Westman

Funeral For:  Robert (Bob) Berg 
Funeral Date: November 23, 2024 
Robert (Bob) Berg, 63, of Grunthal passed away Saturday, November 16th at St. Pierre Hospital. He will be lovingly remembered by his father Arne Jack and siblings Randy, Anita (Ron) and Dan (Jenn) and niece Makayla. He was predeceased by his mother Jannie, grandparents, aunts and uncles. 
The funeral service for Robert (Bob) Berg will be held Saturday, November 23rd at 3pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach with ash interment at a later date. 

Tackling high grocery prices, freezing hydro electricity rates and commissioning a new statue reflecting Manitoba's past and present are some of the priorities for the coming year the NDP government highlighted Tuesday in its second throne speech. 

The speech largely repeated the government's efforts to address health-care system challenges, public safety and affordability. 

The government is looking at introducing legislation to address anticompetitive contracts that Premier Wab Kinew said drive up the cost of groceries. 

Canada Post and the postal workers union found slivers of consensus Tuesday amid talks with a special mediator, but "a lot of ground" remains between them on the key concerns as a countrywide strike entered its fifth day.

“On smaller issues, we were able to find some progress,” said Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton in a phone interview.

"The special mediator has helped facilitate those discussions. So we're going to continue to be at it. We're committed to getting collective agreements," he said, adding that arbitration is off the table for now.

Canada's inflation rate climbed back up to two per cent in October, shifting expectations slightly in favour of a smaller, quarter-percentage point interest rate cut next month. 

The report from Statistics Canada on Tuesday said prices in October increased at a faster annual pace in five out of the eight major components of the consumer price index.

A major driving factor of the uptick in headline inflation was gasoline prices on an annual basis falling to a lesser extent in October compared with September.

Canada Border Services has announced it is adjusting the hours of 35 land ports of entry as of January 6th next year. The list includes 12 crossings in Manitoba, including changes in hours at Cartwright, Coulter, Crystal City, Lena and Goodlands.

Cartwright, Coulter and Lena are changing to 8 am to 4 pm, 7 days a week; Crystal City, Goodlands are moving to 9 am to 5 pm, 7 days a week

As a strong storm system arrives in Southern Manitoba bringing rain, snow, strong winds and reduced visibility in blowing snow over the next few days, motorists are being urged to adjust their driving for winter road conditions.
    
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation is also stressing the importance of remaining alert when following or approaching oncoming snowplows on any of the 19,000 kilometers of highway the department is responsible for maintaining.

2024 and 2025 marked the 150th anniversaries of Mennonite communities in Manitoba and in this season of Still Speaking, host Conrad Stoesz from the Mennonite Heritage Archives is sharing true historical stories around this theme.

Enjoy the story below of how Mennonite fire insurance regulations from 1620' Prussia evolved into modern day Red River Mutual Insurance on Episode 7 of Still Speaking:

Funeral For:  Sara and Alexa Unger 
Funeral Date: November 24, 2024 
Sara Unger (nee Sawatzky) age 35 years, and her daughter Alexa Unger age 8 years, of the RM of Rhineland passed away tragically Friday, November 15th.
They are survived by Sara's husband and Alexa's father Pete Unger, their son and Alexa's brother Dominic, as well as Sara's mother and siblings, Pete's parents and siblings, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins

Funeral For: Jacob Harder 
Funeral Date: November 21, 2024 
Jacob Harder, 76, of Winkler passed away Sunday, November 17th at Boundary Trails Health Centre. He is survived by 11 daughters, 3 sons, and their families. He was predeceased by his wife Anna, 1 son in infancy, and 1 son-in-law. 
The funeral service for Jacob Harder will be held Thursday, November 21st at 2pm at Winkler Reinland Mennonite Church with private burial at Reinland Church Cemetery, Schanzenfeld. 

Health and Addictions Minister Ya'ara Saks is looking for pitches to help young Canadians who are struggling with their mental health.

The federal government plans to distribute $500 million for projects that help young people struggling to afford private mental health care services.

The funding comes from the five-year Youth Mental Health Fund announced in the spring federal budget to tackle the stress, anxiety and depression young people are facing amid a high cost of living and global uncertainty.