The Chinese Pavilion

Arriving at the Chinese pavilion, we were met by a Terra Cotta Warrior and his horse (top photo). Inside, ambassador Lisa Pao showed us around (second photo). Visiting the cultural display I acquired a fan with my name written on in Chinese (third photo).

The dancing (including the lion dancing) and the music were excellent - as was the food.

To learn more about the Terra Cotta Warriors visit:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shaanxi/xian/terra_cotta_army/index.htm

Playing golf with Ron Bell, Ron Hambly and Joe Masi at the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association Golf Tournament

Each summer, with a little luck I manage to get in three or four games of golf. My first one this year was with Ron Bell (top photo - lining up the golf ball), Ron Hambly (second photo - swinging though), and Joe Masi (fourth photo - putting). I am in the third photo.

It was a Texas Scramble tournament and it was fun, and the company was good. I also got the latest from Ron and Joe on the situation with various municipalities around the province. There are lots of infrastructure needs at the moment. Ron Hambly filled my in on the construction scene in Winnipeg. He is the Executive Director of the Winnipeg Construction Association.

The MHCA tournament had a variety of challenges on various holes. Half way around the course, we competed to chip three balls into a wading pool. Gail, observing that no one had managed so far to put all three balls into the wading pool, offered to jump into the pool with me if I could do it. It was a hot day. The water looked enticing and for once my pitching wedge helped me out - all three balls went into the wading pool - so there you have the photo with me and Gail cooling off.

The hothouse atmosphere at the Manitoba Legislature

In the past few weeks, you may have heard about the lack of air conditioning in the Manitoba Legislature (except of course for the Premier's office). Most of the time, it's not that big of a deal, but when the Manitoba mid-summer heat strikes, things change dramatically. That's when the offices on the south side of the building heat up like stone ovens.

Visitors and guests almost always end up commenting on how unpleasant the temperature is in the offices that Kevin Lamoureux and I occupy on the first floor. I've been told that conditions can be just as bad, if not sometimes worse, above us on the third floor. We have already had a few instances of heat exhaustion and mild heatstroke among staff at the Legislature.

Yet, the NDP government that runs the building has told us they will not allow offices to bring in portable air conditioners for a few months in the summer. That's the same NDP government that has happens to have central air conditioning installed in their caucus office.

Okay, Kevin and I are pretty used to getting the short-end of the stick from the NDP, but this type of abuse being heaped on visitors, maintenance staff, security personnel, and other workers in the Legislature is totally unnecessary and uncalled for. What did these working people do to deserve such shabby treatment from their NDP employer?

One of the things that I want a Liberal government to do is modernize the working conditions in the Legislature so that all MLAs (regardless of party), staff, media people, and public servants in the building have a more reasonable environment to work in. Clearly the NDP doesn't understand that a better working environment leads to better productivity, so we'll just have to wait for a Liberal government that cares about working people.

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.

The Italian Pavilion at Folklorama

The Italian pavilion features a wide array of well put together cultural displays with opportunities to purchase a variety of gifts.

Also featured are a drama about two Italian fishermen who go fishing (third photo from bottom) - and catch something rather unusual (you will have to visit the pavilion to find out what it is). The drama is also a love story with excellent singing and dancing (bottom two photos).

The top photo shows visitor Selina Bieber-Sapong checking out the sports motorcycle with Ambassador Joe Zirino. The second photo shows Cheryl of Executive Jewels (www.executivejewels.ca) with her jewelry. The third photo shows Caterina Sotiriadis and her varied and imaginative masks.

Push for the Cure - Skateboarding across Canada

Rob Lewis (second photo) is one of four skateboarders going across Canada to push for a cure for cancer. On Tuesday morning, they stopped at the Manitoba Legislature.

To find out more about their efforts, visit their web site at
http://www.pushforthecure.com/

The Slovenija Pavilion - and a tribute to Ambassadors

Monday evening, I visited the Slovenija Pavilion. I want to use this opportunity to say thank you to the Ambassadors who are the hosts at the pavilions.

At the Slovenija Pavilion, Ambassador Staphanie Zmavc (top photo), showed us the excellent series of displays (second photo) put together for the pavilion. The displays feature the various regions of Slovenija and their unique aspects. In one region, their are unique underground caverns with very interesting creatures.

Stephanie and the other ambassadors also participated in the dancing (second photo from bottom), as many of the ambassadors do in other pavilions. They have a very busy week with all the activities they have to do to be ambassadors.

The Slovenija pavilion also featured an entertaining sampling of cultural dancing.

The Serbian Pavilion "Beograd" at Folklorama

The Serbian Pavilion features excellent dancing (top photo) and food. In the cultural display, there is a tribute to the genius of Nikola Tesla who was born in 1856, 150 years ago (middle photo).

Tesla developed AC (alternating current) for the transmission of electricity. The display has interesting stories like the one about Tesla and Mark Twain (bottom photo).

The Alpine Pavilion at Winnipeg's Folklorama

The Alpine Pavilion has good food, dancing and music which features the Alphorn. I got to try the Alphorn, but it was pretty apparent I should stick to politics.

The top photo shows the Alpine Pavilion ambassadors Ursula Doelger, Alex Manhart, Elisabeth Hayden and Jordan Berger.

Karen Rogers and her Kreations made from hand made resins

Karen Rogers was at the Icelandic Festival this weekend (top photo). Her award winning art work using coloured resins was at the art show in the school (middle photo). She showed off her jewellry and other creations to Naomi at her booth (bottom photo).

For more about Karen Roger's Kreations see http://www.kreationsbykarenrogers.com/

There was spirited energy this last weekend in Thompson, Manitoba

Catherine Sumner, Louis Rabinovitch and Melissa Kaminsky were in Thompson this past weekend to bring some spirited energy to northern Manitoba. In fact, there was lots of energy there with parades, socials, music, a pancake breakfast, a picnic in the park and the Spirit Way.
But Catherine, Louis and Melissa certainly added to the fun enjoyed by Thompsonites and by the hundreds of former Thompsonites who returned for the weekend.

Fifty years ago it was Liberal Premier Douglas Campbell who signed the agreement to build Thompson

Fifty years ago, Liberal Premier Douglas Campbell signed the historic agreement which led to the construction of the nickel mine and the town at Thompson.

The agreement was reached after careful negotiations on both sides. As part of the agreement, Inco agreed to spend $175 million to build the mine. It was a huge project and in the years since the wisdom of the agreement has been shown time and time again.

In the photo, Premier Campbell is shown with Inco Chairman Henry Wingate.

The 50th Anniversay of the City of Thompson - a tribute to Mayor Bill Comaskey

Mayor Bill Comaskey of Thompson was first elected to city council in 1989 and as mayor in 1991. He has served Thompson well for 15 years.

This year Bill Comaskey is retiring, but before doing so he is presiding over the 5oth anniversary celebrations for the City of Thompson. This last weekend was an event filled weekend with a parade as well as many other events.

In the top photo I am together with Mayor Bill Comaskey, his wife Pat and his daughter Brenda.
In the bottom photo, I am with Brian Kreuger in the parade.

A tribute to Henry Cook, the trapper who had the trapline at Cook Lake, where Nickel was discovered in northern Manitoba

There were three trappers with traplines in the vicinity of Thompson when the nickel discoverey was first made. One of these was Henry Cook, after whom Cook Lake was named. It was at Cook lake (later renamed Thompson Lake) that the major high grade nickel was made in February 1956.

While I was in Thompson, a number of people told me of Henry Cook. He helped with the exploration. He worked for INCO and later for the provincial government. People had a lot of good things to say about him.

The bottom photo shows Henry Cook trapping with his son. The top photo shows Annabelle Cook, daughter of Henry Cook together with her husband Laurence and two children, and Annabelle's brother Jason Cook outside the Heritage Museum in Thompson as they pose with Tina Keeper and myself.

Dr. Jack Thompson - and the role of science, research and technology in the discovery of nickel in northern Manitoba

Dr. Jack Thompson was the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of INCO at the time nickel was discovered at Cook Lake (later renamed Thompson Lake) in northern Manitoba.

Dr. Thompson was a scientist, a mettalurgist who graduated of the Columbia School of Mines and was hired by International Nikkel to design and operate their first research labortory at Orford Works in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Dr. Thompson's background in science and research became important as he progressed up the chain of command becoming by 1956 the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Office of INCO. Critical to the finding of nickel in northern Manitoba was the use of advanced technology to detect magnetic anomalies. For those who are interested, the full story is told in A Journey North: The Great Thompson Nickel Discovery by Hugh Fraser.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the City of Thompson. It is appropriate that we pay tribute to Dr. Jack Thompson, after whom the city is named. For the celebrations over the weekend, Thompsonites were delighted to see Mary Birdsall (Dr. Thompson's daughter) and Geoffrey Birdsall (Dr. Thompson's grandson). In the bottom photo, Tina Keeper, MP for Churchill is meeting Mary and Geoffrey Birdsall.

The top two photos were taken at the Heritage Museum in Thompson - a must visit for anyone going to Thompson.

Spirit Way in Thompson, Manitoba

While I was at the 50th anniversary celebrations in the City of Thompson, I had a chance to notice the progress being made in developing Spirit Way - a walking trail which features notable artistic and historic sites.

Under development is a huge carving into rock, after the style of Mount Rushmore, which will be 240 meters long and almost 5 meters high and include images of wolves howling at the northern lights.

Already there is a large painting of a wolf (see photo), and many other featured attractions.

Family Matters

My wife Naomi' art show - Family Matters is now launched - at the Wayne Arthur Gallery at 186 Provoncher Boulevard. It will be up until August 30.

The photos above are from the opening night August 3.

Steve Wilson, Erin Nuttall, Mural Fest 2K6 and the Murals of Winnipeg

August 3 was the windup for Mural Fest 2K6 and the VIP night at the Fairmont.

Mural Fest 2K6 featured the production of murals by artists from around the world, a symposium about murals and an effort to transform Winnipeg into an urban art gallery.

To learn more go to the Mural Fest 2K6 site at http://www.muralfest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=32.

Steve Wilson of Graffiti Art Programming Inc., Erin Nuttall coordinator of Mural Fest 2K6 working together with their Board and with many sponsors have done an outstanding job.

The photos above are from the Fairmont reception. The top photo shows Steve Wilson with Board member Walt Nilsson. In the bottom photo, I am with Erin Nuttall.

To see more about the murals of Winnipeg, visit http://themuralsofwinnipeg.com/

Raven Thundersky is nominated as the provincial Liberal candidate in Wolseley

Raven Thundersky was nominated Thursday August 3 as the Liberal candidate in Wolseley constituency. You can read and listen on CBC radio at http://www.cbc.ca/insite/SOUNDS_LIKE_CANADA/2005/7/12.html to learn more about Raven.

To quote from the interview with guest host Kelly Ryan on Sounds Like Canada "Raven Thundersky has been called a Canadian hero for her crusade against a dangerous material lurking in thousands of homes. She blames Zonolite for the sickness that has ravaged her own family."

Raven is a passionate crusader to improve our environment, to decrease poverty and to make Wolseley a "have" constituency and Manitoba a "have" province. In the photo above, I am with Raven and her three children.

Ron Duhamel School Supplies Drive

The Ron Duhamel School Supplies Drive is underway. Our office is a participating site - so you can drop off school supplies to be donated at Room 169 in the Manitoba Legislature. We are normally open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. If we are not there when you arrive at the legislature you can drop your delivery at the front desk and it will reach us.

Chief Dennis Meeches, Curtis Assiniboine, Grand Chief Ron Evans and Manitoba Hydro President Bob Brennan sign historic agreement

August 3 was a historic day. An agreement was signed for Manitoba Hydro to sell its land and building on Madison Ave in Winnipeg to develop a new centre for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.

The Long Plains First Nation and its Chief Dennis Meeches, and the head of the Long Plains Trust, Curtis Assiniboine were directly involved in the purchase of the land. Thus the agreement was signed between Chief Dennis Meeches, Curtis Assiniboine, Grand Chief Ron Evans and Manitoba Hydro President Bob Brennan. Congratulations to all involved.

Photos from top show 1) Chief Dennis Meeches speaking at the ceremony with Curtis Assiniboine and Grand Chief Ron Evans looking on. 2) Chief Dennis Meeches, Grand Chief Ron Evans and Bob Brennan talking after the ceremony. 3) Chief Dennis Meeches with Deputy Mayor Mike Pagtakhan and Betty Meeches. Councillor Mike Pagtakhan represented the City of Winnipeg and promised quick attention to the development from the City.

The St. Norbert Market - Garnet and Carleigh Storsley and the Storsley Bison Ranch

The St. Norbert farmers market is always a good place to shop, and you never know just what you will find or who you will meet.

July 29, I stopped by I picked up some bison meat from Garnet and Carleigh Storsley.

Manitoba Housing - 170 Hendon

I met with residents of 170 Hendon on July 28 in follow up to my earlier meeting with residents and to assess the effect of the changes which have occurred as a result of our efforts. With on-site security now present, conditions are clearly improved at this Manitoba Housing complex.

There does, however, remain one serious problem. Recently, there have been approximately 12 fires set on the second floor (photos above). To date, these have caused burns on the carpet and along the walls, but if action is not taken to prevent further fires, much more serious damage could result. This issue needs to be attended to promptly.

Congratulations to David Chartrand - re-elected as President of the MMF

The evening of July 27, following recent province-wide elections, David Chartrand (top photo) and his board were inducted into office by Lieutenant Governor John Harvard.

This is David Chartrand's fourth term as MMF President. Congratulations David. Congratulations also to all the recently elected board members including Anita Campbell (second photo) and Darryl Deslauriers (third photo).

After the ceremony, I had a chance to meet Mrs. Chartrand (fourth photo), David's mother. During his speech, David spoke passionately about his mother and the role she played in his life. When they were growing up, the family, through necessity, was on welfare. As they were growing up, David's mother continually emphasized the importance of education. Indeed, it was from his mother and through education that David learned the skills which have been so important to his success. David is an example to many other children growing up in challenging circumstances.

Among those in attendance was Senator Head, shown in the bottom photo with Kristine McGhee.

Easterville and Moose Lake - examples of northern roads

I heard lots about northern roads when I was in Easterville and Moose Lake July 26 and 27.

Along the road into Easterville, near a bend in the road, there is a cross along the highway (top photo) marking the site where one of the local residents died in a car accident.

Gerald Houle and Wayne Lavallee, who I met in the coffee shop along the highway (second photo), said there have been more deaths (I think the total is at least four) along this section of the highway. Part of the problem is that the gravel road gets very dusty when it is dry, and this reduces visibility which can be quite dangerous near the curve in the highway.

There are similar concerns with the road into Moose Lake (bottom photo).

Easterville and Moose Lake are both communities of over a thousand people. I asked Craig Loewen, who was with me, whether he knew of any communities of over a thousand people in southern Manitoba which did not have a paved road. Criag, who grew up near Crystal City, and has travelled extensively in southern Manitoba, could not name one. There is an inequity here which will need to be addressed. For Easterville, the section of gravel road into the community is only 21 kilometers (13 miles). I think it is time to pave this road.

Chemawawin Cree Nation - An emphasis on education

July 27, I at the Chemawawin Cree Nation, I had a chance to talk to Councillors Sam and Floyd George (top photo).

A major emphasis, at the moment, is on education. The new school (middle and bottom photos) will officially open in September. Preparing young people for a strong future is very important. This has been emphasized by recent studies which have shown that First Nations youth who graduate from high school and get post-secondary education do very well.

The Pas, Arctic Radio and the Opasquia Times

On July 27, I had an opportunity to visit with a few folks in The Pas. This community is located along the Saskatchewan River and the local Rotary club has been active in supporting the development of park space (top photo shows Sunrise Park) along the river.

At Arctic Radio, CJ1240, I chatted with morning show host Robert Shiltroth (middle photo), and at the Opasquia Times, Jennifer Henderson showed me their sophisticated computer layout system (bottom photo).

Mosakahiken (Moose Lake) Cree Nation

July 26th, I was in Moose Lake to visit with Chief Philip Buck (top photo), and to learn about his community. Moose Lake is about an hour north-east of The Pas, and most of this drive is on a gravel road.

It was very helpful to meet with and to talk to elders Hubert Buck and Donald McNabb (second photo). From them I learned about the long term impacts on the community of the Grand Rapids Hydroelectric Power Dam built in the early 1960s.

Councillor Abel Gray who is responsible for resource management (third photo), was also very helpful. He pulled out maps and showed me the nature of the changes which have occurred. Because of the higher water in Cedar Lake as a result of the Grand Rapids Dam, the water levels on Moose Lake are also affected. Moose Lake water remains high during the summer and the flow through narrows on the lake are decreased (this has a negative affect on the fish which used to congregate at the narrows). In the winter, when Manitoba Hydro draws the water down to satisfy the increased demand for electricity in the winter, the water level falls under the ice.

Abel Gray (photo 3) showed me sites where there used to be fish spawning on gravel beds on Moose Lake, but now with increased silt deposits and other changes in the lake, the spawning beds are no longer used. More work needs to be done to fully understand the impact of all these changes, but from what I heard they have had a negative impact on the fishery and on local employment in fishing. The number of people fishing is much lower than it used to be.

Chief Philip Buck and his council are focusing on the future and on ensuring young people have a good education. Sadly, their school burned down and the children are now having to learn in temporary trailers (photo 4). Dennis Buck (photo 5) showed me the computer lab, and their adult education centre. Plans for a new school are under way, and it is hoped that construction will be finished in 2008. In the meantime, the land that was the local sports field is being used for temporary trailers and the community badly needs a new playing field for soccer and other sports.

During my time in Moose Lake, I had an opportunity to talk to residents on the local radio station (photo 6). I want to thank Chief Philip Buck and the people of Moose Lake for being so helpful and friendly during my visit.