Recognition Trees & Historical Signs
#1 – Japanese Lilac – in recognition of Dr. Gilles Pinette
Aboriginal Health, Researcher & Educator
Dr. Gilles Pinette is a family physician in urban Winnipeg and blends traditional aboriginal teaching on health with modern day western medicine.
Dr. Pinette is also the founder of the community Hepatitis C Clinic in the core urban area of Winnipeg and co-founder of Family Matters Medical Centre. In addition of being a busy family physician, Dr. Pinette is a lecturer for the Faculty of Medicine and has taught classes for other health faculties throughout the community on health and wellness.
Dr. Pinette has also co-founded Laser Away Ltd., an aesthetic clinic offering a wide variety of cosmetic medical treatment in south Winnipeg.
Dr. Pinette has been a health columnist across Canada over the last eight years, at times reaching a biweekly audience of nearly 400,000 people. His column, the Medicine Bundle, has appeared regularly in over thirty different newspapers and magazines across Canada. He has published several books in the health and education area, and has founded Makinak publishing.
Dr. Pinette has received national recognition for his contributions including the 2002 National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the 2001 Metis National Youth Role Model Award and was named to the Maclean’s Magazine 2002 Honour Roll of ten Canadians who have made a difference. He was also honoured by the Manitoba Medical Association Health or Safety Promotion Award in 2005.
Dr. Pinette makes his home in Winnipeg with his wife and three children. A detailed bio can be obtained from the Binscarth Village Office.
#2 – Green Ash – in recognition of Jan Kruetzer
Volleyball & Basketball Athletic Biography:
| 1964,65 | Provincial AAAA Volleyball Champs, Dakota Collegiate—MVP |
| 1965 | Western Canadian Junior men’s Volleyball Champs—Winnipeg All Stars |
| 1966 | Canadian Junior Men’s Volleyball Champs—Winnipeg All Stars |
| 1967 | Provincial AAA Basketball Champs—University of Winnipeg |
| 1968 | Western Canada CIAU Volleyball Champs |
| 1969 | Canadian CIAU Volleyball Champs—University of Winnipeg |
| 1978,80,92 | Canadian Men’s National Basketball champs-Nicolette Inn |
| 1979,81 | Placed second in National Basketball championships |
Inductions:
Brandon University Basketball Hall of Fame University of Winnipeg Volleyball Hall of Fame Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame Placed 2nd in the 1967 Quebec Winter Games Numerous baseball, hockey & soccer championships
#3 – Green Ash – in recognition of Robert Kelly
Sea Kayaker & Writer
Bob, born in in 1936 is the son of Isla David Kelly Gray, stepson of George Gray, brother of Glenda cook. Bob quit school at 14 and this his adventure began. His lesson in life took many directions; an assistant Lab Technician at Manitoba Medical College, caring for and riding horses at R.J. Speers Race horse farm at Carberry, a waiter, busboy, a salesman, farm hand, and at 17 a towerman, leverman for the CNR.
In 1956 he entered the RCAF where he received direction, discipline and the formal education he needed. At Carlton University he received an honours degree in Political Science. He served as a diplomat in several countries. He served as an assistant to Jean Luc Pepi, Liberal Cabinet Minister, which led to an international trading and project company, which did business in over 60 countries.
In 1996 his solo Kayak journey began as therapy for a leg problem. The trip was completed in two sections: Ottawa east and after his wife’s untimely death, he completed the cross country trip west in 1997.
He is believed to be the only person to have Sea Kayaked solo across Canada. This trip is the subject of his book “Solo” a wonderful read.
Besides his adventure he has served numerous times as a volunteer, building such things as schools, medical clinics, in places like Slovakia, Hungary, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Peru and Costa Rica. He has supervised a school building for the Japanese embassy and one for the British embassy. Bob is now busy writing his memoirs.
#4 – Manchuran Pear – in recognition of Ken Wasslen
Golf
Ken, born in Binscarth, now hails from Calgary Alberta. He joined the Willow Park Golf Club in Calgary in 1965 and has won the Club Championship 20 times in his 40 year membership. He has been Senior Club Champ 10 times including 2007.
In 1985, he was on the Alberta team that won the Wellington Cup. He has also won the Alberta Golf Title and was the amateur CGA city champion. In 1987 he was name CGA player of the year.
#5 – Japanese Lilac – in recognition of Julie Salyn
Volleyball
Julie was born in 1980 and raised in Binscarth, daughter of Don & Audrey Salyn. She played five years, 1998—208 at the University of Manitoba where her team won bronze, silver and two gold medal at Nationals. In 2001, Julie played with the National “B” team, then continued on to play in 2003 with the National Senior team.
Julie participated in the Olympic qualification tourney in Puerto Rico, and played at the World University Games in south Korea. From August 2006—April 2007 Julie played in the top professional league in Sweden, the Netherlands and France.
Julie now makes her home in Europe, where she continues to play professional volleyball.
#6 – Little Leaf Linden – in recognition of Garth Neville
Baseball
Garth was known as an outstanding pitcher, and played mainly for Binscarth, including when they won the Northwest League title and Manitoba Senior B title in both 1970 and 1971. The Binscarth team moved to MSBL in 1972 and won both league pennant and Senior title that year. Garth played for Binscarth in 1977 when they won the MSBL. He also played for the pennant winning Teulon team of Red Boine league in 1979.
Neville was a MSBL first team all star in 1972 and a second team all star in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1977. He pitched for Team “Toba” at Nationals in 1973, 1975, and 1976. He also pitched for Team Canada at the World Championships in Nicaragua in 1972, at continental Cup in Rome in 1973, and at the Pan Am Games in Mexico City in 1975. Garth passed away on June 17, 2005.
#7 – Amur Maple – in recognition of Cathy Burton
Golf
Cathy is the daughter of Rev. Bob & Margaret Burton. She resides in Calgary with her family and is the Head Professional at River Spirit Golf Course located on the west side of Calgary on the edge of the Rocky Mountains.
| Amateur Golf Achievements: | |
| 1984 & 1986 | Manitoba Amateur Champion |
| 1986 | Saskatchewan Amateur Champion |
| 1986 & 1987 | Team Canada Member |
| 1987 | Member of Commonwealth Team—won Championship in New Zealand Americas Cup-Cali Columbian—finished 11th Manitoba Golfer of the year finalist Nominated for MB Athlete of the year |
| Professional Golf Achievements: | |
| 1988—1990 | Joined Futures Professional Tour |
| 1992—1996 | LPGA Teaching Division member |
| 1996 | CPGA Class A Member |
| Accomplishments: | |
| 1998—2004 | Canadian National Junior Women’s Coach RCGA Girls Club—initiated program and author of program annual Canadian PGA National Facilitator of Teaching and Coaching Certification Program. |
| 2009 | Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame Inductee |
#8 – Little Leaf Linden – in recognition of Terry & Ron Braunstein
Curling
Terry and Ron lived in Binscarth from 1945—1955, the sons of a doctor who practiced here. They developed their skills as a result of the terrific sporting environment that Binscarth offered in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
When the Braunsteins moved to Winnipeg, Terry began to curl at the Maple Leaf Curling Club with his uncle, a very successful Manitoba curler. He also joined the Granite Curling Club junior program where he skipped a team which included Ron and his good friend Ray Turnbull.
I n 1956, Terry entered his junior team in the Winnipeg bonspiel and won a spot in the Manitoba Provincial Curling Playdowns. They won the 1958 Manitoba championship and were the youngest team to compete at the Brier. They finished runner-up with a record of 8 & 2. In 1965, Terry’s team of Don Duguid, Ron and Ray, won the brier with a record of 9 &1.
#9 – LIttle Leaf Linden – in recognition of Cody McLeod
NHL Hockey
Born and raised in Binscarth, Cody is the son of Pete and Sandra McLeod. Cody played one season with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 2000—2001,then spent 4 years with the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winter Hawks, where he amassed 31 goals and 195 penalty minutes in 2004—2005.
Cody split his first pro season between the San Diego Gulls and the AHL’s Lowell Lock monsters. July 6, 2006 the Colorado Avalanche signed him as a free agent. December 19 at Anaheim, Cody made his NHL debut. On December 27, 2007 he scored his first NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings.
#10 – Amur Maple – in recognition of Ron Shewchuk
Baseball Umpire
Ron is the son of the late Elias and Rose Shewchuk of Binscarth. He attended Binscarth School and was a graduate from Major Pratt School in Russell.
Ron was selected as one of two Umpires from Canada to officiate at the Olympic Baseball Competition in Bejing in 2008. Ron has extensive international experience as having officiated at Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Cuba in 2006. He has been umpiring in the Northern League since its inception and has 11 Baseball Canada National championships and 7 International events to his credit. In 2001 Ron was honoured with Baseball Canada Umpire of the year. He was also awarded the Baseball Manitoba Umpire of Merit Award in 1987.
#11 – Amur Maple – in recognition of Bernice Bowley
Volleyball
Bernice gained prominence as a four time C.I.A.U. volleyball champion with the U. of W. Lady Westman and a selection to the National Team. Bernice was raised in Binscarth attending Binscarth School, and then school at Major Pratt School in Russell. She is also a successful lawyer.