The Pas Health Complex Foundation has been busy raising funds again to improve health services for the community. The organization was started back in the late 90s and has been raising and managing donations give to improve medical equipment and services for patients and the healthcare facilities in The Pas.
“The Pas Health Complex Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to the provision of equipment and services that will provide care and comfort for patients in the health facilities in The Pas,” said The Pas Health Complex Foundation Chair Sue Lambert. “It was instituted and incorporated in 1999, when the RHA took over the St. Anthony’s Hospital Board and attached all the assets. The endowment fund, which consists of donations from people in The Pas, was moved to another bank and was retained for use in The Pas only.

The 2023 Skills Canada Manitoba Competition was held last month and showcased the trade talents of Manitoba post-secondary and high school students. This year two Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute (MBCI) students placed in the competition.
“The Skills Canada Manitoba competition was held on April 13th, 2023, where over 475 high school, post-secondary and apprentice students compete in 42 skilled trades and technology categories in six industry sectors,” said MBCI instructor Lisa Gibb. “MBCI had two competitors competing this year, and it is an honour to announce that Namirembe Afatsawo won a gold medal in Public Speaking, and Kali Gibb won a silver medal in Job Search.

Upcoming graduate of Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute, Alexis Marlow, has had her hard work on the basketball court pay off. Recently Marlow signed a letter of intent to play basketball with Bethel College in Kansas this fall and last weekend received the Ron Meyer Leadership Award at Basketball Manitoba’s Awards.
Marlow started playing basketball at an early age due to the influences of her brothers and her dad being involved in the sport.
“I started playing basketball in the first grade with my brothers at their after school sports program,” said Marlow. “In elementary school, my dad helped out with the program while my brothers were in it and because I would sit on the sidelines and watch until they were done, the gym teacher just told me to grab a ball and join them.
“My brothers and cousins all played basketball, and my uncle had coached them throughout their schooling, so it has definitely always been something that reminds me of family. I started to get more serious about the sport in middle school when I made the school travel team in the sixth grade.

The members of The Pas Helping Hands 4-H had the opportunity to showcase their skills earlier this month at the Manitoba 4-H Council’s Communications Extravaganza. The members had been working on presentations and delivering them, leading up to this event.
“The Pas Helping Hands 4-H Members traveled to Brandon on April 15th to compete in the Manitoba 4-H Council’s Communications Extravaganza,” said The Pas Helping Hands 4-H Leader Cheryl Antonio. “The 4-H program in Manitoba, and across Canada, delivers opportunity for youth to develop personally in areas of self-confidence, responsibility and leadership. Life skills are gained through many hands-on project offerings, in addition to communication, leadership, problem-solving and goal-setting skills.

Last week The Pas Rotary Club honoured one of their members for his 40 years of service by presenting him with the Lifetime Member Award. Gary Morrish has dedicated many years to serving as a member of The Pas Rotary Club, along with other members of his immediate family.
“My father, Clarence, had served as a rotary member here in the Pas for 40 years,” said Morrish. “It was through his example which led me to joining. I remember my dad being a faithful member as I was growing up.
“At one point and time, my dad, myself and my son, Brent, were Rotarians with the The Pas Rotary Club. It was my dad’s proudest moment to see three generations serving the same Rotary Club.”

There’s a Canadian charity that helps those who need assistance for medical care travel called Hope Air. Hope Air recognized that many Canadians are requiring medial treatment that is often far from their home, which can be costly and leave many people going with out medical care or treatment. Hope Air believes that all Canadians should have access to the healthcare they need, regardless of where they live or if they can’t afford to travel.
“Hope Air provides travel support through flights, accommodations, meal vouchers and ground transportation through Uber vouchers to Canadians in financial need who must travel to access vital medical care,” said Hope Air Senior Digital Marketing Coordinator Christine Stolte. “Hope Air is able to fulfill travel requests because of the support of donors, from airline partners, corporations, foundations, government supporters and individuals.”

Thanks to a partnership with the Manitoba Arts Council, The Pas Arts Council and the Rotary Club of The Pas, residents in the tri-community will get the opportunity see ballet performed by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) next week. On the Edge Tour featuring the RWB Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant Program’s Aspirants will be sole performers on this tour.
“The RWB Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant Program is a two year post-graduate program for students who have graduated from a professional dance program,” said RWB Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant Program Director Vanessa Léonard. “They enter this program as a transition from being a ballet student into a professional dance life. We have a strong focus on preparing the dancers for the stage and repertoire. We also focus on creating audition materials that they can send out to companies around the world. There are 16 aspirants in the program this year and range from 18 to 21 years old.

The provincial government recently appointed a new judge, who is familiar to the area and to the provincial court of Manitoba in The Pas. Lori Ann Hunter grew up in The Pas and also has strong family roots in the community.
“When I was five years old, my family moved to The Pas, but my maternal side of my family has lived here for three generations,” said Hunter. “My father worked for the provincial government and my mother had an independent business in the community. I grew up in the community having ties to those sectors.”
Hunter didn’t embark upon becoming a lawyer right away. She spent some time working in the justice sector in the frontlines, before attending law school.
“My career in law started later in life for me, because I went to school not in the traditional trajectory,” said Hunter. “I spent twenty years working in the legal system. I started working as administrative support in the Crown’s office. My first career was a court reporter.