Haunted theatre in spotlight in new novel

As the curtain raises on David Jón Fuller’s debut novel Venue 13, it’s telling that a spirited force in the story hopes the show won’t go on.

Subtitled A Man. His theatre. And its ghost., the book — which is published by Winnipeg-based Turnstone Press/Ravenstone — follows protagonist Robert Laliberte.

According to Turnstone’s website, Laliberte’s dream is to convert a run-down building into a premier space for bring-your-own-venue productions in the city’s Summer Theatre Festival, a.k.a. Skeeter Fest. But achieving his dream isn’t easy — amid mounting debt and technical problems, Laliberte is unaware Venue 13 is also haunted.

The book is flavoured with autobiographical elements, as Fuller — who spent time growing up in North Kildonan and attended River East Collegiate, where he “became hooked on theatre” — is a longtime fixture in the city’s theatre community, and was involved with several Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Productions in the 1990s. His day job is copy editor at the Free Press, and he’s also a freelance writer and editor. His work has appeared in numerous anthologies.

Plenty of housing plans approved by Riel committee

The Riel Community Committee held its regular meeting on June 26.

Coun. Brain Mayes (St. Vital), who recently announced he would not be seeking re-election, submitted a motion for road and traffic improvements at the Abinojii Mikanah and St. Anne’s Road intersection, citing traffic concerns from residents in the area.

Since 2009, the City of Winnipeg has sat on $119,900.96 in a future services account — meaning the money in that account can only be used to repair and maintain city infrastructure along St. Anne’s Rd.

Mayes called the way the money is handled “a breach of fiduciary duty.”

Sabu’s Cubs to hold second annual shoe drive on Aug. 16

One local grassroots organization continues to make a difference in the community — one step at a time.

Sabu’s Cubs is a volunteer-led, non-profit that’s committed to helping and supporting youth in the community, and building a stronger sense of belonging and well-being.

“We work out of North Point Douglas, and walk in the community every Wednesday,” said Siobhan Faulkner, one of Sabu’s Cubs’ three co-directors, noting the organization works in partnership with Community Helpers Unite to serve hot meals to community members in need.

“We focus on the invisible underserved, as youth. And when we say invisible underserved, this could include people who are confined to their houses or trapped at home with young kids. We focus on specific people in the community and others in the neighbourhood that might be forgotten by the world.”

Canada Day celebrated in style

The unpredictable rainy weather did not stop the attendees and performers from celebrating Canada Day.

On July 1, people across Winnipeg gathered to celebrate. At the centre of the city, The Forks held different activities and events for everyone — drumming workshops, giant-scaled board games, and food at the market. Many proudly wore their traditional attires, colours of the Canadian flag — some even wore the actual flag as a cape. Among the crowd were longtime residents celebrating decades of being in Canada as well as new Canadians who took the citizenship oath at the Forks earlier that day.

National table tennis competition returns to the city

While cortisol for many competitive athletes might be running on overdrive leading up to a national championship, it isn’t for everyone.

For Terry Zhang, he’s excited, because it’s his first time competing on the national stage in 10 years, and it’s the first time Winnipeg is hosting the Canadian Championship in table tennis in 10 years.

Over 350 athletes from across the country — and roughly 50 Manitobans — are prepping for the national championship, which is set to take place July 17 to 23 at Duckworth Centre at the University of Winnipeg (400 Spence St.)

“A lot of people feel nervous around this time, but I’m excited,” Zhang laughed.

The cost of protecting Manitoba’s museums

When I joined the Association of Manitoba Museums in 2023, I learned that the Whiteshell Natural History Museum was closed. I worked at the museum at the start of my career in the early 1980s and had even donated a gray squirrel that I had taxidermied. The 1959 log cabin that housed the museum closed in 2017 due to structural problems and mold. Although the original cabin could not be repaired, parts of the structure were salvaged. The granite fieldstone fireplace that had warmed museum visitors on cool, rainy days now stands at the centre of a visitor plaza that was opened in 2025. It is surrounded by a reception building, amphitheatre, classroom, and exhibit space. The original front porch is a gateway to the site.

When museum buildings degrade, it puts irreplaceable museum collections at risk. This is happening across Manitoba at an alarming rate.

The Winnipeg Railway Museum has been closed for several years while undergoing major building renovations to protect its historic trains and railway artifacts. The roof has been repaired, but the east wall must be replaced before it can reopen. The estimated cost remaining is $3 million.

The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon, Man., has the largest collection of flying trainer aircraft in Canada. The collection is housed in a Second World War-era hangar with a unique wooden-truss roof that is failing. This heritage building must be stabilized to protect these irreplaceable vintage planes. Estimated cost: over $6 million.

Stay present to avoid in-person scams

It’s been a long day. Work was exhausting. You have a bunch of commitments coming up. And you know you’re walking right back into a messy house when you get home. The dishes need washing, that front tire needs air and that neighbourhood committee you said you’d sit on meets tonight. With all these competing priorities rattling through your brain, there isn’t much space for what’s in front of you. You stopped at the liquor store to get a bottle of wine for your friend’s birthday and all of a sudden, your engagement ring is gone.

Scammers prey on those of us who are distracted, which yes, seems unfair when we have enough on our plate. But that’s the perfect opportunity for them to bump into you in the parking lot, try to sell you something that you politely decline, only to realize on your way home that whole interaction was a distraction from what really went on.

Scammers may work alone or in pairs to distract you or create some sort of connection (maybe a “bump”, a seemingly meaningless favour like holding something for them or even just a conversation). While that is going on, they’re working behind the facade to take something of yours. They may strip something off your hands without you even realizing it. This has happened in Winnipeg after scammers engaged their victims in conversation about their jewelry, then used slight of hand to steal it and replace it with fakes. Or if you’ve already unlocked your car, their friend may be searching through your back seat on the other side, pulling out your bag with your laptop.

With much of our attention on online scams these days, we often forget that old fashioned techniques are still alive and well. Don’t let your kindness become weakness when approached by strangers. Stay vigilant to ensure you are not put in danger, regardless of the neighbourhood you’re in.

Celebration, connection the remedy for isolation

The beginning of summer is such a wonderful time of celebration! Whether for Canada Day, Pride, Filipino Heritage Month, National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, or graduations, communities across Manitoba are gathering in celebration. Coming together, meeting your neighbours, and sharing some stories or food, and making that connection is central to building trusting, strong, and healthy communities. Without connection, there’s isolation, so we must thank all the organizers that make these moments possible.

Whenever I have the privilege of joining gatherings, I do my best to convey my deeply held belief that our work is intertwined. I do my best to make the work that happens at the Legislative Building feel connected to our communities and vice versa. For example, it’s truly a privilege to have my first piece of legislation be the Pride Month Act and see the community embrace it in such a meaningful way. It gets lived out at the community level because of the tenacious and thoughtful community organizers, educators, parents, and courageous and queer and trans Manitobans across the province building strong and safe communities. I see our work at the community and provincial levels as mutually reinforcing and putting our communities and province on a stronger path forward.

Throughout the summer you’ll see me and my team out at community events, supporting those community events that bring people together. When there’s an opportunity, we’ll even organize an event or two, so watch out for those announcements. Being present and available to the constituents of Lagimodiere is an important part of the role of the MLA, so I appreciate all these gatherings for the potential they hold. Having a conversation in person rather than virtual is always more productive and relationship building.

Along with community events, our team will also be meeting people on their doorsteps this summer. We want to hear from our constituents, receive that important feedback that helps inform how our government can move forward in a good way, supporting all Manitobans to live a good life. We’re making real investments in both staffing and building healthcare, making life more affordable for Manitobans, and ensuring youth have all the supports they need to succeed. Much has been accomplished but there’s more to do and we accomplish that much more when we’re working together.

Sports in brief — week of July 8, 2026

East Winnipeg student athletes win awards

The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association recently announced the winners of its 2026 high school athlete scholar scholarship winners, which are awarded to four graduating high school student athletes who maintained a minimum 85 per cent average and competed in at least two interscholastic sports. Other criteria included school, community, volunteer, and citizenship activities.

Elliot Smith of Collège Miles Macdonell Collegiate was the lone winner from Winnipeg. Smith maintained a 98 percent academic average and a distinguished record of athletic achievement throughout his high school career, while competing in volleyball, beach volleyball, cross country, track and field, badminton, and soccer while earning recognition as one of Manitoba’s top student-athletes.

The other winners are Angela Gundrum (Prairie Mountain School), Ivy Perkin (Souris School), and Soren Reid (Nellie McClung Collegiate). The scholarships are each valued at $2,000.

It’s good to be green

Members of École Howden’s community hope their collective efforts take root to benefit generations to come.

Folks at the Windsor Park-based school, which is located at 150 Howden Rd., have been busy working on improving the schoolyard by adding trees and a pollinator garden with native plants.

The project — aided by a Manitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement Program grant and the hands-on support of Above and Below Tree Care — is intended to create learning opportunities, biodiversity, shade, and as well as enhance the space’s climate resilience, said Miriam Rudolph, chair of the school’s parent advisory council’s playground renewal committee, and a key organizer of the initiative.

On June 19, a working group planted 15 trees at the school and held a small tree planting ceremony with a kindergarten and Grade 2/3 class, whose roles included helping with the planting and watering tasks. The staff involved with the planting process were kindergarten teacher Kim Eisner, Grade 2/3 teacher Alex Subhan, and teacher-librarian Kathleen Witkovicz. Kindergarten and Grade 2/3 classes at Howden have trees as part of their curriculum.

Music and singing this summer

Not everyone sings in a choir, but most of us, from time to time, belt out a few tunes in the shower, the car, or some other place where we feel safe and comfortable.

I know of a place where you can sing for fun in a relaxed and positive environment. The event is called Earthsong and is held from July 13 to 17 at the United Church in Meadowood on Dakota. Registration ($350 for the week) is open until the day before the event.

I know Jeremy Vallance who co-ordinates and directs the camp. He is fun, energetic, and no doubt makes this week very enjoyable for all the attendees. I asked Jeremy why he runs this program.

“Earthsong makes music accessible to anyone who wants to sing, regardless of their background and beliefs,” he said. “Whether you’ve never sung before or are an experienced singer, this week-long day camp brings adults together in a safe, supportive community where everyone can feel confident to express themselves joyfully, together. There’s nothing like singing to unite people, to give us a daily mental uplift bringing us laughter, a sense of inclusion and child-like fun.”