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The number of vacant positions at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre has taken somewhat of a dramatic spike over the past two years.
Two years ago, the vacancy for nurses was at about 20 percent. Today, the vacancy is at about 33 percent. During the same period, the vacancy for healthcare aides has gone from 20 percent to 33 percent.
Brian Schoonbaert, CEO of Prairie Mountain Health says this is a concern and that they, at times, have had to limit the number of beds they use for patients.
"We have had issues in Dauphin recruiting and really throughout the PMH region," said Schoonbaert. "With that said, we also know Winnipeg is having the same problem with a vacancy rate of about 20 percent."
The province is taking a proactive approach to try and improve the numbers by adding hundreds of seats to nursing courses in the province. This means that if you have an interest in becoming a nurse or health care aide, now could be a good time to get more information about it.
The second-largest facility in the PMH region, Schoonbaert says Dauphin has had many nurses and health care aides working overtime and they also use agency workers because it's needed at times to provide the best possible care for patients. He also says Dauphin has a very stable physician workforce.
"We expect these numbers to improve over the next couple of months, there's no doubt about that," said Schoonbaert. "We must do everything we can to make sure that all the services that need to be delivered can be delivered."
Brian also says communities should be doing a better job of attracting local workers. In Dauphin at Assiniboine Community College, practical nursing is a course that is offered. A comprehensive health care aide course is also offered.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
It’s day four of Rotary Radio Week at 730 CKDM, and we were able to talk with the Rotary Club’s President, Mark Kohan.
Mark Kohan joined the Rotary club in nearly three years ago, and this is his first year as president.
“I looked to get involved basically because of their activity within the community itself."
Mark talked about some of the club’s activities.
“A lot of things have been popular like the wine tasting, the book sale is always popular, we have a lot of active living type of projects like the mud run and snow shoe run.”
Mark shared what he likes most about the Rotary Club.
“The favorite thing for me is just basically always for a way to get involved and help people out whether it’s Meals on Wheels or different types of programs like that. ”
Tomorrow is the last Day of Rotary Radio week, and we will be featuring Clayton Swanton.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
UPDATE:
Wesley Wadien has been arrested.
His arrest comes more than a day after RCMP began searching for him.
He was wanted for allegedly uttering threats and pointing a gun.
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An emergency alert has been sent out as Manitoba RCMP search for an armed and dangerous man.
Wesley Wadien is suspected to be an immediate threat to the public and was last seen in the Interlake at 3:53 p.m. on Wednesday.
The RCMP believes he's still in in the Interlake or in Selkirk or Winnipeg.
Wadien was last seen driving a white Dodge Ram with the license plate of KRC 820.
If you have any information, call 911. Additionally, if you spot him, do not approach and call the authorities.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
UPDATE--- A collision occurred at the corner of 1st St. NW and 2nd Ave NW in Dauphin around 5 pm yesterday.
According to the RCMP, a vehicle had come to a stop sign on 1st St NW; the driver then proceeded through the stop sign and struck an eastbound vehicle on 2nd Ave NW.
No one in the vehicle that was hit was wearing seatbelts, and all three occupants received minor physical injuries.
The investigation is continuing.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
The Manitoba RCMP is warning about two recent frauds in Southwestern Manitoba.
Two people have been defrauded of over $34,000.
In one instance the victim was called by a person claiming to work for the Canada Border Services Agency. The caller claimed that they intercepted a package addressed to the victim that contained drugs, money, and fraudulent documents. The victim had recently placed some Amazon orders, which made it believable and concerning.
More calls were made to the victim from someone impersonating a police officer, and the Canada Revenue Agency. The victim was told to send money to settle the issue, which the victim did. In the days following, the victim continued to receive phone calls requesting more money and realized it was a scam and reported it to the police.
In the second instance, a victim was called by someone impersonating a police officer, claiming that a family member of the victim had been involved in a collision and was now at a police station.
The caller requested that the victim send money in order for the family member to be released from police custody. After the money was sent, the victim talked with another family member and realized it was a scam, and called the police.
The RCMP is advising Manitobans that no police agency or government agency will ask for money by mail, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or QR codes.
Suspicious phone calls can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Rotary Radio Week carries on, and today's featured member is Darren Eddie.
Eddie, a member since 2019, says being a Rotary member is all about helping improve life in Dauphin.
He touched on the club's involvement in Habitat for Humanity,
"The first Habitat house was built about 10-11 years ago, and at that time, the Rotary Club sponsored and funded the lot purchased; this time around, we are getting very close to starting, they are going to sponsor about $10,000 towards our build, and it will go to one portion of the house or the other that is needed, whether it's the roof, shingles, or the foundation."
Darren said he has been on the board for habitat since the beginning and was president of the committee for four years before moving back into a board member role.
Eddie says serving the community and getting to know your neighbours is his favourite part of being in the club.
Tomorrow on Rotary Radio Week, CKDM is featuring rotary president Mark Kohan.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Mountain View School Division has announced that there was one case of COVID-19 at Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School.
The case was at the school during the infectious period on October 15th.
Close contacts have been identified and advised to self-isolate.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Each year in October, along with 160 other locations across western Canada, Dauphins Co-op celebrates Co-op week.
Joan Chetyrbok, the marketing manager for the Dauphin Co-op, talked about the organization's commitment to the community,
"Co-op week is a time to celebrate our long history of commitment to our communities; it's so much more than a grocery store or a gas station our members and our communities are the top priority, supporting our local economy working with local Manitoba suppliers and investing in organizations and community groups that share our vision to enrich the lives of our communities."
She touched on what Co-op is doing to celebrate,
"Gift baskets at every location. When members go there and use their Co-op number, they are automatically entered into a draw to win a basket from every location, and they also have cedar fence boards at 50% off at the home and building centres."
Chetyrbok says she encourages everyone to be a part of something more by joining Co-op.
"When you're a member of Dauphin Co-op, you're an owner. Sign up today online or in person; we'd love to have you."
Dauphin Co-op has been serving the community since 1939 when a few folks saw a need and came together to build something for their community that would create good jobs, provide fuel and farm supplies at fair prices to farmers and others. With all the profits being returned to its members forming the cooperative.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
Emergency crews were on the scene of a multiple vehicle collision in Dauphin earlier today.
The accident was right by the entrance to Vermillion Park.
We have reached out to the RCMP for more.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Manitoba Métis Federation and the Northwest Métis Council held a well-attended grand opening of the Michif Children’s Place in Dauphin Tuesday.
President of the Manitoba Métis Federation, David Chartrand was happy with the turn out.
Chartrand says giving children the best possible start in life is critical to the long-term health of families, communities and the nation.
“One of the things that our government really professes hard to push is education. For example, I grew up in Duck Bay very poor, my mom never went to school in her life, and we spoke Saulteaux at home. She knew education, although she didn’t have any, she had culture education, she had Metis education. She knew, even though she didn’t speak English well, she knew education was going to be fundamental.”
Chartrand says they’re not only offering a safe space for children to grow and learn, but also supporting the transfer of critical cultural information between generations through a formal daycare setting.
The child care centre offers spaces for 8 infants, 42 toddlers and preschoolers, and 15 school-age children.
The centre is located across the street from the new Northwest Métis Council office on Main Street, which is nearly done being built.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
UPDATE----The union representing the University of Manitoba Faculty (UMFA) has authorized a strike.
UMFA said today that 85 percent of their members who voted approved of the strike action.
UMFA is asking for wages more in line with other universities in the country at the negotiating table.
UMFA president Orvie Dingwall says that these results don't mean a strike will be called but that the current talks between the administration and faculty aren't working.
UMFA represents more than 1,200 professors, instructors and librarians at the University.
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- Contributed by Noah Fuchs
