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Mountain View School Division Superintendent Donna Davidson hopes the outcome of the education review lead to a conversation about something important for youth.
“I’m hoping the outcome will be a collaborative look at how can we ensure that our youth are ready for what is out there. And sometimes it’s difficult to plan for the unknown because we know how quickly and how changing our society is as a result of technology.”
Public consultations will start soon, and Davidson says the review should continue to focus on the welfare of students. That includes their mental, social, emotional, and intellectual wellbeing.
“I note that it is so broad. They’re going to look at funding, they’re going to look at taxation, they’re going to look at governance, they are going to look at student learning. All those things that they’re going to look at. I’m hoping that what comes out of it is they will make the right decisions for the right reasons. That they’ll make decisions about taxation and decisions about funding that will directly support student learning.”
The review has been in development for a while. She remembers talking to then Education Minister Ian Wishart back when they were preparing to announce the opening of MacKenzie middle school around two and a half years ago.
The final report with key findings and recommendations is expected by February 2020.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Tickets are sold out to the Richardson Pioneer Gilbert Plains Community Hall Grand Opening Event on Saturday, February 9th.
Doors open at 4:30, and the banquet is at 6. After the banquet, there will be an old time dance with a live band performance playing mostly country.
A theatrical group called Galaxy Theatre will also put on a show about the history of events that have taken place in the hall.
They cost 35 dollars and can be purchased by calling the Gilbert Plains Municipality office at 204-548-2326 or you can stop in at Family Foods in Gilbert Plains.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
RCMP have laid charges in the Swan River homicide over the weekend.
30-year-old Tyler Brass, from Swan River, has been charged with Second Degree Murder in relation to the homicide of a 39-year-old male on January 18, 2019.
Original story
Manitoba RCMP have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with the fatal stabbing in Swan River over the weekend, and aren't seeking any other suspects.
RCMP say they were called to a home in Swan River on Friday night, and were led to an injured and unresponsive 39-year-old man when they arrived.
E-M-S attempted to treat the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The province is developing a strategy to help farmers and industry produce more plant and animal protein products.
MP Robert Sopuck says the growth and survival of our communities and Agri-culture can be bolstered with investments in protein.
“I strongly support any added processing that goes on. Whether it’s producing canola oil at Harrowby, fine pork from the HyLife plant, all those value-added processing activates are extremely important.”
The strategy will also aim to increase investments in new plant protein extraction and position Manitoba as a leading research and development centre.
MLA Brad Michaleski says this announcement is great news. “Manitoba produces a lot of protein sources. So we’re going to try and tap in and get into that market as much as we can. The beef sector, forage and legumes, all kinds of different sources here.”
The government says it will release a consultation paper called Manitoba Protein Advantage in February and seek feedback before releasing the final strategy in September.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
It took almost three months for the first week-long distracted driving license suspension to be handed out.
A man in his 60s was using his smart phone while driving. This is his second offence. The man received his first offence in late November.
Drivers that are found using a smart phone also face a 672 dollar fine and five demerits on their Driver Safety Rating Scale.
Since the law came into effect November 1st, 300 drivers have had their licenses suspended for 3 days.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
It’s an extreme cold kind of Thursday.
Environment Canada says the temperature should moderate later on today.
But the extreme cold is likely to come back tonight.
They warn frostbite can develop in minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chills.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Today is your last chance to check out Canada’s largest indoor farm show.
MLA Brad Michaleski says one of the highlights for him at Manitoba Ag Days is seeing the new farm equipment, seeing what’s out there for new seed varieties and chemical varieties.
MP Robert Sopuck was at the show on Tuesday and says it’s apparent that agriculture is alive and well in Manitoba. “It’s mid-winter, it’s been a cold spell, it’s a great chance to see old friends, make new friends, see the latest trends in farm machinery. As the Premier said this is Disney World for farmers. It’s just a great mid-January break for all of us.”
MLA Rick Wowchuk shares why Ag Days shouldn’t be missed. “The displays, the technology, and the fellowship that you see here is overwhelming. Our agricultural industry puts so much into our province. It’s really kind of awesome to see all the people here.”
The three-day show ends at 5 pm this afternoon at the Keystone Centre in Brandon.
Awards were given out yesterday
The annual Investor’s showcase features new inventions and new products that will assist in farm operations. This year’s showcase features 14 new inventions and 19 new products.
1st Place Amazone / Mid -Implements Ltd.: Amazone – Mid Plains Implements Ltd. for their SmartService 4.0 which uses the possibilities of the digital VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) technologies and digital media to for the end customer, and the customer service the learning, training and Repair processes to expand further in the area of technical customer service and to support the end customers and service technicians for maintenance and repair work. They received a banner and a cheque for $1000 from Manitoba Ag Days and an advertising package from the Manitoba Co-operator.
2nd PLACE: Dave’s Welding Shop: “The Bullet” is a simple towable machine that pulls a large steel "Bullet" to depths as deep as 5' to create underground drainage tunnels providing underground drainage in farmers’ fields. The idea is similar to tile drainage but without the use of expensive tile pipe henceforth much lower costs with much higher travel speeds. *It works in all field conditions *G.P.S |R.T.K |L.I.D.A.R| compatible.
The winner of the 2018 Best New Products is Copperhead Ag. The Copperhead Concave System utilizes notched bars for restricted flow. This allows more material in the concave area, increasing grain on grain threshing. As grain moves along the system, the concaves are progressively open, leading to increased unloading of grain as it’s threshed. With the Copperhead Concave System, you can thresh in any crop in any condition, have cleaner samples,decrease field time (resulting in less fuel cost), and stop rotor loss.
Farm safety winner is Northern Strands. Northern StrandsGrain Bins are one of the most common accident locations on a farm. In 2015, there were 1,633 injuries in Saskatchewan alone from workplace falls. This is only the reported WCB number of falls, one can only imagine how high the real number of falls is…The Northern Strands Bin Safe System is a truly unique system in that there is nothing else available that has been engineered and pull tested in order to protect farmers, farm workers, and family members from a potentially life-threatening fall off of a grain bin.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Dauphin will be given over $450,000 every year for the next 5 years because of the transfer of federal Gas Tax Funds.
The 10-year agreement was signed in March 2014 between the province and Canada.
By the end of the agreement in 2023, municipalities in Manitoba will have been given over 1.1 billion dollars.
This year and next year Dauphin will get $450,391, then $470,864 for the following two years, and in the final year Dauphin will receive $491,336 for a total of $2,333,846.
Manitoba as a whole will receive 375.7 million dollars in the next 5 years.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The RCMP is launching the Eagle Feather Initiative.
It will see eagle feathers distributed to all detachments throughout the province and will provide victims, witnesses, suspects and police officers the option to swear legal oaths on an eagle feather.
The eagle feather will be used in the same way as the Bible or affirmation is used. When someone provides a sworn statement to the RCMP, they will be given three options: to swear on a Bible, affirm, or affirm with an eagle feather. This means that a sworn statement given by any of these three methods is evidence that can be used in a court of law. Also, a police officer will be able to use the eagle feather to swear information before the court.
Additionally, the eagle feather may also be offered as a comfort for anyone who wishes when they are at the detachment.
The head of the R-C-M-P in Manitoba says providing an eagle feather to people swearing oaths is a positive step toward reconciliation with Indigenous people.
“For some, the eagle feather provides comfort and strength. By holding the eagle feather, they find the strength to talk, and are empowered to speak their truth,” said Assistant Commissioner Scott Kolody, Commanding Officer of Manitoba RCMP. “This is what inspired us to bring the eagle feather into our day-to-day policing operations.”
Kevin Hart, regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations, says the move will help Indigenous people deal with the justice system and the R-C-M-P.
Anyone who requests to use the eagle feather will be able to do so as every detachment in Manitoba will be receiving an eagle feather soon.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Manitoba and Dauphin have finalized the snow removal agreement.
In the agreement, the city will be paid 650 dollars per centimetre based off of the amount of snow that falls at the Dauphin Airport.
Payments will be made December 31st and March 31st.
Dauphin is being paid to clear Main Street from Whitmore Avenue to River Avenue, River Avenue from Main Street to Bond Street, 1st Avenue NE from Main Street to Mountain Road, 2nd Avenue NW from Main Street to 2nd Street NW, and the Mall Service Road.
Dauphin has to have an approved snow disposal site.
Since the services are being purchased by the Government of Manitoba, they are not subject to the federal Goods and Services Tax.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Manitoba government has established a new commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the kindergarten to Grade 12 education system.
The process will include consultations across the province and consider a wide range of topics like student learning, teaching, accountability for student learning, governance and funding.
Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen made the announcement today.
“This is a long-overdue opportunity to build on strengths and identify challenges to create a better education system with high standards for educators, high expectations for student achievement, relevant curriculum, governance excellence and a sustainable fiscal framework,” said Goertzen.
The eight other commissioners are:
• Dr. Janice MacKinnon (co-chair);
• Clayton Manness (co-chair);
• Terry Brown;
• Mark Frison;
• John Daniel (JD) Lees;
• Jill Quilty;
• Laurel Repski; and
• Denis Robert.
Manitoba’s Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education will also include Ian Wishart, legislative assistant to the minister of education and training, who will lead public consultation and stakeholder engagement.
Soon the commission will begin public consultation and seek input from students, parents, educators, school boards, academics, Indigenous organizations, la francophonie, municipal councils, professional organizations, the business community and all Manitobans.
The commission is expected to submit a report with key findings and recommendations by February 2020.
Information about the kindergarten to Grade 12 review will be posted throughout the year at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/educationreview/.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
