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The Manitoba Real Estate Association says home sales in the province hit record numbers in 2020 with over 15,000 properties sold.
Broker and Owner of Action Realty Britney Warkentin tells CKDM an upward trend was also noticed in the Parkland.
Referring to numbers from a database that compiles home sales information in the area, Warkentin says Parkland area home sales increased by 9.5% in 2020 compared to the previous year (146 sales in 2019, with 160 in 2020).
She says in Dauphin alone, there were 112 home sales in 2019, and 121 sales in 2020 — an 8% increase.
The average sales price for a home in the area in 2020 went up to $156,000 — an increase from an average of $133,000 for 2019.
“Sales volume, as well as sales prices, have definitely gone up since 2019,” said Warkentin, “so we hope this trend can continue for our clients who are looking to sell. We obviously can’t guarantee that because the market can be affected by many different factors.”
The Broker and Owner of Action Realty says one trend she has noticed is that modern, fixed-up homes are getting a lot more this year, with clients ready to pay for a home that’s move-in ready.
Warkentin says outdated homes are also seeing an increase in the past year, but modern homes are seeing the largest increase in sales value overall.
“Homes that have rental potential, or the potential to be converted to duplexes are also getting sold quite quickly in our area and for great prices,” said Warkentin.
Action Realty located in Dauphin offers a number of services to home buyers & sellers.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for much of the Parkland.
Strong northwesterly winds gusting up to 90 km/h are expected to develop overnight in Saskatchewan, moving into southwestern Manitoba by Wednesday morning.
Winds are set to diminish by Wednesday evening.
Damage to buildings, such as roof shingles and windows, may occur. High winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break.
The warning is in effect for the following areas:
- Gilbert Plains Mun. incl. Ashville
- Grandview Mun. incl. Valley River Res.
- Mossey River Mun. incl. Winnipegosis and Fork River
- Mun. of Ethelbert incl. Garland
- Mun. of Roblin incl. Makaroff Shortdale and Bield
- Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.
- R.M. of Dauphin incl. Sifton and Valley River
- R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Ochre River and Makinak
- R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Rorketon and Toutes Aides
- R.M. of Riding Mountain West incl. Asessippi Prov. Park
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Manitoba health officials announced 111 new cases of COVID-19 today along with 11 deaths.
One of today’s deaths was a man in his 80’s from Prairie Mountain health, linked to the outbreak at the McCreary/Alonsa Health Centre.
A full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba due to COVID-19 can be found at the bottom of this article.
Today’s new cases are from the following health regions:
- 12 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region
- 33 cases in the Northern health region
- Eight cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
- Six cases in the Southern-Health-Sante Sud health region and
- 52 cases in the Winnipeg health region
The current 5-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 9.9 percent provincially and 7.4 percent in Winnipeg.
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (6), Riding Mountain (1), Porcupine Mountain (54), Duck Mountain (6), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (3), Whitemud (1), and Agassiz Mountain (37). Brandon has 59 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 67 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 54.
Manitoba has had a total of 27,740 cases since the start of the pandemic. The number of deaths is 783.
There are 3,088 active cases and 23,869 people have recovered from the virus.
There are 131 people in hospital with active COVID-19 and 148 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but require care (279 total hospitalizations).
There are 25 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 and 12 people who are no longer infectious but still need critical care (37 total ICU patients).
Public health officials advise 11 additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today including:
• a female in her 50s from the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• a male in his 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at the McCreary/Alonsa Health Centre;
• a male in his 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region;
• a male in his 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Heritage Life Personal Care Home;
• a male in his 50s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Southeast Personal Care Home;
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region;
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Deer Lodge Centre, Lodge 4 West;
• a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Concordia Place;
• a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region; and
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The provincial government is mulling over some modest changes to the current public health orders due for an update on Friday, Jan. 22.
A press release issued on Tuesday states the following changes are currently under consideration:
(1) Household Limits
Current orders restricting visitors to private residences could be expanded to include two additional people (family or friends) to visit a household. Orders may also be altered to permit outdoor visits of up to five people plus members of a household on outdoor private property, and to allow funerals to have up to 10 people in addition to the officiant.
(2) Retail Operations
Current orders for retail establishments could be expanded to allow all stores to open for the sale of all products and current requirements to maintain physical distancing and occupancy limits would remain in place and be enforced. That could also mean the elimination of the essential items list.
(3) Health Services and Hair Salons/Barbershops:
Non-regulated health services, hair salons and barbershops are currently closed, but a possible change could see barbershops and hairstylists to reopen at 25% capacity with adequate physical distancing and requirements to collect information for contact tracing purposes. Other non-regulated health services, such as podiatrists and reflexologists, could also be allowed to reopen with additional contact tracing and physical distancing measures.
None of the proposed changes have been set in stone and the province continues asking Manitobans fortheir input on measures that could come into effect as early as Friday.
To provide feedback, visit EngageMB
The premier says the survey launched on Friday received more than 67,500 responses, with respondents showing a strong desire to see public health use a regional approach to orders and restrictions.
The province says 74% of respondents ranked the ability to shop without limitations as somewhat or very important. By comparison, only 29% ranked the ability to attend their place of worship in person as somewhat or very important.
A full analysis of the survey is underway and will be posted on the EngageMB website once completed.
Roussin noted that final public health orders will be introduced later this week to replace public health orders expiring Friday.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The provincial government has released this week’s COVID-19 enforcement update.
183 warnings and 77 tickets were issued between Jan. 11th and 17th.
Broken down, 66 $1,296 tickets were issued to individuals, 9 were for not wearing a mask in indoor public places, and one $5,000 ticket was given to a business.
According to officials, 45 out of the 66 tickets given to individuals were for gatherings.
Of those, 9 were for a protest rally at Bell MTS Place before the Winnipeg Jets game on Jan. 14th.
The rally in Steinbach on Saturday has resulted in 10 tickets so far, but an RCMP spokesman anticipates more charges.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
All COVID-19 rebate cheques issued by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) are now in the mail.
MPI issued its first set of cheques to policyholders back in May, totalling $110 million.
The second wave of rebates were a result of fewer collision claims, according to MPI. In total, $69 million will be returned to Manitobans.
For rebates less than $10, no cheque will be issued; the customer’s account will automatically be credited.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A Virden man has received his sentencing after admitting to manslaughter and uttering threats.
24-year-old Bradley Tomms appeared in Brandon Court yesterday where he received 6 years, 3 months in prison.
In January 2019, an altercation involving Tomms, at that time 22-years-old, and a 27-year-old man resulted in both being sent to the hospital. The 27-year-old later died in hospital.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
“Stand!” the 2019 movie written by Ethelbert’s Danny Schur, is getting a special free screening online.
Tonight at 6 p.m. the film will be available in the US and Manitoba.
Adapted from Schur's stage play called “Strike!”, the movie features a Ukrainian Catholic boy, who falls in love with his neighbour, a Ukrainian Jewish girl, as they deal with the racism and discrimination of the early 20th Century. The Romeo and Juliet tale also navigates the events that led to the historic 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.
The movie has been made available due to a special arrangement with the Washington, DC Labor Film Fest. But, because of all the dedication and support Manitobans have shown the production of the movie, this free screening is being offered as a token of appreciation and gratitude.
To watch the movie, RSVP here, a bonus Q&A with Danny, who also composed and produced the movie, director Rob Adetuyi, and Hollywood actor Gregg Henry will also be available.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Asessippi Ski Area and Resort have decided to close until February 1st due to a case of COVID-19.
Yesterday, they learned a staff member tested positive for the virus.
Even though public health officials say the exposure risk is low and didn’t request the resort to close, they made the decision anyways.
In a release, they say, “All we care about is everyone’s health and safety. We would rather not be here at all than put our staff, our guests, and the public at risk and have thus decided to close for two weeks and issue this notice.”
It isn’t known how this case was transmitted, but the resort says as soon as the individual recognized they were symptomatic, they were tested and isolating within hours.
If there’s a risk identified to guests, public health will inform Asessippi Resort and the public.
All guests that prebooked lifts until February 1st will be automatically refunded.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Residents of Dauphin’s St. Paul’s Personal Care Home had their first chance to receive the Moderna vaccine over the weekend.
On Saturday, Jan. 15, St. Paul’s resident Myra Childs was the first to receive the vaccine at the Dauphin care home.
St. Paul’s PCH staff member David Sarkonak met the current provincial eligibility criteria and received the extra dose of the Moderna vaccine.
A leftover vaccine dose was given to care home staff member David Sarkonak, who rolled up his sleeve to receive the shot.
The immunizations are part of a plan to offer the vaccine to all Manitoba care home residents by Feb. 8.
Prairie Mountain Health's Focused Immunization Teams (FIT) and PCH nurses have begun immunizing personal care home residents across the province.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Manitoba health officials are announcing 118 new COVID-19 cases and 4 more deaths today.
Three of today’s deaths are in Winnipeg, and one is in the Northern Health region.
Prairie Mountain Health has provided an update on the situation at the Dauphin hospital after an outbreak was declared there last Friday.
After an outbreak was declared on Jan. 12 at St. Pauls Personal Care Home in Dauphin, the province is now reporting one case has been identified - which is a staff member.
Today’s new cases are from the following health regions:
• 11 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 46 cases in the Northern health region
• seven cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• nine cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region and
• 45 cases in the Winnipeg health region
There have been a total of 27,629 cases of the virus province-wide. The number of deaths is 773.
The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.6 percent provincially and 7.3 percent in Winnipeg.
Manitoba has a total of 3,108 active cases and 23,748 recoveries.
There are 135 people in hospital with active COVID-19 and 154 in hospital who are no longer infectious but require care (289 total hospitalizations).
There are 23 people in intensive care with active COVID-19 and 12 people who are no longer infectious that still need critical care (35 total ICU patients).
According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (6), Riding Mountain (1), Porcupine Mountain (54), Duck Mountain (6), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (3), Whitemud (1), and Agassiz Mountain (40). Brandon has 66 active cases.
In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 66 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 54.
With the current code red restrictions set to expire on Friday, Jan. 22, Manitoba officials are calling on the public to share their thoughts on which restrictions should be relaxed or maintained. You can fill out the survey online at Engagemb.ca.
Manitoba has opened its second COVID-19 immunization site today at Brandon’s Keystone Centre.
Prairie Mountain Health asks that people do not call the Brandon Keystone Centre directly for any information regarding the COVID vaccination program. An internal confidential phone number has been provided to those staff groups that are eligible for the vaccine.
For a list of who is eligible for the vaccine, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
