Portage

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.

MONDAY, MARCH 24TH

Curling Canada
2025 New Holland Canadian Under-20 Curling Championships
Round Robin

Men's
ON1 6 MB2 (Sugden) 3
AB2 11 MB1 (Freeman) 5
NS1 8 MB2 (Sugden) 3

Women's
ON2 8 MB1 (Hayward) 5
MB2 (Dundas) 9 ON1 5

The federal Liberals are pushing further ahead of the Conservatives in voter support, and almost one in two Canadians surveyed said they think the Liberals will win the election, a new poll suggests.

The survey, conducted by Leger for The Canadian Press, reports that 44 per cent of decided voters surveyed would vote Liberal in the upcoming election, ahead of the Conservatives at 38 per cent.

The poll surveyed 1,599 Canadians between March 21 and March 23, which includes the first day of the election, and the two days leading into it.

As tensions rise in ongoing trade disputes, China's latest move is adding to concerns for Canadian producers. The country recently announced a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and meal exported from Canada, compounding the uncertainty already present due to U.S. tariffs.  

Farmers caught in the middle  

The new tariff has many farmers wondering how to best proceed and that includes Curtis Sims, owner of Emeline Farms near MacGregor, Manitoba. Sims grows canola and is worried about the impact of these trade measures.  

Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI) students showcased their businesses at the recent Entrepreneur Challenge, with Grade 12 student Sia Miglani claiming first prize for her mocktail venture, Zesté, while the trio behind Window Wizards—Kingston Daniels, Facu Koroma, and Manpreet Sandhu—secured second place with their window-cleaning service. The competition helped foster the entrepreneurial spirit in these Portage youth and awarded the winners the means to help take their businesses to the next level.