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The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program has only been around for two months, but they're already seeing an uptick in users according to Chief Administrative Officer Gerry Friesen.
The uptake was a little slow, we opened our doors on March first, but there is now regular uptake on the program. We know that, and I know from my personal experience, you have to get a level of comfort with something new that is being offered.
The program offers farmers and their families 6 free sessions per person, with specialized counselors, so they can focus on getting the help they need, without worrying about the cost.
We all know that there's stress and certainly some mental wellness issues in agriculture... There was a gap, we believe, in what was provided for farmers. We had stress lines which are excellent, but this provides something a little further than that and provides for a little bit longer-term help and support for farmers and their families.
You can get into contact with the program on their website here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announced a new conservation area in Manitoba.
The 31-acre riparian, grassland, and forest property is located in Portage Creek of the Interlake region. Part of what makes it unique is the fact that it is relied on by at least 220 species of bird. It also contains several threatened or endangered species such as barn swallows, green ash trees, and little brown bats.
Cal and Elaine Cuthbert donated the property via a conservation easement agreement. This means they maintain title and control of their land but are partnered with Nature Conservancy Canada to ensure that conservation values are upheld. The value of the agreement is also appraised and a tax receipt is issued.
"The landowners, Cal and Elaine Cuthbert, reached out to Nature Conservancy of Canada staff wanting to talk about options to protect the land forever, for future generations. And what ended up happening is they donated a conservation easement agreement on the land with Nature Conservancy, meaning that forevermore, we're gonna be partners in keeping that land in a natural state," said Carey Hamel, NCC's Director of Conservation for Manitoba.
Hamel notes that the NCC has a history of working with private land owners in the Parkland and they would love to find more partners in conservation within it. Especially in the Roblin and Russell areas.
"It's such a special part of the country. Generations of private land owners have worked to conserve rivers, streams, lakes, grasslands, and forests. We're so excited when land owners reach out to us and wanna talk about how to conserve often specials places that are part of their farm and talk about ways to conserve those for the future."
While conservation of land has positive benefits for wildlife, it also benefits people, says Hamel.
"We often talk about nature and wildlife but of course, people love going for hikes and country drives and seeing all these species and the life that's around us in Spring. So it's really about a future for people as well."
If you are a private land owner interested in a conservation opportunity with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, there are a few ways you can reach out. Their toll-free number is 1-877-231-3552, or you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Feel free to visit their website as well. Below are a few pictures of the Portage Creek conservation area.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Update: According to the Manitoba Hydro outage map, power has been restored to the area.
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There are two unplanned power outages in the Dauphin area right now. The first one is affecting 554 customers on the North-side of Dauphin. The expected restoration time is 10 pm and the cause is listed as "Emergency Outage"
The second unplanned outage stretches from the North West side of the city, to just north of Valley River and is affecting 397 hydro customers. The cause of the outage is to be determined, and its estimated restoration time is 10:30 pm tonight.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Peguis First Nation, which has been dealing with the worst flooding in the area since 1962 wants permanent flood protection for the future, similar to what towns in Southern Manitoba have.
Chief Glenn Hudson says building dikes, dams or a diversion channel would be better than having to evacuate people and repair damage from frequent flooding.
Ever since the Fisher River overflowed its banks, more than 1,400 residents have been evacuated from the reserve.
The Manitoba government said a post-flood review with First Nations leadership and the federal government will take place.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The Mountain View School Division has received funding for a reconciliation circle program that will be used to teach people around the Parkland about Indigenous perspectives. Carole Shankaruk, MVSD's Indigenous Education Facilitator talked about the first event.
The first one is Wednesday, May 11th from 11 to 1, and we'll feed you and learn together, it's a multi-media workshop. We've included singing, and drumming, and education. We've just started and the feedback has been fantastic.
It's free to all community members, you just have to call the division office at (204) 638-3001, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
*RCMP say William Loewen has been located
Yorkton RCMP are looking for help from the public in locating 86-year-old William Loewen – who goes by the name Bill.
He was last seen at a rural residence between Saltcoats and Bredenbury, Saskatchewan, this morning around 4:30. Both of those towns are on Highway 16, West of the Manitoba/Saskatchewan border. He told the owners of the residence he was looking for where to purchase fuel and appeared disoriented.
He left the area in his red, 2015 GMC Terrain with Manitoba license plate KXG 477 travelling on Highway #16 towards Yorkton. He is from the Minnedosa/Brandon areas and not overly familiar with the Yorkton area.
Bill is described as 5’8” with grey/white hair, moustache and beard. He is also diabetic.
He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a dark ball cap, red and black fleece vest with a yellow shirt underneath. He also uses a cane.
Police are asking people in Yorkton and surrounding communities to report any information you have about Bill and/or his red, 2015 GMC Terrain by calling Yorkton RCMP (306-786-2400).
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The garter snakes that normally occupy the Narcisse snake dens around this time of year are waiting out the weather. According to the province, after weeks of winter storms followed by flooding, the snakes have been forced to wait for warmer weather.
The dens are normally filled with thousands of garter snakes coming out of their winter hibernation to mate around this time every year.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Dauphin Derailleurs Club has been working hard over the winter to keep the Northgate Trails System up and running after a crazy few months of weather. David Bosiak is a Derailleurs Club Board member and he said it’s an interesting time for the Club and the Trail system as a whole.
It’s that in-between season time that we get prepared for spring. Now with the long winter, that’s been extended and there’s been some extra challenges maintaining the trails both near the end of the winter with all the heavy wet snow we got and then now waiting for it to dry out.
Bosiak said if it wasn’t for all the incredible volunteers they couldn’t do what they’ve been able to and thanks to new partnerships they’ve been able to maintain the trails all winter.
We created a new relationship with the Dauphin snowmobile club and a group of volunteers in town to help us groom the Co-op Family Trail. We had members of the Derailleurs board and Northgate subgroup look after the bike trails and they were out way more than in past years.
The club is in the very early stages of creating a group that will be called Friends of Northgate where they'll get local volunteers and local users to be more involved and help with ideas from programming to how to use the trails and to help the club understand what people want when they go to Northgate.
You can get information by heading to the Northgate Trails website here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Manitoba Beef is asking producers to continue reporting their losses caused by the storms the province saw during the last few weeks of April. Manitoba Beef Producers General Manager Carson Callum says the situation is really bad across the province.
It's pretty devastating, heartbreaking, and widespread honestly. Those last three systems caused challenges throughout the province whether its too much rain, too much snow, or a dip down in temperature causing pneumonia and other related challenges. It really is heartbreaking to hear what the loss is adding up to.
Producers can report their losses by calling (204) 772-4542 or emailing them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Let them know where you're from, the name of your farm, how many losses you incurred, and the cattle type. All information given will be confidential.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
An investigation by the Manitoba RCMP Internet Child Exploitation (I.C.E.) Unit led to an arrest on Tuesday of a man from Arden, Manitoba.
The I.C.E. unit received several complaints from the RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre regarding the possession of child pornography in western Manitoba. As a result, the I.C.E. unit, the RCMP Digital Forensics Services Unit with assistance from the Neepawa RCMP Detachment, executed a search warrant at a residence on Saskatchewan Drive in Arden on Tuesday.
36-year-old Shawn Buchanan of Arden was arrested at the scene and has been charged with:
Possession of Child Pornography
Accessing Child Pornography
Making Child Pornography Available
Luring x2
Fail to Comply
He was remanded into custody.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Update: Water has been restored to the Village of Ethelbert, however, there is a boil water advisory in effect. Any water that is used for the purpose of consumption should be brought to a rolling boil for at least a minute before it's used.
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Water has been shut off in the Ethelbert area while crews work to repair a water main break according to Shawna Low, the Administrative Assistant for the Municipality of Ethelbert.
Due to difficulties with the water main break repair in the Village of Ethelbert, water will remain shut off for the better part of the day, we are hoping to have water services restored by this evening. We are sorry for the inconvenience and will keep you informed as that information becomes available.
Water was first shut off at midnight while crews worked, but was turned back on around five this morning before being shut off again to allow crews to continue working.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
