Second Dauphin House Fire In A Week

The Dauphin Fire Department responded to another house fire in the city.

Shortly before 11 o clock last night, the department was notified of a structure fire on 3rd avenue south west. Upon arrival, firefighters found the home completely consumed by fire with flames spreading to the house next door. The neighboring home’s roof and eaves were on fire and one window had broken from the radiant heat from the original fire.

All the tenants of the property were safely accounted for, so the firefighters turned their attention to the neighboring home. The initial structure is a complete loss, however the second property was saved. The fire had travelled into the wall and roof/attic space of the second property, but firefighters were able to gain access into the home and fully extinguish the concealed fire by opening up the wall and ceiling.

Crews remained on scene until approximately 3:30 this morning to ensure the fires were completely extinguished.

There are no injuries or estimates on damages at this time, and the cause of the fire is determined to be suspicious. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the RCMP-Dauphin Detachment at 204-622-5020.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Aug 20, 2018 - 11:25 pm

A fire broke out at a grain elevator in Crystal City, Manitoba.

The Paterson Grain facility, located in the community west of Morden, was engulfed in flames around six this evening.

Hundreds of customers are without power.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Aug 20, 2018 - 9:34 pm

A training program to help Indigenous language learners work with an elder speaker is taking place at the Dauphin Friendship Centre.

The Master-Apprentice Language Learning Program is hosted by Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Language Revitalization Circle and is run by three Manitoba Metis women.

Heather Souter, the Project Coordinator, explains what the group has set up.

“Six teams of a fluent elder, a fluent indigenous speaking elder, and a motivated learner for 300 contact hours of one-on-one emersion style learning. We have funding to pay the elder speakers for their traditional knowledge and what they are sharing with the apprentices.”

They received a grant of around $94,000 from Heritage Canada's Aboriginal Language Initiative to run the Master-Apprentice Program Indigenous Language Learning Pilot Project.

Souter says you really need to be motivated to learn a language and be a part of this program. The program funding doesn’t cover apprentices. At this point, they are searching for alternative sources of funding so it makes it easier on the apprentices to receive the knowledge and pass it on.

The program was originally developed to address the needs of Indigenous Californians because they are no longer learning their heritage language at home as children.

“They will receive training at the workshop to learn how to use the Master-Apprentice Language Learning techniques. So they’ll be trained there on how to learn and in a sense teach a language that doesn’t have a lot of print or recorded or other resources.” Souter continues, “basically the elder is the resource and the learner, or the apprentice, will learn how to be responsible for their own learning how to work with the elder to figure out lesson plans, do recordings of that, and they will have ways of tracking their progress and they will have a coach that will help them throughout the time that they are doing this.”

The initial emphasis is on Michif and other Metis languages but all qualified and committed applicants, Metis or First Nations, will be seriously considered. Michif, Anishinaabemowin, Cree, Dakota and all other Indigenous languages are welcome as MAP can be used for any language. Their aim is to honour kinship and relational ties and have those who are the most dedicated to language revitalization at the community level attend.

The project kicks off with an orientation workshop at the Dauphin Friendship Centre on September 15 &16.

To register or find more information about the Master-Apprentice Language Learning Program call 204-647-0081 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Aug 20, 2018 - 11:05 am

The family of the missing Jeff Freiheit is calling on the Canadian government for help in the search.

They are asking for help with air searches, more advanced search and rescue technology as well as more trained search personnel.

Freiheit, who is from Brandon, went missing on August 2nd in the German Alps. He went missing in what is considered the most treacherous part of a Munich-to-Venice trail known as the Dream Way. It features gullies, deep trenches, and rocky overhangs.

If you want to help support the search efforts you can donate to the 'Help Support the Freiheits' GoFundMe Campaign by clicking here.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Aug 20, 2018 - 10:00 am

Raising money for an important cause while having a really fun afternoon is what the Children’s Wish Foundation Family Fun Day is all about.

The event took place yesterday in Vermillion Park.

Colette Carefoot, an organizer of the event who was all dressed up in full costume, says the kids loved it and shares how it went.

“It’s been great. We’ve had awesome weather. We’ve had a great turn out.” She continues, “we’ve had the RCMP and their mascot out here.”

Families came out in large numbers to play games, get their faces painted, and even get to look at fire trucks up close.

“I’ve been getting a lot of feedback on the costume parades. I think over the years, hopefully, we can kinda get a theme going and it catches on.” Carefoot said.

Children’s Wish Foundation helps families who are going through a difficult time. “Absolutely all the proceeds that we get from this event go towards the Children’s Wish Foundation. I think it’s important for a lot of people who are attending. Some of us have been touched by it personally. A lot of us here just want to give as much money as we can because it’s going to be hopefully a service that we won’t have to use. But for those of us who have, it’s incredible.”

Carefoot says Family Fun Day isn’t going away and they expect even more fun next year. and she reminds families not to forget their costumes.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Aug 20, 2018 - 5:00 am

Just before 2:00 this morning Dauphin's Fire Department responded to a house fire on 8th Avenue NE.

When they arrived firefighters found the back of the home fully engulfed in flame.

The neighbours reported that the home was vacant, tenants had moved out earlier in the week.

The fire was quickly brought under control, however as the overhead electrical lines had burned off and were laying in the back yard, access was limited until the arrival of MB Hydro.

It took two hours to completely put the fire out and firefighters stayed at the home until 6.

The fire is determined to be suspicious in nature. Anyone that may have information regarding this incident is asked to contact the RCMP Dauphin Detachment at 204-622-5020.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Aug 19, 2018 - 2:24 am

German authorities say they have 20 search and rescue personnel and alpine policemen searching for Jeff Freiheit, from Brandon, who went missing in that country earlier this month.

Dogs and drones are being used but the authorities say no evidence of the man, who is originally from Dauphin, could be found.

The authorities say all technical resources have been exhausted after more than three days of reaching for Freiheit.

In an update posted on the GoFundMe page, posted yesterday, his wife Selena says a detailed search of the area Jeff was last seen and where he was supposed to spend the night will be conducted today.

German officials said they had searched 4 possible areas yesterday he could have been including Lenggries, Bad Tölz, and Penzberg.

There has been lots of local media coverage in Germany with articles in newspapers and on television.

Selena says they are expecting to hire additional helicopters and search equipment to assist the Mountain Police and Volunteers in their search efforts.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Aug 18, 2018 - 9:15 am

Tomorrow kids are encouraged to wear their favourite costume and come have fun during this year’s Children’s Wish Foundation Family Fun Day.

From noon until 4 everyone is encouraged to bring their families to Vermillion Park and have an entertaining afternoon.

Colette Carefoot, an organizer of the event, shares what’s going on, on Sunday.

“We’re encouraging everyone to come dressed up in their favourite costume if they choose. We’re going to have little costume parades on the hour. There’s going to be games for the kids and prizes, face painting.”

All proceeds from the event are going to a special cause. “Any proceeds made goes directly to the Children’s Wish Foundation. The tickets that the kids will buy to play the games are like two dollars for probably a pack of 10 tickets or so. Also will be the rainbow auction and all proceeds of that will go to the Children’s Wish Foundation.”

Dauphin's emergency services are also taking part in the afternoon. “The fire hall will also be across the street. The Fire Department will be offering tours and showing their trucks as well. RCMP are also going to be present. They are going to be helping and providing and cooking the hot dogs and drinks and snacks. So that is going to be there as well.”

Carefoot encourages all families to come out to a great and non-expensive day of family fun hosted by Re/Max of Dauphin.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: Aug 18, 2018 - 8:33 am

The fire danger rating in Riding Mountain National Park is set to “Very High”.

Even so, no burn ban is being implemented for the weekend.

Park officials ask that all campfires remain small and in designated pits and that people completely extinguish campfires with water when they are done.

You can report any suspected wildfires to Parks Canada Dispatch at 1-877-852-3100.