PembinaValley

The head of an Ottawa-based Canadian Army regiment has been temporarily removed as part of an investigation into alleged online behaviour that the commander of the army says disgraced the military.

The commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa has been removed from his post in connection with a probe into the "Blue Hackle Mafia" social media group, Lt-Gen Michael Wright said in a statement to army ranks Wednesday and shared with The Canadian Press Thursday.

Systematic government collection and analysis of data about mysterious sightings in the sky could help Canada better prepare for incidents like the sudden appearance of several high-altitude balloons over North America two years ago, says a report from the federal science adviser.

One of the balloons, which wafted above western Canada in early 2023 before being shot down off the U.S. coast, apparently originated from China and carried sophisticated equipment.

The balloon episodes generated intense public speculation before fading from the headlines.

Close to 13,000 people in Manitoba were out of their homes Thursday due to wildfires, but hundreds were finding space in hotels rather than in congregate shelters, the province said.

Since Monday, officials said they've found spots for 705 more people in hotels, while others are staying with family and friends or in one of four shelters in Winnipeg.

As of Wednesday night, there were about 7,000 evacuees in hotel rooms and about 1,200 in shelters, a government spokesperson said. 

Ten hotels were added to a list of 58 across the province already offering rooms.

The search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two slain First Nations women has concluded with a new search soon set to begin at a different site for another victim.

The Manitoba government announced Thursday that crews finished looking last week through the Prairie Green landfill, just north of Winnipeg, for remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. They were among four First Nations women murdered by serial killer Jeremy Skibicki in 2022. 

"Together, we brought Morgan and Marcedes home," Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said in a social media post. 

The City of Morden will be installing several Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers in the coming weeks.

"The City of Morden applied for funding through the Manitoba Climate Action Fund, and also through the Manitoba Motor Vehicle Dealers Association, and we received $156,000 towards these EV chargers," explained Mayor Nancy Penner who noted they are now in the midst of installing those units.

- One, 200 watt fast charger and Two Level 2 unit chargers are being installed at the Access Event Centre
- Two Level 2 unit chargers are being installed at 500 Stephen Street

The Morden Farmers’ Market is in full swing for its 2025 season. Open Thursdays from 4:00pm – 8:00pm from mid-June to early October, the market is already seeing a bumper crop of a season.  

Organized by vendors, for vendors, the market is held on 8 Street in Morden, between Stephen Street and North Railway Street. One of the organizers, Lorna Epp, shared what makes the market special is the sheer variety of vendors and product: “There’s fresh strawberries, there’s fresh vegetables, there is baking of every kind”.  

A great season for the U15 AAA Central Energy has coach Kevin Convery hoping to cap it off with a special run through provincials. 

Regional Connections Immigrant Settlement Services in Winkler, Morden, Altona, and Dauphin reported some success with the employment services offered to newcomers and Canadians. This is the one program the agency offers to all people, not just immigrants. 

A team rooted in purpose 

Jessica Lopez, Employment Program Coordinator at Regional Connections, supervises the three different employment projects called Employment Assistance Services (EAS), Professional Bridging, and GWEN—Gateway to Work Experience for Newcomers.” 

Hold onto your hats, the Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition is back. Running July 18 to 20, Morris is once again hosting the only professional rodeo on Manitoba’s leg of the Canadian Tour circuit, and it’s shaping up to be a record-breaking weekend of thrills, community spirit, and cowboy grit.

Aria Enns and Eve Sukkau are teaming up this weekend to hold a lemonade stand in support of CancerCare Manitoba. If that sounds familiar, it’s because this isn’t Aria’s first go around.