Pistons add defenseman and goalie via trade

The Steinbach Pistons have bolstered their depth via an in-league trade.

The Dauphin Kings announced July 19 they were sending 2007-born defensesman Gavin Haslam to Steinbach in exchange for a player development fee.

Haslam is a 2007-born defender from Etobicoke, Ont. who scored 14 points across 39 regular season appearances for the Kings last season.

“Gavin is someone we had watched prior to last season and considered recruiting at that point,” Pistons head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said.

COLUMN: Village News – Pioneer Days – A celebration of Mennonite history

Pioneer Days is the Mennonite Heritage Village’s largest event of the summer. It is a three-day celebration of history where visitors are immersed in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the village. Without a wonderful team of volunteers backing up the MHV staff, this event would not be possible.

The three days that comprise MHV’s Pioneer Days festival are full of pioneer demonstrations, live music, great food, and fun for the whole family. During Pioneer Days, history comes alive. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday each boast their own daily features with no shortage of activities and adventures to participate in. On Saturday, watch our talented volunteers bake bread in the outdoor oven and check out the Mid-Summer Market in the auditorium. On Sunday, immerse yourself in the past by attending the Old Colony Worship Service in the Old Colony Church, and then enjoy the afternoon at the the Southeast Manitoba Draft Horse Association horse show and the Sangerfest hymn sing. On Monday, watch “And When They Shall Ask,” the award-winning docu-drama of the Mennonites’ sojourn in Russia from 1788 to the present. Remember to check out the pioneer demonstrations! Where else can you watch a blacksmith hard at work at the forge; eat a delicious waffle made on 100-year-old waffle irons; see the threshing machine in operation; and watch the steam engine drive around the village? Pioneer Days is a celebration, and we hope you’ll join us.

Behind every featured activity, demonstration, or interpretation stands a talented and dedicated team of volunteers. Our volunteers are the backbone of our events and festivals, and without them, Pioneer Days would be impossible to host. The man in the blacksmith shop, the lady churning butter, the men and women baking bread in the outdoor oven, the schoolteachers in the schoolhouses, the admissions attendants and parking attendants - all these and many more are our amazing volunteers. Because of their dedication to the Mennonite Heritage Village, we can continue to host our events and festivals.

It takes a village to make the Mennonite Heritage Village come to life, and we would love for you to join the team. Whether you have an interest in history or not, we have a place for you. As of right now, we are still looking for volunteers to fill various spots for Pioneer Days. If you would like to partner with us in the wonderful work that we do to preserve and exhibit the story and experience of the Russian Mennonites, please reach out about volunteer opportunities. You can email or call Jaysa Thiessen at jaysat@mhv.ca or 204-326-9661. Make Pioneer Days a memorable long weekend by joining the village here at the MHV and helping us host another wonderful event.

Ste Anne Hospital re-opens after cooling system breakdown

Ste Anne Hospital re-opened on Wednesday after closing on July 13 due to rising temperatures within the building reaching uncomfortable levels.

Temperatures reached between 32C to 34C between July 11 to 13 with humidity ranging between 40 percent to 80 percent in Ste Anne.

Southern Health interim CEO Dana Human said the decision to close the hospital was made on July 13 as the air cooling system had malfunctioned during the weekend and into Monday. Maintenance also found a freon leak from the air conditioner.

“We currently are exhausting every resource we possibly can to be able to remedy the situation,” said Human during a Zoom call on July 15.

HSD trustee puts name forward for city council

A three-term Hanover School Division trustee will be seeking a seat on Steinbach City Council in the fall municipal election.

Brad Unger is one of three new candidates seeking a role on council which will have room for at least two first-time councillors.

For Unger, his more than 27 years spent in the city, combined with the fact that he no longer has children in Hanover School Division, prompted him to run.

“I have had the blessing of meeting and caring for so many Steinbach families over my 18 years as a funeral director at Birchwood Funeral Chapel and my love for this city continues to grow,” he said. “During my 12 years as a school trustee in Hanover School Division I had the honour to care for our school community. Now I would like the opportunity to care for our whole community as a city councillor.”

Nighthawks add defenders with championship pedigree

Mike McAulay is having a busy summer. The Niverville Nighthawks are the only team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League to have a single person as their general manager, and McAulay is showing that worth, adding a pair of defensemen to make up for some veteran losses on the back-end.

Already filled with veterans of their Turnbull Cup and Centennial Cup championship runs, the team has added a pair of Minnesota High School champions to their ranks.

First, the Nighthawks acquired 2006-born defenseman Cole Bies. The East Grand Forks product played last season with the St Cloud Norsemen in the North American Hockey League.

In the 2024/2025 season, Bies suited up for his hometown East Grand Forks High School, leading them to a shocking state championship run. The fourth-seeded Green Wave defeated St Cloud Cathedral inside the Xcel Energy Centre, the home of the Minnesota Wild to hoist the banner.

Family makes pilgrimage to fatal Morris area crash site

An Ontario family made a road trip to Winnipeg at the end of June, driving more than 22 hours. But it wasn’t associated with the same feelings a summer road trip usually has. They were in Morris to honour and commemorate the upcoming second year anniversary of the death of a beloved family member.

Lijo George, 31, son of Joseph George and Lissamma Joseph, and older brother of Jubi Joseph – was one of the three people killed in a fatal car crash on Sept. 24, 2024 at the intersection of Highways 23 and 200 around 4:30 p.m.

George is survived by his wife Rozy, the fourth occupant of the vehicle, who had multiple non-life threatening injuries. She was treated at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg for weeks until she was ready to undertake the long journey back home to India.

Their arrival in Canada was filled with dreams for the future.

PHOTO GALLERY – Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition

SPORTS FLASHBACK 2012: Grunthal dragster sets new Canadian speed record

Grunthal drag racer Cliff Blatz and his race team continue to lay down rubber while making waves in the North American drag racing circuit.

As the team prepares for races in Topeka, Kansas this weekend, they are savoring their monumental victory at Cordova Dragway Park in Illinois, two weeks ago.

Bakx got into drag racing about seven years ago with his Wild Cow Racing Team, and now is enjoying considerable success on both sides of the border.

But the nitro injected The Bull they are running now is a whole new animal, according to Bakx. With the 3,500 horsepower dragster, the Bakx racing team set a new Canadian record for a Top Alcohol Dragster at Mission, BC, earlier this summer, as they hit 271 mph (about 430 kmh) in a quarter-mile.

CFL rule changes take centre stage this week

It took a while for the CFL rule changes to be felt, but they certainly were on display this week.

On Saturday night, the Toronto Argonauts were denied a rouge (single point) for a missed field goal on the final play of the game which would have tied their game against Hamilton.

The next night the Winnipeg Blue Bombers avoided a scare from the winless Ottawa Redblacks, going to an overtime two-point conversion shootout after the first two mini-games resulted in two field goals each.

Let’s tackle the alternating two-point converts first. I’m someone who is absolutely fine with a tie in the regular season. In my opinion, if two teams tie after a 60-minute game, don’t even go to overtime, just call it a draw and move on.

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: Canada is a soccer nation, and other World Cup thoughts

Donald Trump tried to suck as much joy out of the World Cup as possible. American officials not allowing the Iranian team to practice in the U.S., forcing them to fly back and forth to Mexico to train, not allowing Africa’s top referee from Somalia to officiate any games, and not giving Iran their FIFA allocation of 8% of tickets for each game so Iranian fans could watch their team compete, are easily some of the most racist and disturbing stories in the history of international sport.

But despite the Trump regime’s shameful efforts, the World Cup delivered an inspiring tournament filled with many exhilarating matches. The passion, the spectacle and the pageantry of the World Cup was undeniable and contagious.

Here’s some highlights and lowlights of the biggest sporting event in the world.

· Canada had an impressive showing in the World Cup, what with 211 countries vying for the trophy and Canada making it to the final 16. Outplaying soccer giant Morocco for more than half a game, showed that Canadian soccer has arrived. The Canadian men’s team has certainly inspired a new generation of soccer fans and players. Canada’s American coach Jesse Marsch was spot on when he said his players are Canadian heroes.

Hanover school trustee candidate wants to repair trust between parents, teachers

A parent within Hanover School Division has put her name in for consideration for school trustee and one of her goals is to repair the divide between parents and teachers that she says has been formed by the current board’s policies.

“My core platform positions would be ensuring that all of our children are safe in school, that our teachers are equipped to deliver high-quality education rather than micromanaged or having policies that tie their hands,” said Sarah Wieler, who is running for Ward 3 Steinbach. “I’m concerned that there’s been some mistrust sown with some of the language and policies between parents and teachers.”

Wieler mentioned the recent news article with trustee Jeff Friesen, who is running for a second term, where he states there is a lack of trust between teachers and parents within the division.

“I don’t know that’s necessarily true, but I think that any mistrust or uncertainty has actually come as a result of some of the recent policies that the board’s put forward, calling into question the judgment of teachers and that they have designs on anything other than our children’s safety and success in mind. I would like to see that repaired.”

Harris, Larocque receive Order of Manitoba

A pair of outstanding athletes with connections to the region were awarded the province’s highest honour last week.

Jocelyne Larocque and Andrew Harris were part of a group of a dozen who inducted into the Order of Manitoba July 16.

The order was first established in 1999, with the goal of recognize citizens’ “excellence and achievement, thereby enriching the social, cultural or economic well-being of the province and its residents.”

Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville is the chancellor of the order and formally inducted Harris and Larocque.

Family Day celebrated with Grit and Glory Games

Family Day was celebrated in Middlebro on July 18 with residents coming out to enjoy the Grit and Glory Games which included events such as leg wrestling, arm wrestling and pillow fights. The day also offered Bingo, plenty of food and an evening Texas Hold’em tournament.