President Iain called the meeting to order with a Land Acknowledgement Statement and O Canada.

Rotary Moment

How do you eat an Elephant. Desmond Tutu once wisely said that “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” What he meant by this is that everything in life that seems daunting, overwhelming, and even impossible can be accomplished gradually by taking on just a little at a time.

How do we help the Ukrainians find furniture and household goods? It starts with an idea, in Mandy’s case an enormous idea. One which requires a plan, a direction and the support of many. The plan has to include communication and in today’s world, “hanging a shingle” is the Bridge Of Hope Ukraine website to let the public know. Talking with enthusiasm about the issue is critical and that should not stop. We are a communication bridge to those in need.

How do we help Jack and Mike with the Assiniboine Forest? One bite at a time. Our website AssiniboineForest.ca communicates the importance of the forest, the development plan and a means for fundraising. When one searches Assiniboine Forest, about 1,420,000 results are produced. This is fabulous. How we drive traffic to the website is through “small bites” by talking about the forest whenever we are given the opportunity. Using the bags as an ice breaker when shopping is the easiest.

Do we ask other websites like Trails Manitoba, CPAWS, Travel Manitoba, Tourism Winnipeg to include our link and logo? How about organisations such as schools, running and cycling clubs. Do Winnipeg businesses know they can help this easily simply by adding our Friends of the Forest logo to their website?

Nancy Hansen passed this quote along: “Accessibility is not a problem to be solved... It's a culture to be built.” (Sheri Byrne-Haber).

Chair Announcements

Thank you to the volunteers from our club who supported Peak of the Market with their request to pack vegetables last week. Those vegetables were distributed to many food banks in Winnipeg.

• Just a reminder if anyone would like to join Glenn at the District Grant Application training. Thank you to Glenn for offering to register. Elaine completed an application form at the meeting.
• Cory has informed us Breezy Bend will not be able to host our Rotary Meeting on November 6 th . They are having the entire septic system replaced from November 6th to 9th . Next week there will be no meeting as a result. I have informed our speakers, Nigel Jollands and Veronica Lysaght (Li-said) of the Novaro One Project. We will announce a date for them in the future.
• Cathy and Iain will be attending the volunteer fair on November 8th at Red River College at the Exchange District Campus. We attended MITT recently and found it very worthwhile.
• On December 18th our Christmas party will take place. We are again supporting Canadian Footwear “Fit Feet for The Street" program and Westgrove School breakfast snacks program. Please when shopping consider picking up something from the list.
  CHARLESWOOD ROTARY CLUB CHRISTMAS DINNER DONATIONS - 2023
  Last year we collected approximately $1,600.00 worth of food and socks. This year the need is as great as ever. It would be wonderful if each member could donate to both programs.
  Cash (or donate on the ‘Square’!) would also be appreciated as we could spend that on most needed items!
  Canadian Footwear Fit for the Street:
  Warm socks for men and ladies.
  Westgrove School Breakfast / Snacks:
  Cereal – Rice Krispies, Cornflakes (Frosted and Original), Cheerios (Honey Nut and Original). Granola Cereals, Wow Butter, Strawberry Jam, Granola Bars (no Peanuts), Nutragrain Bars, Pudding Cups (Chocolate and Vanilla), Apple Sauce Cups, Fruit Cups, Ritz Crackers, Cookies (Oatmeal or similar), Cheese Strings, Yogurt Tubes, Apple Juice, Cheese Whiz.
• Please keep in mind that guests are always welcome. If you speak to someone that would like to speak to our group, please share their contact.

Mandy Kwasnica advised that the Bridge of Hope Ukraine has provided furniture and household goods to 138 families at the one-year anniversary of the program. She has the sublet contract in hand for review by the Board after the main meeting. With approval, move in will be Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. The location is Portage Ave between Kitchens Plus and Olympia Diner. The rental space is ~1,700 Squ.Ft. The first furniture drive will be Saturday Nov. 11, 2023.

Tonight's guest speaker is Graham Todd, owner of Reliable Mobility.

Graham became an entrepreneur in the healthcare field in 2012 after many years in the hospitality industry to chase a more community minded focus as he started a family with his wife, Anita. Graham started as an advocate for people living with disabilities professionally and focused on brain injury both on a provincial and federal level through his work as Co-Chair of Brain Injury Canada, Board Member for Stroke Recovery Association of British Columbia as well as March of Dimes Canada. The focus on brain injury came through his own issues receiving services and support for concussion and post-concussion complications from years of rugby, equestrian and other youthful endeavours.

Graham told us “My goal when starting my journey with the Manitoba Brain Injury Association (MBIA) was to focus the organisation on what could effectively have the most impact on Manitoba and grow that focused service throughout Manitoba. The hope is to increase the number of services provided in the years to come. This will make us an indispensable member of the brain injury community, not only for our clients as service providers but for funders and government to finally understand the value of the services that brain injury has been lacking provincially. This goal is not a small undertaking and may take many generations of Directors to solve so I look forward to watching this organization's progress for a long time to come”.

Graham advised that he would explain how he got into the mess of being on 6 different boards from B.C. to Ottawa. He immigrated to Canada on Nov. 8, 1998. He had experienced his first concussion on the streets of Belfast because he was wearing the wrong soccer jersey in the wrong part of Belfast. He would experience 26 more concussions over the years. Most of his injuries occurred at the ages of 22 to 23.

A history of his employment includes working for Peter Nygard in the Bahamas. Then many years of employment at Lake Louise – Fairmont where he had great mentors. Next was a move to Delta Hotels where he was the youngest Executive Director at the time. He then became a consultant in the Hospitality Industry.

He would change things up by becoming a member of a ‘Close Protection’ company providing service to the Royal Family in Qatar. Then providing the same service to Russian oil company executives.

Graham believed it was time to settle down and have a family. He could think of no better place to do that than in Winnipeg. He originally wanted to develop a company along the lines of Diamond Athletics. However, a slight change of direction took place, and he has developed ‘Reliable Mobility’ in Winnipeg. Retail store and assistance for seniors and pediatric complex rehab situations.

He now has time to give back to the community. Brain Injury would be the focus of that work. His ongoing pain had caused him to scratch his scalp violently to the point of bleeding. This was in the attempt to get rid of his chronic pain. Something similar to the action known as ‘cutting’.

He worked his way up in the Manitoba Brain Injury Association (MBIA) to becoming the President of the Board last year. This was something that he could take across Canada. He was invited to the Canadian Board. The federal and provincial Brain Injury Boards are completely separate. The goal would be to bring them together. Talk at the National level while fundraising at the local level.

The programming run by MBIA are not covered by provincial funding. The MBIA operates through grants, group fundraising walks, Winnipeg Foundation.

In order, the three main causes of brain injury are:

1. Car Accident
2. Intimate Partner Violence
3. Sports

There are 200,000 concussions per year in Canada. 55,000 brain tumors per year in Canada. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Canada. The Brain Injury Board wants to bring more attention to ‘Stroke’. The Board wants to get brain injuries such as these recognized as a priority for treatment. In senior care, a patient that has fallen and broken a hip will have almost all the medical focus on the hip, nothing on the possible head injury until it may be too late.

MBIA focuses in three areas:

1. Support
2. Advocate
3. Education

During and after Covid, MBIA lost youth and caregiver support groups. They are working to bring them back. When there is a brain injury, the entire family is affected. Support groups exist in Winnipeg (2x / week), Steinbach, Brandon, Selkirk.

A major event produced by the Manitoba Brain Injury Association is the P.A.R.T.Y. Program (Prevent / Alcohol / Risk related / Trauma in / Youth). This event has 300 to 400 youth attend to take part in a mock car crash and all the associated events that would include. RCMP and STARS helicopter / staff are present. There is a mock dog death included, a funeral and full burial. Right now, this is only in Winnipeg, but they hope to expand to other locations. The PARTY program has the largest impact on youth.

The MBIA organizes 150 Wellness Calls twice a week in Winnipeg. There are many volunteer opportunities available. They are working towards the National and Provincial associations working together.

Q/A:

Lloyd- is cerebral palsy considered a brain injury?
A. Yes & No. The MBIA will work with the Cerebral Palsy Association.

Dave S.- Just some advice to never apologize for emotions coming forward during your speech.

Jagdish – concussion symptoms vary widely. What symptoms did you experience?
A. Sensitivity to noise, light and headaches. Always advise to seek out assessment from a doctor. General rule would be: avoid sugar, avoid T.V., increase sleep and increase healthy fats in diet for awhile.

Len- support groups are very important. Finding humour in those support groups is very important as well.

Ed Thompson – contact sports have come a long way regarding helmets. Are you involved in helmet design?
A. At the National level this exists. There is currently a study at University of Calgary funded by CFL, NHL, NFL.

Caroline – is there a time limit for diagnosis to be done?
A. The longer you leave it, the longer recovery time will be.

Jack D. – We have come a long way. Most do wear helmets now for contact sports and biking, skiing.
A. 100% agree. Those that didn’t were ignorant of the consequences of not wearing a helmet. Coaches were to blame in the past but have increased their understanding now.

Sarge Mike welcomed our 4 guests tonight: Graham Todd, Leanne, Joyce DeCorby, Jack DeCorby.

Happy Bucks

• Jagdish was happy for the snow? He is used to it now.
• Paul was happy because it is nearly ice fishing season.
• David just negotiated a long-term retainer with a favourite client.
• Ed Thompson had a colonoscopy test!
• Len was delighted that somebody (Iain) flew over his labyrinth with a drone and got some great pictures.
• Iain was happy that he did NOT have a colonoscopy.
• Joyce (guest) was happy to have gotten a lovely picture of a coyote today at Fort Whyte Alive.

50/50 There was no winner tonight, try again at the next meeting on Nov 13.

Invite from Jillian through Jack Wilson to: U of M presentation on the Moose Ecology in Northeastern Minnesota. Public Lecture on Thursday Nov 9 th commencing at 7:00 PM (contact Jack W. for more information)

Len Van Roon recommended those that wish to attend: Charleswood Historical Society The 1st of its 2023-2024 Heritage Lecture Series. Gordon Goldsborough, “On the Road to Abandoned Manitoba”. Gordon Goldsborough, will speak about his book “On the Road to Abandoned Manitoba”. Gordon is an active member of the Manitoba Historical Society and has written five books on Manitoba History. He has a weekly series on CBC Radio 1 and writes a weekly column for the Manitoba Co-operator newspaper and is Secretary for the Board of the Manitoba Agricultural Museum.  Gordon is a recipient of the Order of Manitoba. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. No Entry Fee The lecture will take place on Monday, November 6th at 7:00 pm., 5006 Roblin Blvd.  (Charleswood 55+ Active Living Centre)

Next Meeting

No meeting on Nov. 6, 2023 due to contractor work at Breezy Bend. Club Closed.
Our next meeting is November 13 th , 2023 and the speaker is Karl Gomph.