COLUMN: Carillon Flashback January 6, 2011 – Mennonite bloggers publishing cookbook

Betty Reimer’s journey into blogging and on to be part of group publishing a cookbook entitled Mennonite Girls Can Cook started when she decided to search online for a new Easter bread recipe.

Reimer had a recipe she usually used, but was curious as to what else was out there. Her search led her to Louella Schellenberg’s blog, and she wondered why this particular recipe caught her attention.

Reimer quickly became a follower, regularly posting comments. About a year after Reimer discovered the blog, Schellenberg put out the idea of starting a group blog by the group of women who, like Reimer, had all linked through her food-based blogs.

A total of 13 women from British Columbia, Manitoba and Washington, aged 49 to 63, originally signed on (though the group now sits comfortably at 10) and in June, 2008, Mennonite Girls Can Cook was launched.

Federal and provincial governments fund extension of farmer wellness program

The federal and provincial governments have extended their financial support for the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program by investing $300,000 over two years through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The program, which was started in 2022, has seen the numbers of farmers accessing counselling double year after year, according to the program’s chief administrative officer Gerry Friesen.

“We were very excited to hear (about the funding),” said Friesen. “It’s ongoing support from them and obviously what it does is it helps us carry on with the services that we provide to the farming community, particularly farmers, their spouses, partners, kids over the age of 16 and farm employees. So, our numbers have been increasing steadily and so every dollar counts as it were.”

Friesen said there are more mental health issues facing farmers today than in the past as “farming isn’t getting less stressful, put it that way.”

Pistons lead Terriers 2-1 after convincing game 3 win

The Steinbach Pistons are in control of their first-round series against the Portage Terriers, dominating game three in Steinbach March 24 by a 6-2 score to take a 2-1 lead.

“You’re always learning what it takes to be successful in the playoffs,” head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said after the win.

“We have some players that don’t have a tremendous amount of playoff experience at our level, so I think it’s very important for them to see this is what it looks like. It’s different than the regular season. There’s not a lot of ice out there and the importance of simplicity can’t be overstated.”

Jackson Kostiuk, who left the Pistons mid-way through last season to play in the WHL and didn’t play during the team’s loss to Portage, is dominating. He’s scored scored five goals, adding an assist through three games.

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: March 12, 1948 – Sisters share 50th wedding anniversary celebration

It is indeed a rare opportunity for The Carillon News to publish a photo of three couples who all have been married more than 50 years.

The Dueck sisters joined their husbands at the head table this month to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mr and Mrs P.D. Kroeker. Peter and Elizabeth Kroeker, farmers in the Steinbach district, were married March 10, 1898.

Elizabeth was the third of the Dueck sisters to reach the golden wedding anniversary milestone. Abraham R. Penner and Susanna Dueck (at left) were married August 12, 1894, and Henry R. Reimer and Helena Dueck (at right) were married October 18, 1896.

All three Dueck sisters were 18 when they married. Their parents were Mr and Mrs Peter Dueck of Kleefeld.

Tache public works union warns of spring flooding as strike halts drain clearing

Striking Rural Municipality of Tache workers are raising concerns that critical drain clearing for flood mitigation isn’t happening as the spring thaw approaches.

Members of the Operating Engineers of Manitoba Local 987, which represents employees in the utilities, solid waste and public works departments, have been on strike since Feb. 23. The workers and seven other unions, including The Manitoba Teachers’ Society and the Manitoba Federation of Labour, held a rally at the picket line in front of Tache’s administration building on Wednesday.

Rene Ammeter, a lead drainage hand, said necessary equipment used to clear snow and ice from drains is idle and no flood preparation is happening.

“It could result in some significant overland flooding, and just prolong the spring runoff,” he told The Carillon.

Habs beat Warriors in all-Eastman CRJHL semi-final, lead final 1-0

Championship hockey is back in La Broquerie.

The Habs will be playing for the Capital Region Junior Hockey League trophy after beating regional rivals St Malo three games to two in the league’s semi-finals.

A Colton Pakoo goal with just 42 seconds remaining in the first overtime of game six March 20 inside La Broquerie’s HyLife Centre sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Pakoo was able to corral a rebound and guide it into the back of the net after a backhand shot from Luke Tetreault bounced off the glove of Jozsé Gauthier-Urmos and landed in the crease.

1946 to 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Frank F. Reimer Park

Nestled in a corner between the Steinbach post office and the community cenotaph is a pocket park dedicated to the memory of Frank F. Reimer.

A plaque on a concrete pedastal reads: “This park is in honour of our father Frank F. Reimer who was a Steinbach merchant and entrepreneur known as “Carload Frank”. H

e lived in Steinbach and area from his birth in 1908 until 1967, when he and our mother, Margaret, moved to Winnipeg.

Frank F. Reimer was a great-grandson of pioneer Klaas R. Reimer, who came to Steinbach in 1874 from what is now the Ukraine.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: March 19th edition

Featuring game three of the Price Division finals in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League between Lorette and West Kildonan March 12, Springfield vs Mitchell in the HTJHL semi-finals, action from the Canadian College Athletic Association women's championship in Niverville March 11 and 14 and a CRJHL quarterfinal game between St Malo and La Broquerie March 13.La Broquerie and St Malo are battling in the CRJHL semi-finals. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

Support for Minneapolis shown in Melt the ICE fundraiser

A small group gathered on Sunday to raise funds and honour the victims of ICE in Minneapolis.

OPEN: Organization for Peace, Justice and Non-Violence partnered with Creative Uncommons: Artist Cooperative to put on the event which raised funds for the Immigrant Defense Network and SupportMinnesota.com.

T. Sheppard Luangkhot, director of OPEN said the event which featured music, speeches and art, went well.

“It was just great to see people come together and share stories of Minnesota as well as stories of how we’re trying to support as Canadians, as Manitobans,” they said. “We know what it’s like to try to help each other in a small community.”

SRSS Sabres Bueckert, Froese, named to Free Press top 10

A pair of Steinbach Regional players were recognized by a Winnipeg Free Press coaches poll as two of the province’s top high school hockey players.

Forward Jager Bueckert and defenseman Peyton Froese were placed seventh and ninth on the top 10 list, published March 13th just after the start of the AAAA hockey provincial championships.

“(Bueckert) emerged as a top talent with great speed, puck control and a deadly shot,” his profile reads.

“A tough, high-skilled, two-way forward, he is smart, consistent and well-rounded on both ends of the ice.”

Providence lays off staff, cuts programming due to international student drop

Providence University College and Theological Seminary will be laying off 10 percent of its workforce and slashing programming, citing falling international student permit numbers.

Kenton Anderson, president of the Otterburne-based college, said the 2026-2027 budget will be the first time the full financial impact from the federal government’s international student policies will be felt. The college has lost more than 90 percent of its international students and saw a nearly 50 percent drop in annual revenue, falling from $26 million to $13 million.

“The effect is now hitting us. Even though these (federal) announcements started to come down two years ago, it took two years for us to actually experience the full impact, which is now where we’re at,” he told The Carillon.

Staff and faculty are among the cut jobs, with other employees having their workloads and hours reduced, Anderson said. The college’s communications and media program was discontinued, and its Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) initiative was placed on hiatus as administration “tightens the belt.”

Gault signs pro deal with ECHL team in South Carolina

Oakbank’s Caiden Gault kicked off his professional career this week, signing with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL.

Gault played three seasons at Ferris State University before transferring to Northern Michigan for his final year of NCAA hockey, where he served as assistant captain and compiled a career high in goals.

The Swamp Rabbits serve as the affiliate for the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign and NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

Gault played his U15 AAA hockey in the Eastman Selects system before moving to Rink Hockey Academy. He played a single full season with the Selkirk Steelers before moving to the Alberta Junior Hockey League, scoring 73 points in 58 games in the 2021/2022 season.