Stuartburn holds information session on Sundown Ridge, Caliento Bog projects

It was almost a full house at the Vita Hall last Wednesday night as Stuartburn residents and municipal politicians came to hear what drainage solutions engineers had to protect homes and farmland from overland flooding.

“Since this council took office in 2022, water and drainage have been amongst the biggest concerns and challenges facing the RM,” said Reeve Michelle Gawronsky.

“Rather than looking at isolated trouble spots, we wanted to understand the whole system,” she noted.

The engineers from Strategic Solutions Engineering (SSE) shared the results from the drainage survey they conducted earlier this year and recommended retention sites at Sundown Ridge and, if there is funding, Caliento Bog.

Opera and a Pint comes to The Public Brewhouse for a sip of highbrow fun

Whether your taste runs to specialty craft beer or specialty craft music, it’s not necessary to go the big city anymore as the Flip Side Opera and Art Circle Collective is making the rounds of several rural communities this summer to bring “outside-the-box, inspiring musical experiences to Manitobans.”

Selecting the Public Brewhouse and Gallery as its venue for an inclusive and community-based performance, Aug. 21, marked the continuation of the company’s bringing opera to rural communities such as Steinbach and to building an audience with a thirst for something out of the ordinary.

“We have been doing this in Winnipeg; this is our ninth season doing it in Winnipeg at Little Brown Jug. And last year, we took it to Minnedosa for the first time,” said Lisa Rumpel, co-artistic director of Flipside Opera.

“Because we, Judy (Oatway, co-artistic director) and I who run Flipside, are both from rural areas and most of the people on our board are from rural areas as well, we didn’t have exposure to this type of stuff when we were growing up. It’s important to us to go out to those people … and some of the feedback we got in Minnedosa was they said it’s so nice they didn’t have to drive to see this,” said Rumpel.

PHOTO GALLERY: Light up the night, light up someone’s life

MJHL prospects hit the ice in Niverville and Steinbach

The region’s two Manitoba Junior Hockey League teams were hard at work last weekend, hosting their annual prospects camp.

The Niverville Nighthawks combined skates with their main camp as four teams of 18 2011-born players took to the ice alongside four teams of returning veterans and potential rookies for a total of 144 players.

Returning stars like Marlen Edwards played alongside up-and-coming locals like William Mateychuk on a team.

In Steinbach, the Pistons took a different track, putting together two teams of 20 players between the 2010s and 2011s. The scrimmage between the two teams the morning of Aug. 22 had plenty of competitiveness, with players battling both during play and after whistles.

COLUMN: Village News – Thank you to our summer staff

Is it really time to say goodbye already? This week is the last week of summer employment for some of our seasonal staff. They are off to university or college, and we will miss them!

Our summer staff have played an important role in enabling Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) to offer engaging school programming, fun-filled summer day camps, well-cared-for grounds and farmyard, a welcoming greeting at reception, and delicious traditional meals at the Livery Barn Restaurant.

MHV, as a museum, is open year-round and we maintain a core staff throughout the year, but in spring and summer, our visitation increases and our corresponding programming increases. For this season, we rely on extra staffing to carry out the activities that highlight the museum and the stories that each artifact tells.

I remember how important it was to have a summer job when I was a university student. Not only did I earn income that would assist with paying for tuition and books for the next year of studies, but a summer job was my first experience with having an employer who was not my dad. Learning new skills, finding new ways of doing things, and interacting with colleagues and managers, prepared me for future roles, occupations, and careers.

RM of Stuartburn site of drug arrest in 19-month weapons, drug trafficking investigation

The RM of Stuartburn was the site of a drug and weapons bust of a 47-year-old man as part of a 19-month investigation.

Project Dolor, had nine policing and justice agencies in Manitoba and the United States, working to end a drug and weapons trafficking network in several southern Manitoba communities. The investigation resulted in 15 people being arrested and the seizure of 10 kilograms of illegal drugs and numerous weapons.

“The efforts of officers working on Project Dolor have been successful in dismantling a criminal network and disrupting the local drug trade in several communities,” said Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy, the RCMP’s commanding officer in Manitoba.

One of the people arrested by the RCMP is RM of Stuartburn resident David Penner, 47, who has been charged with trafficking cocaine; possession for the purposes of trafficking cocaine; possession for the purpose of trafficking psilocybin; unlawful possession of a firearm; and unsafe storage of a firearm.

Steinbach’s Band of Colours and Heartberry Café host makeup and wig workshop

A makeup and wig workshop was hosted in Steinbach thanks to Band of Colours, a 2SLGBTQ+ resource centre and the Heartberry Café on Aug. 21.

Just days before the Heartberry Café had its formal commercial opening, Band of Colours facilitated the workshop, the first of its kind in Steinbach, led by 25-year-old Salem Scythe, who goes under the name “Pretty Boy” when in drag, as the leader of the tutorial.

“It’s such a fun art form to do. The shape shifting of it all, the transformation. You use so many skills from traditional art and painting and apply them onto your face. It’s very fun,” said Scythe.

The art form of drag has a long history, and one marked by several distinct phases ranging from the theatres of ancient Greece to Vaudeville to its present Pride invocation, along with the fame brought by actors like Marlene Dietrich which has moved the art ever closer to the mainstream.

Rempel enters race for RM of Piney reeve

A 15-year RM of Piney resident with roots that go back well over 100 years in the community is adding his name to the ballot to run for reeve.

Vance Rempel has never served on council or run for a council position before, but the retired poultry processing plant operator said it’s time to step forward.

“I’m very familiar with what’s going on on council, and I think I can make a difference,” he said.

Rempel is the third to put his name forward for reeve.

Hanover trustee puts his views on gender identity, race on social media

A current Hanover School Division trustee and candidate in the next school board election has voiced his views on sex, gender, race, role of teachers, the how students should be treated, along with other points of view, in a social media post.

Trustee Jeff Friesen wrote in a Facebook post last Thursday his views on such matters after receiving a set of seven questions from fellow HSD trustee and current City of Steinbach council candidate Brad Unger. Unger sent his questions last week to all trustee candidates, with the intent to post their answers online.

“I believe these principles because they are consistent with Scripture, the natural family structure, biological reality, parental responsibility, child-safety principles, and the proper role of public education. At the same time, I believe every person – including people with whom I profoundly disagree (with) – should be treated with dignity, respect and compassion,” Friesen wrote in his Facebook post.

Unger’s questions are as follows with the question of “What do you believe?” following: I believe that sex and gender are the same thing and that there are only two; I do not believe that a boy can become a girl or a girl can become a boy; I do not believe that an adult should ever ask a child to keep something secret from their parents; I do not believe a teacher should ever ask a child for their pronouns or their sexual preference; I believe that the only flags that should be in the classroom are the Canadian and Manitoba flag; I believe that a child should never be made to feel guilty for being white; and I believe that no adults have a greater love for a child than that child’s parents.

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Realtor and builder join forces to build 600 affordable homes

Realtor Waldo Neustaedter and builder Len Neufeld forged a partnership in 2002 that has been instrumental in supplying affordable housing for over 600 property owners in the Steinbach area. Reflecting on the success of their efforts over the past two decades, Neustaedter says it’s not all about the selling, but rather the opportunity to make a contribution to the betterment of the community along the way.

“It’s about giving back to the community my parents came to. My dad was born in 1909 and came to Canada at age 15, after the Russian Revolution. He worked as a linotype operator at Derksen Printers until he had to leave the job due to health issues. My mom sewed children’s clothes at home and sold them at Reimer’s Dress Shop.“

Neufeld of Three Way Builders, Neustaedter’s partner in the ongoing, affordable housing projects, feels the same way.

His first commercial building was the Dairy Queen in 1987. He’s done many major commercial projects since, as well as the Bethesda Primary Care Health Centre and a couple of Steinbach church buildings along the way.

New play structure chosen by kids in Ile des Chenes

A new play structure officially opened in Ile des Chenes on Aug. 21, was chosen by children from the community.

Located at Parc D’Auteuil Park, the new structure was unveiled as part of Rec on the Road celebrations featuring games, crafting and sports.

RM of Ritchot director of recreation Melissa Larter said the new structure replaces a dirt hill and an old wood climbing structure.

She said it’s important to Ile des Chenes.

Grenier bringing dodgeball league to SEC

Nick Grenier is hoping to turn dodgeball into the region’s biggest new sport.

The Ile des Chenes resident owns Dodgeball Winnipeg. The organization is setting up a rec league inside Southeast Event Centre this year, with signups underway.

“The goal is not to be competing at the highest level, it’s another activity people can play with their friends and get some exercise in,” he said.

“Over the winter months, when it gets cold and there’s less to do outside it’s a good opportunity to get some exercise indoors with some friends and play a game we used to play in gym class and everyone always enjoyed.”