Westman

Community Futures Westman has launched a new way to help entrepreneurs enter the business world, or current small business owners to expand their business through their new Lending Circle program.

Precipitation that's in the forecast early this week could help crews fighting wildfires that have been threatening a northern Manitoba city after smoke that's blanketed much of the Prairies over the weekend kept some firefighting aircraft grounded and forced the cancellation of a number of weekend events.

In an update posted to social media on Sunday, the City of Thompson said rain was forecast for the area on Monday as the community continues to advise residents to be ready to flee at short notice due to several fires. 

Environment Canada meteorologist Crawford Luke says wildfire smoke can definitely have an impact on the development of thunderstorms — especially when it blocks out sunlight and prevents surface temperatures from hitting key thresholds. 

Tariffs and trade are top of the agenda as the country's premiers arrive in Ontario's cottage country for a three-day meeting that comes at a pivotal time for both Canada-U.S. and domestic relations.

The premiers' summer gathering in Muskoka will also feature a Tuesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, as trade talks with the United States are expected to intensify.

After 45 years in their Jasper home, it took mere minutes for Wes Bradford's quaint mountain abode to burn to a pile of ash.

A year later, he and his wife are itching to rebuild. They've hired a contractor and designer, and their insurance will cover the expected $1-million price tag. But they can't start yet — not until their empty lot, currently a flat mound of dirt, has been declared contaminant-free.

"We're up against the wall," says Bradford, after meeting their builder in Jasper the day before.

After a very successful first run, Clinton Friesen is proud to let the community know that Bulls on the Border is back this coming August and he couldn't be more excited. 

"It's our second year going, we started it last year," Friesen says with a smile. "It started in a hockey dressing room, it was just an idea, and we finally decided we'd do it last year. We didn't know how many people would come, but we just took a shot and did it, and it turned out to be a really good event."

Choosing the right replacement heifers is more important than ever for cattle producers, especially with today’s record-high calf prices.

“Replacement heifers represent the genetic potential of a producer’s operation,” says Alexis DeCorby, Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Yorkton office.

“They’re a costly investment that requires about two years of inputs before they produce a live calf.”

If you’ve ever looked up at the stars and felt a twinge of cosmic wonder, now is your time to lean in. The Perseids meteor shower is lighting up the night sky and Kenton Dyck from the Astro Club says it’s one of the most spectacular astronomical events of the year. Even better? You don’t need a telescope to see it.

“You just need the good old Mark 1 eyeball,” Dyck laughs. “No gear. No telescope. Just your eyes and a bit of time under the stars, it’s gorgeous every time.”

The Daly House Museum invited guests to join them yesterday for the Brandon Garden Tour that took place from 10 am to 3 pm.  

"This garden is a memorial garden," shares volunteer Sylvia Barr. "So all of these roses have been donated by people in memory of a loved one."

Barr headed up the design and construction of the memorial garden and can share a story about each feature, and each story is unique to its own.

Barr brought me to one of her favorite memorial sites, where an Emily Carr shrub rose bush blossoms beside a special stone plaque.

Twelve homeowners in the City of Brandon and surrounding area opened their backyards for garden enthusiasts during yesterday's annual Garden Tour.

While this garden tourist couldn't make it to all of the destinations within the 5-hour time span from 10 am-3 pm, try as we might, we did get to most of them and found some lovely floral displays along the way!

From vibrant lilies bursting with color to stone pathways leading to secret gardens ...