Kylee Bailey

After a decade of serving as Carman Area Foundation’s chair, Janine Lodder is gearing up to exit the position.  

Accordingly, it’s no wonder that one of the most exciting and rewarding times of the year — grant season — is especially significant for her in 2025.  

For the rest of the community, it’s also a time to think about which organizations could use a helping hand to strengthen the area’s resources.  

Dr. Chandy Jacob is a name that has been associated with medical care in the Pembina Valley for over six decades.  

Watching the area’s medical landscape develop over the years has led to his opinions about how healthcare functions in the region. While his views might be slightly uncomfortable to hear in some circles, his intention for sharing them so openly is to improve healthcare for everyone.  

‘Nothing came without pushing’ 

In Dr. Jacob's view, the first step is to acknowledge the deficiencies in local medical services. The next step is taking action.  

Rosemary Siemens is a name that, over the years, has been increasingly associated with excellence. The violinist and singer, a Plum Coulee native, has travelled the world over to share her talents in some of the most sacred and renowned locations. 

For one family, a leisurely drive through a Christmas light display at Winkler Bible Camp this December became much more.  

Beautiful arrangements of cheese, grapes, bread, and nuts filled the tables at a night of reflection and celebration this weekend for Youth For Christ (YFC) Morden and its supporters.  

A big crowd 

The organization held its annual fundraising event on November 15th.  

Feeding ducks bread at the park is a classic scene. While it's always the best intentions that lead people to bring leftover bread to share a meal with the endearing creatures, the practice results in serious health complications that could cost the animals their lives. 

Jordan Ojah, a certified wildlife rehabilitator at Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre in Ile des Chenes, outlines the syndrome (called angel wing) that results from feeding bread to waterfowl: 

Feeding ducks bread at the park is a classic scene. While it’s always the best intentions that lead people to bring leftover bread to share a meal with the endearing creatures, the practice results in serious health complications that could cost the animals their lives.

Long-term damage

Jordan Ojah, a certified wildlife rehabilitator at Wildlife Haven, outlines the syndrome (called angel wing) that results from feeding bread to waterfowl:

This year, 2,128 students are walking the halls of Border Land School Division (BLSD). The number is almost exactly what the division anticipated.   

“We are only two students off of where we predicted we would be, which is great because staff is based on our predictions,” says Superintendent Krista Curry.  

No one wants to think about the catastrophic effect that subzero temperatures can have on those who aren’t properly equipped for the cold.  
Even so, this conversation was at the forefront of an important “humanitarian” information session that took place on October 10th in Pembina, N.D. 

For the first time, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) and the United States Border Patrol’s Grand Forks Sector held an information session jointly to educate the public on the dangers of crossing the border illegally — especially during the winter months when frigid temperatures and inclement weather can cause a tragic loss of human life.