Portage

Yesterday evening the three candidates vying for a seat at the Manitoba Legislature to represent the Spruce Woods Riding matched wits during the second Candidates' Debate.  This was the second time the three went toe-to-toe in the past week, the first was last week in Souris.  

The Spruce Woods Community Hall debate was very well attended and the audience sat through 90 minutes in full attention of the answers they heard to some straight-forward and oftentimes uncomfortable questions that were not prepared beforehand.

The Gladstone Flying Club is inviting the community to join them for a special fundraiser this Saturday, August 23, at the Gladstone Legion. Starting at 5 p.m., attendees can enter a raffle for a chance to take two rides on a World War II training plane. The actual plane rides are scheduled for Saturday, September 6, at Gladstone Airport.

The journey to taking a festival stage took Shawn Pallister from Portage to Toronto and back, and she is looking forward to playing her music for her hometown crowd at the Whoop and Hollar Folk Festival on the weekend of August 23 and 24.

Pallister shares how the music journey began for her.

As summer winds down, the Portage la Prairie School Division is preparing to welcome students back for the 2025–2026 school year with an important kickoff event in early September.

On September 3, families are invited to 'Meet the Teacher' events across all the schools in the division. This afternoon gathering offers a relaxed opportunity for students and parents to meet educators and tour their new classrooms. 

The following morning, September 4, marks the first official day of school, welcoming students back for the start of the fall term.

After a night of pounding rain, hail, and flooding in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba Hydro crews are working steadily to restore power to homes and businesses.

The severe storm system, which stalled over the Central Plains late Wednesday and into the early hours Thursday, left its mark with over five inches of rain reported in Portage, widespread street flooding, and hailstones up to the size of a toonie in nearby Oakville.

While most outages were short-lived, dozens of customers remain in the dark as crews continue their efforts.

Peacefully on August 18, 2025, Wilmer Fingas passed away at the Portage and District Hospital at the age of 92 years.

Wilmer was predeceased by his wife, Victoria. He is survived by his son Cameron and wife Diane, son Kim and wife Kimberley, daughter Michelle and husband Dwight; his grandchildren Jarett (Jacqueline), Dana (Jordy), Tracey (Blaine), Kelley (Brook), and Taylor (Joelle); as well as his great grandchildren Lane, Quinn, Ellie, Florence and Attley.

A severe overnight storm has left Portage Golf Club dealing with significant flooding, forcing staff to scramble to restore the greens and fairways.

Superintendent Farrol Asham says the storm caused widespread disruption across the grounds.

“We have about 30 bunkers on the golf course that are washed out. We have nine of our fairways that are underwater. We will be spending all day today and tomorrow removing the water, rebuilding some bunkers. I have a great staff here and we'll get it open. Hopefully we can get it open for walking tomorrow (Friday),” he notes.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20TH

American Association Baseball
Winnipeg Goldeyes 3 Kansas City Monarchs 3 (13 Innings)

MLB
Pittsburgh 2 Toronto 1

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST

CFL
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Montreal Alouettes - 6:30 PM

A severe thunderstorm system left its mark across southern Manitoba overnight, bringing heavy rain and hail, and causing flooding in parts of Portage la Prairie.

The Manitoba Ag Weather Network reports the following amounts up until 5 a.m. this morning:

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is set to meet today with federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, along with industry groups, to discuss the steep Chinese tariff on Canadian canola seed. 

Kody Blois, the parliamentary secretary for Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison are also to attend the meeting in Saskatoon.

A press conference is scheduled following the discussion.