The past two weeks, the world came together for the Olympics. Emotions ran high and national pride shone brightly, as the athletes showed off their hard work. Congratulations to all our athletes.

The world enjoyed healthy competition, patriotism and energetic passion all woven together.

It was encouraging to see—especially in light of world events such as conflict, war, religious persecution, poverty and trafficking, to name a few.

Closer to home, the trade dispute has raised tension, and made people more sensitive. When pressure lasts a long time, it changes how we see things. When a relationship is strained, we begin to interpret actions differently.

“Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone’s life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life its deepest significance.” ― Roy T. Bennett

Sometimes, the greatest gift we can offer others is not to shine too brightly, but simply to be a gentle glow in the darkness. It’s easy to think that we must be loud, bold, or the centre of attention to make a difference in the world. Yet, in moments of uncertainty or hardship like our world is now going through, a soft presence - a comforting light - can be more valuable than any dazzling display.

In Psalm 119:105, the Bible talks about God’s word in this way: “your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” A lamp is not a bright torch, but a gentle light. This past week I had the opportunity to speak at Red Rock’s ‘Father Son Camp’ where the theme was ‘Light in the Dark’. With the lights completely off in the evening chapel, I had one of the kids walk with me down the aisle. At first, I held the lamp right by his face, but he couldn’t really see where he was going. When put by his feet, he could see his next steps. He couldn’t see to the end, but as long as we kept walking in faith he would eventually see his destination.

My experience of God’s light in the dark has been similar. He doesn’t show me everything that will happen in my life, but with his gentle guidance I know enough for the next step. He is patient, He is kind, I just wish sometimes He would show me the whole path!

While many Canadians last week were focused on the Olympic games, and in particular the heartbreaking losses in the Gold Medal game for both our men’s and women’s hockey teams, political watchers were also watching news from the United States capital. While perhaps not as exciting as the action on the Olympic ice, the long-awaited ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) regarding many of the tariffs the Trump administration has levied on Canada and other countries was released.

That ruling, in a 6-3 decision, confirmed what most observers had long believed. The court, including the majority of justices appointed by Republican presidents, found the set of tariffs issued under the U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal. This was largely based on the principle that in the United States, Congress has power over taxation, and tariffs are a tax paid by those who purchase the product on which it is levied.

Despite the ruling, it was no surprise the Trump administration quickly vowed, and did, use other measures to put new tariffs in place. While most Americans express opposition to the tariff policy, it is clearly one that the current U.S. administration is committed to. So while in the medium and long term the court ruling may have greater impact, in the short term it is less likely much will change in the trade dispute that Canada finds itself in with the United States.

For that reason and many others, it is critically important that Manitoba and Canada remain focused on the things that are more directly in their control. While it is true that the current trade turmoil is as a result of the U.S. governments decision to move away from the historical free trade relationship between our two countries that has been in place for more than 40 years, it is also true that the challenges that Canada is having adjusting to that new reality are the culmination of decisions made by federal governments over that same period of time.

My husband and I are spending five weeks in Morocco. We’re touring around the country with a Canadian company called G Adventures. It invests heavily in Morocco by using only locally-owned hotels and restaurants and local guides. It assists a variety of charities throughout the country. Our group, for example, had lunch at a restaurant run by an organization that provides support to differently abled children as well as shelter and employment to Moroccan women fleeing domestic violence. G Adventures donates money to them and invites their customers to do so too.

As we travel we are learning there are many things Canada and Morocco have in common.

Our populations are similar. Morocco has 39 million residents. Canada has 41 million. French is widely spoken in Morocco just as it is in Canada. In the last few years our country has invested fairly heavily in Morocco in the areas of mining, agriculture and technology. We trade nearly $2 billion in goods annually with Morocco. We send them vehicles, airplane parts, food grains, and machinery and they send us fruit, nuts, fertilizer and chemicals. They also send us people. Some 100,000 Moroccans live in Canada.

Morocco has the same kind of varied geography that Canada does. In our country you can be skiing in the Rocky Mountains one day and hiking in the Okanogan Desert the next. Here in Morocco we were high up in the Atlas Mountains having a snowball fight one day and the next riding camels across the Sahara Desert.

Manitoba’s best young athletes, including nearly 100 from The Carillon’s coverage region, will be in Thompson next week for the Manitoba Winter Games.

Sports at the games include skiing, archery, badminton, curling, figure skating, futsal, gymnastics, hockey, ringette, speed skating and wrestling.

The province is divided into regions, with some area athletes suiting up for Team East and some for Team South. The games begin March 1, with athletes between 10 and 17 participating.

Hockey has the most athletes from Eastman set to play, with 24 total athletes set to make the trip up North.

I would like to take this opportunity to discuss some recent behaviour displayed by Premier Wab Kinew.

On Jan. 24, the MLA for Swan River, Rick Wowchuk, was supposed to speak at the grand opening event for the new cultural arts centre at Swan Valley Regional Secondary School. However, he was informed the night before the event that his invitation had been rescinded. This decision was made not by the Swan Valley School Division, who organized the event, but by the premier and his chief of staff, who dictated to the organizers who could and could not speak at the event. When Premier Wab Kinew was later asked about his government rescinding the invitation, he repeatedly brushed past the questions and made insulting statements about MLA Wowchuk, referring to him as “not a good guy,” “a backbench PC MLA,” and saying who cares about him and his feelings.

Not only are these actions and remarks incredibly immature and disrespectful, but they also display a complete abuse of power. The premier should not be dictating whether or not MLAs can speak at community-organized events in their own ridings. The fact that that is what he is choosing to focus his time and energy on signifies the start of what could be a very slippery slope into greater abuses of power. It also shows just how greatly disconnected the NDPs are from what is really important.

As MLA Wowchuk stated in the video of the speech he planned to deliver at the grand opening, we should be putting our political differences aside so that great things can happen for our communities. He mentioned how the former PC government was able to complete an 8,400 square foot trades building on the school’s grounds in 2018 that had been started by the previous NDP government, and now we see it again with the cultural arts centre that was started by the former PC government and has now been completed by the NDPs.

The Steinbach Arts Council invites you to our annual fundraising gala on Friday, May 1. Featuring gourmet local cuisine, fine wine, local entertainment, and a curated auction. Funds raised directly support subsidized programs, bursaries, free youth programming, and the growth of therapeutic arts initiatives in our region.

Thank you to our generous gala sponsors. A full list of sponsors is available on our event website.

To reserve your table, contact sydney@steinbacharts.ca or call 204-346-1077.

Southeast community comes together for the opening of Southeast Open Judged Art Exhibit

A southeastern Manitoba man was found guilty of groping and assaulting his girlfriend on Feb. 20.

Provincial court Judge Donald Slough read his decision in a Steinbach court room after a two-day trial concluded in December. The accused was found guilty to two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault.

The Carillon can’t release the names of the complainant or the accused due to a court-ordered publication ban.

The 20-year-old was called to the stand, dressed in a black suit and wearing sneakers, and listened to Slough’s verdict.

Seine River School Division has asked the province for portable classrooms for next school year after Manitoba’s decision to deny the division’s similar request last year.

Superintendent Colin Campbell told school board trustees Tuesday night the division has requested eight units for the 2026-2027 school year for schools in Ste Anne, La Broquerie, La Salle and St Adolphe.

“These are legitimate needs that we need, like today. It’s important that we are given a fair shot to receive these modular classrooms,” Campbell told The Carillon.

He pointed to the rapid enrollment growth across the division, adding up to roughly two schools’ worth of students, as the biggest need for the extra space. Seine River School Division reported its enrollment grew by over 800 students for all schools from 2020 to 2025, with last year seeing 140 new students joining the division as of November.