Winnipeg through the eyes of a tourist
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2022 (348 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
I recently had the opportunity to remember why I love living in St. Vital. An old high school buddy, Bill Nash and his wife, Karen, came into town for a celebration of life and stayed with us. I acted as chauffeur and tour guide and listened to Bill’s memories of the St. Vital of our youth. I can’t print some of those memories but he had such fun recalling them. The stories were so vivid and no doubt get better with age.
Bill was really impressed by the state of St. Vital Park. He thought it was being well maintained and, having not seen it for many years, he noted the improvements. The “new” pavilion next to the duck pond… the updated toboggan slide… the entrance to the park, etc. He even told a story about camping at the Scout park which was amalgamated into St. Vital Park decades ago. It was fun to reminisce through fresh eyes.
We walked through the new gardens and paths west of the duck pond where my family bought a bench in memory of our mom and dad, who loved the park. I appreciate this new area and the connection to my family and so did my buddy. St. Vital Park holds a lot of memories for both of us. Family picnics were always fun. Just like yesteryear, the park is still filled with families enjoying the beauty and nature.
Winnipeg is blessed to have such amazing parks throughout the city. I will always treasure them.
Of course, we also needed to visit the Bridge Drive-In… more fond memories. As we stood in the parking lot, my wife, Bev, recalled when she learned to drive her dad’s truck and how stressed she was driving over the Elm Park Bridge when meeting on-coming traffic. Looking at the bridge today, it is hard to imagine doing that.
Bill had stories of people (no names mentioned here) jumping off the bridge and doing flips into the river below. I looked at the girders on the bridge and the height and just shook my head.
We even found time to visit Grand Beach and Bill’s family cottage from days gone by. It made me realize what I have always known but he pleasantly reminded me… that Winnipeg is a pretty good place to live!
Belgian Veterans War Memorial update — My article last year about the plan to renovate the war memorial on Provencher Boulevard was well-received by a number of people, including descendants of the Winnipeg residents, Alfred De Cruyenaere and Julien Buysse, who modelled for the sculpted figures. The great news is that restoration has begun and plans are being finalized for a re-dedication ceremony, perhaps as early as July. Bravo to all those who were involved in the project and those who contributed to this worthwhile cause.
John Hindle
Community Correspondent — St. Vital
John Hindle is a community correspondent for St. Vital. Email him at john@johnhindle.com