Celebrating the season

’Tis the season to gather and celebrate the holiday season. I was thrilled to do just that earlier this month with fellow constituents of Red River North.

On Dec. 3, I was honoured to participate in the St. Peter Dynevor Anglican Church lessons and carol service and do an Advent reading. My wife Mickey and I were able to visit with attendees and congregants after the service.

On Dec. 10, I attended the 2022 Christmas at the Plaza events in East St. Paul. The event was very well attended with many activities, such as pictures with Santa and a craft sale where you could pick up some wonderful buys. Earlier that day I was able to attend both the Breakfast with Santa event and the annual Santa Claus Parade in Grand Marais. Both events were well attended by folks in the community and it was so nice to see so many out and about again, interacting and enjoying the festive season.

I was honoured to present a certificate of achievement to Milt Pedwell who was named the 2022 Citizen of the Year by the Selkirk & District Community Foundation. Mr. Pedwell started the Selkirk Canoe and Kayak Centre over 30 years ago, when he recruited people to form a paddling club. Milt has helped mold some pretty successful paddlers, with several who began under his tutelage achieving spots on national teams. Milt was a leader then and Milt is a leader now. Congratulations to a most deserving recipient of the 37th Citizen of the Year award.

At the end of November, in my role as Minister of Environment, Climate and Parks, I was pleased to introduce the Off-Road Trails Safety and Maintenance Act. This proposed legislation would ensure off-road vehicle organizations can continue to support safe, high-quality recreational opportunities while protecting national ecosystems. Organizations such as Snowmobilers of Manitoba (Snoman) and the All-terrain Vehicle Association of Manitoba (ATVMB) manage the province’s ORV trail networks and we want to ensure that their important work is not limited by increased costs for labour and fuel, aging equipment, and reduced volunteer capacity. This new legislation will help provide additional tools for these organizations, support the rehabilitation of lands impacted by ORV use and ensure that we can continue to protect the natural ecosystems.

I would like to wish all my constituents a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Take time during the holidays to enjoy the things that really matter. May the wonder of the Christmas season surround you and your families throughout the holiday season and beyond.

Jeff Wharton
Red River North constituency report

Jeff Wharton is the PC MLA for Red River North.

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