Candace Derksen

Phase 1 of Altona's expanded industrial park is getting developed this year. 

Council has awarded a bid by Fast Brothers for $3.7 million, and crews will get to work installing water, sewer and road infrastructure in the spring. The job also includes installing the necessary lift stations for the future phases.

"We're really excited to get this project continued, to get this project going," said Mayor Harv Schroeder. 

Members of Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services (ARES) responded to a higher-than-average number of calls for service in 2022. 

According to a year-end report filed by Fire Chief Greg Zimmerman, the department was dispatched 86 times. That's over the annual average of between 65 and 70 calls. 

"We're very fortunate that with all of the calls, none of them were major," he explained. 

Today marks the return of the self-proclaimed "Biggest little farm show in Canada". Postponed over the last two years, the 36th annual St. Jean Farm Days runs today and tomorrow (January 11th and 12th) at the St Jean Centennial Hall.

Organizer, Brunel Sabourin, says they are happy to be able to once again put on this event. Because it's one of the first farm show of the year, he noted it's quite popular with farmers and others in the industry.

There is an expectation that the Bank of Canada's interest rate hikes that we've seen over the past year or so, may be nearing an end. 

Larry Davey is the President and CEO for Access Credit Union, which has branches in Grunthal, Vita and Dominion City. He feels a majority of the big increases have already ended. 

There is an expectation that the Bank of Canada's interest rate hikes that we've seen over the past year or so, may be nearing an end. 

Larry Davey is the President and CEO of Access Credit Union. He feels a majority of the big increases have already ended. 

A new officer has been hired for the Altona Police Service, rounding out the department's constable contingent. 

Tristan Fournier-Jones' first day on the job was this past Tuesday. His hiring follows a series of promotions within the department following the September 1st retirement of former Chief Batchelor, explained Chief Dan Defer.

2022 saw a series of water and wastewater projects get underway in Rosenort. That includes the completion of a water plant storage and distribution system.

"I think that all went online this fall," said Reeve Scott Siemens. "So we went from twelve hours of water storage to three days worth in the event of a water outage upstream."

As for the lagoon expansion, all that's left is seed grass on the dikes come spring. 

2022 started off with repeated Colorado Lows and heavy rains, setting the stage for a very different year. That from Don Wiebe, Reeve for the Municipality of Rhineland. 

"A lot of time and energy went in to clean-up and repairing roads, crossings, etc. The Border Road again, that repair alone was a big project because it really got tested in the spring flooding," said Wiebe. 

At the end of the day, the Municipality submitted a Disaster Financial Assistance claim as a result of the wet spring exceeding $6 million. 

Council members from both the Town of Altona and Municipality of Rhineland recently had the opportunity to connect separately with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk. 

"It's always good to get the opportunity to talk directly to the minister-in-charge along with his staff," said Altona Mayor Harv Schroeder, adding Borderland MLA Josh Guenter also attended. 

There will be two new trustees around the Border Land School Division board table next month. 
    
Trustees have selected Bob Adolphe to fill a vacancy in Ward 2 - the Vita area, and Mike Friesen in Ward 7 - the Altona area after the two posts went unfilled following the October election. Those interested in the job were invited to submit expressions of interest to the school division.