2020: A year unlike any other

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/12/2020 (1971 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Safe to say, 2020 was a year unlike any other in recent memory.
Yet, despite a global pandemic, life went on. As the year comes to a close, we take a look here at some of the biggest stories in northeast Winnipeg over the past year.

January: MCC rallies quilters

Despite inclement, hundreds came out on Jan. 18 to lend a hand at the Mennonite Central Committee’s Winter Warm-up event.

Nearly 2,000 quilts were quilted across the province in conjunction with the event. The local event was held at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church (1315 Gateway Rd.).

“Turn out wasn’t quite what we expected, but we were able to tie 210 comforters at North Kildonan (Mennonite Brethren) Church,” said Allison Zacharias, communications co-ordinator for MCC.

The comforters collected as part of the Great Winter Warm-up will be distributed along with MCC relief shipments around the world. The Winter Warm-up was the first of a number of events and initiatives that the MCC planned to roll out throughout 2020 to celebrate its 100 years of community service.

February: Transcona residents protest proposed pool closure

On Feb. 5, area residents gathered at the Transcona Kinsmen Centennial Pool to express their concern over a proposal to close the pool.

“There’s anger and dissatisfaction,” said Claudette Wills, a user of the pool who collected over 1,100 signatures on a petition to keep the pool open.

Built over 50 years ago, the indoor pool is one of many aging facilities in the city that will require significant investment to keep open or to make accessible in years to come. In its proposed multi-year balanced budget, the City suggested closing the pool in 2022.

“We use the pool for swimming lessons once a week, we use it for public swim,” said Jenna Bihun, a local mother of three who grew up using the pool. “If it closes, we really have nowhere else to go.”
When the budget was passed in March, no closures of facilities currently operating were included, though activities within those facilities are likely to see cuts as a result of $4.7 million in expenditure reductions.

“We’re all very elated (that the pool will remain open),” Wills said of the decision. “But who knows, we’re kind of holding our breath to see how it all plays out.”

March: Funds approved for playground revamp at Bunn’s Creek

At the East Kildonan-Transcona community committee’s March 10 meeting, $230,000 in land dedication reserve funding from North Kildonan was approved for a major redevelopment of Bunn’s Creek Centennial Park’s playground area.

“This is a very exciting project,” Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said.

The project includes new play equipment, swings, sand box, fire pits, seating, pathways and grading and sod for the playground area, which is located off McIvor Avenue just east of the parking lot area.

COVID-19 pandemic hits home

When the global COVID-19 pandemic declared in March, life changed dramatically across the country. Northeast Winnipeg was no exception.
Schools took an extended spring break, which led to remote learning through June.

“We all need to be well and support ourselves and our families, the people around us, our community,” Kelly Barkman, superintendent of the River East Transcona School Division, said at the time. “This is a time that a lot of us are dealing with anxiety. Health and wellbeing is just as, or more, important here than the academic piece.”

Stores and restaurants closed — some temporarily, some for good — while others were able to remain open, with man restrictions.

“I’m heartbroken,” said Keri Parkin, owner of Mountain Bean Coffee Co. “We’re missing at last 60 per cent of our regular faces.”

Seniors groups across northeast Winnipeg were also forced to adapt or cancel much of their programming as their centres closed.

“We’re tying to do programming for those who can’t get out,” explained Leilani Esteban-Villarba, program manager for the Elmwood EK Active Living Centre. “Our seniors can’t be isolated. Mental wellbeing is just as important as physical wellbeing.”

The Elmwood EK Active Living Centre, Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, Together-in-Elmwood Parent-Child Coalition, the Elmwood Community Resource Centre and Riverwood Church are collaborating on delivering programming for seniors and parents in the community.

April: St. Stephen’s Anglican Church deconsecrated

Early in the year, St. Stephen’s Anglican Church made the difficult decision to deconsecrate.

“St. Stephen’s is no more,” Diane Knight, rector’s warden and a longtime member of the church, told The Herald. “It took a long time (to make the decision). We did a lot of counselling, we had three or four congregation meetings and two votes.”

Following the congregation’s vote, the Bishop of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land, Geoff Woodcroft made the final decision to deconsecrate the church.

“Although the parish doors have been closed, members have taken ministry, mission and generosity with them to new and other church communities in the neighbourhood, and beyond,” Woodcroft said.

Founded in 1912 as the Mission of St. John’s Cathedral, The Parish of St. Stephen’s conducted its first services in the old East Kildonan Municipal Hall and in the original Polson School. The first church itself, which was located at 220 Helmsdale Ave. until 2018, was completed in 1913.

In September 2018, the church held its final service in the building on Helmsdale Ave. With a dwindling congregation, the church moved its services across the back lane to neighbouring Grace Lutheran Church.

Still, the church lives on physically, with particularly historic pieces being redistributed to other local Anglican churches.

“The stained-glass window is going to All Saints’ on Broadway,” Knight said. “The font … has been moved to St. Saviour’s. We’re living on through many different things.”

May: Residents salute front-line workers

With many activities still under strict lockdown restrictions in May to combat the spread of COVID-19, local residents made a point of saluting the efforts of front-line workers.

In Transcona, a group of neighbours took to their yards on Saturday evenings to make all sorts of noise as a way of showing appreciation for everyone who is delivering essential services.

“I get emotional,” said Dawn Beveridge said, a resident of Dawnville Drive who took part. “I think it’s amazing they are putting their life in their hands and they are helping us at great risk to themselves.”

Kildonan Drive among routes in Open Streets project

A stretch of Kildonan Drive was among 10 active transportation routes to allow residents an opportunity to get exercise while maintaining social distance during the pandemic.

Kildonan Drive was closed to vehicle traffic (with exception of local traffic travelling a block or less) from Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent and between Larchdale Crescent and Irving Place every day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.  

The project started in May, and was extended a number of times over the course of the summer before wrapping up at the end of September. It was popular across the city.

“People have enjoyed having that amenity,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan). “It’s well received, and it does tie in nicely to the active transportation along Chief Peguis Trail.”

Following the conclusion of the project, city council directed the public service to report back on the feasibility of making the routes permanent, perhaps from Victoria Day long weekend in May through Thanksgiving. Additional routes in neighbourhoods that were left out of the initial project (like Transcona) are also being considered.

June: Miles Mac grad earns $70K scholarship

Chinemerem Chigbo, a graduating student from Miles Macdonell Collegiate, earned a $70,000 TD Scholarship for community leadership. Provided under the bank’s TD Ready Commitment program, the scholarship acknowledges the achievements of youth who are making a difference in their community.

“It’s surreal, I don’t know how to feel,” Chigbo said, who is studying computer engineering at the University of Waterloo. “It came out of the blue and is a big relief.”

At Miles Mac, Chigbo organized Heads-up Guys Club, a mental health group for boys at the school. He also served as a page at the Manitoba Legislature and taught catechism to 15 fourth graders at St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church.

Isobel Melville Park unveiled

A greenspace in the Park City was named in honour of a former Transcona Museum curator.

On June 25, the park at 220 Heartstone Dr. was officially named Isobel Melville Park in a ceremony attended by Melville and her family.

“It is truly an honour that I will treasure forever,” Melville said.

In addition to her work at the Transcona Museum, where she was curator from 1987 to 1991, Melville was active at the Transcona Country Club and enjoyed curling. The Melvilles were also members of the Winnipeg Irish Club and were active with Folklorama.

July: Reimagining Elmwood

On July 25, residents of Elmwood and those driving along Henderson Highway between Johnson Avenue and Hespeler Avenue got a taste of what the neighbourhood could become.

Reimagine Elmwood was a one-day experiment to see how organizers could make Elmwood a more livable community.

“One of the major themes that came back was the difficulty in getting around the neighbourhood, especially for families, youth and seniors,” said  Michel Durand-Wood, co-chair of the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association and an organizer of the event.

From noon to 8 p.m., one traffic lane was blocked off in favour of on-street parking which, while allowed, can be discouraged by higher vehicle speeds. Turnouts were placed at street corners to encourage parking.

“Its good for a neighbourhood feel and good for the businesses,” Durand-Wood said. “We’re working as a neighbourhood and community to get everybody on board to work toward something that works for everybody.”

Over 1,500 participants completed surveys based on their experience. Next steps, organizers said, could include longer trials and added locations.

August: Cenotaph rededicated

On Aug. 23, the Henderson Legion Branch No. 215 (215 Maxwell King Dr.) held a well-attended rededication ceremony for its cenotaph, which had been relocated from its former home at 1400 Henderson Hwy. last summer.

“We appreciate all the support we have received,” said Gord Machej, president of the Henderson Legion.

In 1968, the North Kildonan War Memorial honouring soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War was erected in John Dickson Memorial Park, where it remained until last summer.

When the City of Winnipeg  deemed the property that housed the former North Kildonan municipal offices as surplus, members of the public service notified North Kildonan city councillor Jeff Browaty.  
Browaty, in turn, approached the Henderson Legion about relocating the memorial. Last summer, the cenotaph was moved to its current location along Maxwell King Drive.

“It’s important to remember the sacrifices made by our veterans,” Browaty said.

September: Students return to class

Students across northeast Winnipeg returned to class following Labour Day.

Following provincial health guidelines, students from kindergarten to Grade 8 returned to class five days a week, while high school students attended school in a number of scenarios, depending on the size of the school and which division they attended.

“We’re looking at time-tabling and scheduling and staggered entrances,” RETSD superintendent Kelly Barkman said. “We’re also looking for which electives can actually go ahead. We’ll probably have more staff going from room to room, rather than students. It’s all on the table.”

In preparation for the school year, RETSD purchased seven new school buses, to accommodate physical distancing for students who require transportation to school.

Students at Joseph Teres School (131 Sanford Fleming Rd.) were welcomed back to school with a new playstructure, the result of years of work and thousands of dollars in fundraising on behalf of the parent advisory council.

“When we started with the planning phases, this was just a dream,” said Jennifer Warren, chair of the parent council.

The project, which was designed in consultation with students, cost $154,999. The parent council was able to raise $30,000 over the past two years. The group was able to access public funding through grants from the City of Winnipeg’s Community Incentive Program and the provincial Building Sustainable Communities program to complete the project.

Over in North Kildonan, however, it wasn’t long before an outbreak of COVID-19 was announced at John Pritchard School on Sept. 19 after five students tested positive for the virus.

“We have planned for situations like this, and are working with Manitoba Education and public health every step of the way,” Barkman said at the time.

In total, over two dozen people were connected to the John Pritchard outbreak, which was deemed resolved in early October.

Transcona veterans honoured

A grassroots initiative in Transcona has honored 10 living veterans who served in the Second World War, and organizers are still looking for any they may have missed.

In 2019, Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) presented WW2 veterans and longtime Transcona residents Henry Golis and Stephen Andrushko with honorary street names as a token of appreciation for their service. The move prompted Cornelius Thiessen and Peter Martin to submit names of other local living vets for the same recognition.

In September, honorary streets designations were presented to Walter Nilsson, Jack Wright Lavana Sorokowski, John Cochrane, and Peter Frejuk, and Tom Gustafson.

The project is an ongoing one for organizers.

“There are so many of these that we might miss who are still alive,” Martin said. “Let’s get out and recognize them in a physical way.”

October: Prince Edward School celebrates centennial amid health restrictions

With the Winnipeg Metro region in a code orange health order, Prince Edward School managed to mark its centennial in style.

Principal Kai Jacobs, who was a student at the school in his youth, said organizers had been working for years to plan the event. But as the Oct. 21 centenary came closer, they knew there would need to be major changes to their plans.

“We’re doing our best,” Jacobs said.

Planned tours of the school and a ceremony to unveil a commemorative plaque took place virtually, with video messages from former school teachers and administrators, and current school trustees and other dignitaries.

Instead of a planned parade around the neighbourhood, classes of students took turns on Oct. 21 lining the block out front of the school, waving signs and encouraging passing motorists to honk.

November: Remembrance ceremonies cancelled

Royal Canadian Legions and service groups across Manitoba were forced to drastically alter or cancel outright planned Remembrance Day ceremonies, owing to COVID-19 this year.

With a provincial code red health order in effect across Winnipeg and area, and with further restrictions coming into effect on Nov. 12, Legions in the northeast corner of the city quietly observed a minute of silence, or cancelled any events completely.

Likewise, the annual No Stone Left Alone event at Transcona Cemetery was cancelled. Instead, organizers encouraged members of the public to leave a poppy on the graves of soldiers in the cemetery’s Field of Honour.

While ceremonies were cancelled, Transcona students were inspired to mark the occasion. Grade 4 students from École Margaret-Underhill, as well as Grade 9 leadership students at Collège Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau, were among those who painted poppies on rocks and placed them at the local cenotaph and outside of the Transcona Legion.

“It’s a simple gesture with a lot of legs,” said Damien Beaudoin, a teacher at CPET.

“I was so moved by how much the kids connected, and the questions they were asking,” Lise Pantel, Grade 4 teacher at École Margaret-Underhill, added.

December: Businesses prep for holidays under lockdown

With the province under strict health order, independent businesses across northeast Winnipeg worked to deliver their products safely in time for the holidays.

Retailers deemed “non-essential” were forced to close up shop in mid-November, switching to curbside pickup or delivery options.

“It’s frustrating,” said Monica Smith, owner of Aunt Monica’s Attic in Transcona. “The whole world is harder, and now it’s even harder to compete.”

Meanwhile, grocers in the area who remained open were preparing for a holiday season unlike any other, and making adjustments on the fly accordingly.

“Most people are planning for smaller gathering sizes, so things are going from large hams to small hams, large turkeys to small turkeys,” said Mike Watson, owner of Central Products & Foods Ltd on Nairn Avenue. “People are gearing up for that.”

“Usually we have a few hundred orders for those last days,” said Del Demchuk, owner of Sevala’s Ukrainian Deli in Transcona. “But we can’t produce that amount of stuff right now to do that.”

“You look after yourself and everybody else, that’s the main thing,” said Nabeal Tasse, of Tasse’s Balkan Foods in Elmwood. “Everybody’s gotta do their part.”

Virus hits home in Transcona, while health care amenities cut

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Park Manor Care Home (301 Redonda St.) on Nov. 5. By mid-December, over 80 per cent of residents and over 30 staff members had tested positive for the virus.
At press time, at least 20 residents had died due to COVID-19.

“We’ve seen this happen before, and now it’s here in Transcona,” Nello Altomare, the MLA for Transcona, said. “They’re stretched to the max. Why?”

On Dec. 9, the province announced $7.7 million for personal care homes in Manitoba to address costs related to COVID-19.

“Protecting our seniors and vulnerable residents has been a priority of government since the start of the pandemic,” health minister Cameron Friesen said.

However, the provincial NDP were quick to point out that the funding works out to approximately $50,000 per care home.

Meanwhile, ACCESS Transcona’s IV clinic was closed on Nov. 30, while staff was redeployed to fight the virus. Those needing IV care during the closure, which Radisson MLA James Teitsma stressed was “temporary,” would be travelling to Misericordia Hospital, or downtown.

In early December, CancerCare’s Concordia site closed, in a move to consolidate services. Seven Oaks Hospital’s CancerCare site was also closed, despite vocal opposition from residents in both areas.

“For us, this is just another cut to health care in the northeast corner of Winnipeg,” said Andy Regier, one of the organizers. “We’re concerned that these cuts are starting to add up.”

— with files from Tony Zerucha