Audrey Gordon

Health human resource action plan update

Since the launch of the health human resource action plan in November 2022, our government has been implementing incentives that will work to end mandating overtime by adding 2,000 health-care professionals with an investment of $200 million to retain, train and recruit healthcare professionals across our province. Previously, our government announced the Virtual Emergency Care and Transfer Resource Service (VECTRS) for rural and remote physicians. This program will support patient care by allowing physicians instant access to patient-transfer services, as well as specialist expert advice. This is only the beginning and collaboration with all levels of the health-care system and stakeholders will continue

Working to improve health-care capacity

As the holiday season comes to an end and families return to work and school, I am glad to have the opportunity to share one of the many investments our government has made in the last few months and what they mean for the Southdale community.

What a difference a pair of socks can make

October has been a very exciting month for the Southdale Constituency. Thank you to all the Southdale constituency residents who attended my nomination meeting. I look forward to being your Progressive Conservative candidate for the 2023 provincial election. I am humbled and honoured to represent this hardworking and dedicated community and I will continue to advocate and work alongside community members.

Young CF patients have access to essential drug

One of the most important and fulfilling decisions I have announced as provincial health minister has been to add the cystic fibrosis drug Trikafta to the provincial formulary.

Singing the way into summer

Seeing students on stage, performing alongside their classmates and enjoying milestone moments was such a great experience. After more than two years of change and adaptations, local students were able to hit the stage full force and I am pleased to say I was recently able to take in two fabulous musicals put on by Southdale constituency high schools.

Windsor Park Collegiate students put their spin on the classic Mamma Mia! in May. The costumes were amazing, and the music was incredibly fun, of course. Congratulations to all the talented students who contributed to the show, from the backstage support to the performers. Congratulations, as well, to director Kate WIlloughby, musical director Jeff Hunter and principal Karen Haluschak for putting on such a wonderful event.

Collège Béliveau students and staff performed Parallèle, an original musical comedy written by the school’s own Michel Roy. The closing-night performance I attended earned a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd. Congratulations to all the students, and to Michel Roy and Melanie Dubois as well as all the other staff and volunteers,who helped make the show a success.

The excitement of the students was obvious. They were thrilled to be back on stage in front of a crowd. These types of events are open to the public and I encourage others in the community to take in a show or two when the opportunity comes up. The shows are always fun and well done and are such a terrific way to celebrate local talent in our community.

Making micro-mobility easier in Manitoba

As we look towards the warmer weather of spring and summer, the province is supporting steps towards innovative personal transportation options, particularly for our urban areas. My colleague, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk recently introduced a bill that will pave the way to piloting micro-mobility transportation in the province.

Micro-mobility modes of transportation include electronic scooters, bikes and mopeds. In recent years, rental bikes and scooters have soared in popularity in urban centres. The rentals are available at a variety of locations throughout a city and accessed via an app and rental account. When users are done, the bikes or scooters can be easily dropped off at the most convenient location. These are popular not only among visitors — residents also use them to run errands or visit friends.

With this proposed amended legislation, Manitoba is poised to find out what could work well for us in our communities. Following in the footsteps of other Canadian cities, initial pilot projects done in collaboration with municipal governments will allow us to find the best fit for cities such as Winnipeg. After two years of pilot projects, Calgary approved a fleet of 1,500 scooters last year.

Projects and initiatives such as these can have many benefits. Apart from expanding and supporting transportation options for visitors and residents, this is a small step toward low-emission options which can help lower our greenhouse gas emissions. There are also economic benefits, with new business opportunities and potential jobs if micro-mobility companies join our local market.

Celebrate Black History Month in February

February marks Black History Month in Manitoba and Canada. While the word history is in the title, the month is not just about looking back but also understanding how we got to where we are today. This month, with all its events and educational opportunities, is for everyone. Some of the more prominent stories we hear around Black History Month are often the most well-known across the world, but we have some great volunteers and community members generating local events and information to help Manitobans get better acquainted with our local Black history.The Black History Month celebration committee, led by Black History Manitoba, has organized several events happening throughout February and I encourage anyone interested to take part. From virtual history education to virtual field trips, there are several different opportunities to learn and participate. The committee’s theme for this year is Look, Listen, See and Act. The month’s events kick off with a virtual opening ceremony on Jan. 30. There are three virtual field trips with the Manitoba Museum happening throughout February, as well as a virtual history lesson on Feb. 21. Story book readings for kids are available on Black History Manitoba’s YouTube channel, as well. You can find more information on the committee’s website at www.bhmwinnipeg.com or by visiting Black History Manitoba’s social media pages.One highlight this year is the launch of The Porter,  a CBC television series that was filmed in Winnipeg. It tells the story of events that led to railway workers from both Canada and the United States joining together to establish the first Black labour union in North America. In 1917, Black employees of the railways were not permitted to join the existing unions, so sleeping car porters began to organize their own. The Canadian Museum of Human Rights’ website notes the groundwork for that union was laid right here in Winnipeg by four porters — John Arthur Robinson, J.W. Barber, B.F. Jones and P. White. The Porter airs Feb. 21 on CBC and Black History Manitoba is holding a red-carpet premiere on February 20. In addition, a commemorative Black History Month stamp was  just issued by Canada Post. This year’s stamp features Eleanor Collins, Canada’s ‘first lady of jazz’. Eleanor, who is 102 years young, is a singer, television host and entertainer born in Edmonton in 1919. She eventually relocated to Vancouver and was featured in many television series beginning in the 1950s, eventually earning her own national variety show on CBC. Eleanor was not only the first Canadian woman to have a national show but was also the first Black artist in North America to host a nationally broadcast television series. I look forward to experiencing some of these upcoming events with you and hearing about some of the events taking place in our local schools as well.

February marks Black History Month in Manitoba and Canada. While the word history is in the title, the month is not just about looking back but also understanding how we got to where we are today. This month, with all its events and educational opportunities, is for everyone. 

Some of the more prominent stories we hear around Black History Month are often the most well-known across the world, but we have some great volunteers and community members generating local events and information to help Manitobans get better acquainted with our local Black history.

The Black History Month celebration committee, led by Black History Manitoba, has organized several events happening throughout February and I encourage anyone interested to take part. From virtual history education to virtual field trips, there are several different opportunities to learn and participate. 

Celebrating safely for the season

We have come a long way from last holiday season. With vaccinations begin administered to everyone over five and modifications to gathering rules, it is looking like we can safely reconnect over the holidays.

During the past year or more, many of us have really felt the absence of friends and family when we had to keep our distance or not gather at all. If there is one lesson we’ve carried forward, it is how to make the most of our time with people we care about when we do get those opportunities to see them.

I wish all of you a happy holiday season and hope you find many moments of joy, reconnection, solace and peace. Whether gathering with family (safely) or taking your favourite winter hike, it is so important to find ways to nourish our well-being this winter.

We also have to keep taking care of each other. Whether through simple connection and conversation, or charitable initiatives that ensure people have what they need to be safe and warm this holiday season.

Marking Indigenous Veterans Day

Nov. 8 was Indigenous Veterans Day in Canada. Indigenous people have been significant contributors to Canada’s military efforts over many decades. The government of Canada estimates that as many as 12,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit people served in the major conflicts of the 20th century.

To understand more about the importance of Indigenous Veterans Day and the historical context, I sat down with Unkan (grandfather) Wanbdi Wakita, who is president of Indigenous Veterans Manitoba.

As part of IMV, Wakita takes part in ceremonies and flag raisings on both Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day. The organization spends time throughout the year providing education, participating in ceremonial flag raisings and speaking to school children about being a veteran.

“We get messages to children about how important it is to protect our land. We never want to have a war in Canada,” he said.

Listening, learning and looking forward

I had the honour and privilege of being welcomed to Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata’s Every Child Matters youth event on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

While there were many events taking place across the province that day, this event’s focus on youth really caught my attention.

Right from the start, the feeling of support for and empowerment of youth in attendance was compelling.

As part of the event, participating young people entered from four different directions — which is culturally and ceremonially significant — carrying sacred tobacco. The tobacco from each youth was joined together into one larger bowl, signifying the coming together and unity of everyone in attendance.

Local ball teams earn major honours

This summer saw two great performances by local baseball and softball teams, and I want to congratulate them on their successes.

First up, the Southdale Lakers U15 A team had five straight wins during the city championships in August, winning the three-game round-robin, the semi-final and finally the championship game.

“The kids were very excited. They were very happy to achieve that accomplishment,” said Lakers head coach Dennis Gagliardi.

Baseball kicked off in May but saw a pause before resuming in July. About 15 members of the team proceeded with the rest of the season. Gagliardi said it was a great experience to see the kids gain back some normalcy.

Building a community voice

Residents’ associations are an invaluable tool that help community members to accomplish goals and gain understanding about community priorities and concerns.

After seeing, and working alongside, so many dedicated and involved community members in the Windsor Park and Southdale neighbourhoods, I wanted to explore how we can establish residents’ associations in these areas.

I know many people in those communities are interested in coming together in a united voice that can create change. Many individuals have already brought residents together in a variety of ways to build community and raise funds for charity.

A residents’ association is a formal group of people who live in a neighbourhood and work together to improve their community. The activities of an association can include seeking grant funding for community development projects or organizing grassroots events.

Graduates shape our future

I want to acknowledge all the graduates this year, especially our local high school graduates. Congratulations to the graduating classes of Windsor Park Collegiate, Collège Béliveau, Louis Riel Arts and Technology Centre and J.H. Bruns Collegiate.

Many of our high school and university students adapted to a variety of challenges over the last 15 months. Your hard work and perseverance have not gone unnoticed. We are all very proud of you and congratulate you on reaching this milestone.

This month, I am pleased to provide several scholarships to some of our local hard-working and deserving students.

Congratulations to Austin Tomlinson, Ehren Strifling, Feyisayo Oluyemi and Lex Xavier Salanguit, each of whom received an Overcomer Award for demonstrating courage, resolve, and perseverance in addition to improving their academics and volunteering in their communities.

Seeking support as the pandemic continues

It has been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic began, creating new stresses and challenges for people in our communities. From having to live with constant uncertainty to loss of income and social isolation - many people are feeling the strain of the past several months.

In surveying Canadians between September and December of 2020, Statistics Canada found that one in five people had symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. It also found that youth, women, people facing significant social isolation and visible minorities were impacted at higher rates than the general population.

If you feel it is too challenging to maintain your well-being or that your quality of life is being impacted, it may be time to reach out for support. There are many useful resources available in our province.

Some support services have been developed in response to the pandemic and include short-term and virtual therapy options. Manitoba has a two-session counselling program available by calling 1-844-218-2955, as well as the AbilitiCBT virtual therapy program available at manitoba.abiliticbt.com

SOS partners with Niakwa Country Club

The Seine River bridges several of our communities and is such an incredible natural asset to have in our communities.

Recently the Niakwa Country Club and non-profit organization Save our Seine (SOS) entered into a co-operative agreement to work together to protect and preserve the Seine River greenway that exists alongside the golf course.

SOS president Laurie Ringaert says the two groups have many mutual goals and the joint effort makes sense.

“Both of us value the wonderful green space and the river,” Ringaert explains. This is the first time in its 30-year existence that SOS has worked with a golf course in a formal effort.

Youville to become home to new youth hub

New youth health and wellness services are coming to the St. Boniface and St. vital areas.

In March, I was excited to announce that our government is contributing $1.92 million toward the creation of five new youth hubs in the province. One of these hubs will be run by Youville in the south end of the city.

These hubs will be a new way of delivering care to youth aged 12 to 29. Youth hubs will bring a variety of services together - from primary and mental health care to family therapy and substance use support - to create an easily accessible location for youth to get care tailored to their needs. The youth hubs will aim to not only provide more services but create smoother transitions between services and service providers.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to transform how we deliver services in a way that increases access and reduces barriers,” says Toni Tilston-Jones, executive director of Youville Clinic.

Prairie Crocus helps fund needed programs

Janice Howard is a Windsor Park resident who is passionate about her day job. She is a manager at the Prairie Crocus Thrift, which raises funds for free counselling and addictions programs in Winnipeg.

When Howard initially applied for the job three years ago, she wasn’t sure they would see her as the right fit.

“I am a little bit different because I am full of tattoos and I have a very outgoing attitude,” she says.

But she had ideas to grow the store and raise more funds.

Reaching out through reading

February marks I Love to Read Month in Manitoba. Anyone who knows me knows that I love this opportunity to promote reading. This month is a great reminder of how valuable it can be to spend time reading with your kids or to encourage their independent reading. It is also a good excuse for adults to pick up a new book from the store or library.

I am excited to be reading to students once again to mark I Love to Read Month. This month I will be doing virtual and video readings to students that align with the Manitoba Reading Association’s theme for this year which is “Joyful Reading in a new world.”

The theme promotes the ideas of finding more ways to read using different types of technology.

With this past year being unlike any other for many students, I wanted to showcase books with messages of hope and help for youth.

November is Domestic Violence Awareness month

November is Domestic Violence Awareness month in Manitoba. According to Statistics Canada, Manitoba has the second-highest rate of police-reported intimate partner violence among Canadian provinces.

Domestic violence is defined as people using abusive behaviour to control or hurt their partners. This can happen between married, separated or divorced people, current or former common-law partners, current or former dating partners and other intimate partners.

In Manitoba, we have many resources available to people experiencing domestic violence. From websites to crisis phone lines and shelters — please know we are here to help.

Resources available include 24-hour crisis and text lines. Call 1-877-977-0007 or text 204-792-5302 or 204-805-6682. Visit www.gov.mb.ca/familyviolence for information and lists of additional resources or locations where you can find help.