyone who may struggle with mobility or balance issues, but open to everyone.

MEN’S SHED

Thursdays 1:00-3:00pm

A place for men to connect over activities decided by local members. The Riverview Men’s Shed enjoys plenty of community projects, woodcarving, and swapping stories over cups of coffee.

Coffee and Cards

Wednesday 1:00pm-2:30pm

Drop in for a free cup of coffee, and a fun game of cards.

Summer Camp

Weekdays 8:00am-5:00pm

Our summer camp program for kids 5-12 will be running all summer long. With spots filling up faster than ever, we’re looking forward to our busiest summer yet. Every week we’ll be enjoying crafts, games, the playground, wading pool, community outings, and so much more.

For more up to date news and information about the Riverview Community Centre, visit riverviewcc.ca

To get all our updates right to your email inbox, subscribe to the South Osborne Bugle, by visiting riverviewcc.ca/bugle

Art Recycling Event from Grands “n” More Winnipeg: Art From the Attic

By Sharon Twilley

As many readers will know from the past six sales, this event consists of the collection and sale of art that donors have decided has no future on the walls of their homes or workplaces. Our buyers have their spaces to fill or gifts to choose, whether fine art or decor. Everyone wins!

Art From the Attic 2023 is in planning now, and we expect soon to be looking for donated art- this is an early alert!

So if you are moving, downsizing, need to find a home

for some inherited pieces, or just want to clear your storage of art that doesn’t work for you, consider getting it ready to send our way. Last year over 2000 pieces were donated, and the sale raised over $30,000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign:

https://grandmotherscampaign.org

If you have a question, or are interested in volunteering in some way, you may reach us at:

gnmafta@gmail.com

Spring Trivia

by Beth Smyth

Twelve teams matched wits and memories at Spring Trivia Night on April 22. The hall was full and bustling with teams of friends and neighbours fighting their ways through a gauntlet of trivia challenges.

Montagoogles took first place, Red Hot Trivia Peppers were close behind in second place, and Hot Menno Nights aced the tiebreaker question to wrest third place away from Team Tracy Knows Movies.

Thank you to: judges Kathy and Mel Larson; MC Vernon Depape; bartender Bronwyn Smyth; RVCC staff Krista, Tessa and Maddy; and event organizers Nat Kosteckyj and Beth Smyth.

Now’s the time to build your team and start studying up for our next Trivia Night, which will be Halloweenthemed at the end of October.

New Friend in Fisher Park

by Wilma Wiens

I was in Fisher Park yesterday with my daughter and 2 grandsons ages 5 and 3. They had come to visit me in the church. The boys love coming to the church where they can play in the playroom and in the gym. The old building and the beautiful sanctuary captivate them. Our time together ended with a walk to Fisher Park. Actually it was more of a meander to Fisher Park for there was a hefty rock that was found, treasured, and carried all the way to the park and all the way back, and there were sticks to be picked up, and there were smells and sounds that required our stopping in order to pay better attention.

When we finally arrived at Fisher Park there was excitement in following the paths and in discovering the lower section where the center flower garden lay bare with dirt to dig in.

Also discovered was a new friend. Another boy who likes sticks. Delightful!

And, he shared a name with one of my grandsons. Amazing!

Simple things are the best.

In the short time that the boys shared together there

was enough interaction and enjoyment that when it was time to part ways and say good-bye, my 5-year old grandson extended an invitation to the new friend, “We live on *** Street, the house with the black metal roof.” Twice he gave the invitation, with determination. Now it was my turn to be delighted and amazed. Without hesitation my grandson extended hospitality and welcome to his new young friend. It was his automatic response to having shared several fun moments with someone who also valued sticks. All boys went home carrying with them sticks, one hefty stone and a shared connection of enjoyment.

Connection, friendship, hospitality. Three things we all need. Children have a wonderful way of showing us how easily it can be done.

In our Sunday morning services I pray for our children, “Thank you for their imagination and energy, for their love for life and their capacity to play and have fun. We have much to learn from them even as we desire to shield them from negative influences that may dampen their spirits.”

May it be so.

Wilma Wiens is the Minister of Pastoral & Spiritual Care at Grace Bible Church on Oakwood Avenue.

South Osborne Biz Summer Events

by Stephanie Voyce

The South Osborne BIZ invites you to take part in our upcoming events this summer

Two free outdoor concerts will take place on Wednesday nights. Visit the South Osborne Farmer’s Market and then head over for live music at the intersection of Beresford Ave & Osborne St on June 28th and August 30th, 7pm – 10pm. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy this vibrant setting.

South Osborne is increasingly a go-to for fabulous cuisine. Purchase tickets for our Guided Restaurant Tours,

set to take place on eight evenings this summer. These enjoyable walking tours will take you by architecture, green spaces and historical features of the area while you enjoy a four-course meal along the way. Dates and ticket information are coming soon!

We hope you will check out these exciting events and visit our awesome, locally owned businesses! Please stay tuned for further information!

Visit us at southosborne.biz. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

RVCC Softball Season 2023

by Brad Ewankiw

The 2023 softball season kicks off the week of May 1. We are very excited this year as we have two teams playing out of Riverview.

New this year is a U11 team which will be coached by Shayla Vokey. This is Shayla’s first time coaching and she’s going to do an excellent job with a group of seven players from the neighbourhood and four from Fort Garry. The U11 team will play every Wednesday night during the month of May and June at the community center.

The other team is in the U15 division and will be coached by Cindy Allan. This team has been around for a few years and is excited to kick off the season playing Mondays at the club. With seven returning players from Riverview and four from Fort Garry, they are looking forward to a great year.

Both teams play in the Winnipeg Southwest Youth Softball Association against teams from Charleswood to Sanford and will play two games a week. They will also play in any tournaments they want to join as well as possibly Provincials in June and July.

The softball community in our neighbourhood is grow-

ing and we look forward to more people joining in the years to come. Thanks to Colin Pochailo, and the rest of the staff for getting the diamonds into such great shape this year. Come on out and enjoy some softball if you can!

Trees Riverview

by Carol Thiessen

As the trees awaken after their winter rest and Riverview moves from winter white to spring green, we at Trees Riverview are grateful for a community that cares about sustaining and growing our urban forest. We are also saddened by the continued loss of mature trees to disease, including numerous cut down along the river this winter.

Trees Riverview remains committed to doing our part to protect, restore, and enhance the public tree canopy in the Riverview neighbourhood of Winnipeg. Last year we oversaw the addition of 44 trees to our community’s boulevards and public spaces. We organized a tree wrapping event to protect riverbank trees from beaver damage. And we’ve contributed to City policy deliberations on an Urban Forest Strategy and more.

If you’re interested in reading more on the year past, you can find our annual report for 2022 on our brand new website: www.treesriverview.com.

We’re thrilled to have an attractive online home for updates on our work and helpful information on replacing trees. Check it out! We’re equally pleased to have a new logo, which takes its inspiration from the iconic tree on Churchill Parkway near Eccles Avenue. A big thank-you to Electric Monk Media who did the design

work and Assiniboine Credit Union who provided a grant for this work.

Leaving the Riverview community by car may pose some headaches this summer–with lane closures on the St Vital Bridge (as well as Jubilee Avenue). However, the bridge rehabilitation also comes with a green gift. Trees Riverview and other stakeholders requested an ambitious tree replacement plan for trees lost due to the project. We’ve recently learned that the consultant team brought an arborist into the project and significantly increased the number of trees to be planted in areas adjacent to the bridge work. For every one tree that is being removed, five new trees will be planted. They have selected disease- and salt-resistant tree species, primarily shade trees.

Our plans for the upcoming tree planting season are still in flux, with some hoped-for grants not materializing. We await news on other opportunities and will keep you informed. Stay tuned.

The Churchill Parkway tree that served as inspiration for the Trees Riverview logo. Photo credit: Beth Gillespie

Riverview Neighbourhood Garage Sales

by Steve Lennon

Sat., June 3, 9 am to 3 pm

Help wanted June 1, 2 & 3

Riverview Garage Sales are back again this June to support our beloved Riverview Community Centre, which seems to be adding improvements every year, thanks to our excellent staff and strong community support. By donating used, but useable goods to the sale, you have an opportunity to create more space and less clutter in your home, as well as support the RVCC. By assisting with the sale, you can connect again with your neighbours in Riverview.

There are 4 ways you can help:

1. Hold a yard or garage sale at your own home on June 3, and donate 10% of sales to RVCC. We will provide you with a lawn sign and balloons, and do extensive multi-media advertising to bring in shoppers.

2. Donate saleable goods to RVCC and they will be sold there on June 3 (all proceeds to RVCC). You may drop off sale goods at the community centre, behind

car seats, stuffed animals, mattresses, sofas, golf clubs, skis, large appliances or broken or musty items, as these items do not sell at a garage sale.

Also not accepting clothing, boots or shoes at this time.

Final day to donate goods is Thursday, June 1, to 9 p.m.

3. Volunteer to assist at the RVCC sale on June 1, 2 and/or 3. We especially need assistance setting up on Thursday, June 1, starting at 9 a.m., and packing up on Saturday at 3 p.m. after the sale. After the pack-up, we need to break down boxes, recycle, and clean the main hall (about 5 p.m.).

4. Visit your neighbourhood sales on June 3 for fabulous bargains not available at any shopping mall. We had a very successful sale last year, and this year promises to be the same. Come see for yourself why Winnipeg is known as “The Garage Sale Capital of Canada!”

Mark your calendar and please plan to participate in this pan community event. For info or to volunteer,

Men’s Shed

by Tom

Coffee !

Cards !

Conversation !

(and maybe some carving or other projects !)

Riverview Men’s Shed

Join us year round, Thursdays from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. for an afternoon of social get together.

Can we change the world? Maybe Do we enjoy ourselves? Definitely

Men’s Sheds are what we make them. We are not a bunch of grumpy old men.

To find out more about Men’s Sheds, visit mensshed.ca or contact Tom at

Osborne Library Programming

By: Denise Bendor-Samuel

The Osborne Library will run TD Summer Reading Club from June 12 –September 1, 2023. Kids age 0-12 are welcome to join. This is independent at home reading. We offer a ballot for prizes for every five days you read. Come join us! We are also running some fabulous programs for kids and teens.

• Jul 11 2:00PM – Dinosaur Roar for children 3-5 and a caregiver

• Jul 21 2:00PM – Insect Innkeepers for children 5-8

• Jul 25 2:00PM – Paint it for Teens 13+

• Aug 4 10:30AM – Baby Rhyme Time, babies 0-18 months plus a caregiver

• Aug 8 2:00PM – Monster Hunters Unite children 612

• Aug 11 10:30AM – Family program, ages 0-12, program to be determined

• Aug 29 2:00PM – Family program, ages 0-12, program to be determined

• Aug 11 10:30AM – Reading with Raptors

• Aug 29 2:00PM – Wee Be Jammin’ (Sonja Rasmussen)

Programs require advance registration, please check

Volunteer with Sustainable South Osborne Community Cooperative

By: Mathew Scammell

Calling all neighbourhood green thumbs! Sustainable South Osborne Community Cooperative is gearing up for another growing season and we welcome folks of all experience levels to join us. Below are the starting dates and regular volunteer hours of our three garden sites for this year. Each volunteer shift lasts from around 1.5-2 hours, and is weather dependent.

1. The People Garden (59 Balfour Ave, behind Riverview Community Centre): Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30pm, starting Monday, May 8th - Site Stewards: Sean and Mat Scammell

2. The Lord Roberts Garden (Argue St, behind Lord Roberts Community Centre): M/W/F at 7:00pm, starting May the 4th (be with you) - Site Steward: Ken Everatt

3. The River Bed Garden (250 Churchill Drive): Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30pm, Saturdays at 10:00am, starting May 6th - Site Steward: Barb Ediger

The season will last until harvest is complete, usually sometime in October. Typical tasks are seeding, weed-

ing, watering, transplanting, tree banding, and harvesting, but can also include many other tasks depending on what is needed at the time. Each Garden Steward will decide what is necessary for each shift, but we also welcome self-motivated volunteers that would like to come on their own time. After each shift volunteers can take home a portion of the harvest from that day, and whatever is leftover will be donated to food security organizations.

We would also like to give a hearty welcome to our new (and returning) board members:

Arianna Hildebrand - Member at Large

Caitlin Popoff - Member at Large

Eliana Hotz - Vice President

Sean Scammell - Treasurer

For the link to our Discord channel to get live updates from our garden stewards and to sign up for volunteering, visit our website at sustainablesouthosborne.ca or email us at southosbor-

Bob Rialland Inducted into Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame

By: Riverview Community Centre

Bob Rialland, a former resident of Montgomery Avenue, was involved with the community centre as a coach and athlete, and was one of the founding members of the Assassins Rugby Club.

In October of 2022, Bob was inducted into the Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame at their annual banquet.

Bob’s love of rugby first took hold when in the spring of 1967, he was recruited to play for the Winnipeg Wasps Rugby Club, which regularly practiced on Churchill Drive.

That fall, he was part of the group that helped form a team of local players which would become the Assassins Rugby Football Club.

Bob would go on to serve as the first team captain in 1968, and in 1971, the Assassins would go on to win their first Division 1 men’s championship within the Manitoba Rugby Football Union, and Bob would continue to play throughout the 70s.

Bob, along with Clint Evans and Jim Platt, were the initial driving force behind the Assassins, which would go on to include a number of men and women’s divisions, and is still going strong to this day.

You can read an excellent article about Bob and his rugby career, at manitobarugbyhalloffame.com/bobrialland.html

Photo: long-time Riverview resident, Bill Forbs, presents the award to Bob at the banquet, to the left, is Bob’s wife, Pat.

Be Aware of Toxic Chemicals Being Used in Lawn Care

By: Anne Lindsey, Riverview Resident

Outside our door this May morning, migratory birds are vocalizing, buds are starting to appear on the trees and perennials are popping up all over. Oh yes, and the grass is greening and folks are turning their attention to lawn care, whether that’s DIY or hiring a company. That brings me to wonder how many residents are aware that a recent change in provincial legislation means that lawn care companies are now permitted to use synthetic weedkillers that have been banned in Manitoba for the past 8 years.

In 2014, Manitoba followed the lead of many other provinces to restrict the use and sale of so-called “cosmetic pesticides” – chemicals used for cosmetic or aesthetic purposes such as in lawn care. Why? Because evidence shows that exposure to these products is linked to increases in a variety of serious human, animal and ecosystem health issues, including some cancers, and developmental disorders in children. Doctors, such as the Ontario College of Family Physicians, recommend avoiding any unnecessary pesticide exposures, especially for children, the elderly and immunecompromised people. Evidence also shows that cosmetic pesticides affect biodiversity by killing off the food sources of important pollinators such as bees. The Manitoba legislation was a wise, precautionary approach to public health. Its reversal puts us all at risk.

Lawn care companies, complying with the rules in recent years, offered alternative products, which they insisted were not as effective as the banned products in killing weeds, and were more expensive. Some offered more eco-friendly approaches to lawn care including more aeration, top dressing and diversifying lawn grass species. Many residents are ditching big, water-hungry lawns altogether and we have seen a surge in plantings of perennials, hardy plants and groundcovers suitable for our climate and attractive to birds, butterflies and bees.

Sadly, those same companies are now eagerly promoting the return of the more toxic products, telling us either outright or by implication that they are “safe for children and pets” since they are approved by Health Canada. But this doesn’t mean they are any saf-

er now than they were last year. They still are correlated with cancers and other health concerns. This is misleading advertising counting on residents not knowing that the legislation changed. Even Health Canada asserts “It is good practice to reduce or eliminate any unnecessary exposure to pesticides”. Keep in mind, that even when we aren’t actually walking on a lawn, the chemicals off-gas into the air and drift around, triggering asthma for some and longer-term issues for others.

We have a great walkable community here in South Osborne. As we walk kids to school, stroll with dogs through the neighbourhood, participate in butterfly garden projects, and generally enjoy the great outdoors, do we want to be exposing ourselves to unnecessary toxics that can make us sick? In a recent poll most Winnipeggers (57%) preferred to keep restrictions in place. Only 30% said they want the toxics back.

If you choose a lawn care company, ask them what they use. Tell them you don’t want toxic Par 3, or other products containing 2,4-D. Consider diversifying your yard and looking at alternative ways to beautify your green space. Some chemicals are unavoidable, but we can choose to avoid cosmetic pesticides. Let’s keep our air and water clean and our neighbours and pets safe.

You can learn more at www.cosmeticpesticidebanmb.com

River Park Zoo

by Tessa Allen

The River Park zoo was open from 1902 to 1927 with free admission to see its large collection of North American animals. It was the first zoo of its kind in western Canada, which at the time was called a zoological garden, and was free to the public.

It featured three buffalo, seven elk, a pair of whitetailed deer, three moose from Lac du Bonnet, a caribou, 30 timberwolves (including coyotes), two rocky mountain goats, two brown bears, two black bears, two red foxes, two silver foxes, two lynx, two porcupines, two badgers, a horned owl, a golden eagle, grouse, too many tame rabbits to count, over a hundred pigeons, four raccoons, a collection of wild geese, prairie chickens, a rare squirrel from Iowa, and many, many more.

Nikulás Ottenson was the keeper and trainer at the zoo

for 28 years. He was close with the animals and had pet names for all of them. He was originally a hunter and trapper in Iceland and had been taming animals since his childhood. He even tamed and trained several bears.

River Park had two bear pits, which over the years held at least two black bears and two brown bears. Two of the black bears at the park in 1904 were named Bobs and Teddy.

Three buffalo were brought to the River Park zoo from the Flathead Indian Reserve, Montana in 1903. They were some of the first animals at the zoo.

The buffalos had three runs, 200 by 300 feet, surrounded by 5 foot fencing, located at the eastern end of the park, between Clare Avenue and the river. One run would be occupied at a time, letting the grass re-grow in the others. The runs extended all the way to the river bank, so they had trees for shade in the summer, and though they had a shed for shelter in the winter, they rarely, if ever made use of it. They ate hay in the summer and currant stocks in the winter.

Many of the animal enclosures’ original sites are marked on a map of River Park, mounted on the wall in the community centre’s lobby.

Many Riverviewer’s have heard the rumor’s that the remanent of the bear pits are still visible today. By overlaying maps, we can assume that the pits would have been in the small forested area to the north east of the Churchill Park Tot-lot, and wandering through that section of forest will quickly reveal foundations to some of River Park’s original structures, likely including the bear pits.

Further information on these photos, and many more, can be found on our website, at riverviewcc.ca/historic -photos/

On the right side of the page: Two American black bears in one of two bear pits at River Park. One is lying down, the other is begging for candy. Mailed as a postcard in 1911.

To the left, from top to bottom:

First photo: Enclosures at River Park zoo, with signs reading silver fox, red rox, lynx, (possibly badger, then porcupine), and ‘caution these animals bite’.

Second photo: Goat House At River Park

Third photo: River Park’s zookeeper, Nikulás Ottenson, poses with one of the park’s tame elk.

Fourth photo: Buffalo in its corral at River Park.

Date: before 1912

Kid’s Corner

Jokes

Two pickles fell out a jar onto the floor. What did one say to the other? Dill with it.

What musical instrument is found in the bathroom? A tuba tooth paste.

What do you call a dog magician? A labracadabrador.

What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm.

Another Day in Riverview

Start