IronMan Registration is OPEN!

The ground hog has come and gone and regardless if he saw his shadow or not, we're getting ready for spring.  One of the pleasures of summer that many of us enjoy, is playing golf.  Registration is now open for the IronMan Golf Tournament.  You can go directly to the registration site by clicking HERE.  Here's what the main page looks like and you can register from there as well.  If you'd like to sponsor a participant, click HERE.

For those visitors to this site who might not be familiar with the event, here's a bit of an explanation.  It's a one-day golf event where players are given priority on the Winkler Golf Course to play 100 holes of golf!  After checking in on Thursday June 26th, the day begins with breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and tee-off is at 7 a.m. and each golfer is equipped with a cart for the day. From there on, participants have the run of the course.  Play 100 holes as quickly as you like, share some of the duties with your caddy and stop every now and then when the Eden staff comes round with some refreshments.  When you're done, supper will be waiting for golfer and caddy.  The day ends with prizes and awards of recognition.

The IronMan Golf Tournament is a fund-raising event for Eden Foundation and the goal suggested is for each participant to raise $1,000 in supporting pledges.  Those funds collected are used for the work of Eden Health Care Services.  It is also worth noting that each year there are a group of local businesses that under-write this event and because of their financial support, participants collecting pledges can assure their sponsors that all of the funds committed to this event will be used directly in the work of Eden Health Care Services.

Eden Health Care's focus for the funds raised as a result of this event, are to refurbish the housing units at Enns Courts in Winkler.  Enns Courts was built almost 25 years ago as an extension of the Eden Health Care's firm conviction that besides good medical intervention, a decent place to live with the context of a community is a great aid in helping people along their journey to mental health recovery.  Over the course of these past 25 years of faithful service, regular usage has now brought us to the point where it's going to take a bit more than a really good cleaning and fresh coat of paint are going to do.  We need to replace fixtures and cabinetry.

While this is the current and pressing need, it is important that the other services of Eden Health Care continue to be supported.  While a decent place to live is important, it's equally important that good personal counseling is available.  It's equally important that those with employment barriers are given the assistance they might need in order for the individual to re-enter the workforce as a contributing member of the community.  In doing so, the sense of belonging and participation becomes a significant part in the journey of recovery.

Help the Eden Foundation help Eden Health Care Services and come have some fun at the IronMan Golf Tournament, schedule for Thursday June 26th.

Spring Concert

Songs of Faith and Hope is the title of the Spring Concert coming up on Saturday March 29th at 7:30 pm at the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church..  Vic Engbrecht together with Ray Giesbrecht will each be presenting their selections of songs.  Accompanying them is one of southern Manitoba's most sought after pianists, Loren Hiebert.  The Winkler Community Male Choir will be participating as well, providing an accompanying chorus for a number of the soloists work and will also be presenting some selections on their own.

Vic Engbrecht is a highly sought after bass soloist and has an extensive repertoire including songs of faith which he holds most dear.  His most recent recording is titled "I'd Rather Have Jesus" and will be available for purchase at the concert.  Vic has sung with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir, The Mennonite Festival Chorus, the Winnipeg Singers, Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet and with Canzona while under the direction of his faither Henry Engbrecht.
















Ray Giesbrecht is a graduate of the University of Manitoba and the University of Toronto School of Opera as well as having sung with CBC's "Hymn Sing".  He is currently a voice instructor at Providence University College and continues an active singing career as a soloist and as the conductor of the Winkler Community Male Choir.

Loren Hiebert is a much sought after pianist in many capacities including teaching, recording and collaborative work with other musicians.  Loren has earned his ARCT in both performance and teaching.  He has collaborated with a number of musicians including Rosemary Siemens, recording four CD's with her.  More recently, he has collaborated with the acclaimed choral ensemble "Canzona" in their recording of Germany hymns.  He is also accompanying pianist with the Men's Faith & Life Chorus.

The Winkler Community Male Choir has been together since 2005 under the direction of Ray Giesbrecht.  They have recorded one CD entitled "He Never Failed Me".  The majority of their service has been in and around the Winkler/Morden area where choir members are resident.  The men come from a collection of about ten different congregations in and around the Morden, Winkler, Plum Coulee area.  They have had the pleasure of working together with the Eastman Male Choir and with the Winnipeg Men's Chorus.  Each year, the choir has presented a Christmas concert and a spring concert.  This year the choir has the pleasure of working together with Vic and with Loren.  It also has the pleasure of having their director take the lead as a soloist with the choir having a supporting role.

This Spring Concert is intended to be a Benefit Concert, raising money for the work of Eden Health Care Services.  Enns Courts in Winkler was built more than 20 years ago and has been providing good quality and quality housing at affordable rates for residents.  The two building are in need of some more significant refurbishments after so many years of service and the funds raised through this concert will make it possible for the Eden organization to take on those renovations and still continue to maintain affordable rates.

All funds received during this event are fully tax deductible.