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Carl DeGurse

Carl DeGurse

Senior copy editor

Carl DeGurse’s role at the Free Press is a matter of opinion. A lot of opinions.

He is a member of the Free Press editorial board that decides the newspaper’s stance on newsworthy issues. He writes some of the editorials, writes personal opinion columns and helps edit submitted opinion columns on the Think Tank page in the print edition and Analysis section online.

He tries to apply the words of Daniel Patrick Moynihan: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.”

Recent articles by Carl DeGurse

‘Ghost hotels’ will haunt next city council

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

‘Ghost hotels’ will haunt next city council

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022

Laurie Foster’s wife has jokingly nicknamed him “Neighbourhood Watch” for his dedication to looking out the front window of their home and recording the number of cars and trucks across the street. In the past six months, he’s counted 550 different vehicles, many bearing licence plates from various Canadian provinces and American states. All are coming and going from a single house.

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Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022

Tribune Media TNS
DREAMSTIME / TNS FILES
City council is being pushed to regulate the short-term property rental business, of which Airbnb is the most prominent platform.

Finding some good news amid all the bad

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Finding some good news amid all the bad

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022

GRIM news abounds, including destructive hurricanes, a madman in the Kremlin who says he’s not bluffing about the possibility of using a nuclear weapon, and the ongoing evidence that the climate is warming toward a point that will endanger humans.

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Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022

GRIM news abounds, including destructive hurricanes, a madman in the Kremlin who says he’s not bluffing about the possibility of using a nuclear weapon, and the ongoing evidence that the climate is warming toward a point that will endanger humans.

Poor optics when police feel unsafe downtown

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Poor optics when police feel unsafe downtown

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022

The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce will try to promote a positive vision of the city’s core at a Tuesday luncheon presentation billed as State of the Downtown. The local police union shouldn’t expect an invitation to speak.

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Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022

The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce will try to promote a positive vision of the city’s core at a Tuesday luncheon presentation billed as State of the Downtown. The local police union shouldn’t expect an invitation to speak.

As child was hit, we all watched without intervening

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As child was hit, we all watched without intervening

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 17, 2022

None of us waiting in line with grocery carts at the Superstore on McPhillips Street envied the young mother whose child was throwing a tantrum.

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Saturday, Sep. 17, 2022

None of us waiting in line with grocery carts at the Superstore on McPhillips Street envied the young mother whose child was throwing a tantrum.

Toppled statues should return

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Toppled statues should return

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022

The statues of British royalty that were toppled in Winnipeg remain hidden. They shouldn’t be. They should be brought back into the limelight, still in their damaged state, as symbols of an important public uprising in this city’s history.

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Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Provincial officials have said the statue of Queen Victoria won’t be restored.

Recruiting doctors? Others don’t see it that way

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Recruiting doctors? Others don’t see it that way

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Sep. 3, 2022

Manitoba needs more nurses and doctors, and one way of addressing the shortage is by luring medical professsionals who are trained in other countries. We call it “recruiting”; some others, however, prefer the term “poaching.”

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Saturday, Sep. 3, 2022

Manitoba needs more nurses and doctors, and one way of addressing the shortage is by luring medical professsionals who are trained in other countries. We call it “recruiting”; some others, however, prefer the term “poaching.”

Faith communities propel upward mobility

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Faith communities propel upward mobility

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Aug. 29, 2022

Faith institutions are places to connect with the divine. But a massive new study finds they are also the best place to pursue upward mobility of the earthly variety.

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Monday, Aug. 29, 2022

Faith institutions are places to connect with the divine. But a massive new study finds they are also the best place to pursue upward mobility of the earthly variety.

Too soon to turn off the summer-fun tap

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Too soon to turn off the summer-fun tap

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022

Among the iconic sounds of summer are the squeals and shouts of kids playing in public pools and spray pads. That’s what fun sounds like.

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Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022

Among the iconic sounds of summer are the squeals and shouts of kids playing in public pools and spray pads. That’s what fun sounds like.

Double-double trouble in the workforce

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Double-double trouble in the workforce

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022

One of the most peculiar encounters of our summer has been at a Tim Hortons outlet in Wawa, Ont., of all places. It confirmed for us the gravity of the labour shortage in Canada’s retail sector.

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Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022

One of the most peculiar encounters of our summer has been at a Tim Hortons outlet in Wawa, Ont., of all places. It confirmed for us the gravity of the labour shortage in Canada’s retail sector.

Transit drivers deserve a safe workplace

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Transit drivers deserve a safe workplace

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 30, 2022

Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Act requires employers to protect the safety of its workers. Winnipeg Transit employees can be excused for scoffing.

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Saturday, Jul. 30, 2022

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Transit has hired more inspectors, who wear body armour and are trained to de-escalate confrontations. It’s unclear how many inspectors there are, or which routes they ride, but they’re obviously doing an inadequate job.

A key question in the abortion debate

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

A key question in the abortion debate

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Jul. 9, 2022

As a man, I offer an opinion on abortion only with caution. I understand and respect the views of women on this controversial issue because, after all, it’s inside their bodies that babies grow.

But I hope I can be allowed to contribute to the conversation with an experience that is deeply personal. I will share this disclosure from my past, hoping it will illustrate a crucial aspect of the abortion debate that is often overlooked.

My true story begins with a high-school romance between Debbie and Bill. Their relationship continued after graduation and, when they were 19 years old, they became pregnant. Abortion wasn’t considered, partly because of the Roman Catholic beliefs of the family in which Debbie was raised.

Instead of abortion, they “did the right thing,” as it was called back then, and they got married when they were three months pregnant. Pregnant with me, that is. I was born six months after my parents wed.

Read
Saturday, Jul. 9, 2022

As a man, I offer an opinion on abortion only with caution. I understand and respect the views of women on this controversial issue because, after all, it’s inside their bodies that babies grow.

But I hope I can be allowed to contribute to the conversation with an experience that is deeply personal. I will share this disclosure from my past, hoping it will illustrate a crucial aspect of the abortion debate that is often overlooked.

My true story begins with a high-school romance between Debbie and Bill. Their relationship continued after graduation and, when they were 19 years old, they became pregnant. Abortion wasn’t considered, partly because of the Roman Catholic beliefs of the family in which Debbie was raised.

Instead of abortion, they “did the right thing,” as it was called back then, and they got married when they were three months pregnant. Pregnant with me, that is. I was born six months after my parents wed.

Public memorial would honour COVID-19 casualties

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Public memorial would honour COVID-19 casualties

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Jul. 2, 2022

There’s a deep human need to do right by our dead, an imperative often prevented by COVID-19.

Many Manitobans who passed on during the pandemic died alone. In their final hours, as they faced the daunting prospect of transitioning to whatever lies beyond this earthly realm, they were denied a loving sendoff from family and friends, who were kept away from personal-care homes, hospitals and private homes by restrictions on in-person gatherings.

It’s also been hard on the survivors, who were barred from the social rituals our culture has developed to process the trauma of death, such as visting the funeral home to view the laid-out body, sharing tearful hugs with the grieving family, and attending funerals where eulogies extol the virtues of the deceased.

It’s as if we still owe something to the Manitobans who died of COVID-19, that we need a creative way to honour them with due reverence.

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Saturday, Jul. 2, 2022

There’s a deep human need to do right by our dead, an imperative often prevented by COVID-19.

Many Manitobans who passed on during the pandemic died alone. In their final hours, as they faced the daunting prospect of transitioning to whatever lies beyond this earthly realm, they were denied a loving sendoff from family and friends, who were kept away from personal-care homes, hospitals and private homes by restrictions on in-person gatherings.

It’s also been hard on the survivors, who were barred from the social rituals our culture has developed to process the trauma of death, such as visting the funeral home to view the laid-out body, sharing tearful hugs with the grieving family, and attending funerals where eulogies extol the virtues of the deceased.

It’s as if we still owe something to the Manitobans who died of COVID-19, that we need a creative way to honour them with due reverence.

For this family, ‘serve and protect’ sounds right

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

For this family, ‘serve and protect’ sounds right

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Jun. 25, 2022

THERE seems to be a rise in recent years of people slagging Winnipeg police as racist and unnecessarily brutal. Some protests have even demanded the police service be defunded.

Bob and Cathy Stewart are aware from news reports of growing hostility toward police but, when they were awoken this week by a violent man who was high on meth and smashing the windows of their home, they had a first-hand opportunity to judge police action for themselves.

By the time police arrested the home invader — they found him naked, lying in a puddle of standing water in nearby bush — the Stewarts had high praise for the sensitivity police showed in quelling the crisis.

“There’s not enough good adjectives to describe their high level of professionalism,” Bob said in a conversation.

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Saturday, Jun. 25, 2022

THERE seems to be a rise in recent years of people slagging Winnipeg police as racist and unnecessarily brutal. Some protests have even demanded the police service be defunded.

Bob and Cathy Stewart are aware from news reports of growing hostility toward police but, when they were awoken this week by a violent man who was high on meth and smashing the windows of their home, they had a first-hand opportunity to judge police action for themselves.

By the time police arrested the home invader — they found him naked, lying in a puddle of standing water in nearby bush — the Stewarts had high praise for the sensitivity police showed in quelling the crisis.

“There’s not enough good adjectives to describe their high level of professionalism,” Bob said in a conversation.

We could all use a bit of good news

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

We could all use a bit of good news

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 11, 2022

AN acquaintance says she’s decided to stop consuming news because it’s a downer. She aims to avoid all mainstream media and build herself an information bunker that will admit only literature, music and television broadcasting that is uplifting.

I respect her right to shape her world view — we all need to heed our mental health — but perhaps her strategy is too extreme if she cuts herself off from positive news stories that offer hope and encouragement. Here are examples of heartening news items she would miss:

AN ELECTRIC FUTURE — The widespread adoption of electric vehicles seems to be more promising.

Two separate developments week combined to make the economics of the EV option more compelling. First, the price of gasoline soared, to more than $2 a litre in Winnipeg. Second, the sticker price of some EVs seems to be falling, at least in the U.S.

Read
Saturday, Jun. 11, 2022

AN acquaintance says she’s decided to stop consuming news because it’s a downer. She aims to avoid all mainstream media and build herself an information bunker that will admit only literature, music and television broadcasting that is uplifting.

I respect her right to shape her world view — we all need to heed our mental health — but perhaps her strategy is too extreme if she cuts herself off from positive news stories that offer hope and encouragement. Here are examples of heartening news items she would miss:

AN ELECTRIC FUTURE — The widespread adoption of electric vehicles seems to be more promising.

Two separate developments week combined to make the economics of the EV option more compelling. First, the price of gasoline soared, to more than $2 a litre in Winnipeg. Second, the sticker price of some EVs seems to be falling, at least in the U.S.

Pothole archeologist alarmed by decaying roads

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Pothole archeologist alarmed by decaying roads

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 4, 2022

Most of us see a pothole as something to dodge. Douglas Fisher studies it like a pavement archeologist. He examines the gritty texture of the aggregate around the edges of a hole, and it speaks to him about why it crumbled. He’s like a pothole whisperer.

In our conversation this week, Fisher came across as understated, a man who is cautious about his opinions — until the topic turned to the dismal condition of Winnipeg roads.

“I know asphalt. I studied asphalt. There are ways to design a mix that’s better for the roads in this climate,” he said.

Fisher’s career included 37 years with the Manitoba highways department, helping develop the best possible mix of pavement aggregate. He retired as the manager of engineering audit and quality assurance. When he offers an informed suspicion about why roads in Winnipeg are decaying faster than ever, he has street cred (please excuse the pun).

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Saturday, Jun. 4, 2022

Douglas Fisher says coarse asphalt mixes are much more susceptible to aggregate loss in freeze/thaw conditions than finer mixes. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Gender-neutral washrooms create challenges

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Gender-neutral washrooms create challenges

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, May. 28, 2022

THE concert at the West End Cultural Centre was good, but even more memorable was an encounter in the public washroom during intermission. I emerged from a stall and did a double-take. There was a woman in the room.

The washroom had been designated for males during my past visits to the West End and I hadn’t noticed the sign on the door had been changed. On that night, the washroom was gender neutral.

I felt surprised by her presence and, to be honest, somewhat uneasy. The washroom is small, and we were the only two occupants. At the sink to wash my hands, we were almost shoulder to shoulder. She was leaning close to the mirror and applying a black tar-like substance to her eyelashes with a small stick with a bristly tip.

I felt inclined to acknowledge her presence because we were so physically close that our sleeves almost touched. To be well inside her personal space and to ignore her might make her feel insulted, as if she didn’t exist. I didn’t want to snub her but, also, I didn’t want to say anything that could be construed as creepy.

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Saturday, May. 28, 2022

THE concert at the West End Cultural Centre was good, but even more memorable was an encounter in the public washroom during intermission. I emerged from a stall and did a double-take. There was a woman in the room.

The washroom had been designated for males during my past visits to the West End and I hadn’t noticed the sign on the door had been changed. On that night, the washroom was gender neutral.

I felt surprised by her presence and, to be honest, somewhat uneasy. The washroom is small, and we were the only two occupants. At the sink to wash my hands, we were almost shoulder to shoulder. She was leaning close to the mirror and applying a black tar-like substance to her eyelashes with a small stick with a bristly tip.

I felt inclined to acknowledge her presence because we were so physically close that our sleeves almost touched. To be well inside her personal space and to ignore her might make her feel insulted, as if she didn’t exist. I didn’t want to snub her but, also, I didn’t want to say anything that could be construed as creepy.

What’s good for the goose … is no longer the question

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

What’s good for the goose … is no longer the question

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, May. 7, 2022

THE comeback of Canada geese from near-extinction has been remarkably successful. In fact, it’s been too successful.

In an appropriate environment, geese are magnificant birds. To watch them from a site such as Oak Hammock Marsh is to marvel at their natural beauty as they ride the wind currents in V-shaped formation, outstretched necks honking their throaty exclamations.

In Winnipeg, though, they’ve become urban pests, soiling parks and playgrounds with excrement, hissing aggressively at people who walk near their nests and creating a traffic hazard as they plod obliviously on roads.

I generally believe we should co-exist peacefully with wildlife including geese, live and let live. The exception is when wildlife poses a danger.

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Saturday, May. 7, 2022

THE comeback of Canada geese from near-extinction has been remarkably successful. In fact, it’s been too successful.

In an appropriate environment, geese are magnificant birds. To watch them from a site such as Oak Hammock Marsh is to marvel at their natural beauty as they ride the wind currents in V-shaped formation, outstretched necks honking their throaty exclamations.

In Winnipeg, though, they’ve become urban pests, soiling parks and playgrounds with excrement, hissing aggressively at people who walk near their nests and creating a traffic hazard as they plod obliviously on roads.

I generally believe we should co-exist peacefully with wildlife including geese, live and let live. The exception is when wildlife poses a danger.

Many motivations behind letters to the editor

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Many motivations behind letters to the editor

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022

THE regular writers of letters to the editor obviously agree on the importance of a vigorous public conversation on important issues. Other than that, they disagree on almost everything.

Right wing or left wing, confrontational or conciliatory, heartfelt or headstrong, they are an eclectic bunch who care enough about our community to speak out and put their name to their views.

Why do they bother? What sort of reaction do their published letters get from their friends and family?

We asked those questions of a sample of writers who submit letters consistently. Many responded with lengthy, eloquent answers. Here are some excerpts:

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Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022

THE regular writers of letters to the editor obviously agree on the importance of a vigorous public conversation on important issues. Other than that, they disagree on almost everything.

Right wing or left wing, confrontational or conciliatory, heartfelt or headstrong, they are an eclectic bunch who care enough about our community to speak out and put their name to their views.

Why do they bother? What sort of reaction do their published letters get from their friends and family?

We asked those questions of a sample of writers who submit letters consistently. Many responded with lengthy, eloquent answers. Here are some excerpts:

Skipping question period is not the answer

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Skipping question period is not the answer

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Apr. 23, 2022

CAN we really blame Premier Heather Stefanson for dodging three recent question periods? Which of us would choose to attend a place where we would be taunted and belittled?

Sadly, the important democratic tradition of question period occasionally descends into a fracas where the “honourable members” stoop to hollering and jeering of a type that would get school children sentenced to a timeout in the principal’s office.

Take, for example, the ruckus in the legislature on April 13 when the provincial budget was tabled. The heckling got so bad that Speaker Myrna Driedger was ignored as she called for order and repeatedly urged the MLAs to stop bickering. She might as well have told the wind to stop blowing.

“Democracy will only happen if all of us respect each other in here and bring forward our ideas carefully and listen to them carefully,” she reminded them. The MLAs then heckled the Speaker.

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Saturday, Apr. 23, 2022

CAN we really blame Premier Heather Stefanson for dodging three recent question periods? Which of us would choose to attend a place where we would be taunted and belittled?

Sadly, the important democratic tradition of question period occasionally descends into a fracas where the “honourable members” stoop to hollering and jeering of a type that would get school children sentenced to a timeout in the principal’s office.

Take, for example, the ruckus in the legislature on April 13 when the provincial budget was tabled. The heckling got so bad that Speaker Myrna Driedger was ignored as she called for order and repeatedly urged the MLAs to stop bickering. She might as well have told the wind to stop blowing.

“Democracy will only happen if all of us respect each other in here and bring forward our ideas carefully and listen to them carefully,” she reminded them. The MLAs then heckled the Speaker.

Manitoba sounding the feral-boar alarm

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Manitoba sounding the feral-boar alarm

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Apr. 16, 2022

THE governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta have in the past month taken steps to stop wild pigs from running rampant. It’s incumbent on Manitoba to do as much.

The feral boars are causing great damage in Manitoba, the Manitoba Pork annual meeting on April 8 was told by wild-pig expert Ryan Brook. He called them “the single most successful invasive large mammal on the planet.”

“There are no predators, they are insanely aggressive, they eat just about anything and they keep going all year,” said Brooks, a University of Saskatchewan animal science professor.

Such porcine pronouncements might seem exaggerated to Manitobans who have never personally encountered a wild pig. Perhaps some skeptics believe reported sightings should be accorded the same credibility as reports of mythical creatures such as Sasquatch and unicorns.

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Saturday, Apr. 16, 2022

CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO
Wild boars are thriving in wooded areas of Manitoba and may soon infiltrate Riding Mountain National Park, experts fear.

Pothole advice creates sinking feeling

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Pothole advice creates sinking feeling

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Apr. 9, 2022

I KNOW I speak for many Winnipeggers when I express gratitude to Manitoba Public Insurance for its oft-repeated advice: “Drive to road conditions.” Never would we have thought of that on our own.

The current condition of Winnipeg roads has been compared to roads found in a war zone that was recently shelled. Some people say that’s an understatement.

As we dodge potholes, gaping crevices and crumbling pavement, Winnipeg drivers are forced to weave back and forth, sometimes drifting out of our lanes. Makes it hard to tell whether zigzagging motorists are driving to road conditions, or are intoxicated.

Thank goodness we have the driving experts at MPI to edify us. In search of more detailed wisdom, I checked MPI’s website and found further gems of enlightment about potholes. I decided to go for a drive and follow MPI’s specific advice.

Read
Saturday, Apr. 9, 2022

I KNOW I speak for many Winnipeggers when I express gratitude to Manitoba Public Insurance for its oft-repeated advice: “Drive to road conditions.” Never would we have thought of that on our own.

The current condition of Winnipeg roads has been compared to roads found in a war zone that was recently shelled. Some people say that’s an understatement.

As we dodge potholes, gaping crevices and crumbling pavement, Winnipeg drivers are forced to weave back and forth, sometimes drifting out of our lanes. Makes it hard to tell whether zigzagging motorists are driving to road conditions, or are intoxicated.

Thank goodness we have the driving experts at MPI to edify us. In search of more detailed wisdom, I checked MPI’s website and found further gems of enlightment about potholes. I decided to go for a drive and follow MPI’s specific advice.

Prayerful moments produce positive results

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Prayerful moments produce positive results

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Apr. 2, 2022

CITY council was criticized this week for opening its meetings with a time of prayer. Let’s hope councillors don’t bow to pressure and end the tradition. Winnipeg needs more prayer, not less.

A report by the British Columbia Humanist Association said Winnipeg council is violating the state’s duty of neutrality and the rights of the non-religious who might attend.

Judging by the criticism, it seems likely none of the B.C. humanists actually attended a Winnipeg council session before slagging it. Council has a definition of prayer that is commendably elastic.

The responsibility for council’s prayerful opening rotates among councillors. Some pray through the lens of their personal faith, but others offer secular meditations, poetry, inspirational thoughts or song. According to Mayor Brian Bowman, “It is a moment of unity for council before sometimes we get into very divisive discussions and debates.”

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Saturday, Apr. 2, 2022

CITY council was criticized this week for opening its meetings with a time of prayer. Let’s hope councillors don’t bow to pressure and end the tradition. Winnipeg needs more prayer, not less.

A report by the British Columbia Humanist Association said Winnipeg council is violating the state’s duty of neutrality and the rights of the non-religious who might attend.

Judging by the criticism, it seems likely none of the B.C. humanists actually attended a Winnipeg council session before slagging it. Council has a definition of prayer that is commendably elastic.

The responsibility for council’s prayerful opening rotates among councillors. Some pray through the lens of their personal faith, but others offer secular meditations, poetry, inspirational thoughts or song. According to Mayor Brian Bowman, “It is a moment of unity for council before sometimes we get into very divisive discussions and debates.”

Foolhardy to resume use of lawn pesticides

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Foolhardy to resume use of lawn pesticides

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 26, 2022

THREE households in my neighbourhood stand out for separate reasons that are all admirable.

One has an electric vehicle plugged in outside its home. The family obviously has the courage of its conviction to make the switch while most of us agree in principle but remain hesitant.

A second household includes a mother who goes to great lengths to reduce the family’s environmental footprint. She brings her own cup to coffee shops, her family wears bulky sweaters indoors in winter to allow a lower thermostat, and she buys food from bulk bins when possible, bringing her own containers. She behaves boldly in supermarkets, where, shunning the plastic-and-foam packaging on meat, she barges through the swinging doors that say “No admittance” to sweetly ask the butchers to cut the portion she wants and put it in a container she brought from home.

A third commendable household has over the past few years gradually eliminated its lawn. The home is now fronted by an attractive presentation of river-rock paths, trees centred in beds of large wood chips and shrubs native to the Canadian Prairie.

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Saturday, Mar. 26, 2022

THREE households in my neighbourhood stand out for separate reasons that are all admirable.

One has an electric vehicle plugged in outside its home. The family obviously has the courage of its conviction to make the switch while most of us agree in principle but remain hesitant.

A second household includes a mother who goes to great lengths to reduce the family’s environmental footprint. She brings her own cup to coffee shops, her family wears bulky sweaters indoors in winter to allow a lower thermostat, and she buys food from bulk bins when possible, bringing her own containers. She behaves boldly in supermarkets, where, shunning the plastic-and-foam packaging on meat, she barges through the swinging doors that say “No admittance” to sweetly ask the butchers to cut the portion she wants and put it in a container she brought from home.

A third commendable household has over the past few years gradually eliminated its lawn. The home is now fronted by an attractive presentation of river-rock paths, trees centred in beds of large wood chips and shrubs native to the Canadian Prairie.

Seeking a more compassionate alternative

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Seeking a more compassionate alternative

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 12, 2022

LET’S think the best of Winnipeg authorities and ascribe honorable intentions to their reluctance to evict bus-shelter squatters.

The officials likely feel compassion for people who feel their best option is to stay outdoors during the winter. Who doesn’t? We all feel sorry for anyone who has to spend nights in temperatures that are dangerously cold.

The prevailing rationale seems to be respecting the rights of squatters to make their own decisions, even when they refuse frequent invitations to come in from the cold and sleep in institutional shelters where, at a minimum, they can rest on mats in a place that is warm.

There’s also the Indigenous factor, an area of particular sensitivity in Winnipeg. Many of the squatters appear to be Indigenous, and their life choices are often related to generational dysfunction rooted in shameful colonial measures such as residential schools.

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Saturday, Mar. 12, 2022

LET’S think the best of Winnipeg authorities and ascribe honorable intentions to their reluctance to evict bus-shelter squatters.

The officials likely feel compassion for people who feel their best option is to stay outdoors during the winter. Who doesn’t? We all feel sorry for anyone who has to spend nights in temperatures that are dangerously cold.

The prevailing rationale seems to be respecting the rights of squatters to make their own decisions, even when they refuse frequent invitations to come in from the cold and sleep in institutional shelters where, at a minimum, they can rest on mats in a place that is warm.

There’s also the Indigenous factor, an area of particular sensitivity in Winnipeg. Many of the squatters appear to be Indigenous, and their life choices are often related to generational dysfunction rooted in shameful colonial measures such as residential schools.

Athletes have a right to ask questions, too

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Athletes have a right to ask questions, too

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 5, 2022

WINNIPEG Jets forward Paul Stastny has no need for an assist from me when his linemates include able puck-passers such as Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, but I support the way Stastny acted this week away from the rink.

He miffed many Manitobans by favoring protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Some people offered public opinions that Stastny should stick to hockey.

Regardless of whether we agree with his views on the “freedom convoy” — and I don’t — the occasion of an athlete speaking on a controversial public issue offers a made-in-Manitoba chance to consider the weight we grant the opinions of celebrities.

Were Stastny a mechanic at the corner garage instead of a Jet in a hockey-mad province, his political opinion wouldn’t grab headlines. The Jets jersey comes with great privilege, but Stastny did not misuse it. In fact, I would argue he acted with integrity.

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Saturday, Mar. 5, 2022

WINNIPEG Jets forward Paul Stastny has no need for an assist from me when his linemates include able puck-passers such as Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, but I support the way Stastny acted this week away from the rink.

He miffed many Manitobans by favoring protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Some people offered public opinions that Stastny should stick to hockey.

Regardless of whether we agree with his views on the “freedom convoy” — and I don’t — the occasion of an athlete speaking on a controversial public issue offers a made-in-Manitoba chance to consider the weight we grant the opinions of celebrities.

Were Stastny a mechanic at the corner garage instead of a Jet in a hockey-mad province, his political opinion wouldn’t grab headlines. The Jets jersey comes with great privilege, but Stastny did not misuse it. In fact, I would argue he acted with integrity.

Some heroes wear lab coats, not capes

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Some heroes wear lab coats, not capes

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022

QUICK quiz: name three living scientists.

Sorry contestants, no points will be given for naming the stars of the Oscar-nominated movie Don’t Look Up. They’re not real scientists. They’re actors portraying fictional scientists.

Admittedly, the quiz would be easier to answer if it asked for the names of actors, musicians, politicians or authors. And the Winnipeg Jets are so well-known that even children can name their favourite players, as well as the players’ positions and the numbers on their backs.

But scientists? Most of us are hard-pressed to identify any of the innovative giants who work tirelessly to discover ways to improve our heath and the health of our planet.

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Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022

QUICK quiz: name three living scientists.

Sorry contestants, no points will be given for naming the stars of the Oscar-nominated movie Don’t Look Up. They’re not real scientists. They’re actors portraying fictional scientists.

Admittedly, the quiz would be easier to answer if it asked for the names of actors, musicians, politicians or authors. And the Winnipeg Jets are so well-known that even children can name their favourite players, as well as the players’ positions and the numbers on their backs.

But scientists? Most of us are hard-pressed to identify any of the innovative giants who work tirelessly to discover ways to improve our heath and the health of our planet.

It’s time to reconsider safe injection sites

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

It’s time to reconsider safe injection sites

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022

WINNIPEG already has drug injection sites. They’re also known as bus shelters.

People using drugs regulary squat in several such shelters, mostly downtown. The evidence is as clear as the litter of used needles, empty vials and bags of solvents scattered around the structures. The human casualties are seen first-hand by emergency crews called to attend these shelters, sometimes several times a day, to attempt to save people from their self-administered suffering.

Coun. Sherri Rollins believes there’s something wrong with a city that continues to let such misery transpire on prominent public display in its see-through shelters, as if drug users are in an aquarium for passersby to gawk at. She believes Winnipeg can do better and she’s pushing for the establishment of a safe consumption site.

She might feel like she’s pushing uphill, against the wind. Proposals for safe consumption sites have been turned down in many juridictions, including Manitoba, although there are more than 100 such facilities in Europe and they’ve have started to catch on in some cities in North America.

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Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022

WINNIPEG already has drug injection sites. They’re also known as bus shelters.

People using drugs regulary squat in several such shelters, mostly downtown. The evidence is as clear as the litter of used needles, empty vials and bags of solvents scattered around the structures. The human casualties are seen first-hand by emergency crews called to attend these shelters, sometimes several times a day, to attempt to save people from their self-administered suffering.

Coun. Sherri Rollins believes there’s something wrong with a city that continues to let such misery transpire on prominent public display in its see-through shelters, as if drug users are in an aquarium for passersby to gawk at. She believes Winnipeg can do better and she’s pushing for the establishment of a safe consumption site.

She might feel like she’s pushing uphill, against the wind. Proposals for safe consumption sites have been turned down in many juridictions, including Manitoba, although there are more than 100 such facilities in Europe and they’ve have started to catch on in some cities in North America.

New way of policing aims to avoid clashes

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

New way of policing aims to avoid clashes

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022

WINNIPEG justice officials were criticized repeatedly this week over two matters: an announcement that no one will be charged for toppling statues of British royalty, and allegations that police are too lenient with lawbreakers blockading public roads around the Manitoba legislative building.

Both controversies are related to acts of civil disobedience, and a relatively new way of policing that seems to be widely misunderstood.

Perhaps a helpful context with which to unpack this week’s public outrage is something called the social-contract theory, which students of Introduction to Justice 101 learn is the tacit pact between the community and the police.

For their part of the social contract, police get enormous powers. We must obey their lawful commands. They’re even allowed to carry loaded guns and, in extreme circumstances, can shoot people.

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Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022

WINNIPEG justice officials were criticized repeatedly this week over two matters: an announcement that no one will be charged for toppling statues of British royalty, and allegations that police are too lenient with lawbreakers blockading public roads around the Manitoba legislative building.

Both controversies are related to acts of civil disobedience, and a relatively new way of policing that seems to be widely misunderstood.

Perhaps a helpful context with which to unpack this week’s public outrage is something called the social-contract theory, which students of Introduction to Justice 101 learn is the tacit pact between the community and the police.

For their part of the social contract, police get enormous powers. We must obey their lawful commands. They’re even allowed to carry loaded guns and, in extreme circumstances, can shoot people.

A harmonic convergence of sports fandom

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

A harmonic convergence of sports fandom

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022

ASTRONOMERS occasionally gets excited by planets aligning in a special way, and they alert the rest of us that such a rare event will happen only once in our lifetime.

Something similar is about to happen in the world of sports. Several major sporting events are aligning with a rare synchronicity.

It couldn’t come at a better time. Winter in Manitoba is particularly cruel this year, with a double whammy of COVID-19 restrictions and harsh weather. If we’re looking for a mental escape, a convergence of compelling world-class sporting events lies ahead.

Even people who don’t normally pay attention to sports — they include those who greeted this week’s headline about Tom Brady’s retirement with: “Who’s Tom Brady?” — might want to reconsider and give sports fandom a chance to rescue them from the bleakness of another pandemic winter.

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Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022

ASTRONOMERS occasionally gets excited by planets aligning in a special way, and they alert the rest of us that such a rare event will happen only once in our lifetime.

Something similar is about to happen in the world of sports. Several major sporting events are aligning with a rare synchronicity.

It couldn’t come at a better time. Winter in Manitoba is particularly cruel this year, with a double whammy of COVID-19 restrictions and harsh weather. If we’re looking for a mental escape, a convergence of compelling world-class sporting events lies ahead.

Even people who don’t normally pay attention to sports — they include those who greeted this week’s headline about Tom Brady’s retirement with: “Who’s Tom Brady?” — might want to reconsider and give sports fandom a chance to rescue them from the bleakness of another pandemic winter.

Organ donation a gift that lives on

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Organ donation a gift that lives on

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022

DISCUSSING the dispersal of our body parts after death is not an uplifting conversation, granted, but a noteworthy landmark has been achieved in the field of organ donations.

On Jan. 18, Nova Scotia marked one year of presumed consent, the first jurisdiction in North America to try this social experiment. It means Nova Scotians are presumed to agree to donate their organs when they die, unless they opt out. It reverses the practice of other places, including Manitoba, where consent isn’t presumed and people must opt in to donate.

Nova Scotia released last week statistics on its first year. In a province of one million people, only 57, 382 people opted out.

Meanwhile, officials have seen a sharp rise in referrals, the term medical officials use to notify each other of potential donors. More than 200 referrals were made for organ donations in 2021, a rise of about 130 per cent over 2020. A total of 1,581 referrals for tissue (skin, corneas, bone) were made in the past year, a rise of 228 per cent.

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Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022

DISCUSSING the dispersal of our body parts after death is not an uplifting conversation, granted, but a noteworthy landmark has been achieved in the field of organ donations.

On Jan. 18, Nova Scotia marked one year of presumed consent, the first jurisdiction in North America to try this social experiment. It means Nova Scotians are presumed to agree to donate their organs when they die, unless they opt out. It reverses the practice of other places, including Manitoba, where consent isn’t presumed and people must opt in to donate.

Nova Scotia released last week statistics on its first year. In a province of one million people, only 57, 382 people opted out.

Meanwhile, officials have seen a sharp rise in referrals, the term medical officials use to notify each other of potential donors. More than 200 referrals were made for organ donations in 2021, a rise of about 130 per cent over 2020. A total of 1,581 referrals for tissue (skin, corneas, bone) were made in the past year, a rise of 228 per cent.

New study explores anti-vaxxer mindset

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

New study explores anti-vaxxer mindset

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022

WHAT would it take for anti-vaxxers to roll up their sleeves and get jabbed? A new study offers an interesting answer that might persuade them to change their minds.

Any debate about whether to get vaccinated is a no-brainer for the 78 per cent of Manitobans who have had at least two doses. We get the shots to protect ourselves and people within our orbit, end of argument.

What perplexes us and drives some people to frustration is that our responsible reasoning is rejected by other Manitobans.

Anti-vaxxers typically cite a mixture of motivations, some of which seem downright loony: the pandemic is a conspiracy by a cabal of world governments; or, it’s better to medicate oneself with their horse dewormer Ivermectin; or, there are faith-based reasons for Christians to refuse the vaccination.

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Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022

WHAT would it take for anti-vaxxers to roll up their sleeves and get jabbed? A new study offers an interesting answer that might persuade them to change their minds.

Any debate about whether to get vaccinated is a no-brainer for the 78 per cent of Manitobans who have had at least two doses. We get the shots to protect ourselves and people within our orbit, end of argument.

What perplexes us and drives some people to frustration is that our responsible reasoning is rejected by other Manitobans.

Anti-vaxxers typically cite a mixture of motivations, some of which seem downright loony: the pandemic is a conspiracy by a cabal of world governments; or, it’s better to medicate oneself with their horse dewormer Ivermectin; or, there are faith-based reasons for Christians to refuse the vaccination.

Let’s dial down our sense of entitlement

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Let’s dial down our sense of entitlement

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022

WITH Manitoba struggling to cope with pandemic emergencies, perhaps a lack of Grape-Nuts cereal shouldn’t be a big deal.

It was at a supermarket in Winnipeg where a customer ahead of us at the checkout line seemed determined to announce she was not getting the high level of service to which, in her estimation, she was entitled.

Her ire was provoked when the cashier’s faulty scanner didn’t register several of the woman’s items. The cashier had to punch in the numbers by hand and she apologized: “Sorry, this scanner’s giving me a tough time today.”

The customer reacted with a huffy grunt, a theatrical sigh, and a joking retort: “If items don’t scan, do I get them for free?”

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Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022

WITH Manitoba struggling to cope with pandemic emergencies, perhaps a lack of Grape-Nuts cereal shouldn’t be a big deal.

It was at a supermarket in Winnipeg where a customer ahead of us at the checkout line seemed determined to announce she was not getting the high level of service to which, in her estimation, she was entitled.

Her ire was provoked when the cashier’s faulty scanner didn’t register several of the woman’s items. The cashier had to punch in the numbers by hand and she apologized: “Sorry, this scanner’s giving me a tough time today.”

The customer reacted with a huffy grunt, a theatrical sigh, and a joking retort: “If items don’t scan, do I get them for free?”

Ban on single-use plastics necessary first step

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Ban on single-use plastics necessary first step

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022

GOOD riddance to “witches’ knickers,” the sassy slang guaranteed to get a giggle out of schoolchildren when used to describe white plastic bags that are blown by wind into trees and subsequently snagged on branches, fluttering like ladies’ underwear.

The knickers joke is soon to be knackered, thanks to the federal government’s plan to ban the use of single-use plastic grocery bags throughout Canada.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced on Dec. 21 a plan to prohibit the manufacture and import of the ubiquitous plastic grocery bags, as well as polystyrene takeout containers, stir sticks, six-pack rings and most types of plastic cutlery and plastic straws. He said he hopes the bans will begin by the end of 2022.

Although some people wish Canada’s ban plan would go even further — it doesn’t prohibit plastic bottles, food wrappers or plastic lids — virtually no one has publicly opposed that current plan as far as it goes. In other words, no reasonable person is speaking up in defence of plastic grocery bags and polystyrene takeout containers, a silence that is understandable given the destructive impact these unnatural products have on our natural world.

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Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022

GOOD riddance to “witches’ knickers,” the sassy slang guaranteed to get a giggle out of schoolchildren when used to describe white plastic bags that are blown by wind into trees and subsequently snagged on branches, fluttering like ladies’ underwear.

The knickers joke is soon to be knackered, thanks to the federal government’s plan to ban the use of single-use plastic grocery bags throughout Canada.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced on Dec. 21 a plan to prohibit the manufacture and import of the ubiquitous plastic grocery bags, as well as polystyrene takeout containers, stir sticks, six-pack rings and most types of plastic cutlery and plastic straws. He said he hopes the bans will begin by the end of 2022.

Although some people wish Canada’s ban plan would go even further — it doesn’t prohibit plastic bottles, food wrappers or plastic lids — virtually no one has publicly opposed that current plan as far as it goes. In other words, no reasonable person is speaking up in defence of plastic grocery bags and polystyrene takeout containers, a silence that is understandable given the destructive impact these unnatural products have on our natural world.

Some Christians don’t seem very Christ-like

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Some Christians don’t seem very Christ-like

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021

I EXPECT that if Christ shows up to attend his birthday celebrations next Saturday, he will head straight to the bus shelters, and not because he wants to ride Winnipeg Transit.

By all accounts — by which I mean the written accounts attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — Christ had a passion for healing people who are sick and possessed by demons. He’d find many people who need help as they squat overnight in bus shelters, often wrestling with personal demons resulting from mental illness and addictions.

If Christ asked for an update on the state of his followers in Manitoba, those of us who identify as Christians would need to confess we’re doing poorly in popularity polls these days. Some Christians who have lost their way are making choices that seriously harm other people; no reasonable person can deny that.

But, as I will argue, their shameful actions are not on Christ. The disrepute that sullies the reputation of Christianity in Manitoba is not because these culpable believers followed Christ. It’s because they didn’t. Here are three examples:

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Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021

I EXPECT that if Christ shows up to attend his birthday celebrations next Saturday, he will head straight to the bus shelters, and not because he wants to ride Winnipeg Transit.

By all accounts — by which I mean the written accounts attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — Christ had a passion for healing people who are sick and possessed by demons. He’d find many people who need help as they squat overnight in bus shelters, often wrestling with personal demons resulting from mental illness and addictions.

If Christ asked for an update on the state of his followers in Manitoba, those of us who identify as Christians would need to confess we’re doing poorly in popularity polls these days. Some Christians who have lost their way are making choices that seriously harm other people; no reasonable person can deny that.

But, as I will argue, their shameful actions are not on Christ. The disrepute that sullies the reputation of Christianity in Manitoba is not because these culpable believers followed Christ. It’s because they didn’t. Here are three examples:

Physical appearances don’t reveal what’s inside

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Physical appearances don’t reveal what’s inside

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021

WHILE I’ve never before transferred the privilege of this regular Free Press column, I invited a friend to take the space this week.

Matt Ferguson is smart, likes rocking out to music by such bands as the Tragically Hip, is a big fan of the Jets and the Bombers, and has cerebral palsy. He relies 100 per cent on other people to attend to all his bodily needs, such as putting food and liquid in his mouth.

When in public with Matt, I often see people who aren’t sure what to make of him. He speaks slowly and painstakingly, which seems to prompt some people to speak to him loudly and patronizingly, as if he is hard of hearing or slow of mind, neither of which is accurate.

Many people won’t even try. They just stare briefly at this 85-pound man and cut a wide berth around his wheelchair to avoid an encounter. For such people, perhaps reading an opinion column dictated by Matt will remind them that physical bodies don’t always reflect the person inside.

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Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021

SUPPLIED

Matt Ferguson

Sidewalk shoveling should be citizens’ job

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Sidewalk shoveling should be citizens’ job

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021

IF you winter in Winnipeg, your vocabulary includes the phrase “shovel out,” as in: “Lots of snow fell overnight, we have to shovel out.”

If you are one of those wonderful Winnipeggers who helps other people get through winter, you might also shovel out the sidewalk of an elderly neighbour, or shovel out a vehicle that is hung up in a snowbank and has stranded its driver who, unlike you, doesn’t carry a shovel in their trunk when the snow starts.

Even these good neighbours — winter warriors who use their shovels as tools of kindness — usually stop short of doing public walkways. City sidewalks, city responsibility.

It doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, it shouldn’t be that way. The owners of homes and businesses should shovel the city-owned sidewalks that border their properties, and it should be mandatory.

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Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg should follow the lead of other Canadian cities by requiring homeowners to shovel sidewalks adjoining their property.

Eye-opening visit to a family farm

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Eye-opening visit to a family farm

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021

ROSENORT — An offer to get up close and personal with thousands of chickens was clearly intended to teach me it’s wrong to generalize about industrial livestock production, also known as factory farming.

An invitation to visit Siemens Farms came in an email from owner Kurt Siemens, who wrote, “I am offering you the opportunity to tour our poultry farm. I had the pleasure of reading your Free Press article on Sept. 18, in which you questioned the life and housing standards of animals in rural Manitoba.”

When he wrote it was a “pleasure” to read the article, he must have been joking because that particular column had slagged his livelihood.

Referring to changes to the city’s animal-care bylaw, I had written: “Seems like good times are ahead for animals in Winnipeg. Sadly, animals outside of the city are not so lucky. Council’s jurisdiction is limited to the city and won’t improve the inhumane conditions suffered by millions of Manitoba hogs, cattle and chickens.”

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Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021

ROSENORT — An offer to get up close and personal with thousands of chickens was clearly intended to teach me it’s wrong to generalize about industrial livestock production, also known as factory farming.

An invitation to visit Siemens Farms came in an email from owner Kurt Siemens, who wrote, “I am offering you the opportunity to tour our poultry farm. I had the pleasure of reading your Free Press article on Sept. 18, in which you questioned the life and housing standards of animals in rural Manitoba.”

When he wrote it was a “pleasure” to read the article, he must have been joking because that particular column had slagged his livelihood.

Referring to changes to the city’s animal-care bylaw, I had written: “Seems like good times are ahead for animals in Winnipeg. Sadly, animals outside of the city are not so lucky. Council’s jurisdiction is limited to the city and won’t improve the inhumane conditions suffered by millions of Manitoba hogs, cattle and chickens.”

Parents need answers before kids get jabbed

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Parents need answers before kids get jabbed

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021

IF we think parents can be persuaded to put the greater good of the community ahead of the personal good of their children, we should ask elementary school teachers. They will smile at our naiveté.

Teachers know from countless parent-teacher interviews that parents are compulsively fixated on the welfare of their offspring. Teachers can talk about what’s best for the class as a whole, outline the latest trends in education theory, and explain at length the mission statement of the school, but parents soon cut to the chase: “Is it best for my child?”

Parents, at least the good parents, are governed by a primal urge to guide their children safely through the dangers of the outside world. It’s this passion that motivates parents to sacrifice the considerable time, energy and money required to raise kids responsibly.

This tunnel vision of parents, which teachers know so well, will likely become a critical factor in Manitoba’s next stage of COVID-19 immunization as this province moves to vaccinate children under 12.

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Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021

IF we think parents can be persuaded to put the greater good of the community ahead of the personal good of their children, we should ask elementary school teachers. They will smile at our naiveté.

Teachers know from countless parent-teacher interviews that parents are compulsively fixated on the welfare of their offspring. Teachers can talk about what’s best for the class as a whole, outline the latest trends in education theory, and explain at length the mission statement of the school, but parents soon cut to the chase: “Is it best for my child?”

Parents, at least the good parents, are governed by a primal urge to guide their children safely through the dangers of the outside world. It’s this passion that motivates parents to sacrifice the considerable time, energy and money required to raise kids responsibly.

This tunnel vision of parents, which teachers know so well, will likely become a critical factor in Manitoba’s next stage of COVID-19 immunization as this province moves to vaccinate children under 12.

Reconsidering the ‘Road trip!’ urge

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Reconsidering the ‘Road trip!’ urge

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 29, 2021

With the U.S. border opening to leisure road traffic on Nov. 8, two words come to mind: “Road trip!”

Many of us are rarin’ to go, perhaps feeling cooped up by 19 months of travel restrictions. We recall the recipe for a memorable road trip: choose travelling companions who know how to enjoy a good time, enhance the mood with a soundtrack of roadworthy tunes, and head for a destination that’s delightfully different than our usual day-to-day routine.

That destination often meant crossing the U.S. border. Road trips to Minneapolis could be timed to see a special concert or a Minnesota Vikings football game, perhaps after visiting the Mall of America. Quick trips to Grand Forks, N.D., were ideal for a getaway weekend that could include shopping for items that were less expensive than in Manitoba.

Now that the border is reopening, the open road beckons. But at the risk of being a killjoy, there are several factors to consider before gassing up and heading south on Highway 75.

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Friday, Oct. 29, 2021

With the U.S. border opening to leisure road traffic on Nov. 8, two words come to mind: “Road trip!”

Many of us are rarin’ to go, perhaps feeling cooped up by 19 months of travel restrictions. We recall the recipe for a memorable road trip: choose travelling companions who know how to enjoy a good time, enhance the mood with a soundtrack of roadworthy tunes, and head for a destination that’s delightfully different than our usual day-to-day routine.

That destination often meant crossing the U.S. border. Road trips to Minneapolis could be timed to see a special concert or a Minnesota Vikings football game, perhaps after visiting the Mall of America. Quick trips to Grand Forks, N.D., were ideal for a getaway weekend that could include shopping for items that were less expensive than in Manitoba.

Now that the border is reopening, the open road beckons. But at the risk of being a killjoy, there are several factors to consider before gassing up and heading south on Highway 75.

Adjusting pronouns involves listening, learning

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Adjusting pronouns involves listening, learning

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021

USED to be that our pronouns for the rest of our life were assigned at birth by an obstetrician who looked between the legs of the newborn. The declaration “It’s a boy!” meant that person’s pronouns would forever be he/him. Alternatively, “It’s a girl!” meant the infant would carry the she/her pronouns to her grave.

Today’s younger generation has a more enlightened view of gender as a social construct, and many are searching for pronouns that feel more accurate for them. Their generation understands some people don’t fit into the traditional male or female category. For those of us in an older generation, we have work to do if we want to update our understanding.

There seems to be a generational divide on this topic, with the younger side including students in secondary and post-secondary schools, where it’s not a big deal when teenagers and young adults adopt new pronouns for themselves.

Even those of us on the older side of this generational divide have noticed something significant is happening. Everyone who hasn’t been living under a rock has noticed many digital signatures and social-media identities now include the writer’s choice of pronouns. We may have even grumbled that “they” seems linguistically clumsy as a singular pronoun. Is it “they is” or “they are”?

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Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021

USED to be that our pronouns for the rest of our life were assigned at birth by an obstetrician who looked between the legs of the newborn. The declaration “It’s a boy!” meant that person’s pronouns would forever be he/him. Alternatively, “It’s a girl!” meant the infant would carry the she/her pronouns to her grave.

Today’s younger generation has a more enlightened view of gender as a social construct, and many are searching for pronouns that feel more accurate for them. Their generation understands some people don’t fit into the traditional male or female category. For those of us in an older generation, we have work to do if we want to update our understanding.

There seems to be a generational divide on this topic, with the younger side including students in secondary and post-secondary schools, where it’s not a big deal when teenagers and young adults adopt new pronouns for themselves.

Even those of us on the older side of this generational divide have noticed something significant is happening. Everyone who hasn’t been living under a rock has noticed many digital signatures and social-media identities now include the writer’s choice of pronouns. We may have even grumbled that “they” seems linguistically clumsy as a singular pronoun. Is it “they is” or “they are”?

Pallister deserves a dignified exit

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Pallister deserves a dignified exit

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021

The term “scapegoat” comes from the Hebrew bible, which outlines a ceremony for Yom Kippur in which the sins of the people are placed on a single goat, which is then sent into the wilderness of the desert.

Manitoba’s current scapegoat has a name: Brian Pallister.

He has been assigned the sins of the pandemic — some he deserved, some he bears only because he had the misfortune to be premier during COVID-19 — and it seems he’s been banished into the wilderness.

It’s been much quieter in Manitoba without Pallister in the house. Tradition dictates that outgoing premiers are honoured for their service during their final appearance in the legislature, even by political opponents, but Pallister was denied a harmonious farewell on Oct. 6 as NDP leader Wab Kinew stuck to the partisan script and directed a verbal kick at the scapegoat on his way out.

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Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021

David Lipnowski / The Canadian Press FILEs
Brian Pallister announced in August that he would not be seeking re-election. The PC party has yet to announce any formal farewells to the former premier.

Patience is an increasingly rare virtue

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Patience is an increasingly rare virtue

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021

IT’S often said patience is a virtue, but it’s a virtue that doesn’t come naturally for some of us.

The past 18 months of COVID-19 have offered plenty of opportunity to practise patience as we wait for the pandemic to end, wait for normal activities to resume, and wait in the lineups that are now ubiquitous.

I wish I were more patient. When I phoned the city’s 311 hotline this week and was put on hold for at least 10 minutes, I felt a flicker of irritation before I finally hung up in a huff without speaking to a 311 person.

In more reasonable moments, I understand the pandemic is partly to blame for the average 311 wait times soaring to about 11 minutes, according to the latest statistics. They’re short of staff as some employees isolate at home because someone in their personal orbit may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

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Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021

IT’S often said patience is a virtue, but it’s a virtue that doesn’t come naturally for some of us.

The past 18 months of COVID-19 have offered plenty of opportunity to practise patience as we wait for the pandemic to end, wait for normal activities to resume, and wait in the lineups that are now ubiquitous.

I wish I were more patient. When I phoned the city’s 311 hotline this week and was put on hold for at least 10 minutes, I felt a flicker of irritation before I finally hung up in a huff without speaking to a 311 person.

In more reasonable moments, I understand the pandemic is partly to blame for the average 311 wait times soaring to about 11 minutes, according to the latest statistics. They’re short of staff as some employees isolate at home because someone in their personal orbit may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

Willing participants in puck-therapy study

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Willing participants in puck-therapy study

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021

A UNIVERSITY of Manitoba research team led by associate Prof. Ben Schellenberg wants to find 500 Jets fans who agree to be interviewed for a study. OK, I’ll volunteer, so they will only need 499 more.

If they question Jets fans after this week’s exhibition games, the researchers will get an earful about new annoyances such as long lineups to check vaccination status, the mandatory wearing of mask, and the new no-bag policy that prohibits purses and backpacks.

Such relatively minor irritants are not the aim of the researchers’ study, though. They want to investigate the “passion and motivation” of Jets fans.

For some of us, the single word that best describes the motivation of attending Jets games is “therapeutic.”

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Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021

Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press
Fans, happy to be back in the stands, cheer on the Winnipeg Jets during preseason action against the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 26.

A good time to be a city critter

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

A good time to be a city critter

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Sep. 18, 2021

SEEMS like good times are ahead for animals in Winnipeg. Sadly, animals outside of the city are not so lucky.

A draft city bylaw elevates the level of care that must be given to animals, but council’s jurisdiction is limited to the city and won’t improve the inhumane conditions suffered by millions of Manitoba hogs, cattle and chickens.

The proposed bylaw mandates animals within the city get treatment that is far more compassionate than required under previous animal regulations in Winnipeg. In fact, animals would be treated better than some Winnipeggers, including those people sleeping rough in bus shelters and on riverbanks beside grocery carts containing their worldly possessions.

The honour-our-animals proposal before Winnipeg council is based on a concept called the Five Freedoms, which began in the United Kingdom in 1965. In part, it aims to give animals “... freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment ...freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions which avoid mental suffering... freedom to express normal behaviour in the company of the animal’s own kind... freedom from pain by rapid diagnosis and treatment (of sickness).”

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Saturday, Sep. 18, 2021

SEEMS like good times are ahead for animals in Winnipeg. Sadly, animals outside of the city are not so lucky.

A draft city bylaw elevates the level of care that must be given to animals, but council’s jurisdiction is limited to the city and won’t improve the inhumane conditions suffered by millions of Manitoba hogs, cattle and chickens.

The proposed bylaw mandates animals within the city get treatment that is far more compassionate than required under previous animal regulations in Winnipeg. In fact, animals would be treated better than some Winnipeggers, including those people sleeping rough in bus shelters and on riverbanks beside grocery carts containing their worldly possessions.

The honour-our-animals proposal before Winnipeg council is based on a concept called the Five Freedoms, which began in the United Kingdom in 1965. In part, it aims to give animals “... freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment ...freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions which avoid mental suffering... freedom to express normal behaviour in the company of the animal’s own kind... freedom from pain by rapid diagnosis and treatment (of sickness).”

Constructive thoughts for construction zones

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Constructive thoughts for construction zones

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 11, 2021

Drivers of reasonable demeanour are patient when their progress is held up by construction workers who are hard at work. Road repairs must be done sometime.

But even drivers of taciturn temperament shake their heads with exasperation when it turns out the traffic jam is caused by a construction zone that is deserted. There’s evidence work has begun, perhaps asphalt is torn up, but the site is devoid of workers even though barricades continue to close a lane and back up traffic for blocks.

In such instances, it’s misleading for road signs to say “Construction ahead,” when no construction is underway. It would be more accurate for signs to say “Abandoned construction site ahead.”

When it happens once, drivers might assume the workers are on a coffee break, but when our habitual driving pattern bring us past the same sites repeatedly and there remains no evidence of hardhat action for days or weeks, the question looms: why don’t they finish the job and stop messing with traffic?

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Saturday, Sep. 11, 2021

Drivers of reasonable demeanour are patient when their progress is held up by construction workers who are hard at work. Road repairs must be done sometime.

But even drivers of taciturn temperament shake their heads with exasperation when it turns out the traffic jam is caused by a construction zone that is deserted. There’s evidence work has begun, perhaps asphalt is torn up, but the site is devoid of workers even though barricades continue to close a lane and back up traffic for blocks.

In such instances, it’s misleading for road signs to say “Construction ahead,” when no construction is underway. It would be more accurate for signs to say “Abandoned construction site ahead.”

When it happens once, drivers might assume the workers are on a coffee break, but when our habitual driving pattern bring us past the same sites repeatedly and there remains no evidence of hardhat action for days or weeks, the question looms: why don’t they finish the job and stop messing with traffic?

Time to put robocall annoyance on hold

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Time to put robocall annoyance on hold

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Sep. 4, 2021

CANADIANS have long assumed robocalls from telemarketers are irritants we have to live with, perhaps like the wasps that abound in Winnipeg this summer. Someone forgot to tell the U.S. they must be tolerated, however, because that country recently took a hard line against auto-dialled spam calls.

For example, two health-insurance telemarketers in Texas have been fined US$225 million for improper sales calls. Fines this large are enough to make any U.S. telemarketer think twice before trying to dupe unsuspecting victims with the usual array of impersonations and con jobs.

And if the threat of fines isn’t enough, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in July introduced new technology designed to catch the fraudsters as they attempt their mass-call flim-flam.

In Canada, we do it differently. We’re more polite with unscrupulous telemarketers and, as a result, much more ineffective. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has talked nicely about educational campigns and crackdowns against shady telemarketers for almost two decades. The CRTC has also issued paltry fines that average about $50,000 — which, unsurprisingly, haven’t deterred companies from doing their dirty business in this country.

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Saturday, Sep. 4, 2021

CANADIANS have long assumed robocalls from telemarketers are irritants we have to live with, perhaps like the wasps that abound in Winnipeg this summer. Someone forgot to tell the U.S. they must be tolerated, however, because that country recently took a hard line against auto-dialled spam calls.

For example, two health-insurance telemarketers in Texas have been fined US$225 million for improper sales calls. Fines this large are enough to make any U.S. telemarketer think twice before trying to dupe unsuspecting victims with the usual array of impersonations and con jobs.

And if the threat of fines isn’t enough, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in July introduced new technology designed to catch the fraudsters as they attempt their mass-call flim-flam.

In Canada, we do it differently. We’re more polite with unscrupulous telemarketers and, as a result, much more ineffective. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has talked nicely about educational campigns and crackdowns against shady telemarketers for almost two decades. The CRTC has also issued paltry fines that average about $50,000 — which, unsurprisingly, haven’t deterred companies from doing their dirty business in this country.

Who’s in control when we’re behind the wheel?

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Who’s in control when we’re behind the wheel?

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021

WHEN I’m behind the wheel, I like to think I’m in charge. Unfortunately, our car recently rejected its normal subservience and showed us who’s boss.

The vehicle disabled itself on the Trans-Canada Highway at about 11 p.m. on Aug. 17. Four of us in the car were returning from a visit to Saskatchewan when, about 120 kilometres west of Winnipeg, our highway cruising speed suddenly dropped to about 30 km/h, and the car began lurching. We pulled over to the shoulder, rested the car, and tried again, but the engine had almost no power.

For people who have never been stranded on a busy highway at night — a road-trip misadventure I wish on no one, not even anti-vaxxers and Rider fans — I can advise there are immediate and longer-term concerns.

First priority: get us and the car to safety. Kitson’s Towing of Portage la Prairie was hired to tow our vehicle to Winnipeg, but they wouldn’t take passengers. Our son’s wonderful partner, Ali Fulmyk, was available to drive out from Winnipeg and bring us home.

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Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021

WHEN I’m behind the wheel, I like to think I’m in charge. Unfortunately, our car recently rejected its normal subservience and showed us who’s boss.

The vehicle disabled itself on the Trans-Canada Highway at about 11 p.m. on Aug. 17. Four of us in the car were returning from a visit to Saskatchewan when, about 120 kilometres west of Winnipeg, our highway cruising speed suddenly dropped to about 30 km/h, and the car began lurching. We pulled over to the shoulder, rested the car, and tried again, but the engine had almost no power.

For people who have never been stranded on a busy highway at night — a road-trip misadventure I wish on no one, not even anti-vaxxers and Rider fans — I can advise there are immediate and longer-term concerns.

First priority: get us and the car to safety. Kitson’s Towing of Portage la Prairie was hired to tow our vehicle to Winnipeg, but they wouldn’t take passengers. Our son’s wonderful partner, Ali Fulmyk, was available to drive out from Winnipeg and bring us home.

Modern technology discourages DIY repair

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Modern technology discourages DIY repair

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021

MY father’s idea of fun included taking stuff apart to see how it worked. I once watched him disassemble an old-fashioned radio, his workbench covered with an array of tubes, wires, a speaker and screws, all the parts arranged meticulously on a white cloth so none was lost.

A pertinent detail to note in this example is that there was no need to repair the radio. Everyone in our home who wanted a radio already had one that got better reception than the relic my father had probably found at a garage sale. He did it only to see for himself how a radio operated.

A machinist and millwright by trade, he was a fix-it guy who was adept at necessary household repairs. But more than that, his hobby was to deconstruct unfamiliar items and investigate their inner workings. Items he took apart included an outdated Polaroid camera, the engine from a broken lawn mower, a video game the kids no longer wanted and a microwave oven that had been replaced by a newer model.

In his quest to understand how everyday items functioned, he could have researched sources such as owners’ manuals and internet sources, but like crossword-puzzle buffs who don’t peek at the answers, he enjoyed the challenge of figuring it out for himself, hands-on.

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Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021

Apple's iPhone includes proprietary hardware that limits repair access to authorized Apple service centres. (Tribune News Service files)

It’s time to cut the grass — forever

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

It’s time to cut the grass — forever

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Aug. 9, 2021

WHAT would you think of a farmer who purposely grows a crop no one wants, and then pays someone to haul it away? Then he does it again, and again. You would probably think the farmer is a few bushels short of a full load.

Yet, many Manitobans do something similar with our personal domestic crop. We call it our lawn. We buy expensive chemicals to fertilize it. We rack up huge utility bills to water it. We mow it with machines that spew pollutants and make noise that irritates the neighbours. We rake up the clippings and stuff them into large bags that must be specially purchased.

Then, through our taxes, we pay city employees to take away the evidence of our slavish devotion to covering our property with a green expanse that is good for nothing.

If I seem cranky, it’s because I’m fed up with lawns. This summer’s drought has been the last straw, and straw is a fitting expression because our lawn is so parched, it is the colour of straw. Walk on our lawn, and the dried-out husks of grass crunch underfoot.

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Monday, Aug. 9, 2021

WHAT would you think of a farmer who purposely grows a crop no one wants, and then pays someone to haul it away? Then he does it again, and again. You would probably think the farmer is a few bushels short of a full load.

Yet, many Manitobans do something similar with our personal domestic crop. We call it our lawn. We buy expensive chemicals to fertilize it. We rack up huge utility bills to water it. We mow it with machines that spew pollutants and make noise that irritates the neighbours. We rake up the clippings and stuff them into large bags that must be specially purchased.

Then, through our taxes, we pay city employees to take away the evidence of our slavish devotion to covering our property with a green expanse that is good for nothing.

If I seem cranky, it’s because I’m fed up with lawns. This summer’s drought has been the last straw, and straw is a fitting expression because our lawn is so parched, it is the colour of straw. Walk on our lawn, and the dried-out husks of grass crunch underfoot.

Fox’s run beyond medal-worthy

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Fox’s run beyond medal-worthy

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 31, 2021

When coverage of the Tokyo Olympics seems too slick, too staged, too commercial, it’s refreshing to think back to a great Canadian athlete who was none of those.

Terry Fox didn’t compete within the structure of a sport, much less one recognized by the Olympic governing body. Yet his accomplishment is the essence of high-level athletic achievement.

This weekend offers an opportunity to compare Fox and Olympic athletes because of the coincidence of the Tokyo Olympics unfolding at the same time as Manitoba marks Terry Fox Day on Monday. Initially, it might seem an odd comparison. The performance of Olympians is measured by rankings within their category; Fox can’t be ranked because there’s not a category for what he did.

But the comparison can show what’s best about Fox and top-level Olympians — both share tenacious willpower that pushes their bodies and minds to their limits — and also how the pure ideal of the Olympics has become bloated with hype and marketing.

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Saturday, Jul. 31, 2021

A three-metre bronze statue of Terry Fox overlooks Thunder Bay and the Trans-Canada Highway. (Richard Keeling)

Pandemic has deepened mental-health challenges

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Pandemic has deepened mental-health challenges

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 24, 2021

A FRIEND I’ll call Dave has been forced by government edicts to be alone with his mental illness for much of the last 16 months. He’s deteriorating.

Diagnosed with clinical depression about 15 years ago, Dave had learned to live with his illness thanks to psychotherapy, medication and what he calls “my toolkit.” The tools in his kit included frequent physical exercise, a strong network of friends at his church and regular meetings of a 12-step group.

Soon after COVID-19 hit in March 2020, the stability Dave had achieved was overturned by Manitoba’s provincial restrictions. He lost his job as his employer was forced to follow prohibitions on public gatherings. His church was closed, and 12-step meetings stopped.

Dave lives alone, so the provincial orders to associate in-person only with immediate family meant forced loneliness for many months. Dave’s only contact was, in his words, “the black monster under the bed.”

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Saturday, Jul. 24, 2021

A FRIEND I’ll call Dave has been forced by government edicts to be alone with his mental illness for much of the last 16 months. He’s deteriorating.

Diagnosed with clinical depression about 15 years ago, Dave had learned to live with his illness thanks to psychotherapy, medication and what he calls “my toolkit.” The tools in his kit included frequent physical exercise, a strong network of friends at his church and regular meetings of a 12-step group.

Soon after COVID-19 hit in March 2020, the stability Dave had achieved was overturned by Manitoba’s provincial restrictions. He lost his job as his employer was forced to follow prohibitions on public gatherings. His church was closed, and 12-step meetings stopped.

Dave lives alone, so the provincial orders to associate in-person only with immediate family meant forced loneliness for many months. Dave’s only contact was, in his words, “the black monster under the bed.”

Very mixed feelings about flying again

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Very mixed feelings about flying again

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 17, 2021

JULY 2: Receive emailed warning from Air Canada. Says tomorrow’s flight will be “fairly full.” Can change to another flight without extra charge, “although we cannot guarantee your next flight will have more available seats.”

July 3, 11 a.m.: Head to airport for Winnipeg-to-Toronto flight. Usually enjoy flying, but approaching this trip with trepidation. Wonder what airline means by “fairly full.”

11:30 a.m.: Inside airport for first time since COVID-19. Everyone masked up and avoiding proximity to other people but, after 16 months of restrictions, that doesn’t seem weird, just seems pandemic normal.

11:45 a.m.: Here’s something new: looks like a large camera high on a stand; situated at far left of check-in area. Turns out it’s not camera, but temperature screener that somehow takes readings from faces. It’s mandatory. At or above 38 C, you can’t board plane.

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Saturday, Jul. 17, 2021

JULY 2: Receive emailed warning from Air Canada. Says tomorrow’s flight will be “fairly full.” Can change to another flight without extra charge, “although we cannot guarantee your next flight will have more available seats.”

July 3, 11 a.m.: Head to airport for Winnipeg-to-Toronto flight. Usually enjoy flying, but approaching this trip with trepidation. Wonder what airline means by “fairly full.”

11:30 a.m.: Inside airport for first time since COVID-19. Everyone masked up and avoiding proximity to other people but, after 16 months of restrictions, that doesn’t seem weird, just seems pandemic normal.

11:45 a.m.: Here’s something new: looks like a large camera high on a stand; situated at far left of check-in area. Turns out it’s not camera, but temperature screener that somehow takes readings from faces. It’s mandatory. At or above 38 C, you can’t board plane.

New court policy has admirable intentions

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

New court policy has admirable intentions

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 26, 2021

OF all places, Manitoba’s law courts would seem least likely to encourage people to get real about their gender titles.

Courtrooms in this province are relics of mean-nothing titles and forms of address that should have been shelved along with powdered white wigs, so it’s somewhat surprising — heartening, but still surprising — that Manitoba trial courts will, on Sept. 13, introduce a progressive policy to encourage people in courtrooms to state their gender and preferred title.

The commendable intention is to use titles that more accurately reflect a person’s gender identity. That intention is a bit rich in a venue where judges and lawyers are addressed by titles that long ago lost any claim to an honest and accurate depiction of the person being described.

It’s hard to believe, but in Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, judges are still addressed as “My Lady” or “My Lord.” Someone needs to tell the keepers of courtroom protocol that the term “Lady” is as outdated as corsets, and that members of many religious faiths object to addressing another person as “My Lord.”

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Saturday, Jun. 26, 2021

OF all places, Manitoba’s law courts would seem least likely to encourage people to get real about their gender titles.

Courtrooms in this province are relics of mean-nothing titles and forms of address that should have been shelved along with powdered white wigs, so it’s somewhat surprising — heartening, but still surprising — that Manitoba trial courts will, on Sept. 13, introduce a progressive policy to encourage people in courtrooms to state their gender and preferred title.

The commendable intention is to use titles that more accurately reflect a person’s gender identity. That intention is a bit rich in a venue where judges and lawyers are addressed by titles that long ago lost any claim to an honest and accurate depiction of the person being described.

It’s hard to believe, but in Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, judges are still addressed as “My Lady” or “My Lord.” Someone needs to tell the keepers of courtroom protocol that the term “Lady” is as outdated as corsets, and that members of many religious faiths object to addressing another person as “My Lord.”

Future generations may regard us with dismay

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Future generations may regard us with dismay

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 19, 2021

TWO Free Press letter writers have steered the public conversation in an unsettling direction with predictions that history will judge us and find us wanting.

They were referring to the current zeal to critique historical figures such as Nellie McClung and Sir John A. Macdonald based on today’s wokeness instead of the context in which these people lived.

“It is difficult to judge one period of history with the moral values of another. In 100 years, we will be judged by history,” wrote Jean M. Taillefer.

Such observations won’t make Taillefer the most popular person at parties. When people get a comfortable feeling of superiority by judging others, they don’t appreciate being told to look in the mirror.

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Saturday, Jun. 19, 2021

TWO Free Press letter writers have steered the public conversation in an unsettling direction with predictions that history will judge us and find us wanting.

They were referring to the current zeal to critique historical figures such as Nellie McClung and Sir John A. Macdonald based on today’s wokeness instead of the context in which these people lived.

“It is difficult to judge one period of history with the moral values of another. In 100 years, we will be judged by history,” wrote Jean M. Taillefer.

Such observations won’t make Taillefer the most popular person at parties. When people get a comfortable feeling of superiority by judging others, they don’t appreciate being told to look in the mirror.

St. Ben’s provided space for connections

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

St. Ben’s provided space for connections

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 12, 2021

Celtic spirituality calls them “thin places.” The term refers to locations where the veil between this world and the other world are particularly porous. In other words, they are places where connection with the sacred is more likely.

Words can seem too clumsy to describe divine energy, but Mahatma Gandhi tried. In his Spiritual Message to the World in 1931, he wrote: “There is an indefinable, mysterious power that pervades everything. I feel it, though I do not see it. It is this unseen power that makes itself felt and yet defies all proof, because it is so unlike all that I perceive through my senses. It transcends the senses.”

Some famous “thin places” include Lourdes in France, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and Madeline Island in Lake Superior, which is holy to the Ojibwa and Cree.

Winnipeg has long had St. Benedict’s Monastery, which over five decades has hosted tens of thousands of visits for retreats and encounters of significance. Many Manitobans would like to visit the monastery one last time, now that it’s been sold to a private interest, but pandemic restrictions prevent visitors. Regrettably, the many friends of St. Ben’s won’t have a chance to say goodbye to their treasured space.

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Saturday, Jun. 12, 2021

Celtic spirituality calls them “thin places.” The term refers to locations where the veil between this world and the other world are particularly porous. In other words, they are places where connection with the sacred is more likely.

Words can seem too clumsy to describe divine energy, but Mahatma Gandhi tried. In his Spiritual Message to the World in 1931, he wrote: “There is an indefinable, mysterious power that pervades everything. I feel it, though I do not see it. It is this unseen power that makes itself felt and yet defies all proof, because it is so unlike all that I perceive through my senses. It transcends the senses.”

Some famous “thin places” include Lourdes in France, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and Madeline Island in Lake Superior, which is holy to the Ojibwa and Cree.

Winnipeg has long had St. Benedict’s Monastery, which over five decades has hosted tens of thousands of visits for retreats and encounters of significance. Many Manitobans would like to visit the monastery one last time, now that it’s been sold to a private interest, but pandemic restrictions prevent visitors. Regrettably, the many friends of St. Ben’s won’t have a chance to say goodbye to their treasured space.

With proof of vaccination, the show should go on

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

With proof of vaccination, the show should go on

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Jun. 5, 2021

Wallets typically contain personal documents such as driver licences, library cards and bank cards. My wallet has a new addition. It’s a COVID-19 vaccination record.

This form states my name and date of birth, and records that I received Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA on April 24, 2021.

It’s easy to get this official document. Go on the provincial government website, and under "vaccine immunization", find the link to sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/test-results. It takes only a few minutes to complete an online form with details of your vaccination and personal information, including your health-card number and a security password. They presumably check your application against the province’s record of vaccinations, and the form can then be printed out.

It would be easy for everyone to get and carry this document. In fact, I wish everyone would.

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Saturday, Jun. 5, 2021

Wallets typically contain personal documents such as driver licences, library cards and bank cards. My wallet has a new addition. It’s a COVID-19 vaccination record.

This form states my name and date of birth, and records that I received Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA on April 24, 2021.

It’s easy to get this official document. Go on the provincial government website, and under "vaccine immunization", find the link to sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/test-results. It takes only a few minutes to complete an online form with details of your vaccination and personal information, including your health-card number and a security password. They presumably check your application against the province’s record of vaccinations, and the form can then be printed out.

It would be easy for everyone to get and carry this document. In fact, I wish everyone would.

Hellebuyck, Pallister share unlimited confidence

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Hellebuyck, Pallister share unlimited confidence

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, May. 29, 2021

BOTH Connor Hellebuyck and Brian Pallister exude public personas of extreme confidence. They are high achievers in their chosen fields and both seem allergic to self-criticism. It’s as if they’re committed to the power of positive thinking and don’t allow doubts to creep in and throw them off their game.

Only rarely does the Jets goalie play poorly, but, when he does, sportswriters ask him what went wrong. He invariably replies something like, “I thought I played well,” apparently oblivious to the replays that show him letting in soft goals.

Jets fans first became aware of Helleybuyck’s unswerving commitment to confidence during the 2016-17 season after he had been pulled from a start when he let in five goals. “My game’s the best it’s ever been and if I continue to play this way, it’s going to be good enough,” he said. “If I stick with that game, I’m going to win a Stanley Cup and a Vezina one day.”

Three years later, as he predicted, he won the Vezina award as the NHL’s best goalie. How about his prediction of a Stanley Cup? If he leads the Jets deep into the playoffs, no one will criticize him for thinking too highly of himself.

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Saturday, May. 29, 2021

BOTH Connor Hellebuyck and Brian Pallister exude public personas of extreme confidence. They are high achievers in their chosen fields and both seem allergic to self-criticism. It’s as if they’re committed to the power of positive thinking and don’t allow doubts to creep in and throw them off their game.

Only rarely does the Jets goalie play poorly, but, when he does, sportswriters ask him what went wrong. He invariably replies something like, “I thought I played well,” apparently oblivious to the replays that show him letting in soft goals.

Jets fans first became aware of Helleybuyck’s unswerving commitment to confidence during the 2016-17 season after he had been pulled from a start when he let in five goals. “My game’s the best it’s ever been and if I continue to play this way, it’s going to be good enough,” he said. “If I stick with that game, I’m going to win a Stanley Cup and a Vezina one day.”

Three years later, as he predicted, he won the Vezina award as the NHL’s best goalie. How about his prediction of a Stanley Cup? If he leads the Jets deep into the playoffs, no one will criticize him for thinking too highly of himself.

New tactics for policing protests

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

New tactics for policing protests

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, May. 15, 2021

A NEWS release from Manitoba Justice on Tuesday announced the issuance of 32 tickets in connection with three protests against the pandemic lockdown.

The tickets were unsurprising. Crowds at the three protests had openly defied lockdown edicts by grouping closely together as they rallied against impositions including face masks.

What may have surprised some people, however, was the timing of the tickets. They were issued more than a week after protests in Winkler on May 1, at The Forks on May 1 and outside the law court building on May 3. Manitoba Justice said it will charge even more attenders of the same events, even though those protests are now only a memory.

How can they ticket people so long after alleged infractions? If the tickets weren’t directly issued at the protests, how did officials know whom to ticket more than a week after the fact? It’s not as if protesters sign a guest book.

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Saturday, May. 15, 2021

A NEWS release from Manitoba Justice on Tuesday announced the issuance of 32 tickets in connection with three protests against the pandemic lockdown.

The tickets were unsurprising. Crowds at the three protests had openly defied lockdown edicts by grouping closely together as they rallied against impositions including face masks.

What may have surprised some people, however, was the timing of the tickets. They were issued more than a week after protests in Winkler on May 1, at The Forks on May 1 and outside the law court building on May 3. Manitoba Justice said it will charge even more attenders of the same events, even though those protests are now only a memory.

How can they ticket people so long after alleged infractions? If the tickets weren’t directly issued at the protests, how did officials know whom to ticket more than a week after the fact? It’s not as if protesters sign a guest book.

Protest cluster casts Christians in dim light

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Protest cluster casts Christians in dim light

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, May. 8, 2021

Former Free Press reporter Bill Redekop used to deploy his formidable storytelling skills in the district around Steinbach, Winkler, Morden and Altona.

Headlines are written by editors, not the authors of the news stories, and Redekop objected when an editor adorned one of his stories with a headline that included the term “Bible Belt,” a descriptor Redekop avoided.

“When you put Bible Belt on my story, you make it hard for me when I go back out there,” he said. “They hate that term.”

The distaste of southern Manitobans for the expression was echoed recently by Kyle Penner, an assistant pastor at Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach, when he posted a Twitter thread about a high level of vaccine hesitancy in his region.

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Saturday, May. 8, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
A woman shouts at a police cruiser during a protest supporting the seven churches fighting pandemic restrictions in court on May 3.

Ordering in? Here’s what to skip

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Ordering in? Here’s what to skip

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, May. 1, 2021

PERHAPS a special occasion in our household deserves a special meal. Someone offers a three-word dinner suggestion: “Let’s order in.”

While it may be because no one in the house wants to cook, the suggestion can be bolstered if necessary by an appeal to the greater good: we’re commendably community-minded when we support Manitoba’s eateries that have been hard hit by pandemic restrictions.

The next decision is which app to use for delivery: SkipTheDishes, DoorDash or Uber Eats?

The correct answer is none of them, according to Manitoba’s independent restaurants. Don’t use any of the apps. They’re the faces of food-delivery companies that charge restaurants sky-high commissions, up to 30 per cent, even though restaurants typically operate on a razor-thin profit margin of five to 10 per cent.

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Saturday, May. 1, 2021

PERHAPS a special occasion in our household deserves a special meal. Someone offers a three-word dinner suggestion: “Let’s order in.”

While it may be because no one in the house wants to cook, the suggestion can be bolstered if necessary by an appeal to the greater good: we’re commendably community-minded when we support Manitoba’s eateries that have been hard hit by pandemic restrictions.

The next decision is which app to use for delivery: SkipTheDishes, DoorDash or Uber Eats?

The correct answer is none of them, according to Manitoba’s independent restaurants. Don’t use any of the apps. They’re the faces of food-delivery companies that charge restaurants sky-high commissions, up to 30 per cent, even though restaurants typically operate on a razor-thin profit margin of five to 10 per cent.

Amazon lands in Winnipeg amid controversies

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Amazon lands in Winnipeg amid controversies

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Apr. 24, 2021

WHEN the world’s richest man speaks, people tend to listen. When his company is bringing hundreds of new jobs to Winnipeg, his words may interest people here.

Jeff Bezos, whose net worth is US$198 billion, issued on April 15 a lengthy letter to shareholders of Amazon. He didn’t mention Winnipeg specifically, of course. The new warehouse opening soon in Inkster Industrial Park is a miniscule part of the Amazon empire, which has 1.3 million employees globally.

But Amazon is currently inviting people to interview for jobs at its forthcoming operation in Winnipeg, and the promises made by Bezos in his letter will be relevant to people who are considering whether to apply.

Bezos dealt head-on with criticism of his company’s treatment of its warehouse employees, some of whom say they work 10-hour shifts on their feet, are pressured to pack boxes and move products at quotas that are unrealistically high, with their breaks monitored to the minute.

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Saturday, Apr. 24, 2021

WHEN the world’s richest man speaks, people tend to listen. When his company is bringing hundreds of new jobs to Winnipeg, his words may interest people here.

Jeff Bezos, whose net worth is US$198 billion, issued on April 15 a lengthy letter to shareholders of Amazon. He didn’t mention Winnipeg specifically, of course. The new warehouse opening soon in Inkster Industrial Park is a miniscule part of the Amazon empire, which has 1.3 million employees globally.

But Amazon is currently inviting people to interview for jobs at its forthcoming operation in Winnipeg, and the promises made by Bezos in his letter will be relevant to people who are considering whether to apply.

Bezos dealt head-on with criticism of his company’s treatment of its warehouse employees, some of whom say they work 10-hour shifts on their feet, are pressured to pack boxes and move products at quotas that are unrealistically high, with their breaks monitored to the minute.

Policing on trial on both sides of border

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Policing on trial on both sides of border

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Sunday, Apr. 18, 2021

The way Minnesota is handling allegations against police may be a revelation to people in Winnipeg.

We’re not used to seeing police on trial. Here, when officers are accused of crimes, many avoid prosecution through a variety of creative methods.

As we follow news accounts of the Minneapolis trial of former officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, what seems even more unusual is that officers are testifying against their former colleague. Even the police chief took the stand in full uniform to condemn him.

And while Chauvin’s high-profile trial is still in progress, another Minnesota police officer, Kim Potter, was charged with killing a Black motorist. What’s noteworthy — and unprecedented by Winnipeg standards — is how swiftly and publicly her prosecution is proceeding. On Sunday, she allegedly killed Daunte Wright in a routine traffic stop. On Tuesday, she and her police chief both resigned. On Wednesday, she was jailed briefly and charged with second-degree manslaughter.

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Sunday, Apr. 18, 2021

Court TV via AP, Pool
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin (right) addresses the court on April 15 after invoking his fifth-amendment right and declining to testify on his own behalf.

Silence is golden… but hard to find

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Silence is golden… but hard to find

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Apr. 10, 2021

KILDONAN Park was crowded last Sunday with pedestrians enjoying the calls of birds and the breeze whispering through tree branches. Suddenly, nature’s soundscape was marred by litter of the acoustical variety: a large black truck blared rap music as it trawled near pedestrians walking the park path.

All windows of the truck were rolled down so, clearly, the two young guys in the truck played their music loudly so the raucous thud-thud-thudding would attract attention, perhaps intended as an audio expression of their self-image as tough and rugged.

The din was brief and perhaps not worth mentioning, except that it was reminiscent of several recent letters to the editor of the Free Press, in which writers complained about vehicles that are purposely outfitted with mufflers designed to be extra-loud. One writer dubbed them “look-at-me” mufflers.

Whether the gratuitous noise comes from a vehicle’s music system or from the muffler, both pollute the aural environment. Both types of drivers are purposely inflicting superfluous noise on everyone within earshot.

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Saturday, Apr. 10, 2021

KILDONAN Park was crowded last Sunday with pedestrians enjoying the calls of birds and the breeze whispering through tree branches. Suddenly, nature’s soundscape was marred by litter of the acoustical variety: a large black truck blared rap music as it trawled near pedestrians walking the park path.

All windows of the truck were rolled down so, clearly, the two young guys in the truck played their music loudly so the raucous thud-thud-thudding would attract attention, perhaps intended as an audio expression of their self-image as tough and rugged.

The din was brief and perhaps not worth mentioning, except that it was reminiscent of several recent letters to the editor of the Free Press, in which writers complained about vehicles that are purposely outfitted with mufflers designed to be extra-loud. One writer dubbed them “look-at-me” mufflers.

Whether the gratuitous noise comes from a vehicle’s music system or from the muffler, both pollute the aural environment. Both types of drivers are purposely inflicting superfluous noise on everyone within earshot.

Positive steps in confronting addiction

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Positive steps in confronting addiction

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 27, 2021

ONLY a contrarian with decidedly malicious intent would attend a 12-step recovery meeting and, after the Serenity Prayer is recited, stir up trouble by arguing addiction is not a disease.

Recovering addicts invariably maintain they have a disease, a self-diagnosis that lets them believe they are powerless over their addictions. When newcomers attend their first meeting and accept a cup of coffee — perhaps with fingers that are trembling — it can be a consolation to be told they are victims of an affliction. It’s not all their fault that their lives have spiralled down into a mess.

Medical science is not unanimous on this issue. Naysayers note some addicts quit drugs through willpower, by making up their minds to stop. If addiction was a real disease, such as cancer, it couldn’t be cured with willpower.

Dr. Marc Lewis, the author of The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction is Not a Disease, writes “…rather than a disease, I would say that addiction is a habit that grows and perpetuates itself relatively quickly when we repeatedly pursue the same highly attractive goal.”

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Saturday, Mar. 27, 2021

ONLY a contrarian with decidedly malicious intent would attend a 12-step recovery meeting and, after the Serenity Prayer is recited, stir up trouble by arguing addiction is not a disease.

Recovering addicts invariably maintain they have a disease, a self-diagnosis that lets them believe they are powerless over their addictions. When newcomers attend their first meeting and accept a cup of coffee — perhaps with fingers that are trembling — it can be a consolation to be told they are victims of an affliction. It’s not all their fault that their lives have spiralled down into a mess.

Medical science is not unanimous on this issue. Naysayers note some addicts quit drugs through willpower, by making up their minds to stop. If addiction was a real disease, such as cancer, it couldn’t be cured with willpower.

Dr. Marc Lewis, the author of The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction is Not a Disease, writes “…rather than a disease, I would say that addiction is a habit that grows and perpetuates itself relatively quickly when we repeatedly pursue the same highly attractive goal.”

Expertise should guide schools plan

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Expertise should guide schools plan

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 20, 2021

A key promise of the provincial government’s planned revolution of the education system is to give much more power to the parents of students. Speaking as a parent, I would rather the main responsibility for schooling Manitoba children stay with educators who are trained and experienced in the best ways to help students learn.

Parents should be involved and supportive, but it’s teachers who know what to teach and how best to teach it. It’s arrogant and ignorant to dictate to professionals about their field of expertise, whether it’s doctors about medicine or mechanics about vehicles.

When proposed changes were announced this week, they included a “community council” of parents at each school. Many of us initially assumed this was just a name change for the current parent councils, which, among other roles, are an effective liaison between educators and parents.

In elaborating on the change, however, Education Minister Cliff Cullen said the new community councils will put parents “front and centre.” Parents will weigh in on matters that used to be the responsibility of school trustees, such as student achievement, hiring decisions and capital projects.

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Saturday, Mar. 20, 2021

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Minister of Education Cliff Cullen speaks at a press conference on March 15 regarding Bill 64, which will overhaul Manitoba’s K-12 education system.

Expanding perceptions of domestic violence

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Expanding perceptions of domestic violence

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021

THE narrative of the domestic-violence industry relies on a simplistic gender stereotype: men are brutes, women are honourable victims.

The common assumption is that it’s men, not women, who use violence to exert power and control in relationships. It’s women who need to take the kids and flee for refuge in a government-funded network of shelters, programs and counselling. It’s also the default premise on which the legal system usually sides with women who say they have been assaulted and are seeking alimony and custody of the kids.

Of course, there’s lots of truth to this stereotype. Men often initiate domestic violence and it’s certainly a proper use of government funding to help women who are in danger. Women’s shelters and programs deserve every dollar they get.

But women are not always innocent victims. With a frequency that surprises some people, women attack their male partners.

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Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021

THE narrative of the domestic-violence industry relies on a simplistic gender stereotype: men are brutes, women are honourable victims.

The common assumption is that it’s men, not women, who use violence to exert power and control in relationships. It’s women who need to take the kids and flee for refuge in a government-funded network of shelters, programs and counselling. It’s also the default premise on which the legal system usually sides with women who say they have been assaulted and are seeking alimony and custody of the kids.

Of course, there’s lots of truth to this stereotype. Men often initiate domestic violence and it’s certainly a proper use of government funding to help women who are in danger. Women’s shelters and programs deserve every dollar they get.

But women are not always innocent victims. With a frequency that surprises some people, women attack their male partners.

After tragedy, time to reconsider issues

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

After tragedy, time to reconsider issues

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 6, 2021

Problems within the Winnipeg Police Service are a long-standing issue. But for officers on the receiving end of public antagonism, it’s more than an issue. It’s personal, and it can hurt.

A constable who died by suicide on Feb. 21 was said to be distraught over the anti-police sentiment that has risen in recent years. Out of respect for the grieving family, the Free Press is not identifying the officer, but his public obituary states: “Sadly the light in his eyes began to dim in latter months as he became increasingly troubled with anti-police protests, campaigns, growing public hatred and cynicism toward police officers.”

The revelation that an officer was deeply disturbed by what he saw as public hatred might hit home uncomfortably for some Winnipeggers. Some may feel guilt. But there’s truth to what the officer felt.

Anti-police protests? Yes. Local protests against police brutality attracted thousands of people to Winnipeg’s downtown in June. Anti-police campaigns? Yes. More than 63,000 people signed a petition to defund and abolish the Winnipeg Police Service.

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Saturday, Mar. 6, 2021

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth leads a department that must find a way to regain the public’s trust.

It’s time to talk about ‘ag-gag’ legislation

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

It’s time to talk about ‘ag-gag’ legislation

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

CHICKEN and pork will be topics of considerable interest as the Manitoba legislature reconvenes on Wednesday, and we’re not referring to the luncheon-menu selections of MLAs and government staff.

It’s expected the legislative sitting will finally end a four-month wait and let Manitobans see the contents of proposed agriculture-industry legislation commonly referred to as “ag-gag.” Such laws already exist in three Canadian provinces, where they have drawn controversy.

In Ontario, Alberta and Prince Edward Island, “ag-gag” laws aim to protect agricultural producers from two adversaries: undercover whistleblowers and on-site protesters. Whether this legislative protection is a good thing depends on which side of the farm fence you stand.

Understandably, farmers raising both livestock and crops are vigilant about protecting their land from intruders who might spread disease. Financial calamity can result if trespassers — perhaps they have infectious mud on their boots or the tires of their vehicles — contaminate canola crops with an outbreak of blackleg, or devastate a hog operation with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

CHICKEN and pork will be topics of considerable interest as the Manitoba legislature reconvenes on Wednesday, and we’re not referring to the luncheon-menu selections of MLAs and government staff.

It’s expected the legislative sitting will finally end a four-month wait and let Manitobans see the contents of proposed agriculture-industry legislation commonly referred to as “ag-gag.” Such laws already exist in three Canadian provinces, where they have drawn controversy.

In Ontario, Alberta and Prince Edward Island, “ag-gag” laws aim to protect agricultural producers from two adversaries: undercover whistleblowers and on-site protesters. Whether this legislative protection is a good thing depends on which side of the farm fence you stand.

Understandably, farmers raising both livestock and crops are vigilant about protecting their land from intruders who might spread disease. Financial calamity can result if trespassers — perhaps they have infectious mud on their boots or the tires of their vehicles — contaminate canola crops with an outbreak of blackleg, or devastate a hog operation with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus.

Seniors deserve dignity and independence

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Seniors deserve dignity and independence

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021

WHEN people think ahead to the years euphemistically described as golden, they tend to think nice thoughts: retirement will free up time and energy for worthwhile activities such as travelling, enjoying grandchildren and reading those neglected volumes gathering dust on the bookshelves.

People don’t like to think they may end their lives in a long-term care home. It’s a prospect that has become even more unsettling in the past year, as publicity surrounding COVID-19 deaths made people aware some such institutions operate in conditions that are, quite frankly, deplorable.

Perhaps our aversion to long-term care homes stems from our reluctance to accept the likelihood that, if we live long enough, we will be frail and dependent on others. Most residents in long-term care homes need 24/7 care for activities such as eating, dressing, getting out of bed and using the toilet.

These vulnerable people rely on staff. When the pathogens invaded, some institutions failed in their responsibility.

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Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Health and Seniors Care Minister Heather Stefanson and external reviewer Dr. Lynn Stevenson address the results of the Maples Long Term Care Home review on Feb. 4, 2021

Vaccine passports an essential next step

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Vaccine passports an essential next step

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021

PLEASE ponder this pleasant scenario: in the near future, all Manitobans have had their chance to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Public activities have reopened, and you are invited to join a crowd. Perhaps your preference leans to a Blue Bomber game, a concert of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra or an airline trip to visit family or friends.

Will you be more likely to attend if you know everyone in the crowd has been vaccinated?

Most people will likely answer yes. They will be more inclined to gather in close quarters if they know 100 per cent of people in the crowd had shown documented evidence they got their jabs.

Unfortunately, it’s only a theoretical consideration because Manitoba does not issue vaccine passports. We should. The province should make it a top priority to design such cards in both print and digital versions, and give them to people after their COVID-19 vaccinations, and send them retroactively to Manitobans who’ve already got their shots.

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Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021

PLEASE ponder this pleasant scenario: in the near future, all Manitobans have had their chance to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Public activities have reopened, and you are invited to join a crowd. Perhaps your preference leans to a Blue Bomber game, a concert of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra or an airline trip to visit family or friends.

Will you be more likely to attend if you know everyone in the crowd has been vaccinated?

Most people will likely answer yes. They will be more inclined to gather in close quarters if they know 100 per cent of people in the crowd had shown documented evidence they got their jabs.

Unfortunately, it’s only a theoretical consideration because Manitoba does not issue vaccine passports. We should. The province should make it a top priority to design such cards in both print and digital versions, and give them to people after their COVID-19 vaccinations, and send them retroactively to Manitobans who’ve already got their shots.

Odour concerns are nothing to sniff at

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Odour concerns are nothing to sniff at

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021

WHICH city councillors associate the smell of cannabis with pleasant memories? The question is provocative, but not gratuitous.

City council has been asked to banish medicinal cannabis grow-ups because neighbours say they emit a smell that is offensive. The grow-ops definitely emit an odour, no question about that, but whether the odour is offensive may depend on an individual’s emotional responses to cannabis, according to people who study olfaction, the science of smell.

Most olfactory scientists believe our personal history with a smell plays a big part in whether we perceive it as pleasant or unpleasant. The cooking odours from an outdoor barbecue may be mouth-watering glorious to the guy grilling the steak, but gag-inducing repulsive to the vegetarian who lives next door.

This theory — that many olfactory responses are learned and acquired emotionally — is directly relevant to the issue facing city council. The pungent odour emitted by medicinal marijuana grow-ops has prompted 200 Winnipeggers to sign a petition calling on council to make it illegal for these house-sized operations to grow cannabis in residential areas. Council has ordered a report, which is expected in March.

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Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021

WHICH city councillors associate the smell of cannabis with pleasant memories? The question is provocative, but not gratuitous.

City council has been asked to banish medicinal cannabis grow-ups because neighbours say they emit a smell that is offensive. The grow-ops definitely emit an odour, no question about that, but whether the odour is offensive may depend on an individual’s emotional responses to cannabis, according to people who study olfaction, the science of smell.

Most olfactory scientists believe our personal history with a smell plays a big part in whether we perceive it as pleasant or unpleasant. The cooking odours from an outdoor barbecue may be mouth-watering glorious to the guy grilling the steak, but gag-inducing repulsive to the vegetarian who lives next door.

This theory — that many olfactory responses are learned and acquired emotionally — is directly relevant to the issue facing city council. The pungent odour emitted by medicinal marijuana grow-ops has prompted 200 Winnipeggers to sign a petition calling on council to make it illegal for these house-sized operations to grow cannabis in residential areas. Council has ordered a report, which is expected in March.

Amnesty plan offers DIY-headache relief

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Amnesty plan offers DIY-headache relief

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021

AMONG Winnipeggers renowned for appreciating a good deal, there are four words guaranteed to grab attention: “I know a guy.”

That phrase is commonly uttered by a friend who is vouching for someone who can provide a product or service we need. The tip is highly valued, because it has our friend’s personal endorsement.

Sometimes, the recommendation is above board. Perhaps it leads to a mechanic who doesn’t take advantage of customers, or someone who can successfully argue a traffic ticket, or a salesperson of electronic goods who gives insider information about when a desired item is scheduled to go on sale.

Other times, however, the recommendation is less ethical. If the phrase “I know a guy” is delivered with a whisper and a wink, it means our friend is offering us entry to the underground economy that flourishes in Winnipeg. Or so I’ve heard.

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Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021

AMONG Winnipeggers renowned for appreciating a good deal, there are four words guaranteed to grab attention: “I know a guy.”

That phrase is commonly uttered by a friend who is vouching for someone who can provide a product or service we need. The tip is highly valued, because it has our friend’s personal endorsement.

Sometimes, the recommendation is above board. Perhaps it leads to a mechanic who doesn’t take advantage of customers, or someone who can successfully argue a traffic ticket, or a salesperson of electronic goods who gives insider information about when a desired item is scheduled to go on sale.

Other times, however, the recommendation is less ethical. If the phrase “I know a guy” is delivered with a whisper and a wink, it means our friend is offering us entry to the underground economy that flourishes in Winnipeg. Or so I’ve heard.

As restrictions ease, let’s reflect on lessons learned

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

As restrictions ease, let’s reflect on lessons learned

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021

UNTIL the lockdowns, I began most Saturday mornings for years at a Tim Hortons near our neighbourhood.

The table would include various companions, and we would ease into the weekend by sitting over coffee and sharing at length about our personal lives and the problems of the world. Sometimes the world had so many problems, we needed a second cup.

This tradition will seem unexceptional to readers, and our choice of café will seem downscale to some, but I cite it as an example of a simple pleasure that is missed. Its absence has heightened my appreciation of these people and our outings.

Joni Mitchell was incisive when she wrote the lyric “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”

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Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021

UNTIL the lockdowns, I began most Saturday mornings for years at a Tim Hortons near our neighbourhood.

The table would include various companions, and we would ease into the weekend by sitting over coffee and sharing at length about our personal lives and the problems of the world. Sometimes the world had so many problems, we needed a second cup.

This tradition will seem unexceptional to readers, and our choice of café will seem downscale to some, but I cite it as an example of a simple pleasure that is missed. Its absence has heightened my appreciation of these people and our outings.

Joni Mitchell was incisive when she wrote the lyric “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”

Despite stresses, we still yearn to fly

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Despite stresses, we still yearn to fly

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021

IF you’re a Manitoban, you likely have pleasant memories of the escalator at the airport.

At the top, incoming passengers feel rumpled and weary from hours of air travel but invariably perk up as they began their slow descent and scan the crowd on the ground floor, perhaps looking for their children or a sweetheart waiting to welcome them with a hug.

Even passengers who don’t expect to be greeted by someone will often set their face in a cheerful expression, knowing that in any Winnipeg crowd it’s possible they’ll be spotted by someone who knows who they are.

The escalator is memorable because it feels good to be home. But the escalator is also welcomed because it marks the end of air trips, which have become dreary, annoying ordeals ever since terrorists in four hijacked jets attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. That prompted countries to beef up airport security to the point that passengers are herded like cattle through chutes and subjected to invasive searches that treat them as potential terrorists until proven otherwise.

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Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021

IF you’re a Manitoban, you likely have pleasant memories of the escalator at the airport.

At the top, incoming passengers feel rumpled and weary from hours of air travel but invariably perk up as they began their slow descent and scan the crowd on the ground floor, perhaps looking for their children or a sweetheart waiting to welcome them with a hug.

Even passengers who don’t expect to be greeted by someone will often set their face in a cheerful expression, knowing that in any Winnipeg crowd it’s possible they’ll be spotted by someone who knows who they are.

The escalator is memorable because it feels good to be home. But the escalator is also welcomed because it marks the end of air trips, which have become dreary, annoying ordeals ever since terrorists in four hijacked jets attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. That prompted countries to beef up airport security to the point that passengers are herded like cattle through chutes and subjected to invasive searches that treat them as potential terrorists until proven otherwise.

Shopping local keeps money in Manitoba

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Shopping local keeps money in Manitoba

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021

While we may not have a bank account deep enough to pull off a blockbuster deal like James Richardson & Sons did this week, we can — in our own small way — share the sentiment of supporting independent Manitoba businesses.

The Richardsons’ purchase of the trucking firm Bison Transport, which has about $1 billion in annual revenue, was a deal between two Manitoba family-owned companies. It’s a commendable example of keeping a local company’s ownership, and the resulting capital, in the city.

Retail businesses can only hope consumers echo this buy-local sentiment. When the code-red restrictions are lifted, the economy of this pandemic-wracked province will recover more quickly if retail shoppers share the Richardsons’ understanding of the importance of keeping the money in Manitoba.

It’s a cliché to say we vote with our dollars, but such an attitude will be particularly important when the COVID-19 lockdowns lift. Local retailers, at least those still standing, have suffered greatly during the pandemic unpredictability, crippled by health orders that demanded they either close or adhere to restrictions that are strangling their businesses.

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Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021

While we may not have a bank account deep enough to pull off a blockbuster deal like James Richardson & Sons did this week, we can — in our own small way — share the sentiment of supporting independent Manitoba businesses.

The Richardsons’ purchase of the trucking firm Bison Transport, which has about $1 billion in annual revenue, was a deal between two Manitoba family-owned companies. It’s a commendable example of keeping a local company’s ownership, and the resulting capital, in the city.

Retail businesses can only hope consumers echo this buy-local sentiment. When the code-red restrictions are lifted, the economy of this pandemic-wracked province will recover more quickly if retail shoppers share the Richardsons’ understanding of the importance of keeping the money in Manitoba.

It’s a cliché to say we vote with our dollars, but such an attitude will be particularly important when the COVID-19 lockdowns lift. Local retailers, at least those still standing, have suffered greatly during the pandemic unpredictability, crippled by health orders that demanded they either close or adhere to restrictions that are strangling their businesses.

Jets skate around Manitoba’s pandemic lockdown

Carl DeGurse  5 minute read Preview

Jets skate around Manitoba’s pandemic lockdown

Carl DeGurse  5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021

When it comes to exempting the National Hockey League from Manitoba’s COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, I feel conflict between my head and my heart. My head recognizes it seems unfair. Yet, my heart yells “Go Jets, go!”

The province has granted lots of lockdown liberties to the NHLers, even though ordinary Manitobans are still expected to sacrifice many important activities, such as celebrating the holidays with family and friends.

Under threat of fines, Manitobans can’t welcome visitors to their homes or gather outdoors in groups more than five, but dozens of hockey players and staff will mingle freely at the Winnipeg Jets training camp that begins Sunday.

Yes, Sunday. Manitoba churches can’t hold Sunday services, but the Jets can group together. No official has yet explained why the government feels hockey is essential but church services are not.

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Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021

When it comes to exempting the National Hockey League from Manitoba’s COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, I feel conflict between my head and my heart. My head recognizes it seems unfair. Yet, my heart yells “Go Jets, go!”

The province has granted lots of lockdown liberties to the NHLers, even though ordinary Manitobans are still expected to sacrifice many important activities, such as celebrating the holidays with family and friends.

Under threat of fines, Manitobans can’t welcome visitors to their homes or gather outdoors in groups more than five, but dozens of hockey players and staff will mingle freely at the Winnipeg Jets training camp that begins Sunday.

Yes, Sunday. Manitoba churches can’t hold Sunday services, but the Jets can group together. No official has yet explained why the government feels hockey is essential but church services are not.

Have yourself an essentially Merry Christmas

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Have yourself an essentially Merry Christmas

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020

“AN optimist is someone who gets treed by a lion but enjoys the scenery.” — Walter Winchell, broadcast journalist.

With the holiday season threatening to be a downer, even the optimists among us are challenged to find a silver lining in the pandemic cloud.

Humour may help. Perhaps the Manitoba government’s list of what is essential and non-essential should specify that humour is essential at such a bleak time.

Let’s start with the children: they’re not expecting gifts from Santa this year because they know households are restricted to immediate family and, being smarty-pants, the kids realize Santa is a responsible fellow who would never repeatedly come down the chimneys of houses and spread COVID-19.

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Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020

“AN optimist is someone who gets treed by a lion but enjoys the scenery.” — Walter Winchell, broadcast journalist.

With the holiday season threatening to be a downer, even the optimists among us are challenged to find a silver lining in the pandemic cloud.

Humour may help. Perhaps the Manitoba government’s list of what is essential and non-essential should specify that humour is essential at such a bleak time.

Let’s start with the children: they’re not expecting gifts from Santa this year because they know households are restricted to immediate family and, being smarty-pants, the kids realize Santa is a responsible fellow who would never repeatedly come down the chimneys of houses and spread COVID-19.

Nature lovers don’t feed the wildlife

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Nature lovers don’t feed the wildlife

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020

IT was troubling to see a woman feed wild deer with pastry from a Tim Hortons bag.

My wife and I were walking along the Seine River Greenway trail in the Royalwood area of Winnipeg on a recent weekend. The trail was more crowded than usual, likely because the temperature was unseasonably warm and lots of people wanted a fresh-air reprieve from the pandemic lockdown.

Along the trail, we saw three separate instances of deer lured out of the trees to eat from human hands.

The first time was when we noticed people on the trail up ahead had stopped walking and were staring into the trees. As we got near, we saw they were watching the approach of three deer. In single file, the tawny whitetails stepped with delicacy until the lead deer reached the outstretched hand of a man and nibbled food from his bare palm.

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Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020

IT was troubling to see a woman feed wild deer with pastry from a Tim Hortons bag.

My wife and I were walking along the Seine River Greenway trail in the Royalwood area of Winnipeg on a recent weekend. The trail was more crowded than usual, likely because the temperature was unseasonably warm and lots of people wanted a fresh-air reprieve from the pandemic lockdown.

Along the trail, we saw three separate instances of deer lured out of the trees to eat from human hands.

The first time was when we noticed people on the trail up ahead had stopped walking and were staring into the trees. As we got near, we saw they were watching the approach of three deer. In single file, the tawny whitetails stepped with delicacy until the lead deer reached the outstretched hand of a man and nibbled food from his bare palm.

COVID-19 rules don’t bind Manitoba mavericks

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

COVID-19 rules don’t bind Manitoba mavericks

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020

MY friend Kyle calls himself a “cranky ol’ contrarian.” People who know him believe his self-description is accurate.

Kyle is independent, stubborn and suspicious of the motives of authority figures, especially politicians. People who have lived in Manitoba for any length of time probably know someone like Kyle, because there are many such characters in this province.

These Manitoba mavericks can be interesting conversation partners. But they tend to ignore rules they feel are foolish, and such reckless behaviour is why the extreme code red restrictions that were supposed to be lifted Friday will likely be extended.

Stubborn independence has deep roots in many family trees in Manitoba, going back to rural pioneers who had to be tenacious to survive long winters and self-reliant to cope with the isolation. This free spirit often seems to come along with its close cousin, distrust of authority, a trait that abounds in Manitoba today.

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Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020

MY friend Kyle calls himself a “cranky ol’ contrarian.” People who know him believe his self-description is accurate.

Kyle is independent, stubborn and suspicious of the motives of authority figures, especially politicians. People who have lived in Manitoba for any length of time probably know someone like Kyle, because there are many such characters in this province.

These Manitoba mavericks can be interesting conversation partners. But they tend to ignore rules they feel are foolish, and such reckless behaviour is why the extreme code red restrictions that were supposed to be lifted Friday will likely be extended.

Stubborn independence has deep roots in many family trees in Manitoba, going back to rural pioneers who had to be tenacious to survive long winters and self-reliant to cope with the isolation. This free spirit often seems to come along with its close cousin, distrust of authority, a trait that abounds in Manitoba today.

Pandemic denies us shared rituals of grief

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Pandemic denies us shared rituals of grief

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020

BY everything that is right and good, Helen Penner’s life should have been celebrated with singing.

Singing was a passion for her and her late husband John, and they ensured their eight children found their melodic voices at an early age. The kids grew up singing in church, blending their voices in the four-part harmony that is traditional in their religious denomination. The gift was passed from generation to generation, and Helen and John’s 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren were also encouraged musically from a young age. Old enough to talk, old enough to sing your part.

When Helen passed away on Nov. 14, there was only silence where singing should have been. Pandemic restrictions muzzled her family and friends, preventing them from gathering to pay their respects in the way that would be most fitting.

The Penner clan is certainly not alone in its powerlessness to grieve properly. Approximately 900 people die in Manitoba every month, from a variety of causes, and each deceased person has a circle of family and friends who are now prevented from coming together to process the loss.

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Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020

BY everything that is right and good, Helen Penner’s life should have been celebrated with singing.

Singing was a passion for her and her late husband John, and they ensured their eight children found their melodic voices at an early age. The kids grew up singing in church, blending their voices in the four-part harmony that is traditional in their religious denomination. The gift was passed from generation to generation, and Helen and John’s 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren were also encouraged musically from a young age. Old enough to talk, old enough to sing your part.

When Helen passed away on Nov. 14, there was only silence where singing should have been. Pandemic restrictions muzzled her family and friends, preventing them from gathering to pay their respects in the way that would be most fitting.

The Penner clan is certainly not alone in its powerlessness to grieve properly. Approximately 900 people die in Manitoba every month, from a variety of causes, and each deceased person has a circle of family and friends who are now prevented from coming together to process the loss.

Pandemic creates epidemic of loneliness

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Pandemic creates epidemic of loneliness

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020

THE order to socialize only within our households is a relatively small hardship to Manitobans lucky enough to live with a loving family that enjoys good health and a reliable income. It’s much harder for people whose household consists of themselves and four walls.

For the 135,500 single-person households in Manitoba, it was welcome news on Thursday when the province announced people who live alone will now be allowed to have one other person over. It might help prevent what experts are calling “an epidemic of loneliness.”

The results of severely limiting in-person contact can be serious, including higher levels of suicide and substance abuse. The journal Public Health published a review of 40 studies that found social isolation and loneliness lead to poorer mental-health outcomes and increased rates of death.

Loneliness isn’t restricted to people who live alone. Some people have the misfortune to be cooped up with housemates who are aloof, even callous. And it can get even worse when people are trapped in isolation with someone who is physically or psychologically abusive, but the victims feel unable to leave because the lockdown has eliminated many traditional escape routes.

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Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020

THE order to socialize only within our households is a relatively small hardship to Manitobans lucky enough to live with a loving family that enjoys good health and a reliable income. It’s much harder for people whose household consists of themselves and four walls.

For the 135,500 single-person households in Manitoba, it was welcome news on Thursday when the province announced people who live alone will now be allowed to have one other person over. It might help prevent what experts are calling “an epidemic of loneliness.”

The results of severely limiting in-person contact can be serious, including higher levels of suicide and substance abuse. The journal Public Health published a review of 40 studies that found social isolation and loneliness lead to poorer mental-health outcomes and increased rates of death.

Loneliness isn’t restricted to people who live alone. Some people have the misfortune to be cooped up with housemates who are aloof, even callous. And it can get even worse when people are trapped in isolation with someone who is physically or psychologically abusive, but the victims feel unable to leave because the lockdown has eliminated many traditional escape routes.

Care homes need military help

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Care homes need military help

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020

It was a memorable day on May 13, 1997, when Winnipeggers lined the street to wave goodbye to about 135 military vehicles containing personnel who helped protect the city from the Flood of the Century.

Back then, Manitobans were exceedingly grateful to the military for its emergency help. Today, many of us would be exceedingly grateful if the military returned for a different crisis.

Elderly Manitobans who reside in personal care homes are dying at an appalling rate, victims of COVID-19. It’s so bad, Mayor Brian Bowman and New Democratic Party leader Wab Kinew have urged the provincial government to call in the military.

So far, Premier Brian Pallister has resisted the advice, and his government has been vague when asked why it won’t ask for military help. Some of us suspect the Manitoba PCs would see it as a sign of weakness, as a repudiation of Health Minister Cameron Friesen’s statement last week that “the people in charge have got this.”

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Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020

It was a memorable day on May 13, 1997, when Winnipeggers lined the street to wave goodbye to about 135 military vehicles containing personnel who helped protect the city from the Flood of the Century.

Back then, Manitobans were exceedingly grateful to the military for its emergency help. Today, many of us would be exceedingly grateful if the military returned for a different crisis.

Elderly Manitobans who reside in personal care homes are dying at an appalling rate, victims of COVID-19. It’s so bad, Mayor Brian Bowman and New Democratic Party leader Wab Kinew have urged the provincial government to call in the military.

So far, Premier Brian Pallister has resisted the advice, and his government has been vague when asked why it won’t ask for military help. Some of us suspect the Manitoba PCs would see it as a sign of weakness, as a repudiation of Health Minister Cameron Friesen’s statement last week that “the people in charge have got this.”

Poppy carries extra weight on pandemic lapels

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Poppy carries extra weight on pandemic lapels

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020

WHEN wearing a pandemic face mask, pinning on a poppy seems more pertinent than ever.

The red plastic flowers that traditionally adorn lapels in the days before Nov. 11 have always helped us remember the war years. Back then, Canadians endured a lot of hardships and worked together to defeat a deadly enemy. In some ways, it was like our current fight against COVID-19.

If the sacrifices demanded by the current pandemic restrictions seem onerous — I know a guy who is downright dejected at the prospect of a winter without hockey — perhaps we can be inspired by the patriotic enthusiasm of Canadians on the home front during the world wars.

The enemies are different, of course: our modern enemy is a highly-infectious virus, not the military forces of countries intent on aggression.

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Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020

John Woods / The Canadian Press FILE
Wearing a poppy during this pandemic year might help us to reflect on the hardships endured by wartime generations.

Looking for cartoon COVID-19 company

Carl deGurse 4 minute read Preview

Looking for cartoon COVID-19 company

Carl deGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020

MY pandemic bubble includes the Free Press funnies.

When I was a boy, I regularly read the strips while lying on the living room carpet of our family home, hunched over the newspaper opened to the comics page. But I lost the habit.

I resumed reading the comics in recent months as a tonic against the bleakness of the pandemic. I don’t know about all of you, but I find mirth and merriment in short supply these days with the closure of most public sources of amusement.

With tongue in cheek, I point out the recreational pursuit of reading the funnies is still allowed under Winnipeg’s code-orange pandemic prohibitions, although I personally fear chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin will eventually express concern the comic-strip characters are so close together on the page.

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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020

MY pandemic bubble includes the Free Press funnies.

When I was a boy, I regularly read the strips while lying on the living room carpet of our family home, hunched over the newspaper opened to the comics page. But I lost the habit.

I resumed reading the comics in recent months as a tonic against the bleakness of the pandemic. I don’t know about all of you, but I find mirth and merriment in short supply these days with the closure of most public sources of amusement.

With tongue in cheek, I point out the recreational pursuit of reading the funnies is still allowed under Winnipeg’s code-orange pandemic prohibitions, although I personally fear chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin will eventually express concern the comic-strip characters are so close together on the page.

Lift shroud of secrecy from care-home evaluations

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Lift shroud of secrecy from care-home evaluations

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020

IN China, respect for one’s elders is traditionally viewed as a paramount virtue. It would be deeply dishonourable to put your parents in a personal care home. In 2013, legislation called the Elderly Rights Law forbade adult children in China from “neglecting or snubbing elderly people.”

In Korea, the 60th and 70th birthdays are considered joyful occasions, when children gather for whoop-it-up parties to celebrate their parents’ passage into old age. It’s considered an honour for adult children to care for their parents.

In India, elderly people traditionally remain in the home of their adult children and are venerated as the head of the household, with their opinions encouraged and accepted for the wisdom they bring and the example they set.

In Canada? No one can claim elderly people are venerated in this country. In fact, many are consigned to low-grade institutions and all but ignored, left feeling they are no longer of value.

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Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
As official Opposition health critic in 2013, Cameron Friesen called for the public release of care-home evaluations. As minister of health, he should follow that advice.

Giving thanks for life’s enchantments

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Giving thanks for life’s enchantments

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020

TO begin a recent Zoom gathering of friends, the woman who called us together said, “Let’s go around the circle and share about our recent challenges and enchantments.”

I was taken aback by the word enchantment. It’s defined as “a feeling of great pleasure; delight.” That’s a sentiment not often linked to a pandemic.

But she is not the type of person who would use the word carelessly. She asked for our enchantments to prompt us to appreciate the splendors around us, even as our city is covered by the bleak blanket of COVID-19.

The first part of her invitation, to outline our challenges, was the easy part. Everyone has lots of challenges as we navigate anxieties and unprecedented restrictions, both as individuals and as a city.

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Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020

TO begin a recent Zoom gathering of friends, the woman who called us together said, “Let’s go around the circle and share about our recent challenges and enchantments.”

I was taken aback by the word enchantment. It’s defined as “a feeling of great pleasure; delight.” That’s a sentiment not often linked to a pandemic.

But she is not the type of person who would use the word carelessly. She asked for our enchantments to prompt us to appreciate the splendors around us, even as our city is covered by the bleak blanket of COVID-19.

The first part of her invitation, to outline our challenges, was the easy part. Everyone has lots of challenges as we navigate anxieties and unprecedented restrictions, both as individuals and as a city.

New theory induces re-examination of traffic flow

Carl DeGurse  5 minute read Preview

New theory induces re-examination of traffic flow

Carl DeGurse  5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020

Winnipeg administrators are preparing a report on a controversial transportation theory that, if put into practice, would likely have environmentalists pumping their fists with jubilation.

It’s called induced transportation demand, which is planner-speak for the counterintuitive idea that when a city adds more lanes or builds more roads, it actually worsens traffic congestion.

How can that be? Common sense suggests the opposite — that adding lanes and roads relieves congestion by increasing capacity. That’s why Winnipeg aims to widen Kenaston Boulevard and build the 10-kilometre long Chief Peguis Trail extension, among other expensive road projects.

But the theory of induced demand, which has been backed by data in several reputable studies, is that increasing roadway capacity encourages people to drive more. Build more kilometres of lanes, more kilometres will be driven.

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Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
The theory of induced demand is that increasing roadway capacity encourages people to drive more.

Community groups depend on faith-based facilities

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Community groups depend on faith-based facilities

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Sep. 26, 2020

PEOPLE who don’t often frequent Manitoba’s houses of worship might be surprised to know that before the pandemic, many such buildings were bustling busy throughout the week with visitors whose attendance was unrelated to the in-house brand of religion.

A typical week’s schedule in a church, synagogue, temple or mosque might include meetings of a divorce recovery group, a language class for refugees, meetings of 12-step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, a pre-wedding shower for a bride-to-be and an envionmentalist lecturing on climate change.

Some of the weekday community outreach was organized by members of the faith family that owns the building, perhaps to distribute food to needy people, or run daily after-school activities for neighbourhood children.

But many of the activities were conducted by non-religious groups that only approached the faith facility because they needed a meeting place that is safe, clean and inexpensive — often, free. They weren’t allowed to use spaces that were sanctified as holy, but they were free to use adjoining rooms, the basement or attached halls.

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Saturday, Sep. 26, 2020

PEOPLE who don’t often frequent Manitoba’s houses of worship might be surprised to know that before the pandemic, many such buildings were bustling busy throughout the week with visitors whose attendance was unrelated to the in-house brand of religion.

A typical week’s schedule in a church, synagogue, temple or mosque might include meetings of a divorce recovery group, a language class for refugees, meetings of 12-step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, a pre-wedding shower for a bride-to-be and an envionmentalist lecturing on climate change.

Some of the weekday community outreach was organized by members of the faith family that owns the building, perhaps to distribute food to needy people, or run daily after-school activities for neighbourhood children.

But many of the activities were conducted by non-religious groups that only approached the faith facility because they needed a meeting place that is safe, clean and inexpensive — often, free. They weren’t allowed to use spaces that were sanctified as holy, but they were free to use adjoining rooms, the basement or attached halls.

A strange reluctance to honour a hero

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

A strange reluctance to honour a hero

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 19, 2020

Young Winnipeggers don’t need to look to video games to find a fictional hero who embodies grit-and-guts courage.

The history of Winnipeg includes a real-life superhero: Terry Fox, the kid from Transcona.

It’s the 40th anniversary of Fox’s inspirational attempt to run across Canada, essentially on one leg — the other, lost to cancer, had been replaced by a prosthesis. Given the traditional tendency to mark full-decade anniversaries, this year would have been a big deal if the pandemic hadn’t intervened. Instead, the Terry Fox Run in Winnipeg on Sunday will be virtual only, with participants encouraged to walk, and fundraise, on their own.

Winnipeg is an admirably strong supporter of the Terry Fox Run, which in the past four decades has raised $800 million internationally for cancer research. But when it comes to celebrating Fox’s personal connection to this city, many Winnipeggers are understated to the point of being aw-shucks reticent.

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Saturday, Sep. 19, 2020

RICHARD KEELING PHOTO
A statue of Terry Fox overlooks Thunder Bay and the Trans-Canada Highway.

Province’s ‘survey’ just a PR exercise

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Province’s ‘survey’ just a PR exercise

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020

Like all Manitobans, I’ve been asked by Justice Minister Cliff Cullen to offer feedback on possible changes to legislation on rural crime, metal theft and biosecurity on farms.

I happen to have free time (stopped watching the NHL playoffs when the Jets lost, the Bombers can’t play this year and I knew my recreational life had bottomed out when I was tempted to watch Indian Matchmaking on Netflix).

When I accepted Cullen’s invitation to offer my opinions on the site https://engagemb.ca, I found way more than I had bargained for.

The questionnaire is introduced by a note from Cullen that states: “In 2017, Manitoba’s rural overall crime rate was 42 per cent higher than its urban overall crime rate.” That would be alarming, except a check with Statistics Canada shows Cullen is framing his questionnaire with only a partial truth.

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Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESs fileS
Justice Minister Cliff Cullen wants to hear Manitobans’ views on rural crime, but offering input via an online survey isn’t easy.

Hutterites surprise teacher on first day

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Hutterites surprise teacher on first day

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020

THE reports of stigmatization against Hutterites bring to mind the real-life experience of my friend Michael.

He is a teacher who was hired to instruct elementary-level Hutterite kids at a colony about 20 kilometres north of Moose Jaw, Sask.

I initially doubted whether teaching on a religious-based colony was a good fit for my friend, who self-identifies as an atheist. But Michael needed a job and the colony needed an instructor who was certified to teach the Saskatchewan curriculum, which didn’t include teaching religion.

Like many people, Michael knew little about this branch of the Anabaptists beyond stereotypical images. He was understandably nervous on his first day in the colony.

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Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020

THE reports of stigmatization against Hutterites bring to mind the real-life experience of my friend Michael.

He is a teacher who was hired to instruct elementary-level Hutterite kids at a colony about 20 kilometres north of Moose Jaw, Sask.

I initially doubted whether teaching on a religious-based colony was a good fit for my friend, who self-identifies as an atheist. But Michael needed a job and the colony needed an instructor who was certified to teach the Saskatchewan curriculum, which didn’t include teaching religion.

Like many people, Michael knew little about this branch of the Anabaptists beyond stereotypical images. He was understandably nervous on his first day in the colony.

Mandatory masks not needed (yet) in Manitoba

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Mandatory masks not needed (yet) in Manitoba

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 29, 2020

YES, considerate people wear masks when inside public spaces, undergoing temporary facial discomfort because they respect their fellow Manitobans and don’t want to expel respiratory droplets that could contain the coronavirus.

But, no, masks shouldn’t be mandatory in Manitoba, at least at this time.

Quebec recently introduced mandatory face-covering measures for all indoor public places. And many other places, including most large cities in Ontario, have done the same. The COVID-19 infection rate in those places is far higher than in Manitoba, however. People in those places would whoop with delight if their infection rates were as low as Manitoba’s.

Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Monday he may recommend mandatory masks in all indoor public places as early as fall. He has previously recommended the voluntary, not mandatory, use of masks, but so far his advice has been ignored by most Manitobans.

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Wednesday, Jul. 29, 2020

YES, considerate people wear masks when inside public spaces, undergoing temporary facial discomfort because they respect their fellow Manitobans and don’t want to expel respiratory droplets that could contain the coronavirus.

But, no, masks shouldn’t be mandatory in Manitoba, at least at this time.

Quebec recently introduced mandatory face-covering measures for all indoor public places. And many other places, including most large cities in Ontario, have done the same. The COVID-19 infection rate in those places is far higher than in Manitoba, however. People in those places would whoop with delight if their infection rates were as low as Manitoba’s.

Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Monday he may recommend mandatory masks in all indoor public places as early as fall. He has previously recommended the voluntary, not mandatory, use of masks, but so far his advice has been ignored by most Manitobans.

For sports fans, the wait is almost over

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

For sports fans, the wait is almost over

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 25, 2020

IT’S been a while since we had a chance to cheer.

The past five months of pandemic restrictions has cancelled most public events, including spectator sports. But for action-starved fans, an end of the famine is tantalizingly near.

The Winnipeg Jets are scheduled to play the Calgary Flames next Saturday at 9:30 p.m. CT, kicking off a 24-team tournament for the Stanley Cup in fan-free arenas. It’s hard to imagine pro hockey without the raucous attendance of rinkside fans clapping and shouting with the passion that hockey excites. Will it be as hushed as watching televised golf? Or will they use pre-recorded crowd reactions, which is being done by Major League Baseball and some soccer teams?

Even if “canned” crowd enthusiasm is piped in to the Edmonton and Toronto hub rinks, such fakery need not dampen the enthusiasm of those of us cheering for real at home, resplendent in our replica jerseys that have hung neglected in our closets since the pandemic abruptly ended the NHL regular season on March 12. I know fans whose intensity is expressed in yells directed at their televisions.

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Saturday, Jul. 25, 2020

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
The Winnipeg Jets practice at the Bell MTS Iceplex on July 21. Players and fans alike are glad to have hockey back.

Online porn problems spike during pandemic

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Online porn problems spike during pandemic

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 11, 2020

IT is dismaying, although unsurprising, that police report a spike in pornography offences during the pandemic.

Alberta’s internet child exploitation unit announced last week it has arrested 18 people for online sex offences. In one month alone, it received a record 243 complaints of online child exploitation — more than double the two-year average.

A police spokesman told the Edmonton Journal the level of online pornography activity has been unparalleled in the existence of the ICE unit, and could be linked to digital dependency during COVID-19 isolation measures.

The arrests reminded me of a young man I know who struggles with porn addiction. I won’t publish his identity, but his story is instructive in highlighting the pervasive grip of online pornography for some people.

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Saturday, Jul. 11, 2020

IT is dismaying, although unsurprising, that police report a spike in pornography offences during the pandemic.

Alberta’s internet child exploitation unit announced last week it has arrested 18 people for online sex offences. In one month alone, it received a record 243 complaints of online child exploitation — more than double the two-year average.

A police spokesman told the Edmonton Journal the level of online pornography activity has been unparalleled in the existence of the ICE unit, and could be linked to digital dependency during COVID-19 isolation measures.

The arrests reminded me of a young man I know who struggles with porn addiction. I won’t publish his identity, but his story is instructive in highlighting the pervasive grip of online pornography for some people.

Time to lift restrictions on faith gatherings

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Time to lift restrictions on faith gatherings

Carl DeGurse  5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 27, 2020

MANITOBA’S religious communities have adhered to public-health restrictions — one could say they have obeyed faithfully — and now some churches want to be in charge of their own pandemic precautions.

A petition called Reopen Manitoba Churches has been signed by 69 churches and 2,517 people. It calls for full freedom for churches to gather without public health restrictions. The sentiment is not unanimous, and some churches have urged their members not to sign.

Faith institutions have limped through the last three months. Alternatives to in-person gatherings have included online services, studies of holy books via Zoom, and telephone trees in which volunteers phone everyone in the faith family to check in.

Such measures are worthy improvisations, but they pale in comparison to the experience that is shared when faith families gather for the transcendent exhilaration of worshipping as one body.

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Saturday, Jun. 27, 2020

MANITOBA’S religious communities have adhered to public-health restrictions — one could say they have obeyed faithfully — and now some churches want to be in charge of their own pandemic precautions.

A petition called Reopen Manitoba Churches has been signed by 69 churches and 2,517 people. It calls for full freedom for churches to gather without public health restrictions. The sentiment is not unanimous, and some churches have urged their members not to sign.

Faith institutions have limped through the last three months. Alternatives to in-person gatherings have included online services, studies of holy books via Zoom, and telephone trees in which volunteers phone everyone in the faith family to check in.

Such measures are worthy improvisations, but they pale in comparison to the experience that is shared when faith families gather for the transcendent exhilaration of worshipping as one body.

Police body cameras improve accountability

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Police body cameras improve accountability

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 5, 2020

DISTRUST can poison the relationship between police and a marginalized ethnic community, as Manitoba knows all too well. That’s nothing new. What is new is widespread video, and it’s a game-changer.

The protests wracking the U.S. started only because images of the brutality went viral. Without the video, media reports of the incident would have relied largely on the official police report, likely saying necessary force was needed as the suspect was resisting arrest.

The interactions of police with marginalized communities has changed since video became routinely pervasive through cellphone cameras, dashboard cameras and overhead security cameras. Viral images are instantly accessible on our personal screens, making us up-close witnesses of events as shocking as the final minutes, and final breaths, of George Floyd of Minneapolis.

It’s hard not to feel horror as police officer Derek Chauvin kneels for eight minutes on the neck of the man whose alleged crime was passing a counterfeit bill. We hear Floyd plead, “I can’t breathe!” and we feel outrage as we watch three other police officers stand by without saving the life of the dying man.

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Friday, Jun. 5, 2020

DISTRUST can poison the relationship between police and a marginalized ethnic community, as Manitoba knows all too well. That’s nothing new. What is new is widespread video, and it’s a game-changer.

The protests wracking the U.S. started only because images of the brutality went viral. Without the video, media reports of the incident would have relied largely on the official police report, likely saying necessary force was needed as the suspect was resisting arrest.

The interactions of police with marginalized communities has changed since video became routinely pervasive through cellphone cameras, dashboard cameras and overhead security cameras. Viral images are instantly accessible on our personal screens, making us up-close witnesses of events as shocking as the final minutes, and final breaths, of George Floyd of Minneapolis.

It’s hard not to feel horror as police officer Derek Chauvin kneels for eight minutes on the neck of the man whose alleged crime was passing a counterfeit bill. We hear Floyd plead, “I can’t breathe!” and we feel outrage as we watch three other police officers stand by without saving the life of the dying man.

Local stores await customers’ return

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Local stores await customers’ return

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Jun. 1, 2020

Shopping for a new pair of running shoes, I called up Amazon on my smartphone and easily found the ones I want, a model with the unwieldy name of Under Armour Mens Charged Pursuit 2. The Amazon price is C$77.93.

The same model is also available at a store in the mall closest to my Winnipeg home. The price there is $89.99. As well as being more expensive, it’s more difficult to shop in person at this store than it is to click a purchase at Amazon. To buy at the store, I must drive to the mall and navigate new pandemic restrictions.

Even though buying the shoes through Amazon is cheaper and easier, the decision was easy: Amazon be damned.

Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon — he’s on his way to becoming the world’s first trillionaire — doesn’t need to profit from my purchase of shoes. Winnipeg’s retail businesses, on the other hand, need our support more than ever.

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Monday, Jun. 1, 2020

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Merchants at local malls such as St. Vital Centre are counting on a return of customer traffic as pandemic restrictions ease.

New Manitoba will take some getting used to

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

New Manitoba will take some getting used to

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, May. 23, 2020

TRAVELLERS to other countries often encounter customs that seem foreign: spitting in public, cheek kissing, bowing, slurping noodles, burping appreciatively after meals.

The new Manitoba emerging from the pandemic lockdown will require new protocols that will initially seem as foreign as customs in a different country.

How do we physically greet each other? How do we react if someone moves in too close? If someone coughs repeatedly in public, do we say something?

The relaxed restrictions on public gatherings began Friday — limits raised to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors — and will unite extended family and friends who haven’t met in groups since restrictions were imposed eight weeks ago.

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Saturday, May. 23, 2020

John Woods / The Canadian Press FILE
Stadium stands packed with boisterous fans seems like an image from a bygone era.

Finding the beauty in everyday things

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Finding the beauty in everyday things

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, May. 16, 2020

Now, more than ever, is a time to let beauty elevate us.

If given a chance, beauty can lift us above the uncertainty and fears that are toxic fallout of the pandemic. Here are five sources of everyday beauty that can offer relief from COVID-19 concerns and perhaps help us heal.

Get down in the dirtThe May long weekend is the traditional time for Manitoba gardeners to get in tune with the creative energy of the natural world. An alchemy of common elements — sunshine, water, bugs and dirt — sets the stage for seeds to explode in slow motion into plants and flowers.

The beauty of natural life can be explored in a single flower using an ancient Christian practice called Visio Divina. It involves gazing at an object such as a flower for several minutes, using different methods of seeing, and letting our senses relish the deeper dimensions of its beauty.

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Saturday, May. 16, 2020

Lisa Rathke / The Associated Press Files
Contemplating the slow-motion beauty of a flower garden can be a transformative experience.

Personal-care homes require rigid regulation

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Personal-care homes require rigid regulation

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Tuesday, May. 5, 2020

About a year before COVID-19 turned several Canadian personal-care homes into pandemic death traps, a University of Manitoba study outlined a common-sense way to evaluate and improve such institutions.

The study urged the province to develop an online report card that would give the public a window into personal-care homes, which are also known as nursing homes. Each home would be publicly assessed on 12 indicators, including how each facility is staffed, what daily life is like, medical criteria such as the prevalence of bed sores and untreated depression, the use of physical restraints and toileting plans, and the levels of satisfaction of both residents and their families.

The criteria were developed by researchers from the university’s Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, who interviewed care-home administrators and doctors and nurses who specialize in care-home patients. Variations of such report cards already exist in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario and in 23 U.S. states. But, in Manitoba, there is currently no reliable way for the public to compare the quality of care homes.

Entrusting a loved one to a care home, a decision that often rests with the adult children of the elderly person, is already a deeply emotional stage of family life. It only gets tougher when the families don’t have trustworthy information about which home will give high-quality care to their vulnerable parent or grandparent.

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Tuesday, May. 5, 2020

Ryan Remiorz / The Canadian Press Files
Flowers are seen at a makeshift memorial in front of the Résidence Herron seniors home in Dorval, Que.

Waiting to rejoin the roar of the crowd

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Waiting to rejoin the roar of the crowd

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 27, 2020

QUICK question: will you continue to rub the toe of the Timothy Eaton statue? The question seems trivial, but your answer has big implications.

Like most Winnipeggers, you’ve probably followed the quirky good-luck tradition of rubbing the left shoe of the 80-year-old bronze statue that now presides over an entrance at Bell MTS Place. But perhaps pandemic warnings have made you wary of how invisible viruses can be remain on an object rubbed by a succession of hands.

If you used to rub the toe, but now plan to forgo the toe, that counts as a change in your public behaviour. The pandemic has made you skittish. And if you’re skittish about this small habit, will you also be skittish about joining crowds at local sports and entertainment events?

The question whether you will continue to steer clear of crowds is likely causing sleepless nights for the people whose livelihoods are invested in the local sports and entertainment industries. They wonder how long it will be before their businesses attract as many paying customers as in pre-pandemic days.

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Monday, Apr. 27, 2020

QUICK question: will you continue to rub the toe of the Timothy Eaton statue? The question seems trivial, but your answer has big implications.

Like most Winnipeggers, you’ve probably followed the quirky good-luck tradition of rubbing the left shoe of the 80-year-old bronze statue that now presides over an entrance at Bell MTS Place. But perhaps pandemic warnings have made you wary of how invisible viruses can be remain on an object rubbed by a succession of hands.

If you used to rub the toe, but now plan to forgo the toe, that counts as a change in your public behaviour. The pandemic has made you skittish. And if you’re skittish about this small habit, will you also be skittish about joining crowds at local sports and entertainment events?

The question whether you will continue to steer clear of crowds is likely causing sleepless nights for the people whose livelihoods are invested in the local sports and entertainment industries. They wonder how long it will be before their businesses attract as many paying customers as in pre-pandemic days.

Time to park cars outside parks

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Time to park cars outside parks

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Apr. 20, 2020

As the pandemic grinds on and confinement in our homes becomes bleak at times, Winnipeg’s abundant green spaces offer a therapeutic escape. It’s unfortunate motorized vehicles are allowed to intrude.

A temporary ban on cars, trucks and motorcycles from city parks would go a long way toward helping pedestrians enjoy outings while still keeping the required physical distance. Pedestrians in parks could use the full width of the the roadways to keep a safe space from each other.

Vancouver did it with Stanley Park on April 8, banning vehicles from its world-class park so pedestrians can walk on roads and enjoy the tonic of the natural world while remaining distanced from other people. Minneapolis-St. Paul has banned vehicle traffic from three of its parkways. Portland, Ore., has closed 10 of its parks to cars and trucks. Similar sensible measures are underway in U.S. cities including Cleveland, Philadelphia and Denver.

Like all urban centres struggling to contain COVID-19, these cities banned vehicles from green spaces because of two pragmatic realities: 1) it’s physically and mentally healthy for people to enjoy the rejuvenating effects of nature as a break from being cooped up under stressful circumstances; and 2) city parks can accommodate a lot of people safely, with everyone heeding physical distancing guidelines, as long as vehicles are removed so pedestrians have room to spread out.

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Monday, Apr. 20, 2020

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESs fileS
Eliminating vehicles in parks would allow pedestrians to more effectively adhere to physical-distancing guidelines.

Joyful sounds missing from Easter celebration

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Joyful sounds missing from Easter celebration

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 10, 2020

Never thought there would be an Easter without singing.

Our church has been shuttered as a precaution against the novel coronavirus, as have all Manitoba churches, synagogues, mosques and temples. I understand why this must be, but I sure miss getting together.

We’re a singing church, a trait that is often mentioned by first-time visitors who typically say something like, “Wow, you guys sure like to sing.”

Our enthusiasm for singing is passed from generation to generation. When babies are introduced to the congregation, they’re welcomed with song. When these same babies are old enough to speak, they’re old enough to sing with us. They grow up singing in Sunday school, in kids’ club, in youth group and at church camps.

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Friday, Apr. 10, 2020

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press

Yes, there are reasons to be thankful

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Yes, there are reasons to be thankful

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 6, 2020

If gratitude is a remedy for fear, perhaps this is a good time to take a dose.

Fear has abounded since the pandemic came to town. We worry about catching the virus, and also about economic consequences as businesses close, workers are laid off and stock-market investments drop like a shot bird.

The concerns are real. No one should downplay the worry of people who have tested positive, those who can’t visit relatives in locked-down nursing homes, those who were living paycheque-to-paycheque before their jobs ended, or the essential workers who continue to toil in the vicinity of the virus.

But, amid the bleakness, it can boost our spirits to take a wide-angle view that includes reasons for gratitude.

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Monday, Apr. 6, 2020

If gratitude is a remedy for fear, perhaps this is a good time to take a dose.

Fear has abounded since the pandemic came to town. We worry about catching the virus, and also about economic consequences as businesses close, workers are laid off and stock-market investments drop like a shot bird.

The concerns are real. No one should downplay the worry of people who have tested positive, those who can’t visit relatives in locked-down nursing homes, those who were living paycheque-to-paycheque before their jobs ended, or the essential workers who continue to toil in the vicinity of the virus.

But, amid the bleakness, it can boost our spirits to take a wide-angle view that includes reasons for gratitude.

Public needs more information

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Public needs more information

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 28, 2020

A confounding aspect of the virus that has thrust the world into tumult is that it’s beyond the detection of human senses. We can’t see when it’s near, we can’t feel when it attaches to our skin, we can’t smell or taste when we breathe it in.

We want to avoid it, but we don’t know where it is. That makes us eager for any clues to the whereabouts of this invisible killer.

People in the Waterloo region of Ontario got a break this week when their health officials said they will begin announcing the locations where people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus may have caught it. By listing the places on a website, the officials hope to alert other people who were at the same locations to self-monitor for symptoms.

It’s a sensible idea that could be adopted in Manitoba. National health officials said this week that almost half of Canada’s COVID-19 are now caused by a spread in the community, not by travellers. In Manitoba, confirmed community contagion has been slow to arrive but we’ve been warned it has emerged and, unless health officials change their ways, we won’t know where in our community the virus is spreading.

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Saturday, Mar. 28, 2020

John Woods / The Canadian Press
Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, delivers a COVID-19 update at the Manitoba legislature.

Manitoba has experience with pandemics

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Manitoba has experience with pandemics

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 20, 2020

AS the virus spread, all Manitoba schools were ordered to close, theatres went dark, church services were dropped and all public meetings were cancelled.

Seem familiar?

The measures listed above were taken from headlines of Manitoba newspapers 102 years ago, as the province was hit by the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. These same actions have been taken in the past couple of weeks as Manitoba tries to curtail the novel coronavirus that causes the illness called COVID-19.

Although the two pandemics are separated by a century, a comparison shows several important parallels with the current crisis in Manitoba. The similarities are intriguing; the differences can be instructive.

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Friday, Mar. 20, 2020

Winnipeg Free Press Files
Manitoba Free Press delivery boys wear surgical masks during the 1918 influenza pandemic.

In this battle, the heroes don’t wear capes

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

In this battle, the heroes don’t wear capes

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2020

COMIC-book superheroes wear capes as they fight to save the world. In Winnipeg, the heroes on Arlington Street wear white lab coats.

The coronavirus heroes at the Level 4 National Microbiology Laboratory are reportedly working day and night to test samples that are sent to Winnipeg from provincial labs throughout Canada. They are also part of a global research effort to develop an effective vaccine and treatment drug for the virus that is officially known as COVID-19.

They don’t have superpowers, so microbiologists around the world have to rely on first-rate scientific training and an urgent sense of mission. They were already well motivated by bulletins regarding the pandemic’s rapid spread around the planet, but for Winnipeg scientists, it got personal on Thursday with the announcement that the virus has arrived in the city where they live with their family and friends.

No one has to tell them the coronavirus challenge might be the most important work of their careers.

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Saturday, Mar. 14, 2020

COMIC-book superheroes wear capes as they fight to save the world. In Winnipeg, the heroes on Arlington Street wear white lab coats.

The coronavirus heroes at the Level 4 National Microbiology Laboratory are reportedly working day and night to test samples that are sent to Winnipeg from provincial labs throughout Canada. They are also part of a global research effort to develop an effective vaccine and treatment drug for the virus that is officially known as COVID-19.

They don’t have superpowers, so microbiologists around the world have to rely on first-rate scientific training and an urgent sense of mission. They were already well motivated by bulletins regarding the pandemic’s rapid spread around the planet, but for Winnipeg scientists, it got personal on Thursday with the announcement that the virus has arrived in the city where they live with their family and friends.

No one has to tell them the coronavirus challenge might be the most important work of their careers.

There’s a world beyond your smartphone

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

There’s a world beyond your smartphone

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 7, 2020

It used to be that people in public spaces kept their eyes up, alert to their surroundings. But today, many people in public remain transfixed by their cellphones. Even while walking through crowds, they’re hunched over their phones, their posture curved like Christmas candy canes.

I realize these people have the right to use their phones in public, and the right to free speech. But here’s the trouble with using phones when other people are around: barbarity in public spaces is only averted when we all heed the unwritten code of conduct that accords respect to other people.

When phones are used in annoying ways that disrespect nearby people, that’s over the line. This line is apparently invisible to some phone users, so here is a reminder: the line separates personal freedom from public accountability. In other words, people are free to use their phones in public, but not if they’re discourteous to others.

I enjoyed an interesting discussion about this modern problem with a guy named Bob McLenaghan. We’re both old enough to remember the time before cellphones, when people in public were more mindful of others around them. McLenaghan has used the Pan Am pool for 20 years and has recently noticed an increase in the number of people using phones in the pool area. After he saw someone use their phone in the shower area, he reported the incident to pool officials and to the city’s 311 service.

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Saturday, Mar. 7, 2020

John Blanding / Boston Globe Files
While the crowd around her focuses on their smartphone cameras, one woman (centre) relishes the moment as actors Johnny Depp and Dakota Johnson attend the 2015 premiere of the film Black Mass in Brookline, Mass.

Boycotts hurt more than the high-profile offenders

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Boycotts hurt more than the high-profile offenders

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020

ALLEGATIONS of sexual misconduct by Jean Vanier and Peter Nygard will prompt some people to show their revulsion by taking action against the empires built by the two men.

They may protest with their wallets. As consumers with a conscience, they make a habit of evaluating the many companies and groups vying for their dollars. They support organizations that are fair and just. They don’t support sexual predators.

After allegations that Nygard ran a sex-trafficking ring, some people will be tempted to boycott Nygard and buy other brands of clothing.

After reports Vanier sexually abused at least six women, some people will be inclined to halt their support for the Vanier-founded L’Arche network of homes where people with and without intellectual disabilities live together.

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Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020

ALLEGATIONS of sexual misconduct by Jean Vanier and Peter Nygard will prompt some people to show their revulsion by taking action against the empires built by the two men.

They may protest with their wallets. As consumers with a conscience, they make a habit of evaluating the many companies and groups vying for their dollars. They support organizations that are fair and just. They don’t support sexual predators.

After allegations that Nygard ran a sex-trafficking ring, some people will be tempted to boycott Nygard and buy other brands of clothing.

After reports Vanier sexually abused at least six women, some people will be inclined to halt their support for the Vanier-founded L’Arche network of homes where people with and without intellectual disabilities live together.

Trees deserve our deep-rooted respect

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Trees deserve our deep-rooted respect

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020

I have a surefire way to inspire people to support the mayor’s Million Tree Challenge, but I don’t think I can afford it.

My idea is to buy everyone in Winnipeg a copy of The Overstory, by Richard Powers. We would all read it together, like the biggest-ever book club.

It’s one of those rare books that can change how people see the world. And yes, it’s about trees. It could help Winnipeggers cultivate a fresh appreciation for the giant beings that share the city with us.

Don’t take my word for it. The Overstory won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2018 and was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize. It was called “monumental... a gigantic fable of genuine truths,” by a New York Times reviewer.

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Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020

John Woods / The Canadian Press Files
Last October’s freak snowstorm is just one factor that has put stress on Winnipeg’s beleaguered urban canopy.

Fine time to dump library fines

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Fine time to dump library fines

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020

YOU know what’s overdue at Manitoba’s public libraries? The elimination of fines.

More public libraries have stopped penalizing patrons who are late in returning items. These libraries withdrew all fines because they want to be welcoming and accessible to all. They don’t want to scare away people who have no easy way to pay.

People deterred from libraries by the possibility of fines include youth with limited or no income. It’s a shame when children and teens, especially those from disadvantaged households, feel discouraged from hanging out at libraries, where they would be within reach of supportive staff who can guide them into the world of literacy and positive possibility.

Other people who fear fines include those who are unemployed, homeless or recent immigrants. When they stay away from libraries, they also stay away from opportunities for education, entertainment and community connections. Libraries may provide their only access to computers and services such as printers and copiers.

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Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Sunday Special, Feature on Winnipeg Public Library's long-standing writer-in-residence program, photos taken at The Millennium Library Thursday for story to run Jan. 27th. Photos and portraits of, Jordan Wheeler (writer) and Danielle Pilon (head librarian), for story on Winnipeg Public Library's long-standing writer-in-residence program and how it's boosting Winnipeg's literary scene. Photos of the current writer-in-residence, Jordan Wheeler and the Reader Services head librarian, Danielle Pilon. Supporting photos of people studying in the library, stack of submitted manuscripts (15 page max each), local history books and general shots inside and outside the library. Story, Declan Schroeder. January 24th, 2019

Encouraging signs in outdoor-advertising debate

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Encouraging signs in outdoor-advertising debate

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Feb. 3, 2020

When my buddies and I gather to watch the Jets or Bombers on television, we often record the game and only begin watching about an hour after it starts. That way, we can fast-forward through the ads.

Unfortunately, there’s no way we can fast-forward through the outdoor advertising that litters Winnipeg. We can’t block it as we can online advertising.

This visual pollution — the worst are mobile signs, billboards and banners — is dangerous because it’s purposely designed to snare the attention of drivers who should instead be focused on traffic.

This roadside junk mail contributes nothing of beauty, and no message of wit nor profound insight, yet it’s allowed to dominate the landscape. Winnipeg is uglier because it allows this blight to scar our roadsides.

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Monday, Feb. 3, 2020

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
The future of some outdoor advertisements are in question as a civic committee considers proposals to update local bylaws.

Time to make McClung a pioneer — again

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Time to make McClung a pioneer — again

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020

A famous Winnipegger enthusiastically promoted selective breeding among humans for the refinement of the species. She championed the forced sterilization of people who were considered “unfit,” meaning people judged as “feeble-minded.”

She left Winnipeg and moved to Edmonton, where she was elected as an MLA and was a main promoter of the Alberta Sexual Sterilization Act, legislation that allowed the sterilization of almost 3,000 people. The victims were disproportionately immigrants and Indigenous people.

By today’s standards, she would be considered a racist.

What do we do about Nellie McClung?

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Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
A statue of Nellie McClung and her compatriots in the "Famous Five" stands on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature Building

MLA Fontaine fails to deliver poetic justice

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MLA Fontaine fails to deliver poetic justice

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020

IT’S highly unusual for a Canadian poet to get the tsunami of attention received last week by Stephen Brown.

Most poets toil outside the public limelight, but interest in Brown went viral on social media and his poetry was the focus of stories reported prominently by mainstream media from coast to coast, including both of Canada’s national newspapers.

He got the recognition thanks to Manitoba MLA Nahanni Fontaine, who prompted the extensive media coverage by her successful demands to have two of Brown’s poems removed from the parliamentary poet laureate website.

Before outlining concerns about a legislator intervening in the art world, I should mention I am aware of — and sincerely respect — Fontaine’s extensive professional and personal efforts on behalf of the families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. But in this instance, before telling art experts their business, perhaps she should have considered the implications.

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Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020

Manitoba MLA Nahanni Fontaine demanded to have two of Stephen Brown’s poems removed from the parliamentary poet laureate website. (John Woods / Canadian Press files)

Have yourself a Conspiratorial little Christmas

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Have yourself a Conspiratorial little Christmas

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019

Even people who aren’t regular church-goers likely know enough about Jesus Christ to realize it’s unsuitable to celebrate his birth with a frenzy of materialism.

Christ was never much of a consumer. He was born in a feed trough in a smelly barn, a refugee endangered by a genocide. Throughout his life, the Jewish peasant owned little more than his clothing, preaching from borrowed boats and riding on a borrowed colt. He didn’t worry about where he would sleep or what he would eat, although he was known to cook for his friends and he enjoyed a good dinner party.

He often warned about holding possessions too tightly. He said repeatedly that wealth was dangerous because it often leads to greed, selfishness and injustice.

That’s why it seems strange — downright bizarre, in fact — that many people mark the holiday commemorating his birth by getting stressed out over lengthy gift lists and spending beyond their means to buy stuff.

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Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019

Even people who aren’t regular church-goers likely know enough about Jesus Christ to realize it’s unsuitable to celebrate his birth with a frenzy of materialism.

Christ was never much of a consumer. He was born in a feed trough in a smelly barn, a refugee endangered by a genocide. Throughout his life, the Jewish peasant owned little more than his clothing, preaching from borrowed boats and riding on a borrowed colt. He didn’t worry about where he would sleep or what he would eat, although he was known to cook for his friends and he enjoyed a good dinner party.

He often warned about holding possessions too tightly. He said repeatedly that wealth was dangerous because it often leads to greed, selfishness and injustice.

That’s why it seems strange — downright bizarre, in fact — that many people mark the holiday commemorating his birth by getting stressed out over lengthy gift lists and spending beyond their means to buy stuff.

Liquor-theft culprits victims, too

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Liquor-theft culprits victims, too

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019

A galling aspect of liquor-store lawlessness is that the thieves have long seemed to get away with it. But three court cases last week corrected that misconception and offered the reassurance that such thieves are being prosecuted.

On a more important level, however, the court cases offered the public the first detailed profiles of people who are stealing the liquor. It was a heart-rending revelation. The thieves in all three cases were Indigenous people with grim personal histories, victims of appalling social problems beyond their control. Their backstories are evidence of why governments need to redouble efforts to carry out the recommendations of studies such as the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

This is not to suggest all liquor-store thefts are being carried out by Indigenous people driven by addictions. Police say the rash of thefts includes organized gangs that sometimes sell the liquor for profit, but as far as the Free Press knows, prosecutions of such gang members have not yet reached the stage of criminal trials.

It’s been frustrating to watch anonymous criminals — their identities partially hidden by balaclavas and hoodies pulled low — carry bottles out of Manitoba Liquor Marts without paying or being apprehended by store staff or security, who have been directed to stay safe and not try to physically stop the booze bandits.

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Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Finally, a viable way to offer public toilets downtown

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Finally, a viable way to offer public toilets downtown

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019

Most people agree downtown Winnipeg needs more public washrooms. The problem has always been the expense. It costs a lot to buy, police and maintain an array of stand-alone toilet facilities.

How about this as a less-expensive alternative? Require all new buildings that receive public money to provide and maintain washrooms open to the public. Also, offer financial incentives for private business owners to keep their washrooms open for public use. And then provide prominent signs on the outside of the co-operating buildings that say: “public washrooms inside.”

These are among the intriguing proposals in a report that outlines a strategy to get more public washrooms downtown. It’s one of the best reports that almost no one has read.

Examining a 51-page report about public toilets is not everyone’s idea of fun, I get that, but its contents will be appreciated by those of us weary of the never-ending talk-talk-talk about the lack of public washrooms and ready to move forward with realistic solutions.

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Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Pop-up toilets at the corner of Hargrave and Graham in Winnipeg on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018.

‘Smart cart’ test prompts other bright ideas

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

‘Smart cart’ test prompts other bright ideas

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019

While waiting in line at the checkout at a grocery store, I decided there’s plenty of time to ponder ways stores could improve.

One way is the “smart cart,” which Sobeys announced on Oct. 23 it is testing in Canada for the first time. It’s equipped with artificial-intelligence technology that weighs produce, scans items and displays on a screen all items in the cart. It also has a built-in bank card reader so we can pay and get receipts. Shoppers do it all themselves, in the cart. There’s no need to join the queue at the cash register (yahoo!).

Sobeys is testing the “smart cart” in Ontario, and hasn’t yet said whether it will come to the many Manitoba stores it operates through its Safeway, IGA and FreshCo locations. But here’s hoping.

It’s not the first time supermarkets have experimented with alternatives to cash-register lineups. Several years ago, many Manitoba supermarkets promoted self-checkouts as a quick and easy way to pay and go. I tried self-checkouts repeatedly, but the bar codes and coupons didn’t always scan properly, and occasionally flashed the dreaded message “Unexpected item in the bagging area,” which seemed like a robot alleging something criminal. Now, I use real-life cashiers to check out full carts of groceries, and use self-checkouts when I’m buying only a few items.

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Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019

While waiting in line at the checkout at a grocery store, I decided there’s plenty of time to ponder ways stores could improve.

One way is the “smart cart,” which Sobeys announced on Oct. 23 it is testing in Canada for the first time. It’s equipped with artificial-intelligence technology that weighs produce, scans items and displays on a screen all items in the cart. It also has a built-in bank card reader so we can pay and get receipts. Shoppers do it all themselves, in the cart. There’s no need to join the queue at the cash register (yahoo!).

Sobeys is testing the “smart cart” in Ontario, and hasn’t yet said whether it will come to the many Manitoba stores it operates through its Safeway, IGA and FreshCo locations. But here’s hoping.

It’s not the first time supermarkets have experimented with alternatives to cash-register lineups. Several years ago, many Manitoba supermarkets promoted self-checkouts as a quick and easy way to pay and go. I tried self-checkouts repeatedly, but the bar codes and coupons didn’t always scan properly, and occasionally flashed the dreaded message “Unexpected item in the bagging area,” which seemed like a robot alleging something criminal. Now, I use real-life cashiers to check out full carts of groceries, and use self-checkouts when I’m buying only a few items.

All should be welcome in storm cleanup

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

All should be welcome in storm cleanup

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019

How would you react to the following scenario? You answer a knock on the door of your home and greet a man who says, “I notice heavy branches from the storm are laying on your lawn. A truck will be in your neighbourhood tomorrow, with low-risk jail inmates who are well-supervised. If you choose, we can take those branches away for free.”

It’s likely most Winnipeggers would swiftly get over any hesitation about whether inmate work teams should be allowed to leave their penal institution. Most people would answer, “Yes, you have my permission. And, hey, thanks for helping out.”

In a state of emergency, such as the one declared after the devastating snowstorm earlier this month, all options should be considered. This should include enlisting the least dangerous inmates from Manitoba’s provincial and federal institutions.

Winnipeg can use the help. The amount of work to recover from the tree-destroying storm is far beyond the capacity of public and private workers who usually cope with tree damage, even with additional resources from other provinces.

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Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019

John Woods / The Canadian Press files
The cleanup of trees damaged in the early October snowstorm is expected to take a year to complete.

Pedestrian scrambles would be street smart

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Pedestrian scrambles would be street smart

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019

Like oil and water, vehicles and pedestrians don’t mix easily. Winnipeg has the death toll to prove it.

To improve the chances that pedestrians and cyclists can get home safely, the city recently introduced several proactive measures. Another batch of changes is about to be devised, including the expected introduction of pedestrian scrambles, a measure for which the city’s public works department has high hopes.

“We think this will have an effect on removing the conflict between pedestrians and motorists,” David Patman, manager of transportation, said during a recent committee meeting.

In theory, pedestrian scrambles are a good concept. Signals stop all vehicular traffic simultaneously, and pedestrians and cyclists safely cross the intersection in every direction, including diagonally, at the same time.

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Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019

Like oil and water, vehicles and pedestrians don’t mix easily. Winnipeg has the death toll to prove it.

To improve the chances that pedestrians and cyclists can get home safely, the city recently introduced several proactive measures. Another batch of changes is about to be devised, including the expected introduction of pedestrian scrambles, a measure for which the city’s public works department has high hopes.

“We think this will have an effect on removing the conflict between pedestrians and motorists,” David Patman, manager of transportation, said during a recent committee meeting.

In theory, pedestrian scrambles are a good concept. Signals stop all vehicular traffic simultaneously, and pedestrians and cyclists safely cross the intersection in every direction, including diagonally, at the same time.

Climate is changing, but there’s still cause for hope

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Climate is changing, but there’s still cause for hope

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019

Our hearts break when we hear the fear in young voices as they describe facing their future with despair. They deserve better.

They should know, though, there is also reason for hope. There’s evidence-based optimism that people can rise up and do the right thing when the matter is vitally important.

Before we make the case for hope, it’s important to reinforce two critical points that were made repeatedly in the past weeks by Manitoba youth who joined a global protest against inaction on climate change.

First, the prognosis for the planet is dire. That’s not opinion. That’s fact. If adults think the youth are exaggerating with sensational stunts like holding a “die-in” on the steps of the Manitoba legislature, signing a pledge not to bear children and holding signs like “There is no Planet B,” it’s because those adults don’t understand the irrefutable facts reported to the United Nations by the world’s top climate scientists.

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Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019

Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, centre, takes part in a climate strike march in Montreal on Sept. 27.

City hall not exactly an incubator for good ideas

Carl DeGurse  5 minute read Preview

City hall not exactly an incubator for good ideas

Carl DeGurse  5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 21, 2019

So you think you have a good idea to improve Winnipeg and, best of all, it would cost taxpayers little or nothing.

Who could say no? City bureaucrats, that’s who. Here are four proposals that seemed win-win solid until they entered the red-tape maze at city hall:

 

School-zone lights for freeChuck Lewis wanted to install solar-powered amber lights at speed-reduced school zones that would flash only during school hours. He would cover the cost.

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Saturday, Sep. 21, 2019

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
How does Lewis now feel about his attempt to work with city hall and do a good thing? “We got shot down pretty good,” he responded.

No, we don’t want to know who won!

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No, we don’t want to know who won!

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 11, 2019

On Saturday afternoon, many of us had plans and couldn’t watch the live broadcast of Bianca Andreescu’s U.S. Open tennis match. We set our televisions to record it and planned to watch it later that day.

But the historic event was ruined for the 33,134 of us who spent Saturday afternoon at IG Field enjoying the Blue Bombers facing the Roughriders in the Banjo Bowl, when the public address system announcer blurted out that Andreescu had won.

His announcement was greeted with dismay by some of us in the stands. He robbed us of the thrill of watching our recorded broadcast and experiencing the excitement as the upstart Canadian teen foiled a fierce comeback attempt by legendary champion Serena Williams.

Not much use in watching a sporting event when you already know the winner. It’s like hearing a joke when you already know the punch line. It’s like reading a whodunnit when you know in advance who did it.

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Wednesday, Sep. 11, 2019

Adam Hunger / The Associated Press files
Bianca Andreescu holds up her trophy after winning the women’s singles final at the U.S. Open in New York on Sept. 7.

Voting good, but informed voting necessary

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Voting good, but informed voting necessary

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 7, 2019

To the voters who plan to park their X with the PCs because Brian Pallister doesn’t take guff from anyone, which these voters consider a positive trait that reminds them of themselves…

To those who aim to vote NDP because it would be cool to have a premier with a ponytail who used to be a rapper…

To those who intend to vote Liberal but have done so little research they don’t know whether Dougald is the leader’s first name or surname…

To those who expect to vote for the Green party because a friend of a friend has met James Beddome and says he seemed like a nice guy...

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Saturday, Sep. 7, 2019

To the voters who plan to park their X with the PCs because Brian Pallister doesn’t take guff from anyone, which these voters consider a positive trait that reminds them of themselves…

To those who aim to vote NDP because it would be cool to have a premier with a ponytail who used to be a rapper…

To those who intend to vote Liberal but have done so little research they don’t know whether Dougald is the leader’s first name or surname…

To those who expect to vote for the Green party because a friend of a friend has met James Beddome and says he seemed like a nice guy...

Parents, teachers need checklists, too

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Parents, teachers need checklists, too

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Aug. 26, 2019

Students shouldn’t be the only ones with back-to-school lists. Their parents and teachers should also have lists of their own.

While students’ lists include such items as notebooks, pencil crayons and USB sticks, the lists of parents and teachers should include strategies for working together. There’s lots of evidence that students do better if their parents and teachers unite as allies to guide the students.

The relationship between parents and teachers is not always smooth, though. Some parents are too busy to be actively involved in their child’s education, or argue combatively for unmerited advantages for their child, or do their child’s schoolwork for them.

Some teachers don’t recognize the child’s unique challenges, or seldom communicate with parents, or are uninspiring and run classes most kids dread as boring.

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Monday, Aug. 26, 2019

Students shouldn’t be the only ones with back-to-school lists. Their parents and teachers should also have lists of their own.

While students’ lists include such items as notebooks, pencil crayons and USB sticks, the lists of parents and teachers should include strategies for working together. There’s lots of evidence that students do better if their parents and teachers unite as allies to guide the students.

The relationship between parents and teachers is not always smooth, though. Some parents are too busy to be actively involved in their child’s education, or argue combatively for unmerited advantages for their child, or do their child’s schoolwork for them.

Some teachers don’t recognize the child’s unique challenges, or seldom communicate with parents, or are uninspiring and run classes most kids dread as boring.

Folklorama at 50: Way to go, Winnipeg

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Folklorama at 50: Way to go, Winnipeg

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019

The juxtaposition was jarring. Last Sunday in El Paso, Texas, a gunman who had posted an online manifesto decrying a “Hispanic invasion” killed 22 people at a Walmart, deliberately targeting Mexicans. Also last Sunday, Winnipeg kicked off Folklorama, the annual festival that showcases the culture of different ethnic groups, including Mexicans.

In a world in which ethnic hatred seems to be on the rise, this annual cultural celebration offers Winnipeg as a sanctuary where ethnic diversity is valued, not feared or scorned.

Fiftieth anniversaries are generally considered a landmark worthy of congratulations, and it should be so with Folklorama. Let’s raise a glass — ideally containing an imported beverage — to commend something Winnipeg does exceedingly well.

Since it began in 1970, Folklorama has grown into an event that is unmatched in the world. No other city attracts as many people to a festival of this type. It was named “the world’s largest and longest-running multicultural festival” by the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts.

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Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019

SASHA SEFTER / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files
Performers take the stage at Folklorama’s Africa pavilion at the Holy Cross Gym in St. Boniface on Aug. 4.

Mall blurred lines between profit and public space

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Mall blurred lines between profit and public space

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 27, 2019

If it be time for the obituary of Portage Place, let it be remembered this mall served well the community in which it was planted.

There will be people who say the mall failed its initial goal of rescuing the core of Winnipeg by attracting people from the suburbs to go downtown for high-end retail shopping. There’s truth in that evaluation.

Instead, the mall evolved into something better. The mall in the core became a hub for people in the core.

This sanctuary was much valued by Indigenous people who gather downtown, by new immigrants who rent cheap accommodation in the blocks north of the mall, by people working downtown, by bored teenagers who go downtown looking for adventure, by pushers of illegal drugs, by homeless people who need protection from harsh weather and by anyone who needed a public washroom in a downtown where this essential amenity is scarce.

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Saturday, Jul. 27, 2019

If it be time for the obituary of Portage Place, let it be remembered this mall served well the community in which it was planted.

There will be people who say the mall failed its initial goal of rescuing the core of Winnipeg by attracting people from the suburbs to go downtown for high-end retail shopping. There’s truth in that evaluation.

Instead, the mall evolved into something better. The mall in the core became a hub for people in the core.

This sanctuary was much valued by Indigenous people who gather downtown, by new immigrants who rent cheap accommodation in the blocks north of the mall, by people working downtown, by bored teenagers who go downtown looking for adventure, by pushers of illegal drugs, by homeless people who need protection from harsh weather and by anyone who needed a public washroom in a downtown where this essential amenity is scarce.

Word nerds react to copy editors’ peeves

Carl DeGurse  6 minute read Preview

Word nerds react to copy editors’ peeves

Carl DeGurse  6 minute read Saturday, Jul. 20, 2019

Free Press copy editors learned this week there are plenty of people who also care about the location of apostrophes. 

In case you missed it, this newspaper’s language police had compiled a list of language crimes that are commonly committed in Winnipeg’s public places. Their list was published in a column, “OMG! Winnipeg’s word nerds are upset” (July 13).

They cited punctuation problems such as rogue apostrophes that are improperly positioned, and exclamation marks misapplied to sentences that are not exclamations.  They listed words often used incorrectly, such as “literally” and “ignorant”. They grieved for words that have been misused to the point of being meaningless, such as “awesome” and “totally.” They urged people to think of the relationship between adjectives and nouns before they use such phrases as “free gift” and “fairly unique”.

As a professional group, copy editors rarely get positive feedback. These guardians of linguistic quality hear about it when an error slips through them into publication but generally, their passionate protection of our shared language is conducted in anonymity.

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Saturday, Jul. 20, 2019

Free Press copy editors learned this week there are plenty of people who also care about the location of apostrophes. 

In case you missed it, this newspaper’s language police had compiled a list of language crimes that are commonly committed in Winnipeg’s public places. Their list was published in a column, “OMG! Winnipeg’s word nerds are upset” (July 13).

They cited punctuation problems such as rogue apostrophes that are improperly positioned, and exclamation marks misapplied to sentences that are not exclamations.  They listed words often used incorrectly, such as “literally” and “ignorant”. They grieved for words that have been misused to the point of being meaningless, such as “awesome” and “totally.” They urged people to think of the relationship between adjectives and nouns before they use such phrases as “free gift” and “fairly unique”.

As a professional group, copy editors rarely get positive feedback. These guardians of linguistic quality hear about it when an error slips through them into publication but generally, their passionate protection of our shared language is conducted in anonymity.

OMG! Winnipeg’s word nerds are upset

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

OMG! Winnipeg’s word nerds are upset

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 13, 2019

If you don’t know a professional copy editor — and you likely don’t, because they tend to keep a low profile — you should be aware they have a large vocabulary and they know how to use it. Put it this way: if a copy editor invites you to play Scrabble for money, you should decline.

Although they are wordsmiths, it’s a mistake to think copy editors are nothing more than walking dictionaries who know how to use apps that correct spelling and grammar.

For instance, when a Free Press copy editor is assigned to prepare a news story or opinion column for publication, they typically begin with a deep dive into the content. Edit for fairness, legalities and plagiarism. Translate insider jargon into words we all understand. Add background for context. Sniff out factual errors with the zeal of a customs inspection dog that smells heroin hidden in the wheel well of a vehicle trying to enter the country.

Next, fix the writing. Rewrite clunky sentences. Weed out clichés. Delete weak adjectives and adverbs that are crutches used by unskilled writers. Crown the piece by writing a headline that is compelling but accurate.

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Saturday, Jul. 13, 2019

If you don’t know a professional copy editor — and you likely don’t, because they tend to keep a low profile — you should be aware they have a large vocabulary and they know how to use it. Put it this way: if a copy editor invites you to play Scrabble for money, you should decline.

Although they are wordsmiths, it’s a mistake to think copy editors are nothing more than walking dictionaries who know how to use apps that correct spelling and grammar.

For instance, when a Free Press copy editor is assigned to prepare a news story or opinion column for publication, they typically begin with a deep dive into the content. Edit for fairness, legalities and plagiarism. Translate insider jargon into words we all understand. Add background for context. Sniff out factual errors with the zeal of a customs inspection dog that smells heroin hidden in the wheel well of a vehicle trying to enter the country.

Next, fix the writing. Rewrite clunky sentences. Weed out clichés. Delete weak adjectives and adverbs that are crutches used by unskilled writers. Crown the piece by writing a headline that is compelling but accurate.

Pursuing the perfect lawn a perfectly wasteful plan

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Pursuing the perfect lawn a perfectly wasteful plan

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 6, 2019

In the division of domestic duties at our suburban Winnipeg home, my wife gardens and I tend the lawn. Her work provides delicious vegetables in a backyard plot and beautiful flowers in front yard beds. My work provides only guilt.

While I push a mower back and forth to give our lawns their twice-monthly crewcut, there’s plenty of time to reflect on the fact that the lush, green lawns that abound in Winnipeg are a shameful abuse of land.

We waste money, energy and time on growing a crop that — let’s face it, fellow homeowners — is useless. We grow a crop we don’t eat, weave, ferment, smoke or feed to animals. We harvest frequently and immediately put it at the curb for biweekly pickup, as if the City of Winnipeg’s waste collectors need more work to do.

We buy lawn mowers to cut it and buy special waste bags to dispose of it. We buy lawn seed, fertilizer and whatever pesticides are available since Manitoba made the most lethal lawn chemicals unavailable to homeowners.

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Saturday, Jul. 6, 2019

A perfectly manicured lawn is a crop without any practical purpose. (Lee Reich / Associated Press files)

Time to regulate eyes in the sky

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Time to regulate eyes in the sky

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 29, 2019

Picture this: you’re sunbathing with your family on a Manitoba beach and a small drone suddenly appears and hovers nearby. You wonder whether its digital camera is recording you and your children, and who is controlling it. Is there not a privacy law to prevent such creepy voyeurism?

You wouldn’t be alone in concerns about the legal limitations of this camera-equipped robotic technology.

Canada’s federal government introduced strict drone rules on June 1, but they deal mainly with safety, not privacy. For example, the new rules ban most drones from flying near airports and emergency scenes, and say operators must be licensed and drones must be registered.

Disappointingly, Transport Canada didn’t offer recommendations on the thorny issue of personal privacy. For example, what’s to stop drone operators from snooping on people in their backyards or through the balcony windows of their highrise apartments?

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Saturday, Jun. 29, 2019

Seth Wenig / The Canadian Press Files
Canada’s new regulations related to drone use focus on safety of operation, but do little to protect people’s privacy from unwelcome eyes in the sky.

Holy places offer sanctuary to all

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Holy places offer sanctuary to all

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 21, 2019

Those of us who value holy places — churches, synagogues, temples and mosques — know they provide sanctuary in many different ways.

One type of sanctuary that made headlines this week is the age-old practice in which a place of worship offers shelter to someone in trouble with legal or military authorities. This is rarely used in Manitoba these days, but a 60-member Mennonite congregation, Crestview Fellowship Church in Winnipeg, is currently housing in its basement a woman and her two sons, aged 12 and six. The church took them in on April 11, two hours before the family was to be deported back to their Sierra Leone home, which they say would have put the family in danger.

The definition of sanctuary can arguably be stretched to include a place where many Manitobans find refuge for an hour or two a week. They’re not on the lam from the law. The sanctuary they seek is a refreshing break from a secular world that judges people on money, status and physical appearance. They want a fertile space to undergo the difficult inner work of dismantling their self-centredness and attempting universal compassion.

At their best, these houses of transformation offer a safe haven of acceptance. They are communities where people remember your name, where people invite you out for coffee, where people deliver a casserole when you’re sick, where people join you in commemorating the important milestones of your family, including weddings, births and deaths.

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Friday, Jun. 21, 2019

Random homicides put Winnipeg on edge

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Random homicides put Winnipeg on edge

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 15, 2019

The effect of Winnipeg’s rash of random homicides extends beyond the people who had the grave misfortune to be in the path of killers. When victims are chosen by chance, when it could happen to any of us, the community feels anxious.

After a homicide, the public wants to know the circumstances leading to the death. They don’t necessarily want the bloody details, but they want to know why it happened so they can mentally class the tragedy into one of two categories: did the victim put himself in a dangerous situation? Or was it random?

The category of dangerous situations can include living with a domestic partner who is violent, or associating with people involved in such illicit activities as street gangs, prostitution or the drug trade.

The lives of people who are killed in such situations are not less valuable, but the context leading to their deaths is publicly parsed because people want to believe they and their loved ones will be safe if they avoid such dangerous circumstances.

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Saturday, Jun. 15, 2019

Michael Silicz, brother of slain lawyer Justin Silicz, reads a statement at a police press conference with with parents Walter and Nicole Silicz on June 7. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files)

Cheers to Manitoba liquor laws

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Cheers to Manitoba liquor laws

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 8, 2019

As much as some Manitobans might like the opportunity to purchase alcoholic libations at their corner store at 8 a.m., it would be a mistake for this province to liberalize retail liquor sales as Ontario is planning to do.

The privatization push in Ontario comes from the Progressive Conservative government led by Premier Doug Ford, whose successful campaign to become premier included a “buck a beer” pledge. His government recently confirmed it’s proceeding with its promise to expand beer and wine sales into corner stores, big-box stores and other grocery outlets.

Manitobans of a right-of-centre inclination — and those who get thirsty for liquor after government outlets are closed for the evening — might hope this province follows Ontario and other provinces that have moved away from government monopolies on retail liquor sales. Quebec has long let convenience stores and grocery stores sell wine and beer. Alberta is the most extreme of Canadian provinces, having gone to full privatization of retail alcohol sales 25 years ago.

There will always be people ideologically inclined toward more privatization, and others who want less. In this instance, there are solid reasons why the Manitoba mix of government-run Liquor Marts and private wine and beer stores is the best balance of social responsibility and service to customers. In other words: keep the status quo.

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Saturday, Jun. 8, 2019

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Manitobans are well-served by the current retail model that includes government-controlled Liquor Marts and private beer and wine outlets.

Canada has its own abortion concerns

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Canada has its own abortion concerns

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Jun. 3, 2019

At a recent dinner party, a guest (not me) introduced a passionate denouncement of the harsh abortion laws arising in several U.S. states, calling it a reprehensible reversal of women’s reproductive rights.

When she stopped to take a breath, another guest (me) suggested that, as Canadians, our concern would more effectively be directed at Canada’s law on abortion. We don’t have such a law. Abortions in Canada are legal until the moment of birth.

This assertion seemed to surprise another guest, who decided to fact-check by getting out his phone to Google, a gaffe that made our hostess frown with dismay and say, “Perhaps we can talk about something else.” In retrospect, the abortion discussion accomplished nothing more than making it likely the hostess would invite better-behaved guests in the future.

Canada should not boast of the company it keeps by legally allowing abortions through all three trimesters. The only other two countries that legally allow abortions until birth — North Korea and mainland China — are not noted for their high regard for the sanctity of life.

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Monday, Jun. 3, 2019

At a recent dinner party, a guest (not me) introduced a passionate denouncement of the harsh abortion laws arising in several U.S. states, calling it a reprehensible reversal of women’s reproductive rights.

When she stopped to take a breath, another guest (me) suggested that, as Canadians, our concern would more effectively be directed at Canada’s law on abortion. We don’t have such a law. Abortions in Canada are legal until the moment of birth.

This assertion seemed to surprise another guest, who decided to fact-check by getting out his phone to Google, a gaffe that made our hostess frown with dismay and say, “Perhaps we can talk about something else.” In retrospect, the abortion discussion accomplished nothing more than making it likely the hostess would invite better-behaved guests in the future.

Canada should not boast of the company it keeps by legally allowing abortions through all three trimesters. The only other two countries that legally allow abortions until birth — North Korea and mainland China — are not noted for their high regard for the sanctity of life.

Winnipeg’s pet bylaw all bark, no bite

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Winnipeg’s pet bylaw all bark, no bite

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, May. 13, 2019

The problem with Winnipeg’s pet bylaw is that animals can’t read. They can’t be expected to know when their natural behaviour infuriates people with whom they co-exist in Winnipeg’s neighbourhoods.

Dogs bark enthusiastically when let outdoors, disturbing people who opened their windows to enjoy the summer air. Cats roam and use gardens as litterboxes. Dogs leave cigar-sized gifts on their neighbourhood strolls in grass beside sidewalks.

The animals are blamed, even though they’re only acting as animals act. Such blame is misdirected. It’s not the animals’ fault they got stuck with irresponsible owners.

In Winnipeg, the duties of pet owners are outlined in a city bylaw called Responsible Pet Ownership. The bylaw worked well recently in a high-profile hearing involving a West St. Paul woman who wanted to move back to Winnipeg with her pets. Her dogs — a bulldog and a bulldog/boxer cross — have a history of running at large, chasing people and biting other dogs, according to complaints from 11 different people dating back to 2014. The bylaw’s dangerous-dog designation prevented the owner from moving her dogs back to the city.

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Monday, May. 13, 2019

C.M. GUERRERO / Miami HeraldFiles
A dog walker deposits his pup's poop in a trash can, a bylaw-mandated courtesy that too many pet owners choose to ignore.

Words of advice for the class of 2019

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Words of advice for the class of 2019

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Monday, May. 6, 2019

Congratulations to the 20,000 or so university and college students who are graduating in Manitoba this spring. Your ranks include our son, James DeGurse, who is graduating from Canadian Mennonite University.

It’s heartening for us spectators to attend convocations and see bright-eyed faces smiling beneath mortarboard caps and tassels. The ceremonies abound with optimism and point to a future that will see you rise to prominent positions. In coming decades, it will be your turn to be the big shots.

You leave your formal education with hopeful aspirations and the most up-to-date knowledge in your disciplines. You have likely been inundated with advice, but I will offer my two cents’ worth (pardon the cliché, which refers to a time, back in the day, when we had brown coins that were each worth one-fifth of a nickel).

As you launch from academia, please colour your priorities with compassion. That’s my advice in one word. Compassion.

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Monday, May. 6, 2019

The Brandon Sun Files
Caps and gowns abound during the season of convocations for Manitoba students including Brandon University Faculty of Education graduate Michelle Olinyk, who adjusts her decorated mortarboard.

Billboard challenges sex-work norms

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Billboard challenges sex-work norms

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 26, 2019

Sensational Serena has the potential to make many Winnipeggers uncomfortable.

Billboard space she purchased at the intersection of Portage Avenue and Aubrey Street advertises her services as “Winnipeg’s professional companion” and offers her phone number. It’s thought to be the first time an escort or sex worker in this city has advertised so prominently.

The billboard was uncomfortable for a co-worker who spotted it while driving past with his family. He and his wife raised their eyebrows at each other and were grateful the kids in the back seat apparently didn’t see the billboard and ask what is so sensational about Serena.

In a larger context, the brassy advertisement also has the potential to raise uncomfortable questions about what currently passes for a correct view of sex workers.

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Friday, Apr. 26, 2019

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
A billboard advertising “Winnipeg’s Professional Companion” has raised eyebrows among motorists on Portage Avenue.

New norms make touching a touchy subject

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

New norms make touching a touchy subject

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2019

Joe Biden says he now gets it. He understands the etiquette around physical contact between men and women is changing, partly due to #MeToo enlightenment.

“Social normals have begun to change. They’ve shifted, and the boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset, and I get it, I get it,” the former U.S. vice-president said after he was confronted with public allegations from women who resented his hugs, shoulder rubs, nose-to-nose contact and head kisses.

What many of us guys don’t get, however, is a clear understanding of the new etiquette that is replacing the old. We want to be situationally appropriate, but what social touching is appropriate these days?

Many high-profile cases such as Biden’s have made it clear it doesn’t matter if our intention behind our touch was non-sexual. What matters is how the recipient received the touch. And that apparently depends on a complex mix of place, relationship and the personalities of the people involved.

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Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2019

Frank Franklin II / The Associated Press Files
Former U.S. vice-president and possible Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has had to reassess his hands-on style of interpersonal communication.

Pedestrians needn’t die in city traffic

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Pedestrians needn’t die in city traffic

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 12, 2019

On April 1, a 57-year-old woman died after she was hit by a half-ton truck in the parking lot of Garden City Shopping Centre.

On March 26, a 41-year-old man died after he was hit by a vehicle on March 20 while he was crossing Osborne Street at Morley Avenue.

On March 19, a four-year-old girl died a day after being hit by a vehicle while using the crosswalk with her mother at Isabel Street and Alexander Avenue.

Those are examples of the many recent traffic deaths that cause grim concern when newsroom editors gather to discuss Winnipeg issues.

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Friday, Apr. 12, 2019

Pedestrian scramble crossings, installed by the City of Edmonton as a pilot project, tested traffic control designs to reduce or eliminate pedestrian and vehicle collisions. (City of Edmonton)

The value of shared public celebrations

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

The value of shared public celebrations

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Apr. 8, 2019

As journalism students planning to host a party in our apartment, our pre-emptive tactic was to door-knock neighbours in nearby suites and invite them to join us as guests. The unspoken assumption was they wouldn’t want to attend but, because they had been invited, they were less likely to complain if our party was loud and long.

It’s like that with two upcoming public celebrations. Organizers of separate gatherings — Manitoba’s 150th anniversary celebration and Whiteout street parties — held recent news conferences to outline plans.

All Manitobans are welcome at both bashes. But despite the wide-open invitation, some people will still complain.

For people looking to save the date, the 150th celebrations are still far off. Manitoba became a province on May 12, 1870, so the whoop-it-up sesquicentennial isn’t until 2020.

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Monday, Apr. 8, 2019

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Whiteout street parties brought downtown Winnipeg alive during last spring’s exciting playoff run.

Calgarians living near rehab facility say residents will have nothing to fear when Bruce Oake Recovery Centre opens

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Calgarians living near rehab facility say residents will have nothing to fear when Bruce Oake Recovery Centre opens

Carl DeGurse  7 minute read Friday, Mar. 29, 2019

Not in their backyard. Build it somewhere else.

Opponents of a proposed addictions treatment centre in a west Winnipeg neighbourhood wasted little time in organizing efforts to kill it. Dozens wore white in protest and carried placards to public information sessions punctuated by raw emotion and flashes of anger.

Letters of objection were sent to city hall, where attempts to block the facility with zoning appeals were exhausted.

When the ground is broken on the site of the permanently closed Vimy Arena this summer to signal the beginning of construction, the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre will become a reality for Sturgeon Creek residents confronted with the spectre of addicts moving into their quiet community.

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Friday, Mar. 29, 2019

Photos by Todd Korol / The Winnipeg Free Press
Just in day three, client Scott McGillawee pauses while reading the AA 12-step program during a grad ceremony.>

A tale of two security checks

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A tale of two security checks

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 29, 2019

Last Saturday afternoon, I went to buy a bottle of wine and came face to face with an armed police officer. The Liquor Mart’s new security measure was welcome.

On the next day, I visited the Millennium Library and stood in line with other disgruntled patrons so guards could search us for weapons. The library’s new security measure was offensive.

The contrast between the two experiences offered vivid examples of how scrutiny of our behaviour, our personal possessions and our bodies can be valid or can be unmerited. Much depends on context.

On March 20, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries announced sweeping security changes for its Winnipeg liquor stores. Most customers had only one question: what took them so long?

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Friday, Mar. 29, 2019

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
New security measures came into effect at the downtown Millennium Library on Feb. 25. Library users are not amused.

Political bickering doesn’t fix roads

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Political bickering doesn’t fix roads

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 22, 2019

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but none of the current provincial and municipal politicians campaigned on a promise to make roads worse. Not one said: “Vote for me and I’ll eliminate the budget for residential road repair. That will ensure roads in dire need of repair will crumble even more. Can I count on your support?”

They didn’t warn us they would do it. Yet, here we are.

After city council voted on Wednesday for a budget that halts all significant local street work in the year ahead, they should know many people will be irate.

When drivers are jolted by cracked and crumbling pavement, it’s an issue that impacts them — literally. And every thud that rattles their vehicle’s suspension will remind them of the sorry lack of political leadership on this issue.

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Friday, Mar. 22, 2019

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
The budget for residential road repairs was eliminated Wednesday after disagreements between provincial and city officials about who should pay.

Budget cuts will lead to tree loss

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Budget cuts will lead to tree loss

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Monday, Mar. 18, 2019

Flying into Winnipeg, it’s nice to see the canopy of trees above some parts of the city. The rich foliage in summertime makes Winnipeg look lush, like an oasis in the midst of sectioned farmland.

Perhaps we should take a picture from the jet window the next time we’re over the city. The picture will help us remember what the canopy used to look like.

The city budget that council will vote on Wednesday proposes to slash the funding of workers who care for the trees — a 36 per cent decrease in reforestation and urban forest enhancement. It comes at a time when foresters are in a desperate fight to protect Winnipeg’s urban forest from the death of hundreds of thousands of trees.

The effort to save this city’s 230,000 American elms, the largest population of such trees in North America, depends on city staff culling the 7,000 or so trees a year that have Dutch elm disease. Those are the ones marked for removal by fluorescent orange splotches. Even with its previous budget, the city’s forestry department couldn’t remove the infected elms soon enough. When diseased trees are not removed quickly, the disease spreads.

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Monday, Mar. 18, 2019

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg’s urban forest canopy could be largely stripped bare as the most common trees, ash and American elm, are under attack by deadly pest infestations.

Is it time to let kids play rough at recess?

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Is it time to let kids play rough at recess?

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 9, 2019

Adults who supervise Manitoba schoolyards are quick to lay down the law: roughhousing is bad behaviour that must stop. Students who shove, tackle and wrestle will be disciplined for unruliness.

Two Quebec schools do it differently. They’re experimenting with schoolyard pilot projects in which consenting students can jostle, push and pile atop each other.

Picture this: the recess bell rings and children in snowsuits sprint to a designated rough-play zone, somersaulting into a snowbank with whoops of excitement. They grab and grapple other students, roaring and laughing, rolling together in a clump, tumbling together like rambunctious bear cubs.

And when the recess bell rings again? They return to the classroom less fidgety, better able to concentrate on academics.

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Saturday, Mar. 9, 2019

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Free-range parenting advocate Katharina Nuss supports the idea of letting kids engage in respectful rough play.

Colder welcome as library boosts security tactics

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Colder welcome as library boosts security tactics

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Feb. 25, 2019

A traditional attitude of welcome is withdrawn today as Winnipeg’s main library greets all patrons with suspicion.

A new policy mandates that no one older than 13 years can enter without submitting to bag checks and sweeps by a hand-held metal detector. Say goodbye to the public-library philosophy of open access and a convivial approach that made the main branch one of the best things about downtown Winnipeg.

The intrusive searches will mean an elderly lady might have to explain within earshot of strangers why her hip is setting off the metal detector. A new immigrant might be intimidated and reminded of the random searches he feared in the police state he fled. A teenage girl might blush with embarrassment as a security guard inspects personal items in her purse.

It’s a disrespectful way to treat guests.

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Monday, Feb. 25, 2019

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
A sign at the Millennium Library explains new security measures, including bag checks and metal-detector sweeps, which took effect Monday.

RCMP probing Nelson House homicide

By Carl DeGurse 1 minute read Preview

RCMP probing Nelson House homicide

By Carl DeGurse 1 minute read Friday, Feb. 22, 2019

RCMP say they are investigating a homicide in Nelson House.

Police are releasing few details, saying only that they were called to a home in the community 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg at approximately 11:45 p.m. Wednesday and located a male who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not identify the deceased or his age.

The RCMP is investigating with assistance from the major crime unit as well as the forensic identification unit.

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Friday, Feb. 22, 2019

RCMP say they are investigating a homicide in Nelson House.

Police are releasing few details, saying only that they were called to a home in the community 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg at approximately 11:45 p.m. Wednesday and located a male who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not identify the deceased or his age.

The RCMP is investigating with assistance from the major crime unit as well as the forensic identification unit.

In Winnipeg, navigating winter requires patience

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

In Winnipeg, navigating winter requires patience

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019

When you’re stuck on Kenaston Boulevard in a line of bumper-to-bumper traffic that’s clogged by a vehicle stalled several blocks ahead, there’s lots of time to ponder the virtue of patience.

Drivers who are impatient might fume with frustration about being trapped in the bottleneck, perhaps uttering foul words about Winnipeg drivers who don’t heed the etiquette of zipper-merging.

Meanwhile, people who are patient might relieve their stress with mindful breathing, and say to themselves: “How fortunate, this unexpected interlude lets me enjoy more music.”

The practice of patience is crucial to cope with Manitoba winters — almost as important as block heaters and good boots.

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Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019

Trevor Hagan / The Canadian Press Files
Drivers, technology users and Jets forward Patrik Laine are all examples of Winnipeggers who could benefit from a bit of patience this winter.

A more budget-friendly eye in the sky?

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

A more budget-friendly eye in the sky?

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019

The sound and sight of a police helicopter hovering overhead has become common since Air-1 first lifted off in 2010. But Winnipeg may soon decide it can’t afford the helicopter program.

An independent consultancy firm, MNP, was hired to review whether Air-1 is worth the money, and is expected to report by spring.

It’s possible the report will prompt a decision that the cost of the copter — $2,600 for every hour it operated in 2016 — is not worth the value to taxpayers.

The cost has become a big concern because funding to the Winnipeg Police Service changed in 2017 and Air-1’s expenses can no longer be billed separately to the province.

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Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019

SUPPLIED
Gyrocopters have some disadvantages, but they are cheaper and easier to maintain than helicopters.

Manitoba’s spirit shines in winter

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Manitoba’s spirit shines in winter

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Feb. 1, 2019

There’s something about surviving unbroken weeks of frigid weather that brings out the best in Manitobans.

When the temperature is this cold, it transforms the way people interact. We’re nicer to each other, we’re quicker to help people who need it, we drive more cautiously and, most wonderfully, we’re less likely to judge people on their physical appearance.

Take snow pants, for example. People who normally feel obliged to devote considerable attention to their wardrobe can lower their high standards when it’s so cold. That $120 pair of designer jeans that flatters one’s figure and is the precise degree of skinny that is currently fashionable? Leave those jeans in the closet. It’s sensible to wear snow pants and clunky boots to work, to school and to social gatherings. We won’t judge.

The welcome relaxation of fashion requirements also applies to grooming. In mid-winter Manitoba, it’s useless to style your tresses with expensive product and artful blow-drying because it’s all going under a hat anyway. When you arrive at an indoor location and remove your hat, your hair will be limp and full of static electricity. That’s OK. Everyone’s hair is a mess, so no one will think less of you.

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Friday, Feb. 1, 2019

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
It takes more than a few days of bitter cold to keep young Winnipeggers from playing outside in the snow.

Dumpster divers seek food justice

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Dumpster divers seek food justice

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Jan. 25, 2019

Before entering a Dumpster to retrieve food behind a grocery store or restaurant, don’t forget to tap the metal side with your flashlight and listen for the scurrying of rodents, such as squirrels, that could be trapped inside. It’s dangerous to get into a Dumpster with an animal that feels threatened.

But your taps on the Dumpster shouldn’t be so loud that they attract the attention of other people because, well, Dumpster diving is illegal in Winnipeg and someone might call the cops.

That advice was offered by experienced Dumpster divers with whom I had several conversations. I thought of these food foragers recently with the release of a survey that concludes much more food is wasted in Canada than previously thought.

Lamentably, 58 per cent of all food in Canada is not eaten. About 86 per cent of the wasted food comes directly from the food industry, not private households, according to the survey by Value Chain Management International, which was released Jan. 17.

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Friday, Jan. 25, 2019

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Quincy Brandt, 29, left, and Stephen Kurz, 19, find a bouquet of flowers while Garrett Everett, 26, sifts through the bottom of a Winnipeg bin.

Bring city history out of exile

Carl DeGurse 3 minute read Preview

Bring city history out of exile

Carl DeGurse 3 minute read Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019

Everyone who has a loved one with progressive dementia gains a renewed appreciation of the importance of memory.

Memories are a record of who we are, where we have been and what we have accomplished. When those memories slip away, so does much of our identity.

It's like that with a city, too. Winnipeg's identity is partly shaped by its collective memory, which relies substantially on the city archives that in recent years have suffered civic neglect. Encouragingly, a financial offer from the Winnipeg Foundation last Tuesday could change that.

Winnipeg has a first-rate archive collection, but it's been shunted into shamefully inadequate quarters.

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Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
The city archives building, built as a Carnegie library, has not been able to house archival materials for six years.

Headlines we’d like to see in 2019

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Headlines we’d like to see in 2019

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019

Perhaps it’s unrealistic to expect 2019 will bring monumental good news such as a cure for cancer, the stabilization of the climate or the end of a 29-year Grey Cup drought for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Instead, we can appreciate small changes that would make Manitoba a better place. For example, here are fictional news stories that we hope the Free Press can write for real this year:

PRISONERS SHOVEL SNOW FOR SENIORS

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Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019

Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press Files
A program to provide snow-shovelling for seniors and residents with mobility issues would be a good-news story.

How Winnipeg could welcome caravan migrants

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

How Winnipeg could welcome caravan migrants

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018

It’s heartbreaking to see the United States use tear gas and military troops to confront a migrant caravan at its border with Mexico.

In Winnipeg, we don’t use tear gas on such people. We welcome them.

Lloyd Axworthy knows Winnipeg treats refugees humanely, which is why he recently said he wants his hometown to take in some caravan migrants who are victims of gang and domestic violence.

He said Winnipeg could be an example to the world, helping reverse a global tide of anti-refugee sentiment.

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Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018

Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press files
Lloyd Axworthy wants Winnipeg to show leadership on acceptance of border-caravan refugees, but such an effort would require various levels of organization and support.

No need to fear the fa-la-la season

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

No need to fear the fa-la-la season

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018

It’s the “hap-happiest time of the year” for people who enjoy singing in public. But for many others, the social pressure to sing is a Christmas nightmare.

These editorial pages usually air opinions about important political and social issues but, given the festive season, perhaps it’s permissible to use this space to sympathize with a more personal affliction: the phobia of singing in public.

You know who you are.

At gatherings of family and friends, people make merry by distributing songsheets and joining in their favourite carols. But you take literally the title of Silent Night.

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Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018

New Line Productions
Buddy the Elf (right) could teach us a thing or two about festive-season singing.

Winnipeg will be a good test for driverless cars

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Winnipeg will be a good test for driverless cars

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018

Thumbs up to whichever brainiac inside the provincial government decided Manitoba should allow testing of driverless vehicles.

The Progressive Conservative government announced in its Throne Speech on Nov. 20 that it's working on legislation to let fully automated vehicles be road-tested in Manitoba.

These vehicles are already driving in plenty of places where the pavement is smooth and the weather is fine, but test results from balmy places like California are as unwelcome here as their romaine lettuce.

Robot vehicles might seem like a futuristic fantasy, but optimistic predictions within the industry are that private driverless cars will be available for sale to the public in two to five years. On Wednesday, a company called Waymo launched a commercial robot ride-hailing service in Arizona, where the car drives itself while a Waymo engineer sits behind the wheel in case anything goes wrong.

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Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018

Ross D. Franklin / The Associated Press Files
An employee of Fry’s supermarket in Scottsdale, Ariz., puts groceries into a driverless car during a pilot program for deliveries.

Roadside justice robs Manitobans of rights

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Roadside justice robs Manitobans of rights

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018

Perhaps the highway signs on the province’s borders should be changed to read: “Welcome to Manitoba, the home of roadside justice.”

First, the provincial government changed the distracted-driving law. Beginning Nov. 1, police officers got the power to immediately punish suspected distracted drivers with measures such as three-day suspensions of their licences and $672 fines.

And on Thursday, the government tabled an amendment that again lets police sidestep the law courts and, on the spot, punish suspected impaired drivers. The officers will be able to impound vehicles, impose a mandatory ignition interlock of one year and issue fines for impairment reading as low as 0.05.

The important adjective in both cases is “suspected.” The drivers are only “suspected” offenders. But the Progressive Conservative government has altered the rules so drivers can now be punished upon accusation, without a chance to defend themselves.

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Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018

RCMP officers check drivers for alcohol impairment on Highway 1 West, near the Headingley weigh scales. (Free Press file photo)

Sure, it’s cold, but it’s an affordable cold

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Sure, it’s cold, but it’s an affordable cold

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Nov. 26, 2018

Winnipeggers with friends and relatives in Vancouver often get gentle ribbing about weather and our Prairie geography. These jokers like to message us in mid-winter and rub it in: “Here in beautiful B.C., I was outdoors in my shirt sleeves today, raking the leaves and admiring the view of the mountains. How are things in Winnipeg?”

The same type of teasing also comes from the east, from friends and relatives in Toronto. They don’t boast about weather or their scenic view, but about their city’s A-list array of cultural and sport attractions: “Saw Adele in concert last night, and apparently Bruce Springsteen is coming to Toronto. And I really like going to Blue Jays and Raptors games. Remind me, what’s the name of Winnipeg’s pro basketball team?”

Prairie people are known for their humility, so we chuckle good-naturedly at these friendly slights. But even patient people can only be pushed so far. If our acquaintances in Vancouver and Toronto persist in mocking Winnipeg, we lob a howitzer shell of a question: “What’s the cost of a house in your city?”

That comeback usually ends the congenial one-upmanship. We’re well aware people with middle-class salaries in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto have two choices when it comes to housing: 1) buy, and be burdened by huge payments on a mortgage so big it might never be paid off; 2) rent, and waive the financial equity that comes with ownership.

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Monday, Nov. 26, 2018

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg's population rose from 663,617 in 2011 to 727,500 in 2016.

Bombers fans dream of Grey Cup glory

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Bombers fans dream of Grey Cup glory

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018

Unlike my Free Press colleagues who are sports writers, I cheer for the Bombers. Unabashedly.

People who have never been inside a press box at a professional sporting event might be surprised to learn cheering is forbidden. They’re working journalists, not fans, and they view the game objectively. To cheer in a press box is as awkward as belching at a formal dinner.

I prefer to attend Bomber games on my own time, my own dime. Paying for my ticket means I am free to holler, high-five, groan and shout helpful suggestions at head coach Mike O’Shea.

We fans were grimly quiet earlier this season when we lost four in a row, thanks largely to quarterback Matt Nichols’ disturbing propensity to throw the ball to the opposing teams. The worst losses were back-to-back humiliations by our arch-rival Saskatchewan Roughriders.

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Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018

Boisterous in blue, Bombers fans continue to support the team even though it hasn't won the Grey Cup for 27 years. (Free Press files)

Stigma about mental illness conceals pain and shame

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Stigma about mental illness conceals pain and shame

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018

When Anita Cenerini places a wreath on Remembrance Day, she will do right by her son. She will also do right by everyone who suffers from the stigma around mental illness.

It’s a big deal that the Winnipegger was chosen as this year’s Silver Cross Mother because it’s the first time the honour has gone to a mother of a soldier who died by suicide.

Her son, Pte. Thomas Welch, was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 and took his own life on May 6, 2004, after he returned to Canada and suffered post-traumatic stress. He was 22.

The military initially didn’t award the soldier the honours usually given to war dead, such as the Memorial Cross and a mention in the official Book of Remembrance, but his mother worked tirelessly to have her son’s sacrifice recognized.

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Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018

Anita Cenerini, who fought for her son to receive full military honours after his suicide, is the 2018 National Silver Cross Mother. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files)

Secret data on Manitoba schools should be divulged

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Secret data on Manitoba schools should be divulged

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018

If you really want to know what’s happening inside a school, join the intelligence network of parents who gather daily at the schoolyard.

They huddle and chat outside of the fence after drop-off and before pickup, assessing the school with a frankness that might surprise the principal if she eavesdropped.

Which teachers work extra hard to connect with kids? The parents confide this information to each other.

Which teachers are lazy and only keep their jobs because they’re protected by the union? The parents name names.

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Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018

“You don’t drive accountability without seeing where things area going well, where they’re not going well,” Goertzen said. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

Fight, flee, or perhaps there’s a third option

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Fight, flee, or perhaps there’s a third option

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Oct. 26, 2018

It’s a gut-check moment when we’re walking on a city street and see someone beating another person. Do we get involved or walk on by?

The traditional choices are usually described as fight or flee. The “fight” option has us physically intervene, risking injury to ourselves and possible legal action if we hurt someone. The “flee” option has us ignore the violence and mind our business, a decision that would never make us a hero but would keep us personally safe.

Winnipeg news stories have chronicled two recent incidents that illustrate these two common reactions.

The fight option was chosen on Oct. 13 by Doug Thomas, 48. He was at an A&W restaurant when he saw two men harassing a man in a bus shelter on Portage Avenue, across from the Polo Park mall. He raced over to intervene physically and was badly beaten by two attackers, who kicked him repeatedly and ripped open his eyelid with fingernails.

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Friday, Oct. 26, 2018

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Doug Thomas was injured after he intervened when two people attacked a homeless person at a bus stop.

Distracted-driving crackdown is good, but what about aggressive drivers?

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Distracted-driving crackdown is good, but what about aggressive drivers?

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018

You know who you are. At 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, you were driving the black Chevrolet Tahoe that tailgated my grey Nissan Altima heading north on Main Street past Kildonan Park.

I was driving the speed limit of 60 km/h, but you followed alarmingly close, about an arm’s length from my rear bumper.

Suddenly, without signalling, you jerked your vehicle into the left lane and floored it, roaring past my vehicle and, again without signalling, cut back in front of my vehicle, dangerously close.

I pulled up behind you at the traffic light at the intersection of Main and Chief Peguis Trail. As we waited for the red to change, I had plenty of time to look at the back of your head and wonder what type of person drives so aggressively.

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Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018

Two studies analyzed Edmonton speed camera data and found more people drove unlawfully fast after a the release of a movie in the Fast and Furious franchise, which glamorizes high-speed driving stunts.

Eccentricities part of the democratic process

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Eccentricities part of the democratic process

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018

What can we glean from an election process that invites a self-described homeless person to run for mayor of Winnipeg?

The correct answer is that it’s heartening to see wide-open inclusion, a pillar of democracy — even when it means letting eccentric characters put their names on the ballot.

A less correct, but truthful, answer is that such an open system is also frustrating. For example, candidate forums bog down when audiences must listen to no-hope candidates whose pronouncements only provide evidence they didn’t study up on civic issues and budgetary basics that a mayor must know.

Yet it’s vital that the democratic process be open to everyone, not just well-connected and smooth-talking professionals in nice suits. Anyone who can gather signatures of 250 eligible voters on their nomination papers can declare their candidacy for mayor of Winnipeg, and that’s as it should be.

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Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
All eight of Winnipeg's mayoral candidates have participated in forums such as this Oct. 4 event hosted by WinnipegREALTORS and the Winnipeg Free Press.

Snow news is good news

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Snow news is good news

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Sep. 28, 2018

I offer fair warning to any school trustee candidates who knock at my door seeking support for the Oct. 24 election. I will ask them this question: should snow days be abolished in Manitoba?

It’s a loaded question because my feelings about this issue are so strong that, if the candidate disagrees, I will refuse to vote for them and, ever so politely, request they leave my porch immediately.

Snow days occur when Manitoba school divisions cancel school because this province’s notorious winter weather makes roads too treacherous to travel. This decision is typically greeted with jubilation by students who are thrilled to get an unexpected day of freedom.

But some school divisions in the U.S. have decided it’s in the best interests of the children’s education to abolish snow days.

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Friday, Sep. 28, 2018

Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press Files
Instead of snow days, some schools in the United States are trying e-learning solutions to ensure students continue their studies uninterrupted.

Free bus rides laudable, free liquor regrettable

Carl DeGurse  5 minute read Preview

Free bus rides laudable, free liquor regrettable

Carl DeGurse  5 minute read Friday, Sep. 21, 2018

Copywriters and headline writers try to use words that grab attention. One word that has a magnetic pull is “free.” When inserted in a heading, subject line or opening sentence, the word “free” ensures many readers will be drawn in, feeling compelled to learn what they can get without paying.

In the past week, Winnipeggers have been surprised to learn of two separate areas in which some people get free goods and services that were previously believed to be provided only in exchange for money.

Thieves are walking out of Liquor Marts with free liquor because they know staff and security guards have been forbidden to intervene physically. And people are riding city buses for free because Winnipeg Transit drivers have been told to let them.

The two instances have parallels, although only to a point. Both Manitoba’s liquor stores and the city bus services are staffed by government employees, which creates a different dynamic than in the private business model. It means employees don’t have a personal financial interest in stopping people who steal liquor or avoid bus fares; the staff still get their full paycheques regardless.

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Friday, Sep. 21, 2018

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

In a wired world, handwriting grabs our attention

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

In a wired world, handwriting grabs our attention

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Sep. 15, 2018

In the daily barrage of emails and texts, a handwritten letter stands out like a gem amid gravel.

It’s rare these days to receive a note or letter with our name penned on the outside of the envelope, southwest of the stamp. It’s instantly compelling, because handwriting signifies the writer cares enough to invest time in a method of communication that is intimately personal.

Yes, it’s easier and faster to communicate digitally. But to connect in a way that is distinctive and memorable, resurrect the tradition of pen on paper.

This small pleasure was delivered to several of us at the Free Press recently. A newsroom intern named Maggie Macintosh gave handwritten thank-you notes to editors who worked closely with her before she returned to her final year of journalism studies in Toronto.

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Saturday, Sep. 15, 2018

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS (FILE)
Louis Riel's handwriting reveals a distinctive, flamboyant style.

Brown lawns are the least of our worries

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Brown lawns are the least of our worries

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018

There is a cringe-worthy quip often made when Manitobans are outdoors in winter and shivering in -20 C: “Maybe global warming is not such a bad thing,” someone inevitably mutters from the deep recess of their parka hood.

As Manitoba is learning this summer, however, hotter temperatures can indeed be a bad thing.

Lawns are yellowing and house foundations are cracking as parched soil shrinks. Farmers and livestock producers are worried about lower yields, and four Manitoba communities have been evacuated as 427 forest fires have ignited Manitoba’s tinder-dry forests so far this year. Call it a tiny sample of the global warming to come.

This is not to say climate change is solely responsible for all the weather-related misfortune Manitoba has experienced in the past few months. This province had poor crop years, forest fires and sweltering days long before carbon pollution started to poison the planet.

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Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018

ANDREW RYAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Manitoba’s hot, dry summer has been bad for lawn-care companies, but the greater impacts of climate change are just beginning to be felt.

Time to end massage therapy’s Wild West approach

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Time to end massage therapy’s Wild West approach

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Aug. 17, 2018

To be treated by a massage therapist is to make ourselves vulnerable.

The reason we seek such therapy is usually that we’re in physical discomfort, even pain. And we often don’t know the therapist whom we permit to touch and rub our bodies. In Manitoba, we don’t even necessarily know whether the person is actually a qualified massage therapist. They could be a quack.

“It’s the Wild West out there, anyone in Manitoba can call themselves a massage therapist,” said Tricia Weidenbacher, managing director of the Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba, the largest of five massage associations in the province.

The issue of regulation — or the lack thereof — rose to prominence in a Winnipeg courtroom this week with the conviction of a Manitoba man in a case that bears disturbing parallels to the crimes of Dr. Larry Nassar, who was the U.S. national gymnastics team doctor when he abused girls and women under the guise of invasive medical exams, including ungloved digital penetration.

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Friday, Aug. 17, 2018

Ian Lindsay / Vancouver Sun Files
The lack of regulation in Manitoba's massage-therapy industry means clients can't be sure of therapists' qualifications.

Jailing of Winnipeg Mennonite a mixed blessing

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Jailing of Winnipeg Mennonite a mixed blessing

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Aug. 10, 2018

Steve Heinrichs won’t be available for meetings in his Winnipeg office for the next few days. He’s in jail.

The official for Mennonite Church Canada was sentenced Wednesday to seven days for protesting against the Trans Mountain pipeline. He’s behind bars in Coquitlam, B.C.

His jailing is the latest development in a saga that has been the subject of fierce debate in the Mennonite community in Manitoba and across Canada.

Actually, in re-reading the sentence above, it's inaccurate to call it a “fierce debate." Mennonites strive to be peaceful and loving, and are seldom fierce. And instead of debating, they disagree in polite conversations that, to outsiders, can seem excessively lengthy and inclusive to a fault. If a custodian happened to be cleaning a room in which Mennonites were discussing an issue, he would be welcome to speak.

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Friday, Aug. 10, 2018

Steve Heinrichs, seen here in 2015, is in jail for protesting against the Trans Mountain pipeline.

Live your life with your funeral in mind

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Live your life with your funeral in mind

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018

There’s something about funerals that brings out the best in people.

As cultural rituals that guide us through the most traumatic of experiences, funerals give us structure to bestow compassion on the family and especially on the deceased, who, unfortunately, is not present to hear the accolades.

Funerals also prompt us to consider our own mortality, which is always a good idea, and many people leave the ceremonies with a renewed zeal to spend their remaining years in better ways.

If only we could hold this outlook permanently, treating others with compassion and appreciating anew the preciousness of our own lives. If only we could always live in a funeral state of mind.

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Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018

There’s something about funerals that brings out the best in people.

As cultural rituals that guide us through the most traumatic of experiences, funerals give us structure to bestow compassion on the family and especially on the deceased, who, unfortunately, is not present to hear the accolades.

Funerals also prompt us to consider our own mortality, which is always a good idea, and many people leave the ceremonies with a renewed zeal to spend their remaining years in better ways.

If only we could hold this outlook permanently, treating others with compassion and appreciating anew the preciousness of our own lives. If only we could always live in a funeral state of mind.

Public forum poses risk for restorative justice

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Public forum poses risk for restorative justice

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Thursday, Jul. 12, 2018

Quick question: how many famous people can you name who have gone through restorative justice?

Me neither.

I can’t immediately think of public figures who have experienced, either as victims or offenders, the age-old technique that is an admirable alternative to our current punishment-based justice system.

Perhaps such privacy is not surprising. It’s likely more effective if the doors are closed during the emotionally charged process of repentance, forgiveness, restitution and reconciliation.

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Thursday, Jul. 12, 2018

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Former NHL player Theo Fleury has expressed an interest in meeting with sexual abuser Graham James as part of a restorative-justice process.

Schools should ban junk food, sugary drinks

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Schools should ban junk food, sugary drinks

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Jun. 23, 2018

May we propose a toast? Let’s raise a glass of something healthy — such as skim milk — and salute New Brunswick, which on June 15 became the first province to ban flavoured milk and fruit juice in schools.

Sugar-loaded beverages can no longer be sold in New Brunswick school vending machines, as part of school meal programs or at school fundraisers.

If children aren’t instantly cheering the new policy, nutritionists are. Several public health experts have publicly suggested other provinces also ban sugary beverages in schools.

Of course, New Brunswick isn’t the only province to make history in the category of sweet drinks. Manitoba has its own claim to fame, having been crowned the Slurpee Capital of the World for the past 17 years, a feat of gastronomic guzzling which, to our permanent shame, is recorded on Wikipedia.

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Saturday, Jun. 23, 2018

If you get a bountiful harvest from your home garden, or just buy too much at a farmers' market, turn fresh fruits and vegetables into juice before they go bad to create smoothies and cocktails. (Erik M. Lunsford/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT)

Scary bugs are affecting Manitobans

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Scary bugs are affecting Manitobans

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 13, 2018

It will be a summer of scary insects in Winnipeg as an estimated 300,000 people will view the new Xtreme BUGS exhibit at Assiniboine Park Zoo.

As people walk along a forested trail inside the zoo, they will meet 19 animatronic bugs, such as a six-metre-long Japanese hornet, and a four-metre-high praying mantis.

Although the exhibit sounds interesting, especially for children, those gigantic replicas don’t scare me much. I’m more scared of real-life bugs that threaten Manitoba.

Three bugs in particular are alarming. Any Manitoban who is not scared of these three — the terrifying trio — does not fully grasp the dangers.

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Wednesday, Jun. 13, 2018

Orkin LLC
A bedbug infestation is extremely difficult to get rid of, and it can do serious damage to your social calendar.

Restoring integrity to an important civic honour

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Restoring integrity to an important civic honour

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Thursday, May. 31, 2018

At first glance, two people without much in common are Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra conductor Alexander Mickelthwate and Kiss bassist Gene Simmons.

Simmons plods through mediocre rock music, wearing great makeup and wagging his tongue. Mickelthwate has conducted the WSO through 370 performances, including some of the best music ever composed.

Simmons, a 69-year-old rock star, has repeatedly boasted he has had sex with 4,800 women. Mickelthwate is a family guy, married to fashion designer Abigail Camp, with whom he has two sons.

So what would they have in common?

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Thursday, May. 31, 2018

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Mayor Brian Bowman presentes Evelyn Hart with the Key to the City in 2017 to recognize her achievements as an award-winning ballerina, an internationally renowned dancer and one of Canada’s most treasured artists.

Grieving the Jets’ loss a necessary process

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Grieving the Jets’ loss a necessary process

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Thursday, May. 24, 2018

Ignore the people who say it’s just a game and it’s not important. They don’t understand the emotional investment of fans during a season that had plenty of excitement and jubilation but ended in heartbreak.

When fans stood on pavement for hours to watch games outside the rink, when they paid up to $500 per game for a playoff seat inside the rink, when they postponed family obligations to watch in their homes, they gave their hearts to the team. They hurt so much because they cared so much.

Their matching jerseys united them and, throughout the season, they celebrated often with chants, shouts of joy and hugs.

But by now, amid the despondency of defeat, the tribe has dispersed. Fans mourn alone.

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Thursday, May. 24, 2018

JOHN WOODS/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files
Winnipeg hockey fans must navigate the stages of grief after their beloved Jets’ exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Jets’ success a shared experience

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Jets’ success a shared experience

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, May. 19, 2018

People who assume this is all about hockey are missing the big picture.

It’s true that the Winnipeg Jets have gone deeper into the playoffs than anyone would have predicted a year ago.

But apart from the on-ice action is the intriguing phenomenon of how the community of Jets fans has grown colossally. The fan club has ballooned outside of Manitoba. As we’re often reminded, the Jets are now Canada’s team. And it has also stretched to include people who know little about hockey, people who think icing is the sweet layer atop cakes.

The playoff run of the Winnipeg Jets is part of the reason for the groundswell of new fans, but there’s more to it. You can find all the proof you need by visiting one of the Whiteout parties on the streets outside Bell MTS Place.

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Saturday, May. 19, 2018

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Jets fans arrive at Donald Street for the whiteout street party in Winnipeg on May 7.

Let prisoners develop self-worth through work

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Let prisoners develop self-worth through work

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Wednesday, May. 9, 2018

Spring has uncovered a winter’s worth of garbage along Manitoba’s roadsides and parks, including fast-food wrappers, drink containers, plastic bags and much more. Prison inmates could be put to work to pick up this trash.

Inmates could also do yard maintenance for low-income seniors who request the service and shovel snow during winters.

Scrubbing graffiti from the sides of buildings? Doing repairs at churches and non-profits? Weeding community gardens?

All of the jobs mentioned above are done by prisoners in other provinces — but not Manitoba.

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Wednesday, May. 9, 2018

Spring has uncovered a winter’s worth of garbage along Manitoba’s roadsides and parks, including fast-food wrappers, drink containers, plastic bags and much more. Prison inmates could be put to work to pick up this trash.

Inmates could also do yard maintenance for low-income seniors who request the service and shovel snow during winters.

Scrubbing graffiti from the sides of buildings? Doing repairs at churches and non-profits? Weeding community gardens?

All of the jobs mentioned above are done by prisoners in other provinces — but not Manitoba.

Jets street parties challenge police

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Jets street parties challenge police

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Apr. 27, 2018

The three WhiteOut street parties in downtown Winnipeg have been joyful and safe celebrations of victories. But what if the Jets lose a home game?

The whoop-it-up fervour would be replaced by dismay and it’s possible a few fans, buzzing with testosterone and alcohol, could let their foul tempers descend into violence.

This mention of possible violence might seem alarmist to people who haven’t participated in the street parties that are growing in size with every home game. News photographs and videos don’t fully convey the volatile vibe.

I donned the requisite white jersey last Friday and joined 20,000 newfound friends to punch the air and chant. The ambience downtown was exhilarating and festive because the Jets won. We high-fived and shouted in jubilation. It was a blast and I would go again.

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Friday, Apr. 27, 2018

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Files
Fans flood downtown Winnipeg on April 20 as the Jets beat Minnesota Wild to win their first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Manitoba should get charged up for electric cars

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Manitoba should get charged up for electric cars

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Apr. 20, 2018

Like Christmas-gift wishes composed by children, there’s a growing list of ways for Manitoba to spend the windfall from its carbon tax. Manitoba’s electric-vehicle owners want the top of the list to include a network of charging stations needed for electric vehicles.

At the recent Manitoba Sustainable Energy Conference, the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association challenged the government to use the carbon tax to enter public-private partnerships and build 19 charging stations.

MEVA said it would cost about $3 million. That’s a small piece of the $100 million in revenue that Manitoba expects from the new carbon tax and it will add about five cents per litre to the price of gasoline when it’s introduced later this year.

Of the 700,000 vehicles registered in Manitoba, about 5,000 are hybrids that have the option of electric propulsion, and about 150 are exclusively electric.

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Friday, Apr. 20, 2018

Like Christmas-gift wishes composed by children, there’s a growing list of ways for Manitoba to spend the windfall from its carbon tax. Manitoba’s electric-vehicle owners want the top of the list to include a network of charging stations needed for electric vehicles.

At the recent Manitoba Sustainable Energy Conference, the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association challenged the government to use the carbon tax to enter public-private partnerships and build 19 charging stations.

MEVA said it would cost about $3 million. That’s a small piece of the $100 million in revenue that Manitoba expects from the new carbon tax and it will add about five cents per litre to the price of gasoline when it’s introduced later this year.

Of the 700,000 vehicles registered in Manitoba, about 5,000 are hybrids that have the option of electric propulsion, and about 150 are exclusively electric.

Plenty of room on the Jets bandwagon

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Plenty of room on the Jets bandwagon

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Thursday, Apr. 5, 2018

Have you heard the one about the guy who went to a Jets game and tried to move to a better seat?

He had paid for a seat in the upper deck, but he noticed a prime seat, at ice level near the centre line, was unused throughout the first period. During the first intermission, he moved down and said to the guy sitting beside the empty seat: “Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?”

The man said: “You’re welcome to sit. It was my wife’s seat. We bought season tickets when the Jets first returned and we didn’t miss a single game. But the lovely woman has passed away.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for your loss. But why didn’t you invite a friend or relative to use such a great seat?”

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Thursday, Apr. 5, 2018

Trevor Hagan / The Canadian Press Files
Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler — or 'Wheels,' as he's known to most true-blue fans — fights for the puck during a recent home game.

Mayor’s panhandler plan sounds like rhetoric

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Mayor’s panhandler plan sounds like rhetoric

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 31, 2018

Mayor Brian Bowman’s suggestion that surveillance cameras be used to record panhandlers is intriguing, if short on details.

He said he wants police to crack down on “aggressive” panhandlers, for their own good.

“I’m concerned about (the panhandlers’) safety. I think there’s more we can do to help. I’ve certainly heard from many Winnipeggers who feel there’s been an uptick,” he said during his state of the city address March 23.

Unfortunately, the mayor didn’t elaborate about how surveilling the panhandlers will help them.

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Saturday, Mar. 31, 2018

A panhandler works outside The Bay. (Marc Gallant / Free Press files)

Obituaries offer window into lives lived

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Obituaries offer window into lives lived

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 23, 2018

It was hard to resist an obituary that was published in last Saturday’s Free Press and started with this sentence: “If you are reading this, I must be dead.”

I didn’t know the man who was both the writer and the deceased: Rev. Canon William Edgar Duff, who served parishes in Fort Garry and Crescentwood.

But if someone distils his 86 years into 500 words of insight, he deserves to be read. He didn’t disappoint.

“I have loved being in this world that is so full of the divine in all its creatures and creativity,” he wrote with an intriguing air of someone who has glimpsed a mystical realm.

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Friday, Mar. 23, 2018

It was hard to resist an obituary that was published in last Saturday’s Free Press and started with this sentence: “If you are reading this, I must be dead.”

I didn’t know the man who was both the writer and the deceased: Rev. Canon William Edgar Duff, who served parishes in Fort Garry and Crescentwood.

But if someone distils his 86 years into 500 words of insight, he deserves to be read. He didn’t disappoint.

“I have loved being in this world that is so full of the divine in all its creatures and creativity,” he wrote with an intriguing air of someone who has glimpsed a mystical realm.

Restorative justice puts focus on victims

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Restorative justice puts focus on victims

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 16, 2018

When a homeowner awakes to find a thief broke into their house while the family slept, it’s a shock, but it’s not unusual.

Statistics Canada says Manitobans report more than 9,000 break-ins a year.

Such a crime can transform a family into victims. The thief steals household items, but he also steals the family’s sense they are safe.

Fear now infects the home. The adults might lay awake listening for suspicious sounds. The kids might fret when they go to bed, asking if the “bad man” will again come in the night.

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Friday, Mar. 16, 2018

When a homeowner awakes to find a thief broke into their house while the family slept, it’s a shock, but it’s not unusual.

Statistics Canada says Manitobans report more than 9,000 break-ins a year.

Such a crime can transform a family into victims. The thief steals household items, but he also steals the family’s sense they are safe.

Fear now infects the home. The adults might lay awake listening for suspicious sounds. The kids might fret when they go to bed, asking if the “bad man” will again come in the night.

Resort visit creates all-inclusive discomfort

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Resort visit creates all-inclusive discomfort

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 9, 2018

Like many other Manitobans in mid-winter, my wife and I recently vacationed in an impoverished country that has great beaches.

We went to Cuba and, for the first time, stayed in an all-inclusive resort. We would not normally have chosen such lavish accommodation, but we accepted the invitation of another couple whose company we enjoy and they made the arrangements.

For people who have never stayed at an all-inclusive, it’s like this: we purchased the illusion that we are special. Wait staff everywhere treated us like royalty, rushing to fulfil our every whim for food, drink, games and entertainment.

I returned home to Winnipeg with an uncomfortable feeling, and it wasn’t just sunburn.

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Friday, Mar. 9, 2018

Ramon Espinosa / The Associated Press Files
A street vendor prepares candy cotton for customers in Havana, Cuba. All-inclusive resorts in the country isolate wealthy travellers from the average Cuban.

Paternity leave is food for fatherly thought

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Paternity leave is food for fatherly thought

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Mar. 5, 2018

Previous generations of fathers would have been unlikely to take paternity leave, even given the inducements offered to modern fathers last Tuesday in the federal budget.

Many fathers of the past were manly men, rugged and gruff. They didn’t compose poems about flowers.

They believed it was women’s work to care for crying babies. Their idea of being a good father was to bring home steady paycheques, discipline the kids and teach skills such as skating or driving a stick.

After all, it could be a career blemish. The unwritten culture — and it still exists in some 2018 workplaces — viewed men who took time off for children as lacking commitment to the team. If he was out of the loop for several months, he could fall behind in the race for promotions and be tagged forever as the guy whose dedication to the job was second to babysitting, as some guys view parenting.

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Monday, Mar. 5, 2018

Previous generations of fathers would have been unlikely to take paternity leave, even given the inducements offered to modern fathers last Tuesday in the federal budget.

Many fathers of the past were manly men, rugged and gruff. They didn’t compose poems about flowers.

They believed it was women’s work to care for crying babies. Their idea of being a good father was to bring home steady paycheques, discipline the kids and teach skills such as skating or driving a stick.

After all, it could be a career blemish. The unwritten culture — and it still exists in some 2018 workplaces — viewed men who took time off for children as lacking commitment to the team. If he was out of the loop for several months, he could fall behind in the race for promotions and be tagged forever as the guy whose dedication to the job was second to babysitting, as some guys view parenting.

Common courtesy becoming uncommon

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Common courtesy becoming uncommon

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Feb. 23, 2018

Our two sons and I went to see Black Panther last weekend. The movie was good. Some audience members, not so much.

A shouting match between two adults marred the 7:15 p.m. screening at Towne Cinema 8 on Saturday.

It started with a temper tantrum by a preschool girl. She cried and repeatedly screamed “I don’t want to be here!” The woman with her tried to soothe the child with calm words and twice took her out of the theatre. When they returned, the child resumed loud outbursts.

A young man sitting across the aisle then shouted, loud enough for the whole theatre to hear: “Lady, I paid to watch the movie! Get that kid out of here!”

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Friday, Feb. 23, 2018

Our two sons and I went to see Black Panther last weekend. The movie was good. Some audience members, not so much.

A shouting match between two adults marred the 7:15 p.m. screening at Towne Cinema 8 on Saturday.

It started with a temper tantrum by a preschool girl. She cried and repeatedly screamed “I don’t want to be here!” The woman with her tried to soothe the child with calm words and twice took her out of the theatre. When they returned, the child resumed loud outbursts.

A young man sitting across the aisle then shouted, loud enough for the whole theatre to hear: “Lady, I paid to watch the movie! Get that kid out of here!”

Need to make an apology? Ask the experts

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Need to make an apology? Ask the experts

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018

Plenty of people are saying sorry these days, but their apologies often seem cheap.

Some people do it only after they are confronted with their misdeeds and have no chance of escape. Their apologies are like tapping out during a mixed martial arts bout.

Some don’t apologize directly to their victims, but issue a general statement on social media. It’s as if they’re more concerned with restoring their reputation than restoring relations with people they’ve hurt.

MLA Stan Struthers, a former NDP finance minister, apologized Feb. 8 in a public statement for “inappropriate” interactions with women, but there’s been no indication he offered respectful, in-person apologies to the eight or more women he reportedly tickled and groped in a sexual manner.

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Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018

Plenty of people are saying sorry these days, but their apologies often seem cheap.

Some people do it only after they are confronted with their misdeeds and have no chance of escape. Their apologies are like tapping out during a mixed martial arts bout.

Some don’t apologize directly to their victims, but issue a general statement on social media. It’s as if they’re more concerned with restoring their reputation than restoring relations with people they’ve hurt.

MLA Stan Struthers, a former NDP finance minister, apologized Feb. 8 in a public statement for “inappropriate” interactions with women, but there’s been no indication he offered respectful, in-person apologies to the eight or more women he reportedly tickled and groped in a sexual manner.

What MLA Graydon should have said

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

What MLA Graydon should have said

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Feb. 9, 2018

The MLA for Emerson says he regrets tweeting “Drain on society” about the large number of asylum-seekers entering Canada.

After being exiled on this matter by his Progressive Conservative colleagues and pilloried by the public, Cliff Graydon says he’s remorseful.

He chose foolish wording for his tweet, but, if it’s any consolation to him, the backbencher wasn’t wrong to suggest that accepting asylum-seekers comes at a cost.

As a politician, he’s supposed to care about whether public funds are spent responsibly. His concern about government finances is not why his tweet was judged reprehensible.

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Friday, Feb. 9, 2018

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
An asylum-seeker stands on a road near Emerson on a morning in March 2017 when the mercury hit -30 C.

When music is infectious

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

When music is infectious

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Jan. 26, 2018

Pop-up performances by the Winnipeg Respiratory Orchestra abound as people with colds and flu-like symptoms venture out in public.

Unlike other orchestras, no training or talent is required to join. Membership is granted to everyone who ignores medical advice to stay home when sick.

Sneezing and wheezing, these performers mingle in crowds and offer their unique blend of mucus and music. Their motto: “Our music is infectious, and so are we.”

A typical show opens with a single sniffle that signifies a virus is in the house and feels compelled to perform. That introductory sound is greeted by a ripple of sniffles from other sufferers in the crowd, like birds in neighbouring trees answering in song.

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Friday, Jan. 26, 2018

Dreamstime
Rather than joining the ailing at-work orchestra, wouldn't it be better to stay home, wrapped in a blanket?

How to breed criminals

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

How to breed criminals

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018

If we want to maintain Manitoba’s notorious distinction as one of Canada’s most fertile provinces for breeding criminals, here’s how: keep them behind bars as long as possible.

That way, Manitoba jails will remain crammed well over capacity. Education and counselling opportunities within jails will continue to be inadequate to the overpopulation, ensuring prisoners have less chance of improving themselves.

Also, the overcrowded cells will incite chronic distress and more violence. Prisoners will feel more pressure to bond with a gang for protection. The end result will be criminals who become more dangerous than when they went in.

When they are finally released, they will have served their sentences in full, so justice officials can’t monitor their activities on the outside, which, statistically, will soon include more crimes.

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Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018

Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press files
Temporary absences from provincial jails, including Headingley Correctional Institution (above), can be a useful step in reintegrating into mainstream society.

Manitoba will see big changes in 2018

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Manitoba will see big changes in 2018

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Dec. 29, 2017

Some years pass in routine, offering the same old, same old. But 2018 promises to be a year of significant changes that will directly affect Manitobans. Here are four issues to watch:

All hail ride hailingTransportation habits will shift considerably in 2018 because ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft can compete with taxis beginning March 1.

It would be wonderful if this change results in fewer private vehicles on the road. Ideally, it will work like this: some Winnipeggers currently use private vehicles because they can’t rely on taxis to be prompt and affordable, but ride-hailing is supposed to be less expensive and, we hope, more reliable.

Perhaps it will be enough for some of us to relinquish our personal vehicles, as is common in bigger cities where it’s cheaper and more convenient to get around with a mix of ride hailing, traditional taxis and the rental of vehicles for longer trips.

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Friday, Dec. 29, 2017

Some years pass in routine, offering the same old, same old. But 2018 promises to be a year of significant changes that will directly affect Manitobans. Here are four issues to watch:

All hail ride hailingTransportation habits will shift considerably in 2018 because ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft can compete with taxis beginning March 1.

It would be wonderful if this change results in fewer private vehicles on the road. Ideally, it will work like this: some Winnipeggers currently use private vehicles because they can’t rely on taxis to be prompt and affordable, but ride-hailing is supposed to be less expensive and, we hope, more reliable.

Perhaps it will be enough for some of us to relinquish our personal vehicles, as is common in bigger cities where it’s cheaper and more convenient to get around with a mix of ride hailing, traditional taxis and the rental of vehicles for longer trips.

The gift of Christmas: a teachable moment

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

The gift of Christmas: a teachable moment

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Dec. 18, 2017

Some teachers in public schools apparently call it “the December dilemma”: how should they teach the Christmas story in an institution that is supposed to be secular?

Teachers can get into trouble when they connect the upcoming holiday with the birth of Jesus. Children repeat the information at home, which can lead to concerned parents phoning the school to lecture the principal about the separation of church and state and the importance of keeping religion out of public schools.

It only takes a few such instances for principals, who dislike being lectured by parents, to suggest teachers play it safe and avoid any mention of the C-word when teaching about the holiday formerly known as Christmas.

With Christ expelled from Manitoba public schools, students no longer enact the time-honoured nativity play, student art on classroom walls can’t portray biblical scenes and choirs are prohibited from exploring the tremendous body of excellent Christmas music, forcing student singers to settle for banal but non-controversial ditties such as Jingle Bells, as if one-horse open sleighs dashing though the snow are the reason for the season.

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Monday, Dec. 18, 2017

Some teachers in public schools apparently call it “the December dilemma”: how should they teach the Christmas story in an institution that is supposed to be secular?

Teachers can get into trouble when they connect the upcoming holiday with the birth of Jesus. Children repeat the information at home, which can lead to concerned parents phoning the school to lecture the principal about the separation of church and state and the importance of keeping religion out of public schools.

It only takes a few such instances for principals, who dislike being lectured by parents, to suggest teachers play it safe and avoid any mention of the C-word when teaching about the holiday formerly known as Christmas.

With Christ expelled from Manitoba public schools, students no longer enact the time-honoured nativity play, student art on classroom walls can’t portray biblical scenes and choirs are prohibited from exploring the tremendous body of excellent Christmas music, forcing student singers to settle for banal but non-controversial ditties such as Jingle Bells, as if one-horse open sleighs dashing though the snow are the reason for the season.

Politicians should see how the other half rides

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Politicians should see how the other half rides

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Dec. 8, 2017

Free Press letter writer Jennifer Shepherd suggested the mayor take the bus all winter to understand hardships caused by transit cuts (Shoppers affected by bus hike, Nov. 30.)

Her proposal is intriguing, but it’s not the fault of the mayor alone that bus riders soon will be hit with a double whammy of increased fares and decreased service. Other politicians at the legislature and city hall are also complicit: MLAs voted to freeze provincial transit funding at 2016 levels and city councillors are expected to approve on Tuesday a budget that will reduce service on some — or all — of the 22 routes with the lowest ridership.

Perhaps the invitation to the mayor should be widened to encourage all provincial and municipal politicians to forfeit their keys to their personal vehicles and rely on Winnipeg Transit for a week. Let’s call it Politicians Take The Bus Week.

One reason — although not the primary one — for politicians to try busing is to lead by example in the fight against climate change. Words flow easily for politicians. We know they mean it when they model the behaviour they proclaim.

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Friday, Dec. 8, 2017

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
People wait to board a Winnipeg Transit bus in downtown Winnipeg Thursday. Statistics Canada figures released this week show that 13.6 per cent of Winnipeggers use public transportation, higher than the national average of 12.4 per cent.

Romance of the road ruined these days

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Romance of the road ruined these days

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017

Back in the day when driving was fun, getting a driver’s licence was an epic step towards adulthood.

For guys, the keys to a vehicle meant independence and freedom. We drove to school with music playing loudly, hoping our buddies saw us acting cool and casual behind the wheel. We could finally date that special someone who had been signalling romantic interest, perhaps an outing to a drive-in movie or Grand Beach.

Back in the day before computers ruined the fun of driving, guys cared for their first jalopies with the dedicated attention of trainers at Assiniboia Downs caring for a thoroughbred on a winning streak. We listened with ardent ears for pings and squeals in the engine, which meant an opportunity to fetch the socket set and get under the hood, changing spark plugs, checking brake pads or replacing valve-cover gaskets.

Ask any guy today about his first car. Even guys whose hair has long gone grey — or is long gone, period — will recount with passion their early driving adventures, perhaps the time they were returning from North Dakota and blew a fan belt but were able to fashion a makeshift replacement from a pair of women’s pantyhose.

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Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017

MARY ALTAFFER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
The complexity of modern automobile engines may result in improved performance, but they take some of the romance out of repairing your car.

Cabbies appeal to sense of fair play

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Cabbies appeal to sense of fair play

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017

The Winnipeg taxi industry has countered the threat of ride-hailing services such as Uber with a canny strategy that seems to have thrust city hall into a tough spot.

The city’s two big taxi co-operatives, Duffy’s and Unicity, united to devise a multi-front publicity blitz which, wisely, kept its main message simple and appealing: “All we want is fairness; keep the playing field level.”

They repeated this message on placards at rallies, in dozens of presentations at public hearings, in meetings with politicians and by writing in public forums such as the Free Press Think Tank.

Their campaign was designed shrewdly to elicit universal support. Who could argue with someone who only wants fairness and a level playing field? We all like to think we’re fair people.

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Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Cab drivers from Unicity and Duffy’s watch from the city council gallery during discussions of rules that will govern the ride hailing services coming to Manitoba.

Naming ‘abusers’ dangerous trend

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Naming ‘abusers’ dangerous trend

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Friday, Nov. 10, 2017

A reader emailed me a screen capture of a Facebook page that names 21 Winnipeg men as “abusers.”

The list of names contains no details of who they abused, how they abused their victims, or which court convicted them of these serious crimes.

A note from the proprietor of the page reads: “If there is anyone you know of who you want me to add to this list, just send me their name. I believe survivors. There were 12 people on the list that I first compiled. Since just yesterday afternoon that number has almost doubled. Please keep the names coming. I will never give up your anonymity.”

The Winnipeg list follows the outing of serial abuser Harvey Weinstein, a Hollywood producer who misused his power to sexually assault women. Dozens of women came forward with allegations against Weinstein, prompting hundreds of thousands of women worldwide to share on social media their experiences with sexual harassment and assault, resurrecting the hashtag #metoo.

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Friday, Nov. 10, 2017

Chris Pizzello / Invision Files
Harvey Weinstein’s brand collapsed in the space of a week following allegations against the producer.

Millennials face ill-fated future

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Millennials face ill-fated future

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Monday, Nov. 6, 2017

Those of us of advanced age might want to stop being mean to millennials.

Manitobans born between 1980 and 2000 dream the same dreams as their parents did, but have been robbed of opportunities that were taken for granted by previous generations. Millennials have less chance of landing secure jobs with high salaries and good benefits. They will inherit land, water and sky that was poisoned by neglect. They will be bequeathed obscenely high government debts that their spendthrift parents rang up so we could live the good life.

Yet, we older folks have the audacity to assume, after we retire and the millennials are in power, they will be compassionate enough to fund the pensions and medical services to which we believe we are entitled.

To be blunt, we hope the millennials will be nicer to us than we are to them.

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Monday, Nov. 6, 2017

Winnipeg Free Press files
Students at the University of Manitoba are among millennials who face an uncertain economic future.

Maori program helps Manitoba

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Maori program helps Manitoba

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Monday, Oct. 30, 2017

In a province where removing Indigenous children from their families and putting them into provincial care has often been disastrous, any proposed alternative should be considered.

Any alternative with a proven track record of success should be cheered.

We can thank the Maori people of New Zealand for a program that, in Manitoba, has a 70 per cent success rate in keeping Indigenous children out of government care.

Sixteen years ago, the Maori gifted the program to Manitoba's Indigenous people though the organization Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata (an Ojibwa expression for “we all work together to help one another”).

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Monday, Oct. 30, 2017

In a province where removing Indigenous children from their families and putting them into provincial care has often been disastrous, any proposed alternative should be considered.

Any alternative with a proven track record of success should be cheered.

We can thank the Maori people of New Zealand for a program that, in Manitoba, has a 70 per cent success rate in keeping Indigenous children out of government care.

Sixteen years ago, the Maori gifted the program to Manitoba's Indigenous people though the organization Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata (an Ojibwa expression for “we all work together to help one another”).

Out of tragedy, a community of compassion

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Out of tragedy, a community of compassion

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 6, 2017

When Cliff and Wilma Derksen attend court on Oct. 18 for the verdict against a man accused of killing their 13-year-old daughter Candace, it will be with forgiveness in their hearts.

The Derksens have confounded many observers because, instead of seeking revenge, they seek to forgive, a cornerstone of their Christian faith.

They say their effort to forgive is not immediately understood by everyone, but it was essential to dispel the bitterness and anger that could corrode them from the inside. Wilma has written eight books, including The Way of Letting Go: One Woman’s Walk Toward Forgiveness.

“The thing about forgiveness is you have to go to the hard places,” Cliff has said. “You have to be ready to be courageous.”

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Friday, Oct. 6, 2017

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Wilma and Cliff Derksen outside the Law Courts in May. The verdict in Mark Grant's trial for the murder their daughter Candace Derksen is expected later this month.

Transit Wi-Fi could have unexpected benefit

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Transit Wi-Fi could have unexpected benefit

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Sep. 29, 2017

It would be optimism verging on fantasy to suggest introducing Wi-Fi to Winnipeg buses will greatly grow ridership, and that empty seats will be filled by people persuaded to try transit because they can now video-chat with friends, stream Game of Thrones or download massive apps without worrying about exceeding their data plans.

The upcoming pilot project to provide free Wi-Fi on 12 Winnipeg buses in 2018 might be important to Mayor Brian Bowman, who promised the service during the election campaign.

But to bus passengers? Not so much.

A survey of 3,000 people in 17 U.S. cities, and three focus groups, asked transit users to rank a dozen possible improvements to transit service.

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Friday, Sep. 29, 2017

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Adding free Wi-Fi to city buses could have unexpected safety benefits.

Greens’ tax proposal is food for thought

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Greens’ tax proposal is food for thought

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Sep. 22, 2017

No one has ever accused the Green Party of Manitoba of being a political powerhouse in the province, but they deserve plenty of plaudits for daring to suggest hefty taxes on junk food and soda pop.

The party proposes a 20 per cent tax, which it says would raise $30 million annually. It wants the new tax revenue steered exclusively to health care, as a way of stopping the Pallister government from inflicting a premium fee for health care.

The Greens’ proposal seems deliciously apt.

People who eat more junk food would pay more into the system that must mend bodies after they are damaged by the excessive junk they consume.

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Friday, Sep. 22, 2017

Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune / Tribune News Service
The Green Party has proposed a junk-food tax as an alternative to the province's proposed health-care premium.

Courtesy’s the thing in stadium throng

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Courtesy’s the thing in stadium throng

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Thursday, Sep. 14, 2017

The time to measure the civility of Winnipeggers is not when we are ensconced safely in our homes, protected by walls from the incursions of strangers. A more accurate time to test our courtesy as a community is in the jam-packed concourse of a stadium, when the mob is so dense that we’re pressed on all sides and swept along in a river of humanity.

No one appointed me hall monitor, but I feel called to comment on concourse behaviour based on personal experience. I was stuck in crowd gridlock at the Banjo Bowl on Saturday at Investors Group Field. It was halftime and the concourse was congested beyond a safe capacity at Section 126, near The Pour House. We were jammed together shoulder-to-shoulder and chest-to-back, and shuffling forward at a glacial pace when, suddenly, we stopped. None of us could move in any direction.

The cause of the gridlock was up ahead. A group of guys had encountered friends in oncoming foot traffic and, in the middle of the concourse, they had stopped in their tracks to exchange fist bumps and lengthy analysis of the game’s first half. It was likely unintentional, but they dammed the river of pedestrians.

An upside to standing in gridlock is that it offers ample opportunity to reflect on the nature and dangers of concourse crowding.

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Thursday, Sep. 14, 2017

TREVOR HAGAN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Oh, the (press of) humanity: fans walk in the concourse level at Investors Group Field.

Giving — or not giving — to intersection panhandlers

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Giving — or not giving — to intersection panhandlers

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017

I was stopped at an intersection when a scruffy man approached my driver’s-side window and thrust out a cardboard sign: “Hungry. Please help.” I shook my head and he moved on to the next car in line.

While waiting for the red light to change, I had time to think about what I had just done.

I wondered: had I given him money, what would he have used it for? Would I have contributed to substance abuse? Would I have enabled him to keep begging because it’s more lucrative than getting a job?

My wife often gives to intersection beggars, and she doesn’t worry about how they will use the money. She says it’s a gift, and monetary gifts should come without strings attached.

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Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
A panhandler uses some creative techniques at Osborne Street and Broadway Boulevard in 2013.

Downtown Winnipeggers need someplace to go

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Downtown Winnipeggers need someplace to go

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017

The Canada Summer Games left behind a wonderful legacy of improved athletic facilities. Unfortunately, they didn’t leave behind the toilets.

The long-standing scarcity of outdoor toilets in Winnipeg was temporarily solved this summer by the Games, which spread a total of 108 portable toilets throughout the city and by festivals such as the Fringe Festival and Interstellar Rodeo, which provided rows of Porta Potties.

For organizers of large gatherings, it’s just common sense: to get the public to come, provide toilets for them to go.

But this fundamental rule of catering to the public’s needs is ignored by municipal officials who launch repeated campaigns to attract people to downtown Winnipeg, but don’t provide public toilets to accommodate people who feel the call of nature.

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Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017

David Lipnowski / Winnipeg Free Press Files
Portable toilets are temporarily provided for events such as festivals, but there is a lack of permanent outdoor toilets in downtown Winnipeg.

Canada should open doors wider

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Canada should open doors wider

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Monday, Jul. 31, 2017

Most Manitobans would help if they saw a person on the ground who was in serious physical distress. At a minimum, most would call 911. The more compassionate among us might stay with the victim until help arrives. People with first-aid training might take action if the situation seemed urgent.

None of us would ignore the victim and give the excuse that our health-care system is overloaded.

But when it comes to welcoming refugees to Manitoba, there’s a vocal contingent of people who say we shouldn’t accept those who need help because they will be a burden on health care, public housing and income assistance. They argue these refugees will take from, rather than give to, the country’s economy.

Newly released statistics support their view that many refugees are not immediately able to work.

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Monday, Jul. 31, 2017

HUSSEIN MALLA / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
An adjustment to Canada's private sponsorship regulations could open the door for more Syrian refugees.

Legal pot will pose challenges

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Legal pot will pose challenges

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 25, 2017

Will you partake? That’s a reasonable question given the upcoming legalization of marijuana, but it’s only one of many questions that will arise.

The legalization of a recreational drug is extremely rare and it will challenge both the Pallister government and individual Manitobans with unaccustomed issues. The government is dealing only with legalities, leaving individuals on their own to resolve the personal, family and social issues that will come with legal marijuana.

At their meeting in Edmonton last week, the premiers mulled questions such as: where and how will it be sold? What will be the legal age to partake? How will courts prosecute drugged driving, given that breathalyzers don’t work with marijuana intoxication? How many plants will gardeners be allowed to grow on their own?

But the governmental guidance will end with the legal structure. After that, it will be up to Manitobans to deal with the many ethical and practical ramifications.

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Tuesday, Jul. 25, 2017

Mark Blinch / The Canadian Press
Legislation will make marijuana legal in Canada, but individuals will be left with ethical and practical questions.

A U.S. president worthy of emulation

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

A U.S. president worthy of emulation

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Thursday, Jul. 13, 2017

Can you imagine Donald Trump coming to Winnipeg to pick up a hammer and build houses for poor people?

OK, you can stop laughing.

It’s an inconceivable image because Trump seems more like the type who would foreclose on poor people, not help them.

With Jimmy Carter arriving in Winnipeg today as a volunteer to help Habitat for Humanity build houses, it’s enlightening to compare the 92-year-old former U.S. president with the incumbent.

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Thursday, Jul. 13, 2017

JASON FRANSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter measures a set of stairs as he helps build homes for Habitat for Humanity in Edmonton Tuesday.

Small acts add up to big change

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Small acts add up to big change

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Jul. 7, 2017

A drinking straw is a small thing, but small things matter.

Thirty Winnipeg dining establishments recently pledged to withhold straws unless customers ask for them. They’re doing it because plastic straws don’t compost and contain poisonous chemicals that can contaminate land and water.

A cigarette butt is a small thing, but, again, small things matter.

Free Press contributor John Longhurst wrote a column about how he confronted a stranger who, while waiting for a bus, flicked her cigarette butt onto the ground. “Who’s going to pick that up?” Longhurst asked her three times. (Seriously, smokers — who’s going to pick that up? July 4).

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Friday, Jul. 7, 2017

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSSeveral Winnipeg restaurants are taking part in a 'No Straws' campaign during July where they will be providing plastic-free compostable straws and only when asked.

Winnipeg can learn from other cities’ Uber experience

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Winnipeg can learn from other cities’ Uber experience

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 14, 2017

Winnipeg has been tardy in welcoming ride-sharing services such as Uber, a delay which has advantages. We can learn from the mistakes and successes of dozens of Canadian cities that already have Uber. When it comes to transportation-for-hire, we don't have to reinvent the wheel (pardon the pun).

Sifting through the experience of others cities, here is what Winnipeggers can expect when Uber comes to town:

There will be emotional protests from Winnipeg cab owners, whose taxi permits used to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars because the supply was restricted. In Montreal, taxi drivers blocked a bridge. In Toronto and Edmonton, taxi drivers tore off their shirts during protests to dramatize the fact that Uber would take the shirts off their backs. There have also been hunger strikes and many shouted confrontations with Uber drivers.

The battleground of conflict in Winnipeg will be taxi stands at the airport, swanky hotels, concert halls, arenas and the football stadium. Winnipeg's traditional cab firms will feel they have staked a historic claim to these lucrative pickup zones but, to their dismay, they will find many of these taxi zones are on the private property of businesses that want what their customers want, which is often Uber. In Ottawa, for example, after fierce resistance, Uber drivers can now service customers at Ottawa International Airport and the Canadian Tire Centre, where the Senators play.

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Wednesday, Jun. 14, 2017

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Uber’s arrival in Winnipeg will be made easier by other cities’ ride-booking experiences.

Springtime in Paris? It’s got nothing on Winnipeg

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Springtime in Paris? It’s got nothing on Winnipeg

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 7, 2017

Springtime in Paris is marvelous, according to the song of that name, but Paris has nothing on Winnipeg.

In spring and summer, Winnipeg is among the best places on the planet. That claim will inevitably draw accusations of hometown hyperbole, but consider the evidence.

This city is preparing for its annual flurry of festivals, including the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival from June 15 to 25, the Red River Exhibition from June 16 to 25, the Winnipeg Folk Festival from July 6 to 9, the Winnipeg Fringe Festival from July 19 to 30 and Folklorama from Aug. 6 to 19. Other cities also have festivals, of course, but Winnipeg’s festival season is compressed because it’s bracketed by winters that come early and stay late. As a result, the festivals are crammed together and, for about nine wonderous weeks, this city is a dynamic hub of outdoor music and cultural entertainment.

This season is also remarkable because Winnipeg's northern latitude allows evenings that are luxuriously long. Unlike cities closer to the equator, sunsets here are delayed until as late as 10 p.m. in spring and summer. That’s why Winnipeggers have a passion for dining under open skies. On restaurant patios, on lawn chairs circling backyard barbecues, around food trucks, on picnic blankets in parks, Winnipeggers get together and relish food spiced by fellowship as warm as the soft evening air.

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Wednesday, Jun. 7, 2017

JESSICA BURTNICK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Summer events such as the Fringe Festival transform the cultural life of the city every summer.

Can we divorce art from the artist?

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Can we divorce art from the artist?

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Wednesday, May. 24, 2017

Some of us are grateful the Pablo Picasso exhibit remains at the Winnipeg Art Gallery until Aug. 13. That leaves lots of time to explore our mixed feelings about whether to support the work of an artist who was a debauched cad in his personal life.

The painter had two wives, six mistresses and hundreds of lovers. He was abusive in his intimate relationships, and was partly to blame for the suicides of one wife, one mistress, one son and one grandson.

“Women are machines for suffering,” Picasso told one mistress when he was 61 years old and she was 21. “For me there are only two kinds of women, goddesses and doormats.”

It’s tempting to ignore him, except that his art makes him one of the dominant artists of the 20th century.

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Wednesday, May. 24, 2017

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Pablo Picasso’s etching, 10 MARCH 1934, part of the Picasso in Canada exhibit at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Tourists voting against Trump with their dollars

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Tourists voting against Trump with their dollars

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Tuesday, May. 16, 2017

A couple of buddies and I were thinking it’s time to attend another Minnesota Vikings game, a compulsion that afflicts a certain type of Manitoba guy every few years. It means driving to Minneapolis for the weekend-long hoopla that surrounds a National Football League spectacle. The trip is about watching NFL football, but, perhaps even more appealing, going on a road trip with guys and having a few laughs.

We’ve decided not to go this year, though, on ethical grounds. We don’t want to contribute our travel funds to a country that chooses Donald Trump as its leader.

It’s like fair-trade coffee, in which caffeine consumers only buy from companies that respect the people who pick the beans. It’s like ethical investing, in which investors direct their funds away from industries they oppose on principle, perhaps tobacco or weapons. By postponing our Vikings adventure in Minnesota, we’re trying to be ethical travellers.

It’s not that we think the American economy will be decimated by the loss of the modest sum we spend on Minneapolis hotel rooms, restaurants and football tickets.

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Tuesday, May. 16, 2017

A couple of buddies and I were thinking it’s time to attend another Minnesota Vikings game, a compulsion that afflicts a certain type of Manitoba guy every few years. It means driving to Minneapolis for the weekend-long hoopla that surrounds a National Football League spectacle. The trip is about watching NFL football, but, perhaps even more appealing, going on a road trip with guys and having a few laughs.

We’ve decided not to go this year, though, on ethical grounds. We don’t want to contribute our travel funds to a country that chooses Donald Trump as its leader.

It’s like fair-trade coffee, in which caffeine consumers only buy from companies that respect the people who pick the beans. It’s like ethical investing, in which investors direct their funds away from industries they oppose on principle, perhaps tobacco or weapons. By postponing our Vikings adventure in Minnesota, we’re trying to be ethical travellers.

It’s not that we think the American economy will be decimated by the loss of the modest sum we spend on Minneapolis hotel rooms, restaurants and football tickets.

Pride and police: inclusivity on parade

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Pride and police: inclusivity on parade

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Tuesday, May. 9, 2017

When the police sergeants ponder which officers to assign to Pride parades in Manitoba, they must look in particular for officers who know how to smile on duty.

At Pride parades I’ve attended — as a spectator in Winnipeg, and as a marcher in last July’s first-ever Pride parade in Steinbach — the police radiated good vibes. They smiled as they received a succession of high-fives and fist-bumps from passing marchers; they smiled when drag queens in all their campy comeliness stood beside the officers for selfies; they smiled when they were the targets of light-hearted banter (typical comment: “Hey cutie, I love a man in uniform!”)

Armed with humour and relaxed in manner, the police provided escort duty, they blocked intersections and some uniformed officers even marched. They should be commended for connecting with Manitoba’s LGBTQ community in an amiable way.

Instead, they might be barred from next month’s Pride parade in Winnipeg.

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Tuesday, May. 9, 2017

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
A police cruiser participates in the 2016 Pride parade in Winnipeg.

Author brings readers to the real North End

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Author brings readers to the real North End

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 24, 2017

It’s a badge of honour for some Winnipeggers to mention they “come from” the North End. They like to relate how they, or their parents or grandparents, used to live there. They want us to know that, while they now enjoy the soft life, they have hard-scrabble roots in the storied part of town where people have a PhD in street smarts.

People who still live in the North End aren’t so quick to romanticize it.

Katherena Vermette, who is Métis, knows the North End as it really is and she has the literary talent to depict it. Her novel, The Break, was honoured Saturday night as Book Of The Year at the Manitoba Book Awards.

The Break is a tensely paced crime thriller, but would hardly be worthy of note if that’s all it is. The crime genre is packed with successful writers churning out page-turners.

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Monday, Apr. 24, 2017

CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Katherena Vermette’s The Break gives readers a sense of familiarity with the characters, who often are targets of racism in their community.

Laine a gift that keeps on giving

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Preview

Laine a gift that keeps on giving

Carl DeGurse 5 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 11, 2017

It’s rare the birthday of a specific teenager is of interest to most Manitobans. But then, Patrik Laine is a rare teenager.

The Winnipeg Jets phenom turns 19 on April 19, ending a year when, as a rookie, he scored more goals than everyone on his team and scored more than 98 per cent of the players in the National Hockey League. And that’s just the start of his career.

In the NHL, age matters. Players live with the continual prospect of being replaced by someone younger, someone a stride faster or more adept at tipping an airborne puck. The average NHL career is 51/2 years, restricted to the peak years when the athletes can compete with extreme exertion.

That’s why hockey observers are excited that Laine is so good so young: he offers a long future for expert trainers to hone his skills as he simultaneously grows into the full potential of his six-foot-five body.

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Tuesday, Apr. 11, 2017

Winnipeg Jets rookie right-winger Patrik Laine won't skate for Finland at the upcoming IIHF world hockey championship. (Mark J. Terrill / The Associated Press files)

Asylum seekers an opportunity for Manitoba

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Asylum seekers an opportunity for Manitoba

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 31, 2017

I belong to a Winnipeg community that has welcomed three families from Syria in recent years. The deal is that we provide each family $10,000, a furnished apartment for one year and a circle of support. The results have been wonderful. The families are delighted to get a fresh start and their enthusiasm for Winnipeg is contagious. They work quickly to improve their English and land jobs. Some have become self-reliant before the end of one year and returned the unused portion of their $10,000 so we can help others.

Our group’s support for these newcomers is not unusual. Even before asylum seekers crossing fields at Emerson made headlines, generations of Manitobans have helped immigrants settle and contribute to our province’s fascinating multicultural tapestry.

That’s why it’s dismaying to hear Conservative leadership candidates suggest outlandish measures to address the flow of migrants crossing into Canada.

Kevin O’Leary said he’d use the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause to prevent people from using a “loophole” in Canada’s border agreement with the U.S. to “sneak across the border” and claim refugee status. It’s clear he doesn’t understand what the notwithstanding clause is about. He also said the government could pass a law “making it clear that anyone crossing into Canada illegally from the U.S. would be ineligible to make a refugee claim.”

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Friday, Mar. 31, 2017

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
migrants from Somalia are arrested and detained by RCMP after crossing into Canada illegally from the United States by walking down a train track into the town of Emerson in February.

Magician facing child pornography charges suspended from part-time provincial government job

By Carl DeGurse 2 minute read Preview

Magician facing child pornography charges suspended from part-time provincial government job

By Carl DeGurse 2 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016

The provincial government has suspended the employment of a man charged this week with making child pornography.

Daniel Kamenicky, 39, was working as a part-time, casual service provider with the Department of Families, a government spokesman said Tuesday.

Earlier this week, Kamenicky was also suspended from his job as an educational assistant at Windsor School, a kindergarten to Grade 8 school in the Louis Riel School Division. He also encountered children in his spare time as a magician known as Dan The Magic Man, which included teaching magic to children between the ages of eight and 11 in one of the University of Manitoba's Mini U programs in July.

These organizations all severed connections with Kamenicky after police announced he was charged with voyeurism, making pornography and distributing pornography.

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Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016

Photo: www.danmagicman.com
Daniel Kamenicky, a magician known as Dan the Magic Man, is accused of making, possessing and distributing child pornography and of voyeurism.

Christian attitudes on same-sex relationships changing

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Christian attitudes on same-sex relationships changing

Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 6, 2016

The formidable influence of Christians in the Steinbach area is thought to be one reason their local politicians won’t attend, or even discuss seriously, the area’s inaugural Pride parade on Saturday.

This is based on an assumption that Bible believers are obliged to oppose same-sex relationships. That assumption is wrong.

It’s true my Mennonite denomination is well represented in southern Manitoba. It’s one of the few places in Canada where churches remain more crowded than hockey arenas.

It’s also true that, like other denominations, including the Anglicans and the United Church, we Mennonites have been embroiled in discussing same-sex relationships.

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Wednesday, Jul. 6, 2016

GRANT BURR / THE CARILLON FILES
In 2013, hundreds participate in a prayer session night at Steinbach Christian High School focused on Bill 18, anti-bullying legislation that required schools to accommodate students who wanted to form anti-bullying clubs, including Gay-Straight Alliance clubs.

Sandra Giesbrecht faces abduction charges after brief pursuit

By Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

Sandra Giesbrecht faces abduction charges after brief pursuit

By Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Saturday, Jun. 25, 2016

A Winnipeg mother wanted on a Canada-wide arrest warrant was handcuffed in a city park Friday in a public takedown involving about 12 police officers.

Sandra Giesbrecht remains in police custody. Her children, Josh, 9, and Montana, 11, are safe.

During a Saturday morning press conference, police announced Giesbrecht is now charged with two counts of abduction and one count of flight from police.

Police were tipped off Friday to the mother's whereabouts near Amherst Street, where she was driving a Ford Expedition SUV. Police say she fled, leading officers on a brief chase.

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Saturday, Jun. 25, 2016

Const. Jason Michalyshen of the Winnipeg Police Service.

He drove through fire to save a life

By Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Preview

He drove through fire to save a life

By Carl DeGurse 4 minute read Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012

VITA -- In terms of property, the fire was a disaster. Four homes and a bridge were destroyed. Hundreds of acres of land were scorched black.

In terms of people, though, the fire was a heartening example of how a small town takes care of its own. The fact no one was injured was a credit to the sweat and guts of townsfolk.

Take Lothar Dueck, the community's pharmacist for 31 years. He saved a customer's life Tuesday.

About 12:30 p.m., he looked out the window of the Dueck Drug Store and saw a plume of smoke in the southwest near Sandra Andresen's acreage. He thought he would drive out and check on his customer.

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Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012

Photos by KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Margaretha Martens looks over the razed ruins of the house where she and her husband lived on Winchester Road in Vita. It was destroyed in Tuesday's wildfire.

Stubborn St. Laurent fire resisting efforts to be extinguished

By Carl DeGurse 2 minute read Preview

Stubborn St. Laurent fire resisting efforts to be extinguished

By Carl DeGurse 2 minute read Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

Firefighters still can’t turn their backs on a stubborn fire near St. Laurent that has burned about 2,000 acres of prairie grass and bush.

The fire started on Sept. 15 in a gravel pit when vandals targeted an excavator and a four-wheel loader, and flames spread to nearby bush and prairie. About 30 firefighters from three departments extinguished visible signs of the fire at the time, but it has reignited repeatedly in the subsequent two weeks, fanned by dry winds.

“The grass is so tinder dry, it doesn’t take much to get it going,” St. Laurent Fire Chief Real Fontaine said in an interview today. In his 24 years with the fire department, this is the biggest fire he’s fought.

So far, the fire has not burned buildings, or hurt people or livestock. However, in the past few days, it has grown to the point where it could endanger people and homes.

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Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

Firefighters still can’t turn their backs on a stubborn fire near St. Laurent that has burned about 2,000 acres of prairie grass and bush.

The fire started on Sept. 15 in a gravel pit when vandals targeted an excavator and a four-wheel loader, and flames spread to nearby bush and prairie. About 30 firefighters from three departments extinguished visible signs of the fire at the time, but it has reignited repeatedly in the subsequent two weeks, fanned by dry winds.

“The grass is so tinder dry, it doesn’t take much to get it going,” St. Laurent Fire Chief Real Fontaine said in an interview today. In his 24 years with the fire department, this is the biggest fire he’s fought.

So far, the fire has not burned buildings, or hurt people or livestock. However, in the past few days, it has grown to the point where it could endanger people and homes.

Stubborn blaze now endangering farmsteads, homes in St. Laurent

By Carl DeGurse 2 minute read Preview

Stubborn blaze now endangering farmsteads, homes in St. Laurent

By Carl DeGurse 2 minute read Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

Firefighters still can’t turn their backs on a stubborn fire near St. Laurent that has burned about 2,000 acres of prairie grass and bush.

The fire started on Sept. 15 in a gravel pit when vandals targeted an excavator and a four-wheel loader, and flames spread to nearby bush and prairie.

About 30 firefighters from three departments extinguished visible signs of the fire at the time, but it has reignited repeatedly in the subsequent two weeks, fanned by dry winds.

“The grass is so tinder dry, it doesn’t take much to get it going,” St. Laurent Fire Chief Real Fontaine said in an interview today. In his 24 years with the fire department, this is the biggest fire he’s fought.

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Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

Firefighters still can’t turn their backs on a stubborn fire near St. Laurent that has burned about 2,000 acres of prairie grass and bush.

The fire started on Sept. 15 in a gravel pit when vandals targeted an excavator and a four-wheel loader, and flames spread to nearby bush and prairie.

About 30 firefighters from three departments extinguished visible signs of the fire at the time, but it has reignited repeatedly in the subsequent two weeks, fanned by dry winds.

“The grass is so tinder dry, it doesn’t take much to get it going,” St. Laurent Fire Chief Real Fontaine said in an interview today. In his 24 years with the fire department, this is the biggest fire he’s fought.

Driver stabbed before deadly taxi crash: colleague

By Carl DeGurse 3 minute read Preview

Driver stabbed before deadly taxi crash: colleague

By Carl DeGurse 3 minute read Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

A cabbie who crashed into a tree on Sept. 20 had been stabbed in his stomach by a passenger trying to rob him, says a Duffy’s Taxi colleague.

The white Prius cab was southbound on Beverley Street near Portage Avenue when it crashed into the tree at about 3:50 a.m., killing the 43-year-old passenger and injuring the 31-year-old driver.

At the time, there was speculation the driver lost control because of unruly behaviour by his passenger.

That was confirmed by the Duffy’s colleague and also by police this morning, who said it appears an attempted robbery was in progress and a knife was used.

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Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

WAYNE GLOWACKI/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS archives

Immersion plus

By Carl DeGurse 6 minute read Preview

Immersion plus

By Carl DeGurse 6 minute read Saturday, Jun. 25, 2011

MONTREAL -- This is dedicated to the 18,000 Manitoba students who are rising to the challenge of French immersion.

School can be tough enough without learning in a second language. After spending yet another evening conjugating French verbs, thereby wasting valuable Facebook time, students likely cry: "Is French immersion worth it?"

The answer, as I discovered in a recent trip to Quebec, is "Bien oui!"

Speaking French is the key to experiencing the unique culture of Quebec. If you speak only English, you will be politely welcomed with a handshake. If you speak French, even if it's a fumbling French with a beginners' accent, you will be embraced with passion, and both your cheeks will be repeatedly kissed as a welcome into the fellowship of the French.

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Saturday, Jun. 25, 2011

In Plains of Abraham garb, James DeGurse and Lucie Benoit examine replica musket.

Retreat to the heat

Carl DeGurse 8 minute read Preview

Retreat to the heat

Carl DeGurse 8 minute read Saturday, Mar. 13, 2010

SONORAN DESERT — It’s easy to take water for granted until you’ve hiked hours into the Arizona desert, out of sight of civilization. You feel uncomfortably vulnerable as you realize the surrounding cactus is able to survive years between rainfalls, unlike a fragile human whose life depends on lukewarm water in a canteen.

With a renewed appreciation of the value of water, you return to your oasis-like resort, where guests lounge poolside, sipping iced drinks and misting themselves with Evian water provided for that purpose by the resort. Yes, they mist with Evian.

There’s an intriguing tension between the two extreme environments, the stark desert and the posh resorts. Each extreme heightens the other.

The invitation to be coddled amid the cactus came from the Greater Phoenix Convention and Tourism Bureau.  They offered a five-day visit to explore the Sonoran Desert, with lodgings at two of the area’s swanky resorts. They didn’t have to ask twice.

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Saturday, Mar. 13, 2010

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Snowbirds flocking to ‘south Winnipeg’

Carl DeGurse 3 minute read Preview

Snowbirds flocking to ‘south Winnipeg’

Carl DeGurse 3 minute read Saturday, Mar. 13, 2010

PHOENIX -- When someone says "south Winnipeg," you likely think of Fort Garry or St. Norbert.

But think even farther south than that.

In this Arizona city, 2,192 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg as the plane flies, there are growing communities of ex-pats who purposely live near each other to socialize.

"There's a high number of Winnipeggers in my area with newcomers hoping to become part of our group," Angela Cooper told the Free Press. "We get together in small or large groups depending on the situation. Most have not yet retired. We've had barbecues, brunches and pot-luck suppers celebrating Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's."

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Saturday, Mar. 13, 2010

Diane Olson found a profitable niche selling real estate to Canadians in Phoenix.