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The province is looking for local manufacturers that might be able to quickly scale the production of an innovative new mask.
A team of medical experts at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre designed the N95-type mask, led by plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Petropolis.
Petropolis explains the Manitoba-designed mask features a reusable filter housing that provides the advantage of simplicity and flexibility.
Ultimately, the province aims to encourage the local business community to enhance the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Manitoba, and to begin producing these masks as soon as possible.
Health Minister Cameron Friesen says Manitoba’s manufacturing sector has an incredible talent bank of innovative thinkers that will be ready to step up and make this happen.
“The Manitoba government is willing to sign purchase orders totalling up to $15 million to pre-order these innovative, made-in-Manitoba masks. A portion of these funds may be available in advance to supplement start-up costs.”
The competition rules and specifications have been made available here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
If you’re looking for something fun and educational to do from home, you can now take virtual tours of the culture and history of our province.
The virtual tours let you safely enjoy Manitoba’s cultural and educational offerings, as doors are locked at galleries and museums to promote social distancing.
The “150 for 150 Exhibit” is an online display of 150 artifacts, designed to provide an educational experience during isolation. You can check it out by clicking here.
The Manitoba Museum recently launched another online experience that shares the captivating history of our province and the science that explains our world. You can check that out by clicking here.
If you’re more interested in art, the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) is keeping you connected with a new series that shares artwork from the WAG collection every day.
The WAG website also features Do-It-Yourself videos, hands-on activities and learning opportunities for children and adults at www.wag.ca.
Other online experiences being offered right now include:
• The Manitoba Agricultural Museum helps immerse visitors in rural Manitoba’s past, providing context to the present and future of agriculture. The Austin-based museum has an online artifact collection at http://mbagmuseum.ca/collections-exhibits/artifacts-display-filtering.
• One of the online highlights of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada are the 360-degree cockpit tours that allow the visitor to ‘sit’ in the cockpit or cargo hold of many of the museums aircraft from the comfort of home at: www.royalaviationmuseum.com/virtualcockpits/mobile/index.html.
• The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) has created a new guided virtual tour, and made a number of children’s activities and other content available at ‘Explore the Museum from Home’ at https://humanrights.ca/visit/explore-the-museum-from-home along with another new feature called ‘Share Your Story’ at https://humanrights.ca/stories/share-your-story#/.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
There are many weddings happening in the Parkland this summer that are facing a great deal of uncertainty.
Winnipegosis couple Trista Pangman and her fiancé Logan have committed to tying the knot on August 22nd, and will adapt their nuptials to whatever public health officials will allow at that time.
But for Dauphin’s Jenna Pacey and her fiancé Ben, they’ve made the decision to postpone their June 13th wedding until next year.
Jenna tells us she’s heartbroken.
She’s been waiting almost two years for this day with Ben, but with all the effort and planning that’s gone into this wedding, the June date just left too many factors up in the air. The brother of the groom is also currently stuck in Spain trying to get home, and Jenna says there’s not even enough time to get her dress altered.
The couple found their perfect wedding location in the middle of a field in Paradise Valley in Keld. They came across the spot a few years ago, and the owner of the land loved the idea of hosting their wedding.
Jenna says the support from her friends and family has made all the difference during this difficult time, but she’s also taken it upon herself to reach out and support other brides going through the same thing. She says she wants to share her story to help anyone else who’s going through the same thing.
“I’ve been reaching out to other brides, I have a couple of friends who are going through the same thing right now, and we’re really using each other as support. I’m reaching out to other brides, and reading different articles on how to handle this. Who would have thought we would have to plan for this?”
Meanwhile, Winnipegosis’ Trista Pangman and Logan Lytwyn have made the decision to stick with their late-summer ceremony.
Trista tells CKDM they plan to adapt their August 22nd wedding to whatever kind of gathering is allowed by that time, saying that “we’ve been looking forward to living our lives together for so long. So whatever is allowed, that’s what we’re going to do.”
“Even if the safest thing by that time is just the two of us getting married with no other people at all, then we want to do it.”
Trista explains that having their families in attendance would mean the world to both her and Logan, but they also want to do their part to keep them safe.
The couple lives on a farm outside Winnipegosis, and have been together since the age of 13 and got engaged two years ago.
Like Jenna, Trista has also found peace of mind in supporting her friends that have had their wedding plans interrupted by the global pandemic.
“It seems 2020 is a big year for weddings.”
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Ashern RCMP is looking for a man wanted on multiple charges.
26-year-old Cameron Earl Baptiste is facing charges of Uttering Threats, Failing to Comply with Conditions and Assault.
Police say he is considered violent, and are warning you not to approach him.
Baptiste is known to frequent Lake Manitoba First Nation, Ashern and Winnipeg.
If you have seen him or have any information, contact Ashern RCMP at 204-768-2324.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The first fews days of applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) are now in the books.
At this time, applications for the $500 a week (for up to 16 weeks) are open to all Canadians that meet the criteria.
As a reminder, eligible CERB recipients must be living in Canada, be at least 15 years old, had an income of at least $5,000 in the past 12 months, and stopped working because of COVID-19.
If you’re currently receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits and wondering if you should reapply for the CERB, the answer is no. You can not be paid EI benefits and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit at the same time.
If you receive the benefit and are later determined to be ineligible, you will have to repay that money.
You’re also expected to report the Benefit as income when you file your income tax for the 2020 tax year.
If you receive two separate payments of $2,000, chances are you accidentally applied for the CERB twice. In that case, you can expect to be contacted by the government shortly.
Benefits will start within 10 days of submitting your application. If you are late to apply, payments will be retroactive to your eligibility date.
You can apply for the CERB here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
An officer with the Roblin RCMP detachment rescued a woman last week after her SUV ended up in a water-filled ditch off Highway 83.
Concerned about hypothermia, the responding officer waded into the water to rescue the driver.
The RCMP say the woman was carried to the police car to keep warm until EMS arrived.
At this time we have not received an update on the status of the driver.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Public health officials have announced a fourth death in Manitoba because of COVID-19.
We also learned about 6 additional cases of the virus, bringing the total number of probable and lab-confirmed cases to 230.
10 people are currently being hospitalized, with 5 people in intensive care. The number of people listed as recovered from COVID is up to 92.
The Prairie Mountain Health region has seen 11 confirmed cases.
Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin realizes we all may want to get out this weekend with nicer weather and our traditional holiday gatherings, but is pleading with Manitobans to not let up on our preventative measures.
Dr. Roussin says our recent case numbers are proof our social distancing measures are working, but does not want anyone to think it’s time to let up.
He says now is not the time to get together, but encourages everyone to stay connected virtually.
Any person concerned about their exposure to or risk of having COVID-19 should call Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 to be screened to see if a test is required.
For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A message of hope and togetherness has been given by Mayor Allen Dowhan.
The Mayor is wishing a Happy Easter to all, and acknowledges the sacrifice we’re all making by not seeing our friends and family over this holiday weekend:
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Alicia Kubrakovich is only in her second year at the University of Manitoba; however, she's already making a big difference. The Dauphinite is re-running for Co-President of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Students’ Association.
If successful, it would be Alicia's second year in the position. Kubrakovich's biggest priority is giving the Indigenous community at the University of Manitoba a voice. She wants everyone to be heard and she wants to stand by everyone's side.
"I want to continue my advocacy work. There is still a lot that needs to be done here geared towards indigenous students," said Kubrakovich.
Alicia says there needs to be more language working groups and more of a focus on wellness for the indigenous community on campus. Most importantly, Alicia wants every single indigenous student to feel safe and in a good place.
As the current Co-President of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Students' Association, Kubrakovich has certainly done a great job so far when it comes to giving indigenous students more of a voice on campus and the ability to feel safe while they're studying, many of which have left their families and homes to do so. She also does know that the work isn't done.
In her first year, she created the first-ever indigenous working group. That group was geared towards getting all indigenous community groups on campus to work as one.
"I'm honestly kind of shocked to be this far when it comes to my leadership," said Kubrakovich. "Normally you don't see second-year students in a position like this because it's quite a big role. It means a lot to me that I'm in this spot right now and I really hope that I get re-elected.
Kubrakovich says the University of Manitoba currently does have an indigenous students centre on campus; however, it's very isolated. She hopes that through conversations, that changes moving forward.
The Dauphinite is also a member of UMSU (University of Manitoba Students Union) and the UMISA Women's Council.
Voting took place the past couple of days and Kubrakovich will find out in the coming days if she will be the Co-President of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Students’ Association in her third-year which will take place in the fall.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Here’s a list of what’s open and closed this holiday weekend:
Grocery Stores
All grocery stores will be closed on Good Friday (April 10th) and Easter Sunday (April 12th).
Liquor Stores
Liquor Mart hours will be as follows:
Friday, April 10th: closed
Saturday, April 11th: 10am - 8pm
Sunday, April 12th: closed
Monday, April 13th: 10am-8pm
Malls
The Dauphin Marketplace Mall will be closed Friday, April 10th & Sunday, April 12th
Post Office
The post office will be closed on Friday, April 10th, and Monday, April 13th
City Hall
Dauphin City Hall will be closed on Friday, April 10th, and Monday, April 13th
Garbage & Recycle Pick-Up
There will be no pick-up on Friday, April 10th. The regular collection schedule will resume the week of April 21st
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Provincial parks will remain open at this time; however, public facilities located within the parks will be closed to ensure social distancing practices.
Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement today, saying park access will benefit Manitobans during these stressful times.
“There is a great mental health benefit in being able to escape and connect with nature, and we want to do everything we can to help Manitobans navigate this difficult and unprecedented time.”
Public facilities such as washrooms, playgrounds, picnic and group-shelter use will be closed.
Public Health Official Dr. Brent Roussin notes that the use of parks and trails is a generally low-risk activity for Manitobans.
The province adds that they are not ruling out any further closures of park areas if social distancing becomes an issue.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
