Businesses and entrepreneurs are often challenged with maintaining a successful business and putting for an expansion of some kind. Most who are successful in business, love what they do or have a real passion for it. Former Valley resident, successful photographer and body image activist Teri Hofford has spent quite a few years living her dream. Hofford had a bustling boudoir studio, awards and accolades from some well-known photography communities, speaking at engagements and workshops all around the world and creating work that challenged the status quo. Although it was all Hofford could dream of, inside she was feeling overwhelmingly exhausted,
alone, stressed and unable to ask for help. Her fear of resting led her to believe her business and accomplishments would fail or fall behind. This led to her exploring and challenging the beliefs set forth by the hustle culture, which
is very similar to the diet culture, that has deprived so many people’s bodies of what they needed the most.
This has opened up a new door for Hofford and it’s one she’s going through, without letting anything hold her back. “Over the last three to four years I’ve been building up the education side of my business to work with photographers and other creatives on how they can make their business more inclusive, that way there can be more progress,” said Hofford. “As one person I can only do so much, but I figured if I could teach people what I know, then the more impact we can have to make sure others understand they are worthy of being photographed and that we start seeing bodies of all types.
“In building that up, while running my photography business in 2018, I hit a bout of burnout and the worst depression I’d ever had. I’ve never experienced depression before that. It was going on a trip to Norway and not remembering anything about the trip that was the revelation moment that something needed to change.
“That’s when I went back to school for positive psychology and learned all about the mindset behind it,” said Hofford. “What I realized most was a lot of creative people create businesses they are passionate about and want
to make a change in the world, but they are also human and don’t recognize the toll it takes on themselves personally to do it.
“I started to shift my work to include mindset work because, ultimately, body image is mindset work as well. That’s where I’ve been heading for the last four years. This type of work that is done in the empowerment world is so
important, but the people who do this type of work are usually empaths.
They are givers and often don’t give to themselves. I want to make sure I can help others build sustainable business practices, even if it is not in photography, so they incorporate that into their model and not run the risk of burnout.” During the pandemic, Hofford faced a lot of similar pressures and anxieties many entrepreneurs had. Most were unable to continue their business or services the way they had normally done due to public health restrictions.
This led to Hofford challenging herself in new ways and as a result, she published a new book. “This book actually came out of the pandemic, because I wasn’t able to utilize my creativity or purpose to the extent I was used to,” said Hofford. “I couldn’t photograph clients as a part of my normal business, so I had to challenge myself with a task. I decided to go with taking a new self-portrait every day and also writing a personal post or story to go along with it.
“That’s when I really started to notice that one of my gifts was through my own honesty and humility, I was able to connect with people. I gravitate to following my intuition on things, such as what to post and when to do that. This became a self-practice to dig up some old stories and talk about how I’m working through them or how it relates to business creativity or body image.
By being able to condense it down, it made people feel more seen, heard and understood in their own mindset or what their brain was telling them. A lot of times, people felt they couldn’t open up and share those thoughts and
feelings with others. This led to people suggesting I put this into a book. “Essentially 2,200 Characters or Less is a compilation of 2,200 different posts I had on Instagram and the whole intent was to put out there all the things
that make us human, the parts of ourselves that we feel aren’t great or have shame about, how can we move through it,” said Hofford. “That’s the premise of this book.” Lived experience is becoming something that more people are connecting with when it comes to personal growth and recovery. There’s something about reading or listening to someone who has gone through something similar to what a person is experiencing, that has a positive and inspiring
effect. Hofford has been able to channel this energy to help those going through similar situations that she has encountered or is going through.
“Every time someone shares their story, it’s going to be easier for someone else to share theirs, which is why it was so important for me to put myself aside when I had these thoughts,” said Hofford.
“I know there are a lot of people who have stories they want to tell, but their fear gets in the way. The way I would get myself to share my writing, is to remind myself that my passion for helping has to override the fear of
whatever I’m feeling. “When I keep that in mind, that it’s not about me, it’s about the people that are going to read this, or the one other person in the world that this is going to greatly impact, the more honest it’s going
to be.
“Which is why we are seeing a lot of pushback from people who hate change,” said Hofford. “This is a little too dramatic or feelsy for them and it’s scary and contrasting to the way these people have always been. The more we do
this, eventually they will get on board or the movement will happen whether they like it or not. I focus more on who I am helping, not who is offended by what I’m sharing.” Looking back at 2022, letting go has been one of
the biggest achievements Hofford has been able to do. She felt that she was tied to all these titles and her studio in order to be successful. Once Hofford embraced that these things don’t define who she is or her work, she
was able to take her work to a new and higher level.
“This past year I feel that one of my biggest accomplishments has been being able to walk the talk, so to speak,” said Hofford. “I’ve always been a believer of one following their dreams, but I was holding on to having a studio and
being just a photographer. I had become so attached to all these identities that I created for myself and this past year, I proved that I don’t have to be attached to those. 
“I’m growing, changing and adapting, and that has been my guiding principle. I want to be a role model for those who want to try something new, but are afraid to or letting things hold them back. I had to detach myself from all
these things I thought Ihad to have to be relevant, valued and successful.” 
Hofford has set another goal for 2023 and is focusing on healing. “For this coming year, I would like to personally focus on healing,” said Hofford. “After putting myself in a state of chronic stress while I was building my photography
business, my body took a toll. Now I have to show more appreciation for my body through movement, rest, and nourishment. I also want to heal relationships that I didn’t keep up with while I was running my business and other
aspects of my business. Healing is going to be the theme for this coming year.
“I also hope to reach more than just photographers with my mindset and body image work. I want to expand to anyone that is ready to do the work in challenging their body image and mindset, which includes breaking down
biases and beliefs.”
Hofford’s new book, 2,200 Characters or Less is available to order online or through her website.

In case you missed it driving through Swan River’s north side, pictured here is Derryl May’s latest piece of snow art carved on his front lawn, as it was soon after completion — a fox and feather in honour of his wife Laura May’s pottery business. (INSET) The Fox and Feather more than a week later after some mild January weather...

They didn’t come away with any victories, but the Parkland Rangers arguably played their best games of the season, this past weekend in Winnipeg.

Kyler Swanton made 36 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Wild on Saturday, then stopped another 32 shots in a 6-5 overtime loss, Sunday afternoon.

Rangers head coach Tyler Carefoot said it was arguably the most successful weekend the team has had as a group this season.

“It just came down to commitment to team defence, some guts and just competing. That’s the expectation. And after the second game, I straight up said, that’s what we’ve been looking for all season,” he said. “If we keep playing like this, as hard as it is, we’ll be a tough out, but I also think we’ll probably win a few games, too. Hopefully this can end up being the turning point for this group.”

Swanton had his best games of the season, which Carefoot said was nice to see.

“It’s safe to say, he’d be the first guy to tell you that he’s been a little off throughout the season. But for him to come back, especially after nursing an injury the week before, he was just solid,” he said.

Luke Myhre had a strong weekend, netting three goals and an assist in the two games. Carefoot said he was the best player on the ice for both teams.

“For a 15-year-old, he plays a 200-foot game. He’s a power forward who takes key faceoffs matched up against the opponent’s best. He not only produced on the game sheet, but more importantly, he had an impact everywhere in both games,” he said. “To get two points versus a championship caliber program feels great for everyone, players, coaches and parents.”

Havryil Simchuk, the Ukrainian-born player, had another strong weekend, scoring a goal in each game. He now has points in all four games he has played.

“He adds some more depth and he was good. He’s responsible and you can count on him to make the right play and moving the puck around, too,” Carefoot said. “It’s just exciting. It’s nice to be in a meaningful game and it’s nice, as a coach, to pull strings, to get the right pieces on the ice in certain times. And the players themselves, they were in a battle and I think they all felt good about it.”

Carefoot hopes the team can keep the momentum going when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings, tonight at 7:30 p.m., and the Eastman Selects, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

“If we can just keep battling, I think we’ll be alright,” he said.

Dauphin’s Breken Brezden finished in seventh place at 2023 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, last week, in Oshawa, Ont.

Brezden recorded personal bests in both of her skates, posting a score of 56.06 in the short program, which had her in fifth place, before posting a score of 91.64 in the free skate program, which placed her seventh in the nation.

“Going into the competition, I just wanted to do what I’ve been doing in training and get a personal best and improve my placing. So the thing I set out to do, I accomplished and I’m pretty proud of myself,” she said.

It took a while for her seventh place finish to set in.

“At first, it didn’t really sink in yet. But the day after, I’ve been really excited and really happy about it all,” she said.

Her total score of 147.70 was another personal best and put her just .21 points out of fifth place.

“To be able to go out and do that at nationals, I’m pretty proud of myself,” she said.

Brezden hopes to keep improving as she continues her career and is thankful for the support she has received.

“I’m super thankful for my coaches in Hamilton who have helped me. My coach in Dauphin. My coaches all over, the people who have worked with me,” she said. “And then I’ve seen so many nice messages after my skates and I’m super thankful for that. As well as my parents for believing in me and allowing me to make some changes so I can achieve my goals.”

The demolition of the old Acadamy Video location on Second Avenue Northeast hit a snag Thursday afternoon after crews from Stirling Enterprises hit a gas line, which was still charged though it was supposed to have been shut off.

Manitoba Hydro staff had the gas leak contained prior to the arrival of the Dauphin Fire Department on the scene and the demolition was able to continue.

The City of Dauphin is making some major investments in the collection and processing of refuse.

At its regular meeting, council approved an increase in the amount it is willing to pay for the purchase of a new garbage truck, as well as an investment in the refurbishing of the trash compactor at the Dauphin landfill site.

The City originally ordered a new garbage truck in 2021 after a tendering process which saw Peterbilt Manitoba awarded the contract at a price of $341,973.32 plus taxes with a delivery window of approximately 18 months.

When checking on the progress of the build last October, director of Public Works and Operations, Mike VanAlstyne, discovered the truck was not yet in production due to supply train issues.

Peterbilt Manitoba, he told councillors, was only allotted one of the four trucks it ordered. As well, VanAlstyne said in a memo, there have been extreme increases in pricing and surcharges being pushed through the system to the end user, which have resulted in a price jump of $74,038.57 for the City’s truck.

The company proposed a cost-sharing arrangement resulting in each absorbing $37,017.68 of the added costs. Peterbilt Manitoba, VanAlstyne added, is receiving no support from their factory or body suppliers. The company has also reserved a build slot for the City at the end of April meaning the truck would likely be available in September or October of this year.

“At this point this is the best solution we could see. We did get just some verbal quotes from another supplier and it was $120,000 increase for the same unit,” VanAlstyne said.

Council approved the added cost of $37,017.68 with the funds to be drawn from the Machinery and Equipment Reserve Fund.

The new purchase price is $378,991 plus applicable taxes.

“It has been a mess for everybody,” VanAlstyne said. “So we are expecting to see it this year.”

Council also approved an expenditure of $143,362.69 plus fees and taxes to refurbish the landfill compactor which is “requiring some significant work.”

The machine is leaking and burning significant amounts of engine oil, as well as leaking transmission fluid, VanAlstyne said.

The compactor is a 2006 model with approximately 12,000 hours. While it is climbing in age, the hours are low enough to justify the maintenance, VanAlstyne said, adding the City could conceivably expect another 10 years service from the machine if the repairs are made. A good used replacement unit, VanAlstyne said, could cost approximately $1 million, while new machines cost upwards of $1.5 million.

The city has secured quotes from Toromont CAT in Brandon to have the engine replaced and the transmission inspected while the machine is split apart. If further work on the transmission is needed, it may have to be rebuilt, as well. The quotes range in value from $87,170.26 plus fees and taxes for the engine replacement and transmission inspection, to $143,362.69 plus fees and taxes for the engine replacement and complete rebuild of the transmission.

Council approved an expenditure of up to $143,362.69 with the funds coming from the Machinery and Equipment Reserve Fund.

This January, during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the Alzheimer Society is creating awareness about the many resources available to help support families as they face the challenges of living with dementia.

With more than 18,400 Manitobans living with dementia today, a number expected to reach 39,100 by 2050, the Society continues to enhance support for families impacted by dementia and meet their needs early in, and throughout, their journey.

Check out the feature page in this week’s issue.

Roblin RCMP received a 911 call about 10 to three in the afternoon on Boxing Day from a male that said he needed police, but then hung up. Call taker indicated the male sounded intoxicated.

No location given other than in Roblin. Members attended and patrolled, but no one flagged them down.

Find out what has kept police busy in this week’s RCMP report.

The new year has brought a new doctor to the Roblin Health Centre and the W.E. Nash Clinic. Dr. Donatus Osuorah, also known as Donald, joined the staff and began seeing patients at the clinic on Jan. 3.

“It’s going well,” he said in an interview Friday.

Find out more about Dr. Osuorah in this week’s Review.

Recent foggy weather has left the trees covered in frost more than one day in the past week. This stretch of trees along Eighth Avenue South were a beautiful sight to see yesterday morning.