Community
2012 was another great year living in this great city! It never ceases to amaze me how much there is to see and do in winter, spring, summer or fall.This year I had the great fortune to be able to volunteer at a number of events including the Winnipeg Children's Festival, the Fringe Festival, and the Children's Hospital Book Market at St. Vital Centre. Did you know the Children's Hospital Book Mart was established in 1961 and is the longest running fundraiser in support of the Childrem's Hospital Foundation raising about $6 million in support of childrens health in Manitoba? Speaking of fundraising I was invited to walk the Alzheimer Society's Memory Walk with the staff of HomeInstead Senior Care. I had a great time. Got some walking in, visited with great people and was greeted at the end of the walk with a huge chocolate cupcake and ice-cream! The owner's two very adorable children beat me in raising the most donations.Well done kids and watch out in 2013 as I am starting earlier to raise those donations.
Volunteering with the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre [CFDC] I was at both the MB Provincial Mining Week Exhibition this spring at The Forks and at the MB Mining & Mineral Convention in November. Between shifts at Mining Week I tried to stump the Rock Doc - didn't succeed - panned for gold with Yukon Dan and learned of the history and the important role women have in mining. Both of these events are great hands-on ways to learn about minerals and fossils and have fun at the same time. Hope to see more of you there next year!
In January I visitied the Winnipeg Art Gallery with my Sisters of the Travelling Purse group to see Feast: All About Food Exhibition and the Norman Rockwell Exhibition. I really appreciate the variety of exhibitions the Art Gallery brings to Winnipeg to augment their already impressive permanent collections. Throughout 2012 I attended several art openings, saw the musical Cats - again - as many Fringe plays as I could sqeeze in and remembered to bring some "purse cheese" to go along with the bread supplied at the Winnipeg Wine Festival.
I really enjoyed watching the Aquatica synchro team practise and compete at the Pan-Am Pool. The skill and dedication of these girls and young women is absolutely amazing. And as they refine their 2013 competition routines all I can say is - you go girls!!! At the other end of the age spectrum I had a blast bowling with a seniors team at Polo Park Lanes.
And, out of all the places I visited in 2012 and of all the activities I participated in, my most favourite place has to be the Assiniboine Park and Zoo. The Nature Playground is first class and so much fun... strolling around the "new" Duck Pond and then sipping tea at the Qualico Family Centre and Park Cafe was a perfect way to start many days this summer... the Conservatory is always spectacular and I had the great fortune to officiate at several weddings there this summer, and, of course, walking around the Zoo is always a delightful way to spend a few hours. I am eagerly looking forward to going to the Polar Bear Conservation Centre.
As 2012 ends and a new year begins I want to say a big THANK YOU Winnipeg. Thank you to all the dedicated volunteers I met this past year whose generousity of time enables all these great events to happen. You have each enriched my life in some way. Thank you to my friends for the wonderful gift of friendship. And thank you to my family who have cared and supported me as I live my dream.
