PembinaValley

A proposed class-action lawsuit against the Canadian government says Indigenous people removed from their communities and placed in group homes beginning in the 1950s suffered physical, sexual and psychological abuse that "was commonplace, condoned and, arguably, encouraged."

The Federal Court lawsuit filed this month in Vancouver says Indigenous children across the country were forcibly removed from their homes and taken "to live with strangers — sometimes hundreds of kilometres from their families and Indigenous communities."

Five drivers were suspended and their vehicles impounded by Morden police in the last week-and-a-half: all caught by officers on general patrol.
    
The first was pulled over because their vehicle's taillights were out, according to police. The department says a smell of liquor coming from the driver, who had a youth in the passenger seat, led them to fail a roadside screening test. They were issued a 90-day driving suspension, a 30-day vehicle impoundment and a $700 administrative penalty.

With temperatures still hovering at and above seasonal norms, you may wonder when we will see any kind of lasting snow in the area.

Natalie Hasell, a Warning Preparedness Meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, notes that this is an on-going trend throughout the fall months.

Altona Mayor Harv Schroeder has a new Deputy Mayor in Craig Smiley.

Each year, the town's councillors have the chance to volunteer for this leadership position, with the final selection made by a council vote.

"I appreciate his readiness to take on this leadership role and I am excited to work more closely with him this year," said Schroeder. 

The Deputy Mayor supports the Mayor in their role.

Green boxes, red lids. This has been a familiar sight to many people in the Pembina Valley during the holiday season for over three decades, even if the design changes now and again. 

The recognizable boxes are a part of Operation Christmas Child, a tradition that benefits givers and receivers alike.  

The Morden Youth for Christ (YFC) is excited to invite the community to its annual Charcuterie Banquet this Friday at the Christian Life Center. This unique fundraising event combines delicious food, community connection, and an opportunity to learn about the impactful programs Morden YFC offers for local youth. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., with the event beginning at 7 p.m.

It might be a bit difficult for those who feel like it was just yesterday to admit, but 90s music has now achieved classic status. One genre that stands out is grunge — the Seattle sounds of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains have left a lasting mark on music history. 

A new age of music  

On Saturday, November 16th, Back 40 will pay tribute to the grunge greats.  

Canada's Public Health Agency has confirmed that a British Columbia teenager hospitalized last Friday is the country's first ever human case of domestically acquired avian flu.

The agency said in a statement Wednesday that testing at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg confirms the teen did contract the H5N1 avian flu, the same strain related to viruses found in B.C. flocks in an ongoing outbreak at poultry farms.

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is currently hosting its annual 2024 district meetings across Manitoba. They began in Arborg on Tuesday, November 12, and will wrap up in Swan River on Thursday, December 19.  

Jill Verwey, President of KAP says organizing and hosting the meetings is a requirement and part of their grassroots policy. 

Winkler Fire Department was called to a utility trailer fire on Cambridge Crescent Tuesday night.

The call came in around 8pm, and when crews arrived they found the contents of a small utility trailer were burning. The fire had previously been noticed by a neighbour, who had pulled the trailer away from the house and was using a garden hose on the flames.

Firefighters completed the extinguishment.

The contents of the trailer are a loss, and there was some damage to the trailer itself.

The cause is under investigation.