Focus on here and now with neighbourly fling

Olympian Beckie Scott helping kids through sports

Olympic champion Beckie Scott never imagined herself running a non-profit after retiring from competitive cross-country skiing.

As Canada's most-decorated cross-country skier, she simply knew firsthand the power and value that sports hold.

“I have the lived feel of coming out on the other side of sport with life feel and skill sets and connections to opportunities I would never have access to otherwise," said Scott, who has a gold medal from the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and a silver from the 2006 Turin Games.

"I just think it’s such a beautiful platform to share, especially or particularly with young people who are marginalized or vulnerable.”

Hurdy-gurdy show coming to St. Norbert Arts Centre

Quintin Bart’s favourite instrument has a name that’s easy to remember and it makes a sound that’s difficult to forget.

Say it with us — hurdy-gurdy.

Functioning like a wheeled, crank-activated violin, Bart’s trapezoidal instrument produces a continuous range of sound by manipulation of two drone strings, two melody strings and one trompette string. As the wheel spins in a single direction, the music created can last as long as the crank turns.

“I like to think of it as an analogue synthesizer,” says Bart, a jazz-minded Winnipeg folk musician who has used the baroque tool in performances with artists including Matt Foster and Raine Hamilton.

Current, former civic employees say misconduct rampant, malingering culture entrenched

Allegations of widespread misconduct among inspectors in Winnipeg’s planning, property and development department may be just the tip of the iceberg, as whistleblowers are stepping forward to sound the alarm about problems that extend elsewhere in the municipal workforce.

Two people — the Free Press has agreed not to name them— are speaking out about their experiences working in three departments under the public works umbrella during the past decade. One is a current employee and the other twice worked as a summer contractor for the city.

They describe a culture of short, lackadaisical workdays peppered with frequent, lengthy coffee breaks and extended lunches, and one where fireable offences — including sleeping, drinking alcohol on the job and theft or misuse of equipment — are rife.

“I’m sure that you know, and the majority of people know, what we actually do. It goes beyond the planning, property and development department... I’m really tired of not feeling productive. I just want to do a good job and feel good about my day,” said the current employee.

We used to love a good thunderstorm

Growing up on the prairies, even as a city girl, summertime thunderstorms were always cause for excitement. That first rumble signalled it was time to go search for the sleeping bags.

We’d cuddle under them on the front step, under the awning, as we watched the rain pour. And we’d stay out there until we were soaked.

If the lightning wasn’t bad enough for our parents to call us in, we neighbourhood kids would then throw on our bathing suits and go play in the warm puddles. It was some of the best stuff of summer.

As a mom now, with a little girl of my own, I was excited to watch her growing up loving Winnipeg thunderstorms, too.

Emotional Valieva takes lead in Olympic figure skating

The class-action was spearheaded by a Vancouver resident who alleged the company had hidden service fees that were only charged upon payment. Here’s how to make a claim