Reflection helps instill life lessons

The end of January is a little late to be making New Year resolutions – most of which would have been broken by now anyway.

So instead of resolutions, I decided I would reflect on some things I learned during the past year. Some are the consequence of growing older –and while I’d like to say wiser, that might up for debate. Others were brought about by circumstances, and particularly the death of my brother Roger, who suffered much more than anyone should have to; leaving me to question beliefs I’ve held all my life. A parallel lesson involves letting go of perceived notions of fairness; telling people how you feel about that while they are still with us; and trying to find peace in life.

Without getting into specifics, here are some general comments about how I dealt with these issues and what I learned, in the hope that these will lighten the burden for others who may share them or something similar.

Life lesson No. 1: Make life matter. As we age, we think more about what our life represents. During our working years, we have little time or energy to think about what we’ll do when we have time. But after years of golf and whatever, many people feel something is missing. That something could be purpose. Volunteering or finding other ways to contribute to society can help with this. For me, it involves activism and shedding light on injustices – to people and animals – by writing about the need for change.

Have fun, get active, get outside

Manitobans love a good challenge. What better time to undertake one than during the depths of winter?

The Green Action Centre’s annual Jack Frost Challenge, which launched on Feb. 1, encourages folks across the province to brave the cold and stay active during the winter months.

“Winter is six months of the year here in Winnipeg,” said Lilja Best, workplace commuter options program co-ordinator with the Green Action Centre.

“If you’re not getting outside during that time, it could have impacts on your mental and physical health. So we really want to encourage people to get out and move their bodies.”

Seasons of Tuxedo apartments green-lit

The Assiniboia community committee held a regular meeting on Jan. 26.

There was only one item on the docket: a plan approval for 615 Sterling Lyon Pkwy., in the Tuxedo neighbourhood near the Seasons of Tuxedo commercial district.

The plan calls for two seven-storey apartment buildings, which, if approved by council, would add up to 169 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.

Overall, the completed project will be 16,283 square feet, accessible from a private road. The plan calls for 189 vehicle parking stalls and 25 bike stalls.

Under the covers

Local readers of romance now have a dedicated book shop to call their own.

Bound to Please Books is a new romance-focused bookstore which aims to highlight local authors. Located at 995 McPhillips St., Bound to Please sells new and used romance novels of both the racy and cosy varieties, along with a good mix of everything in between.

For owner Dylan Yuen, having a bookstore that can also act as a community space is a dream come true.

“When I was younger, there used to be Sam’s Place, which used to be a bookstore and café (in Elmwood) and they would have concerts there,” Yuen said. “Now its just a café. One of my cousins performed there once and I was like, ‘I want to have a place like that, a bookstore where people could come and perform, too.’

Local all-femme indie band Strawberry Punch will make its Festival du Voyageur debut on the evening of Feb. 13 in the festival’s Forest Tent, a day before the release of its second single, Pocket.

The twee pop quartet consists of Gen Z musicians Tuva Bergstrom (bass, vocals), Freja Haight (lead guitar), Brandy Lafond (drums) and Danielle (Danny) McDonald (vocals).

McDonald describes the band as sounding like “the ’90s does ’60s in the future” and “women in women-dominated fields.”

“The vibe, the music, the energy — for us, a lot of what we write about and what inspires us is girls,” she said. “Our shows are full of beautiful women … (It’s a) celebration of women, of girlhood, of femininity and fun.”

Seeing ourselves through a different lens

New audiences are getting to see some of the best documentaries made in Manitoba thanks to the launch of a new channel on YouTube.

The Manitoba Documentary Archive has been created by DOC Manitoba, an organization which represents professional documentary filmmakers in the province, to showcase locally created work to audiences across the globe.

Jeff Newman, founder and president of St. Boniface-based Nüman Films and a DOC Manitoba board member, said the archive gives filmmakers the chance to present their creations to broader audiences, while also prolonging the lives of their respective projects.

“The archive started because, as a documentary filmmaker myself, many of us have made films over the years locally, such as MTS Stories From Home, that had their run and now they’re sitting on shelves or hard drives collecting dust,” Newman said, noting that the initiative is being supported by provincial funding agency Manitoba Film & Music, local industry association On Screen Manitoba, as well as DOC Manitoba.

Sew what?

It is in Anna Schmidt’s nature to sew and to teach. Now, as the Winnipeg Public Library’s first maker-in-residence of 2026, she will be doing both.

“I had a day job (as an educator) elsewhere for a very long time, but I’ve been sewing since I was a teenager,” Schmidt said.

“I got quite interested in quilting, in particular, about seven years ago, and had lots of time to focus on it during the pandemic. Since retiring, it’s been my full-time pursuit. I find it a very satisfying art form. I’m interested in it both as an art and a practical activity, and particularly interested in making it accessible to people.”

Schmidt, a resident of the Exchange District who grew up in St. James and spent the bulk of her adult life in Fort Garry, will act as the library’s maker-in-residence through May. Schmidt markets her own creations by way of Common Loon Quilts, and also takes on commission work. She said she applied for the position as a means of pushing herself past her comfort zone.

Sherburn Street greenspace is officially a park

The City Centre community committee met for a regular meeting on Jan. 27.

Only a few subjects were discussed. However, the committee did approve a city-initiated rezoning of 546 Sherburn St., from ‘residential two-family’ to ‘parks and recreation (neighbourhood).’

The space, which has for years been informally used as an unofficial greenspace and gathering spot for members of the local community, was home to the Crescent Creamery plant from 1912 to 1988, when the building was demolished.

In 2025, the lot was included in a city list of spots being considered for a proposed supportive housing project to be funded by the housing accelerator fund.

Serving up success

Without a crystal ball, it’s hard to know what Mariya Gedz might achieve on the tennis court by her 18th birthday.

With a tennis ball and racket, however, the Garden City resident is making a name for herself on the local tennis scene and beyond.

For the last year or so, Gedz — who is currently 14 — has been the top-ranked female player in the province in U18 category. Nationally, she was previously ranked 21st in the girls U14 bracket, and she’s currently ranked 48th in the girls U16 category, having recently moved up an age level (she turns 15 this year).

In light of her continued progress, the teen recently received Sport Manitoba’s $500 Bison Transport Women to Watch grant, which supports girls and women as they advance and develop in their chosen sports.

City unveils winning snow plow names

It’s now going to be a little easier for folks to identify the City of Winnipeg’s fleet of snowplows.

The city recently ran its inaugural Name that Plow contest, which garnered more than 1,700 entries.

“Thank you to all the Winnipeggers who brought the creativity, humour, and local references to our first ever Name that Plow contest,” Mayor Scott Gillingham in a news release.

“The submissions were incredible and the names are a fun way to celebrate the hardworking crews who keep our streets, sidewalks, and pathways cleared all winter long.”

Working toward a new global order

After a nice break from Ottawa that allowed for time in the riding to catch up with constituents and visit with family, I was ready to get back to Parliament. I brought with me the voices, concerns, and priorities I heard from constituents over the past few months. Time spent at home in the community is grounding, and it sharpens my focus on what matters to folks. I am eager to bring local perspectives to the national table as the chair of the Prairies and North caucus and advancing the issues that matter most to families and communities in the House of Commons and in committee.

Recently, Prime Minister Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that I believe will be regarded as one of the most consequential of our century. I strongly encourage those who have not seen it to take a look. The prime minister highlighted the realities that Canada and the world face today, in light of a rapidly shifting global order, and the role we can, and must, play to remain strong in the face of it.

Some of the key messages from the speech include the following:

“Canadians know that our old, comfortable assumption that our geography and alliance memberships automatically conferred prosperity and security is no longer valid.

Supporting Manitoba’s living history

I am pleased to celebrate two important cultural institutions in our community, the Seven Oaks House Museum and the Polish Canadian Museum and Archives, both of which play a vital role in preserving the stories that shape our province. These organizations recently marked meaningful milestones and received support through the heritage grants program, helping ensure their important work can continue far into the future.

The Seven Oaks House Museum holds a special place in Winnipeg’s history. As the oldest surviving home in the city, it offers a powerful connection to Winnipeg’s earliest days and honours the families whose contributions helped build our communities. The site reflects the legacy of John and Mary Inkster and their Scottish Métis family, whose home was deeply woven into the growth of what would become our city.

Today, the museum serves as a place of learning and reflection, where the past is preserved through historic structures and Red River architecture. It offers Manitobans the opportunity to better understand daily life in the 19th century and the foundations upon which our province was built. I encourage everyone not to miss the chance to visit this important piece of our shared history when the museum opens again during May long weekend.

I also want to uplift the Polish Canadian Museum and Archives, formerly known as the Ogniwo Polish Museum, which proudly celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025. Located here in St. John’s, the museum has spent four decades protecting and sharing Polish Canadian histories through a growing collection shaped by community generosity and care.

Aging and the modern age

Is there anything modern about aging? I do not think so. Since time immemorial, age has been the daunting problem no one could solve. Not getting old yet living a long life and looking fresh and youthful is still the dream. We often feel discouraged by wrinkles, sagging arms, or any evidence of aging – except when applying for jobs, when we suddenly want our years of experience to matter.

Many people are anxious about aging and dying, especially about losing independence or living in a care facility.

When I was young, growing up in a village in Guyana, 65 years was old, ancient — 70 was winning the longevity jackpot. Today, 65 is the new 45. We are living longer and with this comes an explosion of age-related issues, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s and other chronic or debilitating conditions.

In my circle of friends, which is mostly immigrant women, there is concern about entering a long-term care facility or having the wrong gender of health-care workers assigned to provide personal care. Older women often talk about feeling afraid when someone, especially a young man, participates in their personal care – such as bathing or changing diapers. To address these concerns, women should have confidence in their personal care choices. We are at a vulnerable stage and need peace of mind, not extra stress. Allowing older adults to choose their caregivers helps protect their dignity, particularly when they do not have anyone else to speak up for them. However, male workers might interpret such choices as unfair treatment under the Manitoba human rights laws. I do not have the answer to this, but these women would like to be accommodated.