Health Sciences Centre Part 2

Thereasa Oswald at the announcement of the new hospital.

In the election in 2007, the NDP promised to build a new Women's Hospital for around $40 million. The old one, as mentioned here was built in 1950. It was meant to handle 2000 deliveries a year but that number has jumped to 5000 a year.

The NDP government announced on September 10 that they would build a new Women's Hospital on the site of the Weston Bakery across the street from the Children's Hospital.

For the NDP it was a bit of a coup to both negotiate for Weston Bakeries to move from their present location to the Fort Garry courthouse on Chevrier. That property had turned into an albatross for the government when it was never used for the high security trial it was built for. The bakery had been making noises about moving to Saskatchewan.

According to the Free Press, the original Women's Hospital was located a half kilometer away from the Children's Hospital because of an outbreak of childbed fever in 1936. While it might have been a good thing at the time, it is not only inconvenient but dangerous to have the hospital so far away. The crash cart team had to make a mad dash through the tunnels whenever a child's life was in danger.

The new hospital won't be built until 2009 as the Weston Bakery needs the time to complete their own $25 million building on the Chevrier site.

Let's hope that the new hospital will not be as ugly as most of the rest of the hospital buildings are at HSC.



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Commodity Exchange Tower/Winnipeg Square Part 1

From The Second City Book Lorimer p 107 and posted on Flikr and credit to Mr. Christian who has some great pictures.

Winnipeg Square was built in 1979 by Trizec Corporation. In the desperation to have some good economic news back in the 1970s, the city agreed build a three level underground parking lot and re-routed to an underground concourse to feed into a mall that was integral to a two tower project at Portage And Main.

As everyone knows now the project ended up. Today there is only one tower, one mall, the city owned parkade and the concourse. I'm not going to go over the history of how much the city ended up on the hook for in getting the one tower built. You can see the details on the West End Dumplings site which has some great pictures, one which I have posted here.

There are a few selections to read in Google books as well on the subject.

My impression of the tower shortly after it was built was how forlorn it looked for many years following its completion in 1979. For quite some time many floors were unoccupied.

Today, the tower is home to numerous law firms including giant Aikens MacAulay high up on the 30th floor with it nearly 100 lawyers. Down on the 17th is Fillmore Riley with over 50 lawyers.

Head back up to the 25th floor at it is Pitblado with around 60 lawyers.

Two floors of the tower are devoted to storage and mechanical equipment.

One of the main tenants of the Commodity Exchange Tower is of course, the Commodity Exchange. In keeping with the commodity theme, other tenants in the building com from a variety of grain companies and brokerages.

At the time of construction, Scotiabank had indicated they wanted to take up residence in the building and they remain a part of it but rather than the 360 Main Street address, they have a low rise banking center fronting Portage Avenue. The 200 Portage address is what is observed at the corner of Portage and Main while the tower sits farther back on Main Street.

The Free Press has recently reported that the new owners of Winnipeg Square and the Commodity Exchange building. The building will be renamed 360 Main Street.

(to be continued)



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Potton United FC

Potton United 2 Blackstones 0 - United Counties League, Premier Division

United Counties League

Potton is a town in Bedfordshire. Although it was largely destroyed by fire in 1783, some historic buildings survived, including the thirteenth century parish church, St Mary's. Historically, the town was home to a renowned horse fair. The town of Potton is famous for its disused railway station, sited on the Varsity Line between Cambridge and Oxford via Bedford and Bletchley. Potton United FC was somewhat unusual in being a permanent club which was formed during wartime, in 1943. When peace broke out, the Royals applied to join the South Midlands League, where they stayed until 1955. In that year they sought a higher standard of football in the London-based Parthenon League, but were rejected. After a season in limbo, they joined the Central Alliance League Division One (South), before finally joining the United Counties League in 1961.

If visiting the club by public transport the likelihood is you will reach Potton by train to either Biggleswade or Sandy and then onwards by local bus connection. Fine on a Saturday but not so convenient midweek, particularly post match. I was fortunate as the Piemobile was dropping me off and collecting me afterwards. The Hollow is located a short way along Biggleswade Road on the left-hand side if travelling from Potton. However, the entrance is not easy to spot if travelling by car and unfamiliar with the area and like us you could be past it before you realise.

With over an hour to spare before kick off, this Pieman decided a thirst quencher at the nearby Royal Oak was in order. Following the Great Fire of Potton in 1785, this establishment boasts to being the oldest building in town. Your correspondent was very pleased with his choice of ale – Bonkers Conkers from Greene King, only available in September (very good it was too – Ed).

On entering the ground I was met by Club Chairman Alan Riley and it was not long before Brian Buck’s name entered the conversation. The match programme carried an article ‘Travellers Tales’ in which Brian reports his travels from the back end of season 2007/8. By 10 May, Brian had attended his 301st match of the season (his 9,080th in total on his 2,750th ground!)

The Hollow is a pleasant venue, particularly on a warm sunny day as it was for my visit. The only covered spectator accommodation is the seated stand along one side of the ground. The dugouts are situated opposite. Behind one goal is the clubhouse (licensed bar) and changing facilities. The other end of the ground backs onto a cricket field. Special mention must also be made of the catering facilities. Ron’s Snax, adjacent to the entrance, has been featured in the Non-League Paper and reported on the Tony Kempster message board. The range available is extensive (as was my double cheeseburger – Ed)

As for the match, a tame scoreless first period burst into life immediately after the restart, courtesy of a fine debut goal from Dave Fisk (signed earlier in the week from St Neots Town FC – Ed). His strike hit the net via the keeper’s left hand post. A second counter from Jez McMurrough clinched a first league win of the season for Potton. Visitors Blackstones FC will have been disappointed with their display having failed to get a grip on the game on the occasions when they were in the ascendancy. Their manager lectured them on the pitch after the match and his words will still have been ringing in their ears as they journeyed back to Stamford.

Potton United: Ben Houseago, Dave Goodall (Carl Albone), Alan Kenney, Garry Watts, Stewart Haddow, Nathan Buckland (Dean Hamilton), Dave Fisk (Simon Desborough), Stuart Humphreys, Tom Beech, James Billington, Jeremy McMurrough.





Attendance: 47
Admission: £4.00
Programme: £1 (obtained for you Andy, Stan and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely,)
Double (and it was double!!) Cheeseburger: £2.80
Tea: 50p
Coffee: 60p

Archive Photographs

Rapid Transit

Free Press picture of Katz at bus announcement.

Sam Katz seems to finally come aboard on bus rapid transit. Like most people, I used to take the bus regularly back and forth to school. However, I found that on some occasions, it was faster for me to walk back to River Heights from the University of Winnipeg rather than wait. I did that frequently.

Nowadays, my work involves me travelling from suburb to suburb on an almost daily basis. I could ride a bike to work in the summer but the lack of bike stands where I work makes that a difficult prospect.

My wife works at Health Sciences Centre and while bus travel is possible back and forth, it would make a 12 hour day probably a 14-15 day if you included the commute.

I know some people will say we picked where we live in Charleswood but we did so in part for financial considerations. Homes in River Heights which have several bus routes are more expensive.

Sam Katz rejected an earlier form of rapid transit and instead used the money for community clubs. The jury is still out on that one but clubs are still falling apart or showing no indication they are willing to collaborate to build actual multi-purpose facilities.

The new plan for rapid transit comes with help from the provincial and federal government's. Gary Doer was also on hand for the announcement on September 8.

From the Free Press:

The first leg of the corridor -- which comes with a $138-million price tag -- will begin at Queen Elizabeth Way near The Forks and then snake 3.6 kilometres southwest to Jubilee Avenue near Pembina Highway, crossing over Osborne Street on a new bridge and then tunnelling below CN Rail's Fort Rouge Yards along the way.

The overall plan is for a $327 million corridor to the University of Manitoba but CN seems to have a lot of questions about the plan, the borrowing to get it done and details about the housing surrounding the 12 bus stations.

Katz says light rail is coming but that is in the future. I have no idea what that means.

There is a plan for 700 apartments to help finance the busway but details on that are sketchy as well.

Once approval of this plan happens, it will take three years to get the first phase done.

No rush it seems to bring fast mass transit to Winnipeg.



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Canada Election 2008

The election has been called by Stephen Harper for October 14, 2008. The prime minister sure went through contortions to justify calling an election. I always said it remained the PM's right to call an election and said that Harper would probably do it prior to the end of the mandate. I was told how ridiculous that was by many. Now, I hear how totally justified he is in breaking his promise.

We've seen that type of spin before in regards to income trusts and how it wasn't a broke promise to end them.

Jack Layton came out the first day saying he was up for debating Harper but refused to answer any questions about letting the Greens join the leader's debate. He just stared blankly at the CBC reporter.

I have no idea how the Greens will do. It is an uphill battle though. Elizabeth May will have a tough time winning against MacKay in Nova Scotia.

Stephane Dion had a good performance in Winnipeg this past week but he is quite weak nationally. The Environics poll from the CBC showed the Tories close to a majority.

My prediction based on trends is that the Tories are headed for a massive majority.



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St Francis Rangers FC

St Francis Rangers 4 East Grinstead Town 1 - Sussex County League, Division One

Sussex County League

St Francis Rangers FC was formed in 2002, following the amalgamation of St Francis (St Francis Hospital until 1999), and Ansty Rangers (Lindfield Rangers until 1996). The club is based at the Colwell Ground, within the sprawling grounds of The Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath. Reference is made in the club match programme to St Francis Hospital FC being known as the 'Mental Hospital' in earlier years. St Francis Psychiatric Hospital, Haywards Heath, West Sussex opened its doors to patients for the first time in 1859.

Built to house 400 patients at a cost of £46, 531. 16s. 10d, it carried on its work uninterrupted for 136 years until November 1995, when it closed to make way for modern advances in the community based care of the mentally ill. One local website claims that "the whole complex has been converted into yuppy-style condominiums for people with BMWs". Not sure about this but the imposing building is an immense feature when visiting this ground.

This Friday evening fixture was an attractive proposition, but severe adverse weather, with heavy rain sweeping in from the west was always at the back of my mind as I contemplated travelling to Sussex. A couple of afternoon phone calls to the Fixtures Secretary confirmed that the match was going ahead and so I made my way over to London Bridge in order to catch a direct service to Haywards Heath.

It only takes 20 minutes to reach the hospital complex on foot from Haywards Heath station but, if like me, you are on unfamiliar territory, it may take half as long again to find the Colwell Ground. En route you will pass the St Francis Social Club, where I spied Harveys Sussex Best Bitter on handpump when seeking directions. Hot food is also available here and the football club invites visitors back to these premises for hospitality after matches.

On arrival at the gate I was greeted by a couple of club officials including Gary Lomas, Commercial Manager. I was made to feel very welcome and even offered a lift back to the station after the match. It is clear that St Francis Rangers is a club that truly appreciates visitors. You enter the ground down a narrow track, bringing you to the car park and clubhouse building. This structure houses the changing facilities and upstairs the refreshment room. Hot food (burgers, chips) and draught lager complimented by tea, coffee and confectionery.

This was the first home fixture of the season due to the club sharing facilities with cricket. However, they had won 3 out of their 4 league fixtures away from home and a cup-tie. The only blip being a 2-0 reverse at Wick in the previous match. There is a considerable slope on the pitch, which must have aided the drainage on an extremely wet day. So much so that there was no standing water on the pitch on a day when much of Britain was suffering flash floods. This said, the Pieman was grateful for the covered standing area along the side of the pitch. At times the rain was almost horizontal as it blew in across the playing area making it very hard for the teams to play structured football.

But play they did, and it is a credit to both teams that they tried to play a positive game in such conditions. East Grinstead Town will be disappointed not to have done better with the chances that came their way whereas the home side were confident in their finishing. Their 4 goals coming from Jake Forward, a brace from Chris Maynard and when the keeper lost the ball from a corner, a strike by Russell Turpin (Highway Robbery? – Ed). The visitors claimed a late consolation through an own goal by Luke Leppard. Fellow hopper Nick from Richmond (thanks Nick) kindly gave me a lift back to the station and amazingly I was able to catch the 21.46 back to London Bridge enabling me to be back home in Cheshunt before midnight.

Attendance: 127
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1 (obtained for you Andy, Stan and Glyn, the barman in Phil Butler's local, the Prince Albert in Ely,)
Tea (in a mug): 60p
Chips: £1.00
Mars : 60p
Fare: £4.80 All Zone TravelCard + £5.80 Cheap Day Return from Zone 6 - it was cheaper to do it this way, both with Gold Card discount

Photographic Archive