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A Remembrance Day-style ceremony was held at the Lt. Col W.G. (Billy) Barker VC Airport in Dauphin last Saturday.
The ceremony, which included dignitaries and members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, was hosted by Local Historian Al Gray.
Two granite monuments were erected to pay tribute to the forty-nine airmen who lost their lives while training at one of Dauphin's two former air schools as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
Both monuments have the history of the training plan etched on the front, with the names of the fallen airmen listed alongside their country of origin on the rear.
Janel Mann made her way to Dauphin from Battleford, Sask. to lay a wreath in front of the monument that honoured those who died at the No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School.
"I was extremely honoured when Al asked me. I had met Al actually through some mutual-interest Facebook groups... about a year, maybe a year and a half, ago... Through that, Al and I exchanged some of this Dauphin information and memorabilia that I had... When he started putting this fundraising together, then he had asked if I would come... and he gave me the honour of actually laying a wreath in front of one of the memorials, which was a... real privilege actually... I'm very happy," Mann adds.
Mann says that she's the granddaughter of one airman and a great-niece to two other airmen.
She went on to say that her grandfather, Norman Folkersen, got his pilot wings from the No. 10 Service Flying Training School here in Dauphin.
According to Mann, Victor Folkersen, her great uncle and Norman Folkersen's older brother, was an observer navigator who got his observer wing from the No. 5 Air Observers School in Winnipeg. Throughout his training, he also did some bombing and gunnery training at the No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School in the Dauphin area.
"[Norman and Victor's] younger brother was a mid-upper gunner with a crew called the Cradle Crew. They flew Halifaxes with 408 (Goose) Squadron," she adds.
Janel Mann went on to say that her great grandfather, Axel Folkersen, used to be the bank manager at the Bank of Montreal in Dauphin from 1935 to 1945 and that he helped support the victory loan through his work.
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- Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos
The Manitoba Hydrologic Forecast Centre says strong winds starting today could affect shorelines on its lakes.
The province says wind from the Northwest gusting up to 70 km/h an hour and wave action could have an effect on water levels.
According to the wind effect forecast, conditions will be "moderate" on the South shores of Dauphin Lake which means levels could rise by roughly 1 or 2 feet and wave action will be moderate. Conditions are "low" on the shores of Lake Winnipegosis near the village which means levels could go up by 1 foot and wave action will be low. Otherwise there is no data for any other shores on Lake Winnipegosis or Dauphin Lake.
Specifically, the alert map mentions that the Manipogo area is expected to get a Northwest wind blowing at an average of 36 km/h throughout the day today and is supposed to pick up to 40 km/h in the evening.
The winds are expected to continue until early tomorrow.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The Ashern Rodeo is making its return to the community this weekend. President John Bezemer says the board is excited to have people back in the stands.
"Personally I'm looking forward to seeing the crowds and all the people coming out to enjoy everything going on, it's greatly been missed by both myself and the entire board. We've been sitting idle for two and a half years now and we kinda want to get back into the grove and spirit of the weekend again."
Bezemer says there are some changes coming to this year's rodeo that people can look forward to.
"We've got a few new food vendors coming this year, and lots of things people usually expect. One big change is we managed to get our grandstands fully licensed this year so people are able to sit in the shade and enjoy a beverage of their choosing."
You can follow along with any updates or announcements at Ashern Rodeo on Facebook.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Memorial Ride returned to the streets of the Parkland on Saturday, August 13th.
Tony Shewchuk says that it was very successful and that everybody enjoyed it.
"We had roughly... eighty to a hundred bikes... We went to Rossburn, where we had the draws. They treated us like royalty there, nothing but good comments," he adds.
Shewchuk also says that they were able to help local businesses in Rossburn.
"We hit these little towns that have... [hardly any businesses]... When we roll in there... [with] two hundred people and... they make meals for $10..., everybody gets... something out of it," he adds.
According to Shewchuk, they were able to raise $5,000 through their 50/50. $3,000 was donated to the Dauphin Regional Health Centre (DRHC) and the remaining $2,000 was given back to riders who joined them in the form of draws.
John Dulewich, who organized the ride with Tony Shewchuck, says that plans are already underway for next year's event.
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- Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos
The Parkland Campus of Assiniboine Community College (ACC) is ready for the return of classes.
Interim Director Gabe Mercier says that learning will be done in person and that there will be no COVID-19 restrictions on campus.
"I've been asked by people on social media 'Do I have to show proof of vaccination?'. No, you don't. All restrictions are lifted. The student council activities and activities within the student body will resume as normal," he adds.
According to Mercier, the year will begin with an assembly and barbecue at the front parking lot. During the assembly, professors will introduce themselves as well as their programs.
Gabe Mercier says that ACC has two new programs at the Parkland Campus this year.
"[We have a] social service worker program, which was supposed to start last year..., but because we didn't have the numbers, the social service program did not run, so we are very excited about this program... because it is very important to the Parkland. We also have the applied electrical program, which has some financial incentives for underrepresented groups," he adds.
Mercier went on to say that this year is the intake year for their two-year business administration program, where they have students specializing in accounting and human resource management, and for their early childhood education program.
He adds that the school isn't dealing with any staffing shortages and that they were able to find local professors to teach the courses that make up their new programs.
Even though there won't be any restrictions related to COVID-19, the school will still be encouraging everyone to monitor themselves for symptoms and to stay home if they are unwell. Students who do need to isolate due to COVID-19 will be able to coordinate virtual learning options with their professors. Mask-wearing will be welcomed, but it won't be mandatory.
The school recommends that students refer to their acceptance letter to confirm their program start.
Classes for most programs will begin on September 6th.
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- Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos
Midge Sametz, the current deputy reeve of the R.M. of Dauphin, is running in the municipal election to become a councillor on the R.M. of Dauphin Council.
According to Sametz, she has ten years of previous municipal council experience, serving on the R.M. of Lakeshore Council and on the R.M. of Dauphin Council for six years and four years, respectively.
Sametz describes herself as a strong believer in family and in community who would like to see the R.M. as a place where people like to live, raise their families and feel like they belong.
"I also believe in growth and I feel that the R.M. of Dauphin has the potential to attract business to the rural area and I would like to be a part of that success," she adds.
To get that growth to happen, Sametz says that she would find a way to reach out to investors and encourage them to bring their ideas to the area.
She feels that her experience as a councillor and as a manager in Dauphin, as well as her understanding of how to run a successful business, are reasons why someone should vote for her.
"I believe honesty, fairness and respect, so if they also believe in that, then that's why they should vote for me," Sametz adds.
Sametz went on to say that a lot of things have changed within municipal government in the past four years and that she wants to make sure that the by-laws and policies are fair for all ratepayers, regardless of whether they're a large corporate farm, a small business or an individual living in the R.M.
"I also want to make sure that the R.M. of Dauphin is a workplace that supports all their staff in a fair, honest and respectful manner," she adds.
Anyone interested in running for municipal office has until September 20th to register.
Election Day is set for October 26th.
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- Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos
Swan River RCMP are investigating after they received a complaint of theft from the Swan River Golf and Country Club last Monday, August 15th, at around 9:30 a.m.
According to the RCMP, the theft occurred sometime overnight with the suspects entering onto the property and stealing a John Deere Gator — which was missing a muffler — with a Buffalo Turbine Cyclone blower attached to it.
The RCMP are asking anyone who may have information regarding this theft to contact the Swan River Detachment at 204-734-4686, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
A photo of the stolen Buffalo Turbine Cyclone blower can be found below.
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- Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos
Memorial events will be taking place tomorrow to honour Dauphin's contributions to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
Local Historian Al Gray says that the first event will take place at the Riverside Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. and that it will be a commemoration of the airmen who lost their lives during Dauphin's training years, 1941 through 1945.
"Dauphin was host to two air schools... the Service Flying Training School... and the... Bombing and Gunnery School, which was located [around 13 km] east of Dauphin... During the four years, we trained collectively over 9,000 airmen... Unfortunately, during the four years of training, forty-nine airmen from all over the world... were involved in aircraft-related incidents and gave their [lives] in training," he adds.
Gray went on to say that of the forty-nine airmen who died here in Dauphin, fifteen of those airmen — three Australians, three New Zealanders, eight Britons, and one Canadian — remain at the Riverside Cemetery and that they will erect a memorial tablet listing their names to highlight that they came from all over the world.
After the commemoration, there will be opening ceremonies starting at 12:30 p.m. at the Lt. Col W.G. (Billy) Barker VC Airport in Dauphin.
"We will give about a twenty-minute presentation on the history of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and including the history of the two Dauphin air schools," Gray adds.
According to Al Gray, the airport was renamed in honour of Dauphin-born William George Barker, the most decorated Canadian airman in history, for his efforts during World War I.
After the opening ceremonies, there will be a Remembrance Day-style ceremony at 1 p.m., which will include the unveiling of the memorial granite that will be donated to the airport for the public to see.
Gray says that events will be free to attend and that visitors will be able to visit the airside of the airport terminal.
"We will have three vintage WWII aircraft here in attendance. The Harvard, the Tiger Moth and the Cornell aircraft will be brought in... We have pre-sold twenty flights on these three aircraft..., so they'll be flying over the skies of Dauphin [if the weather permits] starting at nine o'clock in the morning," Gray adds.
Gray warns that visitors should arrive around fifteen minutes before the start of the events to guarantee themselves a seat and recommends that they bring a lawn chair if they can.
He went on to say that they'll be providing snacks and drinks and that visitors will get a few keepsakes to take home with them.
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- Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos
After a successful fundraising golf tournament, Ryan Rauliuk sat down to add up just how much money was raised for the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund. Rauliuk says he was in disbelief when he figured out the total was $14,446.35.
"I was aiming for about five thousand dollars and when we started adding up the totals we had to double check it just to make sure."
The tournament was a fun-filled day at Gilbert Plains Country Club, where the score didn't matter, as long as everyone was having a good time. Rauliuk says he was amazed by how many people showed up from across the Parkland.
"To see the results of what we've done, or what the people of the Parkland did because basically, we had all four corners of the Parkland at the golf tournament, it was amazing."
Jim Perchaluk, the President of the Ukrainian Folks Arts Centre says that because of donations like these, the fund has now grown to over $230,000.
"Fifteen families have come in. We targeted for twelve, and a few extra have come in at the last minute when we found them places to stay."
The fund is still accepting donations, and they hope to help as many families come to the Parkland as possible. For more information on the fund, you can call Larry at 204-648-5904, or Karen at 204-648-3567.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Ron Ryz is very pleased that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the RM of Dauphin didn't lay off any workers, the roads were graded and the snow was plowed in the winter. This all when Ryz served as reeve.
While Ryz has decided to step away from being reeve after the upcoming election, he is still wanting to make a difference which is why he's running for council for the RM of Dauphin.
He first ran eight years ago when he decided it was time for the RM to get rural water which they have since received. He also wanted to continue building on what the council had achieved in previous years.
Calling the RM of Dauphin a great place to live, Ryz loves to give back and he wants to continue making the area a better place.
"We did complete phases one and two of the rural waterline project," said Ryz. "I would like to continue with one more phase which should see mainline coverage for most of the municipality."
Ryz believes he has proven himself as reeve and he would love another opportunity to serve the RM.
"I've lived here myself and I like to think I'm an honest, caring and dedicated man," said Ryz. "I believe I can do a good job and I count on people supporting me by coming out to vote."
During the last municipal election, there was about a 30 percent voter turnout in the RM and Ryz would like to see that much higher come October.
You can still register to run for Mayor or council until September 20.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Dauphin and Sifton Fire Departments both responded to a structure fire south of Sifton around 3 a.m. this morning. When crews arrived, the house was completely engulfed in flames, and its walls had collapsed.
Crews remained on the scene for several hours to ensure the fire didn't spread to other structures on the property. The cause of the fire is under investigation and anyone with information can call the RCMP at 204-622-5050.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
