Derek Dabee

Filipino teachers’ association turns 45

The Manitoba Association of Filipino Teachers Inc. certainly knows how to plan a gala. Its 45th anniversary was a red-carpet event held at the posh Hilton Winnipeg Airport ballroom on Jan. 21. Over 280 guests from all over Manitoba attended the formal affair.

Learn to play cricket with Maples C.C.

Cricket is one of the fastest-growing sports in Manitoba and in Canada. Cricket is the third most-popular sport in the world after soccer and basketball. One of the reasons, the game is growing in Winnipeg is a huge volunteer community effort to coach and develop young cricketers.

‘Patriarch of Filipino basketball’ honoured

After two years of COVID-19 interruptions, the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame held its 18th induction dinner at the Victoria Inn on Oct. 1.

Bidding farewell to a long-serving trustee

Claudia Sarbit is the longest serving member of the Seven Oaks School Division’s board of trustees. After many years of stellar service in the public school system, Claudia is retiring at the end of October.

Super gardener

Mary Perera loves gardening and she is very good at it. Mary is recognized as a super gardener by her neighbours and friends.

Met School graduate receives huge scholarship

Armaandeep Dhanoa is a 2022 proud graduate of the Met High School in the Seven Oaks School Division. He has been a stellar student throughout his high school career and, in addition to his treasured diploma, Armaandeep was awarded several scholarships at his graduation ceremony, including the coveted $100,000 Schulich Leader scholarship.

Always a keen student, Armaandeep credited the Maples Met School for its innovative, engaging programs and the many real-world project opportunities that were huge contributors to his high school successes.

There are three Met high schools in the Seven Oaks School Division, which combine challenging academic work with real-life learning. The unique feature of the Met School is that students spend two days each week conducting informative interviews, attending shadow days and interning with mentors to learn hands-on. Students gain valuable work experience in the real world and get a more realistic view of what to expect if they pursue a career in a particular field.

Armaandeep was a well-rounded student in high school. His list of leadership and community service is amazing.

Filipino Street Fest returns June 18, 19

The Manitoba Filipino Street Festival will return in full force this month and the festival committee is adding a series of festival features that everyone and families can enjoy.

The huge, two-day event will be June 18 and 19 at held at the Maples Community Centre Multiplex (434 Adsum Dr.) and its expansive fields.

“We are excited to be back at our unofficial festival home in the Maples, in the heart of Filipino community in Manitoba,” said Ley Navarro, chairman of the festival board.

The Filipino community loves to come together and celebrate life, culture and to have a good time. It’s certainly one of the reasons it is the largest street festival in Manitoba.

Seven Oaks School Division stalwart set to retire

After 38 years as a senior official in the Manitoba public school system, Wayne Shimizu, secretary-treasurer of the Seven Oaks School Division, retired at the end of March.

The secretary-treasurer is the chief financial and communication officer of the school division, along with a series of additional responsibilities.

Wayne’s stellar career begun in 1984. Fresh out of the University of Manitoba and armed with an honours bachelor of commerce degree, he was hired by Seven Oaks as its payroll officer.

Wanting to further his career, after two years of additional studies Wayne received his chartered management accountant (now CPA), designation.

Basketball builder honoured by Manitoba HOF

Manny Aranez is not your typical sports superstar. However, he has been a mighty force in Manitoba basketball for decade. And on Oct. 1, 2022, Manny will be inducted into the coveted Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame as a builder of the sport.

During the past 35 years, Manny’s successes through his unceasing dedication to building organized community-based basketball is stunning. He launched the Philippine Basketball Association of Winnipeg with only seven teams league in 2001 – now he and his dedicated core of volunteers now register over 100 teams in 15 divisions, made of boys and girls of all nationalities.

“I like to acknowledge that the inclusion of teams and individuals from all nationalities into the PBA made a huge difference in the phenomenal growth to our league,” Aranez said.

Manny Aranez was born and raised in the Philippines in the small town of Balete. He started to play basketball when he was 12 years old but said he had only very limited playing time, because the ‘big boys’ were kings of the courts.

AIM aims to give back to the community

On Dec. 4, the Association of Ilocanos of Manitoba (AIM) celebrated its 12th anniversary with a colourful Christmas party at Maples Community Centre.

It was a much smaller event than the regular Christmas gala in the Skyview Ballroom at the Marlborough Hotel. Usually the gala is the main fundraising event for AIM.

This year, the novel Christmas celebration was a super-fun picnic and dance.

Over 180 revellers — members and friends — attended the party which featured an all-night buffet of 15 courses and non-stop line dancing.

The GCWCC turns 50 years old

Winnipeg’s community centres and libraries are some of the most valued facilities in the city, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the popular and unique community centre system.

“Fifty years ago, on Sept. 21, 1971, a group of volunteers came together to form the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres. Their vision was to create an organization to provide a central council where community representatives could meet and discuss opportunities and challenges,” said Lora Meseman, executive director of the GCWCC.

Today, GCWCC is a vibrant organization whose primary role is to act as a central resource hub to support the 63 community Centres in Winnipeg by providing advocacy and supporting volunteers in areas such as board governance, policy development, financial accountability and program and project development.

Winnipeg is renowned for its volunteers. Our 63 volunteer-based community centres are as diverse as the neighbourhoods they serve. These facilities provide a broad range of excellent sports and recreation opportunities, seniors’ activities, pickleball, cultural events and community services for all age groups.

Pop-up studio embraces South Asian culture

CBC Manitoba has ‘popped up’ in Garden City Shopping Centre with a remote newsroom bureau located in one of Winnipeg’s fastest-growing and most diverse neighbourhoods.

The project has many layers, from an artist collective to school artwork displays to community-run workshops and talks, and the space is designed to connect journalists with Winnipeg’s South Asian communities so that more listening and understanding can be shared between communities on the views and perspectives that matter to them.

This engagement journalism project is titled, Our Culture. Our Art, is co-ordinated by Lindsay MacKenzie, assisted by a committee of South Asian community leaders.

“It’s a  coming together of culture, art and spirituality, while making a physical space to listen to the issues that matter most to these communities during the weeks leading up to and after Diwali (the festival of lights),the most popular South Asian festival,” MacKenzie said.

A festival for the season at Maples CC

Winnipeg’s 2021 Raunak Teeyan Di was a huge success.

The popular women-only celebration was held outdoors on Aug. 28 at the Maples Community Centre baseball fields. Over 750 women and children attended the fun, day-long event.

This was the fourth annual festival produced by Can-Asian Team, whose lead organizers Sandeep Bhatti, Ravinder Bole, Ravinder Brar and Mandir Kaur - were supported by dozens of dedicated volunteers.

The star attraction was the renowned renowned Punjabi singer Nachhatar Gill who had everyone dancing non-stop. The festival is a carnival-like atmosphere at which women wore their finest traditional outfits, met with friends, made new friends and, of course, danced and feasted. The kids had fun with rides and play structures.

Meet a COVID-19 super volunteer

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a global crisis and a challenge for society at every level around the world.

With the pandemic seemingly on its way out, Manitobans can anticipate a huge sigh of relief and can now reflect on some of the many unsung heroes of the pandemic, such as the province’s front-line workers and thousands of dedicated volunteers.

Rufino Ranon is one of those amazing COVID-19 volunteers. He is a very active member of the Bayanihan (Filipino for ‘helping the community’).

Bayanihan sa Winnipeg was founded over two years ago by Edison Garcia and Dante Cruz. It’s a network of Winnipeggers who organize and volunteer to provide assistance to anyone, especially the most vulnerable in Winnipeg and in the Philippines.

Celebrating Philippine independence online

On June 12 — Philippine Independence Day — over 100 Filipinos from Winnipeg and across Canada gathered virtually for the first Halo Halo Summit hosted by Kultivation Festival, Prairie Asian Organizers, Alsyon Ng Ating Kabataan and  the Manitoba Filipino Business Council.

The groups came together for a day of diverse events meant to engage the community in discussions around Filipino identity, culture, mentorship and community building.

The summit included a Filipino Model Minority Mutiny workshop, a community panel discussion, a cooking demonstration, a youth career mentorship panel and a Filipino Professionals Happy Hour.

The event celebrated the 123rd anniversary of Philippine independence in a unique way, highlighting food, music and dance, while also centring on the experiences of first and second-generation Filipino-Canadians. The virtual event was an opportunity to share stories, successes and struggles.

School division joins third-wave battle

Since November 2020, northwest Winnipeg has been a COVID-19 hotspot. Now both the provincial government and the Seven Oaks Schools Division have taken actions to check the growing infection rates.

What is cause for serious concern is that most of the third-wave infections are of the aggressive variant strains.

On April 26, Health Minister Heather Stefanson said “We must continue to expand our vaccine campaign to reach those who are most at risk. Beginning today, all adults who live and work in the north (Manitoba) and in Seven Oaks West are eligible. This recognizes increase risk facing people particularly as variants of concern become more prevalent in Manitoba. Getting the vaccine will help people protect themselves, their love ones and their communities.”

Seven Oaks West consists mostly of the Maples, Mandalay West and Amber Trails communities, which are part of the Seven Oaks School Division.

Round up your e-waste and donate it

Electronic Waste Manitoba is set to run a spring electronic waste collection on May 1 at Maples Community Centre, in partnership with the community centre, the Filipino Music & Arts Association of Canada and the Electronic Recycling Association.

The event will run from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sat., May 1 in the parking lot at 434 Adsum Dr.

The program is the brainchild of former Seven Oaks School Division student Aira Villanuvea, now a student of University of Winnipeg. The e-waste initiative is in support of her scholarship sponsored by the ERA.

Some of the items accepted in the long list include: laptops/computers (Mac and PC), monitors, keyboards, docking stations, wires and cables, mobile phones, tablets, iPods & MP3/MP4 players, corded phones, answering machines, cameras and USBs, printers, fax machines, copiers, scanners, gaming accessories, stereo equipment, headphones and ear buds, charging cords, CDs, DVDs, VCR players, vinyl disc players and security cameras.

Beating the pandemic blues

Because of the prevailing  pandemic, being cooped-up and restricted from any real gathering will certainly have a huge effect on people’s well-being. However, folks are coming up with creative ways to beat the COVID-19 blues.

An open mic for seniors group, in association with Seven Oaks Immigration Services, is holding weekly online interactive concerts on Sundays that are open to all. Show times are 6 to 7:30 p.m.

“It’s a fun avenue where seniors could stay connected and they can have the opportunity to share their hidden talents in singing, telling a story or a joke and even play an instrument,” said co-ordinator Ernesto Ofiaza.

To participate, please email: settlement@7osks.org

Black History Manitoba celebrates 40 years

The Black History Manitoba Celebration Committee has been active in Winnipeg for the past 40 years. During the month of February, which is Black History Month, it has scheduled a series of popular events.

This year’s Black History Manitoba organizing committee is powered by a small group of dedicated volunteers. The celebrations raise awareness of the contributions made by the Black community to all aspects of our province, including education, government, arts, sports, health and business.

The vibrant BHMCC has lots to celebrate this year.

It is celebrating not only its 40th anniversary but a new name and logo. The committee was formerly called Black History Month Winnipeg.

Seven Oaks takes on the challenge of COVID-19

With the second wave of COVID-19 in full fury, the Seven Oaks School Division is rising to the challenges to provide a safe and productive space for all of its students and staff.

On Jan. 4, all Manitoba schools officially reopened following the holiday break. However, all students in Manitoba were instructed to stay home until Jan. 15 and receive remote instruction. This was a planned provincial health order — aimed at stemming the tide of COVID-19 infections.

School divisions are working in tandem with the provincial government. Teachers and students are using education technologies such as laptop computers, iPads and smartphones to facilitate remote learning.

“Our staff have been incredible, creative and dedicated, adapting to new and evolving circumstances throughout the pandemic. IT staff have been invaluable in supporting remote learning and lending devices to students who need them,” said superintendent Brian O’Leary.

Seven Oaks SD to develop anti-racism policy

The Black Lives Matter movement has created a moment of racial reckoning like we have never seen before. From an educational lens, we are compelled to dig deeper to move beyond multiculturalism, diversify and inclusion.

Led by divisional principal Rebecca Chartrand, the Seven Oaks School Division launched an anti-racism initiative to develop a solid anti-racism policy.

Canada prides itself on being a country of peace, human rights and equity. However, like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the Black Lives Matter movement illuminates historical inequalities that continue to shape present outcomes for those who have been marginalized or oppressed, namely Indigenous, Black and people of colour in Canada.

“For these reasons, we must continue to actively educate ourselves and others about this history and consider how we respond through Canadian education institutions,” said Rebecca.

Schools make use of community centre spaces

Manitoba is in its eighth month of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and schools have been forced to be clever and creative to obtain additional classroom space in response to new physical- and social-distance requirements.

Last week, the entire province of Manitoba was moved into critical or code red status on its pandemic response system; however, public health officials have determined that keeping schools open is what is best for students and working parents.

The code red restrictions included the closing of all Winnipeg community centres and public libraries and call mandatory mask-wearing in public.

With the strict distancing protocols, schools are pressed to find additional schoolrooms and gym spaces.

Tennis courts were a hub of fun

The north Winnipeg tennis hub at 711 Jefferson Ave. is somewhat of a secret, where avid area tennis players enjoyed great tennis weather into early October.

This year’s tennis season was wrapped up with an annual community tournament with over 38 players participating. Due to COVID-19 distancing regulations, the tournament games were played over the course of three weekends. On game days, physically distanced karaoke singing and potluck dinners were on the menu.

Some of the tournament champions include: Richard Handel - A1 singles; Edmond Filoteo - A2 singles; Lito Magduso and Mauro Ignacio - A1 doubles; Richard Ong and Henry Francisco - A2 doubles; Enrecia Venura and Gem Matic - A3 doubles and Carson Gloria and Aarav Sharma were youth finalists.

Nestled behind Garden City Collegiate, the popular tennis venue features a cluster of seven tennis courts. Built in the 1970s, the facility is jointly owned by the City of Winnipeg and the Seven Oaks School Division.

Maples CC slowly getting back on track

Even with COVID-19 protocols and distancing guidelines, most of  Winnipeg’s 64 community centres are partially open and busy with community sports and recreation activities.

Centres were closed during the spring and only since late June have some begun reopening.

Since it’s not business as usual, various community centres are being creative and facilitating programs and events in limited ways.

Maples Community Centre serves the Maples, Amber Trails and surrounding areas, and its regular league programs have given way to smaller group and informal activities at the centre.