This week in good news (Nov. 29-Dec. 5)

This week saw a lot of giving, acts of kindness, some new (holiday) tunes, and triumphs (like a nice rebate for MPI customers).

Local duo Bold As Lions finalists in national emerging artist program

Made in Manitoba artist Bold As Lions has won a piece of a $100,000 prize after being selected as finalists in Canada's Walk of Fame.

The faith-based band, composed of husband and wife Sean and Karli Quigley, was selected as a third-place finalist in the emerging artist program.

More than 1,400 entries from across the country were submitted for the country. The winner and five finalists were chosen by a committee of music industry experts.

Duck Dynasty's Bella Robertson engaged

Another member of the Robertson family will be hearing wedding bells in the near future.

Bella Robertson has announced her engagement to boyfriend Jacob Mayo.

The couple has been dating for six months.

Approximately $69 million MPI rebate coming, insurance rates could be lowering

Close to 675,000 Manitoba Public insurance customers will be getting a second cheque in the mail soon.

MPI is distributing a second round of rebate cheques due to lower rates of collisions in 2020. Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton announced an additional $69 million, on top of the $100,000 issued in the spring, will be given to customers.

From attempted murder and organized crime to living a life for Jesus

Growing up believing in thousands of gods, it took only one to radically change a life headed for despair.

Robby Ahuja is the Development Director of Adult and Teen Challenge Central Canada. Ahuja and his family live in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

"I was living a life of complete death and despair. I was highly addicted to crack cocaine," he says.

Toy Drive to bless over 1,000 children in Northern Manitoba this year

A group of five moms are sharing the love of Christ by running a toy drive for children in remote Northern communities this Christmas.

"People don't get what's happening in our own province. They don't understand the third-world living conditions up there," says one of the moms in the group.

Manitobans, others, recognized as Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada

This year's Women of Courage recipients are the late RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson, Sub-Lieutenant Abbigail Cowbrough, and Captain Jenn Casey with the Snowbirds.

Women's Executive Network's (WXN) Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 list is revealed, showcasing women as leaders in categories such as Arts, Sports & Entertainment, Entrepreneurial, Skilled Trades and other sectors.

CHVN listener hears words of hope at the right time

Right after a couple heard some hard news from the doctors about their son, they turned on CHVN in the car and were comforted.

"Leading up to this appointment we started to realize that our three-year-old son was different than his friends. Some of the differences were really hard to face," says Sara Gabrielson.

Josh Wilson creates Christmas mash-up and the result is 'fantastic'

One up and coming Christian artist is taking his recent hit song and combining it with a Christmas classic in a unique combination.

On November 27 Josh Wilson released a brand new video combining his hit song 'Revolutionary' with the holiday classic 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'.

With a cancelled wedding reception this couple fed 200 people experiencing homelessness instead

While 2020 has brought a lot of changes unwillingly to a lot of people, one couple decided to make the best of it and turned their cancelled wedding plans into a blessing for others.

Emily Bugg and Billy Lewis of Chicago were to exchange vows with 150 guests present last month. However, restrictions in the area meant that was out of the question, and the couple held a small ceremony at City Hall in Octobrer, instead.

But, they had a $5,000 non-refundable catering deposit to deal with.

'Friendly' Manitoba living up to name despite struggles

Manitobans continue to show love and kindness during this season despite the current circumstances.

The Christmas season often brings cheer and good deeds. This year, despite a province-wide lockdown, Manitobans continue to live up to their friendly name.

Locals are creating food hampers, hosting food drives, and showing love to their neighbours in many ways.

Grandparents giving a year to take care of granddaughter

"God is using her to write a really good story," says a couple that is taking care of their granddaughter as their daughter gets the help she needs.

Connie and Davis Cox live in Alberta. Their daughter Maleigha is almost finished her one-year program at Adult and Teen Challenge in Brandon, Man.

"What we've seen is her recommitment to a life with Christ and walking with the Lord," says Davis.

Hotel lit up like a Christmas tree

The Fairmont Hotel in downtown Winnipeg has its rooms lit up in the shape of a Christmas tree to bring joy to passersby.

"We've been thinking about how we can contribute to bringing out some positive Christmas energy and brightness to our city," says Fawn Benjaminson, the Director of Sales at the Fairmont.

Gateway Church receives accessibility award

A Winnipeg church is getting a nod from the province for its commitment to improving accessibility.

On Tuesday, Gateway Church announced they are being honoured as the first-ever winner of the Manitoba Accessibility Award for an urban non-profit organization.

"This award celebrates the progress Gateway has made toward becoming a more inclusive and accessible place of worship. We are grateful to all those who have helped us along this journey," the church writes in a Facebook post.

Community supports frontline workers with a warm meal and encouraging note

'Blessing bags' are finding their way to care home workers and teachers in one Manitoban community.

Heather Neufeld is the manager at Patio Grill in Grunthal, Man. It is a family-owned business. Neufeld's mother and father-in-law originally started the business.

Heather and her husband Rick were missionaries serving in Mozambique when they got called to return to Grunthal.

Cory Asbury's 'Reckless Love' becoming a movie

After "a year of healing," Cory Asbury says he's agreed to turn the story behind his hit worship song 'Reckless Love' into a movie.

Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to the film, which will be produced by DeVon Franklin and written by J. Mills Goodloe.

Asbury says in an online post that initially, he had rejected the idea of making a movie when first approached by Franklin in 2018. He says he was leery of "taking advantage of the success of a song God had freely given me," as it felt "exploitive" to him.

COVID-19 funding to help 17 Winnipeg programs ending homelessness

An initiative called Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy is giving over $1 million to agencies in Winnipeg that are helping end homelessness.

A call was put out by End Homelessness Winnipeg, alongside Service Canada and the Community Advisory Board for Reaching Home for agencies to fill out an application last month.

Man reconnects with family, finds faith after ATC program

A man has found purpose after feeling broken, hurt, and hopeless in his addictions.

"I was stuck in a life-controlling addiction to meth and alcohol and my addiction had taken me to dark places, to the point of me trying to end my life. I was broken, hurt, and hopeless," Spencer Dunne says.

Small but mighty: students bringing cheer to isolated seniors

A Christian school has accepted a kindness challenge and is blessing their 'next-door neighbours' this Christmas.

St. Aidan's Christian School on Hargrave St. has students ranging from Kindergarten to grade 8.

"This year the students at our Hargrave campus were wanting to counteract some of the bad attitudes around Christmas," says Ashleigh Braun, the Administrative Assistant at St. Aidan's.

Cheer Board continues to share Christmas spirit

The holidays will look different for people who typically receive a hamper from the Christmas Cheer Board.

The group began planning for this year's hampers in June when cases were much lower in Winnipeg. They originally planned to have hampers, but with rising case numbers, they needed to change their strategy.

The Christmas lover says that his favourite part about Christmas is the community celebrating the season together and is missing the crowds of volunteers.