Carolyne Christie

Carolyne Christie

Crescentwood community correspondent

Carolyne Christie is a community correspondent for Crescentwood. You can reach her at carolynemchristie@gmail.com

Recent articles by Carolyne Christie

Giving kids a place to dream

Carolyne Christie 3 minute read Preview

Giving kids a place to dream

Carolyne Christie 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 13, 2024

Many children take for granted that they have a warm bed to sleep in every night, but one former Winnipeg police officer knows different and is trying to make a difference.

“During my time on the force, I saw just how large of a problem child bedlessness really is,” said Jim Thiessen, president of the Winnipeg chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. “Unfortunately, the way things are going today, many families are experiencing difficulty in making ends meet, so something like a bed for a child may not factor into the financial equation.”

Jim started the local SHP chapter in 2020. The not-for-profit charity, which began in the U.S. in 2018, brings community volunteers together to build, and then later install, handmade, twin-sized beds for Winnipeg children who do not have beds of their own.

“A bed for many of these children is not just a place to rest their head,” Jim said. “It’s a sanctuary where a child can be safe, get a good night’s sleep and dream about what they want to be when they grow up. For some, the bed they receive from SHP is literally the first bed they have ever slept in. It’s also the first thing that they can say is legitimately their own.”

Read
Wednesday, Mar. 13, 2024

Supplied photo

Sleep in Heavenly Peace brings community volunteers together to build, and then later install, handmade, twin-sized beds for Winnipeg children who do not have beds of their own.
Supplied photo Sleep in Heavenly Peace brings community volunteers together to build, and then later install, handmade, twin-sized beds for Winnipeg children who do not have beds of their own.

Anishinaabe Girl opens up shop on Lilac

Carolyne Christie 2 minute read Preview

Anishinaabe Girl opens up shop on Lilac

Carolyne Christie 2 minute read Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024

A new store specializing in intricate Indigenous handmade jewelry, art, fashion, accessories, and home décor has just opened in the heart of Corydon shopping district at 165 Lilac St.

Anishinaabe Girl is a niche boutique, which is the first indigenous-focused jewelry store and art boutique in the area.

“With strong ties to Indigenous communities and a commitment to reconciliation, the boutique stands as a beacon of empowerment for Indigenous artists in Manitoba,” owner Shauna Fontaine said. “It represents more than a business — it’s a testament to resilience and empowerment.”

It has been Fontaine’s lifelong vision to open a store that showcases the gifts and talents of indigenous makers.

Read
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024

Supplied photo

Anishinaabe Girl boutique can be found at 165 Lilac St.
Supplied photo Anishinaabe Girl boutique can be found at 165 Lilac St.

Sobr Market thrives on Academy

Carolyne Christie 2 minute read Preview

Sobr Market thrives on Academy

Carolyne Christie 2 minute read Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

What started as a personal desire to find good tasting non-alcoholic drinks has turned into a thriving business for one area resident.

“I made a choice to remove alcohol from my life and started looking for good tasting non-alcoholic drinks and just couldn’t easily find them,” said Shane Haliburton, CEO of The Sobr Market.

“Even though I removed alcohol, I still really enjoyed the ritual of making a complex, sophisticated beverage. I began ordering from Europe and the US and paying a lot of money for very few bottles.”

Haliburton and his wife Jessie soon realized there must be other people looking for these types of products and decided to bring them to market.

Read
Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023

Supplied photo

Shane and Jessie Haliburton began The Sobr Market as an online-only operation and now boast storefronts on Academy Road and in Toronto.
Supplied photo Shane and Jessie Haliburton began The Sobr Market as an online-only operation and now boast storefronts on Academy Road and in Toronto.

Building a better board game

Carolyne Christie 2 minute read Preview

Building a better board game

Carolyne Christie 2 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

Whether you’re looking for a fun family night, for great laughs with friends, or for a quick and easy addition to date night, local game inventors Dave Plumridge and Connor Wielgosz have created a game that will fit your groove.

“We met about six years ago when working at a local board-game café and realized we have both a passion for games and a huge creative spirit,” Wielgosz said. “We founded Glass Jar Games in 2023, with a simple goal — to create fun games that are easy to learn and are produced thoughtfully and sustainably.”

The pair have created over half a dozen games, including a Hockey Trivia game, a Manitoba Trivia and, just in time for t said he holidays, a Christmas trivia game.

“We recently launched our Trivia Mix line, but our most popular game is Imposters, where your goal is to find the imposter in a group of things. You’ll get a category, like ‘musical instruments’ then hear a lineup of options. You’ll need to figure out which option doesn’t fit in the category – in this case, which one is not a musical instrument,” Wielgosz said.

Read
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

Supplied photo

Connor Wielgosz (left) and Dave Plumridge are the brains behind Glass Jar Games.
Supplied photo Connor Wielgosz (left) and Dave Plumridge are the brains behind Glass Jar Games.

Yes, it’s time for… fall yardwork

Carolyne Christie 2 minute read Preview

Yes, it’s time for… fall yardwork

Carolyne Christie 2 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2023

Believe it or not, winter is right around the corner which means it’s fall cleanup time. To ensure your yard survives another harsh winter, Jamie Wayne, owner of JR Property Services, has some easy tips.

“It may seem obvious but is important to collect and remove the majority of leaves on your lawn,” Wayne said. “This helps reduce snow mold, and reduces brown spots from blocking the sun’s ray on the grass. Too many leaves left over winter will smother and kill grass.”

Fall fertilizer and core aeration are other great things to do in the fall for your lawn.

“Leaving the lawn with the nutrients it needs before going dormant, and doing core aeration will help decompress the lawn before having the weight of snow on it all winter. This also allows for more water retention come the spring thaw.” said Jamie

Read
Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2023

Supplied photo

Clearing your lawn of leaves, fertilizing and aerating it will set it up recover nicely from winter come spring.
Supplied photo Clearing your lawn of leaves, fertilizing and aerating it will set it up recover nicely from winter come spring.