Portage

As students head back to school next week, Portage la Prairie RCMP is reminding families to stay vigilant and prioritize safety.

Constable Robert Smith, the school liaison officer, spoke with Portage Online about what parents and students should know to start the school year off safely.

Farmers are working on bringing in the harvest as the weather cooperates.

Last week's hot, dry weather also brought its share of thunderstorm activity with strong winds and hail which caused some lodging in crops. The Nipawin area had the most rainfall, with 42 mm, followed by the North Battleford and Consul areas with 30 mm and 28 mm, respectively. A number of other areas around the province are also seeing some scattered showers.

Portage residents are in for a hot and sunny weekend, says meteorologist Crawford Luke with Environment Canada.

Luke notes that the warming trend the region has seen over the past few days continues through Sunday.

“Starting today and certainly through Sunday, basically looking at sunny conditions and temperatures getting around 30 degrees, 31 degrees,” he says.

Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson has announced an increase in the lending limit on the Feeder Associations Loan Guarantee Program (FALGP).

Locally owned feeder associations utilize the program for low-interest financing backed by a government guarantee. Through the program feeder associations help livestock producers get financing to buy animals and grow their herds.

Producer, Dustin Lamb says the program played a huge part in his decision to return to the family farm and will be instrumental in keeping it going.

David Sinclair McBurney
July 26, 1946 – August 27, 2025

David Sinclair McBurney, aged 79 years, passed away in Portage la Prairie on August 27, 2025.

What began as a regular community meeting quickly turned into something much bigger, all sparked by one simple question:

"Should we consider rebuilding the playground?"

That one idea quickly turned into a $188,000, community-led transformation, thanks to local fundraising, strong support from the RM of Portage la Prairie, and a timely boost from the Province of Manitoba.

La Verendrye School, located on the northern edge of Portage la Prairie, is launching a new free lunch program this school year, aiming to provide healthy meals while supporting families who may face food insecurity.

Principal Al Patterson, stepping into the role after serving as vice principal, says the initiative is part of a broader community schools program designed to ensure nutritious meals are accessible to all students.

Sixteen-year-old golfer Logan Cairns fired his best-ever tournament round to win the Stride Credit Union Junior Open at the Portage Golf Club.

The event took place Thursday, August 28, with Cairns posting a four-under 66 to finish well ahead of the field.

Cairns notes, “It feels pretty good, especially since I played my best round ever in a tournament.”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH

American Association Baseball
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 5 Winnipeg Goldeyes 4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29TH

American Association Baseball
Sioux City Express at Winnipeg Goldeyes - 7:00 PM

MLB
Milwaukee at Toronto - 6:07 PM

In a spectacle of fun, over 1,000 rubber ducks took the plunge down the waterslides at Splash Island Waterpark on Thursday, August 28th, for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Plains' annual Big Duck Race fundraiser.

The event combined community spirit with a healthy dose of competition, all in support of local youth mentoring programs.