Mr. Mervin Tweed (Turtle Mountain): Do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Does the honourable member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed) have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Tweed: It is a great pleasure for me to rise today to offer congratulations from myself and the people of Turtle Mountain and hopefully on behalf of all Manitobans to Dr. Robert Sangster of Baldur, Manitoba. Dr. Sangster was nominated for the Family Physician of the Year Award on behalf of the entire Baldur Health District staff and on April 11 was presented as the winner of this award.

"Dr. Bob," as he is affectionately known in the community of Baldur and surrounding districts, was nominated for this award by the community of Baldur and for his community involvement. He is an active member in the Baldur Business and Economic Development Committee and for the Argyle municipality, and he is certainly dealing with the current issues of the day, including the securing of another financial institution in the community of Baldur and dealing with the seniors housing issues. He is also active in many of the community events that take place, and I know in the times that I have stopped in to visit with him to say hello, I have met him in different locations, such as the curling club, the coffee shop and at work.

He was the founding member of the southwest association of rural physicians, and he is the district chairperson for southwestern rural education program through the University of Manitoba.

I think, Mr. Deputy Speaker, some of the comments that were made when he was nominated and when he received the award exemplify the fine man that Dr. Bob is. They referred to him as a tenacious medical detective, a man of integrity, a keen sense of humour, always approachable, supportive, conscientious and a willing teacher, and I think the one statement made by his colleagues probably represents the greatest feeling of all. That was they referred to him as a gold standard against which all other doctors are compared. He is certainly a fine member of the community and a symbol and an example for all, and I stand here today to offer my congratulations to Dr. Robert Sangster.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I ask leave to make a nonpolitical statement.

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Does the honourable member for Osborne have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Ms. McGifford: Today, I want to bring the attention of all members of this Chamber to the development of Village Lane in Osborne Village. This project will transform a dilapidated building on Wardlaw and Osborne into 20,000 square feet of market area, including 12 individual stores. Village Lane, expected to be finished in May, will offer a variety of shops to residents, for example, fruit and vegetable stands, a butcher, a deli, and so will bring the traditional market milieu of the village which, with its dense population and pedestrian traffic, is the perfect setting for a market.

But Village Lane is more than a commercial enterprise. Consider the history of the village. There have been several incarnations--early in the century and then a rebirth during the passionate and romantic sixties. Now again, after some difficult years, it is time for another rebirth. During each of these phases, the village has always managed to keep its personality and be an urban village, a place of goods and services, a place of charm and intimacy midst a large sprawling urban centre. Village Lane is reclaiming Osborne Village, giving it new life and personality while retaining its original flavour.

I want to comment, too, on the family behind Village Lane. The Lagopoulos family have been village mainstays for 30 years. They helped revitalize the community in the '60s, just as they are doing in the '90s. In the meantime, they have lived in the village, participated in streetscaping, the development of the Osborne Village Biz, and done just about everything that community-spirited people do.

In closing, I congratulate all Osborne Villagers on their determination to bloom again. Weather permitting, when the snow clears, it should be a great spring. Thank you.

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Mr. Deputy Speaker, may I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Does the honourable member for Kildonan have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Chomiak: I had the honour and pleasure, together with other elected officials and many hundreds of members from the community, to celebrate and congratulate the Hebrew Sick Benefit Association on their 90th anniversary celebration the past Saturday. This is an organization that began in 1906 and which was recognized to serve as a spiritual and guiding light amongst all of the new Jewish immigrants in Winnipeg. The association was a place where these immigrants could get help with their problems, were guided culturally, spiritually and financially. It provided a wide range of services for its members, including free dental and medical care, religious services and even free burials in their own cemetery. In fact, as many speakers pointed out, it was a forerunner to medicare in many instances. It manages apartments. It has been a vibrant organization, and it is carried on now in not only the Jewish community at large but in the community that I represent at large and beyond to provide benefits to many, many individuals.

It was a very exciting evening, an evening of hope, an evening of building a foundation for the future based on the past 90 years. It was also time for commemoration to celebrate as well the Beth Israel Synagogue 20th anniversary, a synagogue that was formed partially, Mr. Deputy Speaker, together with a merger from the Hebrew Sick Benefit Association.

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I can only wish congratulations on behalf of all members of this Chamber to the outstanding work of the anniversary committee, including chairpersons Dave Chochinov and Sharon Bronstone, the fundraising committee, and all the honorees and past presidents of the Hebrew Sick Benefit Association and Beth Israel Synagogue and the sisterhood who have carried out their work inside and out of the community these past 90 years and can only anticipate further work in the community as their work continues.

I might add, we also were honoured to have a concert prepared by the cantors from the other synagogues in the city of Winnipeg which was an outstanding representation of Jewish culture, history and spiritual development, and I can only say it was one of the most inspiring evenings that my wife and I and all of the individuals have ever had an opportunity to attend.

So, on behalf of all members of the Chamber, I wish congratulations and a hearty congratulations and support to the Hebrew Sick Benefit Association on its 90th anniversary and Beth Israel Synagogue on its 20th anniversary. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I request leave to make a nonpolitical statement.

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Does the honourable member for Dauphin have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Struthers: This past weekend was a big one in the history of the town of Dauphin and the Parklands surrounding it. We had not one but two grand openings on the weekend. On Friday, April 11, the Dauphin RCMP subdivision was formally opened with tours available and very many people in attendance for the well-organized and very deserved celebration that took place in Dauphin at the opening of our subdivision.

I want to recognize the Minister of Justice (Mr. Toews) for making the trip up to Dauphin to join with us in the celebration of the Dauphin RCMP subdivision. It was a project that was in the planning stages and the arm-twisting stages for many years since the mid and early 1980s. It finally became a reality on Friday, and I look forward to the continuation of an excellent community program that the RCMP do in our area out of that building.

On Saturday, April 12, the town of Dauphin also celebrated the grand opening of the Parkland Recreation Complex, another project that was in the planning stages for a long time and now has also reached fruition, and I want to congratulate the Minister of Housing, Mr. Reimer, for taking the time to come up to Dauphin and join with us in the celebration there as well.

The recreation complex is a one-of-a-kind unique facility for Manitoba, and I would offer my congratulations to the mayors and town councils and the reeves and town councils over the past number of years who have worked so hard and diligently to make this dream a reality. I also want to point out specifically Mr. Dave Bosiak of the Dauphin Joint Recreation Commission for his vision and leadership and Mr. Conrad Artibise for his dedication and hard work in fundraising for this project.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I want to say again it was a big weekend for Dauphin, one in which we celebrated the co-operative efforts of many people in our area. Thank you.