The meeting was called to order by President Doug at 5:45 (as usual), followed by a silent “ringing” of PDG Nancy’s bell, the customary announcement of the District 5550 Land Acknowledgement Statement and then an unusual version of O Canada – a “Celebration Song” composed and sung by members of the Nigerian community in Winnipeg (Odeyemi and Africanad Community Choir) accompanied by afrobeats provided by a range of different drumming styles, all done with the collaboration of Nigerian artist YemyTPX.

The Thought of the Week were the following words that Rotary founder Paul Harris spoke at the 1935 Rotary Convention in Mexico City, Mexico: “It is just as easy to acquire the habit of speaking kindly, as it is to acquire the habit of speaking unkindly.”

ROTARY MOMENTS

Chase the Ace Lottery - PDG Nancy was the winner of $76 in the most recent draw.

Club Membership Invoices – The club prefers payment by cheque (mailed or dropped-off at Morris Insurance, 5250 Roblin Blvd) in order to avoid payment of credit card fees.

The next Rotary International Convention will take place in Houston, Texas on June 4-8, 2022. Registrations paid in full by June 16, 2021 will be $425 USD. After that the registration fee will rise as the convention date approaches, with the highest amount being $675 USD after April 1, 2022.

The 2025 Rotary Convention is booked for Calgary, Alberta. June 21st to 25th.

The Club Board members will soon approve the appointment of Chuck Crocker as the Community Service Chair, replacing Jack Wilson, who will focus on his role as president of the Rotary Club of Charleswood Charitable Foundation (which includes responsibilities related to the Assiniboine Forest).

Lobster Fest - PDG Nancy reminded everyone that she still needs prizes for the September 24th event.

Westgrove School’s garden where Rotarians planted wildflowers in two of the boxes:

Rotarian wildflower planters at Assiniboine Forest:

PDG Nancy introduced Jana Brunel, who is the manager of program design and administration at Efficiency Manitoba. Jana has over 13 years experience in energy efficiency in Manitoba. After receiving a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree from the Asper School of Business, she started her career at Manitoba Hydro in 2008. In 2020 she joined Efficiency Manitoba, which is Manitoba’s newest Crown corporation dedicated to energy efficiency, offering programs and rebates designed to help Manitobans save energy, money, and the environment.

Jana mentioned that this is her first interaction with a Rotary Club and she was touched by the camaraderie preceding the meeting, enjoyed the “Happy Bucks” and impressed that the club continues, through its virtual meetings, to carry on its important projects. She also mentioned recognizing several club members that she had originally met when she worked at Manitoba Hydro.

Efficiency Manitoba is dedicated to achieving significant energy saving targets in both natural gas and electricity use. It’s a one-stop shop for energy efficient programs and information to help Manitoba families and businesses reduce energy consumption. It is funded by Manitoba Hydro with about $32.3 million from the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund (i.e. from the carbon tax).

In 2018 the Efficient Manitoba Act was proclaimed, and the Board of Directors (which included Jack Wilson) was appointed. In 2019 the 2020-2023 Efficiency Plan was submitted to the Public Utilities Board, which was approved after a 3-month process which included a public hearing. After ministerial approval of the Efficiency Plan (with amendments), Efficiency Manitoba officially began operations on a virtual platform (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) on April 1, 2020.

The mandate of the organization was to reduce Manitoba’s electricity consumption by 1.5% annually and natural gas consumption by 0.75% annually. This would be done by achieving aggressive savings targets, providing cost-effective efficiency programs and services for as many Manitobans as possible and promoting private sector involvement. The benefits of this is to use less energy to perform the same task (e.g. an LED lightbulb uses less than 10 watts/hour compared with the 60-100 watts/hour used by an incandescent bulb) - thereby reducing energy bills, greenhouse gas emissions, and the need for new infrastructure in Manitoba while supporting “green” jobs and economic growth.

Efficiency Manitoba offers programs to residential (especially for homes built before 1999), residential income qualified, Indigenous, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers. A virtual home energy review program started on June 15th (efficiencymb.ca). Another incentive program involving windows and doors will be starting later this summer. Jana can be reached by email (Jana.Brunel@EfficiencyMB.ca). For an energy review or for advice when you start your next project, check out the following website – efficiencyMB.ca or send an email to EnergyTeam@EfficiencyMB.ca.

The following information flowed during the Question and Answer session that followed the presentation: Efficiency Manitoba does not promote electric vehicle programs.

Income testing to qualify for free upgrades takes place by looking at different areas like - the number of people living in a home, an income below a certain threshold, tax documents, etc. The exception is in Indigenous communities where upgrades are considered at the community level and working with the band rather than at the individual level.

Electricity rates in Manitoba are significantly lower than in other provinces. Our rates are often compared with Quebec’s rates, since both provinces’ electricity is largely hydro generated. To hit the reduction of energy targets in Manitoba, the emphasis will be on industrial customers rather than residential.

To get advice about replacing something like a church’s old gas boiler when it dies, check out this website -https://efficiencymb.ca/business/hvac/. Current contacts are by phone, but post-covid, there are sales reps who will help out “from the ground up”.

The federal government has just announced their “Greener Homes” program, a seven-year program. EfficiencyMB energy advisers will be able to work with that federal program and stack their results with it. Manitoba does not have many certified energy advisers at this time and is looking to find more people to undergo the training.

Customers have to pay up front to have an energy audit done, but the funds are reimbursed after the work is completed.

Efficiency Manitoba covers the capital costs of energy efficient upgrades, but not the labour costs. Replacing old furnaces by switching the energy source is not pursued by Efficiency Manitoba, but rather by replacing it with a furnace that is 96% more efficient. Switching from a gas furnace to an electric furnace is not a strategy supported by Efficiency Manitoba.

Sarge Mike thanked Jana for her presentation.

Sarge Mike welcomed the following guests to our virtual meeting: Jana Brunel, Rohit Goenko, Lorena & Luis Andrade and Dickson Bazuaye.

HAPPY BUCKS

PDG Jim (happily seated with Lorraine at his daughter’s gazebo at Patricia Beach) was happy about both Lorraine and himself having recently received their second COVID-19 vaccinations.

Lloyd was pleased with his ”I’m COVID-19 Vaccinated” badge. In addition, he was impressed with the great job that Sarge Mike had done on his recent presentation to the Winnipeg West Rotary club meeting (on the Assiniboine Forest project), which resulted in $500 worth of donations pledged by the meeting participants.

PDG Nancy’s neighbour had observed the reunion between the fawn that had spent several hours in the Morris yard and its mother and reported that the fawn had a twin that must have been hidden at some other location in the neighbourhood. In the meantime - “The fence has been closed – No more deer!” in Nancy’s backyard.

Jack reported that he and a crew consisting of members Ruth, Greg, Nancy and Bob had planted two boxes of wildflowers in the garden at Westgrove School and another crew (Jack, PDG Ed, Glenn and Bob) was preparing to plant wildflowers at the Assiniboine Forest on Tuesday.

Chuck has also received his second vaccine shot and was looking forward to golfing on Tuesday.

PDG Ed was pleased with the recent rains that will help crops in Manitoba & with his second COVID-9 shot. He also reported that he spoke with member Ed Toews, who reported that his son (who has been in ICU with COVID-19 since May 6th) seems to be recovering now - he has been disconnected from all the ICU apparatus, but still has a collapsed lung and it’s unknown how much longer he will be in hospital.

Glenn was delighted that the border between Manitoba and Ontario will be re-opening on Wednesday, allowing him to travel to his cottage in Minaki without breaking the law.

Iain had to leave the meeting early for an offer being presented at 7:00 PM. He reported that his daughter was leaving for Rochester on tomorrow, after having been rapid-tested “Negative” for COVID-19 by Pure Lifestyle today.

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

It was PDG Nancy’s birthday today! (She was not particularly enamored of birthdays coming around, but was reminded by PDG Jim that the problem starts when birthdays no longer come around .)

NEXT MEETING

The speaker at our next meeting (June 21st) will be Dr. Zahri Moussari, who will provide a Review of Dementia.