Uplift: We all need a vacation

Have you taken a summer vacation yet?

Yeah I know, this summer is different than past summers. Instead of long road trips, especially across our southern border, we’re staying a lot closer to home when we decide to venture out.

But, I just had three weeks off so, take it from me, even just getting away from the computer screen, phone or whatever you do can help recharge your batteries.

And, as it turns out in a study conducted in the United States by global staffing firm Robert Half, even your boss might actually like to see less of you.

The study of more than 1,000 workers employed in American offices found that 38 per cent of employees say their employer or office manager was encouraging them to take some time off, up from 25 per cent just three months ago.

In fact, while 55 per cent of workers said no one has hinted they should take time off or not, only seven per cent said they were told to stay put.

As for the companies, the survey found 68 per cent have increased communication to their employees about how important it is for people to use up their vacation days. To help spread the absences out, 28 per cent of companies are limiting the number of vacation days employees can take in a given time period.

And — I like this one and encourage my colleagues to generously pick up on this for me — 18 per cent of companies are allowing their employees to donate their vacation time to their fellow workers.

It’s an understatement to say we all need a break this year — if you can do it, you should take one.

Meanwhile, when people take some time off they might look for a book to read, and Sport Manitoba has published an uplifting one that helps kids during our province’s 150th anniversary year.

Iconic Stories from 150 Years of Sport in Manitoba is a book that takes a closer look at our athletes, teams, events and organizations through the decades.

You’ll read about John “Army” Howard, a sprinter who was our country’s first black Olympian in 1912, the University of Winnipeg’s Wesmen Women’s Volleyball team which won 123 straight matches from 1987 to 1989, and the fastest three goals in a National Hockey League game by Billy Mosienko.

What’s more, all proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to KidSport Manitoba, which supports children playing organized sport by removing the financial barriers which might otherwise prevent them.

You can buy it here.

– Kevin Rollason

Shelley Cook, Columnist

If you enjoy my newsletter, please consider forwarding it to others. They can sign up for free here.

We have a more than a dozen other free newsletters, including Jill Wilson’s Applause newsletter, which comes out every Thursday, and covers Winnipeg’s local entertainment scene, as well as Jen Zoratti’s newsletter Next, a weekly look towards a post pandemic future.

You can browse all of our newsletters here.

Former Winnipegger helps make film about civil rights icon

SuppliedJohn Lewis, centre, joins documentary crew members including Laura Michalchyshyn, fourth from right.

Laura Michalchyshyn has gone from working in the box office at the West End Cultural Centre to being president at two Discovery cable networks, but her first love is producing and she has a new movie out.

John Lewis – Good Trouble is a portrait of the American civil rights icon and longtime congressman who died. It recently hit the screen at Cinematheque.

“It was the thrill of my life because, obviously, I got to meet the congressman and I got to meet his team, but also we got to unpack a story of civil rights in America,” she told the Free Press’ Randall King. READ MORE

Marmaduke and Garfield would be pleased

Dr. Jonas Watson inside the new Grant Park Animal Hospital expected to open in late August. (Sou'wester)

Dr. Jonas Watson inside the new Grant Park Animal Hospital expected to open in late August. (Sou’wester)

It used to be when you took your dog or cat to the veterinarian you were basically going to a mom or pop type independent practice where the staff would treat your pet like you would expect to be treated by your own doctor.

A trio of veterinarians, who have known each other since university, have decided to bring back those days. Drs. Jonas Watson, Tim Kraemer and Chris Bell have banded together to construct a new animal hospital in the Grant Park Festival mall.

“We’re taking an old fashioned approach to veterinary care,” Watson told The Sou’wester reporter Susie Strachan. “Think about the fictional days of James Herriot. We’re planning to look at both the pet and the owner in terms of treatment and care.” READ MORE

Indigenous music supporter honoured

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSAlan Greyeyes, who serves as festival director for the Sakihiwe Festival, will be presented today with the Manitoba Arts Council's Award of Distinction.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSAlan Greyeyes, who serves as festival director for the Sakihiwe Festival, will be presented today with the Manitoba Arts Council’s Award of Distinction.

Alan Greyeyes has been working behind the scenes supporting Indigenous music and events both here and across the country.

But recently Greyeyes became front and centre when he was honoured with the Manitoba Arts Council’s Award of Distinction. The award comes with $30,000.

“It’s a little scary, to be honest,” Greyeyes told the Free Press’ Alan Small. “I don’t know if I can convince everyone that I’ve done great work.”

As Randy Joynt, executive director of the council says, “Measuring the impact that Alan Greyeyes has had on the music scene in Manitoba is no easy task. When he’s not running the show, he is a champion for those who should be heard.” READ MORE

Man creates mountain bike trails

Steve Lyons / Winnipeg Free Press Alex Man at the Neepawa site where there will be six kilometres of trails.

Steve Lyons / Winnipeg Free PressAlex Man at the Neepawa site where there will be six kilometres of trails.

This province is becoming a destination for mountain bikers with a boom in the construction of trails, including a large one being built on a 40-acre site near Neepawa designed by Alan Man.

The site, which will have six kilometres of trails, is in the hole that was dug by the community when it constructed a new sewer lagoon, a project made necessary by the rapid rise in its number of residents. It has gone from 3,400 to 6,000 people in the last five years, mostly with immigrants coming to work at the town’s HyLife pork processing plant.

Man, who is the designer of several trails in the province, is currently also working with Parks Canada with a 50 kilometre trail in the north end of Riding Mountain National Park.

“I presented it to senior management and they are all over it,” Man recently told Free Press sports editor Steve Lyons. “Really receptive. I think the momentum is there and it’s just a matter of time.” READ MORE

Tackling car sales

Jason Vega, with children Jazi, 8, Adrian, 3, and Evan, 11 months, and wife, Brittany, has become a true-blue Winnipegger.

Jason Vega was a defensive end for both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Dallas Cowboys, but these days many recognize him here without a helmet.

That’s because Vega, when his playing days were done, came back to Winnipeg and is now new car sales manager at Winnipeg Dodge at 3965 Portage Ave., where he appears in their TV commercials. Now Winnipeggers recognize him when he goes shopping for groceries.

“They’ll repeat a few of my catchphrases back at me, saying something like they know they can’t hug me now but they’ll catch me later,” Vega said, referring to a commercial where he hugged a teddy bear instead of his sales team to promote COVID-19 physical distancing protocols. READ MORE

A young cheetah baby sits besides his mother Afra at their enclosure at the zoo in Vienna. The young cub was born in a litter quadruplets on June 22 that are starting to explore their enclosure. (Daniel Zupanc / The Associated Press)