Provincial Funding Announcement
This year we did not receive the funding announcement until February 9 and our division-specific funding was not shared until February 10.
This delayed funding announcement from the Province was challenging for for the Board. Planning for expenditures is difficult without clarity on our anticipated revenue, which increases uncertainty in making informed decisions for the upcoming school year.

Changes to Provincial Funding
Currently, the provincial government provides school divisions with approximately 64% of the funds required to operate public schools, although this percentage can vary widely from division to division.
This compares to the 80% of operating costs that the province covered in the early 1980s.
This year the province announced an average increase in funding for Manitoba school divisions of 3.5%.
Only 8 of the 37 school divisions received 3.5% or more.
The increase for Park West was reported at 1.0% but is only 0.7%.
For 2025-2026, our increase in provincial funding was the lowest in the province at 1%.
Our increases in provincial revenue the last two years represent the lowest combined two-year increase ever.

Read more about how higher taxes will be spent on page 2 of this week's Russell Banner.

The North Western Marquette Festival has been the showcase for fine arts in the area for 80 years! This year, there were 88 dance performances – solos, duos, trios and groups, with piano and vocal held in the beautiful Knox United Church and the dance and choirs in the George. P. Buleziuk Centre with 39 performers in the piano and vocal classes, one violinist, as well as five choirs from Russell Major Pratt School and two choirs from Roblin Elementary School.
The annual festival has always been completely run by the board members and volunteers who emcee the sessions, assist the adjudicators, and greet/assist people at the door. This year they also helped sell 50/50 tickets - a first for the festival. Tickets are still available around town. The festival would not be possible without volunteers, including the sound expertise for choirs and dance performances provided by Mel Nemetchek. The final concert celebrating the medal winners, scholarship recipients and provincial recommendations in dance, vocal, piano and instrumental classes will be held on Sunday, March 22 at 2:00 pm in the George P. Buleziuk Centre. The board is always looking for new and additional members. Their AGM will be held on Monday, June 8 at 7:30 pm in the Brad Room at the Russell Civic Centre.

Get the results on page 7 of this week's Russell Banner.

Roblin’s annual Ladies’ Bonspiel played out March 5 to 7 with 14 rinks vying for the coveted Mitchell’s Drug Store trophy.
The finals in the three events went Saturday night, after a sumptuous buffet supper catered by Daneluk’s Kountry Katering.
All the bonspiel details and pics of the winning rinks n this week’s Review.

 The Minitonas Skating Club held their year end skating carnival last Friday night (March 6), at the Minitonas and District Arena. The large crowd was treated to 24 choreographed performances, instructed by Coach Alison Burgess. The evening was capped by Peggy Kalynuk winning the $10,000 cash draw. 

Local artist Derryl May showcased his talents again with a snow sculpture located at the entrance of Highway 83 South. The sculpture features a favourite pastime in the Valley and it’s a tribute to the upcoming Billy Beal Ice Fishing Derby

In response to recent Letter from the Veterinary Board, I would like to make it ABSOLUTELY CLEAR that I Cheryl (Nibs) Collins a concerned resident of the Municipality of Russell – Binscarth wrote the original letter. NOT Passion 4 Paws. My letter included three specific questions to which I have not yet received a response.
1.One member of the Vet Board is a sibling of the veterinarian. Is this not a conflict of interest?
2.Since the land and buildings are owned by the Russell veterinary board whose members represent the councils and taxpayers of five surrounding municipalities, how is accountability to those taxpayers ensured when the board makes resolutions controlling the use and access of that property. Do the veterinary board members report back to their respective councils and discuss these matters because that doesn’t appear to be happening in Russell.
3.Would it not make sense to gain steady monthly revenue from Passion 4 Paws – who provide their own building, indoor kennels, and volunteers to manage, clean, and ensure the safety of all animals in care?
I now have a fourth question following a recent conversation on Facebook.
Someone stated: “In case anyone is confused… The whole reason why the municipalities are involved with our vet is because the Vet Clinic is here for the farmers and the economy. Their first priority is to the livelihoods of the farmers and their livestock. We live in rural community.

Left wanting to know more? See the whole letter on page 4 of this week's Russell Banner.

The Russell and Area Palliative Care Group would like to thank the students, hockey players and teachers from the Major Pratt School in Russell or anyone who supported them – for their generous gift given to the Russell Hospital, from their hockey game and fundraising for the Palliative Care Unit.
Some of this gift will be used towards new furniture for our Palliative patients’ rooms, including sleep chairs for family members to use.
We receive many generous monetary gifts from families and friends, who have used our facilities at the hospital. We use the money to replace a number of items including a bed, a reclining chair - all these need to be replaced in time, to keep up with standards.
Also, a big thank you to the Art Farm, for the beautiful paintings on the room dividers in our Sunroom.
This past year we redid our landscaping in the area outside the Sunroom toward the cancer care building and new siding on the outside of the Sun room.
We pay a personnel to be our secretary, visit with patients and their families – see to their needs and wants. We provide sitting with these patients, if their family members needs support and comfort.
We live in a very generous thoughtful community and surrounding areas.
Thank You, Russell & Area Palliative Care Group

The weather for Binscarth’s Winterfest was almost perfect. Kids had their pick of games supplied by RM of Russell Binscarth Rec Department, a ride around Binscarth on a sleigh pulled by the Bridgeman family’s beautiful team of horses or a fast zip down the slide.

See more photos on the front page of this week's Russell Banner.

Roblin’s U11 Stars hosted the Rural C Coed Hockey Manitoba provincials over the Feb. 27 weekend bringing eight teams to town.
The Stars went through the tournament undefeated and captured the gold medal in convincing fashion, a 10-2 win, over McCreary.
Pick up this week’s issue to see a picture of the winning team.

There’s something nostalgic about taking a trip down memory lane. Ray’s Strings and Things is giving people that opportunity to reminisce about the good ol’ days when it comes to music from the Valley with their Memory Lane. The project started as an idea and has now led to a collection of musicians and bands spanning over decades, from the Valley.
“We have a wall called Memory Lane here at the shop dedicated to musicians from the Valley,” said Ray’s Strings and Things Owner and Operator RJ McGregor. “One of our longtime customers and a good friend was talking with us about how many music stores there were back in the day and how many talented musicians there were. Back then there were posters and autographed pictures hung up all over, showcasing musical talent.
“We thought it would be interesting to put a spin on it if we featured all local talent. It kind of snowballed from there. Leonard Constant, a lifelong musician, donated the sign for our wall.”
McGregor is looking for people to bring in photos, posters, and bios of musicians and bands that have ties to the Swan Valley area. He will post them up on the Memory Lane wall in the shop for people to see.
“I received about a half dozen last week and they keep coming in,” said McGregor. “I have one five-piece band, about a dozen other bands, and then fifteen other artists. Every week, there are more coming in. The first two I received were from a granddaughter of two Benito musicians. I also have one from the Swan River School Band in 1967. There is a lot of school band history from here and that is great to have.
“People who bring us a submission for the Memory Lane provide us with a little bit of background on the musician or band. I had one person bring in a photo of a band from the 1960s and he not only brought in the photo, but one of the posters from a dance they performed at in 1966 or 1967.
“I have had people come into the shop, see the photos and tell me they are going to bring some in as well.
“The other thing we are trying to get a hold of as well is old dance posters too,” said McGregor. “If anyone has a paper poster from a dance back in the day, we would gladly copy it and hang it up on the wall. Some of these photos are the only ones people have, so we copy them and give them their originals back.
“I’ve had people mention they have some well-known musicians from the area, from back in the day, but the photo is old and of them playing at a kitchen party. I told them I wanted the photo for the Memory Lane wall. Back then, a lot of musicians played house parties or just sat around kitchen tables playing music.”
Looking back at the Valley’s musical history, there are many musicians who went on to do some recording. There are also familial ties to musical talent that can be seen as well.
“There are a few musicians from this area who have gone on to do some recording,” said McGregor. “Richard Adams wrote a song called Rodeo Cowboy for the band Garry Lee and Showdown.
“There are a few other musicians with local connections. One is Marianne Hulme and she is Austin Ryder’s great-aunt. So one can see how musical influence can span over generations. It’s really neat to look at.”
McGregor is accepting submissions for the Memory Lane wall and people can stop by the shop to show them what they have.
“I have a great big wall, so I have lots of room for submissions,” said McGregor. “I hope to fill it up.”