Queens for a day

A new initiative is helping older adults in northwest Winnipeg get their groceries.

The food access bus, a pilot project launched last October, is being delivered by Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) and is supported by the Seven Oaks Resource Network and Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre.

The goal of the initiative — inspired, in part, by previous food access bus projects such as the one in the Chalmers neighbourhood spearheaded by the late area councillor Jason Schreyer — is to reduce transportation barriers for older adults and help them access affordable, healthy groceries while also helping them foster social connections.

During the pilot program, which will run until March, tenants of several 55-plus residences in the Seven Oaks area will be picked up by a rented Winnipeg transit bus, and dropped off at FreshCo for an hour-long shopping session, before being dropped home. The intention is continue the service after the six-month pilot period.

All the right moves

A south Winnipeg-based Ukrainian dance school is commemorating 55 years in operation, and everyone is invited to help it celebrate.

Organizers at Sopilka Ukrainian Dance School, located at 4-651 Stafford St., are preparing for an anniversary gala event on Saturday, Feb. 7 in the grand ballroom at Canad Inns Polo Park (1405 St. Matthew’s Ave.).

“We’re celebrating our 55th anniversary, and this will be an opportunity to celebrate Ukrainian culture in music and dance,” said Venessa Schreyer, president of the school’s board of directors.

“The gala will be an opportunity for Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian community members to experience a fun and elevated event that honours and celebrates our 55 years.”

Hitting the hard water

Those looking to try ice fishing for the first time can now do so closer to home.

Turtle Tours, an Indigenous walking tour company based out of The Forks, is behind a new ice fishing program at Fort Whyte Alive. As of Jan. 10, families or groups of up to eight people can book ice-fishing tents on the frozen lakes at Fort Whyte, for a full- or half-day, each Saturday and Sunday through the rest of the winter.

“We’re excited to offer this in an urban setting,” said Ashley Smith, founder of Turtle Tours. “It’s not a cheap sport to get into. But here, kids can come and learn, and you have your tent for the day.”

Equipment is provided for those who need it, and a guided experience, from an Indigenous perspective, is also offered.

New housing projects approved for N.K.

The East Kildonan-Transcona community committee held a regular meeting on Jan. 7.

A public hearing was held regarding a combined subdivision, rezoning and variance application at 305 McKay Ave., to develop two proposed multi-family dwellings. The property, currently zoned for single-family use, would be split into two lots, zoned for medium-density residential, in order to build 91-unit and 99-unit buildings.

A half-dozen neighbours spoke in opposition to the project, objecting, primarily, to increased traffic and parking congestion should the proposal move forward.

The committee recommended the application be approved, with traffic-calming measures included. It also requested that final plan approval come back to the committee before construction could begin.

Committee agrees with concerns about new housing proposal on St. Mary’s

The Riel community committee held a regular meeting on Jan. 7.

A lengthy public hearing was held regarding a zoning amendment application for the even-numbered lots from 1976-1996 St. Mary’s Rd. in order to permit a maximum building height of 45 feet, rather than the 26 permitted by the original zoning agreement. The applicant proposed a four-storey, 100-unit multi-family building at 1988 St. Mary’s Rd. The public service had recommended that the application be rejected.

Nearly a dozen residents spoke in opposition, objecting to proposed height and accessory structures, especially the suggestion to add a pickleball court and the potential removal of mature trees on site. Many expressed hope that the natural space, intended for an accessory structure or amenity for residents, could remain park or public greenspace of some kind.

The committee recommended the city negotiate an amendment with so that any proposed building could encroach on the property line more than initially agreed, but it did not agree to amend the height restriction.

Growing the ‘beautiful game’

There are big changes coming to how youth soccer programming is delivered in Manitoba.

The changes come at the direction of Canada Soccer, the sport’s national governing body, and are to be phased in over the next couple years, explained Hector Vergara, executive director of Soccer Manitoba.

The concepts and practices will be introduced to eight-to-10-year-old players this year, and 11-to-13-year-olds in the coming years.

“The idea behind it is to focus on development of the player, to ensure that at the end of the day the people participating in our programs are essentially receiving a consistent, safe, and nationally aligned experience,” Vergara said.

Lancers looking to win it all

The Dakota Lancers boys hockey team is gearing up for a major playoff push to start the new year.

At press time, the Lancers held second place in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League’s Winnipeg Free Press Division with a 13-3-0 record and 39 points, trailing only the undefeated Collège Louis-Riel Voyageurs.

“We’re in great shape, having a great year,” said longtime coach Ray Agostino. “We’re a fast, disciplined team. Hardworking. We have a pretty well-balanced attack… We can beat teams in a few different areas, whether we need to play tight checking or score goals.”

Built around a core of 10 Grade 11 players, Dakota had the second-most goals-for and the fewest goals-against in the WFP Division.

New companions for a new year?

Cindy Lou is a four-month old shepherd cross who is looking for her forever home.

Prepare for your heart to grow three sizes when you meet this sweet little ‘who’. Cindy Lou is a friendly pup, full of love and cheer. She’s also a total water bug, always splashing around her water bowl, so we think she’d love to learn to swim this summer!.She can’t wait to find a family to adventure with, and to snuggle up with at the end of each fun-filled day. Could she be right for you? Come meet her today.

Baby Bell is a two-year-old domestic short-haired cat looking for love. She has been in our care the longest and we’re hoping it’s her turn to find her purr-fect match really soon. This pretty gal is the right blend of sweet and spicy. She would love to find a furever family who can appreciate both her snuggly and her sassy sides. She would do best in a calm environment without young children or other pets and not too much activity going on. Could she be the right fit for you?

A clean slate for home improvement

The trees have come down; the decorations rest back in their boxes and all the extra lights and sparkles no longer adorn the nooks and crannies. With the magic of the holiday season stripped away, our bare homes remain. The flaws, previously concealed by garlands and bows, scream to us that it’s time to act on long put-off home improvement projects. Whether yours is cosmetic or functional, January is a great time to explore options.

First, establish a budget of what you can and can’t afford. You’ll be far more comfortable working within your budget once you know where your limits are. Next, consult local experts. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Whether you’re looking for a home security system and have no idea what the options are or realizing you’ve never done any of the duct cleaning a home requires, asking an expert is the starting point.

A great place to start is the Winnipeg Renovation Show, which runs Jan. 16-18 at the RBC Convention Centre. There, you can peruse vendors, speak to experts on your particular problem or project and weigh different options.

With Winnipeg’s harsh winters and hot summers, online advice does not always apply to home ownership in our particular climate. But local business owners who have studied and worked here for years can better guide you in the right direction. Hundreds of companies that have operated successfully in Manitoba will be together at the Renovation Show with hands-on demonstrations. Find more information at winnipegrenovationshow.com

Accessible viewing platforms unveiled at Dakota C.C.

Two new accessible viewing platforms were unveiled at Dakota Community Centre (1188 Dakota St.) on Jan. 6.

Located in the north and south ice arena at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex, the platforms are intended to help people who are unable to climb stairs comfortably and safely enjoy events at the St. Vital-based centre.

Pictured, from left, on Jan. 6: Michele Augert, Dakota Community Centre’s president and CEO; Cory Shangreaux, the centre’s board chair; Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River); Mayor Scott Gillingham; and Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid.

Agrarian made easy

The Harvest Moon Society is based in the former elementary school in Clearwater, Man., 2.5 hours southwest of Winnipeg, and its mission and vision statements embrace the notion of learning, teaching and encouraging people to build a sustainable food system for future generations.

While it is based in rural Manitoba, it has plenty of connections to the city, and hundreds of people regularly make the trek to the annual Harvest Moon Festival every September.

Next week, the Harvest Moon Society will bring its annual Agrarian After Dark program to the Park Theatre — an event which brings together rural producers and city folk to connect and engage in valuable conversation about sustainability, cultivation, and good, local food.

The program is a collaborative effort of Harvest Moon, The Dogs Run Farm, The Young Agrarians, Fireweed Food Co-op (which operates the South Osborne Farmers’ Market), and Manitoba Organics (the newest addition to the organizing committee). The word ‘agrarian’ relates to ownership and use of land, and the part of a society or economy that is concerned with agriculture. But, no matter where you’re from, Agrarian After Dark is an oasis of information.

What a difference a year makes

A year ago, during the Christmas holidays, my office received numerous calls from local residents who had awakened to the sound of chainsaws in the beloved Lemay Forest. What ensued was nothing less than an all-out effort to protect the 22-acre area of St. Norbert. In the end, it stood as a powerful symbol of community resolve against the cold calculus of residential development.

The fight began with a local alarm. Residents, naturalists, and the Save Lemay Forest group mobilized and shared the news that this lush, river-bottom woodland was to be clear cut to make way for up to 5,000 units built a private developer. Their campaign was built on a powerful trifecta of arguments.

First was the land’s deep historical significance. These very woods were part of the historic Métis river-lot system, a living artifact of the Red River Settlement’s cultural and agricultural footprint.

Second was the profound cultural and ecological role the Lemay Forest plays in the area. As a riparian forest lining the Red River, it acted as a vital natural flood mitigator, water purifier, and a critical wildlife corridor in an increasingly fragmented urban landscape.

‘Never give up on your dreams’

Mateo Soriano is a 13-year-old Grade 8 student at École Christine-Lespérance.

Like a lot of active young people, Mateo is a multi-sport athlete who enjoys soccer, volleyball, basketball, and golf.

“I focus mostly on soccer and volleyball,” he said. “I enjoy sports because they allow me to just think about whatever it is that I am playing. I also really enjoy spending time with my friends in the different sports I play.”

Mateo plays club soccer for Bonivital and this past season he changed positions – a big adjustment at any age, but one he appreciated.