Portage

King Charles is set to open a new session of Parliament on Tuesday, seated in a throne that incorporates a piece of English walnut from Windsor Great Park, a preserve of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

The Royal Family connection is especially appropriate given that the Queen was the first sovereign to deliver a speech from the throne in Canada, a role usually fulfilled by the Governor General.

James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk–Interlake–Eastman, says he is honoured to continue serving as the Conservative shadow minister for national defence—a role he’s held consistently since 2015, with the exception of a brief post-election stint in 2019. 

The Fort la Reine Museum in Portage la Prairie is set to enhance one of its cornerstone displays, thanks to a $4,575 grant from the Manitoba government.

The funding, delivered through the Community Museum Project Support Program, will support interpretive signage improvements for the museum’s CP Rail exhibit.

The grant is part of a broader $315,000 investment announced by the province to mark International Museum Day. A total of 34 museums across Manitoba are receiving project-specific support to help preserve and share the province’s cultural heritage.

Manitoba's municipal leaders are eager to see the federal Liberal government follow through on key election platform promises that could affect local communities. From supporting economic growth to investing in infrastructure to achieving housing affordability and keeping communities safe, communities like Portage la Prairie could benefit. 

Talks between Canada Post and negotiators from its union are expected to resume over the next few days, its union said Sunday after the two parties met amid warnings of mail delivery delays tied to a national ban on overtime for postal workers.

In an afternoon statement, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said its negotiators had "worked hard to carefully evaluate" Canada Post's latest offers and prepare responses ahead of the day's meeting with the employer and the mediators. 

With a hotter, drier-than-average summer forecasted for Portage la Prairie and surrounding areas, the recent death of a rescued bear cub is casting a sobering light on the often unseen impact that wildfires have on wildlife. The incident prompts renewed calls for caution and awareness as fire season is only set to intensify.

Enns Brothers in Portage la Prairie came alive this past Saturday as families and community members gathered for a fun-filled day of activities, fundraising, and local engagement. With over 250 visitors Enns Brothers 'Day of Play' delivered big fun for the whole family! The event featured everything from face painting and BBQs to prize draws and pet adoptions, making it a highlight of the season and a true celebration of community spirit.

Gary Bohn, General Manager at Enns Brothers, reflected on the success of the day.

The Iron Maidens are making a return to the ice, this time with a younger roster and a renewed purpose.

A U15 girls hockey team is being formed in MacGregor with the goal of giving local players a chance to keep playing after co-ed hockey shifts to contact.

The original Iron Maidens team started in MacGregor in 1998.

It later grew to include players from Portage, Brandon, Gladstone, Westbourne and Rossendale.

Fran Myles, chair of Manitoba Crime Stoppers and a Portage la Prairie resident, says the organization is unique in Canada for offering citizens a way to report crimes anonymously while also earning potential cash rewards.

“Manitoba Crime Stoppers is the only organization in the country that provides an outlet for citizens to report crimes safely, anonymously, and hopefully accurately, and receive a reward if the information they provide results in an arrest,” says Myles.

Among the tour groups converging on Parliament Hill under umbrellas this week, new and newly re-elected members of Parliament are getting acquainted with their offices and colleagues ahead of the opening of the House of Commons this week. 

The first order of business for MPs is the selection of a new House Speaker on Monday morning, and at least six returning members are asking their colleagues to support their bid to take the chair.