Summer in the City results in Steinbach street closures

Steinbach’s biggest street festival will result in changes in motorists’ ability to get around once again this year.

In a press release, the City of Steinbach outlined the planned changes.

From Thursday to Sunday, parts of Main Street, Reimer Avenue and Lumber Avenue will close at various times.

The longest road closure takes place on Reimer Avenue from First Street to Elmdale Street. It will close at 7 a.m. on Thursday and reopen at midnight on Sunday.

Cultures in the City returns with new cultures

The Globe and Mail once described Steinbach as a “hot bed” for immigration in Canada and a model of integration. Nothing could be a better example of that than Cultures in the City, which premieres during Summer in the City.

“I actually think that cultures in the city is something that people really look forward to with the festival,” said Tessa Masi, spokesperson for Cultures in the City. “Having the opportunity to grab cultural food while sitting and watching some dancers or listening to music is just a really unique experience, and it’s helping us to see how Steinbach continues to grow in a multicultural way.”

There will be 17 different cultural acts this year, some returning and some new to the Steinbach stage. New this year is a Scandinavian dance group, a Ukrainian singing group, and Peruvian dance group the Inka Warriors.

“The culture performers turnover every half hour or 45 minutes, so if you come and you sit at the stage area for two hours you would see multiple groups in that time,” said Masi.

Artists in the City brings young fiddlers to town

Every year, Artists in the City is one of the many draws for Steinbach’s Summer in the City extravaganza. New this year is the introduction of young fiddlers to the stage.

“We feel like this is a great opportunity for the kids to show their talents and be able to showcase them this way,” said Mallory Stang, facility and community programs assistant.

About 20 artists are participating this year in workshops, activities, and demonstrations. Visitors can check out creative nail art, wood burning, theatre workshops, puppet shows, acrylic painting workshop, Métis finger weaving, wizard wand making, and a dreamcatcher workshop, among other activities and demonstrations.

“I think it’s a great way to show the community talent that we have around Steinbach and surrounding areas. And it gives different age groups (the chance) to showcase…their talents and abilities and to get the community involved with us,” said Stang.

U18 AAA Selects moving back to Steinbach

The Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach continues to attract major tenants, as the Eastman Selects male U18 AAA team will be based out of the new arena moving forward.

The U18 team had been in Steinbach until the then-named Beausejour Blades of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League moved to the community in 2009. The U18 team moved to Beausejour when the junior A team took up residence in the now-demolished Centennial Arena.

Rachel Antymis has worked as the team’s manager since she was 19 and has been involved with the program for nearly a decade. She said the Selects hope to grow their fanbase with the move to Steinbach, noting most of the players now come from the southern part of their region.

“Ten years ago, we had tons of North boys, but it’s kind of shifted,” Antymis said.

La Coulee resident named ambassador for Manitoba Possible

La Coulee resident Meagan Pedneault has been named one of three ambassadors for Manitoba Possible, an organization that advocates for people with disabilities.

“I’m really excited it’s a really unique opportunity. Manitoba Possible has been a huge part of my life growing up especially when I was transitioning from childhood to adulthood. So, it’s really a cool experience to be able to give back and help make our communities be more accessible,” said Pedneault.

In her role she will advocate for inclusivity and accessibility for the disabled.

A Steinbach native, Pedneault was born with a rare genetic disease that causes her bones to break easily called osteogenesis imperfecta. The condition has caused her to break at least 80 bones during her lifetime from doing something as simple as walking and losing her footing. Although she has this condition and is wheelchair bound, it doesn’t stop her from living her life.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: June 5

Featuring photos from a Winnipeg Senior Baseball League game in Steinbach May 27 and the softball/baseball Manitoba High School Athletic Association provincial championships in Stonewall.

With STARS on their minds

Rescue on the River saw three participants raise $50,000 each for STARS operations. In total, STARS raised $300,000 during the event and a fundraising gala later that evening.

Looking Glass Theatre announces next season

Live theatre is returning to Steinbach for another year, thanks to Looking Glass Theatre.

The professional theatre company announced three shows that will run over the 2025/26 season with a mix of styles designed to appeal to a wide audience from co-artistic directors Marc A. Moir and Laura Kathleen Turner.

A Christmas Carol

The season will start in December with A Christmas Carol, rated family friendly, taking to the stage.

From wedding dresses to burial garments for infants

Susan Bruce was saving her wedding dress for her daughter to use, but when her daughter died in 2014, she didn’t have a purpose for it anymore.

Before losing her daughter, Ashley Bruce, she also endured two miscarriages.

“When I lost my two, when I miscarried, there was nothing like this (Manitoba Angel Dresses). It was like ‘Oh, well. Too bad. So sad, go home.’ but that’s how society was at that time,” said Susan. “It was a baby. It was a human. It’s still a devastating loss.”

Between 15 to 25 per cent of pregnancies end in a miscarriage, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada 2020 survey.

Pistons D-man Munro heading to Olaf College

Matt Munro will continue his hockey career at an American college.

The Steinbach Pistons defenseman played over 100 games in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, splitting time between his hometown Swan Valley Stampeders and the Pistons.

He’ll be playing for St Olaf College, a Lutheran liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota.

Munro began the 2024/25 season with the North Iowa Bulls in the North American Hockey League before heading back to the MJHL to suit up for Steinbach at the 2025 roster deadline. He had 11 points in 23 games for the Pistons this season.