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Kayla Gillis is a busy woman. 

On top of her full-time job at RBC in Dauphin, Kayla is always the first one to offer a lending hand throughout the community. As president of Canada's National Ukrainian Festival (CNUF), Gillis works around the clock year-round to ensure that the annual festival just south of Dauphin is always one to remember.

Gillis volunteers her time with Dauphin Tourism and she is also vice-chair for the Manitoba Farm Women's Conference. These are just a few of the things Kayla volunteers countless hours towards and it's something that she has been doing her entire life.

Kayla grew up always wanting to lend a helping hand. Gillis has always been front and centre and eager to help with big jobs, small ones, or anything in between.

"It's something that I love doing, it's been a passion of mine from a very young age," said Gillis. "My parents helped get me started volunteering with local groups when I was growing up. Just to see the looks on everyone's faces when you show up to volunteer and give back, it's incredible."

2023 was a big year for Kayla as she won a couple of prestigious awards through RBC. She was presented with the Global Citizen Award and the Community Leadership Award and now that we are five months into 2024, Kayla has once again been recognized for her incredible work.

Through YMCA Westman, she is a nominee for the Community Leadership and Social Action Award. Kayla will be in attendance for the 2024 Women of Distinction Awards and she is going up against six other nominees.

"It feels phenomanal, I am very surprised to be nominated, I didn't even know I was until everything was released," ended Gillis. "Whether I am successful with the nomination or not, I am very happy and proud to have been nominated. I am grateful."

When Kayla returns from the awards banquet, she will continue to focus on the CNUF Kick-off Party which is slated for June 8 at Obsolete Brewing Company. More details on that event will be coming shortly and of course, CNUF will once again take place at the beginning of August. 

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Assiniboine Community College's Alumni Association has recognized Elder Bev Harvey with their Distinguished Alumni Award.

Elder Bev, who passed away last year, was a graduate of the Mature Student High School program at the Parkland Campus in 2013.

She served on various groups and initiatives in our community, including being a member of the Mountain View School Division's Umbay Nagamon team, working towards reconciliation efforts.

She also served on the South Parkland FASD collaborative, while also volunteering with the Dauphin Food Bank and the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba.

She was a recipient of the Helping Hands Hope Award and last year received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.

The ACC award was presented to Elder Bev's family during the Graduation Pow Wow event held today in Dauphin, which also included an Honour Song and a Give Away.

It recognizes college alumni who have distinguished themselves within their profession and community.

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Former CKDM and IMTV sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has passed away at the age of 57.

'Dutch' as he was known came to Dauphin in 1986 after launching his broadcasting career at STV in Saskatoon. 

He is most well known for his time on TSN as a host of Sports Centre, and returned to Dauphin in August of 2009 with co-host Jennifer Hedger to host the show as part of the Kraft Celebration Tour. 

Born in Regina and raised in Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan, Dutchyshyn - who still has family in the Gilbert Plains area - was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September of 2021, but returned on air to TSN about a year later. 

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Leaving home to move to another country is no small task.

To date, the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund has moved 67 families to the area, and today we learn a bit about that experience.

Yuliia Bondorenko arrived with her family as part of the 12 families through the Fund and was amazed by the generosity of Dauphin.

"We are so thankful at the opportunity to be here and we are so thankful to everybody who was helping, and who is still helping."

Yuliia had searched for places to live after deciding to leave the dangers of war behind, and Dauphin popped up, as the Family Fund was online.

She'd read about the area and its cultural background but was still pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the welcome her family received. 

"When we arrived, they greeted us as family. They provided us with a place to live, and when we entered the apartment it wasn't just like an apartment, it was all furnished, and they left all sorts of small things that make the apartment home."

Even outside of the Fund, Yuliia felt welcome by the whole community.

"Even in our daily routine, I see people in a store or somewhere else and they do recognize that I'm Ukrainian and they start speaking Ukrainian to me! I'm so surprised, I'm in Canada... and they speak Ukrainian to me. It's so awesome, it makes me feel like home."

While the Ukrainian Family Fund is slowing down after 2 years and over 200 people brought to the parkland, they continue to act as an inspiration, exemplifying the community support that Dauphin offers.

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This week is Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.

What is Victims and Survivors of Crime Week? It's aimed at raising awareness about the experiences of victims and survivors of crime, as well as highlighting the services and support available to them.

It typically involves various activities such as workshops, seminars, awareness campaigns, and community events designed to educate the public about the impact of crime on individuals and communities, as well as to promote healing and resilience among those affected by crime. The week also serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of victim service providers, law enforcement, and other professionals who work to support victims and survivors and to advocate for their rights.

Locally in Dauphin, the Northwest Métis Council will be hosting an awareness dinner on Thursday evening. The doors at 101 11th Avenue SW will open at 5:30 on Thursday, dinner is to follow at 6, and presentations begin at 7:00 p.m.

The list of presenters includes RCMP officers, members from Parkland Crossing, and other organizations within the community. Victims and survivors alongside their families and friends will also be in attendance.

Shannon Genaille is with the Northwest Métis Council and she says this is a very important evening.

"It's an evening where people can voice their concerns and organizations and support systems can provide tips on how to report a crime," said Genaille. 

If you are interested in taking part, you can call Shannon at 638-9485. Pre-registration is required to attend. 

While those of all ages are invited to attend, Shannon urges caution against bringing anyone under the age of 15.

"Just due to some of the stuff that will be discussed throughout the evening," ended Genaille. "There will be some stories shared that are not for the younger audience."

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The sounds of ceremony and celebration filled the air as shovels hit soil for the first time on a long-awaited project.

Anishinaabe Aki will be built this year in a combination of a PetroCan gas station and a Burger King franchise.

Chief Derek Nepinak of the Minegoziibe Anishinabe (PineCreek First Nation) was proud to see the work begin to pay off.

"I think one of the biggest hurdles was getting through the Addition To Reserves process. That meant extracting the land out of the city's jurisdiction, and having the land in our own jurisdiction so we could plan out on our own terms where and when we saw fit to enter into the economic venture. We decided upon Petro-Canada with a Burger King franchise."

Chief Wayne Desjarlais of Gaa-gwekwekojiwang (Ebb & Flow First Nation) was also pleased to see the progress, complimenting the community collaboration that made this possible.

"We had really good communication between both First Nations and it's really important moving on forward that we continue doing the same thing. Hopefully, we can have more ventures in the long run within the next few years. It's very important that communities also continue working together."

This work follows over a decade of work between these First Nations and the City of Dauphin.

Chief Nepinak also noted that this is just another step forward in a long line of projects.

"It is just the first of many developments we've been working on in the project area, including new commercial space, and even residential development we plan on doing in the back 80 acres. We're going to do that collectively. We've got a strong corporate governance structure that we identified to create equality of decision-making as partners."

This development has been projected to be completed by the fall, and Chief Desjarlais is excited to have everyone come by once it's done.

"I'd just like to welcome everyone to our upcoming gas station and Burger King. You're more than welcome to come after it's finished. I know we're anxious to do as we can right away, but we've got to wait for the service roads to be finished. We're working closely with the City of Dauphin."

Many people across Dauphin and the Parkland area are sure to share in this excitement, as projects like this continue to grow our economy.

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A judge has found a Pine Creek woman guilty of Attempted Murder for her role in a pair of assaults last year in the south part of Dauphin.

Early on the morning of March 13th of last year, a 49-year-old woman from Pine Creek and a 66-year-old man from Dauphin were found a short distance from each other, both suffering from serious injuries. 

50-year-old Kathleen FLatfoot was sentenced in Dauphin court on Monday to 13 years in jail, with credit given for time already served. 

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A trail group in Neepawa is receiving funding from the Trans Canada Trail through its annual Trail Care Grant program.

The Neepawa Langford trail is being funded for work on filling erosion damage along the trail. 

A total of $20,250 has been earmarked from the fund towards trails in Manitoba, for activities such as accessibility improvements, clean-up, debris removal, art installation, and maintenance. 

Officials with the Trans Canada Trail also noted that June 1st is Trail Care day and will include an event on the Rossburn Subdivision Trail in Erickson. 

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Charges have been laid against a youth following an alleged assault with a weapon earlier this month on the Sandy Bay First Nation.

Manitoba First Nations Police say they responded on May 6th to a report of a firearm being discharged on Townsite Bay.

They found one youth male suffering from injuries and were told that two suspects had fled the scene. 

Four days later, police executed a search warrant on a home on Townsite Bay, where a firearm, ammunition, and other weapons were seized. 

A male, who can not be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was arrested and charged with assault with a weapon and careless use of a firearm. 

 He has been released from custody on a promise to appear in court at a later date. 

An adult male at the home at the time of the search was arrested on outstanding warrants, and now faces additional charges in relation to the firearm that was discovered. 

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Graduates from both the Mountain View School Division and Assiniboine Community College Parkland Campus will be honoured tomorrow during the 12th annual Graduation Pow Wow.

Organizer Wade Houle says registration goes from 9-10 in the morning, with the grand march set to begin at around 10:15.

"Our arena director will get everyone organized and all of our dignitaries and our grads in place.  People usually stand and watch all of that take part as we open the day and the ceremony and the celebration.  And then people sing and dance, and we have dancers coming and drum groups and people watch and observe."

Co-organizer Carole Shankaruk says they are also adding a community giveaway to this year's festivities.

"Alongside of honouring all of our grads, we are also going to honour our elder Bev Harvey, who has passed to the spirit world.  So we are going to have the youth giveaway to the whole community, and we have invited her family and they will be there as well." 

Shankaruk says indigenous and non-indigenous graduates will be celebrated at this event, 

There is no cost to attend the event.

It will take place outdoors on the Dauphin Rec Services fairgrounds, with a backup plan to hold it inside Rotary Arena if the weather does not cooperate. 

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We continue to look back on the incredible work of the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund.

While this is a "fund", there was a great deal more than the money offered in the way of support.

Father Brent Kuzyk worked tirelessly to help ease the souls escaping a harsh reality to come to the peaceful Parkland.

"For them to make the decision to leave their country, everything that was familiar to them behind and resettle here permanently, that has it's spiritual and emotional challenges. That is where the church and the church comes in. It provides a sense of stability, it provides faith, it provides real grounding for them, again, emotionally and spiritually."

Father Kuzyk worked closely with the Family Fund to ensure that incoming families found support from a community whenever they needed it.

Offering both means of communication and council, Father Kuzyk was filled with joy knowing he could offer his help to the Family Fund through translation and time.

Father Kuzyk says that this effort only works because of the support of the community.

"I want to thank the whole community at large. Every ethnic group in town, every peoples, every individual has been welcoming. whether it's the industries in town, those who have been hiring, whether it's the people for the past two plus years who've been donating to the Parkland Ukrainian fund, whether it's those donating furniture, vehicles, their homes, clothing, it has been fantastic."

We'll highlight another facet of the Parkland Ukrainian Family fund tomorrow.

Tomorrow, we take a look at the experience of leaving a home and being welcomed to a new one.

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