Rural Roundup for Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023

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This article was published 09/11/2023 (1037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MINNEDOSA

The Minnedosa Grain Growing Project wrapped up a busy season on Oct. 16 as they hit the fields for harvest. Contributing to Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB) year after year, the group of volunteers are passionate about the ability to give back.

The CFB is a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and church-based agencies working together to end global hunger. They work with locally-based organizations in developing countries to meet emergency food needs, achieve long-term solutions to hunger and foster informed action by Canadians and governments to support their cause.

Through growing projects, groups of farmers and supporters plant, tend and harvest a crop, sell it on the Canadian market, and then donate the proceeds towards the CFB’s work to end world hunger.

Working just southeast of Minnedosa this year, volunteers took advantage of beautiful mid-October weather to take the wheat off of the field. Three combines, a grain cart, and two trucks were donated by the Odanah Colony Farms to assist with the project, and Everett Olsen and Glenn Friesen provided a truck each in order to deliver the wheat into farm storage, as local elevators had no room. The wheat yielded just under 50 bushels per acre in 130 seeded acres.

» Minnedosa Tribune

VIRDEN

Virden was the lone rural community on the Manitoba leg of a tour celebrating the 75th birthday of renowned theatrical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Sound the Alarm, a Vancouver-based not-for-profit charitable arts organization, recently put on a live concert tour that began in Red Deer, Alta. on Sept. 23 and wrapped up in Williams Lake, B.C. on Oct. 25.

Other Manitoba stops of the tour included Brandon, Portage La Prairie and Winnipeg. On Oct. 11, the eight-member cast took about 300 people in the Aud Theatre in Virden on a fast-paced journey through Webber’s theatrical repertoire, complete with lighting and haze effects that set the mood for the two-hour show.

» Virden Empire-Advance

VIRDEN

At the Oct. 3 regular meeting of the Town of Virden, council bolstered two upcoming capital projects with funding that included both municipal reserve funds and federal gas tax revenue earmarked for infrastructure improvements.

A $1 million contribution from replacement reserves and $200,000 from the federal Canada Community Building Fund will go towards the renovation and expansion of the Wallace District Fire Department Station 1 in Virden. In addition, $500,000 in reserve funds and a further $200,000 Canada Community Building Fund contribution will be used for an upgrading and expansion project at the Virden Regional Airport, RJ (Bob) Andrew Field.

» Virden Empire-Advance

RESTON

Hidden Treasures, the local thrift store at 143 4th Street in Reston, is seeking some ambitious and motivated people to take over the role of receiving, sorting, and pricing merchandise at the second-hand shop.

“We would like a new group to take over and replace us,” said Pat Forbes, one of the volunteers at Hidden Treasures. She says there are three of them that are there under the auspices of the St. John’s Anglican Church, plus four community volunteers.

The group decided to close on Dec. 31, as several of them are facing health issues and getting tired, Forbes said.

“Unless new volunteers step up for Hidden Treasures, Dec. 1 is the final day the store will accept donations.”

The circumstances have been brought to the municipality’s attention, Forbes said, and she feels the town does not want to lose this service to the community, as the thrift store takes all donations and therefore keeps a certain amount out of the landfill. Being a charity, they also donate to various groups and causes, and to people who have needs within the community.

Forbes thinks that extended hours would help by allowing people who work traditional hours to use the store. The store has always been staffed by volunteers, but paid positions may help too.

» Virden Empire-Advance

DAUPHIN

Three Parkland businesses figured prominently as Fusion Credit Union held the finals for its 2023 Community Infusion program last month.

For the past three years, Community Infusion, a business idea competition that infuses economic growth and prosperity into communities served by the credit union, has supported entrepreneurs with either a new business idea, or existing business they are looking to grow or purchase.

The Bloom n’ Bean in Dauphin finished the competition in second place, receiving $4,000 to support its plan for a space that welcomes customers with the inviting aromas of premium floral arrangements and specialty coffee while fostering a sense of community and warmth.

Dauphin’s Grow Media Group and Total Equipment Care Service each placed in the top five earning $2,000 each to progress their businesses. Grow Media Group is a social media marketing agency while Total Equipment Care Service exists in the realm of sports and PPE cleaning,

The big winner in the evening was Danielle’s Studio Twelve, earning $20,000 in grant funding. Danielle’s Studio Twelve is the building blocks for the start of a non-profit organization that will provide support to women suffering from infertility/loss/postpartum depression in southwestern Manitoba.

» Dauphin Herald

An agriculture project in which 160 acres of canola was planted will benefit the Dauphin and District Community Foundation (DDFC).

Jason Beyette spearheaded the grow project starting in the spring, with various sponsors donating everything that was needed to make the project a success.

“We had received donations from various retailers. The Co-op was instrumental in getting the seed organized for the field and then they followed it up with the chemicals to spray the crop,” he said. “And we’ve had other retailers, like 360 Ag Consulting. They provided the agronomy for us and told us what we needed to do on the field.”

Reit-Syd Equipment looked after all the custom spraying, as well as donating two combines to harvest the crop, which took place, Oct. 17. The Michaeleski family trucked it into town to the elevator, Beyette said.

At the time of writing, Beyette did not yet know how much the project had raised.

Because of the success of similar grow projects as a fund-raising endeavour, Beyette feels it would be a wonderful fund-raiser for DDCF if they can get the land to do it again.

» Dauphin Herald

DELORAINE

The 7th Annual Southwest Business & Entrepreneur Expo will be hosted in Deloraine in February. The regional effort to promote entrepreneurship and business development in the Westman region began in 2018, as a collaboration between towns and municipalities.

Economic Development Officer for Deloraine-Winchester, Glenn Schellenberg, says they’re excited to host this year’s business expo. Meetings have taken place to brainstorm and secure keynote speakers for the event.

Economic development officers from across Westman have come together on a regular basis to collaborate at the event, which will feature speakers, panel presentations, a trade show, networking, and a business pitch event, with an opportunity to win cash awards. There will also be a variety of breakout sessions and panel discussions to educate and inspire business ventures.

» DiscoverWestman.com