Sponsored Content Leaving a Legacy is a Slam Dunk
Glen Torgerson, member of the Bannatyne Legacy Circle-
a community of HSC Foundation legacy donors.
An inductee of the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame, Glen Torgerson's retirement began with surgery to treat his recurring pancreatitis. Performed by Dr. Jeremy Lipschitz at Health Sciences Centre, the January 2000 surgery had an immediate impact.
'I knew the instant I woke up that something was different,' says Torgerson. 'I felt better right away.'
In 2002, when this basketball legend re-wrote his will, the decision to leave a bequest to the Health Sciences Centre Foundation was a slam dunk. He believes that it is important to make a difference in the community through legacy giving.
Torgerson's inclusion of the HSC Foundation in his will is an expression of his gratitude for the treatment and care he received at HSC, and a recognition of the hospital's importance to all Manitobans. 'Health Sciences Centre is our major health care facility,' he says. 'If you live here and you haven't been touched by HSC in some way, that would be unusual.'
Leaving a gift to the HSC Foundation in your will is a powerful way to enhance the well-being of Manitobans. To learn more about your legacy giving options at the HSC Foundation and the Bannatyne Legacy Circle, contact Irma McKenzie, Director of Gift Planning, at 204-515-5624, or by email at imckenzie@hscfoundation.mb.ca.
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Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Eight-hundred more fire evacuees expected to find refuge in Niagara Falls
Hundreds more wildfire evacuees were expected to fly to Ontario Tuesday, where a third-party organization has arranged for them to stay in hotel rooms. Xpera, a security and evacuation support service firm, had organized flights for 793 evacuees who are already staying in Niagara Falls, said Robert Garland, Xpera vice-president of emergency security management for Eastern Canada. As many as 800 additional evacuees could make the journey on Tuesday, Garland said. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Darell Moore was evacuated from Norway House Saturday night. There was no hotel room for him when he arrived in Winnipeg. 'That all depends on whether, in Winnipeg, they can get the planes full or not. It's a situation of getting families to a marquee point and then on to planes,' he said. Niagara has become a destination for some of the 17,000 people, many of whom are from remote and northern communities, who have been displaced by wildfires. Hotels in southern Manitoba quickly filled up, and the Canadian Red Cross established emergency shelters in arenas and other large spaces. 'People with nowhere to stay outside of a congregate setting are definitely getting on planes and coming here to Niagara, and that frees up some of the beds in Winnipeg for some of the most vulnerable,' Garland said. The evacuees headed for Ontario are associated with Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, a northern Indigenous political entity that represents 26 First Nations, including five under mandatory evacuation orders: Pimicikamak (Cross Lake), Norway House Cree Nation, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan), Marcel Colomb First Nation (Black Sturgeon Falls) and Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake). York Factory First Nation (York Landing), another MKO community, evacuated vulnerable residents Monday, but is not subject to a mandatory order. Eight Niagara hotels have so far opened their doors to evacuees. Xpera is prepared to find accommodations for up to 3,000 people, but that number could change depending on the rapidly evolving situation, Garland said. After the Manitoba government reached out to Ontario for support, Xpera was tapped to arrange accommodations because it has a contract with Emergency Management Ontario, he said. Garland could not provide a price tag, but said it will be paid by the federal government through Indigenous Services Canada. Xpera is arranging recreation activities and security for evacuees. It is co-ordinating with health authorities from Ontario and Manitoba to provide health care, Garland said. 'So far, everything is running really smoothly.' Niagara, Ont., Mayor Jim Diodati said his city has opened its arms to Manitobans. 'Some of them, I'm sure, are nervous or stressed because they are getting uprooted from their homes and they're being taken thousands of miles away, but I'm hoping that the silver lining in the grey cloud is… they are going to get to take in one of the great natural attractions of the world,' he said. The city attracts as many as 14 million visitors each year who want to see the Niagara Falls. It has an inventory of more than 14,000 hotel rooms, which makes it a 'logical place for any situation where you need a lot of spots for people quickly.' RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Robert Burroughs of Flin Flon fled the northern city May 28 with only bare essentials. 'We are happy to do our part, especially initially,' he said. The tourism season kicks into high gear in Niagara around July 1. Diodati said he hopes the federal government can find alternative places to house evacuees before then because hotels will likely reach capacity. If the crisis extends into the summer, Diodati suggested post-secondary institutions throughout the country could be considered for temporary accommodation. Back in Manitoba, some evacuees were settling into hotels after spending time in emergency shelters. Talking about home brought Robert Burroughs to tears outside the Victoria Inn on Wellington Avenue. The Flin Flon resident was moved to the hotel after spending one night at the Century Arena in Fort Garry. 'I'm a very emotional guy,' he said softly. 'It's been very difficult.' Burroughs, an employee of the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon, fled the northern city May 28 with only bare essentials. He was part of a massive convoy that drove south as flames crept dangerously close to the city of about 5,100 people. He considers himself lucky because his general manager arranged rooms for him and roughly 30 other Victoria Inn employees from Flin Flon, who are staying at the chain's hotel in Winnipeg. 'Red Cross has been so busy we don't have any meal tickets,' he said. 'We are having to support ourselves. They say to keep our receipts. At first, they accepted our Red Cross cards, but now they need the meal tickets for the hotel to get paid by Red Cross.' Darell Moore was aboard one of the last planes out of Norway House on Monday night. No hotel room was waiting for him when he touched down in Winnipeg. 'I slept in my truck,' he said, describing a long night spent beside his seven-year-old dog, Buzy. Over the weekend, Moore's daughter, Darrylee McKay, loaded six children into her father's pickup and made the eight-hour drive south to Winnipeg. Among them were her three children, and kids who belong to her sister and niece. A second car that travelled with them carried four more children. 'We had to keep stopping, all the kids had to keep using the washroom,' McKay said. 'It was a hard drive.' RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS A Cross Lake family first sought refuge in Norway House and then drove eight hours to Winnipeg to escape the fires. The children are very upset about their little dog Buzy not being able to stay with them in the hotel room. Buzy is being fostered. From left: Okay McKay, 10, Belinda McKay, 7, their grandmother Bernice Moore Suzie McKay, Darrylee McKay holding Jenson McKay, Demi Moore, holding Davair Ross-Moore, age 1. The family, from Cross Lake, had sought safety in Norway House after an evacuation order was issued. Once in Winnipeg, they spent their first night at a soccer complex on Leila Avenue that has been converted into a temporary shelter to house hundreds of evacuees. 'It was crazy,' she said. 'We had to stay next to a lot of people and sleep in cots. No sleep at all.' Still, she said, it was better than Norway House. 'I had to sleep in the truck with all of my babies,' she said. On Tuesday, Moore was trying to get a room at the same hotel where the rest of his family was staying. He said after he registered with the Red Cross Monday night, he was told it could take up to two days before he'd be placed in a hotel. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The Red Cross has refused to do an interview regarding the evacuation process and putting up people in hotels. The provincial government said evacuees who require enhanced accessibility or have medical needs are the first to get a room. It confirmed some rooms have been booked outside of the centralized process. Hundreds more hotel rooms are expected to become available in Manitoba over the coming days, the province said. — With files from Scott Billeck Tyler SearleReporter Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press's city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic's creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler. Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Where to donate, how to volunteer to help Manitoba wildfire evacuees
Wildfires have forced more than 17,000 Manitobans to flee their homes and into temporary shelters in Winnipeg and beyond. Several organizations are accepting donations, co-ordinating volunteers and distributing supplies. Here's how you can help: Canadian Red Cross Donations to the Red Cross for Manitoba wildfire relief are being matched by the federal and provincial governments until June 27. The Red Cross is only accepting monetary donations at this time; they are not accepting donated items. Donate on the Red Cross website or by phone at 1-800-418-1111. Manitoba Métis Federation The Manitoba Métis Federation is accepting supplies and monetary donations for wildfire evacuees. They are in particular need of baby items, including diapers, formula, strollers and car seats. There is also high demand for men's clothing, size large and up. Cribbage game boards are also being sought as a leisure item. Drop off donations at 25 Ray Marius Road in the Transcona Industrial Park area. Donate money online here. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has established a relief fund and is taking donations via e-transfer to emergencyresponse@ Donations of supplies are being accepted at the RBC Convention Centre from 11 a.m to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday (Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.). Go to the second floor of the North Building and look for AMC banner. First Nations Family Advocate Office Donations of new or gently used items can be dropped off at 200-285 Smith Street from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are accepting: Southern Chiefs' Organization The Southern Chiefs' Organization is accepting donations at SCO offices: They are collecting: More information is available on the SCO's website. Winnipeg Humane Society Donations for displaced pets can be dropped off at the Winnipeg Humane Society at 45 Hurst Way. They are collecting: A full list of necessary supplies is available on their website. City of Winnipeg Animal Services The City of Winnipeg animal services department is collecting donations in partnership with Veterinarians Without Borders. Donate here. The Manitoba Métis Federation is co-ordinating volunteers in Winnipeg to help distribute supplies and take on other urgent tasks as part of the emergency response for evacuees. Call the MMF's volunteer co-ordination line at 431-294-7452. Check for updates on the MMF Facebook page. Winnipeg Humane Society The Winnipeg Humane Society has set up a temporary animal shelter at St. Norbert Community Centre to support families with pets affected by Manitoba's wildfires. Intake hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The temporary shelter can support about 60 animals. Phone 204-982-2021 with any questions about volunteering or donations. Evacuees with pets are asked to register with the Red Cross and to check the society's website for more information.
Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Scrambling' to get last people out of Pimicikamak
The chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation wants the last of his people to leave the remote Manitoba First Nation as a nearby wildfire closes in. Efforts are underway to gather about 50 residents and 66 emergency management team members who remain in Pimicikamak and fly them out of the community, Chief David Monias said in a message to the Free Press. 'We are scrambling to get the remaining people out,' he said Tuesday. 'They will be evacuating, leaving only firefighters behind.' As of Friday, the fire near Pimicikamak Cree Nation had burned about 1,500 hectares. (Submitted) Monias said he wanted the evacuation to be completed quickly, fearing fires burning on either side of Pimicikamak could cut off road access to Norway House. 'It's right at our doorstep,' he said. Monias told reporters during a morning news conference that some residents were reluctant to leave the community. 'The things that are frustrating are we are having to run around and get everybody out, and we are doing this all on our own. We've sort of been getting the RCMP helping us to do all this stuff, but they're not forcing anybody.' Pimicikamak is one of many communities under evacuation orders as wildfires rage in several corners of the province. People began fleeing the First Nation voluntarily as early as May 23, and hundreds more have evacuated since. A mandatory evacuation order was implemented Wednesday. Some residents were evacuated by air until high winds and smoke grounded flights and shuttered the airport. A total of about 17,000 Manitobans are expected to be displaced by wildfires. Many have fled to larger cities, where the Canadian Red Cross is co-ordinating accommodations at hotels or inside makeshift emergency shelters. Monias has been critical of the provincial and federal governments, who he said were slow to heed warnings from First Nation officials about the need for an evacuation. He outlined his criticism in a speech shared with the Free Press — parts of which are expected to be read aloud in the House of Commons during an emergency debate on the wildfire situation Tuesday, he said. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Pimicikamak and the nearby community of Cross Lake jointly declared a state of emergency on May 21. The former community falls under the jurisdiction of Indigenous Services Canada, while the latter is the responsibility of the province, the speech said. 'We did not allow protocol, jurisdiction or fiscal policy to delay our emergency response. We came together as leaders and did what was necessary,' Monias said. 'In stark contrast, the federal and provincial governments became entangled in debates over jurisdiction, protocols and cost-sharing, rather than putting people first.' The Canadian Armed Forces said in an email that as of the end of day Monday, its members had evacuated more than 3,500 Manitobans because of wildfires. The most recent evacuations included using a CC-130 Hercules plane to fly residents from Cross Lake to Winnipeg and helicopters to take people from PMathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan) to The Pas. Tyler SearleReporter Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press's city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic's creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler. Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
