The Member of Parliament for Provencher is asking all of us to watch our mental health this Christmas season. 

Ted Falk says for many people, Christmas is a joyous time of getting together with family and friends, celebrating the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ. But Falk acknowledges that Christmas is also a lonely and difficult time of year for many people. 

"I would encourage people to check their mental health," he says. "Let's be mindful of our neighbours and our friends."

Falk encourages us all to be our brother's keeper. He says we need to watch out for folks that are in a vulnerable situation, come alongside them and offer help. 

Falk says Provencher is filled with generous people, as is evident by the support shown towards food banks and Christmas hamper projects. And now, he says we should look for opportunities to help our neighbour.

Having said that, he wishes everyone a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year. 

"On behalf of my wife Irene," he says. "We wish you much happiness, peace and prosperity."

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen says Christmas can be a time of extremes with some people having a wonderful Christmas and others facing challenges. But, Goertzen says the message of Christmas remains the same whether it is a wonderful or challenging time of year for you. He notes similarly, that first Christmas had its challenges also.

"It had its challenges of a young mother who was in an unexpected pregnancy who couldn't find a room and couldn't find a place to be," he says. "It was a tough and challenging time."

And, whether you are experiencing joy this Christmas, or a season filled with challenges, Goertzen says he hopes the message of Christmas touches you in a way that meets you in the place that you are at today and that you have a wonderful 2023. 

On behalf of City Council and his wife Lori, Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk would also like to wish everyone in the southeast a Merry Chistmas and a happy new year. 

"I think at Christmas time, I think the greatest gift we can give someone is our time," says Funk. "And so I just encourage everyone to just be mindful of that as we get together that we just give our family our time."

Funk says after what has been a very busy lead up to Christmas Day, he looks forward to investing time into his family over the next few says. 

One other local politician who would like to extend Christmas greetings is Hanover Reeve Jim Funk.

"On behalf of my wife and myself, we wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas," says Funk. "All the best in the new year."