Back on song

A St. Boniface-based choir is thrilled to be returning to the public stage after a pandemic-induced hiatus.

La chorale Les Blés au vent performed a concert on May 27 at La Paroisse des Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens (289 avenue Dussault), and the choir — which was founded in 1974 — will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. Plans to celebrate the occasion are in the works and will be announced at a later date.

Aline Campagne, the choir’s director, said the ensemble is keen to let the community know it’s still active and looking forward to resume performing in public as the world continues to adjust and adapt in light of COVID-19.

Campagne — who has been involved with the choir consecutively since 2006 having initially becoming involved briefly in the 1980s — said Les Blés au vent traditionally held an annual concert at this time of year before the pandemic protocols curtailed that. The last in-person-concert was in 2019; it was cancelled in 2020, then broadcast online in 2021 and 2022.

Thanking nurses for all they do

I was honoured to proclaim National Nursing Week in Manitoba on May 8, alongside Indigenous Nurses Day on May 10.

During National Nurses Week, I had the opportunity to stop by the University of Manitoba to welcome and congratulate the 120 nursing students who began the inaugural summer intake at the College of Nursing. This expansion of nurse-training seats works in tandem with the Health Human Resource Action Plan to train, retain and recruit nurses, and our government remains committed to adding 400 nurse training seats across multiple education programs in the province.

In 2021, the Undergraduate Nurse Employee (UNE) program was created to complement the added seats and ensure that these students receive an enhanced, hands-on clinical education. It provides third and fourth year nursing students with the opportunity to be paid to work – and continue to learn – in their chosen profession. These students are able to make a competitive wage providing care in our hospitals, under the mentorship and supervision of registered nurses, while continuing to learn and develop their skills.

The Health Human Resource Action Plan was announced last year, with the goal of training, retaining, and recruiting health-care professionals. The plan included $123 million of incentives for nurses here in Manitoba, which includes — a new hourly premium for nurses who work weekend hours; reimbursement of nurses’ professional licensing fees; and a provincial float pool to support nurse staffing needs across the province. It also includes a wellness incentive that adds additional funds to the health spending accounts of full and part-time nurses to help to cover the costs of eligible expenses. Since its launch, we have hired 259 additional nurses in Manitoba.

’Tis the season – for fires

Fire is in the news every day. Forest fires in B.C. and Alberta are burning out of control. The smoke is affecting the air quality here in Winnipeg. You can see and smell the smoke in the air. At times, it affects visibility, reduces the temperature, and turns the sun into a pink ball in the sky.

There is no doubt that large wildfires can be destructive. They can pose an immediate threat to people and property. For decades, forest fires were suppressed to prevent valuable timber from going up in flames. We are now paying the price for that policy.

Current thinking is that periodic fires in forests and prairies are beneficial. They prevent the dangerous accumulation of dry plant material – thus reducing the chance of a larger wildfire in the future.

Scientists believe that humans began using fire over one million years ago. Fire provided early people with warmth and protection from predators. It was a tool to fell trees, drive game toward hunters, cook food, and clear land for cultivation.

A duck’s tale becomes a mystery

A few weeks ago, a mallard duck saw fit to not only build a nest under our Hydro meter but follow it up by laying eggs. It was a head-scratching discovery to be sure.

Because the nest was along the driveway, we changed the way we left home and returned, and a new pattern emerged with ‘a guest’ in residence. Mama Duck would always be on the nest during the day but would take great care to cover it up and fly away for a few hours each evening. Before leaving for the day I would peek from a good distance and offer her a ‘good morning’ and say ‘hello’ upon returning. During the day, when working outside, she was given a wide berth. And on it went.

Top of mind was what to do once the eggs hatched. I was terrified for the future of the ducklings. Henteleff Park, or any other water in the form of residential ‘lakes’, is far away, and a long walk for little legs. I was advised to leave it to Mother Nature, but if the trek to water was going to begin when I was home, I had every intention of following along to ensure safe passage across busy streets.

This nest is not the only one on residential property this year – or any year, for that matter. Multiple social media posts are tracking journeys that reflect ours, including several in River Park South. The decided-on approach was consistent when I looked for guidance on what to do – steer clear, do not handle the eggs or disturb the nest, let Mama Duck do her thing, and hope for the best. I was unaware that mallard ducks are federally protected and moving the nest is illegal without a permit.

News in brief for May 31, 2023

Dakota CC to hold movie night on June 9

An iconic computer game character will be the star of an upcoming community movie event at Dakota Community Centre.

The centre’s Jonathan Toews Sportsplex gym will be the venue for its Night at the Movies screening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie on Friday, June 9 at 7 p.m.

According to Dakota CC’s website, the film will be shown on a giant inflatable screen, and the Centre Ice Cafe will be open to serve up a selection of snacks.

Something for everyone at East Elmwood C.C.

Summer is almost here, and with the school year soon ending, many other activities are also winding up for the season. For the residents of East Elmwood, the end of spring could be a good chance to check out the programs that will continue throughout the summer and to plan how to become involved again once the fall comes.

East Elmwood Community Centre is a familiar place to many people. It opened in 2015 and has been at its current location of 490 Keenleyside St., after fire destroyed its previous building on Beach Avenue.

“East Elmwood Community Centre is more than a nice new building,” said facility manager Jessica Lemky. “It’s the heart of our community and allows for connection, growth, and community.”

Some members of the community might want to check out the possibility of dodgeball at www.dodgeballwinnipeg.com. For the spiritually inclined, the Gateway East Church holds meetings every Sunday at the community centre, with information available at www.gatewaywinnipeg.com/gateway-east.

The most wonderful time of the year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

When everyone’s walking

And people are stopping to talk on the street

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

High tea, high fashion

The only thing that might have rivalled the majesty of their outfits was the exquisiteness of the dainties.

On May 8, the Crown Jewels Society of Canada, Vivacious Violets Chapter, held its 19th anniversary high tea celebration at 400 Des Meurons St.

One of the guests of honour at the event was Cheryl McKitrick, the Manitoba/NW Ontario representative of the Crown Jewels Society of Canada, who was wearing a white hat and red dress adorned with a number of trinkets.

McKitrick, who drove for more than three hours from Crystal City, Man., to attend the recent event, said RHSC has four basic rules — first, for members to pay their annual dues; second, to “wear our colours”; third, to “wear something on your head”; and finally, to have fun.

Pitching in on Earth Day

Members of a local group of fitness enthusiasts recently proved they’re as dexterous with their hands as with their legs.

To mark Earth Day last month, members of the St. Vital-based Rising Runners met at St. Vital Park to undertake their sixth annual litter cleanup event on the Awasisak Meskanow (formerly Bishop Grandin) greenway trail.

According to organizers, the group does an annual cleanup in both the spring and the fall. In an email statement, 13-year-old group member and cleanup participant Delphina Ragavi Noel described the event and what it meant to her to take part.

“Being a teenager, it was shocking to see all that garbage on such a small section of a trail. Today, this is not the only problem in our world. We are experiencing climate change, water pollution, unsafe drinking water in some parts of the world — the list could go on,” Noel said.

Powwow celebrates student success in RETSD

On May 11, the River East Transcona School Division held its seventh annual division-wide powwow at Miles Macdonell Collegiate.

“The powwow is a gathering of community and a time of celebration,” Leanne Smith, Indigenous perspectives and education consultant, said in a statment. “This year, we’re excited to honour the Grade 12 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth moving on to their next journey in life as they enter the powwow during the grand entry.”

A pipe ceremony kicked off the event at 4 p.m., followed by a community feast, vendors, and the powwow itself, which included drum groups and colourfully dressed traditional dancers from across the province, as well as students, families, and others from throughout the division.

There’s something about London

London has always captivated me. One of the largest and most significant cities in the world, I have always imagined it to be fascinating and full of fancy tales. On a recent trip to the U.K., I discovered a lot of interesting things about the city.

For starters, I didn’t know it was originally called Londinium. The name dates back to 43 A.D., when ancient Romans founded a shipping port and trading site in the marshy valley of the River Thames. They established a settlement, constructed a bridge across the waterway, and the town became a hub of trade and commerce.

Less than 20 years later, this entire first town would be burned to the ground during battle. In centuries to follow, Londinium would be rebuilt, burned down again, rebuilt again, and regularly attacked by marauding groups of raiders and invaders. By the eighth century, still enduring after various forms of destruction, it’s name had been shortened to ‘London’.

The city became more permanent in 960 A.D., when Benedictine monks built a house of worship near the riverbank. One hundred years later, King Edward I built his royal palace on a nearby tract of land, and expanded the monastery. He commissioned the construction of a Romanesque stone church, which would become the original Westminster Abbey. In the middle of the 1200s, King Henry III had it rebuilt into the Gothic style we are familiar with today, with the new cathedral officially dedicated in 1269.

This Rogue will be worth it

Hi, I’m Rogue!

I love car rides, dog parks and anything to do with people or playing with other doggies.

I still need some work on my leash, as sometimes when I see something exciting, like a bird or squirrel, I pull. I know how to wait for my food and best of all I’m a really big girl who knows not to jump on new people.

I love all kinds of food – banana, cucumber, cantaloupe, honeydew, carrots — and I really like plain Timbits. I am very smart and food-motivated and, with a bit more training, I think I’d be a pretty amazing best friend.

Reduce your exposure to market volatility

Dear Money Lady,

I am concerned about my financial adviser and the volatility he has had me in for years. I am now 79 and wonder if this should be changed. My investments are mainly in equities: TFSA 83 per cent; RRIF 72 per cent; and US RRIF 99 per cent. I have questioned him before and have done well over the years but now I feel I need another opinion.

Thanks,

Sue

‘A comedy of errors’

The whole world’s a stage, and Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre is bringing it home with its latest production.

From June 1 to 4, the long-running community theatre group, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will bring J. B. Priestley’s When We Are Married, a British farce, to the stage at the Université de Saint-Boniface’s salle Martial-Caron (200 Ave. de la Cathedrale).

Set in the early 20th century, When We Are Married concerns three upwardly mobile British couples who were all married on the same day by the same pastor in the same church who learn, on their 25th anniversaries, that the pastor had not, in fact, legally married any of them.

“It’s a comedy of errors,” explained director Luis Reis, who has been involved with the Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre with his wife Monica for 35 years.

Peg City Car Co-op launches fleet of new vehicles

Peg City Car Co-op is making a big splash throughout the central part of the city.

On May 17, the car-sharing co-operative launched its new “free floating” car-share program with an event at City Hall.

In the coming weeks, members can book one of 35 new “FLO” vehicles throughout the downtown core and beyond for short trips with a few clicks on a smartphone.

“The introduction of one-way car-sharing is a game-changer for Winnipeg,” CEO Philip Mikulec said in a statement.

Funding for community projects approved

The East Kildonan-Transcona community committee met on May 23, though Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) was absent, leading to a number of items being held over until June.

A $900 per capita grant was approved for Valley Gardens Community Centre’s family fun day on June 24, with funds split evenly between the three wards, along with a $2,000 per capita grant from the Elmwood-East Kildonan ward to help with costs for Happy Days on Henderson, which is to be held on June 10.

In addition, the committee approved its semi-annual summary of delegated authority to award per capita, land dedication, and community incentive grants outside of community committee meetings between July 1 and December 31, 2022, which included $250,000 from Transcona’s land dedication reserve for Buhler Recreation Park improvements and a $99,438 community incentive grant from North Kildonan’s allocation for community enhancements at John Pritchard School, among others.

Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) made a motion to eliminate the delegation of authority over such items, preferring to deal with them at committee meetings in the future.

Back on song

A St. Boniface-based choir is preparing to return to the public stage after a pandemic-induced hiatus.

La chorale Les Blés au vent is set to perform on Saturday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. at La Paroisse des Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens (289 avenue Dussault).

Aline Campagne, the choir’s director, said the ensemble is keen to let the community know it’s still active and looking forward to resume performing in public as the world continues to adjust and adapt in light of COVID-19.

Campagne — who has been involved with the choir consecutively since 2006 having initially becoming involved briefly in the 1980s — said Les Blés au vent traditionally held an annual concert at this time of year before the pandemic protocols curtailed that. The last in-person-concert was in 2019; it was cancelled in 2020, then broadcast online in 2021 and 2022.

‘United by the spoken word’

As the world continues to re-emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, one upcoming event will speak to the importance of re-igniting the passion of employees and re-establishing workplace culture.

The inaugural Elevate MB half-day conference will take place at The Leaf in Assiniboine Park (145 Locomotive Dr.) on Friday, May 26 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Organized by the Prairie Shield Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, the event is intended to help leaders explore solutions and strategies designed to shift post-pandemic paradigms, said Anders Boulanger, the chapter’s president and a key event organizer.

Boulanger, a professional speaker who lives in St. Boniface, said returning to the workplace after the pandemic has presented challenges for many organizations and their teams; whether it’s working from home, or making the transition back into the office, many businesses are struggling with employee engagement and poor workplace culture.

“We wanted to put on an event to recognize that many people are still coming out of the pandemic slowly, and we wanted to bring together three speakers with different perspectives and experience,” he said.

Happy 102nd birthday!

Jacqui Setter of Victoria, B.C., wrote us to say that her mother, Frances Paul, celebrated her 102nd birthday on May 22.

She commemorated the milestone with a small gathering of family and friends at Devonshire Green, in Transcona. Jacqui asked if we would mention it in the paper — and we are happy to oblige.

Frances was born in 1921. To give you a sense of perspective, these things happened that year:

• The New York Yankees purchased 20 acres in The Bronx to build the first Yankee Stadium;

Let the agricultural adventures begin

A number of Windsor Park residents are enjoying getting their hands dirty this spring.

At press time, almost all of the 38 raised garden beds at Winakwa Community Garden had been rented, as local individuals were embarking on their agricultural adventures at the start of this year’s growing season.

Key organizer and garden committee chair Christine Mousseau said recently that the committee has now completed its three-year phased plan for the garden’s fruit orchard, which was finished last fall and is now in the hands of Mother Nature as different trees and plants grow and mature.

It’s hoped the orchard will help bring food security to the community — operating on a first come, first served “take what you need and leave some for the rest of the community” basis — and eventually yield fruits such as apples, cherries, haskap berries, pears, raspberries, and Saskatoon berries.

IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s set for May 27

It’s nearly time to get walking for a good cause.

The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s will be held on Saturday, May 27 at Assiniboine Park.

According to the society’s website, check-in will be at 10 a.m., and the warm-up will be at 10:45 a.m. The walk will start at 11 a.m., and lunch will be at 11:45 a.m.

Go online at alzheimer.mb.ca for more information.