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Large lot with garage located within walking distance many upgrades, sits on a large fenced yard with portable garage 2 bath bungalow RM of Rockwood Stonewall 1900+ sqft, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths with a mckillop.ca UP ! to downtown Stonewall - $279,900 - Brandt in Stonewall Trailer park - $109,900 -Brandt $330,000 - Call Alycia 30 x 40 heated shop in-fl oor heat $499,900 - Brandt (204) 467-8000 Luxury Apartment Living VOLUME 8 EDITION 13 THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021 Stonewall, MB www.expressweeklynews.ca SERVING LUNDAR, ASHERN, ERIKSDALE, MOOSEHORN, FISHER BRANCH, RIVERTON, ARBORG, GIMLI, WINNIPEG BEACH, ARNES, MELEB, FRASERWOOD STIHL RE90 Pressure Washer 120 v 1450 psi Interlakers ‘rock’ 1.4 gpm $19995 STIHL RB200 Pressure Washer 173 cc 2500 psi 2.3 gpm $64900 Bear Cat PW2700 Pressure Washer 2700 psi 2.3 gpm 160cc Honda $59900 CubCadet CC3400 Pressure Washer 3400 psi 2.5 gpm 208 cc $84900 SHACHTAY SALES & SERVICE EXPRESS PHOTO BY CURLING CANADA/MICHAEL BURNS Arborg, MB From left to right, Kadriana Sadaihak, Kerri Einarson, Brad Gushue, and Colton Lott show off their medals from the mixed curling nationals. Gimli’s Einarson and Gushue defeated Winnipeg Beach’s Sahaidak and Lott 9-6 in the gold- 204-376-5233 medal game. > everything you need to know in your locally owned and operated community newspaper CLEANUP with Lot 1, Hwy 17 S, Fisher Branch, MB 204-372-8501 2 The Express Weekly News Thursday, April 1, 2021 Gimli council considers options for redeveloping, possible sale of motorsports park By Patricia Barrett Development Corporation, the mo- A majority of Gimli council voted in torsports park is a 235-acre multi- favour of a resolution to hire a plan- use facility containing drag and road ning company to solicit ideas from de- racing strips, karting and motocross velopers and investigate the possible tracks, an ATV mud bog pit and a sale of the Gimli Motorsports Park. special events area. Its user groups in- The park is situated beside the Gimli clude the Winnipeg Sports Car Club, Airport and it’s owned by the munici- the Manitoba Roadracing Associa- pality. tion, Interlake Dragway and Manitoba Coun. Thora Palson opposed the Motocross. resolution to hire Landmark Plan- Mayor Lynn Greenberg and council- ning & Design during council’s regu- lors Richard Petrowski, Peter Holfeuer lar meeting March 24, citing concerns and Cody Magnusson voted in favour about council’s lack of transparency of hiring Landmark Planning to pur- and lack of public consultation as the sue the possible sale. process could end with the transfer of “Landmark Planning Proposal” was the motorsports park’s land to a pri- included on council’s agenda, but EXPRESS FILE PHOTO BY PATRICIA BARRETT vate developer. Council has a duty to during the meeting Palson said there The Winnipeg Sports Car Club, shown racing on Lake Winnipeg in 2020, consult. was no discussion — just a vote. “I believe the land should be re- “We hold a public hearing for a lady is a regular user of the Gimli Motorsports Park. tained for the future development and who wants to open a daycare in her For reasons of confi dential- expansion of our airport. I would have home, but we have no public engage- son. In the appraiser’s opinion, the ity, Petrowski was unable to say who also liked public consultation prior to ment on a proposal to issue an RFP best use of the land would be to retain made the pitch to buy the park and making a decision of this magnitude,” and maybe sell land that belongs to it for the future development and ex- what the proposal entailed. said Palson by phone. “Council is en- the taxpayers,” said Palson. “I think pansion of the Gimli Airport. The motorsports park is not per- trusted with the people’s assets and if that’s wrong.” Palson noted that previous discus- forming at a suffi cient level, he said. we’re looking at a potential disposal Landmark will put together a re- sions about the potential sale of the But that has little to do with COVID of assets, information and rationale quest for proposal (RFP) and distrib- park occurred during in-camera and public health restrictions and should be provided to the people of ute it publicly. Developers and pro- meetings and she was bound by con- more to do with the park’s draw as an the RM of Gimli. We can’t just wake spective buyers can submit their ideas fi dentiality. attraction. up one morning and say, ‘Let’s sell the to the RM. “Regretfully, I was not able to talk “We don’t think it’s reaching its po- motorsports park.’” Council recently had the motors- about this prior to last Wednesday’s tential right now. And it’s not really Managed by the Gimli Community ports park’s land appraised, said Pal- meeting as the preliminary talks were in camera,” said Palson. about making money for us: it’s about Deputy Mayor Richard Petrowski, how many people are going to come who sits on the CDC board, said the to town and visit the businesses — the RM had received interest from a pro- wider economic development part. spective buyer of the motorsports That’s more important to me,” he said. park, but [most of] council wants to “But any money we do get for renting open up the process to other potential the park is a bonus, of course.” developers. The RFP will serve an ex- To be fair to all prospective purchas- ploratory exercise and nothing is set ers, Petrowski said the process, in- ATTEND THE BIGGEST VIRTUAL in stone. cluding bidding, has to be open to ev- TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE “We want to put out a request for eryone. Council “can’t just sell it one proposals and see what comes back,” individual.” Anything could land on taking place in Manitoba this year! said Petrowski by phone. “If some- their table, such as a proposal to build Registra on is FREE and open for anyone to a end, but closes April 8, 2021. thing looks like it would be good for a factory, the expansion of the exist- Although Eastman is hos ng, content will be benefi cial for all areas of Manitoba. the community, we’d consider sell- ing motorsports park, the expansion ing the park. But it’s not a done deal. of the airport or another project that Tourism was growing before the pandemic, and it will thrive again a er. We’re just looking at all the possibili- TOGETHER - Let’s address tourism recovery and the future growth of tourism ties.” Continued on page 4 businesses, organiza ons, local areas and regions. Conference features include: • Keynote speaker Doug Lansky, a veteran travel journalist, editor and author • 10 educa on sessions with dynamic trainers including Celes Davar, na onally renowned experience designer and training expert • Big Daddy Tazz • Door prizes • Special announcements for Eastern Manitoba This conference will mo vate and educate communi es and businesses to work together to recover and respond to tourism opportuni es and future industry growth. Derek Johnson To register, or for more informa on visit www.eastmantourismconferences.ca MLA for Interlake-Gimli or contact Eastman Tourism at [email protected] or 204-451-1757. Made Possible by… [email protected] 204.641.8525 (Gimli) 204.376.3401 (Arborg) The Express Weekly News Thursday, April 1, 2021 3 Crafters delight in new pottery and craft space in Gimli By Nicole Brownlee Hidden Treasures Studio, a pottery painting art studio, is slowly reopen- ing as the province allows businesses to expand capacities up to 50 per cent. “It’s really nice to have people here getting creative and starting to inter- act and enjoy these activities again,” said store owner Barb Polkowski. Polkowski said they’ve been busy with lots of families stopping by since re-opening in February. “It’s functional art, not fi ne art, so they can just really enjoy the whole process and then use their artwork when they get home.” Hidden Treasures opened in Win- Sophie Hampton painted a nipeg four years ago, but Polkowski butterfl y as she celebrated EXPRESS PHOTOS BY NICOLE BROWNLEE struggled to keep the store open her ninth birthday at Hidden Hidden Treasures Studio owner, Barb Polkowski, said she’s excited to during COVID-19. After escaping to Treasures. have more socially distanced parties as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Gimli with her family for the sum- ARBORG GIMLI. SELKIRK mer, Polkowski realized it was time to Samantha Hampton said she’s visits Hidden Treasures 204-376-3400 204-642-8501 204-482-5806 move. often. After the 2020 record breaking year, the “We fell in love with this commu- “I work just down the street,” said Hampton. market is still very strong. We’ve got nity,” she said. “We moved our family. She said she fi nds it relaxing and convenient because you buyers... If you are thinking about selling, www.interlake.mb.ca We bought a house here. We moved can come back to fi nish your project whenever you have now’s the time. Give us a call! our business.” time.