Manitoba's Worst Roads For 2022

Provincial Road 307, which connects Seven Sisters Falls through the Whiteshell Provincial Park, is the "winner" of CAA Manitoba's Worst Roads for 2022 contest.

The annual contest highlights the top ten worst roads in the province as voted by Manitobans.

Most of the roads listed are in Winnipeg and there were none from the Parkland. Brandon's 18th street is featured at the number five spot.

CAA Manitoba notes that this is the first time a rural road has taken the number one spot. They also say that more rural roads are making the list as the contest continues each year.

This year’s Top 10 list for Manitoba:

1. Provincial Road 307	6. Provincial Trunk Hwy 44, Lockport to Whiteshell
2. Saskatchewan Avenue, Winnipeg	7. Leila Avenue, Winnipeg
3. Waller Avenue, Winnipeg	8. Kenaston Boulevard, Winnipeg
4. Provincial Trunk Hwy 34, Pilot Mound/Crystal City	9. Dawson Road North, Winnipeg
5. 18^th Street, Brandon	10. Goulet Street, Winnipeg

In 2015, Highway 274 near Gilbert Plains made the list at the ninth spot.

Details: Contributed by Alec Woolston; Published: May 24, 2022 - 3:22 pm

Dauphin lake has been steadily rising this spring, but according to the province's most recent forecasting, appears to be at its peak. The lake is sitting a full foot above its flood stage according to the province's most recent measurements, which were taken yesterday.

At 858.99 feet, it is also more than four feet above its upper operating range of 854.8, when some low-lying areas begin to see flooding. According to the province's forecast, the lake should be at its peak and slowly begin to come down, although more precipitation in the forecast could change that.

Other lakes in the area are in a different situation, however, as Lake Manitoba is sitting within its operating range and more than three feet below its flood stage. Lake Winnipegosis has fluctuated quite a bit this spring but hit its peak so far this year on May 20th, and is over a foot below where it was that day.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: May 24, 2022 - 6:10 am

Today is World Schizophrenia Awareness Day, and Peer Connections Manitoba Community Peer Support Worker for Dauphin and outlying regions Eleanor Snitka says it's important to address some of the misconceptions around schizophrenia.

"What people need to know is that people with schizophrenia can recover, and they can recover to live very functional lives," Said Eleanor, "They can find a purpose in life, they can hold jobs and become volunteers. Recover means finding our potential and leading a full life."

Find out more about schizophrenia awareness day on Peer Connections Manitoba's Facebook page here.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: May 24, 2022 - 6:00 am

If you've recently purchased any Jif peanut butter products you might want to check the code on the back.

Smucker Foods of Canada Corp. is recalling a number of its products due to possible salmonella contamination.

Jars with lot codes 1274425 through 2140425 should be disposed of immediately.

You can find a full list of the recalled products on the Government of Canada's website here.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: May 23, 2022 - 8:29 am

The Manitoba Métis Federation election has come to an end, with every spot up for grabs claimed by acclamation according to Chief Electoral Officer David Gray. According to Gray, this was the first time an entire election cycle had been decided by acclamation.

David Chartrand was re-elected to his role as President and will serve his third straight term in the role. Chartrand has led the organization since 1997.

Francis Chartrand of Dauphin has been re-elected to her role as vice president for the Northwest Region. Richard Genaille, of Duck Bay, and Peter Fleming, of Minitonas, are the regional executive officers for the northwest region.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: May 23, 2022 - 7:20 am

The province of Manitoba has expanded the seeding deadline for AgriInsurance coverage in three of the four areas. The full coverage seeding deadlines for soybeans are now June 8 in Soybean Area 1 and June 4 in Soybean Areas 2 and 3.

Additionally, soybean growers in these areas will now be eligible for insurance if planting occurs in the five days following the full-coverage seeding deadline. However, coverage will be reduced by 20%.

The full-coverage seeding deadline for Soybean Area 4 continues to be May 30 with no extended seeding deadline coverage. These changes are permanent and will be part of the AgriInsurance contract going forward.

A map of the Soybean areas in the province can be seen here.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: May 21, 2022 - 8:39 am

The Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund has passed $170,000 in cash donations. The Fund received a $4000 donation from the Zirka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble last night after they picked the winner of their 50th Anniversary raffle.

President of Zirka, Leeann Bomak said the money was raised at their 50th Anniversary Zabava, which was held at the end of April.

Our club has been in Dauphin for 50 years and the community has always been a huge supporter of what we do so we wanted to support local and support some things happening in our community.

The Fund has officially welcomed its first few families to the Parkland, with more expected to be arriving later this month. You can get more information about the Fund, by calling Larry at 204-648-5904, or Karen at 204-648-3567.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: May 21, 2022 - 7:23 am

The Province of Manitoba has expanded eligibility for second COVID-19 booster shots. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin made this announcement this afternoon. The following groups are now eligible;

Individuals aged 50 or older
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people aged 30 or older, regardless of where they live
Individuals aged 18 to 49 years who are moderate to severely immunocompromised
Residents of any age of personal care homes and elderly person housing congregate living sites

The province is also shortening the intervals to be eligible for booster doses. The first booster can now be given four months after the person’s second vaccine, and the second booster dose can now be given four months after the first booster.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: May 20, 2022 - 1:01 pm

Southern Chiefs Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels and Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson are calling on both the Federal and Provincial governments to provide permanent flood protection for Peguis First Nation. The community originally lived on land in the Selkirk area but was forced to relocate in 1907 to the flood-prone area near the Fisher River.

"Due to chronic underfunding of infrastructure, including flood prevention measures by governments, flooding episodes never end for Peguis" said Chief Hudson today.

This spring, over 1800 people from the First Nation were forced to evacuate their homes because of flooding. The Southern Chiefs' Organization says the federal and provincial governments need to work together to build flood protection infrastructure.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: May 20, 2022 - 12:31 pm

It was announced yesterday, that a number of provincial campgrounds had to postpone their opening this weekend. Today, the province announced even more postponements including a few local ones.

Rainbow Beach Provincial Park campground is closed until at least May 27 due to wet conditions and soft ground.
Manipogo Provincial Park announced partial closures yesterday but has officially closed all campgrounds until at least May 27 due to wet conditions and soft ground.

You can see the full updated list of provincial park campground closures here.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: May 20, 2022 - 7:22 am

Two local historians have been awarded the Lieutenant Governors' Historical Preservation Award.

The Manitoba Historical Society receives award nominations from the public and recommends up to three people to receive awards each year. This year's recipients are Jo Bunka from Winnipegosis, Ed Stozek from Dauphin, and Elva Simundsson from Gimli.

Ed Stozek spent 33 years teaching in Dauphin at Smith Jackson, Barker Elementary, and the DRCSS. Although he retired as a teacher 15 years ago, Ed has remained extremely busy, publishing three books and submitting nearly 400 columns to local newspapers called "A Slice of the Parkland"

I've found out that many ordinary people live extraordinary lives and I have had the opportunity to share some amazing stories and experiences

Jo Bunka is the President of the Winnipegosis Historical Society, and she's been involved with the society since it was started in 1985. She says that preserving the history of the area has always been one of her passions.