Dauphin Playgrounds Remain Closed

Dauphin Rec Services has announced that their playgrounds won't open tomorrow as planned.

Under the current Public Health Orders, requirements have to be met and they're currently waiting for information on how they can open the parks safely.

Stay tuned as this story will evolve.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: May 3, 2020 - 5:00 am

Manitoba Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre is reporting a moderate to high wind warning.

As a result, the Forecast Centre warns there is a risk of ice pileup on some lakes.

That includes the south shores of Lake Winnipeg including areas near Gimli and Victoria Beach, Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipegosis.

Strong north winds are forecasted to last until midnight.

Property owners are advised to take precautions.

Details: Contributed by 730 CKDM; Published: May 2, 2020 - 8:08 pm

Manitoba Public Health officials have announced one new case of COVID-19 today.

The total number of lab-confirmed and probable cases is 280.

There are 38 active cases in the province, and 236 cases are listed as recovered. Six people have died.

There are currently 6 people in hospital because of the virus; none of them are in intensive care.

The number of cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region is unchanged, at 17.

Officials continue to discourage any non-essential travel and trips, as the gradual lifting of restriction begins Monday, May 4th.

All Manitobans returning to work are now eligible to access the temporary child-care system to find a location that meets their needs. Families can use the online tool here to view available spaces and then contact centres directly to finalize arrangements.

For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit here.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: May 2, 2020 - 1:51 pm

One of Canada’s largest print companies has announced it will be permanently shutting down 15 community newspapers in Manitoba and Ontario.

Local newspapers in Altona, Carmen, Gimli, Morden, Selkirk, Stonewall and Winkler will publish their last print edition on Monday.

The Canadian Press reports the newspapers are being closed because they are not financially viable. Although digital subscriptions have soared for many traditional newspapers, some outlets say this has not made up for the collapse of print advertising industry-wide.

The Canadian government pledged $50 million dollars over a five year span to help support local journalism in Canada.

Former editor of the National Post, Ken Whyte, criticizes the support measure. Speaking to the Columbia Journalism Review, Whyte says the federal money may be too little, too late to make a difference in the struggling industry.

Details: Contributed by 730 CKDM; Published: May 2, 2020 - 5:21 am

NDP Leader Wab Kinew isn’t pleased with the Pallister government after the Liberals released documents that suggest the plans to close the Dauphin Correctional Centre were more than a year in the making.

He says the Conservatives didn’t have the courtesy or respect to tell the people in Dauphin about the plan.

“So, to me, that shows a lack of respect and a lack of consideration, because given the fact that people in Dauphin oppose this closure so much, if the government had been more honest and straight forward about their plan, then people who live in Dauphin and the surrounding area could’ve had the opportunity to lobby, to make presentations, and to try to get this decision reversed. Instead, it looks like the government tried to keep it secret for as long as possible so that there wouldn’t be a chance for people in the Parkland to get a reversal in this decision.”

In addition to the documents, Kinew thinks it’s a bad idea to move ahead with the closure during a pandemic.

“When you are transferring the people that are incarcerated there, to other places right now, you’re creating overcrowding, that leads to conditions where the virus gets spread more quickly. When you look at it from the staff side, everyone in Manitoba, for the past number of weeks and months have been told to stay indoors, except for the correctional officers at Dauphin, who are being told that they have to move and go look for new houses and places to stay, move their belongings, move their possessions. The decision to close really doesn’t seem to line up with what the public health orders have been.”

Kinew has a message for those in Dauphin that are still trying to change the government’s decision.

“I think it’s never too late to get the government to come to its senses and I also think part of the reason they announced this move at this time is that they’re hoping the folks in Dauphin forget about this next time they vote. But I would just encourage people to keep fighting and to just let the government know that you’re not going to forget what they did to Dauphin during your time in need.”

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: May 2, 2020 - 5:00 am

Rock and Roll fans might have seen this coming, but it probably hurts just same.

Rockin’ The Fields of Minnedosa has been postponed due to the COVID pandemic.

The festival scheduled for July 31st to August 2nd, 2020 has now been bumped to 2021.

Al Logan, President of Rockin’ The Fields of Minnedosa, explains the decision was not made lightly.

Promoter Rob Waloschuk says he’s encouraged by initial discussions with artists, with most acts already confirming for 2021, and the lineup for next year remaining “largely intact”.

All current tickets and camping purchased for the 2020 event will automatically be valid for 2021.

Organizers will be offering information to ticket holders in the coming weeks, and are calling for patience as they work through this unprecedented situation.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: May 1, 2020 - 2:16 pm

Public Health officials have identified four new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba today.

The total number of lab-confirmed and probable cases is 279.

There are 38 active cases, and 235 people are listed as recovered from the virus. The number of deaths remains at 6.

Five people are hospitalized; none of them are intensive care.

In the Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region, there have been 17 cases identified over the course of the pandemic.

A new drive-thru community testing site opened today in Swan River, at the Manitoba Public Insurance facility, 125 Fourth Ave. North. It operated daily from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is the PMH region’s third COVID-19 screening site. The other two are in Dauphin and Brandon.

Restoring Safe Services: Manitoba’s Pandemic and Economic Roadmap for recovery is available at www.manitoba.ca/restoringsafeservices.

For more information and to access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: May 1, 2020 - 2:00 pm

Manitobans with a love for the outdoors will be glad to hear this news.

Bookings at some Manitoba provincial park campgrounds will begin Monday morning. Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard explains that bookings will open in two phases.

The following provincial park campsites will see reservations open on Monday, May 4th at 7 a.m.

Winnipeg Beach
Betula Lake
Big Whiteshell
Brereton Lake
Caddy Lake
Falcon Beach
Falcon Lakeshore
Nutimik Lake
Opapiskaw
Otter Falls
West Hawk Lake
White Lake

Then on May 6th at 7 a.m., all remaining provincial park campsites will be open for reservations.

Campers are reminded to continue to practice social distancing, as current public health orders limit gatherings to 10 people or less.

The Conservation and Climate Minister says parks will implement enhanced cleaning procedures.

Reservations can be made online, and by phone at 1 888-482-2267.

Campers are reminded there is currently a travel ban north of the 53rd parallel, so anyone from southern Manitoba should not be travelling to a campground in the north while the ban is still in place.

National Parks across Canada remain closed until further notice.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: May 1, 2020 - 1:37 pm

A federal ban on a range of assault-style guns was announced today by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The cabinet order Trudeau presented doesn’t forbid ownership of the “military-style” weapons, but does prohibit their trading.

The order takes effect immediately, and provides current gun owners to have a two-year amnesty period. A compensation program has been discussed, but requires a bill to be passed in Parliament.

The Prime Minister explains the ban is a response to several mass shootings that have happened in Canada, from the 1989 killings at Ecole Polytechnique, to the mass shooting last week in Nova Scotia.

Guns that are not designed for sport shooting have been growing in the Canadian market, according to Public Safety Minister Bill Blair.

The Liberal’s election platform last fall promised stricter gun control measures.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: May 1, 2020 - 11:32 am

The Dauphin Agricultural Society has postponed the 129^th annual fair, scheduled for June 26^th to 28^th.

The Ag Society feels that at this time they’re unable to deliver a high-quality event that everyone would expect.

In a press release, they thank their volunteers, patrons, vendors, sponsors and community that have supported them.

The 2021 fair will take place from July 2^nd to 4^th.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: May 1, 2020 - 9:34 am

Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski doesn’t think the documents released by the Liberals concerning the closure of the Dauphin Jail should surprise anyone.

“I don’t think Mr Lamont has any smoking gun here.”

Michaleski says the decision around the courthouse and jail has been a long-standing issue, and departments have been aware of the situation for many years.

“I looked at, sort of, the timeline of what Mr Lamont was suggesting, and it does show that the government took time to consider this decision. It wasn’t a decision that was made lightly, it wasn’t a decision that was made quickly, and I think the documents that minister Lamont supposedly has does point out that the decision wasn’t taken lightly.”

Michaleski says he knew about the plans to close the jail beforehand because he was part of the announcement.

“Certainly, I knew, and I was part of that group that came and presented to council, what the decision was. Again, I appreciate the fact that there was three ministers and myself that came up and made the announcement. It wasn’t something that we were running away from, we came and made a decision, and announced it at the same time.”

Michaleski also wanted to say that he’s had discussions with the justice department on COVID in corrections.

“I know that there’s a declining number of inmates in provincial institutions and, of course, top of mind has been the safety of the staff and inmates during COVID. So I know, with declining numbers overall in provincial corrections and a declining number in Dauphin, I think there was measures taken to ensure COVID was being considered in terms of safety of the staff and inmates.”

Michaleski says he raised the issue of the DCC workers having to move during a pandemic with the department.

“The government has made a decision and it wasn’t taken lightly and there’s a timeline to wind down. Again, the concerns about COVID and extending it (The timeline of the closure), if there was some situation where the staff and inmates were at high level, but in fact, Dauphin was declining in numbers.”