The Fair and Rodeo grounds in Gilbert Plains will be a beehive of activity this week as Gilbert Plains/Grandview Agricultural Society volunteers prepare for their annual Fair and Rodeo, July 14 to 16.

“We’re going to be at the grounds starting to set everything up and any evening next week, if there’s any volunteers that want to come out, there will be stuff going on every evening,” society president Kevin Boese said. “Setting up tents and getting things cleaned up and ready to roll.”

Boese said new this year there is three full days of chuck wagon racing with races getting under way Friday evening and continuing Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

“When the chuck wagons association goes around, they like to set up and be there for three days and there’s lots of places that they don’t do that. So we just wanted to give it a try this year and I think it should be a good success,” Boese said adding the races add another element to the first day of the exhibition.

“We have the parade Friday afternoon and Friday evening there was never really much going on. Everybody was in town already anyways for the parade, so we figured why not have chuck wagons on Friday evening and that gives something else to do.”

On top of the parade at 3 p.m. and chuck wagon and chariot racing at 7 p.m. Friday attractions feature a light horse show beginning at 11 a.m., a petting zoo from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a beer gardens featuring an open mic opportunity at 4 p.m., a DJ beginning at 9 p.m. and karaoke.

On Saturday things get underway with a pancake breakfast at the Lions Club booth at 7 a.m. followed by slo-pitch and the light horse show at 9 a.m.

A trade and craft show kicks off at 10 a.m. as does a show and shine car show.

“Last year there wasn’t a lot of cars, however, we’ve had lots of interest this year, so we’re hoping for a lot bigger show this year,” Boese said. “We thought bringing that in would maybe bring a little different crowd than the agricultural stuff.”

Kids activities such as the petting zoo, face painting and the Kinds Zone run all day , as does the Kids Sand Pile under the Fusion Credit Union Tent where youngsters can bring a shovel and dig for buried treasure. A kids tractor pull takes place on the tennis court at 12:30 p.m.

At 3 p.m. those in attendance will be treated to something completely new when the Truco Trick Riders perform some amazing feats on horseback, Boese said, adding the group will perform again at halftime of the rodeo along with the popular Wild Pony Races.

“We had a few people commenting that there just wasn’t much going on at a half times, so that’s why we’re bringing in a little bit of entertainment for the halftime show,” he said. “I can’t remember anything like that ever being (at the rodeo) since I’ve been involved. That should be very entertaining. They should put on a really good show.”

Chuck wagons and chariots get back in action at 3:30 p.m. with a special Redneck Farmer Challenge scheduled for halftime. The competition will see teams of three people attempt to complete a series of farm chore related tasks in a timed event.

“We’re hoping to get four teams. We don’t have any time teams signed up yet, but we haven’t actually done a whole lot of advertising,” Boese said. “It can be anybody, it doesn’t matter who or what age. There’ll be some laughs involved in that, that’s what that one’s all about.”
Rodeo action gets underway at 7 p.m. and the day wraps up with a Party in the Dirt featuring After Dark Xtreme.

Things get going again early Sunday with rodeo slack taking place from 8 a.m. to noon, if needed.

Slo pitch, the light horse show, petting zoo, face painting, Kids Zone and Legion bingo are all back operation and a church service and free pancake breakfast are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Donations are welcome.

Chuck wagons and chariots get underway at 1 p.m., followed by a gymkhana at 2 p.m. and the rodeo at 4 p.m.

It is a full weekend that would not be possible without the hard work of volunteers and the support of sponsors and the community at large.

“It costs a lot of money and a lot of man hours to put these things on. Way more than the average person ever knows and way more than I ever knew before I started helping with this,” Boese said, adding it is all worth it when you experience the final product.

“I think it’s going to be a great show there’s going to be tons of stuff. There’s a little bit of something for everybody. If you can’t find something to do there, you might as well just stay home.”

The communities of Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve, San Clara and Roblin have been spiraling since the discovery of Melinda Lynxleg’s body was found on a property in San Clara last month.

The news has sent shock throughout the communities and now many unanswered questions are floating around.

Read all about it in this week’s Review.

About 4 p.m. on June 17, RCMP received a report from Motor Carrier Enforcement in town who were dealing with a person who didn’t like it.

Members attended to keep the peace.

Find out what’s been keeping police busy in this week’s issue.

Goose Lake High (GLH) is getting some much needed upgrades to make the school more accessible for people with disabilities and mobility restrictions.

The renovations include the installation of a grooming room, staff washroom upgrade, janitor room upgrade and wheelchair lift installation.

Want to know more? Check out this week’s Review.

The Legion Ladies Auxiliary has generously donated $300 each to four local Girl Guides who have registered for the first interprovincial camp of their girl guide careers. The weeklong Crocus camp will be held in Dauphin and is an elective option for girls in Guides, Pathfinders, or Rangers.
The camp will assist the girls in developing leadership skills, fostering independence, gaining confidence, sharing in the sisterhood of guiding and learning an appreciation for the outdoors and respect for the environment.

With the beautiful summer weather comes plenty of outdoor activities, including market season. This year the Cranberry Portage Artisan Market is preparing their annual market in the community.
“The Cranberry Portage Artisan Market began in 2019, just in time to be shut down the following year due to COVID-19,” said Cranberry Portage Artisan Market Organizer Barb Bragg. “So last year, 2022, was our second market, out of four years. The Market takes place on the Canadian Heritage Museum Grounds, just off Portage Ave W, technically at 105 Railway Avenue, beside the railway tracks.
“The museum once was a functioning railway station and remains a stop for The Pas/Pukatawagan run. The museum showcases the incredible history of Cranberry Portage - originally referred to as the Cranberry Carrying Place.”

Last week the Province announced a new group to help with the fight against and protection from aquatic invasive species (AIS). The Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Forum was established to ensure a regionally diverse range of input was considered in terms of the testing and public education of AIS.
Local group, Citizens for Protecting Our Northern Waterways (CPONW), has become a part of this newly formed advisory forum.
“We've been advocating for such a group to be established for quite some time, both with the minister responsible for AIS and with the staff responsible for administering the program,” said CPONW President Chris Smith. “We were aware that this was in the works.
“The current provincial AIS program has largely been developed and implemented with a provincial scope, with limited input from local communities or community groups.

The Town of The Pas held a council meeting last Monday started off with a presentation by Turning Leaf Services, which is an organization that is trying to set up in The Pas. The organization recently held an open house in the community and put a call out for people to apply for employment.
The 2022 audit was thoroughly presented by Dion Bird from Baker Tilly HMA LLP.
The Citizens Period had a few delegations and presentation to council. Jenn Cook from the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival presented and expressed concerns about the Trappers’ sign and location for the future.
“Our vision is to have a permanent fort in Devon Park,” said Cook. “At last town council meeting there was mention of Trapper’s sign and the world’s largest dogsled with regards to ownership and creating a permanent location for them. This spurred our board into reviving a vision that’s been lingering in the back of Trappers’ Festival Board Members’ minds, past and present, for a number of years, which is the idea of a permanent fort in Devon Park. The conversation around the council table regarding the two significant items, the sign and dogsled, reignited the conversation for the board, of a permanent fort in Devon Park.

The Kindergarten to Grade 6 classes at ESRSS headed outside on Monday afternoon for their Carnival, with students playing games around the yard in order to win tickets they can use to purchase prizes or experiences, such as dropping Mrs. Allan-Fuchs in the dunk tank, or getting decorated with a nifty design.

Not only did the Swan Valley celebrate the anniversary of Canada last weekend (July 1), but also the anniversary of Minitonas and the early settlement of the Swan Valley with events recognizing the Minitonas Homecoming taking place from Friday to Sunday (June 30 to July 2).