Sandy Nemeth

Revelling in our winter wonderland

Recently, and after an absence of over three years, we welcomed a family member home for a long overdue visit. She arrived on a spring-like day – sun shining, snow melting – not always what you would expect in Winnipeg in February. As is often the case, however, it wasn’t long before the bitterly cold winter weather returned, a harsh reality and a bit of a shock when you are used to temperatures well above freezing all year long.

Caring and sharing shine through

For the past few years, the global pandemic has affected annual holiday concerts and events in the Louis Riel School Division. What COVID-19 did not do however, was derail the generosity, kindness and creativity that is seen throughout our school communities in this season of caring and sharing, and throughout the year.

Giving back to the Dakota CC community

For the past two years, and on a regular basis, I’ve spent time with the residents of River Park South who make up the volunteer board of directors at Dakota Community Centre. We have different personalities, varied personal and professional backgrounds and lives, and a diversity of ideas, opinions, and approaches. The one thing we have in common, and what ultimately brought us together, is a deep and abiding belief in the value of DCC to its surrounding community, and a collective desire to see it evolve and flourish as a hub for a variety of recreational, social, and competitive sport activities and events.

Why shop anywhere else?

RIVER PARK SOUTH

Turning trash into treasures

I love giveaway weekends in Winnipeg. I found some of my best stuff with a ‘FREE’ sign on it at the end of a driveway or edge of a lawn. Funky drinking glasses, a couple of plant stands, a desk, more than one planter, several plastic bins, books galore, and at least one shovel were acquired because someone labelled them as trash. And as the saying goes, someone’s trash became my treasure.

You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone

River Park South

Appreciating the art and science of blade sharpening

Deep in a dark corner of the garage, a reel mower has languished for years. It’s light and easy to use, quiet, requires little maintenance, and with the price of gas these days would be very economical. But languish it has.

Thankfully, we have a new homeowner in the family, with a smaller lawn, who expressed interest in taking it when offered. So out of the garage it came, and across the lawn it went for a test cut, leaving in its wake a chewed-up swath of grass indicating the dullest blades imaginable.

After a few calls to see what it would cost to have the blades sharpened, I turned to the River Park South and Lovin’ It Facebook page, posted a photo and a question, and then waited to see if someone in the local area had the tools and know-how to get the job done.

I had one reply which, as it turns out, is all I needed. It was from Monique, who suggested River Park Sharpening. A quick Google and Facebook search followed, and that’s how I learned about Rob Cosco, RPS resident and expert sharpener. One look at www.wpgsharp.com and I was drawn into the world and language of sharpening knifes, scissors and, yes, lawnmower blades of any kind. Yay! In 24 hours, the mower had a new lease on life, a very happy owner, and, as an added bonus, there’s a tiny bit of extra space in the garage.

Standing strong against the elements

For this column, I return us to one of my favourite places, located on the outskirts of River Park South, and known as Henteleff Park. Many in RPS will be familiar with this oasis of nature, which is accessible and enjoyable at any time of the year. Those in the expanded readership area of the Community Review East are encouraged to make the trip to investigate, explore and enjoy the trails through the park and along the river directly across from the University of Manitoba.

Secreted away along one path is a unique tree I’ve been keeping my eyes on for years. Despite an appearance that suggests otherwise, it is still alive, as evidenced by the leaves you’ll see way, way, up high. Squirrels roam its branches, woodpeckers search it for food, and I’ve seen an owl sitting on a main branch, looking down at the forest.

On windy days the tree sways and creaks in rhythm to the gusts of wind. When the trunks move in opposite directions, and the space in between widens for a moment, I wonder when it will all be too much. One of these days I expect to find that the sight that greets me will be very different than the one in the photo. I’d love to see its root system; clearly a well-supported one that has protected, nurtured and fed the tree for a long time, and which anchors it extremely effectively.

Through a global pandemic, I counted on the tree staying just as it is. No matter what Mother Nature threw at it, it would bend, adapt, adjust, accommodate, and ultimately survive, a metaphor for COVID-19 and its impact on the human world. Every time I see this tree, I’m reminded that what doesn’t break us can make us stronger, offer important lessons, and encourage us to grow and deepen our roots to provide the foundation that will keep us upright when the going gets tough.

The magic and meaning of flowers

As I type this, a bouquet of flowers I received still look as beautiful as the day they arrived two weeks ago. I was so pleased that I stopped in at Myra Rose Florist on St. Marys Road to let them know. I’ve always believed that if I am going to take the time to make a group or business aware that they didn’t get it quite right, I should also let folks know when my expectations were exceeded, which was the case here.

The first time I read The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, I was intrigued by the message a choice of flowers can send — intentionally or otherwise. It’s a book I’ve read many times over, always drawn to the characters, their intertwined lives and the conversations had not with words but through blooms and bouquets. Daffodils for new beginnings; just like the season in which they arrive, marking the turn from winter to spring. Gerbera daisies for cheerfulness, coneflower for strength, eucalyptus for protection or, for something different, the gift of cabbage for profit — at least according to Victoria, the main character in Diffenbaugh’s novel. Alternately, she might choose begonia to communicate caution, purple hyacinth to ask for forgiveness, or lobelia for malevolence.

Three of my favourite flowers, meanings completely aside, are poppies, snapdragons, and columbine. I’ll let you discover the symbolism of each one yourself. Suffice it to say however, that each is unique and pointed in what they could convey — again, intentionally or otherwise.

Recent statistics reveal that the cut flower industry in Canada is worth about $602 million. With just under 3,000 floral retailers employing just over 5,000 people it’s quite literally a blossoming industry. In doing a bit of research, I learned that Thailand exports more than $80 million in orchids each year, flowers from Kenya are exported to over 60 countries and Ecuador is one of the top exporters of roses. It’s a growing market for sales, both in-person or online, and shows no signs of going anywhere but up.

Seeking peace and respite? Try Modo Yoga

Karen Beauchemin and Lise Mireault are more than sisters-in-law and members of my community. I have recently come to know and appreciate them as passionate and invested practitioners and teachers after attending one of their yoga, meditation, and sound healing sessions at Modo Yoga’s Waverley studio.For Karen, the path to meditation and sound healing as therapy was informed by her own journey through the medical system. It was a journey so emotionally and physically draining that it compelled a second journey of examining life choices made and being made, supported by an exploration of holistic healing modalities. As Karen’s meditation practice broadened, she noticed a reduction in the level of stress and anxiety she was experiencing which afforded some important personal insight. In 2018, Karen’s exploration of sound healing began. It wasn’t long before she knew she had something valuable to offer to those who were navigating stressful lives, which for many was only exacerbated by the presence of a global pandemic.  Lise reconnected with her practice in 2011, subsequently retiring in 2014 from a 29-year career supporting at-risk students to explore teaching yoga. Certified in modo yoga and modo calm, and with extensive experience in restorative yoga, yin yoga, and mindfulness meditation, she can wonderfully articulate the value of regularly making time to pull back from overstimulation and the frenzy of everyday life. I value the hour I spend with her each week in restorative practice.Karen and Lise ultimately teamed up to offer folks an opportunity to decompress, get some healing, and try something new. They wanted to start locally and did so with a successful first class of restorative yoga, meditation and sound healing at Dakota Community Centre in May 2021, where Lise is a long-time yoga instructor.The hot room at Modo Yoga  Waverley is their new location and where I experienced the warm, calming, relaxing and restorative impact of the joining of their experience and backgrounds.Skeptical of giving it a try? Karen and Lise would encourage you to keep an open mind. At the absolute least you will come away listening to some beautiful music, feeling more relaxed and less stressed. At best you will have had a new experience that you’ve enjoyed and may want to take part in regularly, met some like-minded people, and expanded your perspective and understanding. For more information on these classes, you can reach Karen and Lise at beauch@mymts.net. Lise teaches Wednesday to Friday at Dakota C.C.Sandy Nemeth is a community correspondent for River Park South and a Louis Riel School Board trustee. Email her at snemeth8@mts.net 

Karen Beauchemin and Lise Mireault are more than sisters-in-law and members of my community. I have recently come to know and appreciate them as passionate and invested practitioners and teachers after attending one of their yoga, meditation, and sound healing sessions at Modo Yoga’s Waverley studio.

For Karen, the path to meditation and sound healing as therapy was informed by her own journey through the medical system. It was a journey so emotionally and physically draining that it compelled a second journey of examining life choices made and being made, supported by an exploration of holistic healing modalities. 

Local tea shop offers plenty of variety

As I write this, my tea steeps in a favourite mug. On this day I want the sweetness that the sprinkles in DavidsTea birthday cake tea will provide — an acceptable substitute for the holiday baking I’ve had too much of over the last few weeks. Yesterday it was Nirvana from Cornelia Bean, a cardamom, fennel, and licorice infusion that is perfect after a winter walk. In the lead-up to the holidays, I had a new and different tea every day in December, courtesy of a very intuitive gift giver and the genius behind a tea advent calendar.Tea is not a warm-weather drink for me, however when the leaves start to turn in the fall and cooler weather arrives it becomes somewhat of a ritual to brew a cup to enjoy after a walk, during a meeting, while immersed in a book or tackling some required reading. Yes to caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon flavours, especially in a rooibos tea, and a hard pass on ginger, lemon, peppermint, or anything floral (if you were wondering).  This makes me the opposite of a tea purist, apparently, which I will just have to live with although admittedly I am becoming more and more interested in the health benefits of the various varieties. I know I’m drinking more tea than I did a year ago, and I’m not alone; tea consumption in Canada and elsewhere is increasing and shows no signs of slowing down. Did you know tea is the second-most consumed beverage in the world after water?With my supply dwindling I recently paid a visit to BREWTeas, which is in the heart of River Park South. I’d heard so many good things about its service and selection, and the fact it also showcases and support Manitoba makers was added incentive. If I thought choosing from the 200 varieties of loose-leaf teas was going to be relatively easy, I was wrong. After narrowing it down I left with caramel, which promised the sweetness I like in the rooibos I favour (fun fact, rooibos is an herbal ‘tea’ made from the fermented leaves of the aspalathus linearis shrub found in South Africa and not from the tea plants native to China and other East Asian countries). It didn’t disappoint and the bonus was discovering a local artisan shop in the process. Don’t take my word for it, experience it for yourself; BREWTeas is online, on Instagram, and at 1500 Dakota St., next to Sobeys.Sandy Nemeth is a community correspondent for River Park South and a Louis Riel School Board trustee. Email her at snemeth8@mts.net

As I write this, my tea steeps in a favourite mug. On this day I want the sweetness that the sprinkles in DavidsTea birthday cake tea will provide — an acceptable substitute for the holiday baking I’ve had too much of over the last few weeks. 

Yesterday it was Nirvana from Cornelia Bean, a cardamom, fennel, and licorice infusion that is perfect after a winter walk. In the lead-up to the holidays, I had a new and different tea every day in December, courtesy of a very intuitive gift giver and the genius behind a tea advent calendar.

Tea is not a warm-weather drink for me, however when the leaves start to turn in the fall and cooler weather arrives it becomes somewhat of a ritual to brew a cup to enjoy after a walk, during a meeting, while immersed in a book or tackling some required reading. Yes to caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon flavours, especially in a rooibos tea, and a hard pass on ginger, lemon, peppermint, or anything floral (if you were wondering).  

Garden centres a feast for the senses

At any time of year, the greenhouses and garden centres on south St. Mary’s Road are a feast for the senses. To be surrounded by lush and thriving plants as we move into winter, however, is a saving grace on several levels.

With the holiday season in full swing, there is an enhanced selection of gifts, beyond what is typically a very robust offering. This means I can easily spend a couple of hours just outside River Park South feeling completely removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immersed in an oasis that is good for the soul, often accompanied by a purchase (or two).

I feel completely confident in saying that on the St. Mary’s garden centre strip you can find a gift for that ‘impossible to buy for’ person on your list, or for the one who seems to have everything already. Soy candles? Check. Gourmet foods both sweet and savory? Check. Jewelry, clothing, loungewear, toys and games? Check times five. If you want ethically and renewably sourced ornaments and decorations, and a completely sustainable approach to growing and gifting, you can find that too. Whether you want simple with only a little embellishment or eye-popping glitz, glimmer, and shine, you’re covered.

Then there are the plants. All year round they are plentiful in selection and abundance, however this time of year is for the addition of poinsettias, amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs, wreaths, Christmas cacti, and Christmas trees including one inspired by the Grinch himself.

LRSD students support Socktober

As it has for the past four years, Main Street Project launched its Socktober campaign with a goal of collecting 20,000 pairs of new socks by the end of October to ensure its sock needs are met for the upcoming winter. In Louis Riel School Division, students are doing what they can to see this goal is achieved.

At École Marie-Anne-Gaboury, J, a student in Grade 8, has organized an annual sock drive for the past several years. Known as someone always looking for a way to help those in need, J and the ÉMAG school community had a goal to collect 500 pairs of socks in October, which will go a long way to support MSP and the folks who come through their doors.

At École George-McDowell, the goal is 1,000 pairs. As part of the school’s ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ initiative, and with a Sock-ometer tracking their progress, the entire school community has embraced the collecting of socks. As part of the initiative, students and staff work in collaboration to identify ideas that build and support community both inside and outside the school and their hard work is paying off.

This focused effort resulted in 290 pairs of socks being donated in the first week as the Sock-ometer (and Mme. Péloquin’s class, which is collecting and counting the socks) will confirm.

Checking out pandemic reading habits

“This is a courtesy message for NEMETH, SANDY. Your library card will expire on Aug 26, 2021. Please renew in person at any Winnipeg Public Library branch; you will need to bring ID with your current address on it.”

Reading this, those of you familiar with the PBS series Arthur may, as I did, start humming ‘Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card...”  

Which is true.  When our kids were young, Arthur the Aardvark, was a hit in our house, and we spent a lot of time at the library. Both translated to all kinds of fun and while we don’t watch Arthur any longer, our library cards are still in regular use.

When my card renewal notice arrived, it prompted me to think about what libraries have looked like in the time of a global pandemic. Did engagement increase? What genre of books was most popular?

Student opportunities will disappear with Bill 64

If you are on Facebook or Twitter, you may have noticed that the Louis Riel School Board (LRSD Community Information on Bill 64 on Facebook and @LRSDschoolboard on Twitter) is highlighting 64 of the programs offered in the Louis Riel School Division. (There are significantly more than 64, by the way.)

In all the angst and nervousness around what Bill 64: The Education Modernization Act could mean for public education in Manitoba, and as we continue to navigate a global pandemic, it’s important to remind ourselves of the investments that ensure our students are engaged and successful through their kindergarten to Grade 12 journey.

Career planning in LRSD is supported by our Career Internship Program, myBlueprint and Propel along with a variety of options and experiences for career exploration including (but certainly not limited to) the Youth BIOlab partnership with St. Boniface Hospital.  

In addition to a growing French immersion program, which includes Grade 4 middle immersion, LRSD students can learn Spanish and Ojibwe. If you believe, as poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow did, that music is the universal language of all mankind, then the choice to participate in choral, choir, band, ensemble, guitar, jazz, vocal jazz, musical theatre, and technical music production must be highlighted, too.

Get your motor runnin’, head out on the highway

I recently met up with a friend for dinner.  It was nice to catch up in person and reflect on the last year - the restrictions imposed and the pausing of so many routines and activities.   

We were outside but it felt strange, even in the context of recently relaxed COVID restrictions. Surrounded by mask-less groupings of friends and families, and reveling in a new-found level of ‘freedom’, we agreed it felt weird to be enjoying a meal in a public place, and with someone who wasn’t a family member.  

I’m hard pressed to remember anything remarkable about 2020 that wasn’t pandemic induced or disruptive. In the rearview mirror one month will be remembered like the other 11 - masks, distance, with some tedium, anxiety and apprehension thrown in for good measure.  Now, well past the mid-point of 2021, any little step toward a return to previous freedoms cannot come soon enough - and we are getting there. Slowly, but surely. The mere idea of being able to choose a restaurant where I could eat with someone outside my family circle, surrounded by strangers, was a heady feeling indeed.  

Not everyone feels the same way and for some, the transition to mask-less group interaction in an indoor environment will take some getting used to. I get it.  

Neither snow nor rain nor heat…

If you live on either Blackwater Bay or Southwalk Bay in River Park South, you have likely seen Dylan and William Dixon on their Lance delivery route. They round the bend every Thursday like clockwork, to the point we can almost predict the exact minute the weekly local news and flyers will be delivered.  

If you get the Lance with your newspaper, you may not pay much attention when they come down the street, however the commitment and consistency through rain, snow, heat and cold over the last 18 months is worth recognizing, in my opinion. I thought you might be interested in knowing more about the Dixon brothers - two of the most friendly, personable, articulate and genuinely nice young people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

By the time you read this, another school year will be in the rearview mirror; Dylan will have completed Grade 7 and William Grade 4, both at H.S. Paul School. They are looking forward to the change of routine that will include family camping trips, hanging out with friends, and extra time to spend on things they like to do. Dylan is a video game enthusiast, while William is looking to trim the time it takes him to complete a Rubik’s cube.

When asked what they like about delivering the Lance, it becomes clear that the money they earn is a huge motivator. They also talked about the value of the exercise they get on their 40-minute, 87-house route.

Building community, one houseplant at a time

I’ve never had much of a garden to speak of, but I’ve always had houseplants. Aside from a few minor mishaps due to over-watering (or lack thereof) and other things, I’ve become pretty good at ensuring they grow and thrive, even to the point where one plant can become several. More than once I’ve rescued a co-worker’s spindly and neglected plant and been rewarded with a healthy and vibrant return to life after some focused TLC.

Not surprisingly, there is a burgeoning plant community in Winnipeg - one that friends Riel Lynch and Jannica Reyes have embraced while navigating a global pandemic.  

What began as a desire to connect an increasingly isolated community with a small plant giveaway has literally grown into a collective where progress is shared, plants are traded, and advice provided. Along the way, a broad and diverse community has come together around a shared interest, garnering support and interest from folks drawn to @wpgfreeplants on Instagram.

Since October of 2020, Riel and Jannica estimate they have gathered and given away over 600 plants (including some that I donated). They’ve met tons of people in the process, and I am confident in saying they’ve had a positive impact at a time when ‘positivity’ has been badly needed and often in short supply. Indeed, research supports the value of what they are doing - plants in your home or office can reduce stress, improve concentration, boost productivity, and improve air quality. And on cold winter days, who doesn’t love a green and growing connection to nature?

It’s incumbent upon us to understand Bill 64

On March 15, the long-awaited release of the review of K-12 education in Manitoba arrived in the form of Bill 64 - The Education Modernization Act.   

While the review itself contains many recommendations reflective of the comprehensive consultation that took place, there is general agreement that very few made it into Bill 64.   

Rather, what is proposed has been described as a complete, and some say radical, overhaul of the entire public education system including the centralization of decision making, and putting the governance and oversight of the system directly and solely in the hands of parents.   

Bettereducationmb.ca houses the complete inventory of all Department of Education documents, plans and reporting related to Bill 64. At the time of writing, strategy advisory groups have been, or will be, established under the headings of: Teachers’ Idea Fund; Student Advisory Council; Curriculum Advisory Panel; Funding Review Team; Minister’s Advisory Council of Inclusive Education; Taskforce of Poverty and Education; Indigenous Inclusion Directorate Advisory Council; and an Attendance Task Force.

Finding new flooring in River Park South

An internet search returned this definition of ‘carpet’: “1. a heavy often tufted fabric used as a floor covering; 2. a surface or layer resembling or suggesting a carpet.”

I’d add a third to read: “At the age of 10+ years, said carpet may or may not resemble the dictionary definition any longer’.”

This was certainly the case in the now-defined ‘spare room,’ where there was a surface of some sort, the definition of which was coming up for debate with increasing frequency. A few days of work, a few coats of paint, and several square yards of ‘tonal retreat’ later the spare room has a whole new look and feel. No debating what’s on the floor any longer; it’s soft, comfortable, dreamy new carpet.

In talking with the team at River Park Flooring, it became clear that multiple considerations and choices were going to require an investment of time in making a final decision. In the end carpet won out over laminate, hardwood, and vinyl plank.  

Puzzling my way through the pandemic

In the past year I’ve completed more puzzles than I’ve attempted in my entire life, which is about five.  OK, fine, that’s not entirely accurate - ‘more 1,000-piece puzzles’ would be more precise. Still, it’s something, and not necessarily a claim I could make were it not for COVID-19.

If I’m being honest, I have never quite understood the appeal of puzzles - too much sitting and not enough of an outcome for the hours invested. But then a global pandemic became something I had to navigate and some gnawing anxiety, a restless mind, and a much slower routine to my days compelled me to say ‘yes’ to the offering of a puzzle from the henceforth dubbed ‘puzzlemaster’ in my circle of friends.  

It arrived one cold November day, depicting Ariel and Prince Eric gazing into each other’s eyes while surrounded by the characters of Little Mermaid. Then there was a second Little Mermaid-themed puzzle featuring the Sea Witch Ursula, followed by a Lion King puzzle, the completion of which yielded seven duplicate pieces. Currently I’m at work on Alice in Wonderland.

If you sense a theme you are correct, the puzzlemaster is a devoted Disney fan.