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The Province is formally launching a new tool with enhanced features to help families more easily access early learning and child-care services.
The Manitoba Child Care Search is an online tool that connects families with licensed child-care facilities to meet their immediate or future needs.
It lists up-to-date information on licensed child-care centre vacancies, hours of operation and locations.
Families Minister Rochelle Squires says key features of the Manitoba Child Care Search, which is planned to go live by August 30th, include:
- An interactive map that makes it easier to browse facilities and find providers near a desired location. Users can filter the map by care type, facility type, vacancies and availability
- Expanded facility information to help families make decisions prior to contacting a provider including contact information, hours of operation, languages of care, highlights of programming, enrolment policies and for-profit versus non-profit status
- Links to facilities’ licences to allow parents to find out whether a child-care centre has a licence in good standing or a provisional licence, and to let them see the maximum number of children allowed at a facility, the period of the licence and any conditions applicable to the facility before making a decision about placement
- Information on the timing of data updates to ensure parents know whether vacancies posted and programming details are current
Squires says the province’s Online Child Care Registry is outdated, and will be retired on August 30th.
“Attempts were made to improve it, but it became clear a new system is needed.”
The minister says children currently enrolled in child-care spaces through the Online Child Care Registry will not lose their spots during the transition to the new system.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The Treaty One flag will be flown at Memorial Park to mark the upcoming 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty Number One on August 3rd.
Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere says the government respects the treaties and agreements that were made on these lands.
“We remain committed to working in partnership with Indigenous peoples and communities in the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.”
Treaty Number One was negotiated and entered into on August 3rd, 1871, at Lower Fort Garry, southeast of Selkirk.
Treaty One Nation comprises seven First Nations: Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation, Long Plain First Nation, Peguis First Nation, Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation, Sagkeeng First Nation, Sandy Bay First Nation, Swan Lake First Nation.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The province’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force has confirmed that some Manitobans have developed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead for the vaccine implementation task force says that COVID-19 also causes myocarditis.
Reimer says that these cases have almost been exclusively detected in young men.
“Most myocarditis cases reported after vaccination are very mild. Some people have been admitted to hospital for observation, but are then sent home to rest and take medications. Others are sent home from initial assessment and are also told to rest and take anti-inflammatory medications.”
She adds that other viral infections cause myocarditis, and that they do so at higher rates than with the vaccine.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
On Tuesday Manitoba Canola Growers presented Make Every Seed Count, a webinar that provided practical tips to minimize Canola Harvest Loss.
The webinar was moderated by Jay Whetter, Canola Council of Canada Communication Manager and Editor of Canola Digest.
It featured Shawn Senko, an Agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada. He spoke on the topic of harvest losses.
“Lots of losses are from overreliance on the loss monitor. Just assuming that if you’re watching the loss monitor you’re good, and that the monitor is going to be accurate. Without actually checking and being able to quantify it to the loss monitor, it’s not very accurate.”
Marcel Kringe, founder of Bushel Plus, and Neil Smith, VP of Business Integration of Bushel plus were also featured. Marcel gave some tips and tricks to use in the field.
“We really found that it’s an eye-opening experience, in the words of our customers, once they start using drop pan systems, especially when it makes it safe, quick, and easy for you to use. That was one of the reasons we put so much thought into our system, to make it quick and easy.”
Everyone who registered for the event was entered to win a Bushel Plus Harvest Loss System, and Duane Zimmer was the winner.
The whole webinar can be viewed here.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Four separate fires in eastern Manitoba have merged, becoming one of the largest fires on record.
This comes after three fires near Berens River combined to form a single fire yesterday.
The fire, which is near Bloodvein First Nation, is nearly 80 thousand hectares.
As of today, there are 140 active fires in the province. The average for this time of year is 333.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The province’s vaccine implementation task force plans to put less focus on supersites, and more on pop-up clinics and other forms of outreach.
The task force’s operations and logistics lead, Johanu Botha says the province has enough doses to vaccinate everyone who wants a shot.
“We’re continuing our shift from the focus on volume to access and accessibility. Part of that shift will involve adjusting the days and hours of operation in supersites across the province.”
This shift will result in changes for staff including an adjustment in hours for some. Staff have been notified and Shared Health is working with them in this transition. There is no reduction in positions.
The province is working with regional health authorities and Indigenous partners to ensure vaccines are available to individuals who have been evacuated due to wildfires and wish to get the vaccine.
Currently, 79.1 percent of Manitobans have their first dose, and 67.8 percent have their second.
The next goal on the 4-3-2-One Great Summer reopening path is for 80 percent of Manitobans to have one dose and 75 percent to have two.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The federal and provincial governments are collaborating with the city of Brandon to develop a 48-unit affordable housing complex.
The complex will include 42 two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units. In addition to those units, there will be eight rooms on the main floor accessible for people with disabilities.
Adam Vaughan, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, says every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.
“It is with great pleasure that our government, through the National Housing Strategy, is supporting initiatives like this affordable housing project in Brandon. Our government is working collaboratively with the government of Manitoba to build strong communities where Canadian families can prosper and thrive, now and for the future.”
Since 2016, the Manitoba government has supported 743 new affordable and social housing rental units. The province says they will continue to protect and support vulnerable Manitobans through the development of affordable housing.
This development will be a part of the Government of Canadas National Housing Strategy, which is a 10-year, $70+ billion program to give more Canadians a place to call home.
Construction on this project is expected to begin in the spring of 2022.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
The Manitoba and Federal Governments are investing nearly $77 million into 17 projects to improve municipal transportation infrastructure in rural parts of Manitoba.
One of the places receiving funding from the governments is Gilbert Plains to help out in building flood prevention infrastructure that will ensure that the community remains safe and healthy during major flooding events and it will help them adapt to the effects of climate change.
As public works manager for Gilbert Plains, Charles Jeffers, explains, they were waiting for this day for a while:
“For about four years now, we’ve been trying to get funding for this particular project. We have done some, in conjunction with Inter-Mountain Watershed District already in the municipality and in neighbouring municipalities where we put money into it, just no grant money. It’s nice to see grant money finally come in so we can do some work.”
Another place that received funding was the Rural Municipality of Russell-Binscarth to replace or resurface their runways and aprons at their airport.
As the Mayor of the RM of Russell-Binscarth, Cheryl Kingdon-Chartier, says, this announcement is huge for the airport and the RM:
“We were thrilled, - you know small municipalities, the airports are vital so this news is just, it’s excellent.”
The Government of Canada is investing over $48.9 million in these 17 projects and the government of Manitoba is contributing more than $27.7 million.
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A man is facing charges after RCMP received a report that he had threatened a woman at a residence at Ebb and Flow First Nation.
The woman was able to remove herself from the situation and get to a safe place.
Police were informed that the man was driving a pickup truck and driving around the community with his firearm. Amaranth RCMP, RCMP Police Dog Services, and the Manitoba First Nations Police Service out of Sandy Bay arrived to provide assistance in locating the suspect.
Officers were able to locate the man inside a residence in the community. He tried to flee on an all-terrain vehicle.
RCMP Police Service Dog Jolt was deployed and the suspect was apprehended with minor physical injuries.
RCMP Police Service Dog Jolt
36-year-old Marlon Baptiste is facing charges of Uttering Threats, Forcible Confinement, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, Pointing a Firearm, Careless Use of a Firearm, Discharge Firearm While Being Reckless, Assault with a Weapon, and Failure to Comply with Firearm Prohibition Order x4.
He remains in custody, and the investigation continues.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Last week, 59 warnings and 10 tickets were issued for health order violations in Manitoba.
Five $1,296 tickets were given to individuals, three $298 tickets for not wearing a mask in an indoor public place, one $5,000 ticket to a business, and one $8,550 ticket under the federal quarantine Act.
Enforcement officials are continuing to investigate all large gatherings that they’re made aware of.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Assiniboine Community College has announced the appointment of Valerie McInnes as the new director of the Parkland Campus.
This comes after the retirement of long-time campus director, Gabe Mercier.
McInnes is entering this role with more than five years of experience at Assiniboine, and 32 years in education.
“It is with great excitement that I return to the Parkland campus, continuing my commitment to Assiniboine’s vision.”
Throughout her career in education, McInnes has worked as a classroom teacher, resource teacher, guidance counsellor, and administrator. She got her Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba and is currently working to complete her Masters of Education at Brandon University, with a focus on educational leadership.
“I look forward to bringing my experiences, knowledge, and passion to my new role, to create an engaging, supportive learning environment for both students and staff.”
McInnes says she knows the Parkland Campus offers an exceptional college experience close to home for those in the region.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
