1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Steinbach churches tackle trash

MAY 11, 2023—More than 1,100 volunteers fanned out around Steinbach on a Saturday morning with the goal of cleaning up garbage on streets, boulevards and ditches within city limits.

The annual event attracted 1,143 volunteers and collected close to 13 tonnes of garbage, beating out the 2022 total of 12 1/2 tonnes.

Southland Church Pastor Martin Gunter, who was one of the event organizers, said the city told them the amount of garbage collected was significant, because the year before it was wet garbage from intense spring rains, while in 2023 the trash picked up was largely dry.

Gunter described the event, which also included a lunch for all volunteers, as “fantastic”.

Kleefeld area councillor says goodbye to ward, gives advice to incoming representative

Kleefeld area councillor Darrin Warkentin said an emotional goodbye on Wednesday during the last meeting of this council.

“We’re losing a good councillor,” said Reeve Jim Funk. “I always appreciated Darrin very much because he was a deep thinker and he always thought things through, and therefore he was patient in his response, and his response was always very positive. I appreciate him very much as a councillor and he will be greatly missed.”

Coun. Brian Esau wished Warkentin all the best in the future. “I would just like to say, I think it’s from council’s side, it’s a big thank you for all the years you’ve put in here, for the wisdom you’ve shared. I’ve been sitting beside you now for the last four years, I think. And we get to share a few things that don’t happen in council, but we really do appreciate all that you’ve done for us, the commitment and everything else.”

When the meeting was over, Warkentin thanked fellow councillors and the reeve for their support over the eight years he sat on council, saying he enjoyed working with them as well.

La Broquerie candidates discuss priorities ahead of municipal election

Road repairs and drainage were among the concerns raised by candidates at the La Broquerie election forum held Oct. 19 at Marchand Community Hall.

All 11 candidates for reeve and council participated in the forum organized by resident Sajda Siemens, ahead of the Oct. 28 municipal election. About 90 people were present.

Incumbent reeve Ivan Normandeau is facing former reeve Lewis Weiss. Nine council candidates are competing for six seats, with three councillors to be elected in each ward.

Ward one candidates are Benno Friesen, Darrell Unger, Andy Loewen and Colleen Maurice. Ward two candidates include Erna Friesen, Bas Langelaan, Laurent (Larry) Tétrault, Fernand Piché and Paul Gauthier.

Providence doubles up on cross-country banners

The Providence Pilots didn’t take long to build a deep cross-country roster.

The Pilots claimed both the men’s and women’s team banners at the inaugural Manitoba Colleges Athletic Association cross-country championships despite missing out on the top of the podium for individual performances.

Canadian Mennonite University even won first and third (Luke Townsend and Marcus Huebner), only for the other Providence runners, led by second-placing Owen Eisbrenner, to make up ground throughout the rest of the standings. They won by six points.

On the women’s side, CMU’s Laurel Smith claimed individual gold, but the Pilots stormed to a team victory, edging the Blazers by just a single point, 18-19. Amariah Zult and Haily Sawatzky finished on the podium.

Four of 10 Steinbach council candidates attend election forum

Six candidates running for the Steinbach city council failed to show up at the election forum organized by South East Equity Coalition Centre ahead of municipal elections. The forum was held at the Southeast Event Centre on Oct. 7 and was only attended by four of the 10 council candidates. There are six council seats available.

Candidates Mitesh Kumar, Brad Unger, Gary Dyck and Nicholas Goertzen participated in the forum. Candidates Greg Carlos, Ron Falk, Bill Hiebert, Jake Hiebert, Damian Penner and Susan Penner were not present.

The forum started with attendees divided into groups to discuss life quality, housing and development, health and well-being, and transportation. Later, the candidates spoke on the issues that were raised in these conversations.

The co-organizers Gary Snider and Gay Boese said they planned the forum for months.

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: The Carillon interviews evangelist Billy Graham

JUNE 1, 1967—When Billy Graham conducted an eight-day Crusade of Evangelism in Winnipeg last month, the overflow crowd, turned away at the doors of the Winnipeg Arena, made its way to the football stadium across the street where, sitting in the bleachers, they listened to the world renowned evangelist’s message over the public address system.

Prior to the Sunday opening of the Crusade at the arena, Graham spoke to the crowds sitting in the bleachers at Winnipeg Stadium. Several buses from Steinbach and other rural points were chartered to bring groups of people in to attend the meetings.

Shortly after the American evangelist arrived in Winnipeg, Carillon reporter Mary Barkman joined a host of radio, television and newspaper reporters invited to an informal press conference Graham arranged for an open discussion “over a cup of coffee.”

The following is an excerpt of her account of the interview:

COLUMN: Tales from the Gravel Ridge – Learning to listen to our lives

For Canadians living on the prairies the month of October is a reminder that summer is winding down. Needless to say, this also applies to our entire country. In our area, however, the reality of the coming of colder weather, and the likelihood of snow decking our fields soon, cannot be ignored. By failing to take note of the signs of impending change all around us, we may well miss the joy and beauty of the season. Surely that also includes the gifts others bestow on us in our day to day interactions.

For me personally, memories of harvest arise in a variety of scenarios. How could I fail to remember stooking at the Goritz farm, situated across the road from what was then named the Hanover School. I vividly recall the experience where, under our father’s supervision and assistance we arranged sheaves of grain in the shape of a pyramid. What a beautiful sight a field of stooked sheaves in their golden glory was back in the day.

A most memorable detail of that particular income-earning experience was the meal we were served that day so long ago. In total we were a team of five, my father, Cornelius Falk, along with my older sister Anne, and my younger brothers, David and Ernie, and I. At noon, all of us were invited to sit down at the kitchen table, whereupon Mrs. Goritz spoke a prayer and then served us a wonderful meal. Imagine the impression that meal must have made on us if I remember it so many decades later.

On another occasion we also did some stooking for Abram and Maria Dueck whose farm was a short distance down the road from the Goritz farm. I recall that Mrs. Dueck graciously served us “Faspa” that quintessential afternoon meal among Mennonites of that era. Such a meal invariably called for coffee and something in the category of home-baked bread, accompanied by butter and other condiments, and possibly also some more dainty fare. I wonder how Mrs. Dueck must have felt when she observed the capacity that children and young adults have for practically inhaling the food she served us that day, especially in light of the fact that there were no children in their household.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: Oct. 15th edition

Featuring SRSS hockey at the Morris tournament, SRSS volleyball matches Oct. 7, the Zone 13 soccer championships Oct. 8, an SRSS football game Oct. 9.

Steinbach appoints task force to help senior citizens stay in city

Mayor Earl Funk announced a task force will be established to help aging senior citizens, who need long-term medical care and want to stay in Steinbach rather than going to far away communities, during a city council meeting on Oct.6.

Funk said he will be appointing Abe Bergen, Carolyn Peters, Audrey Harder, and Tannis Nickel to the board.

“I think we have picked a real winning team,” Funk said. Each one of them has worked in healthcare or with seniors and has done a great job.”

Coun. Susan Penner, who will be the task force chair, said the task force will understand the duration, the frequency and where the residents are being transferred out of the community, and its impact.

COLUMN: Village News – Setting things right: Mennonite bonesetters and community healing

For generations, Mennonite communities relied on local healers known as trajcht’moakes, a Low German term meaning “those who set things right.” Long before doctors and hospitals were readily available in rural Manitoba, these bonesetters provided essential health care for families facing injuries, accidents, and illness. They treated broken bones, dislocations, strained muscles, and painful joints, often traveling great distances to reach those in need. Their knowledge and skills were learned through observation, experience, and years of practical work, with skills often passed from one generation to the next.

In isolated farming communities, bonesetters occupied a place of deep respect and trust. A successful treatment could restore a farmer’s ability to work, help a child walk again, or bring relief to someone suffering chronic pain. Their reputation spread from neighbour to neighbour, and patients often returned repeatedly because of the confidence they placed in these healers’ hands.

One of the most remarkable of these community healers was Gertrude Klassen (1892–1986), widely known as Tante Trutje or Klosis Trutje. Although respected as a chiropractor and bonesetter, her legacy extends far beyond physical healing. Klassen devoted her life to caring for vulnerable children, combining practical medical skills with extraordinary compassion. Over a span of more than forty years, she welcomed fifty-three children into her home. Some were newborns, others were seriously ill, and many came from difficult family circumstances.

Her first long-term patient was a nephew disabled by polio. Through dedicated care and treatment, she helped restore his mobility. As the years passed, her home became a refuge where children found stability, care, and opportunity. For many families, Gertrude Klassen provided not only healing hands but also a loving home when they needed it most.

1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: STEINBACH’S CHURCHES; A CENTENNIAL SERIES – Church of God in Christ Steinbach

MARCH 13, 1974—The Church of God in Christ was Steinbach’s second church. It is also sometimes known as the Holderman church, after its founder, John Holderman.

The church came about as a result of a series of meetings conducted by Holderman in the fall of 1881 and the renewal which followed. Records state that one-third of the Kleine gemeinde members were involved in the formation of this new group.

The village schoolhouse, in which the EMC was worshipping, became the home of the new group, meeting on alternate Sundays.

The first church building of the Church of God in Christ was built in 1911 and was situated on Main Street North.