Jayme Giesbrecht

The Winkler Barracudas are gearing up for their Grand Prix Championship meet this weekend at the RCU Aquatic Centre, and excitement is high among the young swimmers. Known for their competitive spirit and team pride, the Barracudas are ready to show off their speed and skill in a series of races spanning freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke.

Southern gospel music fans in the Pembina Valley have reason to celebrate this weekend. The Glorybound Quartet, a staple in the regional gospel scene for 25 years, will be performing alongside the renowned Lumber River Quartet from North Carolina.

"This is a mission. It is not something we do for a livelihood. It is simply to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to others." - Jonathan Friesen, bass singer with the Glorybound Quartet.

Manitoba country artist Byron Falk says fans have been waiting for new music, and now it’s "finally" here. His latest single Stare into the Sun has officially been released, and added to our local music lists here at Golden West, marking a fresh chapter for the cattle-ranching singer-songwriter.

“I’ve always thought songs belong as a package… when you listen to these songs, you’re gonna feel something...” - Byron Falk, on the idea of releasing his next EP. 

What began with a dining room brainstorm and a passion for cartwheels has tumbled into one of the region’s most energetic and beloved youth programs. South Central Aerials, a grassroots gymnastics club based in Plum Coulee, has seen enormous growth since launching in 2017, and it's only picking up speed.

“It gave me an outlet to just do something for me. My passion grew for it, and then I couldn’t live without it. So it became a part of me.” - Cherish Delyea, Coach with South Central Aerials.

Kids are petting snakes, parents are snapping selfies with lizards, and somewhere in the crowd, a giant python named Popcorn is stealing the spotlight. Prairie Exotics is back at the Winkler Harvest Festival this weekend (August 8-10), and it’s not your average petting zoo.

 Local music duo An Unexpected End, made up of John Wiebe and Dylan Wiebe, is making serious waves again after a well-earned break. And they’re inviting fans of music, to a unique live music experience just south of Plum Coulee: Evenings of songs and stories in the Wiebe family's barn.

If you hear the sound of blue shells flying, Smash attacks landing, and someone yelling “I just got Catan’d!”—follow the noise. This weekend at the Winkler Harvest Festival, EtherLAN is turning the Best Western Conference Room of the Meridian Exhibition Centre into a gamer's paradise.

Morgan Wiebe is part of organizing this event, and when it comes to a favourite game? Wiebe says Mario Kart still stands the test of time. “It’s probably the one that’s the most accessible and the one I can convince most people to play with me.”

The Nellie McClung Heritage Site in Manitou has officially reopened its doors after an extensive restoration, and its timing couldn’t be more perfect. The house has been meticulously restored to its 1908 glory, a year that marked the beginning of McClung’s success as a bestselling author, and the museum now houses the largest collection of original Nellie McClung artifacts in the country.

When Hilda Gerbrandt walks into the studio with a plate of fresh Rollkuchen, we pay attention. A regular Eagle 93.5 morning show guest, Gerbrandt brought not one, but two kinds of the beloved Mennonite treat for her latest appearance, including the peach-filled Folla Rollkuchen that had everyone buzzing.

“It's something I enjoy. It's something about that my mom taught me. And I think when you have these good childhood memories of mom’s baking or cooking and so on like it's a comfort.” - Hilda Gerbandt, sharing memories of making Rollkuchen with her Mom. 

Dozens of bed frames, dressers, and other hotel furniture rescued from the fire-damaged Quality Inn in Winkler will go up for auction Monday, with all proceeds going toward international aid efforts.