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Rotary’s ChickenFest celebrates 75 years

Rotary’s ChickenFest celebrates 75 years

Fred Morris 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026

The Rotary Club of West Winnipeg held its first meeting on Aug. 30, 1951 at the Winnipeg Flying Club. The first president was Norman Bailey.

Over the last 75 years, it has hosted dozens of interesting guests at club meetings and events. They include Frank Morriss, a longtime Winnipeg Free Press and Winnipeg Tribune journalist; Mark Smerchanski, a geologist and politician who served as both an MLA and an MP; Sidney Spivak, a former provincial cabinet minister and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1971 to 1975. More recent Rotary guests include singer Jennifer Hanson, and freelance photographer Brook Jones.

The Rotary Club of West Winnipeg is most famous, though, for its annual ChickenFest fundraising campaigns, which has been run in partnership with Chicken Delight for many years.

The first ChickenFest I found in Winnipeg newspaper archives was held on Sept. 21, 1954, at the old Paddock Restaurant in the Polo Park area, and the story featured a photo of members Bob Odowda and Pete Irwin promoting the event. Winnipeg Blue Bomber legend Kenny Ploen was pictured promoting the 1960 and 1966 ChickenFests. In fact, former Winnipeg Blue Bomber general manager Earl Lunsford, who held the job from 1968 to 1983), once served as president of Winnipeg West Rotary. After 22 years at the Paddock, ChickenFest moved just west to the Viscount Gort Hotel and eventually to the Canad Inn Polo Park.

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Supplied photo Meet Portia! She likes to think she’s a lapdog.

Portia will repay you with love

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Preview

Portia will repay you with love

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026

Hi, I’m Portia!

I’m a quiet girl who loves to just sit outside. I enjoy cuddles and like to believe that I am a lap dog.

I am totally house-trained and working on being crate0trained. I love being with my people and hate when they leave, so the safest place for me when you’re out is in my kennel.

I love people and I’m getting used to older kids, 12 and up. I’m trying to get used to cats but need to be supervised. Sometimes I like dogs and sometimes I don’t – I might just need more exposure to them.

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Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026
Supplied photo by Lou Anderson The RBC Convention Centre was filled with people at the 2025 Winnipeg Tattoo Show.

Tattoo you?

Rylee Gerrard STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Preview

Tattoo you?

Rylee Gerrard STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026

Calling all tattoo and body art enthusiasts — artists across Canada are coming back to display several unique exhibitions of tattoos, makeup, hairstyles, and dance once again.

The Winnipeg Tattoo Show is set to go at the RBC Convention Centre from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, featuring 300 tattoo artists, 40 shopping vendors, 10 piercers and plenty of other activities all weekend.

“Every year it gets bigger, it’s exciting, and there’s something for everyone,” said Abby Boivin, founder and organizer of the convention alongside her husband Jeff, under the name J&A Enterprises.

Boivin’s worked in the tattoo industry for 25 years and owns the local tattoo shop Living Canvas Tattoo — which has three of its tattoo artists participating in the convention this year.

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Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026
Supplied photo Waverley MLA David Pankratz was joined by Premier Wab Kinew, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara and advocate Elaine Cowan at the announcement of a new personal care home in Bridgwater.

More care for Waverley seniors

David Pankratz 3 minute read Preview

More care for Waverley seniors

David Pankratz 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026

Families in Waverley and southwest Winnipeg know that one of the biggest challenges facing seniors is being able to stay close to home as they age. People want to remain near their children, grandchildren, friends, faith communities, and the neighbourhoods they have spent decades building their lives in. That is why I am so pleased that our Manitoba NDP government is moving forward with a new personal care home in Bridgwater.

This new, 140-bed personal care home will be a major investment in our growing community. It means more seniors will be able to access care close to the people and places that matter most to them. It also means peace of mind for families who want to know that quality care is available nearby when their loved ones need it.

What makes this project especially exciting is the village-style model that will guide the design. Rather than feeling institutional, the home will be built around smaller, connected spaces that help residents maintain relationships, take part in activities, and continue living in a place that feels welcoming and familiar. Research shows this kind of approach can improve quality of life, strengthen social connection, and help seniors remain active and engaged.

This project is also an example of our government delivering on its commitment to rebuild health care. Since taking office, our government has reopened 145 personal care home beds across Manitoba, including protecting 78 beds at the Golden Door Geriatric Centre. We are also investing in new and expanded facilities in Lac du Bonnet, Arborg, and Transcona, which together will add another 237 beds for seniors across the province.

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Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026
Free Press file photo École secondaire Oak Park High School was established in 1975 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a reunion and events from April 27 to May 2.

Oak Park at 50: The moments that stay with you

Evan Duncan 3 minute read Preview

Oak Park at 50: The moments that stay with you

Evan Duncan 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026

Oak Park High School turning 50 brings back a lot of memories, not of one defining moment, but of what it felt like to be part of a school that people were genuinely proud to attend.

Opening in 1975 on the western edge of Charleswood, Oak Park was built to serve a growing community and to become a cornerstone of that community, much like Charleswood Collegiate had. As a 2001 graduate and former co-president, I saw that pride first-hand, how strongly students identified with the school and what it meant to them.

Oak Park was never just a building you went to. Students were proud to say they attended and proud to be part of it. Once you came through those doors, you were part of the Oak Park community and its tradition, something that stays with you forever.

Walking into the school you could feel the history, the pride, the community. The Forum sat at the centre of it all, a gathering place where students crossed paths, met up, and took in the social life of the school. Oak Park had a reputation across the province for athletics, academics, and a strong arts program. Raider pride ran through the hallways and carried well beyond the school into the wider community.

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Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026
Free Press file photo Manitoba Housing Minister Bernadette Smith (far right), Winnipeg mayor Scott Gillingham, Winnipeg West MP Doug Eyolfson and Chief Herb Greene of Shoal Lake 40, joined others last week for a ground-breaking ceremony at 2675 Portage Ave., where construction is about to begin on a new affordable housing complex.

Our progress on housing

Bernadette Smith 3 minute read Preview

Our progress on housing

Bernadette Smith 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

I want to share an update on the work we’re doing together to make sure people have a safe, stable place to call home.

At its core, this work is about meeting people where they’re at. We know that housing isn’t a one-size-fits-all, which is why we’re building a system that supports people every step of the way – from emergency shelter to transitional housing, and into safe, affordable homes where they can put down roots and move forward with dignity.

We’re seeing real progress. Through our Your Way Home strategy, we’ve housed 186 people in Winnipeg and 36 people in Brandon from encampments, with wraparound supports. This is about creating the conditions for long-term stability and getting folks into programs so they can realize their full potential.

We’ve already brought over 2,100 Manitoba Housing units back online – tenanting them with folks on wait-lists, in hospital, in shelters, low-income seniors, low-income families, young adults exiting the child welfare system, with 20 per cent dedicated to encampment housing.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026
Supplied photo Retired social worker Veronica Walsh said Fixing Feral Felines now takes up most of her time.

On the prowl – to save stray cats

Janine LeGal Special to FP Community Review 4 minute read Preview

On the prowl – to save stray cats

Janine LeGal Special to FP Community Review 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026

Cats on the road, in barns, on farms, wandering in yards. Some survive, some perish, some get adopted, some are left behind. Many others continue to breed, increasing the cat population at an alarming rate.

The city of Winnipeg could have as many as 100,000 feral cats roaming the streets, according to estimates from several local cat shelters. Beyond city limits, the issue continues in rural areas, and cat shelters and rescues would like to see that change.

There are people who work hard to help feral cat populations while giving humans the necessary information to contribute to much-needed change.

“We all work together and try to help when we can,” said Veronica Walsh, founder of Fixing Feral Felines, which has been providing access to reduced-cost spay/neutering for hundreds of feral and stray cats since 2017.

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Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026
Free Press file photo The Winnipeg Home and Garden Show is on April 9 to 12 at RBC Convention Centre.

Turn the buzz into action this spring

Better Business Bureau 3 minute read Preview

Turn the buzz into action this spring

Better Business Bureau 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

A buzz is in the air. With winter’s cold grasp slowly loosening its grip, our brains and conversations are filling with ideas and plans for warmer weather. Manitoba summers are always busy, as we try to make the most of the sunshine and green grass, and springtime is the perfect time to prepare for it.

With the last of the snow falling off our eavestroughs, perennials poking their heads through the dirt in our gardens and the hum of our furnaces slowly fading out, we’re reminded there’s a lot to do to prepare for summer. We should probably check our roofs for winter damage. We may have elaborate plans to reseed the garden. And it’s time to peel off the air-conditioner cover and ensure our systems are optimized.

It’s also the perfect time to revisit all the home observations you had throughout the winter. Did you find your energy bill was too high and think about triple-paned windows? Did you notice a door sticking that previously worked fine? Did you put off projects owing to the cold that you might want to revisit before summer’s schedule fills up?

If so, there’s a great opportunity for Manitobans to see just how they can address any issues or improvements they’d like to make in or around their homes. The Home and Garden Show is coming to the RBC Convention Centre from April 9 to12. Tickets start at $7.50 for half-day admissions and children 12 and under get in free.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026
Photo by Janine LeGal Correspondent Janine LeGal writes that she has found the courage to act on things her body has been telling her.

Facing up to some hard truths

Janine LeGal 5 minute read Preview

Facing up to some hard truths

Janine LeGal 5 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

This column comes with a warning. It feels pretty personal and not everybody likes “personal.” So, please be advised.

Maybe it’s because this is the year of my champagne birthday (when you turn the same age as the year you were born.) Or maybe it’s because I have avoided dealing with my physical health concerns for many years, especially since the pandemic; always on a mission to steer clear of doctors, clinics and all things medical, out of worry and fear.

My body, it seems, had been screaming at me in all kinds of ways to take better care of it. I share this because I’m hoping it will inspire others to see a doctor when they’re feeling like something isn’t right. That, and I was inspired by other women who shared their stories of practising self-care and learning to do for themselves what they’ve always been really good at doing only for others.

So, this year I decided it was time to grow up and face my fears head on. At 62, I had my first mammogram. I’d made an appointment to get one last year at this time but couldn’t bring myself to go through with it — but I was able to do it this year. I was scared, not only about the test itself but the aftermath. I got called back and will be going for more tests, which doesn’t necessarily mean a cancer diagnosis, but it certainly has a way of bringing on heart palpitations. Breast cancer runs rampant in my family, so the fear is real.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026
Supplied photo Brent Smith, pictured at last year’s national competition, recently won gold in the Masters 3/83 kilogram class at the 2026 Canadian powerlifting championships.

Precision + power = gold

Tony Zerucha Special to FP Community Review 3 minute read Preview

Precision + power = gold

Tony Zerucha Special to FP Community Review 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

Brent Smith has had a successful powerlifting career, without doubt, but he’s not done yet. Attention to detail, striving for improvement, and sharing his passion with others will keep him involved for years to come.

Smith, 62, recently won gold in the Masters 3/83 kilogram category at the Canadian National Powerlifting Championships in St. John’s, N.L. He set a new national record for squat and qualified for the Commonwealth Games, adding to a resume that includes provincial, Canadian and North American records.

While he had long trained with weights, Smith said powerlifing found him in his mid-40s, when he joined a small group at his regular gym.

That was the beginning of an education that had him starting from scratch.

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Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026
Adobe Stock photo There are many programs in Manitoba designed to empower older people, aged 55 and over, and to support their well-being in the community

Learning about supports for seniors

Anne Hawe 2 minute read Preview

Learning about supports for seniors

Anne Hawe 2 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

I can now buy seniors bus tickets and have recently filled out all my pension paperwork. How did it come to this? I really don’t feel my age until I look in the mirror.

Lately I have been watching a few too many YouTube videos of stern-looking women in their 80s and 90s somberly recounting things they wish they had learned about aging earlier in life. One would probably have been enough to absorb the useful but cautionary warnings.

Screen legend Bette Davis obviously agreed that getting older is no place for sissies as she famously had a pillow embroidered with the saying.

Luckily, there are wonderful supports in our city that can ease the stresses of the often-challenging golden years.

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Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026
Supplied photo Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, MLA for Concordia, announced Manitoba’s Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Task Force late last month.

Working together for safer communities

Matt Wiebe 3 minute read Preview

Working together for safer communities

Matt Wiebe 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

I know how important it is for families to feel safe in their homes, at work, and in their neighbourhoods. It’s something I hear about often from residents across Concordia and throughout the province. Public safety is one of the most important responsibilities we share as a community, and it’s a priority our government takes seriously.

When we formed government, it was clear there was work to do. Years of cuts had reduced resources for front-line policing, including the loss of dozens of police positions. Our government has begun rebuilding that capacity. We’ve already added 36 new police officers across Manitoba to strengthen community safety and support the officers who work hard every day to keep Manitobans safe.

We also know that addressing drug-related crime is critical to improving safety in our neighbourhoods. That’s why our government launched the Manitoba Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Task Force, a co-ordinated effort bringing together law enforcement agencies to crack down on meth trafficking and the organized crime networks behind it. By targeting dealers and disrupting the supply of dangerous drugs, the task force is helping reduce the harm drugs cause in Manitoban communities.

Public safety also means ensuring our laws reflect the realities facing communities today. Our government has taken action to restrict the sale of machetes and remove thousands of dangerous long knives from our streets. We’ve also strengthened legislation that allows law enforcement to seize the proceeds of crime, helping police disrupt criminal networks.

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026
Curl Manitoba photo Team Hayward won the Manitoba junior women’s curling championship on Feb. 22 in Morris, Man. They are (from left): Skip Shaela Hayward, third Keira Krahn, second India Young, lead Dayna Wahl and coach Ron Westcott. Hayward and Krahn won the title for the third year in a row, while it was the second in three years for Young.

Boutet, Hayward win Manitoba junior titles

FP Community Review staff 1 minute read Preview

Boutet, Hayward win Manitoba junior titles

FP Community Review staff 1 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026

Skip Evan Boutet led his team to its second provincial title of the season when it capture the Manitoba junior men’s championship on Feb. 22 in Morris, Man.

Boutet’s rink from the Heather Curling Club, which also includes Luc Cormier, Bryce Buchel, Quinn Lagace and coach Blaine Malo, defeated Morden’s Nash Sugden 7-4 in the final, adding the junior men’s championship to the U-18 title it won earlier this year.

Shaela Hayward’s Carman foursome won the junior women’s championship for the third year in a row, defeating Cassidy Dundas of Heather 6-5 in the final. Hayward will be joined by teammates Keira Krahn, India Young, Dayna Wahl and coach Ron Westcott at the Canadian junior championships in Sudbury, Ont., next month.

Both Boutet and Sugden will represent Manitoba at the men’s tournament in Sudbury.

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Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026
Supplied photo Dr. Andrew Davidson (at back), Dr. Julia Joshi (back row, far right) and the staff of Whyte Ridge Veterinary Hospital. Caring for animals is their passion.

Behind the scenes at Whyte Ridge Vet Hospital

Nick Barnes 3 minute read Preview

Behind the scenes at Whyte Ridge Vet Hospital

Nick Barnes 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026

During a recent visit to Whyte Ridge Veterinary Hospital, I thought it might be interesting to find out about some of the history of the facility and its staff, including Dr. Andrew Davidson, who helped establish the clinic.

Dr. Davidson said veterinary medicine had been his goal since junior high school, likely inspired by growing up in a family with pets that included fish, turtles, a hamster, Guinea pigs and “a wonderful dog for 16 years.” His goal was achieved after he graduated in 1992 from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

He said the idea of opening a clinic began through discussions with Dr. Val Dirdala, who took over Davidson’s practice at a previous clinic while Davidson was enjoying wild animals on a safari and touring South Africa. Dirdala joined the clinic permanently shortly after Davidson returned from his trip. Over the next few years, they discussed how they wanted to deliver client-focused, high-quality medicine and surgery, incorporating preventative health care and wellness. They targeted Whyte Ridge, as they both live nearby.

The clinic at 151 Scurfield Blvd. is part of Whyte Ridge Shopping Centre, built in the late 1990s to serve the growing community. The first tenant of the space was a video rental store, which closed in the mid 2000s, and the Whyte Ridge Veterinary Hospital officially opened in November 2011.

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Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026
Supplied photo River Heights MLA Mike Moroz speaks with students at Harrow School.

Educational opportunities for all

Mike Moroz 3 minute read Preview

Educational opportunities for all

Mike Moroz 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026

Every year around this time, I’m surrounded by reminders of my career before I entered politics, when I was a teacher. As your River Heights MLA, I recognize education as one of our community’s great strengths. Many of us chose to make our home here because of the 14 schools in our neighbourhood, each staffed by talented and dedicated educators.

As both a parent and former teacher, I know how essential it is to set children up for success through education. It’s a value I know my late friend and colleague, Nello Altomare, shared deeply. It’s been just over a year since his passing, and this Friday marks a year to the day since our government introduced Nello’s Law – enshrining universal school nutrition in legislation and ensuring every child has access to the food they need to do their best in school.

Thanks to Nello’s hard work, and the support of educators and school administrators across Manitoba, 30 million meals and snacks have been provided in the program’s first year. It’s a powerful legacy for Nello, who was an exceptional educator and a lifelong advocate for children.

Our commitment to giving every child the opportunity to succeed goes well beyond nutrition. We’re also taking real steps to support teachers across the province. That’s why we’ve introduced wage parity for educators in Manitoba, so the same work receives the same pay, whether you’re in Rivers or River Heights.

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Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026

Subsidies for foreign cars not the answer

Raquel Dancho 3 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

Canada’s auto sector is facing a moment of real crisis, and families in our community are already feeling the consequences.

More than 5,000 Canadian auto workers have lost their jobs as a direct result of the latest U.S. tariffs. Behind each number is a household now facing uncertainty. These losses come on top of a decade-long decline in Canadian auto production – from 2.3 million vehicles built in 2016 to just 1.2 million today. In less than 10 years, our national output has nearly been cut in half.

Despite this concerning trend, the Liberal government chose to turn its focus elsewhere. Just a few years ago, Ottawa – alongside Ontario – committed up to $52 billion in subsidies to artificially create an electric-vehicle (EV) supply chain in Canada. Canadians were promised jobs, investment, and long-term stability driven not by market demand, but by unprecedented public spending intended to force the transition.

Instead, serious warning signs are now emerging. Major auto companies have written down billions in EV losses, projects have stalled, and heavily subsidized ventures are struggling to remain viable. Industry leaders themselves acknowledge the transition has moved faster than real-world demand and affordability allow – especially in a country as large and cold as Canada, where distance, winter performance, and cost matter deeply to families.

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