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Glen McKenzie started his political service with the Town of Swan River in 1988 as a councillor.
Seven years later, Glen was elected mayor and he held that position for 22 years. During this time, Glen was a driving force in signing the first Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) agreement with Sapotaweyak Cree Nation in 2012.
"We were the first municipality in Manitoba to have two TLE agreements in a municipality, so that was a big achievement," said McKenzie. "It set a precedent for many other municipalities and the documents that we used were used as templates for other municipalities to negotiate."
Glen was also presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012. Then just more than 10 years later and very recently, Glen was presented with a lifetime membership to the Association of Manitoba (AMM) municipalities, which was announced by AMM president Cam Blight.
"To be recognized by your peers is very special," said McKenzie. "I did what I did for the good of the community and to be recognized, it's a real honour for me."
As he looks back at his time as mayor of the Town of Swan River, Glen said it was an incredible 22 years.
"It was a real honour for me to represent Swan River," offered McKenzie. "I was also very fortunate, I worked with great people. From our councillors to administrative staff to the city workers and everything in between, there are a lot of very skilled passionate people in Swan River."
McKenzie also says Swan River is an extremely special community to be a part of.
"The people are here are incredible, they are friendly and they work hard," ended McKenzie. "They are also community minded people, everyone rallies together to help out and get things done."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
As of November 30th, Canadians in crisis can dial 9-8-8 to speak or text with a trained responder in English or French at a new suicide-prevention hotline.
Mental Health Minister Carolyn Bennett says the government will spend $156-million dollars over three years to help the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health launch and operate the hotline.
It has been almost three years since Conservative M-P Todd Doherty put forward a motion to establish a national suicide prevention hotline, which Parliament passed unanimously.
We have reached out to Prairie Mountain Health for comment on this important news. If you are struggling with your mental health, there are several resources for you.
Resources:
- Manitoba Suicide Line: 1-877-435-7170
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 1-888-292-7565
- Klinic Crisis Line: 1-888-322-3019
- Manitoba Farm & Rural Support Services: 1-866-367-3276
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Pine Creek First Nation is set to break ground this week in a month-long search of an area where it is believed there may be graves of children forced to attend the Pine Creek Residential School.
The school was run by the Roman Catholic Church and was in operation from 1890 to 1969. The large section of land it was on also had a church. Beneath that church is where 14 anomolies were detected last year.
Spiritual advisers will lead a pipe ceremony while a sacred fire is lit, which will burn for the entirety of the excavation.
Chief Derek Nepinak says he believes his community is one of the first in Canada to begin excavating after detecting potential unmarked graves at former residential school sites.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has records of 21 deaths of children at the school. Survivors have also spoken about the abuses suffered there.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Drumming, dancing, food, and festivities will be filling the Skownan First Nation this weekend as they host their 10th annual Traditional Powwow.
This celebration of cultural heritage kicks off today at 1 pm with the grand entry, and a busy day is in store.
Friday features lots of music and dancing, a massive community feast at 5 pm, and later in the night at 11 pm, a massive firework display will be going off.
Posted by Joseph Maud on Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Powwow Coordinator Joseph Maud has been working hard for the past 12 months to get everything ready, and he's excited to see all of the performers.
"We get a lot of dancers from neighboring communities and drums as well. sometimes we get drums from northern Manitoba and drums from Saskatchewan. I know one year we had 19 to 20 drums, that's a lot, and one year we had over 200 dancers"
Sunday will also feature an auction, starting promptly at 11 am.
Overall, it will be an amazing time for all that attend, as this Powwow is sure to be the biggest party of the year on the Skownan First Nation.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The community of Neepawa is all coming together for the Riverbend Market which opens on Friday.
The market will from from 5 to 8 on Friday and then from 10 to 4 on Saturday and the $5 admission fee for everyone over the age of 13 will be donated to Neepawa's local multicultural centre, Arts Forward. Those aged 12 and under get in for free.
There will be various vendors, artisans, entrepreneurs and more, alongside face painting and a kid's craft booth on Saturday. There will also be music played at Riverbend Park.
Jeff Desender is an organizer of the event and he says this event is always extremely special.
"Seeing everyone from the community and so many familiar faces having a great time is always so nice to see," said Desender. "Everyone forgets about the negative things going on in the world and they just have a ton of fun."
The two-day event is open to everyone, regardless of if you are from Neepawa or not.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
An afternoon of kickflips and other impressive tricks will take place in Dauphin this Saturday.
The D-town Plaza Skate Park will be playing host to a skateboarding competition between the hours of 11 am and 5 pm.
The Event is being hosted in a joint effort between local clothing brand Young Visionary and Recovery Skateshop and will feature two age groups for the competition.
Skyler Sanderson, founder of Young Visionary is excited to bring a competition like this to his hometown.
"I think it's amazing. it's been a while since an event like this has taken place in Dauphin. I think it's good for the youth and good for everyone to be able to get out and enjoy some beautiful weather and see some skateboarding. I think it'll be a lot of fun."
The event kicks off with the under-18 category, and once that wraps up, the 18+ group will get rolling.
The event will also have merch vendors, food vendors, and a whole lot of excellent prizes for contestants that end in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
A live rap/hip-hop performance will top off the excitement in the afternoon.
Sanderson also mentioned that this event is just the beginning.
In the future, he's hoping to host this event annually. He's looking to see this competition grow and flourish so it can bring in more vendors, pop-ups, and more talent from across the province and beyond.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The province's Consumer Protection and Government Services branch announced yesterday that the 2024 rent guideline will be at three per cent in 2024.
The increase will be effective on January 1st, 2024, and does not apply to:
- Rental units going for $1,615 or more a month.
- Various social housing units.
- Rental units owned and operated by, or for, municipal, provincial or federal governments.
- Rental units in buildings first occupied after March 2005.
- Not-for-profit life lease units.
- Co-operative units.
- Approved rehabilitated rental units.
This will be the first time since 2021 that the rent guideline will increase after it was set at zero per cent for 2022 and 2023.
Rent prices can only be increased once per year and tenants must get written notice of a rent increase at least three months prior to the increase taking effect.
Landlords and tenants who want to learn more about rent increases can phone the Residential Tenancies Branch at 204-945-2476 or toll free at 1-800-782-8403.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Manitoba's Provincial government has recently announced new funding totalling $28.3 million that will assist disabled students across the province.
In an announcement at the Ecole Macniell school, Protection and Government Services Minister James Teitsma and Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski revealed the sum of funding, and the fact that $12 million of this will go towards schools in Dauphin-area school districts.
Michaleski spoke on the benefits that schools like Ecole Macniell will see, which coincidentally, is where he went to school.
"The issue of accessibility is important. We want to make sure that there's no barriers. We want to eliminate as many barriers for people and families. Minister Teitsma mentioned it too, there's other people that attend these schools, and they're going to make use of these accessibility features as well. Again, a great investment for all of Manitoba and all Manitoba communities"
In total, 35 schools will be receiving funding in order to allow as many students and families as possible to more easily access schools and resources.
The funding is designed to build new infrastructure in schools that will empower students that are affected by mental and physical disabilities, and Minister Teitsma thinks many students will benefit from this.
"I would definetly say it's in the thousands if not tens of thousands as we have 28 school. I think the idea of making spaces more welcome and inclusive is also an example for all the students who attend that school to understand how to integrate a person with disabilities in their lives and in their class rooms."
The construction projects range from accessible hygiene rooms, accessibility entry ramps, elevators to access all floors of the school, and several other forms of lifts for stairs, libraries, and gymnasiums.
The school divisions that will be seeing this funding are as follows:
- Brandon
- Interlake
- Kelsey
- Lord Selkirk
- Louis Riel
- Mountain View
- Pembina Trails
- Prairie Spirit
- Red River Valley
- River East Transcona
- Seine River
- Seven Oaks
- St. James-Assiniboia
- Sunrise
- Swan Valley and
- Winnipeg
The complete list of schools and the official release can be found at the Government of Manitoba's Website.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A 36-year-old from Birch River is facing a slew of charges after a crime spree in Swan River.
On July 17 at midnight, Swan River RCMP responded to a possible impaired driver at a business on Main Street. It was reported that a female in a new dark-coloured truck appeared impaired and she left the business travelling south.
When officers spotted the vehicle on 2nd Street South in Swan River, Jamie Audy fled at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was then located abandoned with extensive damage a short time later. Then just about two hours later at 2:05 a.m., the RCMP responded to the same business after the same female was spotted, but now in a new white truck. Audy abandoned the truck and fled and was not immediately found.
Later in the day, the RCMP did catch Audy and they determined that a business on Main Street had been broken into and the two vehicles had been stolen.
Audy is now charged with the following offences:
Flight from Police, Break and Enter, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime x2, Use of credit card Obtained by Crime, Theft of Truck x2, Mischief, Theft x3, and Fail to Comply x3.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Abigail Sinclair has been safely located.
The RCMP thanks the public and media for their assistance.
ORIGINAL STORY BELOW:
17-year-old Abigail Sinclair, from Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation, was last seen in that community on Monday, July 3rd.
Abigail, who also goes by the name Blake, is described as 5'6", 160 pounds, with black shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.
Police and family are concerned for Abigail's well being and if you have information regarding their whereabouts, call Swan River RCMP at 204-734-4686. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to manitobacrimestoppers.com.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
A new project has been in the works by the Manitoba Metis federation.
After purchasing a plot of land at the base of the Duck Mountains, MMF is looking to set up a new youth camp that will allow Metis citizens between the ages of 14 to 29 to connect with nature, the knowledge of their elders, and their cultural heritage.
This summer will be the first operating period of this new camp, and construction is in full swing of several cabins and washrooms for extended stays.
The inaugural camp session is set to take place this year, from August 14th to 18th, and Manitoba Metis Federation's Francis Chartrand is feeling the excitement building.
"It's exciting times... We're going to run land-based Metis specific cultural camps for Red River Metis citizens up in the swan river area"
Chartrand also went into some detail about what these camps will offer to the youth staying at them.
"The children will learn about our language, learn about medicine, learn how to make sashes learn about the fiddle, how to dance, jig and square dance"
Another key lesson Chartrand said will be shared is how the Metis people have worked in hunting, trapping, and fishing, and how these skills not only made them self-sufficient, but also how it allowed them avenues of trade and commerce.
Full days are planned where elders will take the young camp-goers out on the water early in the morning, and fish until dinner time.
After a long day on the water, an evening of bannock, fresh fish, and fireside stories are in store. Elders will get to pass on the valuable knowledge they hold, as well as play music and dance with the younger generation.
This year happens to feature a special event. MMF has partnered with the Yukon and Nunavut and will be bringing in youths from northern-Canadian Dene groups in a cultural exchange program.
As the project is moving ahead, MMF is looking to hiring staff for the camp. If you're looking to apply, you can contact the Northwest Metis Council in Dauphin, or drop by their office with a resume and police background check. The camp will be looking to hire 5 to 10 camp councilors seasonally to staff the new facility.
This new camp is opening in less than a month, and the excitement is building in this opportunity to educate local Metis youth on long-standing traditions in the modern era.
To learn more about this developing program, visit the Northwest Metis Council office in Dauphin, or call them at 204-638-9485.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
