President Cathy Skene opened the meeting with the club's land acknowledgement and the singing of O'Canada led by Dave Morris.

Chair Announcements

At the last board meeting, the board ratified the nominating committee's person for president-elect and was happy to announce that person is president-elect Leanne!

President Cathy introduced a question…”A few of you have asked when we will have someone from the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre speak to us again?”. The program committee has that on their radar, but in the meantime, Scott Oake is launching his book, “For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss and Hope”, January 21st night at McNally Robinson. The free event was at 7 pm, and Scott was in conversation with Shelagh Rogers. When she went to mark this on her calendar she was disappointed to realize that she had another commitment that she could not get out of. Cathy asked if anyone does attend, please tell her about it. She may have been able to make it if her meeting ended earlier to snag an autographed copy of the book. If you read Brent Bellamy’s column in Monday’s Winnipeg Free Press, he told us what we already know. Urban forests save lives! Please share this information with your network.

Sarge Jack introduced our guests including Brian as guest of Bob Ehlers, Sonja, Jeannie, Helly, Kathy and Ryan

Mandy shared a testimonial update from one of the families we supported. I received this email yesterday saying, this is one of the families that we sent a bed to because we didn't have furniture in the store to meet her needs. So we sent her an IKEA bed and she said, “I just wanted to say thank you so much for the bed. It's beautiful. I still can't believe it. It was like a Christmas miracle for my family. We slept on a mattress for nine months but now, thanks to you, our apartment feels a little bit like home. Thank you. So, I just wanted to part with that.”

Cathy introduced Bernard.

Introduction and Early Life

Bernard introduced himself as Oluwadaisifunmi Akinyemi, which means "God preserved him for me." Born on December 2, 1977, in Ondo State, Nigeria, he hails from the southwestern part of the country. Ondo State, his place of origin, is rich in culture and history. Bernard lived there for 30 years before moving to Lagos State, a densely populated area with over 27 million residents.

Education and Career

Bernard holds a Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering. His career began at Iron Products Industries Limited, a steel fabrication company specializing in oil and gas structures. Over time, he shifted his focus to equipment maintenance. During his studies, Bernard completed a one-year industrial attachment with Nigeria Telecommunication Company in Owo Ondo State, gaining experience in telecommunications.

Life in Ondo and Lagos

Raised in Akoko South East, Ondo State, Bernard grew up in a farming community where he learned to cultivate crops like cocoa, plantains, tubers and bananas. He is also an experienced hunter, a common practice in his region. After spending 15 years in Lagos, he became familiar with the challenges and opportunities of urban life, including the rapid urbanization of Lagos and its reliance on nearby Ondo for expansion.

Family and Personal Life

Bernard is married to Francisca, and they have four children: Precious, Goodnews, Divine and Flourish who was born in Canada. He values family deeply and embraces both his Nigerian heritage and his new experiences in Canada. His traditional marriage ceremony reflects his love for cultural attire and customs.

Current Work and Aspirations

Currently, Bernard works as an Equipment Service Representative at Amcor, an international company specializing in flexible packaging for the food industry. His role involves working with various industries and traveling for assignments, including a trip to Quebec. He continues to adapt and thrive in his profession while maintaining connections to his roots.

Insights on Nigeria

Bernard highlighted the wealth of natural resources in Nigeria, including oil, gas, and bitumen, which remain untapped due to corruption and governance issues. He also shared cultural landmarks like Idanre Hill in Ondo State, known for its mystical footprint that adjusts to the size of any foot.

Building Community

Since moving to Manitoba, Canada, Bernard has actively engaged with his community. He values meeting people, learning about their backgrounds, and fostering connections. His first experience in Manitoba included visiting Carman and attending Oasis Community Church, where he formed meaningful friendships and volunteered in facilities management and production department.

Exploring Manitoba and Building Connections

Bernard shared his passion for exploring Manitoba, recounting his visits to various places like Winkler, Steinbach, Selkirk, Brandon, and the serene Lake Manitoba. He enjoys connecting with people wherever he goes, recalling a memorable experience in Matlock where he met a new friend who generously gave him 30 pounds of fish, including walleye, which he tried for the first time and found delicious.

Professional Growth and Resilience

Bernard discussed his early career at Iron Product Industry, a Lebanese-owned steel company, where he managed 75 generators single-handedly, working long hours without overtime pay. Despite challenges, this experience taught him discipline and dedication, traits that later helped him secure his current job after enduring 65 interviews. His persistence is inspired by figures like Thomas Edison, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in achieving success.

Certifications and Career Achievements

Bernard has earned several certifications, including PMP and membership in professional bodies like Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (CTTAM). His engineering expertise extends to transformer installation and other technical projects, both in Nigeria and Canada. He also shared his pride in contributing to societal development, citing his involvement in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a mandatory one-year service in Nigeria designed to foster national unity.

Community Development Projects

During his NYSC service in Kwara State, Bernard led a community development project, installing a protective transformer feeder pillar in a camp. He successfully sourced funding and completed the project, earning recognition as the best youth corps member of his cohort. He emphasized the importance of overcoming obstacles and creating impactful change through determination and resourcefulness.

Adventures in Nigeria

Bernard reminisced about adventures in Nigeria, including visits to the Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls and Ikogosi Warm Springs. Erin-Ijesha features seven cascading waterfalls and is especially stunning during the dry season. Ikogosi is known for its unique meeting point of warm and cold springs, a natural marvel that has become a popular tourist destination.

Hobbies and Interests

Bernard enjoys reading, traveling, driving, and playing football—a favorite pastime in Africa and Europe that fosters camaraderie. Although Canada’s weather contrasts with Nigeria’s tropical climate, Bernard appreciates the change, adapting to the challenges of winter driving while cherishing the memories of sleeping outdoors during Nigeria’s warm nights.

Iain introduced Sonja and Helle.

It's my pleasure to welcome you all this evening. A special welcome goes to our distinguished guest, Sonja Lundström, President of the Swedish Cultural Association of Manitoba. Sonja and I first connected in November at the Assiniboine Forest, shortly after the completion of the Sagimay Trail, and I'm delighted to have her here tonight with us. Sonja has graciously brought her guests, Jeannie, Helly, Kathy and Ryan to join us. The Scandinavian Cultural Centre Winnipeg, also known as the Nordic House of Canada, is a hub for Nordic culture, representing Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Let us all celebrate this community together.

Please welcome Sonja...

Sonja and Helle

Thank you so much for inviting us here this evening. The Assiniboine Forest is deeply intertwined with our Scandinavian culture, where nature holds a sacred place. Whether it’s summer or winter, we cherish being outdoors—picking mushrooms or blueberries, admiring wildlife, or simply taking in the beauty of the rising sun on a frosty December morning. These moments in nature feed our souls and bring us immense joy. Many of us visit the forest weekly. My Icelandic relatives and I even enjoy winter picnics there, which have become a beloved tradition.

Tonight, I’m thrilled to share more about our Scandinavian Centre, located at 764 Erin Street. For those unfamiliar, the Centre is a hub for our five Nordic countries: Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland. A few years ago, we created a mural for Manitoba’s 150th anniversary to honor the resilience and spirit of our ancestors who immigrated to Canada. This mural captures the essence of the Viking spirit, adventure, and cooperation among our nations, with five swans representing our unity. It also showcases important elements of our culture, including national costumes, midsummer celebrations, and the iconic Maypole around which we dance every year.

The Centre serves as a vibrant cultural hub, bringing together over 250 members who participate in a variety of events. From Sunday brunches with Nordic entertainment to TGIF dinners featuring guest speakers, there’s always something happening. Our Viking Feast is a yearly highlight, as are the Christmas markets and our Viking School. At the school, children immerse themselves in Viking history, learning about ships, agriculture, and how our ancestors thrived in rugged environments. Twice a year, we transform the Centre into a Viking village and welcome over 300 children for a hands-on, educational experience.

Our community also has a strong presence at Folklorama, where we’ve proudly participated for over 50 years. We showcase Scandinavian folk dancers, a choir, drama groups, language classes, and even a band called the Silly Tones. Beyond this, we host sewing bees to make traditional costumes, baking events for treats like semla buns, and countless other activities that celebrate our heritage. One of our favorite traditions is gathering for fat bun night before Lent—a delicious way to honor old customs while enjoying each other’s company.

Partnerships are central to what we do. For instance, we collaborate with Trails Winnipeg to host winter events at Assiniboine Park, where we enjoy cross-country skiing, kick-sleighs, and skating, followed by glögg and ABBA karaoke. Recently, we organized a bus trip to Minneapolis, where we danced around the Maypole and embraced our shared Nordic culture with local Swedes. These connections remind us of the joy of community and the enduring spirit of our ancestors.

Our history is one of adventure and perseverance. Many Scandinavians immigrated to Canada seeking better opportunities, drawn by promises of free land through the Homesteaders Act. While the land they received was often rocky and challenging to farm, their determination to build new lives and thrive in rugged conditions is a testament to their resilience. My own grandparents came from Jokkmokk, Sweden, and Ussevik, Iceland, and their spirit of adventure continues to inspire me. They built lives that celebrated nature, hard work, and the importance of community. Today, we honour their legacy by keeping these traditions alive and sharing them with future generations. Whether it’s through folk music, dance, storytelling, or simply gathering outdoors, we remain deeply connected to the values that brought our ancestors here. Thank you for allowing me to share this with you. Any questions?

Thank You

Afterwards Iain thanked Sonja and Helle and presented each guest with an Assiniboine Forest bag and reminded them that every time you use it it helps with awareness of the importance of the forest.

Any Happy Bucks, birthdays, anniversaries??

Chuck went out to start the pilot this morning, and oh, that didn't sound very good. It wasn't happy at all, but apparently I forgot to plug it in last night. But it went!

Sonja is just so happy to be here. It's absolutely wonderful. I'm so proud of your Assiniboine Forest. We had such a joyous time and felt like dancing when I saw those birch trees. Because where my father's from, in Jokkmokk, Sweden, it's lined with birch trees and is so beautiful.

Next week we will hear from Ruby Reimer and Stephanie Kebabie of Epic Opportunities. Full disclosure: Epic Opportunities provides my daughter with a home and support so they are very important to me. Without this support, I would not be able to be part of this club. Some of you already met Stephanie when she came to support Amy Tung, talking about her I am Love project.