Jobs and trade minister shares economic update at chamber summit in Steinbach

During the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce’s economic summit in Steinbach on May 1, Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Jamie Moses shared some of the changes to the economy and initiatives the government has undertaken since last fall when it launched its economic development strategy.

“I also want to say that every person’s success in our province is really important to us as a government. We understand that the challenges we’re facing, both to grow your individual business, to support the different regions of our province, only gets more challenging when we see the national framework of competitiveness, international conflicts when it comes to trade and tariffs…” he said.

“As well as when we look at global conflicts, which restrict supply chains, make things more expensive, put pressure on Manitobans and put pressure on businesses as well. And so we spend a lot of time as a government in understanding how we can support business communities through all of these broad challenges.”

Moses highlighted certain government initiatives, such as doubling the export support program funding so businesses can reach new markets, having a trade envoy in Washington, creating a $50 million trade growth investment financing program (TGIF), doubling funding for the export support program, taking the PST off of manufacturing equipment, building trade ties with Mexico while also looking to reach markets in Asia and India, and signing an interprovincial trade agreement in November 2025.

Nighthawks fly into Centennial Cup semi-finals

The Niverville Nighthawks chances of winning the Centennial Cup took a massive step forward May 12 in Summerside, P.E.I.

Across the modern history of the tournament, no team has lifted the championship trophy without first winning their five-team group and earning a bye straight to the semi-finals. The Manitoba Junior Hockey League-winning Nighthawks did just that a day before their final game, defeating Alberta champions Canmore 6-4 to move to 3-0 with eight points, four points ahead of any team with games left to be played.

"It's huge for the program, it's huge for the families, it's huge for the MJHL to have a team represented in the semi-finals," head coach Dwight Hirst said after the game.

Team captain Adam Vigfusson stepped up, netting a hat trick for his team to give them a early second period 4-1 lead they managed to hold through a late Canmore surge. He got the game going with a bang, converting on a two-on-one pass from line-mate Hayden Wheddon.

Steinbach endorses The Bridge on 3rd

Steinbach city council offered their endorsement of The Bridge on 3rd, a 30-unit apartment block under development by Eden Healthcare Services in partnership with Steinbach Community Outreach.

In a letter to council requesting a letter of support, Eden Healthcare Services program director Leighton Knapp explained the purpose of the facility council had first heard about at the April strategic priorities committee meeting.

“It is specifically designed to provide stable, affordable housing and comprehensive onsite mental health supports for adults living with severe and persistent mental illness,” the letter stated. “Fifteen tenants will have access to Tier 3 and Tier 4 specialized clinical programming, including psychiatric care, medication management, life-skills coaching, and 24/7 crisis response.”

Knapp added that the project addresses what is currently a critical gap in the community, saying it will reduce chronic homelessness, frequent hospital admissions and emergency service demands while helping individuals achieve greater stability and quality of life.”

Carillon Sports Second Shots: Centennial Cup May 11

Featuring games between the Flin Flon Bombers and Greater Sudbury Cubs, Thunder Bay North Stars and Rockland Nationals and Truro Bearcats and Toronto Patriots.

Steinbach Pistons back on top of MJHL’s attendance race

There was little doubt the Steinbach Pistons would be back on top of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s attendance chart during their first full season inside the Southeast Event Centre, but the team basically lapped the field this season.

With a reported average above 1,800 for the regular season, they were more than 1,000 fans per game ahead of their closest competition, Virden. The Oil Capitals averaged 745 per game. Virden drew the most fans in the league in the past two seasons, as Steinbach played home games out of the roughly 500-seat HyLife Centre in La Broquerie while the SEC was under construction.

Every home game this season the Pistons welcomed more than 1,000 fans into the building, with an additional re-scheduled “away” game against the Blues on a Monday afternoon packed with 2,000 students.

The team reported a total of more than 68,000 fans walked through the door across the entire season, a new all-time high for the franchise.

Nighthawks’ Vigfusson announces USports commitment, picks up community award

Niverville Nighthawks captain Adam Vigfusson will continue his hockey career in Canada.

The 2005-born forward from Gimli announced his commitment to York University in the days following Niverville’s Manitoba Junior Hockey League victory.

Vigfusson led the league in playoff points, posting 10 goals and nine assists across 13 games.

He was also named the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s RBC Community Award recipient May 5, as he was preparing with his team to start the Centennial Cup in Summerside, P.E.I.

Steinbach gets new RCMP detachment commander

Steinbach’s RCMP detachment is getting new leadership after a new detachment commander started work last month.

Staff Sergeant Mike Maxwell, a 19-year RCMP veteran, left his post in Bridgetown, N.S. to take the Steinbach job.

“This is a really beautiful community. And, yeah, the town is great. The people that I work with here are great, and I’m just excited to be here,” he said.

The 41-year-old’s career has spanned Alberta, Nunavut, Nova Scotia and Manitoba. He got his first RCMP posting in Lynn Lake, and later worked in Thompson and Cross Lake. Steinbach will be the largest community he’s worked in. Maxwell is looking forward to working with municipal and community leaders through his role.

Parkhill School principal calls for traffic changes near the school, cites student safety

Parkhill School principal Kim Koop has sent a letter to the City of Steinbach council requesting traffic safety changes near the school in order to protect her students.

On April 27, council received a letter from Koop stating as the community around the school continues to grow, so too will traffic safety issues.

“The safety of our students is our highest priority. With a significant majority of students travelling to and from school on foot or by vehicle each day, it is essential that the surrounding infrastructure supports safe, predictable, and well-regulated traffic flow,” wrote Koop.

Parkhill School opened last September and has 340 students, of which 263 (or about 70 percent) walk to school or are driven to school by family members. The remaining 77 are bused.

MJHL NOTES: Neepawa Titans extend head coach/GM Pearson

The Neepawa Titans have stability behind the bench, as the Manitoba Junior Hockey League franchise announced they were extending the contract of current head coach/general manager Ken Pearson.

Pearson is from Neepawa and jumped straight from playing for his hometown team to assistant coach in 1994/1995.

“Neepawa is a special place, and I’m grateful for the trust the organization and community have placed in me,” Pearson said in a Titans news release.

“We’ve made great strides, and there’s still so much potential here. I’m excited to continue building a program our town can be proud of.”

Flin Flon Bombers look to salvage Centennial Cup with playoff charge

Half a second isn't exactly a long time in a hockey game, but that was the difference the Flin Flon Bombers needed as they defeated the Greater Sudbury Cubs for their first win of the Centennial Cup May 11.

After Flin Flon took a 4-1 first period lead, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Cubs battled back to tie the game in the second. In the closing moments of the frame Reid Arberry led a three-on-two rush up the ice, wristing a shot from the top of the face-off circle that hit the back of the net just before the final buzzer sounded.

Arberry's marker would hold up as the game-winner in a 6-4 victory for the Bombers, their first at the 2026 Centennial Cup in Summerside, P.E.I.

"I heard (head coach Mike Reagan) yelling from the bench, I think I heard 'three,' when I crossed the blue line area and decided to take one more step and fire it on net and found it far side," Arberry said.

Niverville’s Dubinsky named finalist for CJHL top goalie award

Austin Dubinsky has a chance to add yet more hardware to his trophy case.

The Niverville Nighthawks goaltender was named the league’s top regular season goaltender and playoff most valuable player as he backstopped his club to a Turnbull Cup championship. He’s now up for the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top goaltender award, competing against other to goalies from the nine other junior A CJHL leagues across Canada.

Dubinsky lost just five games this season, with a 34-3-1 record in the regular season and a 12-1 record in the playoffs.

He’s up against Flin Flon’s Charlie Tritt (SJHL), who was traded from Humboldt this season, Leamington’s Tre Altiman (OJHL), Kemptville’s Rylan Donovan (CCHL) and Longueuil’s Mathis Lacroix-Goulet (LHJAAAQ).