The pandemic hurt a lot of businesses and some of them closed down permanently. White Feather Creations was one of the businesses that closed during the pandemic, but has just recently reopened. The business provides Indigenous-made items made by owner and operator Rob Nabess and his family.
“White Feather Creations is located at 246 Fischer Avenue in The Pas,” said Nabess. “We have a variety of Indigenous handmade things like moccasins, mukluks, beaded earrings, carvings, paintings and all kinds of different art. Most of the items we have for sale are made by my mom, sisters and myself.”

Representatives from Dillon Consulting and the Province of Manitoba visited Swan River on Tuesday (Dec. 16) to present information on the roundabout design that is currently being planned for the intersection of Hwy. No. 10 and Hwy. No. 83, as well as collect feedback from residents and businesspeople and address the concerns from locals.

The SVRSS Student Body engaged in friendly competition during their last week of school before Christmas with their annual Gingerbread House Contest. SVRSS Student Council provided some building materials to every classroom, who used them in their own unique interpretation...

Major Pratt High School Student Council donates $400 of the Beef and Barley fundraising back to the community with a sock donation for the Christmas hampers.

A 35 year old father of two from the Yorkton area lost his life in an incident at Mosaic's K3 site last week. Mosaic says a "fall of ground incident" was the cause of the fatality.
A fall of ground incident is described as Fall of Ground (FOG) in mining refers to the dangerous, unplanned collapse or dislodgement of rock from the roof (hanging wall) or walls (ribs) of underground mine openings or open-pit slopes, a leading cause of fatalities and injuries due to geological stresses, weak rock, and mining activities. This can range from small rock fragments to massive collapses, often exacerbated by depth, seismic events, blasting, and inadequate support, creating significant hazards for workers and equipment.
“The Mosaic Company is deeply saddened to report that early this morning on Monday, December 15, 2025, a fall of ground incident occurred at the K3 underground mine in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, resulting in a fatal injury to one employee. No further injuries have been reported,” says Mosaic in a statement.
“Mosaic's Emergency Response Team was activated following the incident. The site has now been secured and all mining activity has been temporarily halted. A full investigation is underway and Mosaic is working closely with all regulatory authorities. Support services are being provided through the company's Employee and Family Assistance Program.”
“The safety and wellbeing of our people remain Mosaic’s highest priority. Our thoughts go out to our colleague’s family and friends, all employees, and the broader community. We ask that the family be given privacy at this difficult time.”
With files from the World Spectator.

If you grew up in Binscarth, you’ll know Adrienne Falloon. She’s the daughter of Felicia and Reg Slimmon and went to school there before coming to Russell in grade 9 - as all of her Binscarth classmates did.
If you were in the class of 2011 at Major Pratt, you’ll know her too.
After a few years up in Fort McMurray, she and her husband Kyle Falloon from St. Lazare moved back here after the Fort Mac fires and she started working for the municipality in 2017 as an administrative assistant.
After a couple of years, when the Tri Roads Planning District was formed, she moved over there - meaning that if you’ve needed a building permit or are working on any new developments - both commercial and residential, it’s likely you’re familiar with Adrienne and know that she’s highly professional, friendly and easy to deal with.
After close to a decade with the RM of Russell Binscartth and their affiliate organizations, Adrienne has taken on the position of the new CAO for the Municipality of Russell Binscarth.
This year, Falloon has started the Certified Manitoba Municipal Administrator program through the University of Manitoba.
And, she says, in Wally Melnyk, she has the best professor she could ask for.
“Wally hired me to be an administrative assistant nine years ago which is really cool,” she said. “He’s really great, really knowledgeable and great to work with.”
As she and council head into 2026, she’s hoping for a positive and productive year ahead.
“Having grown up in this area and raising our kids here, I know that we already have so much going on here for kids and families,” she said. “It’s such a positive, safe and family friendly place to live and I’m excited to be working to further develop this area into a positive and thriving place where, like us, people will choose to return to work, to develop their business ideas and raise their families here.

Opaskwayak Education Services (OES) has been committed to learning more about other cultures on an educational level as well as sharing Indigenous culture around the world. One way this has been happening is through a world conference that brings together several Aboriginal and Indigenous cultures all over the world to share in a learning atmosphere. Cindy Swampy from Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) has been attending this conference for many years.
“A group of 12 of us educators, including myself and my husband, went to World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) held in Auckland, New Zealand,” said Swampy. “I’ve been working with Opaskwayak Education for 22 years, working as a teacher and have been going to WIPCE for several years. WIPCE is held every two or three years and the next one will be held in 2028.
“WIPCE offers a variety of educational and learning classes on all topics. It is based on Indigenous learning.”

There is a new friendly face working at the Sam Waller Museum as the Education and Programming Coordinator. David Makepeace has been working at the museum for a few weeks now and is also a new addition to the community.
“I started in this role and arrived here in The Pas just over two weeks ago,” Makepeace.
Makepeace has vast experience working in museums on the East Coast and has always had a keen interest in history.
“I’m from New Brunswick, from a small community, nestled among the hills and valleys of the St. John River Valley,” said Makepeace. “I studied history at St. Thomas University in the province's capital of Fredericton.

The Pas Tri-Community Foundation (TPTCF) is proud to announce a generous $100,000 contribution from Murray and Karen Haukaas, the Haukaas Family, and the team at Twin Motors, directed to TPTCF’s Community Unrestricted Fund. This remarkable gift will provide flexible support for local programs and initiatives across The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN), and the RM of Kelsey.
For years, the Haukaas Family has been a steadfast supporter of the region, consistently championing projects that strengthen community life, support families, and encourage local development. From sponsoring local events to supporting community programs, their commitment to giving back has made a lasting impact on residents throughout the region.

Christmas came early for the Roblin Fire & Rescue department with the arrival on Wednesday of the Municipality of Roblin’s new pumper from Seahawk Services of Carman and Acres Emergency Vehicles in Wawanesa.
Based on a 2025 Freightliner Cabin chassis, the new unit replaces the department’s old #3 pumper which was sold earlier in the year to the Municipality of Ethelbert.
Check out the pics and details in this week’s Review.