PembinaValley

The ongoing fire situation in Manitoba, resulted in the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Agriculture Ministers meeting virtually last week.

They discussed a number of issues, from the weather impacts to international trade, improving interprovincial trade opportunities, and enhancements to AgriStability.

For the 2025 program year only, they agreed to increase the AgriStability compensation rate from 80 per cent to 90 per cent and increased the maximum payment limit from $3 million to $6 million. 

Funeral For: John Giesbrecht
Funeral Date: July 24, 2025 
John Giesbrecht, 91, of Winnipeg formerly of Blumenfeld passed away Sunday, July 13th at Poseidon Long-Term Care Home. He is survived by his wife Marlene, 2 sons, 2 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his first wife and all 22 of his siblings. 
A funeral service for John Giesbrecht will be held Thursday, 11am at Bethel Mennonite Church with Burial at Chapel Lawn Cemetery. 
Public viewing will be at Bethel Mennonite Church, Thursday, July 24th at 10am. 

You can call in to ask host Carla Hrycyna all of your gardening questions live every Saturday morning starting at 9:15am: 1-800-374-3315

Funeral For:  John Wiebe 
Funeral Date: Private 
John Wiebe, 91, of Altona formerly of Neuhorst, passed away Friday, July 18th at Eastview Place. He is survived by 1 sister, 1 sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by 4 sisters and 7 brothers. 
A private family service for John Wiebe will be held at a later date. 
Viewing will be at Wiebe Funeral Home, Altona Tuesday, July 22nd from 1 to 7pm. 
Arrangements by Wiebe Funeral Home, Altona.

Funeral For:  Jacob “Gilliam” Hildebrand  
Funeral Date: July 22, 2025 
Jacob "Gilliam" Hildebrand, age 87 years, of Altona formerly of Halbstadt, passed away on Friday, July 18th at Altona Memorial Health Centre. He is survived by his wife Kathy (nee Bergen), their children Jim Hildebrand, and Cindy Hildebrand, as well as 1 sister.  He was predeceased by one son Larry Hildebrand, his parents Diedrich and Maria Hildebrand, 3 sisters and 2 brothers.

Precipitation that's in the forecast early this week could help crews fighting wildfires that have been threatening a northern Manitoba city after smoke that's blanketed much of the Prairies over the weekend kept some firefighting aircraft grounded and forced the cancellation of a number of weekend events.

In an update posted to social media on Sunday, the City of Thompson said rain was forecast for the area on Monday as the community continues to advise residents to be ready to flee at short notice due to several fires. 

Environment Canada meteorologist Crawford Luke says wildfire smoke can definitely have an impact on the development of thunderstorms — especially when it blocks out sunlight and prevents surface temperatures from hitting key thresholds. 

Altona residents, and visitors, have welcomed back the Welcome to Altona signs on the town’s west, north and south entrances. The signs had been removed early this year to be repaired, and were re-installed last week.

All three signs were originally installed in 2011, and featured the "Altogether Altona" branding. According to Mayor Harv Schroeder, the refresh project was discussed last year and placed in the 2025 budget.

Tariffs and trade are top of the agenda as the country's premiers arrive in Ontario's cottage country for a three-day meeting that comes at a pivotal time for both Canada-U.S. and domestic relations.

The premiers' summer gathering in Muskoka will also feature a Tuesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, as trade talks with the United States are expected to intensify.

After 45 years in their Jasper home, it took mere minutes for Wes Bradford's quaint mountain abode to burn to a pile of ash.

A year later, he and his wife are itching to rebuild. They've hired a contractor and designer, and their insurance will cover the expected $1-million price tag. But they can't start yet — not until their empty lot, currently a flat mound of dirt, has been declared contaminant-free.

"We're up against the wall," says Bradford, after meeting their builder in Jasper the day before.