Portage

A Toronto artist based in Florida says he's anxiously waiting to ensure the safety of his friends in the state and assess the potentially catastrophic damage to his property as Hurricane Milton barrels towards his community just outside Sarasota.

He's just one of many Canadians who own homes in the state. Like him, many have fled because of this hurricane or its predecessor Helene, which unleashed devastation across several southern states just a few weeks ago. 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released a report on the latest recommendations and feedback relating to modernizing the seed regulations in Canada.

The process began in 2021 and covers several areas from import to export, seed conditioning, storage, testing and labeling to seed sales.

The National Manager for the Seed Section of the CFIA, Wendy Jahn says a number of the regulations, policies and programs interact with each other and rather than making changes one at a time it makes more sense to take a holistic approach to modernizing the system.

On Monday night, if you had looked up at the sky at the right time, you would have witnessed a stunning celestial display.

The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, put on a spectacular show for Sheldon Gould and his family in Gladstone.

Gould noted that his seven-year-old son is keenly interested in the Northern Lights. They have been tracking when the sky will light up the brightest through social media pages and various apps.

The Retail Council of Canada held a summit last week in Winnipeg, bringing together attendees from across the province, including retailers, law enforcement, government officials, and municipal representatives. Portage la Prairie Mayor Sharilyn Knox and Councillor Colin Doyle attended the event, with Knox sharing their experience.

This past Friday, the Boneyard General Repair Boyz & Bullz presented by Westrans took place in Eriksdale, Manitoba, showcasing the talents of both seasoned and up-and-coming bull riders. Organized by former professional bull rider Ben Kinkead, the event not only highlighted thrilling rides but also served as a vital fundraiser for the local arena.

Kinkead, who has a rich history in bull riding, shared that his journey in the sport began years ago. 

A ban on plastics implemented by the Liberal government has affected Canadians, from the discontinuation of single-use plastic bags to the replacement of plastic straws with paper ones at restaurants. The motion to overturn this law, introduced in 1999, was brought forward by Saskatoon MP Corey Tochor. The goal is to remove manufactured plastic items from the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Portage-Lisgar MP Branden Leslie seconded the motion, criticizing the current law as lacking common sense.

The clock is ticking to save big with the Portage Online Auction, but bidding is still live!

From now until tomorrow, you'll be able to bid on over $50,000 in products and services from local businesses from Portage and the surrounding area. The lots will close at staggered times throughout the day and there's close to 250 items, so make sure to go through all the pages.

Tuesday, October 8th

MJHL
Portage 8 Wpg Freeze 0 (see story here)
Selkirk 5 Wpg Blues 1
Waywayseecappo 6 Neepawa 1
Northern Manitoba 5 Virden 2

WHL
Everett 4 Brandon 1

NHL
St. Louis 3 Seattle 2
Florida 6 Boston 4
Utah 5 Chicago 2

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That’s why now, throughout the month of October, Mil-Jeanne Flowers & Axcenz will be donating 10% of all their clothing sales to Central Plains Cancer Services.

Kyle and Alicia Pettinger own the popular Portage-based flower and gift boutique. They say that the local nonprofit is important to them, because they provide valuable programs and services to those facing cancer in the region.

The Progressive Conservatives in Manitoba are proposing to lower the age for breast cancer screening. On Oct. 3, the PCs introduced a bill to reduce the screening age from 50 to 40. They noted the NDP had vaguely suggested lowering the age to 40, but the PCs want to make the promise concrete.

Central Plains Cancer Services executive director Sharilyn Knox said changes like this are happening across the country and welcomed the proposal.