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This past year Ag in the Classroom (AITC) reached 2,102,844 students, which is an increase of 110 per cent compared to the previous year.
Sue Clayton, Executive Director of AITC Manitoba and Vice-Chairperson of AITC Canada, says Manitoba saw a big jump in the number of students reached as well.
She attributes the nationwide jump to having all 10 provinces on board with AITC.
“So that definitely helps with the numbers and also more of a move to online resources for teachers. We still go into classrooms and we still run professional development days for teachers off-site and we still invite teachers to bring students to off-site programs, like field trips. But, we made more of a move to online resources and, so that was good in light of what’s happened with COVID, we’re able to pivot quite quickly.”
AITC Manitoba reached 37,968 students in the province this past year.
At AITC Canada’s AGM four new board executive officers were elected, including Sue Clayton as Vice-Chairperson. For Clayton, this means being involved in more strategic things at the national level, including being the chair of an advisory group.
“We’ll be inviting some people to be part of an advisory group to the national organization. People that are outside of the Agriculture in the Classroom organization to make sure that we understand exactly what it is, that’s needed in the classroom and what people in the industry have to offer to make sure that we’re doing the best we can for agriculture education across the country.”
This upcoming school year is bringing some uncertainty as to what capacity Ag in the Classroom will be in the classroom. With a vision at the national level to get agriculture into every classroom, inspiring every student, improving online resources is a must. It’s been a slow movement raising the money in order to develop hands-on, engaging, online activities for students. Specifically in Manitoba, AITC created a COVID resource for high school students, as well as having other resources available on their website. Clayton says they’re developing resources to launch in the fall because she doubts they’ll be able to do classroom visits right away. Work is being done to expand on programs, over 50 “Snap Ag Sheets” are available online, and the teacher matrix is being expanded.
“We’re just trying to develop more online tools and activities and virtual experiences. So, that’s really what our focus is for the fall and there’s going to be a lot of exciting things coming up in the next few months.”
Clayton says their website is a great place for teachers and parents to find resources to teach their students or kids more about how our food is grown and the safe food supply we have in Canada.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The provincial government says a recent change to land-use categories in Duck Mountain Provincial Park, and Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, will ensure the protection and sustainability of over 6,000 hectares of land.
Conservation Minister Sarah Guillemard says the move will enhance protection for rare and at-risk species and habitats in our provincial parks.
In Duck Mountain Provincial Park, 951 hectares have changed from resource management to back-country land-use category, which is meant to ensure the protection of rare plant species in the park.
The conservation minister also says that adding these lands to Manitoba’s network of protected and conserved areas has increased the area of the province set aside for biodiversity conservation to 11.1%.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The past few days have seen floodwaters slowly recede in southwest Manitoba, but many evacuees must continue to wait before they can return home.
A total of 80 people have been evacuated from the Riverdale municipality, after the province lost confidence that the Rivers Dam would hold while facing historically high water levels.
Manitoba’s Infrastructure Minister says engineers must first inspect the dam before the evacuation order can be lifted — but the water level is still too high for them to do the inspection.
Many surrounding municipalities have experienced extensive damage to homes, businesses, and roads.
As municipalities calculate the extent of the damage, many will be looking to the province for an official announcement on a disaster financial assistance program.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Newly released court documents allege Bowsman Manitoba’s Corey Hurren threatened to cause death or bodily harm to the Prime Minister.
The Mounties say the man charged with ramming his truck through a gate at Rideau Hall on Thursday was armed with two shotguns, a rifle, handgun, and a banned high-capacity magazine.
Hurren faces 22 charges, most of which are related to weapons.
His next court date is set for July 17.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Manitoba RCMP are reminding drivers that a dirty windshield, isn’t a good excuse for going 59 km/h over the speed limit.
Police say a 26-year-old driver was caught doing 129 km/h in a 70 zone on Highway 6 through Eriksdale.
He apparently told officers he couldn’t see the speed limit sign because his windshield "was dirty with bugs and stuff.”
The driver was fined $822 and will have to undergo a license review with MPI.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The owner of the Gilbert Plains Hotel was unharmed following an attempted robbery at knifepoint this weekend.
Bernie Fillion tells CKDM a woman entered his hotel on Saturday night holding a large knife, with her face covered.
“Basically what happened is, this woman approached me with an 8-10 inch butcher knife and tried to get me to turn over my money. She had a balaclava on her head,” he said.
The hotel owner refused to hand over any money, and yelled out the front door for help. At that point, someone came and helped Bernie chase away the would-be robber.
Bernie says when police arrived, he pointed them in the direction where the suspect ran off to.
There have been unconfirmed reports that police apprehended the suspect. An ambulance was also reported to have been on the scene.
RCMP are expected to release more details on Tuesday about the incident.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A 30-year-old woman from Swan River has died after she was struck by a vehicle on Highway 10, about 6 kilometres north of Swan River early Sunday morning.
Around 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, RCMP say a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old from Saskatchewan was travelling northbound on Highway 10 when it collided with the female pedestrian.
The woman was taken to hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The driver of the vehicle was treated in hospital for minor injuries.
Police believe the woman had been driving alone when her vehicle ran out of gas. After parking her car at the side of the road, officers believe she may have been struck while attempting to flag down a passing vehicle for help.
Police have not released the name of the deceased at this time.
Swan River RCMP continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in Manitoba for the sixth straight day.
Public health officials say there are now 14 active cases in Manitoba, with 304 people listed as recovered from the virus.
The number of deaths remains at 7.
The province has had a total of 325 cases.
With low case numbers, officials are encouraging Manitobans to continue their efforts in following public health guidelines to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, click here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
A woman in Brandon was arrested at gunpoint over the weekend for threatening multiple people with a realistic-looking airsoft pistol.
According to Brandon Police, they were called to a hotel on Saturday afternoon by a person claiming the woman knocked at his door, and when he answered, pointed a gun at him, threatening to kill him.
There was another incident in a parking lot behind a business where officers stopped the woman while she was threatening a group of people.
She was arrested without anyone getting injured.
Yesterday, police were still looking for a male suspect in connection with the incident.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
RCMP say 44-year-old William McCurry has been located safely.
They are thanking the public for their assistance.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Dauphin Recreation Services has updated the pool schedule, and also announced new hours for the walking track.
Beginning Tuesday, July 7, the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre will have public swimming on the schedule for up to 40 people at a time. You can view the pool schedule for this week by clicking here.
Dauphin Rec has also adjusted the hours for the Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy Walking Track — which is now open Monday to Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. — and open Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
It appears that the splash park at Vermillion Park will remain closed for the foreseeable future, due to a mechanical issue.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
