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One of the many events in the Parkland that is seeing a return this year is the Country Christmas in Ethelbert on Saturday, December 17th.
At the event, you will be able to do some shopping at the Christmas Market as well as enjoy free skating, sleigh rides, a chance to take a picture with Santa, and more.
"It means a lot to the community to have this happen as we've been down for the last two years due to the pandemic. Nothing's been going on; the skating rink hasn't been open, so to have a community-wide event with the market happening, the parade, events in the evening-- it brings the whole community out, it brings life back to our community", said Wanda Loewen, President of the Ethelbert Skating Rink.
The Christmas Market at the Skating Rink will have at least 15 vendors and will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. The canteen at the rink will be open and there will be a raffle draw. Not long after that, the Country Christmas Parade of Lights will start at 5:30 at the Ethelbert School. It will head to Burdeniuks through the round about and end at the skating rink.
Evening festivities include the Christmas Market being back open from 7 to 10. Free skating, a bonfire, and sleigh rides (weather permitting) will wrap up the day.
"..and the best part yet is Santa is going to be there, so the kids can come down and take a picture with Santa", commented Loewen.
All proceeds from the Country Christmas in Ethelbert will go to the skating rink.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
As Christmas approaches, festive season celebrations will be held in Dauphin and area.
If you happen to take in some festivities while having some drinks or smoking cannabis, do not drive yourself home. Instead, call the Dauphin R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program at 204-638-5707. Volunteers will then come pick up you and your vehicle to bring you home safely. You must have a vehicle to take home in order to use the program. It is also free to use, but they welcome donations.
R.I.D.E. is available Friday and Saturday from 9 pm to 3 am. If you would like to volunteer with the program, call 204-638-1463 or message their facebook page.
As well as being in operation this weekend, the R.I.D.E. Program will be available on the following dates from 9 pm to 3 am:
Friday, December 9th
Saturday, December 10th
Friday, December 16th
Saturday, December 17th
Friday, December 23rd
New Year's Eve, Saturday, December 31st
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
As cattle producers across Manitoba get ready for another winter, their situation is looking much better than this time last year.
After the drought in 2021, a feed shortage across the prairies was a big issue, and as the province saw large snowfalls well into the spring, the problem was amplified. However, after a much better growing season this year, Manitoba Beef Producers General Manager Carson Callum says producers are in a better spot.
"Feed supply is looking a lot better, I know there's probably certain inputs that are still challenging to find, or certain minerals, or vet drugs, or things like that that have been sort of a compounding issue over the last couple of years. But in terms of just general feed supplies, a lot better situation that we saw, in particular, related to last winter."
Callum says that just because one issue isn't as bad doesn't mean there are other issues that haven't come up.
"A general issue that is a challenge in many sectors, including the beef sector, is just the cost of inputs. Whether that's sourcing feed or sourcing any sort of input for your operation it's just gone up so drastically. Yes, the commodity price of live cattle has improved, but probably not to the rate we need it to as an industry to remain profitable."
Callum says the cost of production is something that producers are trying to manage, and coming up with other ways to lower the cost of production.
Manitoba Beef Producers is hosting its AGM and Presidents banquet on February 2nd and 3rd, 2022, and they'll be accepting resolutions for consideration until 9 a.m. on Friday, January 27th. You can find more information about the meeting, including how to register and submit a resolution here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The man accused of killing 24-year-old Rebecca Contois, a member of O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, has now been charged with three more homicides.
35-year-old Jeremy Skibicki was charged with three more counts of first-degree murder by the Winnipeg Police Service today. Skibiki was originally arrested on May 18th when he was charged with first-degree murder in relation to the death of Contois.
Police now believe he is responsible for the deaths of 39-year-old Morgan Beatrice Harris, and26-year-old Marcedes Myran, both members of Long Plain First Nation, as well as a fourth victim who remains unidentified at this time. Police believe the fourth victim is an indigenous woman in her 20s.
The murders happened between March and May of this year. Skibicki remains in custody.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The snow just keeps piling on as we get closer to the calendar start of Winter.
Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for several regions including Dauphin - Russell - Roblin - Winnipegosis.
10 to 20 centimeters of snow is expected in a system that is to start with light snow and intensify later in the day today (Thursday). A low-pressure system is developing near the U.S. border and most of the snow is supposed to fall tonight and into tomorrow morning.
The snow is expected to taper off midday tomorrow (Friday). The full warning can be found here. You can also view the Parkview Auto Glass road conditions to find out what the roads are like if you plan on heading out anywhere.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The Angel Tree Program, which ensures children in the Adopt-a-Family Program get a gift each Christmas, is looking for donations of money/gifts, and volunteers to sit at the Angel Tree at the mall.
The Angel Tree and Adopt-A-Family programs work together with the food bank to form Dauphin's Community Christmas Program and there are 238 people registered this year according to Robin Gambler, Coordinator at the Dauphin Friendship Centre (DFC).
Volunteers are needed to sit at the Angel Tree inside the Dauphin Marketplace Mall to collect gifts in person. If any gifts come in, all you will have to do is phone the maintenance crew at the mall who will then collect the gifts and store them until they are picked up by the DFC. You can sign up at the mall or call the Friendship Centre at 204-638-5707.
If you would like to donate cash, gift cards, or unwrapped new toys, you can drop them off at the DFC during regular hours. They also accept donations via e-transfer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Christmas hamper giveaway day is coming up soon on Friday, December 18th.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Bill C-288, which was introduced by Dauphin - Swan River - Neepawa MP Dan Mazier has made even more progress.
The bill would amend the Telecommunications Act and require Canadian internet companies to provide Canadians with accurate and transparent information regarding the internet services they pay for. MP Mazier first introduced the bill in June, and he says there's still work that needs to be done.
"It'll have to go through committee, and it's going to have to go come to parliament for another vote, and then back into the senate, so there's still some mechanical stuff to do, but this is a major hurdle, especially the way the vote turned out. There was basically no opposition to putting this bill through parliament and through the exercise. That's very positive news, so everybody wants to work on this."
During Bill C-288's final hour of debate in the second reading, MP Mazier talked about its importance.
“Connectivity is essential to the safety of our communities, to the economic growth of rural regions and to the accessibility of services like education and health care. Canadians should know what they are paying for before they purchase an internet service, not after.”
Bill C-288 will now move to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology to be further studied. Once the bill makes it through the committee stage, it will be sent back to the House of Commons for further votes. If the legislation passes these required stages, Bill C-288 will be sent from the House of Commons to the Senate, where it will move through the same stages of the parliamentary process.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
A group on Sandy Bay First Nation is working to bring a Bear Clan Patrol to the community. Bear Clan Patrol was started in Winnipeg and has since spread to Brandon and, more recently, Portage la Prairie.
In its mission, Bear Clan Patrol works to provide restoration and maintenance of harmony within the community by promoting and providing safety, conflict resolution, mobile witnessing and crime prevention, maintaining a visible presence on the streets, and providing an early response to situations.
After a call on social media for more to be done about crime and addiction on Sandy Bay First Nation, Candace Roulette decided to try and bring a Bear Clan Patrol to the community.
"I took the initiative to create presentations inviting the Bear Clans from Winnipeg and Brandon, to come out to our community to do these presentations on how we can develop these organizations as well, on our first nations, and I've got a lot of support backing this up because it's much needed in our community."
Roulette says other First Nations have reached out to her, asking to be involved when the presentations happen.
"The Ebb & Flow community and Lake Manitoba Community also reached out to me, asking me to send them an invite, because we as First Nations people are dealing with the same issues. It's not only first nations people, so I'm trying to get our local communities as well to come out and support and give ideas on how we can better the future, of future generations."
Anyone looking for more information about the project can reach out to Candace Roulette on Facebook, or by phone at (204) 249-0628.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The City of Dauphin says there's a delay in the day 1 garbage pickup today, and residents in the north section of Day 1 should leave their garbage bins out this evening. The city says that mechanical issues have caused the delay, and they apologize for any inconvenience.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Manitoba Hydro is planning on pulling back on its General Rate Application with the Public Utilities Board.
Hydro was originally seeking rate increases of 3.5% in the 2023-24, and 2024-25 fiscal years, but they'll now ask for 2% increases in each instead. Hydro will still seek confirmation on the 3.6% interim rate increase that came into effect in January 2022.
Hydro President and CEO Jay Grewal said the significantly lower rate request is due to the Manitoba government’s decision last week to reduce what it collects from Manitoba Hydro annually in provincial debt guarantee and water rental payments.
“The reduction announced by the government will help keep rates low for customers, and that’s great news when we know many customers are struggling with the cost of living,” says Grewal. “It also gives Manitoba Hydro the ability to start to reduce our debt while making investments in our system so our customers get the service they demand."
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Brandon Police Service(BPS) has wrapped up an investigation that lasted more than a year and led to the arrest of 10 people in the city.
The BPS Special Release states that the group of drug traffickers would import large amounts of cocaine into Brandon from Ontario and British Columbia. The BPS investigation, named Project Banish, started in September 2021 and involved a number of units across law enforcement agencies.
Last week, the BPS executed eleven search warrants; six at residences in Brandon, one at a residence in Meadowbrook Village, one at a Brandon business, and three on vehicles. The following was seized as a result of the warrants.
- In excess of 9 kilograms of cocaine –Street value over $900,000
- Over $450,000 in cash
- 2 stolen handguns and a .30-06 rifle
- A ballistic vest and multiple other prohibited weapons
- A 2011 Lincoln MKS
- A 2003 Harley Davison motorcycle
- A 2003 Victory motorcycle.
The BPS Arrested the following individuals, and they have all appeared in court on the charges, although no charges have been proven at this time.
- Logan Bickerton (male age 27) Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Trafficking Cocaine, Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime, Conspiracy to Traffic a Schedule 1 Substance and to Possess Proceeds of Crime over $5000, Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized X2, Possession of Restricted Firearm Obtained by Crime.
- Scott Bickerton (male age 29) Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime, and Conspiracy to Traffic a Schedule 1 Substance and to Possess Proceeds of Crime over $5000.
- Troy Bickerton (male age 32) Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Exceeding $5000.
- Barry Bickerton (male age 58) Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000.
- Angela Bickerton (female age 54) Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000, Conspiracy to Possess Proceeds of Crime Over $5000.
- James Reid (male age 30) Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime, Conspiracy to Traffic a Schedule 1 Substance and to Possess Proceeds of Crime over $5000.
- Calvin Vermette (FLEURY Male age 52) Conspiracy to Possess Proceeds of Crime Over $5000, Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Conspiracy to Traffic a Schedule 1 Substance.
- Mitchell Brownlee (Male age 34) Conspiracy to Possess Proceeds of Crime Over $5000, Conspiracy to Traffic a Schedule 1 Substance.
- Tyler Henderson (Male age 40) Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime, Conspiracy to Traffic a Schedule 1 Substance and to Possess Proceeds of Crime over $5000.
- Craig Crofton (Male age 55) Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking and Conspiracy to Traffic a Schedule 1 Substance.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
