All Sections All Sections Winnipeg Free Press
Your Balance +tax Your Balance +tax

January 21, 2021

Winnipeg
-18° C, Overcast

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Canstar Community News
    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Flyers
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photostore
  • More

©2021 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Flyers
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photostore
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Day Pass
    • Read Now Pay later
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
Canstar Community News
  • The Herald
  • The Lance
  • The Sou'wester
  • The Metro
  • The Times
  • The Headliner
  • Sports
  • Correspondents
  • Columns
  • Contact Us
  • Publications
  • Building Unity: Our Community Centres

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Duo doing more than just clowning around

By: Heather Tiede
Posted: 05/2/2012 1:58 AM

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 1/5/2012 (3186 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

(From left:) Deanna Hartmier (aka Dee Dee the Clown) and Valerie Meiners (aka Puff) are performers for LAFS Canada Inc.

PHOTO BY HEATHER TIEDE

(From left:) Deanna Hartmier (aka Dee Dee the Clown) and Valerie Meiners (aka Puff) are performers for LAFS Canada Inc.

They say that laughter is the best medicine, but did you also know laughter is a great way to teach children about life and fire safety?


I had the opportunity recently to meet Deanna Hartmier and Valerie Meiners (aka Dee Dee the Clown and Puff), co-founders of LAFS Canada Inc. while they filmed a promotional video at the Winakwa Community Centre.


LAFS, an acronym for Life and Fire Safety, is a registered non-profit charity affiliated with Just 4 LAFS and S.M.I.L.E. (Safety Messages in Life Education) that aims to educate as well as entertain. It is often referred to as ‘edutainment’ in the biz.


According to Hartmier "statistics have proven that learning through edutainment is the most effective way to teach positive messages to children".


According to its mission statement, LAFS’ goal is to "reduce, through the use of educational puppetry, clowning and characterization, the loss of life, property, and injuries caused by fire or other emergency situations".


As their alter egos Dee Dee the Clown and Puff, Hartmier and Meiners travel to elementary schools and communities across Winnipeg and the rest of the province spreading their message through a 40-minute interactive show featuring music, skits, magic tricks and, of course, lots of laughs.


Make no mistake, though. Clowning around is serious business for these two veteran performers. In fact, Hartmier and Meiners have more than 35 years of combined experience in the entertainment industry and with LAFS Canada.

Stay informed

The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.

Subscribe to COVID-19 Briefing
Sign Up


In addition to their numerous awards and honours, Hartmier is currently the president elect for the World Clown Association and Meiners is facilitator for the Bump-a-Nose Clown Alley, a local group that meets on the second Monday of every month at Winakwa Community Centre to discuss all things clown-related.


Manitoba is currently the only province to have a LAFS Canada program but the organization hopes to go national in the near future.  


According to Gail Stekler, president of LAFS Canada, "Puff and Dee Dee would love to share their knowledge with other performers across Canada to bring this wonderful form of edutainment to all children."


Corporate and private donations are always welcome, and all proceeds are reinvested back into LAFS programs.


For more information on LAFS Canada, to make a donation, or to book a performance contact Stekler at 204-330-0292 or visit www.lafscanada.com to see photos and testimonials. Make sure you check it out; there’s even a fun page featuring a word search puzzle and colouring pages!   


Heather Tiede is a community correspondent for Windsor Park. You can contact her at htiede@gmail.com.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top