WINAKWA COMMUNITY CENTRE
980 Winakwa Road, Winnipeg, MB R2J 1E7
Phone: 253-4418 Facsimile: 255-8930 E-mail: info@winakwacc.ca
Facility Manager: Dino Moran E-Mail: Facility manager@winakwacc.ca
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WINAKWA COMMUNITY CENTRE • 2005 SPRING EDITION SERVING: NIAKWA PARK, SOUTHLAND PARK AND WINDSOR PARK Cindy: 254-1888 Firstly - Happy New Year! I hope everyone brought in the New Year in fine form, despite Mother Nature's efforts to the contrary. The Winakwa New Year's Eve Committee, Once again headed up by Laura Davis, overcame the challenges imposed by a last-minute blizzard (that saw record-breaking amounts of snowfall) to host yet another fabulous party. Guests arrived in suits and gowns, complete with Sorels and balaclavas, which were soon replaced by fabulous party masks in keeping with the theme, “Masquerade Ball”. Food, friends and festivities were enjoyed in a warm, cozy atmosphere while old man winter bellowed outside. Many, many thanks to Laura and friends for yet another job well done! Christmas holidays were great, but by this time, we should all be back in the swing of things and used to writing “2005”! One thing that's hard to get used to, unless you're a snowmobiling fanatic (you know who you are!), is the bitterly cold weather (-45C wind-chill what's with that?!). I'm hoping that by the time this newsletter is delivered (by volunteers, no less!), we will have long-ended this extreme cold snap. There are those who bravely endured those frigid January days by attending our two outdoor tournaments - the re-instated Ringette tournament and our annual Bronze Cup hockey tournament. Of course there were delays and postponements, but between some great sportsmanship and lots of hot chocolate, I think everyone had a pretty good time. Thank you to both the Ringette and Hockey committees for all your hard work, including getting those lines down on the ice on a frosty Sunday night! Thank you also to our many canteen and supervisor volunteers. By volunteering a few hours of our time, we are helping to keep our program costs down. We will be looking at a new method of signup for all Winakwa registrants, so that the centre may be kept open more often. For example, many baseball and soccer parents have mentioned that it would be great to have the club open when their kids are playing at Winakwa, whether to use the washroom or buy a cold drink. I think if every family commits to a few hours of volunteer time per year, it can not help but enhance the community centre experience! Please keep in mind that we will need a Volunteer Coordinator, so if you have good organizational and people skills, consider this volunteer opportunity that will allow you to make a difference from the comfort of your own home! If you're interested, please give me a call! Michelle Bales is stepping down as softball convenor, due to personal commitments. She will stay until a new person is settled. I would like to thank Michelle for all her hard work in enhancing the Winakwa softball program this past year. Aside from regular season, she put together many developmental clinics, introduced “Fall Ball” and hosted the Bonivital Spring Tournament. She is also looking after the purchase of new uniforms for our girls to proudly represent our club. Thank you, Michelle! If anyone knows someone who might be interested in this position, please give Michelle or Debbie Berthon a call. Although these “thank you's” are timely, there is at least one that is tardy. Thank you to Horst Habeck, our ex-soccer convenor, who left after several years of dedicated service to pursue bigger and better things (Horst tied the knot last year!). Horst put a lot of hard work into a program that is dear to his heart, and on behalf of Winakwa Community Centre, I would like to extend my sincere thanks. With talk of soccer, our thoughts turn to spring. Please note the dates of Spring Registration, March 5th and 9th. As soon as it warms up (and dries up!), kids and grown-ups alike will be anxious to get out on the diamonds and soccer pitches. Please make our volunteers' jobs easier by registering on time. See you then! SPRING REGISTRATION Saturday, March 5th 10 am - 2 pm Wednesday, March 9th 6:30 pm - 9 pm RINGETTE Dawn: 253-3817 Another Ringette season is well under way, and what a fabulous season our teams are having!! The Novice team won the Gold Medal in the St. James tournament Over the Christmas break for the second year in a row. The girls are also doing well in league play, and by all accounts are having fun while they are at it. The coach of the Novice team, Kent Wotherspoon, was named Coaching Manitoba and Global Television's Coach of the Month for December 2004. Winakwa Ringette congratulates Kent and acknowledges his coaching staff, Chuck Kitson and Kim Dupasquier, as awards like this are an example of a team effort. Keep up the great work. Our Petite team is very lucky to have Cyndi Henry from Canlan Ice Sports as a coach this year. Cyndi runs a great practice, and as a result, the girls are learning lots, and it shows on the ice as the girls are headed for the playoffs. Thank you to Shawn Bennett from Winakwa, who stepped up to help coach this year. Our Belle team is having a fabulous year, and up until recently was undefeated. Right now, they are tied for 1st place, and also have a spot in the playoffs. Our Intermediate (21+ yrs) and Master (30+ yrs) teams are also enjoying their seasons.
Recently, Winakwa Ringette and the parents of the Novice and Petite teams, resumed the tradition of the Golden Ring Tournament. There were some chilly parents, but the girls loved playing outdoors. The tournament was a great success, especially our pancake breakfast. Although the games were cancelled due to the weather, the pancake breakfast was very well attended. We even had to add more tables!! Special thanks to Brian Kiene for organizing the tournament, Nadeen Bennett and Diane Lavich for all your help and organizing all the parents, and Rob Malenki for always being there! Congratulations to all the parents who volunteered their time to the tournament to make it a success. A special thanks to the Belle and Intermediate players who came out to the pancake breakfast to do the activities with the girls. You made a huge impression and it was great to see you. Congratulations also goes out to the winners of the tournament. In the Novice division Norberry took the gold and the silver went to Winakwa. In the Petite division our own Winakwa team were the gold medal winners and Norberry came in with the silver. Good luck to everyone in the playoffs. Please think about volunteering in the ringette community. While Winakwa Ringette can always use more volunteers, we also need a voice on the Bonivital Board. Currently, BVRA is looking for people to fill the positions of Secretary, Bingo & Fundraising, and Publicity. Please contact me for more information. TABLE TENNIS Andy: 255-8595 NEW TABLE TENNIS EQUIPMENT MAKES WINAKWA THE ENVY Winakwa CC has successfully applied for a special funding grant to enhance our existing table tennis program. The tables, nets and other equipment provided up to this point had been on a loan program in conjunction with the Manitoba Table Tennis Association. Just prior to Christmas, Winakwa received delivery of five world-class Butterfly Europa tables, National net sets, a Robo-Pong table tennis trainer (visualize a pitching machine with various degrees of speed, spin, placement and frequency), new racquets and a healthy supply of balls. All of this has created what Provincial coach George Damionov has described as one of the best table tennis environments in the province. The kids in the developmental program here at Winakwa are truly benefiting from the time spent on the robot. The majority of our sessions are held on Sundays, with a few Saturday exceptions and are divided into the Youth Development Program which runs from 10:30am until noon followed by the Adult Rec. session going from noon until 2 pm. Sign up is required for Youth Development. All that is required for the Adult Rec session is a valid Winakwa Booster Card. I encourage anyone interested to come and check out the new equipment. For further info, contact Andy Bachmann, phone 255-8595, e-mail andybachmann@shaw.ca. Logon onto Winakwa web-site www.winakwacc.ca for a complete schedule of dates. GET OUT OF THE BASEMENT!! Volunteer Spotlight: Jack VanLieshout By Cindy Fox WINAKWA COMMUNITY CENTRE is renowned for its wonderful volunteers, but some really stand out. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about a person who has given selflessly to the hockey program for over 30 years. Jack VanLieshout dedicated himself to coaching long before he had kids in the program, and it is only this year that he has taken some well-deserved time off. I have first-hand knowledge of Jack's coaching skills, as he coached both my boys four years ago, when they played on the “Winakwa Wizards” 7/8 house team. Jack was a patient and caring coach and went the extra mile to make sure the kids had a good hockey experience. Each team member was given a team “yearbook”, to which I now refer. That year, with the help of the other coaching staff (and let's not forget the wives!), the kids played floor hockey, attended Moose and Bison games, and enjoyed a skating/tobogganing party plus a roller-skating party! Although the stats may not have shown a winning season, we certainly had one! Coach Jack made sure all the kids knew he was proud of them and that working hard and having fun were more important than winning every game. At that time, I wrote a thank you to the coaches on behalf of the parents. Since then, I have heard from many parents who share my sentiments, therefore I think it fitting to re-dedicate the message to Jack on behalf of Winakwa Community Centre: Coach Jack, Thank you for your time and commitment to coaching our children. You've wiped noses, dried tears and inspired laughter. You've encouraged the kids to have fun and be good sports, regardless of the outcome of the game. You've organized activities to promote team spirit and friendship. For all this, we thank you.
HOCKEY Sheldon: 471-7825 (hockey hotline) The weather cooperated and another successful Bronze Cup Tournament has concluded. I would like to thank Dan Gilkes, his committee, and all the volunteers for all Their hard work. I’m sure everyone had a great time during the tournament’s activities. While the kids always have fun in the tournament games, it was nice to see some of the dads lace up for the oldtimers’ games. I know some of us were pretty sore the next day. (or maybe it was it from all the dancing at the social on Saturday night!). I would also like to thank all the guys who braved the cold to paint the lines on the outdoor rinks. I hope everyone is enjoying their hockey season and good luck to all the teams in their city play downs! Winakwa BINGO
No better way to spend a Monday night! Try us out —you won’t be disappointed!
SOCCER Rob: 253-5877 For starters, I hope you are all trying to stay warm this winter! The indoor season is into its second half play. Hoping everyone does well and is having fun. But with the Winter Indoor Season coming to an end, we have to start thinking about the upcoming outdoor season which is will be upon us sooner than we expect. With spring registration coming up on Saturday, March 5th and Wednesday, March 9th, it appears that, once again, we will be looking for volunteers to coach, manage, or just simply help the teams in any way you can. The Winakwa Soccer Committee has been discussing many ways to improve the soccer program for the children. Some ideas brought forward are to hold another Mini Jamboree for the Smurfs, Minis, and Tykes. We believe this will be a weekend filled with fun for the kids and at the same time give the parents a chance to meet their fellow neighbors. We also plan on holding a Coaches Appreciation Night to thank all the many volunteers who aid in making Winakwa's Soccer program a success. We are hoping to receive your support and help in making these ideas successful. The committee is always willing to listen to any new suggestions on how to make the Winakwa Soccer program better for all and you are more than welcome to come and the join us if you wish. In a final remark I hope to see you all out at registration signing up your children in their favorite sport. BASEBALL Phil: 254-5508 Hello everyone and all the best throughout 2005! Though this cold weather is desperately trying to hang around, the longer daylight hours no doubt signifies a start to a new spring baseball season. No one is counting but, unofficially, there are 76 days before the first pitch is thrown…before the first hit is made…before the first out is executed so let's get registered. In the last few years, Winakwa Baseball has earned itself a great reputation throughout the province and we certainly hope to keep that trend going. As of last year, we offer the following programs… Peanuts: 1998-2000 Rookies: 1996-1997 Mosquito A and AA: 1994-1995 Peewee A and AA: 1992-1993 Bantam A and AA: 1990-1991 Midget A and AA: 1987-1989 …all at an affordable price. The City of Winnipeg has implemented a new policy for facility usage so you can expect to see a small rise in registration costs. Many qualified coaches have already demonstrated a keen interest in working with our kids but these volunteers are always looking for an extra hand or two. Please help them out in any way possible…the more, the merrier! It's especially true in baseball. As a committee, we are also looking at getting some indoor gym time so as to work on some of your young person's baseball skills…there will be more information on this subject on registration days: March 5th and 9th. Hope to see you there! Any questions? If so, please feel free to contact Phil at 254-5508… BASKETBALL Kim: 235-1246 Once again we will be holding registration for Spring Basketball. Kids 8 - 18 are invited to come out. Registration fee is $120. The season begins in April and winds up at the end of June. Stay fit. Have fun. Play basketball! Call Joanne for more info @ 237-5426. DANCE & BATON Lise-Anne: 254-8335 Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Classes are back in action, with routines already underway. Before we know it we will be preparing for Recital in June. With that said, if you can not make a lesson please let Linda or I know so class is not held up waiting for someone to show up. Good luck to all our Tempo Twirlers as they prepare for competitions in February, April and May. Classes will run as usual for spring break. If you will be away on vacation during this time please inform Linda. STAY & PLAY Sandi: 255-5546 Come out and join us and beat those winter blahs as Stay & Play's second session is underway. Warm up with a cup of coffee or tea as the children play, enjoy a snack, do a craft and sing some songs. We still have space available on Wednesdays and a couple of spots open on Fridays. The fee for the second session running from January to June is $35 with a booster card (additional $25 for a booster card). During this session we will have a Valentine's party, Easter party, year end Wind-Up and not to forget the Moms/Dads night out with a Spring Pot Luck dinner. It's a great way to meet people in your community, so please don't hesitate to call if you are interested and would like to check it out. LUNCH WITH SANTA Shelley Jensen and Sandi Desharnais Winakwa's annual Lunch with Santa event held on November 28, 2004 was a great success and was enjoyed by all! This festive occasion would not be possible if it weren't for all the wonderful volunteers to help put it all together. Hats off and Thanks to the Stay and Play Moms and Dads, our little helpers and elves, Dino's crew and most importantly, last but not least Mr. Joyal for his dedication ( Oh yes, there is a Santa Claus! ) Special thanks also to MLAs Bidhu Jha and Jack Reimer and our president, Cindy Fox for their continued support, to Alexander the Clown for the fun entertainment and to the following companies for their donations: Pepsi, Old Dutch, Hosegood’s IGA, Windsor Video, McDonalds, Manitoba Hydro, A & W, Kildonan Place, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Olive Garden, MPIC and Canada Safeway. Mark your calendars as the next Lunch with Santa is already set for November 27, 2005. Our best wishes for a happy, healthy 2005 to everyone!!! SLO PITCH Gilles: 254-0145 Here we go again, the snow is still on the ground but we are starting to think of the Slo-p itch season. It’s just around the cold snap. We are looking forward to seeing the old & new faces on the diamonds this year. So here are some dates to remember:
FITNESS CLASSES Candace: 254-0497 ADULT FITNESS WITH CANDACE
Classes are beginner to intermediate level. For more information or to register, contact Candace Csordas, MFC Certified Fitness Instructor at 254-0497. Discount applies when registering for more than one class. WINTER EQUIPMENT Sherman: 253-9781 Hi! Just a reminder to all coaches and goalies, please hand in all uniforms and equipment as soon as the season ends, so I can get equipment repaired if needed and take inventory on all uniforms. Reminder to all players that your deposit will be cashed for any uniforms not returned to the club. Congratulations to all players for a great season. To make arrangements to drop off equipment please phone me @253-9781. SOFTBALL Michelle: 253-3459 We survived the extreme winter. We are now ready for summer and the ball season to start. Many of our neighboring community centres host developmental clinics throughout the winter months. To enable our players the opportunity to maintain the same level of development as their competitors, Winakwa Softball was fortunate to have a winter facility to hold developmental camps. A Pitching Clinic was run with 10 girls participating. The Level I participants were taught the techniques to begin their pitching career. We have a few budding superstars in our club. The Level II participants developed their skills and obtained new ones. Winakwa has some awesome fastpitch pitchers. With continued practice and participation in future clinics Winakwa could be the home of the next Olympic champion pitcher. On a sad note...the General Skills developmental clinic scheduled to start in January was cancelled due to lack of interest. "Thank you" and "sorry" to those that wanted to participate and take advantage of the vast knowledge and expertise of the clinicians, Bob and Tracy Turner. Due to personal commitments I will be stepping down as softball convenor this season. I have enjoyed the experience immensely. Thank you to Tania Sloan and Cindy Fox for all your support and help. If you are interested in holding the convenor position please advise. I will be available to help in any way. There is currently a small committee very interested in making the program a success. This committee is seeking volunteers to help the program continue to improve and grow, please join our team. Please contact Michelle at 253-3459 or join up at registration. If you are interested in becoming an umpire or coach please advise at registration. Winakwa Softball will pay the clinic fee. Best of luck to all the players, coaches and umpires for a fun season ahead. DROP IN Tara: 237-4365 We are running from Sept-June on Wednesdays from 6:30pm-9:30pm and alternating Fridays and Sundays from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Please stop in and pick-up monthly calendars that list activities for the month. Ages: 10-15 Cost: 0 Activities: All types of activities include ps2, Nintendo game cube, pool tables, ping-pong, air hockey, games, crafts, cooking, sports, outings, dances, etc. Drop-in would like to acknowledge our joint relationship with Manitoba Justice/Lighthouses. Drop -in has received a $12,000 grant from Lighthouses. We would like to welcome Lighthouses to the Drop-in. Skateboard Demo By: Matt Kathler Hello all you extreme sports fans out there. I will be starting a skateboard program run through the Winakwa Drop In. It will be on Wednesdays starting in the summer. We don't have all the information about it yet, so check the Drop In calendar for further details. But to kick off the start to an awesome summer we will have a skateboard demonstration at the Winakwa Community Centre. There will be live music, food, and skateboard prizes being given out. The skateboarding will be preformed by the talented Tom Foolery Skate Team and the Kasino Skate Team. So come out and see some skateboarding talent from some of the local skaters like Matt Kathler, Damian Meilleur, Tanner McMillan, Jamie Suppes, James Hlady, and Jordan Sanchez. Hope to see you all there. SOCK HOPS Wendy: 257-5931 The next sock-hops will be Friday, February 11th and Friday, April 1st. The cost is $3.00 per person or $2.00 with a non-perishable food item for Winnipeg Harvest. The time is 4:30 to 6:30 for grades 4-6. Hope to see you there!
HALL & MEETING ROOM RENTALS MAIN HALL Licensed for 245 people. Great for socials, weddings, Christmas parties or family get-togethers. Kitchen facilities available.
MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM Licensed for 50 people. Includes a 30” TV, VCR, cable and visual presentation board. Kitchen facilities available.
Book early and avoid disappointment. For bookings or more information call Dan at 254-4632.
WINAKWA COMMUNITY CENTRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President Cindy Fox 254-1888 Past President Pat Krueger 254-8324 1st Vice President Dave Balamatowski 771-3551 2nd Vice President Adrian Pastulovic 257-3428 Treasurer Hazel George-Saito 256-5167 Secretary Shelley Jensen 231-2563
DIRECTORS Program and Hall Rental Dan Gilkes 254-4632 Ways and Means Pat Krueger 254-8324 Sports Reps Brian Kiene 256-6103 Debbie Berthon 256-2073 Baton and Dance Lise-Anne Brodoway 254-8335 Summer Equipment Dan Gilkes 237-4365 Winter Equipment Sherman Chartrand 253-9781 Publicity Michele Birss 254-5611 Janice Roy 253-9608 Canteen Howard Ashdown 256-3925 Stay and Play Sandi Desharnais 255-5546 Buildings and Grounds Don Krueger 254-8324 Terry Halldorson 253-5921 Slo Pitch Gilles Vincent 254-0145 Member at Large Janice Roy 253-9608 CONVENOR LIST Baton & Dance Lise-Anne 254-8335 Basketball Kim 235-1246 Boys Baseball Phil 254-5508 Drop In Tara 237-4365 Girls Softball Michelle 253-3459 Hockey Sheldon 471-7825 Ringette Dawn 253-3817 Slo-Pitch Gilles 254-0145 Soccer Rob 253-5877 Sock Hops Wendy 257-5931 Stay and Play Sandi 255-5546 Table Tennis Andy 255-8595 Volleyball Cathy 257-4858 A big “Thank You” to all of the families who volunteered their time to deliver the newsletters. DISTRIBUTION OF THE JUNE ISSUE OF THIS NEWSLETTER PLEASE CONTACT MICHELE @ 254-5611
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