VOLUME 6 EDITION 13 THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 SERVING LUNDAR, ASHERN, ERIKSDALE, MOOSEHORN, FISHER BRANCH, RIVERTON, ARBORG, GIMLI, WINNIPEG BEACH, ARNES, MELEB, FRASERWOOD EU3000is Inverter Generator Electric Start 3 year warranty $2599.00 $600.00 discount $199900 EXTENDED TILL MAR.31, 2019 EP2500 Generator Recoil Start 3 year warranty $899.00 $200.00 discount $69900 EXTENDED TILL MAR.31, 2019 Crafty teaching SHACHTAY SALES & SERVICE Arborg, MB EXPRESS PHOTO BY EVAN MATTHEWS Mark Blieske, left, owner and operator of Sunset Paddles, visited Fisher Branch Collegiate last week to teach students 204-376-5233 the hands on techniques of traditional paddle making, leather work, spoon carving and blacksmith. news > sports > opinion > community > people > entertainment > events > classifi eds > careers > everything you need to know GATEBUSTER SALE STARTS APRIL 1ST Come in un l May 17th to receive discounts on blueprint and Rite-Mins mineral, supplements, Show Stopper feeds, as well as Rite-Lix and Sweetlix tubs. ®ÞǣÌsNjDNjŘOÌˀ 2 The Express Weekly News Thursday, March 28, 2019 Teaching traditional cultural craftsmanship Students learn paddle-making, leather- working and blacksmithing By Evan Matthews Blieske was brought in to the school Fisher Branch Collegiate students through grant funding, which re- had a unique and original opportu- quired the guest to involve exposure nity, as a traditional paddle-maker, to Indigenous culture. leather-worker, spoon-carver and While he’s teaching kids about In- blacksmith taught the students some digenous culture and heritage, Blieske hands-on techniques. isn’t limiting his own experience since Mark Blieske, owner and operator he’s taking on some creative projects of Sunset Paddles, came to the school of his own. — at one point in traditional Metis Blieske is calling his most recent gear — to teach the students all about project “52 weeks; 52 paddles.” paddle making and the culture sur- “I’m making one paddle a week. … rounding it. It’s all about Indigenous culture. It’s “I get dressed up in costume, as a where paddle-making and design in traditional woodworker and black- our country begins,” says Blieske, who EXPRESS PHOTOS BY EVAN MATTHEWS smith. I talk about the Voyageur and is also heavily involved in Festival du Mark Blieske, left, teaches spoon-carving to Colby Lazorak,Scott Barrett the Métis. I talk about Indigenous cul- Voyageur. and Aaron Plett, with teacher Grant Harrison in the background. ture,” says Blieske. “I’m really interested in re-creating “I talk about how it relates to the fur 52 (Indigenous) paddles from across trade and show some of the tradition- Canada.” al equipment that was used … or of Grant Harrison, Fisher Branch Col- that same era.” legiate’s industrial arts teacher, was Students throughout the school took actually a student teacher under in Blieske’s teachings over the course Blieske’s supervision. of the week. Knowing what an amazing crafts- Blieske’s real specialty is paddle- man Blieske is, Harrison says he making, he says. would’ve done whatever it took to get “If you really squint and look at a Blieske in the school and teaching the canoe, whether it’s birch bark or plas- students. tic, it usually appears to be the same “I offered to have him stay at my (design). … The same can be said for house, so he did a huge supply run, a paddle,” says Blieske, who’s been loaded up his truck and drove up teaching his crafts to students for 42 here for a four-day workshop,” says years. Harrison, having known Blieske for 15 “But since I’ve been folding back years. Blieske discusses the craft of these layers of paddles across Cana- Though teachers get together to dis- leather-working and some da, I’m realizing there is much more cuss strategy regularly, Harrison says Emily Mazur meticulously shapes to it than meets the eye. From each those meetings often centre around projects the students could attempt, such as the carrying case her paddle. Attention to detail is and every region, there are minor dif- topics like literacy — meaning an op- key when woodworking. ferences in design and things change.” portunity like this one doesn’t come in front of him. The Cree peoples used a very nar- around very often. row paddle because there were small- “(Mark) has helped me become a er trees in the region, while the east better teacher. He’s just a phenom- coast’s Mi’kmaq peoples made bigger enal craftsmen, and I want to expose paddles because they had access to that to my kids and learn it better my- bigger trees, according to Blieske. self. The Iroquois people, historically a “It’s almost a bit of professional de- powerful and sometimes aggressive velopment for myself. It’s hard to get peoples, had a paddle design that this kind of resource, and we’re very doubled as a weapon, Blieske says, grateful.” while also integrating a Mi’kmaq handle. Correction Staff In the article titled “Gimli resident gets called up to teach fi lm star on set” published in the Express Weekly News, Suzanne Beaumont should have been identifi ed as an educational consultant. The Express apologizes for the error. Jacob Harry scrapes away a layer from his paddle. The Express Weekly News Thursday, March 28, 2019 3 Vidir swing project pays homage to founder’s wife By Evan Matthews plans, too, as they move forward.” The towns of Arborg and Teulon will The swing sets will be made up of soon have a new community swing a variety of different swings, mak- set, courtesy of a major corporate ing the set accessible to anyone who community member, Vidir Vertical wants to use them. Storage Solutions. The swing set will include two regu- Arborg will install the swing set in “a lar belt swings, which any adult or new park area” at the former location child can use, according to Rempel, of the daycare, which is within the but the swing set will cater to those recreation centre area, according to who have special needs, too. chief administrative offi cer Lorraine There will be two “diaper” swings, Bardarson. designed for toddlers and young kids, “We are very excited to be working but Rempel says these swings won’t with Vidir Storage to create a new work for a child who has a disability park area in town. The or a young baby who very generous donation can’t sit up on its of the swing set will be own yet. a focal point of the park So, as a solution, Vi- and offer something dir will have a couple that people of all ages “OUR FOUNDER ADA-approved op- can enjoy for years to tions. come,” says town coun- IS NOW IN A “These swings will cillor and deputy may- WHEELCHAIR AND look more like a car or, Ron Johnston. seat, with a full back “Vidir’s strong pro- THOUGH HIS WIFE and a fi ve-point har- motion and belief in HAS PASSED AWAY. ness,” says Rempel. the growth of Arborg “We also want to EXPRESS PHOTO SUBMITTED BY VIDIR as a great place to live WE WANTED HIM include one where Vidir will install a carriage-style swing set as a way to ensure that the and raise a family is a TO BE ABLE TO people in wheel- donation is accessible to all community members. Elizabeth Dueck, the shared vision we both chairs could swing. late wife of Vidir founder Willy Dueck, had a passion for swings. have.” ENJOY THE SWING Our founder is now Vidir estimates the SET.” in a wheelchair, and donate swings to cost for each swing set though Elizabeth the communities. donation to be around has passed away, we … That and actual ASHERN HOME HARDWARE $27,000, according to wanted him to be need in the com- the company’s executive assist Ca- able to enjoy the swing set, too.” munities.” Summer Hours Beginning April 1! rissa Rempel. Arborg should see its One of the main reasons Vidir With facilities in Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM swing set installed by the end of sum- wanted to go ahead with the project Arborg and Teu- mer 2019. is in order to pay homage to Eliza- lon, Vidir says its Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM The Town of Teulon, too, will see a beth Dueck, wife of Willy Dueck, who important to el- donation; however, its installation is founded the company. evate careers and We offer a full selection of Lumber quite a ways off with no estimated Arborg’s mayor, Peter Dueck, is mar- community within and Building Materials, and special order timeline. ried to Elizabeth’s daughter, Trudy. the communities items service. Our estimators can help you “It’s very preliminary in Teulon, but “Elizabeth loved swings. She always it operates in. basically we want to give council a loved to swing her grandchildren, with any kind of project. heads-up because we knew they were and she loved the poem The Swing by going to be looking at reviewing their Robert Louis Stevenson,” says Rem- ASHERN #28 RAILWAY AVENUE current swing sets,” says Rempel. pel. ASHERN “We want them to know it’s in our “In honour of her … Vidir decided to 204-768-3980 HOMEHARDWARE.CA OVER $100,000 CASH 2019 FORD F150 XLT $ OR $35,000 CASH 8.5 SKI-DOO RENEGADE X OR CAN-AM OUTLANDER XT OR $15,000 CASH MILLION $10,000 CASH IN PRIZES AND FREE GROCERIES FOR A YEAR DISCOUNTS FREE GAS FOR A YEAR DREAM VACATION ARBORG FOOD STORE 204-376-5271 ERIKSDALE FOOD STORE 204-739-2116 ARBORG GAS BAR 204-376-2349 ERIKSDALE HARDWARE (204) 739-2634 4 The Express Weekly News Thursday, March 28, 2019 Bridge Youth Drop-in Centre celebrates eight years in Arborg By Teresa Carey the same building as The Bridge that The Bridge Youth Drop-in Centre, also doubles as an arts and perform- located on the corner of Ardal Street ing space for the community.