Anyone who was around as the century turned in 2000 may remember all the speculation. Was the relatively new Internet going to change as everything digital turned over from 1900 to 2000? Would whatever digital data in place already just disappear? There were questions after questions.
Now, of course we know there was nothing to worry about on that front at all. As people prepared for the year 2000 to arrive, along with the preparation for epic end of the century parties, many friends and colleagues got together to place mementos of their years together in time capsules like this one.
A little while ago, Kim Shwaluk, who is an admin assistant at the Russell Hospital was downstairs in the basement of the hospital cleaning out the records room when she came across this time capsule put together by the nurses and staff working at the hospital on the last day of the century. Inside were pictures of all three shifts along with some New Years Eve 2000 party favors and a questionnaire asking the staff their predictions for twenty five years later. The questions included things like “where do you think you’ll be in the year 2025?” “What do you think your annual wage will be in 2025? “What major medical discovery /cure do you think will be made for the year 2025 among other questions. We have a few of those answers here.
Also in the capsule was a pamphlet put out by the Regional Health Authorities of Manitoba answering questions like: “will my holidays be cancelled if they’re in the early months of 2000?” along with questions about if the compatibility of medical equipment fit the pre millennial equipment on hand.
As an example of the uncertainty at the time, the RHA told their staff scheduled for a New Years Eve shift to dress in layers and bring sleeping bags in case of a midnight power outage.

Want to know what predications were made for the year 2025 back in the year 2000? Purchase a subscription to our printed or online copy of the Russell Banner, or purchase a copy at one of our fine dealers and turn to page 5.