Community comes together to put on annual Sprague family days celebration

Sprague will host its annual Sprague Fest Family Fun Day on Aug. 8, starting off with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m., with proceeds going to support the Sprague Community Centre. The traditional parade along Main Street starts at 10:30 a.m. The event then hosts a day of music, games for all ages, including pickleball and cornhole, along with a highly competitive Bingo tournament starting at 2:30 p.m.

A petting zoo, magician, wood carving demonstration and beer garden from noon until 10 p.m. will keep the social activities going for the hundreds expected to attend.

Doris Hovorka, who has been a volunteer with the festival since it began over 20 years ago, said the secret is variety.

“We always have a good crowd because we have events for all ages … all the folks that used to live around here come to visit for the day and catch up on things. We’ve been doing this for very many years.”

RCMP concerned about increase in road fatalities

An increase in road fatalities has Manitoba RCMP asking people to make safe decisions.

As of the end of July, police had already responded to 43 fatal collisions that resulted in 48 deaths this year. That’s up by 23 percent from the same time last year when 39 deaths had been reported.

It’s also trending higher as RCMP report that those numbers are 34 percent higher than the five-year average.

Police say the causes of the crashes are also concerning.

OPINION: Role of farm advisors overlooked in new food strategy

Canada’s new food security strategy promises billions of dollars for a more affordable and resilient food system. But investments in technology, infrastructure and production will only work if farmers have the knowledge and support to put them into practice.

The need for such a strategy is clear. Canadians have faced among the highest food inflation rates in the G7 in recent years. Five retailers control three-quarters of grocery sales, and Canada imports 88 per cent of its fresh fruit and 72 per cent of its vegetables, leaving consumers vulnerable when supply chains are disrupted or tariffs increase costs.

In June, the federal government launched Canada’s first National Food Security Strategy, committing more than $3 billion over 10 years to strengthen grocery competition, expand food processing, increase greenhouse production and reform regulations.

The plan aims to increase the share of healthy food produced in Canada from 75 to 85 percent by 2032, double the value of greenhouse and indoor farming, and reduce greenhouse labour and energy costs through automation.

Pride and passion ride into Richer for annual rodeo

This might not be Calgary and the Saddledome, but during the weekend when the Richer Rough Stock Rodeo takes to the saddle, you’d never know it as competitors of all ages vie to earn one of the highly prized Richer Rodeo belt buckles.

The annual event that has often won the title of rodeo of the year takes place Aug. 7 to 9 at the Dawson Trail Park.

“We’ve doubled the prize money this year,” said rodeo committee president Pat Stolwyk. “But like one lady coming from Saskatchewan to compete told me, ‘I’m not coming for the money, I’m coming to get me one of them buckles.’”

That big stampede attitude, by both those volunteering to put on the event and those coming from all over the prairies to compete, is at the heart of the Richer weekend.

Cops seek electric cable thieves

St Pierre RCMP say electrical cable valued between $40,000 and $50,000 was stolen from a Holme Road business in Grunthal on July 25.

Police were called to the business on July 28, and found the original incident happened around 2 p.m. three days prior.

Two male suspects, one wearing an orange safety vest and the other wearing a blue safety vest left the scene in a red truck, police said.

This wasn’t the last crime they attempted that day.

Springfield releases findings of community policing and safety survey

The RM of Springfield has released the findings of its community safety and policing survey with results showing more than half of residents want to reestablish a municipal police force, but are concerned about the cost.

The survey was conducted between May 20 and July 14 with 414 residents participating. Results were released on July 21 and showed that the majority of people, about 83 percent, felt safe in the RM with more than 50 percent being satisfied with the current policing and enforcement services within the municipality.

The biggest safety concerns for residents were traffic enforcement, property crime, and lack of police visibility. Visibility of officers within the community was very important to important to more than 73 percent of respondents.

As to whether or not residents were supportive in reestablishing a municipal police service, about 59 percent said they were in favour as it would result in faster response times, enhance community safety, increase police visibility, and reduce crime.

RM of Tache approves funding for Centre of Canada, Monominto Trails gets grant

The RM of Tache has approved funding for the Centre of Canada Park in perpetuity and the Monominto Trails have received a grant for restoration.

Council voted to create a reserve fund in perpetuity for the Centre of Canada Park in the annual amount of $40,000 beginning in 2027.

“We want to be able to give the park committee (the Community Development Corporation) some security every year that they can have guaranteed funds to be able to move ahead with projects to keep the park alive and progressing,” said Mayor Armand Poirier.

The Centre of Canada Park reserve fund will be financed through taxation by a special levy on all taxable and grant-in-lieu properties within the municipality. Annual rental fees collected from the lease agreement of the remaining undeveloped land in the southwest quarter section of 26-9-5E will also go towards the fund.

Steinbach Arts Council announces upcoming concert series

The Steinbach Arts Council (SAC) has been busy assembling an impressive season of performances for the 2026-27 season, which will feature both local talents such as theatre artist Alan Fehr and Juno winner jazz musician Laila Biali.

The season will start off with an interactive performance where the actors, under the direction of Fehr, will take their audience throughout the Mennonite Heritage Village as they perform the community drama The Crucible while inviting audience members to participate along the way.

“That show will feature a bunch of local talent,” said performing arts coordinator Tara Schellenberg. “It’s an immersive experience at the museum. You’ll walk around and follow the actors in a couple of different locations. It’s kind of a ‘Shakespeare in the ruins’ type of thing. The Crucible lends itself very well to that type of thing.”

The much-anticipated concert series will begin Oct. 22 featuring the musical theatre production of Once Upon a Dream by performers Alyssa Crocket and Julia Kroft singing several famous tunes from various popular musicals. The traditional and now annual performance by the Winnipeg Symphany Orchestra will then come to Steinbach to give their Christmas-themed concert on Dec. 8.

Steinbach left out of expanded flood recovery program

The province of Manitoba has yet to respond to a late June letter from Steinbach city council asking to be reconsidered for disaster financial assistance in light of Premier Wab Kinew’s comments that all those impacted by floods would be covered regardless of insurance.

Kinew made those comments after flooding hit Stonewall and communities in western Manitoba, saying in June that even those who were eligible for insurance but did not have it, would receive government help.

At a June meeting, city council directed administration to write a letter to the province citing Kinew’s statements and ask them to reconsider funds for Steinbach residents who had flooded basements and sewer backups after two torrential downpours in 2024 and 2025.

But on July 28, one day after the province announced expanded disaster financial assistance programs to more municipalities, city manager Troy Warkentin confirmed they had yet to receive an answer to their letter.

MASC launches satellite technology pilot for forage insurance

The federal and provincial governments have launched a pilot project that involves using satellite-based technology for the forage insurance program as administered by the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation.

The initiative will make it easier for forage producers to make claims and get their insurance payout quicker.

“We’re hoping to reduce…the amount of administration and how long it might take for a farmer to have their check in their hand if they did have a bad crop,” said MASC’s chief product officer David Van Deynze.

MASC will use microwave technology from satellites to measure the amount of moisture in the soil for forage crops and determine whether it was a good or bad crop season.

RCMP rolls out new vehicle design

The RCMP are rolling out a new vehicle design for their frontline officers beginning this summer.

The new design features an all-black Ford SUV with white doors that have the words police, RCMP, and the RCMP insignia. There will also be high visibility strips on the SUVs.

“The new design has been developed with distinctive markings to help us stand out from non-police vehicles,” stated a RCMP press release.

This is the first time since 1994 that the policing agency has changed the look of their vehicles. According to the RCMP, the change is “a refreshed look that improves visibility and supports a modern distinctive look and helps to ensure the vehicles are recognizable as police cars.”

Sultans aiming high at 22U national championships

One year after winning a bronze medal at nationals and a couple days after clinching back-to-back-to-back Manitoba Junior Baseball League championships, the Carillon Sultans were preparing to take on the best baseball teams from across the country once again.

The Sultans have high expectations for themselves at the 22U Baseball Canada National Championships, hosted near Windsor, Ont., this year.

A deep roster boasts experience from last year’s national championship and other, younger national tournaments, with head coach Don Meilleur saying the team is aiming to improve on last year’s third-place finish.

“There’re very confident,” Meilleur said in a phone interview with The Carillon July 30.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: July 30th edition

Featuring photos from the Manitoba Junior Baseball League finals and a couple Hanover soccer Manitoba Major Soccer League games at the Steinbach Soccer Park July 22 and 27.

Meeting your neighbour and the spirit of friendship showcased in Landmark

Landmark showcased its friendly reputation this past weekend with three days of community spirit, fun and family activities that kept the town and its many visitors enjoying the good weather.

Activities at the Landmark Friendship Festival ranged from hot dog roasts and outdoor movies, to pancake breakfasts and a parade, to a vendor’s village and multi-denominational lunches that rounded out a weekend of friendly fun.

Pastor Cyndey Warkentin and her husband Les, of the Saturday Night Church in Landmark added farmer sausage to plates already filled with golden pancakes and a long line of hungry community members that turned out for the event and its community spirit.

“This is our third year hosting the breakfast,” said Warkentin. “Just about our entire congregation is here helping out. All for the Tache food bank. We’re having a really great turnout this year.”