Dr. Gerard Murray

Several infrastructure projects for the Town of Neepawa are making progress. Chief Administrative Officer Colleen Synchyshyn has provided an update to the restoration of Park Lake spillway. As of late last week, the work was at around 25 per cent completion. The temporary culvert crossing that was needed to be in place has been removed and the stockpiling of rock-fill is occurring. A temporary bridge structure will also soon be installed.

As for ongoing work at the Neepawa Golf and Country Club, the installation of a new bridge on the course has been completed.

At the former RCMP building, staff have been clearing the interior of the structure in advance of a rebuild to accommodate the practical nursing diploma program. A midNovember completion is still the target for the reno - vation to be complete. The Assiniboine Community College program is set to begin in early 2024.

Councillor reports

• Jason Nadeau provided an update from the volunteer board for the Yellowhead Centre. He noted that they have begun long-term strategic planning for the facility. Nadeau said they are very supportive of reaching out to the community and forming connections to see if there is any interest in helping to plan for the Yellowhead’s future.

• Marijka Kostenchuk participated in a HAND meeting on Mar. 22. The group has been looking into the acquisition of emergency response information (ERI) kits. These kits assist emergency responders in situations where a patient may not be able to communicate their conditions. The ERI Kits could be provided through a senior initiative program free of charge. Kostenchuk will update council on their acquisition progress once new information is available.

• Lisa Pottinger reviewed council and administration’s attendance at the recent Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) AGM in Winnipeg. The local coalition also spoke with Agassiz MLA Eileen Clarke and attended a session of the provincial legislature

• Yvonne Sisley informed council that the community has received a ParticipACTION grant, which will allow for the hosting of six days of outdoor fun and exercise classes at Riverbend Park. Further details to come. As well, a new provider has been confirmed for the Neepawa & District Chamber Fair. Select Shows Carnival and Midway, based out of Beausejour, MB will be the new provider and is expected to bring a larger setup. The Chamber is looking for volunteers to assist with this event. The Chamber Fair is scheduled for May 26 to 28. Sisley also offered her perspective on the AMM sessions.

• Murray Parrott expanded upon the previous comments related to the AMM meetings. He noted how our community was used as a positive example in many of the discussions. He said it was great to hear “Our community always being listed as an example of how to,”.