Betty Sawatzky

The International Peace Garden is inviting the public to join them on Monday, September 11 at the 9/11 Memorial site to remember those who were killed on that fateful day in 2001. This is 22nd Anniversary of the events. 

In 2010, Rotary International, the North American Firefighters Union and Manitoba Infrastructure donated the 9/11 Memorial that includes iron remnants from the collapsed towers at the World Trade Center. Today, local organizations host 9/11 remembrance events at the site, and invite the public to join them.

It was a hot day for those who attended the Dunrea Flea Market this past Sunday, with 1752 people paying their $5 entry fee to see table upon table of artifacts, antiques and everything else under Sunday's scorching sun!

"It was nice and hot, with lots of people and it was a great day," shares organizing committee member, Lindsay McDonald. "Everyone was happy!  There were smiling faces everywhere!"

This Sunday, Sept 3rd, is the annual Dunrea Flea Market, the highlight of all treasure hunters across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where antiques and oddities are found at every turn and on every table. One feels a sense of nostalgia as you see dishware, books, antique furniture, and a multiple of collections that you yourself once enjoyed in years past!

Harvest has begun for the Canadian Foodgrains' grow projects across the Province - that time of year when community comes together for a common goal of getting the grain into the bins, to market, to raise funds to help third world countries secure food for their communities.

With combines, tractors, grain carts and semi-tractors and trailers back on the fields, it's important to remember these large units are also on our rural roadways and highways while travelling from field to field.

Minto-area farmer, Bill Campbell, is a member of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), and past president.  "It's that time of year when harvest requires you to get the job done and we do the best that we can," shares Campbell, but we just want to ensure that the public is aware of circumstances and equipment moving and late night procedures."

The planting and replanting team at the International Peace Garden, led by horticulturists Johannes Olwage and Jonah Neufeld, has been working carefully to move the world-class collection of cacti and succulents to their new home at the Conservatory, 

Peace Garden CEO, Tim Chapman, says the newly expanded Conservatory should be able to house all of the 6000 plants they have at their storage, as well as at the original end of the conservatory building.

People of Portage la Prairie and all across the Central Plains are expected to take in the Manitoba AG EX as it's not too far away -- literally, and figuratively! The event takes place in Brandon in October and the Provincial Exhibition's newest staff member, Macayla Lyons, is looking forward to her first big tradeshow as their new Tradeshow Coordinator.

The Province of Manitoba announced two new programs, Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Horticulture Production, to be offered at Assiniboine Community College.

“Mechatronics is critical to support evolving manufacturing, processing, and food development sectors in Manitoba,” said Mark Frison, President of Assiniboine. “It’s a critical program to support industrial automation and help the sectors be competitive.” 

Minot, North Dakota, residents Tim and Christine Baumann have been Directors of the International Music Camp (IMC) at the International Peace Garden south of Boissevain for 10 years, having first each other met at the International Music Camp, and both being on staff now for 18 years.  "This is a job, obviously, for both of us, but it feels quite a bit more like a vocation and a calling, just because of the importance of it for the two of us, but also our friends and family that we've made here are just a really important part of this place in our lives," shares Tim.

The Provincial government announced on Thursday morning an additional $880,000 will be used to enhance testing and staff capacity to further monitor and prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), an incurable and fatal disease that affects members of the deer family (cervids) including mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose and caribou.