Portage

Portage la Prairie City Council observed a presentation by City of Brandon Director of Public Safety Communications Robert Stewart concerning 911 calls and Portage-specific statistics. The Brandon office provides the 911 service for the community and answers all calls made to 911 by residents. The director noted they also handle call assessments and dispatching for the Portage Fire Department.

Stewart emphasized that one key focus for the 911 centre is understanding that callers may be experiencing the worst day of their lives.

It's been another record year for building permits in the City of Portage la Prairie.

When building structures on your property or making major changes, the Portage la Prairie Planning District is in place to ensure all work complies with bylaws and building codes.

City Planning & Economic Development Committee Chair Preston Meier says the Planning District is part of a regional partnership that provides reports from both the City of Portage la Prairie and the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie. For the City, Meier relays that information to council members.

The smell of sage and sweetgrass floated in the air Monday over a mostly sombre ceremony to reflect on the legacy of residential schools and remember those who survived — and the thousands who didn't.

But amid the more difficult moments at the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ceremony on Parliament Hill came a few moments of levity and celebration.

"We've got tomorrow, we'll live for a brighter day," sang Diyet & the Love Soldiers, performing their song We're Still Here while dignitaries and children alike got up on their feet and started dancing.

The Central Plains region of Manitoba is facing a significant shortage of hockey referees, prompting local officials to actively seek new recruits, particularly female referees and adult officials. Corey Dowd, the chief of officiating for Hockey Manitoba's Central Plains area, talks about the ongoing challenge.

"This has been an ongoing battle, not just in the Central Plains, but all over Manitoba and Canada. We're always actively trying to recruit more officials."

Dowd explains the importance of increasing the number of female referees in the region.

Central Plains Cancer Services is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the region and thought a high tea would be a fitting way to mark the milestone.

Executive director Sharilyn Knox says the event will take place on Oct. 3 at St. Mary’s Church.

“We’re going to have two sittings. It’s going to be lovely. We want people to come who have been supporters of our organization — maybe patients, donors, drivers — whoever wants to come. We know what we do in our region is very important, and we look forward to the next 25 years. So, it’s a great way to celebrate,” she says.

Canada's labour minister says striking grain terminal workers in Metro Vancouver and their employers have reached a tentative labour deal.

Steven MacKinnon announced the agreement between Grain Workers Union Local 333 and the Vancouver Terminal Elevators’ Association in a post on social media platform X, but provided no other details.

The union confirmed the tentative deal in a statement on Facebook, saying its members will conduct the ratification vote by Oct. 4.

La Verendrye School (LVS) proudly donned orange shirts on Friday September 27, in honor of Orange Shirt Day, a significant observance that acknowledges the effects of residential schools in Canada. The vibrant shirts were designed by Kae Maud, an educational assistant and member of the Swan Lake First Nation, who shared their creative journey and the deep symbolism behind they're artwork.

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Golden West Radio is joining media outlets across Canada on Monday, September 30, for A Day to Listen 2024.

The day is an initiative led by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) where radio stations from coast to coast broadcast Indigenous voices, stories, and discussions, helping to raise awareness about the ongoing journey toward reconciliation.

A couple of defensive giveaways in their own end were the Terrier's undoing in this game, as they fell 3-0 to the Selkirk Steelers.

A two-on-none for Selkirk created the first goal of the game, as goaltender Mitchell Kathler was given little help. 1-0 Selkirk after the first period.

The second period didn't see any goals, as the two teams exchanged chances, with the shots ending up 20-16 in Portage's favour.

The Portage la Prairie RCMP are reminding people to be prepared if they plan to travel through unknown terrain.

According to an RCMP weekly report, on September 22, Portage RCMP received a report of a lost hunter. The 39-year-old hunter from Winnipeg told their friend that he was lost at 3 p.m. Portage RCMP wasn't notified until shortly after 8 p.m.