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Emergency Departments throughout the Prairie Mountain Health region continue to experience higher-than-normal traffic levels.
CEO Brian Schoonbaert says there are a couple of factors contributing to that.
"We have had a very rough respiratory season this year, as we have seen high numbers throughout the province, as compared to other years. Some might think it is COVID but it is actually less COVID and more just other respiratory illnesses that are going around, and people are having to visit the ER because of them."
"Additionally there have been many interruptions of service in many communities for their ER. And the lack of physicians, so that too is contributing to people feeling that (going to an ER) is their only option at the moment."
This week alone, there are no emergency department services in Grandview, Winnipegosis, Shoal Lake, Hamiota, and Carberry, while ERs in communities such as Roblin have reduced hours.
Schoonbaert admits the situation is difficult for everyone, adding they are doing their best through their website to keep the public updated on what ER services are available in their community.
"ER services can be particularly vulnerable right now because of the staffing shortages. But it is not just physicians, it is not just nursing or health care aides, but it is also whether we have lab or x-ray staff available. So it is a constant juggle trying to keep as many services open as possible. "
Schoonbaert assures residents that the changes to ER services are due to staffing shortages, adding that they are not meant to be long-term.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Brandon RCMP, along with assistance from the Forensic Collision Reconstructionist, continues to investigate a fatal motor vehicle crash from late last week.
Around 7:40 last Thursday morning, Mounties were called to a two-vehicle collision in the RM of Cornwallis on Road 340 near the intersection with Thompson Road.
The investigation so far has determined that a car going north collided with a southbound semi.
The adult male driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene, while the semi driver, a 22-year-old man from Portage, was not injured.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A swan river man has died after a reported stabbing in the town.
RCMP responded to a call on January 13th and found a man who'd been stabbed Main Street in the community.
The 33-year-old male was taken to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
Swan River RCMP along with Major Crime Services, continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
We told you last week about the high vacancy rate that Prairie Mountain Health was experiencing regarding nurses and healthcare aides.
What is likely not as surprising is that PMH is also experiencing a shortage of family doctors and general practitioners.
CEO Brian Schoonbaert says they are currently short about 90 doctors across the region, adding they are looking at several initiatives to try and fill those voids.
"We're always advertising nationally already trying to make many strides into getting folks to look a this area of the province. We're offering $75,000 per GP to attract them to this area. that $75,000 is for anyone outside the province, as we don't want to poach anyone from in the province."
Schoonbaert adds they are also involved in an International/Provincial recruitment program, as well as working with about a half dozen PMH facilities that have hired recruitment firms on their own to try and attract new doctors to their areas.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A local BioTech company based in Dauphin has opened a new investment opportunity for anyone interested in investing in the work that they are doing surrounding treating and curing Type 2 Diabetes.
Mick Loutt is CEO and Co-Founder of SciMar, whose main office has been located in Dauphin since 2018.
He says about 18 months ago, they started looking into a new U.S. securities offering known as Regulation A+
"It allows us to register as if we were going to do an IPO, but we can stay private. And because the registration process is so thorough it then allows us to solicit investment from the retail investor, which means people that are in a different wealth bracket. So we can also bring the investment amount down. In the past, we have had a minimum investment of $100,000 or $50,000, depending on the group, and now you can invest for $99 U-S as our minimum."
Loutt says they were founded on 20 years of work done by his father at his research facility at the University of Manitoba.
"We discovered that there is a second hormone that is related to Type 2 Diabetes that you are missing. It is called Paladin and it comes from the liver and it works alongside insulin from the pancreas. For a type 2 diabetic, what our research is showing is that you do not need more insulin, you are actually missing the paladin. And so everything we are doing is trying to bring a suite of products and techniques that allow us to protect and bring back the paladin action in the body."
Loutt says diabetes affects 1 on 3 Canadians, and has the potential to have a significant effect on the younger population in our country.
"Half the Canadian population of young people are on track to develop Type 2 Diabetes in their lifetime if we do not intervene. With the indigenous population, the numbers are quite a bit higher for a number of reasons. We are about 80 per cent of our indigenous youth will become Type 2 Diabetics if we do not intervene. "
You can find out more information regarding the investment opportunity by going online to www.scimar.ca.
You can also listen to their podcast, titled "Inside the Breakthrough" which can be found on most podcast streams.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A Sandy Bay First Nations resident is the subject of a missing persons report by the Manitoba First Nations Police Service.
Garth Wayne Beaulieu was reported missing by his family on Sunday, after last being seen and heard from on January 9th.
The 56-year-old Beaulieu is described as being 6-foot-1 and 181 pounds with a slender build short brownish-grey hair, and wears prescription glasses.
Family members are concerned about his well-being, so if you have any information o his whereabouts, you are asked to call the Sandy Bay detachment at 204-843-7705. You can also contact the MFNPS tips line anonymously at 1-833-978-0048.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Manitoba labor and immigration minister Malaya Marcelino will be in Dauphin later this week to officially launch a regional immigration strategy.
It is a partnership between the province, local municipalities, and the Parkland Chamber of Commerce.
The Immigrate Parkland strategy will be unveiled during an event this Saturday at 12 noon at Dauphin City Hall.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A 39-year-old woman who pleaded guilty in relation to an armed robbery in Swan Rive has received her sentence.
Loni Genaille pled guilty to assault with a weapon last October.
Genaille was sentenced to 690 days in jail, but will only have to serve another 282 days due to credit for time already served.
She was also sentenced to three years of supervised probation upon her release, as well as a lifetime weapons ban.
20-year-old Jefferson Cook also pled guilty to assault with a weapon and will be sentenced in March.
On Valentine's Day last year, RCMP responded to a report of a robbery outside of a business in Swan River.
A 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy claimed that a man holding a hammer demanded money, before fleeing the scene.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The City is preparing for a water main shutoff affecting portions of the city on Monday.
At 5:30 am, properties south of Riverside Road will have no water, save for Canway Inn, as it's on a separate line.
Dauphin's director of public works Mike Van Alstyne notes that a boil water advisory will be effect for the area due to the work.
The work is expected to take 6 to 8 hours in total, and the boil water advisory will last an indeterminate amount of time.
Expedited testing will occur to ensure water safety as fast as possible.
This project is to install an extra valve to have better control over the city's water flow, making future projects easier to work around.
While CKDM's office will be closed for customers, we'll still be on air providing news, weather, sports, and music as usual.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall notice on several popular granola and cereal bars after Potential Salmonella contamination.
The Agency issued a recall on a total of 38 products sold by the Quaker brand with best-before dates listed from January 11th to October 7th of 2024.
The affected products include different flavors of Harvest Crunch cereals, chewy and yogurt granola bars, and Cap’n Crunch treat bars.
Citizens are urged to not consume these products and discard or return them.
It's important to know that Salmonella has no taste or smell, so it's difficult for a consumer to detect.
Customers are eligible for reimbursement for the recalled products by going to the Quaker recall website.
You can find the full list of the 38 recalled items by visiting the Quaker Recall Site.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
They are among the friendliest and most cuddly volunteers with Prairie Mountain Health.
Therapy dogs provide services such as visits to care homes and hospitals.
And Prairie Mountain Health is looking to add to their team of therapy dogs in the Dauphin area.
They should not only be friendly. patient, gentle, and confident, but they should also be at ease in all situations, enjoy human contact, and be happy being petted, cuddled, and handled by unfamiliar people.
If you and your pet are interested in joining the therapy dog volunteer team with PMH, you are asked to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Dogs and their owners will be certified before they join the therapy dog team.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
