The modern history of Île-des-Chênes, as with most of southeastern Manitoba’s francophone towns, goes back to the late 1800s. That’s when the government originally purchased land from the Hudson’s Bay Company and in turn sold it to newcomers.1

Over the course of their lives, Andrew and Nigar Gorozhankin have lived in a wide variety of global locales. Still, when choosing the best home in which to raise their family, they settled on Niverville.

New Bothwell, like the rest of the communities served by The Citizen, lies on Treaty One land. The area was originally inhabited by the Anishinaabe, who signed that treaty in 1871. As the Anishinaabe were leaving their territory, moving onto reserves, approximately 7,000 Mennonites from southern Russia were on their way in.

After almost a decade in the planning, the RM of Ritchot’s goal to build a major park in Île-des-Chênes has been put on indefinite hold, with no promises going forward that it will happen.

Just as the Indigenous people in Treaty 1 were leaving their homes in southeastern Manitoba, many Mennonites were arriving. These new settlers had lived in peace for many years in Russia under Catherine the Great, but life had changed for them when Alexander II came to power. The new czar began to exert control over the Mennonites, curtailing their religious freedoms and interfering with their schools.

The RM of Ritchot faces a major risk of spring flooding according to Manitoba’s spring flood forecast, released on February 18. Water levels are expected to remain below community dikes and flood protection measures, but the Hydrologic Forecast Centre is predicting a high volume of water passing through waterways in southern Manitoba, including the Red, Rat, and Roseau rivers.

In the coming weeks, Winnipeg’s downtown will be hit by a whiteout, this one of the welcome variety. With the Winnipeg Jets securing their place in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s time for the traditional downtown street parties to begin.

Niverville’s town council met on February 22 to discuss a conditional use permit for the addition of four residential units at 290 Main Street.

The weather may still be frightful, but the Niverville Wildcats Softball Program coordinator, Mike Bouchard, is already hard at work preparing for the start of a new season.

In mid-February the Niverville Nighthawks added a second player to their roster, with 18-year-old Devin Benson signing a letter of intent with the MJHL’s newest franchise.