issue 4 vol. 11 · broadway broadcaster, please drop oﬀ at 608 broadway or email...

ISSUE 4 VOL. 11WINTER 2014-15

page 4 page 9 page 11

LIGHTS BRIGHTEN WEST BROADWAY’S WINTER page 6

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2ISSUE 4 | VOL. 11 | WINTER 2014-15 | [email protected]

THROUGH MY EYES: THE WEST BROADWAY COMMUNITY PHOTO PROJECT

A Collaborative collection of photographs that tells the story of West Broadway

Encouraging participation from community members. Those who work, live, or volunteer in West Broadway

This will be a one year long photo project of West Broadway. Let us see what you see. All forms of photography are welcome.

Send photos to [email protected] or FB, Through My Eyes: The West Broadway Community Photo Project

Having dif�culty uploading or editing photo-graphs? Digital Art & Photography at Art City can help! Wednesday & Friday 4-7:30 pm. First come �rst serve.

If you wish to make a submission to the West Broadway Broadcaster, please drop off at 608 Broadway by Decem-ber 15th 2007.

�e Broadcaster is a non-profit community newspaper based in the West Broadway neighbourhood. It is a platform for neighbourhood residents to dialogue on topics and events that are important to the community. Its goal is to reflect the rich diversity, culture, and character of the neighbourhood.

�e Broadcaster will not knowingly print anything discriminatory. �e views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the content committee.

608 Broadway | Winnipeg, MB 774-7201 ext.1 | [email protected]

EDITORSCoordinating Editor: Jazmin AlfaroWriting Facilitator: Mike MaunderLayout: Terry Corrigan

CONTRIBUTORS

TO CONTRIBUTE�e Broadcaster is published four times per year by the West Broadway Community Organization, and is financially supported by Neighborhoods Alive! (Province of Manitoba) and advertising revenue. Advertising rates are available on request at 774-7201.

For publication, the viewpoints and stories of local residents take precedence over those of people from groups who have an interest in but do not live in the community, such as some agencies, churches and busi-nesses. �eir role is primarily to support and facilitate the participation of local residents in the Broadcaster.

All submissions may be edited for length and style. �e Publishing Committee reserves the right to not publish submissions.

�e Publishing Committee makes decisions about any honorarium for contributors. Contributors who work but do not live in the community, and people whose contri-bution is part of their job, do not receive honorariums.

If you wish to make a submission to the West Broadway Broadcaster, please drop off at 608 Broadway or email [email protected] who donate $25 or more are eligible for a charitable tax receipt and a complimentary year subscription to the Broadcaster.

THANKS TO

Circulation: 2,000

Jazmin AlfaroZorya ArrowSerge GuénetteDaniel KanuJuanita KlassenColin ForanMike MaunderDon McIntyre

Leila MianGeo� ReimerMartina Richter Anna SigurtherTammy SutherlandSarah �iessenDeb WallLinda Williams

BROADWAY NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE CELEBRATES 65 YEARSby Colin Foran

2015 marks the 65th anniversary of what we now call the BNC – Broadway Neighbourhood Centre. Sixty-�ve years ago, a group of community minded residents formed the Broadway Optimist Community Centre and raised $20,000 to build a clubhouse on vacant land at 175 Young Street. �e grand opening on April 21st, 1950 was attended by dignitaries from across the city and the presi-dent of the Optimist Club from Washington, DC.

Now situated on 2.7 acres of prime green space with renovated state of the art facilities, we invite everyone to come get involved. If you have old photos or special stories about the Centre, please get in touch and help us write our history! We intend to mark the anniversary with the publication of the “History of BNC: �e Heart of �is Community” and we are hoping to hear your story.

Watch for some very special events we are planning for 2015 and come celebrate community with us as we look toward the future with award winning programs for residents of all ages. BNC Trivia: �e o�cial rules of Sponge Hockey were writ-ten at BNC when John Robertson was our Director in the mid-1970s. Hard to believe that the rules of a sport played in tournaments across Canada began in the pop-up rink of Broadway Optimist Community Centre.BNC Trivia: In 1975, Winnipeg bassist Ralph James formed Harlequin, one of Winnipeg’s best known bands of the 1970’s and practiced in the basement of Broadway Neighbourhood Centre before signing for CBS/Epic Records in 1979 and hitting it big!

�en and now.CI

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Table’s impact in the community – addressing hunger and providing empowering, nutritional choices for 35 years!

Ongoing EventsGood Food Club Mini-Market and Food Box Pick-Up – Every second Wednesday from 3-6 PM at BNC (185 Young). January 14, 28. February 11, 25. March 11, 25. April 15, 29. May 13, 27.�e Bell Tower Cafe – A Friday night co�ee house (bi-weekly) where people from all walks of life are making good things together: free eats, free co�ee and tea, free live music, and free food hampers for people in the neighborhood.�e UWSA Bike Lab – If you need help maintaining you bike or simply need a space to work on it in and want to meet fellow winter cyclists, bring your bike to the Bike Lab at the University of Winnipeg and meet the Ice Riders. Check out the website for updated hours: http://uwsabikelab.ca/.Skating at �e Forks – Enjoy the three outdoor rinks and 5km of skat-ing trails. Check the rink and trail conditions at: http://www.theforks.com /events/signature-events/skating-trails-park-conditions.

WINTER 2014/2015 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

December/JanuaryDecember 11–January 4 – Home for the Holidays at Assiniboine Park Conservatory (15 Conservatory Drive Winnipeg, MB). Get out of the winter cold and go inside to visit the tropical gardens and amazing plant displays based on the theme of Around �e Word In 80 Days! Hours: Daily 9:00 am to 4:00 pmDecember 11–January 3 – Canad Inns Winter Wonderland (at River Exhibtion Park 3977 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB). Manitoba’s largest drive-thru light show (over one million lights in 26 di�erent theme areas). Hours: 6 to 10 pm December 28 – Crossway’s Ministry Community Potluck Dinner for all com-munity guests 4-6 PM. Bring a dish of food, bring a friend. Everyone is welcome. Dec 31, 2014 – New Year’s Eve at the Forks (Forks Market, 1 Forks Market Road Winnipeg MB) Entertainment begins at 5pm featuring �e Revivals, Laura Mitchell, �e Noble �iefs’ plus horse drawn wagon rides, face painting, caricatures, and kids art with Art City. �e evening is capped o� with a fantastic �reworks show at 8 pm! (NEW TIME!) Hours: 5 pm to 8pmJanuary 9–10 University of Winnipeg Wesmen Men & Women Basketball

(Duckworth Centre 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB) �e Wesmen take to the court against the University of Alberta. Hours: Woman Friday 6 pm Saturday 5pm, Men Friday 8 pm Saturday 7 pm.

FebruaryFebruary 16 – Louis Riel Day. Events throughout St Boniface. Keep your eye out for event listings (primarily at the Forks and in St. Boniface). February 7 – Snoball Winter Carnival, West Broadways annual winter festival at BNC 12-4 pm. February 13–22 – Festival du Voyageur. Music of old, traditional cuisine, sensational snow sculptures and captivating shows will be at this year’s gathering in Winnipeg’s St. Boniface (866 St Joseph Street).

March March 29–April 6 – Festival of Fools. A week long festival of clowning, acro-batics, illusions, and general tomfoolery! Taking place in the Forks Market. �e event is free and fun for the whole family. March 31–April 2 – Agape Table’s CHVN Radiothon, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. Tune in to CHVN 95.1 to hear stories about Agape

Letter from the EditorGreetings! Now that the snow has settled and the snow banks have grown around us, it is o�cially time to celebrate winter! �is issue of �e Broadcaster aims to encourage you to embrace winter and take it on like a true Winnipeger. ‘Surviving Winter’ includes many articles that focus on winter stories, keeping warm through food and community ventures, and staying active.

We begin this issue by noting the celebration of Broadway Neighbourhood Centre’s 65th anniversary and includes some little-known facts about its history.

�e centre section highlights ac-tivities and ideas on how to keep you motivated and active in West Broadway including community shoveling block parties, pick-up games at the hockey rink, winter cycling, and walking to and from the various attractions in the neighbourhood.

�roughout, there are articles on how to keep active and involved such as experimenting with plants, craing, and getting connected to a few organizations and projects throughout the community.

Closing o� the issue, we learn about Community Voices, a workshop series

coordinated by local leader Mike Maunder that started in 2014 and helps people in our community hear each other’s stories. And what rich, rich stories they are! �e article highlights an upcoming (February 23) �lm screening of several of our neighbours’ sto-ries in a �lm created by Just TV, a program that teaches youth about multimedia.

Please take a moment to �ll in our Readership Survey inserted in this copy, and Snow Clearing Survey on page 6 and drop by 608 Broadway from Monday – �ursday 10-4 to drop it o� and say hello!

I would like to share my enthusiasm for this, my �rst issue, and would like to

thank the former editor Jamie Fox who has guided me through this process – thank you Jamie! And �nally, thank you to the contributers of this issue, and the gracious help of the content committee in my pro-cess. �ank you to all our writers, editors, photographers, interviewers and interview-ees, artists, delivery people, and �nally, our publisher. We couldn’t have done it without the hard work of this team.

If you would like to contribute to �e Broadcaster in any way, please contact Jazmin Alfaro by email ([email protected]) or by phone (204-774-7201 ext.1).

I GO TO SNOBALLby YetiHi, I Yeti. I excited for Snoball in West Broadway. Yeti like Snoball because all the nice people and the fun things to do and the music and food and snacks. I eat. I dance. I drink hot coco. See you at Snoball.Snoball Winter Carnival is held this year on February 7th �om 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Broadway Neighbourhood Centre (185 Young Street). Don’t miss it!

Community members enjoying free family fun with Yeti

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Who does Agape Table serve? Why do we do what we do? Why is there such a great need?by Martina Richter

First let’s start with the who? �e answer is everyone! From families, to single persons on assistance, to people making minimum wage, people on disability, seniors, students, etc. etc. etc. Agape Table serves everyone.

Did you know that many families and persons are living only a few paychecks away from the poverty line? What hap-pens when one gets laid o� from work and can’t �nd a job? EIA provides assistance for only a short time and then one has to go on welfare. �e harsh reality then becomes the choice of housing or food.

�ere are organizations out there that help house the homeless, but the unfor-tunate truth is that many people are not able to maintain housing. One wrong choice or one circumstance can put them back on the street. When people lose their homes and have no money to store their belongings – or the ability to move them to new buildings – they have to walk away from everything they own.

�is horrible story of losing everything is something we see every day. It’s heart-breaking to lose everything. Look at your homes now and imagine packing every-thing you really need in a bag – and then walking away in the cold night.

�is is where Agape Table comes in! Stay in your home, pay your rent and we’ll help with the food costs. You don’t want charity? Come to Agape’s subsidized programs. Need food and have no money?

Please use Agape Table’s services. When you are healthier you can give back, and so many of our guests like to “give back” by volunteering their time.

Volunteering is a great way to get experience, socialize or to have references on resumes! Each month, we use about 1080 volunteer hours – and that’s not even counting group volunteers and low-cost grocery volunteer hours. Without the gracious volunteers helping us at Agape Table, we would not be able to provide the services we do.

Each time someone volunteers an hour, they are contributing an equivalent value of approximately $10 for that hour they work! So, if someone volunteers for four hours, they essentially donate $40 to Agape Table! It’s a “gi of time” that we truly appreciate.

It is true, there is a great need to ad-dress the growing hunger we are seeing throughout Winnipeg, and many of Agape Table’s guests travel long distances before they arrive. It is a gi to be able to open our doors year aer year, and to have caring sta� and volunteers make all feel welcome and loved.

From our Agape Table family to yours, we wish you peace, joy and love during this special season and all the year through. Merry Christmas!Republished �om Agape Table’s December newsletter

Agape Table’s Chef Michael serving up a warm home cooked meal with volunteer Ben Kramer.

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URBAN FOOD CHAMPION, DAMIEN GAGNÉby Jazmin Alfaro

Damien Gagné, West Broadway’s Coordinator of the Good Food Club, was awarded this year’s Golden Carrot Award for Urban Food Champion by Food Matters Manitoba.

Damien has been working in the non-pro�t �eld for over 10 years, and this was his �rst Golden Carrot. “It was the �rst time being recognized”, he said, “And it felt really good. But I gotta get right back to it – I gotta get right back to work”.

As Good Food Club Coordinator, he tries “to make the safest, healthiest food available to all community members, including low-income people who aren’t able to have access to these foods because they are too expensive”.

�e Good Food Club also teaches food related skills to increase people’s quality of life. �ey learn to prepare food and learn other life skills through

activities like cooking classes, bread mak-ing and preserving vegetables.

“If people come to the farm with us, they are able to take a large batch of squash home and they’ll know what to do with it, they’ll know how to preserve it and make enough food to last them the winter long,” said Damien. Other initiatives improve peoples’ job readiness through training like Food Handlers Certi�cation and CPR/First Aid. And �tness classes are also available through the year.

Damien believes the Good Food Club’s approach is essential because it increases access and enjoyment of food and increases quality of life for the most vulnerable. “�e system we live in is made for people to fall through the cracks. Although a lot of people have good inten-tions, the system is �awed because there will always be people falling through the cracks. I can’t see people struggling every day and sit there standing idly by.”

With all the di�culties Damien confronts on a daily basis, he relies on the support and energy of the community, co-workers and volunteers, local non-pro�ts, and most especially his loving wife. “I’m not mortal, and it’s about self care. It’s about taking the time to take care of your-self to take care of others.”

“�e over-used term ‘Be the change you want to see’ is absolutely right,” explained Damien. “If you want to have a�ord-able local vegetables and you don’t like the food system, go out there and �nd a food security program and volunteer and bring your ideas. �at’s where you become empowered, and that’s where you actually start creating societal change. Get out there and change the world.”

�e Good Food Club runs an outdoor farmers’ market during the summer, a fall/winter/spring mini-market, and publishes monthly community event calendars. Membership is growing rapidly. If you’re not yet a part of the food move-ment, consider the Good Food Club and Golden Carrot Award winner Damien Gagné as a good starting point.

• Collaborative Family Law

• Negotiated Settlements

• Assisted Reproduction Agreements

• Spousal and Cohabitation Agreements

Greg Evans 204.992.3242

Lori Ainemer 204.992.3247

James Pullar 204.992.3244

Richard Pollock 204.992.3246

Chau Tran 204.992.3250

A positive approach makes a difference.We are committed to helping you find a fair and dignified resolution whatever family legal challenges you face.

www.evansfamilylaw.ca190 SHERBROOK STREET, WINNIPEG

Damien Gagné receiving his Golden Carrot Award with Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Ron Kostyshyn (left) and Executive Director of Food Matters Manitoba Kreesta Doucette (right)

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ISSUE 4 | VOL. 11 | WINTER 2014-15 | [email protected]

Coming This Winter:

COMMUNITY SHOVELING BLOCK PARTIESby Anna Sigurther

Maybe you’ve seen some goofy chalk art around the neighbourhood during the fall encouraging you to shovel your sidewalk? �e messages are part of a citizen-led campaign in West Broadway that hopes to ensure that our sidewalks are more pass-able this winter by encouraging commu-nity shoveling – including block parties!

If you were around West Broadway last winter, you could see that there was not adequate clearing on our sidewalks af-ter the snow fell, resulting in hard-packed snow that froze into a narrow, irregular, slippery surface which was di�cult to pass for even the most intrepid of commu-nity members.

�is simple problem prevents those who have physical restrictions (seniors, folks who use wheelchairs and folks with baby strollers) from using sidewalks in the winter as it might lead to injuries if they do – or mean a choice between isolation and higher transportation costs if they don’t.

Ottawa transport expert Barry Wellar says that the failure to provide the same level of service for sidewalks as for roads is a treatment of pedestrians as second class citizens. I agree, and think that the city should do a better job of making our vibrant, densely packed community with diverse needs walkable. With a new City Hall in place as of a few weeks ago there is prime opportunity to advocate for better sidewalk snow clearing policy not only in West Broadway but in all neighbourhoods

in Winnipeg. But we cannot forget our re-sponsibility as citizens to take care of one another in the meantime.

�is winter, if you can, I encourage you to shovel the public sidewalk outside your residence and to shovel for your neighbours who can’t. If you can’t shovel, ask a neighbour or a friend, and phone or write letters to City Hall. We can’t let the city o� the hook— but we shouldn’t let ourselves o� of it either. You can �nd more information about NO-ICE, West Broadway’s citizen-led shovelling initiative on facebook by search-ing NO-ICE: West Broadway, where you can also �nd out about our Community Shovelling Block Parties, coming up in January! BYOShovel if you have one and dress warm! Warm drinks and snacks will be provided, and donations of food/drink welcome.

in Winnipeg. But we cannot forget our re-sponsibility as citizens to take care of one

�is winter, if you can, I encourage

neighbours who can’t. If you can’t shovel, ask a neighbour or a friend, and phone or write letters to City Hall. We can’t let the

ing NO-ICE: West Broadway, where you can also �nd out about our Community

snacks will be provided, and donations

The Good Ol’ Hockey Gameby Geoff ReimerOutdoor hockey is the most Canadian thing I can think of, and I for one, love it. Our neighborhood rink (the Edward Carriere Skating Rink—at the West Broadway Neighborhood Centre) is a winter oasis. Even the new sign, which is incredibly stylish and sleek, bearing the Edward Carriere name, has both le and right handed sticks incorporated in the design showing that everyone is wel-come—leies and righties.

�e neighborhood rink is a place for everyone. All ages can be seen at the rink at any given time of a wintery day. ‘Bigger kids’ taking slap shots on one end while the younger ones or beginners play around on the other. And when the stars align, a full on game of 5 on 5 shinny breaks out with two teams and up to 6 subs each lining the side boards waiting for their next shi.

�e initiative to coordinate an outdoor game is a thankless job, but one that, if successful, culminates in a great Canadian moment of perfection.

One avenue that has been used to initiate such pick-up games has been the “West Broadway Hockey Enthusiasts” group on facebook. I will admit, I haven’t personally jumped on every opportunity o�ered for a pick-up game on the group but the inclusivity and potential of this group is limitless. (If you like outdoor

hockey and have facebook, I’d strongly recommend joining this group)

So come out one and all and rub shoul-ders with your neighbors while enjoying—one of—our country’s national sports. And for those who don’t speak �uent ‘hockey’, here are some phrases you may encounter at the outdoor rink this winter.

Shinny/Outdoor hockey lingo:“5 on 5”, “4 on 4” etc: Referring to the number of players on each team, �ve versus �ve, or four versus four. Oen a discussion that happens when there are subs available.“Keep it down”: phrase used by those playing that, understandably, don’t want their un-protected shins/knees/body parts, etc. de-stroyed by a hard, frozen, fast moving puck.“Playing Posts”: A form of ‘scoring’ on the net when there are no goalies present (99% of the time at an outdoor game) where you need to hit the goal post with the puck to ‘score a goal’.“sticks in the middle”: more of a gesture than something that is said, and is a form of picking teams in a non-biased fashion where all the participants lay their hockey sticks in the middle of the rink and one person—with eyes closed—throws sticks in alternating directions. �e result is two randomly selected teams.

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Please take this quick

SNOW CLEARING SURVEY and return it to the West Broadway Community Organization, 608 Broadway. Thank you!

Do you feel that the city did a good enough job clearing West Broadway’s sidewalks last winter? Yes No

Do you rely on walking and public transit to get around in the winter? Yes No

Do you have mobility issues that prevent you from using un-shovelled sidewalks in winter? Yes No

Do you or does someone in your household shovel the public sidewalk regularly during the winter? Yes No

Are you able to shovel the sidewalk in front of your home? Yes No If no, why not? __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Would you be interested in joining in community shovelling-party (getting together to shovel a whole block and drink hot chocolate)? Yes No

Any other comments on snow clearing in West Broadway?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One of many messages artistically drawn from the neighbourhood for the neighbourhood

Hockey on my mind..

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WINTER WANDERING IN WEST BROADWAYby Juanita Klassen

Winter has arrived in earnest and I’m thrilled to suit up every morning and get out into the deep freeze outdoors, but, it can be a big challenge to those people who prefer summertime. In my opinion, the best way to survive most challenges is to embrace them, and �nd a way to love something about them. Winter can be enjoyed inside or out, so here are a few ideas to get you started.

I like the comforts of cozy spaces more than I used to but there’s still an excitement in bundling up and heading outside to play, whether it’s skating at the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre (where they have free skates), walking on the river, watching other folks ski or skate past, or barreling down the riverbank on a toboggan. Of course, there are even simpler things to do, like making a snow-man and �nding creative ways to decorate it or �inging yourself into the snow with a friend to make snow angels. I enjoy going for long treks outside, taking a snack and a bottle of water then going for out two or three hours, seeing di�erent neighbour-hoods up close, savouring the bite in the air and the crunch of snow under my feet.

However, for those of you who aren’t that excited about being in the cold, or, if you want to take a break from the chill but are tired of staying home then there are options for you and the kids, too. For instance, the Broadway Neighbourhood

Centre has an impressive array of out-door and indoor programs for youth, like the Lighthouses music program and Just TV or regular drop-in hours to get active in the gym and have fun with other neighbourhood kids. �e adults can go play there, too, if you want to get a group together and chip in to rent the space for an hour or two. For even more exercise options, the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre has cheap rates for local folks and a long list of fun indoor programs to get into.

If you’re a creative person looking for new challenges, there’s Art City. Kids and adults can sign up for creative winter workshops to learn new artistic skills, and hey, if you’ve got skills to share, �ll out an application to either volunteer or run a workshop yourself.

Other options include learning public speaking in a relaxed environment at the River City Toastmaster’s Club at Crossways in Common, dropping by the Cornish Library to pick up some stories to curl up with, or heading out to the Westminster United Church for beauti-ful music in lovely surroundings.

Winter CAN be trying, but I hope you can see past the cold and into a wintry world that’s as beautiful and mysterious as the moon. Winnipeg will be famous for its winters for some time yet, so let’s make the most of it.

WINTER CYCLING MYTH BUSTERSby Sarah Thiessen

�e majority of riders reluctantly retire their two wheeled steeds at the �rst sight of a snow�ake. Why is this? Perhaps expos-ing these winter cycling myths will help to encourage you to re-consider your excuses and realize that cycling is a practical, sus-tainable, and fun choice, year round.

Winter Cycling Myth #1: IT’S TOO COLD!�is could not be more untrue. If proper-ly dressed, the physical exercise of riding through snow and wind is always enough to get your internal furnace �ring hot. Wearing a windproof shell layer, warm mittens, a balaclava and ski goggles can help to keep the cold air out and trap your body heat, ensuring you are toasty warm.

Winter Cycling Myth #2: IT’S TOO SLIPPERY!It may be counter-intuitive, but busier streets are oen ice-free and are preferable to ride on in the winter, especially aer a big snowfall, as they are more likely to be clear than back lanes and side streets. Studded tires are also very helpful, and can be homemade or purchased at any local bike shop.

Winter Cycling Myth #3: DRIVERS ARE DANGERS!�e vast majority of drivers are respect-ful and give plenty of room while pass-ing. �at said, you must always ride de-fensively, with your ears and eyes open, making sure to shoulder check before turning or changing lanes. You are much safer when taking up a lane and forcing drivers to change lanes to pass you than hugging the curb and taking on the icy ruts and wheel-bending pot holes. �e real issue is not drivers, but the lack of cleared bike lanes.

Winter Cycling Myth #4: YOUR BIKE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH!Yes, it is. Any bike can be ridden in the winter, it doesn’t have to be fancy, in fact it is probably better to ride an old beater! Here are a few things you can do to your bike to make your life a little easier…

1. CONVERT TO SINGLE SPEED OR FIXED GEAR! Gears and derailleurs get all mucky in the winter and can cause your chain to slip around, so get rid of them! Also, riding �xed gear means you always have braking power, and don’t have to worry about your brakes seizing up.

2. GET STUDDED TIRES! Studded tires can be made in a variety of ways, or can simply be bought at any bike shop. �ey are a bit expensive but worth it.

3. ADD FENDERS! Winter can be sloppy, make sure to protect your backside from nastiness with a fender or two. If you have a rack on the back of your bike and are feeling cray, a fender can easily be made from cut pop bottles and zip ties.

4. ADD LIGHTS AND REFLECTORS! With the sun setting so early in the winter it is very important to stay visible. I recommend the lights from MEC that can be recharged by plug-ging into a USB drive.

5. DEFLATE YOUR TIRES (just a bit)! For added stability, increase the surface area of your tire that is in contact with the road by letting out a bit of air.

6. LOWER YOUR SEAT (just a bit)! When conditions are sketchy, it’s important to be able to easily drop your foot to the road to regain balance.

Come by the UWSA Bike Lab or any other community bike shop (�e Wrench, �e Bike Dump, Orioles Bike Cage, etc.) to get a hand winterizing your ride!

To learn more, contact Sarah �iessen at [email protected], join the “UWSA Ice Riders” group and like the “UWSA Bike Lab” on facebook, and check out www.uwsabikelab.ca

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Why R.O.A.R.? by Don McIntyre

What a challenge when the heart leads where the mind is slow on the ‘pick up.’ I am recently retired, was content to spend mornings reading the newspaper, playing golf or hockey in the aernoon, and watching television in the evening. I promised in retirement I’d never attend another meeting, ever!

Two years ago I was approached to sit on the Westminster Housing Society (WHS) Board by a person I admired. I was vaguely familiar with Westminster United Church’s support of a dream Charles Huband had twenty years ago to

improve the West Broadway neighbour-hood he had grown up in by providing better housing. A townhouse was cre-ated at 165 Maryland as a second project. Twenty years later nearly one hundred rental units have contributed to the revitalization of West Broadway. I was to sit on a committee responsible for these properties. Incidentally, WHS owns a house on Spence Street that in the 60’s as a scared teen coming from the country to the city, I rented a little room. I thought I might �nd time for one meeting a month.

�e �rst year was a blur as I felt incompetent discussing housing business. In the second year I volunteered for one more meeting to sit on a subcommittee called R.O.A.R. (Residents O�ering Activities to Residents.) Again, I was

invited to take the place of a fellow mem-ber of our congregation, Sherri Steiner, who was passionate in turning a common area at 165 Maryland St. from a mud hole to a playground with opportunities to garden. �anks to mentorship from Mike Maunder I assisted other R.O.A.R members in informing residents of our plans. I had assisted with a fundraiser at Westminster United that raised $4500 with more funding from WBCO, the �omas Still Foundation and Manitoba Housing.

But, what really hooked me was meet-ing the good folks at 165, especially the children. �e joy they expressed while spreading mustard on hot dogs, shooting hoops at the newly installed basketball backboard or jumping in the bouncy castle brought a smile to my face. I listened to an

expression of very sincere thanks from a preteen for the new deck leading to a grav-eled pathway, he said was completed “right on time.” Getting to know the residents better over a chicken dish made all the time spent at the meetings worthwhile. �e best part of being involved with this group are the connections and friendships I’ve made.

I invited R.O.A.R to hold meetings at Westminster United Church. Members of our committee, congregation, and residents gathered for the annual Christmas Sale on December 6th and a brunch is also being planned for the residents late this month.

I can only imagine how shallow life could be if I refused to entertain a request to share my life with those who really want to make a di�erence. �anks to folks like members of R.O.A.R, WHS and Westminster United Church.

AD_Broadcasters news_HP_9.875w x 5.25h_Aug2014.ai 1 8/22/2014 3:38:56 PM

Kids eating after playing in the bouncy castle

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GOOD THINGS COME IN PLANNED PACKAGES by Deb Wall

Please don’t make the mistake of bring-ing a new pet into the home at Christmas time. �e season is much too busy and can be over-whelming for the new comer who may be neglected in the shu�e. It’s much better to have, say, a dog bed and bowls with a note saying you’re going to pick out a friend from a shelter aer the holidays.

Whether two or four-legged, feath-ered or �nned, the addition of a new family member can be a real life changer. Pre-planning can help ensure that the introduction of a new pet is a positive experience. All parties should be involved in the discussion of whether they have the resources and knowledge necessary to properly look aer an animal.

Pets should never be given as a “sur-prise” gi. Even if they are an animal lover, some folks may not have the money and/or time to care for one. If the recipi-ent has recently lost a pet, they may not be emotionally ready as they have not �nished grieving their loss. Allergies can be an issue.

Having a pet can teach children both respect for animals and responsibility, but should not be done at the animal’s peril. You should ensure that YOU have enough time to look aer a critter as it is

not uncommon for children to lose interest in their new pet, as any Humane Society worker can tell you. Make sure the animal is appropriate for your child’s age and abilities. Alternate accommodations need to be considered if any resident pets don’t take to the new comer aer a proper introduction.

Do you live in an apartment where pets aren’t allowed but still want to get your “�x”? You can contact one of the many shelters in town about volunteer opportunities. Most have a “wish list” of needed supplies and a donation can be made in the name of a hard to buy for per-son in lieu of a gi. Consider helping out an elderly or disabled neighbor look aer their own pet over Christmas. �at is truly keeping with the spirit of the season!

My Indoor Tomato Experimentby Zorya Arrow

�is past summer I decided to embark on an experiment. I received six baby tomato plants from my grandparents. I planted half of them outdoors in a semi-sunny gar-den bed, and the other half I grew in my apartment in a sunny south facing window that was wide open for air �ow all summer. For the longest time I thought the indoor tomato plants would remain fruit-less as they were spindly and not as luscious and rich in colour as the ones out-doors. However, eventually they �owered, and the �owers lead to fruit!

In October, I harvested my outdoor tomatoes before the frost, some of the tomatoes were still green but they ripened o� the vine and were big, juicy and tasty. By mid-November the indoor tomatoes were still coming along and there were about a dozen little tomatoes turning red between the three indoor plants. About a week ago I tried a few that were bright red and seemed completely ready to eat. I sliced into the little tomato and could see there was something o� about it. It still tasted like a tomato, but a bad one! I have concluded that tomatoes should be grown

outside. �e elements of wind, air, direct sun, rain, more complex soil nutrients, and space to spread are needed in order for tomatoes to really thrive.

�ere are however, other things you can grow without a fancy system in place. If you are looking for fresh food over the winter months, try sprouting! All you need is a jar and some sort of mesh, screen, or cheese cloth to rinse them daily and leave it in the sun. You can sprout all sorts of dried beans and seeds; alfalfa, chickpeas, mung beans, etc! Growing herbs in a sunny spot can add great �avor to your food. I have also heard of people growing smaller plants in pop bottles to simulate a little green house, cut it in half for easy planting, and make some slits on one half to enable it to slide back to-gether! Experiment, have fun, and learn though doing!

Tomatoes growing large and ripe

About a week ago I tried a few that were bright red and seemed completely ready to eat.

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Serge (left) and Buddy (right).

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FIRST WINTER STORIESby Leila Mian

Akuac Kuol Dut’s family arrived in Winnipeg in 2004. Wedan Hamad’s arrived in 2008. Both women are origi-nally from Sudan and weren’t sure what to expect from a cold Winnipeg Winter. �is is their story of how they survived their �rst Canadian winters.

“Everyone kept telling us wait for the real winter to come”, “I was so scared for this real winter” said Wegdan. Wegdan said that when she saw the �rst snow fall she was surprised. It was “very very cold, when you go out-side, come back in freezing”. “When I fell and slipped my neighbour said, Wegdan, Welcome to Canada”! “I was so mad,” Wegdan said through hysteri-cal giggles. Wegdan said that at �rst she wasn’t taking the cold “very seriously” and because of it experienced a full on hypothermic episode.

Akuac said that her �rst experience with the cold was “shock.” Akuac stated that she also had a hard time dressing ap-propriately and believing that the extreme cold could be a problem. “We were freez-ing just wearing sport shoes, little jackets, no mittens. My hands were freezing all of the time. I called my sister in Calgary and she told me to practice adjusting to the cold by putting my face in the freezer”. “It was tough, really really tough.”

Both Wegdan and Akuac experienced swollen hands on numerous occasions from the extreme cold and absence of proper mittens and gloves during their �rst Winnipeg winter. Akuac said she survived that �rst winter by drinking lots of tea and learning to bundle up properly. Wegdan said that once she got used to the cold the winter was no problem for her. Wegdan stated that she is “familiar with it now, nothing stops me from having a life”.

So, there you have it. Extreme cold and lots of snow hasn’t stopped these strong newcomer women from not only

surviving the harsh winter, but living their lives as well. Clearly their survival skills in adapting to one of the coldest places on earth, exempli�es their true re-silience and strength in adapting to their new home. Neither Wegdan nor Akuac hibernate during the winter either as they are both frequent participants at Wolseley Family Place last year.

How NOT to be a Bully!by Linda Williams

Bullies are sadly everywhere in our society from the school yard to politically global arenas. �ey have been classi�ed as ‘societ-ies’ cancer’, and even psychopathic.

Bullies’ targets are oen people who are di�erent in beliefs, cultures, race, abilities, and other di�erences. Surprisingly, oen they are those who are talented, skilled, independent, and competitors in all walks of life.

Research has indicated for a long time that we are becoming immune to violence reported in the media, in games, workplac-es, and at home. Behaviour that once was envisioned as rude and mean is oen classi�ed today as ‘getting ahead’ or ‘winning’ over a competitor no matter who was manipulated, or at what cost.

Other glaring examples of bullies are the constant wars in our world. Other than the extremely tragic loss of our young people in these contrived wars, they exude negativity and an inability to negotiate and mediate. Working towards a peaceful resolution is not always imme-diately possible, unfortunately. But many do not seem to recognize that achieving peaceful resolutions requires a lot more than violence which is viewed as a failure no matter where it is occurring!

Working towards peaceful resolutions requires a shi in our way of thinking EVERYDAY and not just when there is a crisis. At the end of our day we should not think about how artfully manipulative we were in our dealings with people, or winning over a competitor, etc., but should ask ourselves: “Did I speak harshly with anybody today”? “Did I shirk my responsi-bilities at work and burden a co-worker”?

“Did I lose my patience with anybody today”? “Was I rude to anybody today”?

Developing a gentle and caring nature must be part of our everyday living. We all need to re�ect peace, kindness, and non-violent behaviour in every moment of our lives if we ever hope to

achieve a peaceful world!�ank you to members of the

Stop Youth Violence community committee at the Bell Tower, which includes largely youth, and some adults, who held a session on how NOT to be a bully at my request. �e following are some of their excellent responses:

• Give people more compliments• Be nice to people• Give folks more credit• Get more activities in the

neighbourhood/events• Don’t be mean to people• Volunteer your time• Smile a lot more• Teach parents how not to bully

their kids• Inspire youth to �nd a passion in life

for a cause• Treat others the way you would want

to be treated – Golden Rule• Give bullies more love• O�er some help• Learn about what others feel

Linda Williams is a restorative justice mediator and Chaired Central Youth Justice in West Broadway for many years. She also helped organize Stop Youth Violence at the Bell Tower and regularly attends their sessions.

“Everyone kept telling us wait for the real winter to come”

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Research Team is doing a Follow-up Study.

If you were a participant in the

“At Home” study before, we would like to reconnect with you.

Call 232-1467 to book an appointment

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GET STUFFEDby Tammy SutherlandMeet the King of Dark. Yes, he wields a scythe (what else would you expect?) Sharp teeth? Check. Long spidery legs? Double check. So furry belly and cute spiky hair? Whaaaa? Artist and West Broadway resident Kami Goertz loves a good paradox, so what better way to explore the dark side of life than through humble plush toys? Flu�y fun fur next to scratchy tweeds, sharp sticks on cuddly bodies, comforting dolls cum menacing �gures – Goertz’s work attracts and repels while unassumingly drawing us into life’s contradictions.

And what better place for someone like this to live than in an area known for its diversity on so many levels, a neighbourhood that is itself a bundle of opposites? Goertz has lived in West Broadway for over a decade. For the last six years, she’s been sharing a spacious apartment overlooking the Assiniboine River on Balmoral Ave with her partner Mike and daughter Gwynn. When asked what initially drew her to the neighbour-hood, Goertz laughs and says, “�e price was right!” She quickly adds that she was looking for community and a base of like-minded people and that West

Broadway seemed like a place that needed more artists. With ties to Mulvey school, Art City, the Good Food Club, and a community garden plot, her connection to the area is strong. “It feels like home,” she says.

Working improvisationally, without patterns, Goertz trans-forms mostly found materials and thried fabrics (wool is a favourite) into her signature stu�es. In October, Winnipeg’s Deer + Almond restaurant played host to Cute and Awful, an exhibition of Goertz’s most recent work. “Everyone is up to something,” she observes, “and you’re not sure if it’s good or bad.” It’s this mischievous “glint in the eye” that she feels gives life to her stu�ed creatures. As a part-time student in environ-mental studies at the U of W, Goertz’s love of and connec-tion to nature have also found a voice in her work: top-heavy trees, snow-capped mountains, soil sam-ples, lichen covered rocks, rabbits, owls, and narwhals. Her popular “fur maids,” yetis, and animal/tree hybrids seem to bridge the space between the natural, the mythic, and the monstrous - some pretty heady stu� made palatable through an unintimidating medium.

Does she love making? Yes. Does she wish she could quit her day job in food

services and focus on her art full-time? Not really. While Goertz would love another day or two a week in her studio, part of what makes her art life so enjoy-able is that she doesn’t need to count on it as her sole income. Occasional deadlines boost her production while down times allow her to experiment with new shapes and techniques at her leisure. So how does she work full-time, take classes, parent and still have time for an art career? “I

have a very supportive partner,” she says. Behind every great woman...

Christmas is the high season for mak-ers and Goertz is part of a number of sea-sonal events including the �ird & Bird Cra Sale, First Fridays in the Exchange December openhouse, and the Falala Sale. Locally, you can �nd her work year round at the Winnipeg Art Gallery shop, Tara Davis Boutique on McDermot Ave, and on Etsy.

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left: Artist Kami Goertz with some of her creatures both live and stuffed! right: �e King of Dark

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UPCOMING FILM NIGHT STARS WEST BROADWAY NEIGHBOURSby Mike Maunder

Stephanie Strugar’s kalideoscope of images (shown above) is one of many dynamic images and stories West Broadway people have shared over the past year that will be shown in a �lm festival later this February.

Stephanie was part of a group which created montages as a way of telling their stories. Her explosion of images tells how she moved from a creative childhood (rep-resented by the Lite-Brite toy, upper le), through hard times and foster homes where “no one came to my games” but gained strength through a ragtag set of friends and a passion for dancing and the arts.

Her dream is to pass on the joys and con�dence she gained to other kids who may be struggling with the same issues in life. �is has led her to establish a dancing and art business, as well as extensive volunteer work.

Community Voices workshops try to build a stronger community by allowing people in West Broadway groups to get to know one another better. �ree-or-four-part workshop series have been held with several community groups, includ-ing moms at Wolseley Family Place, rooming house tenants and residents of Lions Place.

Youth participants from Just TV have visited several of the groups to make short �lms. When Josh Shuttleworth of Just TV visited one group of seniors at Lions Place, he had to trade some of his own stories for stories of the residents.

One was Margaret Ginter who told how she never felt quite at home when growing up in the 1920’s in a large family. �en, when she was seven, her mother took her aside and explained that the man she thought was her father was really her stepfather. Margaret’s mother had married in 1918 and Margaret had been conceived, but before she was born, her father died in the 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic. Her mother remarried a man with several children.

Margaret had been called “Maggie” then. She decided to adopt her father’s name, and from that point on, when the teacher called “Maggie” on the school attendance record, the seven-year-old refused to answer.

“Why aren’t you answering to your name Maggie?” asked the teacher.

“Because I’m not Maggie anymore, I’m Margaret.”

And so the stubborn seven-year-old became Margaret.

Today, in her 90s, she’s just as stub-born. When she and 5-6 other women at Lions decided their Community

Voices group shouldn’t break up aer their fourth workshop, they worked to carry on the story-sharing idea into a continuing program called Memory Monday.

Both Margaret and Stephanie’s stories are stories of determination – although 70 years apart. Many of the stories captured by JUST TV are similar. �ey’ll be shown at a community festival of short �lms in February entitled “Stars in Our Midst.”

�e �lm festival will begin with a reception at the new Portage Avenue nightspot, �e Good Will (625 Portage), just across the street from Lions Place”. �e reception is at 7 pm, Monday, Feb. 23, and the �lm screening at 8 pm is free.

Come and hear some of the remark-able stories of your friends and neighbours in West Broadway.

Montage by Stephanie Strugar Norine Anderson, Edie Hartwig and Margaret Ginter, three of the women who worked to create Memory Mondays at Lions Place

Community Voices work-shops try to build a stronger community by allowing people in West Broadway groups to get to know one another better.

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Social Club—625 Portage Avenuethegoodwill.ca

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issue 4 vol. 11 · broadway broadcaster, please drop oﬀ at 608 broadway or email...

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