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Winnipegosis RCMP are investigating an armed robbery at the gas bar on the Pine Creek First Nation.
Around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, police responded to reports that a man entered the gas bar carrying a rifle and a bag and demanded cash and cigarettes.
The suspect later fled the area on foot and is described as wearing a black jacket, black balaclava and grey/blue work gloves.
A dark coloured sedan was observed in the area at the time of the robbery.
It’s the 2nd gun-point robbery at this location in the past three weeks.
RCMP are asking anyone who may have information related to this incident or the dark coloured sedan to contact the Winnipegosis RCMP at 204-656-7000, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at Manitoba Crime Stoppers.
Winnipegosis RCMP continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Gilbert Plains Elementary School put on a special display of support last week for residents and staff in the nearby care home dealing with a COVID outbreak.
Students from kindergarten to Grade 8 made “Get Well Cards” and other artwork to cheer up residents and staff at the Gilbert Plains Care Home.
On Thursday, Nov. 26th, school staff set up the cards and artwork outside of the care home so they could be visible from the windows.
Staff at Gilbert Plains Elementary School set up the Get Well Cards and artwork outside of the Gilbert Plains Care Home for residents and staff to see.
Gilbert Plains Elementary Principal Chris Barkman tells CKDM the students really wanted to reach out to their care home neighbours right across the street and show support.
Barkman was later told by care home staff that the Get Well Cards were the “highlight of the week” for some residents.
“We actually went and some staff members held up the artwork the students made for the residents. That was kind of neat to see also,” he said.
Natalie Talpash is an educational assistant at the school and tells CKDM they felt it was important to do something in support of the care home across the street while they deal with a very challenging situation.
“This was one way of showing that ‘hey, we haven’t forgotten you guys’, and a thank-you to all the workers that are over there and the people that are going through some difficult times in that building.”
Talpash organized the initiative alongside Angela Kotyk, who works in the school assisting a student and is also a nurse.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
UPDATE | 16-year-old Jacy Victoria Leblanc from the RM of Roblin has been safely located.
RCMP are thanking the public for their assistance.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The friendly smack talk has begun, as the Dauphin RCMP detachment and Dauphin Fire Department (DFD) compete to see who can collect more food donations in support of the Dauphin and District Community Food Bank (DDCFB).
“We want to win, but it’s a great way to have a friendly competition and give back to the community that we love,” said Dauphin RCMP Cst. Schirmacher.
Cram The Cruiser
The Dauphin RCMP detachment is asking the community to help “Cram the Cruiser” and with non-perishable food items between Dec. 3rd to the 6th.
A decorated police truck is currently in front of the detachment, where food items can easily be loaded in the back of the truck.
For those who can’t make it down to the detachment, the RCMP will arrange to come to you on Saturday December 5th to pick up food donations between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Call 204-622-5020 to arrange a pickup with the Dauphin RCMP on Saturday.
“I just want Cam Abrey to know that we’re going to do everything we can to try and win the competition, so he better bring his A-game,” said Cst. Carleigh Schirmacher.
Pack the Pumper
Dauphin Fire Chief Cam Abrey jokingly fired back saying his competitors "know we’re always on our A-game.”
You can help the DFD win the competition by helping “Pack the Pumper” and drop off non-perishable food items at the Fire Hall.
Abrey says donations can be dropped off anytime between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week.
He asks that you just ring the doorbell at the public entrance for a contactless drop-off.
Like the RCMP, the fire department will also come to you to collect food donations on Saturday, Dec. 5th.
Just call the DFD at 204-622-3100 to arrange a pickup on Saturday between Noon and 3 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6th is the last day for food donations.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The City of Dauphin tells us that recycling pick-up in the Day 2 areas have been delayed.
The city advises if your bin was not picked up today, to leave it out so OSS can pick it up tomorrow (Thursday, December 3rd.)
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
So is the provincial government extending the holiday break for Manitoba students after all?
Sort of.
Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced Wednesday that a mandatory two-week remote learning period will be in effect for Grade 7 to Grade 12 students in Manitoba, following the holiday break.
The same two-week remote learning period will be available as an option for kindergarten to Grade 6 students, but not compulsory.
Goertzen says the move will reduce the risk posed by the change in students’ close contacts during the winter break.
He also explains 2-week remote learning period is only mandatory for students from Grade 7 to Grade 12 because “evidence suggests that older students have a higher incidence of contracting the virus, a larger number of close contacts and are more likely to transmit the virus to others as a result.”
Regular, in-person classroom learning will be available during this period for kindergarten to Grade 6 students, as well as for any grade 7 to 12 students with special needs that must be accommodated in the school or classroom setting.
This two-week remote learning period will begin Jan. 4, following the regularly scheduled holiday break.
Funding Update
The Education Minister also confirmed the full for allocation of the provincial government’s $100-million investment, along with $85.4 million in federal funding, towards enhancing school safety.
The province recently announced funding for a Provincial Remote Learning Support Centre, which aims to assist school divisions and educational staff during this remote learning period.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Public Health officials have announced the outbreak at the St. Paul’s Personal Care Home in Dauphin has been declared over.
A spokesperson for Prairie Mountain Health says the outbreak was declared after a health care worker tested positive for COVID-19, and says no residents have contracted the virus there.
On Wednesday, health officials also announced 277 new cases of COVID-19, and 14 more deaths.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.2 per cent provincially and 14.5 per cent in Winnipeg.
The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.
Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
- 15 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
- 28 cases in the Northern health region;
- 10 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
- 24 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
- 200 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (5), Riding Mountain (21), Swan River (9), Porcupine Mountain (13), Duck Mountain (31), Asessippi (10), Little Saskatchewan (10), Whitemud (22), Agassiz Mountain (1). Brandon has 128 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 57 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 85.
The total number of cases identified in Manitoba since the beginning of the pandemic is 17,384. Of those cases, 8,970 are considered active, and 8,072 have recovered.
There are 351 people in hospital with 51 in intensive care. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the province is 342.
Public health officials advise 14 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including:
- a female in her 40s from the Winnipeg health region;
- a male in his 60s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region;
- a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region;
- a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region.
- a male in his 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region;
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home;
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Golden Links Lodge;
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home;
- a female in her 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region;
- a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region;
- a female in her 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Rest Haven Nursing Home;
- a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Rest Haven Nursing Home;
- a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home; and
- a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region and linked to the outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba doctors who are exposed to COVID-19 will now be compensated for their time away from work.
The new benefit will support those working in hospitals, personal care homes and community practice for the work they miss due to a COVID-19 diagnosis or confirmed exposure.
Eligible physicians will be covered for a total of 10 days of isolation time, but can make separate claims for up to 20 days.
Nearly 30 doctors across the province have tested positive for the virus, with many more having to isolate due to possible exposures.
The eligible period for compensation claims is retroactive to Sept. 28, 2020.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Dauphin & District Community Foundation (DDCF) says they received an awesome response during the Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge back in November.
The DDCF received $66,669.64 along with $4,000 in stretch funding from the Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba Government — reaching a total of $70,669.64.
The money is placed in an endowment fund, and the interest is given out each year as grants to local organizations around our community.
The Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge ran from November 9 - 15, 2020.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A new pay deal has been announced for Manitoba nurses who are redeployed to priority areas in the fight against COVID-19.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed Tuesday allows healthcare employers to make changes to nurse work locations, schedules, and hours — to accommodate "evolving needs" in Manitoba’s hospitals and care homes.
The MOA further establishes a COVID-19 northern allowance, including travel reimbursement, with compensation for staff redeployed to the north, as well as an allowance for current northern nurses who work in one community but pick up additional shifts elsewhere in the region.
The benefits also extend to nurses working in units or facilities where an outbreak of COVID-19 is declared.
President of the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU), Darlene Jackson, says nurses “have stepped up to the challenge, working countless long hours to provide quality care for patients and residents,” and adds the Union believes the new pay agreement “will support nursing recruitment and retention efforts in areas of significant need, and provide a clear process for redeployment that offers some security, certainty and recognition for affected nurses.”
Staff are to be assigned according to skillset and area of greatest need, and are to be provided with training and orientation to their new work environment and team.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Manitoba’s Premier says his “gut feeling” is that code red restrictions might be extended further into the winter.
The province’s heavy restrictions on retail stores and gatherings are set to run until Dec. 11, but it seems a more “clear trend downwards” is needed before they can be lifted.
"We’re still working on it — we’re interested to see what this trend is and what things will look like through this week."
Premier Brian Pallister says he will leave that decision up to Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer.
“We’re really wanting to see those total numbers come down, really so that we relieve the strain on the healthcare system,” said Roussin on Tuesday, adding “we’re still working on it — we’re interested to see what this trend is and what things will look like through this week.”
The strict measures — which prevent businesses from selling non-essential items in-store and prohibit Manitobans from socializing with people they don’t live with — appear to have helped minimize the growth of the COVID situation in Manitoba. Projections released by the province in early November estimated there could be up to 800 new cases a day in Manitoba by Nov. 22.
But while our daily case numbers didn't get as bad as health officials had feared, as of right now, there's still a ways to go.
“We weren’t wanting to see still averaging over 300 cases per day at this point,” said Roussin.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
