Letters, Jan. 5

Elbows up

I was in the Liquor Mart on Friday morning looking for some coffee liqueur. There was the famous brand from Mexico there, and there was also the surprise American knock-off on the shelf.

I took the latter up to the counter and asked if purchasing American still went to charities. The clerk said that ended on Dec 24. I took the American one back, and got the Mexican brand instead. Elbows up.

I think the Liquor Mart is really doing a disservice to the charities by not making all American sales benefit charity until the shelves are finally empty of wares from the U.S.

Ryan Desjarlais

Winnipeg

Beautiful ballet

I attended the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker with my daughter on Dec. 27.

I hadn’t attended in a few years but I was looking forward to the production as a familiar, nostalgic part of my Christmas holiday. The RWB is never a disappointment. But what I saw this year was a new production with stunning costumes and charming sets with the addition of different cultures dancing during Clara’s dream.

I saw Manohar Performing Arts of Canada, Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and the Ivan Flett Memorial dancers.

I was moved beyond words. In this time of chaos in the world with so much hate and division, I saw different arts groups coming together, practicing inclusion and performing reconciliation. I went for my beloved ballet and left with my faith restored. There are good and beautiful things happening in the world and there are people making change in a positive way.

Thank you, Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

Darragh Innes-Smith

Winnipeg

Grateful for fast action

Re: Wait times in two Winnipeg ERs exceed 12 hours (Dec. 30)

Despite experiencing symptoms of a possible heart attack, I did not go to the hospital. Spending hours sitting in an emergency room was not the way I wanted to spend Christmas Day. When the pain returned with great intensity on Dec. 30, I did go to St. Boniface hospital with paramedics in spite of the posted 15-hour wait time.

My “textbook normal” EKG and decent blood chemistry challenged staff but after a few hours of what sometimes felt like benign neglect, there was a plan. A heart catheter lab was free and I was wheeled in. The slow-moving medical system went into warp speed. It was like an F1 pit stop and I was the car. Clothing came off, electrode pads were slapped on, I agreed to a radical medical intervention after I was rolled onto the table and we were off to the races.

Within an hour the pain disappeared as a totally blocked artery was opened with a stent. My genes and “it won’t happen to me” attitude had caught up with me but some amazing cardiac and pharmacy experts still got me home for New Year’s Eve with my family. Going from the crushing pain of a heart attack to feeling great and being discharged with a repaired artery all within 30 hours felt like a New Year’s miracle.

The medical system is broken when someone like me hesitates to go to emergency because of excessive wait times. However, the response to my non-textbook heart attack was impressive and I’m grateful for the expert and compassionate care I received from paramedics, nurses, residents, physician assistants, doctors and others and for how quickly a near catastrophic situation was resolved.

Viola Prowse

Winnipeg

Support system

Re: First comes the shock (Dec. 30)

Martin Zeilig provided a tremendous service by sharing his personal journey with prostate cancer. Having attended a lecture sponsored by his support group in preparation for my Free Press Community Review column I would like to acknowledge ongoing behind the scenes things that continue to this day that I witnessed supporting attendees at the Prostate Group gatherings.

My job was to listen, observe and report. What I heard was the crucial role spouses and partners like Jen, Martin’s wife, play in a scary medical experience. The door greeter assumed I was a support person and the welcome I received as did others was amazing. Little things that we often take for granted were important to newcomers scared of their diagnosis but brave enough to enter yet another new phase that warranted information and camaraderie.

Kudos to the First Unitarian Universalist Church’s mandate of community outreach for providing not only a sanctuary but, if needed, a quiet space in the library or living room for those who are feeling overwhelmed. Being centrally located with good bus service to 603 Wellington Cres. was important to two of the men I spoke with, and everybody loves a door prize.

Thank you, Martin, your words are making a huge difference.

Heather Emberley

Winnipeg

Proposal for the city

Re: More to the Granite story (Think Tank, Dec. 27)

I feel there is something that is missing from the narrative.

Coun. Evan Duncan, during an interview on the radio, appeared to be holding back. I couldn’t help but be left with the impression that there is something not being said. The city has several options at its disposal to allow for new affordable housing that will not impact a long-standing organization: the Granite Curling Club in this case.

Heck, just take a look along Assiniboine Avenue east of Osborne. With an open mind I think someone can figure out where to build a couple of multi-unit dwellings along the river close to Osborne. There are so many vacant spaces and empty lots all over the city that would be just as beneficial without creating problems for our historical dwellings that are still viable.

Providing the Granite with a better option to improve and possibly expand its offerings just might contribute to efforts to bring more people into the downtown area. After all, they have an amazing space that could host more events even in curling’s off season. If such decisions are made, for whatever reason, I feel personal in this case, that will end up with the club’s demise will end up with another beautiful space being lost.

Some of us still remember the former Canoe Club; in any other jurisdiction places like The Granite Curling Club, Canoe Club, a restaurant on the Provencher bridge would thrive. Our chosen city councillors must do better. Why not sell the Granite back to itself for something reasonable like a dollar, collect the property tax revenue, and sit back and see what happens? Everyone might just be pleasantly surprised.

I am sure Couns. Duncan and Sherri Rollins can work with others to come up with a solution that will open up other spaces for development, create some much-needed infill, increase traffic to and around downtown, as well as preserve places that enhance the quality of life for people living and coming to Winnipeg.

Vic Pereira

Winnipeg

A solution for the Jets

The fix for the Jets’ recent woes is right down the road. They are called the Moose, the Jets’ farm team, loaded with young speedy talent that would skate through a wall to help the team, yet the Jets ignore them.

It is said they do not want to risk losing a player to waivers, but what’s the risk when those who are potential waiver losses would be a gain? Those I speak of are the basically goalless, and cannot even run into the opposition by accident. Give this some thought. Six of the Jets’ defencemen are seventh guys on any other team, including Pionk, who continues to take stupid penalties, hurting the team.

I speak of Nyquist, Pearson, Namestnikov, DeMelo, yes sadly Perfetti (maybe trade) Miller or Fleury.

And Jonathan Toews, please retire and save face. Nice comeback try, but you know it is not there.

Give four or five young Moose players a chance and real ice time. There is nothing to lose. It may also give the current roster belief in the team.

Making no roster changes during a losing streak is simply ridiculous.

John Zaplitny

Carman