Niomi Spence comes back to Manitoba

A number of years ago, Niomi Spence led a march from Winnipeg to her community of Sagkeeng along the Winnipeg River to create better awareness and understanding of epilepsy.

She has recently returned to Winnipeg, and has been impressed by the Esplanade Riel (the bridge in the top photo) and other changes to Winnipeg. Standing in the Salsbury House restaurant on the bridge, Niomi was pleased with the canoe because it made her feel at home. Niomi is in Manitoba for a while and then off again. Niomi, we hope one day you will return for good.

We have made progress in Manitoba, but there is lots more to do to make Manitoba a magnet for young people, and to make Manitoba a "have" province rather than a "have-not" province. This is one of the reasons I am in politics - to make sure that people like Niomi coming back to Manitoba because it is a great place to be. One of the first postings on my blog was on this topic - see http://www.manitobaliberals.ca/2005/09/staying-in-manitoba.html

Niomi is from Sagkeeng and Grand Rapids and has relatives in various communities around Manitoba.

Congratulations are due to former Mayor Glen Murray, former MP Ron Duhamel, Gaboury-Prefontaine-Perry Architects, Buckland and Taylor engineers and MD Steele Construction and others who contributed to the design and building of Esplanade Riel.