NDP Candidate for the Churchill Keewatinook Aski region, Niki Ashton, is once again running for a seat in the House of Commons, representing Northern Manitoba.

Ashton was first elected to the House in 2015 and has been overseeing the position as MP for the region since then.

Also registered for the Churchill Keewatinook Aski region are PPD Candidate Dylan Young and Conservative Lachlan DeNardi.

The upcoming federal election will take place on April 28^th.

The Pas Community Renewal Corporation wants to encourage everyone to get active as spring approaches.

The corporation is making free passes available to participate in community recreational activities.

The free drop-in passes will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, and programs that are running will include Zumba and boxing at the Sweat Shop, Gym access to the rec and wellness center, aquacise at the Winton Pool, and both free skates and free swims.

Passes are limited, and to get yours, you can stop by the Pas Community Renewal Corporation on Edwards Avenue today.

The Red River Métis Fur Company will be in the Pas on April 1^st, purchasing furs from registered citizens at 25% over market value.

The Company acknowledges the need for support to maintain the traditional harvest of furs across the province.

Métis citizenship, along with a Manitoba trappers' licence, is required for the purchase and sale of furs.

The sales will be set up at Métis offices on Edwards Avenue in The Pas on April 1^st from 3 to 4:30 in the afternoon.

For more information, call Jason white at 431-336-0465.

Starting today and running till Thursday, the Northern Justice Symposium will take place at the OCN Veterans Hall.

Restorative justice focusing on community safety will be discussed in an open setting.

There will be a variety of panel speakers, presentations, and booths set up to provide information and feedback on justice issues being faced.

There will also be a night of entertainment from 6 to 9 featuring musical performances and comedians.

Local musician Ken Henderson will be speaking and performing as well.

Registration will happen at 8:30, and events will begin at 9 a.m. on all 3 days.  

Tonight The Pas Family Resource Center is hosting an event for 2 spirited individuals at the center located at 212 Edwards Avenue.

Rainbow Relations is a drop-in for LGBTQ+ individuals to create a support group of like-minded individuals in the community.

Snacks will be shared and words of encouragement and equality will be shared, there will also be crafting.

The event will provide light entertainment in a safe and supportive setting.

The event is being hosted with support from MKO and will also provide supports for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

To learn more about tonight’s free drop-in event you can email river.johnson@mkonorth.com

The Pas Guest List Inc. is hosting a fundraiser this weekend to help support their mural project's goal of placing 10 murals in the community.

The Trivia Night will take place at the Good Thymes Restaurant tomorrow night and is open to everyone.

You are allowed teams of up to 6 people and the cost is 20 dollars per person.

Trivia night will be running from 7 to 10 pm and prizes will be available.

All funds raised will go towards the 5^th mural which will feature the work of Nereo Zorro.

Zorro’s contributions to the mural project can already be view along the walking path between the UCN and Snackland in pieces that were placed last year.

The 2 Spirit Gala is going on tonight at the Royal Canadian Legion in The Pas.

The event looks to showcase and support Indgiqueer’s and advocates for equality.

The event starts tonight at 4 pm with registration; drinks will be served ahead of the dinner service which starts at 5.

Speakers will take the stage at 6 pm and will include Kairyn Potts, Alex Powalinsky, and Lisa Halsall.

There will also be several guest speakers and community members who would like to contribute and share words are more than welcome to give words of support and encouragement.

The gala is open to anyone with the LGBTQ+ communities and their supporters.

The goal is to create an inclusive environment for those in the community and to create a sense of welcoming.

The Pas Community Renewal Corporation is hosting its annual general meeting this evening at its offices on Edwards Avenue.

The meeting is open to the public as the group is looking for support and volunteers.

They are recruiting board members and anyone interested in joining should attend the meeting.

The meeting will start at 5 pm and registration is required.

You can register by calling 204-623-4269 or you can find more information on the TPCRC’s Facebook page.

Spring Break is coming quickly, and the planetarium in Winnipeg is gearing up for a new show.

Astronomer Scott Young, with the Planetarium, talks about the underwater and outer space show.

"Yeah, you know the planetarium is gearing up for Spring Break, the last day of March is when the Spring Break is here for most of the schools. And so we have a brand new show kicking in, it's called Voyage of The Stars: A Sea and Sky Adventure. It's kind of aimed at our younger viewers but it sort of looks at the similarities and differences between the outer space environments that we explore at the planetarium and the underwater environments of the ocean, a sort of other frontier of exploration that we still don't know as much about as we'd like."

There are also regular live shows that do guided night sky tours, which will be running daily during spring break.

Young also mentioned that the planetarium receives reports daily of a possible UFO sighting, commonly mistaken for Venus, which is viewable to the naked eye and appears as a bright white star in the southwest just after sunset.

Students enrolled in the UCN business program have been working on writing children's books.

Ten separate projects to create locally focused children's stories have seen incredible results from student input.

Some student books are already available online, such as e-books through Amazon.

They include "The Nice List," "Niko's Day of Cree," "The Human Dog Sled," "I Forgot," Raowl, A Canadian Snow Birds Scrapbook," and more.

Janice Seto is running the pilot program at the UCN, and the goal is to continue it next year.

To register for the next fall program, contact the UCN and learn more about the 10-month and 2-year business programs.

Community Futures Cedar Lake region just announced a Children’s Business fair that will be taking place in The Pas on May 10th.

The Fair will give children ages 6 to 15 a chance to showcase their entrepreneurial skills.

The event is in partnership with The Pa and OCN Chamber of Commerce and Acton Children’s Business Fair and will take place at the Roy H Johnston Arena as part of the annual Trade show and sale in the community.

Joe Cote, General Manager for Community Futures Cedar Lake, said, “The Children’s Business Fair is a fantastic opportunity for young entrepreneurs to experience the thrill of running their own business.”

Children interested in participating can register online at childrensbusinessfair.org.

An ongoing investigation in Thompson has led to the seizure of illegal cigarettes, drugs, cash, and weapons.

Last Thursday, RCMP in Thompson executed a search at a residence on Ospwagon Drive that led to the arrest of two individuals.

Upon investigation, RCMP seized 72 cartons of cigarettes, an estimated 100 thousand in cash, over 1.3 kilos of Cannabis and cocaine, as well as two vehicles that were seized as proceeds of crime.

RCMP has Charged Steven Moorehead and Sandra Moorehead, both of Thompson, with multiple offences, including trafficking, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and others.

Following last week's Handi-van Pledge show at CJAR, approximately 20 thousand dollars was raised, all in support of the van and those in the community who rely on the service.

The show wrapped up on Friday morning, with the final donation being 13 dollars and 55 cents from Rachel Biggnel, who saved her lunch money to help contribute to the cause.

That and other generous donations from local community members, businesses and organizations will be used to help maintain the service in The Pas.

The Handi-van staff and board thank everyone for their continued support.

The Fireman’s ball is going on this weekend in The Pas tomorrow night with a fundraiser to celebrate the 61st annual event.

Show your support for the efforts being made and enjoy a dinner and social tomorrow night at the Royal Canadian Legion.

The dinner runs from 5:30 to 9, and the social will run from 9 to 1 am.

Dinner and social tickets are both 30 dollars apiece; tickets will not be available at the door, so contact the fire department today to grab yours.

Mother's Day in The Pas wouldn't be the same without the Chamber of Commerce annual trade show and sale.

This year's show is already set to be bigger than ever.

All the larger eight-by-12-foot booths have already been booked; other booth sizes are still available.

If you're interested in grabbing a booth for the upcoming trade show, there is a 100-dollar discount on booths from now until March 31st.

Contact the Chamber to learn more or to become a chamber member.

RCMP in Northern Manitoba is on the lookout for a Grand Rapids Man for not following release orders.

Terry Mitchell Jr. Is wanted by Grand Rapids RCMP for failure to comply with the conditions of his release and possession of prohibited items.

Mitchell is 5'8", 100 pounds, with black hair and maybe armed; if you have seen him or have any information on his whereabouts, you're asked to contact RCMP or leave a secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

RCMP in Pukatawagon is looking for a man involved in a break-and-entry over the weekend.

Sunday afternoon, RCMP responded to the residence where it was reported that a man wielding a machete broke in and threatened a 27-year-old resident.

Children were inside the residence at the time, although no injuries had been reported.

The assailant was identified as Triston Bear.

The 27-year-old was already wanted for a separate incident, with more charges pending.

If you have seen him or have any information that may be helpful to his arrest, you're asked to contact RCMP or leave a tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

March 8th is International Women's Day, and in The Pas, the Chamber of Commerce will help showcase women's contributions to the social, economic, cultural, and political worlds.

Heightened responses to violence against women, reproductive rights, workplace equality, and political representation are only some of the reasons that gender equality will always remain an essential issue in our society.

Today, the Chamber of Commerce is hosting a lunch-and-learn session featuring guest speaker OCN Chief Maureen Brown.

The session will highlight and discuss the local contribution women have made and the role of women in shaping the tri-community's future.

Take time this Saturday to show appreciation for some of the women who have helped shape you.

Dealing with chronic health conditions can be difficult; the Northern Health Region wants to let you know you are not alone and options are available.

Getting Better Together has been active in the community for over a decade.

The Program is designed to teach skills that can help manage chronic health conditions.

Anyone with an ongoing health issue is welcome to attend the weekly meetings; caregivers and spouses are also welcome.

The Program will run on Wednesday evenings for 6 weeks starting on March 17th.

The Living Well lunch series will run on the 6th, 17th, and 26th from 12 to 12:45 at the Good Thymes Restaurant.

The lunch sessions will discuss mental health strategies for self-care, four secrets to becoming active, and the Mediterranean diet for the North.

The Program runs at the Pas primary health care center every Wednesday evening starting March 19th for 6 weeks.

The Program is free. To register, contact Russell Thorne at 204 627 6419 or email rthorne@nrha.ca.