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Today is the start of the 2019-20 school year.
New Superintendent CEO, Dan Ward says they have a similar number of teachers compared to last year.
“For this upcoming school year, we hired 22 new teachers. A good number of them are new graduates from university. A number of teachers have been hired both from local communities and from outside the school division.”
They had 9 teachers, including Donna Davidson, retire at the last school year, as well as teachers resigning or going on maternity leave.
Ward says they have a projected number of 3167 students.
“Compared to last year, if those numbers stay firm, and all indications are that it will or be close to, we will be up over 60 students from last year.”
Every year the amount of funding the school division receives is impacted by the number of students.
Ward says there’s a sense of optimism and positivity heading into the school year, he’s also looking forward to a couple of things.
“Learning from the schools, visiting the schools. Of course, I’m coming into this role having spent 4 years as assistant superintendent where I learned a great deal about each school’s culture and programming. I hope to learn more from each of our schools and support our principals in the programs and initiatives that are being delivered.”
Ward would also like to wish all staff and students a great school year.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Both the NDP and the Liberals are promising to increase the minimum wage in Manitoba to $15/hour.
While the idea is something that is talked about nationwide, there always seems to be pushback on actually raising the current minimum wage.
The minimum wage in Manitoba is set to increase to $11.65/hour on October 1st, but what would an increase to $15/hour actually look like?
Fletcher Baragar, an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Manitoba, says there wouldn’t actually be significant negative effects on employment if the wage hike was implemented.
“Any negative employment effects seem to be fairly specific to a particular market, and seem to be rather mild or modest,” said Baragar. “That used to be the big argument against raising minimum wages or even having minimum wages was that it was a job killer, and the evidence there doesn’t really seem to very strong”
Baragar adds that if the minimum wage is increased, it should be done slowly to allow the people in the market who would be affected by the increase, to have some time to make necessary adjustments.
The professor also says that raising the minimum wage to $15/hour won’t really help minimum wage workers get above the poverty line.
“This isn’t a single solution, but it is part of a broader solution. So it’s a step in the right direction, it's not gonna solve the problems, but it does help to ameliorate some, and it will make a real difference for some workers, for sure.”
The only province that has a $15/hour minimum wage is Alberta. B.C. plans to raise theirs to at least $15.20/hour in 2021.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
New trucking regulations are now in effect in Manitoba.
Mandatory entry-level training for commercial truck drivers is now required. The requirements include 121.5 hours or the equivalent of three weeks of training.
Earlier this year, the province said that anyone who already held a class 1 licence would be grandfathered in.
Manitoba joins three other provinces in making entry-level training for commercial truck drivers mandatory. The others are Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
At 10:30 Friday morning, Lac du Bonnet RCMP responded to a call of a missing boater.
After investigation, it was determined that a 49-year-old male was harvesting wild rice in an airboat on the Whiteshell River, approximately 5 km north of Jessica lake, when he failed to return to his camp.
Another harvester in a second boat, set out to find the missing male when he found the submerged airboat in about 15 feet of water. He searched the immediate area but could not find the 49-year-old male. He immediately called the RCMP for assistance.
Upon arrival, Lac du Bonnet RCMP and Sustainable Development along with private boats searched the surrounding area but could not locate the missing male.
On Saturday morning, Police returned to the location with boats and drones to search the water and shoreline. The Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART) also arrived to help find the missing boater.
At around 10:30 am HEART located the deceased male in the water with an underwater camera. His body has since been recovered by RCMP.
The investigation is ongoing
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
At around 6:50 Friday morning, Carberry RCMP responded to the Brandon Hospital for a report of a 45-year-old male who was admitted with gunshot wounds.
Police are on the lookout for a suspect by the name of Nicholas Peters in relation to the shooting. He has been charged with the unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless use of a firearm, and discharge of the firearm with intent.
36-year-old Nicholas Peters is described as 6’ tall, 250 pounds, with brown hair, and hazel eyes. He is from Brandon.
He may be driving a white Dodge pick-up truck with a Manitoba licence plate number of KDX 716.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Nicholas Peters is asked to call the Carberry RCMP at 204-834-2131.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
With school starting up, should school zones be implemented in Dauphin?
Deputy City Manager, Renee St. Goddard, says to her knowledge there have never been school zones in Dauphin.
She says city council has previously discussed the idea of school zones.
“When legislation came out that allowed for reduced speed zones near schools, the city spoke with MVSD. The school division has not had any incidents or near misses to report to the city for 14 years at minimum. We continue to partner with the school division to provide safe traffic and pedestrian movement around schools.”
St. Goddard adds, they’ve received inquiries from the public about school zones but there haven’t been any complaints.
She says the city looks at all safety issues.
“We look at all safety issues to address safety around the schools such as stop signs, crosswalks, solid fences, no parking around schools so buses have better visibility, and ease of turning for parking lots and entrances to allow for easier bus and parent pick-ups and drop-offs. So that increases the safety around school zones.”
St. Goddard believes the city is working well with MVSD to make sure the appropriate levels of safety are being considered.
St. Goddard doesn’t know if one area needs school zones more than the other, but she did point out the higher number of schools on Mountain.
“We did do a speed study this summer on both sides of Mountain Road, but we haven’t received the data yet to analyze. I don’t know if one area needs one more than the other but that comes to mind as a frequent area that often sees an increase in traffic once school starts.”
St. Goddard wants to remind drivers to be cautious as students head back to school.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Over the long weekend and with school starting up shortly there could be an increase in cyclist activity.
Key points to remember for drivers are motorists should leave about a metre between themselves and a cyclist, and take an extra look to make sure there isn’t a cyclist in your blind spot.
Smiley adds cyclists have to follow the rules of the road, be visible, ride defensively, and use hand signals.
According to the RCMP, if a cyclist runs a red light or doesn’t stop at a stop sign, they could receive a fine of 203 dollars.
On average in Manitoba, there are 300 incidents between motorists and cyclists with 4 cyclists killed, yearly.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The 27th Annual Ashern Rodeo is happening this weekend just 1.5 miles south of Ashern.
Festivities kick off tonight with the Street Dance and fireworks. Saturday’s events feature a pancake breakfast and, of course, the rodeo, with a social to follow. Sunday’s events feature the rodeo finals and Threshermans’s reunion.
The beer gardens and grandstand are both covered, so the event will go rain or shine.
Weekend passes cost $15, day passes are $10 and kids under 6 get in free,
For more information, check out the Ashern Rodeo on Facebook.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Starting tonight and going all weekend long is the Dark Sky Weekend at Riding Mountain National Park.
This is the second Dark Sky Weekend and Visitor Experience Manager, Richard Dupuis, says they’re trying to make it an annual event.
New this year, is a photography workshop and yoga at night.
Making a return are the night hikes, day time activities for the kids, and the chance to learn about Anishinabe perspectives of the night sky.
RMNP does the Dark Sky Weekend to celebrate the night sky and how great the view is from the park.
For the full schedule click here.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
On August 27th, 2019, Manitoba First Nations Police members attended to a disturbance on Highway 45.
Once on scene, officers learned that 17-year-old Leona Rayleen Edith Mecas ran away from home after an altercation with her parents.
After patrols in the immediate area, officers could not locate Leona.
Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Leona Rayleen Edith Mecas, who goes by the nickname “Weebs”. She is described as Indigenous, 5’3, 147 lbs, with long black hair. There was no clothing description given.
Police are concerned for Leona’s well-being and are asking anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Leona Mecas to call the Waywayseecappo Detachment at 204-859-5070.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Manitoba residents will be able to vote in the provincial election in just over a week.
Leifa Misko, the chairperson for the Mountain View School Division board, says some of the issues they’d like addressed in this next election include the set of robust needs students have, that need to be addressed to transition from school to employment.
Misko also identified the need for trades training promotion and the need for partnerships to share costs and provide better education.
Misko says over the past few years the school division has been able to meet with the two MLA’s that are within the MVSD Region and hopes that whoever is the elected MLA will continue to have communication with the school division.
Misko expects the elected government to consult and cooperate with the school division before making any changes.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
