There was plenty of Christmas spirit in Selkirk on the evening of Dec. 20.
True meaning of Christmas
Charles Dickens first published A Christmas Carol on Dec. 19, 1943. This story reminds us the joy around Christmas time can be found in friendship, kindness and generosity.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic raging on as we approach Christmas Day, it is important for all of us to find meaning and happiness around the Christmas season no matter how Christmas 2020 may look.
Watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas also reminds us how Christmas came without presents, packages and a fancy dinner. In the end, Christmas came just the same.
This year it’s most important to find meaning in the little things and simple things that we can do not only for others, but also for ourselves.
Brook Jones is the editor of the Selkirk Settler Times
Province ready to launch historic immunization campaign to protect Manitobans from COVID-19
Submitted by the Province of Manitoba
Manitoba’s first COVID-19 immunization clinic is ready to launch tomorrow morning to protect 900 health-care providers and the health-care system, Premier Brian Pallister announced Dec. 16.
“This is a long-awaited day of hope for Manitoba, as for more than nine months, this unprecedented pandemic has taken a toll on all of us as individuals, on our communities and our health-care system,” said Pallister. “We know that tomorrow’s immunization clinic is a small but critical first step in helping to protect Manitobans most at risk from COVID-19. As more vaccine arrives in the province, we will be ready to deliver, building on this incredibly important first immunization clinic intended to protect our first priority group and save lives.”
The immunization clinic will launch tomorrow morning at the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences on Bannatyne campus adjacent to the Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg. This site was chosen because it has the capacity to safely store the Pfizer vaccine, which must be kept at ultra-low temperatures and could not be moved after it was delivered.
“The University of Manitoba welcomes this opportunity to support public health efforts in launching Manitoba’s first COVID-19 immunization clinic,” said Dr. Michael Benarroch, president and vice-chancellor, University of Manitoba. “Our faculty members, researchers and learners in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences have been conducting COVID research, and testing, treating and caring for COVID patients since the start of this pandemic. This is another way to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. Thank you to all who worked collaboratively with government partners to support the safe storage and delivery of the Pfizer vaccine.”
Nearly 900 appointments have been booked between Wednesday and Friday to immunize Manitoba’s first priority group of specific at-risk, health-care workers. Every immunization station has a laptop to support real-time data entry and the province’s surveillance efforts. This information will be added to the Public Health Information Management System, which is a secure, integrated electronic public health record. Each immunization appointment is expected to take about 45 minutes.
All of the individuals immunized at the first clinic will receive their second dose at a clinic to be established at the province’s first ‘super-site’ for vaccine storage, administration and logistics at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg. An ultra-low temperature freezer was installed at the site yesterday and it is expected to become fully operational in January, assuming additional supplies of vaccine are delivered. The premier noted ahis is the first step in the province’s commitment to establish fixed vaccination sites in Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, Steinbach, Gimli, Portage la Prairie and The Pas, which will begin to launch in the new year based on vaccine supplies.
Currently, the Pfizer vaccine arrives in 975 doses that must remain in the same location where it is delivered. Manitoba expects to receive other COVID-19 vaccines in the future that can be broken down into smaller amounts and be transported. When that is possible, the province will create mobile vaccination teams, which will use both ground and air transportation to reach more remote locations. In the final phase of Manitoba’s vaccination strategy, when vaccine is more widely available, Manitoba will gradually shift to a more conventional immunization program.
The premier also noted Manitoba has administered 383,442 doses of the influenza vaccine to date this year, about 27.5 per cent of the province’s population. This is about 2,200 more vaccinations than last year and the most seasonal flu immunizations delivered in the province’s history.
“The success of our seasonal immunization campaign demonstrates the strength of our province’s vaccination system and the willingness of Manitobans to not only protect themselves, but their community as well,” said Pallister. “The threat of COVID-19 has also reinforced how important immunization is for all of us, as a tool to prevent the spread of serious illness. While we wait for enough COVID-19 vaccine to arrive, we continue to encourage all eligible Manitobans to get their seasonal flu shot as an extra layer of protection this winter.”
There are still more than 100,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine available in the province. Manitobans who would like to receive the flu shot can find the nearest location at Flu Shot Finder at www.gov.mb.ca/health/flu/finder.html.
More information about the next shipment of COVID-19 vaccine will be shared in the coming days, as those details are confirmed with the province. To prepare for this historic immunization campaign, the province has secured more than 60 specialized freezers to meet the storage and distribution demands of the COVID-19 vaccines. By January, the province will have the capacity to safely store more than 1.8 million doses of vaccine. Security plans are in place to help protect the vaccines as they are delivered, as well as the people and infrastructure in place that are supporting the immunization campaign.
Manitoba is currently recruiting people to support the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, with a number of positions available now. To date, 100 people have been hired as immunizers and will become part of the first micro-credential offered at Red River College. For a current list of employment opportunities, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/jobs.html.
The Manitoba government is taking strong action to protect Manitobans and ensure timely access to care. For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.
Stringing Christmas lights
Work crews with the City of Selkirk were kept busy in late November as they strung thousands of Christmas lights down Manitoba Avenue.
Photos and video feature coming soon.
Province proclaims legislation to eliminate Sunday and holiday shopping restrictions
The Manitoba government has expedited the proclamation of new legislation that allows retailers to stay open later on Sundays and holidays starting Saturday, Dec. 12, Finance Minster Scott Fielding announced Dec. 10.
“Given the current public health restrictions in place to protect Manitobans, we want to provide flexibility to businesses and customers and allow more opportunity for curbside pickup and delivery options as well as longer in-person shopping hours to minimize crowds,” said Fielding. “During this critical time for retailers across the province, we believe these updated laws will help many businesses with additional revenues as we head into the holiday season.”
Bill 4 – The Retail Business Hours of Operation Act (Various Acts Amended or Repealed) eliminates retail shopping hour restrictions so businesses are no longer required to close after 6 p.m. on Sundays and certain holidays. It will give all businesses in Manitoba the choice to remain open later on Sundays and during statutory holidays. However, it gives municipalities the authority to pass bylaws, should they prefer to keep some restrictions in place.
Fielding noted the province expedited the passage and proclamation of this legislation over the past month, which was recommended from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Retail Council of Canada and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. In mid-November, an open letter to government on behalf of those organizations made a shared recommendation to expedite the implementation and passage of the bill.
“Given the current Critical level (red) restrictions facing all retailers across the province, it is important that we pass Bill 4 in time for the for the holiday season,” said the organizations in the joint letter. “It is our belief that this will help many retailers with additional revenues during this important time of year. Importantly, this change will also provide additional opportunities and or extended times for customers to shop in-store or pickup curbside orders in order to minimize how close we are when outside our residences.”
“A majority of Manitoba’s business owners support these changes, and we want to give all businesses in Manitoba the choice to remain open later on Sundays and statutory holidays,” said Fielding. “Manitoba was the only Western Canadian province to restrict retail business hours on Sundays and holidays and our government has been committed to modernizing our outdated and complicated shopping laws.”
The province will maintain its current retail hour restrictions on Remembrance Day. Public education materials will be prepared to help employers and the public understand the changes.
Ten Questions with Summer Howell
The Selkirk Settler Times recently brought to you a story on St. Andrews resident Summer Howell. The 16-year-old is a actor and was recently a lead actor in Disney’s film Clouds.
The Settler Times went a little further in getting to know Howell in this week’s Ten Questions feature.
1. ST: Who is the most influential person in your life?
SH: I think I’m most influenced by my closest friend and my mom. It sounds cheesy, but they make me a better person.
2. ST: What is your favourite movie to watch and favourite song to listen to?
SH: I love going to the theatre for new releases and I find it hard to pick a favourite movie since I watch so many. When it comes to music I’m into alternative music, R&B, and some rap.
3. ST: It’s Saturday morning, what are you having for breakfast?
SH: I’m not a big fan of breakfast food and I honestly wouldn’t make it to the table in time since I sleep past noon.
4. ST: What is your favourite vacation destination in Manitoba and in the world?
SH: I really enjoyed my time I spent in Nopiming Provincial Park while I was filming Hunter Hunter. It was so pretty there. As for the rest of the world I love travelling anywhere warm so I’m a big fan of Arizona.
5. ST: What is one book or magazine that you can’t put down?
SH: I don’t spend a lot of time reading anything besides scripts, but I recently finished The Great Gatsby in school and I liked it.
6. ST: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
SH: I’m definitely a night owl. As I mentioned earlier, I usually sleep past lunch on the weekends to make up for the sleep I don’t take at night.
7. ST: What is your most embarrassing moment?
SH: I’m a pretty clumsy person so anytime I trip or walk into the side of a table is pretty embarrassing.
8. ST: What is something you are striving to do in life?
SH: One of my biggest goals is to make acting my full time job when I’m older. I’m really passionate about it and it makes me happy so I’m definitely striving towards that.
9. ST: If you could have one super power, what would it be?
SH: I would like to have teleportation. Nothing against people who want to fly, but I’d much rather teleport and appear wherever I want than take time flying there. Plus it would be very easy to go on vacations.
10. ST: What is your favourite inspirational quote?
SH: My favourite would have to be “Good things come to those who work hard”
I think it’s very accurate.
Local teen chasing stardom
Summer Howell is only 16-year-olds, but she has been achieving some lofty goals as an actor in a short period of time.
The St. Andrews resident has a lead role in the movie Hunter Hunter, which is set to release in theatres in the United States on Dec. 18. The 93 minute film will be available in Canada On Demand and Digital, also starting on Dec. 18.
This film comes on the heals of the actor having a lead role in the Disney production called Clouds.
HUNTER HUNTER follows a family, who live in a remote part of the wilderness and earn their living as fur trappers. Howell plays the role of the daughter (Renee) of Joseph Mersault (Devon Sawa) and his wife Anne (Camille Sullivan). The particular family is struggling to make ends meet and think their fur traps are being hunted by the return of a rogue wolf.
Helping each other through grief this holiday season
Submitted by the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority
The holiday season can lift spirits and fill hearts with hope. For those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, it can also bring feelings of sadness and despair. At the best of times, it is very challenging to grieve the loss of someone close to you. During the holiday season when so much focus is on family, and with pandemic restrictions keeping us apart from others, it can be overwhelming.
“Grief is a mostly unpredictable journey that’s hard to navigate,” says Jill Hodgson-McConnell, a clinical team manager who works in the area of mental health with Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority. “It can manifest itself in many ways, including sadness, shock, numbness, denial, anger, fear, mood swings, anxiety, panic and guilt. Any of these feelings are normal ways of coping. They key is to acknowledge and validate your feelings, and take care of yourself through activities like exercise or meditation, sleeping well and reaching out to others.”
Hodgson-McConnell added that people who want to reach out to others shouldn’t worry about what some might perceive as interfering with another’s perfect holiday season. “The reality is that all of us are going through something; we all have ups and downs. Connecting with others – even if it’s only by phone or video calling – is extremely important.”
Interlake-Eastern RHA is offering one way to help people trying to cope with loss this year. Normally, the palliative care program places trees in facilities throughout the region that people can hang messages on to honour someone who has died. With pandemic restrictions in place, this year they are inviting everyone to honour loved ones by adding a public message to their Virtual Memory Tree. Simply visit www.is.gd/MemoryTree and fill in your message along with who it is for, and your note will appear on the page within 48 hours.
Hodgson-McConnell said that she hopes people can find some comfort in sharing their messages. Other ways people can mark the departure of a loved one include creating a virtual memory book, blog or web page so family and friends can honour the memory of your loved one and share stories. Another idea is to prepare your loved one’s favorite meal or any other gesture that had significance and can remind you of them.
According to Hodgson-McConnell, it’s not just those who have lost someone that need support.
“Because of isolation and the significant disruption to pre-COVID-19 routines, all of us are facing some sort of grief. Whether it be the loss of social contact, cancelled events, loss of a job or income, or the loss of anything that typically makes you happy, we are all dealing with strong emotions and grief. This year more than ever, stay in touch with each other and let your loved ones know they are not alone.”
Anyone experiencing loss or grief or struggling with depression, loneliness or other personal issues is encouraged to make use of the many resources available locally, which can be found at www.is.gd/mentalhealth1. If you notice that your symptoms of anxiety are causing you significant distress or interfering with your ability to function normally, call the region’s 24-hour crisis line at 204-482-5419 or toll-free at 1-866-427-8628.
It’s important for everyone to continue self-care past the holiday season and into the New Year. The RHA’s community wellness newsletter is a great way to stay informed about your personal health and learn about local resources. To sign up for the newsletter visit https://is.gd/wellnessnewsletter.
Interlake-Eastern RHA doctor receives award
Dr. Sabina Ijaz has been presented with the Distinguished Service Award.
Ijaz works in the Pine Falls community and is recognized for her unique contributions with and for Indigenous communities, as well as her contributions to a culturally safe and holistic practice of medicine.