Portage

In 2023, as Canada suffered through its worst-ever wildfire season, the federal government was looking at creating a national disaster response agency.

Two years later, the country is again facing another summer of wildfires. There is still no sign of such an agency, though governments are tapping the private sector to help with evacuations.

Ali Asgary, a York University professor of disaster and emergency management, said the work to establish a national agency is "unfortunately … not going as fast as our crises are going."

Farmers in Manitoba are wrapping up seeding ahead of schedule, and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) president Jill Verwey says things are looking positive so far this spring.

“I actually was in in southeastern Manitoba on Monday and seemingly the crops are on average really favourable,” notes Verwey, who also farms in the Portage area. “I think for the most part, producers are finishing up seeding and certainly heading right into the spring season.”

Robin Bourke, Settlement Worker at the Portage Learning and Literacy Centre, says they are thrilled to launch new community yoga classes at Island Park thanks to a recent grant.

"We did receive a grant, and Lynn Bereza is instructing yoga, and we invited the whole community," says Bourke.

The first session attracted 22 participants, and the program will continue through June with sessions every Wednesday and Friday at 2 p.m. at Island Park.

The Rural Municipality of St. Laurent is actively offering support to evacuees affected by the recent wildfires, even though the area itself is not a designated evacuation zone.

Reeve Richard Chartrand says the community is prepared to provide assistance and is calling for volunteers to help with ongoing efforts.

“We started yesterday (Wednesday) and we had zero people show up, but it was our first day to start and we kind of expected that,” Chartrand notes.

Farmers in Manitoba are wrapping up seeding ahead of schedule, and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) president Jill Verwey says things are looking positive so far this spring.

“I actually was in in southeastern Manitoba on Monday and seemingly the crops are on average really favourable,” notes Verwey, who also farms in the Portage area. “I think for the most part, producers are finishing up seeding and certainly heading right into the spring season.”

RCMP were called out to a dangerous situation on Highway 1, after reports of an erratic driver east of Portage la Prairie.

Just before 5 p.m. on May 29th, a concerned witness contacted police after their parked car, with a young child in a car seat, was hit by another car in a business parking lot between Oaville and Portage. The suspect vehicle left the scene and headed westbound.

Some Manitoba residents who have taken refuge in Niagara Falls, Ont., after fleeing wildfires raging in their province say they're grateful for the hospitality but worry they won't have a home to return to once the flames die down.

Kelly Ouskun says he saw so much fire and smoke along the highway on the drive from his family's home in Split Lake to Thompson, about 145 kilometres away, that he felt "nauseated" and his eyes hurt.

"It's a very serious situation." That from Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew in an update on the province's wildfire situation Thursday, who says fire fighters from across Manitoba and beyond continue to blazes on several fronts. 

As of Thursday morning, Kinew said there were 16,800 evacuees registered in Manitoba. Many of which have been put up in hotels across Manitoba, occupying about 1,700 rooms. 

He added, it's been great to see people step up and provide donations, volunteer at shelters and even take evacuees into their homes. 

Jody Williams of Portage la Prairie recently captured the men’s singles title in his age division at the 2025 Pickleball Manitoba Provincial Championships.

The event took place last weekend at Winnipeg’s Dakota Community Centre.

Williams competed in the Men's (3.5) 60 to 69-year-old group.

“I was lucky enough to win my division,” he notes. “There was only four of us in our division, so I ended up playing seven games in total in about four hours.”

A man has been arrested after a robbery at a business on 4th St. E in Stonewall yesterday evening.

The incident happened just after 6 p.m., when a man walked into the store with a knife and demanded cash from the register. He left with an undisclosed amount of money, but didn’t stay on the run for long.

A short investigation led officers to a residence nearby where the suspect turned himself in to police, soon after the robbery. A search warrant was granted for the house, and officers recovered items linked to the incident.