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This article was published 28/09/2023 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MINNEDOSA

Fifteen hunters between the ages of 10 and 46 took in the waterfowl hunt held Sept. 9 and 10 at the Delta Waterfowl Research Station, located just south of Minnedosa.

Put on by the Minnedosa Game and Fish Association (MGFA), some people that had never even held or shot a gun before attended the annual event.

Arriving at the station on Saturday, the group went straight into clay pigeon throwing before moving on to listen to a hunter’s ethics talk, decoy demo and supper. After supper, the hunters were paired with a volunteer mentor and went out to scout the field they were to hunt in the next morning. Upon their return, participants did a bit of final preparation, such as cutting willows for their blinds.

Rising at 4:45 a.m. the next day, the hunters grabbed a bite to eat and then headed out into the field. After a good morning of hunting, participants returned to the station to clean their harvest. A total of 39 ducks and 16 geese were shot.

In total, 15 volunteer mentor hunters dedicated their weekend to assisting with the event, most of whom had been a part of the program before or had even participated in the event when they were younger.

Member Sam Parish said he was a hunter in the program 21 years ago, and still remembers what he learned there to this day.

“This program has got many people into hunting or the outdoors, and now that the MFGA has taken it over, we will make sure it happens year after year,” Parish said. “It all couldn’t have been done without the mentors that gave up their time and equipment to take these hunters out, or the amazing people in the kitchen keeping us fed.”

» Minnedosa Tribune

RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

The MS Bike Riding Mountain made its triumphant return post-COVID-19 on the weekend of Sept. 9 and 10. The event involved a loop course, beginning and ending at Elkhorn Ranch in Riding Mountain National Park.

Riders were able to choose from two loops — a 71-kilometre option featuring a turn around at Moon Lake, or a 109-km option for a round trip with a turn around at Northgate Trails.

Whichever ride they chose, the riders celebrated their accomplishments with awards, food and fun. This year, the Riding Mountain event had a fundraising goal of $85,000, with over $53,514 funds raised to date.

MS Bike Riding Mountain is one of 12 MS bike events happening over a four-month period across Canada with the goal of raising funds to support people living with multiple sclerosis.

» Dauphin Herald

KILLARNEY

Killarney Auction Mart’s first sale of the fall season took place the week of Sept. 11 with 832 cattle through the ring, pointing to a strong cattle market.

Owner and auctioneer Allan Munroe says the event was nothing short of incredible.

“We’re seeing prices we’ve never seen before, and it’s more cattle than what we generally see in September,” Munroe said, adding that bookings for this month indicate the busiest they’ve ever had.

A strong demand for Canadian beef, both in the country and as an export, are factors that are contributing to such a strong market, Munroe said.

“We’re at that time of the cattle cycle, and we’ve had a tremendous demand for beef.”

With much poorer market rates and drought over the last few years, many have exited the industry, so there are fewer cows across North American than there has been for a very long time, Munroe said.

In Killarney, Munroe feels there is adequate feed for cattle, and although the price for forage is not cheap, it’s not the level that was expected given the lack of moisture this growing season.

Yearlings coming off grass was the majority of what Munroe saw herded through the auction ring.

“That’s what we see this time of year,” he said. “We’re starting to see a little sprinkle of calves. We probably had about 80 to 90 calves out of our 830 cattle.” More yearlings and calves will come through during the rest of the month, Munroe expects.

It all amounts to an exciting time to be in the cattle business, which Munroe said is what everyone in the industry has been waiting for.

“As one person said, we’re finally seeing inflation on the correct side of the ledger this tome for once,” Munroe said. “Hopefully, we’re looking at two or three years anyway with very strong prices … it’s fun and it’s exciting.”

» DiscoverWestman.com

RUSSELL

Russell’s CancerCare expansion project has received $4,500 in funding through ADAMA Canada’s All In On Your Stomping Grounds grant program, a new initiative which will help fund community projects across the country.

The current chemotherapy unit at the Russell Health Centre is limited in space and accommodates only a handful of people at a time. Once complete, the project will add another 2,300 square feet to the health centre’s existing CancerCare Manitoba chemotherapy treatment space. It will also include the replacement of the existing nursing station and medication storage area, the creation of a dedicated patient washroom, nourishment area, and a small waiting area. Other benefits include improved patient privacy and space for future expansion of treatment areas, if needed.

Nineteen other initiatives were supported by the ADAMA program, which issued a cross-country call for Canadians to share community space improvement projects, agricultural education projects or community food bank projects in their hometowns that needed funding earlier this year. The program donated a total of $120,000 after receiving 60 applicants.

“Anything that builds community would be eligible for this program,” said Gerald Hildebrand, area business manager for ADAMA Canada. “We just want to support the communities that support us and give back. There’s always need in rural areas for support in these kinds of things and there’s always opportunity to enhance or improve facilities in these rural communities.”

Other projects in Westman that received funding include the Treherne Aquatic Centre, which was given $3,000 to purchase swimming equipment, Cartright Baseball, which received $2,500 to upgrade facilities, Thunderhill Ski Club Inc. in Swan River, which received $5,000 to help build a chalet, the Arborg Curling Club, which was given $7,000 to make the rink more accessible, and Altona Minor Hockey, which was given $3,000 to build girls’ dressing rooms at the arena.

» DiscoverWestman.com

NEEPAWA

A set of new, natural adornments now decorate Pool Street, connected to Mill Street, in Neepawa.

Visitors to that part of town may have noticed rows of freshly planted trees lining the boulevard. The trees were planted by Home Hardware in partnership with Tree Canada, in co-operation with the Town of Neepawa.

Denis Saquet, manager of operations for the town, and Home Hardware owner Michelle Gerrard met with Ken Fosty, community advisor with Tree Canada, on Sept. 11 to recognize their 2023 accomplishments.

“I’m pleased to be here today to celebrate this tree planting event and recognize a grant of $3,000 from Neepawa Home Hardware Building Centre,” Fosty said at the event. “Home Hardware is one of Tree Canada’s oldest sponsors.”

Since their partnership began 31 years ago, 30,000 trees have been planted and Home Hardware has contributed over one million dollars across Canada towards tree planting efforts, Fosty said.

This is the ninth year that Neepawa’s Home Hardware has partnered with Tree Canada, aiding in their mission to plant trees across Canada to create green spaces and establish permanent tree cover throughout rural and urban communities.

Since it’s start in 1992, Tree Canada has planted over 84 million trees. This year, a total of 23 Home Hardware stores across Canada are participating in the initiative.

“I have a huge appreciation for Home Hardware for doing this,” said Saquet. “It’s great for the community.”

Gerrard said that there’s a lot of new areas being developed in Neepawa, and some old trees that have been removed, which helps replenish the number of trees being added to the community.

“I’m so happy to continue our partnership each year,” she said.

» Neepawa Banner & Press

OAK LAKE

There was ideal weather for a fun-filled family day of events at the Oak Lake Harvest Festival this year, which took place on Sept. 9 at the Oak Lake Ag Grounds in Oak Lake.

The festival, put on by the Sifton Recreation committee, was held for the second time this year, and there was a little something for everyone. Children enjoyed an exciting show from Dinomite Adventures and a dinosaur mini golf course, dinosaur bouncy castles and more. The Dino Crew made sure everyone had a chance to play and enjoy the fairgrounds. There was even a magic show and hayrides.

For the adults, Dirty Words Customz Car Show made its way out to show off many classic cars. The farmer’s market was in full swing with pies, jams and homemade crafts.

The Mexican King food truck was on site, and the arena was serving up bannock. Seventy-four people took part in the Community Development Board’s bingo fundraiser, and all the money raised went to the community centre building’s upkeep.

The Oak Lake Golf Club hosted the beer gardens all afternoon and into the evening, fundraising for the golf club’s water system that needs repairs. The evening included a live band, Bethel Road.

» Rivers Banner

RIVERS

Riverdale Palliative Care is hosting a “Just in Case” workshop on Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Rivers Legion, where Elaine Lozinski, author and presenter of Just in Case, will share information and resources to empower people to make decisions around end-of-life matters.

Canadian statistics suggest that less than half of Canadians have a will. Conversations around wills, power of attorney, guardianship of underage children and wishes around the possibility of an early or tragic death are difficult to navigate, but the workshop will offer practical ideas and suggestions for anyone — regardless of health status — to help get the conversations started.

Lozinski will explore over 10 final affair categories and the different roles involved. A workbook designed to record decisions and keep track of information will be included.

Lozinski hails from Saskatoon and is a certified executor advisor with the Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisors and a member of the Saskatoon Estate Planning Council.

» Rivers Banner