Portage

The Portage Terriers lost their first game on home ice so far in their run to the Turnbull Cup by a score of 3-1 to the Dauphin Kings.

Portage scored a goal at the very last second of the first period, as Caleb Lepitre notched his first of the post-season on the powerplay. There was plenty of discussion between the officials and Dauphin's coaching staff, but the goal would stand. 1-0 Portage after the first.

Another hockey league is preparing to wrap up its season, as the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League final nears.

The two squads facing off will be the St. Boniface Riels and the Transcona Railers Express. The Riels squad features two Portagers, Carson Dubois and Alex van Deynze. 

Dubois says getting to this point in his third year is a pretty exciting feat.

Recruiters say there's been a surge of interest from American doctors considering moving to Canada since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump in November. 

Katrina Philopoulos, physician recruitment director for Nova Scotia Health, says 27 American doctors are in serious negotiations to move, talks that have so far resulted in one person being hired and a second who is expected to move to the province next year.

Portage la Prairie City Councillor and Finance Chair Joe Masi, a board member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), highlights urgent priorities for housing development as new national survey data underscores affordability concerns. The FCM's election-focused campaign reveals 44 percent of Canadians view housing affordability as their top issue, with many doubting homeownership feasibility. Masi stresses municipalities are part of the solution, but require infrastructure funding and tailored policies to meet local needs.

The Portage Sunday League Soccer, now rebranded as the Westland Insurance Soccer League, is gearing up for another season of co-ed soccer, with registration opening this Saturday, April 5. Established seven to eight years ago, the league has grown into a beloved local event, welcoming players aged 15 and up for casual yet competitive play. Organizer Dave Oshust says they play every Sunday evening.

"We play from early June to mid-September, depending on the number of teams. It's all about fun, but we make sure the teams are balanced so everyone gets a fair game."

The economy shed 33,000 jobs in March, the biggest loss since January 2022, while the unemployment rate ticked higher, Statistics Canada said Friday.

The agency said the unemployment rate for March rose to 6.7 per cent compared with 6.6 per cent in February.

The hit came amid increased uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs that have threatened economic growth.

The job losses reversed some of the gains made at the end of last year and into January.

"Freedom Convoy" organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber have been found guilty of mischief for their roles in the 2022 mass protest in Ottawa.

Lich and Barber were key figures and organizers in the protest that saw hundreds of vehicles and thousands of people occupy downtown Ottawa and insist they would stay until COVID-19 public health mandates were eliminated.

The New Democrats and Conservatives both pitched ideas on the federal election trail Thursday to make Canada and its workers more resilient in the face of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh proposed tax-free savings bonds, while Pierre Poilievre said a Conservative government would remove the federal sales tax from Canadian-made vehicles.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, in his role as prime minister, met virtually Thursday with Canada's premiers to discuss the U.S. tariffs as Canadian automakers started to feel the effects.

Wedged between a massive truck and a backhoe, saved by STARS. Given blood by STARS after being impaled by a spinning blade. Airlifted by STARS after crashing to the ground off a bucking horse in a remote area.  

These are just some of the stories of survival that filled the airwaves on April 1st and 2nd for the Critical Care on the Air Radiothon presented by BHP in support of STARS. 

Portage la Prairie found a spot in the World Atlas article as one of the nine most welcoming communities on the prairies. Local leaders, including Mayor Sharilyn Knox, MLA Jeff Bereza, and Portage Regional Economic Development Executive Director Eve O’Leary, celebrated the accolade, citing the city’s spirit and appeal to visitors and businesses looking to come here.