Candace Derksen

The Altona Community Action Network (A-CAN) and Town of Altona are once again partnering to create new opportunities for the community to connect with one another and with the world around it.

Council has agreed to let A-CAN develop a three-acre plot north of the Community Garden and turn it into a community orchard, a space that produces food and provides an example of a climate-resilient food system to educate, nourish and inspire the community.

The province's Finance Minister is calling on the federal government to help ease the pressure Manitobans are feeling at the gas pump. 
    
In response to what he says is a frequent suggestion from Manitobans that government should be providing economic relief at the pump by decreasing gas taxes during this time of historic inflation, Cameron Friesen clarified the provincial and federal levies applied to fuel in a recently authored op-ed titled, Hard Facts on Gas Tax.

Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, has launched consultations to solicit input and inform a National Agricultural Labour Strategy.

Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector is an important engine of economic growth that feeds millions of people in Canada and around the world. It is also part of the country's critical infrastructure, essential to the health and well-being of all Canadians, stated an Agriculture and Agri-Food media release.

As Elks lodges around the country look to ramp up community service efforts post-pandemic, members are being encouraged to do so with enthusiasm. In fact, Elkdom with Enthusiasm was the message from Maurice W. Koszman, the National President and Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks of Canada as he met with Manitoba members this past weekend at the annual provincial conference held in Altona. 

Three years ago, a vision was sparked among members of Altona's Community Garden committee to turn the site into a park-like destination for the whole community. That dream took a big step forward this week as the long-awaited timber frame pavilion began to take shape in the centre of the space.

Members of the W.C. Miller Collegiate Student Council committed $1,700 back to the community this year through its Youth in Philanthropy (YiP) Fund. Money raised from student-led fundraisers was matched by the Altona Community Foundation (ACF) and doled out to three organizations selected by the students - the Kiddie Sunshine Centre, Gardens on Tenth and Genesis House.

The 2022 Dr. S.S. Toni Scholarship has been awarded to Danielle Klassen, a practical nursing student at Assiniboine Community College (ACC) in Brandon. 

Distributed by the Altona & District Health Care Board, the bursary is open to residents of the Town of Altona, Municipality of Rhineland and the Rural Municipality of Montcalm who are pursuing a health-related career.

Originally from Altona, Klassen says it was always the plan for her to become a nurse.

Manitobans are being encouraged to continue celebrating MCC Thrift's 50th anniversary throughout the summer by participating in the Thrifter's Tour. 
    

Borderland MLA Josh Guenter says the spring session of the Manitoba Legislature was busy and productive with over 20 bills passed.

"Nothing too controversial, I don't think, relative to perhaps other sessions," said Guenter, noting the most significant piece of legislation was the 2022/23 provincial budget. 

"I think the most significant measure that we passed was the Education Property Tax Rebate which increases rebate cheques to 37.5 per cent from 25 per cent, so that was incredibly significant."

With under one month to go before Sunova, Noventis and Access credit unions will officially merge to become the new Access Credit Union. 

In January, members of all three organizations voted strongly in support of the move which takes effect July 1. 

It will be a gradual process to bring all three credit unions under one umbrella.