Portage

Update:

Highway 1 has been re-opened as of 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 13.

Former story:

A 54-year-old woman from the Rural Municipality of North Cypress-Langford is in hospital in stable condition after being shot by an RCMP officer during a chaotic scene on Highway 1 Monday night.

Carberry RCMP responded around 9:30 p.m. on May 12 to reports of a person creating a disturbance on the highway near Road 88 West. Multiple witnesses reported a woman walking in and out of traffic, causing vehicles to slow and stop unexpectedly.

On May 10, 2025, the Austin Fire Department responded to two separate fire calls within just hours of each other, as dry conditions and high winds continue to pose a significant wildfire risk in the region.

At 1:14 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to Road 70W and 69N for a report of a tractor on fire in a cultivated field. When crews arrived, they found the farm tractor fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters pulled hoses from both Alpha 1 and Alpha 2 units to attack the blaze and extinguish it.

Portage residents can expect a test alert from the City of Portage la Prairie’s alert system on Tuesday, May 13th at 2 p.m.  

Colin Doyle, chair of the city’s public safety committee, says Connect Portage is the city’s communication platform designed to alert residents of emergencies. 

“The test message will be distributed via e-mail or text for mobile devices or through a voice message on landlines,” Doyle explains. 

MONDAY, MAY 12TH

Centennial Cup
@Calgary
Northern Manitoba Blizzard 3 Kam River 2
 

NHL
Playoffs - Round 2
Game 4
Carolina 5 Washington 2
Carolina leads series 3-1

Playoffs - Round 2
Game 4
Edmonton 3 Vegas 0
Edmonton leads series 3-1

TUESDAY, MAY 13TH

Travel to the United States took another hit in April with booking agents saying an "elbows up" attitude over the trade war has Canadians pulling back. 

Canadian residents returning by automobile from the U.S. in April fell on a year-over-year basis for the fourth consecutive month, preliminary numbers released by Statistics Canada showed Monday. The 1.2 million trips represented a 35.2 per cent drop from the same month in 2024 and 45.1 per cent lower than April 2019, before the pandemic.

Tick season is already in full swing, but mosquitoes have yet to make their presence known in a big way.  Let's just say when the time comes for them to realize our Manitoba winter is officially over, they'll be sure to show up!

It's interesting to note how something so tiny like a mosquito can live through a Manitoba winter.

"They're hardy!  They overwinter as either eggs or really early larval stages, depending on the species, and they're able to survive until conditions become favourable," says Dr. Bryan Cassone, Professor of Biology at the University of Brandon.

Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza recently recognized the Koko Platz Community Club’s power to bounce back and rebuild during a Private Member’s Statement in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly. The club, a longstanding local favourite gathering place, was destroyed by a fire in 2021 but has since been rebuilt through grassroots fundraising led by younger generations.

As the temperature rises, it's the perfect time to prepare for the cold months ahead by donating gently used winter coats.

The Coats for Kids and Coats for Seniors programs are now accepting donations for the month of May to help those in need.

Drop-off locations across Portage la Prairie

The community can drop off gently used winter items at the following locations from May 1st to May 31st:

Portage ARC Industries Inc.’s “No Ordinary Dog” hot dog stand is far from ordinary.

The sizzling initiative empowers adults with mental disabilities to gain hands-on work experience while raising funds for the organization. Now in its second year, the stand has become a hub of community support, serving up burgers, chilli-topped dogs, and smiles.

Skills, snacks, and second chances

Tara Ryzner, Executive Director of ARC Industries, highlights the program’s dual impact.

While the recent federal election turned into a tight race between the Liberals and Conservatives that left other parties trailing far behind, a new poll suggests most Canadians don't want the country end up with a two-party system.

The poll of over 1,600 Canadians, conducted by Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies between May 1 and 3, suggests only 21 per cent of Canadians think the country would be better off with a system where two parties dominate the political landscape.