ERIKSDALE LOCATIONS • Grocery • Hardware ARBORG LOCATIONS • Food Store • Gas Bar • Card Lock BULK PETROLEUM 204-376-5201 or 204-376-5245 VOLUME 3 EDITION 12 THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016 SERVING LUNDAR, ASHERN, ERIKSDALE, MOOSEHORN, FISHER BRANCH, RIVERTON, ARBORG, GIMLI, WINNIPEG BEACH, ARNES, MELEB, FRASERWOOD Princess perfect EXPRESS PHOTO BY MICHELE SIGFUSSON A very popular Disney Princess came to Lundar for a visit last weekend during the Lundar Winter Carnival. Elsa, from the movie Frozen, was one of many highlights to the weekend and was swarmed by children looking to take a photo with her. The carnival is an annual celebration in Lundar that hosts a variety of activities including hockey of all levels and an Ice Show that is put on by the Lundar Skating Club. news > sports > opinion > community > people > entertainment > events > classifi eds > careers > everything you need to know 25% off All In-Stock Uniboard Laminate Flooring Available in 12mm and 14mm in a variety of luxury styles and colours to suit your design. BUILDING CENTRE GIMLI Drop in today to get an estimate www.rona.ca on your fl ooring project. 1-877-770-7662 HOURS: OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MON-SAT 9 am - 6 pm • SUN 12 - 4 pm 2 The Express Weekly News Thursday, March 24, 2016 Lundar winter carnival keeps traditions alive By Staff The Lundar Carnival Weekend packed in a fun family friendly event or activity into nearly every hour of this past week- end and most of them were completely free. There was something for everyone to enjoy during the 48th annual Lundar Carnival weekend. Family fun skates, a kid’s paint party, Midget, Squirts and Novice hockey, a pancake breakfast, Fun Land, a costume parade, a balloon scramble, a pickerel fry dinner and an exceptional ice show were only some of the activities. Pictured clockwise, from top left: Joey Johannson is excited to play some hockey; Sigga Vigfusson, Laila Mason, Iris Thorkelson, Samantha Thorgilsson and Hanna Johnson are all smiles before the ice show; Ashley Sigfusson, Emily Sigfusson, Brook- lyn Wirgau, Kierra Bennett, Sydney Thorgilsson, Ally Weatherburn, Ki- anna Laughlin, Kaelynn Harris, Em- ily Hordal and Melissa Johnson link arms for their ice show routine; Har- ley Halldorson and Gary Sherbeth pose for a quick photo during the squirts vs. parents hockey game; The Lundar Skating Club presented Around the World; Kianna Laughlin Carnival Queen Sydney Thorgillson; and Kalysta Ketler work on their paintings for the paint party. Book your Manure Spreading for 2016! A dealer for www.JBSCanada.ca EXPRESS PHOTOS BY CARLA SWEETLAND AND MICHELE SIGFUSSON The Express Weekly News Thursday, March 24, 2016 3 Gimli’s wellness centre generates great debate By Patricia Barrett The RM Gimli’s proposal to turn its current recreation centre into a well- ness centre gave rise to mixed reac- tions at an open house last Saturday at Sigurbjorg Stefansson Early School. Some were excited about the facil- ity, which would serve the diverse ex- ercise and recreation needs of Gimli and area residents of all ages; others questioned the inclusion of an out- door aquatic centre over that of an indoor pool. “At this time, there’s seems to be a lot of concern about children’s obe- sity, exercise, wellness…,” said one woman who received a round of ap- plause for speaking in favour of the Brett Dyregrov from Western facility during question period. “And I Recreation said Gimli can’t afford Mayor Randy Woroniuk, Gimli’s councillors and administration staff, think, personally, that this is the time.” to build and operate an indoor Stantec consultants and Western Recreation representatives provided The proposal includes a gymnasium pool. Its population size and tax Gimli and area residents with an overview of a proposed new recreation with retractable seating that can ac- base could not support it. facility and outdoor aquatic centre. commodate dozens of recreational activities as well as sporting, social ing defi cit of between $500,000 and this community of 2,000 people.” Demographic and fi nancial analyses or musical events, a second-storey, $800,000 a year. He said the outdoor pool would be did not, however, deter people from two-lane indoor walking/running An indoor pool would require a in operation from the May long week- speaking in favour of an indoor pool. track that is wheelchair accessible, population of 15,000 to 20,000 in or- end to the September long weekend “I had … hip replacement surgery,” revamped dressing rooms for males der to get a necessary tax base of 5,000 and would likely draw 20,000 to 40,000 said one woman, who grew up in and females and an outdoor pool. The dwellings to fund it every year. people. Gimli and has returned home after existing curling rink would remain as “I think you have 900 on the tax roll “It will provide an operating sur- living on various air force bases with is. here,” said Dyregrov. “The long and plus, not an operating defi cit,” said The results of a survey [date uncer- short of it is you can’t afford one in Dyregrov. Continued on page 7 tain] presented by Stantec, whom the RM hired to do the design, indicated Countryside swimming “as the activity residents COME SEE OUR NEWLY COMPLETED would most like to participate in.” 1544 sq/ft Linwood Show Home At present, there are two indoor with many upgraded features like Quartz countertops, pools in the region: one in Arnes and large island, high quality cabinets and vanities, jetted hot another in Selkirk. The survey also showed that those tub, LED Pot lights, Faux Stone opposed to the new facility “really APPLIANCE Priced at focused on that indoor pool com- Specials of the Week $157,850 ponent,” said business analyst Liam Mulhall from Stantec. “The tax im- Sale Ends on Thursday, March 31, 2016 plications were probably the biggest L.G. Range Stainless Steel, thing.” Smooth Top Past and present councils have con- Reg. $1499 Sale $1099 cluded that the cost of building and L.G. Refrigerator operating an indoor pool is beyond 33” Wide, Door-in-Door, ExternalEExxternal Ice & WaterWater the means of ratepayers, said Mayor Reg. $3600 Sale $2799 Randy Woroniuk to about 350 people in the school gym. Frigidaire Chest Freezer “Council is looking at a different and 18 Cu. Ft. Sale $749 affordable approach — being the out- Reg. $849 door aquatic facility,” he said. “Many Frigidaire Chest Freezer smaller communities have started … 7 Cu. Ft. with an outdoor pool and have moved Reg. $399 Sale $349 Need a new home or cottage? on to an indoor facility when the com- munity was ready and could afford it.” Clearance Items Come see Stan at Arborg Home A representative from Western Rec- Frigidaire Gallery Refrigerator reation, a company that designs and 18 Cu. Ft., White, Dent on Front Hardware Building Centre for your constructs water parks and pools, was Reg. $949 Sale $659 new custom built RTM home or cottage on hand to explain pool costs. Frigidaire Range Construction manager Brett Dyre- Stainless Steel, Smooth Top Stan Loewen Reg. $799 grov said the cost of building an in- Sale $699 Arborg Home Hardware door pool is between $12 million and Beaver Homes & Cottages Consultant $30 million. Fisher Branch (204) 376-3090 (o) In addition to the high construc- (204) 641-5991 (c) tion cost, they run an annual operat- 204-372-8501 (204) 376-3088 (f) 4 The Express Weekly News Thursday, March 24, 2016 Riverton proposes building a splash park By Patricia Barrett “We don’t need anything too big or A delegation from Riverton asked grand,” said Enns. “We can always add the RM Bifrost-Riverton to support onto to that if we choose later.” its proposal to build a splash park in She said PlayQuest is willing to town. come out and give a presentation. Cara Enns met with councillors It’s the fi rst company she has spoken March 15 to provide them with infor- with, and she’ll be obtaining quotes mation about the park, which may be from other companies. located at Riverton’s unused ball dia- Enns said she also spoke with Bob mond on Park Avenue. Munroe, who helped organize Gimli’s She said she has already had a meet- splash park, and said he’s willing to ing to gauge community interest in help her with any questions. the project. Deputy Mayor Dave Shott asked if “Everybody seems to be excited and Gimli’s splash park is well used. on board with this,” said Enns. Enns said it is. She has undertaken some research The motion-activated splash pad into spray parks and obtained a quote would need a pool permit but does from PlayQuest Recreation, a Stein- not have “many hurdles to jump EXPRESS PHOTO BY PATRICIA BARRETT bach company that provides play- through,” said Enns. Cara Enns from Riverton is proposing to build a splash park. ground equipment, spray parks and A well would have to be dug for the other outdoor recreational equip- splash park and a water treatment Coun. Colin Bjarnason said another mit,” said Enns. “It’s nothing too com- ment. system installed to remove the iron. community member may be looking plicated, they told me. I don’t know A stainless steel fl ow-through sys- A number of local organization are at the same idea. cost of the actual pool permit, but tem would be easy to maintain and on board with the project, said Enns, Enns said she will be in touch with that’s the only [one] we’d need to have comes with a 20-year warranty on referring to the Riverton Elks, the that person, but as far as she knows, a splash park.” parts, she said.