Christmas lights a-glowin’

Christmas lights a-glowin’ in West Winnipeg

With the Winnipeg Christmas Map guiding the way, the Free Press Community Review took in the Christmas lights of Lindenwoods and Charleswood last week. Households along many of the neighbourhood streets in Lindenwoods get together every year to co-ordinate their light displays, creating Polar Bear Lane, Nutcracker Land, Candycane Lane and Penguin Parkway (Polar Bear Lane even broadcasts holiday music at 94.9 FM), while one Charleswood yard is so lit up the neighbour’s lawn simply features a lighted arrow and the word ‘Ditto’

Rock now rolling in the ring

While boxer Isaiah Rock’s 2025 didn’t always go according to plan, the year ended where he wanted it to —as Canadian champion.

Rock captured the gold medal in the 50-kilogram weight class at Boxing Canada’s 2025 Elite National Championships. Held in Winnipeg in late November, the match saw Rock outlast fellow Winnipegger Victor Cheung for the win.

The four-year veteran began 2025 on a good note after winning a silver medal at the 2024 Canadian National Championships in Sarnia, Ont. That close, 3-2 decision left Rock wanting more in 2025.

However, Rock suffered a serious back injury early in the year, leaving the 22-year-old pugilist out of action for four months.

Back to the future

In a week’s time, the first quarter of the first century of the common era’s third millennium will be put to rest.

As milestones go, the turn of a millennium is a special thing to experience. Having recently come across the Dec. 31, 1999, and Jan. 1, 2000, editions of the Free Press, it was interesting to look back at a snapshot of that time in history.

The world hadn’t ended, as some had predicted it might, but neither had it become an advanced technological utopia. Still, the particular mix of optimism and anxiety definitely skewed towards the positive.

A Prairie Research Associates poll from the time showed Manitobans were optimistic across every economic sector, from richest to poorest, after the “turbulent” economic times of the ’80s and early ’90s.

Raiders in the hunt for championship banner

The Oak Park Raiders are at the top of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League to end 2025, and that’s exactly where the team intends to be at season’s end.

“Since Day 1, the goal is to go the distance and be playing in the last game of the year,” coach Ian McDonald said. “That’s something we talk about weekly.”

In the WHSHL’s top Platinum Promotions Division, Oak Park held the top spot with a 13-1-2 record going into a Dec. 19 game against Lord Selkirk, though both Vincent Massey and Sturgeon Heights were within a pair of wins at press time.

“There are about four of us — Vincent Massey, Steinbach, Sturgeon Heights — where almost every game goes to extra time,” McDonald said. “Those are the teams that we’ll key in on. But any team can beat any team, that’s the strength of the league. Any game we’re not at our best, we can lose to anyone.”

New horizons for Dakota C.C.

A “generational” transformation at one of southeast Winnipeg’s largest recreational hub began on Dec. 15, when stakeholders announced that the federal government has allocated $7.5 million to support the first phase of a long list of additions and upgrades to St. Vital’s Dakota Community Centre.

Opened in 1987, the centre — which is home to the 95,000 square-foot Jonathan Toews Sportsplex — also boasts two skating rinks and a multi-use fieldhouse, among other resources for sports and recreation. It’s made a name for itself in the area — bringing in residents from River Park South, Sage Creek, Windsor Park, and surrounding communities — as an accessible, centralized hub, and it now sits on the starting line of an exciting transformation valued at $50 million, to be completed over the next several years.

The first phase will mark the beginning of design and project planning, including the development of a capital campaign, in the careful lead-up to site preparation, according to Michele Augert, president and CEO of Dakota C.C.

Upgrades will include a new, fully-accessible arena, which would include a rink, a modern fitness area, new dressing rooms, a fitness area and ice plant, as well as upgrades to the lobby, additional community rooms, and an expanded space for child care.

City news in brief — week of Dec. 24, 2025

The Forks to host free New Year’s Day programs

On Jan. 1, 2026, the Forks will be offering a full day of free, family friendly activities to kick off its Learn to Winter program.

“New Year’s Day at The Forks is about coming together and celebrating winter as a community,” said Sara Stasiuk, president andCEOof The Forks, in a statement. “It reflects how people already use the site in winter, whether they are skating, walking, spending time outdoors or grabbing a warm drink in the market. The day brings those everyday activities into focus and sets the tone for the season ahead.”

Beginning at 9 a.m. and running through 8 p.m., activities will include face painting, storytelling, live music, karaoke, drag performances, yoga, fitness classes, skating lessons, and more outdoor fun.

Happy holidays!

Christmas spirit is aglow in east Winnipeg, and several residents of Transcona and St. Boniface have gone to great lengths to deckout their yards to reflect a healthy helping of holiday cheer. Here are just a few examples, discovered with the help of Mapping Winnipeg on Facebook.

Season’s greetings

The holiday season is now upon us, a wondrous time of celebration, goodwill to our fellow citizens and thoughtful reflections on the year gone by.

With neighbourhoods and businesses aglow with colourful decorations, our province’s renowned community spirit is bright, beautiful and further enhanced at this time of year. Manitoba’s multiculturalism is also on full display at this time of year, with holiday traditions from around the world joyfully reflected in cuisine, decorations, and seasonal events in all parts of our province.

Our renowned community spirit is further demonstrated through a variety of creative events and charitable endeavours, each helping to ensure that everyone feels the warmth of our welcoming and caring provincial community. I encourage everyone to support the many wonderful organizations dedicated to providing a hand up to Manitobans in need with the same empathy and generosity that has consistently made our province one of the most giving places in Canada.

As the King’s representative in Manitoba, I am pleased to extend vice-regal greetings to all citizens for a safe and happy holiday season. May the wonders of this special time inspire us all to demonstrate kindness and compassion to all, not only seasonally, but all year-round. Every good deed is another subtle reminder of how fortunate we are to call this great province ‘home.’

Looking on the bright side this Christmas

Even though the world seems to be going to hell in a basket, let me assure you it is not.

If we consume a regular diet of fast-breaking news, it sure looks that way. However, if we take a broader look at where we are now, you’d see that we’ve never had it so good.

No, I’m not Pollyanna-ish. There are facts to back this up. Let us count our blessings this Christmas. We have better health-care than ever before, we are more educated than ever before, the world is connected more than ever before, infant mortality rates have never been better around the world and there is less war than we’ve ever known.

Through leaps and bounds of scientific and technological progress, the world has become a village. We have it in the palm of our hands.

Siloam evolves to meet needs of those it serves

Siloam Mission has been providing meals, clothing, and hope to the homeless since it opened its doors in Winnipeg in 1987.

On Dec. 1, Darren Nodrick, director of development at Siloam, told the story of the mission to the Charleswood Historical Society. Over the past 30 plus years, Siloam has evolved from a shelter to a charitable organization that provides programs, services and life skills. It has diversified to meet needs as they arise, including the provision of transitional services and supportive housing. Siloam is also addressing the massive housing deficit by providing social housing to accommodate seniors, in particular.

Nodrick said there are close to 5,000 people experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg right now – double what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. That number doesn’t include the hidden homeless, such as couch surfers and those living in encampments, he said.

Trauma is the root cause of homelessness, Nodrick said. Addiction is a major issue but it’s more of a symptom than a cause. Today, a lot of seniors are being priced “out of their lives” because housing costs have gone up. Many have finite income and their lives can sometimes come down to a choice between paying rent and buying groceries.

The influential life of Valdimar Eylands

On June 21, 1925, at Selkirk Lutheran Church, 24-year-old Valdimar Eylands was ordained as a Lutheran Minister. During the 58-year career that ensued, the young man became a legend in three different countries.

As we approach the 125th anniversary of his birth, the time has come for a story about Uncle Valdimar.

Valdimar was born on March 3, 1901, in Iceland. On Dec. 27, 1925, just five months after his ordainment, Valdimar married Lilia Johnson, and the couple went on to have four children — Jon, Lilia, Elene, and Delores. Valdimar began his ministry serving various U.S. congregations. In 1938, he was called to serve the Selkirk Lutheran Church and assist the ailing Rev. Bjorn B. Jonsson at First Lutheran Church on Victor Street in Winnipeg. After Jonsson’s death in May 1938, Valdimar became lead pastor of First Lutheran for 29 of the next 30 years.

Valdimar’s ministry was very innovative .On Feb. 27, 1944, a First Lutheran evening Icelandic service was broadcast on CKY Radio. Pearl Johnson was the soloist. Rev. Sigurgeir Sigurdson, the bishop of Iceland, preached the sermon.

The night before Christmas – 2025 version

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the world;

Not a creature was stirring, except viewers around TVs curled,

Wars still raged the world over;

The people helter skelter ran for cover,

Time for skating in Elmwood

Winter sports such as skating have so far been disappointing for many Winnipeggers this year, with the long, relatively warm and snowless months of fall. The rivers are taking a long time to freeze, and many outdoor skating rinks remain closed. As colder weather and snow have now arrived, people in Elmwood and around the city might soon enjoy gliding and twirling around on neighbourhood rinks.

For skating enthusiasts with the time and space, creating a home ice rink is a possibility, giving them the chance to enjoy the ice any time they wish. Most people, however, need to depend on the public skating rinks maintained by local government or community groups. While these rinks might be crowded at times, they’re likely well-maintained and large enough to provide users with the opportunity for active skating.

The winter skating page of the City of Winnipeg’s website lists many skating rinks “located in parks, school sites and at community centres”; in addition, “Many small neighbourhood rinks are also maintained for public use.”

In Elmwood, official skating rinks include outdoor facilities at the Abdo and Samira El Tassi Park (100 Elmwood Rd., near Talbot Avenue), Elmwood Park (380 Henderson Hwy.), and the rink at the East Elmwood Community Centre (490 Keenleyside Ave.) The Glenelm Neighbourhood Association also lists the two rinks at the Clara Hughes Recreation Park (281 Henderson Hwy.).

Meet the monarch whisperer

A multi-talented resident at Dakota House, Helen Hogue, was once featured in several nature magazines for her former prize-winning gardens in St. James. Finding out she still grooms monarchs right in her present suite intrigued me.

No, she’s not raising royalty – these are monarch butterflies.

I’ve known since grade school there are four stages in a butterfly’s life – egg, larva, pupa or chrysalis, and adult. In plain language, the larvae are worms.

Calling them caterpillars, Helen’s way, did not help me. How could anyone tolerate having worms crawling around free-range in one’s own dwelling!? When she mentioned she’d raised a total of 1,621 butterflies in her St. James sunroom, I shuddered.

Are we becoming Hollywood North?

Winnipeg has been a hot destination for filming movies as of late. I don’t mean weather-related hot, I mean the desirable kind of hot — but film production companies also come for the cold, as our climate is definitely suitable for winter or barren tundra-type shots, as we are all aware.

Whether it’s the allure of the tax breaks, the unique historical pockets of the city, the great choices of restaurants or the super-friendly people, Winnipeg has become a successful film location

Did you know that the City of Winnipeg has a film and special events team, managed by Kenny Boyce, who makes sure those coming to Winnipeg to scout movies are treated with the best welcome possible? Check out the April 2, 2025 episode of the City of Winnipeg’s podcast Our City, Our Podcast for stories about locally shot film productions and special events. In 2024 alone there were at least six films shot in and around Winnipeg, which has provided all kinds of employment for our local population, from catering to construction, acting extras to the hospitality industry. Big-name stars are actually coming to Winnipeg, and some are really enjoying it. People such as Jon Hamm and Bob Ode kirk are checking out our attractions and posting their adventures online for all to see. We tend to stand back when we see a star here, respect their space and admire from afar. I think they may like the fact they aren’t getting mobbed by crowds everywhere they go. They can walk around like a normal person and enjoy life.

Some areas of Winnipeg are more unique than others for movie shoots, such as the east end of Transcona. We were a town in 1912, a city in 1961 and then joined the City of Winnipeg in the forced merger of 1971. Our main street was the quintessential old town hub of the community, where people went to socialize and shop for essentials. Much of the original character of the main street remains and is thus a draw for all types of movie shoots. I remember when Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure was shot here in 2011 and the street was done up everything Christmas. That movie will never leave my mind as it was the movie my nieces wanted to watch 60 times.