2025 October Archive

By Tony Zerucha

The Town of Beausejour is scheduled to get an early Halloween treat as the Park Avenue watermain project is both on schedule and under budget. 
Work began in April between the 100 and 300 blocks of Park Ave., which took three weeks. The work has continued east in sections on the north side of Park Avenue. Beginning on Sept. 22, 801-917 Park Ave. will see four weeks of work, concluding around Oct. 17. The final section, 918-951 Park Ave., runs to Oct. 24. Final restoration will follow and resume next spring.

Excavations are expected both on boulevards and private property to connect water service lines to the new watermain. Residents and businesses will continue to be provided with above-ground temporary water service during the service line installation works as some affected properties continue to be disconnected for several hours or more.

All efforts are made to maintain access to driveways and businesses, but municipal staff caution that no access will be allowed during certain activities. Affected residents can park on adjacent streets, and business owners are consulted if access is restricted during construction. 

Residents and business owners should prepare for discoloured water due to flushing and hydrant use. The Town of Beausejour recommends running cold water for five minutes and letting it settle for 30. If the issue persists, contact the Town of Beausejour.

Director of Operations Brendan Mazurik credited great weather for the project’s quick start. Mother Nature took a few days back with some bad weather, which, combined with congestion and increasingly poor ground conditions, pushed the timeline back.

Mazurik expects the delays to be temporary, but cautioned that progress is dependent on ground conditions.

“As they move east of Fifth Street South, the congestion issue will improve,” Mazurik said. “However, ground conditions remain the same, with lots of sand, hardpan and boulders. The weather also remains a risk. We’re still expecting a completion date around Oct. 24.”

Mazurik said the project, which had a tab of just over $4.3 million, is currently under budget, thanks to lower clean-up costs.

“The town has contingencies built into the contract for contaminated soil and restoration,” Mazurik explained. “The town sampled five former service station sites and received favourable results, which means the town will not need to perform any extra clean up or change construction materials suitable for contaminated soil, a total cost savings of approximately $50,000. 

“We’ve also included several options for hard surface restoration in the contract. Depending on the conditions this fall, and the (Manitoba

Infrastructure and Transportation) schedule for the Park Avenue Road Project, the Town expects to save another $40,000-$100,000 in temporary restoration costs at this point.”

The watermain will connect with Beausejour’s new $16.6 million water treatment plant located on the east end of Beausejour, which was officially opened in May. The old water treatment plant was built in 1957 and upgraded in 1962, 1976 and 1995, but was at the end of its usable life span. The new plant allows the town to improve their water supply with a softened treated water and meet the projected growth demands.

2022 audit reveals shortfall, money to be paid back over 10-year term

By Mark T. Buss

An audit into the Town of Lac du Bonnet’s previous finances and practices has identified a significant accumulated deficit that will require the town to borrow money to pay it back.

At the council meeting of Sept. 25, the town passed a resolution to proceed with municipal borrowing to address the accumulated deficits revealed in the 2022 municipal audit, totalling $896,189 and pay it back over a 10-year term. 
CAO Marley Seymour said a deficit amount of $425,826 was accumulated over the time period from 2017-2021, with 2022 alone producing a deficit of $470,333.

The town acknowledges the financial shortfall stems from past decisions and operational practices involving previous council and administration. Key contributing factors included inaccurate budgeting, purchases of non-budgeted items, overspending on capital projects, and unexpected repairs to municipal assets.

Seymour said several big ticket items were undertaken during that time period to improve infrastructure and community services. These projects included Lac du Bonnet Arena foundation upgrades, watermain renewal projects, the rebuild of the Lac du Bonnet dock and the acquisition of Environmental Options Recycling Depot.

“Environmental Options was purchased but not budgeted for,” Seymour said.
There was also the purchase of property at 82 Park Ave., but that has since been sold to help recover shortfalls.

As required under municipal legislation, the audit documents were submitted to the Province of Manitoba for review. On Sept. 22, Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations Glen Simard issued an order directing the town to recover the full noted deficit amount through borrowing.

As part of the legislated borrowing process, a public notice will be issued and a borrowing bylaw will be drafted and submitted to the Municipal Board for approval. 

In a statement, Mayor Ken Lodge said since the 2022 election, the town has identified inconsistencies in bookkeeping and expenditures and took immediate steps to investigate and restrict spending. He added there is no reason to believe there was any intent or malice in the actions that let to the deficit.

“Our goal now is to move forward responsibly and ensure we are on firm financial footing,” Lodge stated. “We are committed to following all required regulations and putting corrective measures in place.”

Seymour confirmed the deficit will impact property taxes. The borrowing will result in annual debenture payments starting in 2026, which will be included in the general municipal portion of property tax bills.

She said the administration team is working to meet council’s goals of strategic planning and fiscal discipline. They are also identifying efficiencies to address budget constraints and implementing measures to ensure that similar issues do not arise in the future.

The 2023 and 2024 audits are still outstanding. A financial consultant is currently assisting with the review of financial documents to ensure accuracy and completeness before submission.

By Tony Zerucha

When it came time to seek a replacement for retiring CAO Colleen Johnson, the RM of Whitemouth only had to look down the hallway to find a suitable candidate in municipal finance officer Lacey Smith.

Johnson recently announced her retirement after 10 years of service to Whitemouth and 42 years of working for towns and municipalities across Manitoba. She and her husband Arthur are settling in Lundar, where she will be kept busy as a nana to three grandchildren.

“We just love it,” Johnson said.

Johnson praised the team at Whitemouth, who she credits for many successful projects over the years. There were beneficial infrastructure works, including an underground reservoir with the health authority. Early in her Whitemouth tenure, an important insurance claim was settled, and the Fire Marque insurance program in Whitemouth was a Manitoba first. 

Johnson is also proud of the achievements of many local, regional, provincial and national committees. She travelled to the Philippines to teach municipal administrators and participated in a judicial recount here. While serving on an Association of Manitoba Municipalities committee, Johnson got to pick up environmentalist David Suzuki at the airport and spend time with him.

In addition to municipal administration, Johnson helped other municipalities find suitable CAOs. That helped her know she had a gem in Smith, who has rare qualifications.

“In my years of looking for CAOs for other RMs, Lacey is the first person with senior utility operator experience, never mind administrative experience,” Johnson said. “I am so impressed.”

Smith began her career in Whitemouth in 2012 as a utility operator. She was a utility operator and lead with the LGD of Pinawa before returning to Whitemouth as an administrator two years ago.

Johnson and Smith are working together until Christmas. Smith said she’s excited about learning all she can over the next 14 weeks.

“Colleen is an absolutely fantastic mentor,” Smith said. “I appreciate her insight.”

There is plenty to keep them busy. They’re focused on a new lagoon and a waterline extension for Elma. Subdivisions are proposed, and a zoning plan is up for review.

Smith brings insights gleaned from her utility and public works backgrounds. She said that understanding is critical when it comes to planning projects and applying for grants.

In the coming weeks, Johnson will be perusing files as she looks for anything that can help Smith learn and avoid unnecessary pitfalls.

“You never want history to repeat itself,” Johnson said. “We want the i’s dotted, t’s crossed, and  every ratepayer treated with the utmost respect.”
Smith is excited to face any upcoming challenges.

“I have some big shoes to fill,” she concluded. “I’m looking forward to working for the citizens of Whitemouth.”

Cottage owners association to appeal to Municipal and Northern Relations after second reading passed

By Simon Ducatel

Bird River residents who oppose the Winnipeg River Planning District’s proposed plan to lift a decades-old development moratorium intend to appeal with the provincial government after the Municipality of Alexander recently passed second reading. 

Among their primary concerns is part of the proposal to flip approximately 600 acres of land from natural resource to residential/cottage for potential development. 

Last year, when Alexander began a provincially-mandated review of the municipality’s development plan, a consultant was brought onboard to help steer the process and the first round of public hearings was held. That was when residents heard the moratorium on developments along the Bird River, a narrow and shallow stretch of water that has been pushed beyond its capacity, could end up being lifted should the revised development plan go through, said Hank Krueger, vice-president of the Bird River Cottage Owners Association (BRCOA).

“Everybody at the meeting wasn’t too terribly pleased with that,” Krueger said, adding residents were assured development wouldn’t necessarily occur immediately.

A second draft was later presented following the first round of consultations. However, the document was not substantially changed from the original, Krueger said, adding the moratorium would still be lifted and parcels redesignated but with the caveat that any subdivisions would need to have lots no less than 20 acres.

“It’s just at this point, I think, to try to pacify the people,” he said, adding the municipality could potentially later come back to subdivide those parcels into smaller lots.

A second public hearing held Sept. 11 in a virtual video format that people had to register for in advance also left a lot to be desired, he said, adding there was no opportunity to make verbal presentations and limited ability to ask questions. 

“None of my questions were answered,” he said. “So that was disappointing.”
The moratorium that had been conducted identified the density of cottage development along the Bird River placed a substantive demand on the waterway.  However, the moratorium had allowed for approximately 50 lots before coming into effect.

“Now the consultants are saying, ‘Well, you know, the moratorium was a failure because boat traffic increased anyway.’” 

Krueger said those attending the consultation heard that increased boat traffic was due to people coming to the river from other areas of the lake.

“And that may be part of the issue... but certainly when you build another 50 lots on an already saturated river, and each one of those new cottages probably has a pontoon boat, a speed boat, a fishing boat, and a couple of jet skis, that certainly contributes to the carrying capacity or lack thereof of our river,” he said. “They didn’t answer that question.”

Members of the cottage owners’ association are seeking support through a website they set up – brcoa.ca – to collect signatures for a petition they intend to send to the minister along with a letter, adding the number of names was inching upward to 1,000. The deadline to sign the petition is Oct. 5. 

For his part, Alexander Deputy Reeve Mac Kinghorn, who is also chair of the Winnipeg River Planning District, expressed support for the people on the Bird River – especially the owners of homestead properties that have been in families for generations.

Over the years, he said the RM has contributed funds on a nearly annual basis to conduct water quality testing and is currently in the process of becoming a part of a new watershed district that is being formed covering the Winnipeg River area.

“The water quality in the Bird River really is not the greatest,” he said, adding the moratorium originally came into play as a result of the provincial government under the intent of addressing the amount of boat traffic. 

“I think the moratorium is a good idea. I really am not crazy about it being removed,” said Kinghorn. “But when it came into play, the whole idea of it was to try and limit the amount of boat traffic on the river.” 

Kinghorn noted owners of homestead properties were not properly considered.
“I feel that they’ve gotten a raw deal,” he said. “What it boils down to is this moratorium won’t let them subdivide... they are to the point where they would all like to have their piece of paradise. They should have the ability to be able to subdivide.”

Another factor was a failure in the moratorium to limit the number of boats per property allowed on the river at any given time, he said. 

“We’ve got people that have got their two- to five-acre lot with the big, sprawling houses on them; can’t call them cottages, because it’s just too big to be cottages,” he said. “They got a pontoon boat. They’ve got a fishing cruise type boat, and they got two jet skis.” 

The result is entire families out on the water using multiple crafts, he said.
“The mistake was made then when the moratorium came in,” he said. “It should have been limited to one boat per lot... that may have helped.” 

Kinghorn also said the municipality learned through the consultant that the province did not feel keeping the moratorium was worthwhile as it didn’t work.  
“It’s the bulk of the people on the river that want it, which are the ones that have all developed their paradise lots and are against having any further development to it,” he said. 

Although the second reading has passed, nothing is written in stone. Following the municipality’s submission to the province was a 14-day period for people to appeal. 

By Mark T. Buss

The former reeve of the RM of Reynolds believes proposed changes to the RM’s zoning bylaw will take the decision making process out of the hands of elected councillors.

“The municipality won’t be run by council any more, it will be run by the municipality, which is hired people under direction of the provincial government,” David Turchyn said.

On Oct. 7 at 7 p.m., a public hearing will be held at the Reynolds Civic Centre in Hadashville in regards to adopting Zoning Bylaw 04-2025 and replace Zoning Bylaw No. 7/13 in accordance with the Planning Act. 
Municipal zoning bylaws regulate and control the use of development of land and buildings within the limits of the RM. Although zoning bylaws should be adjusted every few years, the current bylaws for Reynolds have been unchanged since 2014.

An 80-page document, Turchyn believes the proposed bylaw will take future development out of the hands of property owners and give it to the development officer. Under the proposed bylaw, he claims if a farmer wants to clear land larger than one acre, they need a site plan, a drainage plan, an application must be provided for a fee, and the decision will not be made by council.

“My interpretation of the regulations are they are quite restrictive,” Turchyn said. “The permit fees and procedures may become quite costly and time consuming.”

Reynolds taxpayer Taylor Connolly says updated municipal-wide zoning changes may impact landowners. She encourages residents to do their homework before attending the meeting, read the draft zoning bylaw and review maps. She encourages participants to know what zone they are in, the history of the property’s zoning and how they intend to use their land in the future.

She also asks taxpayers to review the language of the proposed bylaw to see if it is more restrictive and judge for themselves if there is power shift from elected officials to RM staff.

“(It is) imperative that every resident in the RM of Reynolds comes to this public hearing, as it directly affects all of us,” Connolly stated.

Zoning Bylaw 04-2025 and supporting material may be inspected at the Reynolds municipal office during normal office hours Monday to Friday. Copies may be made upon request.

By Morgan Maguet

Dr. Ayo Abioye has begun offering medical services at Guardian Pharmacy in Beausejour on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

“I am excited to be offering holistic and comprehensive care to the people in Beausejour and the surrounding area,” said Dr. Ayo. “I am offering a variety of medical services for people of all ages. I am accepting new patients and also willing to see walk-ins as I am able to accommodate my work schedule.”

Dr. Ayo has worked as a family physician for the past three years and has more than a decade of experience in internal medicine.

“I relocated from Ireland after 13 years of training and interning there. I completed my training in general medicine and then specialized in family medicine. I am currently exploring a special interest in skin conditions and working toward a diploma in dermatology,” she said.

Dr. Ayo added the community itself was part of what drew her to the area.

“I was attracted to Beausejour as I believe it is a beautiful place where I will be able to provide the kind of patient care I intend to offer. The people here are friendly, polite and appreciative,” she said.

Dr. Ayo looks forward to becoming part of the community while helping residents access consistent and compassionate care close to home.
The addition comes at a time when many Manitoba communities are facing physician shortages and long waits to see a family doctor. By setting up in a central, familiar location, the clinic in Guardian Pharmacy aims to make it easier for residents to get the care they need without leaving town.
“The clinic officially re-opened on Sept. 4,” said Michael Rassin, owner of Guardian Pharmacy, located at 635 Park Ave. “Patients are welcome to either book appointments ahead of time [at 204-268-2500] or simply walk in during clinic hours.”

The service is expected to complement the pharmacy’s existing role in the community, offering convenience for residents who need prescriptions, advice or follow-up care.

Rassin said the pharmacy currently has plans to expand the service. 
“Our goal is to have two full-time doctors in place by November 2025,” he said.

The clinic currently offers a wide range of services including primary care and preventative medicine, chronic disease management, weight-loss support, pediatric care and child immunizations, women’s health, as well as travel and other vaccines.

The addition of Dr. Ayo marks a positive step in expanding local primary care and improving access for Beausejour residents.

By Brian Adolph

The 2025/26 Eastern Manitoba Concert Association (EMCA) season opened with a tribute to two of Canada’s most iconic singer-songwriters Sept. 27 at the Pinawa Community Centre.

Leonard and Joni: The Untold Love Story recounts, in story, song and projected images, the brief romantic relationship and lifelong friendship between Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen.

Covering the period between the pair’s first meeting at the Newport Folk Festival in 1967 and Mitchell’s return to the same festival 55 years later, Edmonton singers Dana Wylie and Joe Nolan alternated performing selections from the Mitchell and Cohen songbooks. The opening classics, Suzanne and Both Sides Now illustrated how the young Cohen and Mitchell – both brilliant poets – recognized each other as kindred spirits.

The two-set, 110-minute show highlighted songs the artists inspired in one another, featuring pieces such as Bird on a Wire (based on a painting by Mitchell) and Rainy Night House (about the pair’s breakup). A standout moment was Wylie’s stirring performance of That Song About the Midway (written about Cohen), where she demonstrated the remarkable vocal range required of any singer tackling Joni Mitchell’s music. Nolan, in turn, beautifully channelled the beat-poet sensibility of Cohen in a moving recitation of A Thousand Kisses Deep.

Backing Wylie and Nolan were Harry Gregg (bass), Jamie Cooper (drums), Rooster Davis (organ, piano), and Kyle Mosiuk (guitar, vocals), who, along with Wylie, are members of the acclaimed Edmonton-based roots/blues band Secondhand Dreamcar.

Wrapping up with a spirited Big Yellow Taxi, Joni and Leonard: The Untold Love Story left the audience with a deeper appreciation for how Cohen and Mitchell’s lifelong relationship inspired some of the most iconic songs of their generation.

By Tony Zerucha

Sagkeeng First Nation’s Lennon Hall hopes his championship at the recent 2025 Canadian Muay Thai Open in Kitchener, Ont. inspires Indigenous youth to follow their dreams. 

Competing in the 18-40 years C Class (63.5 kg.), Hall won three bouts to capture the title on Aug. 17.

It’s been a meteoric rise for a man who only began competing three years ago. Hall said he tried boxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu before settling on muay thai, attracted by the striking. The avid mixed martial arts fan quickly found success, as he won the 2023 Revelation Sub-Only Grappling Tournament in Steinbach.
Hall is always training, but he accelerates it when approaching a fight.

“When I have a fight coming up, I train harder and more often,” he said. “I’ll train all week and take a day or two off. My harder training days are usually Sunday and Wednesday. The training usually involves padwork, running, sparring, drilling techniques and callisthenics.”

Hall initially trained on his own, but found that a supportive team helped him grow as a competitor. He joined Winnipeg Kickboxing and Muay Thai under the tutelage of Canadian champion Trisha Sammons and Brendon Paukovic.

“They’ve helped me tremendously on this journey,” Hall said. “The team is the main reason why I’ve been successful so far. They push me to my limits and help me grow.”

Hall said the entire Kitchener experience was a blast. He bonded with his teammates and got to know them better.

The fights were pretty good, too.

“The build-up to each fight was the most challenging part,” he explained. “Even after each win, I still knew I had to fight again, and that was mentally challenging. At the end of the day, I was able to overcome the challenge and win the tournament.”

Hall’s goal was to capture gold, but it was also important for him to showcase the hard work he and his teammates put into training. Donning the belt was a victory for him and them.

He also hopes to inspire many future victories in many fields for Indigenous people. 

“I want to represent my people as an Aboriginal athlete and show them that we can be much more than drugs, alcohol and gang violence,” Hall said. “I want the youth to see me and feel inspired. And of course I want to be a champion!”
Hall said he still needs to work on the mental aspects of muay thai, which are tested during gruelling competitions. Related to that are developing cardiovascular endurance, physical strength, and the discipline to answer the bell every day.

“Outside the gym, I am a father,” Hall said. “I tend to use it as an excuse not to train, but I have to work on that.”

And work on it he does. Hall knows he has plenty of reasons to keep going.
“My greatest strength is the journey I’ve been through and the team and support I have behind me.”

Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby, Wyatt Spring wants to be next Owen Martin

By Tony Zerucha

As her son Wyatt approaches nears the three-year anniversary of his first dose of the cystic fibrosis (CF) drug Trikafta, Sheralin Spring marvels at how far he’s come.

Now she can also look forward to where he’s going.

When he was a few weeks old, Wyatt, now nine, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Thanks to a prescreening program, it was detected early.

The diagnosis was life-changing for the family. Wyatt had to undergo nearly three hours of therapy every day.  His regimen including drug inhalation and pummelling, where his parents would cup their hands and tap his chest in a bid to loosen mucus. Wyatt took seven medications daily.

In 2020, Spring learned that Manitoba was the only province at the time without a CF drug plan. That put promising new drugs like Trikafta financially out of reach for most families. At the time, Trikafta cost $407,000 a round.

Three other options cost between $250,000 and $380,000 per round.

Those drugs are important because they go beyond treating symptoms to targeting the genetic defects that cause the disease. In trials, recipients often saw their symptoms subside within hours; weight gain could begin in days.
Spring went to work. She became president of the Manitoba chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Together with a group, they met with politicians and lobbied for coverage. Approvals came in stages, with Wyatt’s age group getting the okay in late summer of 2022. In October, he celebrates three years on a drug that has dramatically changed his life.

“I feel like it’s zoomed by,” Spring said. “He went from having this persistent cough in the mornings, but after three weeks of Trikafta, it was gone. Eight to 10 months after he began taking Trikafta, we stopped doing his evening treatments.

“When we initially tested to detect CF, Wyatt’s score was 116; anything over 60 was indicative of it. Now he hovers around 40, so technically, he doesn’t meet that diagnostic criteria for having CF as long as he’s taking his meds.”

Spring said Wyatt is doing so well that they are considering stopping his evening treatments, too; the next doctor’s appointment will help decide.
Wyatt is thriving. He made his A hockey team last season and was a top scorer. This summer, he’s playing in an elite summer league. On Father’s Day, Wyatt placed 16 out of 2,200 in the Manitoba Marathon’s five-kilometre run.

“It’s just insane,” Spring said. “He finished a 5k race in just over 22 minutes. I run 5k multiple times a week, and I am lucky if I can do it in 28 minutes, and I’ve been doing it a long time.

“He’s the epitome of health and thriving; just an athlete. I don’t know if it would have been like that if we didn’t have him on Trikafta.”

Wyatt has his sights set on being the next Owen Martin, the Oakbank product who was just drafted by the Winnipeg Jets. He’s skated since he could walk. Every day, he shoots pucks in the garage and practices his skills. Nothing is taken for granted.

For Spring, it’s a welcome change, one she once thought was never to be.
“I thought he was not going to be able to do what other kids do, he’s not going to be able to play sports. That’s something we’re passionate about in our household. 

“I don’t like to admit when I’m wrong, but I’ve never been happier to have been wrong in that circumstance. Because he’s not just doing what other kids can do, he’s doing even more. That’s just Wyatt. He’s always been a go-getter who wants to do his best. Nothing stops him.”

Wyatt is a man of few words, but he wants to encourage kids with CF and many other illnesses that they can do whatever they put their minds to.
Spring encourages parents and loved ones of kids diagnosed with diseases never to give up hope

“Science is changing every single day for everything. Now, we’re talking about gene therapy. They’re talking about possibly being able to cure CF before a kid is even born.

 “Trikafta is just the beginning of everything. And no matter what, you know, if you have a loved one with a medical condition, don’t give up hope, because there is change happening every day. 

“He’s only nine, and his life is completely different than when he was born, and it’s completely different than people who were born with CF 20 or 30 years ago.”

By Andrea Geary

Slow germination, flea beetles and dry weather are negatively impacting this year’s canola crop, but a recent 75.8 per cent tariff levied by China on Canadian canola seed could be the last straw for some North Eastman farmers.

“It’s a high-cost and very unpredictable crop,” said Brokenhead Reeve Brad Saluk, himself a producer, adding he paid $900 for a bag of canola seed. “It’s a disastrous crop this year.”

Saluk said a cool spring resulted in slow germination and flea beetle infestations meant more spraying was needed which has added to the cost of production. While he won’t be harvesting the crop for a few more weeks, he isn’t optimistic about yield.

“We need a 35-bushel (an acre) average to break even,” he said, adding that he’s estimating a yield of about 25 bushels.

Added to this year’s challenging growing conditions for many North Eastman canola growers is China’s 75.8 per cent tariff effective Aug. 14. China is Canada’s largest canola seed buyer, importing close to six million tonnes in 2024 to generate revenue of approximately $4 billion Canadian.

The tariff was placed a year after China launched an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola imports. There is speculation that China’s tariff comes as retaliation for the Canadian government’s 100 per cent levy on electric vehicles exported by China to Canada.
“We’re in this game to make a living,” Saluk said. “We’re the ones stuck in the middle.”

Warren Ellis, Manitoba Canola Growers chair, said the canola tariff hits farmers hard and calls on the federal government for assistance.
“This decision lands like a hammer blow to Manitoba’s canola farmers. We are days away from harvest, and now a critical market is effectively shut. We need the federal government to act decisively and immediately to get this market reopened because every day of inaction deepens the damage to our farms, our rural communities, and our economy,” he said.

Provencher MP Ted Falk said he’s sure China’s tariff is retaliation. 

“Ottawa’s decision to slap massive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, without any coherent strategy to protect Canadian exporters – invited a response,” Falk said. “And China chose to hit where it hurts: Canadian farmers.”

He joins Ellis in asking for federal action to ease the financial burden the tariff places on canola farmers. 

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew stated he believes the federal government should use the $100 million collected through the EV tariff to compensate Canadian canola growers for any financial loss due to the seed tariff.

By Andrea Geary

Gena Boubard plans to use her Miss Indigenous Canada title to raise awareness in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in Sagkeeng First Nation and other First Nation communities in Manitoba and across Canada.

Boubard, 24, is Anishinaabe, Two-Spirit and non-binary. Crowned Miss Indigenous Canada on July 26 at the pageant held at Six Nations of the Grand River near Hamilton, Ont, this year’s pageant included 19 competitors from First Nation communities across Canada.

Miss Indigenous Canada’s mission is to empower and encourage Indigenous youth to develop leadership skills, give back to their communities and connect to their cultures. The pageant features an essay competition, interview, cultural presentation and scrapbook featuring the competitor’s work within their home community.

“The focus of the pageant is not on beauty. It was to honour the diversity of Indigenous traditions, values and practices. It didn’t feel like a competition,” Boubard said. “All of the competitors were incredible and devoted to their communities.”

Boubard was very surprised to be announced as Miss Indigenous Canada 2025. 

“I didn’t enter to win, but to raise awareness of Two-Spirit people.

Boubard was recognized for her efforts in organizing and running Sagkeeng’s first Pride event held in June. The day included a parade, powwow, community feast, inspirational speakers and entertainment. 

Boubard said the local community was very supportive. 

“It was really beautiful for people to come together.”

At the age 17, Boubard was crowned Miss Southern Manitoba and competed in the Miss World Canada 2018 pageant. Parents and siblings provided inspiration and serving as strong positive role models.

Boubard hopes to continue generating support for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their families.

 “I’d really like to spark conversations within communities to better support our youth.”

Boubard added that discrimination and violence against Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals still exists within some communities. 
“I want to show them they’re not alone.”

Hundreds of spectators took in the annual Heritage Day celebrations held at Beausejour’s Pioneer Village Museum this past weekend making the trip down memory lane wildly successful for many.

Established in 1967, the Pioneer Village Museum recreates a small pioneer village complete with a school, community hall, train station, store, blacksmith shop and church. 

With most pioneers of the Beausejour/Brokenhead area being of Eastern European descent, many artefacts and tools depicting this lifestyle are located in the museum’s buildings.

Those on hand Aug. 17 for the Heritage Day celebrations were able to take in musical entertainment, dancing demonstrations and a threshing demonstration. Loaves of homemade bread baked in the clay ovens on the museum grounds were just one of the many tasty treats available at the concessions stand.

The Lac du Bonnet and District Chamber of Commerce is highlighting the culinary creativity of area restaurants with their annual two-week hamburger festival.

From Aug. 20 to Sept. 3, the Winnipeg River Burger Trail will feature 10 restaurants from Pine Falls to Elma each making unique and original hamburgers with customers voting for their favourites.

After sampling all of the specially created burgers, diners are asked vote for their favourite so a winner can be proclaimed. Guests will be encouraged to visit as many places as they can. 

Organizers hope the event will be a fun social experience while promoting the participating communities to residents and visitors. This is a great event to get people within the region out to explore other communities, and to learn about some of the fantastic restaurants. The event also attracts people from other areas who are burger aficionados.

A solid lineup of participating outlets include Lac du Bonnet’s Black Bear Golf Club, Chicken Chef and Drifters Gulf Restaurant and Lounge, Otter Falls Resort and the Pinawa Golf and Country Club, Papertown Motor Inn and River Front Convenience in Powerview-Pine Falls, Seven Sister Motel and Restaurant, Starlette’s Burger Saloon in Elma, the Spicy Radish in Whitemouth and Wrapz Diner in Seddons Corner.

In 2024, participating restaurants sold a whopping 2,624 burgers combined with Otter Falls selling 325 of their Skeeter Bite Burger burgers to finish first. Drifters and Black Bear finished second and third respectively.

This year, Otter Falls features the Cluckin’ Caesar – a breaded chicken burger topped with Caesar salad with bacon pieces on a toasted garlic butter bun.

Drifter’s Sir Dips-A-Lot is a beef patty topped with cheddar cheese and chipotle sauce, served with warm nacho cheese and crushed cheetos to dip into. 

Black Bear offers a Mexi Burger with fried mixed cheddar cheese, sliced pepper, crispy lettuce and fresh tomato. Served on a toasted brioche bun with homemade bold mexi aioli, diced jalapeños and onions to bring the heat, and house-made seasoned taco chips for that perfect crunch.

Chicken Chef Lac du Bonnet’s Viva la Italia Smash Burger has two smash patties topped with a homemade marinara jam, melted creamy cheese, crispy prosciutto chips and fresh arugula, all on a toasted brioche bun slathered with house-made arugula pesto.

Pinawa Club’s A Whole in One is a fresh, sweet and sticky glazed bagel turned inside out with two smash patties, cheddar cheese and a dollop of tangy mustard.

Riverfront Convenience features The Juicy Lucy – a smoked ground chuck burger stuffed with a blend of sharp cheddar cheeses and caramelized onions. It is topped with a homemade burger sauce, crispy bacon, leaf lettuce and tomato, stacked on a sturdy cheese bun.

The Seven Sisters Motel has the Double Oink Burger featuring a beef patty topped with barbecue pulled pork, bacon and all the fixings – mustard, relish, tomato, pickle, ketchup, lettuce and cheddar – on a bakery-fresh bun.

Starlette’s Burger Saloon has The Big Wild West. This is built with two house-made patties, loaded up with chilli, double cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles , and smothered in our signature cowboy sauce on a sesame seed bun.

The Spicy Radish has a Steakhouse Burger – a ground chuck beef patty, roasted mushrooms, crispy onions, tomato pepper jam, horseradish sauce, monterey jack cheese and greens on a house made garlic buttered bun.

Wrapz Diner has The Things and Stuff Burger. As it is billed, there’s things in it and stuff. Try it to find out.

For more information contact Lac du Bonnet Chamber of Commerce at ldbchamberofcommerce@gmail.com or call 204-340-0497.

The Pinawa Foundation has announced their Community Project Month efforts in May raised over $113,300 for 17 projects, including the 50 per cent top up provided by the foundation.

This year’s grants included:
Children’s Place Day-Care – furniture for new day care $14,259
Survivor’s Hope – Reaching Out Project Sarah Circle raised $10,443
Pinawa CancerCare – Treatment chair replacement $7,627
F. W. Gilbert PAC – 20 gymnastic mats $3,450
Pinawa Lions Club – pergola refurbishment and Pinawa birthday weekend expenses $6,750
Pinawa Public Library – computer upgrades $5,550
WSXC Ski Club – snowmobile for trail grooming $6,611
EMCA – LED stage lighting for the community centre $3,187
Courts of Pinawa Club – picnic tables with umbrellas $1,792
Pinawa Minor Baseball – reviving the game infield $3,879
Two Rivers Seniors – Services for Seniors programs $9,610
Pinawa Minor Hockey – scoreboard project $6,689
Pinawa Health Auxiliary – replacement bed/mattress project Year 2 $14,150
Pinawa Holiday Cheer Committee – tall trees and festive signs $937
Orville Acres Arena – brine line straightening $10,580
Pinawa Swimming Pool – community support for pool refurbishment $7,162
Pinawa Art 211 – Art in the Garden Tour signage and maps $705

All of these grants were awarded at the Foundation’s 2025 Annual General Meeting.
Carol Findlay from the Foundation said May is giving month in Pinawa and none of this would be possible without the support of donors, neighboring communities and municipalities, and second and third generation family members from far and wide.

One man was charged after a vehicle reported stolen from a Lac du Bonnet business  was recently recovered in Winnipeg following a joint effort between urban and rural police forces.

On Aug. 12, at 2 p.m., Whitemouth RCMP were patrolling on Hwy 11 for a vehicle which had just been stolen from a business located on Prairie Road in the RM of Lac du Bonnet. Officers observed the vehicle turning on Hwy 11, from Road 502, and attempted a traffic stop but it failed to stop. A pursuit was not initiated.

Further investigation led officers to believe the stolen vehicle had moved on to Winnipeg. 

Shortly after 4 p.m., the Manitoba RCMP East District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST) and Emergency Response Team (ERT), with the assistance of the Winnipeg Police (WPS), located the vehicle at a business on Marion Street in Winnipeg. Officers with ERT and WPS found the driver and the passenger of the vehicle walking near this location, on Lagimodiere Boulevard.

The driver, Riley Caie, 25, from Stony Mountain, was arrested. He was remanded into custody and is facing multiple charges for incidents from July 22 to Aug. 12 including theft of a truck, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, seven counts of failing to comply with orders, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, flight from peace officer and assault.

The passenger, a 19-year-old female from the RM of Rockwood, was taken into custody and later released without charge.

Manitoba RCMP East District CREST continue to investigate along with the Lac du Bonnet, Selkirk and Beausejour RCMP Detachments.

By Morgan Maguet

After several years, the Beausejour Girl Guides unit is hoping to re-open for the upcoming guiding season.

A lack of volunteers and leaders in recent years has resulted in a gap in program delivery for the Beausejour area. As local Guide leader Tammy Welsh explained, the Brokenhead area programs have been struggling with these issues for many years.

 “Girl Guides has been off and on in the Tyndall, Garson and Beausejour area for at least 40 years,” said Welsh. The last time the Girl Guides program was offered in Beausejour was from 2005 to 2013. Shortly after, units moved to Tyndall as many of the remaining volunteers and leaders lived in the Tyndall and Garson region.”

However, the Tyndall program has also come to an end in recent years. 

“In 2022 the Tyndall units also closed for the same reason – Guiders retired or moved,” said Welsh. “Today, we have many members who live in Beausejour, Garson and Tyndall who have to drive to Oakbank to participate in meetings. This is also putting pressure on some of the Oakbank units, with their program currently holding a wait list of 14 girls.”

In order to re-open the program and offer units to the public, volunteers will have to start coming forward as soon as possible.

“Each unit or age group needs a minimum of two leaders. We are hoping for two volunteers to come through so we can open a mixed unit for both Sparks (ages 5-6) and Embers (ages 7-8, previously called Brownies),” said Welsh.

“As of today, there are two potential volunteers who have contacted the email address. If those two volunteers work out, we will be able to open a Spark/Ember unit by the end of September. Unfortunately, without more volunteers we will have to limit the girls joining the unit to about 10,” said Welsh.

Ideally, the Girl Guides program would have as many volunteers as possible to help with various programs and fundraisers throughout the year, and to run a full slate of age groups in the area. For now, Welsh’s next goal is to have enough leaders to open a Guide unit (ages 9-11).

Welsh has been a part of the Girl Guides program for more than 35 years and would love to see it start up again in Beausejour. She believes both girls and leaders benefit from being in the program.

 “Girl Guides teaches girls to be strong, independent global citizens. We teach the importance of community service, money management, goal setting, protecting the environment and trying to lessen your carbon footprint. We also teach about Girl Guides all over the world. We talk about personal and mental health, and we promote being kind to everyone, no matter how different we are,” she said.

The program also offers many long-term benefits. 

“Girls who join Girl Guides and stay in the program have opportunities to apply for scholarships, work with youth, build strong job references, and travel the world to learn about other cultures.”

The Girl Guides also hope to offer some of the fun events and volunteer campaigns they had been offering in Beausejour several years ago.
“Girl Guide units do activities related to the environment, personal health, learning ‘how-to’ skills, and having fun with games, songs and crafts.

Throughout the year, units often volunteer at a local food bank, play games with seniors, volunteer at local pet shelters, visit a fire hall, have sleepovers and camps, and take part in weekend activities such as a pool event or a corn maze,” Welsh said.

The call for volunteers reflects a broader challenge for Girl Guides in many communities, where leader shortages have made it difficult to sustain programs and limited opportunities for girls and their families.

Welsh is optimistic and eager to see the Beausejour program thrive again, bringing girls and leaders together through fun and adventure. Those interested in volunteering can email mb-evergreendc1@girlguides.ca

Friends, family and former teammates travelled from around the world to see Anola’s Corey Koskie be inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame at Target Field on Aug. 17. 

With Koskie the 41st member of the club, former teammate Michael Cuddyer introduced the Manitoban, calling him a role model and highlighting his affinity for practical jokes. Former managers Ron Gardenhire and Tom Kelly spoke of his work ethic as the scoreboard video screen showed some of his many highlight-reel plays. Parents Maryann and Leonard sent greetings via video.

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who originally telephoned Koskie to inform him of his induction, helped him don his powder blue Hall of Fame blazer. MLB Hall of Famers Bert Blyleven, Tony Oliva, Paul Molitor, Joe Mauer and Jim Kaat, along with ex-teammates Torii Hunter, Joe Nathan, Eddie Guardado, Brad Radke, Kelly and Gardenhire were present. Former Twins Rick Aguliera, Gary Gaetti, Greg Gagne, Dan Gladden, Justin Morneau and Jim Perry were also in attendance.

“Growing up, he was a volleyball player and a hockey player,” emcee Dick Bremer said. “When he became a major leaguer, he played defence like a hockey goalie, and served home runs over the fence like a middle hitter.”

Selected by the Twins in the 26th round of the 1994 draft, Koskie blossomed into a full-time Twin. In 2000, he batted .300, hit 26 home runs, drove in 103 runs and scored 100. He is one of only six Twins to score and drive in 100 runs in the same season. That year he shared the Tip O’Neill Award as Canada’s top baseball player with MLB Hall of Famer Larry Walker.

Also playing in Toronto and Milwaukee, his career numbers include a .275 batting average, 124 home runs, 506 runs batted in, 71 stolen bases, a .367 on-base percentage, .458 slugging percentage and 24.6 WAR (wins above replacement). He was elected to Canada’s Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

“He was an incessant worker and became a leader on three consecutive division champions,” Bremer added. “In short, he was a force of nature.”
Festivities included a reception for Hall of Famers and Koskie’s guests. Invitees included family, childhood friends and teammates like Jason Mateychuk and former Elmwood Giants coach Lorne Korol. In addition to his Twins teammates, Koskie invited teammates from throughout his minor league career, with one flying from Australia because he had to be there. Many others made the drive from Manitoba, sitting in the stands.
On induction day, Koskie’s guests were seated in three groups around the field. Koskie, his wife Shannon, and his children sat front and centre.
“I’m excited that the Twins are showing their appreciation, and Twins Territory is showing its appreciation to you in making you a Twins immortal,” Cuddyer said.

“Standing here today, I’m honoured to be among Minnesota Twins legends, my teammates, family, friends and you, the fans,” Koskie said. “The game is bigger than how I feel about myself. It’s about making a kid smile in that five-second moment we have together.”

“A farm boy from Anola, Manitoba, who didn’t start playing serious baseball until 19 is your testament that no mountain is too high, no challenge is too difficult to tackle,” he said to the audience. “Where there is a will, there’s a way; where there’s no will, there’s no way.”

By Tony Zerucha

The Eastman Wildcats U17AAA endured some early hardships, but they came together to win a provincial championship and post a strong showing at the national championships. Key contributors were Beausejour’s Kaitlyn Bonkowski and Oakbank’s Sadie Church and Ella Sawatzky.
The season began slowly, with the Wildcats losing three of their first four games. A low point was an early tournament in Brandon, where the Wildcats scored a mere four runs over the weekend.

“The regular season got off to a slower start than we wanted,” Church admitted. “We weren’t playing consistently well in all areas of the game and lost more than we would have liked.”

Following the Brandon tournament, Coach Pat Tetrault held a team meeting.

“Many thought this team would be lucky to finish top four in the province,” Tetrault said. “The sputtering start to the season created adversity and challenged the team to become much closer and develop what started their team’s motto and quiet belief in themselves: ‘We have nothing to lose but to win!’”

That rallying cry keyed a turnaround that saw the Wildcats win 12 consecutive games to close the regular season. Like many teams, the Wildcats found success by focusing on the little things.

“Every pre-game speech from our coach was the same: one catch, one play, one at-bat at a time,” Bonkowski said. “Our focus came from playing clean and relaxed games and not getting ahead of ourselves.”

“Some highlights we had were the way we came together to play so well to win all those games against some very tough teams,” Sawatzky added.
The Wildcats opened the provincials on July 17 with a 10-1 win over the Manitoba Angels. The games tightened after that, as they beat the Westman Magic 2-0 later on opening day. On July 18, the Wildcats won two one-run contests, 1-0 over the Interlake Phillies and 6-5 over the Winnipeg Lightning.

How did the Wildcats stay focused during so many tight games?

“Cheer on your teammates and don’t worry about the things you can’t control,” Sawatzky said.

“A softball game is never over until it’s over, and no win comes easy,” Church said. “There are a lot of great teams in our league,

and everybody has a chance to win when we take the field. Focusing on the next play and not getting too high or too low throughout a game is key.”
The club was on a roll, but had to cool their jets for nine days, as wildfire smoke caused a delay. Eastman made the most of it, with a strong practice that helped maintain focus. Once the provincials resumed, the Wildcats topped the Smitty’s Terminators 17-10 and Central Energy 5-2. The playoffs began with a 3-2, 10-inning win over the Lightning.

“(That) qualifier game was more stressful than the championship game,” Bonkowski said. “We ended up winning that game 3-2 in the tenth inning, securing our spot in the Canadian national championship.”

The provincial championship game would be a rematch with the Lightning. Could the Wildcats strike twice?

“The Lightning had runners on base and were hitting. They had already scored, and we had two outs,” Sawatzky said.

“The last few innings of the final game were tense,” Church added. “Despite having a 4-1 lead with an all-star pitcher like Kelsey Warketine on the mound, you have to execute defensively to lock down the win. Each pitch and each play matters.”

The final out was a ball to the shortstop, who fielded it cleanly and fired it to first. The Wildcats were provincial champions.

“The whole team dropped their gloves and ran over to the mound to celebrate with our pitcher,” Sawatzky remembered.

“None of us had ever been provincial champions before, so winning and being undefeated felt unreal,” Bonkowski said.

“It’s surreal when you get that last out,” Church said. “We have come up short in the provincial finals the last couple of seasons, so it is extra special to finally call ourselves provincial champions. We played hard and definitely celebrated hard when we got that last out.”
The momentum carried over to the National Championships in Warman, Sask. The Wildcats won their first three round-robin games by a combined 32-6 score. They lost the next two, including a close call against a powerhouse Quebec team that needed multiple extra innings to decide.
Undeterred, the Wildcats rebounded to beat the top Ontario team in the first playoff game. Their championships ended with a loss to Team British Columbia, who went on to claim the bronze medal.

The Wildcats are proud of their showing.

“The losses could have gone either way and included an extra innings loss to a very good team from Quebec and a 4-2 loss to a strong Ontario team,” Church said. “In the first round of playoffs, we beat one of the top teams in the country, the Ontario provincial champions. I think we shocked them and a lot of other teams by knocking them out of the tournament, but it confirmed that when we’re at our best, we’re one of the top teams in the country. 

“We ended up in seventh place out of 24 teams, which I feel is an amazing result for a group of girls from small towns across southeast Manitoba.”