The RM of Gimli says it has made progress on restoring its IT systems after a cyber attack it said it experienced in April, and residents can now pay bills at the municipal office.
In a post on its website, the RM said it continues to work on investigating the attack.
“The RM continues to actively work with experienced cyber security experts to investigate and assess the situation thoroughly. We have been working diligently to restore our systems safely and responsibly. The full scope of the impact is still being determined,” states the May 25 post. “We are happy to share with you that progress has been made in restoring our systems and so we can announce that residents can now process bill payments at the municipal office.”
The ransomware group Payload took responsibility for hacking the municipality and holding its data for a ransom. It threatened to release the data on the dark web if the RM didn’t pay.
The RM has yet to confirm it had been hacked by Payload, whether it paid a ransom and what kind of data — staff, councillors, ratepayers, contractors, etc. — was accessed during the cyber attack.
The Express asked the RM again what data was accessed, as well as who the cybersecurity experts are and how much that’s costing the RM.
“The RM continues to actively work with experienced cybersecurity experts to investigate and assess the situation thoroughly,” said spokesperson Christine Payne last Friday in response to the questions. “We have been working diligently to restore our systems safely and responsibly. The full scope of the impact is still being determined.”
Other news:
• Council was asked what its next steps are regarding the Harbour Hutterite colony’s proposed wastewater treatment lagoon and the 140,000 chicken operation. The RM had registered its opposition to both projects.
“The RM has participated in the provincial review process for the Harbour Colony lagoon and now awaits the minister’s decision,” said Payne. “Regarding the proposed chicken operation, Mayor Chudd has provided you with his speaking notes outlining the municipality’s position on the issue and they remain status quo.”
When asked to confirm whether the RM has a municipal bylaw outlawing the spread of manure within its borders, Payne said council had considered one for chicken manure, but it hasn’t yet proceeded.
“In 2025, council gave first reading to a proposed Livestock Manure Bylaw that would have restricted the application of poultry manure within the municipality,” she said. “However, the bylaw did not proceed to second and third reading and is still under review.”
• The RM responded to a freedom of information request from the Express, which asked for a copy of the employment contract and all ancillary documents between the RM and former chief administrative officer DJ Sigmundson that was made around the end of 2025.
Release of the information was refused.
The RM had reviewed the paper’s request dated March 4 after consulting with its legal counsel, said chief administrative officer Diana Chapman, who is also the RM’s privacy officer.
“After a thorough consideration of your request and on considering all of the relevant circumstances, the Rural Municipality of Gimli has determined that your request must be refused under section 17 of FIPPA (particularly section 17(1), section 17(2)(e) and (g), 17(3) and section 17(4)) as a mandatory exception to disclosure as the requested records contain third party personal information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unreasonable invasion of the privacy rights of a third party at law,” wrote Chapman in a letter dated May 22.
With respect to the Manitoba government sharing public sector employee compensation data, Chapman said that same “obligation does not apply in the present case.”
She added that once the RM’s audited financial statements are ready for disclosure, employee compensation information that is “required at law to be disclosed” might be found.
Former councillor Andy Damm resigned from Gimli council earlier this year, and said in February that one of his reasons for resigning had to do with the procedures around the appointment of Sigmundson and the contract signed with him. Damm had called it “abhorrent” (see Feb. 12 edition of the Express Weekly News online).
• The RM advised residents in the Arnes area that asphalt overlay will begin on May 15 on Ramsay Road. Construction will take place Monday to Friday and will extend from Boundary Road (123N) to PR 222. Drivers can expect possible delays.
• Council provided funding to students who are part of the Enviro Club at Gimli High School after they asked the RM for assistance to take part in an annual hands-on field competition called the Manitoba Envirothon. The school has two teams competing at the provincial competition and it can cost up to $4,200.
“Council approved a $500 contribution by resolution to support the Gimli High School Enviro Club and wishes the students continued success,” said Payne. “This aligns with the RM’s ongoing efforts to support environmental stewardship and youth engagement in the community.”
