Portage

Canada’s declining productivity, supply chain woes and political decisions all affect trade with its neighbour

As vexing as the current trade environment might be, Canada has to recognize there were issues long before U.S. president Donald Trump and his on-again, off-again tariffs came along, said panelists at a policy summit last month.

“We’re not really in a different place,” said Cal Bricker, chief executive officer of Spirits Canada.

For Alex Boersch of Abtshof Farms near Elie, the 2025 season has felt like a battle on two fronts. After seeding in spring, heavy rainfall quickly drowned out crops, forcing the family to reseed roughly 500 acres. What followed was nearly two months of severe drought, leaving plants struggling to recover. Then, just as harvest was set to begin, the skies opened again.

“We got four and a half inches,” Boersch notes.

Fort la Reine Museum director Emma Ens-MacIver says last week’s storm caused significant damage to one of the site’s most important heritage homes. She explains that aging infrastructure makes the museum especially vulnerable to severe weather. 

You can call in to ask host Carla Hrycyna all of your gardening questions live every Saturday morning starting at 9:15am: 1-800-374-3315

The Whoop & Hollar Folk Festival returned this past weekend, bringing two full days of live music, art, and community celebration to Portage la Prairie. Saturday’s festivities at Cottonwood Acres carried late into the night, while Sunday’s Folk in the Park wrapped up the weekend with free outdoor concerts at Island Park. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24TH

American Association Baseball
Winnipeg Goldeyes 9 Lincoln Saltdogs 0

MLB
Miami 5 Toronto 3

MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH

MLB
Minnesota at Toronto - 6:07 PM

UPDATE:

The 13-year-old female from Portage la Prairie, who was reported missing to RCMP on August 23, 2025, has been safely located.

The RCMP thanks the public for their assistance

PREVIOUS STORY:

Portage la Prairie RCMP were asking for the public’s help in locating a 13-year-old girl who has been reported missing.

As global trade dynamics shift and tariffs become more of a concern, Canada’s canola industry is looking inward.

Andre Harpe, chair of the Canadian Canola Growers Association and a farmer from Grand Prairie, Alberta, says the industry needs to focus more on renewable fuel as a strategy to support growers and build long-term resilience.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada could deploy military troops to Ukraine as part of an eventual security guarantee against Russia.

Carney made the remarks at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a meeting between the two.leaders in Kyiv, where the prime minister made an unannounced stop Sunday.

When asked what kind of security guarantees Canada could provide to Ukraine, Carney said Ukraine's own military must be supported but that more than that will be required.

"I would not exclude the presence of troops," he said.

Heading into the 2025-26 minor hockey season, Hockey Manitoba has announced they will be launching the 'Green Armband Initiative', a program designed for younger officials, starting in the Pembina Valley with plans for it to expand province wide in the future.

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