The Winnipeg Jets found a way to earn an overtime victory against the visiting Dallas Stars at Canada Life Centre on Nov. 2.
Jets shine against visiting Stars
Happy Halloween
The Selkirk Settler Times wishes you and your loved ones a very Happy Halloween.
Ringette season underway for Stingers
The Selkirk Stingers hit the ice for their first game of the season against the North Winnipeg Ringette Association North Stars at Seven Oaks Arena on Oct. 30.
Stringing Christmas lights in Selkirk
Christmas lights were being strung along Manitoba Avenue in Selkirk on Oct. 29.
Lieutenant-governor receives first poppy of annual Legion campaign
Sargeant-at-Arms Ken Arsenault, of the Royal Canadian Legion, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Command presented Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon with the first poppy of this year’s annual Royal Canadian Legion fundraiser at Government House on Oct. 29.
City of Selkirk, AMM calling on Feds to cover increased policing costs
The City of Selkirk is among a long list of municipalities calling on the federal government to cover a 23.7 per cent retroactive increase in policing wages negotiated during a collective bargaining process they were not invited to participate in.
The increase is retroactive to 2017.
Selkirk CAO Duane Nicol said the hike is substantial and would put a strain on the city financially.
“The City of Selkirk has a strong working relationship with local RCMP leadership and we get great service, our issue is not with the local detachment or the quality of service we receive. And it’s certainly not an issue with the level of compensation for officers,” Nicol said.
“Our issue is that we were not part of the process, and this is a very large financial hit to municipalities. Without some federal government support, this will put a lot of pressure on the city budget. It will mean either a tax increase or a cut to other services.”
The agreement was negotiated between the federal government and the National Police Federation (NPF). Municipalities were not invited to take part in the collective bargaining negotiations, despite being paying contract partners.
In Manitoba, there are approximately 40 municipalities with RCMP contracts via federal and provincial agreements.
The Association of Manitoba Municipalities, of which the City of Selkirk is a member, is encouraging its membership to contact the federal government directly to express their concerns about increased costs due to unionization of RCMP members.
“Unionization-related costs coupled with rising policing costs overall could result in significant financial burdens for municipalities. That is why the AMM has been calling on the federal government to fully absorb all retroactive pay increases which were negotiated by the federal government,” Denys Volkov, AMM Executive Director, said in a letter to members.
Not only were negotiations conducted exclusively between the federal government and NPF, municipalities had no say in the collective bargaining process, and updates from the federal government were often irregular and did not include any detailed information to relevant stakeholders, including municipalities.
The AMM says passing the increased costs onto municipalities would be “unreasonable and unfair”, especially as all municipalities are focusing on COVID-19 recovery efforts.
The city’s budget is made up of two components: the capital budget which is dedicated to project-specific investments and the operating budget which is used to deliver programs and services to the community.
In 2021, $2.92 million of the City’s operating budget was dedicated to the RCMP. Last year just over 20% of the City’s total operating expenses were policing costs. It’s the single largest operating budget of any single service area.
The AMM is encouraging all impacted municipalities, regardless of the type of RCMP contract they may have, to share their concerns with Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Canadian Tire’s Light Up Main Street aims to brighten spirits and highlight local businesses during Holiday Alley
Businesses down Selkirk’s Main Street are getting their creative juices “glowing” and are going to reach new “lights” with the Holiday Alley and Canadian Tire Selkirk’s Light Up Main Street project.
For the second year in a row Canadian Tire Selkirk has stepped up to with a financial incentive – this time for Main Street business – to “light” the bullet and to give Selkirk bragging “lights” as the brightest city in the province. Last year it made the same “bright” offer for homeowners on Eveline Street.
“I think we all saw Eveline really popped with light last year just when we needed a boost in our spirits. And we wanted to do phase 2 and help Main Street businesses take the Holiday Alley lighting to the next step,” says Edgar Head, co-owner of Canadian Tire in Selkirk.
“We have a huge range of lights in stock right now, and we’re excited to see what they come up with,” added co-owner Michelle Head.
Five years ago over 130,000 LED lights on 40 buildings in Selkirk’s old downtown, starting brightening the darkest winter nights. It was made possible because dozens of business and non-profit organizations on Manitoba Avenue and Eveline Street invested in their community and bought over $50,000 of lights to adorn their buildings This year businesses on Main Street between Britannia Avenue and Manitoba Avenue can expand the lighting program with a jump start of a $50 Canadian Tire Selkirk gift card.
Creative ideas like this is getting Selkirk some well-deserved attention, says Lois Wales, president of Red River North Tourism that delivers Holiday Alley.
“There’s an incredible refreshed spirit here and we hear people outside of Selkirk saying “Hey Selkirk is doing some pretty cool things.” And that in turn encourages people to come here, visit our shops, restaurants and businesses which is the side benefit of good tourism,” says Wales.
The early investment by local building owners at the launch of Holiday Alley five years ago really inspired Mayor Larry Johannson.
“I could see right away that in time business and homeowners could really catch on and they could light up the whole city,” Johannson. said.
Businesses on Main Street between Britannia Avenue and Manitoba Avenue can sign up for their gift cards on a first-come, first-serve basis by contacting Oksana, Holiday Alley’s Festival and Communications Coordinator, at coordinator@holidayalley.ca.
There is no ‘best’ way to get healthy
Confessions of a Fitness Trainer
“The listeners want to know, what’s the best way to get healthy?”
I was in-studio doing an interview about health and fitness with the morning show host at a local radio station. I had answered that question countless times and the answer was always slightly different depending on the audience. In this particular instance, I decided to keep the answer as simple as possible.
“Go outside for a daily walk and get adequate sleep.” Before I could even elaborate on why I felt that these pillars were of the utmost importance, he cut me off in a perturbed tone.
“That’s it?! Surely it can’t be that simple… you’ve got to give us more than that!”
Upon further reflection, it turns out, we were both right.
Yes, it is that simple in that most people would benefit greatly from a daily outdoor jaunt coupled with a good night’s rest. Sometimes these simple habits get ignored in favour of flashy exercises or the latest diet craze.
However, of course there is more to the equation. Health is a complex combination of factors making it impossible to proclaim that there is one best way to get or stay healthy.
As a personal trainer, I have to consider each person’s individual situation.
Clients have come to me with a plethora of goals such as; get off cholesterol or blood pressure medication, not get winded when chasing around the grandchildren, complete a half marathon, reduce pain, get back on the ice, hit the golf ball 10 yards further, get stronger for life, be around for my kids as they grow up, etc. etc. etc…
Therefore what gets recommended to improve their health is also very individualized because these recommendations not only have to consider their aforementioned goals but also their schedules, preferences, current fitness levels, injury history, access to facilities and equipment, budget, and more.
If I had the opportunity to elaborate in that radio interview, I would have suggested that the listeners focus on the following objectives:
- Cardio-vascular health – walk, run, swim, cycle, whatever gets your heart rate up for a sustained period.
- Strength – using free weights, body weight, tubing, cables or virtually any tool that creates resistance to help make you stronger.
- Flexibility – stay active, stretch, or do yoga to move without feeling like the Tin Man.
- Recovery – sleep, mediation, gentle yoga, tai chi, or any other activity that helps you to relax and rejuvenate your mind and body.
There is no one size fits all model of how to combine these elements. At the end of the day you have to figure out what works for you.
Tips of the day
*There is no one size fits all model for health.
*If you’re looking for guidance, hire a fitness professional who will work around your goals and preferences to help make you an individualized plan.
*Choose activities that you actually enjoy doing – you’re more likely to stick with them!
Kathryn McKenzie – B.H.Kin, B.Ed
Certified Kinesiologist, Sport Conditioning Specialist & Personal Trainer
Author, Pizza Lover & Owner of Surefire Fitness
Bombers unstoppable against visiting Lions, earn right to host western final
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers did what is almost unheard of in the Canadian Football League as they shutout their opponent on the score board.
The 45-0 victory enabled the Blue Bombers to secure first place in the West Division with three games remaining in the regular season. The win improved the Bombers record to 10-1.
After the first quarter of play Winnipeg was up 15-0. Both teams entered the dressing rooms at half-time with Winnipeg in a 16-0 lead. The Bombers showed their strength in the third quarter by extending their lead to 30-0. Winnipeg tacked on another 15 points in the fourth quarter, giving the home team a 45-0 victory.
Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros was unstoppable as he threw for three touchdowns and wen 16 for 20 with a total of 267 yards. He was also 80% with his throws with his furthest at 52 yards.
Receive Darvin Adams led the way for the Bombers with four receptions for a total of 93 yards.
The win against the Lions also means that Winnipeg will host its first Western Final since 1972 and third division final since 2001. The western Final will be held at IG Field on Dec. 5 at 3:30 p.m. CST.
Predators no match for high flying Jets
The Winnipeg Jets defeated the visiting Nashville Predators at Canada Life Centre on Oct. 23.
