Boxelder bugs clustering in Portage area
Boxelder bugs are starting to gather in greater numbers around Portage la Prairie as summer winds down. John Gavloski, entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture, says they begin leaving the trees where they feed in late summer and fall, searching for warm, protected places to spend the winter. Buildings with large south or west-facing walls are especially appealing, and some bugs find their way indoors.
Jazzy John’s generous performances
In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, "Ya like jazz?"
If so, you may well take an interest in this Portage local.
Every Wednesday at the Portage la Prairie Regional Library and Thursday at the Prairie Fusion Art Gallery, “Jazzy John” Sushelnitsky offers free performances of swing-era jazz that echo across the prairies.
A retired teacher, John brings decades of musical devotion and community spirit to life through his guitar—and now through his YouTube channel, John’s Jazz Joint.
CPCS adding more to wellness retreat for 2025 edition
Central Plains Cancer Services (CPCS) has been preparing for fall programming with some adjustments to a program that is returning.
Last fall, CPCS began hosting a wellness retreat at Southport for survivors and thrivers of a cancer diagnosis. Sharilyn Knox, Executive Director of CPCS, notes that this year's edition is starting to fill up already.
Decades after a PM got pied, the threat landscape in Canadian politics has changed
When Prime Minister Jean Chrétien got hit in the face with a pie 25 years ago, the only thing hurt was his pride.
A quarter-century later, Canada's security landscape has changed radically. Threats of violence against politicians have become far more common. What seemed like a harmless prank then looks more like a warning now.
"There is this view that you're a politician, it's all fair game," said Catherine McKenna — who was herself the target of multiple threats of violence while she served as a federal minister.
Canada has most measles cases on the continent as infections up exponentially over 2024: Pan American Health Organization
The Pan American Health Organization says Canada has the highest number of measles cases on the continent and more action is needed to address low vaccination rates.
The regional agency within the World Health Organization, which covers North and South America, says there has been an exponential rise in measles this year.
As of Aug. 8, it recorded 10,139 confirmed measles cases across ten countries, representing a 33-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024, when there were 311 cases.
Vintage car enthusiasts keep the wheels turning in Portage
Brad Sanderson and Tyler Klassen of Portage la Prairie have spent decades restoring and maintaining vintage cars. Sanderson, president of the Vintage Cruisers car club for the past 10 years, has been working on classic vehicles for 35 to 40 years. Before retiring from corrections in 2019, he worked in several body shops, including Dan and Pete’s Auto Body in Portage and others in Brandon.
Youth councillors reflect on impactful term
Two Grade 10 students from Portage Collegiate Institute have wrapped up their term as youth councillors for the City of Portage la Prairie, gaining hands-on experience in local government and community engagement.
Francois Barnachea and Yuvan Ramachandran officially concluded their roles at Monday night’s council meeting on Aug. 11. The pair began their term in the fall and spent several months attending meetings, supporting local initiatives, and helping organize events for their peers.
Historical whodunit brings prairie past to life at Fort la Reine Museum
Who killed Gold Toe Jake?
That was the big question on everyone’s mind at the Fort la Reine Museum this summer, where visitors stepped into the shoes of amateur sleuths for a murder mystery experience that blended local history, interactive puzzles, and a dash of prairie folklore.
The Murder of Gold Toe Jake wrapped up its final performance on Thursday, capping off a successful run of shows that had guests solving clues in a historical whodunit like no other.
Bylaw calls surge, quarterly report shows
Portage la Prairie council received its latest quarterly bylaw enforcement report Monday during the regular council meeting, and the numbers tell a busy story.
Kyle Adamski, owner of Sirius Protection & Security Services, presented the update, describing the second quarter as “one of our busiest quarters to date.”
'Screaming into silence': Parents of serial killer victim address special hearing
The father of a First Nations woman who died at the hands of a Winnipeg serial killer told a special court hearing his family was left to "grieve in pieces" for three years before she was identified.
The family and community of Ashlee Shingoose presented victim impact statements Friday during the hearing in Manitoba's Court of King's Bench.
It came one year after Jeremy Skibicki was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life for killing Shingoose and three other First Nations women.