Robyn Wiebe

Sunday was a beautiful day at Confederation Park in Morden.  Where people gathered together, sitting on lawn chairs and park benches to celebrate Morden Area Foundation's (MAF) Citizen of Distinction, Marilyn Skubovius. 

Born and raised in Morden, she shared her gratitude to her many nominators, and to Doug Reichert and Anna Marinelli who made the main submission on their behalf.  The list of the work Marilyn has done above and beyond her contributions as a local business owner of Stephen Street Wear, was lengthy with many accomplishments. 

In June, the Province of Manitoba launched a series of public meetings to inform its recommendations on improvements to Manitoba’s current immigration policies and programs. 

Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Jon Reyes was in Winkler and Altona last Thursday (Aug 4th). Winkler drew a crowd requiring a larger room. 

Reyes explained the purpose of gathering people in immigration services and volunteers, community leaders and businesses in one place.  

On Wednesday, Carman's Backdoor Youth for Christ Centre (YFC) was presented with $25, 000 from Justice Minister and Attorney General of Manitoba Kelvin Goertzen through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund, to go towards furnishing their expansion project getting underway this month. 

Carman YFC Centre Director Tyler Friesen shared how the money will be spent. 

"This particular $25,000 is going to mean some furniture and some equipment, and stuff like that for our new expansion, which we're going to begin construction on this month." 

The grand opening of the Valley Fiber Basketball Court on the corner of 1st street and Wardrop, by the skatepark, took place Wednesday evening, with a large crowd lining up for a hotdog supper and to take their shot on an open net. 

After thirty years of keeping the vehicles of the Pembina Valley equipped with tires and making tire repairs, Sunvalley Tire Co-Owner Ken Hildebrand, who owns the company with his wife Glenda, took time to celebrate last week with a customer lunch and prizes. 

Hildebrand reminisced about the last 30 years.  

Last week, Morden City Council passed a by-law authorizing Morden Community Development Corporation (MCDC) to purchase a parcel of land designated for industrial development. 

Mayor Brandon Burley explained why now. 

Last week Thursday at the Buhler Active Living Centre, a Canadian Foodgrains Bank presentation by Program Manager Stefan Epp-Koop took place regarding the work of the organization, networking through 15 different church-based agencies, to end hunger around the world..

Epp-Koop explained the rising number of people experiencing acute hunger around the world is growing.

For two weeks in July, Hallmark was in town filming a movie in Morden. Many people had the opportunity to have their homes and yards used in the filming or be extras on set. 

Winkler's Lindsay Rae's dream of having her parent's farm was dashed, when Hallmark decided, at the last minute for scheduling reasons, to change locations, but Rae still enjoyed being an extra in the film. 

The City of Morden and Ukraine to Morden 2022 Committee have partnered to put on a full-day Kids Camp for displaced Ukrainian kids, who have arrived in Canada.   

Summer Camp Leader Yevgeniya Tatarenko shared why she dedicates her time from 7:45 am to 5:15 pm, 5 days a week to 21 kids providing programming. 

A post to the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) social media page on July 25th, shared information about reductions in services and closed units. It stated:

As we approach the weekend, an SOS has come in from Boundary Trails Health Centre, the largest regional centre outside of Winnipeg and Brandon: 

"This past weekend was a very scary reality check. This true nursing crisis is impacting everyone and the public seems to have no idea.