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Portage lost a very influential community member last Friday.

On September 30th, 2022, James “Jim” Alexander Charles Knight passed away at the age of 88 years. Knight was born in Portage la Prairie and attended school in Longburn, Westbourne, and Neepawa.

In 1971 Knight was elected to the RM of Portage la Prairie, where he served first as a councillor for 14 years, then as reeve for 21, from 1985 until his retirement in 2006. During that time, he served on countless boards and committees throughout the community he adored.

The United Way Central Plains and Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Plains (BBBS) are once again joining forces to provide children in our community with winter clothing.

Dawn Froese, executive director for BBBS, outlines that the Koats for Kids program will start collecting winter apparel on October 1st and run until the end of the month.

"If people have items that they'd like to donate, they can drop them off at BBBS, Family Resource Centre, Stride Place, Pharmasave, Portage Library, Portage Friendship Centre and the Terrier game on October 21st." 

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced last Friday that they are launching an e-book called, "150 Years of Farming in Manitoba."

According to a press release from the province, the e-book is developed in partnership with Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), conveying the 150-year growth of Manitoba's agriculture and agri-food sector.

A new mural, titled Zoongide,  was unveiled Thursday on the southeast wall of the BDO Centre featuring seven sacred teachings.

This mural came to life after the Urban Indigenous Strategy applied for a $10,000 grant from the Government of Canada's 'Canadian Heritage National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Community Project Application.'

Indigenous Community Coordinator Assistant Jacinda Houle expresses her excitement for this mural to be finished. 

Manitoba MLAs are again sparring at the legislature as the fall sitting began Wednesday.

Portage la Prairie MLA Ian Wishart highlighted that the session will deal with some carry-over bills from the spring, including the Manitoba Hydro Amendments Act, which will put a cap on any increases on hydro rates moving into the future.

"Also, encourage the Hydro Board to bring a plan forward, a multi-year plan as to what their rates might be so it'll have more predictability for ratepayers across the province for hydro."

Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation's (PCRC) indigenous coordinators are advocating for public education regarding Orange Shirt Day (The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.)

Indigenous coordinator Cornell Pashe and assistant coordinator Jacinda Houle stopped by PortageOnline earlier this week to discuss the week of healing.

The Portage Innovation Centre held its 'Innovate to Launch Campaign Contest' last weekend and the have shared the winners who took home some cash to help launch their business. 

Two roads in the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie will soon have new names.

RM Council debated renaming PTH 1 South Service Road from Angle Road to Road 34W, to 'East Angle Road' and the road between Cottonwood Drive and PTH 1 North Service Road to 'Hillside Drive' at their regular meeting this week. It was read at Tuesday's meeting and the decision is expected to officially pass at their October 12th meeting.

Ryan Kontzie, Ward 3 councillor, tells PortageOnline that the decision to rename these roads was an easy one, as some residents were inconvenienced.

Tuesday night's Portage la Prairie School Division board meeting was the second of the school year and went over a variety of topics, including:  

Bryon Hamilton is bringing his campaign forward regarding his run to become the next mayor of Portage la Prairie.

Hamilton, who was born and raised in Portage, says it is sad to see the city's current state compared to the one he grew up in.