Pam Fedack & Robyn Wiebe

An event celebrating women and their impact on the community was held this morning in Winkler. The event featured several guest speakers, including co-organizer Karina Bueckert.

"I wanted to speak today on the pressure we put on women, whether we put it on women as a society or as women take it on themselves, but we don't need to do it all, and we definitely don't need to do it all in one season of life," said Bueckert. "Every season has its own unique challenges and its own opportunities, and I think too often we put pressure on ourselves to do it all in one shot."

This year's proposed budget for the City of Morden will see a significant increase in spending. The proposed spending increase is 23% from 2022.

"About 17% of that is work being taken under special projects like wastewater, as well as funded programs like under the DFA for the Alvey Street and Parkhill Street Bridge," explained Mayor Brandon Burley. "So, if we remove those one-time expenditures that are being done with grants in, it works its way down to about a 6% increase over previous years on the capital side."

The cause of the fire that destroyed Janzen's Paint and Decorating in Winkler is still under investigation. Winkler Fire Chief Richard Paetzold says because of the nature of the fire and the hazardous materials in the building, they had the environment department come out as well as the Office of the Fire Commissioner to undertake their own investigation.
    

RM of Stanley Reeve Ike Friesen and Deputy Reeve Pete Froese continue their conversation with Reporter Pam Fedack looking at the challenges and opportunities going into 2023.

Winkler Mayor Henry Siemens looks into the future of the city in a continued conversation with Reporter Pam Fedack, highlighting why businesses are choosing to set up shop here and plans for council in the new year.

Morden Mayor Brandon Burley delved more into council's plan to support growth in the community, in spite of wastewater treatment limitations and shared plans to alleviate them, and touched on more topics in a sitdown conversation, looking ahead to what's to come for the city in 2023, with Reporter Robyn Wiebe.

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The destructive overland flooding that affected the R.M. of Stanley last spring was a situation that again demonstrated the kind of people the municipality is made of.
    
In a year-end interview with GoldenWest Reporter Pam Fedack, Reeve Ike Friesen and Deputy Reeve Peter Froese recalled how people came together, as well as other highlights from the year.

A sharp increase in the number of vehicles passing a school bus that has stopped, and has the "stop" arm extended with the lights flashing has the Western School Division (WSD) speaking out.
    
WSD Superintendent Stephen Ross noted, last year they had one occurence of someone passing a bus in that situation. This fall, six recorded incidents have already been sent to the Morden Police Service by the division.
    

The MLA for Morden-Winkler says he was delighted to see significant resources to support people in our province dealing with mental health issues and addictions announced in Tuesday's throne speech.
    
Cameron Friesen says mental health and addictions have been a primary concern in our communities and for the current government, adding they have been working to provide support and services for those who have been struggling.

Valley Fiber has been named the winner of 2022 Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce P.W. Enns Business Excellence Award.
    
Along with winners in other categories, Valley Fiber will be recognized at next Wednesday's P.W. Enns Business Awards Gala, hosted by the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce.
    
Senior Vice President, Conley Kehler says Valley Fiber has grown so fast in its first five years of operation, they have not had time to celebrate any milestone, so they're very excited to be recognized.