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A recent announcement from both the federal and all provincial government could symbolize a big step forward in food security.
this statement from Statement from Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Agriculture notes that all major retailers have joined the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct.
This includes Loblaw, Sobeys, and Metro, and most recently, Walmart and Costco.
The goal of this grocery sector code is to bringing more fairness, transparency, and predictability to Canada’s grocery supply chain and for consumers.
This code is expected to be in place federally by 2025 to support Canadians with fair, and equitable grocery prices.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
RCMP in the province are still on a manhunt for an 18-year-old wanted in connection with a homicide.
Head-Martin is believed to be in The Pas.
Anyone with information is asked to call Moose Lake RCMP at 204-678-2399.
Mounties say if anyone sees the suspect, do not approach him and call police immediately.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union has released a report on the staffing crisis in rural health care, which includes ten recommendations that they feel would greatly fix health care issues in the province.
The report, titled From Crisis to Stability – Fixing the Staffing Crisis in Manitoba’s Health Care System, showed that Health Care Aide vacancies across Prairie Mountain Health was over 30 per cent, with 16 facilities showing vacancy rates of over 40 per cent.
There were also over 700 vacant positions in health care aide and home care programs in Prairie Mountain Health and interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authorities combined.
It also reported that Health employers are competing for workers with the retail and service industry in small and medium sized communities and must improve wages to recruit and retain these vital members of the health care team.
Among the recommendations in the report were implementing an aggressive recruitment and retention strategy, providing more training opportunities in more communities, expanding the number of full-time positions, and putting an end to unnecessary system-wide restructuring exercises.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Rural Municipality of Ethelbert has Now declared a state of agricultural disaster.
between the first of May and the first of July, 163 percent more rain fell on the area than the 30 average before it, roughly 223mm of rain.
This follows suit with the RM of Mossey River, and the RM of Dauphin, who hope these collective efforts could lead to more financial aid to producers beyond the standard crop insurance.
Their Statement notes that they've been plagued with overland flooding, inaccessible fields, and issues in hay cutting and cattle health water-logged pastures.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
As canola fields are bursting into their bright yellow blooms, two groups are highlighting how bees work into the mix.
Manitoba Canola Growers and the Knowledge and Research Transfer Program for Apiculture note that canola is one of the biggest sources of nectar for bee populations this time of year, and in turn, those bees pollinate the crops and increase yields.
Manitoba produces more than 8,500 metric tonnes with a value of over 50 million dollars. The managed bee industry contributes up to 150 million dollars in increased pollination to canola, alfalfa, and other crops grown in the province per year.
The problem is other insects, the means of fending them off.
Canola can require insecticide treatment for a wide variety of pests. If they are needed, MCG states the best practice is to notify nearby beekeepers 48 hours before an application, so they can cover or move their bees so they are safe from the insecticide.
Both organizations encourage both Farmers and Beekeepers to keep in touch with each other, stating "Simple steps like open communication, using treatment thresholds, considering pesticides with minimal impact on beneficial insects and pollinators, as well as proper application timing will ensure the best possible outcomes for both stakeholders and a bright future for both honey and canola production in Manitoba"
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The nomination process has opened for the city's 2024 Best Garden Selection Contest.
Only 12 front-yard gardens will be selected for awards under the contest.
Residents are encouraged to nominate either their own garden, or one belonging to a neighbour.
The city is looking for nominations with a creative design, vibrant blooms, or impecable yard maintenance.
You are encouraged to snap a photo of the garden and submit it either by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through a posting on the City's Facebook page.
Friday, August 16th is the nomination deadline, with winners being announced the following week.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Carberry Community Memorial Hall played host on Tuesday night to the launch of the provincial government's public consultation process into safety improvements at the scene of last year's deadly bus crash near the community.
Three main intersection types were shared at the event, based on recommendations from a safety review in the wake of the June 15th crash at the intersection of Highway 5 and the Trans Canada Highway, which killed 17 seniors from the Dauphin area and injured eight others, after their bus collided with a semi truck.
Those options included a widened intersection, a roundabout, or a setup often known as a restricted crossing U-turn — or RCUT — that forces drivers to make a U-turn instead of turning left.
The open house also included other intersection alternatives such as grade-separated, signalized, split or offset T- intersections.
Over 100 people attended the open house-style event, which was the first stage of a functional design process for the intersection.
The province says there will be three rounds of public engagement, that will culminate in a recommendation for how to make the intersection safer.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A week of warmer weather made for some prominent advancements in crops, according to the weekly Manitoba crop report.
Some areas still saw isolated heavy rains, but the hot, sunny conditions helped dry most areas and promote growth.
Even then, the damage has been done, and some locations have claimed a state of "agricultural disaster".
There was a fair bit less rain in most areas, with the most precipitation seen in Interlakes Fisherton Station with 61.4mm of rain, and several areas across the province getting no rain whatsoever,
Overall, soil conditions range from wet to optimal, with the weather drying up moderately through the hot week.
Crops across the province progressed well with the hot, sunny week, with a visible amount of growth in the fields.
In Cereals, Fall Rye and Winter Wheat are at the soft to hard dough stages with the most advanced fields ripening, Grain corn ranges from V6-V10, and spring wheat ranges from Flag to soft dough Stages.
The Spring Wheat is getting fungicide applications for fusarium head blight where it can, but some crops experienced lodging from heavy rainfall. Between the lodging and wet start, 5 to 10% of the crops are being reported as poor in the Southwest, Northwest, Central, and Interlake regions.
Oil seeds are moving along well. Canola ranges from rosette to early podding stages, Sunflowers from R1 to R2, and Flax Crops range from stage 5 to 7.
Pulses and soybeans also progressing, though with some differences in soybeans. Early-seeded fields are around the r1 stage, but late fields are near the second and fourth trifoliate stages.
Field peas are in the R1 to R3 stage, and The most advanced edible beans are approaching flowering.
Forage crops were greatly bolstered by the week's weather, with haying yields expected to be normal to above average. That being said, dry down times are a struggle, as the continued rain and high humidity are slowing it significantly.
Progress on first-cut harvest of hayfields is behind and producers are concerned about both the quantity and quality of harvested feed that will be available this winter. Producers have turned to bale wrapping to make silage bales as drying conditions have been difficult.
Livestock conditions are pretty optimal though, with dugouts and ponds full.
There has been an increase in insect pressure, as well as the potential for foot rot and pink eye. Even with these potential issues, cattle populations are doing quite well.
Taking things closer to home in the northwest regions, it was very much a week of high temperatures and scattered thunderstorms across the region.
The highest temperature recorded was at the Ethelbert station, clocking in at 34 °C. At least there was slightly less rain, as precipitation ranged from 1 mm at Grandview and Keld to 25 mm at Swan Valley.
Several thunderstorms brought heavy rain, hail, and strong winds, and those storms resulted in crop lodging in the Roblin and Swan Valley/Benito areas.
The RM of Mossey River, as well as the RM of Dauphin, declared a state of agricultural disaster due to the effects of heavy rainfalls this year.
The earliest field peas are in the R3 stage, and the remainder of the crop is in R2. The majority of field peas look good, however there are fields affected by the excess moisture and doing poorly.
Most of the spring wheat is headed and flowering, with the most advanced crops in the grain development stage with the remainder of fields in the tillering stage. Fields affected by excess moisture are showing signs of stress and are yellowed and stunted.
Many fields have been sprayed with fungicides for fusarium head blight.
Canola crops continue to be quite varied. The earliest seeded fields are flowering, and the remainder is in the bolting and rosette stages. Spraying continues to be a challenge in some areas due to excess moisture. Some poorer fields across the region are bolting due to stress.
Soybean crops are headed into R1 and mostly looking good. The recent heat has helped and advanced the crops.
Finally, Winter wheat and Fall rye crops are in the grain development stage and looking good in most areas unharmed by excess moisture.
Another sunny and hot forecast is in the works for this week, with temperatures near 30 °C. It should be another excellent week for growth, and hopefully, the wetter fields become accessible for the work they need to be done.
That's our look at the crop report this week. Until next week, here's wishing all Manitoba's producers a safe and productive season!
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
the Rotary Club of Dauphin has been serving their community for a full century as of this year, and they're holding a party to mark this milestone.
Jean-Louis Guillas, a prominent member of the club, says this party will feature drinks, dinner, and details of the long and storied history of the Club
"In the 1930's they did things such as, you could go to the movie theatre for free but you had to bring an item of clothing because there were shortages. There were vegetable drives, again, to redistribute to people who were in need and families in need. For a long time, Dauphin Rotary operated a summer camp out at Silver Sands beach along Lake Dauphin that ran for several decades and Rotary-sponsored swimming lessons."
What has your Rotary Club been up to the last hundred years? So much! In the 1930s we were putting on shows and raising...
Posted by Rotary Club of Dauphin on Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Guillas noted that a very special guest will be in attendance from afar, though, she has some local roots.
"Our international president is coming to this party. it's a rare, rare, rare treat to host the international president, and we'll have her for the whole weekend because she has a connection to the Parkland. Her mother was born in Ethelbert, Manitoba. Stephanie Urchick is the president for this year of the international. She lives in Pennsylvania, but her mother was born right here in Ethelbert.
If you're looking to give back to Dauphin or Support the people who do, get a ticket and attend the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Dauphin, on August 5th.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A former Parkland resident who served time behind bars for ramming his truck into the gates of Rideau Hall has been granted statutory release.
CBC and GCTV News reports Corey Hurren - formerly of Bowsman - was granted the conditional release by the Parole Board of Canada last week.
As part of his release, Hurren must continue to seek psychological counselling, take prescribed medications, seek full employment, and report his financial information to a parole officer.
Hurren had been on day parole since November of 2022.
He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2021 - minus a year served - after crashing his truck through the gates of Rideau Hall in July 2020.
According to court documents, Hurren was attempting to arrest Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who lives at Rideau Cottage on the grounds of Rideau Hall.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A cup of coffee or an iced coffee tomorrow will go a long way towards brightening a child's summer.
Wednesday is Tim Horton's Camp Day, with 100 per cent of proceeds from all coffee and iced coffee sales going towards sending youth to Tim Horton's camps.
Other activities at the Dauphin location includes raffles, window washing in the drive-thru, and bracelet and Camp day clothing sales, with all proceeds from these events also going to the fundraiser.
Local franchisee Greg Crisanti says Camp Day certainly touches home to him.
"As owners, we get to see and hear the stories from the children that have graduated from camp. When they are in our program, they are in it for 5 years and get to go to camp for 5 years. And hearing the stories from those children that have graduated, have grown up, finished college or university, and have become doctors and such, it really hits close to home to know that you have made a difference. So camp day is very special for us."
Crisanti adds they are happy to know that at least two kids from the Parkland region will be attending Tim Horton's camps.
"And that was really special for us. With the amount that we raised locally, that there will be two children from the Parkland area heading to A'berta to camp."
Fundraising efforts began over the weekend with a Yard sale at the Dauphin restaurant, and Crisanti says Dauphin is currently third in all of Manitoba for money raised so far for this Camp Day campaign.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
