Dawson Trail Dispatch
Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!
Frog Jumping is Serious Business in St. Pierre-Jolys
August 2017
Province Announces Municipal Roads Projects By Marianne Curtis
During Frog Follies, frog jumping is serious business, no matter how old you are.
By Marianne Curtis For a few days in July, the community of St. Pierre was bustling with activity while they celebrated the 47th annual St. Pierre Frog Follies. The festivities, which ran from July 13-16, kicked off Thursday night with the Great Canadian Frog hunt where people participated in catching the frogs to be used for the Canadian National Frog Jumping Championship. Other activities included one of Manitoba’s premier agricultural ex-
hibition displays and fair, numerous children’s activities, slo-pitch tournament, a parade, fireworks, Sunday night DJ social, and the Canadian National Frog Jumping Championship. A few new activities were added to the roster, including Geocaching, Frog Follies Supper, cribbage tournament and bocce ball. Entertainment over the weekend included performances by Nic and Logan, Magic by Patrick, Mulvery Street Maniacs, Ti Bert du Voyegeaur, Jacques Chenier,
Diamond Disc Dogs, The Great Gregoire, Richard Inman, Jermie and the Delicious Hounds, Justin Lacroix Band, Island Breeze and Corny Rempel as both Johnny Cash and Elvis. The first Frog Follies took place in 1970 when a group of residents decided they wanted to welcome people into their small town to celebrate their rich francophone heritage during the province’s Centennial. Many events were held that weekend, including the very First Canadian National Frog Jumping Championship.
In a recent announcement, the Manitoba government is investing just over $2 million out of a $12 million budget in municipal roads throughout the southern corner of the province. Chris Goertzen, President, Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) was with Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke when she announced that the province is spending $12 million on municipal roads this year. “The AMM is pleased to be a partner with the Province of Manitoba in selecting these critical infrastructure projects under the Municipal Road Improvement Program,” said Goertzen. “While the projects range from main streets to back lanes, and from campground roads to industrial park corridors, all have one thing in common, they will positively impact the citizens in their respective communities.” The Municipal Road Improvement Program was developed in partnership with the AMM and provides 50/50 cost-shared funding for municipal road projects including the cost of new road construction and road renewal projects to extend the useful life of a road. In all, 188 projects were approved in 2017 in 99 municipalities, totalling $11.98 million. In the southeast, approved projects include the RM of Hanover ($400,000), RM of La Broquerie ($225,000), RM of Piney ($60,000), RM of Reynolds ($60,000), RM of Ritchot ($225,000), Village of St. Pierre-Jolys ($60,000), RM of Ste. Anne ($225,000), Town of Ste. Anne ($61,605), City of Steinbach ($245,000), RM of Stuartburn ($60,000) and RM of Tache ($387,500). Projects were evaluated against key outcomes that address increased economic activity, extended asset life, improved public safety and regional or community impact, added Clarke. This funding is in addition to the $747 million that Manitoba Infrastructure has budgeted for roads, highways, bridges and flood protection outside of Winnipeg for capital maintenance and the preservation of provincial infrastructure assets.