With session quickly coming to a close, it has been a very busy past few weeks, with much of my time spent at the legislative building in the House with my colleagues. With that being said, I have still found some time in between to be out and about in the Dawson Trail community.

Earlier this month, I hosted another Coffee with Bob. This time, the event was held at the Landmark Bistro. I always really enjoy putting on these events, and this time was no exception. Thank you to everyone who came out; it was really lovely chatting with you all. I look forward to hosting more of these events throughout the year, so stay tuned for more information. I hope to see you all at the next one!

I also had the opportunity to visit Ecole Pointe-des-Chenes school and speak to Madame Gauthier’s Grade 11 history class. The students asked some really great questions about being a member of the legislative assembly, what partisan ideology does within the legislative building, and the everyday processes involved in legislative business. It was great spending the afternoon with these students, and I’m glad I could help encourage them to learn more and become active participants in politics.

In addition to the end of session, May also brings about Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is an extremely important topic and one that is very close to my heart. During Mental Health Week, which took place from May 4 to 10 this year, I had the opportunity to deliver a statement in the House regarding the importance of mental health awareness and accessible supports and resources for individuals and families facing mental health struggles. It’s a fantastic step in the right direction that we have specific weeks and months dedicated to mental health awareness, but as Ryan Ward from Cowboys Mud Racing said, “Mental health doesn’t take a break, so why should I?” Cowboys Mud Racing is a grassroots initiative that was started by Ward to support men’s mental health through connection, adventure, and community. They run off-road ATV events that give men a space to ride, talk, and support one another without judgment. I am glad to have had the pleasure of meeting Ryan and the rest of the Cowboys Mud Racing team, and to thank them for their tremendous work in helping break down the stigma around mental health, and reminding us that it is a daily battle that affects everyone.

A southeastern Manitoba man, who was accused of sexual assaulting his 11-year-old daughter, was found not guilty on all charges after his trial ended last year.

Provincial court Judge Michael Clark delivered his decision to acquit the man on Jan. 6 in a Winnipeg courtroom. The Carillon can’t identify the victim or the accused due to a publication ban.

The three-day trial was held in 2025 from Nov. 25 to Nov. 27 in a Steinbach courtroom. The 38-year-old man pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and sexual interference charges dating from March 7, 2020 to Nov. 1, 2022.

Both the 11-year-old daughter and the father testified during the trial as the only witnesses. He was accused of touching his daughter’s vagina multiple times while they both were clothed and sleeping in bed. When testifying, the daughter said her father’s hand would hover over her vagina and then rest on it while they cuddled in bed. She said the alleged incidents first happened when she was six or seven years old and the last incident happened when she was seven or eight.

Two southeastern Manitoba men were among 33 people arrested in what the Winnipeg Police Service is calling the largest drug bust in Manitoba history.

The accused have ties to the Hells Angels, Wolf Pack Alliance and unspecified Mexican cartels, a Winnipeg Police news release said on May 20.

The two-year investigation, named Project Puma, finished in March 2026 after beginning in 2024. Winnipeg Police partnered with 13 other law enforcement agencies spanning Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and the RCMP.

The investigation found drugs were being imported from the United States using commercial vehicles and warehoused in Alberta and Ontario. The substances were later transported into Manitoba by mail, private vehicles with hidden compartments, courier deliveries and commercial transport.

A man has been found guilty of hitting his partner multiple times over the course of two years and sexual assault while she was sleeping.

The victim is claiming the assaults took place between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2022. The accused was formally charged on June 27, 2025.

The Carillon can’t identify the victim or the accused due to a publication ban.

Provincial court Judge David Ireland delivered his decision in Steinbach. He found the victim to be a credible witness. Ireland found the accused guilty of four out of the five assault charges, the first being hit with the broom, the slap across the face, choking and slapping the victim across the stomach, and a push over the couch.

I am writing to voice my support for a letter to the editor written by James Smith in the May 7 edition of The Carillon, (Fighting toxicity starts here).

In the same edition of The Carillon James Loewen has a column, As I See It, (We’re all Habs’ fans now). I particularly take exception to Mr. Loewen’s reference stating that Prime Minister Mark Carney is doing everything he can to protect Canada.

If Mr. Carney was really trying to protect Canada, he would not be cozying up to China, a totalitarian communist state that controls, persecutes and imprisons its own citizens.

Mr. Loewen may be a sportswriter, but when it comes to politics, he probably should do a little research to check facts instead of ranting and raving against people he doesn’t agree with, which has no place in a sports column.