Canstar Community News Weekly Video Update for Dec. 29, 2021

Canstar managing editor John Kendle chats with Katlyn Streilein about the year-end issue of The Metro, and the coming dawn of a new era for Canstar, as its six papers will become the Free Press Community Review in 2022, with both East and West editions.

2021: A year in sports

While the first half of 2021 in the world of sports was chock full of turbulence — with cancelled games and abbreviated playoffs — many teams did what they could to compete, despite the challenges they faced, as quickly and as safely as possible.

Hockey goes virtualReece Cretton, coach of the St. James Canadians AA U13 White hockey team, found new ways to connect with burgeoning players and coaches.

“When we were no longer able to use indoor ice at the end of October, shutting down all practices and games, we as a coaching staff and team decided to move to Zoom team meetings, like so many others, as our form of communication and interaction,” Cretton said.

Cretton arranged four 45-minute Zoom calls per week for the team. Winnipeg’s own Cody Glass of the Vegas Golden Knights joined the team for a question-and-answer session.

From beehives to balayage

Abby Kayer took her first steps at Terry’s Hair Salon and Spa, shuffling from one end of the room to the other. Now 20, Kayer is working alongside her mother and grandmother in the same place where cutting and styling hair was once reserved for playtime (and was carried out on a mannequin’s locks).

Kayer graduated from The Salon Professional Academy in August, although she’s trained around the 3304 Portage Ave. shop for many years, she said.

Elaine Bagu, the matriarch of the family, saw her first customer as a professional, in-studio hairstylist in 1983 at Nancy Anne Hair Designs. The turn-of-the-century two-storey heritage house was nestled behind the Winnipeg Art Gallery at 316 Colony St. Bagu keeps a framed photo of the shop at her work station.

Bagu bought Nancy Anne from the proprietor and took over. Considering the building’s heritage status at the time, Bagu did what she could to make Nancy Anne her own. That was, until the home was demolished around the time of the 1999 Pan American Games, Bagu said.

A streetcar named 356

The rumble and reverberation of trains can still be heard and felt in the belly of the Winnipeg Railway Museum, which sits atop two iron tracks that end at the northernmost part of downtown’s Union Station. But, this month will likely be the end of the line for the museum, at least at its current home.

The Winnipeg Railway Museum is closing to the public on Dec. 31. City of Winnipeg inspectors reviewed the museum and found that the space does not meet current codes. As it stands, Via Rail Canada — the company that owns the station — has not agreed to foot the cash needed to bring the museum portion of the station up to current standards.

Via Rail Canada has afforded the museum roughly two years to find a new gallery for its collection.

The museum owns the majority of its engines, cars, and displays — gifts from donors over the years; a silver lining that will make the momentous task of moving decades worth of authentic and replica locomotives just a tad easier.

Nowhere to go but up

The Westwood Collegiate Warriors varsity girls hockey team is reaching new heights, following a string of off-kilter years.

The Warriors broke out into the 2021-22 season after a year of cancelled ice time, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2019-20 season, the Warriors couldn’t secure a win. Before that year, the varsity girls hockey program was on again, off again.

Narrow wins and losses have marked the season this lap around the sun — putting an end to the Warriors’ rocky streak. At press time, the team stood in fifth place in the Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League’s Hire Marketing Division.

“We get down, but we don’t give up,” the Warriors’ team captain, Hannah Coukell, said. “Every team has been very beatable; it just comes down to which team plays better or shows up.”

Harnessing energy for healing

Author and wellness facilitator Erika Goodman has released a new book she hopes will help readers find a place of calm within their own body and mind.

The Energy Song book is Goodman’s 30-page guide to harnessing mindfulness through meditation.

“It’s for all ages, but it’s kind of geared towards kids,” the 46-year-old said. “I’m really excited about this book because I think it’s ground-breaking. I think it will open up the readers to the fact they are—first and foremost—an energetic being.”  

The Energy Song book invites readers to follow along with a set of motions, such as rubbing your palms together or breathing deeply. The physical prompts are accompanied by suggestions to get the reader in a relaxed head space.

A place to lace-up

The athletes who use one area outdoor rink will notice major upgrades to the facilities when coming out for the first skate of the year.

The Assiniboia West Recreation Association recently celebrated the opening of its new rink building at 861 Buchanan Blvd. A fire ripped through the AWRA’s former change building by night in August 2018. The main recreation centre was spared.

Following the blaze, the association’s board members secured the insurance payout and applied for grants to cover the added costs of constructing this new 2,765-square-foot facility.

The recently unveiled building was designed by Winnipeg-based 1x1 Architecture as a multi-use community space, whereas the previous building was limited to dressing rooms and a canteen.

Levelling the educational playing field

A pillar of all service clubs in our community is community service. That is loosely defined as the giving of one’s energy, time and commitment to those who have less resources than us.

The literacy committee of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Assiniboine is striving to meet some of the needs of families and children who, after a long hiatus caused by the pandemic, are returning to study full-time in their schools. For some, the time away set them back and, for others, just getting enough material to restart school is a challenge.

In early July, Rev. Margaret Mullin of the Place of Hope Indigenous Presbyterian Church in the North End was invited to be a guest speaker at our club. Margaret and her ministry team spend endless hours visiting with families associated with the church.

Many of the children from those families were not fortunate enough to have computers at home to do school online during the pandemic, nor the privacy to study at home. Margaret said they were slowly but surely slipping behind in their schoolwork, never to regain what they lost in their educational journey.

Chiropractor launches new practice

A professional modern dancer turned chiropractor with a long-standing career in west Winnipeg has opened a new practice.

Moran Chiropractic, run by Dr. Kim Moran, is located inside the Charleswood Chiropractic Office at 3404 Roblin Blvd. Moran worked out of Sun Chiropractic on Portage Avenue for nearly two decades.

Moran is accepting new clients, from newborns to nonagenarians. In addition, she’s using the launch of Moran Chiropractic as an opportunity to reacquaint herself with existing clients. All returning clients will get the chance to sit down with the doctor to re-evaluate their care.

Moran uses adjustment instruments — such as a drop table, chiro gun, or her hands — based on her patients’ needs. The client always has the final word on what tools and techniques are used, she said.

It’s winter and sidewalks are an issue

Winnipeg is well into winter, with snowfall and persistent below zero weather. For many pedestrians, this means icy and inaccessible sidewalks.

“They’re some of the worst I’ve ever seen”, said West Broadway resident Brian Pincott.

Pincott moved to West Broadway about three years ago and has previously lived in Calgary and Nova Scotia. He has also travelled to many Canadian cities in his past role as a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities.

Snowed-in sidewalks have profound impacts on quality of life, Pincott says.

Helping Winnipeggers find jobs

A new thrift store set to open this February aims to create an inclusive and supportive environment where folks from different walks of life can develop the skills they need to join or rejoin the workforce.  The Revive and Thrive Thrift Warehouse, located in a brick-red building at 1032 Logan Ave., will integrate its Ready, Set, Go! Work Program into day-to-day operations as an 1100-square-foot public-facing business.

The work program will be available to people living with mental and physical disabilities, those who have different learning requirements, or anyone who feels as though they aren’t currently job-ready.

“My big thing is inclusive for all — any marginalized group, or any person who needs that extra help,”

Janice Howard, the program’s founder and executive director, said. “It’s a program designed with people with different abilities in mind.”

New pharmacy puts people first

A pharmacist raised in Tyndall Park opened his second pharmacy kitty corner to the burger and sub shop where he worked as a teen. Now, at the age of 46, Ken Humeniuk has achieved a more recent dream to open a third pharmacy close to home in his new neighbourhood.

Customers first walked through the doors of Westwood Pharmacy at 100 Browning Blvd. in early November. Humeniuk moved to the area with his wife, Tina Humeniuk, in 2007. The pair has three school age children.

“To be able to serve your friends and your family and a place where you live is just incredible — it’s an incredible feeling,” Humeniuk said.

After working at a big chain pharmacy for 16 years, always under the strain of the bottom line, Ken felt as though he had become a human conveyor belt of prescriptions, he said. It was time for a change.

Wings crowned provincial volleyball champs

The last time the Westgate Mennonite Collegiate Wings AAAA varsity boys volleyball team was crowned the provincial champions was in 1978. Now, 43 years later, the nephew of one of those players has helped bring home that title once more.

Rowan Krahn is following in the steps of his uncle, Rob Krahn, as the Wings’ left side hitter. “It’s cool to carry that on,” Krahn said. “That was an extra special thing for me.”

The Wings recently defeated the Vincent Massey Trojans (25-22, 25-23, 25-21) to snag the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association title.

The Wings outplayed the Steinbach Regional Sabres (21-25, 25-11, 25-15, 25-22) during the semifinals earlier in the day at Sturgeon Heights Collegiate.

Jumping into the theatre world

Emmanuelle Rigaud is relishing her new position at Théâtre Cercle Molière.

On Nov. 22, Rigaud started at the long-standing, St. Boniface-based francophone theatre company in the role of administrative director.

The West End resident replaced the former longtime TCM stalwart Ginette Caron, who retired from the position earlier this year having been with the organization for more than two decades.

Rigaud has a literary background — she was previously the director of Les Éditions du Blé, a non-profit French-language publishing house based in St. Boniface. And now, she’s excited to be venturing into the theatrical world and working with what she calls a first-class team at Théâtre Cercle Molière.

Be aware of your cholesterol profile

People often ask me what they can do to lower their cholesterol levels.

Blood cholesterol is a waxy substance produced mostly by our liver and makes up 80 per cent of the cholesterol in your bloodstream. A small amount of cholesterol is absorbed from the foods we eat. Our bodies do require cholesterol but having too much can lead to problems such as plaque deposits in arteries.

There are two types of cholesterol. High density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as the “good” cholesterol that carries the bad cholesterol from your arteries to the liver for disposal. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol carries cholesterol from your liver to your body’s cells. If you have too much LDL cholesterol it can build up in your arteries and may lead to a heart attack or stroke.

When looking at your cholesterol profile, you want to have more good than bad cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is found in foods of animal origin, such as meats, eggs and dairy products. By contrast, plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables do not contain cholesterol.

Canada’s best days are ahead of us

It is an incredible honour to serve the people of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley as we step into 2022.

I love our community. No matter the challenge, people here repeatedly come together with typical Canadian humility and resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for all Canadians over the past two years and I owe a huge thanks to all my constituents for doing their part in helping the people within our communities get through this pandemic together. We are united in getting back to a healthy and prosperous life as Canada finally returns to a state of normality.  

Each day, I am working hard to advocate for the people Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley. The Conservative Party of Canada is the only party that is standing up for families facing rising living costs, for businesses unsure what the next few months look like, and for Canadians who are worried about their future and the future of their children.

It is my honour and duty to serve as your voice in Ottawa so that everyday issues are heard loud and clear, bringing real results for the people that need it most within our beautiful riding, within the province of Manitoba, and of course, all of Canada.  

Get your kids vaccinated against COVID-19

On Nov. 19, Health Canada officially approved COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of five and 11. Now, over 100,000 children aged 5 to 11 across Manitoba will finally have a chance to roll up their sleeves and get the protection they need from COVID-19.

Thousands of children in this age category have already received their first shots this month. I want to especially thank all the front-line workers at the vaccine clinics, from immunizers to navigators and everyone else, for their tireless work and efforts to get Manitobans vaccinated and the thoughtful ways in which the provide vaccines to our children.

I, along with health care professionals across our province and the world, encourage parents and caregiver families to make appointments as soon as possible. Families in Union Station want the best for their kids and can trust that the COVID-19 shots have been rigorously tested, are safe and are saving lives.

Right now, children under the age of 12 make up a third of COVID cases in Manitoba, and COVID is continuing to disrupt our children’s education. Manitoba declared as many COVID-19 outbreaks in schools within the first seven weeks of this school year as it did in all of the previous school year.

École Dieppe eyes new green space

The pandemic drove home the importance of outdoor recreation to mental and physical well-being, and that was certainly the experience of students and staff at École Dieppe, principal Bronwen Davies said.

The students began to look at their schoolyard in a different light when health precautions mandated that they must use the school’s play areas in rotation.

To put in plainly — some areas were more fun than others.

This change in perspective was the impetus behind École Dieppe’s decision to rally students and the parent advisory council to come up with ideas about how to transform the yard into a more enriching space.

From the pantry to the people

A Wolseley Miracle food drive is back for a second year.

Local business owner Melissa Bowman Wilson borrowed the idea from a friend who helped organize Toronto’s own miracle food drive. The initiative was created as a way to connect communities and help those in need amid lockdowns.

Bowman Wilson saw the program’s success in Ontario and figured Wolseley — her neighbourhood of more than 20 years — could do the same on a smaller scale.

“We were really struggling to find ways to bring people together over the holidays,” Bowman Wilson said. “It seemed as though this was something that we would be able to get the community involved in without having people disobey public health orders.”

Friends of Ferry Road

Helping neighbours is always in season for Don and Lynda Collingridge.

That’s why Bonnie Russo, a neighbour who lives a few doors down from the Collingridges, nominated the pair for the Canstar Community News Local Heroes column.

In the winter, Don can be found blowing snow from the sidewalks and backlanes of his stretch of Ferry Road to make it easier for vehicles and neighbours with mobility issues to pass through.

“Don’s way faster than the snowplows,” said Russo, who likened Don to a little brother. “Like the crosswalk — if Don didn’t do it, it wouldn’t get done.”

Coach retires after lengthy football career

Chris Ollson recently helped coach an Oak Park Raiders junior varsity boys semifinal game with the man who mentored him as a young player.

The moment, filled with a sense of reverence and the feeling of having seen things come full circle, was made even sweeter when the team beat the St. Paul’s Crusaders with a last-minute touchdown.

After the Raiders championship game on Nov. 15., Stu Nixon announced he would be retiring after 20 years with the team. Nixon will likely retire from his role as physical education teacher at the end of the 2022 school year.

Nixon’s decision to retire wasn’t difficult or overly emotional, he told The Metro. He’s ready for what’s next.