January 22, 2026 Volume 35 No.3
Lights, camera, CPTC action
Beausejour snowmobile race track, drivers to be used in film
By Andrea Geary
Snowmobile racing is coming to the big screen with local racers and Beausejour’s power toboggan racetrack to be featured.
The casting crew for the new feature film Northern Lights sent out a call for experienced racers and enlisted Canadian Power Toboggan Championships president Jared Black’s help in finding people and booking the Co-op Community Complex for filming.
“I think it’s great,” Black said. “There’s a lot of history and heritage surrounding snowmobiling in Beausejour.”
According to a synopsis, Northern Lights is a gritty, coming-of-age drama set in rural Manitoba. It tells the story of an 18-year-old girl who wants to become a professional snowmobile racer and leave her small town.
While filming will also take place in St. Jean, Man. and on snowmobile trails near the community, Black expects the crew to film racing action segments at the CPTC race track within the next few weeks.
The half-mile oval track allows racers to exceed speeds of over 170 km/h and can accommodate a field of up to 18 racers.
He added that they will also plan to return for the championships on March 7 and 8 to capture crowd scenes.
Norm Chura, a longtime racer from Anola is one of the local snowmobilers whose racing experience will be showcased.
“I was asked to participate,” he said, adding that he isn’t entirely sure what his role will entail but he’s open to the new experience of being in a movie.
“I wasn’t expecting this at my age,” Chura joked.
Former Brokenhead resident Matt Szalai, now living in Cook’s Creek, also has many years of snowmobile racing experience under his belt. He said he’d actually decided to take a break from competition to help his son gain experience. However, he agreed to be part of Northern Lights.
“I’ll know more soon but I think I’m to be a stunt double for one of the main characters,” he said.
Black said he hopes that the movie generates public interest in snowmobile racing and will benefit the CPTC especially with its 65th anniversary happening in 2027.
“It’s the longest running power toboggan event in the world,” Black said.
Town of LdB creates new admin position
By Simon Ducatel
The creation of a new administrative assistant position at the Town of Lac du Bonnet is intended to provide accounting support to address identified deficiencies.
CAO Marley Seymour said council became aware of administrative gaps through a combination of internal reviews conducted by administration, discussions with the town’s external auditors and ongoing compliance requirements communicated by provincial departments.
She said these matters were identified over time as part of regular operational reviews and as new or evolving provincial requirements were assessed.
“This position forms part of council’s effort to strengthen financial controls, administrative oversight and long-term planning,” Seymour said. “Administration brought these items forward to council as part of its responsibility to advise on organizational capacity and compliance risks.”
Per background information outlined in a recent council meeting report, the addition of a position similar to the approved role had previously been presented in 2024 during budget deliberations.
The report states it was decided at that time that more planning was required for the position including job description, recruitment plan, and council wanted the permanent CAO to have input into this decision. The report adds the position was also determined to be justified as the current organization model already had some of the duties allocated to a contract employee.
Currently, the town is deficient in numerous administrative aspects required by the province such as audits, accessibility plans, asset management plans, housing needs assessment, gas tax reporting, bylaw and policy updates for example. This new position would allow for more time to be focused by the CAO and the assistant CAO on addressing these deficiencies.
The position’s primary roles and responsibilities will include processing accounts payable and receivable, payroll, utility accounts, providing backup and continuity for the front reception desk, as well as offering administrative assistance to the public works and utility departments.
“This position will free up time for the ACAO and the CAO to focus on more targeted initiatives and strategic goals of council such as asset management, completing audits and audit requirements, election prep, project management, bylaw and policy updates, (and) accessibility,” the report states.
Regarding the deficiencies that were identified, Seymour noted it “is important to clarify that this does not indicate non-compliance in all areas, but rather highlights areas where the town has limited capacity to keep pace with increasingly complex reporting, planning and legislative requirements” while maintaining day-to-day municipal operations.
“Council’s decision reflects a proactive approach to strengthening administrative capacity and ensuring long-term compliance and sustainability,” she stated.
The need for this new position also comes on the heels of the town borrowing almost $900,000 to pay down an accumulated financial deficit revealed in the 2022 municipal audit and pay it back over a 10-year term. The shortfall stemmed from past decisions and operational practices by previous council and administration involving inaccurate budgeting, purchases of non-budgeted items, overspending on capital projects, and unexpected repairs to municipal assets.
The wage for the new position is estimated between $70,000 to $75,000 and will reportedly be covered by a reallocation of budget funds resulting in the full annual salary costs being borne by current taxation rates.
“As such, no increase to the current tax rate is anticipated,” Seymour said.
Such positions are not uncommon in municipal offices, with communities such as Pinawa, Powerview-Pine Falls and Beausejour.
Brokenhead changes bylaw, withholding councillor’s pay claiming duties not met
By Mark T. Buss
A Brokenhead councillor who has been off the job since October for health reasons could potentially not be paid his monthly stipend until he returns to work in what council is calling a municipal cost saving measure.
At the Jan. 13 municipal meeting, Deputy Reeve Luke Ingeberg and Couns. Brett Steffes and Jack Kowalchuk voted to withhold Coun. Sean Michaels’ January stipend of more than $2,200. Michaels and Reeve Brad Saluk were absent.
According to Ingeberg, Michaels submitted a doctor’s note in October asking for medical leave until the end of November. A second doctor’s note was submitted to the municipal office in late November asking for medical leave until the end of January. He said council has had virtually no contact with Michaels since.
Michaels has been absent from attending regular municipal and committee of the whole meetings as well as council committee meetings since then. His municipal counterparts allege he is also not participating in council group emails and correspondence, leaving them to wonder when or if he is planning to return before his term runs out in the fall.
The absence has created an issue as the other members of council have to cover for Michaels’ committees. While the councillors filling in do not receive additional pay, Michaels continues to collect his.
As council is responsible for taxpayer funds, Ingeberg said a review of the RM’s indemnity bylaw revealed it had no reference to absence. In December, council gave first reading to Indemnity Bylaw 2273-25, which states they have the discretion to withhold a member’s indemnity by way of resolution if they are of the opinion the individual did not discharge their duties as a member of council.
Second and third reading were done at last week’s meeting.
“There was nothing in the bylaw that councillors need to attend meetings to get paid,”
Ingeberg said. “This is not a matter of one meeting, but if you are on leave and away from your council duties, you will not get paid.”
Prior to voting, council gave the gallery an opportunity to comment. Some had concerns that this type of ruling would be left up to council and if they liked the person, with another believing the matter was a case of bullying.
“It’s not a matter of liking someone or not,” Coun. Brett Steffes said, surprised by the comment. “We are not going to give taxpayer dollars to someone who is not doing their duty. If they come back tomorrow, they start getting paid again.”
According the Manitoba Municipal Act, if a member of council misses three consecutive meetings without a prior motion of approval from council, they are subject to disqualification – something that has occurred in North Eastman in the past.
Ingeberg repeatedly advised the gallery that council had no desire to remove Michaels from his democratically elected position. To back that up, council voted to approve his December and January absences, which ended that debate.
With Indemnity Bylaw 2273-25 in place, council later voted to withhold Michaels’ stipend.
“I’d like to know where he sits and when he’s coming back,” Steffes said. “We’ve reached out to him several times and we haven’t had a response.”
Saluk said when he was first elected reeve in 2014, changes were made to the indemnities bylaw, going from billing per meeting or event to a flat rate as council of the day let things get out of hand with individual charges, at a significant cost to the RM.
A decade later, he said the reverse has happened in Michaels’ situation where he is being paid but, in council’s view, the work is not being done.
“We changed the way we do things because of the fiasco that was before us where people were charging for three half-day meetings in the same day and whatever else,” Saluk said. “We did not look into what if someone was sick or could not carry on with their duties, should they get paid? If you have a job where you get sick leave, this is a totally different thing. I divvied up Sean’s committees to other councillors, who are picking up the slack and going on his behalf.”
“My point of view is if you have a doctors note and you need the time, you need the time. If there are issues, there are issues. Take the time that you need to get better,” Saluk said. “But we need to pull up our socks and do the work for the municipality until he comes back, if he comes back, because honestly we don’t know.”
Reaching out to The Clipper, Michaels said while he has not been going to municipal council meetings, he feels he has been working behind the scenes as much as he can, including texting and phoning constituents, doing cybersecurity training in Winnipeg and attending the odd committee meeting like the Garson Community Centre in December. He said he has also agreed to help clean up and move chairs after the Tyndall curling bonspiel and is willing to pick up the meat platter for an upcoming event at the hall.
“I’m reading emails every day, I’m taking this training... I try so hard,” Michaels said, becoming emotional. “I’m still serving my constituents as I always have.”
Regarding a lack of correspondence with council, Michaels claims he has responded to every email sent his way, with the last coming from administration on Dec. 11.
“I haven’t been asked to respond to anything.”
He claims has also kept in contact with Kowalchuk, saying they went for a three-hour breakfast on Jan. 9 where they made it over to the Garson Arena to look at the new clock and reviewed the state of several gravel roads in the municipality.
Asked if he has thought about resigning from council, Michaels was adamant that he would not.
“I’m coming back,” Michaels said. “I’m coming back and bring on term six.”
Saluk said a person is elected to public office to make hard decisions on behalf of taxpayers and the municipality at large. If the individual is not attending council meetings, not voting on municipal matters and not engaged in the decision making process, they are not fulfilling their duties.
He added being on council can be a difficult job, especially for someone like Michaels, who is a people pleaser and has been the smiling face of council for five terms.
“When it comes to something controversial or having to say ‘no’ to somebody, that’s the biggest problem with this job; having to tell people that you’re friends with that this is not the way it goes when you sit in the chair and you take the oath,” Saluk said. “You just can’t go and shake hands and say hi... it’s not enough.”
Sunrise Kindergarten registration Jan. 26-30
A Parents planning to send their young children to school this fall will once again have to take the first step in that process in person or online.
The Sunrise School Division’s Kindergarten and Grade 1 beginner registrations for the 2026-2027 school year will be held from Jan. 26-30 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. unless otherwise stated or online at www.sunrisesd.ca under ‘Parents, Registration’.
To be eligible for Kindergarten, children must be five years of age on or before Dec. 31, 2026. Children heading into Grade 1 must be six years of age on or before Dec. 31, 2026. Children previously enrolled in Kindergarten classes do not need to be re-registered for Grade 1.
Proof of age must be presented at time of registration with a birth certificate being the preferred document.
While all Sunrise schools with elementary students offer English programs, English and French immersion options are available at Beausejour, Dugald and Powerview schools. Oak Bank Elementary offers programs in English and English/Ukrainian.
Entry into the French immersion and English/Ukrainian bilingual programs are open to all children of Kindergarten and Grade 1 age who possess little or no knowledge of the French or Ukrainian language, but who wish to become bilingual by learning French or Ukrainian as a second language.
For after hours in person registration options at individual schools, École Beausejour will be open until 7 p.m. on Jan. 26. On Jan. 28, Centennial in Lac du Bonnet will be open until 6 p.m. while École Dugald, Oak Bank Elementary and Gillis School in Tyndall will be open until 7 p.m.
Contact Anola, Whitemouth, Hazelridge and École Powerview Schools for extended hours.
Wolf FM is Sagkeeng First Nation’s station
“The greatest station northeast of Peg City.”
That is just one of the awesome promos you will hear when you listen to 102.7 Wolf FM in the Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation.
If you do take the time to tune in, you will quickly hear why that claim has been made.
When it comes to ‘rez radio’ Wolf FM stands out, featuring slick production, along with the latest community news, weather forecasts, music, and weekly bingos with huge jackpots!
At the helm is Ruben Bunn, who is literally the Wolf’s one man show. Bunn has been a broadcaster for more than 25 years, but he says coming home to The Wolf and Sagkeeng in 2015, has been the highlight of his career. He calls his studio space his sanctuary.
First Nation radio stations can also be described as sanctuaries for their listeners. They are often a connecting point for people to hear their language, learn about community news and gatherings, and have some laughs!
The Southern Chief’s Organization (SCO) send a huge miigwetch to Bunn for his tireless efforts to inform, entertain and connect the people of Sagkeeeng.
To hear Sagkeeng’s best music mix, visit listen.strea mon.fm/wolffm or of tune your FM dial to 102.7 FM.
Fuhl remains deputy mayor
By Tony Zerucha
Even though nobody seemed to want the role of deputy mayor, that didn’t stop some council members from being upset they weren’t asked.
Mayor Pat Therrien re-appointed Coun. Glen Fuhl to the post. Fuhl, the only member of council to be re-elected in 2022, has served in the position since then.
Mayors often rotate councillors through the deputy mayor post on one-year terms.
Coun. Mark Miller, who said he wasn’t campaigning for the job, accused Therrien of reneging on a campaign promise to rotate councillors through the role.
Therrien said he offered the position to Coun. Melinda Warren, who declined.
Miller accused Therrien of “playing politics” by not considering him or Coun. Andy Kuczynski.
“You don’t play a fair game, and I’m disgusted,” Miller said. “I’m disappointed, and thank goodness October ’26 is coming sooner than you think.”
Kuczynski said he would have likely declined if offered the chance to be deputy mayor.
“I don’t think I could work with you,” Kuczynski told Therrien.
Council voted 3-2 to allow Fuhl to continue with Miller and Kuczynski opposed.
249 Air Cadets host survival exercise
By Morgan Maguet
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron 249 continues to complete one of their most important events every year.
The cadets participate in field training exercise designed to test and strengthen survival and teamwork skills. The outdoor event gave staff and cadets the chance to learn together in a wilderness setting.
The field training exercise is a cornerstone of the Royal Canadian Air Cadet program, emphasizing self-reliance, teamwork and problem-solving. Lessons learned in the bush translate directly into confidence and leadership skills that cadets can use in school, work and community life.
This year, CO Capt. Cindy Buss led the cadets through the training exercise on her property in the RM of Brokenhead just east of Beausejour. A total of 46 cadets and four staff members took part in the training, making for a successful and educational
group event.
“We have a large amount of wild bush habitat and a training area that works very well for the program,” Buss said.
The exercise covered a wide range of practical survival skills.
“Cadets are taught how to build a shelter, how to put up a modular tent, how to utilize plant life, fire making, the use of a knife, and how to make survival knots and lashes,” she said. “This year, we also had a special course on trapping and hands-on work with furs.”
The cadets also had individual meal packs (IMP) to eat during the training, which consist of a packet that is boiled and ready to eat – a process commonly used by survivalists and Armed Forces members.
It was a learning experience for everyone involved, regardless of skill level or previous experience. For newer members, it was especially enlightening.
“Not every cadet has had a camping experience, so for some this was the first time sleeping outside in a tent,” said Buss.
The group also had to contend with unpredictable fall weather.
“It’s tough to learn when wet, cold and windy, but otherwise they had a great experience,” said Buss.
The annual field training exercise is a required part of the national Air Cadet program and helps participants build self-reliance and confidence. Optional spring training sessions allow cadets to expand their knowledge in specialized areas such as navigation, wilderness survival and aviation.
In addition to field training, members of Squadron 249 are busy with several community and learning events. They participate in Remembrance Day services across the region, orienteering, a mess dinner and glider training in Gimli in the spring.
“We also conduct a range day, sports evenings and regular training every Wednesday evening. Some members also have the opportunity to take a Junior Ground School program to encourage them to further their interest in flying,” said Buss.
Squadron 249 has been offering education, mentorship and adventure opportunities to youth in the Beausejour area for many decades and continue to welcome new members from across North Eastman including Lac du Bonnet, Pinawa, Whitemouth, Garson, Tyndall, Anola, Dugald and Oakbank.
“The Air Cadet program provides citizenship, leadership, self-discipline and an opportunity for youth to meet others interested in flying and being better citizens in the community,” said Buss.
Chinese tariffs on canola being reduced
By Andrea Geary
While the price of seed and other crop inputs remain high for Canadian canola growers, access to a vital market will soon be restored.
A recent Canadian trade delegation led by Prime Minister Mark Carney was successful in negotiating a reduction in China’s tariffs on Canadian canola seed and meal imports. Brokenhead Reeve Brad Saluk sees this as a positive start to a new season.
“With the tariffs coming off, the season is definitely off to a better start,” he said.
Last August, China set tariffs of close to 76 per cent on Canadian canola seed and 100 per cent on canola meal imports. The new trade agreement includes a drop of 60 percent on the seed tariff and complete removal of the tariff on meal imports as of March 1.
China is the largest buyer of Canadian canola meal and second largest for seed. According to information from the Canadian Canola Growers Association, the value of Canada’s canola and canola products exported to China was approximately $5 billion in 2024. The prediction for 2025 sales is less than half that amount due to the tariffs that were set in response to Canada’s 100 per cent levy on Chinese electric vehicle imports.
Saluk said his farm experienced severe drought conditions for most of the 2025 growing season with just two inches of rain stretched across the summer months then rainfall coming close to harvest time. Dry soil conditions hampered canola germination and what did emerge was attacked by flea beetles, requiring extra spraying.
“Last season was worse than I even thought it would be,” he said, adding that he ended up with about a third of the yield compared to what was harvested in other areas.
Despite last year’s poor outcome, Saluk said he’s keeping canola in rotation with wheat, barley, soybeans and possibly corn or sunflowers.
The cost of canola seed remains high at about $800 a bag, but Saluk said the moisture his soil received last fall should at least help get this year’s crop off to a better start.
“We still need adequate moisture. We still need everything to play out.”
When interviewed, Saluk was on his way to the Ag Days in Brandon and anticipating hearing the latest forecasts for crop prices and market conditions.
Comets come back to down Falcons
By Tony Zerucha
Four goals in the final 10 minutes gave the Beausejour Comets a thrilling, 4-3 win over the Lundar Falcons on Jan. 17.
With Lundar up 4-0 midway through the third period, Jaedys Dancyt got the Comets on board with a power-play goal at 10:01. Tyler Nault earned the lone assist. Vaughn Senebald followed that up at 13:45 with a shorthanded score. His eighth of the season was assisted by Tanner Amos.
Amos wasn’t finished. At 14:37, he teamed up with Lavery Melsted to set up Merrick
Hucul’s power-play tally. With only 61 ticks left, Dancyt scored his second of the night to give the Comets the win. Melsted and Jaiden Reeb helped out.
Credit Falcon goalie Dylan Leclair with keeping the game close. He made 46 saves.
Sawyer Abraham made 17 stops for the Comets.
The victory over Lundar gave the Comets an eight-point lead over the St. Malo Warriors ahead of the final regular-season match-up between the two teams on Jan. 20. Results were unavailable at press time.
On Jan. 13, Merrick Hucul scored twice and Easton Gaffray had a three-point night as the Comets downed the North Winnipeg Satelites 7-4.
Hucul scored twice while Gaffray, Dancyt, Senebald, Nikolas Bear and newcomer Owen Lourenco registered singles. Goaltenders Alex Cavanagh got the start and the win, but split time with Abraham.
Beausejour hosts the La Broquerie Habs on Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. Following that contest, they have five regular-season games remaining.
The Comets are tied with the Falcons for the most power-play opportunities at 116.
Their 25 man-advantage goals are second to St. Malo’s 28, while their 21.6 percentage is fourth. The penalty killing needs work, as the 79.4 rate is second-worst.
Job Peters is tied with St. Malo’s Keston Worley for the league scoring lead with 32 points. Despite playing only 12 games, Comet Evan Groening is tied for the league lead with 20 assists. Groening’s 26 points are good for 10th spot, but his 2.2 points per game are by far the best rate in the league.
Peters sits fifth with 15 goals and 1.5 points per game and sixth with 17 apples. Cavanagh leads the league with 10 wins and sits third with a 2.69 goals-against average. Abraham is tied for third with seven wins.
Xtreme bounce Blues
By Tony Zerucha
TWith five games remaining in the HTJHL regular season, the Springfield Xtreme are firmly ensconced in second place with a 19-6 record and 39 points.
Springfield is seven points behind the 23-0 Macdonald Swarm and eight ahead of the third-place Niverville Clippers. Both squads have two games in hand on Springfield.
On Jan. 17, the Xtreme scored three unanswered goals over the final 40 minutes to earn a 4-1 win over the Landmark Blues. Connor Toth and Aidan Osborne paced the attack with two points each.
That pair teamed up to open the scoring at 11:27 of the first period, with Osborne setting up Toth. The Blues tied it six minutes later to make it a 1-1 contest after 20 minutes.
Parker Fazio broke the deadlock 4:41 into the middle frame. Ethan Da Silva chipped in an assist. At 7:05, Osborne and David Hazlitt assisted on Toth’s power-play tally. Chase Janas scored an unassisted insurance tally at 11:44 of the third period to cap the scoring.
Springfield outshot the Blues 40-18. Tyson Murdock earned the win.
It was a chippy affair, as five players, three Blues and two Xtreme, were assessed minors and misconducts for hits to the head. Landmark’s Nathan McRae was ejected late in the third period for checking from behind.
This week, the Xtreme have a two-game weekend road trip to Red River and Steinbach. Their next home game is on Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. against Grunthal.
Springfield has scored the fourth-most goals with 104, but their defence is the second -stingiest at 2.64 per game. Their 26.8 per cent power play is second to the Swarm’s 29 per cent, while their penalty killing, at 88.6 per cent, is second to Ste. Anne’s 88.7.
David Hazlitt leads the league with seven power-play goals. Hazlitt, Toth and Fazio are tied for second with three game-winning goals.
Murdock sits second with a 2.13 goals-against average, second to Macdonald netminder Jack Martin’s 2.12. Murdock’s .917 save percentage ranks fifth.
Hughesman leads Winterhawks past Mercs
By Tony Zerucha
QAdam Hughesman’s four-goal, one-assist effort led the Springfield Winterhawks to a 9-3 victory over the Warren Mercs on Jan. 16. The victory solidified Springfield’s second-place grip as the SEMHL season heads toward the playoffs.
Hughesman started early, as his two early goals gave the flock a 2-0 lead after one period. Goalie Steve Christie earned his first point on the second score.
Warren made it 2-1 at 9:30 into the second stanza, but Hughesman completed his hat-trick at 10:11 while linemate Mathieu Moreira earned his third assist on the play, Carter Barley his second. Barley got into the act when he scored the eventual game-winner at 14:52; Hughesman and Trevor Weimer registered helpers.
It was Braeden Binda’s turn 47 seconds later to light the lamp. Mackenzie Dwyer and newcomer Grant Perdonic assisted. Perdonic scored five points in seven games for the MEHL’s Springfield ‘98s back in the 2010-11 campaign.
The Winterhawks outscored the Mercs 4-2 in the third period. Hughesman, Moreira, Connor Barley and Joel Schreyer. Christie added his second and third assists of the night.
Springfield bombarded the Mercs net with 73 shots. Christie turned 22 aside for the win.
Several SEMHL weekend contests were cancelled due to poor weather. Springfield hosts the Carman Beavers on Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. Following that match-up, the Winterhawks have three games remaining, include a special night in Hazelridge on Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m.
The Winterhawks occupy second place in the SEMHL standings with a 9-5 mark and 20 points. The Winkler Royals are one point ahead with a game in hand, while the Red River Wild are four points behind Springfield, but with two games in hand.
The weekend surge has Hughesman up to sixth in SEMHL scoring with 23 points in 14 games. His 14 goals are tied for first overall. Christie’s 3.12 goals-against average and six wins are second-best in the loop, while his .904 save percentage ranks third. Fellow Winterhawk netminder Ashton Howarth is fourth in goals-against average (3.34) and fifth in save percentage (.897).
Lions donate to LdB Minor Hockey
By Mark T. Buss
The Lac du Bonnet Lions Club made a significant contribution to local youth recently with a donation of $10,000 to the Lac du Bonnet Minor Hockey Association (LDBMHA).
At LDBMHA’s ‘Lightning Days’ on Dec. 14, Lions Greg Short, Mel Mitchell and Mike Roy provided the funding support for the purchase of new jerseys as the previous sets were at end of life. They will also be purchasing U7 dividers so they can host more events, fundraising for U9 rink dividers, fund a trial run of a new skating program and more.
“Donations like these show the continued support and commitment from local organizations. It also shows the importance hockey plays in not only entertaining kids but teaching them some fundamental lessons the game provides,” said LDBMHA president Adam Gorrie. “Just because we are a small minor hockey association, it doesn’t mean we can’t do big things for our young players.”
Lightning Days is a scheduled event when all the Lac du Bonnet Lightning teams play home games on one day. Organizers do draws, mini games, 50/50 and give our players appreciation for being a part of the organization and playing hockey. There are currently 64 youths registered in LDBMHA.
Gorrie said the organization is always looking for ways to raise funds so they can provide the best possible experience for all their players and improve their skill sets and help them grow as individuals. He said Lac du Bonnet Minor Hockey Association VP Jay Griffith was in talks with the Lions Club for quite some time and attended one of their meetings to present a request for donations. The response was overwhelming to donate to minor hockey.
“We are forever grateful for this donation from the Lions Club,” Gorrie said.
Lac du Bonnet Lions President Greg Short said the organization supports all kinds of people and groups, but noted the movement has a fondness for the betterment of children and they are always looking to promote efforts involving young people.
He noted Griffith’s presentation was a good one and the Lions approved the funding request unanimously.
“We’ve raised a lot of money in recent years and we feel the need to give it back. The decision in this case was fairly quick,” Short said. “Hockey is pretty expensive for some families and we thought we would even the playing field so these kids and their families can have new uniforms.”
Walls stepping back from Sabres football
By Tony Zerucha
Springfield’s football community is preparing to say goodbye to its founder Tom Walls, who is stepping down this summer.
Walls is technically taking a one-year leave of absence from a teaching position with the Winnipeg School Division, who he jokingly thanked for allowing him to spend so many workday hours on football. He and wife Shandy are moving to Colombia after she accepted employment there.
Walls said he’ll stay involved through the spring gym season, and will assist incoming head coach Shane Lucier with planning and play development remotely during the season. In meetings with coaches, players and parents, everyone wished to maintain a similar structure.
Those meetings, while hard, were important for everyone. This includes some seniors who need consistency as they pursue university or junior careers.
“There were two things I needed to do in those meetings,” Walls said. “I needed to let them know I wasn’t leaving them for another team; it was an opportunity for my family, and it was going to be okay.”
Walls had lived in Springfield for three years when Shandy looked in their yard and told him they could erect some goalposts and hold kicking camps.
“I said we can do more than that,” Walls said.
The Sunrise Coyotes program was founded in 2014. The early years brought predictable struggles on the field; some gave up. But others persisted, including a girls’ team that won three championships in four years.
“That showed us it could work here,” Walls said.
That was followed by a powerhouse bantam team that solidified a winning environment. Players and families stuck around. Younger siblings signed up; a program was born.
Equally important was what was happening on the sidelines. Walls and coaches like Ken Clegg, Val Medved, Marcell Pelland and Ian Hickey began coaching peewee together. That was 12 years ago – they’re still together today.
“The coaches really like being around each other. That brings stability,” Walls said.
The high school football come to Springfield in 2019. To date, six seasons have brought five banners to the school, along with a year-round program that keeps the players engaged.
“Year-round programs like we have at SCI, you don’t find them at other schools except for that big ones like Oak Park and Dakota,” Walls said. “They’re huge schools. We have between 560-580 kids.”
Walls said his three proudest life accomplishments are his marriage, kids and Springfield’s football program. The latter has allowed him two blend in the other two. Football wouldn’t have happened without Shandy, who raised funds when few were to be had. Tommy Jr. was an award-winning Sabres pivot who played American college football. Daughter Aiden was active in merchandising.
The winning was nice, and Walls communicated that to his players. More importantly, Walls was reminded of the joy in the process; every team building event, every practice, brought people together. Children were growing into responsible adults.
“The real joy has been in the relationships with the players, coaches and parents,” Walls said. “What these programs teach young people is rarer and rarer in society: not giving up when things get hard, selflessness, and eventual reward over immediate gratification.”
That message has endured, as Walls saw in a recent alumni game. Two original 2019 players brought their own children, one only three months old.
“He thought so much of the program and that game that he wanted his wife and kid to be there,” Walls said.
Walls also joked that when alumni bring their kids, perhaps it’s time for fresh blood to patrol the sidelines. He then got serious when recalling players share stories of substance abuse and suicidal thoughts; they trusted him enough to share their innermost fears.
“One father told me we changed his son’s life for the better; that’s the kind of thing that sticks with you,” Walls said.
Walls has several irons in the fire, including a book that could soon be published. He’s also promoting professional development services to teachers and coaches in South America.
And Walls wouldn’t be Walls without some football. He’ll be coaching the Medellin Raptors.
Is South American football different than what Walls is used to? Canadian football isn’t what a grinning Walls was used to when he initially came north.
“Everywhere else has four downs, and they don’t give you a point for kicking it through the end zone,” Walls laughed. “I’m going back to my roots.”
Smith headed to Manitoba Games
By Tony Zerucha
Oakbank curler Sierra Smith is packing her bags for Thompson, where she will join Team Eastman at the Manitoba Winter Games from March 4-7.
Smith and Interlake partner Jake Kowalchuk earned their spots by winning a mixed doubles curling regional qualifier at the Springfield Curling Club in Dugald on Jan. 3.
Smith and Kowalchuk took early control in the opening game by scoring two in each of the first two ends on the way to an 11-2 victory. In the clinching second draw, Smith and Kowalchuk broke open a 1-1 deadlock with three in the third end and five in the fifth to win another 11-2 decision. This one was called after six ends.
The partners gelled quickly, after only meeting in September. After a couple of practices, they entered the January regional qualifier.
“Those games were the first games we have ever played together,” Smith said. “We formed a team (after) he reached out to me. We have known each other for around three of four years, as we faced each other in inter-club curling.”
Smith said mixed doubles is different from traditional curling formats in several ways. For starters, there are only two players on each team. Teams throw just five rocks per end, compared to the usual eight.
“One player throws the first and the fifth rock which was me. The other player throws the middle three which was Jake,” Smith explained. “For the game, there’s always two rocks that are in play. The team that has hammer has the rock placed back four foot and the team that doesn’t have hammer has their rock placed as a centre guard, usually mid.”
Athletes between the ages of 10-17 will compete in 12 sports over seven days: ringette, archery, speed skating, futsal, alpine skiing, curling, gymnastics, figure skating, cross country skiing, wrestling, badminton and hockey.
Sport Manitoba will release the complete Eastman team roster at the end of January. Eastman includes much of the Interlake and communities north of the Trans Canada Highway.
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