After much thought, and many conversations with residents over the past several months, I have decided to run for Mayor of Pinawa.
Over the past six years serving on Council, I have had the opportunity to learn about our community’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities. I am grateful to the many people who have encouraged me to take this next step.
I believe Pinawa is entering an important period. The decisions we make over the next few years will help shape our community for the next 15 years and beyond. We have opportunities ahead of us, and I believe we can build a future together that is prosperous, sustainable, and welcoming for everyone.
Being your voice is one of the important parts of being Mayor, and that’s why I want to hear from you. Over the coming months, I look forward to meeting with residents, listening to your ideas, and discussing the future of our community. If you see me around town, please say hello and share your thoughts on Pinawa’s future direction.
I will be sharing my thoughts and updates here on this blog throughout the campaign. If you are interested in following along, please subscribe by entering your email address below and future posts will be delivered directly to your inbox.
Thank you for your support. I look forward to seeing you.
As part of the fun this weekend, my daughter Emma and her friend Emi are selling cookies, lemonade, iced tea, and juice on McDiarmid near Willis E. They are raising money for the Humane Society.
They are smart and put a lot of ice packs in the cooler so the lemonade is cold on this hot day! Enjoy!
I’m very excited about Garage Sale Day this upcoming Saturday. There are over 40 houses registered this year so there will be lots of items to be found!
About ten years ago, I helped organize the first town-wide garage sale day through the North Eastman Transition Network. This was my first community initiative in Pinawa, and I can still remember the feeling on the original morning seeing all the people showing up to participate. I’m so happy to see it still going strong after many years. The original inspiration actually came from my aunties in Dugald, who are legendary volunteers and community builders. Their community garage sale always brought people together, encouraged reuse, and created a sense of activity around town. I thought Pinawa could do the same.
Later on, when the North Eastman Transition Network wound down, the project carried forward through the Lions Club and has continued ever since, which is great to see.
I’ve always believed in the idea of a circular economy before it became a buzzword. Keeping useful items circulating in the community just makes sense. It saves money, reduces waste, and gives things a second life instead of sending them to the landfill. Plus, as someone who genuinely enjoys finding good used items and unexpected deals, I think garage sales are one of the best forms of recycling there is. I would love to see a non-profit community based thrift store in Pinawa.
This Saturday, I’ll be hosting a garage sale at my place as part of the town-wide event, so stop by and say hi. I’ve got plenty of stuff that needs a new home, including a piano organ and a trampoline! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone else out enjoying the day too.
Whether you’re selling, browsing, or just wandering around town with a coffee in hand, I hope lots of people take part and help keep this great community tradition going.
I had a wonderful time hosting for the Art in the Garden event. I was very lucky have been paired up with Rick McGregor, wildlife photographer. Be sure to check out his amazing gallery at RJM Lenscraft. My natural zen garden was complemented perfectly with pictures of animals hidden in all the little cozy spaces of the garden. It looked like they were really there! Thanks to the Pinawa Art Gallery and Pinawa Recreation for putting on the event. Over 150 people came by to visit the 12 unique gardens.
Whimsical, relaxed, and creative. I like to integrate natural elements with handmade features like a rain garden and a dry riverbed that channels runoff from the playhouse. The garden is as much for peaceful enjoyment as it is a place for my kids to explore and play.
Nothing will force motivation to weed and tidy your garden like inviting the entire town over to browse and take pictures! Huge thanks to Catriona and her mom Sarah for all their help.
Did you attend the Art in the Garden event? What were some of your favourite elements?
This Four Nations Cup game felt like there was a lot riding on it. I haven’t been this amped for a Canada game since the 2010 Olympics. Our boys battled hard. Binnington made some exciting clutch saves. Mackinnon and Makar were great. That goal by Connor McDavid was a beauty and sent the house parties and bars across the country (including our contingent at the Pinawa Club) into a roaring celebration.
It’s a confidence boost for Canada. There is no doubt, the geopolitical situation with the States is making people anxious here. The USA has lost its way is now bullying its friends. There are those up here to that have been aping American style rhetoric and politics willing to sell us out. I, for one, do not want to be part of the American gong show. No, thanks.
We are the True North Strong and Free! There are a lot of challenges ahead, but I believe there is an opportunity for Canada to grow and assert a greater independence. They want to belittle us, insult us, intimidate us, and have us submit. Screw that! We’re going to stick together, focus on what unites us, and work hard for each other and for Canada.
Let’s go Canada! Leave a comment below about how you celebrated!
In just a few days, I’ll be delivering a presentation about something that’s been part of my family and my career for generations—the railway.
It’s hard to believe that nearly 200 years ago, the world’s first steam-powered train, George Stephenson’s Locomotion No. 1, began carrying passengers in 1825, changing the face of transportation forever.
From the early steam engines perfected by James Watt to the diesel and electric trains we see today, the railway has undergone an incredible evolution. And yet, no matter how much things have advanced, there’s still something timeless about the sound of the train, the thrill of the journey, and the way it connects us to the landscape.
In my upcoming presentation, I’ll be sharing stories about The Canadian, the train I’m lucky enough to work on at VIA Rail Canada. We’ll dive into the history of this iconic rail line, explore its mechanics and innovations, and look ahead to the future of rail travel, which may soon include hydrogen-powered locomotives. Plus, I’ll throw in a few funny and unforgettable moments from my own time riding the rails!
I can’t wait to share this with you! This presentation is for adults and kids, includes props from the train, and even prizes and giveaways! I hope to see you on Thursday evening, October 17th, 7:00 (or 19:00 as we say on the Railway) at the Library!
For those who received my previous post about registration night, I had wrote the location wrong!
The Pinawa Recreation Registration Night will be at the Pinawa Community Center between 5:30 and 7:00pm. Come check out various recreation programs in Pinawa. Visit local groups, ask questions, and register for programs this fall/winter.
Sorry for any confusion! I hope to see you all there! 🙂
The kids are back in school and the night air is getting cool. It’s not too early to start thinking about some of the great activities to take part in for this upcoming season!
Come to the Pinawa Community Centre on Sunday, September 8, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM for Registration Night, a new initiative by our Recreation Department! This is your chance to meet representatives from local clubs and organizations offering fun and enriching programs for all ages throughout the fall and winter seasons.
For a small town, Pinawa has a lot to offer! Whether you’re interested in sports, arts, or community activities, there’s something for everyone. I’ll be there to see what’s new this year—and I’d love to see you there, too!
Personally, I can’t wait to get back to cross-country skiing, enjoying the public skates at the Orville Acres Arena with my kids, cheering on our Panthers, and experiencing some excellent live music and plays at the Community Centre.
Come say hi, explore , and find your next winter hobby. See you on Sunday!
The Pinawa Public Library is hosting a Chess Tournament!
Chess can be of great benefit to children’s minds. Several academics have looked into this extensively. Chess has been persuasively linked with improving children’s concentration, problem-solving, critical, original and creative thinking – and even mathematical abilities. Children with special educational needs can improve their abilities to learn and interact with other children if they become involved in school chess programmes and chess clubs.
Chess is a social game that connects people across generations. It can be taught by grandparents to the their grandchildren. There are other benefits to chess for seniors.
I donated a few books about chess to the library for those who wish to study up and improve their game. You can search the library’s catalogue here. An interesting connection between libraries and chess, the second book ever printed in the English language was about chess! One of my favourite political philosophers had this to say about the game:
Chess teaches foresight, by having to plan ahead; vigilance, by having to keep watch over the whole chess board; caution, by having to restrain ourselves from making hasty moves; and finally, we learn from chess the greatest maxim in life – that even when everything seems to be going badly for us we should not lose heart, but always hoping for a change for the better, steadfastly continue searching for the solutions to our problems.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Statesman, philosopher, inventor, scientist, musician, economist
It’s not too late to sign up for round 1. There is a sign up sheet at the librarian’s desk or send an email to email@pinawapubliclibrary.com with your name and skill bracket (beginner, intermediate, advanced). The tournament is open to all ages and skill levels (children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult). Games will typically be played on Sundays at the Library at 2:oopm. Hope to see you there!
Since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated with cities and transportation. My childhood interest which began building cities with Nintendo and Lego, eventually matured into studying Politics at the University of Winnipeg. I follow urban design and engineering sites and read on the subject to stay up to date. It’s this passion and experience that excites me as part of my work as a Councillor.
Neighbourhoods are for people, and people move around! The built environments of neighbourhoods should be designed to support a human scale of transportation. I believe in the concept of the 15 minute neighbourhood. This urban design concept is simple; people should be able to reach most of their needs within a 15 minute walk or bike ride of their home. There are many reasons to invest in building a more walkable town; wealth, health, equity, climate action, and community connection.
In my time in Council I have advocated, and will continue to advocate, for investment into our sidewalks, biking facilities (such as stands and racks), paths, and trails. Improving walkability costs money, however there is clear evidence that this is an investment that pays off. Walkability improves property values; more walkable neighbourhoods sell for a premium compared to the least walkable neighbourhoods. Walkability attracts talent as educated millennials value this and are moving to more walkable places. According to a study “Attracting College Educated Young Adults to Cities”, 64% of them choose first where they want to live, before looking for work. In the post covid work-from-home landscape, this is sage advice. In order to grow our town and attract young talent and families, we should invest in providing the walkable lifestyle that they desire, and Pinawa is the perfect place to do it.
There are great health reasons to invest in active transportation as well. At a time in North America where society faces many problems related to obesity and lack of exercise, and there is a direct correlation to walkability scores and likelihood of residents to be overweight. Imagine how many calories are burned on the Ironwood Trail each year! I believe that trails and paths like the Ironwood must be considered part of our town infrastructure, and be accorded the resources necessary to maintain them for the people to use, year round. I will advocate for our snow clearing policy to include provisions for clearing sidewalks and packing and grading of the Ironwood. Last Summer Pinawa was named the Most Active Community in Manitoba by Participation. By encouraging a built urban environment that supports walking and active transportation, we can improve community health for the people of Pinawa, and retain the crown of the most Active Community in Manitoba year after year!
During my first term on Council, I was approached by a citizen named Gary who had been lobbying the town and provincial government for golf carts to be allowed on town streets. I was immediately supportive. I thought of the possibilities, particularly the idea of using a 10 or 12 person cart as a shuttle to move people between busy attraction areas as a way to help manage visitor traffic and parking issues. On February 8th, 2022 The Honourable Wayne Ewasko met with Council where I used the opportunity to lobby for the project. In Summer 2022 we saw the Province pass Bill 21 – The Highway Traffic Amendment and Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act which opens the door for these type of vehicles. I support Pinawa being the pilot project community in Manitoba, as I believe that the direct and spin off benefits for safety, job creation, accessibility, and climate impact from tiny vehicles will be tremendous for our community. Not to mention the undeniable coolness factor!
I believe in an age-friendly community; the 15 minute Pinawa will help elderly Pinawanians maintain their independence for longer. When my grandmother became too old to safely drive her car anymore, she suffered an immense loss to her independence. When seniors are able to satisfy most of their daily needs on foot, or using a mobility device like a scooter or cart, they will be able to remain self sufficient for many years after they no longer use an automobile. On November 22, 2022 members of Council met with Minister Ewasko and the Honourable Scott Johnston, Minister for Seniors and Long Term Care to talk about a Personal Care Home. We agree that it is best for seniors to be able to age in place, however, I explained to the Ministers that people do not wish to age stuck inside of a house. People age in their community, and they must be able get around safely to interact with their neighbourhood!
As a parent, I can attest that safe streets and schools is top of mind when choosing a place to live. Safe streets also give children independence. Most parents would like their children to be able to get around before they are 16, a safe walkable community can give children years of increased self-sufficiency. I advocate for the LGD to recognize the “monkey trails” as urban paths that can be used as safe and pleasant ways for people to get around town. For too long, the government has overlooked the potential of these unique Pinawa assets. We could improve them with crosswalks at intersections with roads and improving the proposed Wayfinding Signage Project to include navigation aids to help kids get to places like the school, playground, and library.
Around Pinawa you will often see me walking and biking around to get from here to there. It keeps me fit and helps to decompress just being outside. One of the best things about the most walkable places is the sense of community that it brings. You meet people and see things that you would otherwise miss when driving. Combining walkable, active, human scale transportation planning in combination addressing the missing middle housing issues we will be able to build a community that is healthier, sustainable, and more prosperous.
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