Kelly Garnett livens things up at the Museum in Carberry, Manitoba

Yesterday afternoon, we stopped in to visit the museum in the Carberry Plains Museum. The present museum building in Carberry is to be found next door to the gingerbread house (top photo), which will be the future home of the museum.

Preparing for the move, and taking visitors on tours is Kelly Garnett. A historian, and 22 year correspondent with the late billionarie Ken Thompson, Kelly Garnett offered a wealth of intriguing detail as she enthusiastically showed us the displays including (a former one room school - second photo), information about Carberry native Wop May (third photo), and the intriguing Criddle family (bottom photo).

Along with the 1915 style schoolroom, you can read the rules for 1915 schoolteachers. They are
1) You will not marry during the term of your contract
2) You are not to keep company with men
3) You must be home between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless attending a school function.
4) You may not loiter downtown in any of the ice cream stores
5) You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you have the permission of the chairman of the board.
6) You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any many unless he is your father or brother.
7) You may not smoke cigarettes
8) You may not dress in bright colours
9) You may, under no circumstances, dye your hair
10) You must wear at least two petticoats
11) Your dresses must not be any shorter than two inches above the ankle.
12) To keep the classroom neat and clean, you must sweep the floor at least once a day: scrub the floor at least once a week with hot, soapy water: clean the blackboards at least once a day: start the fire at 7:00 a.m. so the room will be warm by 8:00.

When you read these rules you can understand why women like Nellie McClung worked so hard to get the vote for women. In 1916, Manitoba became the first province to give women the vote.

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The municipal campaign heats up in Brandon

Stephen Montague is out campaigning to be the next councillor in the Richmond ward in Brandon's municipal election.

Algal blooms on Lake Wahtopanah near Rivers

Earlier today, Craig Loewen and I visited Lake Wahtopanah after reports that there have been major problems with algal blooms on the lake.

When I was there the wind was from the west and we were told most of the algal blooms were being blown toward the east end of the lake. Nevertheless, in talking to people at the lake we heard concerns about the water, the algae and the weeds.

At a time when we have major concerns over algal blooms on Lake Winnipeg, one of the useful approaches to improving water quality province wide would be to focus on lakes like Killarney Lake and Lake Wahtopanah which have periodic problems with high levels of phosphorous and with algal blooms. These blooms have an adverse effect on tourism businesses in the area. Let us mobilize the effort to clean up lakes like Lake Wahtopanah. And in doing so we will learn lessons which will be important to cleaning up the much larger Lake Winnipeg.

The photos show Lake Wahtopanah (top), algal bloom on the Little Saskatchewan River just below the lake (second photo). I was told that similar blooms occur along the shores of the lake lake when the wind blows them in. Matts of weeds (third photo) are also a problem. Decreasing the algal blooms and the weeds would have a very positive impact on visitors and improve the use of the beach and swimming in the lake (bottom photo).

Casa Maley Bed and Breakfast

When visiting Brandon, I had the opportunity to stay at the Casa Maley Bed and Breakfast. Paulette and Ivan Soloway were gracious hosts. Thank you.

Making the City of Brandon a Destination Centre

In Brandon, yesterday, I attended the Rotary Club of Brandon luncheon and listened to presentations by Nonny Cancade (President of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce) and Shane Robins (General Manager of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce).

Nonny and Shane are determined to make Brandon a destination centre, and to contribute their efforts to move Manitoba to becoming a 'have' province. Shane made and presentation about the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. Nonny followed with a presentation on the courage, commitement and action needed to move Manitoba to becoming a 'have' province.

For more on the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and the Strategic Plan for Brandon in which they participated check out the chamber web site: http://www.brandonchamber.ca/default.aspx

A character truck in Portage la Prairie

When I attended the ceremony to induct new members into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame this truck was in the parking lot

Elaine Froese - Planting the Seed of Hope

On July 20, at the induction of new members into the Agricultural Hall of Fame, the keynote speaker was Elaine Froese (top photo). Her speech was on the importance of celebrating - whether it is birthdays, anniversaries or being inducted into the Hall of Fame. ( see http://www.manitobaliberals.ca/2006/07/new-inductees-into-manitoba.html )

She put this in the context of the high frequency of stress in modern farm life. She spoke of the work of psychologist Dr. Nikki Gerrard of Saskatoon who has worked extensively on issues around farm stress. Nikki Gerrard emphasizes the importance of celebrating, the importance of keeping connected with family members, with friends and with others, and the importance of communicating with others about what is happening. In Elaine's speech and in her book, she has taken these three themes and she plants the seeds of hope for farm families. Well done Elaine!

For more about Elaine Froese, or about her book Planting the Seed of Hope, visit www.elainefroese.com

Manitoba's model forest

July 18, I was in Pine Falls talking with Bev Dube about Manitoba's model forest. There are eleven model forests across Canada. The forest program based in Pine Falls and covering part of the forest on the east side of Lake Winnipeg is one of these.

Each model forest program brings together various stakeholders to share their knowledge and resources and to undertake research in relation to forest management and its impact. Manitoba's model forest program is enhancing our understanding of the boreal forest and the sustainable management of the forest.

This year, there is a significant change in that the national model forest program is being opened up and is being made more competitive. No longer will Manitoba be guaranteed a model forest program, and no longer will the model forest program based in Pine Falls be assured of national funding. This means that Bev Dube and others working on this initiative are putting in extra time to make sure their proposal for the next several years is one of the best in the country. They will also need enhanced provincial support in order to be fully competitive with model forest programs in other provinces.

Dr. Carolyn Bennett - and political decisions based on science and evidence

Dr. Carolyn Bennett is a family physician with a passion for politics, and a passion to improve Canada's health care system. First elected to the House of Commons in 1997, she has represented the riding of St. Paul's in Toronto since then and is now seeking the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Dr. Bennett was in Manitoba July 17th for a reception and she shows clearly her understanding of health care, the need for change and the considerable thought and attention she has given this issue. In 2000, her book Kill or Cure? How Canadians can remake their health care system was published.

In her book, and at the reception Carolyn provided her view on how to change and improve health care. Among the critical needs she emphasizes are the need to restore true accountability, the need to improve the quality of care, the need to put patients first, and numerous areas where preventing sickness can improve health and decrease health care costs.
She also emphasizes that "top down, highly centralized organizational structures are not the way of the future."

It was refreshing, as well, to hear her emphasis on the need to have political decisions based on science and evidence.

Safe Cruising

The evening of July 16th I joined an initiative of the Khartum Shriners to promote safe cruising. Together with members of the police force and police chief Jack Ewatski, we paraded west and then east on Portage Avenue in the Shriner's sports cars to promote safe cruising.

Bill Toews - Defending the Canadian Wheat Board

On July 15th, I attended a regional meeting of the National Farmers Union, and had an opportunity to listen to Bill Toews present a strong defence of the Canadian Wheat Board and the single-desk marketing system for western wheat and barley. In the past few weeks, the federal Conservative government has begun an ideologically-driven move to get rid of single-desk marketing.

Bill Toews is one of ten farmers who were democratically elected by grain farmers themselves to sit on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Wheat Board. He was elected, in part, because of his strong stand to defend the important role that the Canadian Wheat Board plays in assisting farmers market their grain at fair prices.

During the last federal election, I spoke with many farmers who were well aware of the Harper Conservative's policy of ending the Canadian Wheat Board's marketing approach for wheat and barley. Many said they were still going to vote Conservative because they did not really believe the Conservatives would end the CWB's monopoly on marketing. It is now becoming clear that the Conservatives intend to do just what they said they would do - end single-desk marketing.

The potential reprocussions for Manitoba agriculture are enormous and provincial Liberals will be keeping a close and concerned eye on these developments. Please send in your comments to me at jgerrard@leg.gov.mb.ca on this important matter.

Gathering of Nations Festival - St. Claude, Manitoba

Each year, the south-central plains of Manitoba is home to the Gathering of Nations Festival. It rotates among seven communities and this year was held in St. Claude. Naomi and I spent Saturday several hours on July 15th at the Festival and enjoyed the singing, the dancing, the displays and the excellent food.

There are seven pavillions including the Belgan, Dutch, Swan Lake First Nation, Ukranian-Slavic, Hutterite, French and Britsh Heritage.

Congratulations to Don Chapman, Frank Foidart and the other members of the steering committee, and to all the volunteers who made this event such a success.

Pat and Darrell Graham at the Castle in Minnedosa

Naomi and I stayed the night of June 14th with Pat and Darrell Graham at their bed and breakfast - called The Castle - in Minnedosa. It was a real treat - and we were served a very nutritious breakfast in the morning before going on to St. Claude and the Gathering of Nations Festival.

The top photo shows Pat in front of the Castle. The bottom photo shows the decor in the room where we stayed.

Gerry Oliver, Norm Davidson, Pat McCullough and Naomi Gerrard show their art at the Wasagaming Art Gallery

The evening of July 14, I joined my wife and three of her fellow artists for the opening of their art show at the Wasagaming Art Gallery at Clear Lake. All four artists have been very involved in putting on the Arts West workshop each June at Camp Wannacumback near Clear Lake. Their combined art show will be on display at the Wasagaming Art Gallery from July 14th through to August 16th.

The top photos shows two pieces of Naomi's art. The second photo shows the four artists (from left to right - Naomi, Norm Davidson, Pat McCullough and Gerry Oliver). In the bottom photo, Naomi thanks the staff of the Wasagaming Art Gallery for their efforts in putting on the show.

Also at the Wasagming Art Gallery from July 14 to August 16 is a show by Winnipeg artist Simon Hughes entitled "River Saga" - a saga along the Red River.

Carman Fair

July 14, I was at the Carman Fair. There were many animals on display, and many competitions. It was good to see so many young people involved. There were also lots of booth featuring a variety of wares. There were also members of our Canadian forces present as part of their recruiting effort.

Congratulations to the 2006 recipients of the Order of Manitoba

July 13th, was the Investiture of the 2006 recipients of the Order of Manitoba at the Manitoba Legislature.

Naomi and I attended the investiture and the reception following. We extend our congratulations to all the 2006 recipients. They include:
Neil Bardal
Jennifer Botterill
James W. Burns, O.C., M.B.A., L.L.D.
Albert Cerilli
Eileen Collins
Arnold Frieman
Evelyn Hart
Clara Hughes
Cindy Klassen
The Reverend Donald Russell Pratt
Len Smith
Neil Young

In the top photo Naomi and I are with Manitoba's Olympic Gold Medal winners Cindy Klassen, Clara Hughes and Jennifer Botterill.

In the bottom photo, my wife Naomi greets Eileen Collins in my office after the ceremony. Eileen received the award for her lifelong commitment and service to her community of Pilot Mound.

For more details about the recipients please go to the following web site:
http://lg.gov.mb.ca/activities/news/2006/ombackgrounds.html

Seager Wheeler farm near Rosthern, Saskatchewan is an example of what could be done at the Frank Skinner farmsite near Russell, Manitoba

July 11, Naomi and I visited the Seager Wheeler farm near Rosthern, Saskatchewan (photos above). The farm site is impressive. Great care has been taken to keep it in excellent condition for visitors to come and to learn about one of the important wheat breeders in western Canada.

There are signs and plaques to help visitors to learn about the contributions of Seager Wheeler who arrived in the Rosthern area in 1897 where he developed new strains of spring wheat which won world championship awards between 1911 and 1918.

Some of Seager Wheeler's equipment is on display (bottom photo). There is also a tea room and souvenir store in Seager Wheeler's former home.

In Manitoba, near Russell, there is the home site of a noted plant breeder - Frank Skinner. The efforts to preserve the Seager Wheeler farmsite and to make it an attractive site for people to visit are an example of what could be done at the Frank Skinner farmsite.

Batoche, Saskatchewan - centre of Metis culture and history

Batoche is the site of the battle in 1885 - a historic battle in which the Metis residents of the area fought to defend their community when it came under attack by Canadian forces under General Middleton.

On July 11, Naomi and I visited Batoche to see the village as it is today, and to learn more about what the village was like in 1885. The church (top photo) was built in about 1883, was present in 1885. It has been kept in excellent condition and is still used today. The bell, however, is not the original one. The original one was taken by Ontario soldiers under General Middleton and was in Ontario until the October 1991, when it was taken from there.

The location of the community is along the South Saskatchewan River - it is a beautiful site - and from the edge of the bank one has a panoramic view of the river below (second photo).

Today, it is a national historic site and there is an opportunity to learn many details of Metis life in the area and of the battle of Batoche (third photo).

Plaques show the location and ownership of the original river lots. If you look carefully at the fourth photo, you can see the lot belonging to Gabriel Dumont. It was located at Gabriel's Crossing - where people crossed the river. Gabriel Dumont arrived in the region in the late 1860s and helped establish the community. In 1885 he was the commander of the Metis forces.