Rural roundup

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This article was published 14/03/2024 (752 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

KILLARNEY

The mayor of Killarney-Turtle Mountain says she couldn’t be happier with the municipality’s newly renovated civic offices.

“I heard a lot of people say that they couldn’t believe how we were able to configure it so well,” Janice Smith said about a recent tour the public was given of the new premises that was attended by around 70 people.

The tour and open house marked the completion of the renovation of the old civic office spaces, which took place in the south section of the 1960s building at 415 Broadway Avenue.

The renovations took two years to complete and had an overall budget of around $2 million. First, the old fire hall was recreated to become the public area and offices for staff. The second phase included new council chambers which has improved accoustics. Landscaping and some other outside jobs will be completed this spring and summer.

The old council chambers, which exist one floor above the present ones, have been restored and will be available for community groups to meet in.

» The Guide

PELICAN LAKE

The first annual youth and adult walleye tournament, hosted by Pelican Lake Fishing Derbies on Feb. 18, was a big hit.

The weather was ideal, the fish were biting, fun was had and prizes were won. In keeping with the rules, each junior entrant had to team up with an adult. After speaking with many juniors, the consensus was they had mostly outfished their adult counterparts, and inevitably ended up carrying their respective teams.

The teams were impressed with the giveaways, as well as the number of prizes available to be won. One young girl was thrilled with her new toque and Yeti mug, and her dad was so impressed with the event that he said they’d definitely be back next year.

For each team registered, no matter how many fish were caught and released, only the top four longest walleye would count for the final total team length.

First prize was won by Jason and Reid Hildebrand, who topped the charts with a total length of 65.25 inches. Their top four fish included the longest walleye of the day, measuring a whopping 28 inches.

Pelican Lake Fishing Derbies will be holding another fishing derby in June.

» The Gazette

RUSSELL

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s “On the Edge” tour will come to Russell on April 16.

The tour has sent dancers on the road to share the power of ballet and other dance forms with new audiences in schools and community spaces for almost 50 years.

The touring rig includes lighting and sound equipment and a portable dance floor. Two artistic faculty members, one company/stage manager and 21 dancers work together to transform the venue, be it a school gymnasium or a community hall, into something resembling a theatre space in less than one hour.

From timeless classics to daring new creations, “On the Edge” will celebrate the artistic legacy of the RWB. The performance will include excerpts from “Don Quixote” and “Four Last Songs.” It will also feature modern creations by RWB School Resident Choreographer Gabriela Rehak, flamenco from RWB School Artistic Faculty Maritel Centurion, and a new work from former RWB Company Soloist Yosuke Mino.

The doors of the George P. Buleziuk Centre will open at 6:30 p.m. on April 16, and the show will begin with a performance by the students of V’s Dance Academy. Tickets are $35 for adults and are on sale at the rec office. Tickets for kids and people over 60 are $20.

» The Russell Banner

Olympic champion and renowned television host of the Amazing Race Canada Jon Montgomery has received the 4-H Distinguished Alumni Award.

Montgomery is a second generation 4-H’er, with his involvement in the movement beginning in his hometown of Russell, where he was a youth member of the 4-H Beef Club for four years.

Montgomery won gold in skeleton at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and in 2013 he made his television debut on The Amazing Race Canada, which he still hosts.

Montgomery frequently uses his platforms as a motivational speaker on topics that are close to his heart, including leadership, teamwork and healthy living. He has continued to be a strong advocate for agriculture and a fixture at important ag-related events around the country, including Manitoba Ag Days and the GrowCanada conference.

In 2023, 4-H Canada had Montgomery host the virtual 2023 4-H Canada Leadership awards, where he led the celebration of 4-H youth, leaders and supporters around the country.

» The Russell Banner

MINNEDOSA

For the last few years, Stone Matthews has worked to bring the canteen program back to the Minnedosa Collegiate Institute after COVID-19 brought it to a grinding halt, and in the 2023 school year it returned with success.

Supported by the Minnedosa Food Bank, Mathews secured a Healthy Together grant through Prairie Mountain Health. The funds were used for a special project to grow healthy and nutritious vegetables year-round by using a hydroponic system that grows plants in water.

As a board member on the Minnedosa Food Bank, Mathews thought it would be a perfect pairing to have the students learn about the importance of growing healthy food, while providing the community food bank with fresh produce when the harvest was ready.

With the money, the food bank purchased two hydroponic towers and supplies to integrate into the Foods and Nutrition program at the school. Within the first month, the students harvested the first batch of produce for donation. The system allows for a successful harvest every 30 days.

Mathews hopes the program will grow in the next few years and include a school garden where fresh food can be grown and support the food bank with extra produce at the same time.

» Minnedosa Tribune

VIRDEN

For the month of March, Arts Mosaic in Virden is presenting a solo exhibition by local artist and instructor Cody McPhee.

At the time of writing, the exhibition was set to open on March 8 with a reception at 6 p.m. that featured a musical performance by the Virden Ukulele Club.

McPhee grew up in Neepawa, Man., and became interested in art early in his life. He won numerous drawing awards throughout elementary school, and while taking art classes at the Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute, was introduced to watercolours and clay.

After high school, McPhee attended Brandon University where he studied history and English literature as well as fine arts mainly in drawing, painting, and art history. He graduated with a degree in education and teaches at Virden Collegiate Institute.

As an artist, McPhee primarily works in pencil and charcoal, but has also moved into acrylic and oil painting, murals, and graphic design. He fits his own art practice into a busy life.

“I have decided to call this show ‘Find the Time,’” he says. “This isn’t a clever or thoughtful title, it is simply because, despite art being such a large part of my life for so long, other facets of life have become more important, and I find myself only making art when I can find the time.”

For this show, McPhee selected a sample of work that he feels best represents the different media and styles that he works in, and reflects his interests and heroes.

» Virden Empire-Advance

Virden’s R.J. (Bob) Andrew Field Regional Aerodrome is about to receive an upgrade that will mean more planes and larger aircraft can use the airport for more days of the year. The improvements will also mean that medical flights will be better served in the area.

The entire upgrade is budgeted for $8.357 million. The project plan is in three phases, the first being the imminent move of four hangars from the north side of the runway to a south location to allow for a larger runway.

The project is before the provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs with a request of $4.67 million from the province. Further funding toward the $8.357M will come from the Town of Virden and from other fundraising. Air Andrew Ltd. a family business run out of the Virden airport, recently donated $2.5 million to the project.

» Virden Empire-Advance