Janice Morley-Lecomte

Celebrating the fall season

Fall has arrived. Students are back at school, sports programs have started, and leaves are starting to change colour and fall to the ground. As we prepare for the changing season, we also embrace the holidays and community events that have passed and are yet to be celebrated.

Busy summer in Seine River

With summer ending and students eagerly looking forward to returning to school and reconnecting with classmates, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the last couple of months.

Summer announcements, best wishes

The familiar buzz of mosquitoes, the hum of lawnmowers and the beautiful landscapes filled with blooming flowers welcomes the summer season. June was a busy and exciting month. Graduates celebrated with family and friends, school tours to the legislative building resumed and we finished another legislative session.

This session saw a total of 33 bills passed and I would like to highlight some recent announcements made by our provincial government.

First, more than $20 million is being allocated to build on previous investments in strengthening student support and learning across kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in the upcoming school year. This funding will help schools continue to address student learning with a focus on re-engaging students whose learning has been most disrupted during the pandemic. In response to consultations with school divisions across the province and as part of the government’s implementation of Manitoba’s K to 12 Education Action Plan, this $20-million fund will prioritize investments in literacy and numeracy, mental health and well-being, student re-engagement, and additional supports for students with diverse learning needs. In addition to the $20 million in funding, $3 million has been dedicated toward Teachers’ Idea Fund proposals that emphasize mental health and well-being. This includes initiatives that focus on social and emotional learning and provide enhanced mental health resources and support for the students and staff in schools.

Second, Minister of Education Wayne Ewasko, along with Karina Gould, federal minister of families, children and social development, announced a joint investment in child care; nearly $37 million will be allocated to implement a wage grid that will support wage equity for the early childhood workforce in funded child-care facilities. This investment will support dedicated staff who provide high-quality care and early learning opportunities that promote positive early childhood development outcomes, setting the stage for the lifelong success for young Manitobans. The funding will allow non-profit child-care boards to develop fair, consistent and competitive wage scales for early childhood educators and child-care assistants across the province.

A quick roundup of March activity and events

Melting snow, potholes and the sound of geese honking are sure signs that spring has arrived. The warmer weather also brings to a conclusion the 20222 Last Snowman Winnipeg contest. Congratulations to Mr. Caspar and his snow couple Fern and Doris, on being the overall winner of the 2022 contest. Thank you to all who participated in this great winter activity.

Spring marks the beginning of a new legislative session and in a short time several bills have been passed. Bill 10 and Bill 12 are two of these. Bill 10 is an amendment to the Health Services Insurance Act, the Pharmaceutical Act, and various corporate statutes. It allows pharmacists to continue conducting COVID-19 tests, and for government-mandated boards to be allowed to meet and vote digitally. Bill 12 is the Peak of the Market Reorganization Act, which makes it possible for small market gardeners who grow root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions to sell directly to customers. Growers can now sell without the marketing board or restrictions based on the size of their farm. Peak of the Market will continue to operate as a not-for-profit in the province of Manitoba.

Asian Women of Winnipeg hosted an International Women’s Day event last month. AWOW is a wonderful non-profit organization that aims to promote, educate, and empower women living in Winnipeg. The event was a celebration to recognize Dr. Anju Bajaj, Dr. Kernjeet Kaur Sandhu, and Yenny Trinh for their tremendous achievements in their respective fields. Dr. Bajaj is the vice-principal and STEM Educator at Holy Cross School; Dr. Kaur Sandhu is a family physician; and Yenny Trinh is a lawyer. All are outstanding leaders in their communities, and it was an honour to be a part of an event celebrating the incredible women living in our province.

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, a week-long agriculture fair and exhibition, is held annually in Brandon during spring break. Unfortunately, owing to COVID-19, it hasn’t been held since 2019, which made its return this year even more exciting. The event is full of world-class show jumping, heavy horse competitions, livestock sales and displays, a hands-on agricultural education program, live entertainers, and much more.

Plenty to celebrate in February

Winter offers many opportunities for young and old to enjoy the abundance of outdoor activities. This year the increased snowfall has benefitted many outdoor enthusiasts, as they participate in their favourite winter activities. Outdoor parks are busy with people skating, skiing, walking, and enjoying the beauty of a winter wonderland. For others, the snow has meant a daily workout as snow is shovelled from sidewalks and driveways. Thankfully, the calendar has turned another page and we are in February, which brings with it warmer temperatures, noticeably longer daylight hours and the beginning of outdoor and indoor festivities.  Black History Month, Festival du Voyageur and the Chinese New Year are three of the many things celebrated February.  Music, activities, food, and artists share their talents with guests who visit the on-line or in-person venues. February is a month of celebrations honouring history, culture, education and family and friends.  Black History Month has events scheduled throughout the month, honouring the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities.  Festival du Voyageur, which runs Feb. 18 to 27, is the largest winter festival in western Canada, celebrates French-Canadian culture. This year, the 10-day festival will be hosted at an online venue and at its Fort Gibraltar location. This year is the year of the tiger on the Chinese calendar. Celebrated after the last new moon at the end of January, this year’s celebrations begin Feb. 1 and ended February 15. Happy new year to all who celebrate the lunar new year.  February is also I Love to Read Month, a month-long celebration promoting the importance of literacy. According to the Manitoba Reading Association, this year’s I Love to Read Month theme is Moving Forward with Hope. In the past, February has been a month full of book fairs and visits to local schools to read to the students. While we may not be back to celebrating in this manner, I am excited to participate in the festivities in whatever way possible and share with students the joy and value of reading. Budget 2022 online consultation feedback closed at the end of January, and I want to thank the many Manitobans who participated in the many online stakeholder and town hall discussions.  Feedback on Budget 2022 is important and gives insight to what matters to Manitobans and their families.If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out and contact my constituency office at Janice.seineriverMLA@mymts.net  

Winter offers many opportunities for young and old to enjoy the abundance of outdoor activities. This year the increased snowfall has benefitted many outdoor enthusiasts, as they participate in their favourite winter activities. Outdoor parks are busy with people skating, skiing, walking, and enjoying the beauty of a winter wonderland. 

For others, the snow has meant a daily workout as snow is shovelled from sidewalks and driveways. Thankfully, the calendar has turned another page and we are in February, which brings with it warmer temperatures, noticeably longer daylight hours and the beginning of outdoor and indoor festivities.  

Notes from the legislature

As we are now in the depths of the winter season, it can be difficult to find fun activities to take part in, but here are a few you should know about:

• This year, in lieu of the Breakfast with Santa, Dakota Community Centre will be hosting a Skate with Santa event on Dec. 23. Families can enjoy a great winter activity and get their pictures taken with Santa Claus.  

•  The St. Norbert Arts Centre is holding Community Sundays in December, featuring activities including an outdoor winter wonderland, featuring a bonfire, snow art, ice sculptures, hot apple cider, and much more.

Notes from the legislature

As we are now in the depths of the winter season, it can be difficult to find fun activities to take part in, but here are a few you should know about:

• This year, in lieu of the Breakfast with Santa, Dakota Community Centre will be hosting a Skate with Santa event on Dec. 23. Families can enjoy a great winter activity and get their pictures taken with Santa Claus.   

• The St. Norbert Arts Centre is holding Community Sundays in December, featuring activities including an outdoor winter wonderland, featuring a bonfire, snow art, ice sculptures, hot apple cider, and much more.

☐ ☐ ☐

The busy season falls upon us

Well, it’s official, fall has begun. The leaves have started to change colours, the weather has started to cool down, and we’re fully into the swing of back-to-school season.

Between the sadness of saying goodbye to summer, and the excitement of going back to school, it is a very bittersweet time of the year for many Manitobans.

An important part of the back-to-school season is the preparation and acquiring of school supplies for the upcoming year. I am happy that, thanks to Telus Kits for Kids, we were able to donate a number of backpacks, fully stocked with supplies, to the schools in our community. Every year Telus makes it possible for us to give back to the students in our community, and this year was no exception.

September also brings along Tim Hortons’ Smile Cookie Week. The funds raised through the sale of smile cookies will be donated to the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation and the St. Amant Foundation, to help support children and adults with disabilities. Smile Cookie Week is such a wonderful way for people to get a delicious treat while giving back to their community.

The busy season falls upon us

Well, it’s official, fall has begun. The leaves have started to change colours, the weather has started to cool down, and we’re fully into the swing of back-to-school season.

Between the sadness of saying goodbye to summer, and the excitement of going back to school, it is a very bittersweet time of the year for many Manitobans.

An important part of the back-to-school season is the preparation and acquiring of school supplies for the upcoming year. I am happy that, thanks to Telus Kits for Kids, we were able to donate a number of backpacks, fully stocked with supplies, to the schools in our community. Every year Telus makes it possible for us to give back to the students in our community, and this year was no exception.

September also brings along Tim Hortons’ Smile Cookie Week. The funds raised through the sale of smile cookies will be donated to the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation and the St. Amant Foundation, to help support children and adults with disabilities. Smile Cookie Week is such a wonderful way for people to get a delicious treat while giving back to their community.I would like to take the opportunity now to highlight a local family making efforts to educate individuals about puppy breeding.

Great summer weather offers needed normalcy

What a lovely summer we’ve had!

Between the gorgeous weather and the easing of public health restrictions, it’s been a welcome treat after the challenging year we’ve all endured. It’s been so nice to regain some sense of normalcy, and I would just like to thank all Manitobans for coming together to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Over the past year, many activities we have come to cherish have had to be postponed or cancelled. It’s great to once again see baseball diamonds alive with activity and the Lacrosse fields utilized by the many leagues throughout our city.

Another great outdoor activity that has seen an increase in interest is canoeing, and several new launch sites have been built to accommodate this growing number of newfound canoers. LaBarriere Park, located outside St. Norbert, along the Seine River, known for its many paths, fields, and sport areas, now boasts of a canoe launch site. The new site is easily accessible and accommodates more than one canoe being launched or docked.

Enjoy the tastes of summer in south Winnipeg

Summer is well underway, and families have been enjoying the warmer temperatures and visiting some of their favorite summer getaways. Local campgrounds are booked, beaches offer relief from the heat wave, and others are discovering restaurants and drive-ins, the hidden gems, throughout our province.

Local organizations such as TJ’s Gift, Dakota Community Centre, and St. Timothy’s Knights Charity golf for St.Amant will be holding golf tournaments in August. Summer camps have re-opened, and league sports have officially started up. Events are a great way to bring the community together, get everyone outside in the fresh air, and allow people to get to know fellow community members.

This year, many festivals and community events are cancelled, eliminating the opportunity to try local foods made by our amazing local talents but many online sights have been born to fill this niche.  

A great online site, offering travellers names of local restaurants, is the Manitoba Small Town Drive-Ins Review, which  rates drive-ins throughout the province on its Facebook page.

Enjoy the tastes of summer in South Winnipeg

Summer is well underway, and families have been enjoying the warmer temperatures and visiting some of their favourite summer getaways. Local campgrounds are booked, beaches offer relief from the heat wave, and others are discovering restaurants and drive-ins, the hidden gems, throughout our province.

Local organizations such as TJ’s Gift, Dakota Community Centre, and St. Timothy’s Knights Charity golf for St.Amant will be holding golf tournaments in August. Summer camps have re-opened, and league sports have officially started up. Events are a great way to bring the community together, get everyone outside in the fresh air, and allow people to get to know fellow community members

This year, many festivals and community events are cancelled, eliminating the opportunity to try local foods made by our amazing local talents but many online sights have been born to fill this niche. 

A great online site, offering travellers names of local restaurants, is the Manitoba Small Town Drive-Ins Review, which  rates drive-ins throughout the province on its Facebook page.This year, Folklorama will be hosted virtually, with events to entertain and delight everyone. Folklorama began in 1970 and has grown into the largest and longest-lasting festival of its kind. The celebration of culture is shared with thousands of people every August. In South Winnipeg, we are fortunate to have many local restaurants that specialize in food from many cultures. 

Plenty to celebrate, be proud of this June

June has officially begun, which means summer is right around the corner.

In addition to summer and warm weather, June honours many individuals but this year’s celebrations for Father’s Day may be different from those of the past. This year, families will honor dads through phone calls, FaceTime chats, other virtual arrangements or through the many memories they have of their fathers.

I would like to wish all fathers a Happy Father’s Day.

☐ ☐ ☐

Youth jobs, Green Teams grants on tap

I’m pleased to highlight a recent provincial announcement of over $25 million to support more than 8,000 youth employment opportunities this summer through the new Manitoba Youth Jobs Program and existing Green Team grants.

The new $15 million Manitoba Youth Jobs Program will provide employers a 50 per cent subsidy on wages paid to eligible employees during the period of May 1 to Sept. 30 this year, with a maximum of up to $25,000 per employer.

We anticipate the program will help more than 2,000 Manitoba employers recover from the pandemic and create sustainable long-term, seasonal and short-term employment opportunities for more than 6,000 Manitoba youth.

We are also investing more than $10 million in Green Team grant programs to help an estimated 2,000 young Manitobans find summer employment and gain valuable work experience. This includes nearly $9 million for the Urban and Hometown Green Team program and more than $1 million for the Manitoba Parks Green Team.