The Manitoba government is continuing to recruit health-care workers and support the province’s health-care system by inviting more than 300 health-care professionals to stay and build their careers in Manitoba.
“Our government is rebuilding health care after years of cuts and neglect,” said Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino. “By making it easier for skilled workers to stay and build their careers here, we’re ensuring the staff needed to provide care in our hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities can be there for Manitobans.”
Through a recent expression of interest (EOI) draw, 328 temporary foreign workers working in health care have been invited to apply to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program and remain in Manitoba to continue serving communities across the province.
The latest draw includes:
187 health-care aides,
21 physicians,
11 registered nurses, and other key professionals supporting patient care.

Read more in this weeks Russell Banner.

Parents across Manitoba can access current, evidence-based information on pregnancy and child development through the newly developed Parenting in Manitoba website, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine announced.
“Pregnancy and parenting open the door to a new world of responsibility and learning that can feel deeply rewarding and understandably overwhelming,” said Asagwara. “The Parenting in Manitoba website offers clear, trustworthy information to help new and expectant parents support their child’s healthy development, from pregnancy through the first five years of life. It builds on our government’s continued investment in early childhood health, including the Manitoba Prenatal Benefit, which has already supported more than 1,200 Manitobans this year.”
The new website features over 120 articles on topics like safe swaddling techniques, tips for starting solid foods and how to tell the difference between a sore throat or strep. The site responds to recommendations made in the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth’s (MACY) Shifting the Lens report, which addresses sleep-related infant deaths and aligns with Manitoba’s Renewed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Strategy and Healthy Child Initiatives, added Fontaine.

Get the full report in the October 28th edition of the Russell Banner.

By Derek Holtom
Fighting was supposed to have been on the way out in junior A hockey, but no one told this year’s crop of players in the MJHL.
There have already been 10 separate suspensions for either a second fight or multiple fights in the same stoppage this year, totaling 22 games lost to those players.
The latest such suspensions were handled out to Northern Manitoba’s Jett Fogle, who earned a one-game suspension for second fight in a stoppage. Wayway’s Charlie Nemeth also earned the same suspension, while also getting an additional game for a kneeing major.
Virden’s Liam Goertzen and Winkler’s William Lyons both also got one-game suspensions for being part of the second fight in a same stoppage when they played each other on Oct. 17.

Want to know more? Pick up a copy of the October 28th edition of the Russell Banner.

By Derek Holtom
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines had an interesting week which started with a dominating victory over their division rival and expansion cousin franchise the Swan Valley Stampeders.
Coming off a low-scoring weekend, the Wolverines offense roared back to life, scoring nine goals against the Stampeders. For Head Coach and General Manager Landyn Cochrane, the outburst was all about not panicking after one bad weekend.
“We’re continuing to stick to our game plan, continuing to work hard, and follow through on our game plan,” he said.
The Wolverines also dropped a close game to the Selkirk Steelers, one of the premier teams in the MJHL this season. If not for a bounce here or there the Wolverines could have won that game.
“I feel we’re right there with the best in the league,” said Cochrane. “When we follow through with our game plan and our effort is there, we can be one of the top teams in the league.”

Get the whole score in this week's Russell Banner.

By Jennifer Laviolette
Prairie Mountain Health held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtually on Wednesday, October 22. PMH Board Chair Lon Cullen opened the meeting and introduced the board of directors, Donna Davidson as Vice Chair, Debbie Huntinghawk, Ron D. Janzen, Kim Magalhaes, Jody Stevens, Lori Rodych, Sue Stirling, Judy Swanson and two new members, Vaughn Wilson and Premel Patel David. The board of directors are appointed by the Minister of Health.
The board is responsible for steering three committees: the Finance and Audit Committee, the HR Committee, and the Quality and Patient Safety Committee. It’s also responsible for consultation with stakeholders.
PMH CEO Treena Slate spoke about PMH’s Strategic Plan, consisting of creating positive health care experiences; quality focus; improved health system capacity, performance and accountability; empowered workforce; and financial stability.
Some of the highlights for PMH this year focused on access to health care by improving efficiency, reducing wait times, supporting innovation in service delivery and improving client safety and care outcomes. The regional also developed partnerships that resulted in health system planning and service delivery alignment with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long Term Care and Housing, Addictions and Homelessness priorities.

Find out more in this week's Russell Banner.

It’s been well over a year since the violent windstorm that tore the roof off of the Foxwarren rink.
With all the paperwork and approvals done, the community started raising funds for the repair of
the roof, this September. That work is well underway repairing the structural damage and ensuring all the repair work is up to code.
To date, $81,595 of the $200,000 goal has been raised thanks to generous donations of $5,000 from the Binscarth Lions,
Fusion Credit Union and the 2025 Beef and Barley committee, $2,500 from Braendle Bruce along with numerous other generous donations.

Get the full story in this week's Russell Banner.

The Russell Rams are heading back on the ice during the first week of November. In preparation for the season, the guys were selling squares at the Beef & Barley Trade show.

So, are the Selkirk Steelers for real this year? The answer just might be yes. Or at the very least, they are positioned to get back into the playoffs this year for the first time since 2022.
A month into the season, the Steelers sit atop the MJHL standings with 20 points in 11 games, one more than the Steinbach Pistons who have 19 points in 10 games.
The Steelers rocketed out to a similar strong start last year, only to flounder as their schedule got tougher. They finished nine points back of the Niverville Nighthawks for the final playoff spot – a team that has, since their addition to the MJHL, edged out the Steelers for the final playoff spot in the East Division.

Read more in this week's edition of the Russell Banner.