Local News

Portage la Prairie residents weren’t the only ones ducking for cover as storms rolled through southern Manitoba on Canada Day.

While festivities carried on across the region, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued warnings for strong winds and hail as evening storms built up and swept across the province.

Eric Dykes, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, says the storms weren’t part of a major weather system but were triggered by heat, humidity and upper-atmosphere instability.

Cochrane is looking for new voices to help shape the future the Cochrane Public Library.

The Town is recruiting two residents to join the Cochrane Library Board as public-at-large members.

Board members help chart the library’s direction, manage financial priorities and support programs and partnerships that reflect the needs of the community.

“Serving on the Cochrane Library Board is an opportunity to have a direct impact on one of our educational, cultural and community anchors,” said Stacey Loe, Executive Director of Corporate Services.

Drivers in Winnipeg are being advised to prepare for significant traffic delays along Abinojii Mikanah as a major construction project begins this summer.

Starting July 2, both eastbound and westbound lanes of Abinojii Mikanah will experience partial closures between Dakota Street and River Road. The project is expected to last until October 24, 2025.

According to the City of Winnipeg, the westbound curb lane, westbound middle lane, and eastbound curb lane will all be closed to allow for street construction and maintenance work.

Canada Day in Portage la Prairie ended with a spectacular show as fireworks burst over Crescent Lake, casting colourful reflections across the water and lighting up the faces of the crowd below.

Storms rolled through the area around 9 p.m., bringing wind and brief downpours, but skies cleared just in time for the fireworks to go ahead as planned.

Hundreds gathered around Island Park to take in the annual display, which has become a much-anticipated tradition in the community.

The Historical Village, located within Calgary's Heritage Park, was busy on June 26 and 27, and filming for a major show was taking place.

According to reports, the series that was filming was "Billy the Kid" for season three.

According to ACTRA Alberta, filming started near the end of March and will take place until the middle of July in Calgary and the surrounding area..

A heat warning remains in place for Cochrane and the surrounding area, with daytime highs nearing 30°C and overnight lows around 14°C.

The heat is expected to ease slightly by Thursday, but until then, residents and visitors are being urged to take precautions to stay safe.

Health officials recommend:

• Rescheduling outdoor activities to cooler parts of the day,

• Taking breaks in air-conditioned or shaded areas,

• Staying hydrated with water and avoiding alcohol or caffeine,

Multiple rounds of thunderstorms, some severe, rolled through parts of Southern Manitoba beginning late Canada Day evening.

On Saturday, the Airdrie Pride Society held its annual Solidarity Walk and Pride Festival.

Kiersten Mohr, a board member for the society, explained it was a busy and fun day.

"It was our fifth year, and it was another successful day of events."

According to the Airdrie Pride website, the walk is to resist those who are trying to silence, diminish and divide those in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. 

"The solidarity walk, once again, was special and I think reinforced what pride is about for many."

Three-time Governor General’s Award winner Guy Vanderhaeghe will return to Moose Jaw this month for the Saskatchewan Festival of Words, joining a packed literary lineup just weeks after taking home top honours at this year’s Saskatchewan Book Awards.

A 32-year-old man from Outlook, Saskatchewan, has been sentenced to 3 years 10 months in a U.S. federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing graphic child sexual abuse material involving toddlers and young boys, U.S. prosecutors announced Monday.