Portage

The passing of Murray Sinclair has left a profound sense of loss, especially for those he inspired and advocated for throughout his life. Among them is Chief Dennis Pashe of Dakota Tipi First Nation, who knew Sinclair not only as a champion of Indigenous rights but as a friend and fellow student. Reflecting on Sinclair’s legacy, Pashe described him as “very intelligent, very kind, and very humble.” He emphasized that Sinclair’s accomplishments were immense, yet he never lost his humility or his dedication to helping his community.

Pashe recalled first meeting Sinclair.

An echoing peal of cannon fire signalled the start of a moment of silence in St. John's, N.L., and throngs of people along the city's two main downtown streets fell quiet and bowed their heads.

Canadians gathered Monday in cities and towns across the country to honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of the country's values and principles.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon paid their respects in a Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. 

Winter sports have gotten underway and another option for young children is being offered by the Portage Curling Club. Rae Trimble-Olson, the Office Manager for the club, describes what the club is putting on.

"Little Rockers is a learn-to-curl option for kids in kindergarten to Grade 5. After Grade 5, generally they can play at the middle years intramural level with the schools, so we offer learn to curl for those earlier years."

Trimble-Olson adds that encouraging kids to try the sport has seen several young curlers continue on to higher levels.

Former B.C. judge Randall (Bud) Wong remembers getting out of bed early one morning when he was five to greet his uncle at the train station in Vancouver at the end of the Second World War in 1945.

His uncle Delbert Yen Chow was returning from India after years of service as an infantryman.

“I remember very vividly my uncle coming off the train, and he was wearing his army uniform and knapsack,” said Wong, 83. 

“We were so happy to see him that we took him home, and then he came to live with us.”

Canadian Army veterans are healing their psychological wounds with some help from equine friends.

Since starting equine therapy last June, Christian has regularly visited Mirabel's Equi-Sens stable, about 33 kilometres north of Montreal, to see the horse that has helped him “to be at peace.”

The expansion of Portage la Prairie’s Water Treatment Plant is moving forward as expected. In March 2023, the City of Portage committed to a 50/50 funding partnership with the Manitoba Water Services Board (MWSB) to split the project’s estimated $77 million cost along with an additional $3 million allocated to detailed design.  Recent developments include an updated budget that increases the design allocation, allowing the city to move forward with selecting essential treatment components.

The Portage la Prairie office of United Way West Central Manitoba helped Portagers kick off their Christmas shopping, thanks to its annual shopping night.

The event, held on November 7 at Canad Inns in Portage, brought vendors from all over the province, with shoppers paying a five-dollar admission. The money from the admission stays with the United Way. 

Janice Evens, Director of Operations for United Way, says nights like these are vital.

Applause erupted over and over at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg Sunday as the son of Murray Sinclair, a former judge, senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools, spoke about his father.

Niigaan Sinclair said his dad "was a first" in every room he walked into.

"It was impossible to go through a mall without 17 people, two of them he'd sentenced to jail at one point, coming up to him and saying how much they appreciated him," Niigaan Sinclair said.

Residents of Portage and area are invited to attend the annual Remembrance Day service at Stride Place on Monday, November 11th.

It's an annual event in Portage honoring Canada’s veterans and fallen soldiers and in the past has drawn a significant crowd. Bob Oldford of the Royal Canadian Legion Portage Branch is one of the organizers and he recommends attendees arrive early to secure a seat.

“We’d like people to be seated by 10:30,” Oldford said. “That way, the march of current serving members and veterans can begin before 11 a.m. when the moment of silence will happen.”

Driving while under the influence has cost a young man his licence and has lightened his wallet.

Just before 10 a.m. on November 2nd, Portage la Prairie RCMP received a call of a single vehicle collision at the corner of Road 43 West and Road 70 North. 

When the officer arrived, the driver of the vehicle was asleep at the wheel. 

The officer woke the driver who displayed signs of consuming alcohol.

The 21-year-old man from Gladstone was asked to provide breath samples on a Roadside Screening Device, in which the results were a fail.