Donna Minkus

Uncovering history in Manitoba

In a presentation to the Charleswood Historical Society, Ed Fread, a senior project archeologist at WSP in Canada, discussed two archeological projects conducted in Manitoba.

Driedger focused on women’s rights

As a community correspondent for Charleswood, I would be remiss in not acknowledging the contributions that Roblin MLA Myrna Driedger has made to the community during her 25 years in public service. I do not know Myrna personally, but I am aware of her presence in and commitment to the Charleswood and Headingley communities she represents.

Sprucing up Assiniboine Forest

Many years ago – before I knew Charleswood existed – I was visiting a friend who lived near the Perimeter. I hadn’t driven that far west on Grant Avenue before so I was shocked to find myself driving through what appeared to be a forest. Who knew that 35 years later I would make many visits to that same forest — the largest urban nature forest in Canada.

Safeguards required to protect the vulnerable

Community review – west November 15/22

Generational knowledge is the best knowledge

There seems to be a day to mark everything these days so I shouldn’t have been surprised to learn that Sept. 11 was National Grandparents Day. That discovery was a good fit with a thought that had been percolating in the mind. Namely, do grandparents play a significant role in a child’s life?

Community support helps overcome adversity

I wrote a column several months ago suggesting Charleswood is not keeping pace with some other suburban communities, and needs to grow both in terms of business and population.

Continued support vital for Ukraine

Those who attended the Roblin Community Leaders luncheon on June 3, heard how the war in Ukraine is not only affecting the Ukrainian people, but also all of us. In a presentation entitled Get real in times of war — how to support Ukraine, Olga Shmelova, who immigrated from Ukrainian eight years ago and is now director of mental health and addiction at Resource Assistance for Youth (RAY), provided insight and ideas about how we can support those caught in this crisis.

“When war started in Ukraine, people had 30 minutes to decide to stay or go — a decision that was forced upon them when the Russian army invaded their country,” Shmelova said. “The Ukrainian people went to sleep on Feb. 23 and woke on Feb. 24 to explosions.”

That was the beginning of what she called a “genocide”. Neither Invasion nor genocide is new to Ukraine, she noted, pointing to the invasion of Crimea in 2014. What is new is the resilience and spirit of the Ukrainian people fighting for their freedom and their future.

While this war is being fought on Ukraine soil, the whole world is affected, she stressed — from sky-rocketing gasoline prices to images of devastation and starvation. Many people are experiencing mental health and anxiety issues.

‘Reverse retirement’ gifts support zoo

Some of us wonder what to do to celebrate our retirement. Brian Wotton, who recently retired after years of service to Super 8 Winnipeg West and Motel 6 Winnipeg West, part of the Schinkel Properties Hospitality Division, knew exactly what to do. For his retirement, he took it upon himself to make a donation to the Assiniboine Park Conservatory for the Animal Care Fund of the Assiniboine Park Zoo.

His “reverse retirement” gift, as he calls it, includes a personal donation of $500, plus a framed print of an exciting style of artwork, depicting a mother polar bear and her two cubs.

The print, called Motherhood, by Dustin Crocker from Hamilton, Ont. is done in the freehand ‘stipple’ artform, which involves using dots to form a picture.

In addition to the framed print that was presented to the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, Wotton acquired several prints of the same artwork, and has presented the framed prints to the Super 8 West, Super 8 East, and Motel 6, and Schinkel head office. All prints are signed by the artist.

Charleswood needs more people to grow business

In my March 8 column (“Assessing the future of Charleswood”, Free Press Community Review, West edition), I raised concerns about what I thought to be a lack of business growth in Charleswood. Reader Raymon Grewal wrote to suggest that it is not only business growth that is declining. It is also Charleswood’s population. This surprised me. People want to live in Charleswood so I assumed the residential area had continued to grow.

However, his email included a link to a website that maps out the areas of Winnipeg that gained and lost population during between 2016 and 2021.

“Almost all neighbourhoods in Charleswood lost population, and the ones that gained population grew much slower than the City of Winnipeg’s average population growth during this time period,” he pointed out.

Grewal, who is currently studying urban development, offered some suggestions as to why this may be happening. I have paraphrased his observations and suggestions in the following synopsis:

Help HSC’s RR5 unit help patients get moving

On Nov. 30, which was Giving Tuesday, charities across the city, province and country sought donations to help their causes.

The Health Sciences Centre Foundation was one of them. Having made Metro readers aware of the need for donations such as iPads and laptops for COVID-19 patients about a year ago, Natasha Havrilenko, marketing and communications manager at the HSC Foundation, wondered if I might be able to help again.  

Although the deadline for my column didn’t coincide with Giving Tuesday, I agreed to help raise awareness of the need to raise funds for equipment, such as a sports wheelchair, for the HSC’s RR5 unit.

The RR5 unit helps build and improve independence and quality of life for patients who have suffered spinal cord injuries, endured amputations and been diagnosed with neuromuscular disorders. The specialty adult rehabilitation unit provides beds, teaches skills, and helps patients who have lost muscle, mobility and limbs to become as independent as possible before returning to the community.

How the Harte Trail came to be

Having written columns about Charleswood’s history in the past, I was looking forward to Eileen MacDonald’s History of Charleswood presentation to learn more about topics I may be able to cover in the future.

Unfortunately, I was unable to access the Zoom presentation offered by South Winnipeg Senior Resource Centre.

Suffice to say, I’m not great with technology. I was, however, able to obtain the topics she covered and decided to zero in on Harte Trail, having enjoyed many walks along this pathway. The following information is a brief summary based on the Charleswoood Historical Society presentation, as well as sources including Friends of the Harte Trail, who can be found at www.hartetrail.com

Locals know the Harte Trail, a 6.5 kilometre strip of wilderness, as a great place to walk, run, cycle, cross country ski or just explore nature. But, what many may not know is that Harte Trail is actually on an old railway bed. Some of the original wooden railroad ties to which the steel rail were attached can still be seen. Over the years plants, shrubs and trees have grown up and the natural growth acts as a shelter for a path that now has a crushed limestone surface.  

Still waiting for the joy of summer

Everyone is tired, it seems. Tired of talking about COVID-19, tired of COVID restrictions and tired of the constant threat that each wave won’t be the last.

I thought it was just me but after talking to others about how their summers were going, it seems many are feeling the same way. Things just feel off. No one really knows why. Maybe we’ve become so accustomed to behaving in a prescribed manner that when we come close to something we used to call normal, it feels strange.

In real normal times, July is my favourite month. This year it came and went and I’m still waiting to feel the joy of summer. Did the hype around the province’s 4-3-2-One Great Summer campaign raise our expectations too much?  Or maybe it’s the relentless smoke from the fires that’s putting a damper on things.

For the most part, things are pretty much the same. Despite the fact that more than 70 per cent of Manitobans are fully vaccinated and almost 80 have had at least one dose of a vaccine, it seems some of us are still convinced that if we happen to walk too close to someone or touch an object someone has touched, we just may get infected with the virus.

Shining light on the plight of factory animals

There have been a couple articles about the Little Red Barn Micro Sanctuary in Charleswood lately and as an animal advocate myself, I wanted to add my congratulations to the compassionate young woman - Jessica Walker - who founded the sanctuary and plans a career in animal welfare. Katlyn Streilein’s article “A second chance for barnyard animals,” (The Metro, June 3) reported how Jessica had saved 1,700 hens from slaughter - hens that have been kept in battery cages and hadn’t seen the light of day.   Aaron Epp’s article “Animal magnetism,” (Winnipeg Free Press, June 19) expanded on the thousands of rescues that followed - among them chickens, pigs, sheep, dairy cows and horses. The catalyst for the sanctuary was a science fair project where Jessica learned about factory farming and the environmental impact of animal agriculture.  What she discovered compelled her to start and run the animal sanctuary.  While creating the sanctuary is an admirable undertaking and the animals that have found a home there are very lucky, it is impossible to rescue every animal headed for slaughter. What needs to change is the mindset of those who believe it is OK to keep animals in cages and slaughter up to 1,000 an hour.  The change in mindset must include our government, which encourages and supports the expansion of industrialized hog barns.I have written to three government officials to express my concerns on this front.First, to the deputy minister - my focus of concern was the use of gestation crates in hog barns. Sows spend most of their lives in crates so small they cannot move or turn around. The crates were supposed to be phased out in 2024 (having given producers 10 years to make the change) and now producers are asking for an extension to 2029.   I received a response stating appropriate regulations are being enforced.I then wrote to the Minister of Agriculture about the pending ag gap legislation, which would deny concerned citizens the opportunity to protest against inhumane treatment and abuse of animals in factory farms. I understand that the legislation has quietly passed. Finally I wrote to Premier Pallister because the regulations under which the hog barns operate are the problem, including: systemic animal abuse - particularly the use of gestation crates; a highly subsidized industry with roughly 94 per cent of the meat exported along with most of the profit to foreign investors while 100 per cent the waste stays in Manitoba; too many hog barns (590 to be exact) many of which have more than 5,000 pigs per barn - creating more manure than the soil can absorb so the waste runs into rivers and streams that drain in Lake Winnipeg, resulting in growth of blue-green algae, which is toxic to humans and animals.It is not enough for the government to enforce regulations. It needs to change the regulations to address the problems that factory farms, and in particular hog barns, create for the animals, the communities in which they operate and the environment.       Eventually, we will evolve into a society where systemic animal abuse will not be tolerated. Education is the key to this evolutionary process and hopefully the next generation, with people like Jessica Walker, will lead the way to enlightened animal welfare.  

There have been a couple articles about the Little Red Barn Micro Sanctuary in Charleswood lately and as an animal advocate myself, I wanted to add my congratulations to the compassion young woman - Jessica Walker - who founded the sanctuary and plans a career in animal welfare. 

Katlyn Streilein’s article “A second chance for barnyard animals,” (The Metro, June 3) reported how Jessica had saved 1,700 hens from slaughter - hens that have been kept in battery cages and hadn’t seen the light of day.   

Take decluttering, downsizing step by step

If you’re planning a move or just want to simplify your life, start by getting rid of what you don’t need, according to Lisa Sinnicks, The Seniors Moving Company, who led a Zoom workshop on decluttering and downsizing for the South Winnipeg Senior Resources Council.

Downsizing is a process whereby you reduce things and space to make day-to-day life simpler, Sinnicks says.  It’s a balance between managing the belongings you have and what you need to make your home your home.

You need a strategy for downsizing, she points out. When you touch a piece of paper you need to make a decision about it.  Anything that is updated annually (like property taxes) you can get rid of the last copy.  When tackling areas like a linen closet, get rid of what you’re not using any more.  Sheets, for example, can be donated to a pet rescue.  In the kitchen, sort through pots and pans. If you have two sets, keeps the one you use.

Have a box open and as soon as you fill it, tape it up and start on the next one.  Otherwise you may go back in and change your mind about items you’ve discarded.

Lobster Fest set to return in 2021

The Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Charleswood’s Lobster Fest is back - with a different format - but the same great meal will be available through curbside pickup on May 29.    

What began as a garden party at the home of Rotarian members Nancy and Dave Morris, the Lobster Fest fundraiser has become a 35-year tradition for the club and is usually enjoyed at Eric Coy Arena, except for last year when it was cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This year, a decision was made to change the format to comply with COVID protocols, so we could continue the event,” said Jim Forestell, chair of the Rotary Club’s Lobster Fest committee.

The 2021 Lobster Fest will be held on Sat., May 29 and, while the dinner selection will be the same - pre-cooked lobster or chicken - the meals will have to be picked up at Varsity View Community Centre, at 315 Laxdal Rd., Forestell explained.

Hearing is essential to connecting in a pandemic

Living with hearing loss is a challenge in normal times but when the pandemic took hold and mask-wearing became the norm, some people began to notice difficulties hearing people talking through masks.

Hearing and communication is essential, especially now, says Kristy Stefanson-Tarasoff, a registered hearing instrument practitioner and owner of Ear Architects Hearing Care, located at 3412 Roblin Blvd..

“We need to be able to hear and understand what’s going on around us to have that human connection,” Kristy says. “My passion is to help people to hear and understand hearing loss, and the benefits of early treatment.”

Kristy completed the hearing aid practitioner program while living in Calgary and worked in the industry for more than 10 years before moving back to Winnipeg in 2018. She opened Ear Architects Hearing Care the following year in Charleswood, the community being a good fit for her business.

Support the HSC Foundation’s COVID-19 fund

Health-care workers have been at the forefront of patient care since the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in our city and province. To show gratitude and acknowledge those who have sacrificed so much, the Health Sciences Centre Foundation has created a special fund that supports front-line workers and their patients.   The HSC Foundation COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund was established in March 2020 and continues to evolve in response to changing needs.I became aware of the fund when my nephew, Randall Hofley, who is from Winnipeg but now lives and practises law in Ottawa, made a contribution  and invited family members to help reach a goal he had set in the Hofley-Minkus family name. His invitation to participate included a link to the donation website, so I decided to check it out. I listened to an interview with Jonathan Lyon, president  and CEO of the HSC Foundation, and learned that the fund initially provided patients in intensive care with iPads so they could connect with loved ones, and that telephones and televisions were also provided to patients in hospital wards. Since patients could not have visitors, they could talk to their families on the phone, and the televisions helped them pass the time, allowing front-line workers to focus on their care.   Information provided by Natasha Havrilenko, HSC Foundation’s marketing and communications officer,  indicates the fund has provided complimentary phone, television and video chat services for patients at more than 500 beds and these technologies will continue to be funded for at least the next four months.   The fund also provides support for front-line workers through its “feeding the front-lines” initiative, which provides complimentary meals to frontline health care workers at HSC.As the pandemic unfolds and needs change, the COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund has purchased a wide range of equipment to fill various needs. For example, equipment for patient care includes 35 high-flow nasal cannula machines (which deliver oxygen) to keep people off ventilators for as long as possible. Equipment to support HSC’s virtual COVID-19 outpatient program for people recovering at home was also purchased and includes tablets, thermometers and oximeters (which measure oxygen levels).  The foundation wants the fund to be available for the duration of the pandemic so it will continue to raise money to meet emerging needs. For instance, three portable ventilators are required when transporting patients and at bedsides outside the intensive care unit.Manitobans are known for their generosity and the foundation is asking all who are able to step up and make a donation to the COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund, according to their means. Any amount will be appreciated, and those who make a donation of at least $15 will be provided with a tax receipt.To find out more or to make a contribution, visit www.hscfoundation.mb.ca or call 1-204-515-5612. 

Health-care workers have been at the forefront of patient care since the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in our city and province. To show gratitude and acknowledge those who have sacrificed so much, the Health Sciences Centre Foundation has created a special fund that supports front-line workers and their patients.   

The HSC Foundation COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund was established in March 2020 and continues to evolve in response to changing needs.

Learning to fight a universal bully

At this time of year, we are usually making resolutions for the new year. But at the close of 2020, our sights are set on another kind of resolution — protecting ourselves from a bully called COVID-19. This analogy came to mind while listening to the never-ending commentary on a virus that seeks out the vulnerable, attacks the weakest, and threatens those who want to help. To following through — how do we deal with this universal bully?  One way is to try to avoid it by social distancing and wearing masks, as we have been doing. Another way is to muster a defence, and according to one medical expert, that means getting healthy so we can boost our immune systems and fight the virus. Even when the vaccine is distributed, there will likely be other viruses, he said. What we can do at an individual level, in addition to the protocols of hand washing, mask-wearing and social distancing, is protect ourselves by developing good habits that include eating nutritious food, exercising and getting a good night’s sleep.Of course, that advice only works for those of us who are relatively healthy in the first place. What about the most vulnerable,   such as those in personal care homes? As we know, COVID-19 has preyed upon the older population and those who have underlying health conditions and, after it attacked the weakest, it sought out those who cared for them.COVID-19, however, didn’t create the systemic problems that allowed it to take hold in personal care homes. It exposed them.  The shortage of staff has been a disaster in the making for some time.  As anyone who has any involvement with a loved one in a care home knows, more resources are needed to provide proper care to our elderly.  Now everyone knows. And just maybe this long-standing crisis will finally be addressed.This pandemic has exposed weaknesses in other areas of health care as well, including the lack of mental health resources. Anyone who has mental health issues is more likely to be affected by the stress, anxiety and loneliness this pandemic has delivered, according to mental health experts. Will there be help for those who need it?  There have been attempts to find something good that has come out of this pandemic, but I have a little trouble with the sentiments offered up.  I do acknowledge that it has taught us a few lessons — that shaking hands really isn’t necessary, and that blowing out birthday candles adds virus particles to the frosting.   Now that we know about “moist talk”, I don’t know if I’ll ever again feel comfortable eating at a table for four — or any number, for that matter.Once we get the vaccine, maybe we’ll forget these lessons and resume some kind of normalcy. But until we actually get a needle in an arm, our best defence against this bully COVID is to try to avoid it by following protective protocols, staying healthy and hoping that the powers that be can come up with the necessary resources to fix a failing health care system.

At this time of year, we are usually making resolutions for the new year. But at the close of 2020, our sights are set on another kind of resolution — protecting ourselves from a bully called COVID-19. 

This analogy came to mind while listening to the never-ending commentary on a virus that seeks out the vulnerable, attacks the weakest, and threatens those who want to help. 

To following through — how do we deal with this universal bully?  

Travelling with trepidation

I recently had my first experience with travel since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. I know I’m bad. Non-essential travel was discouraged when code red was implemented in the province. But we had made travel plan sto go to Victoria, B.C.  when the case numbers were low in Manitoba, and since cases were almost non-existent in Victoria at the time of our scheduled departure, we decided to go ahead with our trip.We did wonder about restrictions for travellers from Manitoba to Vancouver Island, but numerous calls to the B.C. COVID-19 hotline provided reassurance that there were no restrictions for travellers or requirements for isolation upon arrival.My biggest concern about making the trip was wearing a mask for an extended period of time, and social distancing on the flights.We were disappointed to find that our flight to Calgary was full. What happened to promises of socially distanced flights? I think I know. The flight we had booked was re-booked to an almost-full flight, so I was glad that we had reserved seats. It was unfortunate that the person next to me had his elbow in my ribs for most of the flight but other than that annoyance, it was OK. It was also reassuring that everyone flight obeyed the mask rule as well as the request to exit row-by-row, instead of the stampede that normally takes place when the seat belt signal is turned off.The three-hour layover in Calgary airport wasn’t good. There were very few people in the airport and basically all the restaurants are closed. That was too bad, as we thought we would have a reprieve from mask-wearing while we relaxed in a restaurant over lunch. Instead we had a quick bagel and sat in the socially distanced chairs.The flight to Victoria was uneventful except for an upset person in the next seat who announced he had paid $36 for the aisle seat that he had reserved and thought it was in business class — the row in front of us. I could have told him that business class seats cost considerably more than an additional $36 but didn’t want to carry on a conversation in such close quarters, even though we were wearing masks.My concern about mask wearing for roughly eight hours was unwarranted. As it turned out, it didn’t bother me as much as I had anticipated. I’m not saying it was pleasant but I guess it’s mind over matter. And I now have a greater appreciation for those workers who have to wear masks all day.I guess the bottom line is whether going ahead with the trip was a good idea. It wasn’t done without trepidation but we did enjoy the fact that most everything is open in Victoria — although masks are required — and we could walk around and enjoy the greenery. By the time this column comes out, we should be home and hopefully the COVID-19 case numbers will be down. I am looking forward to seeing the sun again. 

I recently had my first experience with travel since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. 

I know I’m bad. Non-essential travel was discouraged when code red was implemented in the province. But we had made travel plan sto go to Victoria, B.C.  when the case numbers were low in Manitoba, and since cases were almost non-existent in Victoria at the time of our scheduled departure, we decided to go ahead with our trip.