Opaskwayak Cree Nation’s (OCN) Rhonda Head has accomplished a great many things in her musical career, but now she has achieved something that was a personal goal she had set for herself. Head was asked to sing the national anthem in Cree, as part of the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre (WASAC) Night during a Winnipeg Jets game.
“This is their sixth year for the WASAC Night and they contact various Indigenous singers and performers to be a part of that evening,” said Head. “When they contacted me and I immediately said yes.

This year’s Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival (NMTF) Queen Trapper has come from a long line of competitors. She has competed against her sister who was last year’s Queen Trapper in hopes of winning the title and this has been her year.
“I have been competing in the NMTF’s Queen Trapper events since I was 13 years old, and I'm 36 now, however, I did take a break in between than to have my four children Marcus, Myles, Kacey and Kylie,” said NMTF 2024 Queen Trapper Kristen Burns. “It’s been almost 20 years that I've been competing and I owe it to my family who has always been supportive of me.

It was another successful run for this year’s Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival (NMTF). Despite the dog sled races being cancelled due to the lack of snow, there were still lots of highlights, events and festivities for spectators to engage in.
“The biggest difference from this year’s festival compared to last years is there were no dog races,” said NMTF Board of Directors Chairperson Laurie Stevenson.

The Pas Handi-Van is preparing for their annual radio pledgee show to help raise money for their operations this year. Along with raising operating funds, they are looking at raising money to purchase a new handi-van unit.
“We have our radio pledge show coming up on March 7 and 8,” said The Pas Handi-Van Office Manager Val Miron. “The community has always been beyond generous with their donations to support The Pas Handi-van; it simply amazing. The radio pledge show provides more ongoing operational support to The Pas Handi-van. Anything over that will go to the costs of a new van.

Canada Post is still struggling to provide consistent service to residents in the tri-community area. A letter of complaint was sent to Canada Post by a long-term resident of the area, who is beyond frustrated at the delays and lack of service.
In a letter written to the Churchill-Keewatinook Aski MP Niki Ashton and Manitoba NDP MLA Amanda Lathlin the following was stated, “I’m a long-time resident of The Pas with a considerable concern about the abysmal service from Canada Post in our community. I ask as elected representatives for the people in The Pas and surrounding area that you look into this matter and advocate for us for immediate improvement.
“Aside from the lack of access to the wickets in the post office during business hours, to the lack of timely delivery of parcels and mail that as a community we hear is due to staff shortages and inadequate space at the local post office; this has led to unreliability and limited access to a service we used to trust.

This year Louis Riel Day is going to be given more recognition in terms of celebrating. This past November, Premier Wab Kinew set in motion a law to right a 153-year-old wrong and declared Louis Riel as Manitoba’s first premier through the Louis Riel Act. The Louis Riel Act will come into force on the day it receives royal assent.
“This is significant because it reaffirms what we have always said, that Louis Riel was our first premier and should be acknowledged as such,” said Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) The Pas Region Vice President Judy Mayer. “This has been coming for over 153 years now and we’ve always known this. It’s historic for us and for the Premier to reaffirm that for us has been huge too.

The Town of the Pas held their council meeting on February 12, in council chambers. Val Berscheid, President of the Opasquia Agricultural Society did a presentation on the organization’s activities and goals for the future of their event. Their mission is to provide agricultural events for the community.
In 2012, the Opasquia Ag Society built the 500-seat grandstand that cost approximately $200,000. The Town of The Pas was the first investor and then others followed. In 2018, opened their RV Park with 20 sites, that included water, electricity and 30-amp service. It’s been fairly busy and there have been long term stays booked as well.
Last year, the Opasquia Ag Society upgraded the track. Before, If it rained, the events would be cancelled, and originally the track was built on the railbed, so rocks come up and people had to pick the rocks off the track every year. Initially, they had just enough money to do a little bit of the track, but Strilkiwski Construction gave them enough to do the whole track. Now it is an all-weather track that allows the events to happen rain or shine.

Taking care of pets is a huge responsibility and judging by the number of stray and unfixed animals, more has to be done. The Pas and Area Animal Shelter (TPAAS) is now offering a Low Income Spay and Neuter Program to assist with the issue of pets not being spay or neutered in the tri-community.
“People apply to the Low Income Spay and Neuter Program that we offer here at The Pas and Area Animal Shelter,” said TPAAS Secretary Lynda Geswin. “Forms are available online through our Facebook page, at the vet clinic and at the shelter. This is a program that is subsidized both by the shelter and the local vet clinic. We are trying to support pet owners who want what is best for their pet but can't financially do it. There are only a handful of spaces per month. “The cost is $100 per cat neuter. $125 per cat spay and $170 per dog spay or neuter. Those costs include vaccinations. Animals must have their vaccinations before their spay or neuter, so people should start the application process early. “This program was pets have a longer life expectancy. only launched a couple of months ago,” said Geswin. “We have spayed two dogs, and have a few others going through the process.” Getting your pet spay or neutered alleviates a lot of problems that TPAAS is seeing with the overpopulation of stray animals. The benefits to getting your pet spay or neutered, far outweigh any negatives aspects, if there are any. “There are so many reasons to have your pet spay or neutered,” said Geswin. “In Manitoba, we are facing a cat and dog overpopulation crisis. There are so many dogs, and not enough homes for them all. There was a time when we were fairly successful finding placement for dogs with Winnipeg based rescues, but that time is over. Rescue placements are hard to come by, and the amount of animals in need seems to be in creasing instead of de creasing. “On a more personal level, spaying your pet can reduce difficult behavior such as aggression, marking territory, running away, and fighting are all common in unaltered pets. Spaying and neutering reduce the risks of some cancers, and as a result, “Some of the other challenges in pets who are not spay or neutered that we see are unneutered dogs packing up when there is a female in heat,” said Geswin. “Not only is it a challenge to keep un fixed animals at home, but they can also become aggressive in these situations. Female cats yowl and are very annoying when they are in heat. Male cats mark their territory by spraying on things. “Also, we get a lot of messages where people tell us they are over whelmed caring for a litter of puppies. Puppies are a lot of work.” TPAAS is fundraising to keep shelter operations going as well as looking for sponsors for the new Low Income Spay and Neuter Program. “We are currently looking for people who are interested in sponsoring a spay or a neuter in the month of February,” said Geswin. “Sponsor ship amounts range from $50 for a partial spay or neuter, to $485 to sponsor the full cost of a dog spay. “We are always looking for volunteers and foster homes. Specifically related to spay and neuter month, we are looking for volunteers who are willing to drive people to vet appointments. Many of our applicants do not have vehicles, and getting to appointments is difficult.” There are still lots of pets looking for their for ever home at the TPAAS. All adoption fees help cover costs of the first rounds of vaccinations and help offset some expenses the shelter has in keeping animals. “In the shelter, and in foster homes combined, we have 26 dogs, and 36 cats up for adoption,” said Geswin. “Adoption fees are as $230 male cat; $275 female cat; $325 male dog and $400 female dog. Costs include first vaccination series, which includes rabies for dogs, deworming and spay or neuter. “Adoption fees only partially cover the costs incurred by the shelter to do the basic vetting of an animal- vaccinations, de worming and spay or neuter. Almost all of our animals come needing all of those procedures done, and it is not unusual for us to have additional health related costs for an animal as well. “The shelter is open most Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,” said Geswin. “People are welcome to come by and see the animals. We are hosting an open house during NMTF, on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m."