Portage

It's been in the planning stages since before Christmas last year, and it's going to be a big celebration! The Village of St. François Xavier is holding its 200th anniversary this month, on September 21 and 22.

Reeve of the RM of St. François Xavier, Delmer Nott, says they have a great lineup of events and outlines the schedule.

If those at Sissons Farm get their way, expect mostly warm weather for the rest of the harvest season.

Sissons Farm, located just behind Walmart in Portage la Prairie, has wrapped up its canola cereals for the year. Their focus has now shifted to edible beans. Blye Sissons says this year's weather has done more good things for them than bad.

Sanjeet Grewal acknowledges that there are several perspectives on the challenges faced by foreign workers in Canada and notes he understands the viewpoint of Canadian citizens.

We spoke with Grewal in a previous news story, and in this article, he focuses on some perspectives from his point of view that may surprise many Canadians.

Grewal, who recently moved to Portage la Prairie, recognizes that some foreign workers may have caused Canadians to feel uneasy about their presence.

David William McClure (a.k.a. “Pops”) was born in Gladstone on October 9, 1924 and passed away on September 9, 2024 at the age of 99.

The Portage Terriers are continuing a recent trend of having their captain be a returning defenceman, with the team announcing that Parker Scherr will be named the captain for this season.

Scherr was acquired from the Olds Grizzlys on September 22, 2022, for Future Considerations, which has worked out tremendously for the Dogs, as Scherr quickly established himself as a threat at both ends of the ice. 

Head Coach and GM of Portage, Blake Spiller commented in a press release from the Terriers that the decision was not very difficult.

Chris Streveler announced that his 2024 season is over after suffering a major knee injury during last weekend's Banjo Bowl.

In an emotional Instagram post, Streveler revealed that he tore three of the four major ligaments in his knee, marking the first time in his career that he's stayed down on the field following an injury.

“I’ve been through a lot of adversity in this game, but through it all I’m reminded that you can only truly control three things—how you show up on a daily basis, how hard you work, and what type of attitude you have,” Streveler wrote.

The Breakfast Club at Oakville Arena, coordinated by Kelly Sweetland, has become an exciting program in the community that the kids look forward to every Wednesday morning. Sweetland has been instrumental in starting and expanding the program. The Breakfast Club began as a response to the underutilization of community spaces in Oakville. Sweetland recognized that the local rink could serve more community needs, particularly for families. 

"When I moved here, I saw this space being underused. I thought, 'Why not turn this into something positive for the community?"

Portage is gearing up for an exciting new season of the Special Olympics program, set to begin this fall. The program will resume its activities starting Monday, September 23, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the École Arthur Meighen gym.

Deanna Talbot, the head coach of the Portage Special Olympics program, is excited about the upcoming season. 

"We're looking for athletes of all ages, so any children or adults who want to get involved in the program, regardless of their abilities, are welcome."

The ongoing wildfire smoke is expected to lead to a substantial decline in air quality and visibility in Portage la Prairie and other areas in the province. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an Air Quality Advisory for the area on Wednesday morning, noting that during periods of heavy smoke, everyone is at risk, regardless of age or health.

Kamala Harris pushed back on Donald Trump's claims about immigration and abortion as the two leaders met face-to-face for the first time on a debate stage in Philadelphia Tuesday.

The matchup marked a pivotal moment during the final sprint of a close race for the White House and saw Trump and Harris lay out starkly different visions for the future of America. 

While it started with a handshake, the debate quickly saw the Democratic vice-president and Republican former president zero in on each other's records.