Henry Ozirney was the founding pastor of New Life Church in Stonewall Man.,, where he served from 1970 until he retired in 2014. Ozirney is currently the Interim Pastor at New Life Church in Teulon, Man. He writes a weekly column for the Selkirk Settler Times. (Brook Jones/Selkirk Settler Times)
One of the great challenges for all of us is to try to figure out the age-old question of “Where did we come from?” Each human being, at one time or another, struggles with trying to figure out the cause of his or her existence on planet earth.
All that we know is that one day, as young children, we gradually became aware of the fact of that we exist. Then, in our minds, we began asking ourselves, “So how did we get here? Is there a Cause or did we Just Happen?”
I, for one, am a firm believer that we did not just happen, by chance. I believe there is a cause and that cause is God. It’s pretty hard to convince me otherwise.
But maybe you think you just happened. For you, I give this parable I came across a while ago. Think it through.
“There was once a colony of mice who lived all their lives in a large, magnificent grand piano. To them in their piano-world came the marvelous sounds of the beautiful instrument, filling all the dark spaces with rich music and sweet harmony. At first the mice were overwhelmed with awe. They drew comfort and strength from the thought that there was Someone — though invisible to them — who made the music, someone close by, yet above and beyond them, Someone who transcended their little piano-lives. They loved to think of the Great Unseen Player to whom they attributed the lovely melodies. They honored Him and praised His greatness and magnificent creativity.
“Then one day a daring mouse climbed up to another part of the piano. Soon she returned, very thoughtful and a little disturbed. She had discovered how music was really made: ‘Wires are the secret: tightly stretched wires of graduated lengths and thicknesses which throb and tremble and pulsate. We must revise all our old, outdated beliefs: none but the most ignorant simpleton can any longer believe in the Great Unseen Player,’ she said.
“Later, another adventuresome explorer-mouse carried the explanation even farther. ‘Hammers are the true secret — dozens of felt-covered hammers dancing and leaping on the wires,’ he said. This was a more complicated theory, but it all went to show that they lived in a purely mechanistic, mathematical world — let’s hear no more about this mythical Great Unseen Player. Any thinking mouse could see that there was nothing to the Player myth. He did not exist.
Untroubled by their unbelief, the Great Unseen Player kept on playing.”
The Winnipeg Jets battle the visiting Ottawa Senators during the first period in National Hockey League action at BellMTS Place in Winnipeg; Man.; on Saturday; Feb. 13; 2021. Pictured: Winnipeg Jets left winger Nikolaj Ehlers (middle) fights for the puck against Senators Evgenii Dadonov (left) and Nick Paul (right). (Brook Jones/Selkirk Settler Times)
The Winnipeg Jets faced off against the visiting Ottawa Senators at BellMTS Place on the afternoon of Feb. 13, which was also dubbed Scotia Bank Hockey Day in Canada. But it wasn’t the outcome Winnipeg was hoping for, especially with the Jets out shooting the Senators 31 to 29.
After 60 minutes of play, the Jets lost a heart breaker 2-1.
The Jets took a 1-0 lead early in the second period with a goal by Mark Scheifele at 5:43 but Winnipeg’s lead was short lived as Ottawa tied the game less than two minutes later when Evgenii Dadonov lit the goal lamp at 7:29.
With just seconds remaining in the third frame the Senators scored the game winning goal when Brady Tkachuk beat Winnipeg’s goaltender Connor Hellebuyck at19:51.
The Jets travel to Edmonton next for a national Hockey League tilt against the Oilers on Feb. 15.
Manitoba’s public schools system will see another increase in the Funding of Schools Program for the 2021-22 school year of $20.8 million, or 1.56 per cent, for a total $1.35 billion, the highest total investment in Manitoba’s history, Education Minister Cliff Cullen announced Feb. 5.
The increase includes $6.7 million, or a 0.5 per cent increase to base funding for public schools, and this year’s commitment includes an additional $5.5 million for special needs funding for school divisions, along with other grants. This special needs funding supports students with disabilities and with exceptional needs, providing student specific supports determined by school teams such as educational assistants or assistive technology.
“This announcement continues our commitment to the success of students by making record levels of annual investment in our student’s education while also keeping our students, teachers and staff safe,” said Cullen. “Our education system is one of the best funded in Canada, and parents need to know that our government will continue to support their children’s futures.”
Manitoba has the third-highest spending per student in Canada at $14,815, after Saskatchewan and New Brunswick.
The province committed that school divisions would not see their funding reduced due to enrolment variations because of COVID-19. The province will also continue to ensure all school divisions receive no less than 98 per cent of the operating funding they received a year earlier.
School divisions also raise revenue through local education property taxes. The Manitoba government will continue to support Manitobans by reducing the local property tax burden for ratepayers. School divisions will freeze their education property taxes and the province will provide a Property Tax Offset Grant equivalent to a two per cent property tax increase or $22.8 million. This is over and above the $20.8 million commitment for the Funding of Schools Program.
“The province remains committed to modernizing Manitoba’s education system to ensure our students are well prepared for whatever path they choose, whether it is post-secondary education, joining the workforce or staring their own business,” said Cullen. “Our students, parents and education staff need to know that regardless of the challenges we are facing, we will be there to support their educational needs and to ensure their children have the best opportunity for success.”
This annual funding commitment builds upon the previous announcement to support schools with the $185-million Safe Schools Funding for COVID-related expenses.
Check out the Selkirk Settler Times for the latest news.
Submitted by Manitoba Public Insurance
Over the past two months, a total of 81 passenger vehicle-related fires have been opened with Manitoba Public Insurance. Nearly three dozen of these fires in December and January were directly related to the use of block heaters.
Disturbingly, some of these vehicle fires resulted in houses or carports also catching fire. Investigations discovered a number of these vehicle fires resulted from the use of interior car warmers and household interior heaters being used to warm vehicles in outdoor garages and carports.
Over the same two-month time frame in a normal year, passenger vehicle fires are typically half the numbers compared to 2021.
”Many of these fires could have been prevented. The use of an interior electric heater in an outdoor winter setting is extremely dangerous,” explained Paul Brisson, MPI Fire Investigator. “The issue is that moisture and overheating of the heater elements and internal components, which are not intended to be running continuously for extended periods of time especially outdoors in extreme cold, can cause the heater or power supply to fail.”
Interior home heaters used in conjunction with an extension cord causes excessive power draw and may overload a circuit or cause a failure in the extension cord, plugs, fuse panels, said Brisson.
“Block heaters are intended to be used in cold climates to warm an engine prior to starting the vehicle,” he said. “As a general rule, an engine block heater should be used when the temperature drops below -15 and greater. It’s strongly discouraged to plug in a vehicle which is parked in an attached garage.”
Preventative Steps
Block heater power cords and extension cords must be free of defects, cuts, dirt, and corrosion and should be stored properly to avoid damage which could lead to a fire.
Block heater power supply cords should be capped when not in use (if equipped), and be properly routed through the front grill or bumper area of a vehicle to avoid pinching or damage to the cord during winter months.
Do not drive over your extension cord. This could potentially crack the cord and result in electrical failure when plugged in.
It is recommended that block heater power supply and extension cords be plugged into a GFCI outlet rather than a standard electrical outlet. The GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) adds an additional layer of safety as it contains a sensor that monitors the flow of electricity current through the wires. When the GFCI sensor detects a variation from the normal current it shuts off the flow of electricity in the outlet and may prevent damage or fire caused by an electrical fault.
Children's stories written by Grammy. (Image By Brook Jones/Selkirk Settler Times)
Once Upon A Time: There was a groundhog
Once Upon a Time: There was a Groundhog
Once upon a time, on a day known as the day after the day before, a groundhog was born. This was not just any groundhog. This groundhog was the furriest, cutest, wee groundhog ever to be born. She also was the happiest and in all the land, the tiniest. She was so very tiny that on occasion her mommy and daddy had difficulty finding her. It was for this reason that she was named, Speck.
Speck was her mommy and daddy’s very first baby groundhog and with that came a lot of firsts. Speck was their first groundhog baby that needed to be named, to be cuddled, to be fed, cradled and rocked to sleep each night while her mommy and daddy sang, in unison, a soothing lullaby.
Speck’s mommy and daddy delighted in their wee girl. They also delighted in themselves, proud and happy to be learning, doing and accomplishing so many firsts. One of these firsts included having dug their groundhog family hole also called a burrow. They had chosen Grammy’s Garden with reason. Grammy’s Garden, they had heard, was the safest and friendliest of all the gardens in the neighbourhood. Trusting this as fact, they dug their hole to have the narrowest opening to above ground and the widest space below ground. The narrow hole on top meant that other creatures, such as Gray Squirrel, could not come in. The widest space under ground meant that Speck had ample space within which to romp, twist, turn, rock and roll as she grew playing to her heart’s content. Deep inside her family’s burrow, Speck was safe and delightfully delightful.
Speck grew and grew and as she did, she wanted to venture forth, to stretch her legs and to dig her own holes in Grammy’s Garden. She wanted to feel the warmth of the sun on her fur and smell the gentle breezes that blew all around. Her mommy and daddy knew she was growing beyond them so very quickly. To prepare her for her own world, her mommy and daddy took her up top. They introduced her to the plants that grew in Grammy’s Garden and introduced her to delicious above-ground vegetables to eat. As Speck chomped and chewed on above-the-ground vegetables such as spinach leaves and celery, Speck grew big and strong. With her very first taste of succulent spinach, Speck said to her mommy and daddy, “This is where I want to be, forever.” Speck’s mommy and daddy felt so much joy and were so proud of their wee girl.
One day, as Speck continued to grow, she arose. She could tell that it was a bright, sunshiny day outside. Her mommy and daddy still were asleep. Speck had needed extra cuddling through the night leaving her mommy and daddy a wee more tired than usual this morning. Speck felt old enough to climb up and out from her family’s burrow to explore Grammy’s Garden on her own. It was a beautiful moment for her. She felt so grown up even though she had no idea how old she was. None of that age stuff seemed to matter to the groundhog family. There Speck was, outside her family’s burrow, in Grammy’s Garden, on her very first all alone adventure.
Speck delighted in the warmth of the sun on her fur. She smelled the breeze and became aware of the many plants whose leaves and blooms twisted and turned seemingly to greet her. She was familiar with many of the plants as her mommy and daddy spoke with them while she played but she had never spoken to any of them on her own. As with most adventures’ in life, typically there is a first time for everything. And so, it was on this day, the plants in Grammy’s Garden created a first for Speck. In unison they said, “Hello.”
Thereafter they took turns for they did not want to frighten Speck. They wanted to welcome Speck and to help her to feel comfortable. Sunflower, Rhubarb and Beet Leaf and Tomato Vine all welcomed Speck in the style of a gracious grace reflective of Grammy’s Garden.
Sunflower, being the tallest and the brightest flower in Grammy’s Garden, took the lead saying, “We are so very glad to see you. We are surprised however; to see you without your mommy and daddy. We did not realize that you were old enough to be out on your own. What is your name? How old are you?” Sunflower intended to be welcoming and yet sometimes she was bold without knowing.
Speck was feeling very independent. She also felt proud that she had found her own way out of her family’s burrow. She had been in the garden before and had watched her mommy and daddy greet the plants with a hello. She was not unsettled by the plants greeting.
“Hello, “responded Speck. “My name is Speck because I am so tiny. But that does not mean that I am a baby. My mommy and daddy are sleeping and I am big enough to find my way out of our family’s burrow and so here I am.”
Sunflower said, “What a beautiful name you have dear Speck. We are glad to meet you on your own.” Beet Leaf and Rhubarb each extended a stock towards Speck saying, “if you ever need a cover, you may crawl under one of our leaves. We are big plants and will keep you safe if you need shelter.” Tomato vine introduced herself saying, “Count on me, too, dear Speck. Welcome. If you ever cannot find your way back to your family’s groundhog hole, you simply let me know. I will point the way. We here in Grammy’s garden have a high alert signalling system. We want you to feel free to romp and roll and grow within our midst. To be free to be who you are, your own best self.”
Almost on cue, Spider descended from Sunflower’s Blossom. Spider greeted Speck saying, “Indeed, wee Speck, welcome. I once was lost and beet leaf and tomato vine helped me find my way home to Sunflower’s blossom where I live in my web. Ever since that day, I have been a member of the High Alert Signalling Team of Grammy’s Garden. Human’s would call us a neighbourhood watch. If you ever need help of any kind, simply let one of us know and we will protect you. We live together and we work together to make Grammy’s Garden one of the safest and coziest in the land. That is why your mommy and daddy dug their family burrow here. We are so happy that they did. They want the best for you. We knew your mommy and daddy were expecting a wee one but we did not know for certain when you were born. Welcome. We noticed you eating the spinach leaves and celery stalks however, we did not want to distract your mommy and daddy those first times they came with you to the surface. We did not want to ask them a lot of questions. It could seem rude. They had so much on their minds watching you to keep you safe. Can I ask? How old are you?”
Speck basked in the attention and felt so grown up to be welcomed by so many of her parent’s friends. She wanted to show how smart and grown up and ready she was to be on the surface of Grammy’s Garden without her mommy and daddy. She really did want to let them know how old she was but the honest to goodness truth was that she did not know. She had never asked because it simply had never been talked about in her family. She realized now that in groundhog life you did not count the days. You simply lived each minute of each day. Each minute was the bestest minute. Each day was the bestest day.
In Groundhog land you woke up, ate, brushed your teeth, fluffed your nest and then played and played and played some more. Brushing your teeth was very important because groundhogs rely upon their two big front teeth for just about everything. And, it was believed that the whiter your teeth the stronger you were. Groundhogs took much pride in the whiteness and sparkle of their two big front teeth.
In addition to their teeth, Speck had learned that groundhogs also take pride in cleanliness. Speck had learned that after she brushed her teeth, she was expected to fluff the leaves of the nest within which she slept. This was life in the groundhog world into which she had been born and now lived. What you did today is what you did yesterday and what you will do tomorrow. Some humans call this a routine. Certain things repeat themselves because they just are that important. Each day is regarded as the bestest day and because you took care of today as you took care of yesterday there is no need to worry or fret about tomorrow.
And so, it was that Speck realized that groundhogs and plants were different. She knew however; she also did not want to disappoint the plants. She wanted to be friendly. She too was curious about her age. Not wanting to displease the plants, Speck said, “my dear plants in Grammy’s Garden. I do not know how old I am but I am curious to know. I will ask my mommy and daddy and I will tell you the next time that I see you. Are you ok if I do?” Sunflower nodded her blossom which bounced Spider in agreement. Tomato Vine waved a high five salute and rhubarb and beet leaf jiggled their leaves in agreement. With that, Speck romped across Grammy’s Garden chomping on a spinach leaf before descending into her family’s burrow.
Ker plunk could be heard as Speck landed home. She was greeted by her mommy and daddy who, although worried, were so relieved to have her home they hugged her with love and joy in their hearts. Such acceptance caused Speck to feel so very proud and with that she opened and talked and talked and opened even more. She told her parents about the greeting she received from the plants in Grammy’s Garden. She told them about meeting Sunflower and Spider and Tomato Vine and Rhubarb and Beet Leaf. She told them about the High Alert Signalling Team that would protect her if she ever needed help. She wanted her mommy and daddy to know how accepted she felt in the company of the plants. She wanted her mommy and daddy to know that the plants in Grammy’s Garden cared about her, her safety and wellness. Speck’s mommy and daddy responded with more hugs. They were well pleased.
As time wore on, Speck said, “There is one thing mommy and daddy. I felt awkward when the plants asked me how old I was. I felt they were asking me something that I should know. I realized that I do not know how old I am. I do not recall ever having a birth day. How old am I, mommy and daddy?”
Mommy and Daddy Groundhog looked at each other in an odd way. They wanted to please their wee girl, Speck. They loved her. They could see how important the answer was to her. They did not want her to think they were keeping secrets. They did not want her to think that they did not love her because they had never celebrated her birth day. They did not want others to think they did not love their little girl. The truth was that they simply did not know. They realized then and there that they were facing cultural differences. They were uncertain how to explain such differences to their wee girl because they had not anticipated such questions. It felt like only yesterday that their wee girl was born. They wanted to explain such differences to Speck in a way that she could understand and accept their lives and the lives of the plants who had asked, unknowingly, a question that was sensitive culturally because of different ways of living life.
Mommy and Daddy Groundhog could tell Speck every detail of the day on which she was born.
Mommy Groundhog recalled having told Speck, “My girl, the moment that I saw and heard you take your first breath was the proudest moment of my life, dear Speck. I knew from that moment that you knew how to breathe and by knowing how to breathe you would breathe your way through challenges that arise. I knew that you would be ok for each and every Groundhog Day.”
Mommy and Daddy Groundhog also could tell her how very proud and excited they were to see her grow big and furry with bright, beautiful, shiny white teeth of which she took such good care. They could tell her she was all they ever wanted and that she was the most important groundhog in the whole wide world to them. But they had to think and think about how to answer the question that at this moment was so vitally important to her. The wanted to tell the truth which was that they did not know how old she was.
And so, they said, “Our dear, Speck. Our most beautiful girl. There is a central truth about the life you have been given and which we all live. The truth is that all creatures and plants in life are not the same. There are differences between each of us in Grammy’s Garden and that means that each of us pays attention to slightly different details of life. What I can tell you is that you were born the day after the day before. In groundhog life that is how we tell time.”
As groundhogs, we pay attention to each and every minute of each and every day. As each minute is lived and passes, we let it go because we’ve already moved into the next minute. We do not pay attention to which day or which year it is. We take care of each other as the minutes unfold. I cannot tell you on which day you were born other than to repeat it was the day after the day before. I can tell you however, that the minute you were born was a very happy minute and we have loved you each and every minute of each and every day since.
Please accept this as a central truth and value of Groundhog Life. It seems unique to Groundhog Culture and may not be understood or accepted by others. We will ask for the plants in Grammy’s Garden to accept this fact and to love you all the same just as you appreciate how they have extended themselves to you and you will respect their friendship and caring always. There are differences amongst us however; differences can unite us if we honor, love, respect and accept that each of us deserves to be treated with dignity. Our differences can contribute to much strength as we grow in learning about each other.
We love you dear Speck. The day after the day before was the bestest with the mostest. Happy Birthday, dear Speck. Each day is a day to celebrate being you; being us. Each day is a Birth Day. Let’s go in to Grammy’s Garden and spread the word. Today is your Birthday as was yesterday and as will be tomorrow.
And so, it was that Speck and her Groundhog mommy and daddy climbed up their groundhog hole and emerged into Grammy’s Garden. There they were greeted by Sunflower, Spider, Tomato Vine and Rhubarb and Beet Leaf amongst others. To all who listened, they announced, “Dear fellow occupants of Grammy’s Garden. This is our wee daughter, Speck. Please help us to welcome her and to celebrate her life with us. Today is the day that we honour her birth. Today is her birthday just as yesterday was and tomorrow will be. Every day is the day after the day before. We ask for each of us to honour our differences and our universe that brings us together. Happy Birthday to each of us including dear, wonderful, joyous Speck.” Let us sing.
And this is what they sang, “Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Speck. Happy Birthday to you…and many more.”
The End but also the Beginning as we carry on with love, hope, truth, laughter and Joy in our hearts.
Zack Greenfeld, who lives in Selkirk, Man., is studying at the University of Alberta and playing for the Golden Bears. (Photo Submitted by Zack Greenfeld)
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Zack Greenfeld is keeping focused on the love his has for the game of soccer as he continues to pursue his dreams and looks ahead to the future.
The 18-year-old, who attends the University of Alberta on a soccer scholarship, is back in Manitoba due to the pandemic. He’s not take a break from his studies as he is simply studying remotely.
Greenfeld has split his time living in Selkirk with his mother and his father in Winnipeg. While he is living in Selkirk it provides him with the opportunity to be closer to where he trains at the Skylight in the RM of East St. Paul.
Following feedback from Manitobans and advice from public health leaders, the province is loosening a variety of restrictions while ensuring protocols are in place to protect Manitobans from the risks of COVID-19, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial health officer, announced Feb. 9.
“Today is another big day for Manitobans, especially for our local business owners who are eager to safely reopen their doors, and provide the goods and services that Manitobans have missed the past few months,” said Pallister. “With fewer restrictions, we must remain cautious, in fact, even more cautious. In the absence of COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government, following the fundamentals is how we continue to protect each other and save lives.”
The orders will formalize the following changes for all of Manitoba, replacing the General COVID-19 Prevention Orders made on Jan. 28 and the Northern Manitoba COVID-19 Prevention Orders made on Feb. 1. The orders will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 12 and will last for three weeks.
The orders include the following changes, with further pandemic safety measures in place: • allowing restaurants and licensed premises to reopen at 25% capacity with patron groups limited to members of the same household only; • allowing outdoor rinks to reopen for casual sports as well as organized practices and games, with multi-team tournaments not permitted; • allowing gyms, fitness centres and yoga studios to reopen at 25% capacity; • allowing indoor sporting facilities such as rinks, gymnastic clubs and martial arts studios to reopen at 25% capacity for individual instruction only; • allowing places of worship to hold regular religious services if a service does not exceed 10% of usual capacity or 50 people, whichever is lower; • allowing self-help groups for persons dealing with addictions or other behaviours to hold meetings at 25%capacity of the premise where meetings take place; • allowing museums, art galleries and libraries to operate at 25% capacity; • allowing personal service businesses, such as those providing pedicures, electrolysis, cosmetic application, tanning, tattooing or massage services to reopen at 25% capacity; • allowing photographers and videographers to offer services to individual clients or those residing in the same household in addition to providing services at weddings, with the exception of visiting client homes; and • allowing the film industry to operate fully with physical distancing and other safety measures in place.
“These new orders allow us to resume more activities and services we enjoy, but we cannot let our guard down yet,” said Roussin. “We will continue to carefully monitor COVID-19 developments and case numbers to ensure we protect each other and our health-care system. Manitobans need to continue to follow the fundamentals at all times including staying home when sick, frequent handwashing and wearing masks. We all have a part to play in keeping our COVID-19 curve down so we can continue making measured progress towards getting back to the things we love.”
The new orders also bring the entire province under the same restrictions, where the northern region had previously been under separate orders to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the region.
Under the new orders, northern Manitoba will see the changes listed above in addition to the restrictions in place over the last three weeks for the rest of the province including: • household visitor restrictions of up to two designated people, • visits of five people plus members of a household on an outdoor private property, • retail stores open at 25% capacity or 250 people maximum with adequate physical distancing, and • non-regulated health services, hair salons and barbershops open with 25% capacity and adequate physical distancing.
Since Feb. 4, over 33,000 responses were provided on the proposed changes to the orders. Feedback indicated: • 65% of respondents felt somewhat or very comfortable going to restaurants; • 57% of respondents felt somewhat or very comfortable going to the gym or to a yoga studio; and • opening food services was ranked the highest priority for respondents, followed by opening personal services like nail salons and tattoo parlors, allowing gyms to reopen for individual training and allowing outdoor organized outdoor sports to resume for games or practices.
Final survey results will be posted on the EngageMB website once compiled.
Check out the Selkirk Settler Times for the latest news.
Submitted by Manitoba PC Caucus
Alan Lagimodiere, MLA for Selkirk is pleased to highlight a recent provincial announcement to invest an additional $50 million in capital investments in schools across the province, including a number of critical projects in schools in Selkirk and St. Andrews.
“Our PC government is committed to enhancing our education facilities for all students to support our pledge to protect Manitobans,” Lagimodiere said. “These much-needed projects will provide substantial upgrades and repairs to schools in our community to best fulfill the needs of students and teachers.”
The following projects and repairs have been approved in Selkirk and St. Andrews:
• Selkirk Junior High School: Boiler System Replacement
• Robert Smith Elementary School: Foundation Levelling
• St. Andrews School Lift Projects are planned to be completed within a time frame of six to 24 months following the award of tenders and start of construction.
The Manitoba government is investing a total of $210 million in crucial K to 12 school capital projects to enhance learning environments for students and teachers across the province.
