No Black Friday, flood of the century this year

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/05/2021 (765 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

May 5, 1950 was so memorable in Winnipeg it was named Black Friday, long before we associated that term with great shopping.

That day, 71 years ago, marked the peak of the 1950 flood, when Red River rose over 30 feet above normal levels, forcing 100,000 people to be evacuated from their homes. A significant part of St. Vital was under water. The St. Vital Museum has a nice display depicting the flood.

Many of us remember 1997, when the Red River also peaked very close to this date in what was later called The Flood of the Century. In terms of the amount of water discharged by the Red River, it was the largest flood since 1826, and flooded river basin south of Winnipeg was renamed the Red Sea. I remember bringing the Winnipeg Goldeyes staff to help sandbag on Kingston Crescent that year. It does not appear like we have to worry about a flood this year!

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I recently participated in the District 64 Toastmasters convention, the first time such an event had been attempted in a virtual format. I delivered a speech about how our perceptions impact our actions. Presenting in front of a virtual audience is certainly different than a live one. I applaud the organizing committee for making the best of a challenging situation.

A highlight was the presentation of the District Communication and Leadership award to Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial Public Health officer. He was very gracious in accepting the award, gave credit to his team, and answered all questions that were asked.

I appreciated his comments on how being honest with the public during a crisis was key to earning their trust and his insight into the challenges the government faces in making decisions for all Manitobans, when there are very divergent views in how rigid the response should be.

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In response to my last article about the Roco stations in St. Vital, Kelvin Nedokis wrote:

“Your latest column sparked a memory. In the 1970s, Chris Ridler (with his dad, Mark) brought a dragster to Hastings Elementary school, for a show and tell experience.  We didn’t get to sit in the car, but it was around the time (that) we all received Manitoba centennial coins.”

The province’s centennial was celebrated in 1970.

Thanks for the memory, Kelvin. No doubt others will remember that event.

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I just collaborated on a new book titled, Jack…The Life, Adventures & Observations of Jack Countryman. It is about my friend Jack, who I first met at the Goldeyes’ first local try-out camp in 1994, when he tried out for the team at the age of 57.

The book is filled with his memories of growing up and his beliefs on how to live a positive and healthy life. He is an author, speaker, musician, cartoonist and so much more. The book has a lot of colour inside and is available at McNally Robinson

John Hindle is a community correspondent for St. Vital. Email him at john@johnhindle.com