Community Correspondents – Our Communities

Photo by Candice G. Ball
Pedro loved to explore the neighbourhoods of Lord Roberts.

Pedro of Lord Roberts

Candice G. Ball 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

When I moved back to Winnipeg in 2009, my dog, Pedro, made connecting with people easy.

He could not contain his excitement when he saw anyone walking down the street. Young, old, rich, or poor – it didn’t matter. He wanted to meet everyone. He introduced me to some of my closest friends in the area.

South Osborne was a dog haven, and I got into the habit of taking him everywhere with me. Chocolate Zen Bakery welcomed dogs and sold treats that looked so delicious I often thought of taking a bite.

Once, after an early evening stroll down to Banana Boat to get Pedro a doggie sundae, I decided to pop into the Park Theatre to rent a movie.

Advertise With Us

Weather

Apr. 23, 12 PM: 22°c Cloudy with wind Apr. 23, 6 PM: 22°c Cloudy with wind

Winnipeg MB

20°C, Cloudy with wind

Full Forecast

Helping new doctors with English

Colin Fraser 4 minute read Preview

Helping new doctors with English

Colin Fraser 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Retired Winnipeg doctor Jeff Sisler is always genuinely heartened by the reaction he gets when he lets others know what he is up to.

Sisler, a family doctor for 35 years in a variety of roles, including with CancerCare Manitoba, the University of Manitoba’s department of family medicine and the College of Family Physicians of Canada, is a volunteer with Health English Language Pro (HELP), a program that connects Canadian physicians with newcomer, internationally trained doctors.

“People are impressed and pleased that this kind of thing goes on, and I think the general public knows there a lot of need in Canada for more health professionals and there are a lot of internationally trained people who are fighting hard to get into practice,” said Sisler, who was always heavily involved in teaching clinics and providing professional learning environments in family medicine before hanging up his stethoscope for good in 2022.

“Helping that happen is a good thing to be involved in.”

Read

Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Supplied photo
Retired family doctor Jeff Sisler now gives back to the community by volunteering with Health English Language Pro, which connects Canadian physicians with internationally trained, newcomer doctors.

Making tax season easier in Assiniboia

Nellie Kennedy 3 minute read Preview

Making tax season easier in Assiniboia

Nellie Kennedy 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

As spring begins to take hold in Assiniboia, this time of year brings a sense of renewal—but also, for many, the responsibility of preparing taxes. For some, that process can feel overwhelming, especially for seniors or those living on a fixed income. It is in these moments that small, practical supports can make a meaningful difference.

Over the past two years, our constituency office has been proud to offer a free tax clinic during the months of March and April. What began as a simple effort to provide assistance has quickly grown into a larger initiative shaped by community need, and strengthened by the people who have chosen to take part in it.

As the MLA for Assiniboia, it is a privilege to help provide a service that removes financial and emotional barriers for those who need it most. Filing taxes often comes with costs that can be difficult to manage, and for individuals already stretching their budgets, even small fees can add up. By offering this clinic at no cost, we are helping ensure that more people can access the benefits and credits they are entitled to, while easing the stress that so often accompanies this time of year.

Importantly, the clinic we offer is low-barrier and accessible. Participants are not simply handed forms or directed elsewhere – they are welcomed in and supported through each step of the process. Our volunteers take the time to sit down, listen, and guide individuals through filing their taxes step-by-step. It is a low-barrier approach that reflects the kind of service our community values.

Read

Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Adobe Stock
Assiniboia MLA Nellie Kennedy’s constituency office offers a free income tax clinic during March and April.

Right to repair a win for consumers

Jim Maloway 2 minute read Preview

Right to repair a win for consumers

Jim Maloway 2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

On March 11, Manitoba introduced Bill 15, its first government-led right to repair legislation.

When first introduced to the legislature in 2021 under my private member’s bill, the right to repair movement was not well-known in Canada. Since then, it has gained momentum by offering clear benefits to consumers and the environment.

Right to repair aims to make products such as appliances, electronics, farm equipment and vehicles easier and more affordable to fix – helping households save money while reducing waste.

From an environmental perspective, extending the lifespan of products is critical. When devices and appliances are repaired instead of replaced, fewer items end up in landfills. This is especially important given that only about 20 per cent of electronic waste is properly recycled. By reducing premature disposal, we can limit toxic materials entering the environment, while lowering the demand for new manufacturing, which in turn reduces raw material extraction and greenhouse gas emissions.

Read

Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Supplied photo
Elmwood MLA Jim Maloway is pictured in March 2021 with Ron Theriault, his son Anthony, and the late city councillor Jason Schreyer. Elmwood Appliance has been servicing and selling appliances in the Elmwood area since 1996.

Sikh Heritage Month is Manitoba’s story, too

Diljeet Brar 3 minute read Preview

Sikh Heritage Month is Manitoba’s story, too

Diljeet Brar 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

April holds a special place in my heart, and in the hearts of Sikh families across Manitoba. It is Sikh Heritage Month, a time to reflect on who we are, where we come from, and the values that guide us forward.

For me, this month is both deeply personal and proudly public. As a Sikh, and as your MLA, I carry these traditions with me every day. But April gives us the opportunity to share them more widely, to open doors, start conversations, and build understanding across communities.

April is also when we celebrate the Khalsa, a defining moment in Sikh history grounded in the principles of equality, social justice, and service. These are not just Sikh values. They are human values. They are Manitoban values. And they remind us that the work of building a more just and compassionate society belongs to all of us.

That is why I was proud to introduce Bill 227: The Turban Day Act, which established April 13 as Turban Day in Manitoba. The turban is not simply an article of clothing. It represents dignity, responsibility, and the commitment to stand up for others. Each year, seeing Manitobans from all backgrounds come to the legislative building, ask questions, and even try on a turban is something I will never take for granted.

Read

Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Supplied photo
St. Boniface MLA Robert Loiselle and Burrows MLA Diljeet Brar, pictured April 13, Turban Day, at the legislative building.

Getting it done

Doug Kretchmer 3 minute read Preview

Getting it done

Doug Kretchmer 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

You can do anything you put your mind to – almost anything, practically speaking.

But some tasks can be daunting… where do you start? I recently had to clean out a storage locker because the lease had expired. How did it get so cluttered, and so fast?

Well, I figured it out when started pulling stuff out of the locker. Lots and lots and then a lot more empty boxes. After breaking down approximately 20 boxes and stuffing them into two big boxes, I made a trip to the 4R Recycling Depot on Pacific Avenue. Since I was going anyway, I thought might as well load up any other recycling in the building that I maintain and live in. I ended up making a few trips with a few carloads.

With phase one of the project complete, it was time to pull out boxes and categorize them. Thank goodness I’m good at documentation, a trait I learned in recording engineering school).

Read

Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Photo of Doug Kretchmer
A photo of correspondent Doug Kretchmer’s now-empty storage unit. The ‘cymbal lamps’ are centre left.

At last – support for play structures

Brian Mayes 3 minute read Preview

At last – support for play structures

Brian Mayes 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

In December 2025, I announced plans to undertake a “10-day task force” in

January 2026 to research how school play structures are funded in Manitoba and to make recommendations for improvement. This initiative proved to be one of the most rewarding efforts of my current term on city council.

The long-time model for funding play structures in Manitoba has relied heavily on parent councils to raise the necessary funds. This model has created several inequities – families in more affluent neighbourhoods are often better positioned to successfully raise funds, while others face greater challenges; some school divisions prohibit fundraising but provide partial financial support, while other divisions provide no support at all. In addition, a small number of schools benefit from “city funded” play structures located on or adjacent to their grounds.

The task force was a great opportunity to meet with parents frustrated with the current system. People from Bison Run, Springfield Heights, Sage Creek and other communities reached out. Many described the burden of taking time off work to organize fundraising events, only to see their progress offset by rising construction costs. In some cases, the price of a new play structure – reaching as high as $500,000 – meant fundraising could take years, often extending well beyond the time their children remained at the school.

Read

Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Supplied photo
Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) was thrilled to see the provincial government include funding for school play structures in its most recent budget.

Learn more about Advertising solutions

Building Canada strong in an uncertain world

Terry Duguid 4 minute read Preview

Building Canada strong in an uncertain world

Terry Duguid 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

The world is becoming a more uncertain place. Long-standing alliances are under strain, supply chains are shifting, and the rules-based international order is being tested in ways we have not seen in decades. For a trading nation like Canada, that matters. It goes directly to our economic security and, ultimately, to our sovereignty.

That is why, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, our focus is clear – protect our economy, diversify our trade, and build the strength we need here at home.

Diversification is no longer a nice-to-have. It is essential. Canada has what the world needs – energy, critical minerals, agricultural products, and advanced technologies. The challenge is making sure we are reaching more markets, building stronger partnerships, and not relying too heavily on any one country.

Recent experience has only reinforced that point. Unjustified and unfair tariffs on Canadian goods have shown, in very practical terms, the risks of overdependence. They are a reminder that we need to keep opening new doors and strengthening relationships with partners around the world.

Read

Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Supplied photo
Churchill is more than a port – it is a strategic northern gateway, with the potential to open new trade routes and connect Canadian products to global markets in new ways.

Bill C-263: Silver Alert National Framework Act

Raquel Dancho 2 minute read Preview

Bill C-263: Silver Alert National Framework Act

Raquel Dancho 2 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

When a vulnerable senior goes missing, every minute counts.

Two years ago, Earl Moberg, a beloved father, grandfather, and educator from North Kildonan who was living with dementia, went missing. Despite extensive search efforts by family, volunteers, and law enforcement, Earl was never found and is presumed deceased.

Following his disappearance, the Moberg family launched a petition calling for a national Silver Alert system, which I was honoured to sponsor in Parliament. Signed by more than 7,300 Canadians from every province and territory, the petition demonstrated strong national support for action to protect vulnerable seniors. I am honoured to now bring forward legislation to establish a national Silver Alert framework in Canada.

In March, I introduced Bill C-263 in the House of Commons: the Silver Alert National Framework Act. If passed, this bill will establish a national framework to quickly alert the public when a vulnerable senior – such as someone living with dementia or another cognitive impairment, goes missing. The federal government would be required to work with provinces, territories, and law enforcement to establish coordinated national standards for issuing Silver Alerts. Using Canada’s existing national public alerting system, alerts could be geo-targeted to nearby areas, similar to Amber Alerts used for children, in the area where a missing senior is most likely to be found.

Read

Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Supplied photo
Raquel Dancho and Britt Moberg are pictured in Parliament with a photo of Earl Moberg, Britt’s father.

Solidarity: the political version of love

Emèt Hadass Eviatar 3 minute read Preview

Solidarity: the political version of love

Emèt Hadass Eviatar 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

The late American poet and scholar Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz famously wrote, in her 2007 book The Colors of Jews: Racial Politics and Radical Diasporism, that solidarity is the political version of love.

The book discusses the need for broad coalitions within civil society, with nobody considered ‘better’ than anyone else. When people of diverse backgrounds stand shoulder to shoulder for a cause they can all believe in, regardless of what else divides them, that is truly a political form of love.

Here on Turtle Island, while any one of us who is not Indigenous is by definition a settler, the fact remains that some of us (including many Indigenous people) are more marginalized than others. Whether it’s the colour of our skin, our religious or gender identity, or anything else that sets us off from the majority, it is always a little fraught to be different. For those who are hyphenated Canadians or otherwise suspected of dual loyalty, it can be even more fraught, and that is where the concept of ‘diasporism’ comes in.

Kaye/Kantrowitz writes: “Diasporism is committed to an endless paradoxical dance between cultural integrity and multicultural complexities. Diasporism depends not on dominance but on balance, perpetual back and forth, home and away, community and outside, always on the edge except perhaps at intensely personal moments in the family created by blood or by love, or at moments of transcendent solidarity.”

Read

Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Free Press file photo
The streetcar monument to the Winnipeg General Strike sits at the corner of Market Avenue and Main Street – across the street from city hall.

Slo-pitch season just around the corner

Tony Zerucha 3 minute read Preview

Slo-pitch season just around the corner

Tony Zerucha 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

With the snow all but gone and parks and ball diamonds slowly drying, it’ll soon be softball season. Kent Kamenz, Manitoba regional director of Slo-Pitch National, and his staff are hard at work organizing a host of tournaments and provincial championships that will keep local ballplayers busy well into fall.

Kamenz said more than 700 teams are registered for a variety of leagues across Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. There are men’s, women’s, co-ed and seniors’ divisions, which, according to a recent letter from SPN, can begin at 35 and older. (That means I’ve qualified as a senior for more than 20 years. Thanks, Kent!)

Several weekends of the season will feature fundraising tournaments for a variety of charities. Hittin’ for Hooters and Duders, a fundraiser held in conjunction with the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, is scheduled for June 20 at Little Mountain Sportsplex. All funds raised go to breast and prostate cancer initiatives right here in Manitoba.

SPN also teams up with Make a Wish Canada’s Manitoba/Nunavut region and radio station QX-104 for the Slo-Pitch for a Wish event on Sept. 12 at Little Mountain Sportsplex. This will be a great way to wind down the ball season. In addition to the games, there is a concert, celebrity game, vendor market and auctions. The 2025 event raised more than $70,000.

Read

Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

File photo
Kent Kamenz, Manitoba regional director of Slo-Pitch National, can’t wait for the ball season to begin.

Calendrier communautaire 233-ALLÔ

Calendrier communautaire 2 minute read Preview

Calendrier communautaire 233-ALLÔ

Calendrier communautaire 2 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

22 et 29 avril • Bébés à la biblio • Bibliothèque de Saint-Boniface

23 avril • Atelier SLAM communautaire • Maison Gabrielle-Roy

23 et 30 avril • Drop-in de céramique • CCFM

23 avril • Le travail et la formation avec le gouvernement du Manitoba • Pluri-elles

Read

Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Supplied photo by Michel Pinault
A public performance of Mwana et la secret du tortue will be staged on April 26 at Centre culturel franco-manitobain.

Oak Park at 50: The moments that stay with you

Evan Duncan 3 minute read Preview

Oak Park at 50: The moments that stay with you

Evan Duncan 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Oak Park High School turning 50 brings back a lot of memories, not of one defining moment, but of what it felt like to be part of a school that people were genuinely proud to attend.

Opening in 1975 on the western edge of Charleswood, Oak Park was built to serve a growing community and to become a cornerstone of that community, much like Charleswood Collegiate had. As a 2001 graduate and former co-president, I saw that pride first-hand, how strongly students identified with the school and what it meant to them.

Oak Park was never just a building you went to. Students were proud to say they attended and proud to be part of it. Once you came through those doors, you were part of the Oak Park community and its tradition, something that stays with you forever.

Walking into the school you could feel the history, the pride, the community. The Forum sat at the centre of it all, a gathering place where students crossed paths, met up, and took in the social life of the school. Oak Park had a reputation across the province for athletics, academics, and a strong arts program. Raider pride ran through the hallways and carried well beyond the school into the wider community.

Read

Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Free Press file photo
École secondaire Oak Park High School was established in 1975 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a reunion and events from April 27 to May 2.

Avi Lewis: A future for the 99 per cent

Leah Gazan 3 minute read Preview

Avi Lewis: A future for the 99 per cent

Leah Gazan 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Just a few weeks ago, New Democratic Party of Canada members gathered in Winnipeg to choose a new leader. The overwhelming sense of excitement and optimism I have felt since we came together at the convention has not left me.

It’s with deep honour and enthusiasm that I share my heartfelt congratulations to our new NDP leader, Avi Lewis. Avi brings 35 years of challenging power and advancing working-class politics across Canada through his experience as a veteran journalist, educator and activist. Avi has deep roots in progressive politics as the son of Stephen Lewis, grandson of David Lewis, and the husband of Naomi Klein.

I was proud to endorse Avi early on because I supported and recognized his bold, progressive, and democratic agenda. I look forward to working with Avi as we rebuild our party to make room for everyone who believes in social, economic and racial justice.

It was inspiring to join this new wave of energy spreading throughout Canada and culminating in Winnipeg. You could feel the excitement in the air at the RBC Convention Centre and see the energy in the numbers. We broke party fundraising records and welcomed thousands of members at convention, including a record youth turnout, showing that the future of the NDP is bright.

Read

Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Free Press file photo
Avi Lewis holds his first press conference as leader of Canada’s NDP, alongside former interim leader Don Davies, Leah Gazan, MP for Winnipeg Centre, at the Delta Hotel on March 30.

Help make our community safer, more vibrant

John Orlikow 3 minute read Preview

Help make our community safer, more vibrant

John Orlikow 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Building the kind of neighbourhoods, we want to be a part of doesn’t happen by accident – we all have a role to play in making our communities as safe and welcoming as possible for everyone.

For many of us, that starts with keeping our homes, garages and property protected. To help give you, your family and friends tips on crime prevention and personal safety, I will be hosting two free community forums, along with my senior staff member, Georgina, and the Winnipeg Police Service later this month.

Join us on Saturday April 25, 202at 3:30 p.m. at Linden Woods Community Centre (414 Lindenwood Dr.) or on Monday, April 27 at 7p.m. at the Corydon Community Centre – River Heights Site (1370 Grosvenor Ave.).

At both events, WPS members will share the best ways to secure our homes and personal property and answer any questions you may have. I hope to see you there as we all work together to keep River Heights-Fort Garry as safe as possible.

Read

Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Free Press file photo
A fun way to get together and get to know your neighbours is by hosting a community block party.

Active Living Centre feeds body and soul

Michele Kading 3 minute read Preview

Active Living Centre feeds body and soul

Michele Kading 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

I recently met with some wonderful people at the Elmwood-East Kildonan Active Living Centre. When I arrived, the main room was in use for a meeting of staff and volunteers. An hour later, it was transformed into a food rescue centre. Dozens of volunteers from Community Helpers Unite organized grocery items donated by local stores. Tables were stacked with potatoes, onions, peppers, cabbages, green onions, mandarin oranges, kiwis, papayas, and more. Word about the Thursday food giveaway had just gone out on social media. Soon, hundreds of people would arrive to save the food from going to waste.

This is just one of the food security programs offered by the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation at the Active Living Centre.

What makes it unique?

“The program is barrier-free” said Louise Peters of CNRC. “If you need it, you take it.”

Read

Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

April 23, 2026