Accessibility Tools

There’s been another fatality on Manitoba’s roads according to RCMP.

On Monday evening, an 18-year-old man died after a collision near the intersection of Highway 1 and PR 257 in Virden.

RCMP say the driver was approaching the intersection when he lost control of his vehicle and rolled into the ditch.

The man was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor.

A search of a residence on the Sandy Bay First Nation by RCMP and the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) resulted in several arrests, and the seizure of various weapons, and drugs.

In the early morning hours on Saturday, August 15, officers executed a search warrant at a residence on the Sandy Bay First Nation.

This led to the recovery of a loaded shotgun with a large amount of shotgun ammunition, two pellet guns, a ballistic vest, bear spray, and a collapsable baton.

MFNPS also say officers recovered an unspecified amount of drugs believed to be crystal methamphetamine, and $1,020 in cash.

Police located 7 people in the residence, who were arrested and held in custody. One male suspect was not located at the residence and there is a warrant out for his arrest.

Yesterday afternoon around 4:40, Fisher Branch RCMP responded to an off-road vehicle collision on a Peguis First Nation road.

Officers have determined a 9-year-old boy, from Peguis First Nation, was operating a quad when he drove out from the brush and collided with another quad, being driven by a 13-year-old boy, also from Peguis First Nation.

The impact threw the 9-year-old off his quad and he struck the ground.

After being rushed to the hospital, the 9-year-old succumbed to his injuries.

RCMP say the two boys weren't wearing helmets when they collided.

The investigation is continuing.

As a part of the Dauphin Co-op’s Communities in Full Colour program, they’ve donated 40 gallons of stain to the Fort Dauphin Museum.

The work to refurbish the Fort Dauphin Museum’s log buildings began this summer and is expected to finish up in the fall.

The Fort Dauphin Museum needs volunteers to help apply the stain.

Anyone that’s interested can contact Executive Director/Curator Theresa Deyholos at 204-638-6630 to make arrangements.

The Dauphin Co-op’s goal from the Communities in Full Colour program is to enrich the lives of the surrounding communities.

The rating of a powerful tornado on August 7th just outside of Virden has been upgraded to EF-3.

Original information released by Environment and Climate Change Canada indicated the twister should be rated EF-2 and the wind speeds reached 190 km/hr.

A new statement released by the agency says the storm damage survey, as well as additional information received later on, indicates wind speeds of 260 km/hr, upgrading the tornado to EF-3.

The tornado hospitalized a 54-year-old man with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and took the lives of two 18-year-olds from Melita, Shayna Barnesky and Carter Tilbury.

Police say the teens were ejected from their vehicle when the storm hit.

August 18 10:00 Update:

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland will be taking over the role, making her the first female finance minister in Canadian history.

-----

Reports say that Canada's Finance Minister, Bill Morneau is resigning.

He had a press conference scheduled this evening, after meeting with the Prime Minister, where it was said he would be talking to reporters about reported disagreements about COVID-19 spending plans and proposed environmental initiatives.

After it was revealed that Morneau had forgotten to repay $41,366 in travel expenses covered by the WE Charity, he'd been under pressure to step down.

Tomorrow night, Manitoba’s education minister and chief public health officer will be answering questions and addressing your concerns about the province’s school reopening plan.

Minister Kelvin Goertzen, Dr. Roussin, and other officials are hosting a telephone town hall at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18.

You can still register for that telephone town hall, by clicking here.

On Monday, the Mountain View School Division released its plan for the upcoming school year. You can read more about it here.

Cary Fillion is giving an update to the community, a week after it was announced a Cary Fillion’s Twin Motors staff member tested positive for COVID-19

Staff at the dealership were informed about the individual's positive COVID test result on Sunday, August 8 — at which point, a Public Health investigation confirmed the individual was not in “direct contact” with any other staff members during their infectious period.

Cary Fillion's Twin Motors has remained open through this time, at the direction of provincial health officials.

Although public health didn’t require it, Fillion says that staff members wanted to get tested “just for their own peace of mind”. After going for testing on Monday & Tuesday, and getting results back on Thursday & Friday, Fillion says he’s happy to report the test results all came back negative.

Fillion also provided an update on the staff member who tested positive for COVID-19, saying they are healthy, happy, and still a little bored while isolating at home.

Going forward, Fillion says the store has gone above and beyond public health recommendations, and is encouraging the community to keep up the effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Fillion and his staff are thanking the public for their messages of support.

Manitoba RCMP responded to 3 separate vehicle fatalities in a 24-hour span this weekend.

On Sunday morning around 4 a.m., Steinbach RCMP responded to a vehicle-pedestrian collision on Highway 1 west of Richer, where a semi-truck struck and killed a 46-year-old man from Steinbach who was walking on the highway.

Later that afternoon, Falcon Lake RCMP responded to a multiple-vehicle collision on Highway 1, where a 20-year-old man from British Columbia was killed after his vehicle veered into the oncoming lane and collided with a pickup.

At 1 a.m. Monday morning, Ste. Rose RCMP responded to a single-vehicle rollover on the Crane River First Nation. Officers believe that the driver, a 36-year-old male from Brandon, failed to negotiate a turn and rolled after leaving the roadway. The 36-year-old was pronounced deceased on scene.

Manitoba RCMP continues to investigate all three of the fatal collisions.

Public health officials are announcing 38 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Monday.

Twenty of the new cases are in the Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region, most of which are in the Brandon health district. None of today’s new cases are in the Dauphin health district — where there continues to be a total of 7 cases, with 2 considered active.

With 4 earlier cases being removed from the list, the province now has a total of 731 confirmed and probable cases.

There are 11 people in hospital with COVID-19 in Manitoba, with 3 in intensive care. There are 232 active cases, with 490 individuals listed as recovered. 

The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is nine.

Unless recommended by public health, only individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should go for testing. Individuals with symptoms are asked to seek testing as soon as possible once symptoms are present.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, click here.

After hearing the provincial school reopening plan at the end of July, the Mountain View School Division has had the past few weeks to finalize its plan.

The plan, in its entirety, is available by clicking here.

Some of the highlights include what’s happening with high school students, masks, and extra-curricular activities and music.

In Grandview, WCI, Ethelbert, and GPCI, schools that have less than 75 students will be regarded as one cohort, while schools that have more than 75 students will be organized into two cohorts and students will attend full time.

For Goose Lake, grade 9 students will attend full time. A blended learning approach will be implemented for grades 10-12. It’ll include a minimum of 50% per 6-day cycle for each student in September. Scheduling will also be set up to accommodate restoring full-time attendance on short notice if/when allowed by the Chief Public Health Officer.

At the DRCSS, a blended learning approach will be implemented because of the large enrollment. This approach will include a minimum of 2 in-class learning days per week for each student for September. Vocational programming will continue, although theory portions may be facilitated through remote learning. 50% of students will attend on Day 1 and 50% on Day 2 from Monday through Thursday. Fridays are designated as follow up/administration time for teachers to contact students and preparation time as teachers will be scheduled 100% of the time Monday through Thursday.

Students with special needs will attend full time at all high schools.

As for masks, the province announced last week that they strongly recommend students in grades 5-12 wear masks, as well as staff. MVSD echoes that sentiment, adding that younger students can wear masks as well. While on buses, masks will be required for all students in grades 5 and up. Boarding and exiting the bus will be done with physical distancing and assigned seats. Extra masks will be made available at all schools throughout the school year for students and staff who do not have their own.

On the topic of extra-curricular activities and music, no competition, including exhibition games, is permitted for any school sports. Field trips and all divisional athletics and tournaments, including intramurals, are suspended until further notice. For Music classes, MVSD will follow the directives of Public Health and Manitoba Education. Singing and choral programs will be suspended until Public Health declares these activities are safe in which to engage. Music teachers will move from class to class where possible. While band teachers may require students to move to the Band Room to keep programming viable.

MVSD Superintendent Dan Ward believes they’ll be in the best shape possible if the basic fundamentals are followed.

“That is, if you’re symptomatic, even with mild symptoms, stay home, screen. If the screen online on the shared health website says to get tested, get tested. When you’re in a school building or a division building, to social distance as much as reasonably possible to the greatest extent possible and if you’re assigned to a cohort, to stay within that cohort.”

Ward stresses the importance of communication.

“It’s one thing to put out a multi-page document with all sorts of resources -- but, there’s going to be questions and I just want to assure the entire MVSD community that when questions arise, to feel empowered to contact your school or contact the school division, or send us an email, a phone call, and we will answer those questions when they arise.”

Ward adds that they’ll consult with public health on any questions they aren’t sure about and then get back to whoever asked the question.