Roblin business community to talk

The Municipality of Roblin is inviting the business community to join them for a collaborative discussion regarding potential labour issues.

The meeting is set for next Wednesday night at 7:30 at the Roblin Community Centre.

A number of topics are expected to be discussed, including construction and housing-related issues, as well as a regional push to bring more workers to the Roblin area.

Business owners, investors, and builders are encouraged to take part in the meeting.

You are asked to pre-register by emailing nThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 204-937-8333.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Apr 18, 2024 - 3:30 pm

A big push will be on this weekend to sign up volunteers for the 2024 Manitoba Summer Games.

Officials from the August 11th to 17th event will be at the Kin Club of Dauphin Business Expo this weekend to sign up prospective volunteers.

Jason Beyette with the host committee says it is important to get their volunteer quotas filled as soon as possible.

"The month of June will be our time to schedule volunteer shifts, so that is the importance of signing up right now, so that we can have everyone registered and have the appropriate registrations completed."

Around 1,200 volunteers are needed to successfully stage the multi-sport event, which is returning to Dauphin for the first time since 2004.

According to games co-chair Clayton Swanton, having a strong base of volunteers in Dauphin would be a great legacy to leave from these games.

"Dauphin always steps up and we host really good events. But the importance for this one is to make sure that our volunteers - we do not need to know what your schedule is that week, we just need to know that you are around and that you want to help us out. That is all that we are looking for right now - just an expression of interest. Without volunteers to pull this event off that week, none of that legacy gets left behind."

Swanton says there is something for everyone as far as volunteer positions go.

He said in particular, they need to fill 90 - 4 hour shifts daily during the games at the DRCSS, where the athletes are being housed and fed.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Apr 18, 2024 - 1:45 pm

The new CEO of Prairie Mountain Health says she is honoured to have been warmly welcomed into her new duties by staff and stakeholders across the region.

Treena Slate was hired to replace Brian Schoonbaert, who retired from the position earlier this month.

She sees recruitment and retention of health staff being both the biggest short-term and long-term issues facing PMH.

"We have a very high vacancy rate, which of course leads to excessive overtime and agency use to fill the needs to staff our programs and units. It is an issue that has been plaguing us more so since the pandemic. And I think it is incumbent on us as health leaders in the province to work to re-invigorate health care and to develop that passion that existed to work in health care."

Slate says the need for more doctors, nurses, and lab technicians has also played a big role in the closure or reduction of hours at several emergency rooms throughout the PMH coverage area.

"We always work to ensure that we are looking at things from a geographical perspective. Making sure that we have services available within a geographical area, that people have access that is required, and ensuring that they are aware of what to do if they are in need of emergency service. And just trying to shore up those resources so that we can provide as much service as possible."

Slate adds while Dauphin is well-staffed with physicians, the same can not be said for other parts of the region, where she says there are significant gaps with regards to primary care coverage.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Apr 18, 2024 - 12:14 pm

UPDATE: (April 18 @ 10:13 a.m.)

The RCMP has safely located Gunter.

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Spruce Plains RCMP is on the lookout for a 35-year-old from Minnedosa.

On the morning of April 16, the RCMP received a report of the missing female, 35-year-old Ashley Gunter, who was last seen three days prior at a residence located on White Swan Street in Brandon. A possible sighting was reported earlier on April 17 in the Delta Bay area in Brandon.

Ashley is described as being 5’2”, 140 pounds, with brown hair and hazel colored eyes.

The RCMP are concerned for her wellbeing and are asking anyone who may have seen her, or have information on her current whereabouts, to contact the Minnedosa RCMP at 204-867-2916 or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Secure online tips can also be made at Crime Stoppers.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Apr 18, 2024 - 9:49 am

While the moisture of this week is welcomed by many people looking forward to spring, it's certainly put a damper on the RM of Gilbert Plains.

Reeve Jim Manchur mentioned some of the challenges they're facing this year on the roads.

"We had about 82 roads that experienced some kind of flood event on different levels and a little less on others we had about 82 roads that experienced some sort of washout in the past week."

Updated Road Closure Map as of April 11, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Posted by Gilbert Plains on Thursday, April 11, 2024

Flooded roads aren't the only problems the RM, as the golf course and campground areas struggle with the excess water.

"We want to get it up and running because the season will be starting soon, but there's a lot of clean up, a lot of damage to the fairways, the greens, the campground buildings, and such."

Most of the roads have re-opened, but Manchur also noted drainage issues still need to be more thoroughly addressed.

With more precipitation on the way, it could be a while before The RM is looking a little less water-logged

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Apr 18, 2024 - 6:00 am

Several children were likely late to school on Monday morning after they witnessed the arrest of their bus driver.

At roughly 9:30 am, Manitoba First Nations Police Services responded to Procure Road in Waywayseecappo on a report of a school bus driver found under the influence while transporting students.

When officers arrived on the scene, they acquired a breather sample that was twice the legal limit of alcohol.

Officers did note that while there were students on the bus at the time, no one was injured in this case.

The driver was arrested, but released with a pending court date.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Apr 17, 2024 - 6:19 pm

A Mental Health First Aider clinic is set for next Monday and Tuesday in Swan River.

The event, which will take place from 8:30 to 5 both days at the Veterans Community Hall, was rescheduled after being postponed last month due to bad weather.

Participants will not only gain confridence and skills needed to help someone with an emerging mental health problem, but will also gain greater recognition of mental health problems.

The cost to participate is $125, and you can register by contacting Lana Parker at 204-638-2118 extension 1713, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Apr 17, 2024 - 3:30 pm

The annual Kin Club of Dauphin Business Expo is set for this weekend at Credit Union Place and the Parkland Recreation Complex.

Candice Taylor with the Dauphin Kin Club says they are adding a few new wrinkles to this year's expo.

"Western Bakery is going to be guaranteeing $1,250 each day of minimum payout for our 50/50 table. We are also hosting a Kin Bar this year, so we are going to try something a bit different and a bit new, and Grandview Liquor Company has come forward to sponsor our Kin Bar this year. So we are excited to bring them aboard and have them join us in this new adventure. We will also have a Kids zone in the curling rink."

Entertainment over the weekend includes Doodles the Clown, who appeared in the movie Billy Madison, as well as local dance groups and drummers.

It is set for Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm as well as Sunday from noon to 5.

Taylor says this year's Business Expo is completely sold out.

"With 103 businesses coming, we have a lot of returning businesses, but it is also quite surprising that we have so many businesses that have never been to Expo before. So I am excited to have them join us this year and display their products and make some connections."

Admission to the business expo is free.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Apr 17, 2024 - 2:00 pm

A Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty in relation to the death of a woman on the reserve last summer.

26-year-old Fantasia Prince was originally charged with second-degree murder but pled guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter in Portage court this week.

On top of the time already served, Prince was sentenced to a further 1,528 days in jail, along with a 10-year weapons ban.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old resident of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation has pleaded guilty in relation to a February 2022 stabbing of three men.

Terrance Kematch entered the plea in Dauphin court on Monday and was sentenced to time already served, along with 18 months of supervised probation.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Apr 17, 2024 - 11:51 am

Dauphin Mayor David Bosiak was feeling a large sense of pride while attending last week's Association of Manitoba Municipalities Spring Convention in Brandon.

With lots of discussion during the conference regarding conflict resolution and communication between councils and senior administration, Bosiak was proud to say these are not issues they are having to face here in Dauphin.

"Hats off to our administration that does a great job of doing their job. And then, our council is very competent and engaged, And that is notable for me as I looked around and just got a sense of how involved our council is in the day-to-day business of our community."

Bosiak also took note during the city's caucus about the amount of money some cities are spending to replace recreation facilities.

Flin Flon and Thompson are spending millions of dollars to build new swimming pools, while Steinbach is spending close to 70 million to build a new arena.

Bosiak says that made him think about some of the outstanding infrastructure that our city has, that might be beginning to show its age,

"I think it becomes really incumbent upon us as a municipality, and also on the Rural Municipality (of Dauphin) to contribute a fair proportion of capital towards infrastructure, so we do not have to replace these facilities, so that we can keep them operating effectively, because the cost to replace either our pool, or our curling rink, or our arena down the road will be far more than what we ever paid to build it that many years ago."