Westman

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. 

The group representing Manitoba physicians is warning people in northern and rural areas that they could see reduced hours and periodic closures in emergency rooms this summer.

Doctors Manitoba says based on the data and feedback it has received, 20 — or one quarter of rural hospitals — will have their emergency rooms open around the clock.

"This isn't a new problem. It's been building for many years, but the prolonged uncertainty and short staffing is taking a toll," group president Dr. Nichelle Desilets said Thursday.

The Federal Court has approved a multi-billion-dollar class-action settlement for people who suffered abuse at federally run 'Indian hospitals' following out-of-court negotiations between Ottawa and Indigenous survivors.

The federal government ran 33 such hospitals between 1936 and 1981. The total compensation amount is expected to be between $3 billion and $5.3 billion.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Thursday that a 49-year-old Canadian has died while in its custody.

A detainee death notice from the agency, commonly known as ICE, said that Johnny Noviello was pronounced dead by the Miami Fire Rescue Department at 1:36 p.m. on June 23.

The agency said he was found unresponsive at 12:54 p.m. at a federal detention centre where he was being held pending deportation proceedings. Medical staff attempted CPR and defibrillation but were unsuccessful, the agency said.