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Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced yesterday, the school year will begin September 8th.
The news pleases MVSD Superintendent Dan Ward because they now have a date to work with.
“We’re also pleased that there’s not going to be a whole lot of disruption to families. I mean, this is typically when students do come back and so, I don’t think it’s going to greatly impact summer plans and I know our students and our families do need a break, they do need a rest after what’s been occurring so far. So generally, we’re happy with the announcement.”
Schools have already been preparing for the next school year and the preparation will continue over the summer. Ward says the number of scenarios they have to consider will make the work challenging.
“We hope that all students will be back on September the 8th, and if that’s the case, we know there’s going to be some social distancing requirements we’re going to have to plan for. Staggered times in terms of students moving from class to class, we’re going to have to look at our recess schedule, our break schedules, our lunch schedules, we’re going to have to look at advanced cleaning protocols, we’re going to have to look at increased safety measures and protocols, and what to do if a student becomes ill, and the list does go on.”
Ward says there’s a lot their principals and the division leadership team have been looking at and will continue to plan over the summer.
“Those plans really can’t become concrete until we know from the province exactly what school re-entry will look like and of course, that will largely depend on how the situation develops in the coming weeks.”
Goertzen says more details on the School Reopening Plan will be announced soon.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Dauphin RCMP is looking for help in finding those responsible for the vandalism.
Early in the morning Saturday, RCMP were told, an unknown group of people had broken the windows at the City of Dauphin passenger warming shelter on 1st Ave. NW.
Officers found that three windows had been broken and the suspects had fled the scene.
The passenger warming shelter is being replaced today for an estimated cost of $1,450.
If you have information that could assist the investigation, contact the Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The province is planning to give Manitobans more freedom to visit loved ones in personal care homes.
Health Minister Cameron Friesen announced the changes on Monday, which will allow a limited number of visitors to go inside nursing homes after they are screened. Visitors will be required to wear a mask.
The new rules are set to take effect Tuesday, June 23.
The rules in Manitoba had previously only allowed limited outdoor visits.
The Health Minister remarked that relaxing visitor policies will help support the physical and mental health of those living care homes — and that virtual and window-visits can only do so much.
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Dauphin City Council convened on Monday evening for a physically distanced meeting.
The meeting started off with a public hearing on the possibility of a new funeral home at 506 Main Street South.
Council also heard a presentation from the Citizens’ Climate Lobby – Dauphin chapter. Co-chairs Virginia Cail and Rebecca Van Otterloo brought forward some suggestions on how the city could monitor & reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and “respond to the need for climate mitigation and adaptation.”
In the City Manager’s report, Sharla Griffiths reiterated that property taxes were mailed out on June 8 and — for this year — are due September 30.
Griffiths says questions about tax bills can be directed to the tax clerk at City Hall, at 204-622-3204.
The City Manager also commented on Phase Three of Manitoba’s reopening plan, saying she doesn’t think this wave of relaxing restrictions will have too much of an impact on city operations.
Griffiths says there will be a regularly scheduled management meeting on Wednesday, where it will be discussed further whether Restoring Safe Services Together: Phase 3 will have any impact on the City’s operations.
The City of Dauphin is also looking at revamping their website, which was originally designed back in 2012. Council say it may take a few months before a new site launched.
You can view the meeting agenda for Monday, June 22 here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
On Monday, the provincial government confirmed the school year will begin on September 8 for students.
Manitoba's Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen revealed the news in a series of tweets.
He says school divisions have been advised that classes will begin at the traditional start time.
Schools will reopen for teachers and staff on September 2 to provide time to prepare spaces and inform staff about health protocols.
Having heard this feedback, school divisions have been advised that schools will reopen for students on September 8th after Labour Day. This is the traditional start time for students. /3 #MBPoli
— Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (@mingoertzen) June 22, 2020
Going forward, we’re still waiting on the government to provide more information on how classrooms will actually look in the new school year.
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Roblin RCMP are looking for a missing girl, who was last seen on Friday, June 19 in Valley River First Nation around 1 p.m.
16-year-old Shyla Catagas, from Valley River First Nation, was reported missing on Saturday night.
She is described as approximately 5’1” in height, 120 lbs, with long black hair and brown eyes.
Her whereabouts are unknown, but police say she may be in the area of Brandon, or Regina.
Anyone with information is asked to call Roblin RCMP at 204-937-2164 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
It was a busy morning at Dauphin Recreation Services, with the expanded reopening of the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre.
Tamara Kolida, Programs & Promotions Coordinator with Dauphin Rec, says there’s been a good deal of excitement in the air.
“Our pool opens today, and I think everyone is excited, and we’re excited to see the parking lot have some cars in there. It’s a good day.”
From June 22 to July 3rd, the pool will be operating on a limited schedule, as staff are testing the waters to see if the current set up allows enough time between programs properly clean and sanitize.
On July 6th, the schedule will open up to things like public swimming, but will be limited to a maximum of 40 people.
“Right now it’s limited, so there’s no public swimming right now because that’s really hard to monitor and clean in between. All of the programs running for the next two weeks are limited.”
Kolida says the hot tub at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre must remain closed at this time.
At this time, the south entrance is the only way into the building — where members have to sign in at the front desk and sanitize before entering the pool.
Swimming Lessons
Over 100 people had lessons cancelled in the spring due to COVID. Those people had first access to signing up for lessons last week. As of Monday, June 22, swimming lesson registration opened up to the public.
Kolida says there are still lots of July swim lessons available for the public, and encourages you to go online to register children.
Splash Park
Due to a mechanical failure, the splash park is closed at Vermillion Park for the foreseeable future.
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After two cases of COVID-19 were identified over the weekend in Manitoba, one new case has been announced this afternoon.
This brings the total number of confirmed and probable cases since early March to 314.
There are 14 active cases in the province, and no Manitobans in hospital because of the virus.
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at seven.
The total number of people tested at the three Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region designated COVID testing sites is 3,297. There have been 26 confirmed cases in the PMH region.
Dauphin's designated site has tested a total of 489 people while Swan River's has tested 164. The Brandon site has tested 2,644.
Dauphin's site is located at the Community Health Services Building Parking Lot. It is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. You do not need an appointment or need to call Health Links to go get tested. It is advised to take the online self-assessment test before visiting a testing location.
More information about the PMH COVID Designated Testing sites can be found on the PMH website.
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Over the weekend and on Friday a number of Mountain View School Division schools held parades to congratulate their graduates.
MVSD Superintendent Dan Ward thinks they went well and was even in attendance at the Roblin parade on Saturday.
“It was a great event. I have to say, that for the most part, all of these events are community initiatives put on by the grads and the parents. The schools have been very supportive, but these are really events that originated in the community, by community members, by parents, trying to find a way to recognize the grads during this, obviously difficult time.”
Ward says the great turnouts of the parades recognize the hard work and resilience of the grads. He adds that the community support has been overwhelming and thinks the grads feel it.
“I think it was really, a meaningful event and from the folks that I’ve talked to, really appreciate it.”
Ward says the parades provided a general sense of closure.
“That sense of closure, that’s what I’ve heard from the community, from our teachers, from our school administrators, was something that was truly appreciated and so the division truly appreciates the work of each school, of those groups of parents and those grads that put something together because there’s a process around that obviously that had to ensure that participants were safe, but also appropriately commemorated and celebrated.”
The division will look at potentially making grad parades a yearly tradition.
“This pandemic has obviously been difficult, but we’ve learned from it, we’ve done things differently, and there’s certain things that we’ve done that we might want to hold onto and there’ll certainly be a conversation around some of the celebratory things we did at the end of the year, in terms of hanging onto them.”
Ward has a message for the 2020 grads.
“Just want to pass on my congratulations to all of our graduates, roughly about 220 across the division. Just really humbled by the work of our families and our grads during this difficult time and just wish everyone the best.”
There are still some grad parades coming up throughout the Parkland and you can click here for a full breakdown of when and where you can get out and show your support.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Early yesterday morning around 4:40, Dauphin RCMP responded to a report of a stabbing.
A 36-year-old female was at the hospital with stab wounds.
Officers attended and the investigation led them to a home on 6th Avenue SW in Dauphin.
The RCMP are continuing the investigation and ask that if anyone has information on the incident to call them at 622-5020.
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Some national parks across Canada will be partially reopening camping services beginning Monday, June 22.
Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) has reinstated overnight camping services, but you may have to wait a little while longer to secure a campground reservation.
Reservations for select areas of Wasagaming campground will reopen late June to early July. Other areas of the campground are just about booked solid until September 6.
Camp Kippichewin will also open for reserved camping on June 22.
All oTENTiks, and other roofed accommodations remain closed until July 15, while Parks Canada assesses how these services might resume. Also, all large events are still suspended until further notice.
Park Safety
Park officials are reminding all visitors to keep a safe distance of 2 metres between others, and are also encouraging you to bring hand sanitizer and soap if possible.
You should also be aware of ticks when in the park, and brush up on bear safety before planning your trip. For more tips on how to be “bear smart” when visiting the park, click here.
Boating & Fishing
Recreational boating is allowed at the national park, as long as you have a seasonal permit and have undergone a mandatory watercraft inspection.
Fishing is allowed in Riding Mountain National Park as long as you hold a valid fishing license — which are separate from the provincially issued angling licenses. National park fishing licenses can be purchased at the Mountain View Esso in Dauphin, and also at the park entry gates.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
