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If you've had an interest in growing cannabis in your home and you live in Manitoba, you'll soon be able to do so legally.
The provincial government is lifting a ban on homegrown recreational cannabis on May 1. That means anyone aged 19 or older can grow up to four cannabis plants in their homes.
Trevor Shewfelt is a co-host on the Reefer MEDness and is happy that Wab Kinew and his party changed the ban.
"They were thoughts of being worried if you're a property owner and rent your home, if your tenants grew cannabis, would that decrease your property value, and child safety," said Shewfelt. "In my opinion, it was overblown. We are very glad that the provincial NDP under Wab Kinew changed their mind, allowing us to be on the same playing field as most of Canada."
With the ban lifted, Quebec is now the only province in Canada that does not allow for cannabis to be grown recreationally in homes. Shewfelt highlights a few reasons why this is a positive for cannabis users.
"It is way cheaper to grow your own plants than it is to buy them at the store," continued Shewfelt. "Just like tomatoes or watermelons and things like that, it's cheaper to do it yourself. You can also get the variety you want, know exactly how it was grown, it's now under your control."
While people must remain cautious when using cannabis, especially if they are planning to operate a vehicle afterward, Shewfelt says there are benefits to recreational use.
"It's used for sleep, pain, and anxiety. There is a lot of evidence that at times, cannabis works very well for those things," ended Shewfelt. "Putting my pharmacist back on, cannabis is safe."
According to reports, there have been no deaths from overdosing on cannabis.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The cold winter months are in the rear-view mirror, and summer is right around the corner.
You may be thinking about hitting the road for an adventure. Whether through Riding Mountain National Park or to witness the beauty in the Jewel of the Parkland (Roblin), it's a great feeling to be on the open road with ideal conditions and sunny skies.
It's also important to practice driving safely and, most importantly, to obey the speed limit. Data from Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) shows that at 30 kilometres per hour, pedestrian fatality risk is around five per cent. That jumps to 80 per cent when driving at 65 kilometres per hour. 68 people have died and 2,220 have been injured in collisions on Manitoba roadways, with speed as the contributing factor to the crash in the last three years. There were 10,499 speed-related collisions in our province from 2022 to 2024.
Cst. Barry Kirby is with the Dauphin RCMP.
"We do tend to be out and about more in the summer when there is a lot more traffic," said Kirby. "There are times when we can't because of other factors, but we try our best to be out on the roadways as much as possible."
From 2022 to 2024, 1,326 Serious Offence Notices were issued to drivers for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 kilometres per hour.
"Sometimes when people are on the highway and it's not very busy, they want to open it up a bit and drive faster," continued Kirby. "You may think you're in control of your vehicle, but if there's a big pothole or someone else pulls out in front of you. There are just way too many risks involved with speeding."
In Dauphin, Kirby emphasizes that cracking down on speeders and reckless drivers is a top priority for the RCMP, who are placing strong focus on keeping local roads safe.
"Traffic collisions are a leading cause of death in Manitoba and across the country, so we focus on it a lot," ended Kirby. "If people are out there and see someone speeding or driving recklessly, it's important to call us. We're always open to receiving those calls if people see something that's concerning to them on the roadways."
Enjoy all of your summer drives, but do so safely.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Green Party candidate in the Riding Mountain constituency is the focus of today's election profile.
Liz Clayton is semi-retired, but still serves as an Educational Assistant.
She also spends her winters growing greens in her nutrition greenhouse on her property.
Because of that, food security and land use are among the issues she focuses on in this election.
"Also, issues that are facing Manitoba as a whole, such as depopulation of some of our rural communities, the loss of services, and the great distances we have to travel to maintain our social structure."
With affordability a major issue among many voters in this election, Clayton thinks we need to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in this country.
"The Green Party has some policies for fair taxation. We would alleviate taxes for anyone making less than $40,000 a year, And at the very top 0.5 per cent, we would increase taxes to make up for the offset. And just try to spread it around a little more."
Election day is set for Monday.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
It's an annual festival getting ready to celebrate year 13.
The Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival is back this Saturday and Sunday in McCreary. The festival opens Saturday morning with a pancake breakfast at the Senior Drop-in Centre, hosted by the Marlins Baseball club. There's a farmers market beginning at 10 at the Community Centre, followed by activities for children and youth from 11:30 to 3:30.
There will be horse and wagon rides from 10:30 to 2:45, and you can learn how to roast bannock on a stick at the sugar bush fire ring. At 11:30, Cameron Campbell will take the stage to open up the entertainment portion of the event, followed by Chantale Crivea, Jody Tucker, the Anderson trio, and Caleb Rudkewich.
The Asham Stompers perform at the Community Centre on 445 Broderick from 5 to 6:30.
Pam Little is president of the Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival.
"It's always nice to see all of the people who come from all over Manitoba," said Little. "Locals come as well. With that said, it seems there are more people outside of the Parkland. It's interesting to see where people come from and why. Everyone always seems to have a great time."
There will be another pancake breakfast on Sunday and a pemmican making workshop at the McCreary Legion Hall beginning at 11, followed by plant identification, traditional medicine teaching, and harvesting at 2. Sunday's list of events includes the maple dessert contest, the Maeghan Bramley Memorial Steppers, and a 50/50 draw.
An individual pass is just $5, and a family pass is $25.
Little says there's something for everyone, including those with mobility issues.
"You do have to climb some steps for the horses and buggies, but we always have people there that can help," ended Little. "If people let us know ahead of time, we will do our best to accommodate them getting to the bush, if that's something they're interested in. There is something for everyone in McCreary this weekend. It's going to be a great festival."
You can get a full list of weekend events here. It's the 13th annual Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival this weekend in McCreary.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The world of A.I. will be the focus of the final Parkland Chamber Lunch & Learn event of the spring.
The event, which is set for next Tuesday at 11:45 at the Parkland Rec Complex, will feature Kirsten Thompson of MAETL, the Manitoba Association of Education Technology Leaders.
Chamber Executive Director Stephen Chychota says this is a big and relevant topic to discuss.
"So, we want to get our local businesses to understand that if they are not using A.I., what are some ways that they can use it. This will be a very general discussion. I would imagine that Kirsten will dive a little bit into some of the tools and how they work a little bit. But, that high-level discussion of how does it integrate into your business, what does it mean, and how do you create efficiencies."
Tickets are now available through the Chamber's website and their office.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The provincial government is giving $255,000 for 17 community-based climate plan projects in Manitoba.
The City of Dauphin has been awarded $15,000 in funding, which will be allocated toward the development of a climate adaptation plan.
Justin Tokarchuk is the city's information and communications technology manager.
"It feels absolutely amazing," said Tokarchuk. "I'm very excited to be able to work towards climate adaptation in our community."
Climate adaptation refers to the process of adjusting to the current and expected effects of climate change. It involves making changes—both big and small—to reduce the risks and harm caused by climate-related events, such as extreme weather, flooding, droughts, or rising temperatures.
"Examples I've been given are things like flood barriers or looking at the size of our storm water system so that it could contain bigger rain storms that we could get in the future," added Tokarchuk.
The City of Dauphin is also seeking roughly $70,000 from the local leadership for the climate adaptation fund from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
41-year-old Roland Klyne has been charged with more than 15 offences after threatening a female and holding another man at gunpoint.
On Sunday at 10:05 p.m., Dauphin RCMP responded to an assault at a home on Jackson Street. When they arrived, Roland barricaded himself and would not allow the officers to enter. The officers forced entry, and Klyne was arrested.
Roland assaulted and threatened a 21-year-old female and held a 36-year-old man at gunpoint. Neither of the victims from Dauphin sustained serious injuries. While Klyne was in custody, he damaged the sprinkler system in a Dauphin cell and threatened an officer.
He was remanded and charged with 18 different offences, including Assault, and numerous involving Firearms.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
A partnership between the Manitoba First Nation Police Service and Assiniboine College has resulted in 15 recruits for the police service.
A graduation ceremony was recently held for the new officers, who completed a six-month policing program through the college.
In a news release, MFNPS says the program highlights the importance of having a police service that is culturally responsive and accountable to the communities it serves.
MFNPS currently serves 10 First Nations communities in Manitoba, including two in the Parkland - Sandy Bay and Waywayseecappo
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
CKDM continues its profiles of the candidates seeking your vote on April 28th in the Riding Mountain constituency federal election.
Today it is NDP candidate Andy Maxwell, who says he was drawn into this race by the recent behaviour of U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Right now, with Trump changing his mind every five minutes with ridiculous things such as taking over Gaza or the Panama Canal or taking over Canada, he is a threat to our sovereignty. And it is a very dangerous time. So we need that team Canada approach and I would like to be a part of that."
A former dentist in Swan River, Maxwell ran for the NDP in the 2023 provincial election.
Now retired, Maxwell says he has plenty of time for the job, especially to learn the ins and outs of being a politician.
"I have not been paid (to be a politician) like (Swan River MLA) Rick Wowchuk and Dan Mazier so they are a little quicker on issues than I am. But they had to learn, so if they can, then I can."
Tariffs from both the U.S. and China on agricultural products, and improvements to health care are two key issues for Maxwell in this campaign.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
June 23, 2023, is a day that David and Valerie McInnes will never forget.
That's when they welcomed their first furry guest to Barkland Pet Resort & Crematorium. They have welcomed hundreds since, and David is looking forward to celebrating the second anniversary later this year.
"It has been an amazing experience, we have had our fair share of ups and downs, the learning curve was tremendous," said McInnes. "The rewards of all of the furry friends we get to meet are utterly amazing."
David and Valerie have always taken immense pride in taking care of people. Whether that be family or furry friends, they are two incredible people who love to lend a helping hand when they can. From 2011 to 2019, they fostered 13 children through the Child Welfare System, and also homed several Dauphin Kings players over the years. At one time, they had three goaltenders and their son in one home.
"When that came to an end, we were looking for another way to support our community," said McInnes. "Manitoba is in a bit of a pandemic with unhomed domestic pets, those looking for needs, care and medical attention. To support someone who can't speak for themselves and protect and care for them, it's something extremely close to our hearts."
Over the past two years, Barkland Resort & Crematorium has focused on enhancing the experience and comfort of its guests by adding value and new amenities, including having on-site kennel technicians from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week.
There are also expanded check-in and pick-up hours. While David and Valerie are the faces that are front and centre, David knows this couldn't be pulled off without his staff.
"We have a very passionate, very caring, and very emotional pack of support that comes along with us," continued McInnes. "Our team is utterly amazing, they care so much about our guests. I can't say enough about our team, they're such a special group."
As of June 1, 2025, there will be some changes for overnight stays.
- One Dog - $29.40 GST included;
- Two Dogs in the same suite - $35.00 GST included;
- One Cat - $19.00 GST included; and
- Two Cats in the same suite - $22.00 GST included.
The new rates include a Kuranda bed at no additional charge. David says they started looking at other kennels and what they charge, finding they are by far on the lower scale. Many are substantially more expensive, some charging upwards of $70 per night.
"We want to remain economical for people in our region so they can afford a pet, but still be able to go away when they need to, and when their pets can't go with them, they still have a safe place to stay," ended McInnes. "We want to be in a position where we can cover our costs and be sustainable moving forward."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
For the first time since 2019, Dauphin will host the Zirka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble this weekend.
The event runs on Friday from 9:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.
"Definitely excited to have 19 dance groups from Manitoba and Saskatchewan coming to town this weekend," said Csversko. "It adds up to more than 850 dancers. It's a weekend packed with Ukrainian dancing. The entertainment is going to be incredible."
"To see all of the bright costumes, the high energy, and tempo," continued Csversko. "There's upbeat music. If you have yet to take part in any other Ukrainian dance performances, definitely come and check it out, you will be very impressed."
"We're very grateful to the Dauphin Kings and Parkland Rec Services for accommodating this," continued Csversko. "With the Kings being in the final now, we had to juggle around the schedule, and the three groups came together to make it happen."
"From beginners to advanced groups, dancers of all ages and skill levels," ended Csversko. "It's a great competition to watch."
For this year's event, day passes are $15, and weekend passes are $25. A 50/50 draw will be held, and local vendors will line the upper concourse.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
