Selkirk mayor Larry Johannson toured a new housing development along Vaughan Avenue on the west side of the city on Sept. 11.
Housing boom continues for Selkirk
Honouring Harry Enns
Ducks Unlimited Canada announced the renaming of Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre to the Harry J. Enns Wetland Discovery Centre on Sept. 10.
According to the province, Enns was an MLA from 1966 to 2003 and championed the development of the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, which is also the national headquarters for Ducks Unlimited Canada.
In addition to the re-naming celebration, the province announced it will invest $6 million as a way to help support local interpretive centre. The funding is part of a newly created endowment fund with the Interlake Community Foundation.
Background
Located east of Stonewall, Oak Hammock Marsh is a 36-square-kilometre marsh featuring a restored prairie marsh, aspen-oak bluff, artesian springs and some of Manitoba’s last remaining patches of tall-grass prairie. It also features a theatre, a scenic cafe, a gift shop, meeting rooms, rooftop observation deck and interactive exhibits. Its interpretive centre welcomes close to 100,000 students, tourists and environmental professionals annually who can explore 30 kilometres of trails and lush natural habitat that is home to 25 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, numerous amphibians, reptiles, fish and invertebrates.
For more information on Oak Hammock Marsh, visit www.oakhammockmarsh.ca/.
Port Market delivers during summer
The Selkirk D.O.G Days Port Market proved its success during the summer of 2020.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, people flocked to the market each Wednesday from July 22 to Aug. 26.
The market went ahead despite the pandemic as a way to get people outside and to enjoy summer during July and August.
Evolution Dance keeps dancing feet happy
Evolution Dance kept many of its dancers’ feet happy during the summer of 2020 by hosting a summer dance camp.
Swimmers getting read to make a splash
Getting back into the swim of things for a coach that has lost her pool and needs to follow strict Return to Play protocols has not been easy.
“It’s been a challenge,” readily admits Michelle Stamm, manager/head coach of the Selkirk Dolphins Swim Club. “I’m also the community pool manager and it was shut down by the school division. Since then, I’ve been unemployed and I don’t know when – or if – it will open again.”
When Covid-19 first started shutting just about everything down, Stamm and her 70 athletes (aged eight to 17) were on their way to a national competition in Winnipeg, where athletes from as far away as Quebec and Ontario were warming up.
Like other sports, that stoppage left them in limbo.
After studying both the national Return to Play and Manitoba restrictions, Stamm began dryland training for 18 chosen swimmers (aged nine to 16) about four weeks ago. Others are awaiting their turn.
“(On Tuesday), I secured space for pool training in the city – the Pan Am and Cindy Klassen pools,” said Stamm, a former competitive swimmer who founded the club with her parents in 1979. “But even the changes on the pools that have re-opened are ongoing.”
Getting her swimmers back into the water on Sept. 17 includes many restrictions.
“A lot of people don’t know the severity of it (the virus),” Stamm said. “I have to wear a mask to coach and there’s no training allowed poolside. I need to screen them every time – take their temperature, give them sanitizer, make sure they wear their masks and are social distancing. Different pools have different restrictions about the social distancing in the water. The swimmers have to wear a mask when they enter the facility and wear their masks until they get to the side of the pool, then take them off before they get into the water. Once they’re out of the water, they have to put their masks back on and leave a certain way.”
All of the equipment, like flutterboards and paddles must be sanitized.
The club will also need a convoy just to get the kids from Selkirk to Winnipeg.
“Each parent has to take their own kid unless they have a really close friend who can travel with them,” Stamm said. “Right now, we need about 10 vehicles. When our numbers are up, we’ll need double that.
“The kids have been awesome. They’re very respectful and do what they have to do. They have great parents and they’ve been swimming with me for quite awhile now.”
Stamm knows there is still an uneasy journey ahead before any competitions will be allowed in the face of the pandemic.
“The logistics of it all is mind-boggling,” she said. “But we’re all in the same boat around the world.”
Romans passionate about track
Emma Romans is dedicating her energy to her chosen sport of track & field.
The Selkirk Settler Times caught up with Romans at the WOA Summer Jam Mini-Meet No. 2 in Selkirk on Aug. 20.
Track legend visits Selkirk
Alex Gardiner was in Selkirk for the WOA Summer Jam Mini-Meet No. 2.
The long time coach in the track & field world decided to touchdown in Selkirk to watch one of his athletes perform in the 200 metre dash.
Champion child making public appearances
Brady Bobrowich has been embracing his role as the Children’s Hospital Foundation Champion Child.
The Selkirk resident made a speech at the Children’s Hospital Foundation golf tournament at Glendale on Aug. 19 and the next day was seen selling 50/50 tickets at the Manitoba Home Builders Association golf tournament at Breezy Bend.
According to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, the Champions program is part of the Children’s Miracle Network and honours remarkable children who have triumped despite severe medical challenges.
Bobrowich will not only be the Champion Child for the remaindered of 2020, but also for the year 2021.
Selkirk offers beautiful parks
Selkirk mayor Larry Johannson promoted the many parks found throughout the city on the afternoon of Aug. 26.
There are at least nine parks that local residents and visitors can enjoy, not only during the summer months, but also during the winter months. These parks are: Queen’s, Veterans Memorial Gardens, Penwarden, Little Lake, Red Feather Farm Memorial, Murray Sinclair, Hydro, Selkirk Memorial Park and Selkirk Park.
“I can’t say enough about our parks. I’d like to tell you – get out and enjoy them. Get outdoors, enjoy the parks,” Johannson told the Selkirk Settler Times. “Stay healthy, stay fit, these parks are for you.”
Johannson described Selkirk Park as the city’s crown jewel.
“It’s fantastic,” Johannson added.
Polinuk retires as superintendent
Michele Polinuk retired as superintendent of the Lord Selkirk School Division on July 31.
The long-time educator was involved in education for many years, not only as a superintendent, but also as a teacher.
