u Let's create more vibrancy in Winnipeg's core Continued from page 1 An incredible place is hard to define, but we can


all feel it once we’re there. The Forks is an incred- ible place, so too is the Exchange District, Coryd- on Avenue, Osborne village, Times Square, Robson Street, SoHo, Piazza Novanna and Old Quebec. Each area is a unique place, a place for people to stroll, a place to find something to eat, patios to hang out at, billboards and art installs to gawk at, cool and authentic retail stores to shop at, a square to sit and people watch, or a place to absorb culture. The soul of these places is also so important. In fact, the essence of a vibrant down- town is the people that actually live there.


Downtown Boise is an interesting


place. It’s smaller than Winnipeg, a vibrant city half our size and is ranked as one of the "top ten best places to live" across the United States. Its downtown is only comprised of 15 to 20 blocks and is home to numerous local retailers and restau- rants, each concept unique and authentic. Its histor- ic quarter is lined with preserved historic buildings, fresh cobble stone sidewalks which notably tells people you are in a special place. While walking I noticed sidewalks lined with patios on every block,


planters, trees, unique seating arrangements, sand- wich boards, all orchestrated as if a master design was in play.


Stefano Grande Downtown


What was evident is how business owners play an important role in ac- tivating and creating inviting store- fronts with their creative businesses. Parking spots are converted into plac- es where dozens of cyclists can park. The cycling culture is big despite there being little or no cycling paths with cyclists and pedestrians sharing the sidewalks. It’s quite a sight to see and interesting to know that govern- ment just lets it happen. Local control and local pride definitely stood out. While I was there, it seemed as though every new building was used for mixed use purposes and were inte- grated nicely into the sidewalks where people’s paths crossed. An emerging housing market, all clustered together


was even enough to stimulate the need for a Trader Joe’s and a Whole Foods. Downtown Boise clearly has a set of values and an identity that transcends any other downtown, but like anything, there are lessons to be learned. I truly believe that downtown vibrancy creates more vibrancy driven by economic development.


Downtown vibrancy seeks more people to live, work, shop and play. More buildings, more incred- ible spaces and in a place where infrastructure al- ready exists creating a series of districts which peo- ple seamlessly walk to and come together. Downtown Winnipeg is vibrant. Yes, not all the time, and not in every district but the vibrancy to- day is evident, and driven by the same values and principles seen to have benefited Boise. For this to continue we need to press forward on hard ques- tions, which could lead to an even better and vibrant place. Can opening an intersection lead to vibrancy? What value will building with no storefront on an important pedestrian street add to a downtown seeking vibrancy? Does that tall building on that important street have housing, is it mixed use? Will that street closure allowing tens of thousands of people attract people to a vibrant place? Will those 20 bikes taking over one parking stall add more butts to a local patio? Will taxpayers benefit twice, not having to build more pipes, roads, bridges, fire halls and other essential community assets? If we seek vibrancy, we will need to continue make the right decisions. If not, Boise is an incredible place for our youth to visit, open a business and live. The choice is ours.


Stefano Grande is executive director of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.


u Good things come to the truly grateful Continued from page 1


the foremost expert on gratitude. For the last 10 years Emmons and his colleagues have studied the effect of gratitude on health and psychological well-being. In an article published in Greater Good Magazine, Emmons explains the findings of his gratitude research, “We’ve studied more than a thou- sand people, from ages 8 to 80, and found that peo- ple who practice gratitude consistently report a host of benefits.” Those stud- ies confirmed that grateful people are more optimistic, forgiving, outgoing, gener- ous and compassionate. Emmons’ research also revealed that gratefulness has a positive effect on physical health as it helps


counteract the negative effects of stress. Feeling thankful for what you have can help people cope with the stressors of everyday life. “Grateful people also take better care of themselves,” Emmons ex- plained. “They engage in more protective health behaviours like regular exercise, a healthy diet and regular physical examina- tions.”


Taking that research one step further,


a recent brain scanning study published in the NeuroImage journal revealed that practicing gratitude can physically change the brain. Researchers found that par- ticipants who completed several gratitude tasks had distinct neural activity in parts of the brain associated with emotion and


empathy, suggesting that gratitude itself is a unique emotion. The study also af- firmed that the more one practices grati- tude, the more likely the brain will default to that emotion.


Krystal Simpson Healthy Living


The other noteworthy effect that gratitude has on our lives is a profound desire to pay it forward. As Professor Emmons de- scribes, gratitude can be motivating. “Gratitude serves as the link between giving and receiving. It moves recipients to share and increase the very good they have received.” For ex- ample, grateful patients of- ten donate time or money to a hospital after life-sav- ing treatment. I found myself in that


situation 10 years ago after undergoing treatment for cancer. When it was fin- ished, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude


for everything and everyone


– for every nurse who cared for me, for every friend who dropped off a casserole and for every sunset I was lucky enough to witness. I started volunteering to give back and made a commitment to live with gratitude every day. It changed my life in more ways than I could articulate in this column. So how does one begin to cultivate gratitude? Let’s look at some easy ways to get started: • Keep a gratitude journal. The jour- nal is simply a way to appreciate what you


Take a moment to stop and smell the flowers.


have rather than what you have not. Em- mons suggests writing down five things you’re grateful for every week. This prac- tice only takes a few minutes, and Em- mons says it can help guard against taking things for granted. • Take a moment and think of someone


who has made a difference in your life – a former teacher, your best friend or even a co-worker. Consider composing a won- derful thank you note or personal message on social media to let them know how they’ve helped you. Expressing gratitude feels especially good, for both you and the recipient. If you are a former patient like me, consider sharing your story with a hospital foundation so they can spread the good word to the community at large and


to the healthcare provider who made the difference. The Victoria General Hospital Foundation has some wonderful, grate- ful-patient stories on their website. Read them here: http://www.thevicfoundation. ca/be-inspired/inspirational-stories • Finally, consider the bountiful bless-


ings that come from nature. Actually stop and smell the proverbial roses. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of a wildflower, walk down a well-worn path, listen carefully to a bird’s song, follow the faint glow of a firefly or create your own nature bucket list. (Hint: the list is end- less.)


Krystal Simpson is communications officer with Victoria Lifeline, a community service of the Victoria General Hospital Foundation.


People have a right to expect good opposition to government Fred Morris


I


to at least mention this issue. They re- fused. What should we expect from our opposition leaders? Between April 22, 1963 and Sept.


n 2011, the provincial Conserva- tives promised in a well-circulated brochure to invest $3.9 million in


the expansion of the St. James Civic Centre. This expansion would create a new home for the St. James Assini- boia 55-Plus Centre. Since the 2016 election, the project has stalled due to the new PC government's refusal to provide their portion of the funding. It has become a broken promise. I have tried to get the two provincial NDP, and three Liberal leadership candidates


October 2017


9, 1967 John Diefenbaker set a high standard for opposition leaders. Dur- ing this time, many PCs were trying to replace him with a younger more electable leader. However, Dief contin- ued to do his job. He continually held the Liberal government accountable. He dealt with Lucien Rivard's prison break, the political upholstery scandal, Pierre Trudeau's dress in the House of Commons and the proposed flag. In Peter Newman's book, The Distemper Of Our Times, it is pointed out that


Prime Minister Pearson was frustrated by Diefenbaker tearing "most of their legislative attempts to shreds." Why can I not get the current politi-


cal opposition leaders to illustrate one broken promise? Modern political parties do not seem to be concerned with the period in be- tween elections. The number one pri- ority is contesting the next election. Greg Selinger, Steven Harper, Paul Martin and Gary Filmon resigned their leadership on the night of their failed re-election bids. Their parties took lei- surely months to find a new permanent leader.


“Vacancy management” is being


practiced. However, the issues of health care, recreational facilities, taxes, north- ern transportation and justice need continuous debate. Permanent opposi- tion leaders should be speaking out on these issues. Defeated leaders should not leave their jobs until their succes- sor has been selected. If necessary, leadership conventions can be quickly arranged. In 1969, the Manitoba NDP organized a convention in just 16 days. We expect good government. The


time has come to expect good opposi- tion.


Fred Morris describes himself as a politi- cal activist and sometime political candi- date.


www.lifestyles55.net 5


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