Fraud investigation leads to drug charges

A complaint of someone using a stolen credit card led to a drug bust with four people facing multiple charges as well as seizures of cocaine and methamphetamine according to Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS).

Police say they were advised of the stolen credit card being used at a local business on Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation on Feb. 7.

“Police promptly identified the female suspect involved and attended her residence, where she was placed under arrest without incident,” they said in a Feb. 9 press release.

During the arrest police observed drug paraphernalia in what they described as “in plain view”.

Musical debut packs theatre

Artista Academy’s first production from its Lumina program packed the SRSS theatre for four shows last weekend.

Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrates 10 years

The Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 10 years of working for and with businesses in the RM of Piney.

“It’s great. We love the support, we love giving back, we’re starting to really get some recognition…,” said Monique Chenier, secretary for the Piney Chamber of Commerce and economic development manager for Sunrise Corner Economic Development.

“It was started by some very passionate local business owners and they could see the value it could bring, and in fact, one of the things they advocated for very early on was to get an economic development manager in this region, and it’s why I have a job.”

Chenier said the goal of the PRCC is to try to provide supports and networking to help business owners grow their enterprises and meet up with like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders in the community. “I think we’re that conduit, I guess, through that we can all connect in and help each other do better,” she said.

PHOTO GALLERY: Ste Anne embraces festival with Tire Toi Une Buche

Tire Toi Une Buche (pull up a log) was celebrated in Ste Anne on Feb. 8, as attendees prepared for the annual Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg.

Kindness event to be held in Steinbach to promote mental health

It is Kindness Week next week and Southern Health is hosting an event in Steinbach aimed at promoting positive mental health through acts of kindness.

“We hope that from this, there might have a ripple effect on individuals in the community to kind of reflect on their own actions that they take day to day. And then considering what’s an intentional step they could take to show kindness to others,” said Lindsay Hainsworth, community mental health worker for Southern Health.

Hainsworth is part of a working group for the health agency’s Roots of Hope initiative, a program through the Mental Health Commission of Canada, which in 2024 was set as one of the province’s priorities.

“One of the objectives of Roots of Hope is reducing stigma around mental health and suicide and increasing help-seeking,” she said. “And so how do we practice more interpersonal conversation, practice being more compassionate and empathetic for others.”

DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: The calm before the playoff storm

This is the last edition of The Carillon without coverage of hockey playoffs, as the final regular season games in high school, senior and in the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League finished up this weekend.

From these games, it’s an all-out sprint until the end of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, as I try and attend as many post-season games as I can. Hockey is a post-season sport, and that means extra effort has to be made during this time of year, especially with the Providence Pilots volleyball and basketball finals taking place this time as well.

Here are some story-lines I’m keeping a close eye on as we hit the busiest part of my year.

The Hanover-Tache Junior Hockey League won’t have an undefeated season after the Macdonald Swarm fell in shocking fashion to ninth-place East St Paul last week. The Swarm should still be the favourite to win the league.

COLUMN: Village News – Neighbours: The Red River Métis

Feb. 16 is Louis Riel Day, a provincial statutory holiday in Manitoba. It commemorates Louis Riel, the Métis leader and founder of Manitoba. You may ask how this relates to the history of Mennonites in Manitoba. It turns out, that the Mennonite and Métis relationship is significant. The following article is a reprinting of an article that Ed Krahn and Ernie Braun wrote last winter, as part of a series that commemorated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Mennonites to Manitoba. Here is how they described the events and early relationships between Métis and Mennonites.

Some of the first people the Mennonites encountered in Manitoba, already at the time of the visit by the Mennonite delegates in 1873, were the Red River Métis, who constituted the majority of the population at the time. This was about to change as European immigration surged in the next decade, and as many resident Métis left the province, disillusioned at the inept implementation of the Manitoba Act of 1870.

At the time of the visit by the delegates, the population of Manitoba was over 25,000. Of that number, the majority were of mixed First Nations and European ancestry. Fear of American expansionism had forced the British Crown to turn Ruperts Land over to Canada in 1869. The existing settlement of farmers and hunters, most of them Métis, feared for the loss of their livelihood and culture.

The Canadian government exacerbated the situation in August of 1869 by re-surveying the land, including existing river lots, and appointing William McDougall, a Canadian expansionist as the first lieutenant-governor. With support from both English and French-speaking Métis, Louis Riel stopped the survey, barred McDougall from entering the province, conducted an election, and proclaimed a provisional government led by Riel. Push-back from the Anglo-Ontarians from Portage la Prairie in particular, who opposed the provisional government, apprehension about American expansionism, and public outcry in Eastern Canada, led to the Federal Wolseley Expedition, which arrived in Upper Fort Garry on Aug. 24, too late to put down the opposition, for the Manitoba Act was already in effect as of July 15, 1870.

La Broquerie’s PHOTO GALLERY – A Winter Family Fun Day sees bannock, Nun Farts, and marshmallows

La Broquerie’s Winter Family Fun Day took place on Feb. 7 at the HyLife Centre.

Provincial advisor leaves post overseeing Hanover School Division board

The provincial advisor selected to oversee the board of trustees for the Hanover School Division has ended his contract.

Retired superintendent Kelly Barkman was appointed to oversee the board in September 2024 after then Minister of Education Nello Altomare received concerns from the community regarding decisions and actions made by the Hanover board of trustees.

Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning Tracy Schmidt stated in an email that Barkman had provided guidance to help strengthen governance practices, improve policy development, and support the board in meeting provincial expectations. He also “provided substantial input and guidance to the board in regards to addressing public concern and issues, board governance principals, and board policies.” She noted he also advised trustees on a one-on-one basis.

“I want to personally thank Mr. Kelly Barkman for his role as provincial advisor to the Hanover School Division board,” she stated. “His contributions have helped move the division forward, and I appreciate the professionalism and care he brought to every conversation and recommendation.”

Looking Glass Theatre premieres The Bellefonataine Bridegroom

Theatre goers in Steinbach will have the opportunity to attend Looking Glass Theatre’s second production of the season this weekend.

Described as a “hilarious new tragicomedy” by local playwright Scot N. Moir, this is the first time The Bellefonataine Bridegroom has hit the stage.

The premise is simple.

“Piggy and Tiggy have been married for years. It’s the classic thing where a man has fallen in love with an inanimate statue and kept her in a glass box for hundreds of years, and everyone who comes into their home acts totally normal about it. Things take a surprising and deadly turn when a mysterious beauty shows up at their door, followed by an investigator on the hunt for serial killer,” the synopsis states.

Perpall aiming for first banner as Pilots coach this weekend

For the first time in a while, the Providence Pilots will get to play for a women’s basketball banner on their home court, as the team is set to host Canadian Mennonite University Feb. 15 for the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference championship.

The Pilots are 14-3 across all competitions this season, including a perfect record over their Manitoban opponents.

Head coach Kendall Perpall is hoping to win his first championship game, after taking over from now-athletic director Joel Coursey.

The MCAC changed formats last season, awarding hosting rights during the final to the top team in the standings instead of it rotating between schools. Earning those hosting rights is a point of pride for the team.