Science is one of the most important subjects taught in school. Without a reasonable grasp of basic scientific concepts, it’s tough to make sense of the world around us.

However, science changes over time. That’s why it makes sense to update curriculum guides so that they contain the latest information. What doesn’t make sense is mandating a new science curriculum that is confusing to teachers and lacks proper learning resources.

This fall, all Manitoba schools will be required to implement a new K-10 science curriculum. Unfortunately, instead of being more precise and accurate than the current curriculum, the new curriculum documents are surprisingly vague.

For example, instead of categorizing topics in different grade levels by themes such as electricity, forces, the senses, and the solar system, the new curriculum repeats the same five strands each year: Indigenous peoples within the natural world, science identity, practical science, nature of science; and scientific knowledge.

The wide-spread expansion of legalized sports gambling had been something I was looking forward to.

It felt goofy you couldn’t bet on single NFL games at Manitoba’s Sport Select and I thought it would be better to bring it into the light.

There certainly have been pains in the first few years of wide-spread legalized sports gambling, especially around advertising. I can’t imagine what it feels like to have a problem with gambling and be a sports fan nowadays, when nearly every league is plastered with temptations.

I was hopeful those were just growing pains and figured the ridiculous advertising would slow down once the big players had established themselves.

In the 42 years that I’ve been writing this column, I can count on one hand with fingers to spare how many times I’ve responded to letters to the editor, whether they were positive or negative.

I have always maintained that we are all entitled to our own opinions; I have mine and others have theirs.

I completely understand that some people don’t want any politics in their sports; I too wish sport would be free from politics. But I also know from the times people come up to me in Steinbach and tell me that they enjoy the column, that some people are quite okay with discussions about the intersection of sports and politics.

One of my favourite phrases is “sports is the toy department in the hardware store of life.” I would love it if sport could stay in the toy department. But that’s not the world we live in anymore. Sport - like movies, TV, music, fashion and art - are frequently suffused with politics.

The Steinbach Arts Council’s favourite free outdoor tradition is nearly over The 2026 K.R. Barkman Concerts in the Park series brings performing arts to the gazebo every week through June 17.

Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. at K.R, Barkman Park (Main Street, southeast of the fire hall). Grab your lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy live performances!

2026 remaining concert schedule

June 17 – Jess & Janice, P-Noise