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Issue No.14 Spring 2006 |
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* Got Any News or Up Coming Events …… Let Us Know. |
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Issue No. 5, Spring 2004 |
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Upcoming Events |
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Minitonas Community Newsletter |
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Saturday, April 8th, 2006 - Community Prayer Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. in the Town Hall. Saturday, April 8, 2006 - Minor Sports Potluck Supper at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2006 - Financial Plan Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Council Chambers. Friday, April 14th, 2006 - Municipal Office Closed. Monday, April 17th, 2006 - Municipal Office Closed. Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 - Garbage Pickup
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Mayor’s Message |
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Þ To the organizers and participants of the Ladies Curling Bonspiel. Þ To organizers and participants in Seniors Bonspiel and the Henderson Cup. Þ To the Minitonas Curling Club and Icemaker Ed Yablonski for a successful season. Þ To the Minitonas Figure Skating Club for a successful season and carnival. Þ To the Library Committee and volunteers for putting on the Perogy and Sausage Luncheon - March 17, 2006 and for everyone who supported this fundraising effort. Approximately $1000 was raised and will be used to assist in financing the landscaping and handicap access. Þ To the Swan Valley Snowmobile and ATV Association for hosting a breakfast and trail ride, which raised a substantial amount of money for the Doug Staniland Memorial Trust Fund. Thanks to the community for their generous support of the Staniland Family. Þ To the Manitoba Metis Federation, Minitonas Local for the generous donation of a new computer system to the Minitonas Library. |
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Bouquets |
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The arena has completed a successful season of operation. Thanks to the arena board, staff Chris Turton, Chris Watson and Leila Richard for their part. It was nice to see the new paint in the waiting room and change rooms, as well as some improvement in kitchen appliances. The arena hosted male hockey during the parkland Winter Games. The December Arena Raffle Winners were Claude Adams, Debbie Schultz and Colinda Emerson. Approximately $15,000 was raised from sales of the raffle tickets. Thank you to the Otto Hart family for their donation of a vintage car. The arena board continues its defense against a lawsuit. Thanks to the community for its continued support of the arena and all involved in its use and operation. |
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Arena |
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This past year we have had two new homes in Minitonas and three or four in close proximity in the R.M. and there is at least one new home planned for this construction season. As well some homes have sold, bringing new families to our community. Generally there is an optimistic outlook for our community. The year 1970 was a significant year. That year the population of the Swan Valley peaked at about 18,000. The student enrolment for the Swan Valley School Division was approximately 4300 students and we had about 900 residents in Minitonas. Currently we are just under 600 residents and the student enrolment is at 1770. The trend to urbanization continues at the expense of rural depopulation. This is not only a Canadian trend, where over 80 percent of citizens live in urban centres, but is also a global phenomenon. Corporations, provincial and federal governments continue the trend to centralization. As rural citizens we are being challenged with preserving a rural community way of life. This challenge is often daunting. I personally believe that we can not only survive but also thrive. The solution to our dilemma is to have a good look at ourselves and see what we have. We have the resourcefulness of our citizens and the resources of agriculture, forestry, education and tourism. We need to develop an optimistic approach to growing our region and attracting jobs that will bring and maintain population. I applaud the efforts of Reeve McIntosh and the council of the Rural Municipality of Minitonas in taking proactive initiatives to grow our community. They hosted an information evening to explore the construction of a biodiesel plant. Biodiesel is a fuel consisting of diesel fuel blended with up to 20 percent canola (or corn or soy) oil. This is the type of progressive thinking we need to engage in with the world’s appetite for oil constantly increasing. With nations such as China emerging as a major consumer of oil, the world’s capability to supply this resource will be severely challenged, triggering energy costs and shortages never before seen. Hence, it is important that we explore energy alternatives and add value to our agricultural industry at the same time. This initiative in itself is not enough to save our region. It is, however, a step in the right direction and one that well may be a catalyst for other progressive initiatives.
Henry Barkowski |
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Congratulations |
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¨ The Manitoba Good Roads Association has awarded the Rural Municipality of Minitonas two awards; the Provincial Cup and the Provincial Shield for the best maintained system of municipal roads. The award was presented to the Municipality at the AMM trade show in Brandon on February 26, 2006. ¨ Kelly Leason has been appointed the Fire Chief of the Minitonas Fire Department. The Fire department still needs more members. If you have any suggestions or are willing to serve, contact the Municipal Office or Chief Leason. |
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Census 2006 |
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A general Canadian census will be conducted in the near future. Please count yourself in! The census is used in calculating per capita funding from the province and federal governments, making it very important to our Town. |
