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Melnick in the gym

By: Mary Agnes Welch

Posted: 03/19/2008 4:15 PM | Comments: 0

Okay, how do you get a gym full of tots all fired up about nutrient management regulation so the photo op doesn't go all to hell while CTV is rolling? Ask Water Minister Christine Melnick, not a politician or a portfolio normally associated with inspiring Hallmark moments.The province finally signed off on some new water pollution regs Tuesday (see crabby post below) and did a little press announcement at Lakewood School. Reporters were rolling their eyes at the deja-vous of it all, and the cute kids were getting a little antsy when Melnick (known for her elementary teacher-style sweaters) made the trip to St. Charles a tiny bit worthwhile.The kids got a chance to ask a couple questions before reporters did. They asked how many fish were dying from pollution in Lake Winnipeg and how much algae is too much. Melnick fielded the questions like a pro - short, simple, colourful answers that were really answers. Then she fired off a few questions to the kids - how many have fish tanks? How many have cottages? How many have been swimming in Lake Winnipeg? How many have heard the loons around the lake? Hands were shooting up all over the gym and even I was reminded why we give a crap about Lake Winnipeg.

Mary Agnes Welch, Winnipeg Free Press

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About Mary Agnes Welch

Mary Agnes Welch joined the Free Press in 2002, first as a general assignment reporter and then covering city hall and the Manitoba legislature before moving to her current post as public policy reporter.

Before Winnipeg, she worked at the Windsor Star and the Odessa American, a small daily newspaper in West Texas. There, in addition to covering more than 20 counties, she took high school football scores from coaches all over West Texas by phone every Friday night.

Mary Agnes is a graduate of Columbia University’s journalism school, has won several Western Ontario Newspaper Awards and has been part of two teams of reporters nominated for a Michener Award. In 2011, she was nominated for a National Newspaper Award in the beat category. She is also the former national president of the Canadian Association of Journalists.

She once misspelled "Shih Tzu" in the paper and received 37 emails from angry dog-owners.

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