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Free Press file photo The statue of Josiah Flintabbatey Flonatin, designed by cartoonist Al Capp, in Flin Flon, Man., explains the origin of the name of the mining town on the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border.

Life in a Northern border town

RoseAnna Schick 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

There aren’t many places in Canada where one city can call two provinces home. But you’ll find a couple of them in the centre of the country.

Lloydminster straddles the borders of Alberta and Saskatchewan along the Yellowhead Highway. Founded in 1903 and named after Reverend George Lloyd, the city was divided in 1905 when the large prairie territory was split into two provinces. It reunited again in 1930 to create a single municipality, and today, 32,000 people call Lloydminster home.

Lloydminster sits on a massive geological formation of heavy crude oil, making it a hub for heavy oil innovation, and home to significant oil and asphalt operations. It’s the largest producer of paving asphalt in Western Canada, and is known as the ‘heavy oil capital of Canada’.

The border runs right through the city, cutting across streets and sidewalks. It’s marked with four tall red steel columns, designed to resemble historic survey stakes. Built in 1994, these markers serve as a visual icon and a reminder of this destination’s unique cross-provincial identity.

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Supplied photo Streaky Bell, a lively Bengal cat, was a companion to his owners for 20 years.

Saying farewell to Streaky Bell

Jeff McFarlane 4 minute read Preview

Saying farewell to Streaky Bell

Jeff McFarlane 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026

I have written in the past that the toughest part of having an animal companion is saying goodbye, and it strikes home hard this week.

By the time you read this, we will have said goodbye to our loving little buddy, Streaky Bell. Yes, that was his name, the choice of nine-year-old Mary, who liked Supergirl and was studying the invention of the telephone in school.

Streaky Bell joined our family 20 years ago, a mischievous little Bengal kitten, looking for whatever trouble he could get into. We knew what we were getting into with a Bengal, in fact, we sought it out. And he lived up to the billing.

Bengals are known for the way the ‘wild’ genes affect their behaviour. They are more muscular, have striking markings, and love water. Streaky snuck into the shower or bath whenever he could. Bengals owe their uniqueness to the fact they have a recent injection of Asian leopard cat into the domestic cat line. Each generation removed from that mating increases the F number, with F1 being the first generation; thus, F5 is five breedings away from wild. The higher the F number, the less influence the wild cat makes. Streaky was an F6 from what we were told, so he wasn’t oversized or overly wild, but still had enough to make him different, and he had the striking coat.

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Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026
Photo by RoseAnna Schick The Twelve Apostles are a famous rock formation situated along the Great Ocean Road in Australia.

Exploring Australia’s Great Ocean Road

RoseAnna Schick 4 minute read Preview

Exploring Australia’s Great Ocean Road

RoseAnna Schick 4 minute read Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026

People who like road trips will love the Great Ocean Road in the southeastern Australian province of Victoria. Known as one of the world’s most stunning drives, it features dazzling scenery of white beaches, coastal cliffs, lush forests, and spectacular natural formations.

Construction on the road began in 1919, when servicemen returned home from the First World War. Carved through rock and hugging the coastline for over 240 kilometres, the Great Ocean Road took more than a decade to complete and was dedicated in honour Australia’s fallen soldiers. Today, it’s considered the world’s largest war memorial.

The Great Ocean Road begins in Torquay, a town southwest of Melbourne. From there it stretches west along the shoreline to Allansford, passing through coastal towns with fascinating attractions and incredible views.

Torquay is famous for surf culture and being the birthplace of some of surfing’s most iconic brands. It delivers the quintessential Australian seaside experience, with an atmosphere that mixes bougie and beach culture, blending laid‑back coastal vibes with world‑class beaches. It’s a great place to learn how to surf, with several schools offering group and private lessons from beginner right on up. While the rest of us quietly sip coffee on the nearest patio and enjoy watching surfers carve up the waves.

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Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026
Supplied photo Hi there! Meet Jacks.

Jacks would love to brighten your day

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Preview

Jacks would love to brighten your day

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Hi! My name is Jacks and am a very happy boy, 24/7. I even wag my tail while I’m drinking out of my water dish or eating out of my food dish.

My favourite times of the day are breakfast and dinner, as I love food. Although I’m not a high-energy dog, I really enjoy some exercise but like spending most of my day taking long naps, and you will often find me wherever all the humans are hanging out, especially snuggling on the couch. I would consider this one of my top hobbies.

I am fully house-trained and fully crate-trained.

I am good with ­adults and older kids, over age 12. I have a strong prey drive, so it’s best that I am not with small pets or other dogs. A fenced yard would be ideal.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026
Adobe Stock photo The guidelines for making changes to your pet’s diet are relatively simple, but it will take a little time to make a complete transition.

Tips for changing your pet’s diet

Jeff McFarlane 4 minute read Preview

Tips for changing your pet’s diet

Jeff McFarlane 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026

I get a lot of questions about changing your pets’ diets. Either from one brand to another, or one format to another. The key to diet change is determining if you are going better or worse, and how hard the current diet is on the pet’s digestion.

While the comments I will make pertain to normally healthy dogs, there are always some exceptions. In general, though, following these guidelines works for most pets.

Your pet’s digestive system operates best on an “ancestral” or “species-appropriate” diet. This means that when they are fed something similar to what they would have eaten in the wild, the gut is used to working with that format, and switching between foods in that format should not be an issue.

Pets can acclimate to ultra-processed kibble foods, but digesting those is stressful on the gut, and it’s very easy for the gut to get upset. When moving from one ultra-processed kibble to a different one, it is recommended to blend the two, using 25 per cent new food for a few days, then a 50/50 mix for a few days, switching to 75 per cent new food for a few days, and taking a week or longer to complete the transition. This way, the pet will get used to any difference between the foods, any of which can upset the digestive process if the change is too rapid.

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Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026
Supplied photo Say ‘hi’ to Luna.

Luna and Eugene – just lookin’ for love

Winnipeg Pet Rescue 2 minute read Preview

Luna and Eugene – just lookin’ for love

Winnipeg Pet Rescue 2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026

Luna is a five-year-old Lab cross who came to the shelter last September with her 11 puppies, and she proved to be an incredibly devoted mom. Sadly, Luna tested positive for heartworm during her initial health exam, which is a life-threatening disease, and the treatment is long, difficult, and painful. Luna went into a loving foster home where she bravely completed months of treatment and, through it all, her gentle spirit never wavered. We are thrilled to announce she is now officially free and clear of heartworm and is ready for her own happy ending. She is sweet as honey and eager to please – a smart girl who adores people and forms a deep bond quickly with those she loves.

Luna will need to be the only animal in the home, and she will thrive with a confident, experienced owner, especially while working on her leash manners. Luna will give you unconditional love and devotion. So, if you think Luna could be right for you, please give us a call at 204-832-7387 to arrange a meet and greet.

☐ ☐ ☐

Meet Eugene. He is a four-year-old domestic short-hair who is looking for his forever home. Eugene is a quiet, gentle boy looking for a calm, happy home where he can feel safe forever. He’s a sweetheart who loves to give little kisses and snuggles, and he can’t wait to meet you (While Eugene loves everyone he meets, his sociability with other animals is unknown at this time.)

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Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026
Supplied photo Meet Banjo!

You’ll love playing with Banjo

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Preview

You’ll love playing with Banjo

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Hi. I’m Banjo!

I’m a very energetic puppy who loves to play, and I absolutely love tug-of-war. I’m also pretty good at playing by myself.

I am still a baby, so I’m teething at the moment. I am trying to learn to not bite everything and everyone I see. For this reason, I would be better with older children.

I am working on my house-training, and doing very well with pee pads, too. But I am already crate-trained and I sleep through the night.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026
Adobe Stock Toronto’s Massey Hall is considered the premier concert hall in Canada for touring artists.

Canada’s historic music halls

RoseAnna Schick 4 minute read Preview

Canada’s historic music halls

RoseAnna Schick 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

As a lifelong music lover and longtime Canadian music advocate, going to concerts has always been part of my personal and professional life. Whether attending sold-out stadiums, moody theatres, gathering places or coffeehouse spaces, live performances have always captivated me. Quite often, so does the venue itself – especially when it’s an historic building.

Here are a few of the oldest and most fascinating musical halls in Canada in which you can go to see a show today:

Victoria Hall in Cobourg, Ont., was built between 1856 and 1860. During this period, the town 120 kilometres east of Toronto was being considered as the capital of Upper Canada – an honour ultimately bestowed on Ottawa in 1857. Victoria Hall was designed by Kivas Tully, one of Ontario’s most influential architects of the time. It featured a neoclassical facade with four Corinthian columns, a roofed porch, and intricate details and symbols carved into its sandstone. It housed several civic offices, and the ‘grand concert hall’ with wooden floors and painted ceiling. In 1959 the building was designated a National Historic Site, and after years of renovations and restorations it reopened in 1983 as a performance venue and heritage landmark.

Aeolian Hall in London, Ont., is one of Canada’s most historically rich music venues, and one of the oldest continuously standing buildings that currently hosts concerts. Designed by prominent architect George F. Durand, it was constructed in 1883 and 1884 as the town hall for what was then the independent community of East London. The building would undergo a wide range of uses, including serving as a firehall from 1885 until 1946. When a London philanthropist purchased the Aeolian in 1969, it was again transformed. This time into a performance space intended as a home for chamber and classical music. Today, it is celebrated for its rich acoustics, warm interior, and inviting Victorian character, and is a favourite venue for classical, jazz, and folk musicians.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026
Supplied photo This is Frank.

Say hello to Frank and Froot Loop

Winnipeg Pet Rescue 1 minute read Preview

Say hello to Frank and Froot Loop

Winnipeg Pet Rescue 1 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

Supplied photo

This is Frank.

Supplied photo

This is Froot Loop.

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Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026
Adobe Stock photo Adding a probiotic to your pets’ diet will help keep them happy and healthy.

Is your pet’s gut happy? How probiotics can help

Jeff McFarlane 4 minute read Preview

Is your pet’s gut happy? How probiotics can help

Jeff McFarlane 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

In my 50 years in the industry, the biggest improvements in pet health that I’ve seen have come from moving from ultra-processed dry pet foods to clean, fresh foods.

We can make other adjustments to our pets’ nutrition that have huge benefits. I’ve discussed Omega 3s and green-lipped mussels, and our clients all rave about those supplements. Another supplement all pets will benefit from are probiotics.

Every living creature needs to digest food. Probiotics ensure that we can get the most out of our foods, and that we aren’t fighting the foods we eat. Having the right gut biome can help prevent bad bugs and yeasts from multiplying. There are even probiotics designed to help with allergies.

Up to 70 per cent of our immune system is in our gut. Making sure we have the right bugs growing in our gut means our bodies can concentrate on keeping us healthy. This is just as important for pets and, in some cases, even more important.

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Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026
Supplied photo Say hello to Groopert.

Lovable Groopert would like to meet you

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Preview

Lovable Groopert would like to meet you

Manitoba Mutts 2 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

Hi, I’m Groopert!

I’m an easygoing boy who loves chewing bones and going for walks – especially in the snow.

I am fully house-trained and I am very good at letting my foster mom know when I need to go outside. I am crate-trained and I go in the crate when my foster mom is not home, but I don’t quite love it in there yet. I will complain when I first go in, but then settle into a nap after a few minutes.

I am good with other dogs. In fact, I quite like seeing other dogs on walks and meeting them for playdates. But my foster mom doesn’t know how I will be with cats. She says that I don’t seem to have a high prey drive, but I am a pretty curious puppy, and I might annoy some cats.

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026
Adobe Stock photo Sharing your stories of being victimized by scammers help others arm themselves against similar dangers. There’s no shame in fighting back.

Share the real stories this March

Better Business Bureau 3 minute read Preview

Share the real stories this March

Better Business Bureau 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

Behind many people’s vacation glam shots and perfectly plated food photos lie many stories that could actually help other people. Because of shame and guilt and a societal fear of vulnerability, such stories are often hidden away, pushed down out of sight.

However, this Fraud Prevention Month, Canadians are being encouraged to share their stories of loss and shame and vulnerability.

When we don’t talk about these things, about the shame of being victimized by scammers, then we let shame win and scammers thrive. They love an absence of knowledge, a void of information.

But when people share their stories of falling victim to scams, they help so many other people identify the exact warning signs they need to in order to avoid getting trapped in the same situation.

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026
Free Press file photo Up to 100,000 birds can pass through Oak Hammock March in a single day during spring migratory season – making it well worth checking out during spring break.

Exploring spring break in Manitoba

RoseAnna Schick 4 minute read Preview

Exploring spring break in Manitoba

RoseAnna Schick 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

Spring break arrives in Manitoba when winter slowly starts to recede and warmer days draw ever-so-near. If you’d like to get out and explore activities right here at home, here are a few ideas for things to do in our back yards in the week of Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3 (which is Good Friday).

The Manitoba Museum showcases the wonders of science and discovery during spring break. The Think Big scavenger hunt will get kids and families solving riddles that reveal the museum’s largest and most fascinating artifacts. Planetarium shows on the schedule take you travelling through the solar system with Perfect Little Planet and exploring the earth’s deep history over billions of years in Living Worlds. In the Science Gallery, you can learn about how oceans regulate global temperatures and why they’re essential to keeping the planet in balance.

Spend a day outdoors during Wild Wetland Week at Oak Hammock Marsh, just north of the city. The wildlife management area near Stonewall is a prime location for witnessing spring migration. Up to 100,000 birds can pass through here in a single day during peak season, with more than 300 species drawn to the restored marshlands, tall-grass prairie, and aspen-oak trees. Visitors can take learn to spot geese, ducks, and other species as they return north, on guided walks along the 30-kilometre network of trails. It’s one of Canada’s most important wetland ecosystems, and it’s an internationally recognized locale for birdwatching.

A great place to explore nature right here in the city is within the 660 acres of reclaimed urban green space at Fort Whyte Alive, an environmental centre and outdoor recreation haven with the motto ‘connecting humans with nature’. During spring break, Fort Whyte offers Alive in the Woods self-guided activities, and nature-inspired games and crafts. You can rent snowshoes, walking poles, wagons, binoculars, and other interesting items. Naturalists will teach you how to spot migratory birds on walks that wind through the wetlands, or how to identify the tracks of deer, foxes, rabbits, and other woodland creatures in wildlife tracking sessions.

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026
Adobe Stock image Don’t be failed by smooth talkers dangling money in front of you, whether it’s on the phone or online. Always seek a second opinion before committing to any investment “opportunity”.

Investment scams cost Manitobans millions

Winnipeg Police Service 3 minute read Preview

Investment scams cost Manitobans millions

Winnipeg Police Service 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

Investment scams are now the largest scam-type affecting Manitobans, with reported losses exceeding $3,000,000 in 2025. Behind that staggering number are friends, neighbours, and family members in communities across our province who believed they were making a sound financial decision. Instead, they found themselves victims of sophisticated fraud.

Fraudsters are increasingly targeting Manitobans with promises of high returns and low risk. These scams can take many forms: fake cryptocurrency platforms; fraudulent real estate developments; gold or precious metal schemes,;foreign exchange trading offers; or “exclusive” investment opportunities shared through social media. Some scammers even impersonate legitimate financial advisers or use professional-looking websites and documents to appear credible.

Seniors are being particularly targeted. Fraudsters know that many older adults have retirement savings, home equity, or nest eggs they’ve built over decades. They also know that seniors may be less familiar with newer investment trends such as cryptocurrency or online trading platforms. Scammers exploit this by offering to “help” manage investments or by creating a false sense of urgency, pressuring victims to act quickly before a supposed opportunity disappears.

In many cases, the scam begins with an unsolicited phone call, email, or social media message. Sometimes it starts with an online ad. The fraudster may spend weeks or even months building trust, answering questions, and providing what appear to be regular account statements showing impressive returns. Victims are sometimes encouraged to invest a small amount first and may even be allowed to withdraw a bit of “profit” to build confidence. Once a larger sum is invested, however, the money disappears.

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026
Supplied photo Bee is a playful, loving dog.

Would you like to adopt Bee or Penny?

Winnipeg Pet Rescue 3 minute read Preview

Would you like to adopt Bee or Penny?

Winnipeg Pet Rescue 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026

Meet Bee, a playful, smart girl who’s looking for the right home. Bee is 10-month-old shepherd cross who is a fun-loving, energetic pup and absolutely thrives outdoors. She loves snow, long walks, exploring, playing fetch, soccer balls, rope toys, and sticks. She’s great with other dogs and truly enjoys having canine friends to play with. Bee does best with structure and routine. She’s smart, active, and bonds closely with her person.

That said, we want to be fully transparent so Bee can find the right fit. She has shown resource-guarding behaviours. She allows one primary handler to remove items from her possession without issue, but her behaviour will need continued training and careful management.

Because of this, Bee would do best in a home with no small children. She’s an energetic, driven girl who needs clear leadership, consistency, and the right environment to succeed. If you’re experienced, patient, and looking for an active companion to invest in, Bee could be an incredibly loyal partner. Bee is currently in foster care, so an appointment to see her is necessary. To arrange one, or for more information, please call the shelter at 204-832-7387 or email shelby@wpgpet.ca

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Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026
Enjoying the pack mentality

Enjoying the pack mentality

Jeff McFarlane 4 minute read Preview

Enjoying the pack mentality

Jeff McFarlane 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026

Last January, a small kitten called out to Jackie in the middle of the night, from under a neighbour’s deck. Jackie responded by using her power tools to rescue it, and for the next few months we tried to find out where he came from.

We eventually exhausted that effort and realized that he had worked his way into our family unit. Like in a book, we now have a Labrador (Rey), a French bulldog (Leia) and a grey domestic shorthair cat (Moonlight). Two rescues, one from a breeder, and they have come together in a family unit.

They’re not always harmonious, but what family is? We will often find them curled up together, or near each other. And sometimes they scuffle or get up and leave if another tries to scoop some attention.

Feeding is a surprisingly harmonious time, as no one tries to sneak another’s food, which could be because they all eat their entire meals in a minute or two. They all get raw and love it. Moonlight gets a little midnight snack that seems to reduce his nighttime activity (he can be very annoying), which Rey and Leia would love to share, but they have gotten used to it.

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Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026

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