February 5, 2026   Volume 35 No.5

Tyndall Village CC receives $200,000 grant

By Morgan Maguet

The Tyndall Village Community Centre has received a $200,000 provincial grant to complete long-needed roof repairs and preserve a key gathering place for residents.
The funding comes through Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities (Manitoba GRO). The program is available to all Manitoba municipalities located outside Winnipeg and focuses on projects designed to build or enhance capital infrastructure that responds to current and future community needs. Manitoba GRO will fund up to 50 per cent of total project costs, with municipalities responsible for covering the remaining costs.

With half of the roof refurbishment project covered through the grant, it was feasible for the RM of Brokenhead to move forward with the repairs.

“Roof upgrades have been identified for the last 10 years as an upcoming expense and have been part of the RM’s capital plan,” said Brokenhead Deputy Reeve Luke Ingeberg. “The grant is allowing the municipality to move ahead sooner with the needed repairs and lessen the cost borne by RM taxpayers.”

According to Ingeberg, the RM was notified of the provincial funding at the beginning of January, with the grant finalized by the first week of the month through a formal contract made to Reeve Brad Saluk.

“The RM is currently writing the tender package. Once tenders are reviewed, schedules and timelines will be confirmed.”

The project is a major upgrade for the aging building that will ensure its usability for decades to come. The new roof is estimated to last 30 years and come with added insulation to increase efficiency.

The Tyndall Village Community Centre, located at 69 Pierson Dr. in Tyndall, is a volunteer-run, non-profit facility serving the community and surrounding area. The centre includes a licensed hall, a commercial kitchen and bar, and is available year-round for both community events and private rentals. The grounds also feature seasonal amenities, including an outdoor skating rink and a public splash pad during the summer months.

“We have a board of five people and a small volunteer base that assists with activities, as well as making and maintaining ice for the outdoor rink,” said Kerry Fehr, TVCC chair.

Ensuring the building remains structurally sound is a key step in keeping the centre available to the community. Day-to-day operations are kept running by a small staff, while programming remains limited. 

“We have a couple of employees who do building maintenance, cleaning and opening and closing of the splash pad and outdoor rink building,” she added.
While the community centre is primarily a rental facility, the building is still frequently used for a variety of community events and by external organizations.

“Due to a lack of volunteerism, we have been unable to host a regular schedule of events,” Fehr said. “The Brokenhead River Recreation Commission often hosts events from the facility as part of their fall, winter and spring calendars.”

The upcoming repair work is not expected to affect operations. Planning for the repairs is focused on maintaining access to the building.

“At this time, we are not expecting any interruption of regular business, and we are hopeful that the work will take place prior to the opening of the splash pad on June 1 or after its closure on the September long weekend.”

LdB Chamber to unveil five-year plan

Vision outlining bylaws, objectives to be presented at annual general meeting

By Simon Ducatel

One year after facing the prospect of folding, a revitalized Lac du Bonnet and District Chamber of Commerce is prepared to present a new vision for the future when they unveil their five-year strategic plan at their AGM later this month.

“There was talk there was not going to be any more of a chamber in Lac du Bonnet,” Chamber president Laurette Greenlay said, revealing last year’s resurgence when 14 people stepped up to serve the board of directors. “(Now) it’s 100 per cent better because we have board members that are enthusiastic and willing to do things.”

Greenlay said the chamber recently completed the 2026-2030 strategic plan and that anyone interested in learning more about the six-page document is invited to attend the chamber’s annual general meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the St. John’s Heritage Centre, located at 86 McArthur Ave.

Among the projects the chamber has been pursuing as part of the ongoing effort to provide more value to its membership is a new brochure “so that we can advertise ourselves more,” she said. 

The chamber also intends to organize a community building event with chamber members. Plans to put something together last year were derailed due to the devastating wildfires that swept through the area, she said. 

“We’re regrouping now, and we’ve committed to doing a get-together in the spring,” she said, adding the goal is to make it an annual affair. “We’re hoping to have more than one get-together with our members.”

Growing their base of business members always remains a continuing objective. The chamber is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1979 with 23 members and reached a peak membership of 115 businesses in 2013. The chamber currently has 60 members.

“To me, that’s not acceptable. Everybody should belong to the chamber.”

At the same time, she said the chamber must also strengthen its role as a business leader and connector while striving to elevate the value of membership. 

“If we had more for the members, then they would join,” she said. “Because right now, one of the things I hear is, ‘Well, what can you do for us?’”

Following a couple of resignations, the board now has 12 directors, including a four-member executive composed of the president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary. 

Greenlay candidly confessed having given some serious thought to not serving another term as president, but quickly added she found other people’s enthusiasm contagious. 

“The last meeting I went to, everyone was excited. Everyone was talking,” she said. “And that was an aha moment for me, because I thought, ‘I can’t leave now, because look at this – everybody is talking, putting in their two cents worth. You can’t do it yet, Laurette, you have to stay for another year!’”

The chamber will also more officially unveil during its upcoming AGM a new cozy cabin logo – one of three designs recently voted on by membership. 

“The idea of a new logo was initiated by the board of directors during our strategic plan development,” said former board member Tracey MacDonald, who this past September took on the role of administrator. “We had a logo that was developed many years ago and it really did not work.”

Recapping the past year, Greenlay highlighted a training session that was held for board members in coordination with Community Futures Winnipeg River, which also facilitated the effort to establish bylaws and develop a strategic plan.

“We needed to start from scratch,” she said. “And we now have the tools to do more for our members.” 

Offering a sneak peak of what people who attend the upcoming AGM can expect, MacDonald said on the agenda is a keynote presentation from Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, who is expected to speak about the challenges and opportunities facing businesses and the role that a network of chambers can play. 

There will also be a presentation from the Lac du Bonnet Foundation, a review of the chamber’s activities in 2025, a presentation of financials, the unveiling of the strategic plan and of course the board elections.

RCMP search for driver in fatal highway collision

By Mark T. Buss

RCMP continue to search for a man in connection with a fatal two-vehicle collision that killed three people, including a former Springfield resident, this past summer near Bowsman.

A Warrant of Arrest has been issued for Matthew Govereau, 37, from Winnipeg. Police say Govereau was the driver of a vehicle involved in a head-on collision that killed three people on July 1, 2025 on Hwy 10 near Road 224 North. 
Swan River RCMP say following the crash, two vehicles were observed in the east ditch, one of them overturned. EMS and the local fire department tended to the occupants involved.

The investigation revealed Govereau was travelling south on Hwy 10, veered over the centre line and collided with a vehicle, which was believed to be pulled over at the side of the road and facing north.

Govereau and his 29-year-old male passenger from Swan River were both transported to hospital with critical injuries. Police say the passenger was later pronounced deceased while the driver was upgraded to stable.

Olivia Michalczuk, 31, and Brendan Berg, 42, were in the parked vehicle. They were both transported to hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.  

A Springfield Collegiate grad in 2011, Michalczuk was a community planner for the City of Winnipeg as well as a writer, podcaster and champion on the Winnipeg arts scene. Berg, her partner, was the bass player for acclaimed Winnipeg-based indie pop band Royal Canoe, which has toured nationally and internationally. 

Following approval from Manitoba Prosecution Service, 18 charges were sworn against Govereau on Jan. 20 relating to the collision as well as the weapons and drugs recovered from the vehicle following the collision. The charges include three counts each of impaired driving causing death, dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, careless driving and possession of drugs for purposes of trafficking. There were also  two counts of weapon possession contrary to order and individual charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possessing a prohibited weapon, possession of property obtained by crime and possession of a controlled substance.

RCMP say efforts to find Govereau since then have been unsuccessful. RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre stated Govereau was not taken into custody at the beginning of the investigation, therefore no court documents were in effect.

Asked why the seven-month delay between the collision and charges, Manaigre noted such investigations are labour intensive. Once complete, the investigative package has to be forwarded to Manitoba Prosecution Services where they review and ultimately decide on which charges to lay.

“Once we receive that decision then we lay the charges and attempt to locate and serve the accused with a court document compelling them to court on a certain date,” Manaigre stated. “If you cannot locate the person, then you request a Warrant of Arrest, which is where we’re at.”

Govereau is listed as being 5’11” and 280 pounds. His last known address was in Birch River, but he is known to regularly travel throughout the province, including the City of Winnipeg. If seen, members of the public are advised not to approach.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Swan River RCMP at 204-734-4686 or 204-734-3454, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or leave a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com

RMTC coming to Great Falls Hall

The Winnipeg River Arts Council will once again be sponsoring a Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre rural tour stop in North Eastman in February.

The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (RMTC) production of Hockey Mom Hockey, Dad by Michael Melski is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 at the Great Falls Community Hall.

Hockey Mom Hockey Dad is a Canadian romantic comedy about two lonely single parents who meet and fall in love while watching their kids play a season of minor hockey.

Melski is an award-winning playwright and filmmaker whose works for the stage have been published and produced across Canada.

Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad was first produced in 1999 by Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Company on tour throughout Nova Scotia. The Toronto premiere was produced by Factory Theatre in 2003. The Merritt and Dora-nominated Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad, named one of the Top 10 Plays of The Year by the Toronto Star, has toured Canada twice and received over 40 professional productions, including several in the U.S.

For over 50 years, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre has brought live, professional theatre to audiences outside of Winnipeg. The upcoming Lac du Bonnet show is part of the latest RMTC rural tour, which runs between Feb 20 and March 18 in communities throughout Manitoba and North Western Ontario.

The Winnipeg River Arts Council (WRAC) has been sponsoring the regional leg of these tours for over 12 years. Previous shows include Murder For Two in Lac du Bonnet last year, Mix Tapes From My Mom in Pinawa in 2024, Assassinating Thomson in Great Falls in 2023, The New Canadian Curling Club in Lac du Bonnet in 2020, Buying the Farm in Pinawa in 2019 and The Last Train to Nibroc held in Great Falls in 2017.

The mission of the WRAC is to enhance the quality of life in North Eastman by advancing arts and culture. She added engaging in the arts, social activities and interaction within communities can help with major challenges including mobility and transportation issues, aging and loneliness. Visual and performance art has been proven to play a valuable role in boosting confidence and alleviating anxiety, depression and stress.

The WRAC also assists artists by helping them apply for grants, sponsor author tours at local libraries, hold fundraisers and art auctions and we also sponsor shows or artists.

Tickets for Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad are $25 and available at Daley’s Pharmacy in Lac du Bonnet or from the WRAC office. For more information email winnipegriverarts@gmail.com or call 204-340-0889.

Springfield denies data centre rezoning

By Tony Zerucha

A local businessman’s hopes of building a data centre near Manitoba Hydro Riel Substation saw strike three on Jan. 21 when Springfield council rejected a development plan amendment.

The decision comes two days short of the first anniversary of Wayne Edie’s first attempt for a rezoning. On Jan. 23, 2025, Edie sought to redesignate 160 acres of land, but that motion was defeated for several reasons, including the size of the parcel. Edie returned on Aug. 28 with a downsized, 80-acre plan but was again denied, setting the stage for his recent appearance.
In a report to council, Edie said the site, immediate adjacent to a Manitoba Hydro parking lot, was selected due to its proximity to both the substation and high-voltage infrastructure. That site offers the significant power capacity and high-speed internet access.

Edie’s third proposal attempted to address many of the concerns expressed by opponents of his past two efforts. Landscaping would address noise and lighting concerns and a closed-loop system would drastically reduce the amount of water needed. Carbon dioxide could be stored. Agricultural biomass waste could be used to produce heat. Natural gas could be reused.

Some issues remained. Springfield’s development plan identifies 1,300 acres of undeveloped employment lands one mile away, a factor in one provincial department’s concerns about Edie’s submission. The RM received 26 letters and a 59-signature petition objecting to the project.

The hearing began with requests for information, followed by expressions of support. Jason, who didn’t provide a last name, said he lives two miles from the proposed data centre.

“There have been so many things that have changed over the last six months to a year, especially with the closed-loop water system,” he said. “Going from the massive water volumes we were talking about to virtually nothing in these closed loop systems is such a big deal. Looking through the letters of opposition, that was in 80 per cent of them.”

Dennis St. George, an Anola-based engineer, touted the options for waste heat and renewing natural gas. That brought a retort from Coun. Andy Kuczynski.

“(What does) that have to do with anything we’re talking about?” Kuczynski asked. “We’re talking about the development plan here and we’ve been hijacked by whatever benefits were given to the agriculture community. I just don’t understand why were allowing him to speak on these issues.”

Several people spoke against the project. Honey farmer Karen Insley questioned whether the data centre would indeed have minimal land impact.

“Topsoil is actually a living ecosystem,” she said. “Once it’s removed, that living ecosystem is gone, even if it’s stockpiled. Stockpiled topsoil rapidly loses its biological function.”

Coun. Glen Fuhl said community interest in the data centre has increased over the past year, and he’s heard from many in the immediate area worried about it. He asked Edie to hold an open house to speak to those concerns.

“If we don’t have the information, how can we make good decisions?” Fuhl asked. “This application needs more information; it needs an open house.”

Fuhl then spoke about the arduous task leading to Springfield’s development plan. He said he was wary of going against it to rezone the land. So was Coun. Melinda Warren.

“We are looking at the development plan and the overarching interests of our residents,” she added.

Mayor Pat Therrien cited several benefits of a data centre.
“In my opinion, it’s a good plan,” Therrien said. “It works well with our development plan. It’ll bring jobs into the RM.”

Therrien said the location backs onto a parking lot that already features trucks, lights and equipment. He added Edie’s plans would be a fantastic opportunity as it would bring technology jobs to Springfield.

Therrien was the only member of council to vote in favour of changing the land’s zoning from agricultural to employment.

Certified financial planner sets up shop in Lac du Bonnet

By Andrea Geary

The natural beauty of the Lac du Bonnet area and Winnipeg River lured Angela Wittmann to relocate from Winnipeg a year ago.

“I’m extremely outdoorsy and always have been,” Wittmann said, adding that she can launch her kayak from her property about a five-minute drive from Lac du Bonnet. 

A Certified Financial Planner for over 30 years who’s now working for IG Wealth Management, Wittman recently opened an office at 4 Park Ave. in Lac du Bonnet. She welcomes potential clients to book an appointment and come in for coffee or tea and an informal discussion to see if she can assist them.

She said she can help with a financial triage to see what someone’s financial priorities are and if their needs match the services she offers.
One of her professional designations is Certified Financial Transitionist. 

“I took courses needed to earn this title and I’m most proud of it as I’m the only holder in Manitoba and one of just five in Canada.”

Wittmann explained her unique training gives her the ability to help clients with the process of change during a time of transition in their lives. This could be a business owner selling their business, a family passing on the farm or other business to the younger generation, retirement planning, or change due to the loss of a spouse, among other situations.

“Whenever your life changes, your money changes and whenever your money changes, your life changes,” she said. “I focus on helping people bring calmness, clarity and structure to complex situations.”

Wittmann is also a Chartered Life Underwriter and Responsible Investment Advisor. If a client requires legal or accounting expertise that she lacks, she can call on her IG Wealth Management team members to help.

While she has worked for IG Wealth Management for a total of about 20 years, she previously worked for the Business Development Bank of Canada and a credit union as a lender for businesses and non-profit organizations.

In her effort to give back, Wittmann commits at least one per cent of her gross annual income to supporting social and environmental charities. She served on the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg’s board of directors for year and now serves as co-chair to the organization’s Heritage Club for legacy giving. She is working towards a Master of Philanthropy designation.

Since she moved into the Lac du Bonnet area, Wittmann has joined the Lac du Bonnet and Pinawa Chambers of Commerce. An avid pickleball player, she’s learning to cross-country ski and to play bridge. 

Wittmann said she’s planning a grand opening at her office on Feb. 24.

Einarson downs Lawes in Scotties finals

A late-game comeback by Kerri Einarson ended Kaitlyn Lawes’ undefeated run at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Sunday evening in Mississauga, Ont. as Einarson stole a 4-3 extra-end win to claim her fifth national title.

Down one in the 10th, Einarson was forced to make a long angle-raise takeout to tie. She clipped a quarter of its red stone, sitting three feet above the house, sending it into Lawes’ counter on the button to force an extra frame.

In the extra end, Team Einarson (with third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard, lead Karlee Burgess) earned a steal after slipping a stone behind centre guard and forcing Lawes into a tough thin double-raise attempt. Lawes made contact, but couldn’t spill the Canadian stone far enough.

“We all tried our best and you can’t really ask for shots back,” Lawes said. “It’s just, what could we do differently if we were to keep going? I’m super proud of my teammates – they played incredible. I wish I could have made that last shot for them.
“I had about a half inch of the rock and had to throw it in hope, so it’s kind of a Hail Mary. I had to make my first one, and it was just a little bit short.”

Team Lawes (skip/third Selena Njegovan of Beausejour, second Laura Walker and lead Kristin Gordon) started with hammer but couldn’t capitalize early. In the second, Einarson nailed a hit-and-roll to hide, and Lawes was light on a draw to give up the steal. In the fourth, Lawes attempted a runback for two but over-curled, handing over another steal. Ends one, three and five were blanked, including a neat double-and-roll-out by Team Lawes following back-to-back raise takeouts from Team Einarson.
In the sixth, Lawes converted a deuce after an Einarson miss where her last rock flashed, leaving Lawes an open draw for two to tie it up. In the seventh. Einarson tried to clear two staggered Lawes stones on the wing and roll out for a blank, but the rock stopped just before the back line, catching a piece of the house for a steal and a 3-2 lead for Lawes.

The eighth and ninth ends were blanked, setting up Einarson’s angle-raise takeout heroics to tie in 10.

Team Lawes were 10-0 through round robin and playdowns leading to the final. In two games against Einarson that week, Lawes won handily 9-4 and 10-2.

On a personal level, Njegovan had a stellar week. Elevated into a position where she is now calling the game for Team Lawes but still throwing third stones, she was named First Team All Star Third, determined by a combination of media vote and playing percentages.

Support for Lac du Bonnet outdoor rink

By Mark T. Buss

The Town of Lac du Bonnet is commending multiple community stakeholders for coming together to enhance and develop the town’s outdoor rink at Memorial Park and making it a community asset.

In previous years, the town developed an outdoor skating surface on the river near the town dock. While well received, the location proved challenging to build and maintain due to inconsistent ice conditions and weather restrictions. Recognizing these limitations, town staff and council decided to relocate the rink to Memorial Park, allowing for more consistent ice building and safer, more reliable use.

The move proved to be a great success. Last winter saw a significant increase in usage, with many residents and community groups embracing the rink. Community members regularly assisted with clearing and maintaining the ice and the space quickly became a hub for winter activity.

Building on this momentum, several community groups approached the town ahead of the 2025/26 season with a desire to invest in improving the rink. Town staff worked closely with these ideas, and all donated funds were directed straight back into enhancing the asset. Improvements included the construction of boards, the addition of lighting for evening skating, window and door upgrades to the warm-up shack and required electrical upgrades.

This project would not have been possible without generous contributions, which demonstrate the strength of community spirit. Lac du Bonnet Home Hardware sold the materials needed for the rink at a reduced price, saving the town money. 

The Lac du Bonnet Fire Department has also been an integral part of the rink’s success each year, taking on the critical role of flooding the ice and helping ensure safe, quality skating conditions for everyone.

The Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby and Mrs. Lucci’s Holiday Pop-Up Shoppe each provided $2,000 toward the development of the outdoor rink while the Lac du Bonnet Lions Club donated $1,500 from the Chase the Ace proceeds.

Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby GM Darlene Lamoureux said the organization had originally allocated grant funding to the RM of Lac du Bonnet in support of their winter trail initiative. With that not moving forward this season, they worked collaboratively with Lac du Bonnet recreation director Bianca Tetrault to explore an alternative use for the approved funding.

“We felt this was a strong and appropriate fit, as the upgrades to an accessible, recreation-based community asset closely align with the original intent of the grant,” Lamoureaux said. “We are proud to support an initiative that brings people together and contributes positively to winter recreation in our community.”

Team Van Ryssel headed to MB Games

By Sierra Smith

Team Van Ryssel is preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as the U15 boys curling team gets ready to compete at the Manitoba Games in Thompson March 1-4.
For Colby and Hunter Van Ryssel, Bennett Mead and Nixon Gibb, the excitement goes beyond the competition.

“I’m super excited to be playing in the Manitoba Games in Thompson because it’s the most northern place I’ve ever been,” Mead said. “We get to sleep in a school in the athletes’ village, and that’s kind of exciting.”
Mead is also looking forward to testing himself against strong competition from across the province.

“I’m excited for the challenge of playing against other players from all over Manitoba,” he said. “We’re younger than lots of teams, but it’ll be a great experience.”
Colby Van Ryssel echoed that enthusiasm, calling the games a major opportunity.

“I am very excited to go participate in Thompson, and I just think it’s a really great opportunity for me and my teammates,” Van Ryssel said.

Hunter Van Ryssel described the Manitoba Games as a rare chance.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “The experience, like staying in the athletes’ village and taking the bus with my team, even though it’s eight hours, is something I’m really excited for.”

Team Van Ryssel formed thanks to the support of the Springfield Curling Club and Terry Gibb. Bennett, Colby and Hunter knew each other from school, while Nixon joined after meeting the group through the junior program in Dugald. The boys quickly bonded and were eager to play more competitively and enter bonspiels together.

Although Nixon will be unable to attend the Manitoba Games, he played a crucial role in the team’s success and qualification at regionals held at the Springfield Curling Club on Jan. 2-3.

Curl Manitoba allowed the team to add Graham Tinker from the East Region, a move the players were thrilled about after facing him at regionals while he represented Teulon.

In preparation for the Games, Team Van Ryssel practices twice a week with their coach and has been immersing themselves in the sport by watching live curling at the Grand Slam in Steinbach and following events like the Scotties.
While the team is keeping expectations realistic, their goals remain positive and focused. 

“My goal is to have fun and win at least one game, but more importantly, have fun,” Colby said.

Hunter added that the team’s mindset is key. 

“Have fun, don’t overthink it, and enjoy the experience.”

Team Van Ryssel is fundraising to help cover costs for the trip. Individuals, businesses or organizations wishing to show support can email teamcvanrysselcurl ing@gmail.com

Comets late goal breaks deadlock 

By Tony Zerucha

Tyler Nault’s powerplay goal at 6:44 of the third period broke a 3-3 deadlock, sending the Beausejour Comets to a 4-3 win over the La Broquerie Habs on Jan. 23. 
Logan Ashe scored his first of the season to give the Comets a 1-0 lead midway through the opening frame. Nault and Owen Lourenco earned assists.

Les Habs responded seconds later with two goals in 90 seconds to grab a 2-1 lead. Former Eastman Selects Colton Pakoo and Mario Gagnon earned assists on the first tally.

Ashe helped draw the Comets even at 16:47 when he teamed up with Jaiden Reeb to set up Easton Gaffray’s 11th of the season. That 2-2 deadlock continued into the second period.

The teams traded scores in the middle 20. Nikolas Bear gave the Comets a 3-2 edge on the power play at 8:35, but Pakoo evened the score with a shorthanded effort at 17:24.

Nault’s fifth was the third period’s only score. Lavery Melsted registered an assist. Shots were relatively even, with Beausejour having a 29-28 advantage. Sawyer Abraham was in net.

The win gives the Comets a six-point bulge over the second-place St. Malo Warriors with six regular-season games remaining.
The Comets have a home-and-home doubleheader against the sixth-place Arborg

Ice Dawgs this week, beginning with a contest in Beausejour on Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. The return matchup is in Arborg on Jan. 30. The last-pace North Winnipeg Satelites come to town on Feb. 1 at 4 p.m.

The Comets’ three remaining games are a home-and-home against the Habs and a season-ending contest in Selkirk. The Warriors have games against the Lundar Falcons, two against the Satelites, and single contests against Selkirk and La Broquerie.

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.

Serving the communities of
Springfield (Oakbank, Dugald, Anola), Beausejour, Brokenhead, Whitemouth, Reynolds and surrounding areas.

View e-edition ›

 The Lac du Bonnet Clipper

Serving the communities of
Lac du Bonnet, Pinawa, Seven Sisters, Powerview-Pine Falls, RM of Alexander, the East Beaches and surrounding areas.

View E-edition ›

---

Need to place a Classified Ad?   

Click Here