Portage

It's not the first time they've done it, but it is still exciting every time. This past Saturday, Canadian country music icons Doc Walker had the honor of singing the national anthem at the Winnipeg Jets game, an experience Chris Thorsteinson describes as both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Thorsteinson and bandmate Dave Wasyliw are longtime Jets supporters, and they performed at Canada Life Centre during the team's first-ever "Country Night," making the event even more special.

Canada's annual inflation rate ticked lower in December, thanks in part to Ottawa's temporary GST tax break, but economists still see interest rate cuts on the horizon as potential tariffs loom.

Statistics Canada said Tuesday the annual inflation reading for December came in at 1.8 per cent, down from 1.9 per cent in November. 

The report noted restaurant food purchases and alcohol bought from stores contributed the most to the deceleration — items which were subject to the tax reprieve, along with children's clothes and toys, among others.

The Canadian Country Showcase, hosted by Courtney Fielder, airs every weekend on Saturdays at 12 PM and Sundays at 4 PM. Courtney engages in conversations with emerging country music artists and the established stars we’ve come to love, celebrating their milestones and new releases.

The blizzard on January 17 resulted in a significant number of collision reports to Manitoba Public Insurance. Tara Seel, media and public relations lead, explained that the severe blizzard conditions led to a total of 511 collision claims that day. Among the reports, Portage la Prairie ranked fifth highest in the region.

Winnipeg had 268 claims; Steinbach had 31; West St. Paul had 26; Ste. Anne had 15; Blumenort, Brandon, Headingley, and Portage la Prairie had 12 claims each.

The MacGregor Fire Department hosted its first-ever hockey game on January 18, bringing Austin and MacGregor fire departments together for a friendly and fun competition. The game, which aimed to cap off the year for the municipality, was not just about the sport. It was a community event designed to foster camaraderie and raise support for the local Community Resource Centre (CRC).

MacGregor Fire Chief Chris Leckie spoke about the event.

Pamela Mary Swaine (nee Taylor)

With heavy hearts we announce Pamela Swaine passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at Lions Prairie Manor at the age of 96 years.

A vehicle fire occurred late afternoon on Monday, January 20, in a parking lot at the west end of Portage la Prairie.

Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Donald Trump's suggestion that he will impose sweeping tariffs on Canada on Feb. 1 is "nothing new," and insists Canada has plans ready for several possible scenarios.

LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stepped out of a cabinet meeting in Montebello, Que. to deliver a statement to reassure Canadians after the newly installed U.S. president signed a stack of unrelated executive orders Monday evening.

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested his administration could move ahead with with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian imports on Feb. 1. 

He delivered the deadline on Monday evening at the White House as he signed a stack of unrelated executive orders. 

"We are thinking in terms of 25 per cent on Mexico and Canada because they are allowing vast number of people, Canada is a very bad abuser also, vast numbers of people to come in and fentanyl to come in," he told reporters Monday night.