Steinbach

Funeral For:  John Friesen 
Funeral Date: June 2, 2025 
After a rich life, John Friesen, of Winnipeg, passed away at the age of 94 on May 24th, 2025.
He was predeceased by his wife, Charlotte Perry, his parents, Isaac and Maria Friesen, and two sisters and two brothers. He is survived by his stepdaughter, Lianne Perry, five sisters, and four brothers.

There's no rain in the forecast for Flin Flon, Manitoba, over the next week as crews there fight a wildfire that's raging nearby.

Temperatures throughout the weekend are expected to range from the low to high 20s, before cooling off.

Thousands have evacuated the northwestern Manitoba city, including municipal government officials and health-care professionals.

Flin Flon mayor George Fontaine said on Friday that unless things changed, the fire was projected to take chunks out of the town.

Ottawa probably can't help overhaul how municipalities raise funds in the near future, because the federal government is now focused on major, nation-building projects, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday

"We're building on what has worked. We're learning lessons from what hasn't," Carney said at an event held by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

The group represents cities and towns that have lobbied Ottawa for years to give them more independent means of financing their operations.

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says she doesn't blame First Nations leaders who are voicing frustration with governments promising to fast-track development in their territories in the name of national unity.

"I don't blame them. They're frustrated and they're being disrespected," National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said Wednesday morning.

"If we're not at the table making these decisions right off the bat, this is what happens and it causes the Canadian government more problems later."

After being voted out of the Southeast Manitoba Hockey League, the Ste. Anne Sr. Aces filed a complaint with Hockey Manitoba in hopes of overturning the decision and be allowed to play in the 2025-26 season.

Back on May the 4th, Aces President and Head Coach Kevin Lansard was informed while at a league meeting that the original six teams of the SEMHL held a vote and ousted the Aces on the heels of St. Anne claiming their third straight league championship.

It was a night of innovation, inspiration, and big ideas as the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted the first-ever Youth Entrepreneur Challenge on May 15 at Shevchenko School in Vita. Students from across the southeast pitched creative and thoughtful business ideas in a “Dragon’s Den”-style event, competing for prizes and gaining real-world entrepreneurial experience. 

If you have enjoyed the heat in May, you are in for a treat this summer. The Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada has released his summer weather outlook and says the month of May is a sign of things to come.

Weather forecasters use the meteorological calendar, which means summer starts on June 1st and ends on August 31st. David Phillips is forecasting those three months to be warmer than normal for the entire province of Manitoba. He notes each of those three months is expected to be warmer. 

Fighting drug-related crime and improving road safety will remain top priorities for Steinbach RCMP, following council’s unanimous approval of this year’s policing plan. 

Steinbach City Council looked over the RCMP’s policing priorities for the year, confirming the continued focus on four key areas: drug enforcement, property crime reduction, traffic enforcement and police visibility. 

The outdoor play area at the Steinbach Family Resource Centre is officially open for the season. 

Executive Director Jo-Anne Dalton says the space is ideal for families with young children who need a safe place to burn off some energy. 

The Province issued a wildfire update Friday evening at 5:06pm. Here's a breakdown of the information by region.

Eastern Manitoba faces largest wildfire threat

A massive wildfire near Bird River continues to burn out of control, prompting a mandatory evacuation of the community of Bissett. The blaze, known as Fire EA061, is estimated at 124,238 hectares and has forced the closure of Provincial Road (PR) 315 at Poplar Bay Road. Travel to Bird River and northward to PR 314 is restricted.