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This week is Small Business Week, which revolves around building supports and showing off small businesses.
Stephen Chychota says this year’s theme is ‘Forging The Way Forward’.
“I kind of take it that, we’ve went through this pandemic, we’re still in it, and what can we do to forge our way forward and come out the other side a little bit better, little bit stronger, little bit smarter. With the supports that businesses have been getting from other organizations and from government, just trying to make sure that there’s jobs for people to go to, to make sure that there’s these businesses are out there and able to do their thing and survive and get through this pandemic. It’s again, the Small Business Week reflecting on what we’ve been through for the past few months and making sure we can go forward through all this.”
The Chamber has events planned all week, some in partnership with The Hub and Take The Leap.
Chychota says there are numerous ways to support small businesses.
“It can be as simple as making some posts on their social media pages and giving them a shout out, you can share some of their content and that message goes a long way for some of these small businesses. You can go actually to the business and ask them ‘what can I do?’ And there’s actually just going to the business, either if they have an online presence, buying something through their market there or going to the business itself and picking up some of their products or getting some of their service.”
Chychota adds that it’s very important to have small businesses.
“They are a huge part of our economic system out here. We know that in our region specifically, there’s a lot of ag, but there’s a tremendous amount of small and medium sized businesses out here. So, without them we’re lacking and we need those businesses out here to make sure that we’ve got the products we need.”
The Chamber is also doing a recognition piece this week for the hardest working students.
Chychota says if any businesses had students working for them over the summer, to nominate them to the Chamber to share the content for everyone else to know how hard they were working.
Then at the end of the week, Chychota will be on the Al Morning Show to pick two winners that’ll get some chamber bucks.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
To finish a project to repair the amphitheatre stairs at the Selo Site, the Ukrainian Folk Arts Centre & Museum is asking for some money.
Identical requests for $10,000 have been sent to the City of Dauphin and RM of Dauphin.
The project’s expected to be finished in time for Dauphin’s Countryfest in 2021.
The Repair Project
Since the amphitheatre is built out of wood on the side of a hill and has been there since the early 1980s, pressure from the soil pushing against the stairs and seats over the years has shifted them to the point that they are considered hazardous.
Jim Perchaluk, president of the Ukrainian Folk Arts Centre & Museum, says after doing some research, they found out that replacing the stairs would cost half a million dollars.
“In consultation with a facility consultant from the Province of Manitoba we found that there is nothing wrong with the timbers, it was just that they were unsettled and if we could level them off, and some boards have to be replaced, we could do a repair project and some replacement. So we elected to go that route.”
To work on the stairs, all of the handrails had to be taken out. So, the handrails are being reinstalled and additional ones have been purchased because there were some areas that needed handrails.
A little bit of work has been done this fall in the project’s first phase.
Perchaluk says phase 1 was also a bit of a test to make sure it’s what they wanted. With the work looking good so far, phase 2 of the project will be done in spring 2021 with the goal of being finished before Dauphin’s Countryfest in 2021.
Funding For The Project
In total, the project will cost $126,000, with phase 1 being estimated at around $26,000 and phase 2 $100,000.
Already, they’ve received $81,851 from the Federal Government Social and Economic Development and $11,585 from the provincial government’s Building Sustainable Communities Fund. That leaves the organization needing $32,489.
In the past, the Ukrainian Folk Arts Centre & Museum has had fundraisers in addition to CNUF and Countryfest, but COVID-19 has made revenue for Selo Ukraina zero.
Perchaluk says they’re hoping for some community contributions as the site is a community facility that brings tourism to Dauphin.
“This is why we are knocking on the door of the City of Dauphin and I’ll mention also the RM of Dauphin. They got almost identical requests in for $10,000. So we’re looking for, we’re benefitting the community and area and here’s an opportunity that they can help us out, so we can return it in terms of improving the structure, facility for a continuation of the festivals in the future there.”
If the requests are accepted, that’ll leave $12,489 for Selo Ukraina. Perchaluk says they have a plan to get the rest of the money.
“We’re also knocking on the door of our Dauphin and District Community Foundation, we’ve got an application in for their fall intake and also Fusion Credit Union, their Red Circle Fund there. We’ve sent applications to them, normally those are smaller grants and our plan, if we’re successful in everybody giving what we’re asking for, there’ll still be a few dollars that we’re contributing and we’ll make up the difference.”
Perchaluk adds that if they don’t get what they're asking for, the organization will likely take out a bank loan with Fusion Credit Union.
Larry Hrytsay, on the board of directors, says if it wasn’t for COVID they probably would’ve been able to pay for the project themselves with some money from the government.
“Chances are pretty good we would’ve had maybe one or two more major events. There are some parties interested in it. Things have gotten on hold for various other reasons over the last couple years.”
Perchaluk says if the community wants to help them, an endowment fund was created for the costs associated with operating and maintaining the site. It’s targeted at the museum aspect, the Ukrainian Heritage Village at the site. Right now, for every two dollars contributed to the endowment fund, the provincial government will contribute one dollar.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Health officials announced 44 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, along with two more deaths.
A man and woman from the Winnipeg health region, both in their 70s, are the province’s 39th and 40th deaths due to COVID-19.
Today’s data shows:
• nine cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• two cases in the Northern health region;
• two case in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• six cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 25 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
The following Parkland health districts have active cases: Dauphin (2), Little Saskatchewan (1), Asessippi (1), and Whitemud (1). Brandon has 9 active cases of COVID-19. The Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 3 active cases.
There are 1,675 active cases in Manitoba, and 1,587 people have recovered from COVID-19.
There are 29 people in hospital and six people in intensive care.
The COVID-19 testing site in Dauphin has moved to a walk-in location at 301 Main Street North — operating Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
With the growing number of cases in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, the province is introducing targeted measures under the Restricted (orange) level of the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. Click here to learn more about the new restrictions facing the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, which go into effect Monday, October 19 for a minimum of 2 weeks.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba Hydro is advising of a planned service interruption for customers in Angusville, Waywayseecappo and Rossburn.
The planned outage will take place Sunday, October 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Heads up Angusville, Waywayseecappo, Rossburn and surrounding rural areas:
— Manitoba Hydro (@manitobahydro) October 15, 2020
We’re taking an #mboutage on Oct. 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to install equipment that will make our system more reliable. About 1,350 customers are affected.
Approximate area highlighted in the map ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/8lCe74das4
About 1,350 customers will be affected by the service interruption.
Manitoba Hydro says the outage is required as crews are working to install equipment to make their system more reliable.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
RCMP say speed and alcohol are considered to be factors in a Sandy Lake collision that seriously injured 5 people and caused significant damage to a home.
Police say they were notified around 4 p.m. on Friday, October 16 of an impaired driver in Sandy Lake who was speeding with another vehicle following it.
A collision was reported to police minutes later, and RCMP say they believe the two vehicles were speeding down Main Street in Sandy Lake when they collided — leaving the road and then colliding with a house. There was nobody in the home at the time of the incident.
A 25-year-old man driving one of the vehicles and a 21-year-old male passenger were taken to hospital with serious injuries, according to police. Another 32-year-old male passenger had minor injuries.
The occupants of the other vehicle, driven by a 25-year-old woman with two female passengers, were all taken to hospital with serious injuries.
RCMP continue to investigate the crash.
(RCMP believe the two SUV's collided, and then collided into a home in Sandy Lake. Photos courtesy of T.J. Hookers Towing and Recovery | Facebook)
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Manitoba New Democrats presented a document on Thursday during question period which showed vacancy rates exceed 15% for some health-care positions in Prairie Mountain Health (PMH).
Official Opposition leader Wab Kinew called it a “clear trend”, that the Pallister government’s cutting of health-care services is resulting in “fewer people working at the bedside and helping our seniors."
Kinew pointed to the vacancy rate of 31% for registered nurses at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre as of August — which works out to 32 job openings.
Staffing shortages in PMH have resulted in some emergency room closures, including Erickson, Shoal Lake — and more recently Roblin, a move the health authority maintains is a temporary measure.
Prairie Mountain Health CEO Penny Gilson stated the regional health authority “is very cognizant of its vacancy rates,” and they are working “extremely hard trying to fill as many vacancies as we can. We are continuously advertising to fill vacancies.”
Gilson spoke to the challenges of recruiting to rural areas, and also said PMH has instituted “a number of employment strategies/initiatives towards promoting the benefits of working and living in rural Manitoba, with all the lifestyle benefits our region offers.”
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Manitoba added 85 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases in Manitoba to 3,258.
Today’s data shows:
• four cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• four cases in the Northern health region;
• four case in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• five cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 68 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
The following Parkland health districts have active cases: Dauphin (2), Little Saskatchewan (1), and Asessippi (1). Brandon has 12 active cases of COVID-19.
The Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 3 active cases.
There are 28 Manitobans in hospital and 5 in intensive care. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 38.
There are 1,648 active cases and 1,572 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region currently has 1,418 active cases of COVID-19, and with the growing number of cases there, the province is introducing more targeted measures under the Restricted (orange) level of the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.
Click here to learn more about the new restrictions facing the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, which go into effect Monday, October 19 for a minimum of 2 weeks.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Commercial fishers on Lake Winnipeg will get a week-long extension to the fishing season this year.
Blaine Pedersen, Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development, explains the extension is due to a 60% slump in the harvest for this time of year.
“The fish markets literally dried up in the early days of COVID. They’ve come back somewhat now, so this will help fishermen finish off their commercial fishing season with an extra week,” said Pedersen.
The commercial fishing season on Lake Winnipeg ends November 6.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Three people from Portage la Prairie are facing drug trafficking charges after police executed two search warrants this week.
RCMP searched a home in Portage on Thursday, October 15, and also carried out a related search warrant of a vehicle the following day.
With both warrants, police seized more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, some prescription pills, several knives, a bat, bear spray, several energy drink cans with false bottoms, and an undisclosed amount of Canadian currency.
Now facing drug trafficking charges are two women, aged 40 and 38, along with a 42-year-old man, all from Portage la Prairie.
All 3 have been released from custody to appear in court at a later date.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The R.M. of Lakeshore has partnered with a national organization to spread awareness of radon levels in the home.
Pam Warkentin, project manager of ‘Take Action on Radon’ says testing is very important this time of year.
“We encourage people to test during the winter because we have our homes closed up; we’re spending more time indoors than ever before, so it’s really important to know your radon levels inside your home.”
Radon is a by-product of the break-down of uranium, and high levels in the home can lead to lung cancer.
To sign up for a test kit you can call the R.M. of Lakeshore office at (204) 732-2333.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Health officials are reporting 75 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Friday, bringing the province to a total of 3,173 cases.
Prairie Mountain Health has moved the COVID testing location in Dauphin to a walk-in site at 301 Main Street North.
On Friday, Manitoba’s chief public health officer announced more restrictions for the Winnipeg area in response to high case numbers.
Starting Monday, October 19 the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region will introduce the following restrictions for a two week period:
- Indoor and outdoor gathering sizes: lowered from 10 to five, in addition to members of a household
- Contact Tracing Log Sheets: required in many indoor settings, including theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and fitness facilities
- Restaurants/lounges: reduced group/tables sizes in restaurants from 10 to 5, and formally reduced capacity to 50 per cent
- Retail locations and food courts: group sizes reduced to 50 per cent, including lowering gathering sizes from 10 to five in common spaces
- After-school activities and all sporting events: reduced the number of spectators to 25 per cent of a site’s capacity
- Beverage rooms, bars, entertainment facilites, casinos/VLTs lounges and bingo halls: to be closed
- Gyms and fitness centres: capacity remains at 50 per cent
- Museums, galleries and libraries: capacity reduced to 50 per cent
The rest of the province remains at yellow on the Pandemic Response System. For more details on the new restrictions for the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, click here.
Today’s data shows:
• seven cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
• two cases in the Northern health region;
• one case in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• two cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and
• 63 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
There are 25 Manitobans in hospital and five people in intensive care. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 38.
There are 1,582 active cases in Manitoba, and 1,553 individuals have recovered from COVID-19.
The following Parkland health districts have active cases: Dauphin (2), Little Saskatchewan (1), Asessippi (1), and Whitemud (1). Brandon has 11 active cases of COVID-19.
The Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 3 active cases.
You can click here for a list of the most recent exposure risks in the Prairie Mountain Health region.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
