Daisy Woelk

Applause erupts, and red ribbon falls away as a highly anticipated movie studio in Niverville is officially opened, with a big thanks to a local coffee shop owner.

"Juliette (Hagopian) is my sponsor mother. She sponsored me in 2003, April 16, to Canada from Ethiopia," says Henok Negash, who founded Negash Coffee in Niverville and now self distributes a new coffee brand called Queen Sheba Coffee Roasters.

Spring is here!

It's the season many have been waiting for, eagerly anticipating budding trees, blooming gardens, and the homecoming of some warmth-loving critters. But, while this time of year is held with open arms, there is reason for caution — especially as the ice melts.

"Roughly 30 per cent of drownings in Manitoba happen... between October and April," says Lynne Stefanchuk, the executive director of Lifesaving Society Manitoba. "There's always that danger around waterways in Manitoba."

Spring is here!

It's the season many have been waiting for, eagerly anticipating budding trees, blooming gardens, and the homecoming of some warmth-loving critters. But, while this time of year is held with open arms, there is reason for caution — especially as the ice melts.

"Roughly 30 per cent of drownings in Manitoba happen... between October and April," says Lynne Stefanchuk, the executive director of Lifesaving Society Manitoba. "There's always that danger around waterways in Manitoba."

World Down Syndrome Day is on March 21. As it approaches, a local mom is looking for help fundraising in support of the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network (DSDN).

Christine Wiebe has been volunteering with the organization for about five years, and this year is hoping to raise $1,500 for it's work connecting and supporting parents of children with Down syndrome.

"They are also working with health care providers to help them give the best diagnosis experience to new families," she says.

A community organization in Ukraine, in part supported by southeastern Manitobans, is giving its all as war continues to rage in the region.

Chris Goertzen is the vice chair of the Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine, which provides funds for basic needs at its namesake: the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine.

There, the centre has been serving impoverished Ukrainians for more than 20 years, he says.

A community organization in Ukraine, in part supported by southeastern Manitobans, is giving its all as war continues to rage in the region.

Chris Goertzen is the vice chair of the Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine, which provides funds for basic needs at it's namesake: the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine.

There, the centre has been serving impoverished Ukrainians for more than 20 years, he says.

Steinbach Bible College (SBC) has marked the beginning of construction on it's new campus at the former Steinbach Family Medical Centre on Loewen Boulevard.

Tuesday afternoon, the school held a sod turning — or, what has been joked about as a "snow-throwing" — ceremony for the $15 million project, which Superior Projects will oversee.

Dave Reimer, SBC's president, says construction will start in March, and hopes a ribbon cutting can be held ahead of the school year in 2026.

Funding for Manitoba's school divisions is increasing by $67 million for the next academic year.

Monday morning, Tracy Schmidt, the newly minted education minister for the province, said the boost is consistent with last year's increase at 3.4 per cent.

Background information from the province shows the bump will vary between one per cent and almost 10 per cent for individual divisions, with the inclusion of federal nutrition funding.

Funding for Manitoba's school divisions is increasing by $67 million for the next academic year.

Monday morning, Tracy Schmidt, the newly minted education minister for the province, said the boost is consistent with last year's increase at 3.4 per cent.

Background information from the province shows the bump will vary between one per cent and almost 10 per cent for individual divisions, with the inclusion of federal nutrition funding.

Allied health-care workers are eyeing a strike once again.

Of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals' (MAHCP) members, 96 per cent have voted in favour of a strike mandate, citing a lack of competitive wages, and severe understaffing. That includes paramedics, mental health and addictions workers, and lab and diagnostic imaging staff.

The group's previous contracts expired on March 31 last year.