Robert Voesenek

RCMP in our province say more and more Manitobans are submitting dash cam footage, and it is having a significant impact. 

Corporal Jeffrey McIntosh is a member of the Collision Reconstruction Unit. He says these recordings are invaluable for investigations. McIntosh says dash cams provide a better perspective of traffic incidents, helping them recreate collisions accurately. 

Manitoba RCMP has launched its annual Sirens For Life challenge, a friendly summer competition encouraging blood donations from first responders.  

Organized by Canadian Blood Services, the challenge invites police, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders to see who can donate the most blood.  

Corporal Julie Courchaine of the Manitoba RCMP emphasized the importance of the initiative.  

Canadian country music found a new stage at Cuba's first-ever Caribbean Goes Country festival, where local talents like Quinton Blair and Doc Walker did something never done before, play a country show in that nation.

The festival was the brainchild of Canadian Dennis Woodworth, who's deeply involved in the Cuban community, and it blended Caribbean flair with country tunes.

Portage la Prairie is the host of the first-ever Giveaway Days this weekend, organized by the Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC). This initiative aims to promote sustainability, encourage community engagement, and give residents an opportunity to declutter their homes while giving their unwanted items a new life.

Participants can join in by placing their unwanted, reusable items at the curbside on Saturday morning, marked with a sign that says "FREE."  

Mari Kozar, the Executive Director for the PCRC, shares details about the event.

Paige McCulloch, the Youth Councillor for the City of Portage la Prairie, is teaming up with her classmates to host a 5K Family Fun Run/Walk on June 3rd at the Island Grandstand. The event aims to bring families and friends closer while raising funds for the Family Resource Centre, an organization that helps support families in and around the community.

The event kicks off at 10:00 in the morning and wraps up around 2:00 in the afternoon. Paige McCulloch explains the goals of the Fun Run. 

Hi, I’m Robert Voesenek, your Celebrate Summer host! I’ve lived in the Portage area my whole life and have been glad to be a part of the Portage Online team throughout high school before COVID. Now I’m back on the team and ready to travel all over the region and attend all the summer events I can possibly get to.   

I am very excited to have the following events on my schedule already and I will be broadcasting live on our three radio stations and posting all my adventures and photos here on Portage Online!  

• The Macgregor Fair on June 23rd   

In an inspiring show of community support and dedication to youth hockey, 25 children between the ages of 6 and 10 received free hockey equipment and a portion of their registration fees for the upcoming season. This incredible opportunity was made possible through the Dreams Come True program, a flagship event of the Hockey Canada Foundation.

Portage District General Hospital Foundation recently hosted a highly anticipated fundraising barbecue event, marking its return after a two-year hiatus. The community showed overwhelming support, expressing their joy at being able to contribute to the foundation while enjoying a delicious meal.

In a recent court hearing, Michael Stephan Klimchuk was sentenced to four years in prison, which includes the 112 days he has already served in custody, for his involvement in a distressing kidnapping incident. Klimchuk pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and forcible confinement of 25-year-old Bailee Scott and her 2-year-old daughter. 

City councillor Terrie Porter and Jocelyn LeQuier-Jobin, director of operations recently discussed the city's initiatives to improve road conditions, including the road pavement plan, pothole filling, and crack sealing. Both officials stressed the importance of public engagement in reporting road issues.