Jayme Giesbrecht

It started with a jar of homemade grape spread brought into the radio station by Country 88.9 FM host Ty Hildebrand. Was it jam? Or was it jelly? It’s something many Pembina Valley kitchens have been debating for generations.

The Pembina Valley Astro club is gaining momentum, and founder Kenton Dyck says the best part has been connecting with people who share his curiosity about the night sky.

“We have to spread the love of science somehow,” said Dyck, who has been taking his telescope on the road to share astronomy with new audiences.

“I keep making all of these connections and I found that they find there's so much overlap between my hobbies and other people's hobbies.” - Kenton Dyck, Pembina Valley Astro Club founder.

The Boyne River will be the star of the show this weekend as the community of Carman gears up to celebrate World Rivers Day with a full slate of family-friendly activities, pirate-themed fun, and even a chance to win a kayak.

The Winkler Wizzards are celebrating a milestone this year, with longtime coaches marking four decades of volunteer leadership in Special Olympics Manitoba. For Sharon Dueck and Glen Wieler, what began as a small effort in 1986 has grown into a community of athletes, coaches, and supporters that continues to thrive.

Get ready, Pembina Valley, The first official RPM Festival—Rhythm, People, and Machines—is rolling in this Saturday, September 6th, from noon to 10:30 p.m. at Elias Woodwork & Manufacturing, nestled between Morden and Winkler. What started as a rocking 40th anniversary party for Elias Woodworking two years ago has now grown into a full-blown festival celebrating music, industry, and community.

When a festival features honey, garlic, and maple syrup all in one place, you know it is going to be unforgettable. The Honey Garlic Maple Syrup Festival is back in Manitou on Saturday, September 6th, and volunteer organizer Juanita "Wally" Cobb promises a full day of food, fun, and community spirit.

The members of Morden-based rock band 'Sumo' may still be in their teens, but this southern Manitoba group already has a setlist that swings from Metallica to the Eagles and everything in between. Fans will get a chance to see them live at the Corn and Apple Festival youth stage in Winkler, where the band promises a mix of grunge, classic rock, and high-energy performances.

Slo-pitch lovers have a brand-new reason to dust off their gloves and cleats. The first-ever Ladies Slo-Pitch Tournament, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” is set for Saturday, September 13th at the Parkland Diamonds, and committee member and ball player Hailey Wiebe could not be more excited.

“I’m a die hard,” Wiebe said when asked about her passion for the game.

When you can hold out your thumb and block three bright objects in the sky at once, you know it’s a special night for stargazers. That’s exactly what happened in our night skies to officially kick off the Astro Club "season". Kenton Dyck of the Pembina Valley Astronomy Club shared that Jupiter, Venus and the moon were huddled close together in the eastern sky.

With Winkler serving as the retail hub of southern Manitoba, drawing approximately 17,000 households weekly,  Mayor Henry Siemens says Sunday shopping is fast becoming vital to support the evolving needs of both residents and visitors.