Submitted by the Province of Manitoba

Northern communities will soon have access to Manitoba’s winter road system, allowing for the delivery of essential goods, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced Jan. 22.

“Our government recognizes that Manitoba’s winter road system is a lifeline for many northern residents,” said Schuler. “We’ve committed to investing $9 million in providing 22 Manitoba communities access to supplies and essential goods. Once complete, those communities will have full passage to the network.”

Since 1971, winter roads facilitate the hauling of freight to remote and northern communities and provide residents with temporary inter-community travel as well as road access to the rest of the province. The Manitoba winter road system is over 2,381 kilometres long, crosses muskeg, streams, rivers and lakes, and is constructed on the natural terrain of land and ice.

The network is open from mid-January to mid-March depending on weather conditions. The roads serve over 30,000 Manitobans in 22 communities and carries over 2,500 shipments of goods annually. Nearly half of the shipments carry fuel, while the other half includes construction materials, heavy equipment and store supplies.

“Every year the province works with local communities and First Nations on the construction and maintenance of these roads,” said Indigenous and Northern Relations Minister Eileen Clarke. “This collaboration creates employment and training opportunities in the area for more than 250 employees.”

Timelines for the completion of all roads is dependent on weather conditions. Some sections of the winter road system may be closed for repairs on short notice, due to changing weather conditions.

Road users are encouraged to follow current COVID-19 public health orders and to contact individual communities for possible entry requirements prior to travelling. 

A complete list of Manitoba’s winter road system can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/winter/.

Submitted by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

John Longhurst will receive the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding in a virtual ceremony on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. Advance registration is required. To register for the event, please visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqdOurpjMvHNfoH_J9cQ8v52Argt9-Sf7a.

“In this province where we so proudly embrace multiculturalism, Mr. Longhurst’s vision, passion and commitment to bring voices from our diverse religious and cultural communities together, truly exemplifies the spirit of this award,” said Lt.-Gov. Janice C. Filmon. “It will be my pleasure to formally recognize Mr. Longhurst for his work in building harmony and understanding in our province, our country, our world.”

For decades, Longhurst has served as an advocate and chronicler in the fields of Christian ecumenism, and interreligious dialogue and understanding. Most of his engagement over the course of his career has been avocational: a labour of love. The breadth of vision attained through his international work has opened his heart and mind to diversity in such a way as to make him a champion for the interfaith enterprise in Manitoba and across Canada. He is committed to a ‘level playing field’ for religious expression and religious freedom.

He has been a Faith Page columnist with the Winnipeg Free Press since 2003 and his continued work gives him the unique position of being able to document, on a weekly basis, the impact of COVID-19 on the faith community, along with the response of people of faith to it.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding is traditionally presented each year at a ceremony at Government House, most often to an individual, who best embodies understanding between all religious groups.

Past recipients include:

• Sensei Fredrich Ulrich – A trusted leader and voice in the Buddhist community in Manitoba who continues to build bridges of understanding with other faith communities.

• Michel Aziza – the driving force behind the Operation Ezra project to rescue, sponsor and resettle Yazidi refugees since its very inception;

• Manju Lohda and Ray Dirks – collaborators on numerous educational multi-faith initiatives, including the In the Spirit of Humanity project, and Leap of Faith DVD;

• Devon Clunis – former chief of police for the City of Winnipeg;

• Rev. Karen Toole – former provincial spiritual care co-ordinator, radio host and newspaper columnist;

• Rabbi Doctor Neal and Carol Rose– professor of religion at the University of Manitoba for more than 30 years and Carol is a writer, poet and spiritual teacher;

• the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy – former minister of foreign affairs and president of the University of Winnipeg and life-long active lay member of the United Church of Canada; 

• the late Dr. Redwan Moqbel – former head of immunology, faculty of medicine at the University of Manitoba and a member of the Bahai Faith; 

• Dr. Atish Chandra Maniar – a Hindu priest; 

• Mae Louise Campbell – an Ojibway Métis elder; and

• Zane Zalis – a composer and musician.

For further information on this award and others given to exemplary citizens by the lieutenant governor of Manitoba, visit the lieutenant governor’s website at www.manitobalg.ca.