Robyn Wiebe

February 2nd started off like any other day at Janzen's Paint and Decorating in Winkler until an employee came to Director Sandy Demke to tell her the lights in the building had started to flicker. Demke says they turned the breaker on and off and they stopped flickering for a bit, and then the battery backups started to beep. That is when they called in an electrician to see what was wrong. 

February 2nd started off like any other day at Janzen's Paint and Decorating Ltd (JPDL) in Winkler, until an employee came to JPDL Director Sandy Demke to tell her the lights in the building started flickering. According to Demke, they turned the breaker off and on, and they stopped flickering for a bit, and then the battery backups started to beep. That's when they called an electrician to see what was wrong. 

It has been a year since Russia waged a full-scale war on Ukraine. Maria Diiun came to Canada in May of 2022.  She started her story noting it’s been a year since their peaceful lives, hopes and dreams and plans for the future were destroyed. 

In November, Western School Division (WSD) applied for additional funding through The Manitoba Education Intensive Newcomer Support Project Grant to support the large influx of newcomer students to the division.

Assistant Superintendent Marianne Fenn explained, the division has seen 150 newcomer students since September, with 70 of them coming from Ukraine.  

Five years ago, Elaine Burton-Saindon took over the position as Coordinator for the Pembina Valley Local Immigration Partnership (PVLIP). At that time, three core priorities were identified that local newcomers really wanted PVLIP to focus on:  What is a welcoming and inclusive community? How do we communicate with cultures? And, how are newcomers impacted by their transition? The last question focuses on a mental health priority. 

One year ago, Ukrainians woke up to the sounds of bombs falling on the capital city of Kyiv as Russia launched a full-scale invasion on its neighbour.  Since then, Morden's Yevgeniya Tatarenko, who is a member of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, has not stopped raising money and supplies to send aid home to her country, where her mother still lives. 

She looked back on the year that unfolded since then. 

Close to thirty people turned out at 500 Stephen Street Community Centre in Morden last Wednesday to talk about the concern of homelessness in the region. The meeting was organized by Many Hands Resource Centre (MHRC) which has seen the need first hand. 

The Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba (CHFM) named a new Manitoba Champion Child (MCC) Friday at Winkler's Centennial Arena. 

Winkler's Pacey Wall has had over 30 surgeries due to intestinal failure. He shared what being sick has taught him in life. 

"Well, I've learned sometimes you can go through tough stuff, and then when you go through that, you just have to try to be brave, so you can get through it." 

Tuesday's sudden onset of stormy weather left many people stranded in communities around the Pembina Valley as whiteout driving conditions left visibility at zero at times; especially, on open roadways with no shelter. The weather left many drivers deciding to stop in communities away from home. The people of Manitou are one of the communities who opened their doors to weary travelers.

President of the Manitou Community Arena Harry Hiebert explained how he decided to help.

Pine Ridge Elementary grade two students were excited to learn they were taking home the book Angela Apperley from Friesens Corporation read to them, "A Strange Bird."  With some added excitement in the air, News Reporter Robyn Wiebe and Apperley started off Valentines Day inspiring the kids to read.

With I Love to Read month reaching the halfway point, some of the kids took time to talk about how the month was going and give an update on their progress and, of course, talk Valentines Day!