Portage

Peacefully on August 5, 2025, David Hulme passed away at the Portage District General Hospital at the age of 85 years.

With his family by his side, Brian Kitson passed away on August 7, 2025, at his home. He will forever be missed and remembered by his wife of 49 years, Elaine (Bernhardt); son Michael and wife Delka; daughter Laura and husband Scott; grandchildren Toren, Tabitha, and Daphne; sister Myrna and husband Ted; along with many friends, family, and others he met along the way.

He was predeceased by his parents Thomas “Bud” and Margaret Kitson (Coubrough). Brian was born and lived his entire life in Portage la Prairie, helping build a community he loved.

The Portage Golf Club has crowned its 2025 champions after a competitive weekend on the course.

Lindsey Jordan took top honours in the Ladies division with a score of 154, while Melanie Dickenson won the Senior Ladies title with 198.

Brooke Henderson captured the Junior Girls championship at 186.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10TH

Manitoba Double-AA Provincial Tournament
Elmwood 1 Portage 0
Portage 7 Cartwright 6
Oak River 7 Portage 6

Canadian Elite Basketball League
Edmonton Singers 97 Winnipeg Sea Bears 77
*End of regular season

American Association Baseball
Winnipeg Goldeyes 7 Lincoln Saltdogs 2

With harvest just getting underway across the Prairies, farmers are being reminded to think about safety when working with grain. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is urging farmers to prioritize safety around grain handling with the launch of its fifth annual Be Grain Safe Week.

The Portage la Prairie Lions Club collected essential donations for the local Salvation Army Food Bank during a Sunday food drive at the Portage Homestead Co Op.

Club President Robert Martin oversaw the four-hour effort from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM yesterday, where community members dropped off non-perishables and cash donations.

Regular support for essential services

The Lions Club has organized these drives every few months since launching them in 2020 to address pandemic-era food insecurity.

Recently, three community organizations came together in Carman for a common purpose.  

The Town of Carman, Carman Area Foundation, and Carman Collegiate joined forces to build a shed at the local pool designed to improve the safety and quality of swimmers’ experiences there. 

A new memorial garden is set to bloom in Portage la Prairie, one dedicated to the quiet grief of families who have lost a child far too soon.

The Portage Infant Memorial Garden, spearheaded by resident Angie Steinke in memory of her grandson, Wells Robert Blatchford, will be built in a peaceful green space near the existing Sunset Palliative Care Memory Garden at Island Park. Construction is scheduled to begin next spring, with an official unveiling expected in the summer of 2026.

Air Canada flight attendants are expected to picket at airports in four major Canadian cities on Monday in what their union is calling a national day of action.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees says demonstrations are expected to take place at Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport and Calgary International Airport, all at 1 p.m. ET. 

Heartland Livestock Services announced the closure July 25; the Brandon auction mart has been a historic standby for Manitoba beef producers selling their cattle

Manitoba’s livestock producers have one less place to sell their animals.

Heartland Livestock Services announced July 25 that they are closing their Brandon location.