A 14-year-old boy was killed Wednesday night when his dirt bike collided with another vehicle.

RCMP say the accident happened at about 8 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 257 and 252 in the RM of Wallace west of Virden.

The teen was travelling southbound at the time when he attempted to cross Highway 257 and collided with an eastbound vehicle driven by a 36-year-old area woman.

The boy was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. His name isn’t being released.

Police are continuing to investigate and say the rider was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Richard Dupuis, visitor experience manager, shows off the newest addition to the Wasagaming Campground: the oTENTik tents in Riding Mountain National Park. (HANDOUT)

As camping season nears, Riding Mountain National Park is preparing for an influx of visitors.

The park is offering several new programs for campers this year, including its oTENTik tent, learn-to-camp activities for new Canadians, and the campground host program.

The oTENTik is a spacious wood and canvas framed structure that sleeps six people on two queen size and one double size sleeping platforms. Campers only need to bring sleeping bags, food and cooking utensils. The rental rate is $70 per night for the 10 oTENTiks in the Wasagaming Campground.

The Learn-to-Camp weekends for New Canadians aims to provide an opportunity to try a “typically Canadian” first-time camping experience for young families and new Canadians while learning about camping basics. Events scheduled in June, July and August will feature workshops that will focus on camping related skills such as how to set up a tent, and how to cook in the great outdoors.

Finally, campground hosts are trained volunteers who stay at the outlying campgrounds during summer and are available to answer visitors’ questions, and share information about special events, interpretive programs, and local attractions.

Parents will have an easier time understanding their child’s report card after the Manitoba government announced an overhaul of its design on Tuesday.

Touted as being more “parent-friendly,” the new provincial report cards will come into effect in all public schools by the fall of 2013. It was first piloted in select schools during the 2011-12 academic year.

The new report card features information about students’ learning behaviours, giving parents an understanding on their children’s effort and attitude in class. The new high school report card (Grades 9 to 12) contains a completion of requirements for graduation chart, showing the student’s progress toward graduation.

“This important initiative will improve the quality of our education system by giving parents and teachers a clear and understandable way of tracking how kids are performing, where they need help and where they are excelling,” said Education Minister Nancy Allan.

Shaw Communications and the City of Winnipeg have partnered up to improve access to the the city’s internal network.

As part of the deal, Shaw Business will provide the city with 35-site Virtual Private Local Area Network Service (VPLS) in a multi-year agreement.

The agreement has Shaw creating separate VPLS domains for each of the city’s business units as part of a 42-site network and carrier-grade Internet, allowing the city to be able to provide Internet over the data network to every city employee.

Shaw’s network will also be utilized in police services and Water and Waste. Public library users will have access to complimentary Shaw WiFi.

Financial terms of the deal were not released.

UPDATE: A city spokesperson says the contract is for five years and valued at $1.69 million. Shaw previously handled 80% of the city’s LAN business, but will now handle nearly 100% of the network. A competitive bidding process took place as part of a request for proposal put forward by the city.

Posted by Tyler Sutherland

Dandi is one of several dogs available for adoption from the city's Animal Services Agency. (CITY OF WINNIPEG)

The City of Winnipeg is once again trying to reduce the number of dogs in its care by holding an adopt-a-dog sale.

Today until Thursday, perspective owners can visit the Animal Services Agency at 1057 Logan Avenue between noon and 5:30 p.m. to see the available pooches.

The city has 26 of its 42 dogs up for adoption at a fee of $99. Adoption includes a license, micro-chip, spay/neuter, basic shots, food and pet health insurance.

Last year, 601 dogs were returned to their owners by wearing a license. Animals over six months of age must have and wear a dog license.

Posted by Sarah Klein

A new initiative to get impaired drivers off the streets was launched in Portage la Prairie on Monday.

Report Impaired Drivers 911 allows citizens to call 911 if they suspect an impaired driver on the roadway. Portage is the second Manitoba community to have the initiative after Brandon launched theirs last spring.

“Through RID 911, citizens can play an active role in helping to avert the heartache and tragedy caused by impaired driving,” said Bill Robinson, Assistant Commissioner and Commanding Officer of RCMP “D” Division. “The RCMP continues to work with its valued partners to increase road safety through strategic enforcement and awareness initiatives aimed at changing high risk driving behaviour.”

RID 911 will be administered by the Portage RCMP, in partnership with Manitoba Public Insurance, the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission, and MADD Canada. More than 70 communities across Canada have similar campaigns.

A new art piece called 'Emptyful' is located outside the Millennium Library. (STAN MILOSEVIC / CHRISD.CA)

A new public art piece was installed over the weekend at the Millennium Library in downtown Winnipeg.

Called Emptyful, the piece was created by Vancouver artist Bill Pechet and stands 35-feet tall. The complete installation will take several months and will be a permanent fixture in the city’s downtown.

The structure was funded by both the Winnipeg Cultural Capital of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the Winnipeg Arts Council’s Public Art program.

It’s the largest public art project in Winnipeg to date.