Days are getting longer and temperatures are starting to warm up, which makes it a great time to start planning for garden season.
The Town of Stonewall received a $10,000 Age Friendly Community Collaboration grant from the Manitoba Association of Senior Communities. The funds will go towards an expansion of the healing garden and memorial garden, which will include a wildflower arrival meadow and a garden sanctuary.
The initiative is a collaborative effort of Stonewall and Rockwood’s Age Friendly Committee, the Communities in Bloom committee, Circles of Reconciliation, the Manitoba Métis Federation and the South Interlake Garden Club.
“The success in receiving the grant is a testament to what is possible when organizations come together in a meaningful way for the betterment of our community,” said Mayor Sandra Smith.
The project will feature trees, shrubs and grass plantings to create an accessible place for reflection. Benches will provide areas for rest and contemplation.
Joie Van Dongen, chair of Stonewall and Rockwood’s Age Friendly Committee, expressed enthusiasm for the collaborative project.
“This committee is enthusiastic in expanding the existing memorial garden, which was developed in 2003 by a group of passionate gardeners, with 80 per cent of members being seniors,” she said.
“Over the years, this small garden has been well tended, and six-inch square personalized memory stones can be purchased from the town. These memory stones and the quiet garden with benches are a place for reflection for seniors and family members, as well as a place to rest while walking in town or on the nearby trail.”
The healing garden’s Indigenous plants are well tended by seniors, who make up 20 per cent of the population, she added.
“These two gardens celebrate diversity and promote inclusion,” Van Dongen said. “Anyone of any age is welcome to enjoy the serenity and contemplation inspired by these gardens.”
In other council news:
• The Town of Stonewall will participate in the 2026 edition of Communities in Bloom in the new national category called “Healthier Livable Cities” in the 5,001 to 15,000 population category. The town received a $1,000 grant to help cover the $1,530 registration fee.
The 2026 Communities in Bloom theme focuses on therapeutic gardening.
“Gardening has the power to support mental, physical and emotional well-being while strengthening our connection to nature and to one another,” states Communities in Bloom e-newsletter. “This year, we’ll focus on creating inclusive, healing green spaces that promote calm, resilience and community care. Together, let’s grow environments that nurture people as much as they do the land.”
• Council accepted a bid from Rakowski Cartage and Wreckage Ltd. for the demolition of the north kiln. Over the last several years, the Save the Kilns committee raised funds to cover the costs of disassembling and reconstructing the southern kiln. However, due to the rising costs of reconstruction, the town has decided to demolish the two northern kilns. The project will also create public space and develop an amphitheatre.
• The Manitoba Water Services Board put out a call to municipalities to identify new water and sewer projects that are coming up in the next two to four years. The Town of Stonewall will submit a request for $5.3 million for the sewer and water infrastructure project for the personal care home and age-in-place campus site, as well as the surrounding lands.
• WSP Engineers has proposed a due diligence review and gap analysis for a property on 4th St. East. The current property owners are completing some environmental remediation since it was previously a bulk fuel plant and fertilizer facility. This property was also identified as a potential site for a new fire hall if it needs to be expanded in the future. As a result, the engineering company considers it prudent to conduct a due diligence review and data gap analysis of environmental management documents to evaluate whether the environmental conditions and human health risks have been adequately addressed.
• The Town of Stonewall will participate in the AlertMB, which is Manitoba’s public alerting program that is designed to deliver life-saving information during emergencies. This program allows authorized officials the ability to issue alerts through the national public alerting system, thereby alerting Manitoba through TV, radio and compatible wireless devises without the need for a subscription in the affected areas.
• Council accepted a $17,840 quote from Jasperson’s Greenhouse for supplying flowers to the town in 2026.
• The Commissionaires are designated as officers to provide bylaw enforcement for the Town of Stonewall.
• Council accepted a proposal from Primary Engineering for engineering advisory and coordination services to facilitate the age-in-place campus project. This project aims to provide various housing, including independent, assisted living and supportive housing. The town needs utility servicing to be done for this project.
• The town accepted a $2,250 bid for a surplus generator. The Kohler stationary generator, which is about 35 years old, was deemed to be a surplus capital asset.
• The Town of Stonewall is hiring enumerators for the 2026 municipal election. The temporary part-time term would run from May to July. The deadline to apply is Feb. 27. More information is posted on the town’s website at stonewall.ca.
