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COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – End of session report

Konrad Narth, MLA for La Verendrye 5 minute read 2:03 PM CDT

It’s been a busy spring at the Manitoba legislature. After a week of late-night sittings and tense negotiations, the legislature rose for the summer on Monday.

For our PC team, we had a clear message throughout this session: the government needed to take real action on affordability.

Under Wab Kinew and the NDP, the cost of living continues to rise, and too many families are struggling to make ends meet.

The premier talks a good game, but unfortunately much of that talk does not match reality.

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Bottom-finishing MJHL franchises sign new coaches

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Preview

Bottom-finishing MJHL franchises sign new coaches

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read 12:00 PM CDT

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s two Winnipeg franchises have announced who will be leading their teams into the 2026/2027 season.

The Monarchs, which changed branding from the Freeze last season are moving to Riley Dudar as their head coach and general manager, replacing Zach Franco, who joined the franchise last season.

Dudar played junior across Western Canada junior A leagues, eventually spending five years with the University of Manitoba Bisons, where he immediately signed on as a coach following his playing career. Most recently he was the director of player development for the Brandon Wheat Kings, but his experience includes a stint as the director of player personnel for the Flyers.

“My focus is to create a high-performance development environment for players who strive to move on to the next level as quickly as possible,” Dudar said in a Monarchs news release.

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12:00 PM CDT

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1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Just looking? Jac Banman will sell you a VW

Wes Keating 4 minute read Preview

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Just looking? Jac Banman will sell you a VW

Wes Keating 4 minute read 11:15 AM CDT

JANUARY 30, 1974—In the last 20 years, Jac Banman probably filled more gas tanks, talked to more people about the weather and sold more Volkswagens to people who were “just looking” than anyone in southeastern Manitoba. As owner of Banman Sales and Service in Steinbach, he is now starting his third decade of business at the same location.

When you ask Banman why he gave up farming and a transfer business to open a service station, he is very candid with his answer. “I wanted to make $1,000 a month.”

Twenty years ago, Imperial Oil bought property at the corner of Highway 12 and Main Street, and was looking for someone to operate a service station at the site. Steinbach realtor P.J. Reimer recommended Banman, who was then farming at Landmark and operating Greenland Transfer.

After the oil company representative had finished talking to him, Banman said, the service station business looked like an opportunity too good to pass up. Running one of only two service stations along the highway in town limits, and of course, the prospect of making $1,000 a month, made him decide to give it a try, he said.

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11:15 AM CDT

Local

New journalist joins The Carillon

Graham Walker 2 minute read Preview

New journalist joins The Carillon

Graham Walker 2 minute read 8:48 AM CDT

Graham Walker has joined The Carillon team as a summer reporter, continuing what is becoming a tradition of Red River Polytech Creative Communications (RRC Cre Comm) students earning their stripes here.

“This is a fantastic opportunity professionally and definitely fits with my passion for rural life and in particular local politics,” said Graham.

Graham is an unusual candidate for the position as he is a bit older than most interns, but he brings with him a wealth of experience from across the country.

After growing up in what was once the small bedroom community of Burlington, Ont. just south of Toronto, Graham joined the Royal Canadian Navy and lived in Halifax, N.S. where he did his undergraduate work in political science and graduate studies in defence and international relations.

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8:48 AM CDT

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Clearspring Middle School breaks records with Baby Bottle Drive

Steinbach Family Resource Centre 4 minute read Preview

Clearspring Middle School breaks records with Baby Bottle Drive

Steinbach Family Resource Centre 4 minute read Yesterday at 8:19 PM CDT

Students and staff at Clearspring Middle School set a new record this year through their annual Baby Bottle Drive in support of Steinbach Family Resource Centre (SFRC).

The Baby Bottle Drive is a community fundraiser where students take home baby bottles and fill them with loose change, cash, or donations to support local families and children through SFRC programming and services. This year’s campaign ran from May 4 to 21.

This year the school raised nearly $7,600, surpassing last year’s total of about $6,650.

Funds raised through the campaign will directly support SFRC’s Preschool Learn & Play program, helping preschool-aged children build skills and confidence as they prepare for kindergarten. Donations will help purchase program materials including equipment, craft supplies, activities, and nutritious snack items for participating families.

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Yesterday at 8:19 PM CDT

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Teen entrepreneurs benefit from RM of Tache program

Martha Petrusevich 2 minute read Preview

Teen entrepreneurs benefit from RM of Tache program

Martha Petrusevich 2 minute read Yesterday at 5:17 PM CDT

The RM of Tache say they’re helping inspire the next generation through a teen entrepreneurship program held this spring in partnership with the Taché CDC and Niverville Credit Union.

The program brought together local youth interested in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship through a series of hands-on training sessions designed to help teens develop and launch their own business ideas. Participants learned about marketing, budgeting, customer service, branding, and business planning while also gaining valuable mentorship from local business owners and community leaders.

The program concluded with a special showcase event at Lorette Collegiate, where students presented and sold their products while receiving feedback, tips, and encouragement from local entrepreneurs and business professionals.

“This program was an incredible success,” Martha Petrusevich, economic development officer for the RM of Taché said. “It was inspiring to see the creativity, confidence, and entrepreneurial spirit these young people brought forward. Programs like this help build future business leaders right here in our communities.”

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Yesterday at 5:17 PM CDT

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Festival for Life gives back to community

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read Preview

Festival for Life gives back to community

Greg Vandermeulen 2 minute read Yesterday at 2:58 PM CDT

The annual Walk for Life, an event traditionally featuring a walk and speeches in support of the pro-life cause, took place again this year on May 31, but with a twist.

The event no longer came with the walk and instead was called the Festival for Life.

Susan Penner, the executive director of Life Culture, a Steinbach non-profit dedicated to supporting life and caring for women, said they had about 500 people come out to take part.

Speakers took on subject matter under the theme “caring for others”.

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Yesterday at 2:58 PM CDT

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American Division 1 colleges considering age limit

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Preview

American Division 1 colleges considering age limit

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Yesterday at 12:00 PM CDT

The NCAA is considering more changes to eligibility for college athletes who want to compete at the highest level of American post-secondary sports.

The organization announced May 22 their Division 1 Cabinet was considering introducing an age limit, with athletes having five years to compete. Under their proposal, the clock would start when an athlete graduates high school (or when they turn 19, whichever comes first). There is no current limit on age in the NCAA.

The move could have massive impacts for hockey. Most players complete a four-year junior career until their 20-year-old season in either Canadian Junior A hockey leagues like the Manitoba Junior Hockey League or in the United States Hockey League before joining the NCAA ranks.

Top NHL agent Allan Walsh was one of many from across the hockey world to voice their opposition to the proposed new rule, tweeting, “The ‘5 in 5’ rule cannot and will not stand as applied to College Hockey.”

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Yesterday at 12:00 PM CDT

Local

The experiences we have in childhood shape far more than just memories—they help form the foundation for how we see ourselves, others, and relationships throughout our lives. For children who witness or experience domestic violence, these early experiences can have lasting impacts. But with the right support, healing is possible, and cycles of violence can be broken.

From the moment a child is born, they begin developing what’s known as an attachment style—essentially, how they connect with others. This is deeply influenced by the sense of safety, trust, and stability they experience growing up. When children are exposed to violence or instability, they are more likely to develop anxious or disorganized attachment patterns. These can later show up as challenges in forming healthy, secure relationships in adulthood.

This is where the idea of generational trauma comes in. Without intervention, patterns of violence can continue across generations. Children who grow up witnessing or experiencing abuse may come to see these behaviours as normal, increasing the risk of becoming involved in similar dynamics later in life—whether as victims or perpetrators. It’s a difficult reality, but it’s also one that can be changed.

Early intervention plays a critical role. Children’s brains are still developing, and they have a remarkable ability to adapt and grow—a concept known as neural plasticity. Because of this, children and youth are especially receptive to learning new ways of coping, communicating, and understanding their emotions. With the right support, early intervention can lead to improved mental health, stronger social skills, and greater self-esteem over time.

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1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: No bus to work for sewing factory staff

Wes Keating 3 minute read Preview

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: No bus to work for sewing factory staff

Wes Keating 3 minute read Yesterday at 8:45 AM CDT

AUGUST 3, 1956—The Monarch Wear Clothing factory, which had been in operation for eight years in St Pierre, moved lock, stock and sewing machines to Steinbach during the summer of 1956, thanks to the efforts of Steinbach automobile dealer and Chamber of Commerce president John D. Penner.

The Monarch Wear Clothing move to Steinbach was precipitated by owner Julius Berkowitz, who announced earlier in the year that his company had to look for a larger town for its operation, in order to provide the 100-150 staff needed for an efficient and economical production line.

As a result of a shortage of workers in the immediate St Pierre area, buses were being used to bring in additional help from adjoining towns, he explained.

The Steinbach Chamber of Commerce immediately began overtures to have the clothing manufacturer, building and all, moved to Steinbach rather than having the factory relocate to Winnipeg.

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Yesterday at 8:45 AM CDT

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1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Steinbach car dealers earned “Automobile City” nickname

Wes Keating 5 minute read Preview

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Steinbach car dealers earned “Automobile City” nickname

Wes Keating 5 minute read Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

Steinbach spent decades earning its reputation as the “Automobile City”, and along the way, left the impression that no matter how else they earned a living, everyone in Steinbach sold cars. That may have been pretty close to the truth during the years of post-war boom which carried on into the 1960’s.

The Steinbach Automobile Association was launched in the 1950s, when A.D. Penner convinced his competitors that it didn’t matter which dealer made the sale, as long as the sales were made in the “Automobile City” rather than the big city to the northwest.

By joining in a major all-dealers-in sales promotion in 1960, Steinbach showed that where vehicle sales were concerned, Winnipeg car buyers would find it was “worth the trip” to do their vehicle shopping in Steinbach.

That tradition continues, although today most dealers everywhere are part of larger buyers’ groups.

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Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

Local

Police save youth from Red River

Greg Vandermeulen 1 minute read Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

Quick thinking from the Manitoba First Nation Police Service (MFNPS) on Roseau River First Nation resulted in a water rescue of a youth in distress.

In a Monday press release the MFNPS said they received a call in the early morning hours of May 31 advising them a female youth in distress had left her residence and was believed to be at risk for entering the Red River.

Police spotted her floating down the river in what they describe as a “significant distance from shore”.

“Officers entered the water to reach the individual while another officer remained on the shoreline, maintaining communication with dispatch, monitoring the situation and coordinating updates,” they said.

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RM of La Broquerie honours couple’s donation with dedication, pickleball court

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 7 minute read Preview

RM of La Broquerie honours couple’s donation with dedication, pickleball court

Svjetlana Mlinarevic 7 minute read Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

When Claude and Annette Tétrault first saw the land located south of Highway 210 in Marchand in 1981 they immediately fell in love with it. Never did the couple think they would build a legacy.

On Saturday, the two were honoured with the naming of a park in the municipality – the Claude and Annette Tétrault Park.

“It’s a great day,” said Claude. “Also, very emotional though,” added Annette.

Over the span of 37 years, the former banker and his accountant wife would become land developers owning and developing 600 acres around Marchand. But it was the two acres they donated 13 years ago to the RM of La Broquerie for a park that would cement the couple’s legacy.

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Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

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SPORTS FLASHBACK 1996: Irish dairymen hope hurling catches on

Wes Keating 3 minute read Preview

SPORTS FLASHBACK 1996: Irish dairymen hope hurling catches on

Wes Keating 3 minute read Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

The Southeast Hurlers are sporting a perfect two wins-no losses record, after a rematch against Winnipeg opponents at the A.D. Penner Park, showcasing a game never before seen by sports fans in the Southeast.

When talk turns to “hurling”, the names of great baseball pitchers like Nolan Ryan or Randy Johnson usually come to mind, but a pair of Irish dairy farmers, who have settled in the Southeast, are hoping they can change that.

Pat Donnelly and Tom Dooley brought their hurling skills along from “the old country” and are trying to get their Canadian friends interested in what they say is one of the world’s oldest sports.

To the casual observer, the sport of hurling would appear to be a cross between field hockey and lacrosse, with a soccer net and football goal posts thrown in to make it more interesting.

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Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

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DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Nighthawks’ Centennial Cup run caps off Carillon’s hockey season

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Preview

DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Nighthawks’ Centennial Cup run caps off Carillon’s hockey season

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

The end of an extra long hockey season came to an end for The Carillon in memorable fashion, with the Niverville Nighthawks claiming the Centennial Cup in P.E.I. May 17. The season began in Niverville with the Nighthawks home opener Sept. 19.

I track the events I attend in two chunks of the year (labelled hockey and baseball in my spreadsheet), which start with the first Manitoba Junior Hockey League regular season game of the year, and end either with the Turnbull Cup final or the Centennial Cup, if needed.

With the Nighthawks and Steinbach Pistons out in the first round of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs last year, our hockey season was extended quite a bit compared to 2024/2025. Those playoff runs fuelled an overall increase of MJHL coverage from 22% of events covered to 31%.

The other big impact on the stats came from the Eastman Selects male U18 AAA program move from Beausejour to Steinbach. The male team’s new proximity meant they became a more prominant team for us to get out to.

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Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

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1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Kreutzer family enjoys shift from horseshoes to Hondas

Wes Keating 4 minute read Preview

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Kreutzer family enjoys shift from horseshoes to Hondas

Wes Keating 4 minute read Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

One of the earliest businesses on Steinbach Main Street was the blacksmith shop run by Heinrich Kreutzer. Two generations later, the Kreutzer family switched from horseshoes to horsepower as Gordon Kreutzer launched a career with J. R. Friesen and Sons in 1956.

That was early days for “The Automobile City” and the Steinbach Auto Dealers co-operative effort to make sure people would buy their vehicles at any one of the dozen or so dealerships along Main Street.

Today, Doug Kreutzer, Heinrich Kreutzer’s great-grandson, has the distinction of being just about the only remaining independent automobile dealer, while even in Steinbach, most of the dealerships have evolved into buyers’ groups.

Gordon Kreutzer still has an office at his son’s Honda dealership on Highway 12, and some of the customers who drop in these days recall buying their first vehicle from Gordon when he was at J.R.s.

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Sunday, Jun. 7, 2026

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