Portage

Joe Masi, city councillor and chair of finance for the City of Portage la Prairie, is enthusiastic about new opportunities to support local organizations making a positive impact in the community. 

The Portage la Prairie Legion, Branch 65, is moving forward with plans to expand the cenotaph at Veterans Memorial Park, located downtown on Saskatchewan Avenue.

Bob Oldford, service officer for the Legion, has been leading the initiative. The branch recently appealed to the City of Portage la Prairie for approval in expanding the memorial, which honours local veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The Winnipeg Jets have clinched a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs after defeating the Washington Capitals 3-2 Tuesday evening. 

Nikolaj Ehlers scored the game-winning goal. Mason Appleton and Josh Morrissey also scored for the Jets, who played in front of a sold-out crowd at Canada Life Centre. 

Morrissey scored the first goal of the game 6:50 into the first period, bringing the game to a score of 1-0.

Workers represented by the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) are officially on strike today, after a two-week strike notice expired without a collective agreement in place. The job action affects Child and Family Services (CFS) offices across the province, including Portage la Prairie, where families are serviced locally through an office that opened in May 2019.

MGEU President Kyle Ross says the union exhausted efforts at the bargaining table and was left with no alternative.

UPDATE: No serious injuries were reported after a collision Tuesday afternoon near Elm Creek at the junction of Highways 13 and 2. According to RCMP the two-vehicle collision between a pick-up and an SUV was reported at 1:15 p.m. and was responded to by Pembina Valley RCMP.

A 24-year-old male, from Souris, was driving north on Highway 13 when he turned left onto Highway 2 but was struck by an eastbound vehicle. The male had entered the intersection when it was unsafe to do so.

The other driver, a 55-year-old female from Winnipeg, suffered minor injuries.

A new waste management system is set to roll out in Portage la Prairie, with MWM Environmental leading the transition. Representatives from the company presented their plan to Portage la Prairie City Council on Monday night, outlining how the service will be implemented and how residents will be informed. A highlight of the plan is that residents will be provided with universal bins to store and transport their waste to the curbside.

The Family Resource Centre (FRC) is making strides in connecting young babysitters with families in need of childcare while also providing exciting opportunities for families during Spring Break.

Melissa Morrison, the Executive Director at FRC, discussed several new opportunities designed to support local families.

One of the programs is a babysitting call-out program aimed at pairing certified babysitters with families.

UPDATE:

RCMP have charged a 33-year-old man from Long Plain First Nation in connection with a serious assault that occurred Friday night outside a home in Somerset.

Pembina Valley RCMP officers responded to the incident and found a 40-year-old man, from Portage la Prairie, with life-threatening injuries. He was transported to the hospital via STARS Air Ambulance, and as of yesterday, he remained there.

Irene Marie St. Goddard (nee Peloquin)

Peacefully, on her birthday March 23, 2025, Irene St. Goddard passed away at Douglas Campbell Lodge at the age of 96 years.