PembinaValley

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are bleeding out right now and — in a storyline that was old weeks ago — the gruesome wounds continue to be primarily and frustratingly self-inflicted.

The Blue Bombers dropped their third straight contest in a 32-21 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in front of 22,913 fans at Hamilton Stadium Friday night, falling to 6-7 and under .500 for the first time this season, in a game that was again pockmarked by costly mistakes and an anemic passing attack.

Global Affairs Canada summoned Russian ambassador Oleg Stepanov over the incursion of Russian drones into Poland this week, as Ottawa looks to help a new effort by the NATO military alliance reinforce its eastern flank.

The summoning occurred hours after Poland reported multiple Russian drones had entered Polish territory between Tuesday and Wednesday. NATO allies shot down some of the devices.

At the end of August, PhiBer Manufacturing Inc. announced it had been selected for funding through the PrairiesCan Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program, a Government of Canada initiative supporting high-growth companies across the Prairies.

This investment will help PhiBer strengthen its advanced manufacturing capabilities, accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, and create meaningful new job opportunities in rural Manitoba.

As Ottawa gears up to launch a new agency to build homes faster, internal government documents describe how dire the housing situation has become in Canada.

Briefing materials prepared for incoming Housing Minister Gregor Robertson this past May and released this week acknowledge that costly housing is hurting the economy and making it difficult for people to find places to live.

"Vulnerable populations and lower-income households are struggling to have their basic housing needs met due to a lack of suitable affordable housing," the documents say.

A Winkler family is back in what has become a tradition of honouring their late wife, mother and grandma. 
    
For the third year in a row, a bracelet stand will reappear on the front lawn of the James home, down Sandpiper Crescent in Winkler, today, where Alitta James' grandchildren - Grady, Everly and Tiana - will be selling the handmade accessories in her memory and raising money for CancerCare Manitoba.

"The kids are just super pumped to make bracelets and sell them," said Jenilee Goertzen, Grady's mom. 

With the return to above average temperatures and sunshine this week, what has that meant for our veggie gardens and flower beds?

"At this time of the season, it is traditionally called our second season of gardening or our next season of gardening," shared Carla Hrycyna from St. Mary's Nursery and Garden Centre, Host of the Lawn and Garden Journal. "Maybe the vegetables finishing, and may still be doing a lot of harvesting. I'm still picking tomatoes off some plants."

Earlier this week, the Plum Coulee Fire Department presented the donations it received during its annual Plum Fest parade boot drive to the Rolling Barrage PTSD Foundation. The organization provides financial support to groups providing PTSD supports and therapies to military, first responders, RCMP and emergency healthcare providers.

Ottawa's chief data officer says he thinks the introduction of artificial intelligence to federal government operations will lead to "some" job cuts in the public service.

In a recent interview with The Canadian Press, Stephen Burt said he thinks the impacts are going to vary widely and will be job-specific, with different outcomes in different areas.

While he wouldn't identify the risk of job losses in specific areas of government, Burt said the goal will be to ensure employees receive opportunities to retrain and change jobs.

Winkler residents have a chance to declutter and help their neighbours this weekend as the city’s annual Curbside Giveaway takes place today and tomorrow. The event encourages households to place gently used items at their curb, giving others the opportunity to pick them up for free.

It's time for another Made in Manitoba, and tonight we're showcasing a veteran musician, composer and singer-songwriter, Robert Pastrick.

After a more than three-decade break from creating music and being in bands, building a successful flooring business in Winnipeg during that time, he picked it all back up again in 2018. Since then, he's released eleven albums.