PKF Lawyers, Manitoba’s law firm, delivers trustworthy, expert, real-world results. pkflawyers.com Winkler Morden THURSDAY, VOLUME 12 EDITION 33 AUGUST 19, 2021 www.winklermordenvoice.ca VVLocally ownedoiceoice & operated - Dedicated to serving our communities Lighting up the stage PHOTO BY LORNE STELMACH/VOICE The Douglas Kuhl School of Music took over Winkler’s outdoor stage last week for a fi ve-day musical theatre camp that culminated with performances of Songs in a New World on Friday. For more photos, check out Pg. 14. news > sports > opinion > community > people > entertainment > events > classifi eds > careers > everything you need to know 2 The Winkler Morden Voice Thursday, August 19, 2021 It’s full speed ahead on Salem renos Twenty rooms on Salem Home’s Cot- tonwood unit are undergo- ing a meta- morphosis from the cramped and retro styl- ings of before (right) to a much brighter, more modern layout (left). Work is ex- pected to be completed by year’s end. SUPPLIED PHOTOS By Ashleigh Viveiros fi rst phase of the project involves 20 “We’ve got that all ironed out now been reworked to better accommo- rooms in the Cottonwood wing. and everything’s on its way forward.” date larger wheelchairs and new H- Renovations continue at Winkler’s “The space looks amazing,” says Over the last few months, workers track lifts. personal care home, with an eye to CEO Sherry Janzen, noting the proj- have pulled apart rooms and hallways “The residents’ chairs are getting getting the fi rst batch of residents into ect has moved ahead pretty smoothly to get rid of asbestos in the walls, in- much bigger,” Janzen points out. “It’s the redesigned rooms by the end of overall. What glitches there were with, stalled new air and fi re suppression harder to turn around and have more the year. for example, installing a new air han- systems, and rewired the electrical fl oor space because, in the old rooms, Since April, Salem Home has been dling unit in the aging building won’t system to bring it up to code and ex- the wall and the closet were taking up chipping away at its plan to update be a problem now as they move on pand capacity. so much space. So now we’ve confi g- the original 1972 part of its facility. The to future phases of the renovations. The rooms themselves have also ured the closet in a different place ... this way there’s more fl oor We design, manufacture, space for deliver and install the resi- dent.” “IT’S BRIGHT, innovative windows and The wash- IT’S CHEERFUL. rooms are custom exterior doors with also getting IT LOOKS LIKE a major A BRAND NEW style and function across facelift— North America. gone are BUILDING.” the retro orange and yellow countertops and aging plumb- We offer custom exterior and interior ing and fi xtures. In their place will be a much more modern look. doors, windows and pleated blinds. “Those rooms looked so tired. Hard- ly anybody wanted to move into those rooms and I don’t blame them,” Jan- zen says, hailing the makeover as a much-needed upgrade for the space. “It’s bright, it’s cheerful. It looks like a brand new building.” Once these fi rst 20 rooms are done, Salem will tackle the renovation of 20 more rooms in phase two. The total cost of the project to Salem is about $1.5 million. Support from the Contact us to request a quote or more information at Salem Foundation, the care home’s 1-800-249-1216 fundraising arm, is making the proj- Or visit us at www.accesswd.ca ect possible by way of donations from 565 Cargill Road Winkler, MB Continued on page 5 The Winkler Morden Voice Thursday, August 19, 2021 3 Sixty years, 200 blood donations, hundreds of lives saved By Ashleigh Viveiros idea to go give blood and so I started,” helping people,” he says. “They say me a lot more than this.” Thiessen recalls. “And then it was O- every blood donation you can save up It’s also only about a half-hour com- Winklerite Jim Thiessen rolled up negative [the universal type] and so to four lives. Why wouldn’t you do it?” mitment every few months, Thiessen his sleeve to give blood for the 200th they wanted as much of that as they When interviewed a few years ago says, and only a few minutes of that is time last week. could get ... so I just kept going and for his 188th donation, Thiessen had the actual blood donation. The 78-year-old has had a regular stayed healthy enough to do it.” indicated he would considering retir- “It’s no time at all. It’s not as diffi cult appointment to donate for 60 years Thiessen’s donations will have ing when he hit 200. as a lot of people make it sound.” now, stretching back to his very fi rst helped hundreds of patients in need That’s no longer the case. Thiessen has done what he can over time at age 18. of blood over the years, and it’s the “They’ve already booked me for Oc- the years to try and fi nd blood donor “My mom suggested it was a good knowledge that such a simple act can tober again, so I don’t know,” he says, converts, and he feels he’s had some have a wide- laughing. “I guess I will [retire] soon, success. reaching but who knows.” His own grandson was slated to impact that Whenever the day does come that he make his fi rst donation last week. keeps him calls it quits, he hopes the next gen- “It’s his fi rst time, and I think he’s O- coming back eration will step up. negative too,” the proud grandfather again and “Start giving blood,” he urges any- says, excited to pass on the torch. again. one who hasn’t. “There’s really noth- Donors like Thiessen are quite liter- “It’s just, ing to it. Some people are so afraid of well, you’re it, but why? A mosquito bite bothers Continued on page 5 Jim Thies- sen has HARVEST DAYS! 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They will be part of the Spirit of Hope fundraiser in support of Habi- tat for Humanity Manitoba, and it will see them go on a cycling adventure along the shores of Lake Winnipeg Aug. 23-27. It will be a moderately challenging fi ve day loop from Winnipeg to the northern tip of Hecla Island, covering 388 kilometres over four cycling days, with one day of rest. Each participant of what they’ve dubbed Team Tinker Creek is en- couraged to raise at least $1,000, and the group had been closing in on the $3,000 mark online as of last week. This is something new for Debra PHOTO BY LORNE STELMACH/VOICE Fehr, who decided to come on board for the effort with her friends Lynette The members of Team Tinker Creek include Yvonne Stoesz, Mei Stoesz-Gouthro, Brent Gouthro, Ken Froese, Froese and Yvonne Stoesz. Lynette Froese, and Deb Fehr. They’re raising funds for Habitat for Humanity, which is preparing to build its “I’ve been wanting to cycle for a second Morden-Winkler home in Morden this year. long time, so I thought this would be a of the fundraiser. “I love the idea of supporting social Fehr, who gathered with the group good time to start,” said Fehr. “I don’t expect to fi nish it complete- and affordable housing, and Habitat She welcomed the physical aspects ly, but I will do what I can,” she noted. does that all around the world,” said Continued on page 8 The Winkler Morden Voice Thursday, August 19, 2021 5 Corn & Apple hosting pair of online concerts By Lorne Stelmach People will still be able to get a bit of their Morden Corn and Apple Festival fi x this summer. Details were announced this week for two virtual concerts that will be shown live online as well as the sale of festival gift baskets that will include corn on the cob and local apple cider. “We would have loved to host a small, live event like we did last year, but the restrictions the way they were at the deadline for us to decide ..