Betty Sawatzky

Speaking to an audience of municipal leaders and rural families today in Virden, Manitoba NDP Leader, Wab Kinew, announced his party’s plan to fix rural health care. Kinew was joined at the podium by NDP candidates, Wayne Chacun, a paramedic from Virden, and Mike Sudak, a veteran and councilor from Carberry.  

Kinew shared his thoughts about the many changes in health care, especially in the rural areas of the province. 

Before ol' man winter decided to return to the Westman Region, the snow was almost completely gone. But the recent series of weather systems that hit southwest Manitoba has added more snow to the landscape, and more pressure on farmers itching to see the black stuff in their fields, not the white stuff.

Let's just say we're all wishing those Colorado Lows would just stay on their side of the border!

Minto area farmer, Jake Ayre of J&C Farms, is still fairly positive that seeding won't be as late as last year, as long as the snow systems stay 'over there!'

This past weekend the Man-Sask Livestock Auctioneering Championships were held in Killarney, with local auction mart Allan Munroe playing host to 13 fellow contenders, their families and fans!

Auctioneers from across the two provinces, as far away as Saskatoon and Moose Jaw, took turns auctioning off just over 1200 head of cattle throughout the day, with the final 5 contenders calling in the final sales in the late afternoon.

The Internationals Peace Garden has been reaching out to youth on both sides of the border to encourage young people to join their staff for the summer months.

CEO, Tim Chapman, says they've contacted schools, youth groups and 4H clubs to share the wide variety of summer positions soon opening for students to apply.

"Manitoban [students] get out at the end of June and North Dakotans get out at the end of May and we're wanting to fill about 40 positions, on top of the few of us that work here year-round," explains Chapman.

Tatiana and Curt Fraser joined the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair this week with their unique home-based 'pet store', Fraser Reptiles, wowing their audience with geckos, frogs and other creepy-crawlies ... the critters that make mothers wrinkle their noses, and kids LOVE!  Fair warning, moms, your children will be able to do more than just gaze longingly at the creatures from the other side of the glass, they'll be able to hold them!

Tatiana Fraser says their exhibit is definitely a hands-on experience.

Anglers had a beautiful sunny day out on the ice at the Pelican Lake Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday, with over 1200 people in attendance, each trying to find the perfect combination of lucky lures to favorite rods, to the tastiest, most appetizing bait - all to land the largest fish to win the new quad!

Healthy Lake Committee Chair, Trevor Maguire, says the day-long fundraiser was fantastic with incredible community support, with folks coming from near and far to support the efforts to maintain the aeration field systems... and to get in on some fun fishing!

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation continues to advocate for Conservation Enforcement, through discussions with the Province. 

Conservation Officer recruitment and retention is just one issue the MWF is working on with the Provincial government.

Managing Director for the MWF, Carly Deacon, says the Province has allocated $300,000 towards curbing illegal hunting, specifically night hunting.  Steps taken include more helicopter surveillance and additional trucks and adding more 'boots on the ground' by hiring more enforcement officers. 

Manitoba Ag Days is returning to the Keystone Centre this week and the organizing committee is thrilled to bring this annual Ag Expo back to Brandon, after a 3-year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions. 

"We are so excited to have everybody back. Back in one building, back to business," shares Ag Days General Manager, Kristen Phillips. "Agriculture is a business of handshakes and we just can't wait to see everybody back at the Keystone Centre." 

Manitoba Ag Days is returning to the Keystone Centre next week and the organizing committee is thrilled to bring this annual Ag Expo back to Brandon, after a 3-year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions. 

"We are so excited to have everybody back! Back in one building, back to business," shares Ag Days General Manager, Kristen Phillips. "Agriculture is a business of handshakes and we just can’t wait to see everybody back at the Keystone Centre!" 

The second annual HyLife Holiday Helpers company food drive was a huge success for the La Broquerie-based business!

Across operations, HyLife employees donated more than 2,400 non-perishable items to local food banks/programs, and thanks to additional funds from HyLife Fun Days this past fall, the company was able to share a total of $50,000 in cash donations with these organizations that work 'tirelessly to make the holidays bright for their neighbors struggling with food insecurity,' stated HyLife's most recent media release.