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Manitoba Health Officials are responding to a notable spike in HIV cases in the Swan Valley area.
According to a CBC interview with Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer more than 40 new HIV diagnoses have been reported in Swan Valley since October of last year.
Public health authorities established an "outbreak kind of response" by increasing access to testing, asking close contacts of new diagnoses to get tested, and providing treatment.
The province's top doctor acknowledged Manitoba has experienced year-over-year increases in new HIV diagnoses.
The 280 new cases in 2023 marked a 40 percent increase compared with the previous year.
Even then, Dr. Roussin notes what's happening in Swan Valley stands out.
The Main issue cited is the use of intravenous drug use, as many users will not have access to, or use clean needles.
It also creates an issue of contaminated sharps scattered across the area that could potentially infect others.
Resources are available to report on sharps found in public and have them pricked up safely.
More information can be found at the Prairie Mountain Health Website
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Potential human remains have been found at the Prairie Green Landfill.
The remains of two victims of convicted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki, Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, are believed to have been taken to the landfill in 2022. An investigation has now begun.
The families of Harris and Myran were notified and attended the site.
The province began searching the landfill in December. The search included 20,300 cubic metres of waste.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
South Parkland Healthy Child Coalition is offering free wellness screening for three-year-old children.
Coalition member Cathy Cyr says they have been offering the screening in some form for the past 20 years.
She says it covers all developmental domains for children.
"Testing cognitive skills such as numbers and shapes and colours. It also tests gross motor and fine motor skills like holding a pencil and crayons and scissors. There are some speech and language because we always find that this the one area where some children need assistance. And we do some self-help and social skills."
She adds the screening takes about 30-40 minutes to complete.
After the screening is completed, the children are given what they call a Brain Building Bag.
Children in the South Parkland who attend a licensed daycare or nursery school can access the screening through that location, or you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
We should know within the next few weeks who the next superintendent for the Mountainview School Division will be.
In an email statement provided to CKDM News Now, MVSD Board Chair Jason Gryba says they are in the final stages of interviews, adding they anticipate an announcement within the next two weeks.
Gryba adds the superintendent search has been a thorough process.
The search began shortly after the previous superintendent Stephen Jaddock was controversially fired by the board of trustees last June.
The decision led to three trustees resigning from the school board.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Roblin & District Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual General Meeting tonight.
There will be a presentation on fraud prevention, as well as a presentation from the Roblin Lions Club, as well as information on how to become a Chamber member.
Those in attendance will also be entered into a draw for $100 in Roblin bucks.
It begins at 7 pm at the Life & Arts Centre in Roblin, and you are encouraged to RSVP in advance by calling or texting 204-937-3194.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
March 3rd is the deadline for Canadians to purchase RRSPs and be able to claim them on their 2024 tax return.
But as Parkland residents rush to their financial institution or investment advisor to do so, a new poll suggests contributions to Registered Retirement Savings Plans will drop in Manitoba this year.
Only 39 per cent of Manitobans surveyed say they plan to contribute to their RRSP, which is down from previous years.
Financial uncertainty is the main reason for that reduction.
One in ten respondents say they can't afford to invest in RRSPs at all.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, says ERs and ICUs are feeling the pressure, and he expects a second wave of cases to arrive in late winter or early spring.
So far this winter, 1,998 cases of influenza A have been reported.
By this time in the 2023-2024 season, there had been 2,723 cases, while the 2022-2023 season saw 2,649 cases.
In those years, numbers peaked in late November and December.
The cases may be more severe this year, with 64 deaths reported so far, compared to 56 in the 2023-2024 season and 57 in the 2022-2023 season.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Gilbert Plains/Grandview Ag Society will try once again tonight to hold their Annual General Meeting.
It is set for 7 pm at Heartland Lanes in Gilbert Plains after having to cancel their previous meeting a few weeks ago due to the extreme cold.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend, as the Ag Society needs new board members, chair people and volunteers for this summer's fair and rodeo in Gilbert Plains.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Town of Grandview has played host to an evening promoting the stay of healthcare workers in Rural Areas.
Eight family medicine residents currently with the Parkland Family Medicine Unit in Dauphin trekked to Grandview. There, they networked with other healthcare professionals and community representatives to learn about the benefits of practicing in Grandview and showcase the infrastructure and available lifestyle opportunities.
Outside of the medical facilities, local volunteers toured the Medical workers around the area and even got them involved in their first games of curling a the local rink.
Dr. Vlad Omelchenko expresses gratitude to the volunteers who made this possible: "On behalf of the residents, we wish to thank the community of Grandview for organizing this evening. It is invaluable for our education and gives us a better understanding of working in the area."
The Parkland Family Medicine Residency Unit of the University of Manitoba began in 1991 and has graduated over 200 residents. Some 75 percent of the program graduates have stayed in rural Manitoba communities.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Rural supplies in the Sugarloaf Area, near Grandview, are currently under a boil water advisory.
Due to an unexpected draining of the treated water reservoir on February 24th, water pressure dropped, leading to potential health and safety issues.
It is currently recommended that all water being used in the Sugarloaf Public Water System is brought to a rolling boil for at least a minute.
This would include any water being used for cooking, consumption, tooth brushing, etc.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A guilty plea has been entered in Dauphin Provincial Court in relation to a November 2023 traffic stop in the city that led to the seizure of drugs, cash and weapons.
37-year-old Chantelle Ferland of Dauphin pled guilty to a total of three charges, including Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous purpose.
She was given a 12-month suspended sentence, as well as being placed on probation for one year.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
