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The Provincial Government is investing more than $600,000 to deliver a multi-faceted, skilled trades training initiative for Indigenous women in four northern and remote communities.
Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox, the minister responsible for the status of women, and Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere made the announcement today.
Cox says this is an essential step for indigenous communities.
“Our government is committed to advancing economic equality for women by supporting programs and initiatives that help more women succeed in non-traditional work industries that provide sustainable and reliable employment opportunities and help to support healthy and vibrant communities. We are proud to partner with industry leaders and Indigenous and northern communities to provide these unique and forward-thinking programs that will play an important part of Manitoba’s post-pandemic social and economic recovery.”
The four communities chosen to participate in these programs are Pinaymootang First Nation, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Dakota Tipi First Nation and York Landing, with training already underway in Pinaymootang and Pimicikamak.
MCSC will deliver training in framing, water and waste-water installation and blast hole drilling, all skills in high demand.
Lagimodiere spoke of this announcement as crucial for the advancement of economic growth:
“It is important to provide Indigenous women the tools, training and support they need to build a career in a field with good-paying jobs, employee benefits and job security, which is often hard to acquire in northern and remote communities. Targeted job training for Indigenous women is critical for the advancement of economic reconciliation, as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, and will help to improve the lives of Indigenous women, their families and the communities they live in.”
Training begins with a three-week job readiness course. It includes safety training certification from the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba and a one-day workshop on women in the trades.
More than 8,000 skilled workers are expected to retire in Manitoba this year. There are currently not enough skilled labourers to take over these jobs. There is a need to replace an ageing workforce in the skilled trades.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
According to the provincial dashboard, there are 37 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba.
Of today’s cases:
- Three are in the Prairie Mountain Health region
- Three are in the Interlake-Eastern Health region
- 10 are in the Northern Health region
- 11 are in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
- 10 are in the Winnipeg Health region
Dauphin has one new case for a total of three active cases in the city.
The numbers of active cases in other Parkland health districts are:
Riding Mountain (0), Swan River (1), Duck Mountain (0), Porcupine Mountain (8), Agassiz Mountain (21), Asessippi (1), Little Saskatchewan (0), Whitemud (0). Brandon has four active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 11 active cases. The Fisher/Peguis district has 134 active cases.
The current five-day test positivity rate is 2 percent provincially. 2,221 laboratory tests were completed yesterday.
There are 580 active COVID-19 cases in the province.
15 Manitobans are hospitalized with COVID-19, including:
Five Manitobans are in intensive care units with active COVID-19.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
On August 13th, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Manitoba First Nations Police Service officers received information that a male who had outstanding warrants was at a residence in the community of Sandy Bay First Nation.
When officers arrived on scene, they were told that the male had already left the residence.
Officers conducted a search around the residence and were able to locate the male in a wooded area nearby. The male was arrested without issue and upon search, officers found a large quantity of a crystal-like substance believed to be Methamphetamine along with cash, jewelry, and drug paraphernalia.
34-year-old Gregory James Spence from Sandy Bay First Nation has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime under $5000, and failing to comply with release order (x5).
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Despite the lifting of public health restrictions in Manitoba, patients will still have to mask up when visiting a dental facility.
The Manitoba Dental Association issued a release clarifying that as part of the announcement of health restrictions being lifted, health care settings, including dental offices, will continue to require mask-wearing.
MDA acknowledges that the province is moving towards a post-pandemic Manitoba. Throughout the pandemic, dental offices in Manitoba have introduced infection control systems to keep Manitobans safe.
MDA also said because of the delta variant, and not everyone being vaccinated, the association feels strongly they should follow Shared Health guidelines and hopes things will change when there's more proof and a definite indication that they can lessen the guidance. The measures will help reduce the risk of a fourth wave and ensure timely access to dental care.
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Steiner Plumbing & Heating is moving into the former Provincial Granite building, conveniently located right next door to the company's current building.
Carla Wolfenden, Co-Owner of Steiner Plumbing & Heating, shares her excitement about the expansion and says this has been in the works for a while;
"It's been so busy, so it kind of got pushed back. We were lucky enough to secure the building next door when it came up for sale earlier this summer. We are really excited about it. We're hoping to have the renovations done over the winter and get those doors open as soon as possible."
Carla outlined some of the changes the new facility will bring;
"Our new space is probably about three times bigger than the current space that we are operating out of, so we will have a showroom. A lot of people probably don't realize we carry a lot of park products such as fireplaces, pellet stoves, high-end barbeques. We hope to have a few of those out for people to touch and feel; I know that it's not easy to buy things like that from a website or brochure. So we will have those things in our showroom."
Wolfenden says this expansion benefits everyone involved;
"Another thing we're looking forward to is having space for our staff to operate. That means we will have more inventory, we can be better organized, and just a space for our staff to even sit down and have a coffee. We've never had that before, so we are excited to provide that for our staff and as a result I think it'll benefit our customers because we'll be more efficient."
Carla says the company is also in talks to sell hot tubs at their new building, which is exciting for the community as Dauphin has been without a hot tub supplier for quite some time.
As for their current building, life comes full circle sometimes because once the new facility is ready to open, the original building may go back to being used as a sheet metal shop like it was back in the 1950s.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Some parts of the sidewalk at the intersection of 2nd avenue northeast and Mountain Road in Dauphin are blocked off for a water main repair.
Work will continue tomorrow, and the City says the intersection will be blocked off to traffic.
The city is advising the public to be prepared to detour.
Any questions can be directed to the City at 204-622-3202.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The government of Manitoba has provided $500 thousand in matching funding to the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba to support the long-term sustainability of the historic Dome Building on the Keystone Centre grounds in Brandon.
Central Services Minister Reg Helwer says the Dome Building is an iconic structure.
“As we emerge toward a post-pandemic Manitoba, our government is confident the Dome Building and the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba will play a key role in our economic recovery and will help unite our people and communities back together once again.”
Established with a $500 thousand contribution from the province, the Dome Building Sustainability Fund will provide up to $500 thousand through a matching formula of one dollar for every two dollars raised by the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba to pay down the debt for restoration work to the Dome Building, which currently sits at nearly $1.2 million.
President of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, Greg Crisanti says he, the board of directors, and staff are pleased to have financial support from the provincial government.
“This 2 to 1 matching grant is much appreciated, we will be campaigning other partners to help us in put this debt to rest.”
The building is the only remaining major structure of four built for the 1913 Dominion Fair in Brandon, and is a rare surviving example of the grand agricultural display halls once common throughout southern Manitoba.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The Manitoba government is notifying boaters who use Lake Manitoba to follow newly required steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species following the detection of zebra mussels at Lake Manitoba Narrows, located one hour east of Dauphin.
Zebra mussels are an aquatic invasive species that can impact ecosystems and native fish populations, clog water intakes, litter beaches and shorelines with shells, and foul watercraft and their engines.
Ralph Eichler, Agriculture and Resource Development Minister is asking Manitobans to buy into these prevention efforts:
“We know that Manitobans support our effort to prevent the spread of AIS, and most boaters are responsible about following the steps to clean, drain, dry and decontaminate their equipment. We need to ensure boaters and all surface water users get on board with protecting our environment and help contain the new finding of zebra mussels in Lake Manitoba.”
Zebra mussels were detected in nine water samples collected from Lake Manitoba Narrows through monitoring conducted by the province in July 2021. This indicates there could be a reproducing population of zebra mussels in Lake Manitoba.
Watercraft or water-related equipment in Lake Manitoba must now be decontaminated before being placed into another body of water.
Lake Manitoba water users will see new signage around the lake and at high-traffic access points such as boat launches, advising them of this crucial new requirement.
The province will be doing additional monitoring to determine the extent of the zebra mussel infestation, and those results will guide future steps.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Dauphin Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire shortly after 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 15th in the northeast area of the City.
Upon arrival, firefighters found that the occupants of the duplex were able to exit the building safely. Firefighters found the first suite of the duplex consumed in flames and were able to bring the fire under control in short order.
The second suite of the duplex was inspected to ensure there was no significant damage from the fire in the adjacent suite.
There are no estimates on damages at this time and no injuries to report. The cause of the fire was accidental in nature due to unattended cooking.
The Dauphin Fire Department wants to remind the public to always pay attention when cooking and make sure that there is a working smoke alarm in your home.
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Manitoba has announced the first group of $100,000 vaccine lottery winners.
The seven winners — three in the Winnipeg health region and one each in the Southern, Prairie Mountain, Interlake-Eastern and Northern health regions — each get $100,000.
Crown Services Minister, Jeff Wharton, and President and CEO of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, Manny Atwal, announced the following winners of the $100,000 prizes:
- Kerry Maskiew, Winnipeg health region.
- Garth Deleske, Winnipeg health region.
- Trent Fingler, Winnipeg health region.
- Jacqueline Martel, Southern Health region.
- John Lyons, Prairie Mountain Health region.
- Dustin McDuffe, Interlake-Eastern health region.
- Bernell Lavallee, Northern Health Region.
There will be a second draw next month for all eligible Manitobans who received both doses of the vaccine on or before September 6th.
The Vax to Win lottery is one of the province’s incentives to encourage residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
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On Tuesday, August 17th, just before 1:00 a.m., Brandon police were alerted of a taxi driver parked behind their police station seeking help with an intoxicated passenger.
Police say the driver was unable to wake the passenger who had passed out in the taxi.
When police approached the 33-year-old male passenger, they discovered he had a machete in his possession.
The male was arrested and lodged at Brandon Police Service because of his intoxication level.
He will be released when sober and will appear in court on November 8th on a charge of Possession of a Weapon.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
