Neepawa Banner & Press - July 4, 2025 by Neepawa Banner&Press

PHOTOS BY JOSHUA JACKSON, CASPER WEHRHAHN AND EOIN DEVEREUX

Always stop to welcome strangers

A splash of beauty up and down the road

Student-made art installed in Neepawa’s downtown

By Eoin Devereux Neepawa Banner & Press

For the rest of the summer, Neepawa’s downtown core will have an added bit of vibrancy for all to enjoy. In total, 20 local art pieces have been installed on lamp posts along Mountain Avenue, and will remain in place until autumn.

By Christine Waddell Neepawa Banner & Press

A quick trip across the street to one of our local grocers for a little bit of sour cream ended as an international visit. The Banner & Press ran into cyclists Lisa Bouillerand and Sébastien Dejour, who were recently in Neepawa as part of a multi-continent journey of discovery. These adventurers hail from New Caledonia, a French territory which is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Australia.

Their global trek began in November, and has already seen them travel through New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. The Canadian portion of the adventure began in Vancouver in May, and has brought them halfway across the country to our little bit of happiness right here in Neepawa. As of Sunday June 29, they had 239 days on the road.

Next up, they will celebrate Canada Day in Winnipeg, before their journey takes them into Ontario, then the United States, and back into Canada for Que -

bec and the Maritimes.

There are still a multitude of countries in between, with the final destination Paris, France.

After exchanging email, we caught up with Sébastien a few days later, and received the following response:

“Hello Christine. It was a real pleasure for Lisa and me to meet you after such an exhausting day.

Even after seven months on the road, we still love discovering the towns we pass through,” said Dejour. “We didn’t mention it earlier, but we’re also raising funds for the Paris Brain Institute, a leading research centre focused on neurological and mental health diseases. Our goal is to support their efforts to better understand and treat these invisible conditions.

Thank you again for taking the time to stop and chat — we really appreciated it. It would have been lovely to talk even more!”

Anyone interested in following Lisa and Sébastien journey, can do so via their blog at https:// linktr.ee/letonnantetraversee

It is in French, but can be translated at the bottom of the page.

The art was created by Neepawa Area Collegiate (NACI) students, who are part of the school’s Community Art Club. Teachers and artists Katy Martin and Meaghan Peters, who put up the art work last week, also oversaw the project. Martin shared with the Banner & Press, some of the background behind the Art Club’s inspiration.

“Our Community Art Club at NACI was inspired by the ‘Your Town Rising’ presentation that has held in Neepawa last fall. Our

theme for these [pieces] was just spring and summer flowers or birds,” noted Martin. “We hope to have them installed all summer and our plan is to have something to decorate Mountain Avenue with for each season. We hope to create some nice décor for the lamp posts for the fall and to put out the painted candies we made last winter for the holiday season again.”

This project has been supported by Neepawa Tourism Committee, who have generously funded it, as well as a group of local business owners who are also eager to beautify the streets and create a positive, inclusive and creative atmosphere for us all. Thanks to Katy, Meaghan, and all the Art Club students for sharing these creative ideas in our downtown.

Martin and Meaghan Peters (above

recently installed an array of student created art across downtown Neepawa. In total, about 20 of this art pieces will be up for the next few months.

Wonder Junction VBS

Meet friends and have fun with Bible lessons, games, crafts, songs, snacks, science experiments!

Date: July 14-18, 2025

Time: 6-8 pm Age: 4-12 years old

Place: Neepawa First Baptist Church Neepawa, 219 PTH No. 5 North 204-476-2853

FREE Admission

Katy

picture)

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE WADDELL

Pictured: Sébastien Dejour and Lisa Bouillerand of New Caledonia, recently passed through Neepawa.

2005: An unexpected ‘board meeting’ in Neepawa

By Casper Wehrhahn Neepawa Banner & Press

125 years ago, Wednesday, July 4, 1900

Note: The entries for 1900 are from The Neepawa Register, as The Press for that year is not fit for regular handling.

Arden: The Arden football team played at the Ivanhoe picnic on Monday and won by 4 to 1.

Orange Ridge: R. McConnell is erecting a large frame stable on his farm.

Orange Ridge: R. A. Moore is at present engaged in getting out stone for a new house. Owing to the scarcity round here he has been sinking wells for them.

100 years ago, Friday, July 3, 1925

Arden: J. C. Wenham, the new school principal, arrived on Wednesday to unload his car of household effects.

Arden: Many happy memories will remain in the minds of all those from our town who

attended the sessions of the Eden Chautauqua. Many attended from here and speak very highly of the lectures, the musical entertainment and the play “Daddy Long Legs”.

Norgate: Doctor Bishop (veterinary inspector) returned to Dauphin on Monday, after performing tests for tuberculosis on several cattle herds in the district. It is to the credit of the owners that each herd was found without reactors.

75 years ago, Thursday, July 6, 1950

A family reunion was held on July 1 at the Neepawa district home of Fred S. Coulter, site of the original family home of the Coulters.

It was only a pair of pyjamas on a trip to Fun Lee’s Neepawa laundry. Fun has been in the laundry business here for nearly 20 years, but this is the first time he had ever seen such a valuable pair of pyjamas.

Tucked in the breast pocket were seven $100 bills

Neepawa used to have a drive-in theatre! This ad for the Airline Drive-in in Neepawa was in the July 3, 1975 edition of the Press.

This was the scene on the west end of the highway in Neepawa around this time in Neepawa. This photo appeared in The Press for the July 4, 2005 edition under the title “Board Meeting”. The semi truck, which had been hauling lumber, was sideswiped by a car. The semi driver then attempted to avoid further collision, but was rolled off the road.

and six $20 bills for a grand total of $820.

Note: The remainder of the text was blurry on the microfilm, but from what the writer can surmise, it appears the money was safely returned to the owner.

50 years ago, Thursday, July 3, 1975

McCreary: Fire early Tuesday morning, June 24, destroyed the trailer home of Mr. and Mrs. Gerry Sherman, situated 13 miles northeast of McCreary.

A fire broke out early Thursday afternoon, completely destroying the trailer home of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Hall of Neepawa.

Presentations of the Plumas Lions Walk-athon trophies was held on Tuesday, June 24, at the Pony League ball game, by president of the Lions Club, Al Woods…

Total pledges amounted to $1,334.26.

A cheque of $1,000 was presented to the Rink

Committee president, Jack Friesen, with the rest of the money to follow later.

20 years ago, Monday, July 4, 2005

Happy Bill’s Carwash and gas bar wasn’t a very happy place last Saturday–at least not for owner Barry Uranick.

Uranick said after a semi overturned in front of his property, customers were denied access for six hours before the cleanup was complete, and Highway 16 reopened.

“No one had access at all,” Uranick said. “We lost at least $6,000 in revenue.”

Even though his gas pumps stood idle, Uranick said he still had to pay two employees who were on the job that day…

The hurt, he said, is enough to deserve compensation.

“Definitely, I want to take legal action,” Uranick said. “Whoever is at fault

should have to pay.”

Uranick’s business was blocked after a 19-year-old Brandon man sideswiped a semi just east of the junction of Highways 16 and 5.

Disclaimer: The information gathered and used each week in the Looking Back feature is directly taken from the original print copy of the Neepawa Press and Neepawa Banner newspapers. Any errors or omissions from stories (Factually or otherwise) are the result of the original print and not the responsibility of the archivist for the current version of the Neepawa Banner & Press.

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. Zechariah 14:9 (New International Version)

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BANNER & PRESS ARCHIVES

Perspectives

Tundra

By Chad Carpenter

Getting along in a complicated world

One day when Jesus was teaching, the Pharisees were putting him to the test about the wording of the Bible. In Matthew 22, “One of them , an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.”

When people express themselves in the spoken or written word, it’s important to take Jesus’ words to heart. I really try to do that, but sometimes I have failed, I admit that. But falling short is not an excuse to stop following Jesus’ words.

I learned something long ago and that is anger is a choice. People will say that someone “made me so mad.” I think I have said that a few times myself but it doesn’t change the fact that people may do things that are very annoying and beyond, but it’s still a choice to get angry.

The above quoted Bible verses lays the foundation for solving all our problems, be they personal, social or political.

I think I am tired of the excuses. When people come to me with a problem, I try to listen. If there hasn’t been an opportunity for them to come up with a solution in the first discussion, then I suggest a solution or solutions. If the complaining side of the discussion comes up again, I suggest that unless they come with a solution, then they are more inter-

Ken Waddell Right in the Centre

ested in complaining than they are in solutions.

• After nearly 70 years of observing Canada Post, I am pretty much done with the complaining by Canada Post management and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Yes, I can readily remember going to the Post Office 70 years ago when I was seven years old. It was a fascinating place where you could get your mail, buy a stamp or a money order. You could pick up a parcel or a package from Eatons mail order catalogue or once a year a birthday card or a little gift from my Aunt Jean in Calgary or Aunt Vi in Winnipeg.

The Post Office was the hub of the community. Today it still is to a limited extent but between CUPW and the Canada Post bureaucracy, they have just about killed off the institution. The exception is the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association. As the name implies, it’s the organization that represents the postmasters and they have struggled on in spite of the impediments thrown in their path by CP and CUPW.

These two latter organizations have made life and work unreasonable for the CPAA folks. The rules

and regulations that they insist upon are just plain silly.

Canada Post has lost hundreds of millions of dollars with no end or solution in sight. Our papers left Canada Post a long time ago. As I have written before, we have been through seven postal strikes and all they have done is be annoying, costly and taught us how to get along without Canada Post.

CUPW and Canada Post insist on five or six days a week door-todoor service in urban areas. That is ridiculous. They insist on sorting rules that make no sense. The delivery times on newspapers can be from three days to three weeks as we have experienced personally.

It would be very sad to lose the Postal Service but I am not optimistic that it can survive. Small town offices get from 1-3 courier deliveries a day. CP and CUPW need to wake up or they will all be out looking for work and they will take the local post offices and CPAA workers with them.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the newspaper staff.

‘I

invite you to stand’…

Atruly delightful effect of travel is seeing new things, learning new things, and incorporating them, if suitable, into everyday living. Some of my friends delight in new foods, making mental and physical notes of combinations of spices and foods, tastes and textures, and taking them home to try. Not me. As I worshipped with the faithful in the ancient Iona Abbey I noted, and recorded, phrases and ways of saying things and doing things that made sense.

It has been my custom to invite worshippers to stand as they are able. That implies that if someone does not stand they are not able. The wording, ‘I invite you to stand. It is an invitation, please do what is comfortable and appropriate for you.’ Resonates with me. It is an invitation, not a request. Please do what is comfortable and appropriate for you….having a tough day? Please, I’m thankful you were able to join us. Back, feet or legs sore? Again, thank you for making the effort to attend the service. Heck, if you are more comfortable with a cup of coffee in hand, that’s acceptable too!

This whole invitation wording sent me down a rabbit hole. The youngest of my children often was treated like an only child. The other four were nine to sixteen years older than her, and had left home before she was needed to be a working part of the household. The custom had been that I would ask one of the children- ‘would you like to help with dishes tonight’, or any given chore, and they knew that it was an assignment. However, the first and only time I asked the youngest if she would like to help with the dishes, her calm reply of ‘no thanks’ changed the wording! When I tried explaining that it wasn’t really a request, she accurately refuted that indeed it was. And no, she would not like to help with the dishes, not washing nor drying. (This coming from the same individual that logically explained that one could not go ‘back and forth’ for how could one go back if they had not been forth? Henceforth we went ‘forth and back’, something I say to this day!) Back to being invited or asked to do something. We had home schooled our youngest from grade five through seven, and then she choose to take grade eight by correspondence before attending a local school for grade nine. Nicely into the year I received a call from her history teacher. My child had not done her homework. I thought that very strange and asked if she could remember how the assignment had been worded. Well, he had asked them to do it. Aha! I explained that he needed to tell her to do it, preferably with a time line. Thankfully he was willing to work with us. There were no more complaints.

I think there is a strong similarity between the two illustrations. Very few of us like to be told what to do! Sometimes we need assignments and invitations. Much lies in the tone of voice, the actual words and intentions. There is a time for ‘I invite you…’

His words live on

It was January 20, 1961. Newly inaugurated John Fitzgerald Kennedy stepped to the podium to give his first address as the 35th President of the United States. His words, carefully chosen and clearly spoken, challenged the nations of the world to “bear the burden of a long, twilight struggle…against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.” (For complete speech, see www. jfklibrary.org)

Then, he made three statements that have never been forgotten. “And so, my fellow Americans,” he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you— ask what you can do for your country…My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man…Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here (referring those seated behind him on the platform) the same high standards of strength and

sacrifice which we ask of you.”

Those words may have been spoken 64 years ago, but they are as relevant today as they have ever been. They demand radical changes from every Canadian and from every citizen of our world. We must accept, as fact, that we are in a fight for our very survival—and that we must work together to defeat tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself. That work must begin in our own lives, in our homes and families, on the streets where we live, at the places where we work, in the sacred spaces where we worship the God of our understanding, and in our communities, province and country.

God has assigned re -

sponsibility for beginning this process to those who believe in him and who have welcomed his Son, Jesus Christ into their lives as Redeemer and Lord. We must take seriously the promise God gave to King Solomon many years ago. “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) And we must do what these words call us to do, whether or not what we do is noticed, appreciated or has any immediate

impact on those around us in our community or in our nation.

We must humble ourselves before God, and allow him, by His Spirit, to show us where we have allowed selfishness and selfcenteredness to affect how we vote in local, provincial and federal elections; and what we ask of the governments we elect.

We must pray, and ask God to do what only he can do—to heal the divisions that exist in our land; to bring together indigenous and others, to break down the barriers of race, color and creed, and to help build a world in which all people are recognized as unique creations of an almighty God and accepted as people of value and worth.

We must turn from our evil ways; acknowledge our sinfulness and come to God in repentance and faith, knowing that he will have mercy and abundantly pardon.

This is what we can do for our country. This is how we can help heal our land and our world. This is what we must do, and I hope you will join me in saying: “And this I will do.”

Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up to the individuals who worked hard in making and putting up the new decorations around Neepawa. They are a beautiful and colourful addition to spruce up the town for the summer season.

Casper Wehrhahn

Neepawa, MB

Thumbs up to the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation for choosing the Neepawa Handi-Van for two of their grants. Thank you so much!

Neepawa Handi-Van

Thumbs up to yet another Filipino Heritage Month celebration. While I was unable to attend in person this year, I always enjoy seeing photos from the celebrations. Cheers to many more.

Casper Wehrhahn

Neepawa, MB

Thumbs up to all involved in installing Neepawa’s new pocket park, located beside Gill & Schmall Agencies. It is great to see more community spaces in Neepawa’s downtown that all can enjoy.

Casper Wehrhahn

Neepawa, MB

Letters

Tragedy is not the fault of good people

The recent submitted article about the Hwy 5 and Hwy 1 intersection (June 27 edition) compels me to add my two cents. The tragedy was deemed driver error so I am wondering why the government is taking responsibility for driver error.

New drivers are trained to drive to the conditions of the road. This intersection is wide open and is not hidden in any way so why not drive accordingly. The same types of intersections are seen at Hwy 1 and Hwy 34, also Hwy 1 and Hwy 16 where there have been fatalities at both of them.

The tragedy at Hwy 5 and Hwy 1 is certainly not the fault of the good people of Carberry. As a Handi-Van driver since 2008, I’m sure the driver of the HandiVan is paying a terrible price and would gladly trade places with any one of the deceased. The tragedy still lives in the minds of elderly riders to this day. Also, in the minds of Handi-Van drivers.

There is no amount of dollars or engineering that will solve human error as it only relates to humans. I can guarantee you that leaving the intersection the way it is invokes more driver caution than anything else and will always honour those who died in this tragedy.

John Lackey

Gladstone, MB

Thumbs down to our residents on Canada Day. Some people need to see Valley Optical or Dr. Gerard Murray, because they can’t read nor see the no parking signs at the Flats for Canada Day, and you also completely blocked off the fire hydrant. If you are too blind to see a fire hydrant then you shouldn’t be driving. And there is no excuse, there was a post on Facebook and a dozen “NO Parking” sandwich boards set up.

Joel Asselstine Neepawa, MB

Thumbs up to the town of Wellwood! They put on the best Canada Day Eve celebration!

Joel Asselstine Neepawa, MB

Thumbs down to Denis and the Town of Neepawa, for purchasing, yet again, 100s of trees with no plan to put them anywhere, other than on home owners lawns without permission! Every year we have to watch piles of trees coming into the town, only for us to watch them die. I don’t blame the workers, they’re out there working hard to plant them, when they could be doing other jobs. I blame the people in the office who makes these decisions. We all know Denis has his priorities upside down, it’s time for the residents to say we’ve had enough. Stop wasting our money!

John Lloyd Neepawa, MB

Processes were transparent and appropriate

Dear Editor,

The ArtsForward Board of Directors is writing in response to the letter printed in the June 27th edition of the Neepawa Banner & Press. The letter raised concerns about a perceived conflict of interest involving our staff, the Pride-themed sidewalk at ArtsForward, and the recognition of the Filipino community. We would like to clarify the facts:

There was no conflict of interest involving our Executive Director, who also serves as a Town Councillor. The request to paint the sidewalk was submitted independently by Neepawa & Area Pride to both the Town of Neepawa and the ArtsForward Board. It was not initiated by the Executive Director in either role. The process was transparent and followed the appropriate procedures at both the Town and ArtsForward Board level for approval.

Continued on Page 13

Would you like to send in a letter to the editor?

Email news@neepawabanner.com to submit yours. Letters are limited to approximately 400 words The Banner & Press reserves the right to edit letters to fit available space.

Neil Strohschein

out of helen’s kitchen Helen Drysdale Salad daze

Since there’s no shortage of fresh salad vegetables during the summer months it’s the perfect time to toss up a salad. These salad recipes are unique, fun and perfect for any summertime meal.

If you like dill pickles, you will love this creamy dill pickle pasta salad. A great side dish for summer, easy to make, and absolutely delicious.

Dill pickle pasta salad

4 cups uncooked rotini pasta

1 1/2 cup diced dill pickles

1/2 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup diced celery

2 cups diced cheddar cheese

2 Tbsp. fresh dill, plus more for garnish

Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup dill pickle juice

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. salt

Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain, rinse with cold water to cool the pasta, and drain again. Add the cooled pasta, pickles, onion, celery, cheese, and dill to a large bowl. Stir all the dressing ingredients together. Add the dressing to the pasta and stir to coat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to a day ahead. Garnish with more diced pickles and fresh dill, if you like.

This popular salad, the Cobb Salad originated in 1934 as a midnight snack for Robert Cobb at his Brown Derby Restaurant in Los Angeles. It has become a popular salad dish and is similar to a Chef’s Salad. It starts with a bed of green lettuce with rows of ingredients arranged over the top and served with a vinaigrette dressing. It calls for grilled chicken breasts but I use the whole BBQ chicken from the store and cut what I need. I you are not a fan of Blue cheese use Feta.

8 cups of chopped romaine

Cobb salad

2 chicken breasts, cooked and sliced

6-8 slices bacon, cooked and diced

4 hardboiled eggs, sliced or diced

1 large avocado, peeled, seeded and diced

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved crosswise

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/2 cup Blue cheese (or Feta)

Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. honey

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 clove minced garlic

1/2 tsp. black pepper

Place all the dressing ingredients into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously until well-blended. Set aside.

Place a bed of lettuce on a large serving platter. Then top with rows of chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and blue cheese.

Just before serving drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the salad, toss gently to coat all ingredients and serve immediately. Or leave arranged and let individuals toss their portions and put on their own dressing.

U-Pick And We Pick

StrAWberry & SASkAtoon berry FArm

Call 204-546-2601 or 204-572-8225

Find us on Instagram and Facebook. pfga.com/farm/plainview-berries/ FRESH BERRIES COMING EARLY JULY!

Thank you for your service

A familiar face down at the Chicken Chef (formerly Chicken Corral) in Neepawa has officially retired. Maxine Nagorski has worked at the business for 40 year, serving meals and smiles throughout that time. Congrats to you Max.

Bears that go a’courtin’

By Ken Kingdon Submitted

There are times when I struggle to find a topic for my monthly article, and June was shaping up to be such a time. Thankfully a couple sets of bears decided to pop up and do something I have never seen before. Interestingly, this past month is the first time I have ever seen bears engage in what I believe was courting, and not just once, but twice. Rae and I saw the first pair of potential amorous bears crossing the highway just south of Onanole. We spotted what we took to be the adult female first, sauntering across the highway at a leisurely pace. She was nice looking, with a rich shiny coat and what appeared to be a fairly large store of fat left over from last year. A real looker, you might say.

Following behind, after about 30 seconds, was a much larger and even healthier looking bear. Although we couldn’t see any dangly bits, it sure looked like a big male to us. He seemed very intent in following the smaller bear but appeared to be in no hurry as he too slowly crossed the highway. The tourists took full advantage of his leisurely attitude, snapping away at him like wildlife paparazzi.

I pondered aloud to Rae that given it was June, and

with no cubs in sight, that this might be a case of a pair of bears caught up in the mating season. We drove on, leaving the bears to themselves, along with about 20 gawking humans.

Then, about a week later, it happened again. And to make the event seem even weirder, we happened to be listening to a story on the CBC about a man riding his bike in a triathlon when he ran into a bear. Since both subjects, triathlons and bears, were of interest to us, we were listening intently when, on cue, we saw a bear walk into the front yard.

It was a nice sized adult, apparently travelling alone.

Like most of the bears that visit the yard, it wandered about, checking out the apple tree and Rae’s flowers. As we watched, though, it suddenly stopped, stared into the bush, and then made a slow, dignified retreat in the opposite direction.

This seemed odd, as we didn’t think the bear saw or heard us, and so we continued to watch it as it progressed around the house to the backyard. The bear disappeared behind the woodpile, and we didn’t give it too much more thought.

A few seconds later, though, we noticed that the bear had returned, and was in the process of climbing up one of our large spruce trees. Again, slightly weird

behavior. Then we noticed a second pair of ears peaking over the woodpile. These ears belonged to a much larger bear.

Given the size of these bears, we knew that this wasn’t a momma bear and her second-year cub… this was love. Or at least sex. The big bear, which we decided was a male, slowly approached the smaller bear, which we now assumed was a female. The female inched up the spruce tree, not in a panic, but more in a coy manner, with what we can only conclude was a bearish “come hither” look.

And the male bear did approach closer. The female now climbed from the tree onto the top of the adjacent woodpile. She looked down at the male. The next few minutes were a study of indecision.

The big bear seemed to want to get closer, standing up and sniffing at the small bear. It appeared that the female pushed a few pieces of firewood down at the male … not exactly aggressively, but more in the vein of “I like you, but keep your distance, buster.” After a certain point, the female gave a big yawn, displaying her very sharp and plentiful teeth, perhaps indicating that she wasn’t intimidated by the other bear.

Continued on Page 15

‘It’s just a recipe for disaster, honestly’

Planned intersection change sparks outrage in Carberry

By Eoin Devereux Neepawa Banner & Press

The road safety option that no one in Carberry wants, appears to be the one they’re getting along the Trans-Canada Highway. Local residents are not happy about that and they’re making sure the Province knows about it.

A little under 200 people from the community and surrounding area voiced their strong opposition last week to the proposed redesign for the intersection at Highway #5 and the Trans-Canada Highway. That exact location was the site of the 2023 multi-vehicle crash that killed 17 people.

During a public open house at Carberry Collegiate on Wednesday, June 25, the preferred redesign option, known as a Restricted Crossing U-turn (R-CUT) was announced. The RCUT would force drivers turning from Highway #5 to first turn right onto the Trans-Canada Highway, then travel nearly a kilometre, and then finally execute a U-turn to proceed in their intended direction. The R-CUT was one of three options under consideration to the proposed safety upgrade to the highway. It was selected because it has fewer points of conflict where vehicles heading in different directions might collide. This style of road system has become common in some parts of the United States. As well, an R-CUT was recently constructed northwest of Saskatoon.

Confusing and dangerous

But the meeting revealing the preferred choice, also revealed massive local frustration in the selection process. On this night, residents presented a petition to the Landmark Planning & Design, the consulting firm in charge of the safety review. In total, the petition contained more than 2,100 signatures of locals who were against the R-CUT plan. It elaborates on the complaints by stating the configuration is impractical for large vehicles, and will create a “confusing and dangerous situation along the roads,”

“It’s just a recipe for dis-

aster, honestly,” said Debra Steen, a local resident who along with Jordan Dickson helped to collect the signatures for a petition. Some attendees went even further in their assessment of the option, describing the proposal as a “fiasco” and accusing the province of pushing a cost-saving measure that fails to prioritize public safety.

The petition also made clear the preferred choice would be an overpass instead, which locals believe would allow traffic to move freely and safely without detours.

Along with the local residents, Agassiz MLA Jodie Byram also commented on the option selected.

“I am not in support of an R-CUT, where there isn’t community consensus and community support. We have school buses that are using that intersection. We will have new drivers driving to school at that same time harvest is happening which will all compromise the safety of every driver on the road using that intersection.”

Byram also expressed her belief that further data gathering is needed, especially during peak traffic times, such as harvest or during the spring.

The process is still ongoing

Earlier this year, the

province set aside $12 million to improve the intersection. Completion of a detailed design and the construction tender are expected to occur this fall. From there, construction is proposed for next summer, with normal traffic access expected to be in place before the winter of 2026.

There was a large gathering of concerned locals for the public meeting held on Wednesday, June 25, to discuss the preferred option for renovating the TransCanada Highway intersection. The option being suggested is known as an R-Cut design. Debra Steen (Above right picture), along with Jordan Dickson and others, have joined together to oppose the proposal.

PHOTOS BY EOIN DEVEREUX

a cap-tivating experience

Local students take the podium at graduation ceremonies

NEEPAWA

CARBERRY

GLADSTONE

MCCREARY

Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute

2025 Scholarship, Bursary and Award winners

Governor General’s

Bronze Medal

Rejean Lirasan

HyLife Foods

Academic Excellence Award

Rejean Lirasan ($1,000)

Neepawa Rotary Club Scholarship

Trent Tomoniko ($2,000)

Neepawa Kinsmen Club Scholarship

Lena Stadnyk ($1,000)

Neepawa Elks Club Scholarship

Makenna Sumner ($1,000)

Mrs. A.K. and Inspector J. Butcher Scholarship

Celine Cristobal ($3,685)

The Whitmore Family Scholarship

Anastasiia Artiukh ($1,505)

Lena Stadnyk ($1,505)

Pat and Marie Angers Scholarship

Trent Tomoniko ($2,000)

Royal Canadian Legion Ladies

Auxiliary Scholarship

Will Cabak ($1,200)

Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Health Care Field Award

Jomeru Untalan ($1,200)

Neepawa Area Health

Auxiliary Scholarship

Aemiel Garcia ($1,500)

Stride Credit Union Scholarship

Sarah Thomson ($1,000)

Beautiful Plains Teachers Association Scholarship

Teaching as a Career

Prestyn Phinney ($1,000)

Beautiful Plains Teachers

Association Scholarship

Post Secondary Studies

Rejean Lirasan ($1,000)

Chown Centennial Scholarship

Makenna Sumner ($1,000)

Candy Brown

Memorial Scholarship

Hailey Dennis ($1,000)

Municipality of North Cypress-Langford Scholarship

Ryanne Kasprick ($1,000)

Candy Brown

Memorial Scholarship

Hailey Dennis ($1,000)

NACI Safe Grad Scholarship

Ranzel Santos ($334)

Keisha Bunda ($334)

Ella Koshel ($334)

Airene Montemayor ($334)

Anastasiia Artiukh ($334)

St. James’ Anglican Church Trades Scholarship

Sammy Uyaivato ($1,000)

Jeff McCannell

Memorial Scholarship

Allison Beaumont ($1,220)

Carl McGregor

Memorial Scholarship

Chloe McLeod ($800)

Owens-Sumner

Memorial Scholarship

Cielo Manago ($1,080)

Betty-Ann Bremner

Memorial Scholarship

Paige Johnson ($850)

Apprenticeship Scholarship

Chloe McLeod ($1,000)

Dillan Neufeld Scholarship

Aemiel Garcia ($250)

Rosedale Centennial Scholarship

Lily Fraser ($500)

Town of Neepawa Scholarship

Rejean Lirasan ($500)

Matthew McConnell

Memorial Scholarship

Austin Michaluk ($500)

M.E. Osborne

Memorial Scholarship

Ezekiel Pascual ($500)

Joan and Ron Gray Scholarship for Caring and Service to Others

Chase Larsen ($500)

Keith Jordan

Memorial Scholarship

Addison McInstosh ($500)

Roy Lewis

Endowment Fund No recipient ($500)

Community Donor Award

Macey Kilburn ($500)

MNP LLP Scholarship

Rejean Lirasan ($500)

Beautiful Plains

Community Foundation

Youth Advisory Scholarship

Paige Johnson ($285)

Eden Community Scholarship No recipient ($290)

Yellowhead Roadrunners Scholarship

Chloe McLeod ($300)

Rick EJ Evans

Memorial Scholarship

Chloe McLeod ($300)

Brookdale Community Award of Merit

Hailey Dennis ($1,000)

Margaret Laurence

Literary Scholarship

August Saunders ($200)

Neepawa Lions Club Scholarship

Trish Torres ($200)

Treylin RainkieFlaming Memorial Scholarship

Rain Flaming ($1,150)

Maddix Wright ($1,150)

Prince of Wales

Lodge #14 Scholarship

Monique Malsi ($600)

John Philip Sousa Band Award

Macey Kilburn

Kinsmen Club

Profficiency Award

Haylee Butterfield

N.A.C.I. Tiger’s Athlete of the Year (Female)

Allison Beaumont

N.A.C.I. Tiger’s Athlete of the Year (Male) Mico Cabacungan

Congrats Class of 2025

A legacy of kindness and caring for Minnedosa

Florence Bold Memorial Spray Park officially opens on Canada Day

By Casper Wehrhahn Neepawa Banner & Press

Communities in the Neepawa Banner & Press coverage area helped celebrate the nation’s 158th birthday this past Tuesday. In one community however, there was a special addition to those celebrations. In Minnedosa, the community welcomed the opening of its brand new Florence Bold Memorial Spray Park.

Florence raised seven children and two grandchildren in Minnedosa, later moving to Victoria in 1968. The family’s tie to the spray park follows her passing in 2001, as her youngest son, the late Rodney (Rod) Bold, would bequeath the financial support to the Town of Minnedosa. These funds were donated for the purpose of building the Spray Park, commemorating his mother.

A life lived, a love shared

The opening of this brand new community feature officially got underway with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12:00 p.m., with members of the Bold family in attendance.

“Your legacy of kindness and caring is a gift to us all. And my Uncle Rod, the baby of the seven chil -

dren who made this wonderful park possible, was the most lovable, caring, carefree and adventurous man, someone I was proud to call my uncle today, and

every day,” said Yvette Hunt, granddaughter of Florence Bold. “Hereafter, as the children’s laughter rings out as they play here in this park that you made

possible. It celebrates not only the years you’ve lived,but the love you’ve shared.”

Minnedosa mayor Ken Cameron, who aided in

the ribbon cutting, also provided a few words.

“[It’s] extremely special to have this kind of day, to open a facility like this. Look at the kids already,

and to have that bequeath to us from the Bold family, just absolutely amazing,” said Cameron. “For them to do this for a community they used to live in and love coming back to. And you know, their goal was to make sure kids could have fun here. So that’s pretty special, in my mind, that they would think of Minnedosa”

Splash Park availability

This ribbon cutting marked a joyous end to the implementation of this long-term project, and a start to much enjoyment for the community and its visitors. According to available newspaper archives, work for the creation of the park began in 2023.

With the park now fully operational and officially open to the public, all are welcome to enjoy it during its hours of operation. The Florence Bold Memorial Spray Park is operational Monday to Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Appreciation is extended to the Bold family from the Town and Minnedosa Parks and Recreation for their kindness and generosity.

PHOTOS BY EOIN DEVEREUX

The official opening of the Florence Bold Memorial Spray Park was a grand occasion for Minnedosa on Canada Day.

Pictured above: A view of the new Spray Park as it appeared just before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Below, left: Yvette Hunt, granddaughter of Florence Bold, provided a few words during the opening festivities. Below, right: Following the ceremonial speeches, mayor Ken Cameron assisted members of the Bold family in cutting the ribbon.

PHOTO BY ROB WADDELL

While out on a hike near Kelwood, Rob Waddell met up with a young bear (pictured). Fortunately, the bear went on its way and didn’t bother the photographer.

Pictured above: Once the opening ceremonies were complete, all in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the Spray Park. Seen here is a portion of the crowd that was in attendance for the grand opening, and who enjoyed it afterwards.

Sendoff planned for one of our local World University athletes

Banner Staff

Neepawa Banner & Press

A special event has been arranged at the Yellowhead Centre for a local athlete preparing to compete on a global stage. A community barbecue will take place on Wednesday, July 10, as a send off to Neepawa’s own Daxx Turner. The event is serving as a fundraiser with all the money raised going to ‘support [Daxx’s] journey to success!’

Turner, along with fellow former NACI track athlete Lara Denbow, have been selected to compete at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Germany. The FISU Summer World University Games are staged every two years and are is the largest global multi-sports event for stu-

dent-athletes in the world.

Turner will not only be on hand for the event, and will also be spending the afternoon at the Community Day Camp held at the Yellowhead.

Turner competes in the triple jump and is a fourtime Canada West Champion, as well as a four-time National medalist.

As for our other local athlete, Lara Denbow earned her place at the World Games as a back-to-back national champion for Manitoba in the high jump. She was also a Canadian National Champion in high jump at the U16 and U18 levels, and a silver medalist in triple jump at U18 nationals.

Best of luck to both our local athletes in Germany

Santa Clara Baseball update

Submitted Santa Clara Baseball League

The Portage Padres and Carberry Royals were your Wednesday night winners as the season works into the home stretch.

Rory Manns was lights out for the Padres, as he threw a complete game two hit shutout to lead Portage to a 4-0 victory over the Neepawa Cubs. The Padres now move to 10-1-0, while the Cubs drops to 3-6-2. Meanwhile in Carberry, it must have been veteran night, because the senior boys were doing it all for the Royals. Eric Truscott picked up a complete game 5-3 victory over the Minnedosa Mavericks.

While the Royals only managed three hits all night, they were very opportunistic of a walk, and a pair of Maverick errors. Truscott singled, while Warren Birch had two singles and drove in three

McCreary’s Brady Turko picked in 2025 NHL Draft

By Joshua Jackson Neepawa Banner & Press

As a kid, many of us dream of playing in the National Hockey League, but for McCreary’s Brady Turko, that dream is becoming a reality.

The 17-year-old was selected in the seventh round, pick 200 of the NHL’s entry draft to the Anaheim Ducks, which took place on June 27 and 28 in Los Angeles, California.

Turko has been a member of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings for the past two seasons, amassing eight goals and 21 assists. Before his tenure in the WHL, Turko was a mainstay with the U18 AAA Brandon Wheat Kings adding 133 points with the club over 85 games. At the Telus Cup, Turko would score eight goals and three assists to help lead the team to silver. Turko’s selection was

a little bit unexpected, as he had not been on any of Central Scouting’s lists. In an interview with reporter Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun, Turko talked about dealing with that uncertainty.

“Everyone is a little uncertain,” Turko told the Sun. “You never know what can happen with the draft. I talked to a couple of teams and you just keep your hopes high. Luckily for me, it did work out and I’m grateful for the chance.”

Turko has already reported to the Duck’s 2025 Development Camp, which took place from June 30 to July 2. The camp consisted of off-ice workouts, skating and skills development.

Turko was not the first Brandon Wheat King to hear his name selected at the draft. Roger McQueen was also drafted by the Ducks 10th overall in the first round, and an-

runs for the Royals (4-5-2). For the Mavericks, Luke Gugin and Austin Taylor shared the pitching duties keeping the Royals off balance all night, but it wasn’t quite enough. Offensively for the Mavs (26-3), Brayden Stewart was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run, George McNeil was 2-for-4 with a double and a run, and Andrew Richards was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE BRANDON WHEAT KINGS 17-year-old forward Brady Turko has been selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2025 NHL entry Draft.

other Wheat King, Carter Klippenstein, was picked 123rd overall by the Minnesota Wild.

1,024

Personal

Crisis Pregnancy Centre

Winnipeg: Need to talk? Call our free help line, 1-800-6650570 or contact our Westman office: 204-727-6161

Notice

Alanon meetings currently being held at 342 Mountain Ave, Neepawa - Old Co-op Store. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Call 204-841-2192

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings currently being held at 342 Mountain Ave, Neepawa, Thursdays at 7 pm. Call Don 204-856-9072 or Debbi 204352-4065

Arden Hall, cap. 255. Park, camping and sports facilities, rink, curling ice, kitchen and lounge. Call 204-368-2202 Drug problem? Yellowhead Narcotics Anonymous meets Sundays at 7 pm, at the Minnedosa Town Hall basement.

Notice

Minnedosa Handivan 204868-8164 Mon-Fri 9:00-3:30

Neepawa Banner & Press offers full research and re-print services from our archives that go back to 1896. Additional copies of papers, $2 each depending on availability. Re-print of a page from past copies, $2 per page. Archival research, $25 per hour with a $10 minimum. Individual photos on photo paper $5 depending if we have a suitable original in our digital, print or photo archives. Ken Waddell, publisher

Livestock

Polled red yearling simmental bulls. Ready for you. Bruce Firby Minnedosa 204-867-2203

For Sale

Property For Sale Westbourne, MB

For Sale or Rent

Storage vans (semi trailers) for rent or sale. Anderson's 204-385-2685, 204-3852997 Gladstone

For Rent

Apartment for rent. Bri-Mont apartments, 331 Mountain Avenue. Phone 204-8414419 For Rent

Light housekeeping room for rent. Includes fridge, microwave, oven, washer, dryer and air conditioner. Shared shower and bath. Newly remodeled. Access to 32x8 walkout terrace. $65 nightly or $300 per month. Heritage home located in Laurier, MB. 1-204-447-3350

Coming Events

Join us at our 2nd Annual Farmer's Festival at Minnedosa's Museum & Heritage Village Saturday July 12 12:00 - 4:00. Antique tractors, music, concession, Face Painting, kid's train rides, cows, sheep, goats and more. Fundraiser Pie Auction for our General Store. Admission by donation.

Birnie Builders

Redi-Built

Birnie Builders

harold.birniebuilders@gmail.com

1,024

1,024 sq.ft. 2 Bedroom Home Including Appliances, Detached Double Garage, 100X140ft. lot, Immediate Possession. Private Sale,$89,000 Call 204-871-2421 For Appointment to View

Appointment to View

Auctions

Meyers Auctions & Appraisals. Call Brad at 368-2333. www.meyersauctions.com

Neepawa Dental

is currently seeking a Registered

Dental Hygienist

We are a small, locally owned practice in a freshly renovated space. Benefits include:

- Competitive Wage ($50-55/hr)

- Flexible schedule - work anywhere from 1-5 days a weekwhatever suits your schedule! No evenings or weekends required

- In-house dental plan

- Scrubs provided

- CPR training provided

- Reimbursement for licence fees

- Signing bonus/moving allowance available for more information e-mail: danieljzettler@gmail.com or text/call: 204-803-0402.

Wanted

FOODS

Industrial Plant Cleaner (NOC 65312)

Why join our team?

HyLife is a global leader in food processing, with a vision to be the best food company in the world. To achieve this, we are currently expanding our team and have exciting career opportunities at 623 Main St. Neepawa, MB. We are actively seeking to fill 10 positions.

The current starting wage is $22.20/hour with incremental increases to $23.55/hour based on tenure as per our Collective Agreement Quick Facts:

• Culturally diverse – employ people from all over the world

• Fully integrated facility –Feed Mills, Barns, Transportation, and Production Plant

• 2500+ employees worldwide

• We Care about our employees, communities, customers, animals, and our environment What we can offer you:

• Competitive Wage

• Vacation: 10 working days of paid vacation as per our collective bargaining agreement

• Comprehensive Benefits package – health coverage, dental plan, vision care, long-term disability, and pension plan

• Permanent full-time employment (74-80 hours per bi-weekly)

• PM Shift

• Full training, with genuine opportunities for career progression

• Employee Referral program - $500!

• Free parking

• Company events

• And more!!!!

Your duties may include:

• Cleaning and sanitizing butcher and slaughter production areas and everything in between to ensure top-quality food safety standards.

• Operating cleaning equipment like high-pressure hoses to clean production equipment.

• Using cleaning chemicals with respect and following Material Safety Data Sheets.

• Ensuring all Quality Assurance checks are performed.

• Maintaining a safe, clean, and organized work area throughout the facility.

• Collaborating as a team to meet tight deadlines, ensuring production floors operate on time.

We are looking for people who are:

• Fit and capable of working in a physically demanding role. Capable of bending, lifting, and climbing.

• Available to work an 8-hour Night Shift from MondayFriday, between 11:15 PM to 9:00 AM

• Capable of repetitive manual tasks and standing for long periods of time

• Capable of working in diverse environments, including exposure to varying temperatures, humidity, and odors

• Minimum of one (1) to seven (7) months experience in sanitation, or industrial cleaning, or heavy-duty cleaning

• Completion of Secondary school or equivalent experience

• Able to effectively communicate in English

• At least 18 years old to meet the minimum age requirement

HyLife is dedicated to promoting equal employment opportunities for all job applicants, including those who identify as a member of the following groups: Indigenous people, Newcomers to Canada, Older workers, Veterans, and Visible minorities.

Ways to apply: Online at http://hylife.com/careers/ or mail to PO Box 10,000, 623 Main St E, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0. Fax to: 204.476.3791 | Email to: jobs@hylife.com | In Person at 623 Main ST. E, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0

For inquiries contact: Phone: 204.476.3393

H yL ife has an accommodation process for employees with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation during your employment because of a disability, please contact Jobs@hylife.com. An HR representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis and our accommodation policy can be forwarded upon request.

Be a part of the HyLife experience

– your journey starts here!

We thank all applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted

Letter: The heart of what ArtsForward is

Continued from Page 5

We fully agree that the Filipino community deserves recognition. ArtsForward is proud to work closely with the Filipino community on many events and initiatives.

In June, both the Filipino and Pride flags were flown at ArtsForward to celebrate inclusivity and cultural pride. A second Filipino flag was also raised at the Riverbend Schoolhouse with permission from the

Wanted

FOODS

Hog Receiving Barn Worker (NOC85100)

Why join our team?

The current starting wage is $19.25/hour with incremental increases to $20.55/hour based on tenure

Quick Facts:

• Culturally diverse – employ people from all over the world

• Fully integrated facility –Feed Mills, Barns, Transportation, and Production Plant

• 2500+ employees worldwide

• We Care about our employees, communities, customers, animals, and our environment

What we can offer you:

• Competitive Wage

• Vacation: 10 working days of paid vacation

• Comprehensive Benefits package – health coverage, dental plan, vision care, long-term disability, and pension plan

• Permanent full-time employment (74-80 hours per bi-weekly)

• PM Shift Premium

• Full training, with genuine opportunities for career progression

• Employee Referral program - $500!

• Free parking

• Company events

• And more!!!!

Your duties may involve:

• Receiving and unloading hog deliveries.

• Sorting hogs into appropriate receiving pens.

• Ensuring humane and safe handling of hogs in our facility.

• Completing hog receiving documents to CFIA standards.

• Scraping trailers.

• Working outdoors and in a barn environment.

To excel in this role, you should possess:

• Respect for animal welfare, food safety, and workplace safety. Understanding of animal behavior

• Capable of working in diverse environments, including exposure to varying temperatures, humidity, and odors

• Minimum of one (1) to seven (7) months experience working with livestock

• Fit and capable of working in a physically demanding role. Capable of bending, lifting, and crawling

• Completion of Secondary school or equivalent experience

• Capable of repetitive manual tasks

• Able to effectively communicate in English

• At least 18 years old to meet the minimum age requirement

HyLife i s dedicated to promoting equal employment opportunities for all job applicants, including those who identify as a member of the following groups: Indigenous people, Newcomers to Canada, Older workers, Veterans, and Visible minorities.

Ways to apply:

Online at http://hylife.com/careers/ or mail to PO Box 10,000, 623 Main St E, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0. Fax to: 204.476.3791 | Email to: jobs@hylife.com |

In Person at 623 Main ST. E, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0

For inquiries contact: Phone: 204.476.3393

HyLife has an accommodation process for employees with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation during your employment because of a disability, please contact Jobs@hylife.com. An HR representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis and our accommodation policy can be forwarded upon request.

Be a part of the HyLife experience – your journey starts here!

We thank all applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted

FOODS

Industrial Butcher (NOC 94141)

Why join our team?

The current starting wage is $16.45/hour with incremental increases to $24.60/hour based on tenure as per our Collective Agreement

Quick Facts:

• Culturally diverse – employ people from all over the world

• Fully integrated facility –Feed Mills, Barns, Transportation, and Production Plant

• 2500+ employees worldwide

• We Care about our employees, communities, customers, animals, and our environment

What we can offer you:

• Competitive Wage

• Vacation: 10 working days of paid vacation as per our collective bargaining agreement

• Comprehensive Benefits package – health coverage, dental plan, vision care, long-term disability, and pension plan

• Permanent full-time employment (74-80 hours per bi-weekly)

• PM Shift Premium

• Full training, with genuine opportunities for career progression

• Employee Referral program - $500!

• Free parking

• Company events

• And more!!!!

Your duties may include:

• Slaughter, eviscerate, and mark hogs for further processing;

• Debone edible parts and remove inedible organs for parts;

• Cut pork carcasses into primal cuts for further processing, cutting, or packaging for local, national, and international premium markets.

We are looking for people who are:

• Fit and capable of working in a physically demanding role

• Capable of repetitive manual tasks and standing for long periods of time

• Open to working in colder/warmer environments

• Minimum of one (1) to seven (7) months experience in meat cutting or slaughter or completed a program in Industrial Meat cutting

• Completion of Secondary school or equivalent experience

• Able to effectively communicate in English

Ways to apply: Online at http://hylife.com/careers/ or mail to PO Box 10,000, 623 Main St E, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0. Fax to: 204.476.3791 | Email to: jobs@hylife.com |

In Person at 623 Main ST. E, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0

For inquiries contact: Phone: 204.476.3393

HyLife has an accommodation process for employees with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation during your employment because of a disability, please contact Jobs@hylife.com. An HR representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis and our accommodation policy can be forwarded upon request.

Be a part of the HyLife experience

– your journey starts here!

We thank all applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted

Town, further honouring the contributions of Filipino residents.

We are equally proud of our Executive Director, who was recently recognized by the Fil-Can Association with a Certificate of Appreciation for her ongoing support. We continue to foster a welcoming, safe, inclusive space for all individuals and groups. That is at the heart of what ArtsForward represents: a community hub for arts, culture, and connection in Neepawa and the surrounding area.

Respectfully, ArtsForward Board of Directors

Arena concerns

To my way of thinking the first step in the new rec centre project should be to decide on the building, list its priority components in order, make it public and stick with it. 1-Arena. 2-Hall. 3-Field house etc; It’s imperative for the long term that we use the funds available at the time to start building the designated priority components first and refuse to compromise on the integrity of these priorities. If there ever was a time in our history to never compromise the possible by settling for less, it’s now. To do less would be tragically out of sync with the new hope and pride in our community and country.

If the inflation calculator I used is correct then the $18 million it cost to build the Virden multi-purpose rec facility in 2011 would be equivalent to $25.7 million in 2025. This building has a community hall, a 1\8 mile walking track, office space, meeting rooms, canteen , a fitness centre and a hockey arena with 1,200 seats spread over both sides of the ice.

Niverville’s complex cost $19.3 million in 2021 which translates to $22.9 in 2025 using the same calculator. Niverville has a multicourt field house with a walking track, an indoor playground, a kitchen, a drama theatre, meeting rooms and a hockey facility with 1,000 seats on one side of the ice.

If these numbers are in the ballpark a facility based on the Virden model would cost $2.8 million more than the one in Niverville. There are two choices as I see it. 1- A Niverville type centre at the expense of a Virden style arena. OR 2- We could add the less expensive but absolutely legitimate components, and more, a little later down the road. This route would result in a much needed hall and an actual 1,200 seat arena, the flagship at the centre of them all, enhancing the functionality and prestige and pride in them all, today, twenty years from now, fifty years from now.

I don’t believe it is a stretch to say Neepawa could grow in population to somewhere north of 12,000 during the life of any new complex. Going forward that has to be the first consideration concerning priority-1. For comparisons sake, ask yourself if a 1,000 seat grandstand would be an adequate hockey facility for Portage La Prairie today? One thing for sure is that for every year we don’t build anything, the price goes up somewhere around half a million dollars. There’s a rumor Mark and Wab will be looking for things to build in the next couple of years. Not to mention my own urgency in the matter. I’m old!

P.S. The Town of Virden (pop 3,118) own, control and operate the Tundra Oil and Gas Centre as well as the swimming pool adjacent to it.

Ross McBride Neepawa, MB

Provincial summer student initiative continues to prove popular in Prairie Moutain Health

It’s summertime, and for some eager students, early exposure to health care careers can be a valuable experience that influences their future decisions. Discover Health Careers Manitoba (formerly the ‘Home for the Summer’ program) offers term positions to students within the health region to provide a ‘hands-on’ experience in clinical, hospital or healthcare site environments that apply to their areas of training. The program initially started with medical students and extends to nursing and allied healthcare students (including career areas like public/community health nursing and pharmacy). PMH and Shared Health cost share the initiative.

PMH offers 26 approved positions this year in Pharmacy, Primary Care, Mental Health, Therapy Services, Acute Care, Public Health, and Nutrition Services. For first and second-year medical

students, PMH has sponsored 10 positions in Neepawa, Virden, Deloraine and Brandon (in Brandon the areas include Anesthesia, Obstetrics-Gynecology, General Surgery, Psychiatry, Radiology, the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre, Nephrology, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology and Hospitalists).

Dr. Sydney McLaughlin is preparing to start her first year of Residency in Neepawa based out of the Beautiful Plains Medical Clinic. In 2022, she spent eight weeks through the program at the clinic in Neepawa. In 2023, she participated in various locations including Dauphin, Ste. Rose, Killarney and Neepawa. She spent time seeing patients with a preceptor in a variety of clinical situations, and appreciated opportunities to advance her education.

“I found the experience to be very rewarding and a great way to continue my learning over the summer in order to further prepare myself for my clerkship years

in medical school. ‘Home for the Summer’ gave me the opportunity to explore my career options while also earning an income that helped to pay for my medical school. This is something that I am very thankful I had the opportunity to pursue,” McLaughlin stated.

Students originate from the region and must be enrolled in a healthcare training program that fis a future need for PMH. The duration of sponsored positions varies depending on the type. Medical students’ positions are up to a maximum of six weeks. The maximum duration for nursing, allied health, and other positions is 10 weeks. The program requires an agreed-upon time commitment; students do not start or finih simultaneously.

Editor’s note: An expanded feature story on Dr. Sydney McLaughlin will appear in a future edition of the Neepawa Banner & Press.

Letter to the Editor: World policeman or world bully?

Under President Joe Biden, the U.S.A. acted in a conciliatory manor, but looked at the world as a place for American companies to exploit other parts of the world’s natural resources and producing goods for the American consumer with low valued labour with minimal benefits and poor working conditions

Under President Donald Trump, the U.S.A. has set up tariffs to protect American manufacturing in the non union states which have watched their jobs be exported to parts of the world with poor working conditions!

President Trump prefers

to act as a WORLD BULLY and wishes unquestionable power to lead the Americian policies and actions.

President Trump seems to admire other dictators that control their country without public scrutiny!

At times there is a battle of these views until the U.S.A. picks a fight with some other part of the World…then most views support the war and pull together as a nation!

How should the Canadian leader, Prime Minister Mark Carney en -

deavour to lead the world to choose peaceful discussions? Through the United Nations??

Robert F. Smith

Edrans MB

Don’t forget!

Communities throughout the Beautiful Plains made the most of the warm weather on Canada Day, participating in a variety of available activities. Seen here are some additional scenes from the festivities of the day, such as a bike parade, swimming, fie works, an obstacle course for kids and live music.

All of these and much more took place across the region!

Ken Kingdon: Discretion was the greater part of valour

Continued from Page 6

Or maybe she was just bored. The whole process seemed like the kind of thing you might expect in the school yard of a junior high school, when two kids like each other, but just don’t have the tools, or courage, to show how they really feel. The end result is a mix of bluster and fear offset by a yearning that builds and builds to a crescendo, only to fizzle out to nothing…

As such, the male wandered off, perhaps waiting for the sow bear to change her

mind. The female, obviously in no hurry to consummate the affair, slowly climbed down off of the woodpile and proceeded to make another lap around the house.

As she walked, she decided to work out some of her excess energy by delinquently beating up our lilac bushes and breaking off a few branches on our apple tree. Obviously, there was still some tension in the air!

But that wasn’t the only thing wafting in the wind. There must have been literal love in the air, in the form of pheromones.

Super Thrifty in Neepawa recently hosted a barbecue fundraiser.

Co-op and HyLife support Neepawa Salvation Army

KENOTICETHATtheAnnualGeneralMeetingofthe StrideCreditUnionwill be heldon dnesday,April12,2023at7:00pmCDTviavirtualmeans andviatelephone,forthefollowingpurposes:

e2022Financial ppointAuditors pproverecommendedBy-lawamendments eviewresultsofDirectorElections

members are required agmregistration@stridecu.ca by 5pm CDTonApril

Neepawa’s legacy and Canada Day

By Veronica Casigay Beautiful Plains Museum

We have just celebrated Canada Day and it’s the perfect time continue to celebrate Neepawa’s fascinating and significant contributions to Canadian history!

Neepawa, our beloved “Land of Plenty” has garnered national attention for years. From our renown Margaret Laurence to Shane Hnidy to Hylife, our pork-processing factory. Also, our participation in the wars to the iconic buildings and streets in our town, Neepawa has been a diamond in the rough for many years!

Neepawa’s involvement with the first World War, the second World War, our Prisoners of War, or to see interesting artillery, uniforms and medallions, please visit the Beautiful Plains Museum’s Military Exhibit!

There was a HyLife, Co-op and Salvation Army event held in Neepawa on June 13. The event was a food-based occasion at which over 400 meals were served, with all funds raised benefitting the Neepawa Salvation Army. A total of $2,212 was donated.

about the virtual General Meeting can be found at www.stridecu.ca.

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Dated this 23 day of March 2023. STRIDE CREDIT UNION

Order of theBoard of Directors

Pictured: Krystal Somers (Account Manager – Fresh Retail at Hylife), Amanda Naughton-Gale, and Ally Potrebka (Marketing & Member Relations Specialist at Neepawa-Gladstone Co-op)

Stride Credit Union kicked off summer with a fundraising BBQ in Carberry in support of the Tiny Taters Childcare Cooperative. Manitoba - June 30, 2025 - Stride Credit Union, a trusted financial cooperative serving the community since 2017, took to the Trans Canada highway on May 29th and headed to Carberry, Manitoba. While supporting the communities and the various initiatives within them is nothing new for the team at Stride Credit Union, this year, they added hosting fundraising BBQs to the schedule and decided to kick this off in Carberry with a fundraiser for the Tiny Taters Childcare Cooperative. This project will bring much needed childcare spaces to the town of Carberry and surrounding area.

Stride Credit Union was pleased to present a cheque for $1200 to the committee after the BBQ brought in $600 and Stride matched that with another $600 donation. Stride recognizes the importance of communities having quality childcare and encourages others to support these initiatives where possible.

Terri Roulette, VP of Brand and Marketing at Stride Credit Union noted, “Young families want to settle into communities that provide the services they need to be successful and the availability of childcare is definitely a top consideration for those with young children. Stride Credit Union has always been, and will continue to be, a strong supporter of community initiatives and with our connections and members in Carberry, it made sense for us to support the Tiny Taters Childcare Cooperative with a fundraising BBQ. Thank you to everyone who came out that day to support the event!”

For more information about Stride Credit Union and its commitment to putting members first, please visit stridecu.ca.

Media Contact: Nancy Funk Manager, Marketing and Communications nancy.funk@stridecu.ca 204-385-6194 stridecu.ca

Canada played a vital part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), and Neepawa was home to one of the training forces that supported the Allies in the Second World War. From1942 to 1944, the RCAF station here trained many international recruits, many getting their first taste of our crazy cold winters! The RCAF station closed on August 25, 1944, as the war ended. To learn more about

While you drive, bike, or take a walk along the streets, you might notice some interesting and iconic buildings! The buildings on Mountain Ave. especially thrived back in the day. The Museum itself was the Canadian National Railway (CNR) train station from 1902! Have you ever wondered about the past of these buildings, or would like to know more about the homes and stores from long ago? The Beautiful Plains Museum’s photo album and textbook library are full of answers and interesting photos!

If you are looking for a place to keep the kids engaged and having fun during the summertime, drop by the Museum! We are open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Starting in July, we’ll also be open on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.! We look forward to seeing you soon!