Dauphin’s Countryfest is getting a one-time $500,000 grant from the Manitoba government. Premier Wab Kinew says with U.S. tariffs increasingly impacting Manitobans, it’s important to preserve organizations here at home that create economic activity, drive tourism and support culture. Countryfest runs from June 26th to the 29th.
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Now that the flow of Canadians driving across the border to visit the U.S. has dried up, the owner of Emerson’s duty-free says the family business is at risk of shutting down. Simon Resch is hoping for some financial relief from the federal government. The store is a big employer in the town, but since February, Resch says he’s had to lay-off five full-time workers.
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During a two-day visit by a delegation of European Union diplomats this week, premier Wab Kinew raised the idea of a second port on Hudson Bay. The 18 member delegation was in Manitoba looking to forge stronger links
with the province. Another reason for a building second port is that increased shipping from the existing port of Churchill could disrupt beluga whale mating season.
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The main federal party leaders were campaigning in the Montreal area Tuesday. The Liberals Mark Carney pitched a new training benefit for mid-career workers – the Conservatives Pierre Poilievre promised to protect seniors from scams – and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he’d bring back the proposed increase to the capital gains tax to fund Pharmacare, bring in rent controls and a grocery price cap. Election day is April 28th.
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Downtown Brandon’s Blue Door drop-in centre on 9th Street is closing permanently on Thursday. The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, which operates the centre, cites rising safety issues and operational challenges in making the decision. The centre has been a safe haven for the city’s homeless since 2021.
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Brandon fire crews were called to a garage fire in the downtown Tuesday afternoon. The blaze destroyed a garage in the alley south of Princess Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets. The fire also damaged a hydro pole and the walls of adjacent buildings. No-one was hurt and the cause is still under investigation.
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A 28-year-old Calgary man, who had recently moved to Vancouver, combined his love of running and french fries – and came up with the McMarathon. Lawrence Nguyen travelled 55-kilometres over 8 hours hitting 21 McDonald’s locations all over Vancouver. What did he learn? McDonald’s small fries digest really well on a run.
