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Until April in Riding Mountain National Park, FireSmart work is continuing with tree removal in Wasagaming and the North Shore subdivision of Clear Lake.
The removal will help protect homes, cottages, and businesses from wildfire.
About 2 hectares of tree thinning and removal will take place at the north end of Ta-wa-pit Drive and 8 hectares to the north of the North Shore Road.
Parks Canada staff and private contractors are working on the project.
Before Parks Canada removes trees and vegetation, all projects undergo an environmental assessment to ensure that mitigation measures are in place to maintain the overall ecology of the site, and that tree felling is conducted outside bird-nesting and migratory periods.
This makes Parks Canada a recognized leader in conservation.
Through safe and effective fire management, Parks Canada is reducing the danger of wildfire to the public, infrastructure and neighbouring lands, while improving the ecological health of Canada’s forests and grasslands.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Every year, people in the Parkland make New Year's resolutions.
Common resolutions are to eat healthier or exercise more often, but probably the most popular one is to get your finances in order.
Luke Love, a Partner at Love and Persson Group, says financial management is easier than you may think.
“The best thing that people can do, is get a good handle on what their monthly expenses are, what they have going into their bank account, and what they have going out on a monthly basis,” said Love. “Then that gives them a good starting point for the rest of the year.”
He says there a few basic things people can do to help with debt management. Instead of keeping a balance on your credit card and making minimum payments, try and pay it off as soon as you can.
He added that he sees a lot of people making minimum payments on their credit cards while having thousands of dollars in a savings account.
“First things first, we should be trying to get all of that money shifted towards paying down that credit card, where you’re paying sometimes 20 percent plus interest on whatever balance you’re carrying over to the next month,” said Love. “Where, in your savings account, you’re lucky to be earning 1 percent.”
He said ideally, you don’t want to be carrying a credit card balance from month to month, but if you are, finding strategies to start paying it down will be helpful in the long run.
Love added that most of the time, like many other New Year’s resolutions, financial management goals are unrealistic. He said the best way to set a realistic goal is to make an appointment with a financial planner.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Dauphin – Swan River – Neepawa MP Dan Mazier has been named Deputy Shadow Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Mazier is humbled with the new role.
“I have experience through Keystone Ag Producers and different environmental organizations. But to be named deputy shadow minister is a very humbling experience.”
Opposition parties typically name members to key portfolios to hold the corresponding government ministers to account and to help form better policy.
Mazier will be learning on the fly as a deputy shadow minister.
“So probably, if the shadow minister can’t talk, on the environmental issues and climate change issues, of the committee or the party, I’ll probably be the second in command that would be talking about it. I would imagine, again this is not knowing what to expect.”
To go along with being the deputy shadow minister of environment and climate change, Mazier will hold a seat on the Standing Committee that goes along with the department.
“So it’s responsible, not only for climate change issues like the carbon tax, which is a huge issue for Canada, but it also looks after the parks. So, Riding Mountain National Park being in the riding, I think it’ll be a good, positive move as far as me being at the table, being made aware of what’s actually some of the rules and regulations are that are being proposed for parks. Of course, I’ll always have my eye out for what’s going to happen with our Riding Mountain National Park.”
Mazier adds that a lot of good things will happen because he’ll be right with the people that can make the difference and can voice the concerns of the constituents right there instead of needing to go to other MP’s and departments.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The RCMP has released the stats from the third week of the 2019 Holiday Checkstop Program.
The week, spanning from December 16th to 22nd resulted in over 3480 vehicles being checked at 97 checkstops.
18 people received a Criminal Code Impaired Driving offence, 16 for alcohol and 2 for refusal.
The highest blood/alcohol reading was 0.28.
4 alcohol or drug-related tiered administrative roadside suspensions were handed out.
Despite having more checkstops than the same period in 2018, the stats were down as 2018’s week 3 saw about 4000 vehicles checked and 23 people get charged with Criminal Code Impaired Driving offences.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
2019 was a weird and wacky year full of newsworthy events.
As we enter 2020, 730 CKDM has compiled a list of the top news stories in the Parkland for 2019.
10. Millions Of Tonnes Of Lithium Found In Snow Lake
In January, a geologist discovered a 6.3-million-tonne reserve of lithium in the Snow Lake area.
The geologist’s company, Snow Lake Resources, said it was planning on building multiple mines in the area, which would employ 500 people.
The job prospects were welcomed, as other companies announced layoffs.
Dauphin’s annual summer festival had a different kind of vibe this year, as Canada’s longest-running country music festival celebrated its 30th birthday.
The weekend featured an outstanding lineup of artists including Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Streetheart, Brothers Osborne, Old Dominion, Jason Aldean, and Toby Keith.
Festival goers braved blistering heat and thunderstorms to take in the celebration.
The weekend saw 9,000 people come through the gates to watch 54 artists over the 4-day festival.
Tickets for next year’s Countryfest are available now.
In March, a series of traffic stops led to the seizure of a large amount of cocaine, as well as meth, drug paraphernalia, and weapons.
One traffic stop on Main Street in Dauphin resulted in the discovery of 764 grams of cocaine.
Two days later, another traffic stop saw police seize 11 grams of meth, a Taser, and a can of bear mace.
A Tootinaowaziibeeng Band Councillor, named Steven Gerald Catagas, was arrested on charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and failing to comply with a recognizance.
29-year-old Dauphin resident, Preston Rodger Flatfoot, was also arrested and charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon x 3, and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.
7. Freak Accident Stops Ebb and Flow Powwow
On August 16th, the Ebb and Flow Powwow was cut short, by an incredibly unlikely event.
The centre pole was struck by lightning.
13 people were sent to the hospital with minor injuries and were later released.
No one was seriously hurt in the incident.
6. Fall Full Of Elections
The fall saw both a provincial and a federal election.
It all started in August when after months of speculation, Premier Brain Pallister called an early election, with a set date of September 10th.
The campaign was a rather short one at just under a month-long, but it was a harsh one. PC Leader Pallister and NDP Leader Wab Kinew traded jabs on the campaign trail, and during the televised debate.
The local campaign was much more civil, with only 3 candidates running.
The PC candidate was the incumbent Brad Michaleski, who just three years prior had won the previously orange riding. The NDP candidate was veteran politician Darcy Scheller, and the Liberal candidate was newcomer Cathy Scofield-Singh.
The candidates participated in a couple of forums in Grandview and Dauphin, where they aired out their plans if they were to be elected as MLA.
Election night saw Brad Michaleski once again win his seat, and the PC Party of Manitoba claim a majority government.
Days after the provincial election ended, the writ dropped for the federal election to be held on October 21st.
Like the provincial campaign before it, the federal campaign was fast-paced, hectic, and mean.
The leaders of the federal parties swapped jabs and back-handed compliments during the televised debates. The obvious feud was between Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who were fighting for a prospective majority.
Locally, there were 6 candidates. The Liberal candidate was once again newcomer Cathy Scofield-Singh, former KAP president Dan Mazier ran for the Conservatives, veteran Kate Storey was running for the Green Party, former Dauphin MP, Laverne Lewecky was the NDP candidate, Frank Godon was the candidate for the newly-formed People’s Party of Canada, and Jenni Johnson represented the Christian Heritage Party of Canada.
The local candidates were just as civilized in their forums as their provincial candidates.
Election night saw Conservative Dan Mazier win by a landslide but federally, it was a different story. Justin Trudeau’s Liberals had won the election, but with a minority.
The results of the hard-fought election saw two federal leaders step down, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and Conservative Leader Andrew Sheer both resigned.
On June 23rd, the Husky Gas Bar in Dauphin was robbed at gunpoint.
A man entered the station carrying a long-barreled shot gun and demanded cash and cigarettes, he then proceeded to strike two employees with the gun, take cash and cigarettes, and fled on foot.
The man ran to a nearby apartment complex, where a lengthy standoff ensued. The 18-year-old suspect surrendered at 1:30 am the next morning.
Recently, 18-year-old Michael Chartrand was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the incident.
4. Hometown Hockey Hits Dauphin
The community was abuzz in November as Roger’s Hometown Hockey set up shop in Dauphin.
The event is a festival that travels coast to coast and showcases small Canadian towns with great hockey stories.
The festival featured many family-friendly attractions like the Roger’s Fan Hub where people could test their skills, and a street hockey rink for the kids to play the day away.
Part of the festival was a national broadcast on Sportsnet with hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone. Hockey legends joined MacLean and Slone during the Dauphin stop. Fans had the chance to meet former Dauphin King and Stanley Cup Champion Butch Goring, Dauphin’s own Olympic silver medallist Brigette Lacquette, and former NHL tough guy Colton Orr.
The festivities also lined up with a minor hockey tournament, a DRCSS Clippers game, and the Parkland U18 Ranger’s Ukrainian Night, which saw Hometown Hockey host Tara Slone and Colton Orr perform the ceremonial puck drop.
During the national broadcast, Dauphin residents filled the area around the studio, showing off their love for hockey and the community.
Tara Slone had the full Dauphin experience by having the chance to dance with Canada’s National Riding and Dancing Cossacks.
There was also a feature done on Dauphin Kings legend and Stanley Cup-winning coach Barry Trotz, where he spoke about the effect that Dauphin had on his career.
As Hometown Hockey came to a close, CKDM's Isaac Wihak interviewed Ron MacLean, if you'd like to hear the full interview, click here.
3. Tough Year For Agriculture
The 2019 crop year had started out like any other, full of potential.
A hot, dry summer followed resulting in many beef producers in the Interlake and Parkland regions declaring states of agricultural disaster, due to the lack of feed growth during the year.
The hot and dry summer was followed by the opposite end of the spectrum, a very wet and cold fall, starting with the Thanksgiving Snowstorm.
The storm, along with lots of rain, resulted in flooded fields and slowed harvest operations. The harvest that would usually end in October was stretched into mid-November, with many crops, like potatoes, not delivering adequate yields.
On top of the harsh growing conditions, beef producers were given a shock shortly after the provincial election.
The Government of Manitoba has announced changes to the province’s Crown Lands Leasing Program, leaving many beef producers concerned about the future of their farms.
The changes included a cap of 15 years on new leases with no potential of renewal, the removal of the ability to transfer land leases to a new owner, or even to a family member.
Concerned ranchers gathered by the hundreds at local meetings to air their grievances and to figure out a route forward.
Provincial ag advocacy groups like Manitoba Beef Producers and Keystone Agriculture Producers lobbied the government for changes to the new rules.
The government proposed small changes like allowing leaseholders the first right of renewal before their lease was put up for auction.
Even though changes have been proposed, none of them have been put into effect.
2. Thanksgiving Snowstorm Cripples Province
After a hot and dry summer, Manitoba was hit by an overwhelming snowstorm over the Thanksgiving weekend.
The storm dumped over 70 cm of snow in some parts of the province, resulting in highways being closed for the weekend. Every highway out of Dauphin was closed at one point in the weekend.
The wet, heavy snow knocked down over 2000 Hydro poles leaving communities in the dark for weeks, including the entire city of Portage la Prairie being without power for days.
Premier Pallister declared a state of emergency, which brought in help from other provinces including Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
The damage the snowstorm caused was estimated in the $110 million dollar range.
The warm temperatures that followed the snowstorm, flooded fields and caused the City of Winnipeg to open the Red River Floodway in the fall for the first time ever.
1. Manhunt Grips Country
In July, a young tourist couple was found dead in northern B.C., along with an unknown body found next to a burnt-out truck.
The truck belonged to two teens from Port Alberni, B.C named Bryer Schmegelsky and Kam McLeod. The teens were considered missing persons.
The B.C. teens were later determined to be suspects in the murders of 24-year-old American Chynna Deese and her Australian boyfriend, 23-year-old Lucas Fowler.
A few days after the bodies were found, the boys were spotted at a Co-op in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan driving a grey 2011 Toyota Rav-4.
Shortly after, that Rav-4 was found, burnt-out, Gillam, Manitoba.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
On Sunday the RCMP announced they were looking for a missing man from Dauphin.
41-year-old Robert Gilbert Genaille had been missing since Boxing Day.
Today the RCMP say Genaille has been safely located.
The RCMP thanks the public and the media for their assistance.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Manitoba RCMP were called to the scene of a VIA passenger train derailment this morning in the Katrime area, which is between Neepawa and Portage.
The train had 12 people on board.
Passengers and crew are being assessed but at this time the injuries do not appear to be serious.
The derailment occurred at approximately 6:45 am.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Aspen Insurance in Dauphin is expanding.
They have acquired A/C Insurance of Winnipegosis.
Tyler Carefoot, president of Aspen is excited.
“Aspen Insurance is very excited to announce that we’ve acquired A/C Insurance, it’s something that we’ve been exploring for the past several months and it fits our business model. Not only are we working with our Dauphin and area customers but there’s an opportunity to acquire A/C Insurance and we’re excited to be a part of their community.”
Carefoot says there isn’t going to be a lot of change.
“Other than the re-branding of Aspen Insurance. Long-time staff member Kelly is going to be there, she’s staying on and she’ll be supported and complemented by some of our current staff here with Aspen Insurance. We plan to go up to Winnipegosis for sure once a week, considering two times a week on an appointment basis. Otherwise, it’s business as usual, there will be some growing pains with the change, but that’s to be expected.”
The official take over day is tomorrow and they’re open for business in Winnipegosis on Thursday.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Dauphin RIDE program had another successful year.
Sho-Sho Shuttleworth-Lafontaine says the program made sure a lot of people made it home safely.
“The weekends we were running, we had lots of participating people that were needing safe rides home,” said Shuttleworth-Lafontaine. “We were able to get everyone home in a fairly speedy fashion.”
Sho-Sho added that in the program’s first week they were struggling with volunteers, but by the next week they had enough to run smoothly.
That being said, New Year’s Eve is the RIDE Program’s busiest night of the year, and they are looking for more volunteers.
Some things that Sho-Sho said to keep in mind is they will go wherever you need to go whether that be Ste. Rose or Winnipegosis, but they want volunteers to be done driving at 3 am. If you need a ride, they recommend calling far enough in advance that the driver can be home by 3.
The Dauphin RIDE Program will drive you and your vehicle home from wherever you are, if you need a ride call 204-638-5707
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Manitoba has proclaimed the Watershed District Act and added two regulations to form a watershed-based approach to watershed management.
The act will modernize the Conservation District Program by changing districts to watershed-based boundaries and adding some flexibility for local watershed districts.
The flexibility is for board appointments and terms, calculating municipal contributions, handling board contracts and agreements related to water and soil projects that build watershed resiliency in a changing climate.
The changes made are renaming conservation districts to watershed districts with watershed-based boundaries, allowing partnerships with non-municipal entities to improve watershed management plan implementation, identifying a consistent approach to the transition into watershed districts, and clarifying watershed district board policies and procedures.
Manitoba has also announced more than $150 million in funding to the GROW Trust and the Conservation Trust.
The Conservation Trust is intended in part to help support the work of the now Watershed Districts including for watershed planning and projects.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Starting on Wednesday, Manitobans will no longer have to pay PST on the preparation of wills.
Finance Minister Scott Fielding said that the move is part of the government’s 2020 Tax Rollback Guarantee.
“Many Manitobans do not have wills and reducing the cost may encourage more people to get one,” said Fielding. “Our government remains committed to making Manitoba’s tax environment more fair and affordable.”
The move will remove PST from the preparation of wills, health-care directives, and powers of attorney when created in conjunction with a will or a health-care directive.
The government predicts the move will save people nearly $1 million a year.
Fielding added that the 2020 Tax Rollback Guarantee, which was part of the government’s 100-action plan, and throne speech, will include the removal of probate fees starting July 1st.
“By removing probate fees and the provincial sales tax to prepare a will, we will save the average family estate more than $2,600 in unnecessary death taxes,” said Fielding.
The province promises to fully implement the 2020 Tax Rollback Guarantee over the next four years.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
