Summer events in Tyndall Park

Tyndall Park

One of the things I enjoy most about serving as an MLA is having the opportunity to be out in our community. While every season has its own annual events, summer is consistently one of the busiest times of the year.

Between graduations, Canada Day celebrations, community fiestas, groundbreaking ceremonies, weddings, baseball tournaments, grand openings, cultural events, consultations, and visits to local organizations, summer goes by quickly.

For me, every event, experience, and meeting is unique, but they all remind me just how fortunate I am to represent such an incredible and diverse constituency.

Graduation season is always one of my favourite times of the year. I enjoy visiting the schools — some of which I attended myself! There is something special about watching students walk across the stage, knowing how much hard work, determination, and support from family, friends, and teachers helped them reach that moment. I often find that the speeches shared at graduations are inspiring and filled with hope. This year, I was pleased to present two awards at Sisler High School: The Community Citizenship Award and the Community Leadership Award.

Summer is also a wonderful time to celebrate the many cultures that make Manitoba such a welcoming and vibrant place to call home. A few recent events I attended this year include the Philippine Independence Ball and Ratha Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots. I have been attending the Philippine Independence Ball for many years, and without fail, it is always an evening filled with great tradition, delicious food, music, and friendship. This was my second year attending Ratha Yatra, and what made it especially meaningful was being able to bring my son with me. I began attending community events as a child alongside my father, who was serving as a provincial politician at the time. It is very special to now be able to share these same experiences with my own son.

In addition to these annual events, there are many opportunities throughout the summer to celebrate. Whether it’s attending a wedding or participating in a sod-turning ceremony for a new community project. Just last week, I had the pleasure of attending a sod-turning event as Tyndall Park will be home to a new Gurdwara.

While summer is full of celebrations, the work of serving constituents never takes a break. Legislative consultations, meetings, and conversations continue throughout the season, giving me the opportunity to hear directly from residents. These conversations are incredibly valuable and help guide the work I do both in the constituency and at the Manitoba Legislature. It is also one of the reasons I meet with constituents at the McDonald’s on Keewatin Street every Saturday.

As busy as summer can be, it is also one of the most rewarding times of the year. These experiences in our community remind me why I chose public service. Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me into your events and celebrations. It is an honour to serve as your MLA, and I look forward to seeing many more of you throughout the summer at events like Folklorama.