The place was packed for the Christmas Story and Concert on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Rapid City Community Church Concert.
Brad Laidlaw was the narrator of the story and after each piece of the story, a song would follow related to that part in the story.
The band included Denis Rondeau on guitar/vocals, Eddy Vanderdeen on bass guitar/vocals, Sheila Runions on piano, Steve van der Wal on drums, Amy Brown on violin, Lee Martel on violin, Eugene Burg on violin, Stan Runions on vocals, Donna Baker on vocals, and Linda Jager on vocals.
Mike Waddell brought the Christmas message to speak to the theme that was ‘He is the gift’.
Songs played included He is the Gift, Mary Did You Know, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Joseph’s Lullaby, Noel, Angels We Have Heard on High, Ave Maria, O Holy Night, Joy to the World, My Soul Magnifies The Lord, Silent Night, and the final song was Feliz Navidad.
next song.
Three violinists from B.U. School of Music joined the concert this year Amy Brown, Lee Martel and Eugene Burg.
Brad Laidlaw narrates the story of the first Christmas, while
band prepares for their
Buck Night Results for Rivers Banner 2025
Submitted By Donna Falkevitch
Rivers and Area Game and Fish Assoc. held their 28th annual Trophy Buck Night Dec 6th at Riverdale Community Centre filling both Redfern Hall and Behlen Lounge. More than 200 people attended the event to get heads scored, enjoy camaraderie of fellow hunters and swap stories of the hunt.
Fifty prize packages of high-end outdoors items were available to be won in the raffle which was held in Behlen Lounge. Thank you to our faithful donors for the amazing array of prizes. Many lucky winners went home happy with some great new items for themselves or gifts for the holidays. Delicious chili was also available in the Lounge. Thank you to Shelly Mom & Doug for cooking it up.
Over in Redfern Hall our MC Tim Gompf kept the evening rolling with the 3 card draws, the Head draw, STARS special raffle and promotion of the displays and RAGF club activities. Eighty-three heads were scored and entered into the head draw which was won by Ross Taylor of Brandon. Some great visual displays were set up by Brandon Home Building Centre, Trigger Finger Taxidermy and Lone Wolf Taxidermy.
The STARS ambulance special draw featured a Savage Axis 6.5 rifle donated by a club member. The winner of this draw was Jordan Arseneau of Cardale but we were all winners as $2,200 was donated to the life-saving STARS air ambulance organization! Deanne Peters won a basket of STARS promotional items as runner up. Thank you all for your generous donations to this most important group.
Brody Willis was the lucky winner of the first card draw featuring a Browning 30-06, with Tyler Bond of Kenton coming in second place and receiving $100 cash. Dayton Walker was the winner of a Browning BA270 in the second card draw with Isaac Wurtz receiving $100 runner up prize. In the final card draw of the evening Andreas won a shoulder mount donated by Lone Wolf Taxidermy of Rapid City.
Trophies were presented to the Junior winners.
WTD Typical, non-member- Boden Bond of Kenton with a score of 138 7/8
• WTD Non-Typical, non-member- Cael Mulligan with a score of 144 4/8
The following adults received beautiful engraved mugs for their category wins.
Ladies:
WTD Rifle member-Adrienne Beaudin of Rivers with a score of 130 3/8
WTD Rifle non-member- Amanda Theriault with a score of 139 6/8
WTD Muzzle member- Heather Lamb of Rivers with a score of 129 4/8
• WTD Muzzle non-member- Cheryl Bartel with a great score of 183 6/8
Archery:
WTD non-Typical, non-member- Kevin Gudz with a huge score of 193 1/8
This was the highest score of the evening and also the highest many have seen in quite some time. Congratulations Kevin!
Muzzle:
WTD non-Typical, non-member- Danny James of Alexander with a score of 163 5/8
Rifle:
• WTD Typical member- Kelvin Lamb of Rivers with a score of 152
WTD Typical, non-member- Kent Michie with a score of 166 6/8
WTD Non-Typical, non-member- Ross Taylor of Brandon with a score of 115 2/8
• WTD Non-Typical, non-member- Jesse Cords of Rivers with a good score of 174
Indigenous tags- This new category was won by Trisha Morgan with a score of 146 6/8
Mule Deer:
• Typical, non-member- Joshua Lancaster with a score of 124 7/8
Rivers and Area Game & Fish would like to thank all who attended, the 83 who brought in some spectacular head entries, those businesses and individuals who donated amazing prizes for the raffles, our hard-working volunteer members and the RCI Grad Class of 2026 who helped us out immensely! Hope to see you all next year at our 29th annual.
Winter’s here: RCMP urge Manitobans to plan ahead and stay safe in snowy, icy conditions
Submitted by MB RCMP Media Relations Unit
As the snow falls and temperatures plunge, Manitobans are being reminded to take the necessary precautions to remain safe when travelling out on the highway.
“Manitobans may feel like they know all about snow and ice, but the reality is that RCMP respond to a number of serious incidents on roadways, every winter that could have been prevented,” said Sgt. Mark Hume, of the RCMP North West Traffic Services. “We want everyone to stay safe this winter by being prepared, driving to conditions and respecting closed highways.”
Already this winter, there has been a number of vehicle collisions that can be attributed – at least partially – to motorists failing to drive to conditions. As cooler temperatures and snowy conditions continue to blow through the province, those incidents are likely to be compounded in the coming weeks with incidents involving snowmobiles.
There are a number of things Manitobans can do to stay safe:
• Check the forecast before heading out. Knowing what the weather is going to be like can better inform your decision-making, including whether you should be driving. Checking highway conditions at manitoba511.ca is a good idea if planning to hit the highway, as is making someone else aware of your travel plans.
• Make sure your vehicle is ready for winter. Equip your vehicle with winter tires, which provide improved traction. Keep an emergency kit in your trunk in case you run into a problem, such as booster cables and tow straps, blankets, nonperishable food, water and a shovel. Clear all snow and ice from your vehicle before you hit the road, as snow blowing off a roof can be a hazard to both yourself and other drivers. Make sure your cellphone is charged, in case you need to call someone for help.
• Drivers, slow down. Speed limits are set for ideal conditions, not winter weather. Slow down and
increase your following distance on icy or snowy roads. Be aware that conditions are generally just as slippery at 0 C than when it’s -20 C or below, and ice usually forms on bridges and overpasses before roads.
• Dress to the conditions. If you are heading out on the road during winter, be prepared. Ensure everyone in the vehicle has winter clothing in case your vehicle gets stuck or you need to pull over due to highway conditions.
• Drive sober and without distraction. No matter the time of year, never drive a vehicle, snowmobile, or ATV while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Before heading out, find a designated driver or plan to take public transit, a taxi or rideshare service home. Similarly, put your cellphone down when behind the wheel.
“Educating yourself on how best to prepare for severe winter conditions will go a long way towards ensuring your safety and wellbeing as well as the safety of those around you,” said Hume.
A huge crowd at Redfern Hall on Saturday, Dec. 6. The head table at the Buck Night event.
Archery winner Kevin Gudz with presenter Donna Falkevitch.
Junior winner Boden Bond with presenter Donna Falkevitch.
It is not the Kenton Cup, it is the Kenota Cup. It is called the Kenota cup because originally it was made up of men from Hamiota and Kenton. We took the first part of Kenton being KEN then added the last part of the name from Hamiota which is OTA.
Locally created crossword
Catholic Tea Raffle Winners 2025
Maddie Gillis Teddy Bear
Adrienne Beaudin Code Breaker, Tea Set
Chic Lindberg Towel Set & Food Containers
Marlene Hayhurst Snowman
Giselle Cudmore Precious Moments Nativity Scene
Elizabeth Gnitecki Gift Basket, Puzzle
Irene Ventnor Pet Bed, Gift Basket
Susan Citulsky Gift Basket, Glasses
Eleanor Childerhose Towel Set
Jocelyn Beever Table Cloth
Liliane Dupuis Candy Cane Ornament, Gift Basket
Kerry Mayor Scentsy Set
Donna Falkavitch Curling Hair Set, Gift Basket
Jeanne Ventnor Men’s Hair Products, Pizza Stone Set, 2 Gift Baskets
Elaine Henderson Curling Iron
Summer Gillis Gift Basket
Kody Dziver Gift Basket
Megan Lelonde Gnome Santa Claus
Riley Mason 1st Grocery Hamper
Sharlette Paddock 2nd Grocery Hamper
Cindy Mancier 3rd Grocery Hamper
Eva Schroeder Christmas Basket
We are grateful to all who attended our Catholic Family Tea on Nov 15, 2025.
Perspectives
By Chad Carpenter
Canada Pension Plan says Canada not worthy of investment
In a Shakespeare play there is a famous line that says “There’s something rotten in the State of Denmark. There’s also something rotten in the state of Canada and it centres around the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the state of investments in Canada.
CPP is supposed to invest in relatively safe investment so as to get a good return on the CPP funds and to give Canadians a solid pension income for life. The good people will tell you that they invest where they can get the best return for the CPP money.
In 2005, CPP invested 74 per cent in Canadian stocks, businesses etc. In 2025 it had dropped to 12 per cent. Take a guess where 47 per cent of the CPP money is invested now? The United States of America.
To me that is Something Rotten. It’s a crying shame that Canada has such a poor return on investments that our own CPP fund now only invests 12 per cent in Canada, 47 per cent in the US and 41 per cent in other parts of the world.
Right in the Centre
Ken Waddell
As a former top Finance Department official, Susan Peterson played a key role years ago in creating the stable Canada Pension Plan that we see today. But even she was surprised by the numbers.
A few weeks ago, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) revealed that 12 per cent of the CPP’s assets are invested in Canada — its lowest level ever. The largest chunk of its $714-billion fund, 47 per cent, is currently invested in the United States — its highest level ever. Peterson doesn’t think she’s the only one surprised. “If Canadians knew out of the $714 billion such a miniscule amount was invested in Canada, I
think they would say, whoa, what’s wrong with this picture.”
Further reading and searching of history shows that investments outside of Canada are far more profitable than ones in Canada. So from a strict investment point of view, it seems that it would make sense to not invest in Canada.
Somehow that seems so wrong to a Canadian mind like mine. Canada decries that we are so dependent on the US markets but would it not make sense that since Canada depends so heavily on US markets that we create the investment environment so that everybody, including CPP would want to invest in Canada.
Lately, I have been given to say that “Good enough isn’t good enough. Excellence should be our goal.”
If our own CPP fund won’t invest in Canada, why would anyone else invest. I welcome comments and insights on this question.
*Graph Source: Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Eliabeth Thompson.
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.
Homebodies
Rita Friesen
Jottings…
Part of my kitchen table staples is a piece of paper, well, a scattering of papers, a veritable mass of scattered papers! And on some of them are notations- things to do, people to call and ideas for future musings. This week the treasure trove of possible columns were written on a grocery sale bill. In light of the need to tidy up, I am going to address a number of topics and then I can discard the flyer rather than rewrite the list!
“The upside of the downside.” This was scribbled as I rejoiced in the reality that by not having a partner, there is no real need to regularly clear off the table, vacuum the floors, or tidy the living room. I have projects on the go, many projects, and they occupy space and create a friendly clutter. If my home was partner friendly I would be much more apt to spend time on house work. And meal prep. Too many of us know that a bowl of cold cereal and toast can just as well be supper as breakfast! Not having a partner has many downsides. Companionship for sure, for me it is a lack of clean, honest hugs. A hug with no agenda, simply to comfort and strengthen.
“Needle me this”. That was hastily penned when I found a straight pin in an almost finished quilt. This is one I caught. There was the year, many years ago, when my oldest son wanted his name brand snowmobile jacket double insulated. He had permission to ride from the farm at Riding Mountain, to family and friends in the Carman area, and he needed to be comfortably warm. So I carefully opened the back of his jacket, added an extra layer of fill, and sewed it back together. He noted a prickly feeling every once in a while on the drive down, and got his friend’s mother to check, and there, caught in the fiber fill was an errant straight pin! I believe one was also located in a gifted quilt… do I need to count the rascals?
“Dumping ground or safe haven?” That one I recorded on a day that I had received several calls of concern. It’s not like I have the answers to everything and everyone, and I don’t believe that people decide that they can dump their worries on me, so it must be, please let it be, because I am a safe place. I will listen, ask if there is anything they want, or expect, me to do. Most times they feel better having shared/dumped and then I get to process. A trouble shared is halved, and a joy shared is doubled?
“A dangerous amount of leisure time.” This was a quote from a sermon on David and his relationship with Bathseba. While other kings went to war David stayed home, got bored, and so it began. I wanted to look at that in light of my life, make the lesson applicable. An old adage I grew up with was: idle hands are the devil’s tools/playthings.
Reinforces my desire to live with a purpose!
Some of you readers are kind enough to ask how I come up with a thought every week. That’s how, take note of the moment, take notes on many moments!
From The Prairies to the Highlands Tour 204 Part 15
By Gerry Nolan Rivers Banner
ugust 18 was a day we had all been excited for. We were off to Edinburgh for a day of experiencing the famous Royal Mile, Fringe Festival and the Royal Military Tattoo. We boarded our bus at 11am and headed for Edinburgh. It took us about an hour before we reached the historic city.
Edinburgh Castle which is positioned on Castle Rock, Medieval Old Town, and elegant Georgian New Town, all add to the charm of this beautiful old city. It offers a rich history of world class festivals, sites like Arthur’s Seat, and the Royal Mile. Winding lanes in the Old Town contrast with the grand squares of the New Town. This is not for the “faint of heart”, as we walked and walked, and climbed hundreds of stairs! At least it felt like it!
We had a guide who toured us through the city and helped us maneuver the huge crowds that were enjoying the festivities. He left us at the castle, where we explored and found the magnificent views looking over the city from the top. We came across a medieval cannon called Mons Meg. It was the ultimate weapon of mass destruction in her day. She weighed six tons and could fire a three-hundred-and-thirty-pound stone ball up to two miles. She was positioned so the castle was protected from attack. Notice the cannon is referred to as female!
We spent the rest of the afternoon browsing the shops and having a pint or two at a pub, before having supper. Afterwards we headed to the Tattoo. Once we got seated, you could feel the excitement building. Torches were lit on the castle turrets, and the glow from them illuminated the walls and the night sky. Once the crowd was seated, a lone piper signaled
the start of the show.
The Royal Military Tattoo ran from August first to the twenty fifth this year. The annual event, which features performances by the British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International Military Bands, draws crowds from all over Scotland and many other countries.
The term Tattoo is derived from a seventeenth century Dutch phrase “doe den tap toe” (turn off the tap), a signal to the tavern owner each night, played by a regiment corps of drums, to turn off the taps of their kegs, so that the soldiers would retire at a reasonable hour.
When the pipers started coming out of the Castle’s main entrance, the site of their beautiful kilts and the haunting sounds of the pipes, made our hearts just skip several beats, then the tears started flowing! It was the most heart stopping experience! We were all “welly!”
The two-hour show was wonderful, with bands from Ukraine, Poland, The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team, The Top-Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland, and of course the Highland Dancers. When all the Pipers and bands started playing the
theme from Brave Heart, the tears were flowing again!
The show ended with fireworks soaring skyward from the top of the castle, while all the pipers played Scotland the Brave. Just Incredible!
We strolled the alleys and walkways back to our bus and headed back to Lady Well House. Some of us chatted about the show and some of us slept, as our emotions and hearts were overloaded with this beautiful country! How can we tear ourselves away in just a couple of days?
Next week, a visit to Lallybroch, a quaint restaurant, and our favorite pub!
Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Kenton Buck Night at Legion
By Jessica Coulter
Rivers Banner
On Saturday, Dec 6, Woodworth Legion hosted its annual buck night.
There were 35 deer heads submitted.
The winners were:
• Ladies Deer – Lisa Raven
• Youth Deer – Alex Airey
• Non-Typical Deer – Darrin Good
• Mule Deer – Cruz Dushnicky
• Typical Deer – Blain Lee
Thank-you to all our sponsors. It was a great night to visit with friends and fellow hunters at the Woodworth Legion in Kenton
Ingredients
Crust:
• 8 waffle cones, slightly crushed
• 1/2 cup roasted pistachios
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• cooking spray
Filling
• 1/4 cup salted roasted pistachios, plus chopped pistachios for garnish
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk ricotta
• 1 cup mascarpone cheese
• 1 cup unsifted powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips, plus more for garnish
• 2 teaspoons grated orange zest, plus more for garnish
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Directions
1. Gather all ingredients.
No-Bake Cannoli Pie
2. To make the crust: Pulse waffle cones, pistachios, and sugar in a food processor until mixture is finely ground, about 20 (1-second) pulses. Add butter, and pulse until mixture holds together when squeezed, about 10 (1-second) pulses, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.
3. Lightly coat a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate with cooking spray, and transfer waffle cone mixture to prepared pie plate, pressing evenly into bottom and up sides of pie plate. Freeze crust, uncovered, until set, about 15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, to make the filling: Finely chop pistachios, and transfer to a medium bowl. Add ricotta, mascarpone, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, orange zest, vanilla, and salt. Stir until combined and set aside at room temperature.
5. Beat heavy cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Spoon whipped cream into ricotta mixture and gently fold until just combined.
6. Spoon ricotta mixture into prepared Crust and spread in an even layer with a rubber spatula or offset spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate, uncovered, until set, at least 4 hours or up to 8 hours.
7. Remove pie from refrigerator; remove plastic wrap, and garnish with additional chopped pistachios, chocolate chips, and orange zest.
PHOTOS BY LESLIE BURKE
This no-bake cannoli pie tastes sweet, nutty and has lots of fresh citrus flavor from orange zest. It is made with a waffle cone crust, which taste similar to cannoli shells.
Cruz Dushnicky with his velvet mule.
Travis Hunter reads off the winners and sponsors of the Kenton Buck Night contest on Dec 6.
Grads raising funds for Grad 2026
By Megan Lelonde Grad Parent
Rivers Grad Class 2026 did a 50/50 raffle as a fundraiser to help off set costs towards their graduation. There were 600 tickets sold at $10 each. There are 15 grads this year, each grad was given a book of 20 tickets to start with, once they sold their book, they were encouraged to pick up more tickets from the fundraising committee. The raffle ran from early November until November 29.
The draw took place at the Rivers Legion Craft Sale. Kody Dziver one of the graduates and Megan Lelonde, grad parent, did the draw on live video for everyone to watch. The winner of the draw was Carla Swanson of Brandon.
The Rivers Grads 2026 have been fundraising a lot so far this year. They held a mini golf tournament at CJ’s Snack Shop at the lake in August. Sue and Lorne Green of CJ’s had specials on some of their food and ice cream with half the proceeds given to the grads. They had over ten teams participate in the tournament, and they gave out prizes to the top four teams. This event brought in $1700.
November the grads held a bottle drive. The students went around town and out to Chimo collecting and then a small group of students and parents sorted and counted the cans/ bottles over at Ron and Season Chiboraks home. The grads took them to the Rivers Super Thrifty the next day. They raised $1000 from the bottle drive.
The 12 Days of Christmas – But make it self care
Submitted
Prairie Mountain Health
Because nobody really wants 23 birds and a pear tree for Christmas…here are 12 gifts for your mental health instead. During the holidays we typically focus on the giving of gifts, food, time and energy and we are here to remind you that you need cared for too. So, let’s give ourselves the 12 Days of Christmas Self Care Edition.
These suggestions are bite-sized additions to your holiday schedule. So, whether you are squeezing it in or have time to fill, you can add them to your day. Here is an easy checklist you can print or save to your phone as a reminder to give yourself the best gift of all, your time and attention.
Day 1 – A Quiet Moment: Gift yourself 10 minutes of silence — no phone, no TV, no demands. Just breathe and be.
Day 2 – Gratitude: Write down 3 things you’re thankful for. They don’t need to be big. Finding small joys or “glimmers” are powerful.
Day 3 – Connection: Reach out to one person who fills your cup. A text, call, or coffee invite counts.
Day 4 – Movement: Give yourself 10–20 minutes of movement you enjoy such as stretching, yoga, walking, or dancing in the kitchen.
Day 5 – Get Outside: Spend a few minutes in fresh air. Look up at the sky. What can you notice around you?
Day 6 – Comfort: Enjoy a cozy comfort item such as a warm blanket, favourite socks, soft hoodie, or a warm drink.
Day 7 – Nourishment: Eat one meal or snack on purpose — not rushed, not distracted, not skipped.
Day 8 – Creativity: Do something creative for 10 minutes like colouring, baking, crafting, writing, music, or decorating.
Day 9 – Boundaries: Say no to something that drains you or delegate a task that doesn’t need to be yours.
Sitting and reading a book is good for your health.
Day 10 – Laughter: Watch, read, or do something that makes you laugh. Humour is a great form of medicine.
Day 11 – Declutter Something Small: Start small with an area like your junk drawer, purse, nightstand and reclaim it.
Day 12 – Celebration of You: Write down 3 things
you are proud of from this year. No matter how big or small, they all count.
The holidays can be full, loud, and demanding or slow, quiet and lonely. These 12 gifts are reminders that your mental health matters too. You are worth time, care, comfort, and rest.
Megan Lelonde presented winner Carla Swanson and her two kids, from Brandon, a prize of $3000.
Westman Communications Group announces 2026 Board of Directors
By Brandi Crowe Marketing Manager
Brandon, MB – Westman Communications Group (WCG) has appointed its 2026 Board of Directors. Announced at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 29, the 2026 Board of Directors will comprise 11 members, including four new appointees.
WCG members democratically elect the Board of Directors, which consists of representatives from across the communities it serves. This year’s new appointees include Brent Ewasiuk (Forrest), Gillian Halwas (Inglis), and Chris Sobchuk (Brandon) (re-elected) as Board Directors, and Tamra Rapsky (Minnedosa) as Treasurer.
Returning members include Dan Robertson (Brandon) as Board Chair, Savaughn Peddle-Hastings (Souris) as 1st Vice Chair, Mike Brolund (Brandon) as 2nd Vice Chair, Gail Janz (Brandon) as Secretary, and returning as Board Directors are Dave Mahoney (Brandon), Terry McLenehan (Minnedosa), and Lorne Zacharias (Elm Creek).
“I’d like to congratulate and warmly welcome our 2026 Board of Directors,” said WCG President & CEO
Holiday Eating
By Brittney Bartecki and Chantal Morais PMH Registered Dietitians
To many, the holidays are about food, fun, and celebrating. However, some come to dread the holidays because of the guilt they feel about indulging in favourite festive foods. This guilt is called food shame, and it is common.
Christmas cookies
Here are 4 tips to help you feel less guilty while eating your holiday favourites
Be Mindful – Pay attention to hunger and fullness. This can empower you to make healthy choices and allow for more enjoyment and appreciation of the food. Be present with the food and take time to enjoy it whether alone or with your family and friends. Nourish yourself – Eat satisfying foods regularly throughout the day. This includes short (carbs) and long (protein, fat) energy foods. Include a variety of carbs, protein, fat, fibre, and vitamins and minerals. This helps maintain your body’s energy and mood levels. This also prevents extreme hunger or binging later in the day.
Be kind to yourself – Choose nourishing food while allowing your favourite foods without guilt. We eat different foods for different reasons, and this is normal and okay.
Keep moving – Move in a way that you enjoy, involve your friends or family if you wish. Fresh air is great if it is even for a few minutes.
Remember, dieting and restricting food intake can
Bud Keys. “The Board, democratically elected by our members, reflects the diverse communities we serve across the Westman region. This group of 11 community leaders plays a critical role in providing strategic direction. We look forward to working closely with them to ensure WCG continues to evolve and deliver exceptional value to all our members.”
For more information on WCG’s Board of Directors, visit westmancom.com/about-us/company-profile/ board-of-directors.
lead to eating more than you intended. Be gentle with yourself as you navigate the endless messaging of needing to control your food intake. Take time and enjoy all your favourite flavours of the holiday season!
About Westman Communications Group Westman Communications Group (WCG) is a member-owned cooperative operating broadband systems across Manitoba. WCG is an industry leader in communications, offering fibre-powered Internet, IPTV and Phone services to residents and businesses in the region. WCG remains strongly committed to delivering value to its members and the communities it serves. Visit www.westmancom.com for more information.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Meet the new team.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Job Description:
Working under the supervision of the Public Works Supervisor of the R.M. of Oakview, the primary duties will include assisting with the safe and effective operation of all water and wastewater operations; and other duties as described by the R.M. of Oakview.
Applicants Must:
• Have the ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Possess a valid Class 5 Driver’s License
• Have the ability to operate and maintain a variety of municipal equipment
• Have the ability to work in Rapid City, Oak River or Cardale
• Possess or the ability to obtain a Level 1 classification Manitoba Water Certificate
Please submit a resume, a cover letter that includes a copy of a Driver’s Abstract to the R.M. of Oakview municipal offices at Rapid City or Oak River by Monday, December 22, 2025 at 12:00 noon. Resumes may be reviewed as soon as December 15, 2025.
A detailed list of duties can be found at www.rmofoakview.ca or by contacting the following:
Thank you to all applicants for their interest in this position, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
An area full of recreational opportunities, parks, lakes, cultural events, a sense of community and much more! CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
RIVERS & HAMIOTA Health Facilities
Physiotherapist (Rivers) Part Time
Dietary Aides
Casual positions
Nurse Practitioner – Registered Dietitian (Hamiota) Part Time position
JOIN THE HEALTH CARE TEAM! APPLY TODAY!
www.prairiemountainhealth.ca, click on Careers
An excellent health care benefit package that includes but limited to health & dental benefits, pension plan & a health spending account.
We thank all applicants in advance for their interest in Prairie Mountain Health however only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. These positions are subject to a Criminal Record Check (including Vulnerable Sector), Adult Abuse Registry Check, and a Child Abuse Registry Check. The successful applicant will be responsible for any services charges incurred.
The family of the late Della Butler wishes to thank all who reached out with cards, flowers, and words of sympathy. Your thoughtfulness has provided comfort and strength.
Sincerely, Jim, Dustin, and Kristin.
Land for Sale by Tender
RM of Riverdale Rivers, Manitoba approx. total of 847 cultivated acres for rent.
Consisting of:
SW 22-12-22 field 102.5 acres
SE 22-12-22 field 92.2 acres
NW 24-12W1 field 47.6 acres
SW 24-12-22 field 22.6 acres
SE 24-12-22 field 257.3 acres
NE 24-12-22 field 94.2 acres
NE 24-12-22 field 11.3 acres
N ½ 19-12-21 field 238.3 acres
- Aeriation bins and bins - 3 year term, will consider longer term
Tenders to be submitted by January, 2026
Highest tender not necessarily accepted.
Please e-mail tenders to: marianneparvais@gmail.com or by Mail: Box 85, Holland, MB, R0G 0X0
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URGENT PRESS RELEASES - Have a newsworthy item to announce? An exciting change in operations? Though we cannot guarantee publication, MCNA will get the information into the right hands for ONLY $35.00 + GST/HST. Call MCNA (204) 947-1691 for more information. See www.mcna.com under the
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About three weeks ago I was watching a game between the Dallas Stars and the New York Islanders. The New York Islanders were winning 3-1 with 22 seconds left in the game. The puck had been shot into the New York end zone and Alexander Romanov was ahead of Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars. As both players were approaching the goal line in the New York end zone, Mikko Rantanen cross checked Alexander Romanov into the boards from behind. As a result of this play the officials assessed Mikko Rantanen a 2-minute minor penalty and a game misconduct. The player safety department of the NHL headed up by George Parros reviewed the play the next day and decided there would be no fine or suspension for Mikko Rantanen.
The next night the Dallas Stars are playing the Calgary Flames in Calgary. Mikko Rantanen cross checks Frank Coronato into the boards from behind who suffers lacera-
tions to his face, especially around the nose area. The officials assess Mikko Rantanen a 5-minute penalty for boarding and a game misconduct. Correct call!
On the play in Calgary
Jonathon Huberdeau goes after Mikko Rantanen and there is a bit of a fight. Not much of a fight but still a fight. The Calgary player gets a 2-minute instigator penalty,5 for fighting and a game misconduct. Mikko Rantanen gets 5-minute for boarding penalty and a game misconduct. Calgary ended up short handed for 2 minutes on this play. BS as far as I am concerned.
The next day, the Player Safety department of the NHL head George Parros suspended Mikko Rantanen for 1 game. Wow, big suspension. What do you think?
Well, it turns out the Calgary player who was hit from behind into the boards is okay and actually came back and played the remainder of the game after he got stitched up. Or is he okay?
Alexander Romanov who was cross checked from behind by Mikko Rantanen was not so lucky. He is out
Ref Memories
Gerry Nolan Ref to writer
One thing I used to do was evaluate other officials. Before the game in the dressing room I would go over some of the things I was looking for from that individual. One question I always asked was, what is fair? An example was this is, if your opponent punches you in the face, how would you feel about that? The answer was usually, I would want to hit him back! Good! That is the answer I want to hear because I want you to call the original penalty not the retaliation. Retaliation can still be a penalty, but you should call the first
for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury so bad, there is the possibility he may never play again!
Player safety is laughable. It is a joke! George Parros and Gary Bettman are a joke. I have wondered why this is allowed to happen. What recourse does an injured player have? How can those officials in the New York game look in the mirror the next day and say, well we assessed a penalty. They clearly should have assessed Mikko Rantanen a match penalty which calls for automatic suspension. Instead, they call a minor, no suspension. The next game a major is called, and Mikko Rantanen gets a 1 game suspension. Now let’s turn the tables and it is Mikko Rantanen who gets drilled from behind into the boards and suffers an injury, be it career ending or otherwise. Do you think the player or players who would hit him would get off this lucky. I do not think so. Where is the accountability for the player safety department? I guess it will end up in court some day when a player actually dies on the ice!
just shaken up and would be fine.
DeCorby’s breakout season fueling Jets’ early success
By Robin Wark Rivers Banner
In his second senior season, Luke DeCorby has developed into a prime point producer for the Rivers Jets.
As of Dec. 6, the Binscarth product led the Tiger Hills Hockey League team in scoring with 21 points in eight games. He was tied for the Jets’ lead in goals with Kaelen Huibers at nine. With 12 assists, DeCorby was knotted with Riley Shamray for the team lead.
“Luke is so smart, he sees the ice well, and isn’t afraid to make plays,” Rivers coach Riley Lamb said. “He’s made a big jump here in his second season playing senior. He seems a lot more comfortable. He’s been a big part of our success early on.”
On Dec. 5, DeCorby scored as the Jets handed the Minnedosa Bombers their first loss of the THHL season. Minnedosa fell to 6-1-0-0. The Rivers team improved its record to 8-10-0. The Jets will play in Virden on Dec. 12.
DeCorby joined the Rivers team last season after captaining the Red Lake (Ont.) Miners in the Superior International Junior Hockey League. In his first senior campaign, DeCorby recorded nine goals, eight assists and 17 points in 15 games. This season, he has already equalled his goal output from 2024-2025 and surpassed his assist and point totals.
“I’ve been lucky enough that whoever I give the puck to ends up scoring, it seems,” DeCorby said. “My teammates and linemates make it super easy to produce. Finally, I think I’m just having so much fun on the ice, it’s leading to success on the scoresheet.”
He has enjoyed his time playing for the Jets. DeCorby said:
“I love playing for the Jets because of the group of guys. Just being in the room and hanging out with all the guys is unreal. It is so much fun coming to the rink and playing for the guys. The fans and community support we have also are a blast to play
in front of.”
Jets 4, Bombers 2 Two third-period goals on Dec. 5 helped the Jets to a victory over the visiting Bombers. With just over a minute gone in the final frame, Riley Boles scored what would end up being the game-winning goal to make the score 3-1. About a minute and a half later, teammate Braden Clarke added a goal. Victor Lamb scored on a power play for Minnedosa at the 15:28 mark, but the Bombers could not get closer. Things were physical in the third period with 28 infractions called.
In the first period, the Jets’ Layton Veitch scored to make it 1-0 for the hosts. DeCorby made it 2-0 for Rivers in the second period. In the final three minutes of the frame, a Logan Robinson goal got the Bombers on the scoresheet.
In net, the Jets’ Layne Anderson earned the win with 29 saves. Devon Fordyce stopped 24 shots for Minnedosa. Dylan Thiessen had two assists for Rivers.
one the original. Prepare yourself by going over this in your mind before you go on the ice. In fact, think about this during the day before you go to the rink. Have a plan and stick to it. One night in a game, a player that I was officiating got body checked from the side into the boards. The hit was hard and I knew the player getting hit hadseen it coming. As I said it was a hard hit so I gave the player who did the checking a minor penalty for boarding. It turned out the player that got hit, was injured on the play. I thought he was
The next day the team of the injured player called me and told me that the player who was hit was injured much worse than I thought and that I should have been handing out a major penalty and a game misconduct. Well, the game is over and I cannot do anything about that. I felt bad for the injured player and went over and over it again in my mind. Was it a major penalty? How did the hit cause him to be injured. The injured player had a concussion.
I felt bad for him being injured and it bothered me. Was I game ready? Was I properly prepared for the game? What was going on before the big hit? Had I missed something earlier on the ice that would have prevented the player from getting injured?
These were some of the questions I asked myself after getting the phone call about the player being injured. After some days of
thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that the hit I seen probably was a minor penalty as maybe he had already had a concussion from a previous hit or even from the game previously. I went to his teams next game and he was playing? I thought to myself well, I am glad he is alright! So, what was the purpose of the team calling me to tell me that their player was injured? Never did figure that out. Maybe, just maybe they were trying to get into my head as I had another game involving them coming up. Well, that did not work and I told the individual who had called me and was also a player on the same team that for all the problems he had caused me over the course of the last few day’s, that he should have his head on a swivel for this game. I probably will not be calling any penalties on the opposition for hitting him, giving him the lumber during the game. Now I am in your head, I hope you enjoy the evening!
Hamiota Huskies
By Gerry Nolan Rivers Banner
The Hamiota Huskies of the Westman High school Hockey league dropped a pair of games this past week. Both games were close right to the end, but they came out on the short end of those contests.
On December 1 the team lost 5-4 to the Minnedosa Chancellors. Minnedosa led 2-0 after the first period but the Huskies came roaring back in the second period scoring 3 times to the Chancellors 1 goal, so they were tied going into the third period. Minnedosa outscored the Huskies 2-1 to seal the victory.
Point getters for the Huskies were Duncan McLean with 2 goals and 1 assist, Sam Rivas with a goal and an assist. Harlen Bridges also scored a goal. Assists were credited to Aaron Roles with two and Carter Rozdeba with 1. It
was a tough loss to be sure. On December 6, the Huskies travelled to Boissevain to take on the Broncos and came up a little short losing 7-5. Scoring for Hamiota were Clay Munz, Sam Rivas, Harlen Bridges, Nash MvMaster and Carted Rozdeba who scored a goal and had a pair of assists. Other assists went to Reid Hutchins, Chase Airey, Kirk Bayes, Kevin Therrien, Corban Muntz and Duncan McLean.
The Huskies with the two losses slide down into ninth place with a 5-win 3 loss record.
The next game for the team is the Vincent Massey Vikings in Brandon, and the next home game is December 14th. Best Wishes for the boys in the next couple of games to halt the mini losing streak. Folks come out and cheer the boys on and support the team!
Holiday Plants
Submitted By Patricia Hanbidge
It is hard to believe that we are almost to the end of 2025! ‘Tis the season to adorn our homes with beautiful living plants. What a wonderful way to help winter become more bearable. After all, when it is -40 C outside, what better thing to do than stay inside where it is warm and enjoy the splendor of beautiful plants.
One of the nicest plants to grow is the amaryllis. This bold and beautiful plant is so easy to grow that even those of us with the brownest thumbs can manage to be rewarded with spectacular blooms. Simply pot up the bulb, put it in a sunny spot and water and feed it as you would your other tropical plants. Once the bloom is finished you can cut off the flower stock and continue to water and fertilize the plant for a period of months. This can ensure that the plant recharges the bulb for another year of spectacular blooms. Once it is warm enough for tropical outside, set the plant in a shady corner of your garden which is out of the rain. The leaves will yellow and when they have died off, harvest the bulb and keep it in a cool dry place until you begin to see growth. When you see growth, pot it up and enjoy another year of bloom.
The Christmas Cactus is another plant that can grace your home during the holiday season with the first of many seasons of blooms. It is what is termed a “short-day” plant which simply means that it responds to decreased day length of our winter days by initiating bloom. My Christmas Cactus is literally covered in blooms right now which is so appreciated when it is so cold and white outside. This plant is another easy keeper that with a small amount of care will keep blooming for years to come. Water thoroughly when the service of the soil feels dry and keep it in
bright light. Ornamental peppers are fun and festive and bring another style of bloom to your home. The plant will produce an abundance of peppers that are first green, turning white, purple, orange and finally a brilliant red. It is a great short term plant as you often will get every colour of pepper on the plant at the same time. They take little care and don’t mind being a little bit dry – an ideal thing when our humidity is at an all-time low. They are unfortunately not a plant to keep for years but are generally discarded once the peppers are finished.
Another short-term plant is the Bromeliad. These exotic looking plants are sure to bring an impact to any holiday events you might be hosting in your home. They thrive in lower light environments and take very little care. They should be watered about once a week. There is one small difference in the care of bromeliads in comparison to other tropicals. The foliage forms a rosette in the centre of the plant which forms a funnel which should always be filled with water.
May your holiday season be filled with flowers, festivities and happiness.
Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at growyourfuture@gmail.com on facebook @ orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort.
There are countless other plants that can be purchased for this holiday season. Most should be considered short-term plant and can be enjoyed for a while before making their way to your compost!
Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW… https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?
Ornamental peppers turning white, purple, orange and finally a brilliant red.
