Cats seek furever homes

Meet Spenny! She’s a two-year-old domestic shorthair cat who is a gentle, quiet, mild mannered young lady and she’s looking for a family who can match her energy. An easygoing lifestyle will help this beautiful girl come out of her shell and enjoy life to its fullest. While she does seem very overwhelmed in the shelter environment, it hasn’t stopped her from enjoying all the snuggles she can get. Could Spenny be right for you? Come meet her today!

Poosh is a one-and-a-half-year-old domestic medium-hair cat who’s looking for her furever family. This stunning young lady is an energetic, adventurous soul, eager to meet everyone and explore everything in her path. Poosh is not a fan of other cats or of dogs, so she is hoping for a home with no other animals and will be happy to lap up all the attention. Could this sweet and sassy girl find her place in your heart and home?

Anything but a turtle

I had someone approach me at an event and say: “You’re the pet guy. My daughter wants a turtle. Where should we start?”

The hardest thing to say in response is: “Maybe a turtle isn’t the right choice.”

There are many pets we see on TV shows or in movies, or remember fondly from our youth, that we think we might like to have. But when it comes to actually providing them with the proper housing and care, it’s a completely different story.

Turtles are probably the poster children of bad pet decisions. Back in the day, baby turtles were available in department stores for a few dollars, and you could buy little plastic trays for them with a plastic palm tree for a few dollars more.

Border crossing concerns

We were getting close to the U.S. border crossing at Pembina, N.D., when my son confessed his concerns. We were on a road trip to Florida in his white Kia SUV along with his yellow Labrador retriever, Andi, who took the back seat as his living space.

Although my son had filed the proper G-325R alien registration documents for us online, and we had proof of Andi’s microchip and recent rabies vaccinations, he had recently read that some Canadian travellers had encountered difficulties at the border if they planned to stay in the U.S. for longer than 29 days and hadn’t completed the appropriate paperwork. We planned to remain from mid-October to mid March.

Much to our relief, the official at the port of entry only checked our passports and asked us half a dozen routine questions before he waved us on.

As we drove away, I requested a bathroom break. Always considerate, my son swerved the car and parked in a lot not too far from the main building. That’s when we ran into trouble.

Winnipeg’s northwest booming with activity

The restaurant and service industries are certainly booming in Winnipeg’s fast-growing northwest community.

Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House is one of the most recent restaurants to open, at 2211 McPhillips St. in Garden City, next door to Boston Pizza. Stacked is a popular Canadian chain based in Barrie, Ont., with over 130 outlets across the country. The new locations is one of three in Winnipeg, with the others aat 1600 Ness Ave. and 1600 Kenaston Blvd.

The McPhillips location features Stacked’s signature spacious seating, a menu listing over 90 items and great service. Henis and Yatri Patel are the owners of this location.

“Our customers top favourite items on the menu are waffles, eggs benedict, the breakfast specials and, of course, the Stacked recipe pancakes,” Henis told me.

The most wonderful (and pricey) time of the year

It’s the most expensive time of the year. The holidays are right around the corner, and for many, it’s a joyous time of connection and celebration. But it also comes with a hefty price tag. With inflation at around three per cent, many Manitobans can’t keep up. It’s already been a pricey year and now there are parties to host, places to go and gifts to buy. With it all comes external and internal pressures to impress your friends, wow your children and spoil your parents.

It’s unfortunate when some people feel so overwhelmed they don’t enjoy the true magic of this time of year. They feel compelled to participate, even if it means falling further in debt and giving up peace of mind.

But there are things you can do to lessen the burden. By planning now, you can get ahead of the rush in December. Take a look at your income and expenses and determine exactly what you can afford this holiday season. If it’s not much, don’t worry! There are creative ways to stay on track.

Consider proposing a Secret Santa or White Elephant gift exchange for one of your gatherings this year. Others feeling the pinch may be grateful you do and these are also ways to add some fun and games to the holiday revelry. There are free online platforms, such as Elfster, that can help you get started. This can turn gift-giving for six to seven people into a single gift, effectively reducing expenses to a fraction. Remember to set a spending limit so everyone is on the same page and you can stay within your budget.

A bridge, not a destination

This past month, I had the opportunity to travel to Halifax to see first-hand how other Canadian cities are responding to the growing challenge of homelessness. Like Winnipeg, Halifax has struggled with rising housing costs, increasing mental health and addiction crises, and too many people being forced to live outdoors.

What stood out most to me was how the city has found ways to bring compassion and dignity into the lives of people who are unhoused.

We can and must learn from Halifax to build our own made-in-Winnipeg model. We know the number of people living unsheltered continues to grow, and that housing those struggling with trauma, mental health, and addictions requires more than simply providing a roof.

Imagine a designated, managed encampment site in Winnipeg — one with on-site management and a focus on helping people move indoors by connecting them to income support, addiction recovery programs, and mental health services. A place where people can begin to heal from trauma and break the cycle of being unhoused, all while having a clear time-frame and plan to transition into stable housing.

EVs not always practical on the Prairies

The Liberal government may have delayed its plans to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles, but it has not abandoned them. Canadians question this measure, and I believe they deserve answers. That is why Conservative MPs proposed a study of the electric vehicle mandate at the House of Commons environment committee.

Even though I support innovation and the growing interest in EVs, I have serious concerns about a one-size-fits-all mandate that doesn’t reflect the realities of rural communities like the constituency of Portage—Lisgar.

Let me be clear – this isn’t a debate about whether EVs have a place in Canada’s future. I believe they absolutely do. The issue is whether it’s fair or practical to force every Canadian to buy one.

Many parts of Manitoba still don’t even have consistent cell phone service, never mind access to EV charging stations. The idea that rural residents can seamlessly transition to electric vehicles simply doesn’t match the day-to-day reality for many families and farmers in southern Manitoba.

Rediscovering the benefits of the gym

One, two, three more. Counting reps has become second nature now.

“I’m only one workout away from a better mood” is my new mantra. The popularity of the saying attests to the positive mood changes regular exercise brings.

Weightlifting was never part of the Jane Fonda Workouts I was addicted to years ago, although very light weights or even soup cans got an occasional mention. Skinny and toned was in during the ’80s and ’90s, when Fonda sold umpteen millions of her exercise videos. I think we all wanted to look like her back then. I know I did.

Nowadays, being strong is in and it isn’t just a passing fad. Numerous studies and doctors are touting the benefits of lifting weights for older women like me.

Sending hope for the holidays in a shoebox

Little things mean a lot, it’s often said, and that’s certainly the case for the Manitoba chapter of the Shoebox Project for Women.

Shoebox is an unaffiliated, non-religious, registered Canadian charity which supports women experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

It has chapters across the nation and aims to celebrate diversity, build awareness, challenge stigma, and promote equity through the collection and distribution of gift-filled shoeboxes and messages of support.

This year’s local fundraising initiative for the Shoebox Project kicked off on Nov. 17, and will run until Dec. 12. Drop-off locations include the Winnipeg public libraries at 1050 Henderson Hwy.; 1168 Dakota St; 251 Donald St.; 625 Osborne St.; 2724 Pembina Hwy.; 1910 Portage Ave.; and 66 Allard Ave.

Safety takes on new meaning

The strength of a community often shows in the way neighbours look out for one another. Here in St. James, that spirit is alive and well.

The South Valour Residents Association has spent years turning ideas into action. From tree-planting and community clean-ups, to outdoor gatherings that bring people together, the work of the SVRA shows how local efforts can make a big impact.

Now, after four years of collaboration with the University of Winnipeg’s urban and inner-city studies program, it is launching something truly special — the Community Safety Toolbox.

This new, online resource is built from lived experience, from lessons learned right here in our community, about what makes a neighbourhood safer, more connected, and more resilient. It’s a collection of practical tools that grew out of conversations on doorsteps and friendships formed through shared work. Folks can join the launch of the toolbox at Barn Hammer Brewing (595 Wall St.) on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Cautious optimism greets federal budget

On Nov. 4, the federal Liberal government unveiled its 2025 budget, focusing on what it termed “generational investments” to build a stronger Canadian economy in the face of global uncertainty.

For most municipalities across Canada, this budget has raised more questions than answers. With the uncertainty of trade relations with our neighbours to the south, the federal government has indicated its intent to establish new trading partners to ensure Canadian manufacturers remain competitive in the global markets. In the past, 70 per cent of Canadian manufactured goods were destined for the U.S. market. With the USMCA set for renegotiation in the next few months, Canada must recognize what stands before us over the next three years, if not longer.

Winnipeg’s mayor and councillors have been expressing the city’s funding priorities to local MPs and MLAs. The North End Winnipeg Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC) is a critical need. While phase one and two have been cost-shared with the federal and provincial governments, funding for phase three remains questionable. The removal of phosphates and bio-nutrients to reduce impacts on Lake Winnipeg is an important component of renewal, but it does not end there. NEWPCC will run out of capacity to treat wastewater in a few years if not addressed now. This means the city will not be able to add new housing or expand treatment for industries if it wishes to continue meeting environmental requirements.

If the project is left unfunded by the two other levels of government, ratepayers will incur hefty water bills. Ottawa has announced $51 billion in infrastructure spending, so seemingly this project will fit into the scope of federal announcements.

Football champions crowned

Oak Park has another championship banner.

The Winnipeg High School Football League’s AAAA Tier 1 final between the Dakota Lancers and Oak Park Raiders was held on Nov. 6 at Princess Auto Stadium, with Oak Park earning the championship banner with a 22-17 win over Dakota.

The victory was Oak Park’s first championship in 11 years and stymied Dakota’s attempt to three-peat. Earlier in the week, Oak Park also won the junior varsity 12-man crown with a 48-21 decision over Dakota.

St. Norbert defeated Dryden 10-0 to win the AAA division crown, also on Nov. 6 at Princess Auto Stadium. In the AAAA Tier 2 final, Elmwood Giants defeated the West Kildonan Wolverines 35-6.

Immaculate Heart of Mary alumni raises $20,000 for bursary program

Alumni and friends of Immaculate Heart of Mary School raised $10,000 towards the North End school’s alumni bursary challenge, which helps provide a Ukrainian Catholic education to families in need. The funds were matched by BCU Wealth Management and BCU Foundation, for a total contribution of $20,000.

Pictured (from left) are: Hanna Demchenko, BCU Foundation; Damian Snih, BCU Financial Group CEO; Katherine Fox (IHMS ’87), Lubov SSMI Foundation CEO; Rod Picklyk, IHMS principal; and Katrusia Chabluk (IHMS ’00), Manitoba’s lead for BCU Wealth Management.

At the intersection of art and community

There’s a new art gallery in town.

On Oct. 24, Lifes Short Gallery and Studios officially opened its doors to the public at 411 Pembina Hwy., hosting the opening of Beaches, Cemeteries and Playgrounds, a combined show by local artists Hamideh Behgar and Ten Yetman.

“Two amazing local artists who use colour and play a lot, a really fun first show,” said Karen Hare, who co-owns and runs the space with her partner. “I feel like they both take kind of a bit of an approach of looking at dark subject matter and using lightness.”

Yetman’s neon-heavy paintings draw “on influences from Fellini films, Devo music videos, 1980s fabrics, and Renaissance art” while her “surreal creatures inhabit spaces where joy, nostalgia, and horror coexist in equal measure,” according to Yetman’s online artist’s statement.

Opportunity abounds for 4-H scholarship winner

A young La Salle woman is among the winners of a 4-H leadership scholarship this year.

Brooklyn Piasta, a 20-year-old agri-business student at the University of Manitoba, was recently named one of four 2025 Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship winners presented by 4-H Manitoba. Her $10,000 scholarship, presented by Headingley’s 4-H club in honour of Estelle Bahuaud, is one of four awarded to long-serving club leaders in the province this year.

“We’re very proud of this year’s scholarship recipients and excited to see where their paths take them,” said Greg Penner, president of 4-H Manitoba, in a statement. “Each of them has shown real leadership, dedication, and a commitment to their communities. Supporting them as they take the next step in their education helps build a strong future for Manitoba.”

“This scholarship was definitely the biggest I ever received. It’s been extremely helpful with my expenses,” Piasta said. “It has really helped me not be so stressed (about) getting part-time jobs so I can focus more time on studies and being involved with 4-H in my community.”