Robyn Wiebe

Snow came a bit earlier this year, triggering the start of the first snow clearing parking ban in Winkler. The ban was enacted for the first time mid-afternoon Thursday.

Mayor Henry Siemens reported how it went. 

Morden City Council has approved a new project going ahead at the Hillside Cemetery on Highway 3 West of Morden. 

Director of Parks and Urban Forestry Shawn Dias explained. 

"We just approached council to get their approval for earmarking some funds for cemetery reserves for restoration of some older monuments. So typically, when there's no family available to help with either lifting or repair if needed, then that falls back onto the city and it's our responsibility and it's important to us to keep the cemetery upkeep and maintenance looking nice." 

Progressive Conservative MLAs were sworn in last week taking their new role as the Opposition Party of Manitoba. 

Morden-Winkler MLA Carrie Hiebert was given the role as the Shadow Minister for Housing, Addictions, and Homelessness. 

Thursday small businesses gathered at Winkler's Quality Inn for a luncheon to connect and be inspired by those working alongside them in the community to provide the many services the city has to offer. 

Winkler Chamber Board Chair Hank Froese took time to celebrate the coming together of so many people working and running small businesses. 

A social media post caught the eye of Pembina Valley Online and many other people as the region experienced its first taste of winter.  

A picture of newcomer students at École Morden Middle School standing by the sign in front of the school with the caption, "The first EVER snowfall for this group of Blazers!" reminded many who brace themselves for one more cold, snowy winter, for some, this is a new and exciting experience for many. 

A full room of people leaned in as presenters from MCC and Genesis House took time to talk about a topic not many pastors feel equipped to handle when victims of domestic violence open-up about their abuse. 

Genesis House Executive Director Ang Braun said this education day was filtered through the Christian lens and how important the pastoral response is to people in domestic violence or intimate partner violence situations. 

Pembina Valley Childcare Centre (PVCC) families received a note recently, sharing news that will affect 40 school age children in care at Morden Daycare, starting next school year. 

PVCC Executive Director Shuana Richards explained. 

A group of representatives from nonprofit organizations gathered in the Morden Community Thrift Store Monday morning anxiously awaiting the fall cheque presentations.  

Board Chair Kent Noel explained why it wasn't as much as normally given out in past years. 

A Drive Away Hunger food drive earlier this month had the community come together to meet an urgent need for the Rhineland and Area Food Bank.

Spokesperson, Ang Stoesz, was pleased with how the community showed its support. 

"It was very good. We had a lot of youth helping, we had a lot of people volunteering to help us put away, and when the truckloads of food started coming, they just kept coming. So that's great." 

Stoesz described the food bank shelves before the food drive.  

The Red River Technical Vocational Area (RRTVA) program celebrates its 50th year in 2023.  

In 1973, it was a joint venture agreement signed by four area schools' divisions. Before school boards were amalgamated in 2000, the divisions who formed the RRTVA were Boundary School Division in Dominion City, Red River School Division in Saint Pierre, Morris-Macdonald School Division and Rhineland School Division in Altona.  

RRTVA Board Chair Gail Sutherland shared the significance of reaching this milestone.