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Looks like we are on the verge of getting our first blast of winter-like conditions.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a special weather statement for the Dauphin area, saying that a pattern change to colder temperatures with the first shot of accumulating snow is coming this week to the region.

It adds Highs will drop to the single digits through much of the week before colder air moves in later this week, with temperatures in the -5 to -10 degree range likely by next weekend and into Halloween.

The colder temperatures will bring accumulating snow into western Manitoba on Tuesday into Wednesday

This weekend, the 5th annual Empower Her program is being hosted by the Northwest Metis Council.

This event seeks to bring women together for a two-day event that covers a plethora of topics that have a core focus on leading a healthy and happy life.

Northwest Metis Council Vice President Francis Chartrand has a full itinerary of events for the weekend.

There will be several speakers covering topics like healthy relationships, creating a balanced life of mind, body, and spirit, and Consent and empowerment.

The days will also include land-based programming beading, storytelling, and language classes from local elders.

Chartrand also notes that the core goal of this weekend is to have women empowered with both knowledge and courage to face the world.

She also wants to let people know that there is help available for those who need it.

If you or someone you know are seeking help from an abusive relationship, Contact the Manitoba Association of Women's Shelter, or the Gender-Based Violence Action Team at the Northwest Metis Council.

This afternoon, The Manitoba Metis Federation unveiled a sign near Mallard Manitoba offering a $10,000 reward for information on the missing Marcus Mckay.

This is part of a search effort that's been going on for nearly 2 decades for Marcus, and Northwest Metis Council Vice President Frances Chartand understands how important closure is.

"I believe it's been about 20 years. President Chartrand has met with the family, the grandmother. The grandmother lives in Crane River. imagine if you had a loved one missing. I've never experienced it, and i never want to experience it, so i empathize. i understand loss and grieving, and i just empathize with anyone losing a Child or grandchild, wondering where they are today."

Called Pey Key Way Ta Hin/Bring Me Home, the fund provides individual $10,000 rewards for information that leads to locating missing loved ones.

MMF funding remains in place as a reward for tips leading to the location of Jennifer Catcheway, another missing person since 2008.

This is part of a larger fund the MMF put together in 2021, funding 1 million dollars to find missing and murdered loved ones across Manitoba.

The RCMP asks anyone with information to contact their nearest RCMP detachment or their local police of jurisdiction. Information can also be provided anonymously through Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or by secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Photo Courtesy Of Pixabay

Shovels will be hitting the dirt soon on the south entrance of the city.

Dauphin's Public Works Director Mike VanAlstyne gives us a look a this long-awaited infrastructure upgrade.

"So, we are anticipating work to begin on the retention pond construction over the first few weeks of November."

VanAlstyne also notes this will be no small project either, as the retention pond excavation for drainage is just the first step.

"The main project will span from Whitmore Avenue to Triangle Road. The construction will involve constructing service roads of both the east and west sides of Main Street South."

Road safety is not the only consideration in this project, as pedestrian safety will be addressed in this project as well. 

Lit intersections are slated to be added to the crossing near the Dauphin Marketplace Mall, and sidewalks will span both service roads as well giving people a safe place to walk.

If you're looking to keep tabs on when construction is happening, and when road closure may begin to pop up, keep an eye on the city of Dauphin Website, as they'll be keeping a construction tracker running there through the course of this project.

730 CKDM News Now had a chance to catch up with Dauphin MLA, and newly appointed Agriculture minister Ron Kostyshyn between cabinet meetings.

He says there has been a lot to catch up on.

"There is a lot of historical information that needs to be shared by the various senior staff.  So that we can kind of get on the same paved road of understanding what has been done and how we need to move forward on our mission."

This is a position that the Ethelbert native has found himself in the past, so he knows the importance of this role.

"We value the importance of all kinds of economic development, but agriculture is a high precedence in the Dauphin constituency."

After the first few cabinet meetings, Minister Kostyshyn is feeling confident that the NDP government will be effective in making some changes.

"We have a strong team and we continue to work with a number  of other agencies and corporations to make agriculture a high return in the economic development in Manitoba."

Nevertheless, he always appreciates the support the community has shown him throughout his career.

"It is a great honour, and it is great to be given the opportunity to be agriculture minister."

Kostyshyn notes there is still much for the new party to be briefed on, but he is confident this new government will be getting things done.

Organizers of Dauphin Culture Days are ecstatic with how this year's festivities went.

Committee member Jean-Louis Guillas goes over some of the numbers.

"I just did a survey as an organizer for Culture Days nationally.  They want to know the number of participants.  I estimated that we had over 1,000 people involved in the 14 different events that we had planned over the three weeks.  And we had 150 creatives as I call them involved in putting on those events - whether that was dancers or singers or  storytellers."

He adds one of their goals every year is to encourage new people to work with them.

"One of the highlights was the Viking camp (during YardFringe).  That was the first time we had ever had a Viking camp in town.  That is exactly what the goal of Dauphin's Culture Days is - is making connections and celebrating the creative impulse that we all have within ourselves.  Whether that is storytelling or acting or doing improv - that was a big hit that evening.  The Open Mic series at the Watson Arts Centre is attracting more people regularly.

He adds preparations are already underway for next year's Culture Days.

"A nice thing about Culture Days is that it is a national program, and you can look in on other communities and see what ideas and what they are doing, and could that be done here?"

Dauphin Co-op Home & Building Centre has received the Co-operative Retail System Home Centre Commitment to Excellence Award for Manitoba Retails from Federated Co-op.

The Home Centre Commitment to Excellence Award is presented annually to those Home Centres that achieve excellence in areas such as operations, financials, customer experience, and community involvement,

Dauphin Co-op Building Division Manager Stephen Bunka credits a strong focus on Co-op brand identity across the division as the reason for their success.

He adds building and maintaining trusted relationships with members, customers, contractors and each other is another important focus, which is done through accreditations and continual training.

The Dauphin Rotary Club hosts a total of four events throughout the year that combine active living with raising funds for local projects.

"There is the snowshoe run, the Epic East Gate - which is a trail run, the half marathon - which is more of a road run, and then the Moose Knuckles Adventure race - which is mountain biking, paddling, orienteering, hiking through the bush and getting lost," says Dauphin Rotary member Kevin Steinbachs. 

He adds the idea for these runs was born from the Manitoba Mud Run, which the Dauphin Rotary held for a number of years.

 "It was one of those things where you are always looking for a fundraiser, but it is kind of like "Why not have a FUN fundraiser".  We started it because a group of us had become active and noticed that those mud runs are ones that you have people that normally did not do anything close to that now out and about and doing things. And you can see over the 10 years that we did it, people that got motivated and got in shape and stuff, based on that being their starting jump type things."

Anyone wanting more information on these events can go online at www.racermnp.ca

A Dauphin man has pled guilty to manslaughter in the case of a homicide on the Skownan First Nation.

On January 14th, Mounties were called to the reserve on a report of an assault.

When they arrived at the home, they located a 68-year-old man, dead at the scene.

46-year-old Melvin Catcheway entered the guilty plea in Dauphin court on Wednesday. 

A pre-sentence report will take place on December 12th.

You may see some purple hands in business windows across the city, and they're there to raise awareness for Purple Thursday.

Today, October 19th, The Northwest Metis Council, in conjunction with the Dauphin Neighborhood Renewal Corporation went to local establishments to raise awareness of the impact of gender-based violence on communities. 

Purple Thursday is meant to acknowledge brain injuries and the causes of them. Vice President Frances Chartrand thinks it important to show how common they can be in intimate abusive relationships, and also that there is help for the people that need it.

"I think that people have to understand that there is help out there. There are some people in some situations that they want to get out of, and we want to assist them. T here's some resources that we can bring to the community that can assist and educate the people that are experiencing this violence in relationships." 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the "Paint the Town Purple" event. As always your support is greatly appreciated, and makes all the difference as we strive for a healthy, safe, and united community. #MétisNationHomeland #NorthwestRegion #RedRiverMétis

Posted by Northwest Métis Council Inc. - Manitoba Métis Federation on Thursday, October 19, 2023
Chartrand also says that for those who find themselves in these abusive situations, there is help and support available. 
 
The Gender-Based Violence Action team is one of them, and you can contact the Council building at 204 638 9485. Reaching out to the Dauphin Crisis Center is also a crucial resource for people who need out of an abusive relationship.
The Crisis Center can be reached toll-free at 1-877-977-0007.

A boil Water Advisory has been issued for anyone on the McCreary Public Water System.

A water main break has led to a pressure drop, possibly compromising the safety of the water.

Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least a minute if it's being used for drinking, preparing any food or drinks, and brushing your teeth.

If boiling water is not a readily available option, acquiring bottled water or other safe, drinkable water sources is recommended.

Notification will come later when the break is repaired and the water is no longer under this advisory.

if you have questions or concerns about this advisory, you can contact the regional Drinking Water Officer at 204 621 7962, or review the factsheets at manitoba.ca/drinkingwater