Nick Barnes

Celebrating our cultural diversity

Whyte Ridge’s Celebration of Cultural Diversity on April 30 was arguably one of the largest community events of the past 20 years.

The Whyte Ridge Community Centre, Henry G. Izatt Middle School and its parents’ council, and Pembina Active Living 55-plus jointly planned the celebration over the past six months. It evolved from previous successful events organized by the WRCC and PAL 55-plus at the community centre but, given space constraints, the decision was made to host it at the middle school this year, thus including another pillar of the community.

Rather than filling the community centre with 50 people for two hours, the H.G. Izatt gymnasium and adjacent classrooms were filled with more than 800 people over a four-hour period — people of all ages, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, sharing food, entertainment, conversation, and lots of smiles.

Tyler Mags from Virgin Radio was the Master of Ceremonies. Opening remarks from key organizers Shahin Shooshtari (WRCC Diversity Director), and Sandra Sukhan (Past President PAL 55+) were followed by a Message of Gratitude and welcome to Treaty 1 from Ms. Marlene Carriere, an Elder from Opaskwayak Cree Nation. Welcomes were also provided by local federal MP, Terry Duguid, provincial MLA Obby Kahn, and City Councillor Janice Lukes.

Remember to ‘spring forward’ March 12

On Sunday, March 12 at 2 a.m., we’ll all be setting our clocks ahead an hour, owing to daylight saving time – something we experience each year on the second Sunday in March, and then reverse on the first Sunday of November. As we “spring ahead” – and even as we groan because we have to get up an hour earlier — most of us will appreciate it being lighter in the evenings as the weather begins to warm up.

Reflections at the dawn of a new year

Last year brought us moments of joy and sadness, with news events such as the ongoing effects of climate change and COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, women’s rights, World Cup soccer, the death of Queen Elizabeth II, fusion power and space telescopes.

FortWhyte Alive to add Buffalo Crossing

Exciting development plans are finally being implemented at the south end of FortWhyte Alive, a place many Whyte Ridge residents and families have visited to enjoy a slice of nature in an urban setting.

Memories of Guy Fawkes Night

I hope you all had a happy Halloween. My childhood memories of the biggest fall community event in England weren’t of Halloween, but of Guy Fawkes Night. Also known as Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night, Nov. 5 was a night that neighborhood children looked forward to almost as much as Christmas.

Plenty of upgrades and changes in our area

Several noteworthy developments in Whyte Ridge that are either currently underway or starting in the fall.

Spray pad soon to be under construction

With the recent award of the construction contract, Whyte Ridge Community Centre just passed another exciting milestone on the road to receiving Winnipeg’s 24th spray pad, providing a fun place for kids to play on a hot sunny day.

Decisions regarding funding allocation were made by all three levels of government several months ago and include $375,000 from the PrairiesCan and the Canada Community Revitalization fund, $400,000 from the Canada Community Building fund, and $225,000 from the City of Winnipeg. Since last year, Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West), and MP Terry Duguid (Winnipeg South) have played key roles in advocating for bringing a spray pad to young families in this part of Winnipeg, with more recent support from new Fort Whyte MLA Obby Khan.

For those not familiar, spray pads are basically areas with non-slip or safety surfaces with various nozzles and colourful, water-based toys that produce sprays, mists, showers or streams of water. They differ from traditional wading pools, which don’t have all the toys, must be supervised due to standing water, and have reduced accessibility and hours of service each season.

Planning and design of the WRCC splash pad has been under way for several months, and WRCC directors have been working with a landscape architect and various city departments to provide input into the process. Initial discussions focused on a location which addressed aspects such as visibility, drainage, distance to water and electrical services, noise and distance to residences, parking and vehicle safety. The location needed to be close to the building. A site to the north was less visible and water and electrical servicing would be more expensive. A site to the southwest of the building was close to residents on Cloverwood Road and would require reconfiguring the parking lot. The only logical place was the southeast corner of the property, between the east hockey pen and basketball court. Unfortunately, this was the target location for the proposed gymnasium, but rising costs have reduced its viability, and more modest building expansions are now being explored.

Working to be the centre of the community again

As we all likely know, the main purpose of community centres is to bring neighbours together to enjoy sports and recreation activities. Like many other venues for social gatherings, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affect the ability of community centres to serve their primary purpose.

April 11 is the date of the 2022 annual general meeting of Whyte Ridge Community Centre. Last year I reported that the board of directors was transitioning through a difficult period, with the loss of most of the executive and with COVID-19 constraints affecting almost all activities.

After a post-AGM meeting last year to discuss how to get things moving forward again, Kim O’Hara stepped in as president, with Chris Magura serving as vice-president. Both have been volunteers on the board for many years, working tirelessly in the background to help to get things done, and both decided that it was time to take a turn at the helm and begin to get organized for when residents could once again enjoy the community centre. Kim says her goal is to help energize the community centre and reconnect with the community it serves.

A big focus over the past year has been fundraising to improve the facility in anticipation of hosting activities this yea (assuming that COVID-19 issues will be manageable). The Pembina Active Living 55-plus group has settled into the building and much of the interior space has or will soon be renovated. Funding was also secured to renovate the building exterior and hockey pens, as well as to construct a splash pad this year, which is very exciting. The community centre has also applied for funding for several landscaping projects, and this year will also see the completion of the new segment of native prairie and installation of Trans Canada Trail signs for the interpretive trail.

The true meaning of Valentine’s Day

As we all know, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, and in this time of pandemic, it was nice to focus on something good and positive for a while. However, when I looked into it more closely, I discovered that the origins of Valentine’s Day involves far more than chocolates and roses.

The event is a blend of Christian and pagan celebrations that dates back more than 1,500 years. From a Christian perspective, the Feast of Saint Valentine on Feb. 14 was established to celebrate the death of Saint Valentine of Rome, one of several Christian martyrs of the same name who were executed by the Romans. Not a particularly romantic start to the event we celebrate today...

There seems to be general consensus that the more overt connection to love occurred about a thousand years later, when Geoffrey Chaucer (author of The Canterbury Tales) described the February Feast of Saint Valentine as the time when birds began their spring mating rituals (hence “lovebirds”). Apparently, members of European nobility picked up on this, and the tradition of sending love notes began at around this time. With the invention of the printing press and the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s, love notes became Valentine’s Day cards that could be mass-produced. The tradition followed North American settlers in the mid-1800s, with Hallmark Cards getting on board in 1913.

The tradition of giving roses on Valentine’s Day may “stem” from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and her apparent love of this flower, or perhaps the British adoption (and interpretation) in the 1700s of a Turkish process of assigning symbolic meanings to types of flowers as a way of communicating with love interests.

Coping with COVID-19 in 2022

At the end of each year there’s definitely value in taking some time to reflect on the year that has passed and to plan for the upcoming 12 months; however, over the past two years COVID-19 has greatly affected this process.

It’s hard not to dwell on all the things we weren’t able to do last year, and likely won’t be able to do for much of the upcoming year. I don’t know about you but I find that many discussions focus on what we used to do, and what we hope to do once we can travel without restrictions. While I’m sure we’ll eventually get through this, it can be frustrating and mentally draining.

I recalled taking a course on “mindfulness” a few years ago, and wondered if there was anything that could be applied to our current situation. I took the course to help with the stresses of managing complex projects with big budgets and tight schedules. I was working long hours and not really thinking of anything outside of work.

While the course involved meditation and perspectives from people such as Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra, one of the real benefits was developing a sense of mindfulness — focusing on experiencing and enjoying what’s in front of you, rather than worrying about the past or future. My course homework was to keep a daily journal, recording all of the positive and interesting things that happened to me each day.

Celebrating our cultural diversity

On Dec. 5, the Whyte Ridge Community Centre board of directors and Pembina Active Living 55-plus co-hosted a celebration of cultural diversity at the WRCC. More than 70 people attended the event and there was traditional music, dancing and food from Chinese, Russian and Iranian cultures. Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid and Waverley West city councillor Janice Lukes were also in attendance.

The event was unfortunately cancelled last year owing to COVID 19, but it was great to repeat the successful inaugural celebration of 2019. Hopefully, this will be a regular occurrence at the community centre, as it’s something quite new, and different from other sports and recreation events hosted at the facility.

I spoke with Shahin Shooshtari, the WRCC diversity director, to get some background on her position on the board, and the cultural event that she organized. She immigrated from Iran in 1996 to take her PhD at the University of Manitoba and moved to Whyte Ridge with her young family in 2002. She explained that it was challenging for newcomers, for whom English is a second language, to become integrated with the community. While she registered her children in sports, she wasn’t aware of the potential for other activities until recently.

Her feelings about the various ways to reconnect with culture were likely fostered during her work with the Iranian Community of Manitoba organization, which she helped establish in 2008.

Purple loosestrife: here to stay?

Cycling through the community a few weeks ago, I was struck by how attractive the flowers were at and around the retention ponds.

Having watched them grow over the summer I wondered why they were still there, because I knew they were purple loosestrife, something I thought was classified as a noxious weed requiring control. While waiting for a call back from the city’s naturalist services branch, I did some research on the plant.

Purple loosestrife is native to Europe and Asia, and likely came to North America accidentally in the ballast water of a ship about 220 years ago, during the European colonization of this continent. Two key things make it a problem - high reproduction and no natural predators. It grows and germinates quickly, with adult plants producing more than 2.5 million seeds annually. In its native habitat (it prefers wetlands or riversides) it provides food for more than 100 species of insects that control its population, as well as deer, muskrats, rabbits and several bird species (excluding waterfowl).

In Manitoba, regional impacts to wetland and riparian areas began in the 1930s as purple loosestrife out-competed native plant species, and in the 1990s it was listed under the provincial noxious weeds act, which required actions to control its spread.

Big plans in the works for community centre

Friday the 13th of August was a positive step forward, rather than a day of bad luck, for the Whyte Ridge Community Centre.

It was the first on-site planning session for the Splash Pad. The landscape architect has been retained to start the design, and staff from several city departments, the community centre president and site development director walked the site and discussed possible locations. Issues included access to water, washrooms, drainage, distance to residences, parking, safety, and co-ordination with existing infrastructure and other development plans. Given the type of summer we’ve had, it will likely be a welcome addition to the community centre next year, if all goes to plan.

It’s been a reasonably productive planning period for the community centre. The Pembina Active Living (PAL 55+) group is poised to move into the building this fall, and plans have been developed to convert one of the changing rooms to a meeting room, and some of the open space into a small office. Summer students have been working hard to spruce up the hockey pens and residents have offered to help with some of the maintenance tasks. Maintenance will likely also include replacing the hockey viewing windows and repairing stucco from puck damage, and maybe a new coat of exterior paint to freshen up the building. The new area of tall grass prairie was seeded this spring, but has been struggling to cope with the hot dry weather.

A site development Wish List is underway and City staff and Councillor Lukes have been assisting with ideas and cost estimates. The PAL 55+ group has also provided initial ideas. Details will likely be shared on the community centre website, but so far, short-term items include benches for the teams using the soccer fields, portable basketball hoops for the east hockey pen, a flower garden at the Cloverwood entrance to the site, and more trees, including about 10 (either silver maple or green ash) to fill in the spaces between the elm trees. Longer-term projects could include asphalting the pathways and rinks, a small external storage facility, a community vegetable garden, and a portable (trailer-based) water tank, to water the plants at the north end of the site.

Cultural awareness in Whyte Ridge

I was contacted recently by Shirley Delorme Russell, asking if I could give her a tour of the Whyte Ridge Interpretive Trail, and in particular, the provincial plaque describing the Stopping of the Survey historic event. It was a cold, windy morning when we visited the site, but educational for both of us.

Shirley is an instructor of Métis culture and history with the Louis Riel Institute. The Stopping of the Survey was an important event in Manitoba; in 1869, Louis Riel stopped federal surveyors from identifying lands to be annexed by the Dominion of Canada, one of the first actions leading to Manitoba joining Confederation.

The event happened fairly close to the plaque location, and Shirley was anxious to see it in preparation for sessions she will be leading for Whyte Ridge Elementary School Grade 4 classes.

Shirley explained that the Louis Riel Institute is regularly invited to schools, universities and various organizations to present on Métis culture and history in Manitoba.

A different kind of service at 201 Scurfield

At almost 30 years old, the building at 201 Scurfield Blvd. is one of the oldest in Whyte Ridge. It was built to house the Whyte Ridge Baptist Church, and for more than a quarter century it served the religious needs of many members of the community.

On Jan. 18, the building began once again providing community services - but now of a medical nature, rather than religious.

The church has relocated to a new facility on McGillivray Boulevard, so 201 Scurfield is now the home of the Scurfield Medical Centre. I sat down recently with Dr. Paul Cheung, who established the clinic, and is at the core of its planning and development process.

Dr. Cheung and I share the common experience of attending high school in England before moving to Canada with parents. His family located to B.C. and he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. His medical training included doctorate and post-doctorate research in virology and heart diseases at UBC and the University of Manitoba, and cardiac surgery and family medicine residency at the U of M.

A tale of algae and public pushback

As part of an effort to develop a multi-year balanced budget the City of Winnipeg’s 2020 fiscal plan removed the funds to operate the 12 fountains and lights at retention ponds for the next four years, including the two located in Whyte Ridge. Each fountain costs just under $7,000 a year to run. Based on considerable negative public and political outcry, councillors approved a motion to reopen the fountains at the July 23 city council meeting, using unspent funds from other areas. Here’s some background information about this issue.The fountain in the east pond at Scurfield Park was one of the first features constructed in Whyte Ridge in 1986, and was a big part of the marketing to draw residents to the subdivision, as was the fountain in the west pond at Leon Bell Park, when it was constructed in 1990, as part of the second phase of development. During the spring thaw or heavy rainfall events, the drainage ditch can back up and allow fish to enter the ponds, and there is a fairly diverse invertebrate and fish population in the ponds, which attract interesting birds such as pelicans and loons.Fertilizers used on lawns, storm water runoff from streets,and the presence of geese creates high nutrient conditions in the ponds, causing algae to grow, as we’re currently experiencing with the hot summer weather we’ve had. This affects the capacity of the ponds to function effectively and causes unpleasant odours. The City uses a small barge-mounted harvester to remove algae every one to two years.There is no doubt that the fountains play a role in reducing problems with algae and mosquitoes, but not sufficient to effectively manage these issues, given the total surface areas. Physical removal is effective, but only a short-term solution. Herbicides are more effective, but can affect the fish and birds using the ponds, as well as thirsty dogs. Aeration of the ponds with diffuser piping would stimulate the decomposition of the algae and be beneficial to fish; however, installation and operation costs would need to be compared to the current program. The most effective mechanism to reduce the algae problem is to create a natural buffer around the ponds to reduce the amount of lawn fertilizer and runoff from entering the ponds. It would also serve to deter the geese. Newer retention ponds incorporate this more naturalized look.Regardless of the role the fountains play in controlling algae, I think it’s important not to downplay the esthetic value they have to Whyte Ridge residents, and we’re pleased that we can continue to enjoy them. Nick Barnes is a community correspondent for Whyte Ridge.

As part of an effort to develop a multi-year balanced budget the City of Winnipeg’s 2020 fiscal plan removed the funds to operate the 12 fountains and lights at retention ponds for the next four years, including the two located in Whyte Ridge. 

Each fountain costs just under $7,000 a year to run. Based on considerable negative public and political outcry, councillors approved a motion to reopen the fountains at the July 23 city council meeting, using unspent funds from other areas. 

Here’s some background information about this issue.The fountain in the east pond at Scurfield Park was one of the first features constructed in Whyte Ridge in 1986, and was a big part of the marketing to draw residents to the subdivision, as was the fountain in the west pond at Leon Bell Park, when it was constructed in 1990, as part of the second phase of development. 

Neighbourhood projects get going

As you can imagine, it’s been challenging to write about community activities in the past few months, with other priorities to be concerned about, but there have been some recent developments.

For example, it’s great to see work underway on the pathways at Scurfield Park. The park was part of the first phase of development of the community in 1986 and has been in need of a facelift for a while. This is a continuation of work begun last year, which also included replacing the Whyte Ridge sign at the corner of Scurfield and Columbia boulevards.

According to Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West), the focus this year will be to upgrade the lighting and install gravel surfaces, with asphalt resurfacing next year.

Several trees that were removed due to their roots creating safety hazards, and a new row of trees will be planted along a new section of pathway to Prospect Road.

Exciting developments in Whyte Ridge

I attended the Whyte Ridge Winter Carnival a few weeks ago, and I think it was the first time I can remember having to park several streets away because it was so busy. It was great to see so many families having fun.As usual, Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) and Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid were on hand to chat with local residents. I think it’s so important and appreciated that our local politicians take the time to attend community events, despite being so busy. Curtis Rossow (Whyte Ridge C.C. president) was also there, and I was able to get an update on activities at the community centre and Whyte Ridge in general. Curtis said that this year the centre has received funding to install high-efficiency LED lights, and to install air conditioning throughout the building. Currently, only the multi-purpose room is air conditioned, and this space will also be getting new paint. The centre may also be part of a program to facilitate accessibility, with modifications being made to the entrance to the building.Speaking of the building, I asked the group if building expansion was still on the table. Terry again indicated that he would support this but the general feeling was that a group in the community needs to champion the initiative.Janice noted that Stage 2 of the Southwest Transitway project is ramping up this year.  Public information will start flowing next month, with April 12 targeted or the start of the new service. As I reported last year, this will include a high -frequency north-south corridor, improved local collections, larger buses and more heated shelters.There are also new things happening at several community buildings. The Steinbach Credit Union building on the corner of Kenaston Boulevard and McGillivray Boulevard will be expanding upwards in the near future, resulting in a four-story structure. The site of the former Baptist church on Scurfield Boulevard will become a regional medical centre, with major architectural changes. And Terry noted that FortWhyte Alive has received funding to renovate existing facilities and construct a new facility at the south entrance to the site on McGillivray.In terms of roads, it’s good to see the improvements to traffic flow in Kenaston Commons, with a new employee parking lot and stop sign to help cars from turning left into ongoing traffic. It looks like similar changes may be occurring along McGillivray that should alleviate stress when turning left from Brady Road and McCreary Boulevard. Funding’s in place for a set of lights at South Landing Drive – about half a kilometre west of McCreary.I’ll provide additional details in upcoming articles.Nick Barnes is a community correspondent for Whyte Ridge.

I attended the Whyte Ridge Winter Carnival a few weeks ago, and I think it was the first time I can remember having to park several streets away because it was so busy. It was great to see so many families having fun.

As usual, Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) and Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid were on hand to chat with local residents. I think it’s so important and appreciated that our local politicians take the time to attend community events, despite being so busy.

Curtis Rossow (Whyte Ridge C.C. president) was also there, and I was able to get an update on activities at the community centre and Whyte Ridge in general. Curtis said that this year the centre has received funding to install high-efficiency LED lights, and to install air conditioning throughout the building.

What’s Halloween all about, anyway?

Well, another Halloween as come and gone. If you have young children, I hope they enjoyed the evening and I hope you enjoyed taking them around the community or handing out treats and meeting the neighbours.

So why go through the rituals of costumes, jack-o’-lanterns and trick or treating?

Like Christmas, Halloween is actually a blend of pagan and Christian celebrations.

On the pagan side of things, it stems from a British celebration, more than 400 years old, of fall harvest and the transition to cold, dark winter. Folk tales about the boundary between the living and dead becoming blurred, with the souls of lost ones visiting home before finally departing. People were known to impersonate the souls of the dead to disguise themselves, and/or pretend to be the bad spirits, playing pranks and carving harvested vegetables like turnips and beets into scary faces representing the dead. 

Exploring the neighbourhood by bicycle

This spring I decided to buy a new bike and try to make a habit of riding through Whyte Ridge and FortWhyte Alive each weekend. I was inspired by a certain Whyte Ridge Facebook friend who regularly shares pictures of his bike rides to Gimli.

The ride gets interesting at the Whyte Ridge Community Centre on Fleetwood Road, going north beside the native prairie, past the butterfly garden and row of elm trees, before Front Street and crossing over McGillivray Boulevard. This is the one challenging area if traffic volumes are high, and I remain hopeful that in the near future we’ll be getting a crosswalk here.

Once into the south end of FortWhyte Alive the path winds through the aspen and bur oak forest past the various ponds, and the reception and interpretive centres. The path then passes through more aspen forest past the tipi encampment and the buffalo viewing area, and then Bison Butte, a fun playground for the adventurous mountain biker. I hadn’t been aware that this was developed in 2017 as part of the Canada Summer Games mountain biking competition. It’s a massive hill, with numerous trails of various levels of difficulty, and worth visiting with the family.

Then it’s north through the massive field of tall grass prairie, on to the hill at Wilkes Avenue, and a chance to catch your breath before the return trip. It’s about six kilometres each way, and a great way to start a Saturday. It takes about an hour if you’re not in too much of a hurry.

Projects looming for Whyte Ridge area

Several aspects of green space and traffic flows in and around Whyte Ridge are being examined this year with a look to freshening things up and examining accessibility and safety issues.  

Some of the issues are follow-ups to the commitments that city councillor Janice Lukes (Waverley West) made last fall.

It looks like there’ll be some improvements made to Scurfield Park this year, building on the pathway adjustments made last summer off Columbia Drive beside the elementary school, focusing more on the areas surrounding the pond.  

An assessment has been done and conceptual plans are being developed to address missing or slumping areas of pathway and retaining walls, leaning lighting and aging benches. There are also some areas of the path that don’t meet current accessibility guidelines.

Changes to Whyte Ridge public transit

Like many communities in southwest Winnipeg, Whyte Ridge’s bus service will change next spring, as part of the second stage of the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor (SRTC). Opportunities are being given for residents to provide feedback on the proposed changes.

The plan was conceived more than 25 years ago, intended to improve the efficiency of public transit for low-income residents, students, or people with disabilities, and/or those who choose to avoid the use of a personal vehicle to avoid the headaches of traffic congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Winnipeg has enjoyed public transit for more than 130 years, from horse-drawn vehicles to electric streetcars to 40-foot diesel buses and 60-foot articulated diesel-electric hybrid buses. As the city has expanded, efforts have been made to efficiently bring residents to and from the commercial, industrial and academic areas.

Initial improvements to public transit infrastructure included the construction of the Graham Avenue Transit Mall in 1995.  

Whyte Ridge Baptist on the verge of a new era

The Whyte Ridge Baptist Church is poised to open at its new McGillivray Boulevard location, which will represent a new gathering place for community activities.  

Whyte Ridge is fortunate to have churches that support several religious denominations, including the St. Gianna’s Catholic Church, constructed in 2013, and a Presbyterian church being planned along McGillivray Boulevard.  

In March 2017, I wrote about the history of the Whyte Ridge Baptist Church, which was one of the first buildings in our community, having made the transition to Scurfield Boulevard from McDermot Avenue more than 30 years ago, and with plans for further expansion to a site on McGillivray. My article discussed all of the many ways the church has been involved in our community.

In late January I was given a tour of the new building by pastor Terry Janke and was amazed by the services that will be provided to the community in the near future.  

Whyte Ridge a happening place

I hope everyone’s enjoying the first few weeks of 2019 and the new year is a happy one. There are some interesting developments in Whyte Ridge and adjacent areas.

The Whyte Ridge Community Centre successfully applied for city land dedication reserve funding for new wheelchair-accessible outdoor fitness equipment, endorsed by the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

The calisthenics equipment includes parallel bars and a triple push-up bar installed over a rubber safety surface and will be constructed later in the spring immediately to the north of the outdoor basketball court.

The Whyte Ridge C.C. board has also just established a new diversity director position, in recognition of the changing demographics and culture in the community. Shahin Shooshtari says that the planning of activities at the centre will now include explicit consideration of ethno-cultural diversity, and plans are being developed for an initial event to celebrate the rich cultural backgrounds of residents.

Keep reducing, reusing and recycling

It’s been about 50 years now since the 3Rs —“reduce, reuse and recycle” — were introduced and it’s likely that most of us regularly recycle.

The curbside recycling program began in Winnipeg 17 years ago this month, with rollout carts being introduced in 2012. It’s a great idea, and people get a fair sense of accomplishment from doing something positive for the environment, but I was surprised to recently learn about the number of things you still can’t recycle.

As you probably know, items such as paper, cardboard, aluminum containers, glass, and hard plastic bottles can be readily tossed into the blue cart.

But, like most cities, in Winnipeg you cannot recycle things such as paper towel and tissue, aluminum foil, disposable coffee cups, black plastic and plastic bags and straws. If you put them in the blue cart they end up in the landfill.  

Lukes lays out priorities for Whyte Ridge

Whyte Ridge is now officially part of the new Waverley West Ward, with Janice Lukes as the city councillor, having run unchallenged by the Sept. 18 nomination deadline. I spoke with her recently about her upcoming plans and priorities for the Whyte Ridge area.  

Janice said she has been gathering feedback during many weeks of canvassing residents and businesses in anticipation of the election and this has helped to shape her initial plans for the area.

One of first things she mentioned was the need to raise awareness about crime. While Whyte Ridge is one of the safer neighbourhoods in Winnipeg, there have been break-ins and vandalism over the past few years, including an incident at the community centre this spring. Janice said the city-wide increase in drug-related crime over the past few years may have consequences in Whyte Ridge. She plans on finding ways to increase awareness about this issue in the community. I noted that Neighbourhood Watch has become much less visible in Whyte Ridge over the past 10 years or so.

Janice also plans on addressing street repairs and traffic issues in the community. Residents have expressed concerns about traffic and safety issues along both McGillivray Boulevard and Kenaston Boulevard as they pass through the community. This includes foot traffic across McGillivray to FortWhyte Alive, the entrance and exit to Kenaston Commons, and the intersection of Kenaston and McGillivray. As I reported this spring, this latter location was the subject of a City-MPI-CAA study to test the effectiveness of signage to lower speed limits, as it has one of the highest rates of accidents in the city.

Engage in Whyte Ridge this fall

The Whyte Ridge Summer Carnival on Aug. 19 was one of the best-attended I think I’ve seen in a long time.  

I lost count at about 300 people, with community kids enjoying two bouncers, face painting, a dunk tank, sack races, balloon animals and hot dogs. I’m guessing the weather really helped; after weeks of blistering heat, the temperature on the 19th was 22 C with a nice breeze, and it was great to see so many neighbours having fun.

As in previous years, the carnival was a great place to meet our local politicians.

Terry Duguid, MP for Winnipeg South, dropped by to chat, and city councillor Janice Lukes had a booth set up with information about the City’s new Waverley West ward.

Enjoying the calm waters of Whyte Ridge

I was walking the dog around one of the retention ponds in Whyte Ridge recently, and stopped for a few minutes to look out across the water to watch the pelicans and listen to the sound of the fountain.  

It was a warm day with a slight breeze, and hard not to feel a real sense of serenity. As I continued my walk, I wondered why we feel this psychological connection to water.

Obviously we need to drink water to survive; 70 per cent of the world is water and about 70 per cent of our bodies are water, but why do we find it so peaceful?  Why is the sound of waves or rainfall such a common aid to meditation and getting to sleep?  

There’s a fair amount of neuro-scientific, psychological and statistical research on this issue, including studies showing that people living near the ocean appear to feel less stress than those who don’t, the significant increases in cost for property with a water view, vacationers are more often drawn to places with water, and even evidence suggesting changes to brainwave activity. But there doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer.

Henry G. Izatt Special Olympians inspire others

A few weeks ago, Henry G. Izatt Middle School student Evanjeline Smith-Baker ran for the first time in her life, with full, balanced strides.

This might not seem too unusual for most 11 year olds, but her parents were ecstatic.

You see, Evanjeline has Williams Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes learning and physical co-ordination disabilities, and this massive improvement was totally unexpected. It happened in the cheer-filled moments of competition, during a Special Olympics track and field event at Grant Park High School.  

I spoke with Chris Roe, a counselling and resource teacher at HGI, who plays a key role in organizing the school’s 13 Special Olympians to participate in the Special Olympics Manitoba program. He explained that the program is part of a world-wide Special Olympics program providing sport training and competition for people with an intellectual disability.

What’s the buzz at Henry G. Izatt?

Whyte Ridge’s Henry G. Izatt Middle School is set to be the first school in the Pembina Trails School Division to get up close and personal with honey bees, following successes in several other schools last year.

The project is being led by Tracey Matthews, a Grade 8 teacher who has been working towards this goal for more than a year, when the city began the process to change its bylaw to allow beekeeping.

One of Tracey’s first steps was to take a beekeeping for hobbyists course offered at the University of Manitoba, to help in the planning for the school.

A key participant in the school project is the BeeProject Apiaries Group. The BeeProject team installs the bee hives, visits the site every few weeks from May to September and delivers jars of honey at the end of the season, before removing the hives during the winter months. They also support education on beekeeping issues.

Traffic on Route 90 remains a concern

I’ve written a few times about traffic issues in the Whyte Ridge area. I’m sure that, like me, many residents are grateful to have the convenience of so many great stores in close proximity but, in conjunction with the development of Waverley West, the traffic is something we’re not so grateful for.

Development in the Whyte Ridge area really began to pick up in the 2001-2005 period, with the start of the big box development and major phases of residential development in Whyte Ridge and Linden Ridge. Plans for Waverley West development were approved in 2005.

The traffic issue centres mainly on Kenaston Boulevard (a.k.a. Route 90), the major north-south route that was one of the first tangible developments in southwest Winnipeg after the formation of Unicity in 1972.

In addition to providing commuter access to local residential areas, Route 90 is now an important link for truck traffic between major commercial and industrial facilities and national and international trade routes.

Which ward is Whyte Ridge in?

I recently met with city councillor Janice Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert Ward) to discuss how the upcoming civic ward boundary changes will affect Whyte Ridge.

I’ve known Janice for many years, since she was the Winnipeg Trails Association co-ordinator helping me with the interpretive trail at the community centre. She walked me through the recent ward boundary review process and confirmed that Whyte Ridge will be part of a new ward called Waverley West in this October’s civic election.

The change is based on the fact Winnipeg has experienced significant growth and changes in the distribution of its population over the past 10 years or so, particularly in the southwest area.  

This was verified when the detailed analysis of the Statistics Canada’s 2016 Census of Population data was released last year.

Plenty going on in Whyte Ridge

I recently attended the annual winter carnival at the Whyte Ridge Community Centre. It’s an event that’s been taking place for at least 18 years, when our young family first attended.

It was initially called Skate with Santa but after a few warm years when Santa didn’t actually get to skate, a decision was made to use the more generic name and change the timing.  

Skating was certainly available at this year’s event. According to Robyn McCarthy, the centre’s special events director, this year about 250 people came out to enjoy activities such as family hockey, milk jug curling, indoor crafts and glitter tattoos, pizza and hot chocolate, a marshmallow roast on an open fire, and of course, the sleigh ride around the perimeter of the property.

While I was at the carnival, CTV Winnipeg dropped by to interview Robyn and community centre president Curtis Rossow. I was also able to chat with Terry Duguid, the member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, who was also in attendance.

Good tidings of comfort and joy

There are many important reasons to celebrate the Christmas break but, to me, the most important is family.

This is a time when relatives reconnect and parents merge the best of their childhood memories to create excited anticipation for their children; a magical experience with garlands and lights on trees, and cookies, milk, carrots and stockings left out on Christmas Eve. It’s all about sharing love and happiness with family.

This feeling of connection and sharing of good feelings is reflected in the community, through winter carnivals at community centres, Christmas concerts at schools, meeting friends at movie theatres and, of course, through celebrations at churches and other places of worship.

There are several important religious celebrations this time of year commemorating important events such as birth, enlightenment, and freedom from persecution.

The annual agony of city road construction

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that the road construction work along Kenaston Boulevard east of Whyte Ridge and the Waverley underpass will have long-term traffic flow benefits but it seems like every year the daily commute to work is affected by road construction. It's hard not to get frustrated trying to understand why.

Of the reportedly more than $105 million spent on more than 150 street and sidewalk projects this year, most of the work wasn't on new projects like the ones on Kenaston Boulevard and Waverley Street, but on fixing what we already have. Each year the City carries out a roadway condition rating program to assess the condition of our streets and then prioritizes them and develops a traffic management plan to try to minimize impacts to motorists like you and me.

But why so much, every year?  

Well, unfortunately, Winnipeg winters aren’t kind to our roads, and the cold weather takes an annual toll.

Thoughts on mowing the lawn in late October

On Oct. 20, the temperature in Winnipeg was more than 24C, breaking an almost 60-year record.   

I’m still struggling to come to terms with cutting my grass in late October.

In addition to the spate of devastating hurricanes in the Caribbean and southern United States, as well as the wildfires in California, it’s inevitable that climate change becomes a topic of casual conversation.

Climate change and greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels is likely now part of our children’s general school curriculum and their basic common knowledge and, despite the opinions of some prominent individuals to the south of us, there’s a lot of evidence that climate change is definitely not a hoax.  

Plenty of projects ahead for Whyte Ridge area

A few weeks ago I visited the Whyte Ridge Community Centre to meet with current president Curtis Rossow and city councillor Marty Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge) and chat about recent and upcoming projects in and around the community.  

One of the more tangible projects funded by the City of Winnipeg is the new digital sign at the community centre. I recall the original sign being installed in 2007, and it was a big step forward in the identity of the facility; but I also recall the challenges of manually changing the wording in the depths of winter. The new sign will remove the safety concerns and hopefully improve communication with residents about upcoming events.  

The sign is one of several community projects the City has funded since Coun. Morantz took office in 2014.

At the community centre, funding facilitated a new phase in the interpretive trail project, including the establishment of the butterfly garden and expansion of the tall grass prairie area.

Whyte Ridge schools celebrate Canada’s 150th

Students at Whyte Ridge Elementary and Henry G. Izatt Middle schools have been participating in activities over the past few months in celebration of Canada's 150th birthday, culminating in a major event organized by the Pembina Trails School Division at Investors Group Field on May 24.

As part of the Pembina Trails Canada 150 Project, schools in the division have been learning about three important aspects of Canada — diversity and inclusion, environment and sustainable development, and reconciliation of indigenous and non-indigenous people.  

Environmental sustainability was a theme for both Whyte Ridge schools, which assembled books of pledges in which students made personal commitments to activities that will help to make Canada a better place, such as using less water, planting trees and fundraising for environmental organizations.  

Izatt students worked on a sustainable community garden containing drought-resistant prairie plants and native trees to facilitate student learning about organic and sustainable garden practices with a focus on important issues such as native plant/bee-pollinator species, water conservation, and composting.

The benefits of holding a controlled prairie burn

The devastating effects of wildfires to the west and east of Winnipeg were major national news items last year, but a recent event at the Whyte Ridge Community Centre demonstrated that in a controlled setting, fire can have some very positive effects.

On May 11, Native Plant Solutions/Ducks Unlimited staff carried out a controlled burn of the tall grass prairie they had established on the site more than five years ago.

With a recent addition the prairie area now stretches almost the entire half-kilometre length of the east side of property, and was established as part of the Community Centre’s interpretive trail project.  

With all of the work that went into growing the prairie, why burn it all away?

Be aware of what your kids are doing online

I recently attended a parents' advisory committee meeting at Henry G. Izatt Middle School for a presentation on the risks and benefits of children accessing the internet.

It was presented by David Wall, an educational technology consultant with the Pembina Trails School Division, and Brandi Nicholauson, the librarian teacher at Izatt.

HGI students Emmitt Wilson, Jack McMillan, Alex Nguyen, Alyssa Doneza and Jonathan Cantor also took part in the presentation and displayed very impressive knowledge of the subject matter.

One of the main things that struck me was the overwhelming array of applications now available to children — hundreds more than when my kids were the age of those at the presentation.

Baptist Church a linchpin of Whyte Ridge

Those of us living in Whyte Ridge are typically very familiar with the Whyte Ridge Baptist Church; it's been in the community almost since Whyte Ridge was first established, and been involved in volunteer activities in the community for almost 30 years.  

Now the church is on the verge of moving to a larger facility but staying in the community.

Construction at the church's current home on Scurfield Boulevard began in 1987, about the same time the first homes were being built in Whyte Ridge. The ministry had moved from Grant Park Baptist, as the building at that location had outgrown expansion possibilities.

My first contact with the church was when I was president of the community centre and received a call from former pastor Al Thiessen asking if we'd be interested in a team of volunteers coming to clean up the site and remove the litter.  

The history of Whyte Ridge, part 2

Last month I described the first major development in the Whyte Ridge area as being the cement plant and the associated small community of Fort Whyte in 1911.

Further substantial development did not occur in the Whyte Ridge area for more than 60 years, triggered primarily by the formation of Unicity in 1972. This was when provincial legislation amalgamated Fort Garry and 12 other municipalities with the City of Winnipeg, which stimulated the development of suburban infrastructure.

One of the first main developments in the Whyte Ridge area was the construction of Route 90/Kenaston Boulevard from the north to McGillivray Boulevard in the late 1970s.

Initial planning concepts for the Whyte Ridge area were developed as early as 1978 but the recession in 1981 delaying planning until 1985. The initial focus was on the adjacent industrial areas in the West Fort Garry Industrial Park, along the newly constructed Scurfield Boulevard.

Exploring the rich history of Whyte Ridge

As we celebrate Canada's 150th birthday this year, I thought it might be interesting to see how the Whyte Ridge area has evolved since that event.  

In the first two or three decades of the 1800s, activities in the Whyte Ridge area were mainly along trails several kilometres to the east and north, connecting fur trading posts, forts and settlements along the rivers.

However, in the mid-1800s stories about the fertile Red and Assiniboine river valleys began to attract interest from European settlers in eastern Canada, where prime agricultural land was becoming less available.

Two years after Confederation, Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald sent surveyors west to identify lands to be annexed by the Dominion of Canada. It was in the vicinity of Whyte Ridge that Louis Riel stopped the surveyors in 1869, before seizing Fort Garry and establishing a new provisional government in Manitoba, events which ultimately led to Manitoba entering Confederation the following year.

Winter carnival kicks off season in Whyte Ridge

Whyte Ridge Community Centre hosted yet another successful annual winter carnival on Dec. 11 — that's at least 15 now that I can recall.

The event was previously called Skate with Santa, but warm weather literally put a damper on the skating in some years, so it's now simply referred to as the winter carnival. Despite the frigid temperatures on the day, the warmer weather leading up to event meant that the rinks were not skate-worthy (darn that global warming).

A desperate plea for a Santa just days before the event led, luckily, to him being able to attend and help create a magical day for the children. More than 200 people came to the community centre on a Sunday afternoon and, despite the lack of skating, the enjoyed roasting marshmallows around a campfire, craft tables, tobogganing, snow painting, sleigh rides and pizza.

Speaking of Whyte Ridge special events, it's great to hear that Robyn McCarthy has re-joined the community centre board as Special events director. Robyn was instrumental in organizing the first Art and Wine Paint Night at the centre on Nov. 18.

HGI Middle School embraces technology

The Henry G. Izatt (HGI) middle school is one of 36 schools in the Pembina Trails School Division.

It opened in Whyte Ridge in 1998, just a few years before my family moved into the community. When it first opened it was attended by about 280 children from Grades 5 to 9, and now serves about twice that many.

I recently had a chance to sit down with Peggy Hobson, who has been principal since 2008, to chat about the school mandate and some of the interesting activities being undertaken.  

The current school plan priorities are focused around four strategic pillars: humanity, growth, innovation and sustainability (HGIS). In addition to participating in things such as global citizenship and community programs, flexibility has been introduced to provide opportunities for students to select activities and projects in which they have a personal interest so that they can develop a sense of ownership, curiosity and positive relationships with students and staff.  

The origins of Whyte Ridge’s park names

Ever wonder where the names of your community parks came from?  

In Whyte Ridge there are three main areas of green space, and they’re all named after famous Winnipeggers in thanks for their community service.  

Don Smith Park lies on the west side of the community. Smith played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 1940s, including participating in two Grey Cup games. His love of football continued through coaching and serving as a director on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers executive board. He served as president of the Fort Garry Community Club and chaired the advisory committee on parks and recreation. He was elected to city council in 1976 and represented the Wildewood and Pembina wards for two terms.

Leon Bell Park is on the south side of the community. Bell was an original member of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s. The plaque at the park explains that it was named after him “in recognition of his contributions and accomplishments in the arts and humanities for the enjoyment of the citizens of the City of Winnipeg. A founding member of Folklorama, Mr. Bell has been actively involved in a variety of community organizations. He was a former conductor and musical director of the Winnipeg Pops and a recipient of the first Mayor’s Voluntary Service Award in the arts and humanities in 1984.”

A home for the butterflies right here in Whyte Ridge

It’s likely that not everyone gets excited about caterpillars, but seeing more than 20 at the Whyte Ridge Community Centre butterfly garden a few weeks ago was a reminder for Kelley Liebzeit that all of her hard work over the past few years is paying off.

As a Whyte Ridge resident, Kelley developed a passion for butterflies and the colourful plants they live on. In 2014 she transferred the experience she gained in her backyard to developing the garden at the community centre, including the installation of almost 900 plants. These included species of sunflower, milkweed, aster, clover, blazing star, coneflower and goldenrod, as well as Golden Alexander and Heartleaf Alexander, where the caterpillars were found.  

The goal was that the plants would provide food and shelter for butterflies when they arrive in June, prior to their migration south in the early fall.  Most of the plants were installed last year; just in time for a July 4 Nature Manitoba Natural Garden tour, where about a hundred people visited the butterfly garden. The wet spring this year has really helped the plants to become established.

While the caterpillars in the garden will become black swallowtail butterflies, a focal point of the effort has been the monarch butterfly, and the garden was funded in part by the Save the Monarch Butterfly Campaign. Species such as the monarch butterfly have experienced substantial population declines across the continent, due to urban sprawl and drought in the U.S., loss of overwintering habitat in Mexico, and record rainfalls and cold periods in Canada. They overwinter in only a few small specific sites in Mexico, which makes them vulnerable to logging and herbicides.  

Finding community in an internet world

I heard recently that you can now order your groceries on-line and avoid having to actually go to the store to shop.  

While I could appreciate how technology has made things even more efficient and maybe helped those with mobility challenges, it made me think about the internet and how it’s changing our sense of community.

When I was a youngster the only way to meet friends was at school, the local mall or the sports field, and computers were giant machines in research labs.

That all changed in the 1990s with the birth of the internet, and now a large portion of the whole planet has instant connection to information and other people around the world. It’s absolutely incredible — but I can’t help thinking we’ve lost something.  

Looking below the surface of our retention ponds

I saw the first common loon of the year a few weeks ago in one of the Whyte Ridge retention ponds.

The first time I saw one there, about 10 years ago, it got me thinking about the natural environment in our community. The loon is a species whose diet is mainly fish, and, as it stayed around for several days, it was obvious that it was feeding in the retention pond, and I realized there was a lot more going on below the surface.

When the ponds were built about 30 years ago their main purpose was land drainage and to manage the risk of flooding — and there was some definite visual appeal for residents. During heavy rainfall, water flows into catch basins or storm drains along streets, through pipes to the ponds and then slowly drains into rivers. In Whyte Ridge the drainage ditches flow into the Red River.

With their very manicured appearance, it never occurred to me that there could be fish in the retention ponds but when I saw a cormorant and a pod of pelicans feeding on fish later that summer I began to take a closer look in the water and along the shorelines.

The geese are back, the geese are back!

Well, they're back.

I was driving home to Whyte Ridge from work in mid-March, with snow still on the ground and ice still on the ponds, and I saw my first pair of Canada geese for 2016.  

They always seem to arrive earlier every year, and their return always reminds me of one of my first summer student jobs more than 30 years ago — helping to round up, corral and band them during the post-nesting period in June, when they lose their flight feathers.  

I can’t believe that I learned to gently grab them, flip them onto their backs and tuck their heads under a wing to calm them down. I wouldn’t dream of trying that today!

Checking in with Whyte Ridge Coun. Marty Morantz

Since his fall 2014 election as Winnipeg city councillor for the Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge ward, Marty Morantz has experienced a major career shift and has been involved in some challenging issues under the media spotlight, such as the city's 2016 operating and capital budget.  

What compels someone to jump into the world of civic politics, and how successful has he been in implementing some of his campaign promises?

According to Coun. Morantz, politics and law were common topics of conversation around the family supper table when he was growing up in River Heights, primarily due to his father's keen interest.

As a youth Marty worked on several political campaigns and earned university degrees in political science and law before settling in the Charleswood-Tuxedo area to practise law.

It’s time to expand community centre

Residents of Whyte Ridge may finally be feeling a sense of optimism about getting a community centre that fits the needs of the community.  

With the completion of an architectural and engineering assessment report and business plan last year, the community now has clear rationale, cost estimates, and tangible concepts on how to move forward.

The existing community centre was built in the mid 1990s, about 10 years after the first homes in Whyte Ridge were constructed. While the facility may have met the needs of that first phase of development, the subdivision began another major phase of development in the late 1990s, with an additional 1,200 residents moving in and bringing the total population for the catchment area to about 10,000 residents by 2007.

While initial plans were focused on developing outdoor space, including a basketball court, play structure and several soccer fields, residents have been expressing increasing frustration about the lack of indoor space and desire for a gymnasium, through responses in various workshops and community-wide surveys that have been conducted since 2002.