The Town of Stonewall’s 2025 water report is now available.
All Manitoba communities with more than 1,000 people must produce an annual report on their water systems.
“The water report is an annual provincial requirement for all publicly operated systems,” said chief administrative officer Wally Melnyk. “It ensures users have access to information on operation and compliance with testing requirements.”
In 2025, two boil water advisories were issued due to water line breaks that caused pressure loss, along with one advisory related to scheduled maintenance.
About $70,000 was allocated last year for engineering and consulting work toward a new water treatment plant aimed at reducing water hardness. Tendering and construction are expected in late spring to early summer 2026, with commissioning targeted for early 2028.
Water and sewer rates increased slightly in 2025 to $1.95 per cubic metre, up from $1.89.
The full report is available at stonewall.ca.
In other council news:
• Outdoor rinks and ponds are now closed due to unsafe ice conditions.
• Council gave second and third readings to bylaws establishing a public cemetery and regulating traffic. Mayor Sandra Smith was absent from both votes.
“There has been a change in the operational protocol for the digging of graves,” Melnyk said, noting the town will now arrange all burials at the Stonewall cemetery.
He added updates to the traffic bylaw reflect ongoing review following its 2024 overhaul, including expanded parking on both sides of a portion of 1st Street E.
The town approved a range of expenditures and initiatives, including:
• $333,348.75 contract with Bituminiex Paving Ltd. for reconstruction of 4th Street West;
• $98,552.50 to Ellmar Construction Inc. for concrete work on the Kinsmen Lake boardwalk project;
• $32,940 to WSP Canada Inc. for a lagoon capacity assessment;
• IT services through Epic and hardware purchases totalling more than $56,000;
• $7,599.81 for computer monitors through CDW Canada.
Council also approved:
• A $1,250 membership in the Long Term Continuing Care Association of Manitoba;
• A $455 quarter-page ad in the Royal Canadian Legion service recognition book;
• Attendance at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference (June 4–7 in Edmonton) and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities convention (April 21–23 in Brandon).
• Phase 1 of the Save the Kilns project has been completed, with design and tendering underway for Phase 2. Council approved transferring $171,495.65 from trust funds to cover part of the $526,433.45 spent in 2025.
Additional community initiatives include:
• Lighting town signs purple on March 26 for epilepsy awareness;
• Hosting an emergency preparedness open house May 4 to launch Emergency Preparedness Week;
• The new “Spring in Stonewall” event on May 29, featuring Market on Main, family activities and local vendors.
