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While Christmas may still be a few weeks away, GNM Fine Jewellers on Main Street in Steinbach is already bustling with holiday shoppers looking to find meaningful, lasting gifts. For those wanting to avoid the holiday rush, the classic advice holds: shop early. Sales Manager Nick Lanteigne notes that in Manitoba, the holiday shopping season typically kicks off when the snow hits or during Black Friday week, which falls on November 29th this year.

“If our community works together, we will see an end to homelessness.”

This from Leona Doerksen, Founder and Board Chair of The INN (Initiative for Neighbourly Nights) – a shelter that will provide immediate low-barrier transitional housing for up to 18 months.

“That’s a big vision,” she admits. “But that’s what visions are. If we work on prevention, I believe we can do it.”

Of course, The INN is just one piece of the homelessness puzzle, but she is confident that the other pieces will come together.

Wouldn’t it be nice if your one-time gift could keep creating revenue for local charities, for years to come? That’s exactly what the Steinbach Community Foundation does. Executive Director Lynda Lambert explains.

“Community foundations are all about legacy and longevity and sustainability of your region, forever. So with the Steinbach Community Foundation, 100% of your gift is invested. We do not take any fees off it. And then every year interest is earned, and that’s the money we get to grant. So your gift will be part of a different local project every year, to infinity.”

“I’m not sure how we will survive as a business.”

With construction season plans stretching far ahead, small businesses on the corner of Highway 12 and Loewen Boulevard are feeling the strain.

“It was a big hit,” says Jatin, owner of Pita Pit. “When we were told that there would be construction, we knew that things were going to be really, really tough for us.”

November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. And while most people would rather not engage in a conversation about DV, it's a prevalent issue for many in the Southeast. At Agape House, they see that impact firsthand.

Southeast Event Centre in-person Hiring Blitz on now at Clearspring Centre

“We need people who are adaptable, flexible, and have the ability and want to learn both professionally and personally in the arts, sports and live entertainment industry.”

This from Jeffrey Bannon, General Manager of the new Southeast Event Centre, set to open soon in the heart of Steinbach, Manitoba.

Clearview Co-op celebrated their newest Food Store’s Grand Opening this last week in Sainte Anne, and the response from the community has been remarkable.  

While construction began back in 2023, Clearview Co-op Senior Manager Gavin Walls shares that onlookers were gathering almost daily to check on the progress.  

“We had to keep leading people off the site to keep the area safe as a construction zone,” he laughs. "People were just so excited- it was a really good problem for us to have!” 

Among the attendants, trainers and other staff at Clearspring Kennels is a very good boy. 

His name is Odin, and he’s easy to spot because he wears a brown vest. He’s also a Siberian Husky. 

Smitty’s in Steinbach specializes in celebrating some of life’s important moments. From children’s birthday parties, to weddings and anniversaries, workplace functions, family get-togethers and memorial services, the restaurant continues to serve as a welcoming space for Southeast residents wishing to mark their special events. 

“You serve these people for 20 years,” reflects Myranda Wyndels. “Their children have birthdays and you watch them grow up. You get to see them experience a lot of things.” 

He may be a software whiz, but for Matt Wieler it’s still all about the people – and their businesses. 

“Coming from a banking background, I really enjoyed that moment where I could hit the ‘approved’ button and watch the joy in someone’s face,” says Wieler, now the owner-operator of Steinbach-based Books in Balance. “I’d be in the numbers, in the credit scores, and doing all the math. But it was wonderful watching a human’s light switch go on. They’d go from maybe not having a house to having a house, and it would be life-changing.”