Letters, July 2

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/07/2024 (497 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Transport driver deserves kindness

Re: Bus driver’s lifetime of suffering more punitive than charges (June 26)

A small but important nod to the transport driver. Lots of justifiable attention, compassion, and care, being directed towards the people in the van, both the deceased and survivors, as well as their family and friends.

Maybe I have missed it but surely that transport driver as well, deserves some love. He too will be feeling a lifetime of suffering. Our collective compassion should also extend to that driver.

The official statement that “he was in the right” simply cannot ease any of the pain that driver must be feeling.

Bob Haegeman

St. Pierre-Jolys

Kudos to cops

Re: Policing not the solution (Letters, June 27)

I read Will Jones’s letter to the editor with some incredulity. Mr. Jones opines that he would rather see the money spent to have police show up to robbery calls, sexual assaults and murders. Really? Firstly, shoplifting is robbery and it is not a victimless crime. We all pay a premium because of it.

Secondly, many shoplifters carry weapons and some have used them in the course of committing their crime, traumatizing retail workers and customers. That’s called assault. Finally, when a segment of society determines that there are no consequences to committing a crime (shoplifting) things quickly get out of control and the behaviour needs to be curbed.

I believe that the action being taken by our provincial government and the Winnipeg Police Service is entirely appropriate. Kudos to them!

Tom Pearson

Winnipeg

Thoughts on Lower Fort Garry

A few days ago, I drove by Lower Fort Garry and it struck me that this well-preserved historical monument is situated in a setting that is a far cry from what the area must have looked like 150 years ago.

Parks Canada spends a lot of time and effort (and money) to preserve and restore buildings and artifacts but they seem to forget the surroundings.

A return to native tall prairie vegetation would enhance the historical quality of the fort.

It would also result in significant savings as native prairie vegetation does not need fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides. Expensive lawn mowers will no longer be needed resulting in lower labour and capital costs.

Last but not least, restoring riparian vegetation along the banks of the creek that flows through the property and along the Red River will improve the quality of the run off and ultimately the water quality of the river.

I sincerely hope Parks Canada will undertake this “restoration” project and that it will inspire others to follow suit.

Fred Veldink

Silver Harbour

Well done, Ukraine team

Since June 14, soccer enthusiasts have been watching the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship tournament , held in Germany., 24 European countries, even war-torn Ukraine involved. Ukraine was placed in group E with countries like Belgium , Romania and Slovakia.

Unfortunately Ukraine was eliminated from the knockout stage, Ukraine came very close to advancing, Ukraine lost on goal differential . On the other side of the spectrum, as a soccer lover, admirer, and supporter of Ukraine’s national soccer federation, Ukraine did well in the UEFA tournament, (one win, one tie and a loss) Ukraine shown character, a nation that is presently in a state of war against an aggressor, fighting for it’s freedom.

From my perspective, the Ukrainian national team played for Ukraine, played for the people of Ukraine, played for the international community who has been supporting Ukraine for over two years. Surely, it was difficult for the Ukrainian football team to represent Ukraine who is defending its sovereignty and country. Glory to Ukraine.

Peter John Manastyrsky

Winnipeg

Celebrating grads

The last bell has rung, and students are out for the summer.

Why do I think it is important to write this letter? From what we read and hear, education and schools have been in turmoil lately. It is easy to be indignant and tell the world about its sometimes-chaotic situations, lows or altogether roller-coaster ups and downs, while never taking part in the solution. Criticizing is easy, but useless if it is only brought up to ease one’s peace of mind.

We teach our students to be part of the solution, not only to do what is deemed to look good or through a value of virtue but to truly create a better world in which to live.

We often hear or read stories regarding schools and education in such a way that we forget all the good things that Manitoba students and staff achieve daily.

As superintendent of Division scolaire franco-manitobaine, I want to take a moment to celebrate our students, staff and parents who are all part of our collective success.

Alain Laberge

Lorette

The future of hospice care

Jocelyn House Hospice, of which I am executive director, was founded by the Hutton family in 1985, following the death of their 17-year-old daughter Jocelyn. In recognition of her wish to die at home and to honour her memory, Bill and Miriam Hutton donated their family home in Old St. Vital, to become the first freestanding hospice in Western Canada. Jocelyn House provides quality end-of-life care for the terminally ill in a home-like environment. Its four beds represent 25 per cent of the total hospice beds in Winnipeg.

Unlike the only other hospice in our city, Jocelyn House is only partially funded by government through a service purchase agreement.

In 2013, the staffing model changed from having only health-care aides, to add nurses, to be able to allow for a wider range and more complex patients. At that time a new service purchase agreement was done and the total funding from the WRHA represented 69 per cent of the hospice operating budget. There has been no amendment to that funding agreement for 11 years and now represents only 47 per cent of the Jocelyn House overall costs. That leaves a wide gap and dependence on the generosity of donors and other fundraising initiatives to keep the operation going.

As a small non-profit and independent health-care facility, the financial challenges have been and continue to be significant. There have been many requests and enquiries made for increased funding but sadly, to no avail. Changes must be made in order to keep Jocelyn House Hospice sustainable and our beds open.

In 2015, Jocelyn House partnered with the Catholic Health Corp. of Manitoba and presented a proposal to the NDP government for a new 24 bed hospice as an expansion of Jocelyn House. The project was approved and included in the Throne speech. Unfortunately, with a government change soon afterwards, the expansion plans were halted and attempts to reintroduce the plans have failed. This remains a dream for us and with an aging population, the need for hospice and palliative care will only increase.

We are encouraged by the interest of some of the area’s new MLAs and are hopeful that their government sees the tremendous value of Jocelyn House and hospice care in our community and the compassion, dignity and support it provides to residents and their loved ones.

Dying well, in a professional and supportive facility is what we all want for our loved ones.

Living until we die with home-cooked meals, fresh baking and compassionate care in a beautiful home, nestled on the banks of the Seine River, is what we all deserve.

Jackie Stephen

Winnipeg