The second phase of the Boissevain School Playground project is nearly complete and planning is moving forward for the third and final development.

Perhaps calling the new work on the north side of the school a “playground” is a bit of a misnomer. The basketball court and pickleball court is aimed at the high school students as well as the public at large. However, it is the second part of the Boissevain School Playground Committee’s commitment to upgrading the area for all to enjoy.

Committee Co-Chair Heather Janssens said they were planning to get the practical work done this summer, but Mother Nature got in the way. However, JCI out of Brandon was able to get out early in September and the work has gone quickly.

“They’re getting some colour on there now,” Janssens stated. “We were hoping for the first of July, but once they were able to get out there, they moved quickly.”

There is still work to be done, and Janssens said she did not want to put a completion date on. The backboards and nets need to be put on the basketball side, the nets on the pickle ball courts, laying some lines down, and various other jobs need to be completed.

The project was called “Create a Court”. Built on the old tennis court area, the idea was to create something that would give high school students, who are often overlooked, a place to go out and get exercise while enjoying the outdoors.

“The space was not getting used, and now once this is done, it can be used all the time.”

The International Peace Garden will be celebrating the 90th anniversary of its earliest structure by giving it the face-lift it needs.

The CCC Historic Lodge will hit that birthday in 2027, and according to Peace Garden CEO Tim Chapman, this important structure needs some work.

“The lodge will be 90 years old next year,” Chapman explained. “Its bones are in good shape, but it needs some work. We want to make sure it is as up to date as possible.”

The lodge is not only historical for the Garden, but part of a larger story. The “CCC” in its name stands for the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was created in the depths of the Great Depression by newly elected US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Like other related agencies like the Tennessee Valley Authority, the CCC was created to give jobs to the great number of unemployed under the New Deal while developing key infrastructure. The CCC focused on areas like roads, bridges and parks, which is where the Peace Garden fit in.

As Chapman said, about 200 members of the CCC worked in the Garden from1934 to 1941. As well as the lodge, completed in 1937, they also built roads, fire pits and the lake later called Lake Udall. Although it was an American government project and therefore only worked on the south side of the area, they did use lumber from the Duck Mountains for the building.

A talented Boissevain student athlete will be participating in a prestigious hockey coaching program this year.

In late September, Hockey Canada and U SPORTS announced the cohorts of 22 participants in the 2026-27 Creating Coaches Program. Grace Glover of the University of Alberta, a Boissevain native, was one of five Manitobans who will be on the ice learning more about coaching this time around.

With motor oil in his blood, and plenty of experience, Mike Atchison found the time was right to open a garage in his hometown.

Nor-Del Ventures opened its doors on September 1. The proprietor was happy to put a dream into practice.

“This was something I always wanted to do,” Atchison explained. “I finally took the plunge.”

Atchison, a Deloraine native, said mechanics was something that was always a part of his life. His father Dale was a mechanic, and so he grew up around vehicles. He began in the trade after high school in 2001 at Maxwell Motors, where he worked until 2016. He later spent time at RC Auto & Repair in Hartney. He said it was time to go on his own.

“Sometimes you just have to go for it.”

The fits and starts of harvest this fall continue as the pattern of problematic weather the southwest has seen all growing season is ongoing.

Earlier this past week, farmers in the area were able to get back on the fields after more delays. Sun and wind meant slightly drier conditions. In a version of the phrase “make hay while the sun shines” producers headed out to their fields to take off what crop they could before the next shower.

The problems with harvest are the latest in a long line of weather issues. Early on, there were a couple of heavy-duty dust storms. On May 14-15, the area was hit with winds of up to 119 kms an hour, which pushed dust across roads and fields. As well as damage to trees and power lines, it filled ditches and moved soil from one field to another. It was a harbinger of more to come.

At the end of June, parts of the area were hit with massive rain, which created flooding situations. In Boissevain and area, for example, on June 29 more than six inches of moisture fell in less than two hours. The community was flooded out with plenty of water damage. Deloraine and other communities faced similar situations. This of course extended outside of the communities, swamping many fields.

Then in early July, the hail hit. Golf ball to baseball sized ice fell for around ten minutes in parts of the area, wrecking roof and vehicle alike. Again, this took a toll on crops in some spots, particularly as the storm headed east.

It might be 25 years ago, but for those who lived through it, 9/11 memories become raw in a hurry.

This was obvious at the ceremony held in the International Peace Garden on September 11. In front of the wreckage of the Twin Towers, transported to the Garden in 2002, dignitaries and the public remembered that fateful day in 2001, when airplanes smashed into the World Trade Centre in New York City, the Pentagon outside of Washington DC, and another crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. It was the marking of a poignant quarter century since the Islamic terror attack.

One of the memories focused on throughout the day was the heroism of first responders in New York. This made the choice of emcee for the event poignant. David Pankratz, MLA, was a firefighter. He said there was something about having that experience that gives a greater understanding. When a siren goes off, you go.

“You don’t know what you’re going to or what you’re going to find, you only know someone needs help,” Pankratz stated. “On September 11 of 2001, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, military members and ordinary people as well ran toward danger while everyone else ran away.”

He said they gathered at the Peace Garden to remember not only 3,000 lives lost, but also those who responded with great courage.

There was wind, but thankfully no rain for the sixth annual Boissevain Street Fest on September 12.

The annual fall event does showcase Manitoba’s ever-changing weather. Some years, it is blazing while others it is very cold. In 2026, temperatures were different depending on whether or not the sun was out that moment. Nonetheless the show went on, and as Boissevain-Morton Administrative Executive Melissa Perkins, one of the organizers said it was another fine event.

“While there were a few weather-related curveballs, overall the event was another great success celebrating for showcasing Boissevain,” Perkins said. “The wind and wind gusts certainly did affect things and cause some set up reconfigurations but we were grateful it was dry out. Given the rain experienced before and the forecast for more rain after, thankfully it did not rain during Saturday’s festivities. With Saturday being the only dry day in awhile that was good for the farmers who have had some very poor weather and conditions to contend with this harvest season. So while we certainly missed those busy working in the field during Street Fest, we absolutely understand. This year the weather was also chillier which definitely had more of a fall festival kind of feel and thankfully limited the wasps.”

The town wide garage sale, vendor market and Lions Soapbox Races got the day started. The children’s carnival and kid’s zone brought people out, especially early in the day. Perkins said the turtle clay creation station went over well, and there was a big crowd out for the pie eating contest, which included a youth category this year. The bingo was well attended and 130 came out to the Boissevain Community Theatre for the matinee. The Get Local Art Show and live demonstrations, held by the Arts Council was popular, with the gallery providing a space outside of the wind.

New events like the speed puzzling competition in the library and the downtown scavenger event were also fun and well attended.

Building a lagoon might not be the most romantic infrastructure project, but in Boissevain-Morton it is long awaited and seriously needed.

Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard was in town on Tuesday, September 8 to break ground on the lagoon construction. Located on the old site southwest of town, practical work began this summer after a lot of planning and some frustrating periods. Simard recognized the importance of the project.

“These projects are huge for rural Manitoba communities,” Simard stated. “They are important to help towns like Boissevain grow into the future.”

The work on the new lagoon is progressing, although weather might be slowing things down presently. The municipality is handling the project in an unusual way. When they put out tenders earlier in 2026, they found the estimates came in $2 million over the $10 million budget. They decided they would be their own general contractors and hired sub-contractors like Dougall Excavating, Power Baron and Copperman to do the work. Engineers and the Water Services Board have been on and off site while the work has been ongoing.

High school rodeo continues to be a big part of the lives of local riders, with at least one moving on with the sport this year.

Nine riders from the different communities in our area participated in the last season of the Manitoba High School Rodeo Association, with most coming back this time around. The new season has recently kicked off for this year, with plenty of events coming.

Also, many young people have also participated in higher-level events, and had success when the gate was pulled.

From Boissevain School, there are sisters Abby and Riata Dalby and Lexi and Kaity Janssens, as well as Zoe Vorster and Reid Armstrong.

Kesley McGee has competed from Deloraine, Jett Lockie from Waskada and Grace Cole from Goodlands.

After more than three decades, T&S Recycling will be picking up their last blue bins at the end of the month.

The business, owned and operated by Tina and Scott Patterson of Boissevain, started home and business recycling pickup in July of 1993. Tina Patterson said it was just time to give it up.

“After 33 years, we decided it’s just time for a change for us,” Patterson explained. “Life on the farm is busy, and now with grandkids to enjoy we’ve decided we are ready to have the extra time back.”

She said they had originally noticed how much their own recycling piled up and knew people in the city had curbside pick up. They figured it was something people in Boissevain would also enjoy. There were originally 25 customers who signed up for the service, and some of them remained to this day. Currently there are around 80 residents and businesses.