Portage

A national education conference held in Winnipeg last week showcased not only the voices of Canada’s top education leaders, but also the work of a rising local artist from Portage la Prairie.

Erin Mauws, vice-principal at Yellowquill School and a member of the Canadian Association of Principals (CAP) planning team, helped bring the conference to life, along with the creative vision of local artist Kae Maud, who designed the official conference T-shirt.

"CAP was a national conference for anyone across Canada who wanted to talk about education," said Mauws.

The union representing about 55,000 Canada Post employees said the latest offers from the postal service "fall short" with hours to go until a looming strike deadline.

Canada Post meanwhile said Thursday it's already seeing mail volumes decline ahead of another possible labour disruption and is pushing for an urgent resolution.

Spokesperson Lisa Liu said Canada Post hasn't yet received a response from the union about its proposals issued a day earlier.

The postal service is ready to resume bargaining "as soon as possible" with a mediator at the table, she said.

A collision between a semi-trailer and an SUV claimed the life of an 18-year-old Stonewall man yesterday evening.

The incident occurred around 5:10 p.m. on May 21 on Highway 8 at the intersection of Highway 67 in the RM of St. Andrews.

According to the RCMP, a semi-trailer traveling southbound on Highway 8 collided with an SUV as it crossed the intersection westbound.

A section of 1st Street SW in Portage la Prairie is closed Thursday, May 22 due to an urgent watermain repair.

The closure and related water service disruption are expected to last through the day, with work underway to restore both by tonight.

Road closure in effect

Traffic is currently blocked on 1st Street SW between Dufferin Avenue W and Crescent Road W.

Barricades are in place and drivers are being asked to detour around the area to avoid delays.

City crews are on scene managing the repair and monitoring road conditions as work progresses.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes (6-6) erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the third inning en route to an 11-6 victory over the Milwaukee Milkmen (4-6) on a pleasant Wednesday evening at Blue Cross Park. The win marks the Goldeyes’ third straight, bringing them back to .500 on the season.
 
Milwaukee opened the scoring early, as Micker Adolfo delivered run-scoring single in the top of the first to give the visitors a 1-0 edge. Winnipeg responded in the bottom of the second when Gustavo Sosa lined a single up the middle to score Tanner O’Tremba and tie the game at 1-1.

Residents in parts of Manitoba are being warned to take precautions as wildfire smoke from Nopiming Provincial Park drifts into nearby communities, significantly affecting air quality and visibility.

Environment Canada and Manitoba Health have issued a special air quality statement for parts of the Interlake covering the R.M. of Woodlands, including Warren and Lake Francis, the R.M. of St. Laurent, and the R.M. of Rockwood, including Teulon, Stonewall, and Stony Mountain.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21ST

NHL
Playoffs - Best of 7
Western Conference Finals
Game 1
Dallas 6 Edmonton 3
Dallas leads series 1-0

AAAA Varsity Girls Soccer
Portage Collegiate Saints 2 Pembina Trails Collegiate Trail Hawks 0

After a late blast of cool weather, things are finally heating up, just in time for local gardeners.

Shea Doherty, operations manager at Our Farm Greenhouses, says many gardeners are now eager to get their warm-season crops in the ground.

A shift in temperatures

“That plus 30 was too hot and then it just chilled right on down with the rain,” Doherty notes. “Now is the time to start because the long forecast looks amazing.”

He says gardeners have already begun picking up warm-weather vegetables like tomatoes, melons and peppers.

Golfers in Portage la Prairie are gearing up for a long but rewarding day on the green this June as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Plains brings back a unique and endurance-testing event: the Ultimate 90 Hole Golf Marathon.

Set for Thursday, June 19, 2025 at the Portage Golf Course, the event invites players to take on 90 holes of golf in support of youth mentorship programs in the community. It will go ahead rain or shine, and follows a successful return of the fundraiser in 2024 to mark the organization's 50th anniversary.

Two local bursaries are helping Portage District General Hospital staff and their families take the next step in healthcare education, with applications open now and a fast-approaching deadline.

The Bailes Bursary is open to staff or their immediate family members, while the Roberta’s Dream Bursary supports hospital employees pursuing university-level healthcare programs.

Tara Pettinger, executive director of the Portage District General Hospital Foundation, says the bursaries offer meaningful support to those looking to advance their careers in the healthcare field.