Culturama winds up in Steinbach

Attendance at Culturama doubled this year compared to last year, a sign of a vibrant community according to organizer and Pat Porter Active Living Centre executive director Audrey Harder.

The six-day event gave visitors a look and taste of cultures from Ukraine, the Philippines, Korea, Nigeria, Brazil, India/Punjab and Cuba.

Harder said they had 1,701 guests throughout the week.

“This year we had two sellouts and four close-to sellouts,” she said.

Assistant captain Larocque helps Team Canada at Olympics

Team Canada’s quest to defend their women’s hockey Olympic gold medal had to be postponed, after a norovirus (stomach flu) ripped through Team Finland, their first scheduled opponent.

Canada, with Ste Anne’s Jocelyne Larocque serving as an assistant captain, instead opened with a dominating 4-0 win over Switzerland Feb. 7 and a 5-1 victory over Czechia Feb. 9. The team was shut out for the first time at the Olympics by the United States Feb. 10, losing 5-0.

Canada’s chances of a gold medal took a massive hit against favourites U.S.A. The team was roundly out-played, taking their most lopsided loss at the Olympics in team history. Canada was also swept in the a four-game pre-Olympics exhibition series against the Americans.

“We just didn’t play very well at all. Irresponsible with the puck, like just poor puck management. And it’s not that there’s not confidence, but we played like we didn’t have confidence with the puck,” head coach Troy Ryan said after the game against The States.

SRSS Sabres hockey finish winningest regular season in program history

While the Steinbach Regional Secondary School Sabres came up one game short of earning a first-round playoff bye, head coach John Laninga has them aiming high.

The team is going into the playoffs having given up the second-fewest goals of any team in the top division of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League, setting new program highs for wins in a regular season.

Laninga said the team isn’t resting on that heading into the playoffs.

“I think if you talk to anyone in that locker room, they’re not completely satisfied,” Laninga said after the team’s final regular season game of the season against St Paul’s Feb. 4.

Provincial funding for Ste Anne, Reynolds upgrades equipment, expands space

Fresh provincial funding for fire hall improvements and new firefighting equipment will be flowing to the Rural Municipalities of Ste Anne and Reynolds.

Manitoba announced $11.4 million in funding to help 22 municipal projects under the Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities program, with Ste Anne receiving $1.7 million and Reynolds getting $315,000.

Ste Anne Reeve Richard Pelletier welcomed the financial boost and said the fire department needs to upgrade it’s equipment.

“We’re quite thankful to see that the province takes fire and rescue so seriously, and are helping rural municipalities like us be up to date and be proactive,” he told The Carillon.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: Feb. 5th edition

Featuring photos from a Steinbach Pistons game against Winkler Jan. 27, an Eastman Selects U18 AAA game Jan. 30, Zone 13 basketball in Niverville Jan. 28, MCAC futsal games in Otterburne Jan. 29 and a Steinbach Huskies game Feb. 1.

COLUMN: Village News – February moments you won’t want to miss

February is commonly known as the bridge month between winter and spring! We’ve still got our feet firmly planted in winter while we eagerly await the approaching spring season as the days get longer. MHV is excited to offer a variety of events for all ages and interests throughout this month. We’re eager to welcome you anytime—whether it’s for a special event, a Saturday visit, or a weekday stop.

December to February: Winter in the Village

February is MHV’s last month of Winter in the Village, and it’s the perfect way to enjoy the end of the winter season! On Saturdays, we offer a host of winter-themed activities. Enjoy skating, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, and a roaring bonfire. Don’t own skates or snowshoes? We offer rentals! Try your hand at Crokicurl, a Canadian game that blends crokinole and curling into one fun, outdoor activity! See MHV’s Main Street lit up with Christmas lights during our light show. Warm up with our Winter in the Village Cafe, featuring hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and a variety of freshly baked goods. While winter often feels long and dark, I hope that Winter in the Village at MHV can be a place to celebrate the unique winter season we experience here in Manitoba!

Feb. 12 and Feb. 26: Exhibit Explorers

Niverville ready to host best college volleyball teams again

By all accounts the 2025 men’s volleyball Canadian Colleges Athletic Association national championships were a success, but organizers are hoping for an even better experience for fans, players and officials this season.

Providence College will once again welcome the rest of the country, as the school and the Niverville Resource and Recreation Centre hosts the CCAA women’s national championships next month.

“There’s always a little bit of anxiety with a big event like that, all the pieces have to come together, but having done it once before, we’re so much further ahead,” tournament director Chris Koop said.

“We’re excited to host the nation.”

St Joachim church celebrates completion of first phase of renovations

The Catholic Parish of St Joachim celebrated the completion of the first phase of its renovations last Wednesday with much fanfare.

“It feels pretty darn good to see this accomplished. You know, I had a vision in my mind and nobody can really see what’s in my mind and it turned out to be pretty close to what I was seeing. So I’m pretty proud of the accomplishment we did,” said Lucien Grenier, president of the 125 Committee of Saint-Joachim Parish, which is the fundraising arm for the renovations. The committee was established in 2024 when Grenier and committee vice-president Ron St Hilaire began organizing and selecting volunteer staff.

Community members, politicians, church leaders, and members of the 125th committee were in attendance to mark the event with speeches praising the work of the committee, contractors, donors, and the community of La Broquerie.

Renovations began last summer with the demolition and rebuilding of the church steps and accessibility ramp, followed by the replacement of the front doors, installation of insulation in the roof, installation of a new furnace and an air conditioning unit, and cleaning of the two chimneys.

Prairie Premier League set for spring launch

A new era of soccer in Manitoba will begin this spring.

The Manitoba and Saskatchewan Soccer Associations announced Jan. 27 the launch of the Prairie Premier League, a high-level amateur league that aims to fill the gap between the professional and club ranks.

Other provinces have similar leagues, with League 1 Ontario and Quebec joined by leagues in Alberta and B.C. in the past couple years.

The non-Quebec leagues in the same tier as the PPL will be re-branding to “premier” leagues as well starting this season as well. “It’s been needed in both of our provinces,” MSA executive director Héctor Vergara said in a Winnipeg Free Press interview.

Ramsey signs extension with Virden Oil Capitals

The Virden Oil Capitals have locked up their head coach and general manager.

Tyson Ramsey, who has been with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League franchise for the past seven years, signed a four-year extension with Virden.

“Virden has become home for my family and me, and I am very proud of what we’ve built here together to this point,”

Ramsey said in a story posted to the Oil Capitals website.