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UPDATE: The community barbecue and pop-up passport service that were originally scheduled to take place tomorrow, August 4^th, in Swan River have been postponed to September 1^st.

More details to come.

The original article follows:

Dan Mazier, MP for Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, will be hosting a community barbecue and pop-up passport service in Dauphin on Wednesday, August 3^rd.

The community barbecue will take place in the Dauphin Market Place Mall parking lot from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the pop-up passport service will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the conference room at Best Western Plus. There will also be a photographer on site to take and print official passport photographs.

In order to get help with your passport application, you must bring the following items:

• Identification: Original birth certificate, Canadian citizenship card, or most recent Canadian passport (current or expired within 15 years). If applying for a married surname, a copy of proof of marriage is required.
• Secondary ID: Photo ID issued by the federal or provincial government (e.g. driver's licence). It must contain your name, date of birth, sex, photo and signature.
• References: Name, mailing address, and phone numbers of two people, not related to you, who have known you for two years.
• Guarantor: A guarantor is a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age or older, in possession of a valid Canadian passport who has known you for two years. A family member may be your guarantor if they meet the requirements. They cannot provide a guarantor. A guarantor is not required for an adult simplified renewal application.
• Payment: Credit card, money order or certified cheque for passport application — $120 for a 5-year adult passport, $160 for a 10-year adult passport, and $57 for a child's (0-15 years of age) passport. The official photographer will charge $20 (cash only).

In addition, Mazier will also be making stops in other communities.

In Neepawa, there will be a community barbecue on Tuesday, August 2^nd from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Neepawa Office (across from the Co-op) and a pop-up passport service will be held at the Arts Forward Centre from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. that same day.

In Swan River, a community barbecue will take place on Thursday, August 4^th from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce Grounds (by the swan) and a pop-up passport service will be held in the Legion Room at the Veteran's Community Hall from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. that same day.

Mazier is asking those who are interested in the passport service to R.S.V.P. by emailing him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling him at 204-622-4659.

Details

Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos

Published: Jul 30, 2022 - 5:45 am

A standoff on Ebb & Flow First Nation ended with the arrest of three men.

Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP got a report that a man with several outstanding arrest warrants was seen at a residence on Ebb & Flow First Nation. When police arrived at the residence, the suspect and two other males ran inside.

Police were also able to identify the other two men, and it was discovered that all three were wanted for numerous firearms offenses. The standoff between the police and the suspects lasted several hours, with limited contact between the two sides.

Eventually, officers heard sounds coming from inside the home that sounded like the men were setting up barricades. Soon after, police heard what sounded like an explosion, followed by flames and smoke coming out the windows of the residence.

37-year-old Manuel Houle, from Ebb & Flow First Nation, then jumped out the window and was arrested without incident. A short time later, officers heard several similar explosions, followed by the home catching on fire. 38-year-old Lyle Malcolm, and 27-year-old Tyson Racette, both from Ebb & Flow First Nation, soon exited the home and were arrested.

All three men were charged with Arson, Possessing of a Weapon while Prohibited, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, Use of Explosives, Pointing a Firearm, and other Criminal Codes offenses. The three men were remanded into custody, and are appearing in Dauphin Provincial Court today.

Details

Contributed by Sam Brownell

Published: Jul 29, 2022 - 2:45 pm

Canada's National Ukrainian Festival (CNUF) returns to the hill today and will run until Sunday.

The festival kicks off at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Festival Square Stage and will showcase Ukrainian food, music, dance, arts and culture. Dauphin’s Canada’s National Riding & Dancing Cossacks and Zirka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble will be performing live at CNUF as well.

Kayla Gillis, president of CNUF, said that it's going to be a really good time.

"We're hoping everyone can join us. Ticket sales have gone really, really well, so we want to thank everybody for purchasing tickets," she added.

She also said that this year, the opening ceremonies will be incorporated into the whole show.

"We actually have the speeches mixed in with the dances and everything, so it's a little bit... more fun than what we've done in the past," CNUF Vice-President Nick Yakimishen added.

There is a shuttle bus service that runs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. to get people to and from the site. One-way rides cost $5, but those with weekend wristbands get unlimited rides. Weekend shuttle bus wristbands can be purchased from Ruff’s Furniture for $15.

More information on Canada's National Ukrainian Festival can be found at cnuf.ca.

Details

Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos

Published: Jul 29, 2022 - 6:00 am

The Parkland Chamber of Commerce is the latest organization to donate to the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund. They donated $1000 in Chamber Bucks, which will be given out to the families the fund is supporting.

Chamber Executive Director Stephen Chychota says they've seen great representation from the community, and the chamber just wanted to do its part.

"We're just trying to welcome them, and support them where we can." Said Chychota, "We have these Chamber Bucks available to us and working with these local communities, and just try to do that link for them."

Since it began, the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund has raised over 200 thousand dollars, as well as many donations in kind. For more information on the fund, you can call Larry at 204-648-5904, or Karen at 204-648-3567.

Details

Contributed by Sam Brownell

Published: Jul 29, 2022 - 5:58 am

Winnipegosis RCMP officers have safely located Liza Houle-Gambler.

The 15-year-old from Skownan First Nation was reported missing to police on Monday, July 25^th after she disappeared from her home.

The RCMP wants to thank the public for their help.

Details

Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos

Published: Jul 28, 2022 - 5:33 pm

Premier Heather Stefanson was in Swan River yesterday to announce that a CT Scanner will be coming to the Swan Valley Health Centre.

The community raised over one million dollars towards bringing in the scanner, and the Provincial Government will be putting up the remaining two million. Stefanson spoke about the goal of bringing healthcare closer to home during an impromptu stop at the Parkland Chamber of Commerce Street Fair earlier today.

"We've always wanted to ensure that we have healthcare closer to home for everybody." Said Stefanson, "The community of Swan River came together and put some of their own funds together for it, and so we're just topping it up with our two million."

The Swan Valley Health Centre serves a population of 14,000 in the Swan Valley region. Currently, patients in the region are transported via ambulance or travel on their own to Dauphin, Brandon, or Winnipeg to obtain CT scans.

"It will help the entire Parkland Region I think as well." Said Stefanson, "What we don't want is people having to travel all the way to Winnipeg or Brandon, or elsewhere, we want to have the CT Scanner there for those to be able to get their diagnostics closer to home. We've had a challenge obviously, as people in other Provinces have across the Country with surgical and diagnostic backlogs so this will help alleviate the pressures on the waitlist."

 The announcement comes a day after Health Minister Audrey Gordon was in Dauphin to announce a Retinal Specialist Pilot Project.

Details

Contributed by Sam Brownell

Published: Jul 28, 2022 - 3:21 pm

The Northwest Round Up and Exhibition returns to Swan River today and will go on until Sunday, July 31^st.

The festival kicks off today at 4:30 p.m. with a barbecue, beer gardens, and chuckwagon & chariot races. There will also be a parade tomorrow at 10 a.m. and a pancake breakfast will take place at 7:30 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. In addition, there will be many events, activities and lots of food.

Austen Anderson, president of the Swan River Valley Ag Society, said that it's really special to people in the Valley.

"It's kind of like Swan River's weekend... People hold their family reunions this weekend and have people come and visit them... so to showcase our community and... have a big event like this, [that] makes me really proud," he added.

Anderson also said that only cash will be accepted at the gate and that admission will be $20 for adults, $10 for kids aged 5-12, and free for kids under 5.

The complete schedule of events can be found on the Swan River Valley Agricultural Society Facebook page.

Details

Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos

Published: Jul 28, 2022 - 11:00 am

Although it won't be as intense as the heat wave that scorched Manitoba not too long ago, this weekend's forecast is calling for hot weather.

Because of this, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) wants to help you stay safe during extended periods of heat.

ECCC Meteorologist Terri Lang says that the effects of heat are cumulative and that it's important to stay out of the heat as much as possible.

"You can take a day of heat, but when it's a couple [of] days long and the temperatures aren't cooling off overnight, you don't get rested [and] your body can't recover, that's when the effects of heat start to pile up," she added.

According to Lang, people should seek air-conditioned spaces or go to places like pools and spray parks to cool off.

She also said that those who need to get work done outdoors should try to get it done in the morning or in the evening, since morning and evening temperatures are generally lower than afternoon temperatures, and that covering your skin with loose light-coloured clothing can also help.

Terri Lang then stressed that it's very important to stay hydrated and that people should drink as much water as they possibly can.

Furthermore, those without air conditioning in their homes are still able to get some relief from the heat, as well as the humidity.

"Get a bowl of ice and put it in front of a fan and have the fan [blow] on you. That will help. You can also put your feet into cold water or ice water. That will help cool you off," Terri Lang added.

She also said that people could try sleeping in the basement because, since cold air sinks, the lowest part of the house is generally the coolest.

Details

Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos

Published: Jul 28, 2022 - 6:00 am

The Manitoba Government has announced the launch of a Retinal Specialist Pilot Project in Dauphin. Previously, the service this project will provide was only available in Winnipeg for Parkland residents.

“There was increased concern and anxiety expressed by our patients, particularly over the past two years, regarding travel to appointments in Winnipeg,” said Dr. Kara Vanderheyden, optometrist, Ashcroft Vision Care.

This project will bring a retinal specialist to Dauphin once a month to perform injections, a service that many had to travel to Winnipeg monthly to receive. The services will be provided at Ashcroft Vision Care, and Health Minister Audrey Gordon said there is an opportunity to expand services in the future.

"One of the reasons we're saying this is a pilot, and the pilot will initially benefit a certain number of individuals, is so that we can test demand, and look at how often we have to bring those specialists in," said Gordon outside Ashcroft Vision Centre this afternoon. "So in the pilot, it may be one day, but once the program is fully up and running it may be more."

Retinal specialists diagnose retinal diseases and treat a wide variety of eye conditions including age-related macular degeneration, hereditary diseases of the eye, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and cancers of the eye. The program will be able to serve 60 to 80 patients per visit.

"Not all patients have to have injections every month, so we should be able to accommodate most patients in this area from having to go to Winnipeg, that is the goal of this project." Said Dr. Vanderheyden

Details

Contributed by Sam Brownell

Published: Jul 27, 2022 - 4:27 pm

The Winnipegosis RCMP has made an arrest in relation to the death of a 51-year-old man on Pine Creek First Nation on June 23rd.

40-year-old Sheryl Leeann Thompson has been arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder. She appeared in court in Swan River yesterday and was remanded into custody to appear in Dauphin court on August 9th.

On June 23rd, Winnipegosis RCMP responded to a report that a man had been stabbed at a residence on Pine Creek First Nation. When they arrived, they found the victim with life-threatening injuries. He was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Details

Contributed by Sam Brownell

Published: Jul 27, 2022 - 3:53 pm