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Steinbach celebrates legacy at arts gala

Greg Vandermeulen 4 minute read Yesterday at 5:35 PM CDT

The legacy of 45 years of the SAC (Steinbach Arts Council) was celebrated at Bentwood Hall on May 2, highlighting local support and asking for more support for future endeavors.

Local businesses had a hand in much of the evening with even the dinner having a local connection. The meal was prepared by SAC culinary instructor Cassandra Kornelsen.

Executive Director David Klassen explained that although SAC has existed for 45 years thanks to the pioneering efforts of Norma Barkman and those that followed, his first exposure was closer to three decades ago.

“I walked through the doors and was immediately inspired, challenged to work hard, to collaborate, to push my limits, to strive for something greater,” he said.

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Churches unite to clean up Steinbach

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read Preview

Churches unite to clean up Steinbach

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read Yesterday at 2:55 PM CDT

Nineteen Steinbach churches and 860 people spread out over Steinbach on May 3 to clean up the community as part of the annual pick up and walk event.

Martin Gunter, an organizer from Southland Church, said they collected almost six tons this year.

That’s down from the usual nine to 10 tons, but Gunter explained that is because of the dry spring. Typically, much of the trash is waterlogged but this year most was dry.

Gunter said it’s a way for churches to show they care about the community.

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Yesterday at 2:55 PM CDT

ANTHONY GUILLAS

Draegan Sicat shows off the tools of the trade as he prepares to take part in the annual Pick Up and Walk event hosted by Steinbach churches.

ANTHONY GUILLAS 

Draegan Sicat shows off the tools of the trade as he prepares to take part in the annual Pick Up and Walk event hosted by Steinbach churches.

SPORTS FLASHBACK 2000: Whiteshell windsurfers are all-weather sailors

Wes Keating 3 minute read Preview

SPORTS FLASHBACK 2000: Whiteshell windsurfers are all-weather sailors

Wes Keating 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:04 PM CDT

Some might call them enthusiasts; others may suggest they are diehards or even fanatics. At any rate, Steinbach’s Mitch Toews, 44, and Jack Schellenberg, 51, have found their niche, sailing the waters of the Whiteshell on their state-of-the-art windsurfing boards.

Toews owns a cottage on Jessica Lake and Schellenberg has a seasonal trailer at neighboring Brereton Lake. Depending on wind directions, they will be sailing together on either lake most weekends during the spring, summer and fall. Or, especially for Toews, just about any time there is open water.

Toews also briefly toyed with the idea of adding a kit with wheels to his windsurfer, so he could sail on ice.

“I abandoned that notion, deciding that falling into water is one thing, but crashing on ice is quite another.”

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Yesterday at 2:04 PM CDT

Mitch Toews, who started his season of sailing as soon as the ice went out April 2, goes for a Victoria Day cruise on Jessica Lake in the Whiteshell. (Carillon Archives)

Mitch Toews, who started his season of sailing as soon as the ice went out April 2, goes for a Victoria Day cruise on Jessica Lake in the Whiteshell. (Carillon Archives)

DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Thoughts on a crazy end to the MJHL season

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Preview

DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Thoughts on a crazy end to the MJHL season

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Yesterday at 12:02 PM CDT

While attention this week went to game seven of the Winnipeg Jets and St Louis Blues, there was another overtime game seven that was required viewing for fans of junior hockey in the province.

The NorMan Blizzard are back on top of Manitoba hockey, beating the Dauphin Kings to claim the Turnbull Cup, awarded to the champions of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

While my predictions on the MJHL this season in the post-season were pretty bad, my pre-season prediction of NorMan being the team to watch out of the West Division did come true, in the most spectacular way.

Congrats to the new ownership and Eric Labrosse for working to revive the Blizzard back to premier status in the league.

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Yesterday at 12:02 PM CDT

Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon

The Niverville Nighthawks salute the crowd after dropping game six of their first round series against Winkler in the MJHL. The MJHL season ended for every team May 1, with a game seven overtime victory in the finals for the NorMan Blizzard.

Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon 

The Niverville Nighthawks salute the crowd after dropping game six of their first round series against Winkler in the MJHL. The MJHL season ended for every team May 1, with a game seven overtime victory in the finals for the NorMan Blizzard.

Lorette forms Main Street transformation plan

Chris Gareau 3 minute read Preview

Lorette forms Main Street transformation plan

Chris Gareau 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:58 AM CDT

The plan to create a pedestrian-friendly, bustling hub along Dawson Road in Lorette is taking final input from the community before heading to the LUD and RM council.

Anyone who was not able to make the May 5 second and final open house on the Main Street secondary plan can now take a survey at rmtache.ca/p/lorette-main-street-secondary-plan.

Urban Systems took input from the first open house Jan. 14 to draw up ideas meant to have more people living, working and playing in Lorette’s downtown.

Ryan Segal is a community planner with the company contracted by the RM to draw up the plan.

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Yesterday at 11:58 AM CDT

CHRIS GAREAU THE CARILLON
Urban Systems held its second and last open house on the secondary plan to transform Dawson Road in Lorette.

CHRIS GAREAU THE CARILLON
Urban Systems held its second and last open house on the secondary plan to transform Dawson Road in Lorette.

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: A franchise-defining win for the Jets

James Loewen 4 minute read Preview

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: A franchise-defining win for the Jets

James Loewen 4 minute read Yesterday at 8:54 AM CDT

In 1970 when there was talk of professional hockey coming to Manitoba in the form of the WHA, my forward-thinking dad got season tickets because he thought one day the WHA might merge with the NHL.

Fast forward 55 years to the Jets squeaking out a game 7 win against the St Louis Blues, and it was the kind of hockey he dreamed about, the kind of magical moments we had so many of in the WHA and which have been so hard to come by in the NHL.

Let’s face reality. Other than some exceptions in the Dale Hawerchuk and Teemu Selanne eras, the experience of Jets fans in the NHL era has been largely disappointing and often frustrating.

That changed with the Jets’ gutsy performance in game seven.

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Yesterday at 8:54 AM CDT

ROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets fans Leah Clausser (middle), Gabbry Robbins (left) and Kennedy Peters cheer after the Jets score their team's first goal of the Game 5 in the National Hockey League Stanley Cup playoff between the hometown Winnipeg Jets and the visiting St. Louis Blues in Winnipeg, Man., Saturday, April 19, 2025. The Winnipeg Jets Whiteout party tooks place on Donald Street between Portage Avenue and Graham Avenue.

ROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets fans Leah Clausser (middle), Gabbry Robbins (left) and Kennedy Peters cheer after the Jets score their team's first goal of the Game 5 in the National Hockey League Stanley Cup playoff between the hometown Winnipeg Jets and the visiting St. Louis Blues in Winnipeg, Man., Saturday, April 19, 2025. The Winnipeg Jets Whiteout party tooks place on Donald Street between Portage Avenue and Graham Avenue.

Roadside prohibitions handed out on Steinbach’s Main Street

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read Yesterday at 8:32 AM CDT

RCMP continued their enforcement on Steinbach’s Main Street, handing out large fines and in two cases, roadside prohibitions.

Both prohibitions took place on May 2, at 10:19 p.m. and 11:13 p.m. respectively.

The first was to a 20-year-old male from Menisino who was given the penalty for excessive noise.

The second was handed to a 34-year-old male from Steinbach at the corner of Main Street and Reimer Avenue for proceeding through a red light.

Planning for Jailbreak in Steinbach

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read Preview

Planning for Jailbreak in Steinbach

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read Saturday, May. 10, 2025

The annual Rotary Club Jailbreak event is back with a number of celebrity offenders set to be locked behind bars while they raise their bail money.

The fourth year for the fundraiser, it allows the club to raise funds for key projects and programs.

This year South East Helping Hands and Rotary District 5550 Ripple Effects Project are two organizations that will benefit.

Club member Leonard Klassen said they chose Helping Hands to help with day-to-day expenses.

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Saturday, May. 10, 2025

GREG VANDERMEULEN CARILLON ARCHIVES

Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk gets arrested as part of the Rotary Jailbreak event in 2023.

GREG VANDERMEULEN CARILLON ARCHIVES 

Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk gets arrested as part of the Rotary Jailbreak event in 2023.

Crow Wing Trail reports more than $14,800 in assets at AGM

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 5 minute read Preview

Crow Wing Trail reports more than $14,800 in assets at AGM

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 5 minute read Saturday, May. 10, 2025

The Crow Wing Trail organization reported during their AGM on Saturday $14,841 in assets at the end of 2024 with a budget of $16,792.

“The last two years have been very similar. We have a core of 35 to 40 (volunteers) that get involved. Funding basically changes if we’re working on a really big project. If we’re needing to work on creating a bridge somewhere that would really have a different impact on funding,” said president Dolores Braun.

“Its been pretty stable right now because we don’t have a big project that’s going on right now. We are wanting to improve our signage so this coming next two years our budget will have to change a bit as we’re trying to establish some updated signs. It will also include some more of the Indigenous and Metis stories. That will be the next increase in budget that we’ll be looking at.”

There are 21 signs along the 200-kilometre trail that are faded by the sun and need to be replaced. It’s unknown how much the signs will cost. The signs will be done in consultation with Indigenous groups in order to be inclusive as part of Truth and Reconciliation.

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Saturday, May. 10, 2025

SVJETLANA MLINAREVIC THE CARILLON
Board members and the general public turned out for the Crow Wing Trail AGM on May 3, 2025, at Providence University College and Theological Seminary. Here president Dolores Braun discusses the direction of the trail to the audience.

SVJETLANA MLINAREVIC THE CARILLON
Board members and the general public turned out for the Crow Wing Trail AGM on May 3, 2025, at Providence University College and Theological Seminary. Here president Dolores Braun discusses the direction of the trail to the audience.

Grey Cup tour will be familiar sight in region this summer

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Preview

Grey Cup tour will be familiar sight in region this summer

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Saturday, May. 10, 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are hoping to inspire an entire province as the organization gets set to host the Grey Cup this fall.

The team announced a 40-stop tour across all of Manitoba during a Grey Cup Festival kick-off event in Winnipeg May 1. The Grey Cup includes a week-long festival in the host city, making it one of the biggest sporting events in the country.

“Everyone will get to experience what a Grey Cup Festival is like in our province,” Bombers president Wade Miller said.

“Our team is so excited to get out through the province and get the Grey Cup Festival kicked off.”

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Saturday, May. 10, 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be hosting the Grey Cup this season, and are hoping to bring the traditional Grey Cup festival to events around the province this summer.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be hosting the Grey Cup this season, and are hoping to bring the traditional Grey Cup festival to events around the province this summer.

Ritchot makes call for artwork to adorn park signage

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 3 minute read Preview

Ritchot makes call for artwork to adorn park signage

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 3 minute read Saturday, May. 10, 2025

RM of Ritchot is calling on artists to create signs that represent belonging to attract and direct visitors in the municipality’s parks.

“We saw it done by Ramsey County just outside of Minneapolis and they did a similar project and we thought it was a good project to bring to our community as it helps create a sense of belonging…,” said Emma Dequier, recreational program coordinator for the RM of Ritchot, noting the project was possible through a grant from Southern Health.

The signs have to show inclusivity and welcome and a sense of belonging. They must answer the question, “What artwork would make you feel welcome in a park and like you belonged?” Although Dequier couldn’t say how many signs will be made, she did say artists from all over the Southeast are encouraged to enter their designs with artists from Ritchot receiving priority.

“Signs will be placed in our parks and we’ll do some type of unveiling party pop up community event to celebrate the signs. We do plan on having an interactive board for residents to share what belonging means to them to promote…social connections through interactive community events that also encourages conversations on belonging and inclusion for them,” said Dequier.

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Saturday, May. 10, 2025

RAMSEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION

An example of an inclusive artistic sign from Ramsey County.

RAMSEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION 

An example of an inclusive artistic sign from Ramsey County.

COLUMN: Carillon Flashback June 30, 1993 – 1993 MSOS Games seen as a great success

Wes Keating 3 minute read Preview

COLUMN: Carillon Flashback June 30, 1993 – 1993 MSOS Games seen as a great success

Wes Keating 3 minute read Saturday, May. 10, 2025

Everyone involved in the 1993 MSOS 55 Plus Games in Steinbach agreed the week-long event was a great success.

With more than 1,400 competitors registered, a record number, and as many as 2,000 people a day converging on Steinbach, the impact was certainly felt in the community.

From as young as 55 years old to 94-year-old cribbage player Bill Wilson of Winnipeg, the “young and old” and the “young at heart” all enjoyed themselves.

The chairman of the Steinbach organizing committee, Rollie Blanchard, said except for a few minor glitches, the games went off without a hitch.

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Saturday, May. 10, 2025

CARILLON ARCHIVES

Jocelyn Majure of Steinbach displays the two gold medals she won in swimming at the 1993 Manitoba Society of Seniors Games. Majure was one of 1,400 participants in the MSOS Games hosted by Steinbach with events in the neighboring communities of Mitchell and La Broquerie.

CARILLON ARCHIVES 

Jocelyn Majure of Steinbach displays the two gold medals she won in swimming at the 1993 Manitoba Society of Seniors Games. Majure was one of 1,400 participants in the MSOS Games hosted by Steinbach with events in the neighboring communities of Mitchell and La Broquerie.

Southeast MLAs part of caucus shuffle

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read Preview

Southeast MLAs part of caucus shuffle

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read Friday, May. 9, 2025

A new era announced by newly elected PC leader Obby Khan will include new responsibilities for several MLAs who represent parts of the Southeast.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen is the new caucus chair, La Verendrye MLA Konrad Narth is the deputy house leader and former interim leader of the opposition Lac du Bonnet MLA Wayne Ewasko returns to his portfolio as PC critic for education and early childhood learning.

Other changes included the promotion of Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza to the deputy leader position, Roblin MLA Kathleen Cook to party whip, and Brandon West MLA Wayne Balcaen as deputy whip.

Khan spoke in a private member’s statement during Monday’s question period, promising a new era of dignity and decorum after months of what he described as rancorous debate.

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Friday, May. 9, 2025

GREG VANDERMEULEN CARILLON ARCHIVES

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen was named caucus chair.

GREG VANDERMEULEN CARILLON ARCHIVES

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen was named caucus chair.

COLUMN: View from the Legislature – Focus on what unites us

Kelvin Goertzen, MLA for Steinbach 3 minute read Friday, May. 9, 2025

The recent federal election was one that was filled with surprises. But what was not unexpected was the sharp political divide that exists in Canada with the two main national parties, the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party, essentially splitting the popular vote. That division also was exhibited somewhat between voters in eastern Canada and voters in western Canada. It also was shown between voters living in urban areas and those in rural areas.

With another minority government in Ottawa, it would be easy, and perhaps likely, to assume another federal election isn’t that far away. And while that may be true, it doesn’t mean there isn’t important work that needs to happen before then.

At the top of that list is dealing with the tariff war that has been launched on Canada and much of the world by the Trump administration in the United States. The scattershot of tariffs, some of which were enacted without any justification or rationale, are already resulting in job losses. This is clearly a top priority for the federal government, as demonstrated by the visit this week to the White House by the prime minister, and a cause that all political parties can be united on. In addition, while Canada has always been a union that has factions that desired separation as a goal, for most of our history those have been most intensely felt in Quebec.

However, increasingly, talk of separation from Canada has been heard more clearly from Alberta with a new process (centered on citizen signatures) raising the real concern of a separation referendum in that province. The new prime minister must also spend time trying to heal the divide that is felt in Western Canada from decisions that have been made in Ottawa. This is also a cause that all political parties, while perhaps differing in approach, should be united in.

NorMan take Turnbull Cup with triple-overtime winner

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Preview

NorMan take Turnbull Cup with triple-overtime winner

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Friday, May. 9, 2025

It took until nearly the next day, but the NorMan Blizzard took the Manitoba Junior Hockey League championship in the most dramatic possible fashion May 1.

Quincy Supprien broke a 1-1 deadlock in the third overtime of game seven to claim the Blizzard’s first title since 2003. Supprien took advantage right after a face-off, crashing towards the dot and immediately shooting a loose puck past Cole Sheffield, setting off incredible celebrations.

“It’s amazing, unbelievable,” Supprien said in a video posted to the MJHL’s social media.

“It’s like a dream coming true.”

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Friday, May. 9, 2025

The NorMan Blizzard won the 2025 Turnbull Cup thanks to a triple-overtime goal in game seven of the MJHL finals. (NorMan Blizzard)

The NorMan Blizzard won the 2025 Turnbull Cup thanks to a triple-overtime goal in game seven of the MJHL finals. (NorMan Blizzard)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: How the Conservatives lost the election

David Kauenhowen, Mitchell, MB 4 minute read Friday, May. 9, 2025

The 2025 federal election will be known as historic. The results are in, and we will have to be satisfied with a minority government. Some people will be angry, disappointed or live in denial; others will be happy, relieved, hopeful and optimistic. Others will sing “que sera sera, whatever will be will be,” not putting any strain on their personal life

Some politicians become experts in creating culture wars that have very little to do with governance. Only sober rational thinking can help us to navigate this life without being torn back and forth. Taking a break from social media, from all kinds of gossip groups, including religious gossip, would likely help to build a stable society. Our personal well-being is more important than participating in idle gossip.

It is interesting to observe the political situation. Less than a half a year ago the polls showed the Conservatives 25 points ahead of Liberals and people were jubilant and predicted a Conservative sweep across the nation. What really happened? A fourth term for the Liberal government. How quickly can things change when urgency demands it. The threat from the south did wake Canadians up to realize we need a steady hand in leadership to bring us through the crisis. The Conservatives must have squandered political capitol along the way. Despite the party having increased its share of the vote they still lost the election. When can we expect the backstabbing to start? The extreme right wingers must find a way to release that stocked up anger. Here are a few thoughts on what could have contributed to the loss of the election.

1. Canadians did not want a mini-Trump as a leader for this nation. Some of the one liner slogans which were repeatedly used sounded too much like MAGA Trumpism. Some of the slogans were plain offensive and repulsive.

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