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There's another boil water advisory in effect for those in the Ethelbert Municipality.
A major distribution failure on May 22 has led to the loss of water pressure in the Ethelbert distribution system. Until further notice, all water used for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute.
This includes:
- Drinking and ice making;
- Preparing beverages, such as infant formula;
- Preparing food, including washing fruits and vegetables; and
- Brushing teeth.
You do not need to boil tap water for other household purposes, such as laundry or washing dishes. In addition, young children should be sponge bathed. Adults and other children able to avoid swallowing the water can wash, bathe, or shower.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
There’s nothing quite like cruising across the water on a hot summer day — sunshine above, waves below, and the freedom of the open lake.
There are an estimated 15 million recreational boaters in Canada. Boating-related fatalities in Manitoba have declined in recent years, yet the province still sees dozens of such incidents annually — a reminder that caution and preparedness remain essential on the water.
Lynne Stefanchuk is the executive director for the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba.
"We are way above the national average when it comes to boating fatalities," said Stefanchuk. "Specially involving alcohol and or cannabis. We rate very high, which is extremely unfortunate."
As you get set to hit one of the many bodies of water in our beautiful province this summer, it's important to prepare ahead of time. 80% of those drowning fatalities are male, and 35% happen in a lake or pond.
"It's about being prepared. Make sure you're wearing a lifejacket and have safety gear on board," said Stefanchuk. "You need to make sure you have enough fuel and the boat you're using is in good working order."
As is the case when operating a vehicle, operating a boat under the influence of alcohol and or cannabis is a big no-no. If caught operating a boat while under the influence, big fines and penalties will follow.
"It's very important to make sure you're not under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or any intoxicant," continued Stefanchuk. "Almost all of drowning fatalities happen because of some sort of intoxication."
In a recent report, 339 children younger than the age of 15 fatally drowned in 2020. A year later, that number rose to 380. The younger the child, the more important it is that you're within an arm's reach.
"It doesn't take long for danger to happen and the worst possible outcome," ended Stefanchuk. "You need to know where they are and what they're doing. Everyone wants to have fun on the water. A big part of that is making sure we're all prepared, and the little ones are within safety."
A fun day on the water can quickly turn tragic — but with the right precautions, every outing can end with memories, not regrets
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
It came out of the blue.
Late last week, Lance Jacobson, the mayor of Swan River, announced the immediate resignation of Councillor Tracy Boychuk. Elected in 2022, she was serving her first term on the Council. During her time in office, Tracy was the chair of the Recreation and Cultural Services Committee, where she led many initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for residents.
CKDM News caught up with Lance to get his thoughts on the departure.
"Councillor Boychuk was an outstanding person. She did her work very well, was dedicated, and looked out for the best interests of residents," said Jacobson. "She did an excellent job of representing the people and voicing people's concerns. I do thank her for the time she spent with us. It was a breath of fresh air."
A by-election will fill the void in the coming months.
"We're looking at the best dates. We have not decided yet, but we will in the next few weeks," continued Jacobson. "We definitely need to fill the vacancy, it will not be left vacant."
During her tenure, Boychuk was a strong and vocal advocate for the development of a new arena to replace the Swan River Centennial Arena. Talks about a new arena have been ongoing for years and continue.
"We're in the early stages. We're applying for grants. The Swan River Legacy Committee has been set up," said Jacobson. "We're also working with potential partnerships with our municipal neighbours."
Compared with other arenas around the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, the Centennial is one of the smallest. The ice surface is not regulation, and the capacity is smaller than that in other communities. Jacobson said there have been talks for the arena to be of a similar size. There has also been talk about a second floor.
While there is no timeline on the project, Jacobson says there is a lot of buzz in the Swan River air.
"You add in the big hotel that will be built in Swan River," ended Jacobson. "The potential arena. And other initiatives that we are working on right now. It's exciting, it's a good thing."
With Boychuk gone, the focus now turns to what’s next — and in Swan River, the possibilities are growing.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
More great recognition for Roblin Ford.
The dealership has claimed a seventh Ford of Canada President's award for sales and service.
And this year, General Manager Keith Fast says they received Diamond recognition, which is the top tier of the President's award.
"That is always a moving target with us, and we are always working on that. We have such a great team of 14 people working at the dealership, and our average tenure is over 10 years. So we have some real long-term employees that are dedicated to customer service and dedicated to keeping that customer on the road. This all can not be done without them."
It is the first time that Roblin Ford has received Diamond recognition.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Last week saw mixed results for local producers, according to the weekly Manitoba Crop report.
High temperatures to start the week allowed for good seeding progress, but precipitation and lower temperatures towards the end of the week led to seeding operations being paused.
Fall Rye and Winter Wheat crops are looking good and in the tillering stage.
Spring wheat seeding is approximately 80% complete while Field peas are around 85 per cent complete..
In both crops, earlier-seeded fields are emerging.
Soybean seeding is approximately 65-70% complete.
Across the province, seeding is about 57% complete, as compared to the five-year average of 45%
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
It's all about progress. Something Jarri Thompson believes is happening within the Mountain View School Division (MVSD).
Thompson, a Ward 4 School Board Trustee with MVSD, announced earlier this month that an important motion was passed at a board meeting. The MVSD Board of Trustees will establish an Inclusive Education Advisory Committee. The committee will include parents/guardians of children with diverse learning needs and abilities, divisional resource staff, one or two Board members, and any other community resources needed.
The purpose is to advise and support inclusive educational practices, share lived experiences, and identify opportunities for improvement in programming and support for children with learning needs and abilities.
"Very exciting to finally get it moving forward. Families have been talking about it for quite some time," said Thompson. "We will make sure students, families, and educators have their voices heard. So we can work together collaboratively in full inclusion for students with diverse learning needs in all schools."
On her Facebook post, one hashtag caught the most attention. #ProgressNotPerfection.
"When you hear about MVSD in the news or wherever, everyone wants us to get things right the first time, but that's not how the real world works," continued Thompson. "We need to go through trial and error to make sure we're doing things right."
Thompson says MVSD already does a lot of inclusive education. While Thompson knows the right decision won't be made every time, she is confident that a great group of board members is working together to make MVSD strong for years to come.
That includes instructors, families, and everything in between.
"Absolutely. I have every belief in our division that we can work together to strengthen our staff and student academic levels," ended Thompson. "I believe if we work hard and really put in the effort, people will start seeing the progress."
One step at a time, MVSD is turning intention into impact.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
After months of build-up, the night is finally here.
Professional Bull Riding Canada (PBR) returns to Credit Union Place on Thursday night. The action starts at 7:30 and ends with the after party at Obsolete Brewing Company (OBC).
Ben Kinkead is with Crossfire Bull Riding.
"Things are really coming together," said Kinkead. "Our PA system will be bigger than last year and have more lighting. A few more bells and whistles this year."
New this year, PBR will be introducing special shoutouts to recognize incredible individuals who go above and beyond for the Dauphin community. Bull riding is known as the most exciting eight seconds in live entertainment.
"I would agree with that," added Kinkead. "I would also add that it's most likely the most dangerous eight seconds in entertainment. It's real, there is no pause button. So we bring in every level of safety feature that we can. From a high-level protection team and safety roper athletes."
The field for this year's event in Dauphin is set, and fans are in for a treat.
It includes Cody Coverchuk. Cody is a two-time PBR Canada champion. He's currently number two in the PBR Canada national standings.
"Cody Fraser is a young Australian talent who has shown a lot of promise these past couple of years. He's coming on strong," offered Kinkead. "Gilmar Santana is a Brazilian. He's been in Canada for the last few years. When he's healthy, he's one of the best in the country. Last year's champion from PBR Dauphin, Dakota Buttar, is returning."
Then, to set the stage, is Brinson James, the public address announcer, who will also return.
"Anybody fortunate to see him perform last year, that guy is worth the price of the ticket alone," ended Kinkead. "He's top of the game and we're pumped to have him back."
With top-tier talent, added production, and a packed house expected, PBR Dauphin 2025 is set to be louder, wilder, and more unforgettable than ever. Get your tickets here.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Late last week, Parks Canada announced that motorized boats will once again not be allowed on Clear Lake and other lakes within Riding Mountain National Park this summer.
In announcing the move, Parks Canada said it was in a continued effort to stop the spread of Zebra Mussels in the lake.
But now, a petition has been started by locals, asking Parks Canada to reverse that decision, adding it will devastate their businesses.
The petition, which has already collected more than 2,000 signatures, says inspection and education is the solution rather than a full ban.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
An arbitrated agreement has been reached for workers at Metis Child and Family Services and Michif Child and Family Services, including those who work here in Dauphin.
The four-year agreement is retroactive to February 1st, 2023, and includes a 14 per cent wage increase over the term of the contract.
MGEU - the union representing the workers - says the new agreement is a victory for the workers, adding that they said from the start that workers doing the same critical work should be compensated fairly, regardless of what agency they work for.
The new deal is in effect until January 31, 2027.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Pharmacists in Manitoba will soon be able to prescribe birth control.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara made the announcement, saying the changes should take effect in the coming days and weeks.
Trevor Shewfelt is a pharmacist at the Dauphin and Winnipegosis Clinic Pharmacy.
"Happily surprised," said Shewfelt. "Unfortunately, Manitoba has historically been one of the provinces where pharmacists are allowed to do the least amount of things. Pharmacists in Alberta and Quebec can do many things other than dispensing medication. Manitoba has lagged, so I was happily surprised when I found out the news."
Pharmacists will also be able to prescribe HIV medications. This is expected to come into effect later this summer. For Shewfelt, it's another positive.
"I'm sure it will take a little extra training on our behalf," offered Shewfelt. "If pharmacists can help people access HIV medication more easily, I can't see that being anything but a good thing."
Right now, patients must go to a doctor's office or a nurse practitioner to receive a prescription for birth control. That's followed by visiting a pharmacist to pick it up. The change means patients won't need to see a doctor or nurse practitioner to get birth control.
"Contraception is an overall benefit to public health. Being pregnant when you don't want to be is a huge burden to the pregnant person, their family, and society in general," ended Shewfelt. "The risk in oral contraception is very low. Anything that will make it easier for someone to access contraception and not have a baby when they don't want to, sounds like a win."
This will also make it easier for those without a family doctor.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Residents of McCreary are being cautioned about possible water service disruptions on Thursday
Repairs are being conducted then to a fire hydrant on First Avenue, as well as essential work being done on Aline (A-line) Drive.
You are encouraged to make sure that you have sufficient water supplies on hand, as the repairs are expected to take most of the day to complete.
You should also be ready for the possibility of unforeseen delays.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
