Music and singing this summer

Not everyone sings in a choir, but most of us, from time to time, belt out a few tunes in the shower, the car, or some other place where we feel safe and comfortable.

I know of a place where you can sing for fun in a relaxed and positive environment. The event is called Earthsong and is held from July 13 to 17 at the United Church in Meadowood on Dakota. Registration ($350 for the week) is open until the day before the event.

I know Jeremy Vallance who co-ordinates and directs the camp. He is fun, energetic, and no doubt makes this week very enjoyable for all the attendees. I asked Jeremy why he runs this program.

“Earthsong makes music accessible to anyone who wants to sing, regardless of their background and beliefs,” he said. “Whether you’ve never sung before or are an experienced singer, this week-long day camp brings adults together in a safe, supportive community where everyone can feel confident to express themselves joyfully, together. There’s nothing like singing to unite people, to give us a daily mental uplift bringing us laughter, a sense of inclusion and child-like fun.”

Building a stronger Fort Richmond through meaningful investments

Summer is a flourishing time in Fort Richmond. This year, it is especially exciting to see many community projects come to fruition. These investments are a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, community partnership, and thoughtful long-term planning. Across Fort Richmond, we are already seeing the positive impact of these projects that will continue to enrich the lives of residents for generations to come.

I was honoured to join Pembina Trails School Division along with school staff, students, and families at the Bairdmore School (700 Bairdmore Blvd.) for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new play structure. This important investment of $100,000 by the Government of Manitoba is being built for the entire neighbourhood. It will become a vibrant community hub — a safe, accessible gathering place where families from all walks of life can connect. This is not only an investment in infrastructure, but also a promise to students that their physical health, social development, and joy matter and will be nurtured.

Another significant development is the South Winnipeg Recreation Campus, a major project currently underway. This new hub represents a forward-looking investment in local infrastructure and community well-being. Our government is proud to contribute $47.2 million to this project which will create a space where south Winnipeg families can learn, play, grow, and belong.

Community investments are strongest when all levels of government work together. The groundbreaking of new spray pad at the South Winnipeg Community Centre-Richmond (666 Silverstone Ave.) is a great example of how collaboration can provide meaningful benefits to local families. It will also provide a safe, engaging way to cool off during the summer while encouraging outdoor play for children.

Osteoporosis: The silent thief of bone health

Most people think of broken bones as the result of a fall, a sports injury, or an accident. But for more than 2.3 million Canadians living with osteoporosis, a simple slip — or sometimes even a cough or bend — can lead to a serious fracture.

Often called the “silent thief,” osteoporosis gradually weakens bones over many years without noticeable symptoms.

“Unfortunately, by the time a fracture occurs, the disease is often already quite advanced,” explains Tatum Apsit, Osteoporosis Canada’s community engagement co-ordinator for Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

While osteoporosis is commonly associated with older women, everyone should pay attention to their bone health. In fact, at least one in three women and one in five men will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime. Fractures linked to osteoporosis are actually more common than heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer combined.

Growing the game

On June 17, over 60 children and their caregivers came out to learn tennis or to improve their skills at the Garden City Collegiate community tennis courts, located at 711 Jefferson Ave.

Hosted by the Garden City Tennis Group, this first annual free tennis fest event was sponsored by Tennis Manitoba. Executive director Steve Dreger supplied all the tennis rackets and other equipment for event day, and invited eight of Manitoba‘s elite youth tennis players to be part of the training sessions. Head coach Dennis Flores was assisted by Jowen Sangalang, Edj Villamar, Boni Riteul, Noy Manalasesa, and Derek Dabee. Refreshments were sponsored by area councillor Devi Sharma.

It’s good to be green

Members of École Howden’s community hope their collective efforts take root to benefit generations to come.

Folks at the Windsor Park-based school, which is located at 150 Howden Rd., have been busy working on improving the schoolyard by adding trees and a pollinator garden with native plants.

The project — aided by a Manitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement Program grant and the hands-on support of Above and Below Tree Care — is intended to create learning opportunities, biodiversity, shade, and as well as enhance the space’s climate resilience, said Miriam Rudolph, chair of the school’s parent advisory council’s playground renewal committee, and a key organizer of the initiative.

On June 19, a working group planted 15 trees at the school and held a small tree planting ceremony with a kindergarten and Grade 2/3 class, whose roles included helping with the planting and watering tasks. The staff involved with the planting process were kindergarten teacher Kim Eisner, Grade 2/3 teacher Alex Subhan, and teacher-librarian Kathleen Witkovicz. Kindergarten and Grade 2/3 classes at Howden have trees as part of their curriculum.

Be prepared for ticks this summer

It has been such a quick transition from winter to summer, we really haven’t seen the tick and mosquito season hit the way it normally does. Seems it has gone from pleasantly insect free to quickly a concern.

There has been a big push from the veterinary industry to combine heartworm medications with tick control products, and the results have been quite concerning. While many have used these fairly expensive combinations with no issues, the reports of adverse side effects have been alarming. If a pet is a breed prone to seizures, or the pet itself has a personal or family history of seizures, they can be at risk of severe side effects. So before using these, make sure you have researched whether it is the right product for you.

Heartworm pills are not something you can skip, please. They are standard medications with very few side effects and are very effective. It is essential, however, to test regularly, because should your pet have become infected in spite of the pills/chews, and the worms have infested the heart area, giving the treatment would kill those worms, and create a septic environment that could kill the pet. So, regular testing — at the veterinarian’s recommended intervals — and diligent use of the single purpose heartworm pill is an imperative.

If you are comfortable with the combination medications (Heartworm, flea, tick), and have used them with your current pets previously with no ill effects, there is no reason not to continue. If you have reservations about trying them on a new pet, have had some reactions in the past, or are looking for a less expensive option, there are a number of natural solutions out there.

Summer in St. James

Summer is one of my favourite times in our community. It’s a season to get outside, reconnect with neighbours, and take pride in what makes St. James such a special place to call home. This year, our team is focused on hearing from you, bringing people together, and celebrating the achievements of our young leaders.

Throughout the summer, my team and I will be canvassing across the community to hear directly from residents. Whether it’s at your door, in a park, or at a local event, we’re looking forward to connecting with you. These conversations are incredibly important to me. They help shape the work I do every day and ensure that your voice is reflected in the decisions being made by our government. If you see us out in the neighbourhood, please don’t hesitate to stop and say hello, we always appreciate the opportunity to connect.

We’re also excited to be hosting a series of community barbecues and ice cream events throughout summer. Our barbecues will be taking place at Leicester Square, Hillsboro House, and Issac Brock Community Centre and we’ll be hosting ice cream events at Bruce Park Place, Kiltarton Towers, Donwood West, and Colorado Estates. It’s always a pleasure to see familiar faces and meet new folks while celebrating the strong sense of community we share. For more details about these events, please reach out to my office at Adrien.Sala@yourmanitoba.ca or 204-792-8779.

Finally, I want to take a moment to recognize some outstanding students from across our schools who were awarded our annual graduation scholarships. These awards celebrate not only academic achievement, but also creativity, leadership, and a commitment to community.

Summer fun is just getting started in Rossmere

At last, summer is here, and it arrived with a burst of creativity and community spirit!

We kicked things off with something truly special. On June 14, one of our favourite Rossmere gathering places, Scout: Coffee + Community, hosted its Mini Maker Market, filling the parking lot with colour, excitement, and the unmistakable buzz of young entrepreneurs bringing their ideas to life.

The Mini Maker Market is more than an event, it’s an experience that empowers children and youth to imagine, design, and launch their very own small businesses. From handmade crafts to inventive treats and creative services, these young makers dream big and work hard, learning what it means to take an idea from concept to customer. Along the way, they gain hands‑on skills in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, communication, and leadership, lessons that will stay with them long after the tents come down.

What makes the day so inspiring is the heart behind every booth. You can see the pride in their displays, the confidence growing with each customer interaction, and the joy of realizing that their creativity has real value. It’s a reminder of how capable, imaginative, and resilient our young people truly are.

Two little critters looking for homes

Leslie

Meet Leslie, a two-and-a-half-month-old mastiff-cross looking for love. This big puppy comes with a big personality and a big heart to match! She’s a happy, busy, loving baby who can’t wait for YOU to come by to meet her. If you are looking for a huge snuggle-bunny, head down to the shelter to meet Leslie.

Nyla

Meet Nyla. Nyla is a three-year-old domestic short hair cat looking for her forever home. She will thrive in a calm environment where she can spend her days relaxing with her favourite people. If you’re really lucky, she’ll even smother you with kisses! Nyla does have boundaries and will let you know when she’d prefer some “me time,” so respecting her space is a must when needed. In return, she will repay you with all her love (when she wants to)! One surefire way to her heart is catnip, which she’ll happily accept any time! Could she be the one for you?

‘Indigenous people always have a story to tell’

For Indigenous artists and multimedia creators in Winnipeg, breaking into the industry can feel like a long road — but a 14-week CBC program is trying to shorten it.

The CBC New Indigenous Voices program, presented by the National Screen Institute, is a full-time, 14-week training program for 10 Indigenous creators designed to teach the essentials of filmmaking.

Cyrus Maytwayashing, 18, is one of five Winnipeg-based participants in this year’s cohort. An Anishinaabe filmmaker and writer, he has been writing stories since his early teens and picked up filmmaking about three years ago.

“Indigenous people always have a story to tell,” said Maytwayashing, who currently calls Fort Richmond home.

Turning up the heat

Not only were the Gordon Bell Brigades representing their school, city, and province, but four students travelled to Europe to showcase their culinary skills on an international stage at the base of the Eiffel Tower — during a heat wave in France.

The team — Avery Van Solkema, Yevhen Zinchenko, Matea Thiessen Unger, Cailyn Olshevski, and Adetooni Adegoke — added “national and international competition” to their end-of-school-year itineraries.

“It’s stressful (competing) but once cooking starts the stress dissipates,” said Adegoke, a Grade 8 student at Gordon Bell High School.

Adegoke couldn’t travel to Paris with her fellow Brigades, but she, and the team, travelled to Montreal, Que., in early June to compete in the Canadian national Kitchen Brigade competition as the only school from Manitoba, where their second consecutive first-place win secured their trip to Paris.

Volunteers needed to check on trees in Riverview

May Wady and company have been looking out for Riverview’s trees for the past six years. They are now looking to grow their team of stewards to help protect their leafy investment in the community.

Founded in 2020 by Wady and neighbour Wendy Botkin, Trees Riverview works to protect, restore, and enhance Riverview’s public tree canopy. This small, volunteer-run organization has directly contributed to the planting of over 150 young trees on boulevards and other public green spaces in the neighbourhood.

Last year, upon noticing damage to some of the trees and realizing that they needed help with regular monitoring, Trees Riverview launched its Tree Steward program. Volunteer stewards — Riverview residents, generally — are assigned a group of trees that are convenient for them to check on and they report damage or hazards to Wady, who takes appropriate action.

If the tree is still under warranty — residents or groups wanting to plant trees on public property must hire a city-approved contractor to carry out the planting and two years of maintenance — and dies due to, say, underwatering, it will be replaced. The situation must be caught in time, however. This is where tree stewards have proven effective, says Wady.