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Mountainview School Division is reminding staff and families within the division that there will be school both tomorrow and Monday, despite the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation holiday this weekend.

"Truth and Reconciliation Day is a federal holiday.  While it is recognized federally, it is not a provincially recognized holiday for the education sector." according to MVSD Superintendent Stephen Jaddock. 

He adds that a number of activities have taken place in their schools throughout the week, with more planned for Friday.

"I know that a number of schools are going to be doing an orange shirt day on Friday.  Some are also doing week-long celebrations where there are events that are geared towards reconciliation, that will be occurring within the school."

MVSD does have a professional development day planned for Tuesday.

Frontier School Division plans

Meanwhile, classes will also be in session on Friday in the Frontier School Division, although there will be an administration day held in that division on Monday in recognition of National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Chief Superintendent Reg Klassen says a number of activities are planned for Friday for schools within their division.

"Some of our schools will be making orange shirts, tie-dying them. One of our schools is also tying orange ribbons.  Many of our schools will be doing walks.  I know that one school close to Pine Creek will be visiting the Pine Creek Residential School memorial monument."

Assemblies and speeches from elders are also being planned for Friday.

Klassen says National Truth and Reconciliation Day is a significant day for their division, with eighty per cent of their school population being indigenous. 

"We are trying hard as a school division to move forward from teaching truth and reconciliation, and the history of residential schools, to trying to teach our students that throughout all of our courses and throughout the whole year.  So that we do not just recognize orange shirt day today, that our students as they go through our education system have a much deeper understanding of that history."

Frontier School division operates schools in a number of Parkland communities, including Rorketon,  Crane River, Camperville, Skownan, and Waterhen.

A Candidates forum put the local Candidates in next Tuesday's provincial election front and center to discuss the issues important to the people of Dauphin.

Both the NDP's Ron Kostyshyn and PC's Gord Wood made their stances on the many burning questions.

Kostyshyn was impressed by the breadth of topics brought up in the discussion

"We know that health care and education is a top priority, and that will continue to be.  But I think when we talk about the environment, about the agriculture component of it, and the crown lands sector that is quite near and dear to my heart, as well as health and education, it was quite a large variety of questions."

Gord Wood was happy to see his time knocking on doors prepped him well for the topics

"The questions were great, and these were all questions that we are getting at the door when we are visiting our communities.  So in one way, we were prepared in that regard.  But certainly, it was nice that people invested the time to send questions and really are engaging in the whole process."

Wood also remarked on a challenge that both of the candidates faced Wednesday night, the time frame to answer questions.

".Certainly I was feeling a little bit handcuffed with the one-minute limit.  Certainly, it was tight to get responses out, and even just to formulate the words that you want to get out in that time frame."

With questions ranging from healthcare, agriculture, education, and the economy, there's a lot to speak on in just 60 seconds

Kostyshyn notes that this forum was an important night for the campaigns to try and sway undecided voters before next Tuesday.

"Some people choose to wait until the last day, but I think as (Gord) indicated, as well as myself,  we are here to sit back and wait for the audience to come forward if they have any burning questions - we are more than willing.  Or  get a hold of us at the campaign offices and we will answer any questions."

If you missed the forum, it is available to watch online on the Parkland Chamber of Commerce facebook page

Dauphin RCMP are hoping the public can help them with their investigation into a pair of reports of gunshots in the city from Monday night. 

The first incident happened around 8:30 with reports of shots being fired at a strip mall in the 1300 block of Main Street South.

Mounties found shell casings in the parking lot, but fortunately, no injuries or damage was reported. 

Police want to speak with three people who were in a blue vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Cruise or Malibu, that was in the parking lot around the time of the incident. 

Then at 10:45 that night, RCMP received a report of a shot being fired at a home on Main Street North.

Multiple bullet holes were found on the north side of the building, even though only one gunshot was heard. 

There were multiple people in the home at the time, but fortunately, nobody was injured. 

Anyone with info on either event is asked to contact the Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020, or you can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Road work officially begins Thursday on a portion of 1st Avenue NE in Dauphin. 

The city says the intersection of Main Street and 1st Avenue NE will be temporarily closed to all traffic as of 7 am tomorrow morning

They add access to No Frills will be provided from 1st Street NE, and that flag people will be used to help with traffic flow. 

The work will proceed easterly towards 4th Street NE in the coming days, with the work stopping over the weekend from 5 p.m. on Friday until 9 a.m. Monday. 

The city says motorists can expect road closures and detours while the work is being done.

Crews also continue improvements on River Avenue between PTH 20 and Main Street North. 

A Birch River man will be back in court next month in relation to a death in that community.

21-year-old Lincoln Chartrand-Flett is charged with second-degree murder, after a house fire in Birch RIver last October.

Swan River RCMP says after the fire was extinguished, they located the body of a 68-year-old man inside of the home. 

Chartrand-Flett remains in custody and is due back in Dauphin court on October 31st. 

Harvesting operations across the Northwest region have neared the three-quarters complete mark.

According to the latest crop report from Manitoba Agriculture, farmers were greeted with good harvest weather throughout the week, with some rain pausing progress in some areas on Sunday. 

The Ashville weather station recorded the warmest temperature of the week at 28 degrees, with the coolest temperature coming in at 1.1 degrees in the Inglis area. 

Spring wheat harvest is now about 98 per cent complete, with yields ranging from 50 to 90 bushels per acre, and quality being reported mostly as good, although there have been some reports of lower protein. 

Canola harvest is now about 75 per cent wrapped up, with yields averaging between 40 and 55 bushels per acre. 

Field pea harvest is now complete, with yields varying from 40 to 45 bushels per acre on fields with less precipitation, and 60 to 70 bushels per acre on other fields.

Soybean harvest has started in some areas, with more fields expected to be ready throughout this week,  Early yields are ranging from 30 to 35 bushels per acre. 

The report adds that most winter cereals have now been seeded. 

The Parkland Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidates forum Wednesday night for voters in the Dauphin constituency.

Local candidates Gord Wood of the Progressive Conservatives and Ron Kostyshyn of the New Democrats will answer pre-submitted questions during the anticipated 90-minute event. 

Parkland Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stephen Chychota says the event is ideal for anyone who is still undecided on who they will vote for on October 3rd.

"For anybody to get a little more insight into what are some of the issues and how the candidates are addressing things.  And even understanding a little bit more of the party's perspectives on certain items.  It is a good opportunity to check it out and see what the candidates are all about."

The forum begins at 7 p.m. at the Watson Arts Centre.

"We are going to have some intros by the candidates, and then questions that were submitted previously by the public.  So everything that is addressed by the candidates is current topics that residents of the Dauphin riding are concerned about.  We will get through as many as we possibly can." 

Chychota reminds those attending that there will not be an open mic session during the forum, but there will be brief periods before and after the forum for those in attendance to meet the candidates in person. 

He adds there will also be a members-only segment from 6 to 6:45 pm, where Parkland Chamber members will have the chance to meet and talk to the two candidates. 

A 45-year-old woman will be sentenced in late January in relation to a 2020 death in the city.

On October 25th of that year, Dauphin RCMP responded to a report of an unconscious injured male.

When they arrived on the scene, the 26-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Ramona Tanner of Dauphin was subsequently charged and eventually pled guilty to manslaughter.

A sentencing date has been set for January 31st in Dauphin court. 

The Thompson RCMP are broadening their search for a missing 14-year-old.

Vera Lynn Flett was first reported missing on September 23rd. She was last seen in Thompson but is believed to Winnipeg.

Vera is described as 5'6, with shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes. 

Thompson RCMP and the Bear Clan Patrol are actively searching both Thompson and Winnipeg, but have been unable to locate her.

Police and family are concerned for her well-being.

If you have information on her whereabouts please call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Elections Manitoba is reporting a strong opening few days of advanced voting ahead of next Tuesday's provincial election.

Advanced voting began on Saturday, and in the first few days, over 69,000 ballots were cast province-wide. 

That includes roughly 32,000 on Saturday alone, well above the single-day record for advanced votes in the 2019 election, which was 22,000 votes. 

Throughout the 2019 election, a total of 131,000 advanced ballots were cast.

Officials believe the strong response so far could be due in part to changes that have made it easier to vote this year

Manitobans can now cast ballots at any of the 300 polling stations across the province, instead of being restricted to the station closest to their home.

Advanced voting wraps up on Saturday.

With the Provincial election rapidly approaching, CKDM took to the streets to hear about the issues that matter to you.

Both the New Democrats and the Progressive Conservatives are hot on the campaign trail in the Dauphin riding.

The NDP has spoken extensively on increased funding for healthcare across the province, While many PC announcements are discussing tax cuts and home funding.

When asked what the people of Dauphin are focusing on, some take a big-picture approach to the issues.

"The economy, but you know, every election is always healthy. Everybody works on health. Promises are made on health years and years ago, and they're never filled. When the economy is strong, everything else fits into it."

Another person interviewed had a more focused approach to the increasing crime in rural areas. More specifically;

"The Drugs that are running rampant. If there's a way to get rid of it, just get rid of it."

one thing that everyone interviewed had in common is a resounding message for everyone:

Be sure to get out and vote, and have your voice be heard on the matters that are important to you.

Advanced polls are already open, and the election is set for October 3rd.

Visit Electionsmanitoba.ca for all the details on where and how to vote.