Pembina Valley Online

Gone are the days when insulation installers would simply show up, do their work and only check back in for the customer’s next renovation or building project. As Josh Wall of Great Plains Insulation explains, some of his most useful feedback comes well after a job’s completion.

Got a metal problem? Like the title says, Kel’s Custom Welding can probably fix it.

If there’s one thing you need to know about Kel Rempel and the team, it’s that they can weld anything.

Cracked exhaust pipe on your bike? Rusted tractor bucket? A broken necklace?

They can – and will – fix it.

Kel’s Custom Welding owner, Kel Rempel, has nearly 35 years of welding experience. Rempel and his wife, Eva, started the business together 20 years ago, with three of their sons and a daughter joining the team over the years.

From humble beginnings to province-wide impact 

Powertec Solar has been a beacon for renewable energy in Manitoba for over a decade. Founded with a mission to bring solar power to a province historically slow to adopt this technology, Powertec Solar has grown to become one of Manitoba's leading solar installation companies. While the company started small, it has since expanded its reach beyond Manitoba, serving clients in neighbouring provinces and even in remote northern communities. 

When Heather and Randy Unger began working with Henry and Margaret Unger in 1989, they were stepping into a family business with deep roots. Originally launched as Margaret Draperies in 1974 in Plum Coulee, the business evolved into Advance Blinds and Drapery and built a reputation for high-quality products and service across Manitoba and into Ontario’s cottage country surrounding Lake of the Woods. 

Winkler's first craft brewery taproom is officially pouring.

After hitting shelves across Manitoba last fall, Heritage Farms Brewing Company is preparing for a grand opening celebration on June 27 at its new taproom in Winkler. Founded by Johnny Trinke, the brewery blends a love of craft beer with a deep-rooted family legacy in agriculture.

“I’m the sixth generation John Trinke on our farm, which has been in our family since 1878,” said Trinke. “Heritage Farms Brewing pays homage not only to our own farm, but to all the hardworking family farms in the area.”

What started as a conversation between family members has grown into one of the region’s most trusted names in concrete and construction. Winmor Concrete & Construction, owned and operated by Willie Bergen, has steadily built a reputation for quality craftsmanship, professionalism, and customer satisfaction across the Pembina Valley.

“I’ve been around concrete work for many years,” says Bergen. “It looked like a rewarding, fun job, so I decided to go for it and never looked back.”

The region's wellness landscape just got a major upgrade.

Healthians Wellness World officially opened its doors on May 10th, welcoming over 250 guests to a grand celebration that included live music, dance performances, and an array of complimentary snacks for an event that far exceeded expectations.

The blaze on April 29th that would go on to claim the building that housed Quality Inn and Suites and Smitty’s Restaurant and Lounge has significantly affected the lives of staff and the community. 

Angelina Fehr, the owner/general manager of Smitty's, says that as the event was unfolding, it was difficult to tell how severe the situation was.

“My employment at Winkler Plumbing started unintentionally. I stopped by to pick up parts for a project I was working on and jokingly asked if they were hiring. Abe Kauenhofen (founder of WPH) asked me to come for an interview, and the rest is history.

Like everyone else, I started as a grunt. I was behind the shovel and did a lot of digging. It included a lot of the not so fun things that you do when you start new a new job, but I learned so much. I enjoyed the physicality of it, making things from scratch and meeting new people. And every job was different.”

A local healthcare manufacturing company is gearing up for continued growth, hosting a Hiring Event on Saturday, May 3rd from 9:00am until noon (400 Route 100, Morden, MB R6M1Z9). Apply now.