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Yesterday Farm Credit Canada hosted their Annual Public Virtual Meeting.
The meeting included messages from FCC Board Chair Jane Halford, EVP and CFO Ross Topp, and President and CEO Michael Hoffort.
Things started off with some words from FCC Board Chair Jane Halford.
“Our priorities reflect the federal government’s mandate to support the agriculture and agri-food sector in a way that allows us a vibrant industry to be both the leader of job creation and innovation.”
Halford took a moment to welcome some new board members, and acknowledge two reappointments.
“Jame Laws and Michele Hengen have been reappointed to three-year terms. Rita Achrekar, Sylvie Chagnon, and Michael Tees are our new board members, all appointed to four-year terms.”
President and CEO Michael Hoffort’s speech revolved around the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In March 2020 as the first round of lockdowns began across the country, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that FCC would receive a $500 million enhancement to our capital base to ensure FCC could stand strong and support the agriculture and food industry that was experiencing market and supply chain disruptions. In the months that followed we offered loan payment deferrals and products to assist our customers with their cash flow needs.”
The meeting finished up with EVP and CFO Ross Topp giving the financial results.
“Our balance sheet continues to grow. As of March 31st, 2021, loans received when leasing reached nearly $41.5 billion, growing by nearly 3 billion dollars or 7.6 percent year over year.”
The whole meeting can be viewed here.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Already an owner of a Pet Valu location in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Sarah Kowalchuk knows what owning a pet store entails.
So, when the prospect came about to take over ownership of the Pet Valu store here in Dauphin, Sarah couldn't help but jump at the opportunity of bringing her knowledge and experience of all things pet-related to the Parkland.
Sarah spoke with CKDM about her journey with the company:
"I bought the store in Yorkton when I got a new puppy, and I was shopping at the store, when I brought him in, I saw a sign on the door saying it was for sale, and I felt like it was really good for me, I've loved pets my entire life. It's very exciting to have two businesses now in the same Pet Valu family. I just can't wait."
Kowalchuk explains some of the changes she plans on making;
"My store here in Yorkton has lots of small animals, and I want to introduce that to Dauphin as well. I think it's a really big need. So we have things like hamsters and guinea pigs here in Yorkton, and I want to bring those to Dauphin."
Sarah adds that she loved her first impressions of Dauphin when she visited last month and cant wait to get to know the community.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Premier Brian Pallister announced Wednesday that Audrey Gordon has been appointed to be Manitoba's new minister of health and seniors care.
This appointment follows Heather Stefanson's decision to step down from the position to pursue PC leadership earlier in the day.
Pallister shined a light on Gordon's appointment;
"I am confident in Minister Gordon's ability to lead this department as we continue to protect our healthcare system and communities from the impacts of COVID-19 and work toward recovery."
Ms. Gordon voiced her excitement for the new role;
"Providers and staff across the healthcare system have worked extremely hard to continue to provide quality care throughout the pandemic, and I want to thank them for their effort. It is an honour to accept this appointment, and I look forward to continuing to support their work through all the challenges we face during this difficult time."
Gordon is currently the minister of mental health, wellness and recovery, and will continue to hold those responsibilities while also now being the health and seniors care Minister.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Today, Heather Stefanson announced she will run to become the next leader of Manitoba's Progressive Conservative party.
She announced her resignation from her duties as Manitoba's health minister and her intention to campaign to become the party's next leader. She had been the MLA for Tuxedo since 2000 and joined Pallister's cabinet in May of 2016.
Stefanson says she would advance reconciliation and scrap the school reform Bill 64.
Pallister announced earlier this month that he's stepping down before the next election in 2023, but didn't give a firm timeline on when he plans to do so.
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The Provincial Government is investing more than $600,000 to deliver a multi-faceted, skilled trades training initiative for Indigenous women in four northern and remote communities.
Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox, the minister responsible for the status of women, and Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere made the announcement today.
Cox says this is an essential step for indigenous communities.
“Our government is committed to advancing economic equality for women by supporting programs and initiatives that help more women succeed in non-traditional work industries that provide sustainable and reliable employment opportunities and help to support healthy and vibrant communities. We are proud to partner with industry leaders and Indigenous and northern communities to provide these unique and forward-thinking programs that will play an important part of Manitoba’s post-pandemic social and economic recovery.”
The four communities chosen to participate in these programs are Pinaymootang First Nation, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Dakota Tipi First Nation and York Landing, with training already underway in Pinaymootang and Pimicikamak.
MCSC will deliver training in framing, water and waste-water installation and blast hole drilling, all skills in high demand.
Lagimodiere spoke of this announcement as crucial for the advancement of economic growth:
“It is important to provide Indigenous women the tools, training and support they need to build a career in a field with good-paying jobs, employee benefits and job security, which is often hard to acquire in northern and remote communities. Targeted job training for Indigenous women is critical for the advancement of economic reconciliation, as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, and will help to improve the lives of Indigenous women, their families and the communities they live in.”
Training begins with a three-week job readiness course. It includes safety training certification from the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba and a one-day workshop on women in the trades.
More than 8,000 skilled workers are expected to retire in Manitoba this year. There are currently not enough skilled labourers to take over these jobs. There is a need to replace an ageing workforce in the skilled trades.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
According to the provincial dashboard, there are 37 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba.
Of today’s cases:
- Three are in the Prairie Mountain Health region
- Three are in the Interlake-Eastern Health region
- 10 are in the Northern Health region
- 11 are in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- 10 are in the Winnipeg Health region
Dauphin has one new case for a total of three active cases in the city.
The numbers of active cases in other Parkland health districts are:
Riding Mountain (0), Swan River (1), Duck Mountain (0), Porcupine Mountain (8), Agassiz Mountain (21), Asessippi (1), Little Saskatchewan (0), Whitemud (0). Brandon has four active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 11 active cases. The Fisher/Peguis district has 134 active cases.
The current five-day test positivity rate is 2 percent provincially. 2,221 laboratory tests were completed yesterday.
There are 580 active COVID-19 cases in the province.
15 Manitobans are hospitalized with COVID-19, including:
Five Manitobans are in intensive care units with active COVID-19.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
On August 13th, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Manitoba First Nations Police Service officers received information that a male who had outstanding warrants was at a residence in the community of Sandy Bay First Nation.
When officers arrived on scene, they were told that the male had already left the residence.
Officers conducted a search around the residence and were able to locate the male in a wooded area nearby. The male was arrested without issue and upon search, officers found a large quantity of a crystal-like substance believed to be Methamphetamine along with cash, jewelry, and drug paraphernalia.
34-year-old Gregory James Spence from Sandy Bay First Nation has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime under $5000, and failing to comply with release order (x5).
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Despite the lifting of public health restrictions in Manitoba, patients will still have to mask up when visiting a dental facility.
The Manitoba Dental Association issued a release clarifying that as part of the announcement of health restrictions being lifted, health care settings, including dental offices, will continue to require mask-wearing.
MDA acknowledges that the province is moving towards a post-pandemic Manitoba. Throughout the pandemic, dental offices in Manitoba have introduced infection control systems to keep Manitobans safe.
MDA also said because of the delta variant, and not everyone being vaccinated, the association feels strongly they should follow Shared Health guidelines and hopes things will change when there's more proof and a definite indication that they can lessen the guidance. The measures will help reduce the risk of a fourth wave and ensure timely access to dental care.
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Steiner Plumbing & Heating is moving into the former Provincial Granite building, conveniently located right next door to the company's current building.
Carla Wolfenden, Co-Owner of Steiner Plumbing & Heating, shares her excitement about the expansion and says this has been in the works for a while;
"It's been so busy, so it kind of got pushed back. We were lucky enough to secure the building next door when it came up for sale earlier this summer. We are really excited about it. We're hoping to have the renovations done over the winter and get those doors open as soon as possible."
Carla outlined some of the changes the new facility will bring;
"Our new space is probably about three times bigger than the current space that we are operating out of, so we will have a showroom. A lot of people probably don't realize we carry a lot of park products such as fireplaces, pellet stoves, high-end barbeques. We hope to have a few of those out for people to touch and feel; I know that it's not easy to buy things like that from a website or brochure. So we will have those things in our showroom."
Wolfenden says this expansion benefits everyone involved;
"Another thing we're looking forward to is having space for our staff to operate. That means we will have more inventory, we can be better organized, and just a space for our staff to even sit down and have a coffee. We've never had that before, so we are excited to provide that for our staff and as a result I think it'll benefit our customers because we'll be more efficient."
Carla says the company is also in talks to sell hot tubs at their new building, which is exciting for the community as Dauphin has been without a hot tub supplier for quite some time.
As for their current building, life comes full circle sometimes because once the new facility is ready to open, the original building may go back to being used as a sheet metal shop like it was back in the 1950s.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Some parts of the sidewalk at the intersection of 2nd avenue northeast and Mountain Road in Dauphin are blocked off for a water main repair.
Work will continue tomorrow, and the City says the intersection will be blocked off to traffic.
The city is advising the public to be prepared to detour.
Any questions can be directed to the City at 204-622-3202.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The government of Manitoba has provided $500 thousand in matching funding to the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba to support the long-term sustainability of the historic Dome Building on the Keystone Centre grounds in Brandon.
Central Services Minister Reg Helwer says the Dome Building is an iconic structure.
“As we emerge toward a post-pandemic Manitoba, our government is confident the Dome Building and the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba will play a key role in our economic recovery and will help unite our people and communities back together once again.”
Established with a $500 thousand contribution from the province, the Dome Building Sustainability Fund will provide up to $500 thousand through a matching formula of one dollar for every two dollars raised by the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba to pay down the debt for restoration work to the Dome Building, which currently sits at nearly $1.2 million.
President of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, Greg Crisanti says he, the board of directors, and staff are pleased to have financial support from the provincial government.
“This 2 to 1 matching grant is much appreciated, we will be campaigning other partners to help us in put this debt to rest.”
The building is the only remaining major structure of four built for the 1913 Dominion Fair in Brandon, and is a rare surviving example of the grand agricultural display halls once common throughout southern Manitoba.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
