Trail Talking

As students return to the classroom, we are making the necessary investments to support mental health challenges brought on by the pandemic. Our government recently announced a $1 million investment for mental health supports for staff and students in Manitoba. This is in addition to the $2.5 million announced last year dedicated to supporting students’ mental health and wellness.

The new Manitoba Mental Health in Schools Strategy will be implemented in partnership with school divisions and stakeholders to support school-wide mental health strategies. These plans include training for teachers and school staff, teaching supports for mental health, ensuring appropriate tools and supports are available for all students, teachers, and school staff, and having an open conversation about mental health. Our lives have been impacted by COVID-19 in many ways, including significantly impacting the mental health of Manitobans. I’m proud to be part of a government that values and prioritizes the importance of investing in mental health supports.

Our government also recently announced the recipients of the Manitoba Trails grant funding, and I am pleased to highlight that both the communities of Richer and Monominto have been selected as recipients. Richer will receive $7,000 to undertake upgrades to the current walking path. Additionally, Monominto will receive $15,000 to implement a new trail system in their community. This funding will help provide Manitobans with safe and accessible ways to enjoy all the beautiful sights our province has to offer.

This year, Rail Safety Awareness Week took place from September 20 – 26 across our province. In 2018, the Legislative Assembly passed my private member’s bill to establish the Rail Safety Awareness Week Act – legislation creating an annual Rail Safety Awareness week in late September, making our province the first one in Canada to put such an event into law, in an effort to reduce railway-related accidents, injuries, and deaths. It is important that Manitobans are educated on proper rail safety, and that it is practiced at all times.

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to attend Le Rendezvous festival in Richer. It was a lovely event full of lots of activities, live music, and even featured a delicious fall supper. I had a wonderful time chatting with constituents and being out and about in the community; it was great to regain that sense of normalcy. I would like to thank the organizers and volunteers who made this event possible.