PembinaValley

This weekend, the village of Chortitz is throwing a celebration honouring the 150 years since Mennonite settlers first established the community.  

Residents past and present are coming together to remember, reconnect, and look ahead. 

Looking back on the 150 years of history and the people who built Chortitz from the ground up is at the centre of the weekend, though that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for fireworks and waffles. 

This year, Winkler Daycare is celebrating half a century since its establishment. 

In that time, countless children from the Pembina Valley have been entrusted to its care, where they have played, learned, and grown into the individuals that make up a thriving community.  

Altona is gearing up for a weekend packed with parades, music, fireworks, food, and community spirit as the 60th Manitoba Sunflower Festival kicks off July 25 to 27.

What started in 1964 as a small-town summer celebration has grown into one of southern Manitoba’s most anticipated events. Organizers say this year’s festival will celebrate tradition while making room for fresh energy and new ideas.

“It’s huge for a town this size to have a festival that’s gone on this long,” said festival chair Sandra Klassen. “People look forward to it all year.”

In Winkler, gathering as a neighbourhood and connecting as a community can happen just steps from one’s front door. 

‘It’s a good chance to catch up’ 

The city has a program that makes it convenient to organize the sort of festivities that tend to see a great deal of enthusiasm — block parties. 

Every summer we see cyclists brave the long stretches of prairie road, and some are biking for the pure pleasure of it, and others are on a mission.

Glenboro resident and Canadian Forces member Major Steve Sloat is tag teaming with retired LCol Robert Poirier to raise funds for the Gunner Peer Support Network, a charity of the Royal Canadian Artillery.

OPERATION GRIND FOR GUNNERS started at the end of June in Victoria, BC and will end in Kenora, ON at the beginning of August if all goes according to plan.

From 1981 to 2025, the Cripple Creek Music Festival is going strong into its 44th year, always held on the fourth Sunday in July on the same beautiful private property donated by Annie Wiebe just south of Morden.

The 2025 Musical Lineup

There's a good mix of familiar faces and fresh acts taking the stage this Sunday (July 27th) at Cripple Creek, check out the list below!

Manitoba is continuing to work on growing the agri-food sector. 

Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced over $6 million in funding from the province and the federal government to increase food processing opportunities.

The announcement was made at Maple Leaf Foods in Brandon, one of the recipients of the funding. 

Maple Leaf's President of Pork Operations Dennis Organ says the investment will help modernize the Brandon pork facility with state-of-the-art equipment, improving reliability, efficiency and production quality. 

A local volunteer firefighter is doing his part to support those on the front lines of Manitoba’s wildfire response.  

The town of Snow Lake was evacuated on July 10 due to the threat of wildfires. Just two days later, on July 12, volunteer firefighter Steve Slaney from Dominion City joined crews to assist with wildfire protection. They returned one week later, on July 19. 

Triple E Developments is bringing back its annual corn maze for a fourth year, offering a free and family-friendly way to get outside and get lost.  

Intentionally.  

The maze sits on undeveloped land owned by the company, and project manager Joel Vandenberg says that it has become something of a tradition by this point. 

A young man from Stuartburn has died following a two-vehicle crash in Western Manitoba Tuesday morning.
    
According to RCMP, a gravel truck was struck from behind by a water truck near the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Road 101 West, east of Brandon.
    
Authorities say the gravel truck was coming up to speed, heading east after turning on to the Trans Canada, when it was hit from behind by a large truck hauling a water tank.