Concerns For Inmates In DCC Closure

A local healthcare professional that works with Manitoba Corrections is calling attention to some issues with the closure of the Dauphin jail.

Dauphin's Kirk Nyquist is a Registered Nurse, and has worked casually at the Dauphin Correctional Centre (DCC). His first concern is about the government’s reasoning for the closure.

“I think what’s happened here is the province has closed the jail, and given the public the wrong information.”

In a press release regarding the shuttering of the jail, the government stated: “there is currently sufficient capacity at the other facilities following an overall decline in the provincial inmate population”. Nyquist says this is not accurate.

“It occurred to me that the information the government has provided the public is misleading,” and Nyquist insists the government is “misleading the public in saying the correctional system is not overburdened and they can handle the closure the Dauphin jail. In actual fact, that’s incorrect.”

“Everyone in the system knows that closing the Dauphin jail is going to burden the system.”

Furthermore, Nyquist wants people to know the decision to close the jail will create serious health issues for inmates, and put them in jeopardy.

“My issue is the health and welfare of the inmates. As a Registered Nurse and employee of Manitoba Corrections, I am mandated advocate for my clients and my patients."

Nyquist also takes issue with the decision to move forward with the closure of the DCC during the pandemic.

“Closing the jail during a pandemic means now the employees have to go out there — friends and colleagues of mine — have to go out there and find housing for their families in the middle of a pandemic. So as a nurse, I’m now worried about not just the inmates.”

Nyquist brought his concerns to senior managers, the senior nursing officer, senior management at Manitoba Corrections, and the leader of the opposition. He tells CKDM he hasn’t received a response in over 7 weeks.

“They are breaking their own policies by doing this. I’ve asked them why they are doing this, and no one has answered the question.”

Nyquist has voiced his concerns in a letter to the Ombudsman, and is now waiting for them to work through their process.

The Dauphin native says he’s probably the only person willing to go this far and speak out, because he’s not concerned about his job. “I'm a casual employee and I have a part-time job elsewhere,” he explained.

“I need other people to understand that as a society, we have to be concerned about our vulnerable people. People that are incarcerated in Manitoba are vulnerable people. We have a responsibility to them.”

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Apr 29, 2020 - 6:42 pm

It started as a lark, but now International Yellow T-Shirt Day has reached its 40^th anniversary! Fork River's René Hübener, also known as the Parkland Poet, was 17 years old and in high school when he started Yellow T-Shirt Day to see how many people would wear yellow t-shirts.

“People actually wore them! So, in the following years, we decided to start sending out press releases to the media and we found over the next 2, 3, 4 years, it really caught on with the media and more and more people were wearing yellow t-shirts to celebrate Yellow T-Shirt Day. To the point where in 1984, it became an international news story on the radio and every English speaking radio station in the world was running a story about International Yellow T-Shirt Day.”

1984 was the biggest year for International Yellow T-Shirt Day, and Hübener was interviewed over 300 times and also had one interview running on a radio network that broadcasts to 750 radio stations around the world.

When asked how he feels now that the day has reached 40 years, Hübener jokingly said, "Old!"

“It’s pretty bizarre, we’ve kept it going, my friends and I, just because it’s been so much fun over the years and we had our little hey day in the ’80s there. But, on this 40^th anniversary, it really is cool to think that as a group of friends we continue to wear yellow, share yellow, on the International Yellow T-Shirt Facebook page.”

Something he’s noticed about wearing yellow on this day over the years, is the fun that those participating have.

“Yellow is a very happy, positive colour. It’s a neat thing to be a part of something that other people are a part of, and in this case, it’s a fun, happy, and bright colour, so I encourage everyone on Thursday, April 30^th (Tomorrow) to wear yellow and just take part in it and be happy.”

While the virus has put a damper on the fun they were planning to have for the 40^th, René has his eyes set on a big 50^th year.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Apr 29, 2020 - 3:00 pm

A man has died after a roll-over collision just outside of Russell.

On April 29, at around 5:40 am RCMP responded to a fatal single-vehicle rollover on Highway 16, West of Highway 83.

The 29-year old male driver from Saskatchewan was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

Russell RCMP and a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist are investigating.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Apr 29, 2020 - 2:22 pm

One new case of COVID-19 has been announced today, bringing the total number of cases in Manitoba to 273.

As of today, there are 54 active cases and 213 people have been recovered.

The number of deaths remains at 6 and five people are hospitalized.

To find the most up to date information about COVID-19, visit Manitoba.ca/covid19.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Apr 29, 2020 - 1:44 pm

The City of Dauphin is extending the deadline for the Manitoba 150 tree giveaway.

May 13th is the new deadline to get your form filled out and submitted to the City.

Forms can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or submitted at the drop box at City Hall.

The following trees are still available:

Delta Hackberry
Trembling Aspen
American Linden
Discovery Elm
Triumph Hybrid Elm

You can visit dauphin.ca for more information.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Apr 29, 2020 - 1:16 pm

We now have details about Manitoba’s reopening plan.

Premier Brian Pallister laid out the multi-phased effort — gradually reopening services, businesses, and some recreational opportunities — while still maintaining social distancing.

Phase One begins on May 4th, and will see priority elective surgeries restarted, diagnostics screening will resume and some non-essential businesses will reopen. Businesses must limit occupancy to 50 percent of normal business levels or one person per 10 square metres, whichever is lower.

Services, businesses and venues included in Phase One are:

•   non-urgent surgery and diagnostic procedures;
•   therapeutic and medical services;
•   retail businesses;
•   restaurants – patio/walk-up services;
•   hair salons;
•   museums, galleries and libraries;
•   seasonal day camps; and
•   outdoor recreation and campgrounds.

Phase Two will begin no earlier than June 1st, and we still may have critical public health measures and travel restrictions remain in place. More non-essential businesses will be considered for reopening, and public gathering sizes may be increased.

Businesses and services reopening during Phase Two may include.
•   additional personal services, such as nail salons;
•   restaurants – dine-in services;
•   non-contact children’s sports; and
•   film production.

The Department of Families will continue working with the child-care community to expand the availability of temporary child-care.

Looking ahead to future reopening phases, the premier says public gathering sizes will be increased and other non-essential businesses — such as bars, pools and spas, movie theatres and indoor recreational facilities — will be able to fully reopen. Travel restrictions may be eased at that time.

Mass gatherings — like concerts, summer festivals and major sporting events — will not be considered before September 2020, according to chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin.

The province will continue to reevaluate the situation around COVID-19 and adjust plans accordingly.

To view today's full reopening plan released by the province, click here.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Apr 29, 2020 - 12:53 pm

Five people are facing charges after a traffic stop near the RM of Ellice-Archie.

On Saturday, April 25th at 1:30 a.m., Russell RCMP pulled over a vehicle with 5 occupants.

The 32-year-old man from Birdtail Sioux First Nation driving the car informed police he did not have a license. It was later determined he was also prohibited from driving.

He was then arrested for impaired driving after he was found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 1.5 times the legal limit.

The driver faces charges of Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Impaired Operation Over 80, Drive while Prohibited, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, three firearms offences, Open Liquor and Possession of Unstamped Tobacco.

A search of the vehicle located a .22 cal. firearm, 2400 unmarked cigarettes, a small quantity of marijuana, prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia and open liquor.

Four other passengers, a 69-year-old male from Binscarth, a 47-year-old female from Waywayseecappo, a 56-year-old male and a 60-year-old female, both from Brandon, also face charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Firearm in a Motor Vehicle and Possession of Unstamped Tobacco.

All five of the accused have been released, and are scheduled to appear in a Russell courtroom on September 23rd.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Apr 29, 2020 - 11:23 am

The Manitoba Liberals have released documents that suggest the Pallister government had plans to close the Dauphin Correctional Centre (DCC) more than a year before the announcement was made.

The documents were obtained in a Freedom of Information request.

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont tells CKDM the government “had every intention of closing that jail down, but waited until after the election to spring it on people.”

The first briefing note recommending a shutdown is from November 28, 2018. The premier received a similar briefing note on January 15, 2019. A third briefing note was directed to the Minister of Justice on March 11, 2019.

The Liberal leader and MLA for St. Boniface says the “worst possible thing we could be doing is laying people off”, and thinks the government should be doing everything they can to save every single job.

Lamont also criticized the decision to make correctional workers relocate their families during a pandemic.

You can view the documents and the release from the Manitoba Liberals here.

The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba was not immediately available for comment.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Apr 28, 2020 - 6:13 pm

Manitoba’s road to re-opening is beginning with increased testing capacity in the province.

That was the message today from Premier Brian Pallister.

With the help of Dynacare, the province expects to triple the province's current capacity by the end of the summer.

In efforts to increase testing, Dynacare will begin significantly increasing COVID-19 testing alongside Manitoba’s primary public health lab, Cadham Provincial Lab.

Effective immediately, the province is expanding testing to anyone who is showing symptoms of COVID-19.

People showing mild symptoms including a cough, runny nose, sore throat, and fever will now be able to receive testing.

The Manitoba Premier and says this is a crucial step before re-opening.

“It’s necessary we continue to increase our testing so we can ensure the health and wellbeing of Manitobans through effective monitoring of COVID as we work towards a strategy of re-starting our economy.”

Pallister is set to release more details about Manitoba`s re-opening plan tomorrow.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Apr 28, 2020 - 4:20 pm

Some UFO videos released by the Pentagon on Monday have resulted in quite a reaction online.

Chris Rutkowski is a science writer in Manitoba that specializes in strange things like UFO’s. He’s not surprised the videos taken by the United States Navy have garnered so much attention.

“The fact that it’s attracting so much attention shows that people really want to know. We’ve always wondered if we’re alone in the universe.”

Chris explains these videos have actually been circulating the internet for quite some time. The three videos were originally taken between 2004 and 2015. The Pentagon explains it officially released the footage to “clear up any misconceptions as to whether or not the footage that has been circulating is real.”

Chris thinks it’s actually led to a lot more questions than answers.

“What we have are these videos that are very interesting; by themselves, they don’t seem to suggest aliens. But they seem to zip around in ways that people can’t really ascribe to an aircraft. The question is: are we looking at something out of this world, or something that’s just a little bit strange?”

To read more about UFO reports in Canada, click here. Chris says UFO sightings in Canada can be reported at the 'UFOs Above Canada' Facebook group.

To see the videos, click here.