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Every year in Canada, approximately 4,500 people die by suicide. That's equivalent to roughly 12 people per day.
Every day, more than 200 people in Canada attempt suicide. Suicide rates are approximately three times higher among men compared to women. For those between the ages of 15 and 34, suicide is the second leading cause of death.
12% of people have thoughts of suicide in their lifetime. 3.1% have attempted suicide.
These are some heartbreaking statistics around suicide in Canada. On Wednesday, it's Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide Prevention Day is a day when people gather in communities across the country to show support for suicide prevention efforts.
It's also important to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died by suicide. There are several events in Dauphin and the Parkland region on September 10.
Kelly Lewis is the Hope Community Coordinator with Prairie Mountain Health.
"The biggest piece is breaking the silence around suicide. Silence is suicide's greatest ally," said Lewis. "Talking about it can save lives. Asking someone directly, Are you having thoughts about suicide shows you care. Many people feel relief knowing someone wants to listen and be by their side."
There are signs that you may not be doing well. These include not texting or calling your friends or loved ones as often, drinking or smoking more than usual, appearing tired or distant, talking negatively about life, and being more irritable or angry.
If you or someone you know is struggling, start the conversation; it could save a life.
"Everyone deserves connection, to be heard, to be seen, and to have support in their life," said Lewis. "I would encourage everyone to think about who they have in their life they could turn to. Whether that be a family member, trusted friend, or a counsellor."
You can also call the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8. Prairie Mountain Health offers a program called 'Strive to Thrive.' It's a free, five-week program where participants explore their wellness symptoms and work to improve their mental health. Participants develop skills, knowledge, and practices needed to thrive. You can call 1-877-509-7852 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It's available in person or virtually throughout the year.
Some ways to boost your mental health include maintaining a healthy diet, prioritizing sleep, exercising, and practicing self-love.
Lewis understands that everyone has a story and a different way of approaching things. She wants you to know that if you are struggling, you're never alone.
"All lives are worth living," ended Lewis. "No matter what you're going through, there is help out there to support you. You do not have to go at it alone."
On Wednesday, Kelly encourages people to light a candle in their window at home at 8:00 p.m. to mark Suicide Prevention Day. It's another way to show you're not alone.
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The Cancer Care unit at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre has benefited over the past 18 months from several donations by the Dauphin Regional health Foundation.
Cancer Care Regional Manager Kathy Ward goes over some of the recent contributions.
"Privacy screens for our patients, as well as heated, comfort chairs for their treatments. So our patients can enjoy some privacy when they come for treatment with the use of the screens. And the chairs themselves have a heating capacity that will allow them to be comfortable in the actual seats, when they are receiving their treatment."
A number of i-Pads have also been donated, which patients can use to stream videos while receiving their treatments.
The chairs and i-Pads were purchased last year, while the privacy screens were the most recent donation to the unit, at a cost of around ten-thousand dollars.
Total cost of all the contributions was around 30 grand.
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The Dauphin-Ochre Band Parents Association have been selected as the charity of choice for this year's Co-op Fuel Good Day promotion in Dauphin.
10 cents from every litre of fuel sold next Tuesday (September 16th) at both Co-op Gas bar locations in Dauphin will be given to the group.
Joan Chetyrbok with the Dauphin Co-op says there will also be other fundraisers held at both locations that day.
"There will be a barbecue at both gas bars from 11:30 to 1 pm. Members of the Dauphin Kings will be on hand as well, which will add to the excitement."
Since 2017, the Dauphin Co-op has donated over 45-thousand dollars to local charities through the Fuel Good Day program.
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Water system maintenance is scheduled to take place tomorrow (Wednesday) in Birtle.
Because of that, Public Works in that community will be turning off the water in sections throughout the day.
When the water in your section is turned off, it will stay that way for five minutes.
Birtle residents can also expect little to no pressure in their lines while the water is turned off.
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A significant infrastructure project is underway in Russell.
Over the next few weeks, a total of 16 crosswalks along Main Street will be removed and replaced with high-durability concrete.
The work began on the north end of Main Street and will progress south, with crosswalks at multiple intersections being removed in a single day where possible.
Once work begins at an intersection, it will be closed for a minimum of three consecutive days.
Although it is being scheduled in order to minimize disruption as much as possible, residents in Russell are still being asked to avoid the intersections while the reconstruction takes place.
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There was a call for beer bottles and cans in Ste. Rose.
Ste. Rose, you answered. The Ste. Rose School parent committee is raising money to purchase a new play structure. It'll replace the current one, which has been in use for more than three decades.
Amy MacCarthy and the committee hosted a bottle and can drive on Sunday, and it couldn't have gone any better.
Those living in Ste. Rose were asked to leave any bottles and cans on the curb for pick-up.
The committee was able to pick up 13,335 cans and 1,836 bottles. That works out to $1,529.
"The support was incredible. My phone was ringing off the hook," said MacCarthy. "The community really rallied together to support this. It was incredible to see. We are so grateful for the support."
To date, the committee has raised $24,200. A brand-new play structure is closer to becoming a reality in Ste. Rose.
"I can speak to my kids and many others; they're so excited. They can't wait to have a new structure to play on," ended MacCarthy. "They'll be able to make new memories. They can connect with their friends during and after school. It will be great."
Amy says they plan to apply for grants throughout the winter. The committee has budgeted $85,000 for the play structure.
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It was an Amazing Race... literally.
The Amazing Race Dauphin took over on Saturday, and what a day it was. Teams competed in various challenges in and around Dauphin. Venues included Northgate Trails, Vermillion Growers, and the final challenge was an Accent Accounting logo puzzle.
This year's champions are Alexa Bennet and Storm Karlson.
"They were steadily in fourth place for about 99 per cent of the day," said Shawn Sarkonak. "They pulled ahead during the last two challenges at Assiniboine College. They even had to sit for 10 minutes. They had two five-minute penalties that they needed to serve."
Sarkonak says one of the highlights was a few teams not realizing they were at the wrong clue locations.
"That actually made things more exciting because it evened things throughout the day," offered Sarkonak. "There were a lot of ups and downs and frustration throughout the day. All in all, everyone involved had a great day."
Alexa and Storm crossed the finish line on the patio at Obsolete Brewing Company in Dauphin. A packed crowd formed in celebration on a beautiful day in the City of Sunshine.
"We can't thank the crew at Obsolete enough for hosting us. We did our raffles, our live stream, and 50/50 there," said Sarkonak. "It was packed inside and out."
Numbers are starting to come in, and they're huge. Through donations, team pledges, the raffle, 50/50, and sponsorship, all funds raised are going to the Countryfest Community Cinema. As of Monday morning, they've raised more than $50,000.
"We can't thank everyone enough for all of the donations," ended Sarkonak. "We have a great place here at the CCC. Without our great community, we wouldn't open. It was heartwarming to see the community come together to help and support."
$50,000 for the Countryfest Community Cinema and two new champions. The Amazing Race Dauphin was an immense success.
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The federal agriculture minister is being joined by the provincial ministers for meetings in Winnipeg this week.
Originally scheduled for July, the conference was rescheduled to this week due to the wildfire situation in Manitoba earlier this summer.
Dauphin MLA and Manitoba Agriculture minister Ron Kostyshyn is looking forward to hosting his counterparts from across the country.
"These are one of the things that have so much benefit when you get together in person with other provincial agricultural ministers and the federal minister about things that have changed in the past year, and what things we foresee coming up in the near future."
Kostyshyn expects discussions around tariffs to be front and center during the meetings.
The minister will also visit the EMILI experimental farm just outside of Winnipeg.
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The H.I.V. situation in Swan River Valley will be the focus of a digital town hall this Wednesday night.
Representatives from Manitoba Health will be available to answer and discuss pre-submitted questions from members of the community regarding the outbreak in that community.
To register for the meeting, and to submit your questions, you're asked to go to engagemb.ca/hivtownhall.
The meeting will run from 7 to 8 pm on Wednesday.
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A 43-year-old man is fighting for his life in a Winnipeg hospital following a hit-and-run incident in Dauphin over the weekend.
RCMP say it happened around 9 pm on Saturday.
The man was airlifted by STARS and is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Mounties say the driver in the accident was a 20-year-old woman from Gilbert Plains Municipality.
She was brought into the detachment, where she provided a breath sample that was almost three times over the legal limit.
The vehicle has been seized, and the suspect is slated to appear in court at a later date.
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Derek Johnson bought a new truck one year ago.
He looked at his dashboard on Sunday, and there were already 54,000 kilometres on it. According to statistics, the average Canadian drives 15,200 kilometres annually.
As the MLA for Interlake-Gimli, Johnson has been all over the place over the past 12 months. His Facebook page has documented his journey, and last week, it showed him traveling to Ashern for their Rodeo weekend.
The 33rd annual event welcomed scorching temperatures for a packed weekend. Johnson was in attendance on the Saturday.
"It was an amazing day. They've held that rodeo for decades; it's such a special community," said Johnson. "Great people and a great event."
The weekend opened with the street dance on Friday, followed by an incredible fireworks show. When Derek arrived on Saturday, he started at Centennial Hall for the pancake breakfast before going to the market. He then headed just out of town for the rodeo, which started at 4:00.
Johnson, who has attended the Ashern Rodeo for years, says it was a special day.
"The pancake breakfast was a fundraiser for the Fire Department," offered Johnson. "That was outstanding. The number of people who showed up to show support shows the community spirit."
Derek then hit the road and days later, found himself in Fisher Branch. That's where he recognized 12 women of the Fisher Branch Women's Institute. The 12 have been serving in the Institute for a combined 476 years. The longest serving member is Rose Barrett. She's 90 years old and has served for 70 years.
Johnson was elected to his first term as MLA for Interlake on April 19, 2016. He was re-elected in the newly-established riding of Interlake-Gimli in 2019 and 2023.
He has also previously held the role of Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Municipal Relations. He currently serves as House Leader and Critic for Seniors and Long-Term Care.
A proud resident of the Interlake, Johnson says it's a must-visit part of the province.
"Oh, absolutely. It's pretty much a hidden paradise," ended Johnson. "We have great beaches on Lake Manitoba. The diversity of our population is outstanding. We're attracting many new Ukrainians and the older generation of Ukrainians who came decades ago and have made the Interlake what it is today. The Lundar Lobster Fest is a staple. They serve 700 people in less than an hour with all of the community support they get."
Before becoming an MLA, Derek served as a councillor for the R.M. of St. Laurent.
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