In this fast-paced world of electronics, technology, and instant messaging, some of us have forgotten how to slow down and breathe. There are few better remedies than the solace of a beautifully orchestrated garden. They are places of serenity, joy, and fascination for the earth’s beauty.

I well remember the first time I met Tom Schmitke. This was some time after he had made his first trip to Niverville back in the spring of 1999. He and his wife Bonnie had come from Oakville, Manitoba to take a look at an opportunity which The Grocery People, the parent company for the Bigway chain, had drawn his attention to.

In December, the RM of Ritchot made several funding requests from the Manitoba Hydro Community Development Initiatives Funding Program. The successful applicants were announced in February, including several from Ritchot totalling $137,000.

For years, Bonny Martens’ son Barrett had been plagued by stomachaches. Not the kind you get from a disease or virus. The kind you get when you never feel at ease, when you’re nervous, scared, or unhappy. When you can’t stand the idea of getting out of bed and going to school.

Niverville and the RM of Ritchot are growing by leaps by bounds, according to the first wave of data released from the 2016 census. Statistics Canada shows that this region, which was the fastest growing five years ago, has retained that distinction.

Though the question of GMO (genetically modified organism) food safety is a topic of hot debate, there continues to be growing demand from the Canadian public for food labelling, allowing the consumer to make informed choices about what they eat.