Votes needed to win $25,000

By Sheila Runions

Banner Staff

Rivers Banner deadline is Tuesday at 5 p.m. but late Wednesday morning, the office was contacted by Riverdale Community Daycare board with some urgent news. They have just submitted their application to Together We Thrive, in hopes of winning a $25,000 grant. 

Read more: Votes needed to win $25,000

The power of 10

By Esther Krahn

Chairperson

The week of May 3-9 was designated National Hospice Palliative Care Week and its planners encouraged people to spread the message on the importance of quality hospice palliative care in our country, and talk to at least 10 people in one’s circle of connections about the importance and availability of palliative care services. In Canada today, only 16-30 per cent (depending on where one lives) of people who die have access to hospice palliative care and end-of-life services. The goal of good palliative care is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in care for persons approaching death, so that the burdens of suffering, loneliness and grief are lessened.

Read more: The power of 10

Rivers Police participate in programs

By Bruce Klassen

Chief

The month of April was busy for Rivers Police Service; it saw a total of 59 calls for service. This month was the kickoff for our distracted driving campaign, which targets cell phone users as well as at-risk driving offences such as speeding.

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Event focuses on patient safety and celebrates family

Submitted article

The Neepawa Banner

Home Assistance Neepawa and District and the Viscount Cultural Council are partnering to provide a free afternoon of information (with local Pharmacist, Kristin Tibbett), a short play by Whitemud Comedy Company, handouts, with a light luncheon to follow.

Read more: Event focuses on patient safety and celebrates family

Quilting - part of our heritage

By Diane Kowalchuk

Publicity

The focus of Women’s Institute (WI) varies from group to group, and a “local” in Manitoba might not look exactly like a “local” in New Brunswick. Some cater more than others, some are the community’s only service organization, some focus on funding projects in developing countries, and the programs in others are mostly for self-development. Some spend their time lobbying and some put a lot of emphasis on crafts.

Rivers WI has always done a little of everything. The early institute took great pride in the handicraft achievements of its members. In 1959 members put together a book of quilt blocks for a national competition. This project, which won second place at the district level, is still intact and on display at Prairie Crocus Regional Library in Rivers. In 1960 the local entered the Sherrif-Horsey Competition for Bedroom Accessories and won first prize in the region and an honourable mention at the provincial level. We have a photograph of a very young-looking Myrtle Shanks accepting the award!

We are not as crafty as we used to be, but nevertheless, members turned their hands to quilting at the May meeting. Member Helen Stewart, an accomplished quilter, demonstrated the rudiments of hand quilting and handed each member nine cotton squares, a diagram, and needle and thread to make a block. The completed blocks will be made into a quilt. What fun! Members enjoyed this opportunity and were very impressed with the vast array of quilting work Helen has completed.

Three members of Rivers WI will be attending the provincial convention in Winnipeg May 7-9: Arenda van der Deen, Yvonne Gustafson and Dianne Kowalchuk. Dianne will also be attending the national WI convention in Fredericton, New Brunswick in June. 

Members recently donated seeds to the planting program at Rivers Elementary School and took part in a Veseys Seeds fundraiser. WI will be providing an award for the upcoming collegiate graduation and will be delivering Meals on Wheels in June. On June 12 members will travel to Brandon for a tour of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum. If you would like to come along, please call Arenda at 204-826-2626 or Michelle at 204-328-7441. The next regular meeting will be held on Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. at the Kowalchuk home. The program will be on food literacy. There’s always lots going on at WI!