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There were about 175 people lined up on a gravel service road near the intersection of Highway 5 and the Trans-Canada, near Carberry, on Thursday evening.
The province is planning to enhance safety on that stretch of road after 17 Dauphin and area seniors were killed on June 15, 2023, when the minibus they were riding in collided with a semi-trailer. Jordan Dickson, who lives 30 seconds away from the intersection, organized the rally.
"It was really good. Great to see the support from the local agricultural community," said Dickson. "It is a very dangerous option."
The province has previously said it would be putting a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) intersection. The Carberry RCUT would include U-turns both east and west of the current intersection. It would force drivers turning left from Highway 5 to turn right onto the Trans-Canada, merge to the left, and take a U-turn.
Dickson, along with many of those in attendance on Thursday, is not pleased with the idea of an RCUT at that intersection. One of the reasons because that there is a McCain potato processing plant southeast of Carberry, which creates a lot of traffic.
"For a loaded semi-trailer or slow-moving equipment to be able to do that merge safely is impossible," she continued. "There are other options that would be a better fit for this area."
Dickson would prefer to see an overpass built. The province, however, has said that it isn't feasible at this time, noting how much it would cost. The province was at the intersection last year and came to the conclusion that an RCUT would be the best option.
"They're using traffic data from sitting there for two days last July. That's not a representation of how busy that intersection is," said Dickson. "During spring seeding and especially during harvest, it is crazy busy. One farm counted their trucks and on a busy full day during harvest and they send trucks through that intersection 500 times a day."
Construction is set to begin in early 2026. It should be open to traffic in the fall of 2026.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Dauphin is set to hold its annual Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guide this Sunday, an event that raises awareness and funds for the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.
Registration begins at noon on Sunday at Rotary Arena, with the walk starting at 1.
Event co-chair Russ Yakubchak (yuh-koob-chuck) says the service dogs trained through this program assist people i seven different areas, including autism, canine vision, hearing, and seizure support, just to name a few.
"To watch these dogs work is really fascinating, especially with children with Autism. It is really a great thing to be involved in."
He adds that several local families have benefited from this walk.
"There have been dogs in the Roblin area, as well as one in the Winnipegosis area. The cost of raising these dogs is around $35,000, so it is very costly. There is about 22 dogs in Manitoba. "
If you are planning to take part, why not gather a few pledges as well.
You can get pledge sheets by contacting Russ at 204-648-5140.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Parkland Humane Society's Endless Paws-abilities market is back, and it is bigger than ever.
Set for Saturday from 10 until 3 at the Watson Arts Centre, Parkland Humane Society Office Manager Jenn Langlois says they will have around 30 vendors at this year's market.
"We have a variety of endless possibilities that you can come out and purchase. We will also have our own 50/50, as well as a raffle and a toonie leash. Plus, our cash calendars that we have running right now can also be purchased at that time."
Langlois says they have several vendors back again this year, as well as some new ones attending a market for the first time.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A very special year for Wasagaing Community Arts.
Their 55th anniversary season kicks off this weekend with their opening exhibit,
Board chair Ken Romaniuk says they will be highlighting five different artists over the next month.
"We have Deb Fraser, who is a local photographer. Jolene Jensen is a painter. Terry Lacosse from Winnipeg, and he is also a painter. Ben Davis is a mixed-media artist, and he is from Brandon. And Linda Matchullis is a fibre artist, and she is showing some of her amazing fabric work."
An opening reception will take place Saturday night, starting at 7 at the gallery.
The exhibt will be open daily from 11 am to 5 pm.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
If you're looking for something to do this weekend, Neepawa is calling your name.
The Neepawa & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 10th Annual Chamber Fair. It runs from Friday to Sunday and has a bit of everything.
Jennifer Wiebe is the office administrator at the Neepawa Chamber of Commerce.
"Everyone I've been talking to is pretty excited," said Wiebe. "They're all hoping the weather will be great."
And those folks looking for plenty of sun this weekend appear to be in luck. The forecast calls for nothing but sun this weekend, with a high of 19 on Friday, 21 on Saturday, and 23 on Sunday. It should be the perfect weekend.
"We have Midway Rides at the fair, pony rides, and there's a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning," continued Wiebe. "We also have a town-wide yard sale. That's always a huge draw. Many people start with that before joining us at the grounds."
The pony rides will be from 12 to 4 at the grounds on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be a reptile exhibit from 12 to 4. There is no admission. You will only have to pay for food and rides.
Wiebe says this annual event is all about getting the entire family out.
"It's definitely community weekend. We have something for someone young to seniors, and everything in between," continued Wiebe. "A great range of things to do, it's pretty exciting."
A highlight for Wiebe? She'll be on the grounds from 12 to 4, soaking in the sun.
"The thing that I like to see the most is the little kids on the ponies, they're super cute," ended Wiebe. "That's my personal favourite."
The Neepawa Chamber of Commerce welcomes you for a fun weekend, with a little bit of everything.
Full Schedule:
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
There's another boil water advisory in effect for those in the Ethelbert Municipality.
A major distribution failure on May 22 has led to the loss of water pressure in the Ethelbert distribution system. Until further notice, all water used for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute.
This includes:
- Drinking and ice making;
- Preparing beverages, such as infant formula;
- Preparing food, including washing fruits and vegetables; and
- Brushing teeth.
You do not need to boil tap water for other household purposes, such as laundry or washing dishes. In addition, young children should be sponge bathed. Adults and other children able to avoid swallowing the water can wash, bathe, or shower.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
There’s nothing quite like cruising across the water on a hot summer day — sunshine above, waves below, and the freedom of the open lake.
There are an estimated 15 million recreational boaters in Canada. Boating-related fatalities in Manitoba have declined in recent years, yet the province still sees dozens of such incidents annually — a reminder that caution and preparedness remain essential on the water.
Lynne Stefanchuk is the executive director for the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba.
"We are way above the national average when it comes to boating fatalities," said Stefanchuk. "Specially involving alcohol and or cannabis. We rate very high, which is extremely unfortunate."
As you get set to hit one of the many bodies of water in our beautiful province this summer, it's important to prepare ahead of time. 80% of those drowning fatalities are male, and 35% happen in a lake or pond.
"It's about being prepared. Make sure you're wearing a lifejacket and have safety gear on board," said Stefanchuk. "You need to make sure you have enough fuel and the boat you're using is in good working order."
As is the case when operating a vehicle, operating a boat under the influence of alcohol and or cannabis is a big no-no. If caught operating a boat while under the influence, big fines and penalties will follow.
"It's very important to make sure you're not under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or any intoxicant," continued Stefanchuk. "Almost all of drowning fatalities happen because of some sort of intoxication."
In a recent report, 339 children younger than the age of 15 fatally drowned in 2020. A year later, that number rose to 380. The younger the child, the more important it is that you're within an arm's reach.
"It doesn't take long for danger to happen and the worst possible outcome," ended Stefanchuk. "You need to know where they are and what they're doing. Everyone wants to have fun on the water. A big part of that is making sure we're all prepared, and the little ones are within safety."
A fun day on the water can quickly turn tragic — but with the right precautions, every outing can end with memories, not regrets
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
It came out of the blue.
Late last week, Lance Jacobson, the mayor of Swan River, announced the immediate resignation of Councillor Tracy Boychuk. Elected in 2022, she was serving her first term on the Council. During her time in office, Tracy was the chair of the Recreation and Cultural Services Committee, where she led many initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for residents.
CKDM News caught up with Lance to get his thoughts on the departure.
"Councillor Boychuk was an outstanding person. She did her work very well, was dedicated, and looked out for the best interests of residents," said Jacobson. "She did an excellent job of representing the people and voicing people's concerns. I do thank her for the time she spent with us. It was a breath of fresh air."
A by-election will fill the void in the coming months.
"We're looking at the best dates. We have not decided yet, but we will in the next few weeks," continued Jacobson. "We definitely need to fill the vacancy, it will not be left vacant."
During her tenure, Boychuk was a strong and vocal advocate for the development of a new arena to replace the Swan River Centennial Arena. Talks about a new arena have been ongoing for years and continue.
"We're in the early stages. We're applying for grants. The Swan River Legacy Committee has been set up," said Jacobson. "We're also working with potential partnerships with our municipal neighbours."
Compared with other arenas around the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, the Centennial is one of the smallest. The ice surface is not regulation, and the capacity is smaller than that in other communities. Jacobson said there have been talks for the arena to be of a similar size. There has also been talk about a second floor.
While there is no timeline on the project, Jacobson says there is a lot of buzz in the Swan River air.
"You add in the big hotel that will be built in Swan River," ended Jacobson. "The potential arena. And other initiatives that we are working on right now. It's exciting, it's a good thing."
With Boychuk gone, the focus now turns to what’s next — and in Swan River, the possibilities are growing.
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More great recognition for Roblin Ford.
The dealership has claimed a seventh Ford of Canada President's award for sales and service.
And this year, General Manager Keith Fast says they received Diamond recognition, which is the top tier of the President's award.
"That is always a moving target with us, and we are always working on that. We have such a great team of 14 people working at the dealership, and our average tenure is over 10 years. So we have some real long-term employees that are dedicated to customer service and dedicated to keeping that customer on the road. This all can not be done without them."
It is the first time that Roblin Ford has received Diamond recognition.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Last week saw mixed results for local producers, according to the weekly Manitoba Crop report.
High temperatures to start the week allowed for good seeding progress, but precipitation and lower temperatures towards the end of the week led to seeding operations being paused.
Fall Rye and Winter Wheat crops are looking good and in the tillering stage.
Spring wheat seeding is approximately 80% complete while Field peas are around 85 per cent complete..
In both crops, earlier-seeded fields are emerging.
Soybean seeding is approximately 65-70% complete.
Across the province, seeding is about 57% complete, as compared to the five-year average of 45%
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
It's all about progress. Something Jarri Thompson believes is happening within the Mountain View School Division (MVSD).
Thompson, a Ward 4 School Board Trustee with MVSD, announced earlier this month that an important motion was passed at a board meeting. The MVSD Board of Trustees will establish an Inclusive Education Advisory Committee. The committee will include parents/guardians of children with diverse learning needs and abilities, divisional resource staff, one or two Board members, and any other community resources needed.
The purpose is to advise and support inclusive educational practices, share lived experiences, and identify opportunities for improvement in programming and support for children with learning needs and abilities.
"Very exciting to finally get it moving forward. Families have been talking about it for quite some time," said Thompson. "We will make sure students, families, and educators have their voices heard. So we can work together collaboratively in full inclusion for students with diverse learning needs in all schools."
On her Facebook post, one hashtag caught the most attention. #ProgressNotPerfection.
"When you hear about MVSD in the news or wherever, everyone wants us to get things right the first time, but that's not how the real world works," continued Thompson. "We need to go through trial and error to make sure we're doing things right."
Thompson says MVSD already does a lot of inclusive education. While Thompson knows the right decision won't be made every time, she is confident that a great group of board members is working together to make MVSD strong for years to come.
That includes instructors, families, and everything in between.
"Absolutely. I have every belief in our division that we can work together to strengthen our staff and student academic levels," ended Thompson. "I believe if we work hard and really put in the effort, people will start seeing the progress."
One step at a time, MVSD is turning intention into impact.
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