Westman

The Town of Carberry is in the running to win a new set of bleachers and they’re counting on public support to help get them across the finish line.

Carberry is a finalist in the Ugliest Bleachers Contest, hosted by Sports Systems. The winning community will receive a full set of brand-new bleachers, with second and third place earning credits toward future purchases.

Callie Sudak, manager of joint services for Carberry, says the current bleachers are in bad shape.

Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the federal government plans to take a "fresh" look at its online harms legislation over the summer but it's not clear yet exactly what the bill will look like when it is reintroduced.

It would be the Liberals' third attempt to pass legislation to address harmful behaviour online.

Fraser told The Canadian Press in an interview that the government hasn't decided whether to rewrite or simply reintroduce the Online Harms Act, which was introduced in 2024 but did not pass.

Star of Hamiota Collegiate Ky Solomon was named as 'A' Girls Athlete of the Year by the Manitoba High School Athletics Association. 

Solomon, who claims Shoal Lake are her home town, says she was as surprised as she was thrilled to get the news she had won. "I was not expecting it at all" the 18-year-old says with a big smile. "I was driving to practice and I got the email. I instantly called mom and dad and told them, it was really exciting."

Berry lovers will be happy to hear that the U-pick season has now started. 

Across the Prairies, strawberry U-pick seasons typically start in early July. Raspberries and Saskatoons are then often available from late July through August. 

Andy Loewen is the owner of Friedensfeld Honey and Berry Farm, located east of Friedensfeld in Manitoba. He says their strawberry U-pick season officially got underway on Friday. An opening day of June 27th is a little bit earlier than normal for their farm.

It’s been a whirlwind few months for Byron Froese — the Winkler-born hockey pro just wrapped up his 13th season of professional hockey by winning the Gagarin Cup with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, the top prize in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Russia’s premier pro league.“It was definitely a long year,” said Froese in an interview this week.

Ferdi Nelissen, Garth Asham, and their teammates were recently inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame as members of two dominant squads: the 1983–85 Winnipeg Internationals and the 1987–89 Winnipeg Ashams. The recognition wasn’t just for individual feats, but for what they accomplished as a unit—winning provincial championships, representing Manitoba at nationals, and competing at ISC World Tournaments.

Nelissen brings the sport to life and makes you want to join a fastball team to garner memories, as he explains how that the honour meant more because it was shared. 

This year, 90 delegates from diverse backgrounds and ages have been selected from across the country for Miss Universe Canada.  

Jada Budz from Morden is one of them. 

The beauty pageant, an annual event, is Canada’s official representative in the Miss Universe competition, considered one of the world's foremost pageants. 

Funeral For:  Lori Penner nee Krahn 
Funeral Date: July 1, 2025 
Lori Penner nee Krahn, 59, of Altona passed away Wednesday, June 25th at Boundary Trails Health Centre. She is survived by her children Thadius, Holly (Matthew), Lucas, Benjamin, Toby (Jessica), and Quincy, as well as 4 grandchildren, Oliver, Theodore, Penelope, and Marigold, her partner Richie, 2 sisters and 2 brothers. She was predeceased by her parents Frank and Elizabeth Krahn.

Canadian varietal development system called a success story

Canada’s system of developing wheat varieties is both efficient and effective, says a University of Saskatchewan agricultural economist.

Australia invests much more into wheat genetics and improving varieties, but the yield gains are similar to Canadian results.

“In Australia, they’re spending three to five times what we are, right now, on wheat research and wheat genetics,” said Richard Gray, Canadian grain policy research chair at the U of S.

Funeral For:  Annie Derksen nee Enns 
Funeral Date: June 30, 2025 
Annie Derksen nee Enns, 99, of Winkler formerly of Plum Coulee, passed away Wednesday, June 25th at Salem Home. She is survived by 2 sons. She was predeceased by her husband Jacob P. Doerksen. 
A memorial service for Annie Derksen nee Enns will be held Monday, June 30th at 2pm at Plum Coulee Harvest Christian Fellowship with burial prior to the service at Plum Coulee Cemetery. 
Viewing will be at Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler Sunday, June 29th from 2 to 7pm.