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The Manitoba government has established a new commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the kindergarten to Grade 12 education system.
The process will include consultations across the province and consider a wide range of topics like student learning, teaching, accountability for student learning, governance and funding.
Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen made the announcement today.
“This is a long-overdue opportunity to build on strengths and identify challenges to create a better education system with high standards for educators, high expectations for student achievement, relevant curriculum, governance excellence and a sustainable fiscal framework,” said Goertzen.
The eight other commissioners are:
• Dr. Janice MacKinnon (co-chair);
• Clayton Manness (co-chair);
• Terry Brown;
• Mark Frison;
• John Daniel (JD) Lees;
• Jill Quilty;
• Laurel Repski; and
• Denis Robert.
Manitoba’s Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education will also include Ian Wishart, legislative assistant to the minister of education and training, who will lead public consultation and stakeholder engagement.
Soon the commission will begin public consultation and seek input from students, parents, educators, school boards, academics, Indigenous organizations, la francophonie, municipal councils, professional organizations, the business community and all Manitobans.
The commission is expected to submit a report with key findings and recommendations by February 2020.
Information about the kindergarten to Grade 12 review will be posted throughout the year at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/educationreview/.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The capacity of the Vermillion Reservoir is significantly greater than originally thought.
Dauphin and Manitoba Infrastructure have been meeting with each other to investigate issues around continued use of the Vermillion Reservoir, located on the north boundary of RMNP.
The bathymetric survey they conducted showed a greater capacity of 4100 DAM3.
There has also been a considerable amount of siltation in the reservoir that will continue.
In October 2018, the city hired divers to take a look at the two intakes for the reservoir pump house. The divers found the lower intake buried under 0.6 metres of silt. The divers also found out the upper intake was buried in sediment and debris.
At the time of that dive, the reservoir was considered full and the divers noted 5 metres of water above the intake, because of the silt there were only 4.25 metres of water above the bottom of the reservoir.
While Bill Brenner was researching the reservoir, he found a letter from the province indicating the dam constructed to create the reservoir was created in a way that could increase the reservoir overflow level. Brenner wants to look into increasing the dam’s containment volume, which would help guide them in the proper remediation options.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Winnipegosis Elementary is one of the schools receiving funding for capital projects from the provincial government.
Yesterday the province announced 129.5 million in funding for school divisions across Manitoba.
Winnipegosis Elementary is receiving funding for an exterior wall renewal.
“We continue to make significant investments on new schools as well as major additions and renovations to existing schools,” said Goertzen. “Manitoba has more than 600 schools and this funding will help them remain safe and functional. Growing communities will also benefit from new school facilities to meet their needs.”
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Monday's fire at Smitty’s was an accident.
The Dauphin Fire Department says the fire started in the laundry area in the building's basement.
Earlier in the day, staff had removed some cloths and aprons from the dryer and placed them on top of the unit.
The DFD warns that when flammable liquids like cooking oil, deep fryer oil or cleaning fluids are soaked up by a rag, heat develops.
If the heat doesn’t dissipate by spreading the rags out, there is the potential for spontaneous ignition. That was the cause of this particular fire.
The department reminds everyone that any combustible materials should be kept clear of clothes dryers as they do produce significant heat.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Yesterday, Health Canada released the new food guide.
Robert Sopuck, Member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa, is unhappy with the new guidelines.
“I’m deeply, deeply, concerned in the Food Guide.”
The food guide no longer has meat and alternatives and milk and alternatives as their own groups. They combined into a proteins group
Sopuck thinks it’s completely misguided and a politically correct attempt by the liberals at virtue signalling.
He says it’s criminal that Canada’s highly nutritious meat products, like beef, chicken and pork, as well as dairy is being downgraded.
Sopuck adds one last comment.
“The food guide, quite frankly, with its politically correct virtue signalling, will do our rural communities nothing but harm.”
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Weedless Wednesday marks the middle of National Non-Smoking Week.
Weedless Wednesday is just a day for those thinking of quitting smoking to give up smoking just for a day.
Jo-Anne Douglas says if you’ve tried to quit before, try again because it gets easier every time and you could be ready this time.
Even quitting for one day is helpful for the body because that would mean a break from the 7000 chemicals in tobacco.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
UPDATE:
21-year-old Kawalpreet Singh who resides in Thompson has been arrested and charged with Arson - Disregard for Human Life as well as Arson - Damage to Property. Singh has been remanded into custody.
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The Thompson Inn received extensive damage after a fire broke in the restaurant part of the building.
Around 9:58 last night, Thompson Fire and Emergency were quick to respond to the fire.
They were able to contain the fire in the restaurant.
There were no injuries to firefighters or the public, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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- Contributed by With Files From Darnell Duff
UPDATE:
Smitty's Restaurant and Lounge will re-open this morning at 7:00 a.m.
It remained closed yesterday as a result of the fire in the basement.
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DFD was dispatched to smoke in a building (1601 Main Street South-Smitty's Restaurant & Lounge) shortly after 10 pm on Monday, January 21st.
Upon arrival, management met the firefighters and reported that there was a fire in the basement under the kitchen area.
Firefighters entered and encountered heavy black smoke coming from the basement stairs.
The fire was located and extinguished within the first 20 minutes on the scene but crews remained on scene until after midnight in order to remove smoke from the building.
There are no injuries and no estimates on damages at this time.
Even though the cause of the fire is not suspicious, it does remain under investigation.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
There's a big crowd on the first day of Manitoba Ag Days.
Talking with a variety of people working at their booths they all say the crowd so far has been great.
As the first morning of the three-day event wraps up, those attending have already heard from many experts.
Some of the highlights for this morning included David Lobb, Professor at the University of Manitoba with “A view below the soil surface – tillage challenges facing agriculture” and “Resistance management 101 – can we take an integrated approach?” by Holly Derksen, Technical Support Specialist with Aysta LifeScience, Tammy Jones, Weed Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and John Gavloski, Entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture.
Dan Orchard, Agronomy Specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, John Guelly, Director of the Alberta Canola Producers Commission and Michael Weir, Agronomist with Pioneer Hi-Bred presented “Clubroot – what we all really need to know.”
There are many speakers this afternoon. Some of the highlights include Ralph Eichler, the Minister of Agriculture and Mayor of Brandon Rick Crest addressing the crowd at 1:30 pm. Premier of Manitoba, Brian Pallister, will speak directly after the Ag Minster at 2:00 pm.
There are other presentations this afternoon. One example is Lance Stockbrugger, with LD Stockbrugger Farms, presenting on how to “Let the numbers talk – leasing vs buying machinery" at 1:30.
Manitoba Ag Days runs until five this afternoon and then will pick up at nine tomorrow morning.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The newest food guide has been released.
A major change from past food guides is the meat and alternatives, and milk and alternatives groups are combined in a group as proteins.
Water is being pushed more and fruit juices have been dropped because of their sugar content.
Health Canada has also removed advice on how much food to consume because most Canadians found it confusing.
The new Canada Food Guidelines are to eat veggies, fruit, whole grains, and plant-based proteins regularly, replace foods with saturated fat with unsaturated fat, drink water almost exclusively, avoid processed or prepared foods and beverages, avoid alcohol, cook more at home, and pay attention to food labels.
It is recommended to have a diet that consists of 50 per cent fruits and vegetables, 25 per cent whole grains, and 25 per cent proteins.
Canada Beef spokesperson Joyce Parslow says they are pleased with the percentages that are recommended.
The Dairy Farmers of Canada advocacy group are concerned with the lesser emphasis on milk and the promotion of lower fat milk only.
This is the first food guide update since 2007.
If you would like to take a look at the new food guide click here.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
It's the night hockey fans in the Parkland have been waiting for all season long, Ukrainian Night and it goes down this Saturday at Credit Union Place. The 4th Annual event was an extreme success for the first three years and this time around, it's expected to be even better.
As previously announced, Dauphin`s Stanley Cup Champion, Barry Trotz will return to Dauphin and will be a part of the game as he`ll drop the puck during the opening ceremonies. That`s just one amazing part of what will be an extraordinary evening.
"We've got the live band, we have the Kubassa Toss and we have well over 1000 of those to toss on the ice," said Ryan Rauliuk. "I encourage people to get down to the rink early so they don't miss out on all of the before game activities before the in-game activities that we have going on."
Game time on Saturday is set for 7:30. The band will be starting up at about 5:30 and the concession will have plenty of options if you're planning on heading down for dinner.
"We also have the Bratstva Ukrainian Dance group from Dauphin and Ethelbert's Vitriwka Dance Ensemble so that's going to be awesome and the fans will love them," said Rauliuk.
The Portage Terriers will be welcomed into the community with bread and salt just before the game. Other than the 50/50, all of the proceeds from that evening will be going right back into the community.
There will also be a live jersey auction that will feature the brand new Ukrainian jerseys that the Kings’ will wear. That means you can bid for a jersey right off your favourite Kings' players back. The first $100 from each jersey will go back to the team and the rest will also be put right back into the community and the groups helping to make this event possible.
"It's really like a big Ukrainian fundraiser," said Rauliuk.
Tickets for the event are just $7 for adults, $5 for students and $2 for kids 12 & under. Tickets are going fast which means you should get yours today.
"The biggest thing we want people to know is to get your tickets fast," said Rauliuk. "We ran into a situation a few years ago that a lot of people waited till the last minute to get their ticket. We had a ton of people still waiting in line and the game was already started, so I would get them right away if you're planning on heading down to the game."
If you do want them, you can call Ruff's Furniture at 638-6225 or head down to 215 Buchanon Ave.
Recliner races will also be a part of the night after they went off very successfully during the Parkland Rangers Ukrainian Night.
"It's going to be the best party in town in 2019 and you don't want to miss out," said Rauliuk. "It's great for the community and for the team as well."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
