If you’re still pondering new year’s resolutions, a good one for 2017 would be spend more time learning more about our wonderful country’s history, geography, culture and its innumerable accomplishments. 2017 marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation. It’s a year for plenty of parties, festivals, and commemorations. Canadian agriculture is reaching an important milestone of
Happy anniversary, Canada — and canola!
This is a year to celebrate our own ‘Made in Canada’ crop
Four-year rule for TFWs tossed out
Government is also committing to develop pathways to permanent residency for eligible applicants among TFWs
Federal officials recently announced that temporary foreign workers (TFWs) will no longer be required to leave Canada after four years’ employment. The government will also begin paving the way for more to remain in Canada permanently. The ‘cumulative duration’ or ‘four-in, four-out rule,’ was a requirement that these workers could only work here four years
Tiny store specializes in timeless toys
The Village Toy Shop in Chortitz south of Winkler, is a popular place to shop at Christmas — and year round — among families looking for timeless, top-quality toys
Jake Suderman remembers the time one of his young customers thought he really might be you-know-who. “She was maybe two years old, and she kept walking by the counter and looking up at me,” he recalls. “All of a sudden she says ‘are you Santa Claus?’” No, he was not, he politely told her. She
Snowstorm keeps many — but not all — away from 41st MCDA AGM
Strategic plan, funding needs were discussed and ideas exchanged during smaller-than-planned MCDA meeting in Brandon Dec. 6 to 8
A massive snowstorm kept away nearly half the delegates — about 160 — trying to travel to Brandon for the Manitoba Conservation District Association’s annual meeting, which was held from Dec. 6-8. Numerous speakers also cancelled, but that resulted in some delegates successfully coaxed into taking their place, giving the event a new local tone. MCDA
Farm-based dry dams to help reduce downstream flooding
Intermountain Conservation District built two dry dams in 2016 on a Keld-area farm that will hold water temporarily on farmland – the landowner sees gains from doing so
Road washouts, soil erosion and other water-related damage are nothing new to any municipality, but some parts of Manitoba are especially vulnerable. Those living and farming around Riding Mountain National Park are all too familiar with the kind of havoc water rushing downstream creates. With the steepest slopes in the province in their region, Inter-Mountain
Specialty cheese maker exemplifies robust organic sector in Quebec
The farm is also one of the few to maintain the Quebec tradition of producing cheese from raw milk
During the summer, Daniel Gosselin’s and Suzanne Dufresne’s cows graze on pastures seeded to more than a dozen carefully chosen flowering plants. In winter, they move back indoors to a warm, spacious barn and switch over to a diet of dried fodder. The cows’ seasonal diet is the secret ingredient imparting the distinctive flavours of
Funds for libraries will be key talking point, say public library advocates
Provincial library policies have changed little in 30 years, says Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Rochelle Squires
A province-wide review of library services is being welcomed by library advocates. They see an opportunity to draw attention to the financial struggles facing libraries, where funding has been flat since 2004. Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Rochelle Squires announced a full program and policy review in late November, noting provincial policies have also changed
ARBI drafting long-term work plan for Assiniboine basin
New Framework for Watershed Stewardship will help track progress
The Assiniboine River Basin Initiative (ARBI) has produced a draft plan that lays out what partner organizations hope to achieve for better basin-wide management — and how to go about it. ARBI presented the draft document at its third annual general meeting here last month, asking member organizations for feedback. Called the Framework for Watershed
Syrup-titiously delicious
Maple syrup is good for our precarious planet’s forests too
Some grumble when the snow arrives, but not members of the Pumpkin Creek Ski Club at Roseisle. They rejoice, naturally. They also start leaving treats on members’ doorsteps — cans of pure maple syrup, sold as club fundraisers. Those cute little cans signal the start of ski season, and time to enjoy hearty breakfasts of
Municipalities press for a night hunting ban: AMM
Minister of sustainable development met for an hour with 16 leaders from western Manitoba following Ministerial Forum at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities convention in Winnipeg last week
Scott Phillips didn’t mince words voicing his frustration at last week’s municipal convention about the night hunting that continues unabated in rural Manitoba. “Are you going to ban night hunting and are you going to do it right now?” the councillor from the RM of Sifton at Oak Lake asked an assembled provincial cabinet, during
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
