Julie Penner
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julespenner.bsky.social
Julie Penner
@julespenner.bsky.social
1.7K followers 460 following 970 posts
Musician, mother, arts worker. I play violin with Do Make Say Think, Broken Social Scene, JP Hoe, etc. Made radio/podcasts with The Vinyl Cafe and William Prince. I tend to post about Winnipeg, biking, urbanism, and politics.

https://linktr.ee/JuliePenner
Posts Replies Media Videos
julespenner.bsky.social
Here’s Niigaan Sinclair @niigaanwewidam.bsky.social on CBC’s As It Happens re: Thomas King.

www.cbc.ca/radio/asitha...
But where the empathy stops is when you take up so much space, and you win all of these awards, and you then displace real-life Indigenous writers over that long period of time. If someone wants to talk about Indigenous identity for 25 books and impact not just ourselves, but an entire country, then what does that say about the country itself and the country that we are living in? I think many of us want to have a great deal of optimism and believe that reconciliation is moving and changing and making us more progressive than ever before. But this really hearkens to a time in this country in which non-Indigenous peoples are dictating the lives, the parameters, the arts of Indigenous Peoples. And we need to move on from that.
November 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
King has taken up *so* much space that wasn’t his to take.

My son is currently studying one of his books in school as an example of Indigenous literature.

I used “The Truth about Stories: A Native Narrative” in an essay for an Indigenous History course I took.

From my notes - yes, ironic.
Every country has a story it tells about itself; a mythology that gives shape to its identity as a nation. But what if that story, that history, has been based on false assumptions? Origin stories are important. Every culture has a creation myth. The creation myth is important – it set the tone/stage for everything to come. See the example of the difference between the Woman falling from sky story vs. the Bible creation myth. (Thomas King page 21).
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
“Winnipeg’s 2026 budget is being presented as a responsible plan for a growing city. In reality, it continues a decades-long pattern of expanding the physical footprint of the city faster than we can afford to maintain it — while starving the essential services that keep Winnipeggers safe.”
Meanwhile, Winnipeg now maintains 7,300 lane-kilometres of roadway, giving every resident more than 10 metres of road each. For comparison, New York City maintains only 3.4 metres per resident — yet it supports 8.6 million people and one of the strongest urban economies in the world. Winnipeg has nearly three times more roadway per capita than New York, despite having a fraction of its tax capacity.
November 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
So cute!
Piano teacher Maddy Hildebrand is on a Zoom lesson with her student, Sal Tait. May 6, 2020 in the Winnipeg Free Press
November 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
I’m so grateful to all the media outlets who have picked up this music story: @winnipegfreepress.com @theglobeandmail.com CBC, Radio-Canada, CTV, UMFM, CKUW, etc.

I sense some relief from adults that kids are still making music in their basement, performing live, and acting like…kids.
The Winnipeg Free Press Arts and Life section for Nov. 22. We’re Only Here For The Snacks are on the cover.
November 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
Today’s the day! Album release party at the West End Cultural Centre for We’re Only Here For The Snacks. Opening bands start at 5 pm and the Snacks will start just after 7 pm. Tickets available at the door. Show done by 8 pm. Hope to see Winnipeggers of all ages there!
We’re Only Here For The Snacks show poster with Nutty Club imagery. Sunday, Nov. 23 at the West End Cultural Centre. Doors at 4 pm, opening bands at 5 pm. $10 tickets for youth 18 and under, $15 for adults.
November 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
Thank you, Dan Leonard (a member of Granite Members for Affordable Housing).

“The MB government is hoping for a generational investment to expand the Port of Churchill, but the City of Winnipeg is unable to even move forward with a funded, city-approved, 111-unit housing project on city land.”
This panel overturned the decision of city councillors and determined that the city cannot develop their own land unless their tenant, the Granite Club, is “satisfied” with future parking plans. This is worth repeating. The City of Winnipeg cannot move forward with a fully funded housing project on its own land, to respond to what is widely agreed to be the most pressing crisis in our city, unless its tenant agrees on the parking plan. This decision puts the project at risk, as the Granite’s board secretary is quoted as saying that they will accept no loss in parking. The curling club was offered ongoing revenue (more than the developer itself would receive), dedicated parking spots and access to capital funding to ensure the club’s longevity. Any landlord would agree this is a more than generous offer to a tenant. As a club member, I can tell you that we have never been presented with any of these options. We have only been told repeatedly that the club is facing an existential threat. A sensible solution already exists, as Canada Life offers their surface parking lot across the street, for free, during non-business-hours when most people curl. This lot is both nicer and closer to the Granite Club’s entrance. This should be of significant concern to citizens and municipal governments alike for the simple reason that the way this decision was made is undemocratic. Consider that it takes only three unelected panel members and a round of signatures in opposition to halt any development project and that citizens and municipalities have no say in who is on the panel.
November 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
You wouldn’t want to bring “unwanted traffic” onto this peaceful boulevard.
#Winnipeg #NIMBY
November 21, 2025 at 12:57 AM
julespenner.bsky.social
I’m relieved they caught this guy. Look at this long list of property damage, including tons of arson. #Winnipeg #Downtown
Police said nearly two dozen incidents involving arson, breaking-and-enter or damage to property happened between June 11 and the day of his arrest. The locations were: Nahanni Fontaine’s constituency office (1763 Main St.) Bernadette Smith’s constituency office (804 Selkirk Ave.) Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar (456 Main) Johnny G’s (100-177 McDermot Ave.) Exchange Event Centre in the Exchange District The Palomino Club (436 Main) Boujee Restaurant and Bar (191 Main) The Winnipeg School Division administration building (1577 Wall St.) La Roca (155 Smith St.) The Tipsy Cow (285 Portage Ave.) An Addictions Foundation of Manitoba site (146 Magnus Ave.)
November 19, 2025 at 10:11 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
Still no snow in Winnipeg.
Park benches face the Assiniboine River with train bridge in the distance.
November 17, 2025 at 7:50 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
Do Americans know that Canadians never have to deal with this sort of “prior authorization” stress when we need medical care? (Not to mention we don’t get a bill in the mail.) #UniversalHealthCare
Kovitch’s bill for her clinic appointment was $238, and she paid for it out-of-pocket after learning that her insurance company, Anthem, didn’t plan to cover a cent. First, she tried appealing the denial. She even obtained a retroactive referral from her primary care doctor supporting the necessity of the clinic visit. It didn’t work. Anthem again denied coverage for the visit.
November 17, 2025 at 12:11 AM
julespenner.bsky.social
I’m heartened that this group exists: “Granite Members for Affordable Housing”. Good for them.

Also, there’s a *sea* of parking literally across the street (proposed complex is the X). This should be easy to resolve if the Granite truly wants the housing complex to be built. #Winnipeg
Multiple parking lots across the street, belonging to Canada Life.
November 16, 2025 at 3:55 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
Link for tickets: www.wecc.ca/events/1-rbb...
Show poster for album release. Nov. 23 at the West End Cultural Centre. “So many kids are addicted to their phones and it’s annoying, so making music is like rebelling against the cellphone rise,” says Sal Tait, the group’s de facto leader who has a leg up in his quest for rock stardom, as his dad is the former drummer of the Weakerthans. Sal – who at eight years old wrote Angry Birthday, a relatable tune about being ignored at his own party – says the group got together in the fourth grade. They’ve rehearsed in masks, on Zoom and in quarantine, and now they’re about to release a record: on Nov. 23 at the No Fun Club recording studio in Winnipeg, on an all-ages bill featuring three other acts who are all also too young to drive. Snacks synth-player Sebastiano Zurzolo says being in a band has taught him how to deal with anxiety and stress, and is a respite from things beyond his control. “There’s so much chaos in the world and sometimes you can use that chaos to express yourself,” he says, “but sometimes making music is a way of getting away from stuff like war. Music can help you escape and create brilliant ideas.” The band playing their new red vinyl album on a record player.
November 15, 2025 at 3:42 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
Interesting. #Manitoba #DataCentres
In response, companies are looking for more efficient solutions. The University of Manitoba’s super-computer data centre, for example, uses a water-cooling system that recycles the excess heat into nearby campus buildings. Other data centres are strategically built in cold climates, where free air-cooling systems can replace water cooling during the winter months. Firstly, the province’s long, cold winters allow tech companies to save money cooling server rooms. More importantly, Manitoba boasts some of the cheapest, low-emission hydroelectricity in the country, making the region attractive for power-hungry infrastructure developers. Finally, the innovation task force notes the Port of Churchill gives Manitoba a strategic advantage, connecting the province to global markets.
November 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
Rama Duwaji (Zohran Mamdani’s wife):

“I believe everyone has a responsibility to speak out against injustice,” she added, “and art has such an ability to spread it. I don’t think everybody has to make political work, but art is inherently political in how it’s made, funded, and shared.”
“I believe everyone has a responsibility to speak out against injustice,” she added, “and art has such an ability to spread it. I don’t think everybody has to make political work, but art is inherently political in how it’s made, funded, and shared. Even creating art as a refuge from the horrors we see is political to me. It’s a reaction to the world around us.”
November 5, 2025 at 11:24 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
This is good: “Automatic tax filing for lower-income Canadians”
Automatic tax filing for lower-income Canadians As previously announced, the government plans to start to automatically file returns for certain low-income Canadians starting in the 2026 tax year to ensure they receive federal support they’re entitled to, such as GST/HST credits and the Canada Child Benefit. The government also proposes to make prefilled tax returns that Canadians would be able to review prior to filing for up to 5.5 million low-income taxpayers by the 2028 tax year.
November 5, 2025 at 12:20 AM
julespenner.bsky.social
Pictures of cute little restaurants on Dovercourt that fit in nicely on the tree-lined residential street.
October 30, 2025 at 11:29 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
It’s ironic that she uses Pizzeria Badiali and Taverne Bernhardt's as “examples of the disruption retail can cause” because I always admire the little restaurants on Dovercourt when I’m visiting Toronto.
Neighbourhood interiors were never intended for commercial activity," Randy Kerr, chair of the Beaconsfield Village Residents Association, wrote in a letter to council. Nicole Tataj, also with Beaconsfield, pointed to two local businesses — Pizzeria Badiali and Taverne Bernhardt's — as examples of the disruption retail can cause. Both operate legally because they predate the 1959 zoning law that banned new neighbourhood stores.
October 30, 2025 at 11:25 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
We’re incredibly lucky that Trump finally decided to blow up these unproductive negotiations in such a way that drew attention to a basic fact: These tariffs are unproductive, ineffective and illegal. And to that end, Trump just underscored what we need to do next. “Canada is trying to illegally influence the United States Supreme Court,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last Friday, “in one of the most important rulings in the history of our Country.” Oral arguments at the Supreme Court start on November 5.
October 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
More of this, please.
British Columbia’s doctor recruitment advertising blitz in the U.S. drew a lot of attention, Krikorian said. He suggested Manitoba consider a similar approach. “I really think that there are a lot of doctors in the U.S. who are thinking about Canada, but who might not be aware of Winnipeg, or Manitoba in general, as an option.”
October 24, 2025 at 3:18 AM
julespenner.bsky.social
Poilievre jumped the shark by attacking the RCMP. Conservatives *like* the police.
The most strident public voice against Poilievre is Dimitri Soudas, a former director of communication to Stephen Harper. In an op-ed in the Toronto Star, Soudas accused Poilievre of "dismantling the principled, serious and credible" party that Harper "worked so hard to lead and bring to power, one of substance, maturity and integrity." "We are a democracy of rule of law. Therefore the leader of the opposition, [the] prime minister in waiting, cannot just throw out there that we should be jailing a former prime minister, that the RCMP covered up evidence and the RCMP leadership is reprehensible," Soudas added in a radio interview.
October 22, 2025 at 10:56 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
Oh, Bill Callahan has some of my favourite lyrics. #ExCon
Alone in my room I feel such a warmth for the community But out on the streets Out on the streets I feel like a robot by the river (Ex-Con by Smog)
October 20, 2025 at 1:49 AM
julespenner.bsky.social
“Doctors Manitoba targeted physicians concerned about the Trump presidency and the uncertainty it poses — especially in states that limit the ability to offer evidence-based medicine in areas such as reproductive health, gender-affirming care or medical assistance in dying.”
Asagwara said Manitobans should be proud to have access to universal health care. “One of the things (the U.S. physician) made really clear to me is that what makes Manitoba and Canada such an attractive place to practise as a doctor is that he’s not going to have to make decisions about his patient’s health care based on what they can afford — that he doesn’t have to worry about bankrupting a family based on a treatment that might save their life,” Asagwara said.
October 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
My son has a principal role acting and singing in the Hallmark MOW “The Snow Must Go On”! Obviously they aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but Hallmark movies are super important to the film industry here in Manitoba. So I’m grateful for them :)
Hallmark movie The Snow Must Go On is premiering November 28.
October 16, 2025 at 1:55 PM
julespenner.bsky.social
🙌🏻
My son (on the right) and his friend in a picture with Kyle Connor.
October 8, 2025 at 6:25 PM