Few events of the last century have shaken us from our comfortable lives the way the COVID pandemic has. Between government lockdowns and, for many, the paralysis of fear, normal life has been put on indefinite hold.

Although all of Manitoba will remain at code red for at least the next three weeks, the decreased rate of transmission has prompted the provincial government to loosen a few pandemic restrictions.

Cartier Park in Ste. Agathe is gearing up for a major expansion and rejuvenation in the coming years. Christie de Rocquigny, a member of the Ste. Agathe Community Development Inc., says that a committee has been formed to spearhead the exciting new initiative.

Construction continues at the Community Resource & Recreation Centre in Niverville, where work has largely moved indoors for the winter. Although there have been some delays, the building is on track to be finished this upcoming June.

This past weekend, the Winnipeg Jets pulled off a blockbuster trade, with general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff trading Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois and a third-round draft pick in the 2022 draft.

On January 6, many of us were glued to the news as we witnessed history being made—and not the good kind. Most readers will be aware of the events that occurred in Washington DC as far-right protestors (rioters) entered the U.S. Capitol by force. Windows were smashed, belongings stolen, and a symbol of American democracy was, by most accounts, tarnished. People were injured, and a few died.

The Town of Niverville will be installing two Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at the Niverville Community Resource & Recreation Centre (CRRC), which will allow four vehicles to charge at one time.

Niverville’s growing housing market has continued to boom, supplying the town with a considerable base of financial support—and in concert with this growth, the town projects to complete major capital projects in the near future.

Municipalities across Manitoba are warning that they need more support from the provincial government. According to a report released on January 22 by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), 85 percent of municipalities say they are struggling under the impacts that code red restrictions have had on their community programs and finances.

On Tuesday, January 26, at approximately 2:00 p.m., the RCMP responded to a report of an armed robbery at a financial institution on Main Street in Île-des-Chênes.