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The Dauphin Regional Health Centre is in the middle of getting some upgrades, and things are progressing quickly.
Phase one of the project is well underway, with a new chemotherapy unit and a new endoscopy suite coming to the hospital. Brian McKenzie, the Project Coordinator for Prairie Mountain Health Capital Planning, says the renovations are adding to services already offered at the hospital.
"This would be expanding on the existing capacity. For the main floor, relocating the endoscopy procedures out of the existing operating room is going to provide the opportunity to free up the operating space, and increase their surgical capacity. As well, some of the other renovations we're going to enhance our inpatient care areas and increase our hospital's inpatient capacity."
Increased capacity isn't the only positive to come from the work that's being done says McKenzie.
"Relocating the chemotherapy from the third floor down to the main floor comes with a number of benefits as well. A more efficient layout, reduced distance to travel for the hospital, so there's definitely some good benefits."
Phase one of the project is expected to be completed this fall, and McKenzie says phase two will follow within weeks of the first phase being finished.
"In phase two, we'll construct the new inpatient rooms on the second floor, in the former physio, rehab space, and common area. We'll also renovate the old third-floor chemotherapy area to provide a new space for physio."
The space on the main floor that is currently being renovated was the temporary emergency department that opened in 2017, while the new emergency department was being built.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
On Saturday morning, the Dauphin RCMP responded to a call at a residence in the city and found a 68-year-old male and 67-year-old female deceased inside a home.
At this time, police say they don't believe there is any ongoing risk to public safety, and no suspect is believed to be on the run. The Dauphin detachment, along with the RCMP Major Crimes Unit and Forensic identification officers are on the scene.
The RCMP says that an investigation is underway, but as it has just begun, there won't be any further details released at this time.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Manitoba Government is offering some historic help for Manitobans with high prescription costs by freezing deductible rates for the Manitoba Pharmacare Program.
In a press release, Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced the freeze, which will come into effect on April 1st.
Each year, program participants are required to pay a portion of the cost of their eligible prescription drugs, which is the pharmacare deductible. It is updated every year, based on a set formula.
According to the formula, rates would have increased by over six percent had this freeze not taken place.
The deductible is calculated based on adjusted family income, and Manitobans are reminded that a family’s deductible may still change this year if their income has changed.
For more information about the Manitoba Pharmacare Program, visit https://gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare/.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A feat of coordination and collaboration led to the rescue of a man in a remote cabin.
In a press release, Sergeant Lisa Wowchuk, Detachment Commander of Leaf Rapids expressed the importance of teamwork in these remote rescue responses.
“In remote areas, it can be a challenge to respond to emergency situations. In this instance, our officers, EMS, and community members worked together and were able to get this male the medical assistance he needed.”
On March 28th, the Leaf Rapids RCMP responded to the call of an 85-year-old man experiencing medical issues, but he was far off of any main roadway at a cabin near Lake Suwannee.
Officers were notified that a friend of the distressed individual could meet them at the closest road, which was a 6.5km Snowmobile ride away.
EMS crews quickly drove to the rendezvous point 40km south of Leaf Rapids and were escorted to the distressed 85-year-old.
After getting the male on a sled, emergency crews made the trip back through the snow and got him to the hospital.
The 85-year-old male was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Mountain View School Division has decided to open MacKenzie Middle School in Dauphin today from 9:30am to 11:30am as a place for DRCSS students, staff, and families, to gather and access support after the fatal car accident on Wednesday night near Gilbert Plains.
The Gilbert Plains Collegiate will also be open today from 9:30am to 11:30am.
Critical responses members from the school division and the community will be in attendance.
UPDATE: In response to the tragic car accident that occurred in the community of Gilbert Plains last night, MVSD has...
Posted by Mountain View School Division on Thursday, March 30, 2023
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
For three decades, students from Swan River have been learning all the fanciest footwork with the Swan School Of Dance.
Recently, they celebrated 30 years of fun with their annual recital at an impromptu stage at Swan Valley Regional Secondary School.
This dance school offers a wide variety of dance classes from the very basics of dance to street jazz and hip-hop dancing. Students also have a wide range of ages, with some starting as young as 3-4 years of age, to even adults in the more complex classes.
Michele Poole has been running the school since 1999 and has been involved with the program from the very beginning, and she is proud to see just how much it's grown.
"When it started, we had only 25 students, But we've been as big as 165-170 kids. The year after covid really hurt us, we went down to 67, but now we're right back up to 115 kids. Thats where i like to be."
Poole thinks the long-standing success of this school can be attributed to a few key factors. it's a non-competitive school, it doesn't require students to fundraise, and it has a strong focus on the student's development.
"All we're doing this for is for recreation, fun, and the kids learn some basic dance movies while we are teaching them, and they're having fun."
After an excellent 30 years, it's certain that The Swan School of Dance will continue to be a successful and positive group for the Swan River Community.
For more information on the school, visit its website by clicking this link, or by calling in at 204-734-2654
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The newly-opened Parkland Crossing will have its first tenants move in today.
The apartments have been under construction since last fall and, in that time, all four of the new spaces already have occupants.
Each of these four, brand-new, 2-bedroom homes has modern fixtures, in-suite laundry, 5 inches of foam insulation, and sloped roofs that make the main room feel very open and spacious.
From the open house tour, March 30th
The fourplex is designed to house young families who are just starting out, single parents, or even seniors who struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living.
This is only the beginning of the housing initiative, as a grant worth $2.5 million for several more buildings is currently in the works.
Parkland Crossing Director Jamie Harvey, at the Open House Event
To learn more about this project, or future projects that are also in the works, call the Parkland Crossing office at 204-638-3333, or email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
On Wednesday, March 29th, emergency services, including Dauphin RCMP, responded to a vehicle collision involving a semi-trailer and a car at the junction of Highway 5 and PR 274. The details from the RCMP are below:
Dauphin RCMP respond to multiple fatality collision
On March 29, 2023, at approximately 10:50 pm, Dauphin RCMP received numerous calls about a motor vehicle collision involving a semi-trailer and a car at the junction of Highway 5 and Provincial Road 274, near Gilbert Plains, Manitoba.
Initial investigation has determined that a car with five occupants was travelling northbound on Provincial Road 274 into the town of Gilbert Plains when it failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Highway 5. A semi-trailer was travelling eastbound on Highway 5, and the car struck the trailer portion of the semi-trailer.
Two 17-year-old males and one 18-year-old male, the driver, were pronounced deceased at the scene. All were from the Dauphin area. An 18-year-old female from Carberry was transported to hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. A 15-year-old female from the RM of Dauphin was transported to hospital with serious injuries, where she remains.
The 30-year-old male driver of the semi, from Saskatoon, was not physically injured in the collision.
The investigation continues with the assistance of an RCMP Forensic Collision Reconstructionist.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
After a lengthy investigation by Manitoba Conservation Officers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agency, and Environment and Climate Change Canada, two Manitoba hunting outfitters - Royal Elk Outfitters and South Park Outfitters, have lost their Resource Tourism Operators licences and face several fines. This centers around American hunters using those outfitters and illegally hunting and harvesting black bears. More details from the province are below:
Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development is advising that outfitting licences of two resource tourism operators have been cancelled following a lengthy investigation led by the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service along with Canadian and American wildlife investigators.
On Sept. 27, 2019, a black bear hunter from Iowa was returning home from his hunt with an outfitter from Grandview. At the Pembina port of entry, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspector found the hunter to be in possession of two raw black bear hides. One hide had a game tag and the other did not. Both hides were seized and the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service was notified.
The discovery led to a joint investigation between the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Environment and Climate Change Canada Enforcement Branch. The investigation uncovered numerous violations under the Wildlife Act (Manitoba), the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (Canada), and the Lacey Act (U.S.) between 2012 and 2021 by two Manitoba outfitters, their clients and a Manitoba taxidermist.
This joint investigation, called Operation Crossing Line, focused on two outfitting companies. Officers discovered that a number of American hunters using these outfitters harvested black bears in the wrong Game Hunting Area (GHA). In addition, officers determined that on five occasions, clients of the two outfitters illegally hunted a second bear.
On Aug. 19, 2020, an American client of the outfitter was convicted of a violation under the Lacey Act for importing an illegally killed black bear. The two black bears were forfeited. He received a $7,500 fine and one year of unsupervised probation.
On Jan. 21, 2022, an American client of the outfitter who obtained a second licence under a false name in 2019 and exported the bear to the U.S. was convicted under the Lacey Act. He abandoned the second bear and received a $5,000 fine and one year of unsupervised probation.
On April 1, 2022, a taxidermist was convicted under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act of providing a false and misleading statement regarding the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permits. The taxidermist received a $730 fine.
On Aug. 25, 2022, the owner of Royal Elk Outfitting was convicted under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act for furnishing false or misleading information related to the CITES permit. He received a $5,000 fine and forfeited a harvested black bear.
On Dec. 14, 2022, the owner of Royal Elk Outfitting pleaded guilty to 15 counts of violating the Wildlife Act and received a $10,000 fine. On the same day, the owner of South Park Outfitters pleaded guilty to 11 counts of violating the Wildlife Act and received a $2,000 fine.
Following the conclusion of the court cases, the Department of Natural Resources and Northern Development cancelled the Resource Tourism Operators licence for Royal Elk Outfitting and South Park Outfitters, located in the Grandview area.
The Manitoba government is committed to protecting the province’s wildlife and abundant natural resources. Anyone with information on illegal activity is asked to call a local Natural Resources and Northern Development office or the Turn in Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-782-0076.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Parks Canada has announced a set of Spring road restrictions for highways 19 and 10 within Riding Mountain National Park.
Effective immediately, weight restrictions of 6,006 lbs or 2,730 kg gross vehicle weight are in place on Highway 19 within the park. This would roughly equal an empty three-quarter ton truck or a loaded half-ton truck.
The restriction will stay in effect until weather and road conditions improve.
As well, the usual restriction on Highway 10 remains in effect. This restriction prohibits heavy truck traffic, that is trucks with three axles or more, within the boundaries of RMNP, except for deliveries to certain places.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The Dauphin and District Food Bank has an intake this evening from 5 pm to 7 pm at Parkland Crossing, 220 Whitmore Avenue West.
If you want to access the food bank, you need to go down in person with your Manitoba health card, and Food Bank Chair Robin Gambler says they're also encouraging people to bring bags.
"If they can bring bags, that would be perfect, because we have a lot of produce, dairy, and meat to give away, and, well, none of the stores are giving bags anymore so we're really down to the nitty gritty."
You can only access the food bank once every four weeks, so if you were there for the March 16th intake, you'll have to wait until the next one on April 13th.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
