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With schools across the province and country shutting down due to the coronavirus, we spoke to the Assiniboine Community College Parkland Campus and Mountain View School Division to find out what their plans are.
Gabe Mercier, director of the Parkland Campus, says they have a plan for their students.
“At ACC Parkland Campus we are following the guidance from the head office in Brandon. If there is an issue we will not close, but will find alternative ways to deliver our programs, where there may not be face to face or group contact. ” He adds, “If there is a reason to close the doors of the building, programs will be delivered online in through Moodle for an example.”
Public health and other local authorities are guiding the Assiniboine Community College, including fulfilling responsibilities to institute community containment measures and infection control measures.
Social distancing strategies will begin being put in place, such as, avoiding greetings that involve touching such as handshakes, disinfecting frequently used surfaces, following public health advice related to self-monitoring and self-isolation if you have travelled or have been exposed to someone ill with the virus, and considering avoiding travel, crowded places and events, especially if you are at higher risk.
The MVSD is attending a Manitoba School Board Association conference. There is a meeting with superintendents as to the next steps and what will be occurring.
Stay tuned for the latest updates.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Isaac Beaulieu Memorial School in Sandy Bay will be closed effective immediately.
The closure is due to the growing concern about the COVID-19 pandemic.
At this time, the closure will be in effect until at least March 27.
Any homework packages will be sent to the students homes so they can keep up with their school work.
Stay tuned to us for more as it becomes available.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Two more presumptive cases of the novel coronavirus have been identified in Manitoba.
The Manitoba government and public health officials announced that two men in their 30s in the Winnipeg area have tested positive for the virus.
It appears individuals have been exposed to the virus through recent travel.
Public health investigations are ongoing.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The President of the University of Manitoba said in a release today the campus will remain open as they monitor the ongoing situation with the novel coronavirus.
The University will be limiting some on-campus activities to mitigate COVID-19 transmission.
U of M is Manitoba’s largest post-secondary institution, with over 29,000 students and 10,000 full- and part-time faculty and staff.
University-sponsored events of 50 people or more will be canceled or postponed.
Organizers of smaller events will be required to consider alternate ways of doing those events, such as eliminating food service or hosting online versions of events.
This follows news earlier today that a woman from Winnipeg, who recently returned from a trip to the Philipines, is the province's first presumed case of COVID-19.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
With the spring season right around the corner, there’s a Canadian organization that wants us to keep farm safety a top priority.
Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW) 2020 runs from March 15-21, with a couple of special events happening right here in Manitoba.
Marcel Hacault is the executive director of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), and explained the origin of Safety Week.
“A flagship event made to highlight safety, so the importance of safety for farm families, farmers, and their workers. It’s springtime, which is the start of a lot of agricultural seasons in Canada, so we figure what better way than to start the year off with a bit of a shoutout to safety.”
CASW has been around for over 15 years.
“Part of our goal is to start the conversation. We’re hoping with the safety week, and activities throughout the year, that the conversation at least happens….We recognize that this past year was a difficult one for many farmers. That’s why we’ve focused resources on supporting wellness, resilience, and safety on the farm.”
CKDM will continue to bring you more information about events happening in Manitoba during Farm Safety Week (March 15-21).
For more information, or to help spread the message of Ag safety all year long, visit agsafetyweek.ca.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Update:
The concert has been cancelled.
Present your tickets to the Watson Art Centre office to get a refund.
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Tomorrow night you can enjoy live music in Dauphin while supporting a great cause.
Four-time Manitoba Country Music Association winner Quinton Blair will be at the Watson Art Centre for the Spring Barn Dance Tour.
Proceeds from the show will go to the Parkland Crisis Centre & Women's Shelter which offers many services, including protection and support for abused women and their children.
Kari Prawdzik is the Executive Director with the Crisis Centre and says the award-winning artist reached out to them for this partnership.
“The proceeds of this fundraiser will be used towards much needed upgrades to the facility, and to fund client programs within our crisis centre.”
For more information about services offered at the Crisis Centre, call (204)-622-4626.
Tickets for tomorrow night’s show are $25 and are available now at the Watson Art Centre.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Today we're learning of the first presumptive case of the novel coronavirus in Manitoba.
The Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen made the announcement this morning at a press conference.
Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin wants to remind Manitobans that most people who contract the virus will only experience mild symptoms and will recover.
Those at high risk include people over age 65 and those with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems.
For those of us living in rural municipalities, Dr. Roussin says the guidelines for minimizing risk are no different than what's been advised in the big cities.
"I think it's going to be pretty much the same. Social distancing strategies are not directives, they are for everyone to be aware of roles they can play to protect themselves and the people around them. No matter where you are in the province, there is a role for you to reply in our response."
You can help protect yourself and your community by following public health advice; minimizing handshakes, disinfecting frequently used services, and by avoid events with large gatherings of people if possible.
The patient in question is a woman from Winnipeg in her 40’s who works with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
She recently returned from traveling in the Philipines and currently is in self-isolation.
Official testing should be completed within 24 hours.
As of March 11, 403 tests have been completed for COVID-19 in Manitoba.
This news follows yesterday’s federal announcement of $1 billion dollars to support provinces in getting prepared to deal with COVID-19.
The NBA has postponed their season for the foreseeable future after a player on the Utah Jazz tested positive for the virus, while the NHL decided today to postpone their season.
The 49th annual JUNO Awards in Saskatoon have also been canceled.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Six awards were given out during the Dauphin and District Chamber of Commerce’s Celebration Night last night.
Stephen Chychota recaps the evening.
“A lot of fun, a little interesting. Always great to have a big group out like that and recognize some businesses. A little technical difficulties here and there, but we got through it. But it was a lot of fun, it’s always a good time to bring everyone together and look after everyone and recognize some really great businesses and organizations and individuals across the Parkland that are doing some really great work.”
The first award given out was the Community Appreciation Award for Group. The nominees were the Dauphin Multipurpose Senior Centre, Dauphin Derailleurs Cycle Club, Dauphin Friendship Centre, and the Kinsmen Club of Dauphin/The Kinette Club of Dauphin. The Dauphin Derailleurs Cycle Club won the award.
Second, on the list was the Community Appreciation Award for Individual. The only nominee and therefore, the winner was Jim MacMillan.
Third up was the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Nominees were Brenan Durston with Prairie Cycle Works, Joe Houston with Go Beyond Games, and Wendy Fisher with Liquid Glamour. The award went to Joe Houston.
The fourth award given out was Outstanding Business of the Year. The nominees were Chicken Chef Ste. Rose, The Mossey River Inn Chico’s Bar & Grill, and Dauphin Consumers Co-op. The latter, Dauphin Consumers Co-op won the award.
Business Person of the Year was the penultimate award given out. The nominees were Mick Lautt with Taiga Consulting and SciMar, Pierce Cairns with Grandview Pharmacy, and Marisa Philippe with Café Trocadero. The winner, Mick Lautt with Taiga Consulting and SciMar.
The final award of the night was the Legacy Business Award. Ron Hedley took home that award for all the work he’s done in the community.
Chychota has a message for the award winners.
“Just a big congrats, they made it and got the nice award and did something a little bit over the top compared to maybe some others. But that doesn’t mean the other guys aren’t doing something great as well because, like I said, everyone’s doing some really great stuff out there and they’re being recognized for it.”
Chychota says it means a lot to have that kind of turnout, but it’s more than just businesses and organizations coming to support the chamber.
“It’s getting everyone together to realize that it is a community out there working together and that everyone’s playing a part and the people that are sitting in the crowd at these award shows are being nominated by their peers, and so they’re doing something out there that is catching peoples’ attention. Year after year, some people are coming up again and they’re doing some great and some others are winning awards. So it’s fun to share that.”
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
NDP members of legislature are blocking the reading of the Finance Minister's budget.
The Manitoba government was set to introduce its budget yesterday afternoon.
The provincial government is calling the NDP’s move an “abuse of parliamentary privilege” and “very disrespectful to the guests and media who have come to the legislature for the presentation of Budget 2020.”
NDP Leader Wab Kinew, who has previously criticized Pallister's focus on tax and spending cuts as hurting the province, says yesterday's move was a procedural tactic to block the budget.
The provincial government is saying they intend to bring the budget forward for consideration in the legislature on Thursday.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Dauphin RCMP are warning the Parkland of an increased amount of fraudulent calls that appear to be from the Canadian Revenue Agency.
Scammers will say there’s been an issue with your account, and that a warrant for their arrest will be made if payment isn’t made.
Sgt. Marcus Paddock of the Dauphin RCMP warns people to be vigilant when receiving these calls.
"Numerous reports have been made to the detachment here in Dauphin over the last couple of days. The scam is designed to create anxiety so that victims respond by sending money quickly in order to fix the problem."
Again, the Dauphin RCMP are reminding the public the CRA does not contact individuals through email or telephone to request payment or monetary transfers.
If you receive one of these calls, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
March is Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month, and there’s a group in the province that’s educating our children about the importance of the industry.
Sue Clayton is the Executive Director with Agriculture in the Classroom - Manitoba (AITC), and says the charitable non-profit group sends volunteers who work in the industry to teach kids where their food comes from.
“Our volunteers are eager to make sure the kids understand more about the industry and how their food is produced. One in eight jobs in Canada is directly linked to agriculture; there are lots of career opportunities. We just want to get that message out.”
Over 70,000 students across the country will be part of Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month, with 8,000 here in Manitoba.
Sue Clayton explains what it means for our children to be “agriculturally literate”.
“When we talk about being agriculturally literate, it’s when they become an adult and go to the polls to vote, that they’re thinking about the importance of agriculture to our provincial and national economy. Also listening critically to what politicians and candidates are saying about their support for the agriculture industry.”
For more information about volunteering, or if you’re a parent or teacher interested in getting this program into your classroom, visit AITC website www.aitc.mb.ca.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
