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Message from our chair

ALSO IN THIS EDITION:• Messages from our new city councillor and other community leaders• News from the RPSCA• Information about our holiday decorating contest

On Oct. 24, 2018, River Park South and surrounding communities elected a new city councillor. I would like to express heartfelt gratitude to all the candidates who put their names on the ballot for the newly-created St. Norbert-Seine River ward. Needless to say, River Park South residents had a difficult choice to make with a full slate of excellent candidates from which to choose. Congratulations to our new city councillor, Markus Chambers. The RPSCA looks forward to working with Councillor Chambers throughout the years to come.

The holiday season is fast approaching. If you are looking for ways to spread holiday cheer in the community and beyond, consider one of these options. The Winnipeg Christmas Cheer Board provides over 18,000 hampers to individuals and families in need every year. Sign up to be matched with a family at christmascheerboard.ca. The Manitoba Shoebox Project collects shoeboxes filled with gifts and goodies for women impacted by homelessness.

You can prepare a shoebox by decorating it, filling it with recommended items and then dropping it off at one of several locations, including the Louis Riel Library. Find out more at www.shoeboxproject.com.

Don’t forget the second annual RPSCA Holiday Decorating Contest is currently underway. We’ll be posting a map of the participating homes on our website and we encourage everyone to take a stroll in the neighbourhood to check them out and vote for their favourite. There are some great prizes, including a $500 gift card to Lacoste Garden Centre! Find out more on page 6 or our website.

Did you know that the RPSCA aims to enhance the quality of life within the community of River Park South by fostering meaningful involvement within our community, facilitating communication amongst stakeholders and promoting, supporting and organizing social, fraternal, recreational and educational activities in our community? Do you have any ideas or suggestions on how this can be accomplished?

Would you like to learn more about the RPSCA, or help us with an upcoming event? If so, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on social media or by email. We’d love to hear from you.

On behalf of the River Park South Community Association, I would like to wish all of our neighbours a happy holiday season!

Your RPSCA chair, Josée-Anne Le Dorze

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONDecember 2018

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Newsletter

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Message from Markus Chambers City councillor for St. Norbert-Seine River

River Park South Community Associationwww.rpscommunity.com2

The best part about the holiday season is in the giving. I believe that the attitude of generosity is on great display right here in our own province. Last year I began an initiative to collect shoeboxes and fill them with toiletries and gifts for women in need. I plan to partner with The Shoebox Project this year to prepare gift boxes for women in crises, who may not be able to celebrate Christmas with family and friends over the holidays. If you have any empty shoeboxes, unopened toiletries or personal care products, please feel free to drop them off at my constituency office to help support this great cause.

Christmas is right around the corner and that means pancakes and visits from Santa. Dec. 8 kicks off the season with the Dakota Community Centre Santa Breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon. The following day, Dec. 9, Greendell Community Club hosts its Breakfast with Santa from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. I hope to see you at these wonderful community events.

I am very excited to be involved in judging this year’s Holiday Decorating Contest. I look forward to seeing all your wonderful festive displays.

Please feel free to contact me and share your priorities and concerns. My constituency office is located at 5 – 140 Meadowood Drive, (204) 615-5241 and rochelle@rochellesquires.ca.

From my family to yours, I wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Message from Hon. Rochelle Squires MLA for Riel

River Park South Community Associationwww.rpscommunity.com

Now that the election is ended and the new City Council has been sworn in, my priority of reconnecting with the community begins. However, before I continue, I wish to congratulate all of the councillor and school trustee candidates who put their names forward for election. Now, fully realizing the personal and professional sacrifices required to seek public office, I commend you all.

During the election campaign, residents of River Park South expressed concern with neighbourhood safety — property crimes and petty offenses. Feeling safe and secure is essential for healthy neighbourhoods and requires that we work together to discourage crime and prevent vandalism within our neighbourhood.

In doing so, it is important we continue the dialogue on neighbourhood safety issues while engaging stakeholders who have developed innovative strategies to combat crime at the local level.

Over the next several months, I will be hosting a series of Town Hall Meetings in partnership with the Winnipeg Police Service to initiate a River Park South Neighbourhood Safety Strategy. Interested residents can participate and provide ideas and feedback to the overall agreed-upon strategies. For more information about upcoming meeting dates, visit my website at www.markuschambers.ca or contact my office by calling 204-986-5920.

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Upcoming neighbourhood events

My Neighbours River Park South Holiday Craft + Bake Sale Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 755 St. Anne’s Road

Check out this craft and bake sale with over 30 local handmade vendors and your favourite direct sales companies.

Breakfast with Santa Saturday, Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dakota Comunity Centre

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit the Dakota Community Centre website.

Holiday events at Lacoste Garden Centre Multiple dates in December 2787 St. Mary’s Rd.

For a full event listing, check out the Lacoste Garden Centre website. You can also win a $500 Lacoste Garden Centre gift card in the RPSCA’s second annual holiday decorating contest! Visit our website to register.

The legislative agenda in Ottawa has been busy with important pieces of legislation this fall, including our new federal plan to put a price on pollution in order to protect our environment and grow our economy.

The Government of Canada worked with provinces and territories for over two years to help them develop their own carbon-pollution pricing system.

However, as the Government of Manitoba no longer intends to establish a provincial pollution pricing system, the federal system will apply in our province.

Starting in April 2019, the Climate Action Incentive (CAI) will be delivered annually to Manitoba families, beginning right away when they file their tax returns next year. The average household in Manitoba will receive $336 through the CAI. This will give families more money back than what they would pay on the price on pollution.

We need to put a price on carbon pollution to preserve Canada’s immense natural beauty.

If you have any questions about the federal price on pollution, please do not hesitate to contact my constituency office at 204-984-6787 or Terry.Duguid@parl.gc.ca. We would be happy to assist you and listen to your thoughts on how we can protect our environment for our future generations.

Message from Terry Duguid MP for Winnipeg South

River Park South Community Associationwww.rpscommunity.com 3

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On Sept. 15, John Forsyth Park saw a flurry of activity as hundreds of River Park South residents of all ages attended the first annual RPSCA Party in the Park! Guests enjoyed free musical entertainment, a vendor market, a bouncy castle and face-painting, and a barbecue lunch. A big thank you goes out to all of our event sponsors, vendors and volunteers! We already can’t wait for next year’s party!

Read The Lance newspaper’s coverage of the event here.

If you would like to volunteer at next year’s event - or any other RPSCA event - please contact us at riverparksouthcommunity@gmail.com.

River Park South Community Associationwww.rpscommunity.com4

RPSCA Party in the Park a smashing success

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News from the RPSCA

A YEAR IN REVIEWThank you to everyone who has supported the RIver Park South Community Association (RPSCA) in our first year, whether by attending or volunteering at one of our events, joining our public meetings, reading our newsletter or following us on social media! We look forward to continuing to grow our association over the coming years!

Here’s a snapshot of our first year (click on hyperlinks to see more):

December 2017: Holiday decorating contest

March 2018: First newsletter published

May 2018: Community spring clean-up

May 2018: Community safety meeting with the Winnipeg Police Service

June 2018: Community garage sale

June 2018: Second newsletter published

August 2018: Incorporated as a corporation without share capital

September 2018: Third newsletter published

September 2018: Party in the Park

December 2018: Second annual holiday decorating contest

As always, be sure to visit our website for the latest information about what we’re working on. Thank you again for a wonderful first year!

-The RPSCA executive committee (Josée-Anne Le Dorze, David Rheault, James Stefishen, Eva Trachtenberg, Andrea Danelak, Nicole Hacault and Celia Valel-Church)

WELCOME TO OUR NEW SECRETARYIn the last edition of our newsletter, we introduced the faces behind the RPSCA. Please join us in welcoming the newest member of our executive committee, Celia Valel-Church.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.rpscommunity.com

Enter River Park South’s second annual holiday decorating contest!

REGISTER BY DECEMBER 7

Feeling festive?