Looking Back — April 27, 2024

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/04/2024 (882 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SIXTY YEARS AGO

A flock of 23 whooping cranes was sighted at Elkhorn this weekend. Tom Johnson, an Elkhorn district farmer, reported seeing the rare birds flying over his farm. On two other occasions, the Johnsons have seen the birds in flight about this time of year. It is believed only 38 whoopers are in existence.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

A fire was reported in the Killarney post office last night. The building was filled with smoke originating from a plastic catch-basket used to accumulate mail deposited after hours.

The Manitoba government will open a Civil Service Commission office in Brandon to serve western Manitoba. The office will be located on the third floor of the provincial building on Ninth Street.

FORTY YEARS AGO

Brandon University received a $76,000 bonus from the province because it was the only Manitoba university to stick to the limit on tuition hikes recommended by Education Minister Maureen Hemphill last year.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

A fire destroyed the Prairie Bowling Lanes in Portage la Prairie. The complex that burned also housed the Greyhound Bus Lines and the Shoppers Furniture Warehouse. Damage to the building has been estimated at $1.5 million. The fire was caused by two children playing with a cigarette lighter.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Brandon school trustees have uttered their final word on Fleming School. “This matter has been before the board for a lengthy period of time,” said school board chairwoman Cheryl Burke. “We had a thorough process and we did meet the (school closure) guidelines.” And with those words at last night’s school board meeting, trustees made the final motion to close Fleming School effective June 30, 2005, meeting the school closure guidelines outlined by Manitoba Education in 1982, and transfer the students to Earl Oxford School.

TEN YEARS AGO

Assiniboine Community College’s North Hill campus has massive potential, but will require millions of provincial dollars and years to get there. Transforming the former Brandon Mental Health Centre into a vibrant post-secondary learning institution has been slow moving. Although the campus so far has given ACC’s culinary arts and trades and technology programs room to expand, the college will need to stay on the province’s radar to complete its relocation project. The final phase of the project is the relocation of its main campus on Victoria Avenue East into the North Hill’s Parkland Building.

Stephen Harper threw in the towel on Senate reform Friday after the Supreme Court slammed the door on his hopes of a quick fix for the scandal-plagued upper house. The prime minister sounded resigned to the status quo as he gave up on more than three decades of championing an elected Senate, washing his hands of what has repeatedly been a central plank in Conservative election platforms.

A visit to Canada next month by Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will include a visit with Hudson the polar bear in Winnipeg. The royal couple arrive in Halifax on May 18 on a four-day visit that includes stops in Charlottetown and Pictou, N.S.