Portage

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, a local family has raised nearly $13,000.00 for pediatrics cancer care through a unique pumpkin fundraiser called 'Jack O’Lanterns' , inspired by the courageous battle of a young boy named Jack Gretsinger. Jack who was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia at just three years old, and recently just celebrated his fourth birthday while undergoing treatment.

Several Portage la Prairie residents have noticed the presence of coyotes around the community recently. Reports of the animals hanging around Koko Platz and Mellenville have shown up on social media sites and it's not unusual to see or hear them on the outskirts of the community. It is however a little more unusual to see them inside city limits.

For the past couple of weeks, PortageOnline has been taking entries for the Great Portage Pumpkin Decorating contest with Prime Auto Portage. With over 70 entries, it will be tough to decide, but we've narrowed down the list and seeing as it is Halloween, it is time to vote.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she hopes countries from around the world will support a plan to bring back Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia since the war in Ukraine began nearly three years ago. 

Joly urged more than 70 delegations attending a ministerial conference in Montreal on Wednesday to make a “strong pledge” to ensure children and other Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war are returned home. 

New Democrats will not cave to demands from the Bloc Québécois and Conservative leaders to help them bring down the Liberal government, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Wednesday. 

His party is now all that stands between Justin Trudeau's Liberals and an early election, with the other two opposition parties pledging to try to topple the minority government at the next opportunity. 

On Tuesday, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said he will make good on his threat to work with the other opposition parties to bring the Liberals down with a non-confidence vote.

The Portage Terriers shook off a sluggish start and rallied to claim a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Blues on Wednesday night at Stride Place, led by an electric two-goal performance from forward Cam Bullinger.

The opening period was punctuated by penalties, with five minors called, four against Winnipeg alone. Despite the Terriers dominating possession and outshooting the Blues 14-4, it was Winnipeg who struck first, with Nikolas Iafrate finding the back of the net, snapping a shot past Terriers goalie Ryan Velan.

Wednesday, October 30th

MJHL
Portage 3 Wpg Blues 1

High School Varsity Volleyball
Girls
Portage Collegiate 3 Shaftsbury 1 (14-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-20)

The City of Portage la Prairie council meeting Monday night welcomed Francois Barnachea and Yuvan Ramachandran, who attended for the first time as youth councillors.

Barnachea says it was exciting and adds that he was able to see how council works and how laws and changes are passed.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked national security services to find a way to share information with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre about foreign interference affecting his caucus, he said Wednesday. 

Earlier this month, Trudeau told a public inquiry that he has been given the names of past and present Conservative parliamentarians and candidates who are linked to foreign interference. 

Trudeau said members from other parties, including the Liberals, have also been flagged.

A senior from Portage la Prairie narrowly escaped a major financial scam by putting on her detective hat. The resident, who chose to remain anonymous, explained that she received a call on her landline from a private number.

Rash of reports in Portage la Prairie

Several calls came in Wednesday (October 30) about the exact same scam.  Take the advice of this fortunate and fast-thinking Portager who realized what was happening.