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Chance to Win 3 Jets Tickets… Pre-order your Valentines Flowers, Chocolates or Gifts by Jan. 31/20 Arborg Nic Nacs Ramona’s Reach scores with NHL donation & Flowers 204-376-5023 EXPRESS PHOTO BY KEVIN PETKAU Alpha Hockey clients Connor Hellebuyck (Jets’ goaltender), Morweena’s James Reimer (Carolina Hurricanes goaltender), or Message on Laurent Brossoit (Jets’ goaltender) and Ray Patkau (NHL Hockey agent; owner of Alpha Hockey) presented $100,000 to Ramona’s Reach following the Jet’s game at MTS Centre on Dec. 17. See story on pg. 2. > everything you need to know in your locally owned and operated community newspaper Our thoughts turn gratefully Thank You & Happy New Year! FISHER POWERSPORTS to all of those who have made FISHER POWERSPORTS our progress possible this past year. Let’s continue to 63 Main St. Fisher Branch MB 1-204-372-6648 support each other in 2020. May the coming year bring happiness and health to you and your family. From the staff and their families Fisher Powersports 2 The Express Weekly News Thursday, January 9, 2020 Alpha Hockey’s NHL clients donate $100,000 to Arborg-based Ramona’s Reach By Patricia Barrett “She was really passionate about Af- Ramona’s Reach will be building a rica,” said Petkau, who attended the new school in Pamora, Uganda, thanks Dec. 17 Jets game and was on the ice to a generous $100,000 donation from to receive the donation from the play- several NHL players who are clients ers and Alpha Hockey. “My family are of Alpha Hockey, an agency that rep- carrying on her legacy. At fi rst, we resents professional players. were pretty low-key but now we run a Ramona’s Reach, an Arborg faith- school and an orphanage [in Pamora]. based ministry that supports educa- We take care of about 100 disadvan- tion and nutrition in Uganda, will taged kids. About 40 of them are or- use the money to expand its existing phans.” school in Pamora and broaden the The school currently has 188 full- scope of its educational support. time students, said Petkau, but there Ray Petkau, CEO of Alpha Hockey are about 250 children in the area be- and player agent, is spearheading the tween the ages of 7 and 12 that can’t EXPRESS PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEVIN PETKAU AND ALPHA HOCKEY fundraising for the construction of the afford to go to school. Ray Petkau and Jacqui Plett of Alpha Hockey, along with clients Connor school with help from his NHL cli- “That’s where the Phase 2 of the Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Laurent Brossoit (Winnipeg Jets) and James ents/donors, which include James Re- school comes in,” he said. “We feel ed- Reimer (Carolina Hurricanes), presented a cheque for $100,000 to Ra- imer (Carolina Hurricanes), Connor ucation is hugely important out there mona’s Reach board members Dec. 17 at Bell MTS Place. The money will Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Laurent because they don’t have the opportu- help build a school in Pamora, Uganda. Brossoit (Winnipeg Jets) and Thomas nity to educate themselves and fur- Greiss (New York Islanders), as well ther their [economic opportunities].” as retired players and corporate affi li- The current centre sits on fi ve acres ates. of donated land and includes the or- Ramona’s Reach board member and phanage, a kitchen and well. Pamora spokesperson Kevin Petkau said the residents pooled their funds to help “massive” donation will help realize locals become childhood educators the dreams of his sister, Ramona Re- and run the school, according to Ac- imer, who wanted to help disadvan- tion International Ministries, of which taged children in Africa. Reimer, who Ramona’s Reach is a partnering min- died from cancer in 2009 at the age of istry. 26, worked with children in Haiti and Petkau said the centre has 20 full- had dreamt of working in an orphan- time employees and provides break- age somewhere in Africa to help those fast every day for the 188 students. Ramona’s Reach building project less fortunate. Phase 2 will see the addition of four classrooms, an offi ce for administra- suffi cient in food production. tors and teachers, washrooms and “This past year we created gardens a storage room, according to a sche- to teach the local people how to grow matic of the building he shared with their own food,” he said. the Express. Ramona’s Reach is currently orga- “We’ve been given the go-ahead and nizing its 10th Annual Hockey Fund- we’re waiting for the last permit offi - raiser that will take place in Arborg cer to give us the thumbs up,” said Pet- from Feb. 22 to 23. Petkau said he’ll be kau. “We should hear any day now.” lacing up his skates. Petkau said Ramona’s Reach has also For more information about Ramo- launched a program to teach people na’s Reach, visit its Facebook page or in Pamora how to become more self- www.ramonasreach.com Baker Law First day of winter CORPORATION Do you have a current will? Protect your family by having a current will, power of attorney and health care directive. Call us or stop in for more information and fi nd out how we can help you. Providing full time legal Grant D. Baker service to families and small businesses in Barrister, Solicitor and Notary Gimli and the Interlake. GIMLI LOCATION RIVERTON LOCATION 72 Centre Street, Gimli, MB 33 Main St. Riverton MB Our offi ce is open 9-5 Mon to Fri Open Mon & Wed 9:30-4:30 EXPRESS PHOTO BY DRENNA CAMPBELL 204-378-5427 204-642-8681 or 1-866-487-5688 While out taking a drive on Sunday, Dec. 22, Drenna Campbell stopped by East Shoal Lake to capture this beautiful winter scene. The Express Weekly News Thursday, January 9, 2020 3 Riverton woman recognized for kindness and leadership By Evan Matthews some very high praise for the Riverton woman. One of the region’s newest businesses, along with “Her work … has changed the lives of so many. the collective Interlake community that makes up From the breakfast club, food hampers, fundraisers, the region, is acknowledging a Riverton woman for and teaching Zumba, she is the pillar, the founda- her continuous community efforts. tion of the Riverton Friendship Centre,” said the Creative Community Promotions has named Des- thankful community member in Bilinski’s nomina- arae Dawn Bilinski as the winner of the Community tion. Choice Nominations initiative. “Her tireless efforts on bringing awareness to “I love helping and hosting community programs; mental health for our youth has helped give en- events that bring people together from all walks of couragement and hope for those who may feel life,” said Bilinski, the Riverton and District Friend- alone. The world is a better place with Deserae at ship Centre’s youth co-ordinator. the Friendship Centre,” the nomination went on. “The Friendship Centre’s impact within our com- With a total of 10 nominees, all of whom are con- munity and service area is what I love most about tributing positive efforts in their respective com- my job.” munities, Hampton said there could be no “criteria,” In her role, Bilinski said it is her responsibility for a winner. Rather, when the time came, Hampton to create and manage youth programming and to picked a winner out of a hat to celebrate their good ensure the community’s young people have a safe work. Hampton said she hopes for even more en- space and a healthy environment. tries next year. Many of the programs Bilinski has created run af- The initiative opened on Nov. 27 and ran through ter school and on weekends. Dec. 27. “Some keep people moving and active, which Over 66,000 people engaged with posts relating makes for a healthier and ultimately happier com- to Community Choice Nominations, according to munity,” said Bilinski. Hampton, who said she quantifi ed the number us- “I love … to help them achieve their goals, gain ing Facebook’s analytics. skills for their futures, thereby helping them grow Bilinski will receive $500 worth of services from into their potential.” Hampton’s new business, Creative Community The Community Choice Nominations initiative Promotions, as the winner of the initiative. EXPRESS PHOTO SUBMITTED encouraged community members across the Inter- Though Bilinski said she is honoured by the nomi- Samantha Hampton (left) presents Deserae lake to nominate another community member — nation and subsequent win, she added she’s unsure Bilinski (right) with the fi rst annual whether an individual, business or school group — of how she’ll use the prize right now but knows it Communication Choice Nomination Award. who they felt was performing kind acts of service or will help her efforts. displaying outstanding community leadership, ac- Moving forward, the cording to Creative Community Promotions owner Community Choice and creative director, Samantha Hampton. Nominations will be an Whoever nominated Bilinski asked to remain annual initiative, accord- HEATING your home anonymous, but Hampton said whoever it was had ing to Hampton.