Portage

Lyss Houde has been a growing voice in hockey throughout Manitoba for a while now, and the gifted host has taken her talents to the world of podcasting where she is talking about important issues with people who are educated and passionate about the game.

How it all got started

After 25 years, Point West Electric’s founders are entering retirement, leaving behind a thriving business and a bright future.

When Gil and Kelly first launched Point West Electric 25 years ago, they didn’t have a building, a large crew, or even a long list of local contacts. What they did have was determination.

“I wasn’t from Portage, my wife was, so I didn’t know a lot of people when we first started,” Gil remembers. “It meant going door to door, earning trust, and proving we could deliver.”

A couple of weeks ago, you may have noticed a plume of fire shooting into the air just North of Carman, Manitoba, if you were driving along Provincial Road 13.

The pillar of fire appeared to stretch as much as 20-30 feet into the air, and was seen burning continuously for days on end.

A rather odd and uncommon sight to see across the Prairies, it may have left residents and passersby in the area concerned about an out-of-control situation, but that couldn't be further from the reality.

Fort la Reine Museum has wrapped up what staff describe as their fastest fundraiser ever, with community donations surpassing the target to rebuild the Métis Trapper Cabin.

Fundraising and community engagement coordinator Cindy McDonald says the initiative, called Buy a Log, allowed residents and businesses to purchase individual logs for $50 each. The response was swift, and combined with a substantial anonymous donation from a local, the goal of $8,000 was quickly exceeded, reaching nearly $11,000.

Splash Island Waterpark is getting ready to close its gates after another busy summer in Portage la Prairie.

The last day of operations is set for Monday, September 1, with public swim and private rentals continuing through the final weekend.

“Swimming lessons are done for the season, and so we're just kind of wrapping up with private rentals and public swim,” notes Angie Shindle, General Manager of the Portage Regional Recreation Authority.

Portage la Prairie’s new automated garbage collection system is settling in smoothly, with residents adapting well to the city’s updated pickup process.

Jocelyn Lequier-Jobin, Director of Operations for the city, says the system is functioning as planned, and feedback from the community has been fairly positive since the new automated cart system rolled out August 1, 2025.

Minimal issues and smooth adoption

Lequier-Jobin says the early weeks of the program have gone well.

The contest to supply Canada with its next fleet of submarines heated up this week, as Ottawa narrowed down the competition to just two suppliers: a Korean company and a German one.

Here's a look at where the massive procurement project currently stands.

1. Why does Canada need to buy new submarines?

Canada is racing to replace its deteriorating fleet of Victoria-class submarines. The fleet, bought second-hand from the U.K. in 1998, is rapidly aging and are expensive to repair and replace parts.

The federal government needs to amend the Criminal Code so the use of force, including lethal force, is considered reasonable to defend your home and family if someone breaks into it, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Friday.

Poilievre called a news conference in Brampton, Ont., amid an outcry over assault charges that were laid against an Ontario man who encountered another man who allegedly broke into his apartment while carrying a crossbow. 

The fall semester is underway at Red River College (RRC) Polytech’s Portage campus, and staff and students are settling into a busy schedule filled with new and returning programs.

Regional Campus Manager Guy Moffat says the team has been working hard to prepare for the return of students.

“It has been a busy summer getting everything geared up. On Monday, we started five of our programs,” notes Moffat.

Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza, Deputy Opposition leader, and Provincial Agriculture Critic, says Oak Tree Towers residents have endured serious challenges but are finally seeing improvements.