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All previous extreme cold warnings are now over.
ORIGINAL STORY:
It has been a chilly week so far and it looks to get a little chillier south of Dauphin.
Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for Minnedosa - Riding Mountain National Park and Brandon - Neepawa - Carberry - Treherne. Periods of cold bringing windchills of -40 are expected this morning and through the week.
The worst of the cold weather will occur at night and in the early morning hours. Temperatures should return to seasonal norms by the weekend. Click here for a map of weather alerts in Manitoba.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Russell RCMP responded to an assault at a business on Main Street in Russell last Thursday, December 15th.
Reportedly, a woman who appeared to be intoxicated had entered the business and assaulted an employee. The employee then locked themself in a back room and called police.
Officers attended quickly and were able to arrest the female, who became combative and spat at officers. While in transport to the detachment, she was kicking at the windows of the police vehicle. Upon arrival at the detachment, she attempted to assault other officers. She also refused to identify herself.
Just before the assault at the business on Main Street in Russell, the female approached an adult male who was shoveling snow with a five-year-old child and struck the child with her purse before leaving the scene. The child was not physically injured.
33-year-old Renee Gambler of Waywayseecappo First Nation is charged with:
- 2 counts of Assaulting a Peace Officer
- 2 counts of Obstructing a Peace Officer
- 2 counts of Resisting Arrest
- 2 counts of Assault
- 2 counts of Mischief
- 1 count of Assault with a Weapon
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The Canada Post office in Winnipegosis is closed for now due to unexpected staffing issues. In the meantime, customers can pick up their mail at the Fork River post office, which will have extended hours.
Keep in mind that you will need to provide valid government-issued photo identification to pick up your mail.
Canada Post says they are working on a contingency plan to re-open the Winnipegosis post office as soon as possible and apologize to their customers for the inconvenience.
If you have any questions about postal services, you can contact the customer service team at Canada Post by going to canadapost.ca or calling 1-866-607-6301.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The Canadian crop hail industry provided 10-billion dollars in coverage for 2022, which is a record-setting amount, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA).
The association also notes that producers bought more insurance in 2022 in the face of heightened input costs, inflation, and stronger crop prices. Any producers who delayed getting insurance likely had issues finding it as there was an unanticipated 20% increase in demand.
Insurance payments to producers in the prairie provinces will be more than 265-million dollars while premiums producers paid totaled over 375-million dollars. This makes for an industry loss ratio of 71%.
Manitoba reported a loss ratio of 43%, compared with Saskatchewan at 68%, and Alberta at 98%.
The CCHA has been serving the crop insurance industry since 1915 and represents the interests of Canadian crop hail managing agencies and insurance companies.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Prairie Mountain Health is preparing for the holidays, and part of that includes making it easy for people to find out what emergency departments are open, and when.
The regional health authority knows it can be frustrating for people to be uncertain about what services they can access, but there is even more uncertainty around the holidays says CEO Brian Schoonbaert.
"As we know we have been having some issues, obviously with staffing, both nursing, physician staffing, and others. It gets particularly worse during, unfortunately, the holiday season, because it's more difficult for us to get agency nurses for example and alike. So we want to make sure that people know where they can go, and how they can find out what's open and when."
One way that PMH is doing this is by making sure its webpage which has emergency service hours and locations is updated as quickly as possible.
"Unfortunately during this time, it could be that maybe the physician is sick, or one of the staff calls in sick, and we could close down at the last minute because of that. So this is letting people know what it's like at any given time, and we actually have people on call to make sure that those updates are made as fast as we can."
PMH wants to remind people that they have emergency department hours available on their website, and they've also created the QR code below that will take anyone directly to the page.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The City and RM of Dauphin have partnered to try and grow the area economy, and the most recent effort comes in the rejuvenation of an old project.
The Dauphin Business Park, formerly known as the Industrial Park, presents a great opportunity for a variety of new businesses to come into the area says Economic Development Manager Martijn van Luijn.
"It is industrially zoned, but it does allow for a variety of other uses, we could call it commercial uses, as well. So the Business Park sounds more modern and all-encompassing."
The park is located off Highway 362, just north of the City says van Luijn, and it has 123 acres of affordable land ready to develop.
"Everybody wants new business, everybody wants more industry, we've been hearing that all over and I agree, so this is one of the ways we can do that. We're offering this land at a very attractive rate. We've done some research in Western Manitoba on what land prices are and we're offering the land at a far lower price than that. We're selling it for $20,000 an acre."
Aside from the competitive price of land, van Luijn says there are some development and tax incentives available as well.
"We also have a pretty strong incentive package, and of course, it all depends on what kind of business comes into it and how many jobs it creates, if it's something new, or if it's something that compliments something else, we will try to do what we can to make sure that if somebodies interested, or has a really good proposal, we're going to try to find a spot for them in the business park."
Businesses interested in the land can get more information by calling (204)638-4531, emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or online here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Manitoba Hydro has officially updated its General Rate Application with the Public Utilities Board.
Hydro announced the intent to decrease their ask from 3.5% to 2% increases each of the next two years at the end of November, and now they've filed the paperwork. The decrease is thanks to the provincial government lowering what they collect from Hydro for provincial debt guarantee and water rental payments annually says President, Jay Grewal.
“The changes will allow us to start reducing our debt while continuing to make the needed investments in our system to maintain reliable service to our customers. They also ensure we have the financial resources available to address the risks created by factors out of our control like increasing interest rates, export prices, and droughts like what we saw in 2021.”
The two increases would come into effect on September 3rd, 2023, and April 1st, 2024. The bill impact for both 2% increases will be less than $3 a month for the average residential customer without electric heating, and under $6 a month for those with electric heating.
Hydro's still looking for confirmation on the 3.6% interim rate increase that came into effect at the start of this year. That increase was put into place to help Hydro counter the effects of the 2021 drought.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Ste. Rose - McCreary - Alonsa - Gladstone region is under a blowing snow advisory as of earlier this morning.
The blowing snow is causing poor visibility in some locations. Please drive with caution. Conditions in affected areas are expected to improve later this afternoon.
The full statement is below:
Blowing snow advisory in effect for:
- Mun. of Glenella-Lansdowne incl. Arden and Tenby
- Mun. of McCreary incl. Norgate
- Mun. of Ste. Rose incl. Laurier
- Mun. of WestLake-Gladstone incl. Plumas and Langruth
- R.M. of Alonsa incl. Ebb and Flow Res. and Sandy Bay Res.
Poor visibility in snow and blowing snow is expected or occurring in some locations.
Poor visibility in snow and blowing snow with some highway closures are occurring this morning in areas south and west of Winnipeg, along the Manitoba Escarpment and especially approaching the International border.
The snow, gusty winds and poor visibility are expected to improve later this afternoon.
Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions. Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tweet reports using #MBStorm.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Road-clearing efforts continue in the RM of Dauphin today.
In a facebook post, they say snow plows are active in zones 11-17 and the southern portion of zone 10.
A map of the zones can be found here.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
... but we're not out of the woods quite yet.
The special weather statement issued earlier this week for much of southern Manitoba has come to an end, but most places will still see approximately 2 to 5 cm of snow today. There are some strong winds in the forecast as well which could reduce visibility on certain roads.
Unfortunately, as the system moves away from Manitoba, it will take the milder weather with it. This weekend and next week see a return to seasonal temperatures for December.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The Northwest Metis Council and the City of Dauphin have been working together for a number of years, and that relationship was evident on Monday.
As the NWMC opened its new Governance Building on Main Street South in Dauphin, the crowd was full of city officials and employees. During her address, NWMC Vice-President Francis Chartrand talked about her pride in the community.
"The City of Dauphin is our partner, and they know who the Red River Metis are, and I'm so proud to say that. This is part of reconciliation, and I'm so proud to be working with the City of Dauphin, and a proud resident of the City of Dauphin."
Mayor David Bosiak is also thankful for all the work that NWMC has done to help Dauphin grow.
"I think the Northwest Metis Council has been one of the largest investors in our community over the last number of years. As things slowed down during the pandemic they were very aggressive with their build, and getting their building up, so it's really good to have a partnership with their organization because of their commitment to their own values and purpose."
Bosiak says they also want to continue growing the relationship between the two governments.
"There are other things that we, as a municipal government, would like to talk to them about, in a context of a government-to-government relationship, to see how else we can work together going forward."
City Manager Sharla Griffiths says the Manitoba Metis Federation approached the city about strengthening the relationship.
"Several years ago MMF President David Chartrand, NWMC Vice President Frances Chartrand, and their Council and Staff approached the late Mayor Allen Dowhan and the City’s Council and Staff about strengthening the NWMC’s presence in Dauphin. Since then, we’ve seen great things from the NWMC, including their purchase and use of the 11th Avenue Hall, construction of the Daycare and Governance Office, exterior renovation of their Housing First building on Main Street S, and their partnership with Under One Roof to create an overnight warm drop-in space."
Griffiths says Vice President Chartrand and her team have been great to work with, and she looks forward to continuing the partnership.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
