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Early Saturday Morning, the Cross Lake RCMP responded to a house fire on Pimicikamak Cree Nation. First Nation Safety Officers were first on the scene and had already attempted to enter the residence through a window but had been pushed back by the heat. Members of the Cross Lake Fire Department were on scene and extinguished the fire.
There were seven people inside when the fire started. Four of the residents, a 36-year old male, a 36-year-old female, a 20-year-old female, and a 4-year-old female were able to escape through a window and received medical attention for various injuries.
Once the fire was under control, firefighters and officers entered the residence. They located three deceased individuals inside and an autopsy has been scheduled to confirm their identities.
The investigation is ongoing with assistance from the Office of the Fire Commissioner, no other details have been released.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Multiple people have been arrested after the RCMP responded to a firearm incident and a case of arson in Swan River.
Last Sunday, RCMP responded to a structure fire in the Starlite Trailer Court where flames were concentrated to a side window, no one was inside at the time. Two days later, officers responded to shots fired at a residence on 6th avenue, where the window of a vehicle was shot out, no injuries were reported.
An investigation into both cases led to police seizing several firearms and placing multiple people under arrest, no further details have been provided.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
This afternoon there was a fourth rally held in Dauphin to protest the Public Health Mandates in place across Canada.
They held a rally in the Dauphin Marketplace Mall parking lot with a speech before heading out onto Main Street for a slow roll convoy.
The slow roll made its way up and down Main Street before heading back to the mall parking lot.
For the first time during one of the Dauphin protests, there was a couple who showed their support for the vaccines and mandates and were in opposition of the convoy and rally.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
Lakeshore General Hospital in Ashern is getting a $10.8 million renovation that will expand the emergency department with additional treatment space, and a planned increase of up to 12 inpatient beds. The goal of the renovation is to reduce the need for patients to travel to Winnipeg for care and allow them to recover closer to home after having specialized care elsewhere.
Manitoba's Health Minister Audrey Gordon made the announcement today,
“Today’s investment will expand Lakeshore General Hospital’s emergency department and enhance services in Ashern while improving access to some specialized services for Interlake residents, reducing the need for travel to Winnipeg to receive care.”
Manitoba's Clinical and Preventative Services plan is working to improve healthcare access, quality, and equity. The plan is to start renovations at the end of 2022, or the start of 2023.
All information about the donation released today can be found here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Swan River RCMP responded to a number of firearm-related offenses between February 5th and the 9th. Officers from the detachment and the West District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team located and seized a number of weapons, related to the incidents.
RCMP seized two shotguns, two rifles, a handgun, and a pellet gun. Multiple people have been arrested, the investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Premier Heather Stefanson and Chief Public Health Officer Doctor Brent Roussin held a press conference this morning to give an update on public health orders. Starting February 15th, Manitoba will be lifting even more restrictions.
The restrictions will be in place until March 1st;
- Masks and physical distancing will still be required in indoor public spaces.
- Indoor gatherings in public spaces will be limited to 50 people if anyone over 12 is not fully vaccinated.
- Indoor gatherings in public spaces will have no limit if everyone over 12 is fully vaccinated.
- There are no capacity limits for outdoor public gatherings.
- There are no capacity limits for indoor private gatherings.
- Restaurants will have no capacity limits but will still require proof of vaccination for anyone over 12 who is dining in.
- Liquor sales return to normal hours of operation.
The province plans to remove proof of vaccination requirements on March 1st. In some settings, such as personal care homes, shelters, and healthcare facilities, public health officials have continued to work with facilities to notify close contacts until March 8th. They plan to remove Mask requirements and other restrictions effective March 15.
A full list of the restrictions coming into place next week can be found here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
A report was released by the Manitoba Association of Health Care from December 2021 that showed the shortages of rural Manitoba paramedics.
The report showed there were almost 20,000 hours of unstaffed ambulances in the rural part of the province which was up from 17,000 in the fall.
The shortages have led to a large number of paramedics having to work anywhere from 14-16 hour shifts as well as some having to work up to 20-23 hours in a row in order to offer the care patients need.
The length of response times has also suffered, increasing by as high as 35 percent longer since 2018.
Shared Health is currently working to increase the educational capacity for paramedic training as well as working with the College of Paramedics to get recent graduates licenses to get them into the workforce sooner.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
50 Manitoba tourism businesses are getting some pandemic recovery help from Travel Manitoba. The Tourism Innovation and Recovery Fund is a one-time support initiative that was launched last November.
Over 120 applications were handed in for the program. There were two ways for businesses to apply, the Experience Enhancement programs could get up to $15,000 to help improve an existing experience, while the New Experience Development program could provide up to $25,000 to add a new experience.
Some of the businesses involved in the program;
- Arrowhead Family Resort in Onanole is receiving $25,000
- Elkhorn Resort, Spa, and Conference Centre in Onanole is receiving $25,000
- North Mountain Adventures in Ochre River is receiving $12,325
- Harvest Lodge on the Waterhen River inc. is receiving $18,700
- Westway Inn Motel in Neepawa is receiving $15,000
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
There was another protest pop-up with a blockade at the Emerson Manitoba crossing of the Canada U-S border early this morning.
All lanes of Highway 75 in both directions leading to and from the border have been blocked by Semi-Trailer trucks, farm equipment as well as passenger vehicles.
This blockade is happening to show support for and is being done in coordination with the blockades at other U-S Canada borders in Ontario and Alberta along with the protests happening in cities across the country including Ottawa and Winnipeg.
Canada Border Services Agency was notified about the upcoming blockade late Wednesday evening.
The protests and blockades are continuing to pop up to put pressure on the federal and provincial governments to end all COVID-19 mandates.
RCMP officers from the area as well as Winnipeg are headed to the blockade to try and open a dialogue with the protesters in order to keep the traffic moving in and out of Canada.
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- Contributed by Eric Fawx
The Dauphin Healthcare Auxiliary is shutting down after 120 years of serving the community. As one last act of charity, they are splitting their remaining funds between the Dauphin Regional Health Centre and Dauphin Personal Care Home.
The Auxiliary presented their final cheque to the DRHC today and CKDM Spoke to Auxiliary president Sharon Derhousoff.
"From the combination of both accounts, the gift shop and the general account it was over $46,000 dollars, so approximately $23,000 plus will go to each of the facilities."
More information on the Auxiliary shutting down can be found here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Canadian Canola Growers Association has opened the application phase for their Advanced Payments Program earlier than ever this year. Applications can be submitted from now until March 31st.
Through the program, farmers can apply for up to $100,000 interest-free and up to another $900,000 at an interest rate of prime minus 0.75%. The program can cover more than 50 commodities including field crops, large and small livestock, honey, and organic commodities.
You can learn more about the program that CCGA offers by calling 1 (866) 745-2256 or by visiting their website here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
