Kylee Bailey

In 1875, 18 villages were established by the first wave of Mennonite immigrants who settled in the West Reserve. 

One of those villages is Reinland in the RM of Stanley, where still today, one can see an enduring symbol of early Mennonite settlers: the Ens Heritage Housebarn.  

What would you do if you picked up a call and heard the voice of a loved one in distress? With the emotions that crop up immediately, would it occur to you that it could be a scam? 

This is what a southern Manitoba woman recently faced in a situation that seems straight out of a science fiction tale. 

It started with a call from an unknown number, but then there was chilling familiarity. 

This past weekend, the Carman Dufferin Fire Department had its hands full.  

“We had a grass fire call starting on Thursday, then we had another one on Saturday and then two on Sunday,” says Chief Chris Lemky of the department. 

The grass fires all had a similar cause — the dry, windy, and hot conditions that came along with the first weekend of May. 

Refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, and window air conditioning units are important pieces of equipment, but once they’ve passed their prime, they can become an inconvenience or even a danger.  

Fortunately, Efficiency Manitoba has a program that can not only help, but make it worth one’s while in a few ways.  

Refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, and window air conditioning units are important pieces of equipment, but once they’ve passed their prime, they can become an inconvenience or even a danger.  

Fortunately, Efficiency Manitoba has a program that can not only help, but make it worth one’s while in a few ways.  

The disadvantages of older appliances  

Efficiency Manitoba runs their Appliance Recycling Program throughout the province that can help remove aged refrigerators and freezers that get in the way or just need to be replaced.  

Can you imagine the weight of 18 tonnes of truck and 20 tonnes of excavator? 

To put this immense amount into perspective, the combined weight of the machinery is equivalent to about 22 cars. Picturing this number, however, was likely far from Sean Rickards' mind as he found himself crushed between the two pieces of equipment. 

“I was broken within a millimetre of my life,” he said afterwards.  

Carman’s Handi-Van has been helping people with mobility barriers since 1986.

In that time, the service has been shrinking the community and making it more accessible to countless people.  

Kathie Findlay has been a board member of Carman Handi-Van service since 2013. She says that through her years of working with the service, she sees how many people take advantage of it. 

Usually, equipment affords the space enthusiast a view of special celestial events. 

This week, however, one’s eyes will do. 

After a decade of serving as Carman Area Foundation’s chair, Janine Lodder is gearing up to exit the position.  

Accordingly, it’s no wonder that one of the most exciting and rewarding times of the year — grant season — is especially significant for her in 2025.  

For the rest of the community, it’s also a time to think about which organizations could use a helping hand to strengthen the area’s resources.  

Dr. Chandy Jacob is a name that has been associated with medical care in the Pembina Valley for over six decades.  

Watching the area’s medical landscape develop over the years has led to his opinions about how healthcare functions in the region. While his views might be slightly uncomfortable to hear in some circles, his intention for sharing them so openly is to improve healthcare for everyone.  

‘Nothing came without pushing’ 

In Dr. Jacob's view, the first step is to acknowledge the deficiencies in local medical services. The next step is taking action.