Portage

The Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI) Trojans football team faced a heartbreaking playoff loss against the Fort Frances Muskies on Thursday, October 24, ending their playoffs earlier than they hoped. Head Coach Brendon Brydges shared his thoughts on the game and the journey the team undertook this year.

"It was tough, especially since we had nine Grade 12 players, some of whom have been with the team since my first-year coaching."

Brydges emphasized the hard work and commitment demonstrated by the team throughout the season. 

Canada's long-held consensus on immigration is under threat but has not disappeared, the immigration minister said in an interview after announcing a major cut to the number of newcomers to Canada. 

On Thursday, Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to slash Canada's immigration targets by 20 per cent next year and admitted the Liberal government did not get the balance right after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Friday that Canada strongly condemns a new surge of "horrifying violence" perpetrated by gangs in Haiti.

Gang violence has increased in the Caribbean nation in recent weeks and the UN says gangs now control 85 per cent of the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Kenya is leading a multinational security mission to restore order after gangs drove out the former prime minister with targeted attacks earlier this year.

A transition council is now leading the nation, with the goal of holding elections next year.

Here's a look at some of this week's top news photos as selected by editors.

A man uses an umbrella to shield himself from the rain while walking on the Stanley Park seawall across the water from downtown Vancouver, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A back-to-back often provides teams with an opportunity to demonstrate who they really are. Tonight will be no different, despite coming in against the team suspected to be the weakest in the MJHL.

The Winnipeg Freeze have a single win against the Terriers so far in their 185-game history, an overtime victory against the Dogs at the Hockey For All Centre. The Terriers led the game with a minute to play, but a goal with the Freeze net empty tied things up, and Elliot Perreault scored 44 seconds into the extra frame to spoil the dogs perfect record against them.

A Rotarian from Neepawa attended a Portage meeting to see how the club operates as he prepares for a large role.

The Rotary Club of Portage la Prairie is just one of many different clubs around Manitoba, Canada, and the world. Rotary districts are set up to help build camaraderie and relationships between nearby clubs.

Gary Wayne Jacobsen is the District governor-elect, and says he attended the meeting because it's important to engage with as many Rotarians as possible.

October 25 marks the start of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 65’s annual poppy campaign in Portage la Prairie. With the season of remembrance upon us, Bob Oldford, Media Liaison for the Legion, encourages locals to wear their poppies with pride and support a campaign that has a profound impact close to home.

Poppies will be distributed at various stores and businesses across Portage. From grocery stores like Sobeys and Panko's to the Legion itself, there are plenty of ways for residents to show their support. 

With the winter approaching rapidly CN Rail is looking at a lot of movement coming as winter approaches the prairies.

With plenty of grain left in prairie bins following the harvest, CN Rail will be moving quite a bit of that to buyers over the coming months.

Assistant Vice President of Grain at CN Rail David Przednoweck says that they've been seeing a lot of movement over the previous two weeks.

An inspiring exchange highlighting the intersection of art and cultural representation unfolded Tuesday, October 21, at La Verendrye school (LVS). Local Indigenous artist Kae Maud presented a piece of their artwork to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew when the Premier visited LVS on a visit to Portage la Prairie. Principal Michelle Laidlaw of LVS asked them to present the Premier with the recent orange shirt that they had designed for Orange Shirt Day. However, Maud's mom encouraged them to create something more for the Premier.

The City of Portage la Prairie hosted a grand opening for Saskatchewan Avenue yesterday, with local and provincial dignitaries and those involved in the project attending.

The event was hosted at MNP in Portage, and Mayor Sharilyn Knox took a moment to thank everyone involved in the project, including the federal and provincial government. Knox explains that their assistance was crucial in keeping the project from affecting residents.