Going to the Country   

Unless you are connected to rural Manitoba in someway you likely aren’t aware of a lot that goes on. We like to help in that regard so our readers across this great and diverse province of ours get to know more of it.  The rural economy accounts for 50 per cent of the province’s gross provincial product but more than that it has many different issues than the ones that command the attention of our capital city. The country is different in many ways. But those who live in the largest towns and cities have their own issues. Winnipeg has streets while the country has highways and countless feeder roads maintained all year around. We have urban issues of high crime, downtown development and the problems of human mass, while country Manitoba has long distances, open spaces, and is a food factory with land use and environmental issues like water and flooding. And eventually, sooner or later, everyone in the country comes to Winnipeg to see the bright lights of the city. However, the reverse isn’t a regular occurrence, unfortunately, but there is nothing better than a summer night on the prairies.

Our rural editor Angela Lovell lives in the small Town of Manitou, Manitoba, an idyllic and historic place on the edge of the Pembina Valley. She spends a lot of time with ear to the ground listening for developing stories. Angela, a seasoned freelancer, is responsible for the majority of copy in this edition.  She also has a very strong blog under her name on the Internet.

In addition to Angela’s contribution to this edition, we have the work of Steve Hiebert, an outstanding photographer located in Morden, Manitoba. Steve, who is 35, displays his lens talent on our cover this month in his standing portrait of His Honor Mayor Martin Harder of Winkler. Steve’s photos have a casual eloquence captured in still life. Steve was responsible for last year’s cover shot as well. Then, to the west, is photographer Sandy Black’s who lives in the burgeoning City of Brandon. Sandy’s work never fails to portray people and scenery in its best light.

 Brandon is growing larger by the minute thanks to large operations like Maple Leaf Pork’s processing operation and McKenzie Seeds, one of Canada’s largest flower and vegetable seeds supplier, plus an array of smaller businesses. Not to mention it's surrounded by some of the best farmlands in the province as other commodities. It is home to the Royal Winter Fair, one of the best agricultural exhibitions in the country.