The Selkirk Settler Times wishes you and your loved ones a very Happy Valentine’s Day.
Jets battle Senators on home ice
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.
Province increasing funding to public school division for record high 2021-22 academic year
Submitted by the Province of Manitoba
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.
Alarming number of vehicle fires over the past two months: Manitoba Public Insurance
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.
The life of 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.
Written for all with kindness from,
Grammy
Greenfeld pursuing his dreams on soccer pitch
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.
Full feature on Greenfeld coming soon.
New public health orders formalize next steps of province’s cautious reopening effective Feb. 12
Submitted by the Province of Manitoba
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.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.
Province funding school infrastructure projects in Selkirk, St. Andrews
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.
Selkirk considers repatriating land-use planning from Red River Planning District
Submitted by the City of Selkirk
Since 1977 the land-use planning and building permitting in the City of Selkirk has been under the administration of the Red River Planning District. Over the past decade, the city has found this structure no longer meets the expectations of council or the needs of local citizens, businesses and developers. A recently completed study into the feasibility of taking back the administration of these services has found that establishing a new city planning office would save tax dollars and better align the services to the needs of Selkirk.
Mayor Larry Johannson said that it may be time for the city to take back the administration of these functions to better meet the needs of the growing city.
“Selkirk is a growing urban center. We have seen lots of change since the 1970’s when the planning district was first established. We hear lots of feedback, often concerns from citizens and developers about planning services. We think that we are just at that stage of our development as a city to do our own planning and permitting,” Johannson said.
The Red River Planning District is incorporated under the Manitoba Planning Act and the process for amending its membership is prescribed in the Act. Prior to making the formal request to the Minister of Municipal Relations to be removed from the district, the city must first hold a public hearing to present the findings of the study and to seek citizen input.
Johannson said that the process allows citizens to share their thoughts on leaving the district and offering services directly.
“Ultimately Minister Johnson will decide whether Selkirk can set up its own planning office, but this process gives citizens a chance to put on record some of the concerns they have shared with us over the years. I truly think that once the Minister sees the support from citizens and the value this will bring to our city, he will be supportive. It makes a lot of sense for a city of our maturity,” Johannson said.
Selkirk CAO Duane Nicol says establishing an independent planning office would fulfill a key part of the City’s strategic plan. Under the ‘maximum value from community resources’ piler the plan says, “Council may need to explore other approaches (to regional development processes) that could be more effective and equitable for the people of Selkirk”.
“Finding more effective regional development approaches is one of the 21 strategic objectives in the plan. This would also support the achievement of other objectives including ‘taking firmer control of our economic destiny’ and having ‘clear intentions for future development’,” Nicol said.
Nicol says that by bringing planning services in-house, the city would be able to better align these services with the city’s sustainable economic development goals as well as align planning decisions with the city’s asset management program.
“Development has a huge impact on infrastructure. Creating new roads and pipes comes at a cost. By repatriating planning services, we can ensure that new development is aligned with our infrastructure capacity and we encourage new growth that makes us more financially sustainable, not less.”
The feasibility study was conducted by Way-To-Go Consulting, a Manitoba-based independent consulting firm that specializes in municipal government. Nicol said it was important to bring in experts to conduct the study to ensure council had high quality, and unbiased information on which to make a decision.
The study reviews the planning services offered by other Manitoba cities and proposes a structure and operating model for the city. Using this information, the study determines expense projections and then uses actual permit and service data for Selkirk to project revenues. Based on this evaluation, an independent planning office could save Selkirk taxpayers over $60,000 in its first year of operations.
“Under this new model, we expect to see a very large savings for citizens. So not only will we see more alignment between our sustainable economic development goals, our asset management program, and our land use planning, but we’ll find savings as well,” said Nicol.
While leaving the district would allow the city to focus on the services provided to local property owners, Nicol says the city would still approach land-use planning from a regional perspective.
“Selkirk is a regional hub. We have good relationships with our neighbouring communities, and we will continue to work with them to ensure land uses and other services consider the impacts on citizens regardless of municipal boundary. While in the near future we might not be part of RRPD, we will still be working with them regularly for mutual benefit and our development plan will have to fit within the regional context. Not much will change from that perspective,” said Nicol
Citizens, developers, and businesses are invited to view or participate in the public hearing that will be held on March 23rd. Due to COVID restrictions, the public hearing will be conducted virtually. Any interested party must first register to receive an invite to the hearing with instructions. To register, interested parties must visit www.MySelkirk.ca/RRPDhearing. For those seeking to participate but do not have internet access, the city asks that you call CitizenSupport at 204-785-4900 where alternate arrangements may be made.
Thoughts on Valentine’s Day and marriage
Recently, I heard of a fellow who, when asked by his uncle what he had bought his wife for Valentine’s Day, said, “A belt and a bag.” His uncle replied, “That was very nice of you! I hope she appreciates the thought.” “So do I,” said the nephew. “Hopefully, the vacuum cleaner will work a lot better now.”
I love Valentine’s Day. For me, it gives me another chance to express to my wife how much I love her. I look forward to buying her things she likes (but not vacuum cleaner belts and bags…)
But, at the same time, I realize not everybody’s marriage is filled with love. For example, comedian Red Skelton tells of some of the challenges he has faced in his marriage over the years: “I married Miss Right. I just didn’t know her first name was Always.” He went on to say, “I haven’t spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don’t like to interrupt her.”
Once he asked his wife where she wanted to go for their anniversary. “Somewhere I haven’t been in a long time,” she replied. “So,” he says, “I suggested the kitchen.”
“Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays. We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California and mine is in Texas.” Actually, you should know the Skelton’s do have a wonderful marriage.
I see part on my job as a pastor being to help people have successful relationships and happy marriages. This is one of the reasons why a few years ago, I wrote the book, Knot Happy – how your marriage can be, that was published by Tate Publishing. In it, I pointed out the Bible’s teachings on marriage: how a husband and a wife are to respond to each other. I wrote, “I believe the key to being happy though married is to understand and apply God’s prescriptions for marriage as laid down in the scriptures.”
Here are those prescriptions. First, here is what God wants from husbands: “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). I am to love my wife to the point I would be willing to die for her (that’s how much Jesus loved me and every other person in the church.) A husband sacrificially lays down his life for his wife; he loses himself for her. Even when it is difficult, he still does it. Like a potter feels around the rim of the goblet he has just fashioned to see if there are any cracks in it, so a good husband feels around the edges of his wife’s soul and tries to discover what unmet needs there are in her life. Then he goes out and does his level best to see they are met.
And here is what God wants from wives: “The wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:32.) Most men desire, even more than love, the respect and admiration of the woman they have married. When a wife lets her husband know she is proud of him and that she admires him above all other men, it gives him the emotional fuel he needs to carry on. A number of years ago, I was at a conference where a missionary couple gave a report. As the husband spoke, the wife stood by his side, looking at him with eyes filled with admiration. To this day, I recall how deeply that stirred me as I watched. Every man wants to be greatly admired by the love of his life.
If you are married, I hope this Valentine’s and even beyond, there will be lots and lots of love and respect happening in your marriage.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
