Rural Roundup for Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024

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This article was published 01/02/2024 (673 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VIRDEN

The artists’ reception at the Historic CP Station in Virden on Jan. 12 kicked off the January show in the gallery, displaying work of Brandon artists Erin Witherspoon, Rebecca Chinn, Linda Aletha Tame, Douglas Brolund and Virden’s George Baker.

Sharing art and ideas is a highlight for the artists. The four Brandonites often paint together and support each other in their artistic journey under the banner Artist Heart Studio, operated by Tame.

Baker brought variety to the show with three canvases, two oils — one with hard geometric lines and the other a still life with the contours of fruit and vegetables. Baker’s latest large canvas is different again — an acrylic sea-scape, impressionistic, with amazing colour tones.

Witherspoon displays a set of large originals, two of them are engaging portraits of her grandchildren.

Working outdoors is at the heart of Douglas Brolund’s years of creativity, but one of his most recent pieces on display in the gallery was a music inspired painting. The oil painting inspired by a song of Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave, ‘Ghosteen Speaks’, from which Brolund’s painting is titled, ‘I am Beside You.’ Another, of plein air genre, depicts an abandoned McAuley, Manitoba garage.

Rebecca Chinn was a violin teacher in Brandon’s School of Music. Now retired, she calls her art ‘play.’ Her ink-drawn castle with a splash of red is of the 15th century castle in Matsumoto Japan.

Linda Tame displayed two paintings from her 2021 Brandon University thesis show and another more recent canvas. She says her work has been cathartic.

Arts Mosaic, operating in the Historic CP Station on Sixth Avenue in Virden, is an organization run by a volunteer board who works to make art understood and available to the public to view and to do.

» Virden Empire-Advance

CANUPAWAKPA DAKOTA NATION

On Jan. 1, Canupawakpa Dakota Nation welcomed 2024 with an Omaka Teca Wacipi — a traditional one-day pow wow — in the Oyate Community Complex on the reserve south of Virden.

The colourful showcase of Dakota culture opened with a traditional dance to bid adieu to 2023 and greet the new year, which included special guests Premier Wab Kinew and his wife Lisa.

“I want to thank Chief Thunderchild and councillors from here in Canupawakpa for welcoming us into your beautiful community,” Kinew said. “I want to give thanks for a wonderful 2023 and acknowledge all the people we said ‘See you again’ to this past year, and I pray in a good way that everybody can have an awesome 2024.”

Chief Lola Thunderchild said the community has been holding this one-day pow wow for many years, and it has become one of their customs to represent the year that has passed.

“We greet the new year without everybody beside us. We’ve lost many along the way. The dance kind of represents that mourning and those memories: sadness, grief. The new year coming in is a fresh start. It’s a new year’s song that they sing that’s been passed down from generation to generation. I thought it would be appropriate for Premier Kinew to ring in the new year. I was quite honoured when he agreed to do that for us.”

Following the grand entry, four drum ensembles, including the host Dakota Travels and visiting Dakota Hotain, provided music in rotation as competitors showcased their talents throughout the afternoon and early evening .

» Virden Empire-Advance

NEEPAWA

Electric vehicle drivers in Westman now have another option for charging their automobiles. A Tesla Supercharger station was recently installed in Neepawa at the Co-op Food Store and Gas Bar.

A supercharger is different from a standard charging station in that it can add up to 200 miles of driving range in as little as 15 minutes. The Neepawa site features six ports which are compatible with both Tesla vehicles and other varieties of electric vehicles. The new installation is the only Tesla branded Supercharging station in an 80 kilometre radius.

In a media release confirming the partnership with Tesla, Neepawa-Gladstone Co-op General Manager Brian Hedley, who is also the town’s mayor, said that the new addition at the Food Store and Gas Bar comes at no charge to the business and its shareholders.

Including the new location in Neepawa, there are eight Tesla Supercharger stations in operation in Manitoba.

» The Neepawa Banner & Press

TREHERNE

What started as an idea from a group of people in the Treherne area wanting a place to share and show their classic cars and trucks has turned into a full-fledged museum that now boasts 111 vehicles, and other treasures, from local residents.

Treherne’s Second Chance Car Museum began when a local car collector and his wife needed a proper home for their personal collection, says museum manager Craig Soldier.

“Discussions took place and encouragement took place, a building was built, and the museum was started.”

The 25,000-square-foot museum opened in 2019, with the oldest model being a 1914 Model A truck.

Funding comes by donations to keep the lights on, but Soldier said the museum is not about making money, but about sharing a love of classic automobiles with friends, neighbours and visitors.

Soldier said 2,600 people came through Second Chance last year from all over Manitoba and beyond: “Last year we had visitors from Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, but we really enjoy the local support as well.”

» Discover Westman

CARBERRY

The Carberry Elks have disbanded and donated their historical documents to the Carberry Plains Museum.

The group was created on Nov. 1, 1961 in the Carberry Community Hall under the sponsorship of other lodges from Portage la Prairie and Neepawa. It came to be known as the Carberry Lodge #455 of the B.O.P. Elks.

Since then, members of the lodge have made an impact on their local community and the province. Many members moved up to serve in the role of provincial president.

Throughout the years, the Carberry Elks served many roles in the community. During the last few years, during the weekend of the fair members served fries, and they also took part in many farmers market barbecues.

On Dec. 31 of last year, the lodge surrendered their charter to the Grand Lodge of the Elks of Canada. The Carberry Plains Museum has accepted the donation of many of the Carberry Elks’ documents, including their original framed charter. Plans for a display dedicated to the group are underway at the museum.

» Neepawa Banner & Press