As if the threat of contracting a deadly disease weren’t bad enough, the COVID-19 pandemic also brought with it a series of unprecedented calamities no one was ready for: layoffs, isolation advisories, and business and school closures. For many families, it was a perfect storm.

Niverville’s council met on the morning of May 5 to discuss a variety of items on the town’s agenda.

On May 1, the board of trustees of the Hanover School Division (HSD) announced the appointment of an interim superintendent, Shelley Amos. Amos will take over the post from Randy Dueck, who announced his retirement earlier this year and will step out of the role at the end of the school year.

Not everyone has what it takes to be a self-employed businessperson. It requires drive, determination, and a willingness to take big risks. Oftentimes it can take years to see a significant revenue stream—and even then, finances have to be tightly controlled.

Imagine, for a moment, driving along your community’s main street and seeing storefront after storefront dark and empty. Imagine no Chinese or pizza takeout. Imagine struggling to find a new hairdresser who’s still accepting clients or switching your gym membership to the big franchise in the city.

Tyler and Heidi Wiebe moved with their two daughters to Australia in January 2020 for health reasons. After living in Niverville his whole life, Tyler was experiencing migraines so severe that the family decided they were willing to change continents, attracted by the stable weather pressure systems on the east coast near Brisbane.