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The City of Dauphin held a regular council meeting last evening at City Hall. The meeting was led by Deputy Mayor Devin Shtykalo, since Mayor Christian Laughland was absent.
They started the meeting by confirming the minutes from the previous meeting and by going over outstanding water accounts added to taxes. They then went on to discuss various topics, including disaster relief and mosquito control.
Sharla Griffiths, city manager of the City of Dauphin, brought up the Province of Manitoba's Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) program for municipalities sustaining damage to infrastructure due to spring flooding. Griffiths said that the damage to Vermillion Park is eligible for funding under this program. She also said that it would be much less expensive for the City to take advantage of the DFA program rather than to go through their usual insurer, Western Financial Group, which would require them to pay a $100,000 deductible. Even though the DFA program also has a deductible, it's expected to be far less than $100,000. The council voted in favour of exploring this option.
Griffiths also brought up information on how the City plans to tackle the mosquito problem. She said that the decision remains that larviciding will be done to control mosquitoes and, at this time, there will be no adulticiding or fogging.
"Now that we've done our first round of larviciding, we are going to be anticipating that we'll see a reduction in mosquitoes," Griffiths added
Devon Shtykalo announced Delta 9 wants to open a retail cannabis store in Dauphin. The store will be located in the new strip centre being built next to the Co-op gas bar. Delta 9 is asking for a letter of support from the City of Dauphin, which is a mandatory part of the licensing process through the Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority (LGCA).
There was also a discussion about whether solar panels should be considered when constructing new homes and businesses. However, it's not something that the City governs. The City is mainly concerned with the size of the lot and the size of the building on the lot, and not building design based on solar panels.
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- Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos
Potash and Agri-Development Corporation of Manitoba(PADCOM) was recently approved to open the province's first potash solution mine. Canada is the world leader in potash production and the potassium-rich fertilizer is used worldwide to improve crop growth.
Daymon Gillis is the president of PADCOM, and he says they're really focusing on a sustainable approach to their mine, thanks to Manitoba Hydro's green electricity.
A typical underground mine for potash produces about a thousand pounds of carbon, for every tonne of potash. When we're up and running fully, with Manitoba's electricity, we'll be at 21 to 36 ounces, so we'll be classified as a near-zero emission fertilizer, the first-ever in the world.
The mine will also use just 132 gallons of water per tonne of potash produced, while a typical mine uses 600-1000 gallons.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Parkland has become a hotbed over the last more than dozen years when it comes to international students.
The Mountain View School Division's international student exchange program has been and continues to be a great success. Running for 15 years, about 1,200 students have come from different countries to study within MVSD.
Marc Kunza is the director of the program and has been for the last seven years.
"We love welcoming students from all over the world into our schools and communities," said Kunza. "They bring energy into our communities and a different perspective. Our students and families that host them benefit from having them here."
The students main focus is schooling and learning everything they can over the course of a calendar school year. Outside of school, many students have been seen out and about at local community events including Dauphin Kings games. A group of nearly 30 attended a game this past season and some were regular visitors to Credit Union Place.
"They love all of the new experiences," said Kunza. "There is a lot to do in our communities and they definitely take full advantage."
They also love to give back. Six students have helped coach local soccer teams. While the students will return to their home countries, eight will do so with a diploma. MVSD is pleased to announce that eight students have graduated, six of which did so at the DRCSS and two at Goose Lake High School in Roblin.
MVSD made the following Facebook post to congratulate them.
Kunza also said it's a special feeling to know students from abroad come into the community to learn and succeed.
"I am very proud of each and every student," said Kunza. "It's not easy for them. They're learning a new language and away from home, it's not easy but they work so hard."
MVSD is looking forward to continuing with its exchange program for the 2022-2023 academic year.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
SECOND UPDATE: Wilfred James Chartrand was arrested by Winnipegosis RCMP this morning.
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UPDATE: The RCMP has arrested Carson Richard. Wilfred James Chartrand (JJ) is still wanted by the police.
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The RCMP is looking for two men after a double stabbing in Camperville over the weekend.
On Saturday at about 5:15 a.m., Winnipegosis RCMP received a report of a double stabbing in Camperville and when officers arrived, two males were lying on the ground in need of medical attention.
As a result, the RCMP is looking for Wilfred James Chartrand (goes by JJ) who is 18 years old and Carson Richard who is 20 years old.
A 26-year-old male was transported to Winnipeg hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he remains in critical condition. A 21-year-old male was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
As of this time, the RCMP says a fight broke out between two groups of people in front of a residence after a female that was walking on the street was robbed.
If you have information, please call Winnipegosis RCMP at 204-656-7003.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The City of Dauphin has moved the normal garbage and recycling schedule up by one day this week because of Canada Day on Friday. This week's schedule is:
- Monday, June 27, 2022 - Day 1 Pick-up
- Tuesday, June 28, 2022 - Day 2 Pick-up
- Wednesday, June 29, 2022 - Day 3 Pick-up
- Thursday, June 30, 2022 - Day 4 Pick-up
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Another state of emergency has been declared on the Peguis First Nation because of flooding.
More than 18-hundred people had to leave due to flood damage in the spring and have not yet returned, and Chief Glen Hudson says 80 more were added in the past week.
Hudson says his community needs the federal and provincial governments to step up and help create long-term solutions.
He says his community is fatigued and frustrated, and they want their summer break just like every other Manitoban and Canadian.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
If you're driving down Main Street in Dauphin Monday morning, you can expect a detour.
A small portion of it just before A&W going south is closed this morning.
There is no timetable for when it will reopen.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Countryfest Returns to the hill this weekend, but how will the festival be dealing with the crazy amount of mosquitoes this year? President Ann Ransom says they're doing what they can to make sure the bugs are under control.
"You know, keeping the grass cut, it's well-drained at the site right now, so it's nice and dry. I know sometimes people don't think Countryfest and it being dry, but it is, the site is quite beautiful right now."
Ransom says that having the events take place in an area that's pavement and gravel definitely helps as well.
With the festival just a few days away, they're still looking for both individual and group volunteers. You can find out more about the perks of volunteering and register here.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Craig Aitchison was already late on his seeding because of the moisture that hammered much of the province this spring. That rain; however, isn't much compared to what recently happened, although it's the rain that has caused the most recent damage.
A major storm brought strong winds and heavy rain across a large swath of southwestern Manitoba and the Interlake on June 19. Environment Canada issued tornado watches for the region, although there were no reports of a tornado touching down. Craig farms near Foxwarren and his farm was right in the thick of things.
Lasting only about 15 minutes, it was like something Aitchison has only seen a couple of times in the past.
"We knew a storm was coming but we didn't expect it to be as bad as it was," said Aitchison. "We saw the roof was lifting, it was very intense for a short period of time."
What Craig didn't realize until after the fact is what happened to his bins. Four 24,000-bushel grain bins and several hopper-bottom bins blew over on Aitchison's farm. While Craig continues to wait for an assessment on damages -- which he expects will take quite some time with all of the damage -- he estimates it will be in the $400,000 range.
Thousands of people lost their power during the storm across the province and the Aitchison family was one of them, they just got their power back four days after the fact.
The family will now have plenty of added work to do over the summer months before harvest.
"We've got to get all these bins replaced, because this is all my grain storage, and we have to get them all replaced before harvest," offered Aitchison.
The Aitchison family has been farming near Foxwarren for 20 years and Craig can only remember a storm in 2005 that was as close to the one last month. However, that storm only took out some maple trees as the family only had small bins at the time.
"We were recovered from that one and then this," he said. "It is what it is; we'll do what needs to be done."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Sod Turning Ceremony to celebrate the Maamawi Park project was held last Thursday at the old Dauphin Brewers diamond. According to Lindsey Kyle, assistant general manager of Dauphin Recreation Services, Maamawi Park is truly about building reconciliation and bringing people together and the space will be accessible to all.
"A spot for the young and old to gather to learn about culture, heritage, language and so much more," she said.
Mayor Christian Laughland spoke at the ceremony and said that when Maamawi Park is complete, it'll be a true monument of what can be accomplished when people come together and work together with respect for one another.
Stacey Penner is — as Lindsey Kyle said — the brainchild behind the project and she has dedicated her heart and soul to it, as she knows how important Maamawi Park is for the city and surrounding area. Penner said that the name of the park, Maamawi, is an Ojibwe word that means us, being together, working together and that the park is a place for everyone to play together.
"We want free recreation for all and we want to be together post-COVID and look at this as an opportunity to heal after what our community and what the world has been through the last few years," Penner added.
According to her, phase one is already in the works. An accessible tobbagan run hill and launch, as well as viewing space, will be included in phase one. People in wheelchairs and people who use walkers will be able to access it. Since they want it to be used year-round, it'll be a summer sled structure as well. It will also be very well lit because of the long winter nights and the park will feature a grand entrance highlighting the large Indigenous presence in the community. A biking pump track is also in the works.
Penner also said that phase two will start five to ten years from now, depending on the progress of phase one.
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- Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos
The Interlake Reserves Tribal Council (IRTC) has responded to a decision made by Chief Justice Glenn Joyal of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba regarding tree-clearing undertaken by the province to prepare for the Lake Manitoba/Lake St. Martin channels project.
Karl Zadnik, chief executive officer of the IRTC, is very pleased with the decision.
"I have to credit Judge Joyal... He's a judge and he's a judge for a reason... That being said, I respect him. I respect his decision. I'm very happy with the results, of course," Zadnik said.
In his decision, Justice Joyal said that the Province of Manitoba did not provide adequate notice, nor did it engage in meaningful consultation with the IRTC or its member First Nations before going ahead with the tree-clearing of what the IRTC describes as largely untouched public land that First Nations rely on to exercise their Treaty rights.
Joyal also said that the absence of any such notification and consultation, in his view, constitutes a breach of Manitoba’s obligation and is not in accordance with the honour of the Crown.
More information can be found on the IRTC website.
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- Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos
