Shannon Dueck

It may look like winter outside today, after a few centimeters of snow Monday evening, but this week's forecast might have us forgetting what month we are in.

The normal high for the Pembina Valley this time of year is -4 degrees. According to Environment Canada, daytime highs across the region this week will stay warmer than that each day. In fact, beginning Tuesday, temperatures should hit zero degrees every day this week through Saturday. 

RCMP have provided more details and cleared the confusion surrounding a serious crash Monday involving three men from the southeast. 

According to police, the single-vehicle rollover happened at approximately 9 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of Highway 1, near Portage la Prairie. When officers arrived, Portage Fire Department and EMS were already on scene. 

An official opening was held Thursday afternoon for the rural rotating practical nursing site at Providence University College.

Manitoba Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes says the opening of this site, through Assiniboine Community College, will allow more students to become certified in this high-demand health care occupation. 

A fire hall in southern Manitoba will soon offer a safe site for any mother wanting to surrender their newborn child.

Susan Penner of Steinbach is the Executive Director for Life Culture Canada. She says the Landmark Fire Hall, in Landmark, Man., will become the first Hope's Cradle safe surrender site in all of Manitoba. Only one other site exists in Canada; that one opened last year in Strathmore, Alberta.

Our provincial government is attempting to crack down on violent offenders.

Premier Heather Stefanson announced Thursday morning an investment of more than $3 million in the Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP and other police agencies to create an integrated violent offender apprehension unit and strengthen intensive bail and probation supervision for serious, violent offenders.

Just because the outdoor swimming season has ended in Manitoba, that does not mean there is no longer a risk of drowning in our province. In fact, Lifesaving Society Manitoba says one-third of drownings occur between the colder months from October to April.

"Whether it's ice fishing, snowmobiling, late season boating or late season trekking on the ice, we're still seeing incidents happening every year and unfortunately those are deaths that we don't want to see happen because one death is one too many," notes spokesperson Dr. Christopher Love.

Streets and sidewalks will likely be filled with trick-or-treaters this evening.

Today is Halloween and RCMP are issuing a few reminders in order to make this a safe and fun night for everyone.

"Don't go by yourself, go with someone," says Community Constable Dennis Redikop. "Go with an adult or an older brother or sister."

Redikop says you should let your parents know where you are trick-or-treating and for how long. He suggests establishing a safety plan and a safety route, so that if you end up going longer than expected, your parents know where to find you.

Provencher MP Ted Falk has received his committee assignment for this session of Parliament.
    
After serving on the agriculture committee, Falk says he is back on the natural resources committee, where he served from 2017 to 2019.

Falk explains this standing committee has representation from all parties. The committee, chaired by the Liberals, has five Liberal members, four Conservative members, one Bloc Quebecois member and one NDP member.

A storm system that turned Saskatchewan into a winter wonderland, brought only rain and thunderstorms to southern Manitoba.

Sara Hoffman with Environment Canada says most areas in southern Manitoba received between 20 and 25 millimetres of rain overnight in the form of thunderstorms. The heaviest precipitation was reported in St. Lazare where about 43 millimetres of rain fell. Waskada received 36 millimetres, while the Winnipeg airport reported 33 millimetres. In Steinbach, about 16 millimetres of rain fell.

The Member of Parliament for Provencher says it did not come as a surprise to be left off the list of shadow ministers, announced Wednesday by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. 

There were 51 Tory MPs selected as full critics, with another 20 considered associate critics. Ted Falk says he was not expecting to make either list, noting these positions were given largely to Members of Parliament who endorsed Poilievre in last month's leadership vote. Falk threw his support behind Leslyn Lewis.