Portage

Gas prices in Manitoba have remained relatively steady in recent weeks.  

The provincial average sits at about 133.8 cents per litre, down slightly from last week but up a couple of cents from last month. Most stations in Portage la Prairie are at 132.9 cents per litre.

Patrick De Haan, petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, notes that the removal of the federal carbon tax earlier this year has helped keep prices lower than last year by about $0.14 a litre. 

Portage la Prairie Mayor Sharilyn Knox is setting the record straight about the deer pen in Island Park, which has been a beloved part of the community for decades.

“There has been some misinformation going around, so let's clear it up,” Knox says in a recent social media post. “This pen has been a part of our community for decades, and right now four deer are living here.”

She notes the pen hasn’t seen new fawns in several years.

Lynn Harry Switzer passed away at the Lions Prairie Manor in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, on Wednesday, August 20th, with his wife and brother at his side.

Portage la Prairie RCMP arrested a 52-year-old man following a tense incident on Saskatchewan Avenue this week.

Assistant Superintendent Darcy Turko of the Portage RCMP detachment says the call came in on August 21 at around 1:30 p.m., reporting a disturbance involving a weapon at a residence.

“Officers responding arrived on scene and observed a male yelling threats out of a third-storey window at passersby on the street,” Turko notes.

He says witnesses also reported seeing the suspect waving another weapon.

Portage la Prairie and area saw heavy rainfall Wednesday night into Thursday, leaving streets flooded and water levels rising across the city.

City officials report that the storm dumped between 90 and 100 millimetres of rain, with some areas seeing slightly higher or lower amounts.

Several areas of Portage experienced flooding following the intense storm.

Paul Ziesmann, Superintendent of Public Works, notes that the city’s drainage systems were pushed to their limits with the heavy rainfall over a short period.

The 15th season of Concerts in the Park came to a memorable close on Thursday, August 21st, as over 300 people gathered at the Ukrainian Bandstand in Island Park for a final evening of free, live music under the summer sky.

The season-capping event featured performances by Archer Company, Will Benn & TJ Murdock, and headliners Johnny Dietrich and Kickin’ Up Dust, who brought the long-running community series to a celebratory finish. The night marked the culmination of a summer of bi-weekly Thursday shows that have become a beloved local tradition.

Two athletes from Portage la Prairie proudly represented Team Manitoba at the 2025 Canada Summer Games, in Newfoundland, and even more notably, they are cousins.

Kaj Willms, 15, played with Manitoba’s U17 basketball team, while his cousin, Soren Weselake, competed in both men's road and mountain biking events. Their parallel journeys to Newfoundland showcased not only athletic talent, but also a strong sense of community, determination, and sportsmanship.

Hockey Manitoba has parted ways with its longtime executive director.

The announcement was made Thursday, stating that Peter Woods had been let go effective August 15.

"We wish him the best in his future endeavours," said Hockey Manitoba.

Peter Woods has held the position since 2001.

Hockey Manitoba did not give a reason for Woods' termination. The organization says the Board of Directors will provide their membership with an update on the path forward in the coming weeks.

Selkirk RCMP report a tragic outcome after a boat was found overturned on Lake Winnipeg earlier this week.

On August 20 at 3:40 p.m., officers received a call about a capsized vessel located about two kilometres northwest of the Balsam Harbour Marina. The operator of the boat was not found at the scene.

“The operator of the boat was not located,” notes RCMP in a statement.

The East Beaches Fire Department responded right away and launched a boat to search the surrounding water.