Pam Fedack

The valedictorian for Winkler's Garden Valley Collegiate calls it a surreal feeling to have the milestone of finishing high school upon them.

187 GVC students make up the graduating class of 2023.
    
Jamie Reimer shares part of the message she has for her fellow grads.

The Miami Fair and Rodeo will get underway bright and early Saturday morning for two full days of fun. Miami Agriculture Society's Jan Moody says the fair will kick off with a free pancake breakfast at the community hall - put on by local merchants. 

The miniature horse show which made its debut last year is returning again, after being well received last year. That event starts at 9:00 o'clock (am), added Moody. 

4-H judging will start at the fairgrounds Friday evening and will continue Saturday.

The Miami Fair and Rodeo will get underway bright and early Saturday morning for two full days of fun. Miami Agriculture Society's Jan Moody says the fair will kick off with a free pancake breakfast at the community hall - put on by local merchants. 

The miniature horse show which made its debut last year is returning again, after being well received last year. That event starts at 9:00 o'clock (am), added Moody. 

4-H judging will start at the fairgrounds Friday evening and will continue Saturday.

A convocation ceremony was held Wednesday for 40 graduates from Red River College's Winkler campus.
    
Director Shaun Hillman says it was a great feeling to celebrate the students, noting the pandemic really shuttered their chances to properly do that for grads. He says despite the additional challenges, the determination of this graduating class was evident.

Not only was the weather ideal for Saturday's Steps for Pets Walkathon in Morden, but it also drew a record number of registrants.
    
One of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Pembina Valley Humane Society, the Walkathon drew over 60 individual registrants.

The Council for the City of Winkler gave first reading to a by-law during its last regular meeting to borrow up to $ 8 million for the upcoming expansion of the city's water treatment facility. The by-law states the city can borrow up to the full $ 8 million at the established interest rate, which is the maximum amount the project could potentially cost the city. 

An expansion prompted by a strong and supportive customer base was celebrated in Altona this past week.
    
In 2020, Barb Teichroeb took over management of Oma's Kitchen and found ways to help the restaurant survive the changing rules around COVID.
    
Post-pandemic, she says their customers returned in full, and it wasn't long before she realized they needed more space.

Winkler City Councilor Marvin Plett was recently selected to continue sitting on a 75-member national board, representing municipalities in our province. Plett is one of five people representing Manitoba on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board.
    
Retired from his full-time career, Plett says he has the time to sit on a lot of committees, locally, something he enjoys doing, but he also has the time and energy to devote to others.

The difference-making legacy of Kaitlyn Reimer continues to live on through others.

It was always Kaitlyn's dream and vision to give back to the community, and when she was diagnosed with cancer, she founded Katie Cares. 
    
Tuesday evening Kaitlyn's mom, Ruth Reimer was thrilled to present the second annual Kaitlyn Marie Reimer Scholarship to grade 12 Garden Valley Collegiate student, Lauren Wolfe.

"It's exciting because it's growing," replied Reimer when asked about the legacy that Kaitlyn began. "It's making a difference, and that's what Kaitlyn wanted."

The Blair Sharpe Active Living Centre in Miami is quickly becoming a hub of community activity. A special program and ribbon cutting was held on June 3rd to officially open the facility, which has been operating now for several weeks.

Jolene Callum says the centre is home to the Friendship Centre but is also a facility that caters to everyone of all ages.