Steinbach

Two organizations with deep roots in social support work are hoping to bring a new affordable housing project to Steinbach that also directly supports tenants’ mental health needs. 

Eden Health Care Services and Steinbach Community Outreach (SCO) presented a joint proposal to Steinbach City Council this week, outlining a collaborative effort that aims to provide permanent, affordable housing with wraparound mental health services for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. 

The Mayor of Ritchot says due to a recent increase in dog attacks, Council has decided to appoint an animal control officer (ACO). 

"The RM of Ritchot has been dealing with a significant influx of domestic animal concerns; dog attacks or dog bites throughout the whole municipality," says Chris Ewen. "And we as Council just decided that it's time to take serious action on this and hire a designated ACO to start not only penalizing but educating people on how severe this can be."

A national walk raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention is coming up, and Steinbach is representing Manitoba.

"It looks funny because (there's) all these big cities, and then Steinbach, Manitoba. We are the Manitoba walk," says Marisol Pulido, a volunteer with the Sashbear Foundation, which is the organization behind the walk. 

As the countdown to the April 28th federal election continues, Pulse Canada President Greg Cherewyk is urging political parties to focus on global trade, specifically the challenges facing Canada’s agriculture industry.  

With trade being a central issue, Cherewyk sat down to discuss what he believes needs to be addressed to ensure the future success of Canada's agricultural exports, especially pulses. 

“When it comes to fixing auto glass, we are the best at what we do, because it’s ALL we do.”

This from Nathan Kalstrom, owner of Dedicated Auto Glass in Steinbach.

“I’ve been fixing and replacing auto glass here for twenty years,” he reveals.

Before it became Dedicated, the business at 22 Loewen Boulevard in Steinbach had been Hometown Auto Glass, where Kalstrom got his start back in 2002.

A men's mental health group based in Ste Anne is advocating for increased mental health resources, after one of its members waited for more than 30 hours in a local emergency room (ER). 

Ryan Pasieczka, a co-founder of the Southeast Men's Group, says the member admitted himself to the ER around 6 p.m. in late March with suicidal thoughts and auditory hallucinations. 

The 2024-2025 curling season has officially wrapped up at the Steinbach Curling Club, and President Cody Bergen says it was one of their strongest years in recent memory. 

Junior and stick curling leagues see major growth 

“We had a very good season this year,” says Bergen. “Most of our leagues were up. Our junior leagues and our stick curling leagues did very well this year.” 

The Carillon Sultans of all ages are ready to kick off another season and co-president Louis Cote couldn't be more excited. 

"We're really excited the way the weather has been going here," Cote says with a smile. "The ball diamonds are drying up in the majority of the communities and we're hoping to get outside earlier than normal, instead of just being in the indoor facilities."

Canadian producers will have a new way to make sure they can say their product is upholding sustainability, as the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) is unveiling their participation in the Protein PACT Sustainability Framework. The initiative will look to uphold sustainability standards across the country for Canada's beef producers.

Lauren Martin, the Senior Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Council for CMC, says that it was made in cooperation with our southern neighbours.

The Manitoba government says adding officers to a police emergency team will help address crime.

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe says $3.3 million is being directed to double the RCMP emergency response team's current roster of nine full-time positions.

The money is part of a $5.3-million plan announced in last month's budget to boost policing in rural and northern areas.

The province has seen a series of high-profile crimes in recent months, including three break-ins west of Portage la Prairie last weekend that involved armed suspects stealing all-terrain vehicles.