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Early this morning, Environment Canada issued a heat warning for Ashern, Fisher Branch, Brandon, Neepawa and some surrounding areas.

Humidex values reaching 38 are expected, with hot weather expected to last into next week — in parts of southern and east-central Manitoba.

Heat Warning in effect for:

• Jackhead Res.
• Moose Creek Prov. Forest Pine Dock and Matheson Island
• Mun. of Bifrost-Riverton incl. Arborg Hnausa and Hecla
• Peguis Res. and Fisher River Res.
• R.M. of Fisher incl. Poplarfield
• R.M. of Grahamdale incl. Gypsumville Moosehorn and Camper
• R.M. of West Interlake incl. Eriksdale and Ashern

• City of Brandon
• Mun. of Glenboro-South Cypress incl. Treesbank
• Mun. of Norfolk Treherne
• Mun. of North Cypress-Langford incl. Neepawa and Carberry
• Mun. of North Norfolk incl. MacGregor Sidney and Austin
• Mun. of Oakland-Wawanesa incl. Carroll
• R.M. of Cornwallis west of Shilo incl. Chater
• R.M. of Elton incl. Forrest
• R.M. of Victoria incl. Holland and Cypress River

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Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Jun 27, 2020 - 10:42 am

As of Tuesday, the province announced that personal care homes can begin allowing indoor visits.

Vice President of acute and long term care with Prairie Mountain Health (PMH), Debbie Poole, says the restrictions on visits have been very challenging for residents and their families.

Managers have been working hard to get ready for allowing indoor visits, and are coordinating with families to set up a scheduling system.

Poole stresses that visits will be taking place in a designated space inside the personal care home, and not inside the resident's room.

She says visitors will have to follow safety protocols.

“We would be asking [visitors] to wear a mask; definitely will have to perform hand hygiene when they come in. They still will need to maintain social distancing.”

Poole recommends anyone looking for more information to visit the Shared Health website.

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Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Jun 27, 2020 - 5:29 am

Applications are now open for the Manitoba Job Restart program.

Participants will receive up to $2,000 in direct payments for getting off the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), and returning to work.

Premier Brian Pallister raised concerns that some Manitobans may have an incentive to continue collecting the CERB and avoid returning to the workforce.

The Manitoba Job Restart program will offer payments of $500 each, up to $2,000 over 6 weeks.

To apply for the program, click here.

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Contributed by Tess Kovach

Published: Jun 26, 2020 - 5:27 pm

On Thursday, Manitoba’s Education Minister provided some details about what classes will look like on September 8th.

Mountain View School Division superintendent Dan Ward says the Division now has their work cut out for them, as they make preparations for 3 possible back-to-school scenarios.

“We were happy to see the announcement and to receive the document, and have a chance to look at it. We’ll continue to look at it over the coming days and determine what it means for our school division.”

Ward hopes that all students can come back to class on September 8 — as outlined in Scenario 1 — but acknowledges the COVID situation may lead to a blended approach to resuming classes, with some students still learning from home.

“We’ve already started looking at that possibility, hoping that all students can come back full time. But depending on the development of COVID-19, we do have to be prepared for that possibility," he said.

By August 1st, the provincial government will let school divisions know which of the three scenarios they will be moving forward with in September.

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Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Jun 26, 2020 - 2:13 pm

Two new cases of the coronavirus were announced in Friday's update from public health officials.

Both are from the Winnipeg area, and bring the total number of cases in Manitoba up to 318.

There are 11 active cases in the province, and no one is in hospital or intensive care.

The number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at seven.

The province announced some new public health orders in effect today. Click here to read more.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, click here.

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Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Jun 26, 2020 - 1:15 pm

The Kinsmen Club of Dauphin is making some changes to become more inclusive, and part of that will be a name change.

The Club will be changing to a more gender-neutral name, and will now be known as the Kin Club of Dauphin.

President of the club, James Blake, says the move is meant to welcome anyone into the club, no matter their gender.

``Over the years our numbers have dwindled a bit and we decided it`s about time that we become more inclusive. This way we can attract not only men, but women and couples as well. ``

An event to celebrate the name change will be held sometime this fall or winter, depending on public health guidelines.

Club members are encouraging everyone to stop by when meetings start again, and check out what the club has to offer.

For more information about Kin Canada, you can visit the Kin Canada website.  

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Contributed by Tess Kovach

Published: Jun 26, 2020 - 1:07 pm

Economic Development and Training Minister, Ralph Eichler, has had a busy day today in Dauphin.

Following the Vermillion Growers announcement, Eichler also took part in an economic development meeting for the Parkland.

“It’s going to be a very exciting meeting that we’re going to talk about how we can capitalize on investments and tourism here in the Parkland region.”

This is the first economic development round table meeting Eichler has been a part of since becoming the Economic Development Minister.

The meeting is in collaboration with Team Manitoba strategic and regional partners, namely Manitoba’s new Rural Economic Development Corporation, North Forge Technology Exchange, World Trade Centre Winnipeg and Travel Manitoba.  The meeting will also include provincial representatives, the mayor of Dauphin, reeve of the RM of Dauphin, and key industry stakeholders, organizations and community leaders to discuss partnerships and ensure the Parkland region is best positioned to enable investment and economic growth.

Eichler says they’re in partnership with those that want to be partners and the Parkland has been very progressive in trying to move the region forward.

Eichler says there’s good buy-in from the region with a municipality group lead by Ste. Rose Mayor, Robert Brunell, and featuring other mayors and reeves in the Parkland.

Eichler looks forward to Brunell and the other community mayors and reeves being a part of the meeting.

“We’ll start developing some advertising, being close to Riding Mountain is critically important for the Parkland Region. Communities surrounding the Parkland Region can take advantage of that national park. So certainly, we want to capitalize and have people come visit our towns and municipalities throughout the Parkland region.”

Eichler says they’re here to learn from the Parkland’s community leaders and hear what they have to say about how the government can partner with them to get a great return on their investment.

Stay tuned for more details about the meeting this afternoon.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Jun 26, 2020 - 12:51 pm

This morning, Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler came to Dauphin and announced a 4.2 million dollar tax rebate for the Vermillion Growers greenhouse project.

The rebate will save Vermillion Growers up to 4.2 million dollars over a maximum of 20 years.

Eichler says it was really important to make this announcement and kick-start the economy.

“Vermillion Growers have been working on this project for a while and us as a government, have been working on it a while as well. So, here we are opening our economy and kicking off this investment with Vermillion Growers. We’re just tremendously excited about that opportunity.”

The project is the construction of the first large-scale greenhouse in Manitoba. It’ll be a high-tech hydroponic commercial greenhouse designed for vegetable production, initially consisting of tomatoes with plans to expand to other produce. The first phase of the project is a 10-acre facility and plans are to expand to 60 acres after five years of production.

Eichler says they chose Vermillion Growers because the project has a focus on economic development, long-term job creation, and will substantially improve property values.

“(Vermillion Growers will) provide safe affordable food, grown locally. Critically important to all sectors, that we have good safe food and reliable food and products that we know are grown and looked after in Manitoba is critically important.”

Maria Deschauer, managing director for Vermillion Growers, says they aren’t receiving 4.2 million dollars in cash, instead, the rebate will save them money from property taxes annually.

“Those funds will be used to ensure that our operations are successful in terms of our financial model. As well as that means that we then have more money that can go towards expansion, faster, through this program as well.”

Deschauer says the timeline for completing the project is a little uncertain because of the COVID situation but anticipates most of the project to be completed by March 2021.

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Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Jun 26, 2020 - 11:56 am

The R.M. of Lakeshore will be scheduling dust control treatments to roads for the 2020 season.

All residents must cover the cost of their treatments, and applications must be submitted by June 29^th.

Anyone interested can contact the Lakeshore municipal office at (204) 732-2333.

If you have applied your own dust control, you must inform the municipal office to assist the Public Works department in maintaining the roads.

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Contributed by Tess Kovach

Published: Jun 26, 2020 - 10:41 am

This morning around 4:30, Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the Parkland.

A series of disturbances tracking across the central prairies will usher a hot air mass into southern and central portions of Manitoba.

The hot air will begin to work its way into the region today and settle over the area throughout the weekend.

Daytime temperatures in the low to mid-thirties are expected for Saturday and Sunday with overnight lows in the upper teens or low twenties.

A cold front tracking into Western Manitoba will likely bring some slight relief to these regions over the later part of the weekend.

The heat could linger in the Interlake, Red River valley and eastern Manitoba into next week.

Environment Canada advises to be on the lookout for heat warnings as the criteria will likely be met over a number of areas.

The special weather statement is in effect for:

• Gilbert Plains Mun. incl. Ashville
• Grandview Mun. incl. Valley River Res.
• Mossey River Mun. incl. Winnipegosis and Fork River
• Mun. of Ethelbert incl. Garland
• Mun. of Roblin incl. Makaroff Shortdale and Bield
• Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.
• R.M. of Dauphin incl. Sifton and Valley River
• R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Ochre River and Makinak
• R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Rorketon and Toutes Aides
• R.M. of Riding Mountain West incl. Asessippi Prov. Park

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Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Jun 26, 2020 - 5:33 am