Rural Roundup for Jan. 5, 2023

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This article was published 04/01/2023 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MINNEDOSA

The North American Suffolk Horse Association (NASHA) held its annual gathering and annual general meeting in October at the Ashtabula Country Fairgrounds in Jefferson, Ohio. Breeders, owners and enthusiasts from across Canada and the United States gathered there to watch and participate in demonstrations put on by teams from the area.

Christa McKee of Minnedosa travelled to the event, and said it was a fantastic display of horsepower, with 29 registered Suffolk horses in attendance.

“It was a time of great fellowship, with the rekindling of old friendships and the making of new acquaintances,” she said.

NASHA is the breed registry for purebred Suffolk horses. Its main purpose is to keep a record of the breed’s bloodlines and to register new horses as they are born. The association also works to educate people about draft horses and promote the Suffolk breed specifically.

Suffolks have remained relatively unchanged in size and type over several hundred years since they were first developed in England for agriculture, McKee said.

“They have a kind temperament and a willingness to work, which makes them the ideal horse for people who want to use them for agriculture, forestry or simply for the enjoyment of having a team for recreation.”

Suffolks aren’t overly tall, she said, standing at about 16 hands — 64 inches — at the withers, which makes them easier to harness.

“But they give up nothing when it comes to bodyweight and strength. We use our Suffolk horses for hauling loads of square bales to feed cattle, and find them easy to work with, eager to please and quick to learn,” McKee said.

McKee is looking forward to going to the next show, which will take place in North Carolina, she said. Plans are also in the works for the show to come to Saskatchewan in 2024.

McKee has been involved with NASHA for seven years, since she purchased her first registered Suffolk horse in 2016.

» Neepawa Banner and Press

MINNEDOSA

For this year’s Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge, the Minnedosa region raised more than $105,000 in gifts toward community foundations.

Heather Horner of the Minnedosa and District Foundation said 2022 was another good year for the giving challenge.

“We are lucky to be a part of such a giving community. Without those gifts, we would not be able to help all the groups and organizations that we do,” Horner said. “That generosity is really helping us to leave a legacy for the future.”

From Nov. 14-20, Endow Manitoba encouraged community residents to donate to their individual foundation, and in turn, gifts made were stretched by the Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba government.

An endowment fund is a fund that will go on and continue to give in perpetuity.

“For example, funds that are donated to the Onanole Foundation are invested with the Winnipeg Foundation and a portion of the total fund — 3.5 per cent per year — is granted back to our community. The fund continues to grow as we bring in donations and experience long-term investment returns that exceed the 3.5 per cent that is granted out to the community each year,” said Calvin Vanderschuit, president of the Onanole Foundation.

Every $5 donated will be worth $7 through the plan. Each community foundation was eligible to receive up to $4,000 in stretch funding during the Giving Challenge thanks to the Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba government, who each provided a maximum stretch of $2,000 per foundation.

The Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge is a wonderful thing, said Teresa Makarchuk, community relations officer with the Virden Area Foundation.

“It provides an opportunity for people to reinvest in a community of their choice. It also raises awareness of foundations — what one is and how it operates,” she said.

Through the generosity of their respective communities, the Birtle and District Foundation received $11,161.26; the Elkhorn and Area Foundation received $4,945; the Living Legacy Community Foundation, which operates in the municipalities of Russell-Binscarth and Riding Mountain West, received $2,690; the Minnedosa and District Foundation received $8,155; the Onanole Foundation received $4,732; the Shoal Lake Community Foundation received $59,833.33; and the Virden Area Foundation received $5,138.

Sandie Ross of the Living Legacy Community Foundation said donations are used to enhance many organizations over the years, making the lives of people in the community better.

Outlined by the province, a community foundation is a charity that is built by communities for communities. Gifts are pooled and permanently invested, and the interest earned is granted to local initiatives each year. Since the capital is ever spent, the gifts support the community in perpetuity.

“These funds provide grants to many entities across the region,” Ross said. “To name a few, in 2022, Living Legacy is providing grants to the Russell Area Heritage and Arts Centre, the Binscarth School, the Binscarth Park and Pool, the Russell and District Regional Library, Binscarth Vision 20/20, Senior Services of Banner County and the Russell Flying Club, along with some post-secondary scholarships for a total of $20,100.

“In addition to that, the Russell Swimming Pool, the Augusville Heritage Hall, the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, the Banner County Health Fund, the Russell Library Fund, the Inglis Area Heritage Committee … and the Russell Area Heritage and Arts Centre will receive over $13,000 in funding.”

To date, the Shoal Lake Community Foundation has approved grants to 30 different local organizations, said Deb Wowryk, who works with the foundation.

“These grants have helped to improve the lives of the residents in our communities by assisting in making improvements to our campground, daycare, fire department, museum, parks, school, senior centres, sports centres and more,” Wowryk said. “Our goal is to make our communities a better place for everyone.”

Across the province, Manitoba raised a total of $1.68 million during this year’s Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge, marking a milestone total during the challenge’s nine-year history.

Brenda Orr, from the Elkhorn and Area Foundation, said the matching program the giving challenge provides on an annual basis is a great way to stretch donations.

“This helps to grow our foundation, as well as all of the foundations in Manitoba … that in turn benefit all of us and the communities that we live in.”

The 2022 Giving Challenge raised a total gift value of $1,492,538.83, with a total stretch value of $191,502.92.

» Minnedosa Tribune

RAPID CITY

What started as a conversation between two friends over a cup of coffee has turned into a brand-new community attraction for Rapid City and the surrounding area.

Frank Hyndman and Stu Phillips have spent the last couple of months creating and preparing a trail for the newly formed Prairie Gliders Ski Club.

Located on the west end of Rapid City, south of Seventh Street and right behind the Rapid City Community Centre on Timer Hyndman’s land, the 3.3 kilometres of trail allows both skiing and snowshoeing through rolling meadows, bush and trees, and runs along the Little Saskatchewan River.

Hyndman and Phillips wanted to offer residents another option for keeping active in the wintertime.

“If you don’t skate or play hockey, there is not a lot to offer currently for people and kids to do in the winter. It is our hope that everyone sees the potential to embrace the great outdoors,” Hyndman said.

Phillips, a retired paramedic and former Nordic (cross-country) ski instructor, who was also an advanced first-aid instructor with the Canadian Ski Patrol, said he has introduced people to Nordic skiing, classing skiing and skate skiing over the last 40 years.

“Nordic skiing used to be considered an aerobic sport but has since been designated a power sport due to requirements of muscle as well as its ability to build muscle and stamina,” he said.

Through the ski club, both men want to promote ski skills and teach people how skis work from a technical standpoint.

“I have been concerned over the past years, seeing young people as well as adults living a sedentary lifestyle,” Phillips said. “With the development of the ski trails in Rapid City and the formation of the Prairie Gliders Ski Club, people of all ages will have a chance to escape a low-activity lifestyle and cope better with some of the restrictions that the pandemic has forced upon them.”

Snowshoers are also welcome on the trails. Anyone looking to purchase a membership to the ski club or to ask questions and learn more can call Hyndman at 204-570-0073 or Phillips at 204-867-4046.

» Minnedosa Tribune

NEEPAWA

The Westlake Employment Skills and Services Centre (WESSC) is preparing to review the 2022 year at its upcoming annual general meeting on Jan. 18.

Manager Flordeliz Bokingkito said that after relocating to the centre’s new location at 342 Mountain Ave. in Neepawa in October 2021, more programs have been brought under one location for community convenience.

“Having the Salvation Army, Neepawa Settlement Services and Westlake Employment Services under one roof is beneficial. It’s the goal of these organizations to provide their respective services, but also be aware of what all three organizations can offer so that clients can be referred and helped effectively,” Bokingkito said.

The larger space provides enhanced privacy and room for clients to use community computers for job services, online applications and completion of other forms. Staff is also on hand to help if clients have any questions.

The new location has also allowed WESSC to upgrade its computer lab to have eight workstations, with plenty of room for employees to offer information sessions to prospective employees.

“Service Canada is also coming once a month to our location and has a dedicated space now for improved privacy,” Bokingkito said.

WESSC is currently lobbying for more visits from Service Canada in the future. More plans are also underway for the coming months, Bokingkito said, including supporting the new hospital coming to Neepawa.

“Westlake is working closely with partners in the community to bring additional training to potential health-care workers in support of the new hospital. We have plans to work closely with other employers to promote their needs to prospective employees,” she said.

WESSC provides a variety of services, such as employment counselling, employment needs assessment, resume and cover letter development, one on one consultations, job search assistance, job advertising, a local job board, information on possible wage subsidies, employee referrals and more.

Board chair Gord Olmstead said the board is currently looking for new members. Anyone interested in joining can stop by the WESCC office or call 204-476-7698.

» Neepawa Banner and Press