Multicultural day in Manitoba and The Forks

This afternoon, on Multiculturalism Day in Manitoba, we stopped by the Forks to take in some of the festivities.

In the top photo, Naomi and I are shown with volunteers Linda Cantiveros and Shirley Chang.

We also paused to talk to Gail McDonald, Tourism Coordinator for the Interlake Tourism Association (middle photo). Gail filled us in about the wonderful sights and events this summer in the Interlake. Visit www.interlaketourism.com to see for yourself.

And we also stocked up on break from the Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company.

For more on the growing importance of our multicultural community in Canada see
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Render&inifile=futuretense.ini&c=Page&cid=968332188492&pubid=968163964505

The Transportation through the Ages Parade at MacGregor, Manitoba and the

This morning in MacGregor, the Transportation through the Ages Parade was the highlight (top two photos).

I had a chance to meet members of the Rodgers family who farm northeast of MacGregor, and to chat with Robert and Velma and with Brian. I learned about the care and attention they have paid to their farm over many years since the farm was started by Charles Rodgers (father of Robert and Brian) in the 1930s. Today their 1538 acre farm grows wheat, oats, barley, soybeans, canola, corn and navy beans, and they raise 16,000 hogs earch year and have 120- head of cattle. Congratulations to all the Rodgers family. In the middle photo, I am shown with Brian Rodgers.

Before the parade, the Blue Planet Gypsies seranaded the crowd during the pancake breakfast (Fourth photo). Fifty pots of plants hanging around town provided extra colour. Congratulations to all the volunteers who made this such a success.

Make Poverty History - and the Ecole Leila North Community School

All week students at the Ecole Leila North Community School have been focused on action to relieve poverty in Canada and around the world. Their efforts have stressed four goals - providing more and better aid, promoting fair trade, eliminating the debt of the poorest nations and eliminating child poverty in Canada. The posters in the hallways - see above - go into details on each theme.

The finale for the week was a school-wide assembly on Friday afternoon. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the event.

During the one hour assembly, students came to the front to draw a new face on the board every three seconds - to emphasize the number of children who have died, worldwide, from poverty during the hour. We saw films and heard presentations. One of the videos was made by the students themselves - well done to all the students who participated.

Congratulations to the students who led this effort - Courtney, Brett, Nikki, Karilee, Haile, Angela and Elisa (I hope I have your names spelled correctly), and to the staff - Mr. Miles MacFarlane and Mr. Jamil Mian who helped.

Winnipeg's Social Planning Council and the War on Poverty

The Social Planning Council has been at the forefront of the war on poverty in Manitoba. Yesterday, I dropped by their Annual General Meeting, and talked with people like Wayne Helgason who have been working hard in this area. The Social Planning Council gets involved with in-depth analysis and with practical suggestions for improvement. Kudos to all the volunteers and the staff at the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.

45 Years of Injustice to Grand Rapids original residents

Forty-five years ago, Florence McKay travelled from Grand Rapids to Winnipeg to pick up her son Ken. There was no highway then and she had to travel a considerable part of the way by boat. When she returned, to her astonishment and dismay, she found her home had been bulldozed and all her possessions were scattered around on the ground nearby. You can only imagine what she felt at the time.

This was what Manitoba Hydro did at Grand Rapids when they built the dam. It was a human tragedy of huge proportions. The original residents had to live in tents for a while and then with no where else to go, many left Grand Rapids to move elsewhere in Manitoba. For forty-five years the displaced residents of Grand Rapids have fought for justice. It is time they received it.

At the legislature today, there were many of the displaced residents, their descendents (the bottom photo shows Brittany and Jennifer Mayo, two great granddaughters of Florence and Valentine McKay, holding pictures of their great grandparents), and their supporters. Today is day 17 of their stay on the legislature grounds in their efforts to get justice.

Stroke busters

Today at the legislature, various groups were raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and riding a large bicycle. The top photo shows the stroke busters from Great West Life.

In the middle photo, I am with Kristin Clapperton who put a huge effort in to organize the event. Well done Kristin!

In the bottom photo, I am with Herschelle Carvery, one of the Great West Life stroke busters.

National Aboriginal Day

Today is National Aboriginal Day. There were lots of festivities. I joined many at the Forks. Also there was Southern Grand Chief Chris Henderson (top photo) doing interviews.

I met Sheila Swasson, Donna Martin-Metallic and Chi Metallic-Larocque (middle photo) who are cycling from Vancouver to St. John's in order to bring attention to efforts to end family violence.

Carol Beaulieu (bottom photo), was a major organizer of the event. Well done Carol!

Opportunity for high school students - Deep River Science Academy

In Pinawa earlier today, I stopped by to visit Arlene Davidson who is the business manager for the Deep River Science Academy. Every summer high school students age 15-18 have an opportunity to spend six weeks living in a resort community and participating in a "hands-on" research experience at the Whiteshell Campus. There are still a few spots available. You need to act quickly because it starts soon. Visit their web site at www.drsawhiteshell.ca or call Arlene Davidson at 204-753-8848 to learn more.

The Exchange District

Saturday evening, Naomi and I joined Christian Worthington and Jason Hasselmann in helping to raise funds for the Exchange Community Church and the North Point Douglas Women's Centre.

Brother and sister, Colin and Carla Van Den Berg joined together to produce the photographic collage - the Faces of the Exchange (top - Carla and Colin are shown in the second photo).

Naomi Gerrard and Christian Worthington donated paintings for the fundraising effort (third and fourth photos).

In the bottom photo are myself, Jason Hasselmann, Christian Worthington and Phil Wright (back row) with Mary Lou Bourgeois, Naomi Gerrard and Elaine Bishop in the front row.

AFRICAFEST

Africafest, featuring an African Heritage Business Exhibition and a Premiere of the film My Dream, My Reality; Through the Eyes of an African Youth took place on Friday and Saturday.
The film was directed by Muuxi Adam (to my right in the top photo).

Philippine Independence Day

Various events to celebrate Philippine Independence Day were held over the weekend.