Vandalism rocks Vermillion Sportsplex

Efforts to make the Vermillion Sportsplex a greener space with areas of shade and windbreaks has taken a disappointing turn.

On Monday, Dauphin Rec Services staff found that hundreds of recently planted trees had either been pulled out of the ground, or were vandalized.

The trees were planted earlier this month as part of efforts to make the park greener in the future.

DRS is asking anyone with information about these incidents to come forward.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jun 18, 2025 - 3:30 pm

With seeding operations now complete, herbicide applications are ramping up across the Northwest region.

According to the latest Manitoba Agriculture Crop Report, spring cereal and field pea applications are almost complete, while canola and soybean applications continue.

There are concerns, though, that some crops are starting to show signs of a lack of precipitation, especially in lighter soils and in some canola fields

Fall rye and winter wheat are mostly in the flowering stage, while spring wheat is mostly at the tillering stage, with later-seeded fields further behind.

Field peas are in the vegetative stage, while Soybeans are in the V1 to V2 stage, and Canola growth varies across the region.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jun 18, 2025 - 1:22 pm

The Fort Dauphin Museum is getting a start on its Historic Places Days. Historic Places Days at Fort Dauphin is July 11 to 20.

Ahead of that they're calling all high school students to take part in their student short story contest. It's an opportunity to get creative.

Kairi Bowden is the summer program coordinator at Fort Dauphin Museum. This is her second year in the role, and she's looking forward to the contest.

"It's about connecting the museum to high school students," said Bowden. "I don't think we give them enough opportunity to connect. Doing something more creative and allowing them to write is a good idea."

The theme is exploration. The definition of exploration is the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area to learn about it. Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer. He was well-known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean and his impact on European exploration of the Americas. Other famous explorers include Marco Polo and Ferdinand Magellan.

"I chose the theme exploration because it's vague enough that I can allow students to write about almost anything," added Bowden.

The rest is up to you. If you're a high school student, it's time to get your thinking cap on. Your story must be no longer than 15 pages. You can submit your story here or hand-deliver it to Fort Dauphin Museum. They're open from 10 to 4 Monday to Friday.

"I want to see stories about people travelling and finding new things," ended Bowden. "Like someone could write about finding new parts of Dauphin to hang out. It can also be fictional. You could make up a story about a pirate sailing the sea."

The winner will receive a certificate from the museum and be announced on social media. The submission deadline is Friday, July 11.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Jun 18, 2025 - 5:00 am

photo courtesy Pixabay.com

The city is inviting everyone to join them for a Picnic in the Park on Canada Day.

From 5 to 8 pm on July 1st, there will be a free, family concert in CN Park, featuring local artists Avery Stykalo and Emma Peterson.

This year, there will be no fireworks as part of the Canada Day celebrations, and Deputy City Manager Lisa Gaudet explains why.

"Parts of Manitoba are experiencing wildfires, and with the dry conditions, fireworks simply are not the safest choice right now. There is also a growing awareness of the environmental impact of fireworks. They release smoke and chemicals and debris into the air. And fireworks can also be terrifying for pets and wildlife."

Gaudet says other communities are also moving away from having fireworks for these same reasons.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jun 17, 2025 - 7:45 pm

The future of the Dauphin and District Food Bank will be discussed at a special public meeting next Tuesday night.

Food bank board chair Robin Gambler says they have yet to find a new location, and must be out of their current location at Parkland Crossing by the end of September.

"We need about 2,500 square feet, because we do have a lot of fridges, freezers, our computer spaces, storage and shelving for food. We need quite a bit of room."

Gambler adds it would be devastating if the Food Bank had to close its doors.

"When you are serving about 400 people a month, that is 400 people that are not going to have access to the healthy food that we give."

The meeting is open to the public and will take place on June 24th at 7 pm in the back hall of the Dauphin Friendship Centre.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jun 17, 2025 - 5:30 pm

A 37-year-old Dauphin man faces several charges following a Monday night incident outside a downtown business.

RCMP say a suspect allegedly threatened an employee after being refused service.

The man then threatened officers and was verbally abusive to them and a hospital employee as he was transported first to the detachment and then to the hospital.

Among the charges laid against Hector Drynock are two counts of assaulting an officer, two counts of mischief under five grand, and five counts of uttering threats.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jun 17, 2025 - 3:23 pm

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

It's a time to learn about and acknowledge the history, resilience, and diversity of Indigenous peoples across the country. National Indigenous Peoples Day is on Saturday, June 21. Ahead of that, the Swan Valley School Division will be hosting a day full of events at Legion Park.

Lorna Munro works with the school division.

"It's a part of our truth and reconciliation goals that we try and support Indigenous education and history," said Munro. "One of our goals is hosting an event on National Indigenous Peoples Day."

The event begins at 11 on Tuesday morning with greetings. The Kingfisher Clan takes the main stage at noon and 2:00 p.m.

"We also have our very own local performers. We will have the grade seven and eight students from Benito, they're the Benito Strings," offered Munro. "The jazz band from the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School will also be performing. It's going to be a great day."

Munro, who has been working within the division for nearly two decades, says they look forward to celebrating this day every year. It's near and dear to her heart and as she says, the students always do a fantastic job of getting on board.

"I think they're looking forward to seeing different styles of dance that will be showcased on the main stage," ended Munro. "They're also looking forward to the bannock station. The kids always enjoy that."

The closing prayer is scheduled to begin at 3:00.

In Dauphin, the Northwest Métis Council will hold their celebrations on Friday beginning at 11:00. That day will include square dancers, a free hotdog lunch, outdoor games, and Saulteaux bingo, to name a few. There will be more celebrations on Friday night from 6:00 to 9:00 at the Roblin Curling Arena.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Jun 17, 2025 - 5:00 am

He spent the last 12 years cooking for celebrities who were set to perform at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.

He loves the way food brings people together, and comfort food is his go-to. Comfort food varies from person to person. For him, it's cabbage rolls. Clay Koll has brought his culinary expertise to the Narrows Sunset Lodge as their new head chef.

Clay arrived at The Narrows in early April and got right to work, preparing to open later that month.

"I think things have been going very well. We're definitely moving in the right direction, getting people back in the door," said Koll. "I've got a lot of positive feedback from the menus. Things have been going well."

Most recently, Koll welcomed a packed crowd over the Father's Day Weekend. Brunch and dinner buffets were served, and those who attended are still raving about how delicious the food was and how friendly the service was.

"We're more than willing to cater to anyone's needs. I didn't really know what to expect here, so I've been keeping an open mind. If you ask me for it, I will do it," offered Koll. "Everything from breakfast to dinner buffets and everything in between."

For those who have yet to experience what The Narrows has to offer, you're missing out. It's a gorgeous part of the province, and there is something for everyone. You can start the morning in the water and end the night at the Sunset Lodge, where Clay will be ready to serve up some great eats.

"World-class fishing, friendly people, a ton of locals, and people who have been coming out here for a long time," continued Koll. "Being from Winnipeg and not knowing anybody, everyone has been extremely warm and friendly to me."

Clay is also a big sports fan. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers opened their season with an impressive victory against the BC Lions. On Saturday night, the two teams will play again. Koll always has great specials on and would love to serve you.

Whether you're a party of one or 20, the Narrows Sunset Lodge has you covered.

And as far as Clay's mission?

"Get as many locals and tourists alike to come in and enjoy our great food," ended Koll. "The Narrows is an incredible place. From camping to RVing to fishing, you name it. Then pop by for a great meal."

The Narrows Sunset Lodge has everything you need for the perfect getaway, whether it's a day, a week, or the season.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Jun 17, 2025 - 5:00 am

The arrival of summer will be celebrated in Garland this weekend, much like how Ukrainian families celebrated it many years ago.

Kupalo Fest takes place Friday through Sunday, with special solstice ceremonies taking place on Saturday, along with workshops on Friday, and dances on both Friday and Saturday night.

Organizer and Artistic Director Anastasia Fyk explains why it's important to hold this festival.

"I really want to see life brought back to the area. We have all of the infrastructure here. It is such a beautiful and magical place here in Garland. We are right on the edge of the Duck Mountains. And, it is a really special place, and I just want to see traditions come back to life. Traditions happening again and living culture."

Proceeds from the weekend will go towards humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, as well as to the victims of the Manitoba wildfires.

Tickets can be purchased at Ruff's Furniture & Appliances, in Dauphin; Old September, in Gilbert Plains; LB's, in Ethelbert; Sheila's Lucky Dollar, in Pine River; and, Kolisnyk's General Store, in Cowan.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jun 16, 2025 - 5:30 pm

It is a sombre anniversary today for residents in Dauphin and the surrounding area.

It was two years ago that a bus collided with a semi truck at the intersection of Highways 1 and 5 near Carberry, taking the lives of 17 seniors from our area, while injuring 8 others.

The city of Dauphin issued a statement on their social media accounts this morning, saying that the Mayor, Council, and staff pause to remember those we lost and to honour the families, friends, and loved ones who continue to carry their memory forward

It adds the city recognizes the strength and resilience that our community has shown in the face of unimaginable grief, and we stand together in remembrance and reflection.