Portage

Close to 13,000 people in Manitoba were out of their homes Thursday due to wildfires, but hundreds were finding space in hotels rather than in congregate shelters, the province said.

Since Monday, officials said they've found spots for 705 more people in hotels, while others are staying with family and friends or in one of four shelters in Winnipeg.

As of Wednesday night, there were about 7,000 evacuees in hotel rooms and about 1,200 in shelters, a government spokesperson said. 

Ten hotels were added to a list of 58 across the province already offering rooms.

The search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two slain First Nations women has concluded with a new search soon set to begin at a different site for another victim.

The Manitoba government announced Thursday that crews finished looking last week through the Prairie Green landfill, just north of Winnipeg, for remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. They were among four First Nations women murdered by serial killer Jeremy Skibicki in 2022. 

"Together, we brought Morgan and Marcedes home," Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said in a social media post. 

If you’ve found yourself reaching for a sweater more often than usual this July, you’re not alone.

Locals have been quick to notice this summer has felt cooler and more unpredictable than usual. Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, says there’s a good reason for that.

The All Canada Classic Sheep Show returned to Brandon this past weekend, bringing together sheep producers from across the country to showcase breeding stock and connect with fellow industry members.

With about 250 sheep for sale and attendees from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, the event marked a milestone for the national sheep industry.

A local success story

Brandon last hosted the national show in 1981, and the event remained here for three years before moving westward across the country.

Manitoba Hydro is reminding customers to stay safe and informed when it comes to electricity use and power outages. 

Media Relations Officer Peter Chura says that while other places may experience brownouts, when lights dim due to high power demand, this is not a common issue in Manitoba. 

“We have enough capacity to serve all of our customers regardless of the situation.” 

The Manitoba government’s all-party committee exploring the future of local journalism concluded a series of province-wide public consultations last week. The final stop was held in Winkler, with Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson and Gimli also hosting events previously. The consultations aimed to focus on rural and northern media and cultural media such as French, Filipino, Punjabi and Chinese language publications.

Portage la Prairie’s Crescent Lake, a cherished water feature dating back over a century, is undergoing dramatic change. Once created to enhance local recreation and attract wildlife, the Crescent is now threatened by drought, invasive species, and unclear long-term solutions. 

Local historian James Kostuchuk, who lives along the Crescent, says the man-made lake has relied on artificial water input since the early 1900s. 

Postal workers across Canada are preparing to vote on Canada Post’s latest contract offer, and David McLeod, president of CUPW Local 802 in Portage la Prairie, says concerns are growing among members.

Voting is scheduled to begin on July 21 and will be open until Aug. 1. The vote, conducted by phone and email, is being organized by the Canada Industrial Relations Board. A simple majority will determine whether the proposed collective agreement is accepted.

A messy surprise delayed splash pad playtime at Simplot Central Park on Thursday morning, as city crews arrived to clean up mud, rocks and other debris left scattered across the play area.

A local daycare group arrived around 11 a.m. and waited as staff worked to assess and address the mess.

One daycare worker said they noticed the debris right away during their usual safety check.

“We always do a safety check when we come in the morning and there was rocks and mud all over the splash pad,” she said. “We did the best we could.”

The season for minor baseball is quickly nearing an end, and this summer, Portage will once again be hosting a provincial tournament.

The Portage Minor Baseball Association shared on their Facebook page that Republic Park will be hosting the Double-AA 13U Manitoba Provincials from July 25-27. 

Evan Pepper, the association's President, says there will be plenty of action over the course of the weekend.