Rural Roundup — July 7, 2022

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/06/2022 (1407 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Neepawa

A huge parade made its way through Neepawa on June 18 as part of the inaugural local festivities for Filipino Heritage Month. Around 2,500 people attended the event.

Laarni Santos, Chair of the Neepawa Filipino Heritage Group, said that a last-minute change of venue from Riverbend Park due to flooding meant that the event was held at the Yellowhead Centre instead. After the parade wrapped up, the centre was the site of music, dancing and more celebration.

“We had people from eight regions participate in the parade. Everyone was excited because finally, after the pandemic, we were able to gather again and embrace and show off our culture.”

Even though Filipino Heritage Month is wrapping up, Santos said she and the rest of the heritage group are already looking forward to making next year’s celebrations bigger and better.

The Manitoba government declared the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month in July of 2019.

» Neepawa Banner & Press

Inglis 

The community of Inglis and the Inglis Grain Elevators are celebrating their 100th anniversary on Canada Day. Inglis was the only western town to have a row of five elevators. It was once known as the Barley Capital of the World, and became the end stop for a rail line.

“Like all Prairie towns, the mainstay in the community was the elevator, the business centre, the school and churches,” said Judy Bauereiss, Inglis Heritage Committee Chair.

Four of the elevators were built in 1922, and by 1941 there were five elevators in operation. The last elevator shut down in 1995. In 1996, after lobbying from Inglis locals, the location of the five elevators became a National Historic Site.

“We had a small group of people consisting of Marcia Rowat and Eilen Sawchuk, who were part of the initial drive to preserve the Inglis grain elevators,” said Bauereiss.

The Inglis Heritage Committee is holding a pancake breakfast, parade and musical entertainment on July 1 at the site of the grain elevators.

» The Russell Banner

A $1,000 donation for the expansion of the Town of Russell’s community cancer care unit has been presented to Judy Forsyth of the Expanding Community Care Committee (ECCC) and registered nurse Lisa Derkach.

The cheque was presented by Lydna Gianotti and Evelyn Cleff from the Waves of Hope Dragon Boat Team. The ECCC has been fundraising for the expansion, including a much-needed separate parking lot as well as interior furnishings and equipment.

A ladies golf tournament will be held in Rossman Lake on July 20, and tickets are on sale now for the Caribbean Cultural Evening happening on Oct. 22, with a large per centage of proceeds going to the ECCC. The Walk of Hope will take place on Sept. 10 and the Tim Horton’s Cookie Campaign will be held from Sept. 19-25 to aid in fundraising efforts.

» The Russell Banner

Killarney-Turtle Mountain

The Killarney-Turtle Mountain municipal council has approved HyLife Ltd.’s bid for permission to erect an 18,000-head weanling/nursery hog barn northeast of town.

A public hearing into the application for a conditional use order by the company was held on June 6. During the meeting, two HyLife employees spoke in favour of the project. Barry Reimer, the owner of an 80-acre parcel of land on Pleasant Valley Road which is earmarked for the proposed site, was also on hand to announce his support for the project. In opposition to the proposal were cottage owners, business operators and residents of nearby Pelican Lake.

Council met again on June 14 to discuss the application and put it to a vote. The voting numbers are not available to the public, but mayor Merv Tweed said council looked into the application very carefully and took their time in coming to a conclusion. In the end, the decision to approve the project was made in order to support the development of agricultural business in the area.

“History has shown that we have had success in building our community through agricultural development,” Tweed said. “We want the ag industry to grow.”

Along with the granting of the conditional use order, the mayor said a number of conditions have been put in place — three or four major ones and a few minor ones. Number one is the addition of a silicone cover on the lagoon, to combat the smell of the operation, while the second asks that HyLife not use seedlings but mature trees for shelterbelts.

Now it’s up to Hylife to agree to comply with the list of required conditions and move forward towards applying for their building permits or to appeal against the imposed conditions.

» The Guide

Argyle

The Argyle Museum reopened on June 18 after being closed for two seasons except by appointment.

Brenda Gudnason, museum committee member, said it was wonderful to have the doors open again. “We invite everyone to ‘Come into Our Heritage’ here in Baldur.”

The reopening featured a new display featuring Baldur residences that the museum hopes to expand on this summer and in the years to come. The exhibit, called the Legacy Lot Project, illustrates how quickly things have changed within the community of Baldur. It features a multi-page compilation of information that corresponds numerically to a detailed to-scale map of Baldur, with each home being carefully noted on each street. Bob and Shirley Conibear and Sandra Collins worked from February to May to bring the project to fruition.

The museum is currently looking for volunteers to help with hosting events at the site, fundraising and assisting with displays.

» The Gazette

Pelican Lake 

Around 35,000 pounds of carp, amounting to about 1,200 fish, were removed from Pelican Lake from June 5 to 10 as part of the Carp Salvage Project.

The project, funded by the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund of Manitoba and carried out by the Healthy Lake Committee for Pelican Lake, entered its first phase in autumn last year when project members conducted a census of fish populations in the lake. After it was discovered how large the carp population was, the second phase of the project was carried out this spring. Electricity was used to capture the fish via stunning and the fish were then loaded into trucks for organic composting. Provincial officials suggested looking into having Pelican Lake declared a commercial fishery, but the community response was negative.

» The Gazette

Glenboro

A group of volunteers has reopened Spruce Woods Provincial Park trails. Chris Wytinck, Steve Mooney, Lee Fillion, Laurie Newton, Karen Kirk and the Grades 10 and 11 classes at Glenboro School worked together under the leadership of Kevin Newton to recommission the Spruce Alternate trail and the Cedar Loop. Both routes are part of the Epinette Trail.

The trails have also recently had permanent signs installed, and soon the group plans on putting in a sitting area along the Cedar Loop.

The project is part of an ongoing partnership between Glenboro School, Glenboro Area Foundation and Spruce Woods Provincial Park.

» The Gazette

Carberry

The Town of Carberry’s historic buildings are in danger of losing their Heritage status in the face of concerns put forward by insurers.

Stuart Olmstead, the town’s mayor, said that a June 10 meeting of council reviewed the future of the community’s heritage bylaw. The council is now considering rescinding it.

“If you had to choose…as a building or land owner, between a heritage designation or a chance for insurance, which one are you going to choose?” the mayor asked.

Brokers are less likely to accept the risk of insuring older buildings if it threatens their bottom line, especially in the wake of recent severe weather, Olmstead added.

A public meeting was held on May 25 for area residents to voice their concerns about the Heritage District bylaw and insurance issues.

» The Gazette