President Bob Antymniuk opened the meeting with a call to Dave Morris to lead us into O Canada and Rotary Grace. The meeting was then handed over to Sergeant Lyle Miller.
Guests introduced were Angela Mathieson (President and CEO Centre Venture Development Corp.), Penny Spence (guest of Brian Campbell), Janet Spence (wife of Brian Campbell).
Rotary Moments
Jack Wilson hoped that all participants and hosts had a great time on Saturday for the ‘Guess who’s coming to dinner’ event. Jack felt that if there was enough interest, there may be another dinner organized for some time in the spring.
Nancy Morris advised that next week’s meeting will be a field trip event to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, 958 Ferry Rd. Wpg. Dinner will be at 6:00pm (pizza) and the tour will begin at 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Jack Wilson will be organizing for the pizza.
Lorraine Forestell announced that the Christmas Dinner tickets are now available for $30/pp and $15/p.child. Please see Magnus for tickets. The dinner is on Dec.11, 2017. Please consider bringing food for the Westgrove Breakfast Program as well as socks for the ‘Feet Fit for the Street’ program.
Nancy Morris reminded anyone interested to please also bring a wrapped gift for the door prize portion of the evening at the Christmas Dinner on Dec.11th.
Elaine Thompson updated regarding our support of Eduardo DeCosta. The report was due Oct 11, 2017 but was delayed until Oct 24, 2017. Eduardo has been asked to make another presentation at the Kenora Rotary Club. Elaine will be driving him out to Kenora for this presentation.
Dave Morris reminded all of The Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Assiniboine Annual Fall Dinner fundraiser has been booked for Breezy Bend Country Club on November 24th, 2017 @ 7:00pm. This dinner has always been well supported by the Charleswood Rotary Club, and the Assiniboine Club looks forward to this support continuing. Tickets are $60 and you will get a $28 tax receipt. There will be a silent auction etc.
Ed Toews advised that the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle fundraising starts on Nov. 18 and goes to Dec. 23rd for us. He has passed around a sign-up sheet. This represents 6 Saturdays in a row and 2 hour shifts.
President Bob Antymniuk had a couple of items to mention:
Mandy and Martin both attended the Rotary Leadership Institute. There will be another on Nov. 25th at the Clarion Hotel.
Friendship Exchange is an international reciprocal exchange program for Rotarians, Rotarian partners and friends of Rotary that allows participants to take turns hosting one another in their homes and clubs. It provides the opportunity to experience other cultures and see the scope of Rotary in other countries. For more information visit www.rotary.org/friendship-exchange or contact: Rtn. Dave Bennet (RC Neepawa) - RFE Chair – District 5550 davidd.bennet@gmail.com 204-476-5686 (MB summertime) 480-671-0015 (AZ - wintertime)
Next board meeting will be on Nov. 20, 2017 at 4:30pm.
John Inglis called Wayne Brewer to the front of the room as well as Ed Thompson. Ed had originally proposed Wayne for membership in the Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Charleswood. John read through the initiation form and presented Wayne his framed Certificate of Membership. Ed Thompson placed the Rotary wheel pin on Wayne’s lapel as well as a second pin that had the Four Way Test printed on it. Ed advised that Wayne is an avid rower. A question was put forward regarding the difference between a paddle and a rowing oar. Wayne quickly advised that a paddle is straight while a rowing oar is curved. A moment of wisdom!
Nancy Morris introduced our guest speaker for the evening.
Angela Mathieson is the President and CEO of CentreVenture Development Corporation (CV), an arms-length city owned agency mandated to provide leadership in the planning, coordination, and implementation of redevelopment projects in downtown Winnipeg. Established 17 years ago, CentreVenture has directly invested in over 140 downtown revitalization projects, leveraging over $800 million in private sector investment. Angela holds a Master’s Degree in City Planning and prior to joining CentreVenture, she was Manitoba’s Secretary to Cabinet for Community Economic Development and Assistant Deputy Minister for Urban Affairs. She’s a passionate Winnipegger and urbanist, and a strong believer in the economic power of healthy central cities.
The CentreVenture Development Corp. was formed in 1999. This came after a long decline in the downtown area of Winnipeg. There had been investment by the public sector over the years but it did not seem to be enough to meet critical mass. In the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s there was development such as the Centennial Centre, Trizac Building, Forks, RBC Convention Centre and Portage Place. At the end of the 1990’s the downtown Eaton’s Building closed after 94 years of operation. This was a devastating blow to downtown Winnipeg. This made people really think about the vacancies downtown and the lack of vibrancy in our downtown. We needed the community and government to invest. There was need for retail and residential construction. Winnipeg’s Mayor at the time, Glen Murray was very passionate about his support for the growth of downtown. He was instrumental in the development of CentreVenture. CentreVenture's staff operates under the guidance of a volunteer, private-sector board of directors. To date there have been 140 downtown projects that CV has been directly invested in.
Why is this so important? A downtown is the ‘image that is presented to the world’ for that city. To be appealing, there should be public amenities, culture and a certain vibrancy. This is what young people want, the Millennials. You need to keep your young people from moving away. CV was started with a $10 million gift as well as surplus properties from the City of Winnipeg. CV acts as a planning agent; public or private to facilitate development. CV also acts as a lending agent; usually in the way of a 2nd mortgage – 50 projects so far. CV will purchase derelict properties in strategic locations and help assemble the land needed for a development project – 20 projects. Housing projects in the downtown area are very important. There needs to be people present 24 hours a day. Not just during working hours. The cost of developing a high-rise residential structure (6+ stories) can be prohibitive compared to low-rise in the suburban areas. This is where incremental tax credits help the developer. The extra cost is rebated back to the developer over a 10-year period.
The development of MTS Centre as well as the tax rebate program has seen a dramatic increase in the number of residential units being developed downtown. In 1990 to 1999 there were 60 new residential units downtown. In 2000 to 2017 there have been 2000 units developed. There are another 1600 in some stage of development. In 1999 it became important to work on the preservation of heritage properties. These types of properties are unmatched anywhere else in Canada. CV has been involved in equity or grants in the land assembly involving 63 heritage properties. This activity has all resulted in $1.2 billion in private sector investment in downtown Winnipeg.
Winnipeg has a very large downtown area. CentreVenture organizes its project activities through a ‘district strategy’ planning approach, recognizing that Winnipeg’s downtown is large and an amalgam of distinct neighbourhoods, with different assets and opportunities that warrant a tailored approach to investment and revitalization.
East Waterfront;
Development started in 2004 with Waterfront Drive. There are 500 new housing units built over the past 14 years. This is the most sought-after housing area in the downtown. A future development is the James Avenue Pumping Station (was for fire suppression in the Exchange area, closed 1986). A Victoria developer is going to convert it to office space but the pumps are designated heritage items. They must remain. So, a floating floor will be constructed that will allow viewing of the original pumps.
SHED;
This would be the central business district of downtown including MTS Centre, RBC Convention Centre, The Met, The Burt. Currently working on street scaping as well as the major development at True North Square. This development will include office, retail and housing. Also, there will be the 5-star Sutton Place Hotel. This is the largest downtown project ever at $400 million. The project will finish in phases with the office tower next year, the housing tower the year after and finally the hotel the year after that. The development at Main and Graham by Artis REIT will be a 40-story tower to include office, condo, parkade, bars and restaurants. It is all about reaching a critical mass of people in the downtown core.
West Exchange District;
West of Main St. that includes the downtown campus of R.R.C.; Duff Roblin Centre, Union Bank-Culinary /Hospitality, and the Innovation Centre next year.
Market Lands; The next area to focus on that includes the old Public Safety building as well as the associated parkade. In 1894 the land was sold to the City of Winnipeg for $600 with the attached caveat that the land must be used for a public market. This was developed as the first public market in Winnipeg. It was also the first property to be taxed by the City of Winnipeg. The market was actually governed by a ‘Committee of Council’, for who got a stall, prices etc. This is a 2.5 acre site and will be developed with retail and residential.
Q/A
Nancy Morris asked about downtown parking, specifically the number of loading zones. A. Last year the city looked at where the loading zones were and is working on adjusting the number as to true need. There is also a need to start developing parkades. Housing projects with parkades as part of the design. Street parking needs to turn over quicker. The city is working on that as well.
Lyle Miller questioned regarding opening of Portage and Main to pedestrian traffic. A. CV is in favor of opening the corner to pedestrians in an incremental way. Right now, walking patterns downtown avoid Portage and Main. You need to have above ground foot traffic to reach a critical mass position.
Ed Thompson thanked Angela for her informative presentation. She was advised that a donation in her name would be made to ShelterBox.
Marta Lopez bakes up to 100 items a day in a small clay oven. Higinia Reyes owns a corn mill. Remigia Dominguez is the head of a weaving co-op. All of these women live in rural Honduras and run their own businesses with the support of loans provided by the Adelante Foundation and Rotary International.
The rural villages of the Lenca Corridor in the western highlands of Honduras are home to some of the poorest indigenous people in the country. This is where the Adelante Foundation, a microlender, finds poor women who want to become self-sufficient business owners.
Adelante collaborates, through Rotary's global grants, with the Rotary Club of Real de Minas-Tegucigalpa (Honduras), the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps (California, USA), and several other clubs from District 5340 (California, USA). With the help of Rotary, Adelante has been able to provide business training and 600 loans to its clients. The partnership continues to grow in the departments of Intibucá and La Paz.
"Not only did [Rotary's] support enable us to provide loans, [it] also went towards the development of educational materials and other costs associated with the biweekly education program that we provide to our clients," says Gina Cappuccitti, a social impact analyst at Adelante.
Adelante takes a unique approach to microcredit loans. Rather than lending to individuals, it offers noncollateralized group loans. Four to six women take out a loan together, and if one member cannot make a payment, the others in her group cover the shortfall. Group meetings and assemblies led by credit officers foster a tightknit community that provides mutual support and encouragement. The credit officers, who also provide business advice and training, are often from the same region as their clients, and they work to build good relationships with the borrowers.
"The community now has access to badly needed products these new businesses provide, plus employment opportunities when the businesses grow," says Win Cox, international service chair of the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps. "And as repaid loans continue to be reissued, the money Rotary invested in this region will have a transformative impact in these communities and women's lives for years to come."
Cappuccitti says that Adelante staff sees its clients as female entrepreneurs who have few opportunities rather than labeling them as poor.
"We've recognized that prior to joining, the women we work with have not received the opportunities needed to fully realize their potential," she says. "And that opportunity, and the confidence that we place in them, is what makes the difference for so many of our borrowers throughout Honduras."
Cox, who has traveled to Honduras to meet with Adelante's staff and clients, says it has been both inspiring and humbling to see that the Lenca women can start sustainable businesses with as little as $50 each.
Cox's Rotary club has supported a number of microcredit projects, but this global grant project is the largest, and that's because of Adelante's verifiable results and willingness to work closely with both host and international clubs.
"Adelante has proven to be an excellent partner -- cooperative, credible, fiscally sound, culturally sensitive, and extremely knowledgeable about how to administer a microloan program in almost inaccessible areas of Honduras," Cox adds.
We are once again helping out the Salvation Army with their annual Christmas Kettle Campaign. We will be manning the kettle at the liquor store at Charleswood Centre, 3900 Grant Avenue each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. atarting November 18th. If you'd like to help by filling one of the available spots, or be put on the spares list, please contact Ed Toews.
Magnus and Maureen Johnson are celebrating their 55th Wedding Anniversary.
Happy Bucks
President Bob Antymniuk was very happy to make note of a win by the Roughriders on the weekend. He felt that Winnipeg should not be overly sure of a home hosting position for the West semifinal game on Nov. 12th.
Jim Forestell gave a big thank you to Leslie and Derek for their hosting duties as part of the ‘Guess who’s coming to dinner’ event. They hosted Jim and Lorraine, Bob and Joanne Eilers, Mandy Kwasnika
Magnus was happy to have been hosted by Ed and Elaine Thompson for the dinner event. Also present were Maureen Johnson, Peter Tonge and Nancy Hansen, Lyle and Norine Miller. A special thanks to Jack Wilson for organizing the dinner event.
Gord Zacharias thanked Paul and Catherine for their hosting duties for the dinner. Additional guests at their house were Ken and Debbie Buckingham, Gertrude Hambira, Chippo and Allen Luvalie.
Nancy Morris gave thanks to Martin Labossiere and Erin for hosting their group for an excellent evening. Additional guests included Dave Morris, Lloyd Talbot, John and Audry Inglis.
Nancy Morris also had a sad buck for the heavy rainfall in the Ottawa area that managed to flow into her daughter’s basement on the weekend.
Brian Campbell is happy that his wife Janet’s mother, Penny, is still considering moving to Winnipeg.
Glenda Werbowski was wanting to make sure that everyone new that she was overjoyed with recently becoming a great-grandmother.
50/50
Number 225 was pulled by our guest Angela Mathieson. Dave Morris held the potential winning stub. He rolled the marbles in the sack but no blue marble tonight.
Fines
Late – Leslie and Greg
Phone ring tone (Sarge suspected Gordon Lightfoot??)- Ed Thompson
Sarge wanted his dime – Nancy Morris, she continued to hand Sarge coins until he walked away!
Jokes made at the expense of the Sarge- ‘All dressed up for Halloween’ – John Inglis
John Inglis called Wayne Brewer to the front of the room as well as Ed Thompson. Ed had originally proposed Wayne for membership in the Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Charleswood. John read through the initiation form and presented Wayne his framed Certificate of Membership. Ed Thompson placed the Rotary wheel pin on Wayne’s lapel as well as a second pin that had the Four Way Test printed on it. Ed advised that Wayne is an avid rower. A question was put forward regarding the difference between a paddle and a rowing oar. Wayne quickly advised that a paddle is straight while a rowing oar is curved. A moment of wisdom!