Portage

“Why not us?” That’s the question Central Manitoba’s U15 Central Energy Girls Softball team asked themselves, and then answered, in spectacular fashion.

From underdogs to national heroes, this squad captured hearts and headlines at the 2025 Canadian Softball Championships, which took place from August 13th to 17th in the Morden/Winkler area.

The team includes players from across different communities located in the Central Plains region.

As roadwork continues across Portage la Prairie this summer, another temporary closure is on the way, this time at one of the city's downtown intersections.

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 21, the intersection of 3rd Street and Saskatchewan Avenue E will be partially closed to accommodate ongoing construction.

According to the City of Portage la Prairie, only eastbound and westbound traffic will be permitted through the intersection during this time. All northbound and southbound access at 3rd St. will be restricted.

Quarry Days returned to Stonewall this past weekend, bringing with it the kind of small-town energy and big-community turnout that’s made it a staple of the Interlake summer for years.

The three-day festival, which ran from Friday to Sunday this past weekend, delivered exactly what people have come to expect, live music, food trucks, parades, a midway, and thousands of smiling faces. The street was packed from Friday night through Sunday afternoon, with locals and out-of-towners soaking up the last stretch of summer.

The 2025 Teulon International Truck & Tractor Pull brought crowds, horsepower, and plenty of small-town spirit to Green Acres Park this past weekend. With over 50 years of pulling history behind it, the event continues to grow into one of the most anticipated weekends of the summer. 

The number of active wildfires in our province has dropped slightly since last week.

The Manitoba Wildfire Service is reporting that there are now 153 active wildfires in our province, which is down from 161 on Wednesday. The total number of wildfires this year is 417, which is well above the average of 331 for this time of year.

According to the Manitoba Wildfire Service, there is a low fire danger in the majority of the province, with a moderate fire danger level in the central and eastern areas. 

A northern Manitoba town that has been evacuated twice this summer due to out-of-control wildfires has been given the go-ahead to return home later this week. 

The mandatory evacuation order for the roughly 1,000 residents who live in Snow Lake, about 700 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, is expected to lift Friday morning. 

The town says in a Facebook post that a welcome centre will be set up at the community's hall to provide resources and assistance for returning residents, including mental-health supports and a food bank. 

MONDAY, AUGUST 18TH

American Association Baseball
Kansas City Monarchs 4 Winnipeg Goldeyes 1

MLB
Pittsburgh 5 Toronto 2

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19TH

American Association Baseball
Winnipeg Goldeyes at Kansas City Monarchs - 6:35 PM

After a summer of rodeos, dinosaurs and door-knocking, Pierre Poilievre is now officially heading back to Ottawa as a Conservative member of Parliament for Alberta.

The Tory leader will represent the sprawling rural riding of Battle River—Crowfoot, in the province's eastern region, after winning a byelection on Monday. 

"Getting to know the people in this region has been the privilege of my life," Poilievre told a crowd at a victory party in Camrose, Alta., on Monday night. "In fact, I've had a hell of a lot of fun."

Air Canada and the union representing its flight attendants have reached a tentative deal to end a strike that began on Saturday morning.

The airline said it will gradually begin operations Tuesday.

The two sides met through the night with a federal mediator before reaching a tentative agreement that will be brought to members of the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

"Your right to vote on your wages was preserved," the union said in a post on its website announcement the end of the strike.

After a challenging summer that saw Crescent Lake hit concerningly low levels and develop a noticeable odour, the City of Portage la Prairie is taking new action to restore the water body.