Spa at Elkhorn resort expands, rebrands

The Solstice Spa at the Elkhorn Resort near Wasagaming is undergoing a rebranding.

It is now known as the Klar So Nordic Spa, with Klar So translating to Clear Lake in Danish.

The rebrand comes following a recent expansion to the spa, which included four new buildings and over 1700 square metres of additional outdoor space.

The spa - which focuses on the Nordic tradition of Thermotherapy, already includes a series of hot and cold temperature pools, steam and dry saunas, and outdoor relaxation areas.

Thermotherapy involves switching between hot and cold temperatures combined with a rest period.

The development of the Klar So Nordic Spa represents a 10 million dollar investment that officials hope will both create jobs and drive increased tourism to the park.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Dec 15, 2023 - 2:39 pm

A 46-year-old man was back in court on Thursday in relation to a death on the Skownan First Nation.

Melvin Catcheway has admitted to manslaughter in the case and is due back in court on January 9th.

Mounties were called to the reserve on January 14th on a report of an assault.

A 68-year-old man was located once police arrived and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Dec 15, 2023 - 2:27 pm

While it wasn't the result the Parkland U18 Rangers were looking for on the ice, it was an overall extremely successful evening.

Hosting their 'Hockey Fights Cancer' game at Credit Union Place on October 20 against the Brandon Wheat Kings, fans packed the stands, many of which wore pink for the cause. The Rangers also wore their beautiful pink jerseys.

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Jason Gibbs is the team's manager and he's still talking about how special the night was.

"It was fantastic, Carla Garton did a great job putting everything together, the prize table was great, and we did very well on the 50/50," said Gibbs. "The crowd support was great, it was a tremendous night."

Now a couple of months removed from the game, the numbers are in. This year, the Rangers were able to raise $4000. That money will be going to cancer wards in Dauphin, Swan River, and Russell.

Gibbs spoke on the importance of this annual game.

"It's huge, everyone has been touched one way or another by this disease," said Gibbs. "This is our way of giving back. I also have to tip my hat to Bill Nicholson, he is a huge part of the evening."

Jason believes it's an honour to give back and he's looking forward to next year's event when it returns to Credit Union Place.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Dec 15, 2023 - 8:48 am

While the holiday season can be a joyous time for many, it can also be very difficult for those who are struggling with the recent loss of a loved one.

Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Services is hoping to help with that by once again hosting their annual Blue Christmas Services of Remembrance.

"It is for folks who are dealing with grief and sadness at what is usually a joyous time," says Joe Coffey, owner of Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Services. "They can come and deal with those feelings and recognize the people that have gone before us and are important to us."

Coffey says these services are being held tonight (Thursday) at 7 pm at their chapels in Roblin and Ste Rose, as well as Sunday afternoon at 2 at their Family Care Centre in Dauphin.

"We have a service with a clergy person, and then we light the candles and we play a video tribute for all of the people that have passed over the past year. And then it is very important as well, the fellowship of being with people that are dealing with similar feelings. "

Coffey adds everyone is welcome to attend and light a candle, even if it has been more than a year since their loved one passed away.

"Often we carry our feelings of missing people from years back. So it does not necessarily have to be someone who has passed away in the past year,it can be years ago. It is just a good opportunity to recognize these people."

Coffey says even though there is a lot of happiness associated with Christmas time, it is important to acknowledge our feelings and not hide feelings of sadness

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Dec 14, 2023 - 12:46 pm

The town of Rossburn is hosting its annual Festival of Cheer today.

Activities begin at 3:30 and include a bonfire in front of the memory garden with hot dogs and marshmallows, and a street hockey game with members of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.

The Rossburn Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a parade of lights beginning at 5:45, which will be followed by a tree lighting ceremony at town hall, and a chance for children to meet Santa Claus.

There will also be the opportunity for residents to donate non-perishable food items for the Rossburn Christmas Cheer and Food Bank, by filling a fire truck with donations.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Dec 14, 2023 - 12:20 pm

A Brandon man will be back in court next week about the death of a two-month-old on the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.

32-year-old Keifer Mecas was charged with Manslaughter earlier this year after a lengthy investigation.

In January 2016, Virden RCMP received a report of an infant in distress at a home on the reserve.

The child was taken to hospital where she died from her injuries.

Mecas is slated to be back in court on Monday.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Dec 14, 2023 - 12:16 pm

Manitoba's Premier Addressed the massive deficit left by the previous government at today's Fiscal Update.

The former PC government left a deficit of 1.6 billion dollars as of September 30th, more than 4 times what it was estimated in the spring.

Premier Wab Kinew is confident that his government will be able to deliver on its campaign promises while beginning to address the deficit.

"When we found this huge fiscal hole, step one, stop digging. That helps everybody, including workers. It helps you, as a Manitoban, to know that you have a government that is fiscally responsible."

When asked about the freeze on the gas tax set for the new year, it will still be in effect in January.

If you are looking to watch the full announcement, you can do so on the Government of Manitoba's Youtube Page.

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Dec 13, 2023 - 6:22 pm

The Night Sky will be a site to behold tonight and tomorrow, as The Geminids Meteor shower Will be hitting its peak.

Tonight and tomorrow the meteors will be very visible in the night sky, with the most activity expected to be around midnight this evening.

Astronomer Scott Young with the Manitoba Museum notes that with the clear skies in the forecast, dauphin is in a great spot to watch this meteor shower.

"Late Wednesday night, the location you'll look in the sky is the darkest part of the sky. If you can, get outside of the city and away from the city lights. This really is worth the drive out of town."

It was long thought that the object responsible for this shower, named Phaethon, was an asteroid shedding debris into the atmosphere,but Young says that modern knowledge has changed what we know about this annual event.

"We actually think it used to be a comet because there's this trail of debris behind it. Maybe what happened is that this comet has gone around the sun so many times that all the ice and the shiny stuff has burnt off and so it doesn't grow a tail anymore, but it has all this dust in its orbit.

Generally, this shower appears to come from the Gemini constellation which should be very visible on the eastern horizon after sunset.

so pull up a chair and keep your eyes peeled. At its peak, this event could have as many as 120 meteors per hour to see.

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Dec 13, 2023 - 4:14 pm

Dauphin's Adopt-A-Family program is looking for a few more sponsors for this Christmas season.

Normally, the program sponsors around 145 families in the Dauphin area, but this year just 127 families have been sponsored so far.

Co-ordinator Laverne Hudson with the Catholic Women's League says the program matches sponsors with families in need of support during the holiday season.

"We will get the ages of the families and whether there is a mom or a dad, or a mom and dad, or whatever combination, and how many children do they want to adopt - do they want to buy the groceries and for just one child or groceries and for 2 or 3 children. That is where they decide how much they are going to spend. We have a specific grocery list that we like to have in each package."

The program works in conjunction with the Friendship Centre and the Angel Tree program to help lessen the number of hampers those programs need to put together.

With hampers going out next week, the Adopt-A-Family program needs potential sponsors to come forward by the end of this week, to give them time to purchase the items needed for their hamper.

Hudson says they are targeting several different groups to help them.

"A lot of businesses adopt, a lot of service clubs adopt, and a lot of different organizations or groups of people even adopt. Sometimes 2 or 3 families will get together and adopt a family so that they can share the cost of the groceries."

If you are interested in adopting a family you are asked to contact Laverne at 204-572-4677, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by this Friday.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Dec 13, 2023 - 12:32 pm

Grandview is the latest Parkland community to hold its Santa Claus Parade of Lights.

Ryan Balak with the Grandview Kinsmen Club says this year's parade is set for Saturday night.

"The parade starts at 6 o'clock on Saturday and we ask all floats to be at the Grandview Kinsmen Hall by 5:30 that evening for judging. The parade route will go past Grandview Manor, down Railway Avenue and up Main Street, and then will go through the Care Home and Hospital for those folks there."

Balak adds the parade has been a tradition in that community for several years.

"Usually it has been pretty good, especially since COVID, we had a great big parade where nobody could go out of their house. So we took it all around Grandview. There are a lot of entries, a lot of fun, and a lot of people out there and it is always a great time."

New this year, the top three floats will have cash awards donated in their name to a charity of their choice.