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Today is Louis Riel Day in Manitoba, a day to celebrate the founder and honorary first premier of Manitoba.
Born to a Metis family that was set against the Hudson Bay Company, Riel spent much of his life fighting both with words and weapons for the rights and freedoms of his people.
Some of his earliest works include forming the Metis National Council, establishing a list of rights for the people of the northwest, and eventually bringing Manitoba into confederation after bringing the eastern dominion of Canada to the bargaining table.
Central to this agreement, the federal government agreed to reserve 1.4 million acres for the children of Métis residents and ensured that the area would be officially bilingual.
Unfortunately, Riel's activism ruffled a lot of feathers in the Dominion after his people found and captured a group of armed Dominion troops in Portage La Prairie in 1870 who were looking to rally support against the provisional government.
The militia was captured, court-martialed, and one of the members, Thomas Scott was executed by firing squad.
The provisional government’s delegates later obtained an agreement with the Canadian government.
The agreement was presented as the Manitoba Act, which received royal assent on 12 May 1870, when the Province of Manitoba entered Confederation.
After the assent of the Manitoba Act, and the execution of Thomas Scott, the federal government sent a sizable military force to the new province on "an errand of peace".
When it became obvious that the expedition was out to lynch Riel, he fled to the United States. On the third of May 1871, he returned quietly to his home in Saint-Vital, Red River, although he often stayed in hiding.
Due to his reputation, Riel was encouraged by his friends and his widespread popularity in French Manitoba to enter federal politics, and was elected in both 1873 and 1874 to represent the province in the House of Commons.
Before taking his seat, he was expelled from the parliament , and a motion was made to Banish him from Canada for 5 years.
The question of whether or not Riel had broken either British or Canadian law for his part in the Red River resistance was never determined in court
In 1884, Riel was called on again once more, this time by the Metis of Batoche, where he tried to create a provisional government for Saskatchewan and draft a 10-point Revolutionary Bill of Rights.
Batoche became a battle ground for the next several months after the Dominion of Canada rejected the previous terms, the bloodshed only ending after Riel himself surrendered.
Riel was tried for treason and hanged November 16th, 1885.
His efforts led to aspects of Canadian life that embody many contemporary issues in the country, including bilingualism, multiculturalism, tolerance for difference and a keen sense of social justice.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A handful of local businesses will be changing their hours commemorating Louis Riel Day on Monday:
Co-op Food Store
Monday, February 19th - Closed
Co-op Main Street Gas Bar
Monday, February 19th - Open 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Co-op Mountain Road Gas Bar
Monday, February 19th - Open 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Dauphin Liquor Mart
Monday, February 19th - Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fusion Credit Union
Monday, February 19th - Closed
The Dauphin Marketplace Mall
Monday, February 19th - Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Walmart
Monday, February 19th - Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Safeway
Monday, February 19th - Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
No Frills
Monday, February 19th - Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
City of Dauphin
Monday, February 19th - Closed
Dauphin Rec Services
Monday, February 19th - Closed
Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy
Monday, February 19th - 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Super Thrifty Pharmacy
Monday, February 19th - Closed
Dauphin Vet Clinic
Monday, February 19th - Closed
When the clinic is closed, a vet is on call for emergencies at 204-638-3208.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The Aspen Room of the Parkland Recreation Complex will play host to a public consultation event, as part of a Fully Accessible Public Consultation process.
The in-person event is set for Monday afternoon from 4-6 pm.
The goal of the consultation is to collect feedback about key issues concerning accessibility, including gaps and barriers within the adult disability services system.
If you are interested in participating in the free event,you are asked to pre-register by emailing Jennifer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by calling 204-803-4041
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A Gilbert Plains man will be back in court later this month concerning a case of the recovery of stolen property.
Last October, RCMP executed a search warrant on a rural property near the community, recovering heavy machinery, trucks, off-road vehicles, trailers, and snowmobiles.
The total value of the items seized was around 375 thousand.
25-year-old Jordy Robertson is set to return to Dauphin Court on February 27th.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Manitobans are being encouraged to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine before the end of April, in order to meet the recommended minimum time intervals between doses between now and a potential fall immunization campaign.
The province says COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be available to all eligible people until April 30, with those wishing to receive a COVID-19 dose after May 1 being encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider.
They add an additional dose of the XBB COVID-19 vaccine is also now available for high-risk individuals, or those whose immune system may require the additional support of another dose.
This includes older people with one or more underlying health conditions, who continue to be at greater risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 and flu.
The province stresses the respiratory virus season has placed significant demands on the healthcare system over the past few months.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The case of a death on the Waywayseecappo First Nation last summer will be back before the courts next week.
Early on the morning of July 5th, Manitoba First Nations Police were called to a home on the reserve, where they found a seriously injured 23-year-old man.
He was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation led them to charge 25-year-old Talisa Brandon of Waywayseecappo with manslaughter.
She appeared again in Brandon court earlier this week and remains in custody until her next appearance on February 22nd.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A Dauphin man arrested and charged following a traffic stop in the city last summer is finally set to go to trial later this year.
In June of last year, Mounties pulled over a vehicle that they witnessed speeding on Main Street.
After noticing a strong smell of alcohol and a large bag of unmarked cigarettes, police arrested the driver when he failed a roadside breath test.
A further search of the vehicle turned up a homemade gun with a bayonet attached to it, as well as used and unused ammunition, several cell phones, and some cash.
37-year-old Christopher Bilay appeared in Dauphin court earlier this week, where a trial date of October 2nd was set.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Two people have been charged following a drug bust in Mafeking.
At about 3 pm last Saturday, officers from the Swan River detachment and the RCMP North Traffic Services were conducting traffic enforcement along Highway 10 when they spotted a speeding vehicle.
After stopping the vehicle, a further investigation led to the seizure of one kilogram of what was believed to be meth, as well as 50 grams of suspected cocaine and fifteen thousand dollars in cash.
A 22-year-old man from B-C and a 20-year-old man from Ontario were arrested and taken into custody, charged each with Possession for trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
After Brian Schoonbaert announced his retirement, the search for a new CEO quickly concluded.
Treena Slate has been selected as the next Chief Executive Officer for Prairie Mountain Health.
Slate has held many roles during her years in healthcare, including a staff nurse, educator, and Regional Lead of both Acute Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer for Prairie Mountain Health.
PMH board chair Lon Cullen feels confident in the decision, as Slate brings 30 years of experience to the table. half of which was in leadership rolls
Slate notes that she's excited to step into this new role, but acknowledges that she's "following in some incredible footsteps".
Slate will take over as CEO as of April 5th, the day Schoonbaert is set to retire.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A van full of people was arrested after a woman was seen carrying a handgun in Dauphin.
Shortly after 3 pm, Dauphin's RCMP received a report of a female with a handgun outside a residence on 5th Avenue NE in Dauphin, Manitoba. The female was then seen getting into a dark van with other passengers and leaving the scene.
Later, a patrol spotted the same vehicle at a gas station on Valour Road in Dauphin. Four people were inside the vehicle.
All of these individuals were taken into custody. A search of the vehicle resulted in officers locating a loaded handgun as well as multiple knives, a hatchet-type weapon, alcohol, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.
Cody Genaille, aged 39, and two females, 33 and 35, are facing multiple firearm- and drug-related charges. All 3 of these people are from Brandon. Genaille remains in custody, and The females were released with a court date.
Roland Klyne, aged 40, from Key Reserve, Saskatchewan, was also arrested on firearm- and drug-related charges.
While in custody, Klyne attacked police officers and threatened to commit further harm. He is now facing Assault Police Officer and Uttering Threat charges.
He remains in custody.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Manitoba Hydro has announced that President Jay Grewal is leaving the Crown utility after five years in the position.
In addition, Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board Chair Ben Graham said that Hal Turner, the utility’s current Vice-President of Asset Planning & Delivery, will act as interim president and CEO effective immediately.
Graham said the utility is at a critical juncture, facing key decisions on how best to meet Manitoba’s energy needs in the future, and the board decided it was time for a fresh perspective on those decisions.
Graham said the board conducted an internal leadership analysis shortly after it was appointed.
The analysis included Manitoba Hydro leadership’s alignment with the board’s mandate which includes keeping rates low, collaborating with Indigenous communities, supporting its workers, sharing a commitment to Manitoba’s economic development, and keeping the utility public.
Graham said the board will begin a comprehensive internal and external search for a new president
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
