PembinaValley

The stage will look different than originally planned Wednesday night, when Canada's major party leaders square off in the first of two nationally televised debates.

Instead of five podiums on the stage, there will now only be four.

The Green Party had its invitation rescinded less than 12 hours before the debate is set to start, with the Leaders' Debate Commission saying the party no longer met the criteria to be included.

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault called the "last minute decision" both "unfounded" and "undemocratic."

Funeral For: Helen Klassen nee Friesen 
Funeral Date: April 19, 2025 
Helen Klassen nee Friesen, 94, of Winkler passed away Monday, April 14th at Salem Home. She is survived by 3 daughters, 1 son, and their families. She was predeceased by her husband David M. Klassen. 
The funeral service for Helen Klassen nee Friesen will be held Saturday, April 19th at 2pm at Winkler Reinland Mennonite Church with burial at Hochfeld Cemetery. 
Viewing will be at Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler Friday, April 18th from 1 to 7pm. 
Donations may be made to Salem Foundation. 

Funeral For:  Peter Funk 
Funeral Date: April 19, 2025 
Peter Funk, 86, of Steinbach passed away Sunday, April 13th at Vita Hospital. He is survived by his wife Betty, 1 daughter, 3 sons, and their families.  
A memorial service for Peter Funk will be held Saturday, April 19th at 2pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel with private family burial at Heritage Cemetery. 
Arrangements by Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach.  

Funeral For:  Doctor Dennis Giesbrecht 
Funeral Date: April 21, 2025 
Doctor Dennis Giesbrecht, 88, of Steinbach passed away Monday, April 14th at Bethesda Regional Health Centre. He is survived by his wife Rose, 4 daughters, 2 sons, 1 sister, 1 brother, 1 sister-in-law, and their families. He was predeceased by 2 sisters and 1 brother. 
The funeral service for Doctor Dennis Giesbrecht will be held Monday, April 21st at 1pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel. Private family burial will take place. 

SaskTel is developing new assets to help tech companies better connect with farmers by providing them with more background infrastructure. The project's full name is The Smart Agriculture Data Hub, and it will provide tech companies with a digital toolkit to help them reach more farmers.

Heather Clair, the marketing manager for Smart Ag, says the program is all about partnering with all the right companies to deliver what Saskatchewan farmers need.

A Calgary man accused of human smuggling after allegations that he picked up foreign nationals who crossed into Manitoba from the United States has had his charges stayed.

Manitoba Courts confirmed charges under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act were stayed in February for Saleh Youssouf.

Information on why the charges have been stayed was not available.

Youssouf was accused of driving a van last January that held seven men from the Republic of Chad.

With warmer weather and Springtime conditions, hopefully here to stay, camping season will be here very soon.

The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge of a government ban on firearms that Ottawa considers fit only for the battlefield, not hunting or sport shooting. 

The Liberals outlawed some 1,500 firearm models and variants in May 2020, meaning they could no longer be legally used, sold or imported. 

The move was generally applauded by gun control advocates as a first step toward removing firearms used in mass shootings from circulation. 

The Community Orchard in Altona will continue to take shape this spring.
    
A-CAN, the grassroots group behind the effort, planted a shelter belt and built some berms at the site, located just north of the Community Garden, last year.

Violinist and vocalist Rosemary Siemens has returned from a trip to her alma mater the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. The visit was to receive a special award alongside dozens of others who have attended the school. Both institutions are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, and recognized that by presenting one hundred accomplished former students with Centennial Medals during an event last week.