Lights at the end of the tunnel

The fourth annual Lights On the Exchange event kicked off on Jan. 21.

Until March 21, 26 light projections, art installations and custom lanterns will be on display throughout the historic downtown neighbourhood, mixed in with several performance art pieces and live reading events featuring locally and nationally renowned artists.

The visual pieces include Lights On the Catalogue — “a series of still images from films selected from the distribution catalogue of the Winnipeg Film Group, in illuminated light boxes” — which will be accompanied by a screening of those films at Dave Barber Cinematheque (304-100 Arthur St.) on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. In addition, the PLATFORM Centre for Photographic and Digital Arts 22x22: Member’s Lightbox shines a light on four new works by members at PLATFORM (121-100 Arthur St.).

Despite the cold, the artwork is best viewed at night. Two walking tours are scheduled while the Lights On installations are in place — on Feb. 6 from 6 to 7 p.m. and March 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. A free-to-attend closing reception is schedule for March 13 at 7 p.m. at Cordova Tapas and Wine (93 Albert St.).

A golden opportunity

Hundreds of soccer teams from across the city and beyond are preparing to take part in the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association’s flagship indoor tournament, the Golden Boy.

The five-day event, which runs Feb. 12 to 16. will be held at four venues — Seven Oaks Soccer Plex (725 Kingsbury Ave.); U of W Axworthy Health & RecPlex (400 Spence St.); South WSF Soccer Complex (211 Chancellor Matheson Rd.); and North WSF Soccer Complex (770 Leila Ave.).

“We are very proud, as it’s always a fantastic tournament,” said Scott Dixon, executive director of WYSA.

Dixon said the event will showcase 154 teams this year, which is four more than last year — and more than 50 of the teams taking part are coming from outside Winnipeg.

‘Small details can have a big impact’

As the third-year anniversary of the opening of his bakery passes, it’s clear Shhade Al Mansour has the right ingredients to continue to grow his business.

Marymar Bakery is located at 1172 Sanford St, which runs parallel to Empress Street, buffered by Sargent Avenue to the south and Wellington Avenue to the north. At present, it specializes in pita bread — in part, because Al Mansour wanted to create a quality product that reflects his Middle Eastern roots.

The bakery opened its doors in January 2023, but Al Mansour’s journey has been much longer, and at times, more traumatic. He arrived in Winnipeg in 2014 with his wife and their five children as refugees, via Lebanon, after fleeing their home in Homs, Syria, when the Islamic State caliphate swept the region. Their sixth child was born after they settled here.

In Syria, the St. Vital resident owned a restaurant and a coffee shop and, while those businesses differ from running a bakery, when Al Mansour was thinking about starting a business here, he looked at opportunities that might fit his general skill-set, learned more specialized skills and came to understand how to run a bakery.

Good news for women’s health

I’m excited to share a meaningful step forward in women’s health care. Manitoba has lowered the self‑referral age for breast screening to 45, expanding access to early detection for thousands more people across our province. Appointments for eligible Manitobans began on Jan. 2.

This change puts early detection front and centre and delivers on our government’s commitment to improve women’s health care. Earlier screening saves lives. By making it easier to start routine mammograms at 45, we’re helping people get care before symptoms appear, when treatment can be most effective.

We’re also making the process straightforward. To find a screening site and book your appointment, visit CancerCare Manitoba’s BreastCheck screening page at cancercare.mb.ca/screening/info/breast or call 1‑855‑952‑4325. These are the official channels, and they’re ready to help you schedule your first – or next – mammogram.

For years, the Progressive Conservative government cut breast-health services, including mobile breast cancer screening. We know that was wrong, and it hurt Manitoba women. We are taking a much different approach. Lowering the screening age is just part of our larger plan to strengthen capacity and equity in cancer care. CancerCare Manitoba has recruited seven new mammography technologists, with additional hiring underway to support rising demand. Screening sites across Manitoba are also being upgraded with new mammography equipment, with a target to complete upgrades by the end of 2026. In the meantime, CancerCare Manitoba is on track to complete approximately 47,000 breast screens in 2025, ensuring the system is ready to support more people while maintaining high‑quality care.

A new year of community, care, and connection

Happy new year, Kirkfield Park. I hope everyone got a chance to rest and be near their loved ones over the holidays.

First, I’d like to offer huge congratulations to the cast and crew of Westwood Collegiate senior musical theatre’s Sister Act! I was blown away by the level of talent displayed by these young performers. Bravo to all the students and teachers who worked so hard to bring this production to life.

Once again, this year, I had the privilege of attending the Grace Hospital Foundation’s annual Tree of Life Celebration. This event is held annually to thank donors who supported the mission of the Grace Hospital Foundation in the past. year, as well as to inspire hope for the holiday season and the new year. Thanks to the Grace Hospital Foundation, and the invaluable health-care workers who represent the highest standard of care and professionalism.

Last month, I visited the Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter at the Courts of St. James. I offered to help out by cleaning out some puppy pens (not that I’d ever complain about hanging out with puppies) and wanted to learn more about their work. What their founder stressed to me was how difficult winter is for rescue shelters such as WPRS. The volume of abandoned and surrendered animals increases dramatically, and this puts a real strain on the resources of local shelters. If you have room in your life for a furry friend, please adopt and don’t shop, and consider visiting Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter to meet some of the adorable, adoptable friends they have in their care.

Manitoba families pay price for inaction

Manitoba families are feeling the squeeze every time they walk into a grocery store. Over the past two years, Manitoba has seen some of the fastest-rising grocery prices in Canada, far outpacing the rate of inflation. For young families, seniors on fixed incomes and anyone already stretched thin, the cost of groceries has become an everyday crisis.

This didn’t happen by accident. Grocery prices are rising because of the large corporate chains that dominate the market and face little competition. When just a few companies control supply, pricing power shifts away from consumers and into boardrooms. Manitobans are left paying the price.

One thing Manitoba has done right for decades is regulate the price of milk. Due to longstanding provincial rules, milk remains one of the only staples that has not skyrocketed in price. It is clear that when government is willing to act, it can protect families from runaway costs.

Unfortunately, the Kinew government has not shown that same willingness to intervene in ways that have meaningfully lowered grocery prices. Its first response to rising prices was to cut the gas tax, claiming lower fuel costs would bring down grocery bills. That simply did not happen. Grocery prices in Manitoba continued to rise faster than almost anywhere else in the country.

Running down a dream

Niko Parrott is a 20-year-old football player who is following the path of playing junior football before playing at university.

“I completed high school at Churchill High School, and I currently play in the Canadian Junior Football League as I prepare to transition into U Sports football,” he explained. Last season, Niko played running back for the Edmonton Wildcats in the Prairie Football Conference of the Canadian Junior Football League. In 2025, he played seven games and ran the ball 55 times for 360 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

“Right now, my main focus is football development and preparing for the next level,” he said. “I still take learning seriously, whether it’s through training, studying the game, or personal growth off the field. I plan to study criminology and then law.”

The six-foot, 210-pounder takes his football very seriously.

Simply looking for loving homes

Meet Houdini, a two-year-old domestic shorthair looking for his forever home. This sweet and sensitive boy is currently feeling overwhelmed in the shelter environment and spends much of his time hiding – but don’t let that fool you. With just a short acclimation period in a home, we know Houdini will truly blossom.

Thanks to his short-term foster mom, we know the real Houdini – a friendly little shadow who happily follows his people from room to room, waiting patiently until they stop long enough for cuddles. Once he feels safe, his affectionate and loyal nature shines through. Houdini would thrive in a calm, quiet home with a family who understands that patience and kindness go a long way.

He’ll come out of his shell at his own pace and when he does, you’ll gain a devoted companion and loving best friend. Could you be the one to give Houdini the peaceful forever home he deserves?

☐ ☐ ☐

Winter no wonderland for many pets

Our pets have fur coats. Some have better fur coats than others but, in general, they have some protection from the weather.

Some breeds, such as huskies, malamutes, Great Pyrenees, Bernese mountain dogs and others were built for Winnipeg winters. Properly maintained, their coats will keep them warm and cozy, regardless of the temperatures. I have many clients who own dogs that go outside at 20 below and won’t come back in.

And then there are dogs like Leia, our Frenchie, who races down to the end of the ramp, pees, and runs right back up, even at -5 C. Meanwhile Rey, our Lab, wanders around the backyard, only coming in with the promise of a treat.

When properly outfitted, both can walk for extended periods. Leia needs more than the simple coat we put on Rey. She gets her puffy coat and usually a hat to keep the wind out of her ears. If it is warmer, she wears just her balloon boots but if it’s colder, she gets socks first, then the balloon boots. With that gear in place, she will take her regular walk and get her business done (she doesn’t like to poop in the yard for some reason — I guess she likes to make Mommy carry it around).

Rock the River brings community together

Rock the River Festival — an outdoor curling bonspiel to be held on the Red River from Feb. 6–8 — celebrates health and community spirit while raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation and KidSport Manitoba.

Since 2002, Rock the River (formerly known as Ironman Outdoor Curling) has raised more than $250,000 for local charities.

What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved to become a flagship winter festival, attracting more than 32 local and international teams each year.

This year, curlers of all abilities will gather at the Redboine Boat Club (20 Churchill Dr.) to compete.

Making a difference half a world away

Jen Nicholson believes in taking action.

The West End resident recently returned from a 10-week volunteer trip to Koidu in Sierra Leone, where she was helping the community set up a vocational training program and offering guidance.

Located in the West African country’s Eastern Province, Koidu, a city of approximately 150,000, is home to the Pearl Dudek Centre orphanage and the Pearl Dudek International Academy.

Nicholson, currently on a leave of absence from her teaching job at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate, is a member of the Sierra Leone Action Mission, which falls under the umbrella of Accountable Development Works, a registered Canadian charity based in Winnipeg. Most recently, SLAM members raised funds for, and supported the building of the orphanage.

A river to skate away on

Winnipeggers and visitors alike have taken to the Nestaweya River Trail since it opened on Jan. 1.

The trail, which stretched from the Manitoba Canoe and Kayak Centre (80 Churchill Dr.) on the Red River to the Legislative Building at press time, now features new warming huts from international winners of the annual design competition; as well as huts designed by Grade 7 students at Bison Run School work with University of Manitoba Faculty of Architecture students; alongside favourites from previous years.

For more information, visit theforks.com

‘Mature… beyond his years’

Matthew Shoup loves being behind the camera, and his progress so far suggests a career in filmmaking is definitely in focus.

Shoup, 20, who lives in Garden City, recently received the inaugural Joy Loewen Storytelling Award from the National Screen Institute-Canada.

The award honours storytellers from equity-deserving communities that share their experiences with courage and help strengthen connection through the power of story.

Loewen is a former CEO of NSI whose leadership shaped the Winnipeg-based film training organization and “has left a lasting impact while also contributing significantly to the broader screen industry,” according to a release.

How much should you pay for financial advice?

I want to change advisers this year because I think I am paying too much. What should I be paying for a portfolio of about $500,000?

Thanks,

John

Many Canadians worry about the fees they pay their advisers and wonder if they’re paying too much regardless of the amount they have saved. Having been an investment banker for over 30 years, I can tell you that you do get what you pay for. However, fees, inflation, and future market volatility will always eat away at your retirement capital, decreasing your purchasing power, and eventually forcing you to modify your lifestyle as you age.