Canada Day celebrated in style

The unpredictable rainy weather did not stop the attendees and performers from celebrating Canada Day.

On July 1, people across Winnipeg gathered to celebrate. At the centre of the city, The Forks held different activities and events for everyone — drumming workshops, giant-scaled board games, and food at the market. Many proudly wore their traditional attires, colours of the Canadian flag — some even wore the actual flag as a cape. Among the crowd were longtime residents celebrating decades of being in Canada as well as new Canadians who took the citizenship oath at the Forks earlier that day.

Bumblebees in Whyte Ridge

I was doing some yard work earlier this spring and noticed a bumblebee on my flowers. I don’t recall ever seeing one in my yard before, so I watched her flitting around gathering nectar for quite some time.

Based on the time of year, she was likely a queen, emerging from her overwintering site to forage for nectar and pollen to start a new colony. Once she found a new nest site, she would have built wax cells to lay the eggs that were fertilized the previous year. These hatch and develop into female workers to feed the young and carry out other tasks similar to honeybee workers. The nests can house 50 to 200 individuals — far fewer than the tens of thousands in honeybee hives. In the fall, new young queens leave the nest and mate with male drones. Before things get too cold, the queen finds a safe place underground — in a rodent burrow or the base of a tree — and the workers and drones die off. It’s a life cycle that’s been going on for more than 30 million years.

There are about 40 species of bumblebees in Canada, and while they don’t produce honey, they’re important pollinators. Unfortunately, over the past few decades, populations have declined — not only in Canada, but across North America, Europe, and Asia. The decline has been caused primarily by habitat loss and more efficient agricultural practices, with factors including climate change and pesticide use. In Canada, several species have been officially assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada to be in decline. Here in Manitoba, the yellow-banded bumble bee is one of those species, and can create challenges for project developers in managing potential effects. It’s easy to spot the patches of flowers that serve as food, but very difficult to find the overwintering sites.

I’m not a professional entomologist, but the one in my yard looked like a tri-coloured bumble bee, based on the colouring. The bands of bright colours (including yellow, red, orange, and white for some species) have evolved as a visual warning to predators that they could get a painful sting. Unlike the honeybee, a bumblebee’s stinger lacks barbs, so they can sting repeatedly without leaving the stinger in the wound and injuring itself. However, they aren’t normally aggressive, except in defence of their nest, or if harmed.

Revitalized park marks new growth era in West End

In the heart of a growing West End lays Sargent Avenue, connecting the airport to downtown, and acting as a corridor of community infrastructure and small businesses.

On June 27, a grand re-opening of the newly redeveloped Sri Sathya Sai Park, on the corner of Sargent Avenue and Banning Street, hosted families and local entrepreneurs to show off the updated recreational space.

“(The park) wasn’t well taken care of (before), I’m happy someone had the initiative to do it,” said Laura Gurbhoo, co-owner and head baker at Gâto bakeshop at 819 Sargent Ave., one block over from the park.

The park is on private land owned by the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre. Prior to the upgrades, the park had benches, a table, and single teeter totter.

National table tennis competition returns to the city

While cortisol for many competitive athletes might be running on overdrive leading up to a national championship, it isn’t for everyone.

For Terry Zhang, he’s excited, because it’s his first time competing on the national stage in 10 years, and it’s the first time Winnipeg is hosting the Canadian Championship in table tennis in 10 years.

Over 350 athletes from across the country — and roughly 50 Manitobans — are prepping for the national championship, which is set to take place July 17 to 23 at Duckworth Centre at the University of Winnipeg (400 Spence St.)

“A lot of people feel nervous around this time, but I’m excited,” Zhang laughed.

Cognitive behaviour therapy with mindfulness

Kristen Wynnobel would like to see the cognitive behaviour therapy with mindfulness (CBTm) program become a regular part of the curriculum taught at the Winnipeg Adult Education Center (WAEC). Wynnobel, who just completed her first year as a guidance counsellor at the downtown Winnipeg School Division adult education hub, believes the skills taught in CBTm would benefit students at WAEC.

“I think it should be embedded in a lot of our classrooms. With what I’m seeing in terms of mental health, life circumstances, addictions, all those things — we want to give our students more tools,” said Wynnobel, who moved over to WAEC after 18 years at Gordon Bell High School, where she was a teacher and then later in a counselling role.

Wynnobel recently participated alongside WAEC students in a five-week offering of the CBTm program that was facilitated by Irene Maendel, the CBTm clinical lead for the CBTm Hub clinical and facilitator team. CBTm is run jointly through the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Shared Health Manitoba. It was designed as a low-barrier, skill-based group education program to teach people practical CBT and mindfulness strategies before they need, or while they are waiting for, more intensive therapy.

Maendel is a fierce advocate for the program and likes the broad appeal of the evidence-backed concepts and how they provide people with useful skills to manage stress, anxiety, low mood, worry, and difficult thoughts in an accessible and supportive way. The focus is on helping people make healthier choices in how they think and act and how that impacts overall mental wellbeing.

Stay present to avoid in-person scams

It’s been a long day. Work was exhausting. You have a bunch of commitments coming up. And you know you’re walking right back into a messy house when you get home. The dishes need washing, that front tire needs air and that neighbourhood committee you said you’d sit on meets tonight. With all these competing priorities rattling through your brain, there isn’t much space for what’s in front of you. You stopped at the liquor store to get a bottle of wine for your friend’s birthday and all of a sudden, your engagement ring is gone.

Scammers prey on those of us who are distracted, which yes, seems unfair when we have enough on our plate. But that’s the perfect opportunity for them to bump into you in the parking lot, try to sell you something that you politely decline, only to realize on your way home that whole interaction was a distraction from what really went on.

Scammers may work alone or in pairs to distract you or create some sort of connection (maybe a “bump”, a seemingly meaningless favour like holding something for them or even just a conversation). While that is going on, they’re working behind the facade to take something of yours. They may strip something off your hands without you even realizing it. This has happened in Winnipeg after scammers engaged their victims in conversation about their jewelry, then used slight of hand to steal it and replace it with fakes. Or if you’ve already unlocked your car, their friend may be searching through your back seat on the other side, pulling out your bag with your laptop.

With much of our attention on online scams these days, we often forget that old fashioned techniques are still alive and well. Don’t let your kindness become weakness when approached by strangers. Stay vigilant to ensure you are not put in danger, regardless of the neighbourhood you’re in.

Keep exploring Canada

Most people have heard of Niagara Falls, but have you heard of nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake? They are a mere 22 kilometres apart, but are uniquely different.

We recently travelled to Ontario for a family event, and started the holiday with a visit to this lush region. Aptly-named the ‘greenbelt,’ there are orchards and vineyards as far as the eye can see. In fact, there are 55 wineries listed in the Travel Guide, each with their own history and flavours.

As a Slurpee connoisseur, I was intrigued by De Simone’s roadside ad for wine slushies. We were treated to the family history of the vineyard and atmosphere of another world. I’ve never enjoyed “notes of peach” in a slushie before. Let’s just say I may now be in a different bevvie bracket.

Further down the highway we entered the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, which also has an ‘old town’ section filled with historical buildings and mercantile of an era gone by. The Prince of Wales Hotel sits prominently in the centre of town. Even if you don’t stay overnight, you can enjoy a cuppa in the lounge and soak up the atmosphere.

‘Always with the people’

Levy Abad wept upon the sight of his fellow Filipinos in Leamington, Ont., back in 2007, where 16 to 24 tomato farmers were living in a small house. The workers couldn’t speak up for their rights and were earning three to four dollars a day.

At that moment, Abad empathized towards the plight of his countrymen. It’s one of the realities he wants people to be aware of.

“You can only write songs and articles for people to get conscientized and help address the issues,” said Abad

The 59-year-old has released four albums, two books, and poems about immigration, labour issues, and other social injustice issues in Canada.

Looking back, moving forward: A Canada Day reflection

July 1 has always been a special day for families across Manitoba, but for me, it is also a deeply personal milestone.

On July 1, 1989, I was a 16-year-old stepping off a plane in Winnipeg for the very first time. I still remember feeling excited, nervous, and hopeful as my family arrived in a new country on its national holiday. Today, 37 years later, I look back on that day with tremendous gratitude. Canada welcomed us with open arms and gave us the opportunity to build a good life.

Canada Day is a time to reflect on our shared history, shaped by many different journeys. We honour the Indigenous peoples who have cared for this land for generations, the families who have called Manitoba home for centuries, and the newcomers who arrived here looking for a brighter future. It takes hard work, courage, and determination from everyone to build a strong community. Whether your family has been here for generations or you have just arrived, each of us contributes to the strength of our province.

That shared effort is what makes our community so special. We see it every day in The Maples — in our local businesses, our schools, our places of worship, our community organizations, and in the kindness neighbours show one another.

Summer in McPhillips

As summer gets underway, I’m excited for all the great community events taking place across the McPhillips constituency.

I was honoured to attend Filipino Heritage Month events, including the Philippine Independence Ball celebrating Filipino heritage with music, dance, and cuisine, and the Noli et Fili Concert at PCCM, where powerful opera/zarzuela performances highlighted the richness of Filipino culture.

I was pleased to attend the grand opening of Adelina’s No Frills on McPhillips Street. With years of experience, Adelina is committed to serving the community. This new No Frills provides McPhillips residents with a convenient option for fresh produce, quality meats, and bakery items close to home.

Congratulations on this exciting milestone, and welcome to the McPhillips community, Adelina!

Sabu’s Cubs to hold second annual shoe drive on Aug. 16

One local grassroots organization continues to make a difference in the community — one step at a time.

Sabu’s Cubs is a volunteer-led, non-profit that’s committed to helping and supporting youth in the community, and building a stronger sense of belonging and well-being.

“We work out of North Point Douglas, and walk in the community every Wednesday,” said Siobhan Faulkner, one of Sabu’s Cubs’ three co-directors, noting the organization works in partnership with Community Helpers Unite to serve hot meals to community members in need.

“We focus on the invisible underserved, as youth. And when we say invisible underserved, this could include people who are confined to their houses or trapped at home with young kids. We focus on specific people in the community and others in the neighbourhood that might be forgotten by the world.”

Haunted theatre in spotlight in new novel

As the curtain raises on David Jón Fuller’s debut novel Venue 13, it’s telling that a spirited force in the story hopes the show won’t go on.

Subtitled A Man. His theatre. And its ghost., the book — which is published by Winnipeg-based Turnstone Press/Ravenstone — follows protagonist Robert Laliberte.

According to Turnstone’s website, Laliberte’s dream is to convert a run-down building into a premier space for bring-your-own-venue productions in the city’s Summer Theatre Festival, a.k.a. Skeeter Fest. But achieving his dream isn’t easy — amid mounting debt and technical problems, Laliberte is unaware Venue 13 is also haunted.

The book is flavoured with autobiographical elements, as Fuller — who spent time growing up in North Kildonan and attended River East Collegiate, where he “became hooked on theatre” — is a longtime fixture in the city’s theatre community, and was involved with several Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Productions in the 1990s. His day job is copy editor at the Free Press, and he’s also a freelance writer and editor. His work has appeared in numerous anthologies.