Adi Loewen

The Vita Food Bank moved to a new location in January 2024. They are still based in Vita but not the visitation shelter as one would have expected.

Food Coordinator, Jane Roman says, “Well, we never did move into that. We never got that far.” She continues noting that one of their Board Members had an idea to move the Vita Food Bank into an empty building in Vita.

Highway construction crews have been working along Hwy 201 between Stuartburn and Hwy 59 in southern Manitoba in recent weeks.

Reeve for the RM of Stuartburn, Michelle Gawronsky says, “I was very excited to see the signs going up, telling us that there was going to be culvert work done. And it's the intermunicipal road between Emerson-Franklin and the RM of Stuartburn.” Gawronsky adds, “This is long time in coming.”

The church bells at San Isidore Catholic Church in Vita were heard ringing once again last week Saturday afternoon, and the pews were filled with parishioners, because of one member of the Filipino community in Steinbach.

The church bells at San Isidore Catholic Church in Vita were heard ringing once again, this past Saturday afternoon and the pews were filled with parishioners, because of a member of the Filipino community in Steinbach.

The president of the St Pierre Museum says, the warm weather that has blanketed southern Manitoba this past week could mean an early start to the maple syrup harvest season.

Rolly Gagné says if temperatures stay above zero degrees, the trees may start producing early. 

Reeve for the RM of Stuartburn says, “no more Band-Aids” when it comes to infrastructure repairs in her RM.

Michelle Gawronsky made the comment, when asked about their projects for 2024.

“We're looking at the roads and the damage that the roads were left in, from the conditions last spring. We don't want to be putting band aids on anymore. We want to be putting our tax dollars to full use.”

Snowmobilers across the southeast are excited about the snowfall last week and colder temperatures are bringing out the groomers.

President of the South East Sno-Riders says they are optimistic about a good riding season and the trails.

2024 will be an exciting year for residents of Sunrise Corner according to Martin Van Osch, Chief Executive Officer for the Rural Municipality of Piney.

Beginning with the addition of more electric vehicle charging stations in the RM. Van Osch says their grant application to the Federal Government went out before Christmas and now,

Reeve for the RM of Stuartburn says the past year has been a time of working together with other municipalities to make the southeast a better place to live.  

Michelle Gawronski says, besides the learning curve of working with new council members and office staff, they have made sure all the i's were dotted and t’s were crossed. Besides a busy day-to-day schedule, she has also connected with neighboring communities on several projects.  

The RM of Piney and Sunrise Corner has made a lot of progress in 2023, when it comes to accessibility, transportation and taking steps toward a greener southeast corner of the province.   

Chief Administrative Officer for the RM, Martin Van Osch notes they are very pleased to announce that they’ve entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation with Buffalo Point First Nation for the improvement of services to residents and ratepayers that live in the Southeast Manitoba.