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For the second year in a row, the Manitoba Government will be reducing vehicle registration fees.
The fees will be reduced by an additional 10 per cent starting on July 1st. The province says this will keep around $15 million in the pockets of Manitoba drivers.
The registration fee decrease applies to non-commercial vehicles, resulting in an annual registration fee of $129 for most vehicles.
Owners of other non-commercial vehicles will also benefit from reduced registration fees.
Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says Manitobans will benefit from a $10 decrease to the existing $139 vehicle registration fee as a continued step to reverse the 30 per cent increase in 2012 implemented by the previous administration.
He says reducing these fees is a step toward making life more affordable for Manitobans.
Combined with last year’s 10 per cent reduction, the province has reduced fees by 20 per cent in two years.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
The Manitoba government has come to an agreement with Xplornet Communications Inc. to provide more than 125,000 unserved or underserved Manitobans with high-speed internet.
Premier Brian Pallister and Central Services Minister Reg Hewler held a press conference today to announce the agreement.
This will provide broadband services to nearly 30 First Nations, and 270 rural and northern communities in the province.
Communities receiving cellular service include Eriksdale, Peguis, Fisher Branch, Neepawa, Riding Mountain, Sandy Lake, Waywayseecappo, Clear Lake, Alonsa, Bowsman, Dauphin, Erickson, Grandview, Glenella, Minnedosa, Minitonas, McCreary, Ochre River, Ditch Lake, Birtle, Onanole, and more.
A full list of communities receiving services can be found here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
As southern Manitoba experiences extremely dry conditions, the province has issued a number of travel restrictions to prevent wildfires.
These restrictions include all provincial parks south of the 53rd parallel and the Duck Mountain Provincial forest.
The area of travel restrictions is bordered by PR 302 to PTH 12 to PR 317 to PTH 59 and PR 319 on the west, all the way to the Ontario border, and from the U.S. border north to the Dauphin River and Berens River.
In southwest Manitoba, restrictions cover the area from PTH 10 and PR 268 on the west, north to Lake Winnipegosis to PR 327 to the south shore of Cedar Lake and north shore of Lake Winnipeg and Lake Winnipeg on the east, and south to PR 271 to Lake Winnipegosis (south shore) to Lake Manitoba (north shore) to Lake St. Martin/Dauphin River and Dauphin River to Berens River and now also includes the Duck Mountain Provincial forest.
A map of these restricted areas can be found here.
Level 2 travel restrictions include the following:
• motorized backcountry travel, including ATVs and other off-road vehicles, is prohibited unless under the authority of a travel permit
• camping is restricted to developed campgrounds
• campfires are permitted only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
• wayside parks remain open
• landing and launching is restricted to developed shorelines only
• industry and outfitters should contact local Conservation and Climate offices for more information
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Alex Lytwyn is 35-years-old and he lives with Cerebral Palsy in Winnipegosis.
He has always been a big voice and his goal has always been to help people and that's where WillPower Media comes in.
Alex has started his own company with the goal of showing people that we still have to push and understand ourselves, although it may be tough as we continue to alter our life based on restrictions.
Alex is offering motivational speaking to individuals, groups, companies, and motivational videos as well.
"Ultimately, I want to inspire people, that's what this is all about," said Lytwyn. "I feel that I have a lot to say and what I have to say will be benefical for many people."
If you are interested in what Alex has to offer, you can email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 656-4270. You can also check him out on Youtube. You can also reach Alex on Facebook.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Countryfest Community Cinema is celebrating its 10 year anniversary with a new membership campaign.
Ron Suchoplas, General Manager at the Countryfest Community Cinema, says those who sign up to be a member will receive in-theatre perks once they can safely open.
“So the individual one is $150 a year and that’ll give them one movie ticket every month for a full year to the theatre. The couple one is $275, that’ll give two movie tickets every month for a whole year, and the family one – if it fits their family for two adults and two children – is good for four tickets every month for a year.”
The cinema is holding a drive-thru-style event to collect membership pledges and donations on Friday, May 14th. You can take part by dropping your pledges off at the parking lot behind the cinema from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Suchoplas says they’re looking to raise between $150,000 to $200,000.
“We’re looking to hit that and that way it’ll give us a bit of a cushion to cover our operating costs while we’re closed and have a little bit of cash at the end to do some minor repairs or upgrades as they come about.”
For more information about the event, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Mountain View School Division has announced that Henderson Elementary School will reopen Friday after the school was closed following a positive case of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, Public Health Officials notified the school of positive cases of COVID-19 at the school.
The MVSD has confirmed that at least one positive case was at the school in the Grade 4-5 Cohort and Grade K-3 class between May 5th and 7th.
All close contacts have been notified.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Emergency crews were on scene of a two-vehichle collision in Dauphin.
On Wednesday, May 12th, RCMP, EMS, and Fire Crews responded to a report of an incident on Main Street and 7th avenue NW in the city.
Main street between 6th and 7th avenue was blocked off for a short period, but all roadways have re-opened to regular traffic.
No injuries have been reported.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Gilbert Plains – Grandview Ag Society have announced that they’re going to postpone this year’s Annual Fair and Rodeo due to COVID-19.
The fair and rodeo was set to take place in July.
Ag Society President, Kevin Boese says it was a very hard decision to make.
“Due to the circumstances we just are unable to pull everything together in this short amount of time. Even if things would open up unfortunately we kind of ran out of time, so we had to make the hard call and postpone it once again.”
The Ag Society is still hoping to host a parade this year, and will make that decision on June 10th.
Boese wants to thank the Ag Society’s sponsors and volunteers for their support.
“It takes a lot of volunteers to get something like this going. It’s probably more disappointing for the volunteers and the people who put it on than for anyone else.”
Boese hopes next year they can have their best fair and rodeo yet.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Riding Mountain National Park staff is advising that areas in the park will be closed while staff conduct prescribed burns.
The areas affected include Compound East Trail, Arrowhead Trail, Lake Katherine, Katherine Road, and day-use areas, and Loon Island Trail.
Photo Courtesy: Riding Mountain National Park Facebook Page
Park staff ask that you avoid the area during these prescribed fires.
Violators may be charged under the National Parks Regulations: maximum fine of $5000.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The province has lowered the age eligibility for the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to all Manitobans aged 18 and older.
First doses of the AstraZeneca/Covisheild will continue to be administered, but only to people who might not otherwise be immunized at other sites. Most doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will now be held for second-dose immunizations only, so people who have received their first dose of this vaccine will be able to receive their second dose within the recommended time frame.
The province says people will be able to begin booking second-dose appointments for all COVID-19 vaccines on May 22.
Medical clinics and pharmacies will contact people who received their AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine at these locations to book second doses, which are likely to begin in June.
There are currently supersites in Dauphin, Steinbach, Gimli, Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, Selkirk, and Morden.
Vaccine pop-up clinics are being held in Swan River, Neepawa, Shoal Lake, and Russell next week. You can find a full schedule for those clinics here.
Appointments can be made at a vaccine supersite or pop-up clinic in the province by calling 1-844-626-8222.
To date, 591,497 doses of vaccine have been administered in Manitoba.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A woman from Dauphin has died after a medical incident in Amaranth yesterday.
On Tuesday, May 11th around 4:55 p.m. Amaranth RCMP were called to a parking lot in the town regarding a 45-year-old woman from Dauphin, who was in medical distress.
EMS arrived on the scene and dealt with the woman who was later pronounced dead on scene.
RCMP say no collision took place as the woman drove from Dauphin to Amaranth with her friend.
They stopped in Amaranth and called 911, as it appeared the 45-year-old had stopped breathing.
RCMP say there is no criminality involved.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
