Automotive Glass Chip Repairs Tinting Clinic Drugstore Farm Equipment Auto Accessories By Agassiz Medical Centre OPEN 150C Foxfi re Trail Winkler, MB (204)325-4012 SOON Call 822.9992 - Morden Drugstore Winkler Morden THURSDAY, VOLUME 10 EDITION 10 MARCH 7, 2019 VVLocally ownedoiceoice & operated - Dedicated to serving our communities A dose of The frigid weather didn’t stop Canadian country stars Doc Walker from rocking the stage at the Rogers Hometown Hockey celebra- tion in downtown Winkler Sunday. For more photos, see Pgs. 12-13. Doc Walker PHOTO BY ASHLEIGH VIVEIROS/VOICE news > sports > opinion > community > people > entertainment > events > classifi eds > careers > everything you need to know 2 The Winkler Morden Voice Thursday, March 7, 2019 National spotlight shines on Winkler for Hometown Hockey By Ashleigh Viveiros ing about the midget AAA hockey coaches in various parts of the coun- The eyes of Canadian hockey fans try,” MacLean said. “I remember ap- were on Winkler this weekend as the preciating in year one and ever since Rogers Hometown Hockey tour set that there’s a minor hockey coach up shop in the heart of the city. that’s the equivalent of [coaching leg- The two-day celebration of our na- ends] Scotty Bowman or Al Arbour in tion’s favourite sport culminated with every community in Canada. They de- hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone velop so many good citizens and good broadcasting live from downtown hockey players and rarely get any ac- Winkler as the Winnipeg Jets beat the claim. Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2. “It’s really great that the telecast can The lead-up to Sunday’s game in- go in and shine a light on folks like cluded appearances by NHL alumni that.” Ed Belfour and Grant Clitsome, mu- For MacLean’s co-host, it’s also the sical performances by Doc Walker, slice-of-life stories she gets to share The Color, and Tyler Del Pino, an- that fuel her travels each season. other chance for locals to get up close “The stories never end ... and they and personal with the also never cease to Stanley Cup, a Parade amaze us,” Slone of Champions down said. “The opportu- Main St. featuring mi- nity to travel across PHOTO BY ASHLEIGH VIVEIROS/VOICE nor hockey teams, and “THE STORIES the country in this Rogers Hometown Hockey hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone take a host of other hockey- way and be part of a the stage Sunday ahead of the live broadcast in downtown Winkler. themed activities. NEVER END ... positive experience ... Though Rogers AND THEY ALSO that’s what keeps us started.” This was Belfour’s fi rst time taking Hometown Hockey has going.” The Hockey Hall of Famer credits part in the Hometown Hockey tour, nearly fi ve seasons un- NEVER CEASE TO Segments aired to his time goaltending for Winkler’s ju- and he said Saturday he was having der its belt, the thrill of viewers across the nior team as a launching pad for his a blast. bringing this party to AMAZE US.” country try to refl ect career. “This is awesome. We have to pro- a different community the community Rog- “I had a great time here in Winkler mote the sport,” he said. “There’s so every week hasn’t gone ers Hometown Hock- and I learned a lot about the game many things for kids to do nowadays away for MacLean. ey fi nds itself in each week, Slone and that helped me get on my way to and sometimes they get distracted “I think both Tara and I just love the said, as well as to capture the spirit of North Dakota,” he said. pretty easily, so we’ve got to do ev- education,” he said. “I was in Winkler hockey in Canada. Belfour played for the University of erything we can to help keep kids for Scotiabank Hockey Day back in Show fans and hockey legends alike North Dakota before signing with the involved.” 2008 and really had no grasp of Win- “appreciate talking about hockey’s Chicago Blackhawks. He went on to kler and the Mennonite history and grassroots and where people have play for several NHL teams during More Rogers Hometown Hockey the hockey history of the area. come from,” she said. “Every stop has his nearly 20-year career. photos on Pgs. 12-13. “It’s just such a fascinating commu- something special.” nity, Morden-Winkler.” The weekend’s festivities were a Southern Manitoba is certainly an special homecoming of sorts as well area that has raised its fair share of for Belfour, who had people lined- Winkler chamber announces NHL stars, MacLean noted, pointing up around Rogers Fan Hub tent for a to Carman native and former Win- chance to score his autograph. kler Flyer Ed Belfour and Stanley Cup “It’s always nice to see the local kids, business award winners winners Dustin Penner and Eric Fehr. they’re all excited, and all the famil- It all starts with the local hockey iar faces that I remember from play- By Ashleigh Viveiros programs. ing here,” he said. “It’s a chance to nize the things that we’re doing,” said “One thing I also latch onto is learn- give back to the place where my roots incoming president Darren Heide. The Winkler and District Chamber “Excellence helps drive further ex- of Commerce cellence,” he added. “When you see announced the someone else innovating, driving, winners of the fi nding that excellence, it inspires 2019 P.W. Enns other businesses.” Business Awards Elias Woodworking and Manufac- at its annual gen- turing will receive this year’s Busi- eral meeting last ness Excellence Award, the Com- week. munity Builder Award goes to Triple “There’s so E, Rise Athletics and Wellness will many amaz- receive the Business Builder Award, ing things that Solutions IT receives the Customer are happening Service Award, and the Winkler and in Winkler and District Health Care Board is the Not in the business for Profi t of the Year. community on a Rise Athletics owner Kurtis Fox local level, a na- said it’s an honour to be recognized tional level. We need to recog- Continued on page 5 The Winkler Morden Voice Thursday, March 7, 2019 3 Home & Life Show ‘19 About 50 exhibi- tors fi lled the hall and foyer of the Access Event Cen- tre for the Mor- den chamber’s annual Home and Life Show Friday and Saturday. Now in its eighth straight year, it has become a major trade show that offers a little bit of everything from local busi- nesses. Featured exhibitors includ- ed Ideal Floors, Two30Nine by Decor, Carman Granite, Co-op@ Home, and Ave- nue Polaris Kawa- saki South. PHOTOS BY LORNE STELMACH/ VOICE Boundary Trails Dental Centre is pleased to welcome Nicole Walske, Practice Manager. Nicole brings over 20 years of experience as a Dental Assistant and Dental Office Manager. She has completed multiple courses in Human Resources and Dental Office Management. Having lived in Morden nearly her entire life she is excited to be employed in her hometown and looks forward to connecting with the current patients and welcomes new patients to schedule an appointment and say hello! 401 North Railway Street, Morden, MB 204-822-6259 boundarytrails.com 4 The Winkler Morden Voice Thursday, March 7, 2019 gettinformedNEWS > VIEWS > WINKLER > MORDEN > SURROUNDING AREAS “It’s not the amount. It’s the vision.” Mayor shows off Meridian Exhibition Centre in State of the City address By Ashleigh Viveiros one in Manitoba with ice-level play- er/penalty areas), an indoor soccer Whether it’s a $20 donation from a pitch and exhibition hall, an indoor child or a million dollar one from a track, meeting rooms, and plenty of corporate sponsor, it’s the community space for community groups and rec- that is making the Meridian Exhibi- reational programs to call home. PHOTO BY ASHLEIGH VIVEIROS/VOICE tion Centre a reality. The design got the thumbs up from From left: Curtis Farmer, vice-president of Westman Group Inc., and Mayor Martin Harder highlighted Vanden Berg. 12-year-old Jesse Vanden Berg present Mayor Martin Harder with that fact in his State of the City ad- “It felt pretty good just to see it all $500,000 and $20 donations, respectively, to the Meridian Exhibition dress at the Winkler chamber’s an- come together,” he said. “It’s kind of Centre. The cheque from Westman, which owns Meridian, is the fi rst nual meeting Feb. 28. how I imagined it.” installment of $1.25 million for the naming rights to the facility. He invited up 12-year-old Jesse Van- Vanden Berg, who is a member of den Berg to briefl y share the stage the Pembina Valley Panthers team, needs—mind, body, and spirit—are Overall, even with a major capi- with him. said the exhibition centre will be “a all being met. tal project in the works, the City of Vanden Berg appeared at a city great opportunity for the club to get “How is a healthy city determined? Winkler is on solid fi nancial footing council meeting two years ago to urge together and play on a real turf facil- It is the quality of life. That is the es- thanks to years of building up its re- councillors to do something about the ity. “ sence of every successful community,” serve funds. lack of an indoor soccer turf in the Harder said, emphasizing council’s “The reason why we can afford to do city. He donated $20 to get the cam- MAKING IT HAPPEN ongoing commitment to improving [this project] this year is the fact that paign started.