Christmas is two weeks from today, and the City of Portage la Prairie urges you to shop local again this holiday season.

City Councillor Brent Budz encourages you to do that, including in the city's downtown area.

"A lot of the local merchants give back so much to our community, and make it the place that it is," he says, "Through corporate donations, through sponsorships, etc., so we really encourage people to support them as much as possible. And one for us to be able do that is once again offer free parking at all the meters from December the 11th, to December 26th."

Budz says they're already thinking of what's happening after December 25th, by expanding the curbside solid waste collection.

"From two, to four containers per household," he says, "On the first collection day, following the Christmas holidays. So that is only available for December 27th, 28th, 29th, January 2nd, and January 3rd. And all that information is available at the City website. We will resume regular collection on January 4th."