Province unveils school lunch program

The provincial government has rolled out its plans for expanding its school lunch program.

Premier Wab Kinew says they are committing 30 million dollars to the program, adding children should not be at a disadvantage at school because they are hungry.

As an initial step, the province is putting up more than one million dollars in the current school year to eliminate a waitlist of schools that have applied for funding for nutrition programs.

Eventually, the government says the goal is to have some sort of school nutrition program -- whether it's a meal or snacks -- available in every school.

The announcement follows through on an election campaign promise, with the funding expected to be in place for the start of the new school year in September.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 31, 2024 - 11:36 am

While most of us are enjoying this late January heat wave, people who enjoy using the Dauphin Outdoor skating rink are likely not among them.

Dauphin Recreation Services announced yesterday that they have had to close the outdoor skating rink until further notice after the warm temperatures resulted in the melting of most of the ice on the rink.

DRS says they will announce when the rink will be operational once again, but in the meantime ask everyone to please stay off of it at this time.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 31, 2024 - 11:33 am

For the second time in three days, Dauphin has set a new record high temperature.

Tuesday's high of 8.5 degrees smashed the previous high mark for January 30th of 4.2 degrees, which was set back in 2017.

On Sunday, the high of 3.5 degrees also set a new record for January 28th.

And we may make it three record days for the week today (January 31st).

Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting a high of 5 degrees today, which would surpass the previous January 31st record of +2.1, which was set back in 2020.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 31, 2024 - 11:31 am

An update from the RCMP on the accident that took place earlier this morning in downtown Dauphin.

According to police services, two vehicles collided on Main Street around 9:50 this morning, with both ending up on the curb.

The initial investigation has determined that one vehicle was west on 1st Avenue NE, crossing Main Street, when it collided with a second vehicle going north on Main Street, which had reportedly gone through a red light.

The driver of the first vehicle, a 48-year-old female, was treated and released on scene by Emergency Medical Services.

It was reported that the occupants of the other vehicle had left the scene before police arrived.

The investigation is currently ongoing at this time.

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Jan 30, 2024 - 3:45 pm

A pair of local MLAs have been named to the new leadership structure for Manitoba's Opposition Progressive Conservative party.

Riding Mountain MLA Greg Nesbitt will serve as Caucus Chair, while Interlake-Gimli MLA Derek Johnson will continue as Opposition House Leader.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen will serve as Deputy leader for Rural Manitoba under interim party leader Wayne Ewasko, while Kathleen Cook will hold similar responsibilities for Winnipeg and Urban Centres.

Turtle Mountain MLA Doyle Piwniuk will serve as Caucus Whip.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 30, 2024 - 1:11 pm

Around 11,500 unionized civil service members in Manitoba have ratified a new four-year labour agreement with the province.

The new agreement, which was reached earlier this month and is retroactive to March of last year, includes wage increases totaling 14 per cent over the term of the deal.

In addition, there is a one-time signing bonus of $1,800 for full-time employees and $900 for part-time workers, while a new fund that's equivalent to about 1.4 per cent of civil service workers' payroll will be created for additional wage increases for jobs where recruitment and retention has been difficult.

Among the civil servants covered in this deal are correctional officers, sheriffs, conservation officers, court clerks, social service workers, and public health inspectors, among others.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 30, 2024 - 11:39 am

A 29-year-old man accused in relation to a death on the Birdtail Sioux First Nation has made an initial court appearance.

Michael Hanska appeared in Brandon court last Friday and was remanded back into custody until his next appearance this Thursday.

Last Tuesday just before 9 pm, Manitoba First Nations Police were called to a home on the reserve concerning a report of an injured man.

When they arrived, they found a 40-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 30, 2024 - 11:33 am

The RCMP's Major Crime Services released details about a historical homicide, as an arrest has been made.

Crystal Shannon Saunders was found deceased in a ditch near St. Ambroise nearly 17 years ago, and her alleged killer has been discovered and arrested.

"Kevin Queau was arrested and charged for Crystal's murder and remains in custody at the Surrey detachment as we speak."

According to Mounties, DNA was found on Saunders’ remains.

Due to advancements in technology around 2014, DNA got a hit on the National DNA Databank and linked it to Queau.

Crystal was just 24 years old when she was last seen getting into a vehicle just days before her body was found.

She is remembered as a devoted mother, daughter, and friend who lost her life to this senseless act of violence.

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Jan 29, 2024 - 4:48 pm

The Dauphin Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation has made the difficult decision to suspend its hot meal program.

Community liaison officer Jason Gilmore says it will no longer be able to run after this Wednesday, January 31st, due to financial constraints.

"If there were any community organizations or partners that were willing to continue this program in some form, DNRC would be more than happy to donate our space. But as far as people equity funding, we are not in a position to go forward. Now saying that we are continuing with our breakfast program moving forward as it stands currently, which is Monday to Friday from 9 am until 10:30."

Gilmore adds it is unfortunate that they can not continue this program, which was created after a one-time grant from the Canadian Red Cross.

"In total between the hot meal and the breakfast programs, we served approximately 13,000 meals (in 2023) in the community. So just purely by those numbers, you can see the need there, and we all know that with inflation and food security issues, it is definitely a point of need in the community."

Gilmore says they are open to having other groups come forward and offer a similar program.

"As it stands right now, we are going to have a hot meal on the first Monday of each month. And that is through Parkside Gospel Church. And they have been helpful with us through 2023, by doing that. So they are coming and using our space and buying the groceries, and they have enough help. So that is kind of the model going forward if we were to do something."

Any groups interested in exploring something like this can contact Gilmore at 204-701-1110.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 29, 2024 - 12:35 pm

Officials with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities will be visiting several areas across the Parkland on Tuesday.

The visits are part of the AMM's annual round of municipality visits.

Association president Kam Blight says the visits give them a chance to meet one-on-one with individual councils and gain invaluable local insight to advance municipal priorities.

Blight, along with AMM Vice Presidents Kathy Valentino and Brad Galuk, will be joined at these meetings by Parkland directors Jim Manchur and Lance Jacobsen, as well as senior policy analyst Stefanie Vieira.

The group will meet on Tuesday afternoon with municipal councils in Gilbert Plains, Grandview, and Alonsa.