July 23, 2026

Businesses say garbage strategy stinks

Lac du Bonnet retail community ‘disrespected’ by lack of public consultation 

By Simon Ducatel

Business owners in the Town of Lac du Bonnet are fuming as municipal changes to the community’s refuse and recycling program have reduced their level of service and substantially increased their costs. 

The town previously owned a garbage truck and operated its own weekly collection service. That all changed April 1 when a five-year contract with Bristal Hauling of Niverville came into effect. 

Al Richter of Home Hardware said he only learned about the municipality’s plans this past February despite being in the works since the fall of 2025.

“They never told the business people of this community of their plans whatsoever. They decided to inform us by mail,” he said, adding that by the time business owners actually received the letter, the ship had already sailed.

“It was a done deal and there was no recourse. They had already signed a contract,” he said. “It was all a shock to us.”

That presents several problems for business owners, especially operations like hardware and building stores, hotels and groceries, which produce substantial amounts of waste material.

Years ago, Richter purchased a large, four-cubic-metre metal garbage container, as did many other business owners in town. 

“I used to get two pickups a week... and those bins were full.”

Not only are pickups scheduled just once every two weeks now, the municipality sold the garbage truck. The large metal bins are not compatible with Bristal’s service. 
“Now, we have to pay for our own garbage service,” he said. “Plus, (the municipality) shut down Environmental Options, which was where we would take our cardboard for recycling. It was a tremendous amount of cardboard that we would take there once a week.”

“Everybody’s left to fend for themselves.” 

Under the municipality’s new program, business owners receive the same rollout carts as residents, which are small compared with the dumpsters. 
Richter said a lot of the business people have to pay extra now, adding that can run up to $1,000 per month depending on frequency of pickup and waste produced.

As a result, Richter said that will negativity affect his ability to make community donations and sponsor things like youth programs and events at the arena.

“I’m not going to have extra money, because business isn’t exactly booming with the economy and what’s going on in the world,” he said. “It’s a major blow.”

Richter told The Lac du Bonnet Clipper he pays $45,000 in annual property taxes. While he recognizes a substantial portion is collected on behalf of the province, he nevertheless feels he and other business people no longer gets much value in return.

“It’s just a slap in the face. We were shown total disrespect, in my opinion, by town council,” he said. “Without the business people in this town, we don’t really have much of a town.”

Benj Osis of Osis Timber Mart is in agreement. He said he attended a meeting with Richter, town council and others business people in February where he said he was “blind sided” by the news that contracts had already been finalized.

“They told us that now we would all work together on a solution, but the deal was already done. There is no ‘we’ in this situation, there is only you and us,” Osis said of council. “Five times I asked them directly how they could consider residential and business the same when it comes to garbage and they completely ignored the questions each time.”

“We were so disrespected,” he added, noting he walked out of the meeting. “For something like this there needs to be communication. I can’t believe they pulled this.”
Osis said he has to have full time staff members spending large chunks of their time hauling garbage and recycling instead of their regular duties.

“We have piles of garbage and recycling. We’ll see what it looks like at the end of summer.”

In hindsight, Mayor Ken Lodge lamented not doing more to communicate with local businesses. While a letter was sent out in the lead-up to the changes, Lodge said they had not planned a separate consultation at that point in time, although one was held with them later to get their feedback.

“So we had that conversation after the fact, unfortunately. In my mind, it would have been good if we probably would have included them a little bit sooner,” Lodge said. “It wouldn’t really have changed too much. We’re following basically the same thing that pretty much every other community does now, in that (businesses) are in fact having their garbage picked up and they have to pay for it. So, I understand that’s quite a sore point, and I get that.”

Lodge said he also understands business owner concerns about the pickup schedule going from weekly to every two weeks. The mayor does not expect there will be an opportunity to revise the contract; at least not in next five years. 

“I’m going to say at this point in time, likely not,” he said. “Contractually, we have to do what we said we were going to do with Bristal.”

Lodge added business owners have the option of using the RM of Lac du Bonnet’s transfer station at the cost of a non-resident fee.

“There might (also) be opportunities for some of the businesses to join up in a partnership, as an example, to help each other out and save each other whether it be money, time, or odour, or whatever the case may be,” he said.

The mayor claimed the town consulted with other communities already signed on to contracted waste disposal services and there was nothing voiced that was along the lines of what businesses in Lac du Bonnet are experiencing. 

Lodge said not all of the feedback he has heard about the new program has been critical, noting input he heard heard from residents has been “Very positive, actually... I’m very pleased with that.”

Initial fears that residential bins would be overflowing with the new pickup schedule did not manifest, he said. 

Recognizing residential rollout bins will not suffice for all businesses, the mayor said business owners may opt in to be provided with the carts at no cost. 

“We know it is tough on the business owners, but it potentially could have been more tough had we continued doing things the way we were... as a whole.”

Park Avenue reconstruction delayed

Lack of finalized provincial design bumping Beausejour repaving to 2027

By Mark T. Buss

Beausejour’s Park Avenue reconstruction may have to wait until 2027 as the province is still working on a finished design to deal with issues raised regarding access points in the community.

At the council meeting of July 14, CAO Christine Hutlet said the design by Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) to upgrade Park Avenue (PR 215) is “90 per cent” complete with the idea the province would be advertising the project for draft tender this summer.

What that means however is if they go to tender in August, it will take another four to six weeks before the tender can be closed. If it’s awarded in September or October, it then must be submitted to the Treasury for approval, meaning it will likely be held off until the spring.

“I can guarantee you it will be a next year start,” Hutlet said.

With Park Avenue last receiving a major upgrade in 1960, a desire to refurbish the roadway has been in the works in one form or another for over 30 years. 
In 2006, Beausejour hoped to press the issue of a face lift with the creation of a Park Avenue Reconstruction Committee, which developed a plan that included a concrete median running the length of Park Avenue, mandatory parallel parking and off-street parking sites. 

The town however was unable to make plans to fix crumbling curbing and sidewalks – a municipal responsibility – until council knew what the province was doing with PR 215 as it is a provincially maintained roadway.

In 2023, the province announced it was commissioning a functional design study for infrastructure improvements to a 7.2-kilometre stretch of Beausejour’s main street and extending into the RM of Brokenhead. Some of the proposed improvements include pavement surface work,  drainage, improved turning movements and intersection improvements like a roundabout at Hwy 44 and PR 302.

MTI representatives provided an option for curb-to-curb construction limits with a raised median, potential left turn lanes and parallel parking requirements moving forward. A raised or concrete median would play a part in also preventing illegal U-turns; an issue that plagues the community.

While changing angle parking to parallel parking would reduce parking spots on Park from around 325 to 190-plus, off-street parking lots have already been purchased across from town hall on Park Avenue and next to Vickie’s Restaurant to accommodate vehicles.

In October 2024, Beausejour council decided on a design plan that include the raised concrete median with single travel lanes, left turn lanes and curb bulb-outs to maximize parking space in the town.

While the town had hoped to implement active transportation corridors on either side of Park Avenue for cyclists and scooters, the effort had to be abandoned as the pathways could not be placed at sidewalk level. 

The reconstruction of PR 215 was anticipated to start in 2025. That was delayed initially until the watermain that runs along the north side of Park Avenue could be replaced as part of Beausejour’s new $16.6 million water treatment plant project located on the east end of town.

With the watermain now installed, Park Avenue is unsightly with long stretches of gravel, dust and an uneven surface until the proposed paying project can be completed.
Mayor Ray Schirle said the latest delay is the third for this project, which he finds unacceptable.

“They told us June last time with a start date of August,” Schirle said. “I’m just getting concerned where this keeps getting pushed back to where it will be next year.”
Some of the design concerns involve truck access to Gertrude Avenue east of Fifth Street North, how that intersects with business access at the crosswalk at Park Avenue and Fifth Street South and other issues.

“We’ve already given direction to highways on what we want to see done... we can’t have this held up,” Schirle said. “We need to get involved. Our businesses are already planning on how to engage in this with the rest of community.”

“We can’t wait for this for another five years,” he added.

Reitlo recognized for community contributions

By Mark T. Buss

Community Futures Winnipeg River’s Sharalyn Reitlo has been recognized by the Economic Developers Association of Manitoba for her long-term contributions and excellence in the industry.

At the Manitoba Economic Development Awards recently held in Winnipeg, Reitlo received the Economic Developers Association of Manitoba (EDAM) Award of Distinction. The award recognizes individuals with over five years in the economic development field who have made significant, long-term contributions and demonstrated exceptional best practices within the province. The recipient must also have demonstrated measurable, long-term success and a strong track record of exceptional best practices.

“Getting an award that is recognized by your peers is extremely meaningful,” Reitlo said. “Through my years at (Community Futures Winnipeg River), I have had the privilege to work with so many wonderful people on both our staff (and) board team and within all the North Eastman communities.” 

Formed in 1993, EDAM is an independent, non-profit, incorporated association of professionals who were directly engaged in economic development in Manitoba. 
In 2017 EDAM hosted the first Economic Developers Association of Manitoba Awards to create a recognition program for economic development in Manitoba and highlight individuals and organizations making a significant impact in their communities. The awards include Rising Star in Economic Development, Project of the Year, Marketing Excellence and Award of Distinction.

Nominations are submitted to EDAM in early spring and typically require a comprehensive biography, a summary of career achievements, evidence of business/community growth and industry innovations.

Community Futures Winnipeg River (CFWR) is dedicated to economic development in North Eastman. It is part of a more extensive network of 269 Community Futures offices operating across Canada to support community-based economic development projects and business development and provide any necessary training.

Reitlo has been with CFWR since December 2008. Starting as the community economic development coordinator, she advanced to the executive director position in January 2014 and assumed management duties with the organization.
Splitting her time between management and economic development, she works primarily with local governments and various non-profit agencies to generate capacity building and develop partnerships that will strengthen their operations.

She also facilitates strategic planning, conduct training, helps with grant applications to leverage project funds and also helps with the new non-profit form. A recent example of the latter is the Pine Falls Regional Food Bank, which just received the CFWR Community Initiative Award.

Reitlo said looking back over her 17-plus years with CFWR was a rewarding experience as it allowed her to review and relive the compilation of work throughout the region.
“I’m so proud and grateful to have been part of the development of so many projects, programs, services and organizations,” she said. “The impacts of these developments help communities and people thrive.”

Municipalities urged to sign on to new 911

By Tony Zerucha

Manitoba municipalities are being urged to sign a new agreement with Bell Media to ensure their participation in an enhanced NG911 before the current system expires on March 31, 2027. 

At its July 7 meeting, Springfield’s council unanimously agreed to sign the agreement, described by Mayor Pat Therrien as “a necessity.”

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has mandated the retirement of the existing Enhanced 911 (E911) network as of March 31, 2027. In a memorandum to municipalities, Manitoba Justice said NG911 will provide the foundation for future enhanced emergency communications capabilities like geospatial call routing, real-time text, and multimedia communications. Geospatial call routing uses live data and exact coordinates to route a call to an appropriate station

The memorandum states that all Manitoba Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) are preparing to migrate to NG911 before the national deadline. Municipalities and any other bodies acting as a 9-1-1 authority must execute Bell’s NG911 Authority Service Agreement.

“Municipalities that have not yet signed are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to avoid delays in migration planning and implementation,” the memorandum reads. “Municipalities that do not execute the NG911 Agreement will not be eligible to receive NG911 service.”

Once a PSAP migrates from E911 to NG911, municipalities without an executed agreement may lose access to 911 service and may need to rely on 10-digit emergency telephone numbers. This could result in delays to emergency response because caller location information would no longer be automatically provided.
The NG911 agreement includes future obligations related to Geographic Information System (GIS) data. The suggested signing deadline is Aug. 31.

The CRTC has not yet established a mandatory implementation date for geospatial call routing. Until such time, municipalities will continue providing existing Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) information. Manitoba Justice is currently undertaking an environmental scan and assessing options to support future provincial GIS requirements, including potential aggregation and coordination services.

Manitoba Justice is conducting an environmental scan of existing municipal GIS data and working with public safety answering points to develop baseline emergency service boundary data sets. They are also examining options for a provincial GIS aggregation model and supporting stakeholder engagement and information sharing regarding future NG911 requirements.

Medieval Festival returning to Cooks Creek

By Tony Zerucha

The Cooks Creek Medieval Festival could soon sell out, so get your tickets fast if you want to enjoy some olde-fashioned fun at the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian

Catholic Church and Grotto July 24-26.
The Friday Feast and Saturday daytime tickets are all gone, but some remain for Sunday, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Organizing committee member Gary Senft said the festival has a few changes in store this season, beginning with switching the feast to Friday night, when it will be hosted by Cooks Creek’s Ace Burpee.

Senft said the five-course feast includes pork chops specially prepared for the evening, along with smoked turkey legs and “lesser fowl”, which modern folks refer to as chicken. Entertainment includes two traditional dance groups, a choir, and a house concert band playing old English music throughout the evening. Vendors offering medieval wares, jousters and a fire dance are also part of the fun.

Close to 200 performers are expected on Saturday and Sunday, including the Gimli Vikings, a historical martial arts group, and Buhurt, a medieval battle re-enactment where the athletes compete in period armour.

“They really wail on each other; it’s quite amazing,” Senft said.

Another highlight is sure to be the Society for Creative Anachronism, which celebrates the medieval period through food, dance and costumes.

“They are incredible, happy people. They’ve bonded through this and enjoy celebrating in an eclectic way,” Senft said.

There’s also plenty to keep the kids busy, including a unicorn petting zoo, bouncy castle, and live-action role play with sponge swords and shields. Adults can partake in axe throwing, archery, chess and photo booths.

The Cooks Creek Medieval Festival is one stop on a circuit of events drawing people from across Canada and as far away as Texas and even Australia. This year’s luminaries include the world’s oldest jouster at 80 years young. Several others are travelling from far-flung locales.

“Their armour alone is around 80 pounds,” Senft said. “It’s a big deal to travel here.”
All proceeds from the weekend go to the maintenance of the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church and Grotto.

“They’re doing a major repair,” Senft explained. “This is really helpful so the parish and community can enjoy that church and grotto.”

Purchase tickets at ticketspice.com. Volunteer opportunities at the Friday feast and throughout the weekend are available. Email cookscreekmedfest@gmail.com for more information.

Hogue inducted into Axemen Honour Roll

By Tony Zerucha

Russell Hogue’s recent induction into the Acadia Axemen Hockey Honour Roll was the perfect way to cap a hockey life full of new experiences and success. 

The Beausejour resident, along with linemates Darryl Moxam and Bryce Classen, received their plaques at a ceremony on June 18 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia at the Andrew H. McCain Arena.

The Acadia Axemen Hockey Honour Roll was established to recognize outstanding alumni and contributors to the program, boasting over 130 members. Recent classes have seen the induction of all-time greats, celebrating national champions, coaches and dedicated program builders who have left a lasting legacy at Acadia University.

Raised in the La Salle area, Hogue joined the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders in 1993. From 1993 to 1997, he played in 254 games, registering 59 goals and 114 assists for 173 points. Hogue also added seven goals and 19 assists in 37 career playoff contests

“The Raiders were a great experience,” Hogue said. “I moved away at 17 and played until I was 20. We went to the final twice, but lost to Brandon. I went back to Prince Albert this spring to watch the WHL final against Everett.”

Hogue was heavily recruited by Canadian universities following his WHL career. Never having been to Canada’s East Coast before, he chose Acadia for a special reason.
“My mom was a social studies teacher and loved the Maritimes, but had never been there,” Hogue said. “I told her I chose Acadia so she could come and see me.”

Hogue joined the Axemen at a good time. A positive culture established by previous team leaders became the expectation. With roles to fill and a strong program, Hogue flourished. In 99 career games, he scored 26 goals and added 39 assists for 65 points.
“I played five years there,” Hogue said. “I was an assistant captain for a few years. We also went to the national final.

“Atlantic Canada is pretty beautiful, and Acadia’s no different. The Bay of Fundy... the highest tides in the world come in twice a day. There’s also the people you meet; my teammates, of course and the people from the community.”
After graduation, Hogue spent two campaigns in the Central Hockey League with the San Antonio Iguanas and Corpus Christi Ice Rays, scoring six goals and 35 assists in 59 games.

“It was pretty fun playing in Texas,” Hogue recalled. “I was living the dream for a while.”
Hogue then packed his bags for Austria, where he played professionally for one final season.

“It was a whole different country speaking different languages; you try to get by and figure things out,” Hogue said. “It was different than Texas. You’re skiing during the day, and the next day, you’re on a train for a game in Italy. It was another good experience.”
With a daughter on the way, Hogue returned home said it was time for a real career. After a few years on the farm, he joined the RCMP, where he’s been for nearly 20 years. His stops include Lloydminster, Sask, Nelson House, Oxford House, Berens River and Beausejour.

Hogue’s return to Acadia evoked a flood of good memories. On June 17, he joined alumni, current players, recruits and coaches for a dinner. His induction came the next night at a fundraising gala  that raised $50,000 for the Axemen.

“Former Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness was the guest speaker,” Hogue said. “I got to sit with him. I told him I was from Manitoba and we had some good chats.”

Eastman Vintage Power Pull gets in gear 

By Mark T. Buss

Owners of antique tractors displayed their power in Beausejour last weekend in the Eastman Vintage Power Pull.

Held July 11 at the Pioneer Village Museum, more than 425 spectators witnessed several tractors and specialized vehicles pulling the weighted sled with the goal of seeing which machine can pull it the furthest. 

As many as 40 drivers registered from several communities. All competing tractors had to be manufactured no later than 1970. The classes in this pull were  antique stock, improved and open with an additional seven exhibition runs. 
Darin Smith kicked things off with the 3,500 pound stock class with his International Farmall Super H pulling the weight 276.46 feet.

In the 4,000 pound stock class, Dave Cocklin and his 1960 Massey Ferguson 35 drove the furthest distance registered at 179.21 feet.
Richard Andrew and his 1955 Allis Chalmers WD45 pulled the weight an impressive 256.03 feet in the 4,500 pound stock class.

In the 5,000 pound stock class, Clark Hnatiuk’s 1949 Cockshutt 30 travelled 75.94 feet.
Corinne Sigurdson Burdett found her groove by winning the next three classes. In 5,500 stock, her 1954 Case DC-4 pulled the sled 193.78 feet. Her 1953 Oliver 88 won the 6,000 pound stock and 6,500 open  categories travelling 222.50 feet and 277.05 feet respectively.

In 7,000 pound stock, Lorne Lange and his 1950 John Deere D came out on top with a pull of 257.71.

The 7,000 pound open class saw Dave Cocklin back in the driver’s seat with his 1956 Massey Harris 444 pulling the weight 212.61 feet.
Nick Bennett and his 1957 International 650 won the 8,000 stock class with a pull of 209.24.

Cam Yerstrau and his 1958 John Deere 820 won the 9,000 stock class with a distance of 242.09 feet.

In the 10,000 pound stock class, Rick Burdett and his 1958 Massey Harris 55 needed a pull-off to outlast Nick Bennet and his 1963 John Deere 4020, with Burdett rolling 201.07 before coming to a stop.

Oakbank trio named to Golf Team Manitoba

By Tony Zerucha

Three local golfers have a golden opportunity to improve their games after they were selected to Golf Team Manitoba. 

Oakbank’s Brady Comaskey, Dane Wojcik and Colton Drul earned spots. Comaskey made the full Gold team, while Wojcik and Drul made the developmental Black squad.
The trio were selected following the three-day Next Gen Prairie Championship in mid-June. Comaskey tied for 25th at plus-11 after beginning the event with a blistering, three-under-par 69 on the first day. Wojcik was plus-21, while Drul was plus-31.

Team members receive training from top coaches and play in four summer tournaments on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour: July 18 at the Players’ Course in Winnipeg, July 20-21 in St. Pierre-Jolys, Aug. 8 at Shooters in Winnipeg and Aug. 17-19 in Carman.
Wojcik, 15, first hit the links at four years of age and entered his first tournament in Grade 8.

“I started to really like the sport when my dad got me a membership at Elmhurst Country Club,” he said. “I got hooked and wanted to play competitively.”

Wojcik said he is a short hitter off the tee but accurate. This is his second year playing provincial-level golf. He hopes to improve his putting, especially in pressure situations.
“I am looking forward to, first of all, meeting new people and, secondly, getting in more practice with sims in the winter and weekly practices to improve my overall game and to give me more confidence on the course,” Wojcik said.

Drul, also 15, got an early start when he picked up his first club at three years and took his first clinic a year later. It’s a family activity that he enjoys with his father.
His strengths are his short game, putting and chipping. This summer, Drul wants to gain more distance off the tee.

A three-year veteran of the Black team, Drul has played provincially for the past few years. He looks forward to the Manitoba Junior at Pine Ridge and the Manitoba Amateur at St. Boniface because he’ll test himself against Manitoba’s best.

“Team Manitoba has really helped my game by giving me access to great coaching and practice facilities throughout the winter,” Drul said. “That extra training helps me improve during the off-season, so I’m better prepared when the tournament season begins.”

Comaskey was another early starter. He began before Kindergarten and started playing competitively at the age of 12. Wedges and irons are his strengths,
“I spend lots of time working on those so I can give myself a better look at birdies,” he said. “I think my biggest weakness this year is my putting. I sometimes find myself not making putts that I feel I should.”

Team Manitoba was Comaskey’s goal for years. He said it helps his game and provides opportunities for tougher competition. 

“It’ll get me more comfortable with the global stage like college golf, which is my next goal,” he said.

The trio fared well at the Golf Manitoba Provincial Championships at Pine Ridge on July 7-9. Wojcik placed fourth among 15- and 16-year-old boys with a three-day score of plus-14. Drul tied for 11th at plus-25. Comaskey finished third in the 17- and 18-year-old category at plus-8. Comaskey finished fifth among all competitors, while Wojcik was tied for seventh. Drul tied for 22nd.

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