Features from The Point Community News

May 2009        June 2009        July 2009        September 2009        November 2009        Jan/Feb 2010 Edition        Mar/Apr/10 edition        May/June 2010 edition

Excerpts from May 2009 Edition

Pedestrian-Cyclist Bridge Options
By Jim Chapryk    (May 2009 edition)

Recently a Collaborative Planning Working Group (CPWG) wrapped up its work to deliberate where a new pedestrian/cycling bridge should be built as part of the Disraeli Bridges rehabilitation project – a Public Private Partnership. This second bridge recommendation was an outcome of the public meetings that were held last year to plan for this major bridge renewal.

The CPWG (composed of Stakeholder Groups: North and South Point Douglas Residents groups, Winnipeg Trails Association, Prairie Pathfinders, Exchange District BIZ, Elmwood Community Resource Centre; City of Winnipeg employees; and, planning consultants) was asked to determine the best location for this second bridge to optimize its use for walkers and cyclists.

Early on in the process a number of the stakeholder groups made the recommendation to convert the Louise Bridge into a pedestrian/cyclist and transit bridge, rather than spend the $15 million to build a new bridge. This recommendation would have required a transportation plan by the city to determine new truck routes to take away the traffic that currently uses the Louise Bridge. Due to the need to move quickly on the construction of Disraeli and the time involved in conducting a transportation study, this option was shelved.

The two options that then emerged are either to attach the second bridge to the east side of a lowered Disraeli (to make it easier for cyclists or pedestrians to cross) or to build an independent bridge to the east of the bridge at the foot of Annabella St.

These options were reviewed with the stakeholder groups in March (in our case with the Point Douglas Residents Committee at our monthly meeting). There was no consensus as to which of the two options would be the better, so both were recommended to the City of Winnipeg and to the proponents of the partnership. Stay tuned for further developments.

Visuals of the two options discussed above:

• Option #1: 

  • Attached Crossing - Map

  • Attached Crossing - Artist's Oblique View
     

• Option #2:   

  • Separate Crossing - Map

  • Separate Crossing - Artist's Oblique View

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Spring Cleaning
By Alex and Cliff Stornel         (May 2009 edition)

In a matter of days we have gone from white-coated winter BLAH to the freshness of spring. The seasonal change has given us the opportunity to tackle spring cleaning, which is as much about shifting our attitudes and way of thinking as it is about the physical cleaning. Winter tends to bring a bit of a rut along with it, as we focus so much of our attention on staying warm and staying inside. Through spring cleaning we dig ourselves out of that rut and make the changes in our lives and our homes we need to move on. 

First let’s look outside of the home and focus on your yard and the boulevard in front of it. All winter sand and garbage got dumped and then buried as more falling snow came down. Now that everything has melted, it is all there for you and the world to see. Get outside and take a few minutes to collect the garbage. Things will look better and this will have a big impact on your mood.

Inside is more work that can also be well worth the effort. Our personal take on spring cleaning is that the best way to do it is to move things around. Change rooms around, move furniture around within a room, do whatever you can to make things feel different.  Even if that new feeling only lasts for a little while, it is often enough to shake off the winter blahs.

Moving things around provides a great opportunity to go through your belongings, get rid of the excess, and figure out what needs to be replaced. You can be good to the environment by not throwing usable items away. Post them to groups like FreeCycle (wpgfreecycle@yahoogroups.com) or donate to a thrift-store or to a community group or maybe have your own yard sale. In addition to producing a cleaner and more organized home, this type of work also helps shift the mindset from winter to spring and on to summer. Once you’ve done that you’ll start seeing things in an all new light. 

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Winnipeg’s True Birthplace        (June 2009)
 By Shirley Kowalchuk

Lately, the Winnipeg Free Press has referred to the recently championed Upper Fort Garry gates near Main at Broadway as "the birthplace of Winnipeg." This has sparked heated discussion among historians and others. According to arguments the true birthplace of Winnipeg is at Point Douglas, for many more reasons than the graffiti-scarred Upper Fort Garry gates can claim!

Prior to the arrival of 18 sick and malnourished Selkirk settlers at Point Douglas in 1812, activity in the Red River area, including contact with aboriginals, involved direct dependence upon the fur trade. Despite Lord Selkirk's legal wrangles with the Hudson Bay Company to establish the Selkirk Settlement, the community's design was independently agrarian from the fur trade. It was a daring humanitarian effort by Lord Selkirk to create a self-sufficient agricultural community where none had existed before. Despite often desperate struggles to survive, the community grew and prospered.

Evolving into an organized community seeking self sufficiency, Point Douglas had a common hay field (located between Euclid and Henry Avenues) at its centre, as well as a wind mill to grind grain decades before Ogilvie's of Point Douglas catapulted Winnipeg to international trade in grain. As symbolic forerunner, the first wheat crop was harvested in Point Douglas. The Selkirk Settlement of Point Douglas was the first agriculturally based community in western Canada.

Upper Fort Garry was built in 1835-36 for the trade of the Hudson Bay Company. In addition to their trade in furs, they held a blanket, fiercely-defended trade monopoly. It continued until 1849 when the monopoly was finally broken and local community economic growth increased quickly. The fur trade was decreasing and the HBC was eventually poised to transfer most of their land to the new Dominion of Canada. Upper Fort Garry took on the role as the seat of regional administration.

Unknown to many, a fort in Point Douglas was built at least 20 years before the gates of Upper Fort Garry. Fort Douglas stood at the foot of Galt Street near the the Red River. It served as the centre of the Point Douglas community before it was finally destroyed in the great flood of 1826. Its plaque has recently been discovered by a Point Douglas resident after being torn away in spring ice jams. Fort Douglas is dramatically storied with numerous tales, from hostile takeovers by North West Company fur traders to its final recapture by Lord Selkirk in 1817 upon his heroic arrival from Scotland accompanied by hired Swiss mercenaries. It was manned to the last moment in 1826 until finally its mill collapsed due to rushing flood waters.

After 1849, and especially after Manitoba became a province, Point Douglas and the surrounding community began to "urbanize" with new business development, especially in real estate and financial industries. Point Douglas was considered the most desirable residential neighbourhood, and early entrepreneurs lived here within stately brick mansions. These business leaders campaigned hard for Winnipeg to become a city. Looming up once again was the campaign's greatest foe, the powerful Hudson Bay Company! The HBC wished to avoid paying municipal taxes on land they owned, constituting one-third of the area proposed within new city boundaries. The company's fierce and influential opposition delayed Winnipeg's city status by an entire year. Finally in 1873 the city was incorporated.

With the new city, a municipal water service was planned. Today, the City of Winnipeg Waterworks is one of the city's largest services. Its forerunner may be traced to the 1850 well in Point Douglas that served the community until 1882 when the municipal water service was built. The site of the well is marked today by a geometric granite block in Joe Zuken Park.

Point Douglas has long been inclusive. For likely thousands of years, Aboriginal camp fires flickered into the night along the curved riverbanks of the Point. In 1738 Aboriginals of the area greeted LaVeryendre, the first European into the West, and helped him survive as he sought the discovery of efficient trade routes. Under the leadership of Chief Peguis, local Aboriginals kept the early settlers from starvation with gifts of bison meat and fish.

Inclusiveness, self-sustenance, the forerunners of early civic services, the birth of a spirited campaign for the creation of civic Winnipeg, and early independent community administration within Fort Douglas were the things that created our city. Despite the immense historical importance of the Upper Fort Garry Gate, it is at Point Douglas where the wellspring of our city resides.

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Excerpts from July 2009 Edition

A Wonderful Day in the Neighbourhood!
By Heather Geddie        (July 2009)

June 13 was a wonderful day for so many reasons. It was our first really sunny day, and in the morning I was out on my front porch enjoying a coffee and reading my newspaper. Jeff was puttering in the yard and our dogs, Mocha and Mellow, were barking and wagging their tails at everyone who went by. They were kept plenty busy at it, too, as so many people stopped to chat with us as they passed by on their leisurely walks. As folks came and went, it made me realize how much things have changed here in the past couple of years.

In the past seeing gangs of kids on bikes was cause for concern, as they were often up to no good. On this day, the gangs of kids were all headed to the bike rally at Norquay Community Centre, across the street from us. They were so excited and it was delightful. Another ‘gang’ of older teens, boys and girls, were up to nothing more sinister than a game of touch football in the park.

A little later, a fellow came by who had recently moved from the neighbourhood. He’d come back today to help a friend get her groceries and to take a walk around and see old friends. He didn’t have any treats for the dogs but they were happy to see him anyway. Imagine my surprise when he came back later in the day, just to give Mocha and Mellow their treats!

Friends and neighbours continued to come and go all day. Families strolled through Norquay Park; there were children and dogs, moms and dads. Kites were flown, balls and sticks chased. There was every colour of the human rainbow in the park that day, all in the space of a few hours, all in perfect harmony.

The very best part of the day was meeting one of our seniors, a lovely lady named Matilda, from Maple Street. She and her companion were making their way slowly toward us, arm-in-arm. Matilda would stop and point out things along the way. When they reached our gate, they stopped to chat with us and pat the dogs. Matilda was proudly showing her friend from Edmonton her wonderful neighbourhood, and it seemed she was rediscovering it herself. It had been so long since she’d felt comfortable walking in the area, and she was so happy with the way the neighbourhood has changed. Hearing her say that and seeing the joy on her face, I know that all our hard work has been worthwhile. We should be proud.

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Children's Hospital Celebrates 100 years of Caring
By Shayla Elizabeth        (July 2009)                    

The Children's Hospital of Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg celebrated its 100^th anniversary on Saturday, June 6, 2009 with the presentation of an award from Mayor Katz and the unveiling of the permanent home of a commemorative cairn at the site of Winnipeg's first Children's Hospital on Beaconsfield Street in Point Douglas.

Mayor Sam Katz presented the Organizational Community Service Award to Children's Hospital in honour of its years of service to the community. Established by the Mayor's Office in the 1950's, the award is presented to organizations that, through their dedication, have demonstrated excellence and achievement to benefit the well-being of our community.

The commemorative cairn was generously donated by Young & Yaremchuk Stoneworks. It was first unveiled by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, in June 2008 at the Sherbrook Street hospital site. A year later it was moved to its permanent site and unveiled by Dr. James Howarth, Professor Emeritus and former Chief of Pediatrics, and Ms. Mary Alice Grassick, Head of the Archival Committee volunteers and a long-time employee who just recently retired.

Many North Point Douglas residents have been surprised to learn that the first Children’s Hospital was located here. According to the Government of Manitoba website the hospital opened in February 1909 in a house at 4 Beaconsfield Street. The Winnipeg Council of Women had rented the property at the urging of Mrs. Annie Bond, a former British Army nurse, who was appalled at the high death rate among children in Winnipeg’s immigrant communities such as Point Douglas. In 1911 the hospital moved to Aberdeen Avenue, where the Holy Family Nursing Centre is now. Since 1956 the children’s hospital has been located at the Health Sciences Centre site.

The Children's Hospital had a School of Nursing, from 1910-1969. A total of 817 nurses graduated, and some of them are still working!  The alumni were out in full force on Saturday for the presentation of the award and of the unveiling of the cairn.

Take a walk in our riverside park and check out the new pathway and a worthwhile piece of Point Douglas history, too!

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Summer in The Point
By Cliff Stornel        (July 2009)

Numerous ideas were tossed around before the focus for this article fought its way to the top.  I hope that you enjoy the article and live the ideas put forward in it for the summer. The Point is a growing and changing community and it is up to us to embody the change that we want to see in it. This is even truer in the summer when we are all able to get outside.  Summer in the Point:  here’s what to do.

Turn off your TV – You can watch TV all winter long, hiding from the cold and checking out the new shows. Now it’s summer, so turn it off.

Leave your house / Know your neighbors / Look up when you are walking / Greet people – All of these are connected. If we all get outside we are bound to meet one another as we walk around. One little “Hello” and can open up a world of possibilities for you. While you are out walking you have a good chance of coming across one of the many community events that happen throughout the summer.

Sit on your stoop – Take some time and sit out on your front steps and you can meet the world as it walks by.

Plant flowers / Fix it even if you didn't break it – If you do something to make your house look better it makes the whole area look better. Those little improvements that we make also encourage others to make them as well. The whole thing will have a giant snowball effect as more and more people take the time to make an improvement.

Pick up litter – Each year we have a community clean up in the spring. People get together and work to improve the look of the community by collecting garbage. What would happen if we did this all the time? Next you go for a walk bring a plastic bag along and collect a bit of litter, it will only make your next walk that much better.

Play together – Get to know your neighbours, talk with them, lend a hand, and have a good time. In doing so you will not only have a good time, you will also make the neighbourhood a safer place for everyone.

Garden together – Not many of us have the room to plant everything we want in our gardens. If we work together we can share and trade the excess to get what we are missing. You will also likely find that others have knowledge that you may lack.

Talk to the mail carrier – She is a link to the whole community and connects us all. Say hello and meet her on the sidewalk so she doesn’t have to walk as far. If you have been reading The Point over the past few months you will know she does more for the community then just deliver mail.

Open your shades – Let the natural light in to your home. You will save money on your hydro bill, you will be more aware of what is going on in your community, and you’ll be better able to get to know your neighbours.

Share your skills – No one person knows everything, but we all know something. If you share what you know with someone else, and they in turn share their own knowledge with you, then you both benefit. 

 In the end it all comes down to this one thing, you have to live the way you want your community to be.

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Surplus Direct – Not Just Furniture!
by Heather Geddie        (July 2009)

A few weeks ago I discovered Surplus Direct at 843 Main Street. Someone told me to check out the bargains but I never got around to it. I thought it was just furniture, and I didn’t need any. I’m regretting not going in sooner. I could have saved a fortune!

Surplus Direct sells furniture, appliances, household items, toys, sporting goods and more. They buy excess inventory from many stores, take advantage of closeouts and liquidations and pass the savings on to their customers – usually anywhere from 10% to 80% off retail.

I was delighted with the quality and variety of merchandise, and the great prices, but the best part of my shopping experience was meeting Marie, one of the staff there. She was a regular at the store and felt like she was valued and appreciated. The owner and staff really seemed to care for the people who came in to shop. One day she joked to owner Rob McDonald that she came in so often she should just work there. Being a clever fellow, he hired her soon after.

Rob tells me they’ve been at this location for three years. People here know it as the former home of the renowned Kern Hill Furniture. Although Surplus Direct and Kern Hill were not connected, Rob knew and remains friends with the Hill family. He continues Nick’s tradition of caring and generosity, going the extra mile for the folks here. He speaks proudly of the picture of Nick on the side of the building. At the time he bought the building, he insisted the picture remain there.

Rob feels a bond with our community and the North End. He and his staff have gotten to know the regulars and help them out when they can, working with people’s budgets so they get what they need. Marie talked about how expensive it is for new parents to buy the baby furniture they need. She feels there’s no reason that children in our community shouldn’t enjoy the same high quality furniture as those from the suburbs, so they take special care to keep the prices of those items affordable.

Rob told me of a time when they got in a number of barbecues and one family really wanted one but couldn’t afford it. He decided in the end to just give them one. When he found out they didn’t have a propane tank, he bought them one.

Many of the store’s customers come in from reserves to shop there, and Rob goes out of his way to accommodate them and to have their purchases delivered to their homes.

Rob has been an entrepreneur since he was 21, and though he’s had the opportunity to make his fortune elsewhere, he’s chosen to make his career and his future here in our community. I can say that I’m very glad he’s made that choice. I’ll be dropping in often, to visit Marie and because I never know what I’ll find there next.

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Book Reviews 

For many of us summer means more time for reading. Here are a couple of reviews to get you thinking about this great leisure time activity.

The Sun Also Rises
By Ernest Hemingway

Reviewed by Rob Galston        (July 2009)

Published in 1926, this is the first of Ernest Hemingway’s novels. The story focuses on a group of English and Americans living in Paris’ bohemian Left Bank neighborhood. The book is narrated by one of these characters, the protagonist Jake Barnes, a young man left physically and emotionally damaged from his service in World War One. Jake and his friends, including the beautiful Lady “Brett” Ashley, travel to Pamplona Spain for the annual Fiesta, a time of much drinking, celebrating, fighting, and of course, bull fighting.

The prose of The Sun Also Rises is remarkably sparse, relying on simple descriptions of settings and atmospheres and dialogue between the characters to convey emotions. Hemingway’s prose gains the most color toward the end of the book when describing the bull fights.

Within this profound subtlety the story has a strong emotional undercurrent, exploring post-war trauma and disillusionment with conventional society. As a young adult in the early 21st century, it is interesting to read of similar conflicts and emotions in a book set more than 80 years ago.

In spite of the indifferent pessimism the characters have, the story ends on what I found to be a rather happy note, which is important to me as someone who appreciates happy endings in books and movies. The sparse prose also makes the book easy to read compared to the novels of Hemingway’s more wordy peers, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald.

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Book Review

The Worst Is Over
By Judith Acosta and Judith Simon

Reviewed by Elaine Bishop        (July 2009)

Words can hurt! Many of us know this from experience. This book talks about how using the right words can make the difference between life and death. I found this book by accident at the Millennium Library. I was fascinated, but this is a big claim. So, prove it! The book does.

In the 1970’s research was done with ambulance workers. One group got no training. The other group was taught a paragraph to say to every person they rescued and effective ways of calming themselves and the situation. The paragraph started and ended with:  The worst is over. People expected to die reached hospital alive. They recovered faster.  They had less pain. A quote from the book:  Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. (Rudyard Kipling)

These people were trained professionals, but could anyone do this and make a difference?

Yes!  This book can help anyone learn how to use words in everyday situations or in emergencies.  The book starts with sharing ways of responding to any emergency and then adds special ideas for different medical emergencies. It’s called ‘Verbal First Aid’.  Readers learn how to calm any situation. These ideas can also be used to help in day-to-day relationships with kids, with friends, with one another. The book is sprinkled with examples of people who have learned and made a difference during accidents. 

Want to know more?  The Women’s Centre has a short article on Verbal First Aid. Drop in and pick up a copy. You can also find this book at the Winnipeg Public Library or order a second-hand copy.

I leave you with another quote:

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

                                    --Benjamin Franklin

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Fabulously Frugal and Fun!
By Garolyn James        (July 2009)
  
25 FRUGAL THINGS KIDS CAN DO FOR THE SUMMER:

1) Plan an imaginary trip to the moon.
2) Make a tent out of blankets.
3) Have a neighborhood spelling bee.
4) Make up a game for practicing math facts
5) Catch up on schoolwork to get ahead
6) Do a jigsaw puzzle
7) Chase butterflies, catch them and let them go.
8) Make sock puppets and put on a puppet show.
9) Feed birds or squirrels
10)  Make paper airplanes and have a paper airplane race
11)  Fly a kite
12)  Have a neighborhood bike wash
13)  Run relay races
14)  Play tag
15)  Play charades
16)  Visit your neighborhood park
17)  Put on a family play
18)  Paint your face
19)  Start a club
20)  Pull garden weeds
21)  Paint a picture with lemon juice on a white paper and hang it in a sunny place and see what happens in a few days.
22) Put on a kiddie circus
23)  Play games with flashcards
24)  Write or print stories
25)  Have  an older child read a story to a younger child(ren)
 
Have a Fabulously Frugal Fun Summer!!
 

Calling All Seniors!
By Heather Geddie        (Sept 2009)

I visited the Age & Opportunity Centre at 1085 Main St. to interview Susan Alder, the new Resource Coordinator for the Point Douglas Seniors Coalition (PDSC), who took over the position from Myfanwy Cawley in December, 2008. Myfanwy worked tirelessly for seniors here and in the greater Point Douglas area. Susan says those are pretty big shoes to fill – no reflection on the size of Myfanwy’s feet!  

Prior to coming to the Seniors Coalition, Susan spent 12 years as the Tenant Resource Coordinator for the Donwood Manor, a high-rise apartment complex for seniors.  

The mission of the PDSC is to connect seniors with resources “to support independence and quality of life for seniors.” It’s a volunteer organization working to help seniors remain independent within their homes and communities. The Coalition can provide referrals for needs as diverse as home care, foot care, and legal services. They advocate for seniors with service providers and government offices. 

Among the services offered is a daily “Hello” service, where Susan or a volunteer will take a moment each day, from Monday to Friday, to make a phone call to seniors on their list, to ensure sure they are well and safe.   

Twice a month the Coalition provides free shuttle bus trips to grocery stores and malls, or tours and outings. Susan told me of a wonderful experience with one of the seniors she’d met here. The lady, let’s call her ‘Alice’, had long been a shut-in, unable to get out and about by herself. She contacted Susan via the newsletter inserted in The Point, from the Women’s Centre. Susan visited Alice in her home, to get to know her and to tell her about the resources offered by the Coalition. Susan invited Alice to join her and a group of seniors on an outing to the English Gardens and the Leo Mol Sculpture Gallery.  

Alice had a wonderful time with her new friends, two of whom walked with her and supported her on either side as they made their way through the gardens. Alice was so happy that afterward she wrote a note to Susan, to thank her and say “I have been a shut in and today has been a “perfect day”… I now have new and lovely memories.” 

If you are a senior living at home or you know of a senior who needs help living independently or in getting around, Susan would like to hear from you. Many of our senior citizens have worked hard and contributed much to our community. They deserve to enjoy their golden years in peace, comfort, dignity, and in good company. Let’s help them do it.  Call Susan at 792-8894 or email pdouglasseniors@mts.net

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Who Ya Gonna Call?
By Cliff Stornel            Sept/09 Edition 

Welcome to the first in a series of articles about knowing the resources available to you. As a community we are truly blessed with a wide range of places to go for assistance, far more than the average community in Winnipeg. Over the course of the next few issues I will touch on what is available, who to contact, and how to contact them. 

In the first of the series I want to focus on two very important services that are available to everyone quickly and without leaving their home, 311 and Powerline. Both are telephone-based services that can help you in a wide variety of ways. 

Winnipeg’s new 311 Service is there to help with any and every problem you might have when it comes to municipal government services. Previously the city had a variety of departments that would answer your phone calls. Now they have now gotten it down to a single group providing the service. To report a pothole problem, an over flowing garbage bin, even a burned out street light, just call 311. It is an easy to remember and easy to use--one stop shopping for anything offered by the City of Winnipeg. 

Powerline (956-4090) is strictly for the people of North and South Point Douglas. It gives us a place to anonymously report criminal or suspicious activity and other problems in our area. Chris and Sel Burrows have written a detailed article about how Powerline works, so no need for me to duplicate the information here.  

It is important to note that neither of these two lines replaces 911. If you are ever in danger or experience an emergency situation, please call 911 right away. For police non- emergencies call 986-6222. 

As this is an ongoing series of articles, I need your help. If you are involved in an organization that provides services to the residents of North or South Point Douglas, please contact me at randilin@mts.net. The information you provide will be included in a  future article.

November 2009 Edition     

 Point Douglas Provincial Park         Neechi Food Commons        GAP gets to the Point        North End Wellness Centre Opens        What's Happening???

Wind from the South - By Jordan Van Sewell

Well, it’s done. Congratulations to our new premier. Greg Selinger is a man well-known to the streets of our city and the concerns of our province. He worked the North End for years and was instrumental in developing Whittier Park, that great green space at the mouth of the Seine River and just across the water from our own proposed site of the Point Douglas Provincial Park.

Everyone should check out the location. The southern half is behind a locked gate; however, through the trees you can see the smokestack and the buildings that comprised Gateway Industries. The rest of the land adjoins the Louise Bridge and the former Point Douglas Yacht Club. Beyond that is more evidence of failed technology and abandoned industry now brightly painted with shake cans by graffiti artists. One can begin to wonder just how a provincial park would look and just what purpose it might serve. If the park went on to include both sides of the Red with a connecting foot bridge, we could really have something: a designated park from the Provencher to the Redwood bridges.

Plan Winnipeg is having a stakeholders gathering on October 24^th to discuss the future of parks in the city. We have a lot of wonderful green spaces now. Both Assiniboine and Kildonan Parks define Winnipeg, and it’s difficult to imagine our city without them. We also have Inkster Industrial, Moray Industrial, and Fort Garry Industrial Parks. These are less green and serve a different purpose in my understanding of parks. We also have a skate park on Sturgeon Road and a world class skate park at the Forks. We even have auto parks where you can buy a car. I guess swings and a slide no longer define what a park is.

Can a park be of benefit to our community here? Absolutely! Hey, it’s already a shade of green space down at the site. Currently it has limited use, mainly riverbank fires provisional campsites. It seems occasional litterbugs (a generous word) still use these areas as a dumping ground for their refuse, a modern nuisance grounds.

So what will this park look like? Maybe I should temper my enthusiasm. Skeptics say it’ll never happen. The ground has to be cleaned up, and that’s a big job. The City and the Province must work together. The decision makers must see the value of considering this park in the context of what is all around. The Disraeli Bridge design and the future use of the Louise Bridge must be considered. That’s an even bigger job.

What about a living park that reflects the needs and the future of the area, a park that has orchards and gardens where you can watch things grow through the seasons … and then eat them. What about housing and business? It’s necessary to alter our understanding of how a park looks and serves. The 19^th century that provided the design for parks as we know then is over. The 21^st century has different needs. Is it still a park?

Further to the September ‘Wind From the South’ column, Centre Venture Development Corporation was established in 1999 with the initial goal of steering the rebirth of downtown. It’s an advocate and catalyst for business investment, development, and economic growth in downtown Winnipeg. It develops and implements strategies to identify and capitalize on economic, physical, and social development opportunities. For additional information, check out the Centre Venture website, www.centreventure.com, phone 954-7733, or drop by their office at 492 Main Street.   back to Nov links

Neechi Food Commons Coming to Euclid and Main - By Cliff Stornel

For the better part of a year signs proclaiming ‘For Sale’ have hung from the side of California Fruit at Euclid and Main. According to the current owner the store will be closing its doors on October 31st, 2009. By the time you read this, that store will be no more. It's a sad part of a community’s evolution that stores come and go. In this case something new is coming to that landmark corner. What was once California Fruit will soon be known as the Neechi Food Commons.
Currently Neechi Foods is open for business on Dufferin Avenue and offers many of the things that you would find at regular grocery stores, as well as wonderful freshly made bannock and other Aboriginal specialty items. The demand for Neechi’s services has grown over the years
to the point where they have to expand. However, Neechi won’t be leaving its long-time Dufferin site. Plans are underway to convert that location into a convenience store with attached deli. They have no desire to abandon the local residents who have been so supportive over the years. The current store may also be turned into a food prep area for baking and catering.

The plans for the Neechi Food Commons have been developed with ongoing growth and expansion in mind. As well there will be a heavy focus at all stages on training and professional development. At this time all of the future tenants of the commons have yet to be determined. In
addition to the new Neechi Foods grocery store, they are looking at a number of different possibilities including a fish market, farmers market, community café, and perhaps even a year- round hydroponics set up in the basement.

So you can certainly expect to see a lot of changes at the corner of Main and Euclid over the next few years. Renovations will be starting on the new 5900 square foot grocery store, which is currently slated to open in the spring. Also, we can expect to see new construction in the spring
as well. I for one welcome the dust and can’t wait to see what this brings to the neighbourhood.  back to Nov links             Read Free Press article on Neechi Foods Commons

GAP Gets to the Point! - By Jillian Ramsay

Graffiti Art Programming Inc’s stART Program is thrilled to introduce it’s first mini winter camp series at Norquay Community Centre over the Winter Holiday break.  Come and join talented visual/performance artist Michael Dudeck on December 21,22, and 23 from 5-8 pm for an exciting 3 day filmmaking festival.  On December 28,29,and 30  join Loa and Patrick for a Hip Hop Boot Camp Experience featuring dancing and art each evening from 5-8.  Sign up today!

 stART (Street Art) workshops are free to Point Douglas children, youth,  and parents and require a simple sign up on site.    Workshops are facilitated by young, emerging Winnipeg artists who use urban art themes to promote creativity, innovation, and problem solving among participants.

Drop by Norquay Community Centre and check out a culture jam with Aimee, try your hand at performance art with Michael, stitch up something wild with Anastasia, or put your hip hop hat on with our resident hip hop heroes, Mike, Loa, Bob and Nereo.            
Interested in checking out some grown up talent? Admission is free with a nonperishable food item to Legends, Heroes, Myths & Such at Graffiti Gallery.   Showing alongside professional artists will be a stART installation called Hooked on Heroes. Drop by the gallery and check out what stART artists have decided it takes to make a hero.  Show will run to January 30, 2010.

Graffiti Art Programming is also currently accepting applications for the 2009/10 Urban Canvas Project Class.  If you are- or know of- an aboriginal artist between the ages of 18 and 28, we’d like to meet them.  The Urban Canvas Project is a 48 week program that incorporates life skill, fine art, and commercial training tools into the lives of young, urban artists.  Visit the gallery to learn more about this exciting opportunity!    

Graffiti Art Programming Inc., is a not for profit youth art centre located at 109 Higgins Avenue.   GAP is dedicated to the creation of a safe and accepting environment for all forms of artistic expression and uses art as a tool for community development, social change, and individual growth.  Call 204.667-9960 for more program information.  back to Nov links

North End Wellness Centre Opens Doors - By Mary Mathias and Valerie Himkowski

We were fortunate to have a tour of the North End Wellness Centre, located at 365 McGregor Street, a few days before it opened to the public in October. It is a breathtaking multi-purpose facility which offers many resources for residents of the North End. The centre is a collaborative effort involving Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Splash Child Care, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), and the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg. The North End Community Renewal Corporation was instrumental in making the dream of a wellness centre for north-enders a reality.

Walking through the front doors, we found ourselves in an inviting drop-in and food service area run by Ma Mawi. Splash Child Care is located in a separate wing of the main floor, while WRHA occupies the second floor. Look for information on programs and services offered by these partners in future issues of The Point.

Completing the main floor is the North Y Youth Centre, operated by the YMCA-YWCA. This promises to be a paradise for children and youth in our community. There is a full size gym, an incredible indoor play structure for youth 12 and under, video fitness stations, exercise machines, and a skateboarding area. The facility is open Monday to Thursday, 3:30-10:00 pm, Fridays 3:30-11:00 pm, Saturdays 11:00 am-11:00 pm, and Sundays & holidays 11:00 am-8:00 pm. A variety of programs are offered for 8-12 year olds and for 13-15 years olds. Membership is open to youth under age 18 and is a mere $5.00 per year.

The North End Wellness Centre is an easy bike or bus ride from North and South Point Douglas, so check it out! For more information on the North Y Youth Centre, phone 989-4109 or go to  http://www.ymcaywca.mb.ca/northend.html

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What’s Happening??? - By Mary Mathias

Several goings-on in the neighbourhood have had people scratching their heads and wondering: What’s the plan?  Who the heck is in charge? Recently I wandered the streets of North Point Douglas and documented some of the situations which have been brought to my attention by colleagues and neighbours.

Corner of Euclid and Hallet

A barricade finally went up in front this building, possibly in response to concerns that the walls were going to fall down on someone. Is this the longest-ever demolition project or an extended attempt at renovation?

Disraeli Street and Bridge

Looks like extensive infrastructure renewal here. Unfortunately, at least one household was without water for several days. Disraeli Street residents, and others adjacent to the bridge, must be wondering if this is just a taste of bigger disruptions to come. City and provincial politicians recently announced an entirely new plan for reconstructing the Disraeli Bridge—a new span! But where will it be and how will this affect our neighbourhood? Will homes, businesses, and green space be sacrificed here to expedite the flow of traffic to and from North Winnipeg? Will we have any say in the matter?

Diamond Lanes on Main Street

At least one local business owner is dismayed by the Diamond Lanes which recently appeared in the curb lane in front of his office. While he understands the merits of Diamond Lanes for buses and cyclists, the associated parking restrictions during the afternoon rush hour are bound to have an adverse impact on area businesses and impair the renewal of the community. During last year’s Mosaic Market Biz AGM, a different plan was discussed with city officials--a plan which would have enhanced rather than reduced parking opportunities on Main Street. Is this another instance of setting aside the interests of our core area neighbourhood so that commuters can get to and from North Winnipeg more rapidly?

Park at Austin and Euclid

This is undoubtedly a positive change, so thanks to anyone who had a hand in making it happen. City crews appeared suddenly at the little park across from the Women’s Centre, demolished the overgrown vegetation, and created a walking path. Will there be a Part B in the spring?  A well-maintained raised bed of grasses and flowers would enhance this entry point to our neighbourhood.

Do you have feedback on any of these issues? Contact thepoint.editor@pointdouglas.ca or leave a message at 771-6066.

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