Daisy Woelk

Evacuees from Woodridge are back home now—and for one resident, the realization of what could have been hits hard.

"All the homes in our town had been spared, and our town had been spared. But speaking with the firefighters, they said it was the closest call they have ever had," says Cheryl Wilson-Janz. "If the winds and rain hadn't come, then they think they probably would have lost the town within the hour."

Wilson-Janz, who is a member of the Woodridge Community Club, says when the town was ordered to evacuate, it was extremely difficult.

Evacuees from Woodridge are back home now—and for one resident, the realization of what could have been hits hard.

"All the homes in our town had been spared, and out town had been spared. But speaking with the firefighters, they said it was the closest call they have ever had," says Cheryl Wilson-Janz. "If the winds and rain hadn't come, then they think they probably would have lost the town within the hour."

Wilson-Janz, who is a member of the Woodridge Community Club, says when the town was ordered to evacuate, it was extremely difficult.

The rain in Bird River feels like an answer to the prayers of Southland Church, as the bible camp they run continues to be threatened by a wildfire in the area.

On Friday, the church posted on social media that the "fire has somewhat subsided. But we’re not fully out of the woods. It’s raining today—a true answer to so many prayers. But we still need even more rain."

Bird River Bible Camp, run by Southland Church in Steinbach, has been evacuated due to a wildfire.

Teena Cole, a pastor at the church, says late this afternoon, the church got a message from camp staff notifying of the evacuation.

"The fires were, according to firefighters, three to four kilometers away at that time, and moving closer," she says.

An emergency evacuation notice in the Rural Municipality of Alexander, says all residents between Hill Road on PR 315 and the Bird River Bridge must evacuate immediately, including the bible camp.

As the change in season reels in the heat, it's hooking anglers along with it.

"(It's) being out on the water, just the peace and quiet of it. I mean catching fish is great, it's fantastic. But at the end of the day it's, and I think it's for a lot of fishermen, the quietness of being on the water," says Trevor Fehr of Fehr's Sporting Goods in Steinbach.

He says while there's plenty of fish that can be caught through the year, the seasons for others still need to open.

Noel Gautron is once again the People's Party of Canada (PPC) candidate for Provencher.

Gautron says the first time he ran for the PPC was for a Winnipeg riding in 2019, then ran again in 2021 for Provencher.

"A bit about myself: (I'm a) firearms enthusiast, classic car lover, and small business owner," he says, adding the reason he got into politics was to offer better political representation.

There are several issues top of mind for him as he takes to the campaign trail.

A federal election is coming up in three weeks, April 28th, and the Liberal candidate for Provencher is getting ready.

"It's going to be busy because this is a short campaign and so there's a lot to do, but I'm looking forward to it. I think this is a very important election, so I wanted to be part of it," says Trevor Kirczenow.

There are several big issues that make this such a critical election, he says.

Applause erupts, and red ribbon falls away as a highly anticipated movie studio in Niverville is officially opened, with a big thanks to a local coffee shop owner.

"Juliette (Hagopian) is my sponsor mother. She sponsored me in 2003, April 16, to Canada from Ethiopia," says Henok Negash, who founded Negash Coffee in Niverville and now self distributes a new coffee brand called Queen Sheba Coffee Roasters.

Spring is here!

It's the season many have been waiting for, eagerly anticipating budding trees, blooming gardens, and the homecoming of some warmth-loving critters. But, while this time of year is held with open arms, there is reason for caution — especially as the ice melts.

"Roughly 30 per cent of drownings in Manitoba happen... between October and April," says Lynne Stefanchuk, the executive director of Lifesaving Society Manitoba. "There's always that danger around waterways in Manitoba."

Spring is here!

It's the season many have been waiting for, eagerly anticipating budding trees, blooming gardens, and the homecoming of some warmth-loving critters. But, while this time of year is held with open arms, there is reason for caution — especially as the ice melts.

"Roughly 30 per cent of drownings in Manitoba happen... between October and April," says Lynne Stefanchuk, the executive director of Lifesaving Society Manitoba. "There's always that danger around waterways in Manitoba."