Portage

Alberta's latest crop report shows 90 per cent of the provincial crop is now in; that's ahead of the 5-year average of 81 per cent. 

Roy Larsen, the director of Statistics and Data Development for Agriculture and Irrigation says seeding progress in the South is at 97 per cent complete, the North West at 93 per cent, the Central region is at 89 per cent, the North East at 86  per cent, and the Peace at 84 per cent.

Crop progress shows 99 per cent of the dry peas have been planted, while oats lag behind at 74 per cent. 

Portage la Prairie residents are seeing some relief as the thick wildfire smoke that shrouded the area over the weekend is beginning to clear.

Shannon Moodie, meteorologist with Environment Canada, says the air quality started improving early Monday morning.

"There’s some heavier smoke lingering in the eastern part of the region, just closer to Winnipeg,” she noted.

Environment Canada and Manitoba Health have issued a special air quality statement for Portage and areas east. In addition, an air quality warning is in effect for areas of the Interlake.

What started as a simple sketch on the back of a napkin has turned into a major recreation destination, according to the Portage Junk Yard Dogs Cycling Club.

A grand opening celebration was held Saturday, May 31 for the club's new Bike and Activity Park.

“I’m very thrilled and very relieved that this could all happen,” notes Gary Bergen, president of the Junk Yard Dogs. “Three years ago this was some sketches on the backside of a napkin. And that idea just kept growing.”

Bergen says the group felt it was finally time to celebrate the milestone.

Anne Curtis (nee Andruski)

February 7, 1934 -November 8, 2024

Peacefully on November 8, 2024, Anne Curtis earned her wings and went to be with the Lord, at the age of 90 years.

Mom was born in North Ridge and grew up there, moving to Portage at a young age. She spent her younger life living and working in Winnipeg. She raised her family in Oakville and Portage.

Firefighters from Austin and MacGregor were called to a structure fire late Friday night in the RM of North Norfolk.

The call came in at 10:07 p.m. on May 30 for a blaze at a residence along Road 57N.

Public health officials are alerting residents to two recent measles exposure sites in Portage la Prairie, as Manitoba continues to see a rise in confirmed cases.

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care says one exposure occurred at the Portage McDonald’s on May 26 between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The second took place at the Portage Hospital Emergency Department from 6 p.m. on May 26 to 1 a.m. on May 27.

SUNDAY, JUNE 1ST

Manitoba Junior Baseball League
Elmwood Giants 5 Pembina Valley Orioles 3
Elmwood Giants 11 Pembina Valley Orioles 4
St. Boniface Legionaires 7 Altona Bisons 4

American Association Baseball
Winnipeg Goldeyes 4 Lake Country DockHounds 3

As emergency officials work to find hotel space for wildfire evacuees on the Prairies, a Manitoba Indigenous group says it has welcomed residents from the Pimicikamak Cree Nation at a hotel in Niagara Falls, Ont.

The organization, which represents Indigenous peoples in Manitoba, said in a social media post that the first of the evacuees from Pimicikamak were greeted Sunday at the airport in Hamilton with snacks and drinks before being loaded onto a bus for the last portion of their trip.

Canada's premiers are heading into to a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saskatoon Monday armed with their wish lists for major "nation-building" projects that could buttress the economy in the face of a U.S. trade war.

Carney asked the premiers to each pass on five suggestions for national infrastructure projects, and Monday's meeting will aim to identify the ones that will make the final cut to be fast tracked using legislation Ottawa may introduce as early as this week.

Portage la Prairie’s graduating class of 1975 is turning back the clock.

A dedicated committee of seniors is actively planning their landmark 50th reunion, set for Saturday, September 6th, 2025, at their alma mater, Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI). Fueled by half a century of memories and a desire to reconnect, the group gathers regularly to map out the celebration.