NEWS I WINNIPEG

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016 WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

A3

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Two-time Olympic soccer bronze medallist Desiree Scott does a group cheer with players Saturday during her third annual soccer camp supporting KidSport Winnipeg at the University of Winnipegs Axworthy Health and RecPlex.

Scott holds annual camp that teaches, supports young soccer players

Olympians generosity boosts girls

DANIELLE DOIRON

ESIREE Scott wears a

whistle around her neck as
she leads an agility drill in
one corner of a soccer pitch, but she
barely needs to use it.
The dozen girls crowded around her
are almost silent, and Scotts voice
echoes through the quiet Axworthy
Health and RecPlex where 60 soccer
players and their parents are gathered
for the third annual Desiree Scott
Soccer Camp in support of KidSport
Winnipeg.
Right, left, right, she calls, passing
a ball between her feet. She stops what
shes doing to praise one of the girls
near the back of the group. Thats it,
girl. Look at you!
Scott, a two-time Olympic bronze
medallist and midfielder for FC
Kansas City in the National Womens
Soccer League, makes her rounds,
congratulating and gently correcting
each girl through different fundamentals drills.
Scott blows her whistle, high-fives

each girl in her group and sends

them to the next station. The girls, all
between eight and 11 years old, barely
speak as they move across the field. All
eyes are on Scott and her assistants.
I think the biggest thing I notice is
just their focus, Matt Erhard, chairman of KidSport Winnipeg said about
the players. When Desis around,
theres silence. Theyre focused on
hanging on every word she says and
just really paying attention to what
shes doing.
But when Scott breaks up the drills
to start scrimmages, she encourages
the girls to let loose.
No goals yet? she calls after a
team decked out in blue vests. Give
me some goals! I want to see some
celebrations!
Less than a minute later, she gets her
wish. The blue team scores, and Scott
leads the girls in a victory lap around
the field.
Desiree is just all-around fantastic,
Erhard said. Her energy is contagious. She works so well with kids, and
she really engages with them. They
really feel they connect with her, and
shes such an amazing role model,
too. (Shes a) two-time Olympian, and

shes really passionate about what she

does, and shes able to really pass on
that passion to kids as well and really
inspires them to get more involved
in sport, which is a positive thing all
around.
The camp, a two-day soccer clinic
for girls, helps raise money for KidSport Winnipeg, a charity that helps
fund registration fees for kids whose
families otherwise couldnt afford
to enrol their children in sports a
struggle Scott knows first-hand.
I was a KidSport kid growing up, so
I think its just important now that Im
where Im at to share the experiences
and give back to KidSport, she said.
They kept me on the field when I was
growing up. My mom couldnt afford
the registration fees, and this takes
that out of the equation. Were raising
money directly for that so kids can
stay playing their favourite sport.
The weekend clinic raised $10,000
for KidSport in its first year. Last
winter, the camp brought in almost
$17,000, and Erhard said this years
program raised more than $20,000
to help support the 500 kids who will
receive funding this year, including
30 soccer players who attended the

camp thanks to external donors covering their entry fees.

Scott said the weekend isnt just
about fundraising. Its also about
inspiring young girls to pursue their
passions.
I think its important for girls to
have a positive female role model in
their lives. Im happy to do that, and
its something I treasure, she said,
noting girls tend to drop out of sports
earlier than boys. I think its important for them to come out and have an
event thats just for them to get excited
about and still be playing a sport that I
hope they love.
Chloe Froese was out of breath when
she raced off the field after her final
scrimmage, but it was mostly from
laughter and excitement. The 10-yearold has played soccer since she was a
toddler and watches FIFA games on
TV and in person when she can, but it
was her first time meeting Scott and
attending one of her camps.
I loved the fitness part and the control with Desiree Scott and the shooting, she said, smiling and panting. I
liked all of it.
Froese admitted her favourite player
is Christine Sinclair, but said Scott was

awesome, especially when she helped

her adjust her feet to better control the
ball.
Lolah Doucette agreed. The 10-yearold FC Northwest player even had
Scott, her favourite player, sign the
shaved side of her head during the
post-camp autograph session.
I thought it would be really cool,
Doucette said, laughing as she pointed
to her head.
It was great, her dad, Myles
Kowerko said. She was here last year,
and she learns more and more every
year. She keeps progressing and progressing every time.
For Scott, the best part is seeing the
reactions from the kids, who gasped
when she brought out her Olympic
medals and posed for photos.
I love being able to share what
Ive learned on the national team and
growing up playing soccer and giving
it back to them, she said. Its about
those little moments you have. I signed
a head today, which was pretty cool.
The camp continues today with clinics for girls aged 12 and up.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

Urgent weight-loss regimen for overfed pooch

Border collie Bobby just too big

DANIELLE DOIRON
WHO will be the biggest loser? Manitoba Underdogs Rescue hopes its
Bobby.
The border collie weighed in at 123
pounds when the rescue mission took
him in last week. His elderly owner had
dementia and couldnt properly care for
Bobby, so the owners family turned to
the organization for help.
He was loved so much that it was
hurting him, Lindsay Gillanders
of Manitoba Underdogs Rescue said,
noting his owner showed affection by
overfeeding Bobby treats instead of
taking him on walks or out for exercise.
Bobby is now in a foster home and on
an emergency weight-loss plan, which
includes a low-fat diet and a gradual
introduction to regular exercise. The
rescue mission is working with Dakota
Veterinary Hospital to help Bobby slim
down to a much healthier 60 pounds.
Despite his weight, an initial assessment Thursday showed Bobby is in
fairly good health.
Hes settling in nicely, Gillanders
said.

The exercise is kind of hard right

now. He can only make it about a block,
poor guy.
His new foster mom, Sunny SzpakHolly, said Bobby is an absolutely
sweet boy who craves attention.
He just wants affection, she said.
If youre sitting down, hell come up
and nuzzle you.
Szpak-Holly
regularly
fosters
for Manitoba Underdogs Rescue and
has three rescue dogs of her own, but
Bobbys story stood out to her.
(I felt) a bit of shock, some sadness,
she said. I was very willing to help
him out. It wasnt a situation where he
wasnt purposefully fed and cared for.
While Gillanders said rescues normally see malnourished dogs as opposed to overfed ones such as Bobby
Szpak-Holly has helped out in similar
situations before.
She previously cared for Jax, a foster
dog who came in 40 pounds overweight.
It was actually pretty incredible,
she said.
We saw him go through this huge
transformation.
Szpak-Holly said she hopes for the

same outcome with Bobby.

So far, hes super-sweet but superscared. I just want him to be a happy,
normal border collie.
Szpak-Holly will care for Bobby during his weight-loss journey, which could
take anywhere from six months to a
year.
Hell see the vet once a week for
weigh-ins, and he started taking short
walks outside to start building up his
endurance.
Were lucky hes avoided long-term
damage, and so were trying to help him
as quickly as we can, Gillanders said.
Bobby will likely need skin-removal surgery once he reaches his goal
weight. After that, hell be ready for
adoption.
Manitoba Underdogs Rescue will
post weight-loss updates about Bobby
on its Facebook and Instagram pages
with the hashtag #BobbyGotBack. The
rescue is collecting donations to help
with Bobbys recovery at manitobaunderdogs.org/donate.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

SUNNY SZPAK-HOLLY / SUNNY S-H PHOTOGRAPHY

Bobby the border collie weighed 123 pounds when Manitoba Underdogs Rescue took him in.

NEWS I CITY

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

A5

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Dr. Karina Gamboa (left) and Dr. Carla Cohn work on Mwashite Mbekalo from Tanzania at the University of Manitobas College of Dentistry Saturday during the Open Wide clinic.

Newcomers all smiles after free volunteer dental clinic

DANIELLE DOIRON

ATURDAY was anything but a

regular day at the office for dozens
of Manitoba dentists, hygienists,
assistants and dental students.
As a blue balloon made out of a
disposable glove bounced between
cubicles at the University of Manitobas College of Dentistry, a dentist
and two young girls chased after it.
Around them, a maze of dental professionals examined, cleaned, filled and
extracted teeth as part of Open Wide
2016, a one-day event to help refugees
and other newcomers.
Their needs are great, and the
benefits that are afforded to them by
the government are limited, Dr. Carla
Cohn, president of the Manitoba Dental
Association, said. We felt if we could
do our part to help out and give these

people a bit of a better start, then we

would do that for them.
The association and College of Dentistry holds an Open Wide clinic every
few years to help people who otherwise
couldnt afford or access dental care.
This year, Cohn said, they hope to treat
about 400 refugees.
Weve got some of the people that
have been in camps for years, not receiving any dental care. Thats not high
on the list of priorities when youre
starving or trying to stay safe, so they
come to us with a lot of unmet needs,
she said above the constant buzz of
dental tools. They can come to Canada
and be taken care of, and this is our effort to help them with oral health.
Every dentist and assistant volunteered their time for the event,
which started at 8 a.m. on whats usually their day off, and dental suppliers

and manufacturers donated equipment

and materials including toothbrushes and toothpaste to take home so
the clinic was free to patients. Cohn
said she hopes the treatment will help
alleviate at least a few of the challenges these newcomers face.
What we hope to be able to help is if
somebodys in pain, to get them out of
pain, Cohn said. If theyve got a broken tooth, to fix that tooth. It might not
seem like a huge issue, (but) when you
have a toothache, then that takes all of
your head space, and that discomfort
affects everything. It affects what
youre eating, how youre feeling, how
youre thinking straight, so we want to
be able to help people get out of pain
and (give) emergency treatment.
Cohn said anyone with healthy teeth
would receive a cleaning and advice on
good oral hygiene, but she anticipated

most patients, like Mwashite Mbekalo,

who moved to Canada from Tanzania
in April, would have minor issues.
As Dr. Karina Gamboa, a pediatric
dentist, examined Mbekalo, Cohn noted the 19-year-old had small cavities
around her mouth, but she mentioned
she saw another girl whose teeth were
in much worse shape.
For the whole family, it means a
lot, said Marian Braun, one of about
two dozen parishioners of the Meeting Place sponsoring Mbekalo and her
family. Its been really fabulous to
realize the resources that are available
in Winnipeg for newcomers.
She said the family sometimes struggles with language barriers (the family
of seven speaks Swahili, and the father
and two oldest daughters also speak
French), but Open Wide was prepared
with volunteer interpreters and intake

forms in different languages.

I think theyre feeling safe, Braun
said, echoing one of Cohns hopes for
the event.
A lot of these people... they come
from a lot of unrest, Cohn said. When
you get a white coat in front of you,
sometimes thats a little scary, so I
think it takes a big effort to get people
into the clinic.
Dr. Tom Colina, a dentist and one
of Open Wides co-chairmen, agrees.
While the clinic helps treat immediate
dental issues, he hopes it also helps
refugees feel at home in Canada.
Hopefully, were not just making
their dental health, oral health better,
but hopefully, were making them feel
welcome in this new country.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

Our Manitoba Grower Stories at PeakMarket.com/Growers

CHEESY HUBBARD SQUASH

Metric

Ingredients

Imperial

1
50 ml
250 ml
250 ml
250 ml
30 ml
250 ml

green hubbard squash

butter
celery, diced
onion, finely chopped
fresh mushrooms, sliced
salt & pepper to taste
parsley, chopped
old cheddar cheese, grated

1
1/4 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
2 tbsp
1 cup

Directions

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

A sneak peak of the Winnie the Pooh exhibit, which will be unveiled Monday at the Assiniboine Park Pavilion.

Cut squash in half and place cut side down in roasting pan. Bake
squash at 350 F (180 C) for 1 hour or until almost tender. Saut
celery and onion in butter until transparent, add mushrooms and
cook 2 to 3 minutes longer.Add salt, pepper and parsley. Distribute
mixture evenly in shells. Place in roasting pan, cover, and continue
to bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle cheese over mixture.
Cook for about 5 minutes or until cheese melts and is bubbly.
Servings: 6

New exhibit tells story of Winnies originator

THIS Winnie never lived in the Hundred Acre Wood or stuck her paws into
honey pots, but shes getting her own
exhibit at the Assiniboine Park Pavilion.
Many people are familiar with the
real-life black bear named after Winnipeg that inspired A. A. Milnes Winnie-the-Pooh, but the exhibit, Remembering the Real Winnie: The Worlds
Most Famous Bear Turns 100, delves
deeper into the story.
The exhibit showcases the life of Lt.

Harry Colebourn, who adopted, transported and then delivered the bear to
the ZLS London Zoo during the First
World War. It replaces the Pooh Gallery, which displayed memorabilia related to the fictional Winnie.
The new exhibit now tells the story
of Colebourn, Laura Curtis of the
Assiniboine Park Conservancy said.
This collection has objects from his
personal collection and his time in the
war.
Curtis said the display will include

diaries, photographs and other documents. The exhibit was inspired by

Lindsay Mattick, Colebourns greatgranddaughter and the author of Finding Winnie, a picture book telling the
story behind the real bear.
Mattick and Irene Gammel, the exhibits curator, will be on hand when
Remembering the Real Winnie is
unveiled to the public Monday at 11
a.m.
The exhibit will remain open for a
year and is free to the public.

Larry McIntosh

More Recipes at PeakMarket.com/Recipes

ONCE OVER
A2 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2016
WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

Dana
Smith

Queens
of comedy
Womens Comedy Night is at the
Kings Head Pub on Wednesday, with
10 female comedians there to make you
laugh. Dana Smith is hosting. Tickets
are $10 at the door, and the funds
raised will support Sarasvti Productions, a theatre company with a focus
on social issues. The show is from 8 p.m.
to 10:30 p.m.

THINGS TO DO
4
2
3
5
JADE MARKUS

Tuesday
tunes

Funky
fundraiser

Musically inclined? The

Winnipeg Folk Festival
and Manitoba Music are
holding a free open-mic
night Tuesday at the
Handsome Daughter.
Sol James (shes sort of
folky and has a great
voice) will be manning
the microphone. The
stage will be open to a
full gamut of performers and instruments,
from guitars to kazoos.
Sign-up is at 6:30 p.m.,
performances start at
7 p.m.

Jazz Winnipeg is
throwing its annual Dig!
magazine Rent Party
Thursday at the Park
Theatre, featuring live
local musicians and a
chance to win prizes.
The proceeds will fund
the citys only jazz
magazine, which is circulated for free. Tickets
are $25 in advance, or
$15 for students, and
available at jazzwinnipeg.com, at the Jazz
Winnipeg office or at
the Park Theatre. The
event is from 6:30 p.m.
until 10 p.m.

Get buzzed
Unless youre Hemingway, words and
alcohol often dont
mix, but regardless,
the Ninth-Ever Good
Will Spelling Bee(r) is
Thursday. The adult
take on the elementary
school competition
will have increasingly
difficult rounds where
people get eliminated.
Registration is at 8 p.m.,
and its $5 to enter, but
the winner takes home
cash, and there will be
prizes each round from
Half Pints Brewing.
Watching is free, and
the bee starts at 9 p.m.

Folklorama
fun
If youre missing
Folklorama, this is one
way to get a taste of
the summer festival.
The Irish and Spirit of
Ukraine pavilions are
hosting two nights of
Gaelic & Garlic Gala
Dinners to raise funds
to support volunteers.
The Friday and Saturday
galas include a mash-up
of Irish and Ukrainian
food, drink, music and
dance at the Irish Club
(654 Erin St.) Tickets are
$35 at spiritofukraine@
gmail.com or 204-8010310. Doors open at 7
p.m.

Book bash

Back
to the future

Book Fest is happening at the Millennium

Library from 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The second floor of the
library will have a mix
of free stuff going on,
including a book fair,
book tastings (which
will show off fiction and
non-fiction by Prairie
authors), recommendations for book clubs
and a selection of
tomes curated by the
librarys writers-in-residence, Christine Fellows
and John K. Samson.

Another summer
festival-inspired event
that can be enjoyed this
week, Memetic is holding its Roaring 2020s
party this Saturday,
and this years event
is theme is retro robot.
This is a fun dance party
with DJs, VJs and 2020sinspired costumes,
which will require some
creativity. The music
starts at 9 p.m.; tickets
are $12 in advance
and available at Music
Trader, Strange Things
Emporium and www.
memetic.ca.

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Kevin (Doc) Wilson plays Over Da Boards, a game he developed, Saturday at JimCon 2016 at the Bronx Park Community Centre.

Community of tabletop fans growing in city along with annual expo

Gaming convention becoming big winner

DANIELLE DOIRON

ITH one day left in the sixth

annual JimCon Winnipeg
Tabletop Games Convention,
the event is already proving to be a
critical hit.
The expo, which took over the entire Bronx Park Community Centre
on Henderson Highway, features more
than 500 card, board, miniature and
role-playing games, as well as tournaments, booths from local game vendors
and organized sessions where people
can learn from more experienced players, called game masters.
Mike Hofer, a JimCon schedule coordinator, said the family-friendly
weekend is all about bringing the local
tabletop gaming community together.
People can come in, learn a new
game, play some old favourites, meet
some new friends, he said. In fact,
one of our founders has a rule: whenever he goes to a game convention, he
wants to meet two new people and play

two new games. Other people want

to share their favourite games with
others.
To help people connect, JimCon provides yellow players wanted flags,
which gamers can set on their tables
to help you find that extra player or
three, a convention brochure states.
One of the new games players can
try at JimCon is Over Da Boards,
which was designed locally by Kevin
(Doc) Wilson of Shared Weave Games.
The general premise is its a bloodsport hockey game, so incapacitating
the other team is just as valid a strategy as scoring more goals than the
other team, Hofer said during a break
in play.
A player wins the game by scoring
three goals or doing in four players,
Wilson said. Hes brought the game,
which is still in development, to conventions over the last couple of years
and said hes received great reviews
so far.
Its a hybrid board game/minis

game, he said, and the reaction has

been fantastic.
While the convention is much smaller than many Sean Garrity, who runs
Baksha Games, has attended, he said
JimCon grows every year and keeps
getting better.
This is a great weekend, he said.
Winnipegs got a lot of great gamers.
JimCons a really good place to come
out and meet people and play games
youve never played.
For parents such as Wilson, the convention provides a much-needed break.
Theres a lot of guys like Sean and
I who are parenting age, who have
kids, who dont get to do anything with
anyone all year long because were
too busy being dads and moms, and
then we come here and see people we
havent seen all year, he said, laughing.
Garrity notes the game library a
room filled with shelves and tables of
hundreds of boxed board games players can rent during the day is a great

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place for people to start. It even has a

small section for local games that includes some of his creations, including
Good Help: the Card Game and Little
Drop of Poison.
Throughout the main hall, dozens
of people spent Saturday afternoon
testing out new games, including one
woman who audibly gasped as she
drew a card, to the laughter of her
tablemates. In one corner of the same
crowded room, a costumed stormtrooper stood guard over tables hosting the
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Regional Championship tournament. At the
concession stand, Hocus Pocus Pies &
Dice sold edible chocolate dice.
JimCon continues today from 8:30
a.m. to 5 p.m.
Day passes are available at the door
for $15 (cash only). Children six and
under can enter for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

VOL. 144 NO. 359

2016 Winnipeg Free Press, a division of FP Canadian
Newspapers Limited Partnership. Published seven days
a week at 1355 Mountain Avenue,
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2X 3B6, PH: 204-697-7000
A member of the Manitoba Press Council

[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

EYE ON CRIME WINNIPEG CRIME STOPPERS

The people in these photos are of
interest to police and may be able to
provide investigators with information
about the offences. These images are
released for identification purposes only.
The people pictured may or may not be
responsible for the crimes indicated. If you
are able to identify anyone pictured, call
Winnipeg Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS
(204-786-8477), text TIP170 and your message to CRIMES (274637) or send a secure
tip online at winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

INCIDENT 653

INCIDENT 654

When: March 29
Where: Area
of Portage Avenue and
Vaughan Street

When: Aug. 27
Where: First block of
Carlton Street
A man ran behind
the counter of a small
convenience store and
assaulted the 59-yearold clerk, and a woman
he was with grabbed
cigarettes and lotto
tickets.

Police are searching for

two men who allegedly
took part in an assault
in which a 19-yearold man was taken
to hospital in critical
condition.

Incident 653A

Incident 653B

Incident 654A

Incident 654B

NEWS I CITY

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2016 WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

A3

PHOTOS BY TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Childrens entertainer Fred Penner acts as grand marshal of the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade Saturday as thousands line downtown streets in uncommonly balmy weather.

Mildest parade weather in memory

Santa doesnt
need snow
DANIELLE DOIRON

T might not feel much like Christmas in Winnipeg, but Saturday, it

started to look a little bit like it.

The annual Winnipeg Santa Claus

Parade came to town, and this weekend
may go down as one of the warmest in
the parades 106-year history.
Earlier in the day, the mercury
climbed to 13.2 C, matching a Nov.
12 record set in 1981. By the time the
parade led by grand marshal Fred
Penner kicked off at 5 p.m., the temperature had fallen to 8 C.
Cynthia McKillop brings her young
children who were decked out in elf
hats to the parade every November
and said this years was the warmest
she remembers.
This is fantastic weather, she said.
Weve been coming for many years,
even in (-25 C). Of course, Santa is our
favourite. Sometimes weve waited
hours in the cold to see him.
They joined thousands of people
some only wearing only T-shirts or
skirts with bare legs lining the parade route, which stretched down Portage Avenue and part of Main Street.
Some people even kicked off blankets,
removed mittens and unzipped jackets
as the floats passed.
When the Re/Max float, which features a fire display, drove past, warming most parade-goers standing in the
front row, one child even remarked it
was too hot.
Still, many of the parade-goers and
volunteers were all smiles as the float
passed.

Its fun, Shehbaaz Brar said about

his first Santa Claus parade experience. The 17-year-old signed up as a
volunteer after one of his Kildonan
East Collegiate teachers encouraged a
class to do so.
Ive never been here, but now that
Ive been here, it seems exciting. I
actually really like Christmas music,
too, he said, as some of his friends and
fellow volunteers popped bubbles blowing out from the Kickn Up Kountry
float to laughter from the crowd.
Other popular floats included the
Mothers Against Drunk Driving flatbed, which showcased a totalled car,
and the parades first-ever indigenous
truck, which was sponsored by the
Southern Chiefs Organization and
included a larger-than-life headdress
and was trailed by dancers.
Once St. Nick himself passed by in
his sleigh (to the only cheers of the
night louder than a resounding go
Jets go chant as the True North float
drove by), parade-goers even filled
coffee shops on Graham Avenue to buy
cold drinks.
I cant remember the last time its
been this warm for us, Environment
Canada meteorologist Justin Shaer
said. Its been very warm, very unseasonable weather.
Shaer noted Winnipeg normally sees
highs around -1 C and lows around -9
C this time of year. He said the warm
weather should last until mid-week,
when he expects colder temperatures
and possibly snow in the southeastern
part of the province.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

Clockwise from top: dancers with the

parades first-ever indigenous truck;
participants dressed as a stormtrooper
from Star Wars (left) and a Mighty Morphin
Power Rangers character; a flame shoots up
from the Re/Max float; Winnipeg Goldeyes
mascot Goldie high-fives spectators; parade
participants dressed as Christmas trees; a
girl tries to burst a bubble from the Kickn Up
Kountry float.

TOP NEWS
A3 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2016

CITY EDITOR: SHANE MINKIN 204-697-7292 [email protected] WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

Group asks politicians to prevent fentanyl deaths

Mothers plea for help amid crisis

DANIELLE DOIRON

YNTHIA Genaille waits at her window every day

for her daughter Brittany to come home. She never
does.

Brittany Genaille was 26 when she was found dead Oct. 6

in a North End home after accidentally ingesting fentanyl, a
synthetic drug that can be 100 times stronger than morphine,
her mother told the Winnipeg Free Press.
Im sad. Im upset. Im still grieving. Im still lonely. I miss
her every day, Genaille said, crying.
I miss my baby so much. Shes my daughter that Ill never
get back.
Fentanyl is a painkiller, but an illicit version of it is used
to lace cocaine, heroin and other substances, often without a
drug users knowledge. Genaille said Brittany likely thought
she was taking methamphetamine and had no idea she ingested fentanyl.
A lot of people think its meth that theyre taking. Theyre
not. I dont want other people to die, she said.
She was a family person. She had five kids. She did everything with her kids. She gave her kids everything a spoiled kid
(could get) thats how much she loved her kids.
Her death is one of many in Canadas opioid crisis.
Genaille said she had already lost Brittany once, when Child
and Family Services took her away as a baby while Genaille
dealt with alcoholism.
This time, shes determined to prevent more people from
losing their loved ones to fentanyl.
After Brittanys death, Genaille launched a public Facebook
page called ppl against fentanyl that has almost 500 members. On Saturday, she organized a rally at the Manitoba legislature to protest against the availability of street fentanyl.
About two dozen of Brittanys friends, family members and
supporters carried bright signs with slogans such as Justice
for Brittany and Fentanyl takes lives. Some of the signs
were written in bright purple and included drawings of doughnuts and chocolate some of Brittanys favourite things, a
cousin said.
Abraham Lagimodiere pointed out photos of Brittany, the
cousin he said was like a sister to him, on one of the signs.
I was shocked. I didnt believe it. I still dont really believe
it, he said.
I was raised with her pretty much. I saw her every day.
She got caught up in drug addiction never recovered.
You dont want to keep testing new drugs and digging a
deeper hole. Its not going to get anyone anywhere but in the
ground. Its not a good drug to get involved with.
Sherry Isaac a self-proclaimed advocate for drug awareness and education who has been vocal about the need for
naloxone, a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid
overdose spoke to the small crowd at the rally.
The pictures you see before you, thats just only a glimpse
of who these people were and who they are, she said.
I think we can all stand here and say f--- fentanyl. This has
to stop. We can make changes.
All it takes is a voice. All it takes it that building right
there, she said, pointing at the legislature and emphasizing
the need for increased government funding for harm-reduction programs.
The group ended the rally with a march down Memorial
Boulevard. As they walked, they chanted Justice for Brittany, Stop fentanyl and Get fentanyl off the streets.
Genaille said she plans to hold similar rallies until justice
is served for her daughter and everyone else affected by
fentanyl. She urges anyone with loved ones who take drugs to
speak up.
I would tell them that if you know someone whos on drugs
if you can sit down with them, one on one, have an intervention as soon as you can, before its too late, she said.
I want people out there to talk to their kids if theyre on
drugs.

PHOTOS BY TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FRESS PRESS

Brittany Genaille, a mother of five children, died last month at the age of 26 after accidentally ingesting fentanyl, her mother says.

Cynthia Genaille organized Saturdays rally.

Clover Dubery, 9, and Kelly Flett, 8, hold signs in support of Brittany Genaille.

[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

Better tracking of overdoses, greater use of antidote part of opioid response

Supervised drug sites not on Manitobas agenda

MIA RABSON
OTTAWA Manitoba will improve its
tracking of drug overdoses, expand access to the opioid-antidote naloxone and
better monitor painkiller prescriptions.
The province made those commitments under a new national action plan
in response to the opioid crisis.
Provincial Health Minister Kelvin
Goertzen said Saturday the province
isnt looking to introduce a supervised
drug-use site despite the fact the federal government intends to amend legislation to make it easier to establish them.
The British Columbia government
has asked Ottawa to repeal the former
Conservative governments Respect for
Communities Act, which makes establishing new, supervised drug-consumption sites almost impossible.
At the close of two-day national conference in Ottawa on the opioid crisis,
federal Health Minister Jane Philpott
said changes to that law are coming,
possibly within weeks.
Goertzen said nobody has been pushing for a supervised drug-consumption site in Manitoba.
Well see what the federal govern-

ment brings forward, but there are no

requests here, he said.
With illicit drugs such as cocaine,
heroin and marijuana increasingly
showing up laced with opioids, safedrug sites are being promoted as a way
to curb the problem.
Goertzen said he would rather see
an analysis about the effect of existing
harm-reduction strategies, such as the
Winnipeg Regional Health Authoritys
safe needle-exchange program, before
considering a supervised drug-consumption site.
The former federal Tory government
was strongly opposed to safe-injection
sites and fought against Vancouvers
Insite the first site in Canada all
the way to the Supreme Court. It lost.
Goertzen wouldnt say where he
stands on the issue. He said Manitobas
Progressive Conservative party is not
the same as the federal Conservatives,
and whatever decision is made about
harm-reduction programs has to be
made based on evidence, not ideology.
He said what works in Vancouver might
not be the best fit for Manitoba.
I think the harm-reduction program
that exists now has been well-received,

he said. Wed want to see our own analysis and our own data and see if our
own harm-reduction programs are
working.
Goertzen said there is no plan to
launch a new analysis of the programs,
although it may come as part of the
provinces commitment to a national
plan to combat the opioid crisis.
Its estimated as many as 2,000 people
may die of opioid-related overdoses in
Canada this year, and the numbers are
growing exponentially.
Philpott said Saturday the numbers
are indeed frightening.
British Columbia, considered ground
zero in Canadas opioid problem, has
had more than 600 overdose deaths this
year, about 60 per cent of them related
to opioids such as fentanyl. First responders are reviving dozens of people
every day with naloxone, including in
Winnipeg.
Manitoba is just starting to see
alarming growth in fentanyl overdoses,
but Goertzen said the fact the province
hasnt been hit as hard as other places
yet doesnt mean it can be complacent.
In Manitoba in 2014, there were seven
deaths linked to fentanyl.

In 2015, that increased to about 18.

On Thursday, the chief medical examiner said there were nine confirmed
cases of fentanyl-related deaths from
January to May of this year. Another
five deaths were related to carfentanil,
an animal tranquilizer used to sedate
elephants, which is 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
Three people in Winnipeg died
last week in what is believed to be a
fentanyl-related overdose. In October,
two men were found dead in a car in the
North End in what is suspected to be
fentanyl overdoses.
Improving data collection on drug
overdoses fatal and non-fatal is
one of Manitobas priorities under a
joint statement of action to address the
opioid crisis.
The lack of solid data has hampered
efforts to understand the depth of the
opioid crisis.
Manitoba intends to roll out better
access to the opioid-antidote naloxone
early in the new year, making it more
easily available in rural areas, not just
in Winnipeg.
Across the country, there will be a
push to improve prescribing practices

of narcotics, including introducing new

guidelines for when they shouldnt be
prescribed.
Canada has one of the highest rates
of prescriptions for opioids in the world.
Nationally, the number of claims for
prescription opioids under drug plans
grew almost 33 per cent from 2006 to
2013. In Manitoba, it was slightly faster, growing at 35 per cent.
The federal government will publish
a report on Canadas opioid action plan
no later than February and will update
it every three months.
Provincial ministers are negotiating
a new arrangement for health funding
with the federal minister, emphasizing
new money for mental health and addictions.
Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins
said Canada has to do better at treating
both problems.
We need to reach the point in society
and as a country where we treat individuals with mental illness and addiction no different than we would treat a
cancer patient or a cardiac patient, he
said.
[email protected]

A5

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2016 WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

Experts discuss what-ifs

about new U.S. reality
MICHAEL TUTTON

SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses for a selfie during the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru Saturday.

Leaders scramble to save Trans-Pacific Partnership

Trumps anti-trade stance

hijacks APEC summit
JORDAN PRESS

IMA, Peru Uncertainty about

the future of global trade swept
over a summit of leaders from
Asian and Pacific countries as they met
to discuss a protectionist president in
the White House.
Donald Trumps election has upended the annual APEC leaders summit where world leaders sought to calm
frayed nerves and emphasize there are
ways to save a massive trade deal the
president-elect has vowed to kill.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership cant
go ahead without the approval of two
biggest economies involved in the deal
the U.S. and Japan. Either could kill
a deal designed to be a counterbalance
to Chinas growing financial influence.
U.S. President Barack Obama said in
a public talk that Trump would see the
benefits of trade pacts once in office,
and spoke behind closed doors to Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau and other TPP
leaders about the deals future.
Canadas trade minister said the governments position on the deal hasnt
changed: the decision on whether to ratify the 12-nation, Pacific Rim pact rests
with Canadians.
Here are the things we can say to
Canadians and Canadian businesses:
first and foremost, the government of

Canada believes strongly in an open

global economy, said International
Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland.
We stand for the open society and we
stand for the open global economy and I
think Canadians should take pride and
comfort in that fact.
Trump rallied voters against the TPP
during his presidential bid, calling the
deal disastrous for American workers
and the countrys economy.
Allan Culham, a former Canadian
ambassador to the Organization of
American States, said Trumps rhetoric and Obamas decision to give up on
pushing the pact through Congress before the end of his term signal the kiss
of death for the deal.
New Zealand Prime Minister John
Key said there may be a path for the
deal even if Trump stands firm. Key
said the 11 remaining partners could
propose cosmetic changes to convince
Trump to see the deal as worthwhile
to his country, or renegotiate it all
something Key wanted to avoid.
Allan Bollard, executive director
of the APEC secretariat, said the 11
remaining countries could ratify the
agreement and hold out for a few years.
Already its nearly ratified by the
Japanese, and that means it will be
quite difficult to change TPP. But TPP
can just sit there on the shelves, so to

speak, until enough economies agree to

ratify it, he said before the summit.
Although Trudeau has pushed for
countries not to give in to protectionist sentiments worldwide, the prime
minister is expected to hedge his bets
and pitch bilateral trade deals in case
efforts to save TPP fail.
Freeland said the government is in
trade talks with several Asian countries, including China.
Its worth it for Canadians to appreciate that we have a very extensive
web of trading relationships here in the
Asia-Pacific and were working hard to
deepen them, she said.
Carlo Dade, director of the Centre
for Trade & Investment Policy at the
Canada West Foundation, says kickstarting trade talks with countries such
as Japan would help Canada compete in
the growing Asian market where Canada only has one trade agreement.
That makes APEC a golden opportunity for Canada to advance trade
ties in Asia, Dade said.
But that only works if we get serious about focusing time and attention
around the Pacific. Thats why this
APEC meeting is so important, he said.
Trudeau is to meet informally with
Obama today.
The Canadian Press

HALIFAX Views differed sharply

on the effect of Donald Trumps presidency on issues from trade to historic
alliances during the second day of an
international gathering seized by whatif scenarios regarding the incoming
U.S. administration.
The Halifax International Security
Forum is the first major international
gathering of policy analysts, American
and foreign politicians, and defence
ministers since Trump won the U.S.
election Nov. 8.
Gideon Rose, editor of Foreign
Affairs, added a touch of humour to
the proceedings Saturday when he
crumpled up a piece of paper with his
seminars original title on it, suggesting it was already dated by the Trump
topic.
However, Rose said the topics under
discussion such as Trumps statements during primary debates that he
favours waterboarding torture are
new to the forum on democracy.
Let me say how appalling and heartbreaking it is that we have to have a
discussion about the possibility... about
whether the United States policy really
will be not to engage in war crimes,
he said.
During the same panel, Francois
Heisbourg, chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in
London, jumped on Trumps election
comments suggesting his support for
defending NATO members depends on
their military spending.
The London-based analyst said this
musing during the campaign is creating divisions in decades-old alliances
with European nations and could create a stampede towards isolationism.
The uncertainty has already been
created, he said. And once you do
that its doubtful this alliance system
can actually be sustained as this basic
given.
Some Republican legislators attending seemed to support Trump, yet simultaneously raise opposition to some
of his specific policy ideas.
I believe theres every opportunity
for us to work together, said Sen. John
McCain, the chairman of the armed
services committee, during an interview with one of the moderators.
Yet, he also differed with the
president-elects campaign positions on
everything from reworking the North
American Free Trade Agreement to
cosying up with Russian President
Vladimir Putin in Syria.
Regarding Trumps threat to renew
waterboarding torture, McCain noted
the U.S. Congress has passed a bill that
prohibits it.
I dont give a damn what the president of United States wants to do or
anybody else wants to do, we will not
waterboard, he said.
Though he stopped short of explicitly supporting the existing NAFTA,
McCain warned that previous bouts of
protectionism contributed to the Great

Depression.
He also said if the United States
doesnt ratify the Trans Pacific Partnership as Trump has made clear
it will lead China to expand its sphere
of influence in the Far East.
Meanwhile, in a separate panel on
Asia, Alaska Republican Sen. Dan
Sullivan recalled many Americans see
Trumps election as an opportunity
to improve the countrys economy
after years of stagnation.
If this president can unleash
traditional levels of American gross
domestic product growth, thats going
to be a game changer, he said.
Sullivan said he expects the U.S. government under Trump will allow more
oil exploration off his states pristine
coastlines.
Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, a
Democrat who referred to Trump as a
vulgarian during the campaign, said
he expects American legislators can
deter the president-elect from pursuing policies that damage his countrys
interests.
Coons said the main reason there
is a large bipartisan delegation from
Congress at the forum is to reassure
Canadians and representatives from 70
countries that fundamental American
values, priorities and security commitments wont change.
Ive been encouraged by the more
steady tone president elect Trump has
taken since his election, he said during an interview.
However, as discussions unfolded,
some commentators said its also
essential for western allies to keep a
close watch on what Trump does, and
for legislators to map out strategies of
resistance.
Rosa Brooks, the associate dean
for graduate studies at Georgetown
University in Washington, said during
a panel discussion that Trumps opponents must prepare carefully and
not give up.
Im scared... some of the things said
on the campaign trail were terrifying,
Brooks said.
She said its naive to assume president Trump will go through a personal
transformation and ideology transformation.
Its equally bad to assume its all
over weve lost every fight already and
we might as well resign or ask our nice
Canadian friends here to let us stay,
Brooks said.
Rose said the forum is fulfilling its
purpose by making clear to the new
administrator the world is watching.
I really hope when we look back on
this in later years... we will look at this
period and say, we dodged a bullet but
until that happens, I make no apologies
for raising and discussing all of this
uncertainty, said the editor of Foreign
Affairs.
The Canadian Press

MORE U.S. POLITICS ON A6, A10

Tory leadership hopeful not deterred by lack of name recognition

Erin OToole who?

DANIELLE DOIRON
ERIN OToole sees his lack of experience as an elected politician as a badge
of honour in his quest for the leadership
of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Im not a career politician, the lawyer and former Royal Canadian Air
Force officer said Saturday. My track
records pretty clear, but I know my
name recognition isnt as high as people
who have been in this for 10 years.
Still, he thinks his ideas and the
support hes gathered speak for themselves.
The member of Parliament for Durham, Ont., joined the leadership race
a month ago. he is one of 12 people
seeking the job. He won his riding in a
November 2012 byelection and was reelected in 2015.
Three of the five Conservative MPs
in Manitoba Larry Maguire, James
Bezan and Robert Sopuck have endorsed OToole. Ted Falk endorsed Andrew Sheer. Candice Bergen must remain neutral as the party house leader.
OToole said he believes these MPs
support him because they recognize
hes a team player who knows his colleagues well.
To lead, you have to be willing and
able to understand how to follow and listen, he said. Now that I want to lead
the team, I have been a strong follower
and a strong team player.
He notes hes been to Brandon three
times in the four years hes been an MP.
Luc Lewandoski, who is assisting
with the leadership campaign, said
OToole has met with donors, community members and Tory MPs during his
second Manitoba visit since announcing his candidacy.
This time, OToole emphasized, he
stayed at Bezans home because weve

got to keep costs down in this race.

The self-proclaimed fiscal Conservative also toured 17 Wing, where he
served while in the Canadian Forces,
met with local city councillors and hosted a meet-and-greet with local Conservatives at the Winnipeg Free Press Caf.
Manitobas very important to me
because I lived and served here for a
time, OToole said. All of the issues
that the rest of the country has, you
can find here in Manitoba. Its a bit of a
microcosm for the country.
I cant claim I grew up here or that
I am a local, but living across the country, whether I was in the military or in
law school in Atlantic Canada, gives
you an appreciation for the people and
the issues, so Manitoba will remain
very important to me.
OToole said he wants to help bring
back voters who used to support the
Conservative party but voted for other
parties during the 2015 election. He
said people across the country have
told him they are worried about the
economy under Prime Minister Justin
Trudeaus leadership.
Id like to say this is our opportunity as Conservatives, he said, because
even people that wanted to see us gone
knew we were pretty good managers of
the economy, and our focus was job
opportunities for Canadians.
I want to win their votes. I want to
win their trust back.
OToole said hes planning a few more
trips to Manitoba during the campaign
and joked people here will be sick of
him by the time its over.
He said he hasnt paid the $100,000
entry fee in full, but hes confident he
will do so by the deadline next year.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

Metric
909 g
1
1
50 ml

HASH BROWN CAKE

Ingredients
potatoes, quartered
large onion, grated
egg, beaten
butter

Imperial
2 lb
1
1
1/4 cup

Directions:
In a large pan of salted water; place potatoes. Bring to a boil, cover
and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain, allow to cool. Grate into a bowl
and add onion. Stir in egg and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Heat butter in a heavy bottomed skillet. Add mixture and spread
evenly. Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, until lightly
browned on both sides, turning one section over at a time. Press
mixture together with a spatula to form a large pancake. Cook for 2
to 3 minutes until underside is browned and crisp. Invert cake onto
a plate, slide back into pan and cook other side. Cut into wedges to
serve.
Servings: 5
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Ontario MP Erin OToole: feeling confident

My track records
pretty clear, but I know
my name recognition
isnt as high as people
who have been in this
for 10 years

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2016

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SWEET SUCCESS
Shut Ur Pie Hole has been a hit since
it opened in 2014, but owner Heather
Daymond, who grew up watching televised awards shows, says presenting her
products and meeting stars at the Emmys
in September was a particularly special
moment / A8-9

GREY CUP

PUTTING THEIR
STAMP ON IT
The Calgary Stampers can complete what
might be the best season in CFL history
with a win over the Ottawa Redblacks
in Toronto today. Running back Jerome
Messam says what the team has accomplished means nothing if we dont get
this Grey Cup / B3

HOCKEY
PHOTOS BY RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

TIME FOR JETS TO

REVERSE COURSE
The Winnipeg Jets host the Nashville
Predators today after failing to earn any
points on a five-game road trip. Jets
captain Blake Wheeler says hes
optimistic the team will start playing
better after being stuck in neutral / B5

Shots
fired on
street

Two men were critically hurt early

Saturday in a shooting incident that
apparently involved two vehicles.
No arrest have been made, and
police say theres nothing to indicate
anyone was randomly targeted
A3

TOP NEWS
A3 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2016

CITY EDITOR: SHANE MINKIN 204-697-7292 [email protected] WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

PHOTOS BY RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Police identification officers work at the shooting scene Saturday morning. Two men are in hospital.

Police spokesman says theres no indication incident wasrandom

Two critically injured as shots fly

DANIELLE DOIRON

WO men are in critical

condition after suffering what
police said appeared to be
gunshot wounds early Saturday.
Winnipeg police received numerous reports of gunshots heard
near Donald Street and Stradbrook
Avenue at approximately 3 a.m. Both
men were transported to hospital.
Police did not disclose their ages.
Const. Rob Carver, a spokesman
for the Winnipeg Police Service, said
police had not made any arrests by
Saturday afternoon and do not know
how many people or firearms were
involved.

One witness, who didnt want his

name published, said he was watching TV in a building on Donald Street
when heard about six gunshots. He
said he left the building and heard
people screaming.
Another witness, who has first-aid
training, said she heard a woman
yelling, so she went to see if she could
help.
By the time she left her building, the
police had arrived.

Two vehicles appear to have been

involved a sport utility vehicle and
a sedan with an Alberta licence plate
pointing the wrong way down Stradbrook Avenue.
The police identification unit were
examining two bullet holes in the windshield of the car this morning.
I think its hugely concerning,
Carver told reporters, noting he spoke
to people in the area who are worried
about the incident.
I think its one of the most concerning things that a city can have. I mean,
youve got a potential of shots fired in a
public area.
Having said that, we dont have any
preliminary indication that this was
random. Im not saying its targeted,
but we dont have any indications
that this is random, and I think that
changes the nature of our concerns.
Police asked motorists to avoid the
area Saturday, and street closures
led to traffic problems. Donald Street
was closed to traffic between McMillan and River avenues, while Stradbrook Avenue was closed to eastbound
traffic from Scott Street.
The WPS homicide unit is investigating and asks anyone with information
about the incident to call 204-986-6508
or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS
(8477).

Clockwise from above left:

Numbered markers placed
on the street indicate where
shell casings fell; investigators
beside the sedan involved; an
identification officer takes
a cellphone out of the car,
which has bullet holes in its
windshield.

[email protected]
Twitter @dmdoiron

Meeting delves into problem of housing discrimination

DANIELLE DOIRON

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Hazim Ismail led a discussion group about international student

experiences during workshops hosted by 13 Fires Saturday.

INTERNATIONAL students often get trapped

in housing situations they cant escape, Hazim
Ismail said. Three years ago, he was one of
them.
Ismail came to Winnipeg from Malaysia,
where he faced persecution for being gay and
an atheist. Once in Canada, he said he dealt
with racial discrimination from his landlords.
One of them told me I couldnt have my black
friends over, he said, noting he knows other
international students who were asked for two
months rent in advance instead of just one.
Ismail is one of the organizers of 13 Fires
Winnipeg, a monthly conversation series that
stemmed from Our Summit, a grassroots effort
to address systemic racism in Winnipeg. On
Saturday, about two dozen people gathered at
Winnipeg Harvest for the 12th Fire to discuss
racism in housing, a topic generated by community members.
People were tired of having one-off events,
organizer Anny Chen said.
People were tired of the implication that
racism could be solved in one day, in one conference, and they felt that you had to have repeated engagements for racism to actually be
impacted in any way.
During Saturdays instalment, a panel and
small group sessions were held to discuss problems people have faced with their landlords and
different housing agencies.

Christopher Clacio, one of the panelists, noted

language barriers are an issue within his Filipino family. After his mother was laid off, the
24-year-old became his households sole breadwinner. He mentioned he has trouble communicating with his other relatives in Winnipeg.
While they can sometimes help him cover rent,
he feels responsible for himself and his mother.
Right now I have three jobs just so I can pay
rent, he said.
Gera Villagran stood up to join the panel and
share his experiences. He emigrated from Mexico but stressed his story is different because
he came from a wealthy, privileged family. He
was in graduate school studying philosophy
when he could no longer afford a place to live.
He couldnt balance a job while finishing his
thesis, so he instead slept at his office, tented
and stayed with friends. He was homeless from
September 2015 to December 2015 but emphasized the problems many of the attendees in the
room faced were much worse.
Chen, Ismail and other organizers encouraged attendees to divide into groups and discuss some of the housing-related discrimination they faced. Participants then wrote some
of the worst comments they had heard from
their landlords on sticky notes, which they
placed on a pinata. Ismail anyonymously read
the submissions which included statements
such as assisted income is not a job, Did you
take a shower? and Is that your rez rocket?
while the group brainstormed some of the

root causes that may have led to those remarks.

People shouted out classism, xenophobia
and sexism, some of the identified causes,
as Clacio smashed the pinata and the negative
words. Participants then broke into discussion
groups to talk about potential solutions to all the
problems they identified earlier in the night.
Im learning tons, Villagran said in-between discussion groups.
After listening to other peoples stories, he
said he hopes organizations in Winnipeg step
up and help newcomers access information
about housing.
I think thats a big part of the problem with
newcomers, he said.
Having information in your language is important, but its also important to have someone
to tell you what all the terms you might be unfamiliar with mean.
Villagran mentioned one of his groups didnt
have anything to write down on a sticky note,
which led to a discussion about race and how he
and the people in his group may have had different experiences than others because of how
they look.
13 Fires will conclude with a celebration Dec.
10 at 5 p.m. at Thunderbird House, Chen said.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

MORE HOUSING COVERAGE ON A4

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Ottawa stuns Stamps to win first Cup
in 40 years / D1

We just want him home

Hundreds search for missing high school teacher / B1

Kevin Dilk

TRUMP SLAMS
RECOUNT PUSH
Millions voted illegally for Hillary
Clinton, U.S. president-elect Donald
Trump claimed Sunday as a push for a
recount of key battleground states has
begun. Meanwhile, some Trump allies are
warning the next president to keep rival
Mitt Romney out of his cabinet
A7
EDITORIAL: Broken promises mount
A8

BUSINESS

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Wage freeze could extend to teachers

CONDO CLASH
Although developers were given the
go-ahead by city planners, a city
community committee has rejected a
plan to build an infill condo complex in
Crescentwood. Its absolutely the right
thing to do, said one councillor, who was
surprised by the decision / B5

NICK MARTIN

REMIER Brian Pallister has

signalled that public-sector wage
controls could include teachers.
Its important that we all understand theres a real challenge here, and
we face it all together, said Pallister, a
former teacher.
Well be encouraging all hands on
deck. This is not a challenge that can
be met in part, it has to be met comprehensively. I dont think the teachers
would want to do anything but be part
of what we do to strengthen services...
and finances.
The governments throne speech last
week mentioned plans for legislation
early in 2017 to control public-sector
wages, but offered no specifics. The

details of his legislation wont be made

public until the new year, Pallister said
Friday.
Several weeks ago, Pallister instructed the University of Manitoba
to insist on a one-year wage freeze
in negotiations with the universitys
faculty association. The union, which
represents professors, librarians and
instructors, agreed to the freeze last
week in return for improvements in
working conditions, ending a threeweek strike.
In the last round of contract negotiations, every bargaining unit of the
Manitoba Teachers Society settled for
identical raises of nine per cent over
four years. Those agreements, which
expire June 30, 2018, feature different
improvements to benefits and working

conditions. Some differ in changes to

incremental wage increases.
Teachers across the province got a
two per cent raise in September
and will receive two increases of 1.5
per cent, phased in six months apart in
2017-18.
Teachers continued to make wage
gains when the former NDP government imposed a wage freeze several
years ago on some public-sector workers. They continue to make gains well
above the rate of inflation, Pallister
said.
Teachers Society president Norm
Gould said the province hasnt initiated
wage discussions with the union, which
represents more than 15,000 teachers.
It would be imprudent at this time
to speculate as to whether the proposed

freeze would extend to teachers,

he said.
Provincial figures show salaries for
classroom teachers will cost $1.1 billion in 2016-17 an increase of almost
$41 million from a year earlier. The
cost of benefits will go up about $2.3
million.
When support staff is included,
salaries will rise about $63 million and
benefits will cost an extra $5 million
across Manitobas public school system
in 2016-17.
Salaries account for $1.76 billion
of the $2.3-billion public education
system.
[email protected]

UNIONS BRACE FOR FIGHT A3

CITY BUSINESS

MONDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2016

CITY EDITOR: SHANE MINKIN 204-697-7292 [email protected] WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

SECTION B

CONNECT WITH WINNIPEGS NO. 1 NEWS SOURCE

PHOTOS BY MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Search co-ordinator Chris Black gives instructions to volunteers about how to conduct the search for missing teacher Kevin Dilk in St. Boniface near Whittier park and along the Seine and Red rivers.

Scour St. Boniface, where he was last seen Wednesday

Hundreds look for missing teacher

DANIELLE DOIRON

ORE than 200 people gathered

early Sunday to search for
Kevin Dilk, the Collge Bliveau teacher who has been missing
since Wednesday.
Family members and volunteers
met at St. Boniface Street Links at 311
Provencher Blvd. Ginger Dilk, Kevins
niece, said she was amazed by how
many people came out to look for her
uncle and support his family.
Its just been amazing how everyones come together to support (us)
and just see the love for my uncle, she
said. Its moving. In a way, its surprising, and in a way, its not. I know what
a great person he is. It feels right that
everyones here for him. It feels like
this is what he deserves.
Dilk, 50, was last seen in St. Boniface
early Wednesday morning. Hes described as Caucasian, 5-9, 160 pounds
with short, greying brown hair, brown
eyes, and he wears glasses. He may be
wearing a black leather jacket, a button-up shirt, blue jeans, a black hat and
black boots.
Chris Black, a volunteer who has a
search and rescue background, helped
organize the teams. He asked searchers
to look for items that could be discarded,
including clothes that may fit a man with
Dilks build. Teams of about 10 people
set out to search near Whittier Park and
along the Seine and Red rivers.
While Dilks family has little information about what happened, Ginger
Dilk said shes staying positive.
Its been difficult, she said, choking up. Hes so loved. Hes so loved by
us, hes so loved by the community, his

students, everyone who has come out to

show that to us. Were just hoping for
the best outcome right now.
Hes an amazing person. Hes always
been full of love, full of caring, compassion. Hes so dedicated to his students,
to his family.
The family reached out for help on social media. The Finding Kevin Dilk Facebook group has more than 600 members and asks people to spread the word
about his disappearance.
This is a nightmare. We just want
him home, Ginger said. I hope we can
have Christmas with him. I really do. I
just want to give him a hug.
Marion Willis, the founder of St.
Boniface Street Links and one of the
searchs organizers, doesnt know Dilk
personally but stressed St. Boniface is
a tight community of people who take
care of each other and want to help.
We seem to have an awful lot of
these types of tragedies in this city,
she said. There are a lot of missing
people. I guess it gives me hope to see
and to know that there are so many
other people who share my concern
about that.
Willis said organizers will document
anything that comes out of Sundays
search and will use that information to
help shape future searches.
The Bear Clan Patrol also organized a search earlier Sunday, starting
from the Norwood Hotel.
Winnipeg police encourage anyone
with information about Dilks whereabouts to call the missing persons unit
at 204-986-6250.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

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More than 200 people participated in the ground search for Kevin Dilk, a Collge Bliveau teacher who went missing Wednesday.

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MANITOBA

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

A3

PHOTOS BY RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Madeleine Law, who is almost 4, watches her grandmother sing with the Wing and a Prayer ensemble on the steps of the legislative building at the annual open house with her family Saturday.

Legislature, democracy on display at annual festivities

Open house, open government

DANIELLE DOIRON

ORGET partisan blue and

orange. Saturday, red and green
took over as the Manitoba legislature hosted its festive open house.
During the annual event, people were
invited to tour the Christmas-decorated
building, meet with MLAs and learn
more about the provincial government.
Santa hats bobbed through the crowd
of a few hundred people while different
musical acts including the Murdoch
MacKay Collegiate jazz band, Sisters
by Choice, Honeycomb: Sweet Adelines
ladies a cappella quartet, Wing and
a Prayer, Colleen Furlan and the MLA
choir led by Speaker Myrna Driedger
performed on the legislative buildings grand staircase. Ross the Magician
and Art City craft tables entertained
kids. Fort Rouge MLA Wab Kinew wore
a bright green Rudolph sweater. Children in sparkling holidays dresses and
suits waited for candy canes and photos
with Progressive Conservative Premier
Brian Pallister as eagerly as they would
to see Santa at the mall.
Pallister acted the part of Santa Claus,
shaking hands, giving hugs and posing for photos in front of an elaborately
decorated Christmas tree. When the
jolly old elf himself stopped by, the
premier took a break from the long line
of people winding outside his chambers
to meet and take a photo with Santa and
Mrs. Claus.
Merry Christmas, everybody, Pallister said in his opening comments.
We live in the most beautiful province in the most beautiful country in the
world. This time of year, I think its very
important to remind each other of how
many blessings we have.
For some, Helen Counanes said, those
blessings include a stable government.
The former St. James-Assiniboia School

IN BRIEF
TWO FLOWN TO HOSPITAL
TWO people were transported to hospital by
air after a school bus rolled over Saturday.
The incident happened on Highway 234 at
about 1 p.m. The Frontier School Division bus
was carrying 25 students between 12 and 15
years old and three adults from Berens River
First Nation. The bus was returning from a
fiddling event in Wanipigow, a source told the
Free Press. Police said it was travelling to Pine
Dock to catch a flight home.
RCMP said the bus was travelling north
when it slid off the road and rolled onto its
side about two kilometres south of Pine Dock.
The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society
(STARS) helicopter air ambulance was sent to

Division teacher has hosted international

students for the last 12 years. This year,
she brought the two boys staying with
her to the open house.
Im here to learn another culture...
and see how it is here in Canada, Paulo
Souza said.
The 16-year-old Sturgeon Heights Collegiate student said he came to Winnipeg
from Brazil four months ago and wanted
to see how Manitobas government differs from Brazils.
Counanes said its especially important for people who might have unstable
governments back home to see how
governments can work.
They need to know some of our laws
and whats allowed, and then they can
compare what their governments are
like, she said.
Theyll get a chance, hopefully, to
see what a stable government is and
how welcoming it is, because were a
multicultural community here. Were all
the same.
Thirteen-year-old Jordi Ecriva Estevan, the other student staying with
Counanes, will return home to Valencia,
Spain a few days before Christmas, but
both boys will get to experience some
local holiday traditions. Counanes said
theyll take part in an early Greek
Christmas and gift exchange, and Paulo will celebrate his birthday later this
month and see traditional Epiphany
celebrations in the new year.
They get the whole gamut, Counanes
said, smiling.
Locals learned more about the provincial government, too. Tour guides
explained the purposes of different
rooms and the architectural styles of the
building itself.
Usually, everything is locked up. Not
today, one woman on a tour said.
Today, its all transparency.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

Six-year-old Julianna
Austman has her photo
taken with Premier Brian
Pallister in his office at
the annual open house.

The lineup for photos with Pallister stretched out of his office and down the hallway.

the area but didnt transport anyone.

RCMP said one adult and one child were
transported to hospital by Lifeflight air
ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.
They were both in stable condition Saturday
evening.
All the other students involved were transported to hospital by ground ambulance or
private cars as a precautionary measure.
There were reports of very icy highway
conditions in the area. Alcohol is not believed
to have been a factor in the crash.
Pine Dock is located 215 kilometres north of
Winnipeg.

semi-trailer turning south at the intersection

of Highway 8 and PR 27.
The driver of the half-ton, who is from St.
Andrews, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other driver, a 50-year-old Ontario man,
was not injured, RCMP said.
The intersection was closed for about five
hours after the collision. Both drivers were
wearing seatbelts, and Selkirk RCMP said
alcohol was not a factor.
Police continue to investigate the crash.

MAN KILLED IN CRASH

FAMILY and friends of Kevin Dilk are organizing a poster blitz and ground search this
afternoon, the latest effort to try to find the
50-year-old teacher who has been missing
since Nov. 23.
Dilks niece Ginger and her mother, Heather,

A 61-year-old man is dead after two trucks

collided Friday in the RM of St. Andrews.
RCMP said a half-ton was driving north on
Highway 8 at about 5:30 p.m. when it struck a

SEARCH CONTINUES

announced the poster campaign on a public

Facebook group called Finding Kevin Dilk
group.
On Facebook, Heather Dilk said the family
hopes to cover 10 areas of the city today.
Volunteers can pick up posters, maps and
instructions between 10 a.m. and noon at the
McDonalds at 375 Osborne St. and the following Tim Hortons locations:
646 Archibald St.
1040 Beaverhill Blvd.
831 Dakota St.
19 Marion St.
570 Pembina Hwy.
2405 Pembina Hwy.
980 St. James St.
835 St. Marys Rd.
860 Waverley St.
staff

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Volunteers search for missing teacher Kevin

Dilk, 50, last weekend.

Bygone bathrooms
Despite their popularity, public restrooms, or comfort stations,
are long gone in Winnipeg / A8-9

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016

FOUNDED IN 1872

WEATHER:

CONNECT WITH CANADAS HIGHEST READERSHIP RATE

SUNNY. HIGH -19 LOW -22

MANITOBA

MEDICAL-POT SITE
TO FIGHT PTSD
Veterans, first responders and others
coping with post-traumatic stress
disorder have a new option to ease their
illnesses with a wellness centre that has
opened in Headingley / A3

POLITICS

NDP EYES CHANGE

IN LEADERSHIP VOTE
Manitobas New Democrats are weighing new rules for selecting their next
leader at their convention in September.
Delegates to the partys provincial council
Saturday passed two possible formulas
for picking a permanent replacement for
former premier Greg Selinger / A3

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Sophie Lemoine, 9, works on a bike during the Cycle of Giving marathon Saturday.

WORLD

Wheel
deal

TRUMP EXPECTED
TO TAP EXXON CEO

About 200 volunteers are

working to build or repair
about 400 childrens
bicycles, and raise $15,000,
for the Cycle of Giving
marathon this weekend.
The annual event ends at
noon today
A3

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump met

with Rex Tillerson in private Saturday
for the second time in a week, and its
expected he will choose the Exxon Mobil
CEO as his secretary of state / A10

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Darret Miller (left) and Bob Preston were among the volunteer mechanics working on bikes at Rossbrook House.

NEWS I MANITOBA

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016 WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

A3

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Michelle McHale: considering leadership run

NDP eyes
new methods
for choosing
next leader
LARRY KUSCH

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Joey Bielik (left) and his twin brother, David, 13, work on a small childs bicycle while volunteering with their father and older brother Saturday at the Cycle of Giving marathon.

Annual event building hundreds of two-wheelers for kids who need them

Giving back through bicycles

DANIELLE DOIRON

BOUT 400 kids in need will

find a bicycle, helmet and
handmade card under their
tree this year thanks to the Cycle of
Giving bike-building marathon.
For 24 hours, from noon Saturday
to noon today, around 200 volunteer
mechanics and other helpers are gathering at Rossbrook House to take part
in the Winnipeg Repair Education and
Cycle Hubs (WRENCH) sixth annual
event. The goal is to build or refurbish about 400 childrens bicycles and
raise $15,000 to be used for youth
programming throughout the year
in one day.
Seventeen community centres,
programs and schools throughout the
city will receive and distribute the
bikes. Rossbrook House itself is one of
the recipients, and others include West
Broadway Youth Outreach and the
Immigrant and Refugee Community
Organization of Manitoba.
Biking is such an empowering
experience for people, Benita Kliewer,
co-executive director of WRENCH,
said. It opens up your neighbourhood to you. It allows you to do a lot
of things you couldnt do if youre just
trying to get around on foot. For a lot
of newcomer youth, its a way to hang

out with their new friends, to experience their new neighbourhoods and
explore their new home.
Kliewer said WRENCH has an exclusive agreement with the Brady landfill,
so about 80 per cent of the bikes
which are mainly suited for kids aged
two to 10 come from the 4R Depot.
The other 20 per cent are donated directly to the shop. She noted many of
the bikes just have a flat tire or need a
rusty chain replaced, so some repairs
are minimal, and, once theyre washed
and inspected, many of the bikes leave
the event looking almost new.
One of the beautiful things about
bicycles is theyre really simple
machines, Geoff Heath, WRENCHs
mechanical director, said, adding most
repairs only require wrenches and
screwdrivers. Childrens bicycles are
even easier to fix than adults because
many have only one speed and use
simpler coaster brakes.
As basic as some repairs might be,
its tough to teach a five-year-old to
build a bike. Thats where the Cycle of
Giving comes in. Heath said the event
started as a way to pair the large number of childrens bikes accepted at the
landfill each year and the high volume
of requests for bikes from organizations throughout the community.
He said about 1,500 bikes go to
the landfill each year. Of that, about
500 are stripped for parts, and
WRENCH gives out between 800 and

1,000 bicycles over the course of a

year. Heath attributes the high number
of discarded bikes to how quickly kids
grow out of their bicycles and the fact
many bikes arent made to last, especially if minor issues are never fixed.
Heath stressed its better to fix something, like a bike, than simply throw it
away, especially when it can be used to
help kids gain independence.
I remember being a kid and getting
on my bike and riding to 7-Eleven and
spending my little bit of allowance on
something for myself, and thats your
first taste of being a grown-up, right?
Without a bike to do that, I wouldnt
have been able to go as far. I wouldnt
have been able to hang out with my
friends that have bikes, he said, noting the network of community bike
shops in Winnipeg has done a great
job of providing bikes for kids whose
families might otherwise not be able
to afford them. This is especially true
for children living on fly-in reserves,
where its expensive to ship bikes.
This year, the Cycle of Giving will
provide bicycles to six First Nations
(Poplar River, Little Grand Rapids,
Hollow Water, Bloodvein, Brokenhead
and Black River) through a partnership
with the Southeast Resource Development Council Corp.
The distance on the reserve, from
one end to the other, is pretty far,
Heath said about Little Grand Rapids.
To be able to give them bikes so that

they can get around the reserve relatively easily, quickly and in a fun way, I
think is a really awesome thing.
Paul Pelletier, a three-year volunteer
mechanic with WRENCH, agrees.
Its great. Its for a good cause, he
said as he showed another volunteer
how to assess a bike and check the stability of the back bearings at one of the
15 workstations. These are bikes that
otherwise would be thrown away, so
to be able to recover and repair them
with a few hours, or an hour of sweat
equity, gets the bicycle back in the
hands of someone else who otherwise
might not have a bike.
Pelletier carries around an apron
full of wrenches and other tools so he
can do basic bike repairs when hes on
the go. He usually teaches school-aged
groups and used to take part in the full
Cycle of Giving marathon, but a recent
cancer diagnosis led him to limit his
hours this year.
Hes scheduled to undergo surgery
Friday but said he still wanted to help
out. Otherwise, hed just be sitting at
home wondering how the event was
going.
Volunteers and donors can stop by
the marathon at 658 Ross Ave. until
noon today. WRENCH accepts bike
donations throughout the year and
monetary donations in person and
online.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

MANITOBA New Democrats will select a new leader in Winnipeg Sept. 16

under rules that are yet to be firmed
up.
Delegates to a meeting of the NDPs
provincial council Saturday approved
two potential leadership-selection scenarios that will be voted upon at the
partys annual convention in March.
One would be a modified-delegatedconvention approach that could potentially reduce the current influence of
unions in the selection process, while
the other is a modified one-member,
one-vote system that would still include
a role for labour.
Under the proposed delegated system,
the current winner-take-all approach at
constituency meetings would give way
to a proportional-representation process. Under the one-member, one-vote
method, a point system would be used
in constituencies based on membership
in which no constituency would receive
fewer than 30 points and none would receive more than 400 points.
Kevin Rebeck, who co-chaired
the committee that came up with the
proposals, said the NDP convention
March 17 to March 19 could choose one
of these two leadership-selection processes or approve a method of its own.
They may say that we disagree with
the committee and we have to vote on
another (formula), he said in an interview.
The NDP leadership became open
when former premier Greg Selinger
announced on election night, April 19,
that he would step down after the Progressive Conservatives under Brian
Pallister swept to power.
Logan MLA Flor Marcelino has been
filling in as interim leader since spring.
So far, no one has thrown their hat
into the ring. However, rookie MLAs
Wab Kinew and Nahanni Fontaine are
talked about as potential leadership
candidates. The Canadian Press reported Wednesday Michelle McHale,
who helped organize a Pride parade in
Steinbach this year, is considering a
run.

CONTINUED ON A7

Medical-pot site eases trauma

DANIELLE DOIRON
HEADINGLEY A new wellness centre has opened in Headingley with the
goal of helping veterans, first responders and civilians access medical marijuana and different support systems.
Winnipegs Marijuana for Trauma
branch is the 13th veteran-run centre
to open across the county. The centre,
located at 4820 Portage Ave., is not a
dispensary. It connects veterans with
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
chronic pain and other conditions to
legally prescribed, medical-grade
cannabis, physicians and emotional
supports, things Jean-Guy Bourguignon, Marijuana for Traumas national
director of operations, said are muchneeded.
Imagine your sons and daughters,
your brothers and sisters, your neighbours: young, bright, beautiful souls
going off to serve for our country, but
some of them, when they return, they
are different, Bourguignon told a
crowd of about 40 people. They rarely
speak to you, nor to their own children.
Their families break up while they live
in their own darkness.
Its a struggle Riley McGee, a former combat engineer and diver with
the Canadian Forces and Marijuana
for Traumas director of operations
for Western Canada, knows well. He
said he tried marijuana early in his life
and has used medical cannabis for the
past 10 years. He credits cannabis with
saving his life.
When I got back from Afghanistan
in 2006 and I was suffering from severe PTSD symptoms, instead of going
to a doctor and getting a PTSD diagnosis and tons of pharmaceuticals, I
went to my cannabis, he said, noting
he retired from the Forces in 2007 and
initially self-medicated with blackmarket marijuana to relieve his PTSD
symptoms.

When I came back, I knew I was

angry, stressed, irritable, had trouble
sleeping, and I knew the cannabis
would help me relax, help me move on
(with) my day and help me sleep.
McGee said he later started using
medical marijuana, which he said he
felt safer taking because it was regulated and available when he needed it.
McGee said while cannabis cant
cure PTSD, it can help manage a
range of symptoms that would likely
otherwise be treated with multiple
pharmaceuticals. One of the focuses
and slogans of Marijuana for Trauma,
as emblazoned across T-shirts seen
throughout the centre, is plants not
pills. He stressed the importance of
educating patients, providing peersupport meetings and spousal support
services to help decrease the stigmas
that surround prescription marijuana.
We use our medical cannabis to feel
normal not to feel stoned, he said.
Thats the thing... A lot of our veterans
have never used cannabis. They were
actually quite against it throughout
their careers. Now that theyve gone
down the pharmaceutical road, and
theyre frustrated and at their wits
end, theyre really looking for alternatives.
Bourguignon said cannabinoid therapy can help people with PTSD manage their illness so they can leave the
house and reintegrate with society, and
McGee said its a healthier alternative
to pills and alcohol abuse, which some
people turn to in order to cope. This is
especially true when combined with
holistic treatments that include support groups and emotional therapy, as
provided by Marijuana for Trauma, he
said.
Were talking about people that are
damaged, people that have high suicidal rates, Franois Hall, Marijuana for
Traumas medical liasion, said. This is
why its so important to check in, have

BACON & GOUDA SALAD

Metric

Ingredients

Imperial

225 g
2
225 g
125 ml

fresh baby spinach

slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
gouda cheese, sliced
honey dijon salad dressing

1/2 lb
2
8 oz
1/2 cup

Directions:
Divide spinach between four plates. Top each
serving with bacon and cheese. Drizzle with
dressing.
Servings: 4

PHOTOS BY RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Top: Franois Hall (left) and Riley McGee

of Marijuana for Trauma. Above: medical
cannabis products.
that peer support. Cannabinoid therapy
is just one aspect of wellness or their
health.
Veterans Affairs covers the cost of
up to 10 grams of medical marijuana
each day for qualifying patients, but
that allowance is set to decrease.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron

LOCAL NEWS

A3 SUNDAY DECEMBER 18, 2016

CITY EDITOR: SHANE MINKIN 204-697-7292 [email protected] WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

It was just kind of a fun opportunity to showcase each guys creative ability Hali Stafford

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

From left, Jacqueline Shantz (Ben Chiarots significant other) Michela Myers, Sam Wheeler, Kelly Tyson (Jacob Troubas better half), Emily Byfuglien and Hali Stafford selling Jets player and family holiday cards at Polo Park Saturday.

Making holiday cards also teaches playerschildren importance of giving to community

Jets partners score for charity

DANIELLE DOIRON

OR the Winnipeg Jets, hockey

and giving back to the community are family endeavours.

While the team practised Saturday

morning, some of the players wives
and girlfriends sold holiday cards at
the Polo Park Jets Gear store. Each
player and his family worked to create
one of the cards, something Emily
Byfuglien, Dustins wife, said was a
bit of a bonding experience with her
daughter, Kira.
I actually helped my daughter draw a
snowman, and then she coloured them,
she said, laughing. She actually signed
hers and her little brothers name, so
it was fun to have her involved. I think
its really important for her to know the
importance of charity, so having her do
that with me kind of helps her learn to
give back to the community.

All net proceeds from the 3,000

cards will benefit Can Do People, a
not-for-profit day program for adults
living with autism spectrum disorder
and other intellectual development
disabilities that helps them live fulfilling lives, gain important skills and
meaningfully contribute to society.
The centre opened in November 2013
and now offers vocational, leisure
and life-skills programs to about 40
individuals. The women hope to raise
$15,000.
It means the world to us, Kim
Corlett, Can Do Peoples founder and
executive director, said. The Jets
wives and girlfriends have brought us
to the forefront of the community in
Winnipeg. Were a new organization,
so them illuminating us has helped us
immensely.
She said people have called and
offered to donate time or equipment
to the organizations new 948 William
Ave. location, while others are hearing
about Can Do People for the first time

and inquiring about their services on

behalf of family members.
Were incredibly grateful, Corlett said. I cant give you words to
describe what these women are willing
to do to help the community.
For Hali Stafford, Drews wife, the
cards were a chance to give back and
have fun.
It was just kind of a fun opportunity
to showcase each guys creative ability, she said. Everyone was able to
do a photo from their childhood, which
was so cute. We did something kind of
funny. We used an old Christmas card.
Some of the kids did drawings. Its
more personal than just selling a hat to
make money. Its more real.
Stafford said they do a Christmas
card almost every year, and their contribution which features the couple
posing in cringe-worthy glasses and
braces with their dog illuminated in
the background is a few years old.
Drew keeps them all, she said.
Our old ones are pretty good. We like

to do goofy ones, but then we had a

baby, and we had to take it seriously.
She noted the two love to make people
laugh, and the cards gave them an opportunity to share their goofiness on a
larger scale while helping a good cause.
People are really involved with
hockey here, so its nice to bring people
together in a way outside of hockey,
Stafford said, noting theyre also involved with the ALS Association in the
U.S. We have a voice through hockey,
and were able to make a bigger difference and raise more awareness and
raise more money for causes than I
could just do on my own.
Sam Wheeler, Blakes wife, agrees.
The fans here show the team a lot
of support, so I feel like its important
that we show our support back to the
city, she said. Whether its something
like this or doing something on our
own time... I think its just important to
show that we support the city as much
as the city supports the team.
Stafford said she backs her husband

just as much as the city does.

I know some people get nervous. I
think its great. Thats his element, she
said. When you see someone you love
doing something theyre so passionate
about and that they love and theyre having fun doing it, that to me is gold. You
know this is such a short part of their
lives... I know Drew loves that (almost
two-year-old son) Mason is getting really into it and watching the games. He
has no idea whats going on, but he loves
seeing Dada on the ice. Its really exciting. He says go Jets go, and he always
says goal every time he sees a goal. It
was like one of his first words.
The cards, which have been on sale in
packs of seven at Jets Gear stores since
Nov. 26, are the wives and girlfriends
second annual charity effort. Last year,
they created a calendar of Jets players
posing with shelter animals to benefit
the Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter.
[email protected]
Twitter: @dmdoiron