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CancerCare Manitoba has received the single largest donation to a healthcare organization in the province’s history.
16 months after first finding out about the gift, Patti Smith, CancerCare Manitoba Foundation president, was on hand Wednesday as the foundation received a donation of $27 million dollars. The money comes from the Paul Albrechtsen Foundation.
Albrechtsen immigrated to Canada from Denmark in 1954 with just $50 to his name and he settled in Virden, where he established Paul’s Hauling Ltd., which at the time was a one-truck transportation operation that hauled salt water and oil for the petroleum industry. It has since grown to where it is today with branches in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
Smith says the donation is life-changing and it will provide those who suffer from cancer more hope moving forward.
“I saw a lot of tears on Wednesday, this is a massive gift,” said Smith. “I can hardly imagine what it must feel like to invest money in something like this that can make such a big difference immediately."
Smith also said she was overwhelmed and after keeping the secret for 16 months, she is very pleased that the big news is now public.
Of the $27 million donated, $17 million of which will be going towards the refurbishment of the research lab facilities on the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors of the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, which will be renamed the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute.
"The facility is more than 20 years old and standards have changed," said Smith.
$4 million is for a suite of single-cell technology machines that will allow for different analysis of how cells are reacting and interacting with each other in a tumour. $2.5 million will go towards genomics and $3.5 million will go towards the building of the Paul Albrechtsen Centre for Hope at the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre in Brandon.
“This money really allows us to propel cancer research forward,” offered Smith.
The Paul Albrechtsen Foundation in the past also donated $13.4 million to the Health Sciences Centre Foundation and $7 million to the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, as well as another $8 million to the Reh-Fit Centre. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights was also the recipient of $1.5 million.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Virden RCMP is investigating a fatal hit and run that happened yesterday in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.
Police got a report of a deceased male found on Cemetery Road in the community around 9:15 am. Officers attended the scene and found signs that the victim had been hit by a vehicle.
The investigation found that the victim was a 21-year-old male from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Police say he'd been walking with friends when he split off from the group to head down Cemetery Road.
Early this morning, officers seized a vehicle in the community believed to be involved in the collision and the examination of the vehicle is ongoing.
The RCMP Forensic Collision Reconstructionist and the RCMP Criminal Collision Investigative Team are assisting with the investigation.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Update:
A group of 5th-grade students from St. John's-Ravenscourt School was taking a tour of Fort Gibraltar when the raised bridge they were crossing broke beneath their feet.
A total of 28 people were assessed for injuries and 16 children and one adult were taken to hospital.
3 students were taken to hospital in unstable conditions, one of which will be monitored throughout the night. The remaining students will be discharged from the hospital over the rest of the day.
Reports say the worst of the injuries were broken bones and none of them were considered life-threatening in nature.
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16 children and one adult were injured in a serious fall from a raised platform at Fort Gibraltar in Winnipeg.
At 9:55 am on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a school group that had fallen 15-20 feet. inside the fort.
Out of the group of children, ranging from ages 10-11, 3 of them were taken to the hospital in unstable conditions, and the rest remained in a stable state.
There's been no other word on the extent of the injuries, or what school group was involved.
This story will be updated today after 2 pm, as a news conference will unveil more details.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The Neepawa RCMP is investigating a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) rollover that took the life of a 12-year-old girl.
On May 1st, police responded to a report of a UTV rollover on Road 76 West, approximately 400 meters south of the Road 83 North intersection. When officers got to the scene, they found three females who had been ejected from the vehicle.
The investigation determined that the vehicle had slid into the ditch before rolling several times. None of the occupants were wearing seatbelts or helmets at the time of the crash.
The driver and one passenger, who were both 14 years old, were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The other passenger, a 12-year-old, was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Four days later, on May 5th, she succumbed to her injuries.
The investigation is continuing with the assistance of a RCMP Forensic Collision Reconstructionist.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
One of the suspects in a 2021 robbery in the RM of Alonsa has been sentenced to nearly 7 years in prison.
On August 9th, 2021, the Ste. Rose RCMP received a report of an armed robbery at a business on Highway 50. Police reported that three men wearing masks robbed the store with firearms, and stole an undisclosed amount of money and cigarettes.
The suspect vehicle was found on Sandy Bay First Nation, and after a traffic stop in the community, all three suspects were arrested.
One of the suspects, Francis Beaulieu, was sentenced to 2524 days in prison earlier this week, after receiving credit for time served.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
A place for people to flex their creativity and build items of their wildest imagination will be coming to the city of Dauphin.
The Creative Common will be looking to provide the skills and tools that any crafty individual would need to bring thoughts and ideas into the physical world.
This collaborative workspace will have a lot of different equipment, and TCC Board Member Joe Houston tells about the selection of tools that could be crafting anything from wooden tables to complex robotics.
"We expect to offer a wide array of equipment including, but not limited to, 3-D printers, sewing machines, soldering stations, woodworking tools, and an audio recording space."
Aside from just offering the tools for people to use, The Creative Common will offer classes on the use of these tools if you're looking to build skills as well as crafts.
Houston's goals reach a lot further than simply educating and equipping people for their creative endeavors. He's even looking to build something more than just the workspace.
"Our Makers is designed to be open to members of all skill levels and backgrounds and we're hoping to create that welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. the goal of the space is to foster a vibrant and supportive community of makers innovators and entrepreneurs to can come together, share ideas, and inspire each other."
This space is slated to open late in the fall/winter season this year in Downtown Dauphin.
While there's still a lot of work to be done in setting up The Creative Common, Houston is excited to build it, and the community around it.
To stay up to date on the progress of The Creative Common in Dauphin, you can find their facebook page here.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Around 10:40 pm on Monday, May 29th, the Winnipegosis RCMP responded to a shooting on Migizi Street on Skownan First Nation.
Officers and emergency crews responded immediately, and a 32-year-old man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
An investigation found that the victim was outside talking to two male suspects in a black Jeep when an argument started. One of the suspects shot the victim from the vehicle, and then the pair fled the scene.
The vehicle is described as a black 4-door Jeep with tinted windows.
Description of suspect 1:
Male, Indigenous in appearance, approximately 30-40 years of age with a beard.
Description of suspect 2:
Male, Caucasian in appearance, approximately 30-40 years of age wearing a white hoodie.
This appears to be a targeted incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Winnipegosis RCMP at 204-656-7003, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The fire ban that has been in effect in the Municipality of Roblin since May 8th was lifted this morning.
All open fires(rural or urban), with the exception of personal propane BBQs and stoves, were affected by the ban.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Boris Talpash loves spending his time with others. Whether it's a family member or a student or anything in between, Boris is always ready for a conversation and in this case, a joke or 12.
For the past nearly two decades, Talpash has been working within Mountain View School Division and he's shared hundreds of jokes and made hundreds of students and staff smile in the process. Talpash spent one year as a bus driver before he started working as a custodian at Gilbert Plains Elementary where he spent eight and a half years.
"I would always tell a joke before the kids got off the bus," said Talpash. "I wanted to make sure they had a smile on their face to start the day before they went into the classroom."
Now for the past nearly 10 years, Boris has been working at the Gilbert Plains Collegiate Institute. As the school year continues to draw to a close, so does Boris' time as a custodian at MVSD as Talpash is set to hang up his broom and mop and retire at the end of the current school year.
That tradition of telling a joke before the kids went into school while he was driving a bus has now carried into his time at GPCI as often, Talpash tells a joke over the school's intercom. On top of that, Boris is joined by another teacher every Friday and they go from room to room and tell a joke. Boris' saying is 'Come to GPCI for the jokes and stay for the education'.
While Boris will miss spending his time at the school telling jokes and keeping everything sparkly clean, he is grateful for the opportunity he was given nearly 20 years ago.
"I hope these kids can be as lucky as I have been over the years," said Talpash. "To not only have a job I like, but one that I love. I got to meet so many different amazing people over the years from around the world. It has been a great ride."
Boris said jokingly that he will be looking at his call display every day for the first six months in case the school is looking for a substitute. So while Boris won't be seen as often at the collegiate following this school year, he is getting a send-off.
Starting at 10:30 at the GPCI Gym on June 7, everyone is welcome to join in celebrating all of Boris' contributions.
You're also encouraged to bring a joke for the joke jar and plaid attire is encouraged as that was and still remains his go-to choice of attire. If you're unable to make it out, you can still send in a 10-second video by calling the school at 548-2551.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
One man kept the Brandon Police Service(BPS) busy over the weekend.
On Friday around 9 pm, officers responded to a report of a broken car window in the 300 block of Percy Street. When police arrived, they were informed that the suspect was the sibling of the caller, and the suspect wasn't welcome at the Percy Street home.
When officers approached the car, the suspect was still inside, and when he was asked to step out, he did so with a hatchet in hand. The police on the scene were able to disarm the suspect and took him into custody.
The BPS held the suspect overnight and released him on Saturday morning with a court date of July 10th.
Then, around 7:25 pm Saturday night, BPS officers responded to a motorcycle theft on the 700 block of 19th Street.
Officers were told that the owner had seen a man pushing the motorcycle away, but when he ran after the suspect, he dropped the bike and ran away. The suspect took the motorcycle helmet with him.
Officers found and arrested the suspect nearby, who turned out to be the same person they had arrested the night before. He was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, theft under $5000, and mischief to property.
The suspect was remanded into custody because of the short time between his release and reoffending. He's scheduled to appear in court today.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Chemawawin RCMP are searching for 17-year-old Frank Oteskan from Chemawawin Cree Nation, who was last seen on Tuesday, May 23rd.
He was last seen in the evening of the 23rd on Sesame Street in Chemawawin Cree Nation (Easterville), which is a bit north of the Parkland, off of highway 60.
He is described as 5' tall, 130 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing all black clothing. His family and police are concerned for his well-being.
If anyone has information related to his whereabouts, call Chemawawin RCMP at 204-329-2000. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.
[Frank Oteskan - Image provided by the RCMP]
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
