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The Zirka Ukrainian Dance Competition was held at Credit Union Place over the weekend.
Zirka Club President, Leeann Bomak, says it went well this weekend.
“Talya Oleski is our 2019 competition coordinator, so she’s done an amazing job.”
It was Oleski's first year working on the competition.
Oleski says it’s a great fundraiser for the Zirka group in Dauphin, the money is used to purchase costumes and other things from Ukraine, as well as costs associated with putting the competition on.
“It’s also a way to promote Ukrainian dance and culture in our community and it just brings a lot of different dance groups from across the prairies together for a weekend.”
The event showcases a vast range of regions from Ukraine, which has many different outfits and styles of dance.
Bomak thinks the event is great entertainment.
“I think it’s great for the kids as a motivator, they work towards these events for an entire year. A lot of dance seasons start at the beginning of the school year and this is the kind of culmination for them. It’s nice for them to come out and show the audience what they’ve been working on all year. So it’s a great event.”
This year’s event is the 10th biannual Zirka Dance Competition, which means they’ve been doing it for 20 years.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Manitoba Government will be putting 3.1 million dollars into 17 newcomer support services.
Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski says Manitoba’s continued growth and innovation is largely thanks to immigration.
“With people arriving from more than 130 countries worldwide, immigrants and refugees contribute knowledge, education, skills, help to enhance Manitoba’s workplace and communities. Here in the Parkland, there is a strong need and demand for immigration support programming, to help newcomers and their families’ transition into life in the Parkland.”
Manitoba’s provincial nominee program where they nominate immigrants for permanent residency, based on economic need in the province, saw one of the highest numbers of nominees in 2018.
Michaleski says Dauphin is one of five rural communities to receive funding.
“This funding announcement is significant for the entire Dauphin region.”
Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen says the strategic investments will improve the settlement, language, employment and community supports, newcomers will need as soon as they arrive in Manitoba to put them on a path to success.
Michaleski thinks the government has a lot of focus on rural areas.
“I know they are very aware that Dauphin is a very strong community with a lot of organizations that have done a lot of work in helping build the community. They’re a very inclusive community and want to see their community grow. I think that’s a huge factor in why Dauphin was selected for one of these sites.”
The amount of money Dauphin will get hasn’t been announced yet.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Color Blast Dauphin is going to happen a little bit earlier this year, on June 1st.
New to Color Blast this year, is more color stations, an earlier date for the event, and group rates, groups of 8 or more get a free ticket.
The 5km fun run starts at Credit Union Place and does a loop before finishing at the starting point.
Danielle Ledoux, a volunteer for Color Blast and Skate Dauphin says people should come out because it supports a local program.
Proceeds go to Skate Dauphin to use for ice fees and equipment.
Registration begins Monday, tickets for 16 years old and up cost 40 dollars, 5 to 15 years old costs 30 dollars, 4 and under get in for free, and there are group rates that you can contact color blast for the details. There are a limited number of tickets at Scotiabank in Dauphin that cost 25 dollars.
Online registration can be found at www.colorblastdauphin.ca.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The provincial government made an announcement to give funding to strengthen 17 newcomer support services in Manitoba.
In our area, the Dauphin and Region Immigrant Services has been picked, program manager Deborah Slonowsky has some ideas for what the funding will be used for.
“It’ll be for settlement programming. So we’re just going to expand our reach. Right now, our clients are permanent residents only. Now we’ll be able to extend those same services to immigrants of all statuses.”
The province held several newcomer roundtable consultations to identify which service areas could benefit from strategic investments.
Participants recommended programming to better integrate newcomers with multiple barriers or special needs, as well as targeted supports for newcomer youth and families that face unique challenges.
Dauphin and Region Immigrant Services is one of 5 rural groups chosen to get some funding.
“We’re extremely happy to see the provincial government is committing funding to settlement services.
Manitoba’s economy, the future of our rural communities, is heavily reliant on the contribution of newcomers.”
Slonowsky adds in 2018 Manitoba saw some of the highest rates of immigration to rural areas.
The provincial government has just over 3 million dollars to give out and the amount of money Dauphin and Region Immigrant Services will receive hasn’t been determined yet.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Right around 7:30 this evening the Dauphin Marketplace Mall had to be evacuated.
There was an issue with one of the rooftop units that caused some smoke inside the Mall.
There was no fire, and they were advised to contact their HVAC Specialists for repairs.
Just before 8 o’clock the fire department deemed the mall safe enough to enter.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
When a school bus is unloading or picking up kids they will have their stop sign out, and that's your cue to stop.
If you don't, you could face a hefty fine.
"You have to stop a minimum of five metres on either side of the school bus," said Constable Rob Tuff. "Failing to do so could result in a fine of $672 and two demerit points on your license."
Many school buses these days are also equipped with cameras.
"If you do happen to go past a school bus while it's stopped and the stop sign is out, you could be caught on camera," added Tuff.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Manitobans will continue to change their clocks twice a year.
The Manitoba legislature defeated the Private Members bill, 34-5.
Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski isn’t surprised the bill didn’t pass.
“It’s something where it’s good it was raised and it’s something we will continue to look at.”
The overall consensus Michaleski has heard is to do away with the time change and stay in the Daylight Savings Time, time zone.
He adds that Cliff Graydon, the MLA who created the bill wants to get rid of the Daylight Savings Time, time zone, which would make it the same time in Manitoba and Saskatchewan year round.
Michaleski noted there’s been a healthy discussion on the issue and there are many issues that complicate the idea including inter-provincial trade.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
McCreary is the place to be over the next two days as the Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival is going on.
Activities are going on in town and at the McCreary Golf and Country Club.
“There’s lots going on. Not only just a fun day but it’s educational. If you’re interested in nature, being active in nature as a family, it’s a great venue for that.” Pam Little continues, “I think appreciating some of our history and the culture in Manitoba is really important too.”
This year they are showing off their new maple taffy on snow box. Little says It was made by a local carpenter and worth checking out.
“The sugar bush is right on the park line and I just think if you’ve never been to this part of Manitoba it is really a beautiful area.”
Pam little says some of the highlights this year are the tour of a working sugar bush, learn to tap a tree sessions, horse and wagon rides, and entertainment by local artists.
This year they have a local author presenting her book at the library.
“We’re inviting parents and children to meet local author Jessie Klassen. She’s written a book called ‘The Sapling’ which is about a little maple tree who meets a big maple tree and how that old maple tree gives the sapling some life guidance. It’s a really nice story, and Jessie has some very creative ways of interacting with children and children interacting with nature.”
Klassen will read from her book at 9:30 and noon on Saturday at the McCreary District Library.
The Jansen Boys are performing tonight at the Maple Themed dinner that starts at seven tonight.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Road improvements and additional town maps have been added.
Neepawa, Niverville, and Stonewall are the towns that have been added to reflect their increasing populations.
The town and city maps have a new design where their population values are listed, the towns and cities are also laid out in alphabetical order.
The updated map is ready for the summer tourism season in both digital and physical editions.
The main updates to roads in the province are for new paved surfaces, road re-alignments, the completion of the all-weather road to Berens River, the establishment of PR 412 as a provincial road from Dallas to Jackhead, and current winter roads.
In a press release, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said,
“Manitoba has so much to offer visitors and residents alike. The updated road map will help them to reach those great experiences.”
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Manitoba will continue to observe daylight savings time.
The bill to end the time change twice a year was defeated in the Manitoba legislature.
Bill 205 The Official Time Amendment Act was voted down with 34 to 5.
Cliff Graydon, the Member of the Legislature for Emerson introduced the bill after several constituents raised the issue.
In a release, Graydon says Manitobans are talking about the issue. Citing recent surveys done by 730ckdm and the Winnipeg Sun finding 72% and 73% of Manitobans support ending daylight savings time.
“The time change is disruptive,” said Mr. Graydon, who was convinced to bring forward this bill after discovering that the time change caused increases in traffic accidents, heart attacks, mental health cases, and workplace injuries. “I felt the people of Manitoba should enter the future and discontinue this disruptive practice.”
Graydon says the government’s argument for defeating the bill was that any move to change the time would have to be done at the same time as other jurisdictions.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The RM of Lakeshore’s spring clean-up campaign is taking place on May 6th and 20th.
The cleanup is taking place in Ochre River and the Ochre River Beach areas.
Only leaves and limbs will be picked up. You’re asked to put the yard waste beside your regular garbage site for pickup.
They will only pick up leaves that are bagged and limbs that are cut into 5-foot lengths and bundled up.
They will not pick up loose limbs, building demolition, waste, furniture, and appliances.
If you have any questions, call Tim Jury at 204-733-25488.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
