Free Press Community Review: West

Universal screening for learning disabilities

Cindy Lamoureux 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Bill 225–The Public Schools Amendment Act (Universal Screening for Learning Disabilities) is progressing!

I am happy to be able to share that Bill 225 is continuing to move through the legislative process and had a committee date on Oct. 8. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated!

The bill itself is a matter of equity, opportunity and social justice. It is about doing more to ensure that children do not continue to fall through the cracks in our education system.

Several years ago, it was shared with me how, for decades, Manitoba has struggled with literacy outcomes. I’ve since done a deep dive on the issue and according to reports and stakeholders, there is a literacy crisis here in Manitoba. Sadly, only 40 per cent of students are reading at grade level, and for Indigenous students, the numbers are even lower.

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Sunday best

Heather Emberley 3 minute read Preview

Sunday best

Heather Emberley 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Blue jeans and a t-shirt to church. Never!

There are a few generations brought up to wear their Sunday best on the sabbath. Men in suits. Women in dresses. Anything else was deemed a mortal sin.

Steve Lennon, a services co-ordinator at Crescentwood’s Unitarian Universalist Church invited Lennard Taylor, Canadian internationally acclaimed fashion designer and author, to present on the transformative power of how you “cover your skin,” while addressing the spirituality of how “come as you are” is a form of social justice, Sunday, and every day. All of Lennard Taylor’s fashions are designed, sewn and manufactured in Winnipeg. Steve knew that “Lennard’s positivity would be welcome in these troubling times.” Steve says Lennard’s book, The Art of Living, “reflects the Unitarian Universalist sentiment that we are all connected to everyone and everything.”

As Lennard is fond of saying, “you are what you wear.” He wears happy socks and his tie is made from a tape measure. His energy is contagious; his message is powerful. His mission is “to help people smile and feel good” and “to change the way people think of the fashion industry,” particularly ‘fast fashion.’ He challenges us to think about the 85 per cent of old clothes that end up in a landfill. That’s 80 billion items of clothing clogging our water systems and polluting the land. Having worked in fashion overseas, he is a champion of working to eliminate child labour in textile factories. As a zero-textile waste and sustainable enterprise Lennard will mend, rework and redesign clothes originally bought in his store into new wearables or into artwork. He sees clothing as living garments with memories woven in.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
Steve Lennon and Lennard Taylor at their Sunday best reflecting on “the tapestry of life.”

Celebrating upgrades at John Forsyth Park

Billie Cross 3 minute read Preview

Celebrating upgrades at John Forsyth Park

Billie Cross 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

On Sept. 29, I had the pleasure of attending the opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at John Forsyth Park, here in Seine River. The celebration was a wonderful opportunity for our community to gather and showcase the new improvements made to our local park.

Following the renovations, John Forsyth Park features brand new fitness facilities, a paved walkway, and an outdoor classroom to be used by community members and students at École Christine-Lespérance. I look forward to seeing seniors staying active by using the fitness equipment, children learning in the outdoor classroom, and parents enjoying the new pathway.

John Forsyth Park has always been a place where residents of all ages come to gather, play and celebrate. With the new improvements, the park will become an even stronger part of our community here in Seine River.

I want to express my unwavering gratitude for the work of the federal government, the Province of Manitoba, and the City of Winnipeg for turning the dreams of upgrading this park into a reality.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
Seine River MLA Billie Cross bringing greetings during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at John Forsyth Park, unveiling new and improved outdoor community spaces in River Park South.

Visiting Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre

Nahanni Fontaine 2 minute read Preview

Visiting Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre

Nahanni Fontaine 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

I recently had the pleasure of attending a luncheon at the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre. Gwen Secter is a welcoming space in St. Johns, for Manitoba seniors to connect with one another and celebrate community.

The centre is a wonderful example of how accessibility and inclusion can improve the quality of one’s life. From educational programs about iPad technology to chair exercise classes, the centre offers an activity for everyone. When spaces are accessible, people of any age and ability can stay active, engaged, and supported.

In 2010, the former NDP government introduced the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). Since then, our government has introduced four accessibility standards related to customer service, employment, transportation, and information and communication. However, accessibility doesn’t stop at the front door, which is why we are currently developing a fifth standard for outdoor spaces in our province.

This act continues to guide our government’s work. As the minister responsible for accessibility, I want all Manitobans to know accessibility is a priority for our government.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
St. Johns MLA Nahanni Fontaine speaking with seniors at the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre.

Assiniboia C.C. approves plans for school in Bridgwater neighbourhood

Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER 2 minute read Preview

Assiniboia C.C. approves plans for school in Bridgwater neighbourhood

Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

The Assiniboia community committee held a regular meeting on Oct. 3.

There, a few projects and name approvals were discussed.

The committee approved an extension of time for the subdivision and rezoning of a site at 100 South Town Rd., from Oct. 24, 2025 to Oct. 24, 2026.

The 1.48-acre spot of land, which was once the home of Altea Fitness’s parking lot, will eventually be the site of a 10-storey apartment complex with 102 units and 7,975 square feet of commercial space.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Assiniboia C.C. approves plans for school in Bridgwater neighbourhood

Truth and reconciliation on display in Winnipeg South Centre

Ben Carr 3 minute read Preview

Truth and reconciliation on display in Winnipeg South Centre

Ben Carr 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

After spending several weeks immersed in the busy environment of Parliament, it’s refreshing to reconnect with familiar faces and meet with folks in Winnipeg South Centre.

On Sept. 30, Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, survivors, Indigenous leaders, community members and government officials gathered to unveil three plaques at the site of the former Assiniboia Residential School. The event marked a significant step in recognizing the painful legacy of residential schools and honoured the resilience of those who lived through them.

Located at 621 Academy Rd., the Assiniboia School operated from 1958 to 1973 and was one of the few residential schools situated in an urban setting. I was invited to assist in the unveiling of the plaques, which were installed with the support of Parks Canada and the Assiniboia Residential School Legacy Group. The bilingual and multilingual plaques include text in English, French, and Indigenous languages — Anishinaabemowin, Cree, Dakota, and Dene — reflecting the linguistic heritage of many students who attended the school. Including Indigenous languages on the plaques was particularly significant. During their time in school, children were often punished for speaking their language.

I grew up only a few blocks away from the school, but did not learn about its history until I was an adult. The plaques that were unveiled represent both a painful truth and an educational tool. My five-year-old niece, who attended the ceremony, will grow up understanding what happened here, not from a book or in a classroom, but from this landmark in her own community, with names, languages and stories preserved. This is how reconciliation begins — with awareness, with honesty and with respect.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
Elder Mabel Horton and Winnipeg South Centre MP Ben Carr unveil the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaques commemorating the former Assiniboia Residential School on Sept. 30.

Planting the seed

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Preview

Planting the seed

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

For the past 10 years, the Mennonite Central Committee of Manitoba has been bringing urban residents and rural farmers together to help address global food insecurity.

“Grow Hope is an annual food security program of MCC,” said Darryl Loewen, MCC Manitoba’s executive director. “The proceeds are … distributed broadly in the category of food security: one would be food acute food security, and the other would be crisis relief.”

Since 2015, Grow Hope in Manitoba has raised $1.92 million for the MCC’s account at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Each year, the federal government matches donations at a minimum 1:1 ratio, though at times the federal contribution has gone as high as 4:1.

“With a partial count for this year, we’re at $124,000, and hope to get to about $150,000 in donated dollars,” Loewen said.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Photo by Sheldon Birnie
Mary Anne Isaak (pictured) is a pastor at River East Church (755 McLeod Ave.). For the past 10 years, River East Church has contributed to MCC Manitoba’s Grow Hope campaign, which connects urban residents with farmers, in order to support growing crops for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, in order to help address food insecurity globally.

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Giving thanks this autumn

Sonya Braun 3 minute read Preview

Giving thanks this autumn

Sonya Braun 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

I love October.

Some of my favourite things happen in October. Fall, for instance! I love fall. Or shall I call it autumn? Autumn is a much prettier word. Autumn has been quite lovely this year. Gorgeous weather. Late frost has given the trees extra time to burst into colour.

These cooler days now are the perfect excuse to put on a cozy sweater and jeans and go for a walk enjoying the golds, reds and purples of the season. Or to simmer soups and stews. Or bake pumpkin muffins. I love fall.

In October, I also get to recall the way yellow leaves fell like rain the day my daughter was born, and how the weather suddenly turned grey, cold and rainy the day after, as I settled in to life with that new precious soul. And every year, I get to celebrate her and the wonderful young woman she is.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

File photo
Community correspondent Sonya Braun loves autumn.

Celebrating 70 years of whirling and twirling

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Preview

Celebrating 70 years of whirling and twirling

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

A group of west Winnipeg square dancers is whirling towards a major milestone this month.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, the Whirlaway Westerners square dance club will celebrate its 70th anniversary with a day of dancing and dining at St. Basil’s Ukrainian Church (202 Harcourt St.).

“The 70th anniversary event is open to all square dancers,” past-president Henrietta Anderson said. “Past members can come. We have our dancing in the afternoon at 2:30 p.m., then we’ll have supper, some speeches, some awards, and some more dancing until 9 p.m.”

Anderson, who has been involved with the Whirlaway Westerners for 40 years, thanked all the club’s past-presidents and members for their hard work in keeping the dance going so long. She said it currently has 30 full-time members.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
The Whirlaway Westerners square dance group is celebrating its 70th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 18. The group dances every Friday, between 7 and 9:30 p.m., from Labour Day through the end of April at Kirkfield Westwood Community Centre (165 Sansome Ave.).

Local educator attends international STEM expo

Janine LeGal SPECIAL TO FP COMMUNITY REVIEW 4 minute read Preview

Local educator attends international STEM expo

Janine LeGal SPECIAL TO FP COMMUNITY REVIEW 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, also known as STEM, is an umbrella term used to group together those distinct, but related, technical disciplines in the context of education policy or curriculum choices in schools. And, it’s an exciting area of study for students willing to explore and discover whole new worlds.

Passionate about advancing STEM education and equity, Dr. Anju Bajaj is a STEM educator and advisor at Holy Cross School and Manitoba Catholic Schools, and the founder and chair of the Bison Regional Science Fair. She has spent over 15 years mentoring students and building community-based science programs.

Recognized nationally for her leadership, Bajaj, who holds a Ph.D. in life sciences and has a background in health research and education, recently represented Canada at the MILSET Expo-Sciences International 2025 in Abu Dhabi. MILSET (Mouvement International pour le Loisir Scientifique Et Technique) is a non-governmental, non-profit and politically independent youth organisation, which aims at developing scientific culture among young people.

There, she attended advanced AI workshops with global leaders focused on integrating artificial intelligence into education. Her mission is to empower youth to innovate, collaborate globally, and create positive change.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
Dr. Anju Bajaj (pictured, centre) recently represented Canada at the MILSET Expo-Sciences International 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

City news in brief — week of Oct. 15, 2025

FP Community Review staff 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Mully Children’s Family Choir to perform locally this month

From Oct. 17 to 20, Mully Children’s Family Mission Choir will perform a number of concerts across Manitoba.

On Oct. 17, the choir is scheduled to sing O Canada on CJOB at 10:35 a.m. and another song on CHVN at 11:35 a.m. It holds a concert at the Acadia Hutterite Colony that evening. On Oct. 18, the choir will sing the national anthems before the Winnipeg Jets game against the Nashville Predators on Hockey Night in Canada.

On Oct. 19, Mully Children’s Family Mission Choir appear at two morning services at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church, (1315 Gateway Rd.). That evening, the choir will perform a full concert at Gateway North Church (745 Kapelus Dr.) in West St. Paul, beginning at 6:30 p.m. While admission is free, donations are accepted.

Recognition for a lifetime of dedication

Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Preview

Recognition for a lifetime of dedication

Emma Honeybun STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

When Penny Block began working at Varsity View Community Centre’s nursery school in 1984, there was no way to predict that almost four decades later it would be renamed Penny’s Place in her honour.

The renaming ceremony, which included Block receiving the City of Winnipeg’s Above and Beyond award from the City of Winnipeg, presented by Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood), took place on Oct. 10.

The event was fast-tracked slightly, as Block was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer four years ago — she was given 18 months to live at the time. She said that her cancer is the only reason she isn’t still putting in hours at the nursery.

“(Working with kids) is what I wanted to do,” she said. “And I’ve enjoyed it … It’s not for money, because we knew the money wasn’t there. And so we did well with what we had.”

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
Penny Block began working at Varsity View Community Centre’s nursery school in 1984. The school was recently renamed to Penny’s Place in her honour.

Building health care for one Manitoba

Malaya Marcelino 3 minute read Preview

Building health care for one Manitoba

Malaya Marcelino 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Access to health care is one of the top concerns I hear about from Manitobans every single day. Families want to know they’ll be able to see a doctor, get care quickly when they need it, and trust that the health system is there for them in moments of uncertainty. That is why our government has made health care one of our top priorities — and why we are taking real, practical steps to strengthen care across the province.

One of the most important steps we’ve taken is making health care easier to access. Through Medinav, Manitobans can now book same-day and next-day appointments online at dozens of participating clinics. Whether it’s a walk-in connected care clinic, a minor injury and illness clinic, or one of the extended-hours primary care clinics, Medinav gives families the ability to find care faster and closer to home. It’s a tool that is helping reduce wait times while keeping emergency and urgent care services available for the people who need them most.

We’ve also opened new extended-hours clinics to provide same-day care when your regular provider isn’t available. In Winnipeg, this includes the Misericordia Minor Injury and Illness Clinic (7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily) and the Minor Treatment Clinic at Health Sciences Centre, along with primary care at Grace, Concordia, and Victoria Hospitals. More clinics are on the way, ensuring families can get care evenings, weekends, and holidays when they need it most.

But opening clinics alone is not enough. We know that people are the heart of the health care system. That is why we are continuing to build our system with the addition of 3,397 net new health care workers, including 285 doctors and more than 1,100 nurses. These professionals are making a difference every day — and giving Manitobans the peace of mind that help will be there when it’s needed.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
Outside one of the many clinics our government is funding to support Manitobans.

Meet Titus

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Preview

Meet Titus

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Hi. I’m Titus.

I’m a shy and gentle boy who loves quiet spaces, soft beds, and the company of patient humans.

I am working on being housetrained and working on crate training. It’s very easy to put me into my crate, but I don’t like staying in my crate too long. I need a crate to help me feel safe as I build confidence. My foster mom teases me and calls me Houdini, because I like to escape from my crate and pen.

I live with my foster brother Tucker and we play great together. I might be more suited to a home with another dog to teach me how to become more confident. I like to play rough, but I don’t like overly energetic or pushy dogs, because they can be overwhelming for me.

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Supplied photo
Titus is a shy and gentle boy who loves quiet spaces, soft beds, and the company of patient humans.

Second phase of yards development approved

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

The most recent City Centre community committee meeting was held on Sept. 29, when a number of items were discussed and approved.

The committee concurred with a public service recommendation and approved plans for 28 Station Pl. in the Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry ward. Documents show plans for a proposed 22-storey, 203-unit multifamily building with ground floor commercial units, a proposed 4.5-storey parkade and an attached restaurant.

In the delegation portion of the meeting, Kyle Wires-Munro from MMP Architects explained the yards development is the second phase of the project (Station 2) located near the Jubilee Avenue intersection, which connects to the rapid transit extension.

One of the goals is to provide “an exterior experience” in the space that will be developed between the proposed building and its existing “sister building.”

Two Macaws brings the world to the Exchange District

Helen Lepp Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Two Macaws brings the world to the Exchange District

Helen Lepp Friesen 3 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

In the heart of Winnipeg’s Exchange District, at 68 Albert St., you’ll find a small shop that feels like stepping into another world. Two Macaws, a concept store owned by Anmol Noor, opened its doors in April and has already made its mark as a vibrant, welcoming space filled with treasures from around the globe along with a sense of home and community.

“I moved back to Winnipeg after a few years of traveling and seeing the world,” Noor explains. “I wanted to bring that back here, the world the way I see it. The store tells my story through my travels, so it’s very much me.”

The shelves of Two Macaws showcase clothing, art, jewelry, incense, and objects Noor has sourced directly from artists and artisans in India, Peru, France, and beyond.

“India and Peru were the two biggest inspirations for the store,” she says. “For example, the block-printed fabrics and textiles come from India. I work directly with artists in Peru for other pieces. Even the perfume I carry is from a small, natural perfumer in France that I connected with during my travels.”

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Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

October 19, 2025