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Adi Kapoor The Carillon Approximately 180 people attended the Springfield mayoral forum.

Springfield mayoral candidates raise concerns over water projects

Adi Kapoor 2 minute read Yesterday at 5:07 PM CDT

Two mayoral candidates in the Rural Municipality of Springfield, Margaret Marion-Akins and Edwin Giesbrecht, raised concerns about the municipality’s water and wastewater plans in an election forum on Oct.13 at Dugald Community Club.

All four candidates, Marion-Akins, Giesbrecht, Melinda Warren and Daniel Page, attended the forum organized by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Springfield-Ritchot MLA Ron Schuler was the moderator, and about 180 people were present.

Springfield will be getting a new mayor as current Mayor Patrick Therrien is not running for a second term.

Candidates answered pre-prepared and audience-submitted questions. The questions included infrastructure, economic growth, safety and other concerns.

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Local

COLUMN: Viewpoint – Voting is a privilege

MaryLou Driedger 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:24 PM CDT

Municipal elections are less than a week away. Only 16.9 percent of eligible Steinbach area citizens voted in the last election. That’s disconcerting. Winnipeg had 37.5 percent of voters show up. Certainly nothing to be proud of either.

Having the right to vote for leaders who make vital decisions about our local communities is a gift. If I start feeling blasé about voting I remember how hard suffragettes in the early 1900s worked to earn the right for me to vote, and how much more work was needed for racial minorities to gain the same right. To not bother voting is a sacrilege, when others sacrificed so much to earn that privilege for us.

Municipal elections may not seem as consequential as federal or provincial elections, but they can affect many people. I personally know Steinbach residents whose homes have flooded repeatedly. They need local government leaders who advocate boldly for them, address their concerns in concrete, substantial ways and offer help and restitution.

A recent forum in Steinbach, led by respected local professionals, gave city council candidates an opportunity to hear concerns, and express their views about important issues. The CBC reported none of the incumbent councillors running for office, showed up. According to friends in attendance at Steinbach’s Pride Parade, no council members were there either. They missed an opportunity to build bridges with Premier Wab Kinew, who spoke at the event. This is regrettable, since provincial funding is vital to the city’s welfare. Have incumbent council members provided legitimate reasons for their absences?

Local

Dwight Hirst will lead the MJHL at the Western All-Star Challenge. (Cassidy Dankochik Carillon Archives)

Hirst tapped to lead MJHL at All-Star Challenge

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Preview

Hirst tapped to lead MJHL at All-Star Challenge

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Yesterday at 12:00 PM CDT

The head coach of the Niverville Nighthawks will get a chance to represent the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Dwight Hirst, who led the Nighthawks to a league and national championship last season, was selected to lead the league’s top prospects team at the upcoming Western All-Star Challenge as Manitoba takes on Saskatchewan.

Northern Manitoba’s Josh Gratton and Waywayseecappo’s Landyn Cochrane will also be on the bench alongside Hirst.

The event will feature two games between 2008/2009/2010 born players in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

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Yesterday at 12:00 PM CDT

Local

Adi Kapoor The Carillon From left: Moderator Eugene Warwaruk, council candidates Damian Penner, Ron Falk, Mitesh Kumar, Gary Dyck, Greg Carlos, Nicholas Goertzen, Bill Hiebert, Brad Unger, Susan Penner, Jake Hiebert and acclaimed Mayor Earl Funk.

All 10 Steinbach council candidates face voters at election forum

Adi Kapoor 3 minute read Preview

All 10 Steinbach council candidates face voters at election forum

Adi Kapoor 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:32 AM CDT

All 10 council candidates appeared together for the first time at a municipal election forum held Oct. 15 at the Mennonite Heritage Village, ahead of the Oct. 28 municipal election.

Incumbent Mayor Earl Funk, who was acclaimed and faces no challenger, was also present.

An election forum was also held on Oct. 7 at the Southeast Event Centre, where only four of the 10 candidates, Mitesh Kumar, Nicholas Goertzen, Brad Unger and Gary Dyck, were present.

Four candidates, Susan Penner, Damian Penner, Jake Hiebert and Bill Hiebert, are current councillors. The other six are first-time candidates.

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Yesterday at 11:32 AM CDT

Local

A Rosengard Ladies’ Gathering, ca. Spring 1946.

COLUMN: Tales from the Gravel Ridge – Rural women of my Rosengard childhood

Maria Falk Lodge 4 minute read Preview

COLUMN: Tales from the Gravel Ridge – Rural women of my Rosengard childhood

Maria Falk Lodge 4 minute read Yesterday at 8:15 AM CDT

The examples set for me by the women of my early childhood continue to shape and enhance my view of life and how to respond to it. During my childhood in Rosengard, the women of my neighbourhood were rural women in the truest sense of the word. Our community was located some 15km from Steinbach, the nearest major town. We had no convenience store that could supply the range of grocery items or basic pharmaceutical products that can sometimes be needed by a family, and that perhaps, on occasion, on short notice.

Depending on the circumstances of the respective families of our neighbourhood, women were not infrequently engaged in the farm work of their relatively small farms. Women helping with the milking of the cows was a common occurrence. Their assistance might well be required for both the early morning milking and again before nightfall. This was not without some concern, especially on the part of the mother who might be preoccupied with thoughts of what could, quite possibly, be going on in the house. The preschoolers left to fend for themselves, might be getting into mischief that could only too readily become a disaster. These concerns were by no means exaggerated — toddlers can very quickly undertake projects that are well beyond their ability to comprehend fully or to control.

The first “International Day of Rural Women” was observed on Oct. 15, 2018, pursuant to a resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations on Dec. 18, 2017. This relatively new international day recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including Indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.”

Much of the work of the women in our neighbourhood during my early childhood did not normally generate income directly. Nevertheless, the enormous degree of support, encouragement and monetary contributions represented by the tasks and projects of the women are, to put it mildly, astronomical.

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Yesterday at 8:15 AM CDT

Local

TREVOR HAGAN WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Cameron Huley, seen here in 2012, was fatally assaulted outside a home in the RM of Ste Anne.

Manslaughter charge in death of chef stayed because conviction unlikely: Crown

Dean Pritchard 2 minute read Preview

Manslaughter charge in death of chef stayed because conviction unlikely: Crown

Dean Pritchard 2 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

A manslaughter charge has been stayed against a man arrested in the death of a Ste Anne chef because prosecutors did not believe they could prove the accused wasn’t acting in self-defence, a court heard Wednesday.

Jeff Wyness, 46, was arrested May 12, 10 days after 49-year-old Cameron Huley was fatally assaulted outside a home in the RM of Ste Anne.

“Following a thorough review of all the evidence, including witness statements, forensic evidence and the applicable law regarding the defence of another person, the Crown has concluded there is no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction on the charge before the court,” prosecutor Keri Anderson told provincial court Judge Anne Krahn.

Steinbach RCMP were called to a home just after 11:30 p.m. and found Huley suffering from serious injuries. He died hours later in hospital.

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Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Local

This group of 200 grade four students are off and running, bursting out of the blocks in the 1988 edition of the annual Hanover School Division cross-country run at Kleefeld. In all, twelve hundred grade four, grade five and grade six students from ten schools took part in the annual run. Austin Bowcott of Grunthal finished the three-kilometre course in eight minutes, thirty seconds to win the event for the third year in a row. (Carillon Archives)

SPORTS FLASHBACK 1988: 1,200 students at cross-country run

Wes Keating 2 minute read Preview

SPORTS FLASHBACK 1988: 1,200 students at cross-country run

Wes Keating 2 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

About 1,200 students participated in the annual Hanover School Division cross-country run at Kleefeld. Students from 10 elementary schools in the division from grades four, five and six took part.

Schools represented included Bothwell, Green Valley, Kleefeld, Landmark, Mitchell, Niverville, Blumenort, Elmdale, Southwood and Woodlawn.

According to event organizer, Kleefeld teacher Randy Fender, participation is the reason for holding the annual event and all students were encouraged to run or walk the course.

The course was a three kilometre run that involved running through a field, through some woods, through a gravel pit, and finally ending up at Kleefeld School.

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Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Local

GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk chats with retiring councillors Jac Siemens and Michael Zwaagstra.

Councillors celebrate 20-year legacies

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read Preview

Councillors celebrate 20-year legacies

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

The final Steinbach city council meeting before the Oct. 28 municipal election marked the end of an era for two councillors.

Michael Zwaagstra and Jac Siemens both chose not to run again and were celebrating 20-year careers.

The pair were honoured in a ceremony after the meeting and were presented with a medallion given to those who made an outstanding contribution to the community of Steinbach from Mayor Earl Funk.

A lot has changed since the pair was first elected in 2006.

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Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Local

James Loewen in front of the A&W Pacers display inside the SEC. (James Loewen)

The A&W Pacers exhibit at the Steinbach Sports Heritage Gallery

James Loewen 4 minute read Preview

The A&W Pacers exhibit at the Steinbach Sports Heritage Gallery

James Loewen 4 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

If you ever played sports you likely dreamt of accomplishing something special, of winning that big game or championship.

And if you are a gifted, elite athlete, there’s a good chance that you got to experience some recognition.

But when you are an average athlete, no matter how much you love sport, there’s a good chance you never got to experience any recognition.

When I played junior fastball with the A&W Pacers, we never thought about winning a medal at the junior national fastball championships and we certainly never ever thought about being formally recognized for that achievement.

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Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Local

WES KEATING THE CARILLON The Steinbach St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at the intersection of Kroeker Avenue and Henry Street in Steinbach added the congregations of St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Friedensfeld and St John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Friedensfeld when the three churches merged in 1966.

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Evangelical Lutheran churches merge

Wes Keating 2 minute read Preview

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Evangelical Lutheran churches merge

Wes Keating 2 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Sunday, June 19, 1966 went down in the annals of local Lutheran Church history as the day of dedication of a new church in Steinbach, and the day of a merger of three district Lutheran churches.

The dedication service at the new St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church at Henry Street and Kroeker Avenue in Steinbach was under the direction of Pastor Martin C. H. Hulseman.

The new church merged St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Friedensfeld, St John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Friedensfeld, and St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Steinbach into one congregation.

Members of the three congregations put their resources together to build a large new church in Steinbach.

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Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Local

Adi Kapoor The Carillon The Carillon sports editor Cassidy Dankochik (left), reporter Svjetlana Mlinarevic, and editor Greg Vandermeulen stand with their CCNA awards on Oct. 21. The Carillon won for Best Sports Photo, Best News Story, Best Historical Story, and second place for Best Local Editorial.

Award-winning The Carillon wins first place awards in national news competition

Staff 3 minute read Preview

Award-winning The Carillon wins first place awards in national news competition

Staff 3 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Every year, The Carillon wins awards provincially and nationally and this year is no different. The newspaper of choice in the Southeast has been awarded three premier awards and one second place award in their circulation category by the Canadian Community Newspaper Association.

“We have a very solid team in the newsroom and these awards showcase our commitment to community journalism in the Southeast,” said editor Greg Vandermeulen.

Winning Best Historical Story was reporter Svjetlana Mlinarevic’s article, “A St Pierre Metis soldier’s burial journey during the Second World War.” The judge called the article well researched and a good read.

“What piqued this judge’s attention was the story of (the soldier’s) burial journey in Italy and how Italians treated the deceased soldier from Canada, especially where he was laid to rest initially. Stories promoting Remembrance Day, or war stories from the Great War or Second World War, with colour always make for a good read.”

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Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Local

WES KEATING THE CARILLON A 60,000-sq.-ft addition to the Southland Church in Steinbach, nearly 15 years ago, just about makes it the largest church in the province.

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: When you come they will build it

Wes Keating 5 minute read Preview

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: When you come they will build it

Wes Keating 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

It is no surprise that Steinbach probably has more churches per capita than anywhere in Canada. As the population of Steinbach grew over its first 150 years, so did church populations. Small churches became bigger churches, and bigger churches added on before buying more land, and building really large churches.

Often, over the years, a Steinbach congregation would outgrow its building, or a difference of opinion would cause a split, which resulted in the establishment of a new church. The growth and prosperity of Steinbach has as its underpinning, the community family values and the faith of its first 18 families of settlers, who came in 1874 in search of a home where they could live in peace and enjoy freedom to practice their Mennonite religion.

Steinbach’s first Mennonite church has undergone countless expansions, modernizations and rebuilds over the years, but the Evangelical Mennonite Church still remains one of the community’s largest churches, occupying the same spot on Main Street as the first EMC building that went up in 1912.

When Steinbach changed from being a village in the RM of Hanover to a town on its own, there were seven church congregations, all of Mennonite denomination. Fifteen years later, three non-Mennonite churches had been added to Steinbach’s church directory.

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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

Local

WES KEATING THE CARILLON Following years of holding services as guests of the Steinbach United Church, Steinbach’s Catholic congregation moved into their own church in Steinbach in 1988.

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Catholic church gets warm welcome

Peter Dyck 3 minute read Preview

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Catholic church gets warm welcome

Peter Dyck 3 minute read Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

JUNE 1, 1988—The Steinbach Catholic Church received a warm welcome to Steinbach Sunday during ceremonies marking the official opening of the new building for the young parish.

An overflow crowd of parishioners and guests sat through sweltering temperatures for the official opening, led by a ribbon-cutting and guest address by Archbishop Antoine Hacault of the Diocese of St Boniface.

The archbishop expressed his pleasure at the ready acceptance the fledgling congregation gained in Steinbach, a community he felt some years ago might be reluctant to see the first Catholic congregation established in its midst.

He said it is important churches work together as spiritual leaders in their communities, noting Christ is the unifying factor bringing Christians together. The archbishop suggested these are indications the Christian church worldwide may eventually come together as one body.

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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

Local

Ty Brewster celebrates his overtime game winner with members of the Steinbach Pistons Oct. 14. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

SRSS start hockey season with OT win

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Preview

SRSS start hockey season with OT win

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

The Steinbach Regional Sabres hockey team started the Winnipeg High School Hockey League schedule with a bang, defeating Lord Selkirk 4-3 in overtime in their home opener.

With just seconds to go in the extra frame, defenseman Ty Brewster jumped up into the rush, knocking home a rebound and celebrating with several members of the Steinbach Pistons, who were watching following their own practice.

While celebrations took place on the ice, head coach John Laninga was a bit more muted.

“It was a stressful game,” Laninga said, noting the team was rusty after going 10 days without playing.

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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

Local

WES KEATING THE CARILLON ARCHIVES Len Neufeld (left) and Waldo Neustaedter came to the RM of Hanover council Oct. 14 to ask the municipality to reconsider how it applies its greenspace fees.

Developer asks council to reconsider fee policy regarding greenspaces

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 5 minute read Preview

Developer asks council to reconsider fee policy regarding greenspaces

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

A pair of developers came to the RM of Hanover council meeting last Wednesday morning asking for the municipality to reconsider the way it administers its greenspace fees.

Developers Waldo Neustaedter and Len Neufeld spoke to council regarding their Highland Park development on the east side of Centre Street North in Mitchell, across from Stahn Field Park.

“We’re here today because we’re extremely price sensitive,” said Neustaedter.

The 27-acre development has a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes and is geared to first-time homebuyers with a one percent downpayment. The developers are selling the homes at eight percent below the value of the homes and because of this, their margins are very tight.

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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

Local

COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – An eventful start to the fall session

Konrad Narth, MLA for La Verendrye 4 minute read Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

It has certainly been an eventful month since my last column. A lot has happened and a lot has changed.

The biggest change… I’m the new leader of the PC Party and Manitoba’s Official Opposition.

Back on Sept. 28, Obby Khan resigned as leader. I want to thank Obby for his service and wish him all the best.

I was deeply honoured to be unanimously supported by our PC Caucus, and grateful to the many Manitobans, including constituents, who have reached out with messages of support. Most of all, I am grateful to my family for supporting me.

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