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Z\U]HSSL`[PYLJH 2 The Winkler Morden Voice Thursday, December 8, 2016 Communities come through for Genesis House Pyjama drive vastly Kristin Gies- brecht and exceeds shelter’s Sydney Hil- debrand of expectations Genesis House were wowed By Ashleigh Viveiros by the sheer number of The “Power of PJs” was certainly donations strong in the Pembina Valley last that came in month. for the wom- As part of its Domestic Violence en’s shelter’s Awareness Month activities, the Power of PJs Genesis House women’s shelter held a pyjama drive across its service area. drive in No- Supporters were asked to drop vember. off new or gently used pyjamas at any South Central Regional Library PHOTO BY branch for the woman and children ASHLEIGH VI- who use the shelter as a safe haven VEIROS/VOICE from domestic violence. They had been hoping to get enough still coming from places across the re- is a stressful time for many women get some toys and stuff for the kids, I PJs for the average 65 woman and 80 gion,” said Giesbrecht. and their children, but this sign of think it means a lot to be comfortable children who come through the shel- “We’re very excited at the response community support will go a long and to know that people care. ter each year. and at being able to get out our mes- way toward making it little easier. “We’re really grateful,” she stressed. The resulting outpouring of dona- sage,” she added. “The goal of this was “A lot of women, they come and “Thank you to everybody in the com- tions far surpassed that. to raise awareness about how many they have nothing when they come munity for bringing in donations for Genesis House staffers Kristin families we get in a year.” through our doors,” Giesbrecht said. us and thinking about Genesis House Giesbrecht and Sydney Hildebrand Seeking refuge at a women’s shelter “To get a new pair of pyjamas and to and the clients we have.” were at the Winkler Library Dec. 1 to pick up the mountain of pyjamas, blankets, toiletries, and teddy bears that overfl owed the donation boxes Winkler Affordable Housing taking on 66 units and spilled out onto the surrounding table and fl oor. “I think this is just from the Winkler Province transfers management of public housing to non-profi t Library, so we also have donations By Ashleigh Viveiros “So instead of a tenant calling a manager in, say, Selkirk or Portage, there’s now a local man- Manitoba Housing is transferring the man- ager that they can talk to and there’s a face to agement of 66 publicly owned housing units to the organization,” Grenier said. “We feel that it the community-based non-profi t Winkler Af- will help build a better sense of community.” fordable Housing (WAH). And that, stresses Mayor Martin Harder, will Families Minister Scott Fielding made the an- translate into benefi ts to the community. nouncement last week. “Under the management of the existing WAH “This transfer of management refl ects our gov- structure, we will have the opportunity to make ernment’s practical, sustainable and commu- important management decisions locally,” he nity-driven approach to social and affordable said. housing development in this province,” he said. “We can better understand and refl ect the dy- “In response to the community’s request and to namics of the residents and our community as local needs, we are transferring these units in a whole, encouraging the success of our Safe Winkler to their very capable management.” Communities initiative to help meet the needs WAH has managed a 24-unit building in the of this segment of Winkler,” Harder said. “We community since 2012. As of Dec. 1, they as- can now create a concerted effort for a more sumed the management of an additional 12 se- effective, community-led housing strategy, to- nior units and 54 family units, including several gether.” houses, townhouses, and senior blocks This management transfer is a pilot project for The city has been lobbying for this opportu- Manitoba Housing and is expected to be cost- nity for a few years now, said WAH board chair neutral for both the province and WAH. Michael Grenier. “So far we are the only community doing this,” “A big part of it is just having the local man- said Grenier. “I’ve been told there are a hand- agement. There’s effi ciencies in that,” he said, ful of others who are eagerly waiting to see how noting tenants in the past have had to contact this plays out because they would love to do this Manitoba Housing offi ces outside the commu- as well. nity for assistance. Now, they’ll be able to call “We’re looking forward to doing what we can OnPoint Property Management, the Winkler to make this work for the betterment of Win- company that has been hired to oversee the kler, for the betterment of the residents of these units. homes,” he added. The Winkler Morden Voice Thursday, December 8, 2016 3 Student green thumbs selling poinsettias GVC Tec students host holiday plant sale By Ashleigh Viveiros the 14 youth in the program have also been handling all aspects of the sale, The greenhouse at Garden Val- including wrapping up the fl owers, ley Collegiate’s technical campus is manning the register, and providing awash in holiday colours this month. plant care instructions for customers. Student green thumbs in the It’s all proven to be a valuable learn- school’s landscape horticulture have ing experience for the teens, Hantel- been hard at work in recent months man said. growing Christmas poinsettias. “Every day two kids are on sales “We got them from Vanderveens in and when someone comes to the PHOTOS Carman and then we brought them class they’re all seem to be quite ex- BY ASHLEIGH here and we’ve grown them on,” says cited about it because they grew these VIVEIROS/VOICE instructor Terena Hantelman. “Each themselves,” she said. “They have that GVC Tec in- student had 10 to keep alive ... they all sense of pride in it.” structor Ter- made it, except one which I think fell Funds raised from the plant sale ena Hantelman off a table.” all go back into the horticulture pro- The sale, which started last week gram, which is, of course, growing with some of Monday, started off with about 153 various plants year-round. the dozens of poinsettias and had already sold close To pick up a plant, stop by GVC Tec poinsettias the to 50 by week’s end. at 539 Manitoba Rd. from now until horticulture Available in red, pink, and white, the Dec. 21. students grew popular seasonal centrepieces are $15 They’re open weekdays from 10 a.m. for the school’s each. The students have also grown an to 2:30 p.m., with extended hours to 6 annual plant sale. Also on sale are succulent dish gardens (above). assortment of succulent and tropical p.m. every Thursday. Enter through dish gardens, which start at $10 each. the school’s main doors (not the *See store for all details. In addition to growing the plants, greenhouse) and follow the signs. Sept. 30 to Dec. 31, 2016 We will MATCH any Clarifi cation LOCAL COMPETITOR’S PRICE on an identical In regards to the Nov. 24 story The Village Toy Shop, located at tire and give you an on the Winkler Senior Centre’s 85 Chortitz St. South, offers a wide EXTRA 10% OFF Village Gift Shoppe, we’ve been array of toys, from the non-elec- the lower price in asked to clarify that the store that tronic to the educational, retro to Canadian Tire ‘Money! supports the senior centre’s pro- the unique. ANTE grams is not in any way affi liated Check out their page on Face- WINTER TIRE PROGRAM AR E Low Interest Financing on Winter Tires! U with the Village Toy Shop business book or get in touch with them at G in Chortitz, south of the city. 204-325-0226. E E G T Call Don at UARAN 204.325.4688 with Flair Frieda Janz FREE CORDLESS Interior Decorator / LIFT UPGRADE Window Covering Graber Cellular, Roller, Specialist and Wood Blinds extended till Dec. 31/16 CANADA’S GARAGE Free Blind Consultations! dwfl[email protected] 204-362-8202 781 Norquay Dr., Winkler 4 The Winkler Morden Voice Thursday, December 8, 2016 VEHICLES OR CASH OF VALUED UP TO UP TO $ CREDIT WIN 1 17 $35,000 MSRP 17,000 APPLIES TO ALL ELIGIBLE ’17 s & ’16s VISIT YOUR LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO PLAY.