Manitoba Heroes |
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Manitoba's heroes; the well known and the unsung; those who deserve recognition for their efforts to help their fellow man, their province and country.
Created by the Rempel Group. www.rempelgroup.com. Where this "live life on purpose" approach to life and living is the core value we seek in our clients. Thanks for reading and I welcome your comments. Comment Bob Rempel 
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Thursday, November 27, 2003
Life insurance as a planning tool No solution fits all situations Arthur Drache Financial Post Wednesday, November 26, 2003 You may have seen the ad on television. A couple getting on in years is meeting with a financial adviser and the topic seems to be how to deal with the family cottage. After a comment or two which suggests that simply leaving the cottage to the kids will result in a big tax hit, the adviser raises the question of taking out life insurance to pay the tax bill. "Who will pay the premiums," the gentleman asks. "Why the kids, of course," is the answer, with some satisfied looks all around. I happened to see this ad while sitting with some family members and one of the younger ones whose family owns a cottage and has four kids suggested that as a tax planner I probably had a better answer than buying life insurance. I told him that I was a great believer in the use of life insurance as a part of estate planning, in the proper situation. And, I said, this is probably a classic example. Over the years I have advised scores of families on how to deal with cottages. Leaving a cottage to kids seems to be a much more important and emotional issue than is how to deal with the family home. Over the years I have suggested the use of splitting the interest in the cottage between a life interest (for the parents) and a remainder interest for the kids. The Ministry of Finance, a decade or so ago, found that such an interesting technique that it was legislated away. Since that time we have used trusts, corporations and non-share companies to try to pass the cottage to the next generation. Each of these techniques involves costs, some tax payable (either up front or down the line) and a high level of complexity. In the end, you don't have to be an insurance salesman to come up with the idea that the simplest approach is to deal with the cottage as you see fit, leaving it to the kids by will, and having insurance in place to pay the tax bite. Of course, there is never a one size fits all solution. Obviously, if the potential capital gain on the transfer of the cottage is small because it has not increased in value, it may not be necessary to take any planning steps. Second, if it looks like the kids are not interested in the cottage, then the simple solution is to sell it. Of course, insurance premiums may be prohibitive or the owner may be uninsurable. If this is the case, one thing to look at is "second to die" insurance where the death benefit comes only after the second parent dies, the second one perhaps being a better risk than the first. And usually this form of insurance is significantly cheaper than stand alone policies. Many tax planners who are lawyers and accountants have a tendency to find "solutions" to estate planning problems which do not utilize life insurance. And of course there are many, many situations where good planning will significantly reduce or even eliminate tax liabilities. But that having been said, life insurance is simple to use and does the job without undue complications. The death benefit is tax-free and CCRA is never going to raise a question about planning where the upshot of the plan is that the full tax liability is paid in full out of the insurance proceeds. This is not to say that the taking out of life insurance is something which requires no planning. There are always better ways and poorer ways to handle these transactions. And of course, if we were acting for the kids who the ad says are going to pay the premiums, we might want to know what guarantees they will have that the parents will follow through and leave them the cottage. Maybe there will be a second instalment of the ad. Arthur Drache, QC, is a partner in the Ottawa law firm of Drache Buchmayer LLP.; adrache@drache.com © Copyright 2003 National Post National Post Story Link
Is this the year for Gift Certificates? My friends are starting to talk about Christmas. Who is giving what to whom? How much? What to do for my two teenage daughters? My anxiety level is starting to rise. This is a link to a program that I'm involved with that can help with gift certificates for premium seating for the best upcoming concerts or theatre, nba and ncaa basketball, nhl hockey, nfl and ncaa hockey and nascar events. Give it a look if you're starting to think ahead like I am. Gift Certificates for Event Tickets Easy to scan their list of available events. All the hot tickets. (standard disclaimer re affiliation) Recently I had the experience of having my whole car and luggage searched by Canada Customs officials at Emerson. Maybe we appeared too shifty, maybe we looked like we might have bought $5 more than our 24 limit of $100. $50 each per person. The customs officer said to us, "stand in front of the car we're we can see you". I was waiting for the "keep your hands on the hood at all times" line next. In the end, customs officials did their job and we're probably written up somewhere as an example of a successful search and how to spot lawbreakers. Our purchases were below the limit as we stated, yet they found we had 1 small bottle of Aleve painkiller in our possession (an old sports injury) which we had bought in the US over the counter. We learned this product cannot be brought into Canada because it needs to be provided by prescription. There may be many others. We've learned. Ignorance is no defence. Don't be an "aleve lawbreaker". Handing Links for People and Goods Entering or Returning To Canada Sell Yourself With The Right Cover Letter Life is all about selling ourselves, our services or products. This is a handly refresher for job/career application cover letters but can be applied almost universally to other situations we face daily. Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Was looking at the how-to's of keeping your existing cell phone # when changing to a new provider. Here's some information at the Amazon along with a very nice phone, the Sony Ericsson T610. Look part way down the page to Special Offer: keep your existing phone #. Phone offer includes free Bluetooth headset as well I noticed. (standard disclaimer) Keep Existing Phone Number Yes we obviously spent some time on the Associates pages over at Amazon this am. You can click the graphic below to check whether the details of Amazon's credit card work for you. Disclaimer: Our associate id is contained in the linking. Here's a link to the Amazon Gift Store. Amazon.com Gifts Store! Just watch any of that regifting. Small Disclaimer: Yes we have to pay for our costs in various ways so you'll find our id in the link. Friday, October 17, 2003
Popular Event Tickets Sports tickets | Concert tickets | Theater tickets - Check here for Redskins tickets | Super Bowl tickets | Aerosmith tickets | Mamma Mia tickets | Lion King tickets | World Series tickets and more. They specialize in sold out events and provide FREE FedEx shipping* on orders over $299. Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Worth Pondering June 25/03 brought to you by the Rempel Group "Retire Right Plans" "Every generation thinks it has the answers, and every generation is humbled by nature." Philip Lubin "If only God would give me a clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank." Woody Allen Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Quotes For the Day: The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone. (Harriet Beecher Stowe) Perseverance is not a long race. It is many short races one after another. (Walter Elliott) Saturday, April 19, 2003
Wednesday, April 02, 2003
Sunday, March 30, 2003
from the "I get all my best material from the sports pages department" Winnipeg Free Press, C3, March 30/03 Sports Illustrated asked Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, Olympic figure skating champions, who have been dating for three years, if they ever get turned on while skating. "You know what I'm thinking about?" Pelletier answered. "I'm thinking about staying vertical, and I'm not talking about the little guy." Tiger Woods won the Bay Hill Invitational by 11 strokes despite getting sick on the final day from bad pasta prepared by his Swedish girlfriend, Elin Nordegren. Says Ron Rapoport of the Chicago Sun Times: "He wants her to cook, too?" and this golf widow funny: Woman whose husband has just died goes into the local newspaper office to get an obituary published. The obt editor informs her there is a charge of 50 cents a word. She reflects and says, "Make it read, 'Bob Smith died.' " Amused at the woman's thrift, the editor tells her there is a seven-word minimum. After thinking it over, she says, 'Let it read, 'Bob Smith died. Golf clubs for sale'." Wednesday, March 26, 2003
There are now about 5 great detailed articles on putting (free-no gotcha's) available at Strictlysports.com If you want to lower your golf score this summer, like I was able to lower mine, I'd recommend you read these articles. Signup at the site for an email that tells you how to download articles. Lower Your Golf Score Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Online Dating-Worth A Try? I say yes from personal experience and the comments of others. We've got a new site that will always have fresh content about online dating, dating in general, how to's re a fabulous love life and romance, and all things related. Aimed at those starting over at 40 or 50 but we'll keep it relevant to all singles. Yes it helps if you enjoy some aspect of sports and recreation as well. It's at Fabulous love life....or just a few dates! Have You Got Match? Take This Quick Search Test. Friday, March 14, 2003
Marketplace: Dating: Meeting Beautiful Women System You can tell not just golf and baseball are on my mind as spring approaches Meet Beautiful Women System Thursday, March 13, 2003
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
Sunday, March 09, 2003
Ebay Auctions Page We aim to become on of the largest online sellers of sports and sports related (broadly defined) items over the next 3 years. We have a great auction name and related web domain. Other plans are in place. We will collaborate with most anyone to realize maximum value for their wholesale stock or just a few items. Take a moment and drop us a note (Send me mail)with info on the kinds of items you have in your control and we'll tell you about our compensation or purchase plans. Can new drugs help you get past that afternoon body crash. Or help you feel as well with 6 hours as you would with 8 hours, the minimum recommended for our bodies. Interesting read about the effects of modafinil, a drug now used for narcolepsy. Article Link Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Birthdays: Bobby Riggs (1918) Monte Irvin (1919) Herb Elliott (1938) Kurt Rambis (1958) Paul 0'Neill (1963) Don Jajkowski (1964) Events: 1924: Marie Boyd makes only two foul shots for Lonaconing (Maryland) Central High against Cumberland and Ursuline Academy, but gets 77 field goals for a high school girls record of 156 points. Total game score: 162-3! 1971: Boston Bruins set an NHL record with three goals in just 20 seconds against Vancouver Canucks. Scorers: John Bucyk, Ed Westfall and Ted Green. (Check up on Billy Mosienko, Winnipeg's own, for one person scoring record) Tuesday, June 04, 2002
Sunday, December 31, 2000
We lead the country in generousity Manitoba is the most generous province But Canadians not as generous as Americans
Our donours lead the country. A great story that exemplifies our unmatched generous spirit Manitoba is the most generous province But Canadians not as generous as Americans
Both the film company and the "pioneers" get my hero nomination Sick pioneer visits modern day hospital
This edited compilation is from the Winnipeg Free Press Sun, Dec 31, 2000 MANITOBA MALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: 1. Corey Koskie: He became the first Canadian in more than 60 years to have back-to-back .300 seasons in his first two years in the majors. 2. Dave Donaldson: Early in the 2000 CFL season, he was almost a 60-minute man. A local kid who exemplified the turnaround of the Bombers franchise. 3. Troy Westwood: At the start of the season, the kicker from Selkirk couldn't buy a big field goal, but at the end, he booted the Bombers into the Eastern Final. 4. Glen Hnatiuk: He won enough money, $482,744, to keep his PGA Tour card and did it with the class and poise that has always made him a true professional. 5. Eddie Belfour: Despite a little drunken rampage in a Dallas hotel, Belfour remained hockey's most consistent shutout artist. 6. Todd MacCulloch: He played in the NBA's All-Star Rookie game and if he'd played more, Canada would have won a silver medal in Sydney. 7. Jim Fisher: In August, he was just another ex-speedskater-turned-cyclist. In September, his 11th-place finish in Sydney has set him up for a run at a medal in Athens in 2004. 8. Mike LeClerc: Look at the top of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks scoring list and you'll see Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne and, yes, Winnipeg's Mike LeClerc. 9. Todd Kabel: The McCreary jockey rode 11 stakes winners including the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes. 10. Theoren Fleury: After a dreadful -- by his standards -- season in 1999-2000, the little guy from Russell is now among the NHL's scoring leaders again. His 23 goals are best in the NHL. MANITOBA FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: 1. Dominique Bosshart: The bronze medal winner in the women's taekwondo at the Olympics, she also won her sixth straight Canadian championship in 2000. 2. Kelly Stefanyshyn: Although she was eighth in the 200-metre backstroke at Sydney, 10th in the 100-metre back and sixth in the 4 X 100-metre medley relay, she won three gold medals in the 200-back during the World Cup season. 3. Jennifer Botterill: Member of Canada's world champion women's hockey team, the Harvard sophomore was also ECAC player of the Year, Ivy League player of the year and finalist for NCAA player of the year. 4. Sami Jo Small: Canada's national hockey team goaltender is still playing professionally in Brampton and still loving every minute of the game. 5. Tanya Dubnicoff: She finished eighth in the track cycling sprint and the time trial at the Olympics, but she did it without the help of steroids. Guaranteed, none of the medal winners got to the podium without help. 6. Heather and Sandy Newsham: Manitoba's softball superstars pitched their way into Canada's Olympic lineup and although the hard-luck Canadians didn't fare well in Sydney, the Newsham sisters were among the best we sent into international battle. 7. Connie Laliberte: She lost the national championship, but remained the class of Manitoba women's curling. The Ice Queen has retired but she's still the Queen. 8. Jo-Anne Lindsay: An ageless golfing great, she just gets better every year. Won so often, nobody else had a chance. 9. Kirby Cote: Winnipeg blind swimmer set world records and won gold in the 100-metre breaststroke and 200-metre IM at the Paralympics. 10. Kara Solmundson: Living proof that if you never quit, you can get to the top. She went $60,000 in debt in 2000 in order to make the Olympic team. Her journey was one of the most incredible in Canadian sports history. MALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: 1. Tiger Woods: He won more money and more tournaments than anyone in history. And played with a flair that few have ever had. 2. Kurt Warner: Came out of NFL Europe and the Arena League to lead the St. Louis Rams to Super Bowl XXXIV with a 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans. 3. Mario Lemieux: His comeback on Dec. 27, stirred hockey interest like no other recent on-ice event. 4. Jack Nicklaus: He came to Winnipeg in July and made the AT&T Senior Classic the most exciting local event of the summer. 5. Khari Jones: The 29-year-old Bomber quarterback took over at mid-season and led the local football team back to the playoffs. 6. Vince Carter: The Raptors' superstar No. 2 guard scored so many points in so many wonderful ways that he made basketball a Canadian national sport. 7. Steve Nash: The slick point-guard of the revitalized Dallas Mavericks, nearly won Canada an Olympic basketball medal. All by himself. 8. Chris Pronger: The kid from Fort Frances, Ont. who plays defence for the St. Louis Blues might just be the best player in the National Hockey League. 9. Daniel Igali: He won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the Sydney Olympics and then charmed a nation with his smile. 10. Simon Whitfield: The triathlete was Canada's first gold medallist in Sydney. He was just as surprised as everyone else. FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: 1. Lorie Kane: She was Canada's best. The 36-year-old LPGA Tour had a breakthrough year and learned how to win. 2. Marion Jones: America's best. She won three golds and two bronze medals in Sydney and overcame her husband's steroid use along the way. 3. Venus Williams: The best female tennis player in the world won two Olympic gold medals and almost won every match she played in 2000. 4. Hayley Wickenheiser: She plays hockey and softball with equal skill and equal flair. 5. Cathy Freeman: The Australian aboriginal sprinter won gold in the women's 400-metres and was the Queen of the 2000 Olympics. 6. Anna Kournikova: Why? Just because. MANITOBA TEAMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Reached the playoffs for the first time since 1996. After years of terrible football and even more devastating off-field mistakes, the Bombers came back in a big way. 2. Winnipeg Goldeyes: Still the fan favourites in Manitoba. The Fish lost in the first round of the playoffs but still drew more than 260,000 spectators to CanWest Global Park. Their 34 sellouts made them as popular as any single team in Manitoba history. 3. Lucania: Beat British Columbia 3-0 in Saskatoon to give Manitoba its first Canadian senior men's soccer title in 13 years. EVENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2000: 1. The revitalization of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Given up for dead last December, the Bombers restructured their executive and hired Lyle Bauer to run the club. Coach Dave Ritchie and player personnel expert Brendan Taman put together a solid young club and made the playoffs. The Bombers' future looks bright for the first time in a decade. 2. The AT&T Canada Senior Open: If there can be perfection on the links, this was it. In August, Bob Kennedy and his merry band of volunteers welcomed Jack Nicklaus and the Senior PGA Tour to St. Charles and when they left on Aug. 13, the city had witnessed one of the most outstanding local golf extravaganzas in the annals of the game. 3. The Sydney Olympics: It was, without fear of argument, the Drug Olympics. Still, the people who built the facilities and then put on the events, were to be commended for the best Olympic Games "ever." And a record 15 Manitobans were a part of it. 4. The play of Brian Duva: He's the little guy in the middle of the Winnipeg Goldeyes' infield and he might not be back next year, but if indeed, he calls it quits, Duva will have left a legacy. Our "Mr. Baseball" now owns the Northern League records for stolen bases, hits and doubles in a career. If he returns, he'll just make those records more impressive. 5. Canada's national men's soccer team wins the Gold Cup: Head coach Holger Osieck made a bad soccer program into a legitimate soccer program with a 2-0 victory over heavily favoured Colombia at the Gold Cup in Los Angeles. Canada won the Cup and Holger's Heroes became a national story. 6. The return of Mario Lemieux: Hockey needed a shot in the arm and the return of No. 66 on Dec. 27, delivered. And when he had a goal and two assists in his first game, the game sizzled again. LOCAL SPORTSMEN OF THE YEAR: These are the people who did so much off the field to give Winnipeg a Year in Sport. . . 1. David Asper: He took the reins as chairman of the Blue Bombers, hired the new president and CEO, let the football experts do what they needed to do and then just kept an eye on the bottom line. The Bombers haven't turned the corner yet, but Asper has the franchise closer to fiscal responsibility than it's been in two decades. 2. Sam Katz: The Goldeyes fill CanWest Global Park and Katz still believes in one unimpeachable marketing theme: "We provide affordable family entertainment." 3. Mark Chipman: He keeps footing the bill for minor pro hockey in a city that still misses the Jets. 4. Harvey Warner/Sharon Gulyas/Darren Dunn: The folks who run Assiniboia Downs just keep getting it right. It's small-market track that provides better service than Belmont, Santa Anita and Hollywood Park combined. Chef Erin Deller serves up the best buffet in town. 5. Lyle Bauer: A self-described street-fighter, he handled the day-to-day activities of the Blue Bombers with class and aplomb. Next to Katz, he's the most accessible sports executive in the city. 6. Aubrey Ferris: He retired at the end of 2000 and went out with his head high and his University of Winnipeg athletic department in good hands. He is a breath of fresh air who will be missed. 7. Brian Dobie: He never stopped working and despite all the critics who didn't think an ex-high school coach could make the University of Manitoba football program successful, he knew differently. 8. Jeff Hnatiuk: Manitoba's director of sport is as smooth and classy as his successful golfing brother. 'Natch gets it. 9. Earl Barish: Nobody knows why he does it, but he's kept the Cyclone alive all by himself. 10. Glen Murray: Nearly a decade ago, the mayor screwed up on the Jets. He's doing everything he can to make it up. 11. James Murphy: He finally got into the CFL Hall of Fame and it looked good on him. He deserved to be admitted years ago. 12. Dale Hawerchuk: He was snubbed by the Hockey Hall of Fame (See Losers of the Year), but his big night at the Arena was one of the highlights of the year.
Just here because he was my youthful hero and as it seem now, many Canadian's hero. "The woods are lovely, dark and deep. He has kept his promise and earned his sleep. Je t'aime, Papa." -- Justin Trudeau says farewell to his father for his family, and for the nation.
Business Stories: A germ of an idea pays off City firm turns antibacterial spray into a million-dollar opportunity Thu, Dec 28, 2000 By Murray McNeill HOWARD Hughes would have loved these guys. Winnipeg entrepreneurs Stacey Godenir and Jeremy Charney have developed a convenient antibacterial spray that kills 99.9 per cent of germs a person can come in contract with on things like doorknobs, telephone receivers, faucets and toilets. The co-founders of Meridian Health Inc., believe their Spectrum Antibacterial Mist will appeal not only to germ-haters like Hughes, the late billionaire, but to ordinary consumers as well. "I think what's happened in the last five years is that people have become more aware of how they catch colds or flus," Godenir said. "And I think people also have become less tolerant of being sick, both in the workplace and with their children." He noted that in the last few years the retail market has been inundated with anti-germ products, everything from disinfectant sprays to antibacterial soaps. The reason is simple -- the public demands them. "We have even been told this by store buyers. They've told us, 'We would not have even looked at this product five or six years ago, but now our customers are asking for it.' " What sets Spectrum Mist apart from all those other disinfenctants on the market, according to Godenir, is its size -- a one-ounce spray bottle that fits inside a pocket or purse. "We saw a niche there," he said. "There was nothing like a Lysol or a Clorox that people could carry on their person." Charney and Godenir, who also owns and operates his own financial services firm (Belgrath Financial Services), came up with the idea for Spectrum Antibacterial Mist about two years ago, after Godenir's wife complained that she was afraid to let their three young daughters use public washrooms because most of them were so unsanitary. They thought the perfect solution would be an antibacterial spray in a bottle that's small enough to fit in a pocket or purse. The first thing they did was obtain licensing rights to a disinfectant that a U.S. company had been selling commercially for use in places like virology labs. After obtaining federal approval to sell the product to the public, both in Canada and the U.S., they contracted a Montreal firm to make the one-ounce spray bottles and rented a 1,500-square-foot building in Charleswood, where they and a support staff of two formulate, bottle and package the antibacterial mist. Meridian Health landed its first sale last summer. Since then, a number of Canadian retailers have started carrying Spectrum Mist, including Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmasave and London Drugs. Wal-Mart Canada also has agreed to begin selling it in February, Godenir added. Meridian Health is also gaining the attention of U.S. retailers after its product made waves at a drug store trade show this year and at a giant convenience store trade show in October in New Orleans. "Spectrum Mist was listed as one of the cool new products of the show," Godenir said, "and that definitely helped catch people's attention." Godenir said a Michigan-based merchandising chain recently began carrying the product in its 147 stores throughout the U.S. Midwest, and early in the new year he'll be meeting with buyers from K-Mart and the two largest drug store chains in the U.S. As well, Meridian Health has hired five teams of U.S. brokers to contact the distributors for all the other major U.S. drug and mass merchandising chains and Godenir will be trying to set up meetings with the distributors for most of the major U.S. convenience store chains. "We have a lot of irons in the fire," he said. "But now we're starting to see some really big players coming to the table with us and it's very exciting." In anticipation of landing new orders -- the company is projecting sales of about $1 million for 2001 -- Godenir said Meridian Health will soon be hiring two more people to work in its Charleswood plant. He said the company would not have been able to attend the New Orleans trade show were it not for the advice and financial assistance it received from the provincial Department of Industry, Trade and Mines. Bill Ratcliffe, a senior manager in the department, said Meridian was one of five Manitoba companies that received help from the department to attend the New Orleans trade show. He said the department viewed the show as "a tremendous opportunity" for small and medium-sized firms to gain American exposure.
This is from the Winnipg Free Press on the date noted. (Because the FP does not include a separate link for main stories, and this story bears repeating many times over, we have posted it here in its entirety for a short time. (BR) http://www.winnipegfreepress.com Sunday, December 31, 2000 Aspers made news again and... Family doled out millions, saved Bombers, expanded empire Sun, Dec 31, 2000 By Carol Sanders WHETHER it was building a media empire, curing an ailing CFL franchise or giving away millions in Manitoba, the Asper family dominated headlines in 2000 and is the Free Press local newsmaker of the year. "They've become Canada's dominant media owners in one truly eventful year," said city editor Steve Pona. "That's an accomplishment that can't be overstated. "At the same time, the family is changing the philanthropic landscape in Winnipeg by continuing to open their wallets for the good of the community." Leonard is in charge of CanWest, David is at the helm of the Bombers and Gail is taking over as CEO of the family's good works division. Overseeing it all is the family patriarch, Izzy, who still has a hand in the business interests and charitable causes. "Whether it was donating millions to charity or snapping up media outlets, we couldn't keep Asper off Page 1 this year," said night news editor Doug Speirs, one of the senior Free Press editors who selected this year's newsmaker of the year. "It was nice to see a mover and shaker on the national scene who is such an unapologetic booster of his home town," Speirs said. "He became Canada's media boss and turned Winnipeg into the media centre of Canada," said deputy editor Pat Flynn. "As well, his philanthropy -- most recently millions to the University of Manitoba -- makes him the obvious choice." Business editor Julian Rachey noted that Asper's children are taking the reins from their father. "The whole family is involved." Between Izzy and his three children, the Asper name was in the news more than 366 times in 2000, a search of the Free Press electronic library found. In a $3.5-billion deal in the fall, CanWest Global Communications Corp. -- with Leonard Asper at the helm as CEO and president -- acquired 136 papers, 85 magazines and four Web sites from Hollinger Inc. In the summer, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved CanWest's acquisition of eight Canadian TV stations from WIC Western International Communications. Winnipeg Football Club chairman David Asper -- who calls himself just a fan -- has been credited with helping to save the team. Last December, the Blue Bombers were in last place in the CFL, with a $5.3-million debt after suffering a loss of $1.5 million on operations in 1999. After Asper and his board won a power struggle with Winnipeg Enterprises Corp., the Bombers faced a much smaller financial loss -- and coincidentally or not, also managed to save face on the field, earning a playoff berth for the first time in four years. Gail Asper, corporate secretary for CanWest Global, co-chairs Partners in the Park, an organization that was instrumental in hosting this year's Pooh Friendship Day at Assiniboine Park. She's also in charge of the Asper Foundation, the family's philanthropic wing. In November, she supported a successful bid to obtain the only original painting of Winnie the Pooh by the illustrator of the A.A. Milne books. The painting is destined to be the centrepiece of a museum dedicated to the bear named after Winnipeg and its connection to the city. Gail is a booster of the arts community and sits on the board overseeing the Manitoba Arts Stabilization Program, a privately and publicly funded program to help non-profit creative people develop sound business practices. © 2000 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved.
Weblog Started December 31, 2000. Our Salute To Manitobans. Those of us who live here on purpose and who live life on purpose. Health and prosperity wishes in 2001! Bob Rempel |
