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Monday is Canada Day and most communities within the Parkland have some form of activities planned to celebrate our country's 157th birthday.

Here in Dauphin, the Fire Department will be hosting fireworks on the DRS Grounds beginning at roughly 10:45 pm.

The public is reminded that there will be no parking allowed in the Manitoba Hydro Parking lot to watch the fireworks.

Communities like Swan River, Gilbert Plains, and McCreary will begin their celebrations in the afternoon and conclude their day with fireworks at dusk.    

Fireworks are also being planned for Watson Park in Grandview, and near the Elk in Onanole.

Meanwhile, Riding Mountain National Park is hosting entertainment on the main beach at Clear Lake throughout the afternoon, beginning at 12 noon on Monday.

For a full list of Canada Day celebrations in our region, you can check out the Community Calendar on our website 730ckdm.com.

Talks continue to be off-track between Canadian Pacific, CN rail, and the Teamsters union.

The Teamsters' Union overwhelmingly voted for strike action earlier in June but has been on hold due to federal moves to label rail lines as essential workers.

The union initiated another vote on June 14 to renew the strike mandate, which lasts only 60 days. The vote is expected to conclude on June 29, the day before the union’s existing mandate expires.

A Canadian Pacific statement thinks it's unlikely the Teamsters would be in a position to strike before mid-July.

There is a lot of concern on the effects that this strike could have if it overlaps with Harvest, and grinds grain movement to a halt.

Applications are open for the Manitoba government’s new security rebate program, which offers a $300 rebate to homeowners, renters, and small business owners for purchasing security equipment.

In a statement, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said “Every Manitoban deserves to feel safe in their home and their community", and this rebate aims to help toward that goal.

This one-time rebate is designed to offset the cost of security improvements for Manitobans who are increasing security on their property 

Eligible upgrades include security cameras, doorbell cameras, alarm systems, motion detectors, reinforced doors or windows, anti-graffiti film and paints, security gates, pull-down protection shutters, and permanent security fencing.

Any purchase made after Sept. 1, 2023, is eligible to receive the rebate, and residents are encouraged to sign up early, as this program will run on a first come- first serve basis.

You can find the details and apply at The Manitoba Government's Website

The Dauphin Ag Society parade highlights today's activities in the city, as two long time events continue.

The parade, which is one of the highlight events of the annual Dauphin Ag Society Fair, will start on Mountain Road and make its way west on River Avenue to Main Street before turning west on 4th Avenue south.

It will thern head towards the hospital and the personal care home before wrapping up at the corner of Jackson and Whitmore. 

Other highlights of day two of the fair include light and draft horse shows, the Manitoba Cattle Dog Association finals, and chariot and chuckwagon races. 

Meanwhile, at the Selo Ukraina site south of Dauphin, it is day two of the 35th edition of Dauphin's Countryfest. 

Among the acts taking to the stage today are Beverly Mahood, Lisa Brokop, Patricia Conroy, the Frontmen, Diamond Rio, and headline act Diamond Rio. 

Despite laws that were introduced in 2010 that brought in hefty fines for distracted driving, it continues to be a significant issue on Manitoba roadways.

A recent study conducted by CAA Manitoba shows that 59 per cent of drivers in the province have witnessed a close-call collision or a distracted driving violation.

The survey found that 60 per cent of Manitoba drivers have been behind a driver in another vehicle who missed a traffic light change because that driver was distracted, while 51 per cent of those surveyed stated that they had met the criteria for being distracted drivers in the past.

The issue is fueling safety concerns for many Manitobans, as 89 per cent of drivers surveyed feel somewhat or very concerned about distracted driving.

The survey also found that 57 per cent of Manitoba drivers support increasing fines and penalties for distracted driving convictions.

According to Manitoba Public Insurance, using a mobile device while driving can result in a $672 fine and possible license suspension.

Dauphin Co-op is currently dealing with a system-wide issue.

In a Facebook post, they say the issue is causing a few disruptions as follows:

  • • Cardlock is unavailable - Gas Bars are working fine
  • • Food Store Checkouts are working but you may experience issues with online shopping
  • • Our website is unavailable but you can access info on the Co-op app.

The Ste. Rose Cardlock location is open to purchase clear fuel products with your Visa, Mastercard, or Co-op Cardlock card (green).

Dauphin Co-op apologizes for any inconvenience and appreciates your patience and understanding.

Louisiana Pacific, near Minitonas, has seen its operating licence extended by five years after a new Memorandum Of Understanding was signed between the province and three First Nation governments in the area.

In making the announcement on Friday, Premier Wab Kinew said the agreement will keep hundreds of good-paying jobs in Swan Valley after years of instability.

That instability resulted in L.P.'s licence only being extended on a short-term basis in previous years.

Over the next five years, LP, local First Nations, and the Manitoba government will work together to create a 20-year forest management plan that meets the needs of both parties.

Premier Kinew noted that this act of economic reconciliation is good for the economy, Indigenous Peoples, and working-class Manitobans.

Let the party of the summer get underway.

The 35th edition of Dauphin's Countryfest kicks off Friday and runs throughout the weekend.

Countryfest Board President Duane McMaster says he is looking forward to seeing the crowd that will flock to the Selo Ukraina site over the course of the weekend.

"I love going out there on a Friday or Saturday night and looking up at that huge crowd in the ampitheatre and just knowing that I was part of the crew that managed to put this together and part of that long history of bringing all of these people from all over the place to our little town and showing it off."

McMaster is extremely happy to see a rise in ticket sales conpared to the last two years.

He says festival attendees will notice one change this year, as they have dropped the food tokens system.

"We talked to a few different festivals that do food tokens and we did try it out for two years.  It did not go very well the first year but we thought we would do it twice just to make sure.  We thought we had worked the kinks out, but after two years, nobody was really a fan of it and it just was not functioning well on the logistics side on our end, and it was a lot of work for no real benefit."

It is a largely "90's Country" lineup this year, with headline acts including Clint Black Friday night, Alabama on Saturday, and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Sunday.

 
The City of Dauphin has introduced the Subsidized Spay & Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) for licensed city dogs and cats.
 
This initiative aims to combat the overpopulation of domestic animals in our community, easing the burden on Parkland Humane Society volunteers.
 
The program offers financial aid to pet owners with vouchers that cover 50% of the spaying or neutering costs for licensed city pets.

These vouchers are valued up to the following:
$175 for female dogs;
$125 for male dogs: and 
$75 for male cats.

In a press release, Mayor David Bosiak had the following to say about the new program.

“A key factor in responsible pet ownership is to spay and neuter dogs and cats, so we do not add to the problem our shelters are facing with limited space and overworked volunteers,” said City of Dauphin Mayor, David Bosiak. “We encourage residents to be a part of the solution by fixing their pets.”

To apply for SNAP, head to City Hall or online

Proof of residency in Dauphin and a valid pet license are required for eligibility. Upon approval, the City will issue a voucher that can be used at either the Dauphin Vet Clinic or Uptown Pet Clinic. Pet owners are responsible for paying the remaining fees at the time of their appointment.

With only five percent of people working in the trades sector being women, First Peoples Developent Inc. is hoping to bump that number up significantly.

They have opened a LauncHer Into Trades Program, which aims to promote the retention of all women in Red Seal Trades in Manitoba, while also assisting women in achieving employment in a Red Seal trade career.

Barb Moran is the program manager, and says there are some qualifications that have to be met by potential participants in the program. 

"The individual must be working. so they have to have an employer for us to assist them with say PPE, boots, safety glasses, or anything like that."

Barb recognizes that there are a lot of challenges in the trades, especially for women. She also says that since five percent of the current trades labor force in Canada is made up of women, this leads to a largely untapped demographic for the trades. 

"you know, we want to educate the females to increase women in the field first of all, and also recognize the employer as champions hiring the women as their taking on apprentices."

A total of 30 trades are eligible for assistance with the LauncHer program.

To get more information or to start the application process, you visit fpdinc.ca

Some updates from the courts this week.

One of the accused in a trio of armed robberies in Dauphin this past March was back in court this week. 

24-year-old Lorenzo Ducharme of Duck Bay appeared in Dauphin court on Tuesday, where he had his matters adjourned to July 9.

And a Dauphin teen is free after charges related to a November traffic stop in the city were stayed this week by the Crown. 

18-year-old Diondre Nicholson was arrested after police found out the driver of a vehicle was driving while suspended.