Volleyball, slo-pitch inducts members to halls of fame

At its annual awards and hall of fame banquet on June 7, Volleyball Manitoba announced its newest group of hall of fame inductees. Alicia Ogoms was inducted in the athlete category and Grant Wilson and Wilma Fehr were honoured as builders.

Ogoms, who represented Canada internationally for nearly a decade, played for the University of Southern California, Canada’s National Senior Women, and in professional leagues in four countries. Wilson coached the Brandon University Bobcats men to multiple Canada West titles and the U Sports national championship in 2025. Fehr is described as an athletic therapist, coach, mentor and volunteer, who has served the sport for more than 30 years in our province and country.

Slo-Pitch National (SPN) Manitoba will induct one player, one umpire and three builders into its Field of Dreams Hall of Fame later this year. Gary Ellis played slo-pitch softball for more than 30 years, including in countless provincial and several national championships. He later became a SPN umpire. Gerry Hiebert became an umpire for SPN in 2004. He is considered to be one of the top umpires by his peers and has worked in six national championships.

Builder Natasha Sanburn of Thompson, Man., was described as “the eyes and ears of the Northern part of Manitoba” for her 20-plus years of service. Kent Kamenz, who has served 25 years as the regional director of SPN National, finally has accepted his long overdue induction. Leadership, dedication, and passion are words that best describe Kent.

It’s a rare time — that’s why scammers are taking advantage

It’s an incredible feeling, one we seldom get to feel. Rising to our feet, celebrating together with the rest of our country as we feel connected to something bigger than ourselves in our red outfits and painted faces. The World Cup allows us to stand shoulder to shoulder with strangers, knowing they’re friends. It helps us celebrate our similarities and shared victories rather than focusing on our divisions. And it instils in us a certain pride and inspiration that is hard to find elsewhere.

It’s such a specific and wonderful feeling that it’s become catnip for scammers. They are drawn to the feeling too — but for a very different reason. They want to take advantage of our high to slip something past us without us noticing. And they’ve been out in full force since the World Cup festivities started.

The most obvious type is through ticket selling. Scammers post fake tickets on social media with any type of sob story as to why they can’t go or are selling, only for their victim to receive fake or no tickets at all. With the World Cup on home soil, this is one to stay aware of. If you are heading to Toronto, Ont., or Vancouver, B.C., for a game, be sure to purchase your ticket through the official FIFA 2026 website or a verified ticket sales merchant, like Ticketmaster.

If you are travelling to a game, be sure to book through trusted and reputable partners. You can spy those pretending to be big brands by their URLs. Scammers will create fake websites, impersonating travel booking sites by changing a single letter in the URL, hoping you won’t notice. They may also create a site with a what appears to be a seemingly harmless extension, like expedia.booknow.com but the “booknow” is not a real part of an Expedia URL. It’s how scammers use reputable names to trick you into booking on their site, where they will now have your credit card number and personal information.

Meet Portia

Hello there. My name is Portia and I’m a mature, big-hearted gal — literally and figuratively — with a whole lot of love to give.

Here’s what you need to know about me: You won’t find me chewing your shoes or having accidents on your rug. I am fully crate and housetrained, and once we’ve had our morning walk and breakfast, I am very happy to settle down quietly and just… be with you. I’m calm, quiet, and I don’t make a fuss.

By the way, my absolute favorite things are our walks! I am very attuned to my people. However, I do pull a bit so we will need more practice together. I am very responsive to treats, though, which is super motivating. I’ll check in with you on our walks, and I’ll curl up nearby when you’re reading or watching TV. I just want to be your loyal companion.

However, I would like to be your only pet, as I do not like other dogs, cats, or any small furry creatures. And while I’m sweet and affectionate with adults, a home with children is not for me. I will thrive in a calm, predictable home where I can relax and know I’m safe.

Canadian summer awaits (part 2)

This is the second of a two-part story about Canada’s National Parks. Read the first part here.

Jasper National Park in Alberta is one of Canada’s most iconic mountain destinations, offering a blend of accessible scenery and vast wilderness. Unlike more heavily developed parks, Jasper retains a quieter and more spacious atmosphere, while still providing excellent infrastructure for tourism. Its landscape is defined by soaring peaks, expansive valleys, glacial lakes, and fast-flowing rivers carved by the retreat of ancient ice. The townsite of Jasper is a welcoming homebase for exploring hiking trails, hot springs, and scenic drives. The area is also a designated ‘dark sky preserve’ — making it an exceptional place for stargazing.

Nestled in the Canadian Rockies in southwestern B.C., along the western slope of the Continental Divide, Yoho National Park showcases some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Canada. Its name is said to have come from a Cree expression of awe, which would have been a fitting response to the towering peaks, emerald green lakes, and sparkling falls — including Takakkaw, one of Canada’s highest waterfalls. The park also contains important fossil beds that provide insight into early life here on earth. Less crowded than some of the neighbouring parks, Yoho features exceptional hiking, photography, and opportunities to experience the ruggedness of the Rockies in a more tranquil setting.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on Vancouver Island’s west coast is a place where the rainforest and ocean meet. Stretching along the driftwood-strewn shoreline between Tofino and Ucluelet, it is famous for long sandy beaches, pounding Pacific surf, and ancient temperate rainforest filled with moss-draped cedar and hemlock trees. It’s one of Canada’s most atmospheric coastal destinations, especially during storm season when winter’s waves crash relentlessly against the shores. In summer, the beaches are a popular haven for surfers, kayakers, and beachcombers out exploring the tidal pools and hidden coves. Marine wildlife is abundant, with gray whales migrating offshore, sea lions lounging on the rocks, and bald eagles soaring overhead.

Pets need more than kibble

Pet nutrition is a huge business, with some of the largest corporations heavily invested in the industry. We are inundated daily with ads on TV or in our socials with advertising shouting the benefits of this food or that. Even more in our socials, we see individuals making videos or reels about how they found better health for their pets though nutrition. I am very pleased that many of those are getting people to question the contention that pet food is little brown pebbles.

We see influencers talking about food they make at home, everything from crock pot recipes to fully balanced raw foods with supplementation. While they are inspiring, most people look at the video and then say to themselves “Who has that time?” and then scoop another cup of kibble into their pet’s bowl.

More companies are coming out with products that claim they are “un-kibbles” and are less processed and more appropriate for your pet. This is a great trend, and some of these products are truly game changing. But many simply have the same ingredients as kibbles, just processed in a different way. As always, reading the ingredient panel of a label will reveal so much about the product.

Meat will always be the first ingredient on any pet food today, there’s no way a company wouldn’t make sure that is the case. But meat first does not mean mostly meat. Many meat ingredients start off with more moisture in them than other ingredients, so while the “before processing” weight lets them be listed first on the label, many times, after the water is removed, they would move down the ingredient list, sometimes many spots. Yes, this is deceptive, but a standard marketing tool in the industry.

“Try your best and you can win”

Grant Hrehirchuk is a 15-year-old Grade 9 student at River East Collegiate.

“School is good,” Grant said. “My favourite class is science.”

Grant loves sports. He plays hockey, soccer, baseball, and basketball.

“I am most focused on hockey and it is my favourite sport, too,” he said. “I like to do my goal cellies. I play forward because I like to score. Coach Halle in hockey is the best. Coach Faith at soccer is great, too. I like when she does the warm up. I hope to keep playing all the sports I love to play.”

Harbour View in review

I was picking up some auto parts for my kid’s car the other day in sunny Transcona, and while driving home along Springfield Road, I saw the gate for Harbour View Golf Course. I have fond memories of attending many weddings and a few retirement parties in the Icelandic themed social facilities. However, I had never golfed the course that surrounds the facilities and the adjacent man-made lake. Since I had time on my hands this day, I decided it was as good a day as any.

While parking, I noticed an ATCO trailer in the lot. A foreboding sign of what I would experience later. There was no one in the trailer, and no signage, so I continued down the path. Passing the lawn bowling green on the right, I noticed the fenced off remains of the aforementioned social buildings. Time has not been kind to these buildings, and basement design flaws have allowed the fake lake to do what water often does to buildings. Flooding and mould concerns have condemned the lot and they are now slated for demolition. As I walked along the fence line, I noticed another small building on top of a small hill with a sign for #1 tee. I thought this was the club house. It was not. I was told by the starter to go back to the condemned fence line, and go to a little building on the edge that was not within the fence’s perimeter. This turned out to be the clubhouse. I asked if the washroom was close, and the attendant said no. He then directed be to some portable facilities back down the path by the parking lot. Joy. If you have trouble walking a full game, this course may not be for you, as there are no motorized carts available, and the course does have some small elevation changes.

Returning to the starter for the second time, I noticed some of this course’s additional, if few, amenities. There is a mini-put course, a driving range, and a practice green. All of these surround the first tee. After the starter cleared me, I was off. This course is a par 3 course, and the first hole is 100 metres of simple, straightaway golf. It is too bad, from a teaching point of view; if you are out there with someone learning the game, this would be a great second or third hole to practice on and let other players play through. The second hole is simple in design as well, but it is almost double the length. Some challenge comes on hole three, as the fairway and green elevate from the tee. Hole four, the day I played it, had an interesting hill with a sand trap on top partially obscuring the base of the green. Right of the green is an abnormally large grassed embankment that if you sliced into, your ball would likely roll right back onto the green.

The fifth hole is the shortest, and it is a downhill roll. Watch your club selection, as you can easily overdrive the green, and water finally shows up as a behind-the-dance-floor hazard. I found most of the greens had some damage here and there, but the damage of this hole was very noticeable. The walk to hole six is very picturesque, and there’s lots of local geese in residence enhancing your views of the waters.

Canadian summer awaits

Tourism is on the rise here in Canada, as more and more international tourists — and Canadians alike — who used to travel to the United States are now seeking different destinations. And our country is rising to the challenge, with a 450,000 square kilometer collection of landscapes, environments, and experiences, taking you from coast to coast to coast.

This summer, from June 19 to Sept. 7, Parks Canada is offering free admission as part of the Canada Strong Pass. The initiative was first launched in 2025 to encourage people to explore our vast network of national parks, historic sites, and conservation areas. And you don’t need to sign-up, or register, or anything, either. All you have to do is show up with your favourites, enjoy the views, and take part in all the things to do.

Another benefit is free lockage on historic canals operated by Parks Canada, including the world-famous Rideau Canal in our nation’s capital region. Stretching from Kingston to Ottawa, Ont., and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America. Remarkable for its engineering and preservation of 19th-century technology, the 202-kilometer waterway consists of manually controlled locks, dams and channels, and a variety of historic structures.

Participating museums and galleries across the country this summer will have free admission for ages 17 and under, and 50 per cent off for young adults 18 to 24. Via Rail will welcome youth and children on board with free rail passes for 17 and under when accompanied by an adult, and a 25 per cent discount for ages 18 to 24. Other savings to make traveling a little more affordable include 25 per cent discounts on camping and accommodations operated by Parks Canada.

A look at Manitoba’s best soccer teams

Over the next five-plus weeks, the FIFA World Cup will be front and centre in the sports world. Forty-eight teams will play 104 matches in the international competition being played in Canada, USA and Mexico. For most of the world, it’s a football championship. For North Americans, the sport is soccer.

In this week’s column, let’s first deal with the terminology for the world’s most popular sport. Both terms are correct with soccer first used in Great Britain as a shortening for association football. Rugby football was called rugger. In the United States, a sport called gridiron football combined elements from association football and rugby. That’s the sport Americans and Canadians now call football. When a Winnipeg team won its first Grey Cup in 1935, the team now called the Blue Bombers was officially the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club.

Now seems to be an appropriate time for Memories of Sport to remember our province’s best soccer teams. In 1999, the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame inducted its first soccer team, the 1954 Army Navy Air Force Scottish. The ANAF squad won the provincial title by beating United Weston and Germania, then defeated Port Arthur United and Hamilton British Imperials to reach the national championship. In the best-of-three series against Vancouver North Shore United, Scottish won the first game 3-2. In the second match, 22-year-old keeper Walter Norget led Scottish to a 3-0 victory. Centre Jimmy Pines and centre-half George James, who had played in the First Division in Scotland, were the leaders of the eleven.

In 2004, when the HOF held its first special veterans induction, five teams from the past were recognized. In 1913, the Norwood Wanderers Football Club from St. Boniface won the first Dominion of Canada (national) championship beating teams from Montreal, Toronto, and Fort William. The Wanderers repeated the next season in the four-team Challenge Cup tournament. In 1915, Winnipeg Scottish beat the eastern rep Toronto Lancashire to bring the title to our province for the third straight year. The teams first played to a 0-0 draw before Scottish won the second match 6-1. George Mair and Charles Forsyth both scored twice and William Corrie and Jock Anderson added singles.

Meet Whistler

Hi there. I’m Whistler!

I’m an easy-going girl who loves everything. I spend most of my time snoozing, but now that I’ve discovered how fun toys are, I can entertain myself as well. I love people and will take all the love I can get.

I am fully housetrained and although I’m not crate trained, I can be left out and don’t cause any kind of trouble. I might cry for a few minutes after you leave, but then I settle. My foster parents are teaching me that I can trust that they’ll come back and for the most part, I don’t cry anymore.

I am good with kids and other dogs, but I don’t like cats. I might be able to adjust to them as I don’t currently have any in my house but whenever I see them outside, I want to chase them.

J.H. Bruns student stays focused on the pitch

Alessa Guzzi is a 15-year-old Grade 9 student at J.H. Bruns Collegiate.

“School is good,” Guzzi said. “I have great grades and great friends. My favourite class is science. I am very interested in biology.”

Alessa has always been very active and locked on to her favourite sport since a very young age.

“I have been fully focused on soccer since I started playing when I was three,” she said. “I started playing club soccer at U9 at Bonivital Soccer Club.”

Two adorable pets looking for forever homes

Meet Papaya. Papaya is a three-month large cross breed who is as sweet as can be. She’s confident, adventurous, and full of energy. She will make an excellent adventure pawtner for some very lucky family. If you are looking for a new best friend, stop by the shelter to meet her.

Meet Froot Loop. Froot Loop is a sweet, gentle boy looking for a patient and understanding family. Until recently, he had never truly experienced love, so learning to trust people has been a slow journey for him. Every day, though, he’s making progress. Instead of hiding away, Froot Loop has started watching shelter staff with curiosity. He’s begun accepting lickable tube treats, and even enjoys gentle pats! With the right person and a calm, loving home, we know Froot Loop will continue to blossom and finally feel safe enough to show his true personality.

Leia, the flower dog

For those that read my columns regularly, Leia (Star Wars General), our Frenchie is a familiar topic. From her adoption in 2020, and through many medical difficulties, I have shared the highs and lows, and am pleased to report that she continues to thrive with limited medical interventions, largely due to our protocols of raw foods, supplements and probiotics.

In April 2020, Leia entered our family. Jenn from Jenn’s Furry Friends knew that we had just lost our first Frenchie, Stitch. Stitch was a wonderful dog, but had a compromised spine, and at the tender age of four had catastrophic neck disk failure that would have left her in permanent pain even with surgeries.

Knowing that we had experience with the complex partnership that a French bulldog presents, and knowing that Leia could be a difficult path forward, Jenn thought we would be able to handle the challenge.

Leia is a wonderful soul trapped in a body that can’t always keep up. French bulldogs have so many issues and limitations, but make up for that in their dedication and comical nature.