When the Town of Niverville realized they had a problem with the ponds in Fifth Avenue Estates, they knew they needed to fix it. The issues are myriad and include shoreline erosion, an abundance of goose fecal matter, and the overgrowth of water plant life such as duckweed. However, the most concerning problem is the growth of blue-green algae, which can be hazardous both to people and small animals.

At a press conference on January 21, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin announced that the time has come to slightly relax some of the pandemic restrictions that are currently in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. Despite these welcome changes, however, the province continues to urge caution, and the entire province will remain at the critical (red) level on the pandemic response system.

Niverville’s council met virtually on the evening of Tuesday, January 19 to discuss a variety of items on the town’s agenda.

Homeowners in Niverville will be asked to pay slightly more per year for garbage and recycling collection. Residents had been paying $118.07 per year, but going forward the proposed rate is $125, an increase of $6.93. The town currently has a contract with Bristal Hauling to collect garbage and recycling, which will continue, but the increase comes because the town must reevaluate its special service levy, which expired in 2019.

“Keep your feet on the ground. Keep your head out of the clouds.” Some of us may have heard admonishments like this when we were young. The implication, of course, is that the real world—the world of jobs, and taxes, and indoor plumbing—is the important world. It is the world you should be paying attention to.

The Heritage Life Personal Care Home in Niverville, which has been operating under code red protocols since an outbreak was declared two weeks ago, has announced a number of new cases of COVID-19 on their campus.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) is investigating an allegation of a driving offence against an on-duty member of the RCMP.

Much has been reported about the rollout and availability of vaccines since mid-December when they began to arrive in Manitoba. But the average resident of the Southern Health region will have to wait their turn.

The Winnipeg Jets are at the tail end of their two-week training camp, in preparation to open their 56-game regular season on Thursday, January 14. Significant changes have needed to be made this year, in consultation with a legion of public health officials across the country, to allow the NHL to return to play this season.

Niverville’s outdoor parks and public spaces feature many options for winter activities. There is an outdoor skating rink at the Niverville Arena, snowshoeing and snowshoe rentals available through the town’s website, a groomed cross-country ski trail at Hespeler Park, and tobogganing.