January: St. Vital teen accomplishes goal of riding every single city bus route
On Jan. 4, 15-year-old south St. Vital resident Asher Kunkel reached a personal milestone when — joined by his mother, Tamara, father Jeremy, and younger brother Tobias — he completed his quest to ride every single bus route on the (former) Winnipeg Transit system.
Jeremy said Asher “began to exercise his fascination with Winnipeg Transit” in September 2022, when he began exploring different bus routes across the city — on his own, just for fun. This included travelling to the newest and oldest stops in the city, and the furthest stops to the north, east, south, and west, as well as visiting all the streets with “Ash” in their name.
File photo by Simon Fuller
Asher Kunkel is pictured in January with a school project about Winnipeg Transit he did in Grade 8. The teen completed his mission of riding every single bus route on the city’s (former) transit system earlier this year.
“That day (Jan. 4) meant I’d ridden every single route, all 90 of them, every single one,” said Asher, noting he’s had a love of geography and maps for some time. “It felt very good. It was a good achievement.”
Community Roots rink a boon to neighbourhood
Jubilee Mennonite Church (365 Edelweiss Cres.) outdoor skating rink proved to be a popular spot for local kids to congregate this winter.
“I grew up on rinks and I remember being out in my backyard on my rink wishing I had someone to play with, someone to teach me how to play, to pass the puck around with and I didn’t really have that,” said Cale Smyth, an area resident who helped maintain the rink. “Now we’re giving that opportunity to some of the kids here. It’s an honour, it feels great. It’s a real privilege.”
The Community Roots Resource Centre collected donations of skates, sticks, and other hockey equipment to outfit local kids to use the rink.
February: Food Access Bus rolls out in Elmwood, EK
This past winter, the Food Access Bus, organized by the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, began making round trips through northeast Winnipeg, bringing seniors to the Walmart and Real Canadian Superstores on Regent Avenue to get groceries on a chartered Winnipeg Transit bus.
File photo by Sheldon Birnie
Walter Geddert (left) and Cale Smyth built and maintain the Community Roots skating rink at Jubilee Mennonite Church (365 Edelweiss Cres.) with the help of the Community Roots boys club.
“This is meeting the needs of a vulnerable population,” said Leilani Esteban Villarba, executive director of the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, following the inaugural run. “Getting on a bus with groceries and doing things independently can be very difficult.”
The initiative was funded by grants from Couns. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan). In total, 76 residents from eight social and private seniors housing developments in Elmwood, East Kildonan, and North Kildonan registered for the inaugural journey, which was well-received by organizers and participants alike.
March: Transcona nursery school owner closes doors in June after 44 years
For many people in Transcona, Wendy Frejuk will always be known as ‘Teacher Wendy.’
Frejuk was the owner and director of Children’s Choice Nursery School, located inside Transcona United Church (209 Yale Ave. W). After 44 years in operation — having taught thousands of children in the Park City for more than four decades — the lifelong Transcona resident closed the doors of her nursery for the last time earlier this year, which she discussed in March. The doors first opened on Sept. 8, 1981, and its last day of operation was June 18.
“It feels like the right time,” said Frejuk, noting she’s not entirely sure what her next adventure will be.
File photo
Kildonan-St. Paul MP Raquel Dancho was re-elected in the federal general election on April 28.
April: Familiar faces return to represent Winnipeg in Parliament
Following the federal election on April 28, a number of familiar faces returned to Parliament to represent Winnipeggers.
Liberal incumbents Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North), Ben Carr (Winnipeg South Centre), and Terry Duguid (Winnipeg South) have retained their seats to help form the new government. New Democratic Party MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) and Conservative MP Raquel Dancho (Kildonan-St. Paul) were also re-elected.
Meantime, Doug Eyolfson (Liberal) unseated Conservative incumbent Marty Morantz to earn a second term representing the riding now known as Winnipeg West, while Conservative Colin Reynolds edged out NDP incumbent Leila Dance, who was elected in Elmwood-Transcona in a byelection in September 2024. Ginette Lavack (Liberal) won the seat in St. Boniface-St. Vital, after Liberal incumbent Dan Vandal chose not to run for re-election.
Unexpected death of city councillor shocks, saddens colleagues, community
On April 29, long-serving Elmwood-East Kildonan city councillor Jason Schreyer died unexpectedly, sending shockwaves through his council colleagues and the community at large.
“There’s a definite feeling of loss in the community,” said Leilani Esteban-Villarba, executive director of the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation. “He was at every event. He supported and helped make certain aspects come to life at events, not just monetarily supporting it, but by his presence. He was an entertainer, for sure.”
The son of former Manitoba premier and governor general Ed Schreyer, Schreyer was first elected to council in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
June: Transcona Nursery school teacher retires after 30 years
Michelline Lamontagne taught her last classes at the River East French Exposure Nursery at the end of June, after 30 years in the classroom.
“I came into this program quite by accident,” Lamontagne said. “I find I have been the luckiest person to continue doing what I love every day, surrounded by kids who were a joy to be with and families who have become amazing friends. I have loved my career.”
Over the course of her career, Lamontagne taught hundreds of children in the community.
“I’ve had the joy of teaching entire families, not just from one household, but cousins, too,” she said. “I have grandparents that I know very well in the surrounding area. I’ve known some of my students since they were bumps in their moms’ tummies.”
New Transit routes introduced on June 29
On June 29, Winnipeg Transit launched a new network of bus routes all over the city. The overhaul was part of the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan — which was approved by city council in 2021 — and aims to make the public transportation network more efficient and accessible.
“We’re just asking people to give it a chance,” said Bjorn Radstrom, manager of service development at Winnipeg Transit, before the launch. “Use it for a while, whatever is going right or wrong, we want to hear from people. We really value complaints. But if you send a complaint, be specific and constructive, so we can do something with it. We are not going to get everything right on Day 1, but we want feedback to make those changes.”
Many residents had a lot to say about the change back when it first hit the streets.
“It’s a nightmare,” said Jason Bolduc, a northeast Winnipegger who had been taking the bus for 25 years, at that point.
“Who is this great for? … It’s not good for thousands of people in Windsor Park,” added Wendy Bowen, who lives in that area.
File photo by Sheldon Birnie
Michelline Lamontagne retired after 30 years as a teacher at River East Transcona French Exposure Nursery, located in École Margaret Underhill (25 Regina Pl.), at the end of June.
July: Grocery Access Program bridging gap in Elmwood, E.K.
The Elmwood-East Kildonan Grocery Access Program, developed this past year, was open on the first and third Saturday of each month starting in July. From 1 to 4 p.m., those in need can visit Morse Place Community Centre (700 Munroe Ave.) to purchase shelf-stable grocery items at reduced prices.
“My mandate is to get basic pantry food items for the lowest possible prices,” explained program director Christian Sweryda. “We sell that food for as little as we can, with a little mark up to sustain the program, with the aim of helping lower income people.”
Sweryda was executive assistant to the late Elmwood-East Kildonan city councillor Jason Schreyer, who was a staunch advocate for greater access to food for area residents, supporting a number of initiatives to help improve food security within the ward. The two were working on getting the program off for the ground when Schreyer died in April. (Sweryda ran unsuccessfully to fill Schreyer’s vacant city council seat during the October byelection.)
August: St. Vital Ag Society’s annual display and fair held on Aug. 8, 9
Diversity and inclusiveness were key elements of the 114th annual display and fair, which was held by the St. Vital Agricultural Society on Aug. 8 and 9 at St. Vital Centennial Arena.
The theme of this year’s event — which key organizers discussed in July — was cultural diversity, and the tagline was: “Our shared stories. Our shared future.” Like many non-profit, volunteer-driven organizations in the last few years, the society has had to pivot and evolve moving forward.
File photo by Sheldon Birnie
Christian Sweryda is program director of the Elmwood-East Kildonan Grocery Access Program, which is open on the first and third Saturday of each month. From 1 to 4 p.m., those in need can visit Morse Place Community Centre (700 Munroe Ave.) to purchase shelf-stable grocery items at reduced prices.
In 2022, after a pandemic-induced hiatus, the event returned to an in-person format for the first time since 2019, and in the last two years members have been rebuilding the society’s board and volunteer crews as long-serving volunteers have retired. There were also new features this year, including a pumpkin growing contest.
September: Big Red Church launched 100 for 100 fundraising campaign for roof repairs
Members of a longtime local church are hoping to raise the roof with an ongoing fundraising initiative that will coincide with a landmark anniversary, it was announced in September.
The Big Red Church located at 127 Cobourg Ave. in Glenelm — which is technically called Gordon-King Memorial United Church — has embarked on a fundraising campaign called 100 for 100.
In 2027, the church’s staff, congregation and the wider community will be celebrating 100 years since the construction of the eye-catching local landmark, and folks are hoping to raise at least $100,000 to be used to do some much-needed work on the building’s roof, said minister Patrick Woodbeck.
Woodbeck explained how the church is not only home to a small, but vibrant congregation — “that is really filled with the spirit” — but is also a gathering place and a hub for any number of local residents, groups and organizations.
Photo by Simon Fuller
From left: St. Vital Agricultural Society’s Lori Graham, Pam McFarlane and Debbie Innes are pictured in July. Along with Marion Klysh and Wendy Barker, the trio comprise the society’s fair committee. The society held its 114th annual display and fair on Aug. 8 and 9 at St. Vital Centennial Arena.
October: Durand-Wood elected to city council in byelection
Emma Durand-Wood was elected the new city councillor for Elmwood-East Kildonan on Oct. 25, earning 1,567 votes, or 31.48 per cent, according to the City of Winnipeg’s website.
“(I’m) very pleased,” Durand-Wood said. “This was the hope, this was the goal. I’m especially happy for the effort of our entire team. We had a super community-driven campaign with over 100 volunteers. It feels like an accomplishment for the whole community.”
Durand-Wood was one of seven candidates running in the byelection, with Abel Gutierrez earning the next most votes, with 887 . The seat on council was left vacant following the unexpected death of Jason Schreyer on April 29.
Seven-year-old collects donations for Koats for Kids
In the latter half of October, seven-year-old Transcona resident Hudson teamed up with his mom, Bria Lylyk, to raise funds and deliver winter clothing for children in need for the second consecutive year.
File photo by Simon Fuller
Patrick Woodbeck, minister at the Big Red Church, is pictured in September. The Glenelm-based church has launched its 100 for 100 fundraising campaign to raise funds for roof repair work.
Bria, a photographer, would collect the funds through a series of photo shoots. Every dollar collected would then go towards winter clothing shopping sprees, when Hudson would pick out a colourful array of coats, boots, and more. Then, the pair would pack up the vehicle and donate the new gear to Koats for Kids.
“He really loves giving back, so it’s something that he asked to continue to do every year. And so we do it together,” Bria said.
“It’s just special. I want to help other kids, so I wanted to do it again,” Hudson added.
November: Local doctor wins family physician of the year award
On Nov. 7, Dr. Ainslie Mihalchuk was awarded the Reg L. Perkin Award for Family Physician of the Year – Manitoba by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
“I’m not a spotlight person, but to me, I am just immensely grateful,” said Mihalchuk, who provides care in clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes in northeast Winnipeg. A former chief medical officer at Concordia Hospital and the WRHA, Mihalchuk has been the registrar and CEO of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba since July 2024. She was also recently appointed a director of the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities, and serves as a member-at-large of the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada Governance Committee and as a member of the Medical Council of Canada.
“I have my heart set on regulation, I think it has a really important place in improving care in Manitoba,” she said.
File photo by Simon Fuller
Wendy Frejuk (centre), the owner and director of Children’s Choice Nursery School, is pictured on March 18 with several of her students. The Transcona-based nursery closed its doors in June after 44 years.
File photo by Simon Fuller
Dionne Potapinski and Stephanie Bartelette are pictured at Glenlawn Collegiate recently with a representation of a new alternative logo.
December: An alternative logo that roars
Glenlawn Collegiate has a new alternative logo.
Earlier this month, Dionne Potapinski, the school’s principal, said a number of people came together to collaborate on the project: “As principal of Glenlawn, I knew we needed a logo that finally reflected who we are, where we stand, and what we are striving to become.”
Potapinski said the logo, which was designed by Indigenous artist Chris Chipak, is emblematic of the school’s strong identity, and serves as visual representation that honours “the land we stand on, the students and families we serve, or the teachings that guide our work.”
“It was created because we needed a story that holds us accountable to our responsibilities as a school community,” she said.
Manga store sets up shop in House of Local
File photo
Winnipeg Transit rolled out all-new routes across the city on June 29.
Dotted Lines, a manga and 3-D print shop co-owned by couple Andrea Santos and Dylan Silver, officially opened its doors at the beginning of December. The space serves as a shop first and foremost — selling a wide selection of manga, a popular comic genre originating from Japan, as well as Winnipeg-themed 3-D maps and models designed by Silver — but Santos’s long-term goal is to create a safe-space and hub for the local manga to create and make friends over shared interests and a love for the craft.
“Winnipeg has a big anime and manga community that I feel is untapped,” she said. “And personally for me, I’d love to go in a store that … is specifically for what I’m interested in, (that) feels like a safe space.”
You can find House of Local at 680 Watt St.
Emma Honeybun
Emma Honeybun is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. She graduated RRC Polytech’s creative communications program, with a specialization in journalism, in 2023. Email her at [email protected]
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Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist
Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time.
Email him at [email protected]
Call him at 204-697-7112
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Simon Fuller
Community Journalist
Simon Fuller is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. Email him at [email protected] or call him at 204-697-7111.
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