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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The outbreak of war on empathy

Dennis Hiebert, Steinbach, MB 4 minute read 5:36 PM CST

The commencement by some Americans of a “war on empathy,” not coincidental with the second Donald Trump administration, is shock, but not awe.

While discussing immigration on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast last year, Elon Musk declared that “the fundamental weakness of western civilization is empathy” which people “exploit.” Adding that “we’ve got civilizational suicidal empathy going on,” he conjured up horrors of white Christian nationalist great replacement theory. It served as a dutiful call to arms, and the American political and religious right mobilized on multiple fronts.

Sample recent publications include Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion (2024) by podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey, The Sin of Empathy: Compassion and Its Counterfeits (2025) by pastor Joe Rigney, and Suicidal Empathy: Dying to be Kind (2026) by professor Gad Saad. The image on the front cover of Suicidal Empathy is a sheep holding a protest sign demanding “Free the Wolves.”

Other commanders of this ongoing culture war blitzkrieg include pastor Josh McPherson on his “Stronger Man Nation” podcast: “Empathy almost needs to be struck from the Christian vocabulary… Empathy is dangerous. Empathy is toxic. Empathy will align you with hell.”

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Fraud investigation leads to drug charges

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read Preview

Fraud investigation leads to drug charges

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read 5:11 PM CST

A complaint of someone using a stolen credit card led to a drug bust with four people facing multiple charges as well as seizures of cocaine and methamphetamine according to Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS).

Police say they were advised of the stolen credit card being used at a local business on Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation on Feb. 7.

“Police promptly identified the female suspect involved and attended her residence, where she was placed under arrest without incident,” they said in a Feb. 9 press release.

During the arrest police observed drug paraphernalia in what they described as “in plain view”.

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5:11 PM CST

POLICE HANDOUT

What began as a fraud investigation turned into a drug seizure with four people from Roseau River First Nation facing a combined 11 charges.

POLICE HANDOUT 

What began as a fraud investigation turned into a drug seizure with four people from Roseau River First Nation facing a combined 11 charges.

Musical debut packs theatre

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read Preview

Musical debut packs theatre

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read 4:35 PM CST

Artista Academy’s first production from its Lumina program packed the SRSS theatre for four shows last weekend.

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4:35 PM CST

GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON

Artista Academy’s first production from its Lumina program packed the SRSS theatre for four shows last weekend. High School Musical Jr., directed by Gabriela Gallo featured a large cast with main characters played by different people at different shows. Here, part of the cast finishes a big number earlier in the performance.

GREG VANDERMEULEN THE CARILLON 

Artista Academy’s first production from its Lumina program packed the SRSS theatre for four shows last weekend. High School Musical Jr., directed by Gabriela Gallo featured a large cast with main characters played by different people at different shows. Here, part of the cast finishes a big number earlier in the performance.

COLUMN: Viewpoint – Unwrapping Pierre Poilievre’s rhetoric

MaryLou Driedger 3 minute read 4:32 PM CST

“After 10 years of Liberal rule Canada is more costly, and crime-ridden, dangerous, and dependent, and divided than ever before.”

Pierre Poilievre made that claim in his speech at the recent Conservative convention. It’s a scathing critique of the Liberals and paints a bleak and scary picture of our country. Are Mr. Poilievre’s claims true? I decided to find out, and perhaps, garner some perspective on his assertions.

While Canada is a costly country to live in, we need to keep in mind that it ranks only 22nd in the world as the most expensive place to make your home. It is true that some 60 percent of Canadians are worried about the current cost of living. But interestingly, I found that in 2015, as 10 years of the Conservative Stephen Harper government ended, 60 percent of Canadians were also worried about the cost of living. Not much has changed, even though the political party running the country has.

I could find no proof that crime is worse than it has ever been. Although statistics aren’t in yet for 2025, crime was down by 5.67 percent for 2024 according to the Government of Canada website and the severity of crimes committed down by 4.1 percent. Homicides and violent crimes in Canada reached an all-time high in 1975 and have plummeted 40 percent since then.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Provencher MP wrong about Trump

Rick Loewen, Linden, MB 2 minute read 4:28 PM CST

There may be a more useless MP than Ted Falk but I couldn’t begin to guess who it might be. This week he’s apparently miffed that Donald Trump thinks that PM Mark Carney said some things ‘that weren’t very nice.’ Because the U.S. is ‘our closest ally.’ Now I’m pretty sure Falk doesn’t write his weekly missive - sometimes it contains some pretty big words - but by God, he should at least read it before he gives it the green light.

Falk thinks we shouldn’t offend Trump. And why would anyone want to offend a president who a) said, “Canada lives because of the U.S.” b) has an administration which has been actively meeting with separatists from Alberta; c) said he’d start invading Canada’s airspace if it doesn’t buy America F-35s; d) cancelled all trade negotiations with Canada because of a TV ad he didn’t like; e) has repeatedly called Canada the 51st state. I mean I could go on but you get the drift.

Falk also pines that Trump withdrew his invitation to his ‘Board of Peace.’ An organization that Trump says, “will work to resolve global conflict …” I guess in Falk’s world he and his CPC party would love to make Canada a member of a ‘board’ with a $1 billion entry fee where Trump is the undisputed leader with full command of the money and full veto power. With members like Israel (lead by a war criminal illegally occupying Palestine and currently committing genocide), Saudi Arabia (where being gay is punishable by death) and Turkey (whose dictator Erdogan has dismantled all democratic checks and balances while controlling the judiciary and media) who wouldn’t want to join? I’m reminded of the old Groucho Marx line? “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”

Thankfully, the fact that Falk is completely feckless is irrelevant, because as long as ‘Axe the Tax’ Pierre Poilievre is the leader of the CPC (and keeps winning ‘elections’ where he’s the only candidate) his party has zero chance of forming any future government.

Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrates 10 years

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 6 minute read Preview

Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrates 10 years

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 6 minute read 4:16 PM CST

The Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 10 years of working for and with businesses in the RM of Piney.

“It’s great. We love the support, we love giving back, we’re starting to really get some recognition…,” said Monique Chenier, secretary for the Piney Chamber of Commerce and economic development manager for Sunrise Corner Economic Development.

“It was started by some very passionate local business owners and they could see the value it could bring, and in fact, one of the things they advocated for very early on was to get an economic development manager in this region, and it’s why I have a job.”

Chenier said the goal of the PRCC is to try to provide supports and networking to help business owners grow their enterprises and meet up with like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders in the community. “I think we’re that conduit, I guess, through that we can all connect in and help each other do better,” she said.

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4:16 PM CST

Submitted by the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce
Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce 2025 Annual General Meeting. The chamber has seen an increase in the past couple of years of its membership, which hit 40 buisnesses in January.

Submitted by the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce
Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce 2025 Annual General Meeting. The chamber has seen an increase in the past couple of years of its membership, which hit 40 buisnesses in January.

Southeast back on measles exposure list

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read 3:01 PM CST

The Southeast is back on the measle exposure list, after a flurry of updates issued in the last two weeks from public health officials.

An update issued Feb. 9 cautioned people who were at Penfor Construction in Blumenort on Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. to monitor symptoms until Feb. 22.

Other locations on that list include the Oak Bluff Recreation Club, Greenvalley Equipment in the RM of Stanley, Caisse Financial Group in Notre Dame, and Brandon Regional Health Centre.

Anyone who was in those locations should check their immunization records and ensure they are up to date on the measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV).

PHOTO GALLERY: Ste Anne embraces festival with Tire Toi Une Buche

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read Preview

PHOTO GALLERY: Ste Anne embraces festival with Tire Toi Une Buche

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read 2:59 PM CST

Tire Toi Une Buche (pull up a log) was celebrated in Ste Anne on Feb. 8, as attendees prepared for the annual Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg.

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2:59 PM CST

Festival du Voyageur family Brigitte and Ryan Brown roast hotdogs covered in pastry during the event.

Festival du Voyageur family Brigitte and Ryan Brown roast hotdogs covered in pastry during the event.

Kindness event to be held in Steinbach to promote mental health

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 6 minute read Preview

Kindness event to be held in Steinbach to promote mental health

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 6 minute read 2:54 PM CST

It is Kindness Week next week and Southern Health is hosting an event in Steinbach aimed at promoting positive mental health through acts of kindness.

“We hope that from this, there might have a ripple effect on individuals in the community to kind of reflect on their own actions that they take day to day. And then considering what’s an intentional step they could take to show kindness to others,” said Lindsay Hainsworth, community mental health worker for Southern Health.

Hainsworth is part of a working group for the health agency’s Roots of Hope initiative, a program through the Mental Health Commission of Canada, which in 2024 was set as one of the province’s priorities.

“One of the objectives of Roots of Hope is reducing stigma around mental health and suicide and increasing help-seeking,” she said. “And so how do we practice more interpersonal conversation, practice being more compassionate and empathetic for others.”

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2:54 PM CST

SUPPLIED

Southeast Men’s Group co-founder Jeremy Wiens will be presenting at the Changing the World Through Kindness event at the Southeast Event Centre on Feb. 18. The event is free to the public and will discuss how acts of kindness have a positive effect on mental health.

SUPPLIED 

Southeast Men’s Group co-founder Jeremy Wiens will be presenting at the Changing the World Through Kindness event at the Southeast Event Centre on Feb. 18. The event is free to the public and will discuss how acts of kindness have a positive effect on mental health.

DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: The calm before the playoff storm

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Preview

DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: The calm before the playoff storm

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read 12:00 PM CST

This is the last edition of The Carillon without coverage of hockey playoffs, as the final regular season games in high school, senior and in the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League finished up this weekend.

From these games, it’s an all-out sprint until the end of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, as I try and attend as many post-season games as I can. Hockey is a post-season sport, and that means extra effort has to be made during this time of year, especially with the Providence Pilots volleyball and basketball finals taking place this time as well.

Here are some story-lines I’m keeping a close eye on as we hit the busiest part of my year.

The Hanover-Tache Junior Hockey League won’t have an undefeated season after the Macdonald Swarm fell in shocking fashion to ninth-place East St Paul last week. The Swarm should still be the favourite to win the league.

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12:00 PM CST

Ile des Chenes and Red River are set to begin their SEMHL playoff quarterfinal match-ups this weekend. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

Ile des Chenes and Red River are set to begin their SEMHL playoff quarterfinal match-ups this weekend. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

COLUMN: Village News – Neighbours: The Red River Métis

Edward G. Krahn and Ernest N. Braun 8 minute read Preview

COLUMN: Village News – Neighbours: The Red River Métis

Edward G. Krahn and Ernest N. Braun 8 minute read 11:24 AM CST

Feb. 16 is Louis Riel Day, a provincial statutory holiday in Manitoba. It commemorates Louis Riel, the Métis leader and founder of Manitoba. You may ask how this relates to the history of Mennonites in Manitoba. It turns out, that the Mennonite and Métis relationship is significant. The following article is a reprinting of an article that Ed Krahn and Ernie Braun wrote last winter, as part of a series that commemorated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Mennonites to Manitoba. Here is how they described the events and early relationships between Métis and Mennonites.

Some of the first people the Mennonites encountered in Manitoba, already at the time of the visit by the Mennonite delegates in 1873, were the Red River Métis, who constituted the majority of the population at the time. This was about to change as European immigration surged in the next decade, and as many resident Métis left the province, disillusioned at the inept implementation of the Manitoba Act of 1870.

At the time of the visit by the delegates, the population of Manitoba was over 25,000. Of that number, the majority were of mixed First Nations and European ancestry. Fear of American expansionism had forced the British Crown to turn Ruperts Land over to Canada in 1869. The existing settlement of farmers and hunters, most of them Métis, feared for the loss of their livelihood and culture.

The Canadian government exacerbated the situation in August of 1869 by re-surveying the land, including existing river lots, and appointing William McDougall, a Canadian expansionist as the first lieutenant-governor. With support from both English and French-speaking Métis, Louis Riel stopped the survey, barred McDougall from entering the province, conducted an election, and proclaimed a provisional government led by Riel. Push-back from the Anglo-Ontarians from Portage la Prairie in particular, who opposed the provisional government, apprehension about American expansionism, and public outcry in Eastern Canada, led to the Federal Wolseley Expedition, which arrived in Upper Fort Garry on Aug. 24, too late to put down the opposition, for the Manitoba Act was already in effect as of July 15, 1870.

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11:24 AM CST

Beaded hide jacket in MHV 150th exhibit on loan from The Manitoba Métis Federation.

Beaded hide jacket in MHV 150th exhibit on loan from The Manitoba Métis Federation.

La Broquerie’s PHOTO GALLERY – A Winter Family Fun Day sees bannock, Nun Farts, and marshmallows

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 1 minute read Preview

La Broquerie’s PHOTO GALLERY – A Winter Family Fun Day sees bannock, Nun Farts, and marshmallows

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 1 minute read 8:34 AM CST

La Broquerie’s Winter Family Fun Day took place on Feb. 7 at the HyLife Centre.

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8:34 AM CST

SVJETLANA MLINAREVIC THE CARILLON
Marchand resident Jaymee Harvel rolls out dough for pette de soeures, or Nun Farts in English, while her Brazilian friend Kiara Paas Rosa watches during a bannock and Nun Fart workshop during La Broquerie's Winter Family Fun Day on Feb. 7, 2026, at the HyLife Centre. Nun Farts were named after the sound the dough made when the nuns were rolling them out. The pastry is a non-yeasted cinnamon roll. This is the first time the municipality has had a bannock and Nun Fart workshop, where about 30 people learned how to make the Francophone and Métis treats.

SVJETLANA MLINAREVIC THE CARILLON
Marchand resident Jaymee Harvel rolls out dough for pette de soeures, or Nun Farts in English, while her Brazilian friend Kiara Paas Rosa watches during a bannock and Nun Fart workshop during La Broquerie's Winter Family Fun Day on Feb. 7, 2026, at the HyLife Centre. Nun Farts were named after the sound the dough made when the nuns were rolling them out. The pastry is a non-yeasted cinnamon roll. This is the first time the municipality has had a bannock and Nun Fart workshop, where about 30 people learned how to make the Francophone and Métis treats.

Provincial advisor leaves post overseeing Hanover School Division board

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 5 minute read Preview

Provincial advisor leaves post overseeing Hanover School Division board

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 5 minute read Yesterday at 11:23 PM CST

The provincial advisor selected to oversee the board of trustees for the Hanover School Division has ended his contract.

Retired superintendent Kelly Barkman was appointed to oversee the board in September 2024 after then Minister of Education Nello Altomare received concerns from the community regarding decisions and actions made by the Hanover board of trustees.

Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning Tracy Schmidt stated in an email that Barkman had provided guidance to help strengthen governance practices, improve policy development, and support the board in meeting provincial expectations. He also “provided substantial input and guidance to the board in regards to addressing public concern and issues, board governance principals, and board policies.” She noted he also advised trustees on a one-on-one basis.

“I want to personally thank Mr. Kelly Barkman for his role as provincial advisor to the Hanover School Division board,” she stated. “His contributions have helped move the division forward, and I appreciate the professionalism and care he brought to every conversation and recommendation.”

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Yesterday at 11:23 PM CST

MIKAELA MACKENZIE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES

Education minister Tracy Schmidt said provincial advisor Kelly Barkman, who was hired by previous Minister of Education Nello Altomare in September 2024, “provided substantial input and guidance to the board in regards to addressing public concern and issues, board governance principals, and board policies.” Barkman’s departure from the school division was made known to media during the last board meeting on Feb. 3, 2026.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES 

Education minister Tracy Schmidt said provincial advisor Kelly Barkman, who was hired by previous Minister of Education Nello Altomare in September 2024, “provided substantial input and guidance to the board in regards to addressing public concern and issues, board governance principals, and board policies.” Barkman’s departure from the school division was made known to media during the last board meeting on Feb. 3, 2026.

Looking Glass Theatre premieres The Bellefonataine Bridegroom

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read Preview

Looking Glass Theatre premieres The Bellefonataine Bridegroom

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read Yesterday at 9:48 PM CST

Theatre goers in Steinbach will have the opportunity to attend Looking Glass Theatre’s second production of the season this weekend.

Described as a “hilarious new tragicomedy” by local playwright Scot N. Moir, this is the first time The Bellefonataine Bridegroom has hit the stage.

The premise is simple.

“Piggy and Tiggy have been married for years. It’s the classic thing where a man has fallen in love with an inanimate statue and kept her in a glass box for hundreds of years, and everyone who comes into their home acts totally normal about it. Things take a surprising and deadly turn when a mysterious beauty shows up at their door, followed by an investigator on the hunt for serial killer,” the synopsis states.

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Yesterday at 9:48 PM CST

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Described as a “hilarious new tragicomedy” by local playwright Scot N. Moir, this is the first time The Bellefonataine Bridegroom has hit the stage.

SUPPLIED PHOTO 

Described as a “hilarious new tragicomedy” by local playwright Scot N. Moir, this is the first time The Bellefonataine Bridegroom has hit the stage.

Perpall aiming for first banner as Pilots coach this weekend

Cassidy Dankochik 5 minute read Preview

Perpall aiming for first banner as Pilots coach this weekend

Cassidy Dankochik 5 minute read Yesterday at 12:00 PM CST

For the first time in a while, the Providence Pilots will get to play for a women’s basketball banner on their home court, as the team is set to host Canadian Mennonite University Feb. 15 for the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference championship.

The Pilots are 14-3 across all competitions this season, including a perfect record over their Manitoban opponents.

Head coach Kendall Perpall is hoping to win his first championship game, after taking over from now-athletic director Joel Coursey.

The MCAC changed formats last season, awarding hosting rights during the final to the top team in the standings instead of it rotating between schools. Earning those hosting rights is a point of pride for the team.

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Yesterday at 12:00 PM CST

Faith LaRocque hits a shot during an Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference game in Niverville Feb. 6. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

Faith LaRocque hits a shot during an Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference game in Niverville Feb. 6. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

“Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults.” Colossians 3:12,13a

Long before clocks ruled our days and electric light pushed back the night, human life moved in quiet partnership with the sky. Morning light called us awake, drawing us back to communal life, while evening shadows invited us home again - to fires, stories, prayers, and rest. Darkness was not something to fight but to live within. In the gentle turning of light to dark and dark to light, we learned that wholeness comes not from constant brightness and striving, but from moving wisely and faithfully between light and dark.

Light and darkness move continually through our days and seasons. Neither is constant and permanent, and yet there is this nagging expectation that we should also be living on the top of the mountain in full light. Changing light and darkness ask something different of us, and each reveals a different way of being human before God and others in this world.

Beginning today with an introduction is a four-part series on discerning how to live well in our modern electric-digital community. Anxiousness and stress seem higher than ever, and we somehow need to return to God-given rhythms of life. Our friends need us to know how to walk with them when they are in a dark time, sometimes they need us just to sit with them, sometimes a small light to warm themselves by and sometimes we (the helpers) need to also rekindle our lives to keep helping them. There is a time to be Dark in the Dark, a time to be Light in the Dark, and a time to be Light in the Light. Today I will introduce these three ways of being a helpful human in our world of ups and downs and then go deeper into each one the following three weeks.

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