1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Meeting by accident for nearly 90 years

Ever since “Ike the Painter” set up shop in Steinbach, members of the Loewen family have been living up to the company slogan, “We meet by accident.” Loewen Body Shop will be celebrating the 90th anniversary of one of Steinbach’s oldest businesses next year.

Mark Loewen, his sons, Josh, Jordan and Jesse and granddaughter Tia, represent the third, fourth and fifth generations of the body shop Loewens.

For decades, the Loewen boys have been making sure their steady stream of customers have been well taken care of, whether it was a fender bender or a major crash that brought about the “accidental” meeting at Loewen Body Shop.

Mark, like his father Albert, began working in the body shop as a teenager, working his way up from helping out in the back when needed, to joining his father in the office, to taking on managerial responsibilities, and then ownership when his father retired in 1989.

HyLife Grillin’ for Good delivers tasty charitable treats

HyLife just finished feeding 700 people at the Taste of Steinbach event and now they are hoping to feed at least 2,000 people with their Grillin’ for Good food truck initiative. The food truck has been travelling to different locations selling its pork and giving 100 percent of its sales to food banks in four municipalities, including two from the Southeast: La Broquerie and Steinbach.

“For years, it’s been a tradition, we’ve had our culinary team attend festivals and community events. You’ve probably seen us out and about in the summer. And over the winter months, we did some brainstorming and we decided, ‘How can we do something more meaningful?’…We decided to do a full road trip and just travel across the province giving back,” said Stacey Ashley, director of communications and public relations.

Ashley said the company was inspired by an event they had at the Neepawa Co-op last year. Ashley said the food truck will serve barbecued ribs, grilled corn, macaroni and cheese, and a drink.

“Every meal will feed twice,” she said. “So, families come, they enjoy our pork, and then the proceeds help stock local food banks.”

New-born son, mother and grandfather defy the odds for three-peat birthday

The statistical odds of the same birthday occurring in the same family over three consecutive generations are about one in 133,000, according to the oddsmakers. That’s less likely than getting a hole in one (one in 5,000), an amateur bowler throwing a perfect game (one in 11,500), or finding a pearl in an oyster (one in 12,000).

But for the Wieler family of Kleefeld, the odds of a baby, in this case Abijah arriving when he did to his mother Joyce, who shares Abijah’s birthday and who also shares that same birthday with her father, were virtually a sure thing given just how many children bless their lives.

“We just about have to keep a red phone by the bed for my dad,” says Joyce, as she recounts how many placements through Child and Family Services (CFS) over the past 10 years she has fostered.

It’s children that brought Joyce and her husband, Augustine Ahishakiye, together in the first place. Joyce adopted her first child, Melina, after Melina’s mother passed away while she was in Joyce’s care. But in making that transition, Melina kept calling the name of a man she considered as her father; a man named Augustine.

Second annual Queer Country Fair a successful celebration and safe place to organize

While not direct participants in the live entertainment, the free-range emotional support bunnies in The Cozy Corner at the second annual Queer Country Fair, held July 4 at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre, helped make sure everyone in attendance felt loved and accepted.

The fair’s exuberant entertainment featured several display booths by local businesses and advocacy groups, such as Trans Manitoba, the South East Equity Coalition, and the United Church along with powwow dancer Sky-Lynn Contios and yodeler Daryl Brunger, and of course trademark drag performances by local celebrities such as Miss Pockett and “cowgirl” Gabe Nayet.

The Queer Country Fair is a celebration that was quickly put together last year by Dr. T Sheppard-Luangkhot (pronouns they/them and fondly referred to by all as “Dr. T.”) who is also the director and founder of the Organization for Peace, Equity and Nonviolence (OPEN). The fair was put on in response to security concerns over the Steinbach Pride parade that resulted in its cancellation for 2025.

This year’s fair, according to co-organizer Marissa Wiebe, employed a discrete but proactive security regime to ensure that threats and hostility were not an issue for those wishing to attend. Keeping the location of the event confidential, ensuring those that were invited were allies, and a private security detail onsite were all initiatives taken to guard against aggression and potentially hateful actions.

Greg Carlos announces candidacy for Steinbach council

A Steinbach resident has announced his candidacy for city council with municipal elections taking place on Oct. 28 in Manitoba.

And if Greg Carlos is elected, he will be the first Filipino to represent Steinbach residents.

Carlos came to Canada in 2005, moving with his siblings and parents to Steinbach in 2007. “Since then, I have personally witnessed this city’s growth,” he said in his announcement. “I have seen Steinbach become a strong, welcoming, diverse and hardworking community – a place where people come together, raise families, build businesses, and support one another. Today I’m proud to raise my own family here with my two boys.”

Carlos said his parents, now seniors, continue to live in the community and maintaining a city where all have safety and wellbeing is a priority for him.

Piney, Stuartburn part ways to close Sunrise Corner

The RMs of Stuartburn and Piney have dissolved the Piney Stuartburn Economic Development Board and have thus parted ways in their joint venture of Sunrise Corner Economic Development and Tourism.

“We had a partnership with Stuartburn, and you know, we rolled it all into the Sunrise Corner…but Stuartburn decided to terminate the agreement. I’d leave that up to them to answer (why),” said Piney Reeve Wayne Anderson.

RM of Stuartburn Reeve Michelle Gawronsky did not return calls for an interview.

Since 2016, the board has worked to support economic development, tourism promotion, business attraction, community initiatives, and regional partnerships throughout the RMs.

Veteran city councillor to seek new term

A City of Steinbach councillor will seek another term in the fall municipal election.

Susan Penner announced her intention to seek re-election with a news release last week.

First elected in 2010, Penner said she has been committed to a common-sense approach to decision-making for the last 16 years.

“Steinbach is an incredible community, and I believe we have an exciting future ahead of us,” she said. “I am seeking reelection because I want to continue advocating for practical solutions that strengthen our community, support responsible growth, and improve the quality of life for all residents.”

Charges laid after Steinbach crash

A man is facing fines and a vehicle impound after emergency services responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 12, near Market Boulevard in Steinbach on July 4.

A vehicle travelling south on Highway 12, attempted to turn left and collided with another vehicle travelling north.

The driver of the left turning vehicle, a 57-year-old male from Steinbach, was served with a $672 fine for driving while disqualified. His vehicle was impounded for 210 days.

There were no injuries.

PUB approves utility fees for wastewater treatment plant

The Manitoba Public Utilities Board has approved fees for the Red Seine Rat Wastewater Treatment Plant, which could see residents paying more than $30 every quarter on their utility bills.

“This is all part and parcel of the AGMs that we did have with each community back in early spring,” said Hanover Reeve Jim Funk, who is chair of the RSR Wastewater Cooperative.

Utility charges will begin this month, once approved by councils, with the first quarter bill coming in September to be paid at the municipal offices. Hanover just approved second reading to implement the charges.

Funk said the money will be used to fund the $235 million wastewater treatment plant project, which has already broken ground just north of Niverville.

Seine River School Division superintendent calls school year positive

Seine River School Division superintendent Colin Campbell calls the past school year positive and he is looking forward to the new school year which will bring some changes.

“It’s been a positive, meaningful school year for Seine River School Division. I feel like across the division, we’ve seen growth.”

He said there were a number of highlights from the past year.

Some of those highlights were College St. Norbert Collegiate’s football team winning the championship for their league, College Lorette Collegiate participating in the Le concours d’art oratoire, which is a French language public speaking competition that works on building confidence, communication skills, and French language development.

Canada Day stumble doesn’t cost Sultans in pennant race

The Carillon Sultans added some unnecessary drama to the end of the Manitoba Junior Baseball season, but managed to claim first place as the regular season closed July 6.

The Sultans dropped both games of a back-to-back against Pembina Valley July 1, giving a glimmer of hope to the teams chasing them for first place.

A 11-1 mercy rule victory at A.D. Penner Park over the Interlake Blue Jays July 3 officially locked up a first place finish and quarterfinal bye for the Sultans, which were considered the pre-season favourites after winning back-to-back MJBL championships and returning most of their line-up.

Anders Meilleur pitched a complete game in the win, as Cody Gunderson knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the fifth.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: July 2nd edition

Featuring photos from the Barb Cheop Track and Field meet from mid-June, a Winnipeg Senior Baseball League game June 25, A U15 Carillon Sultans game and softball tournament in Ile des Chenes June 26 and the St Malo Triathlon June 27.