MVSD COVID-19 Protocols

With the first day of school quickly approaching, the Mountain View School Division (MVSD) wants to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.

They say that as students are welcomed back to full in-person learning this fall, the government of Manitoba continues to recommend the following public health fundamentals are applied as they live with COVID-19, including:

continuing to request staff and students to monitor daily for signs and symptoms of COVID-19;
continuing public health measures and infection prevention practices such as ventilation improvements, staying home when sick, frequent hand washing with easy access to hand hygiene products, practicing respiratory etiquette (i.e. covering coughs and sneezes), and routine cleaning and disinfection protocols with a focus on high-touch surfaces and common areas including washrooms; public health updates: https://manitoba.ca/covid19/info-for-mbs.html;
encouraging students and staff to be vaccinated (COVID-19 and routine immunizations) when eligible;
continuing to follow public health guidance on mask use and ensuring that individual choice regarding mask use is respected (see https://manitoba.ca/covid19/resources/masks.html);
continuing to have masks and rapid antigen tests available for staff and students; and,
advising schools to have plans in place for when students become ill at school and for different scenarios, in the event that additional public health measures need to be re-implemented (e.g. physical distancing and public health mandated mask use).

Information on what parents should do if their child becomes ill can be found here.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 5, 2022 - 6:00 am

Today is National Cinema Day.

To mark the occasion, the Countryfest Community Cinema is inviting everyone to watch any movie for $3.

Ron Suchoplas, the cinema's general manager, says they're doing it as part of an event taking place all over North America.

"They decided to create this one day, which really had to get approved by all the movie studios to take a big cut on their sales... [today], September 3rd, so I'm assuming... that's why they set the price to $3 plus tax... [today]... for any movie... and [are] allowing theatres like us to set that price... to see a movie all day... [today]," he adds.

Suchoplas believes that the main goal is to get people to feel comfortable returning to the cinema.

"We were closed seventeen of the twenty-four months before [last summer]... It was kind of a... soft August with box office... It's just to encourage people to come back to... the cinema and feel safe and... get out again," he adds.

He went on to that there will be no COVID-19 restrictions at the cinema and that concession prices will be the same as usual.

The list of showtimes can be found on their website.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 3, 2022 - 6:15 am

Parks Canada wants you to take advantage of the Labour Day weekend in Riding Mountain National Park.

They say that while there are still some road closures in place, many of the trails are in great condition and that the townsite is bustling with all shops and restaurants open for business.

Mireille Kroeker, public relations and communications officer for Parks Canada at Riding Mountain National Park, says that there has been a lot of bear activity at the park this year and that there are many things that can attract bears.

"There [have] been a lot more items left out than in previous years. When I say left-out items, I mean items with a scent, bear attractants... You'll have anything from a full dinner... left on a picnic table, but that's not the only thing that's going to attract bears. Anything from personal hygiene products, like your toothpaste, deodorant, soap... can attract bears. Sunblock, bug repellant, even an empty cooler can be a bear attractant because if they've ever gotten into a cooler that had some food in it before, now every single cooler is like a treasure chest," she adds.

If someone does encounter a bear, Kroeker recommends that they be as loud as you can and clap their hands. They should, however, never run because that would make them look like prey to the bear.

Kroeker says that they should never turn their back to the bear because they would lose a sense of what that bear is doing if they did and that they should back away slowly and safely.

Anyone nervous about bear activity in the park or in a threatening situation involving a bear can call Parks Canada Dispatch for assistance at 1-877-852-3100.

More information on bears can be found on the Parks Canada website.

According to Kroeker, anyone interested in boating will be subject to a boat inspection on the east side of Clear Lake and at the boat cove as per usual.

"We're looking for aquatic invasive species... With that said, at these stations, you may encounter some big lineups... To try and avoid them, I recommend [that you] don't go at peak times around noon. [It's] better to go around eight in the morning when they open," Kroeker adds.

More information on boating and paddling at the park can be found here.

Kroeker went on to say that those interested in fishing will need a park-specific fishing licence, which can be purchased from the visitor centre, the campground or the administration building.

She adds that, unlike provincial parks, entry will not be free over the long weekend and that all regular fees will apply.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 3, 2022 - 6:15 am

This Monday is Labour Day. As usual, certain businesses will be closed or will be operating with reduced hours this long weekend.

Here's a list of some of them to keep in mind:

Dauphin Market Place Mall (Modified Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 4^th — 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Some stores will be CLOSED)

Manitoba Liquor Mart (Modified Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 4^th — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fusion Credit Union (Modified Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Branch office CLOSED / Only OPEN over the phone)
Sunday, September 4^th — CLOSED
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Branch office CLOSED / Only OPEN over the phone)

Walmart (Regular Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 4^th — 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Safeway (Modified Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 4^th — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

No Frills (Modified Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 4^th — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Co-op Food Store (Modified Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, September 4^th — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — CLOSED

Co-op Gas Bar on Main St. S. (Regular Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 4^th — 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Co-op Gas Bar on Mountain Rd. (Regular Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 4^th — 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Dauphin City Hall (Modified Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — CLOSED
Sunday, September 4^th — CLOSED
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — CLOSED

Dauphin Recreation Services (Modified Hours)

Saturday, September 3^rd — CLOSED
Sunday, September 4^th — CLOSED
Monday, September 5^th (Labour Day) — CLOSED

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 3, 2022 - 6:00 am

A 69-year-old man from the RM of Dauphin is dead after his vehicle lost control and rolled into a ditch on Thursday.

At about 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dauphin RCMP responded to a single-vehicle rollover on Road 109W, one kilometre north of Highway 5. The driver was travelling northbound when his pickup rolled, entered the ditch and rolled.

He was not wearing his seatbelt and he was ejected from the vehicle.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Sep 2, 2022 - 2:30 pm

The province has announced the first groups who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine, which was approved by Health Canada earlier this week for people aged 18 and older.

Dr. Jazz Atwal, Manitoba's deputy chief provincial public health officer, says that based on expected vaccine shipments and public health recommendations on who should receive the vaccine first, initial eligibility criteria include:

adults aged 65 or older;
Indigenous people aged 18 or older, regardless of where they live;
adults of any age with higher-risk medical conditions, including people who are immunocompromised due to a health condition or medication;
health-care workers aged 18 or older; and
residents of personal care homes and other congregate living facilities including assisted living, group homes, shelters and correctional facilities.

Dr. Atwal says that individuals must complete their primary series of vaccine before they can receive the bivalent vaccine.

He recommends that people wait six months from the last dose of vaccine or COVID-19 infection.

However, eligible individuals will be able to receive the bivalent vaccine after a minimum of three months, if they feel they are at increased risk.

More information can be found on the Province of Manitoba website.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 2, 2022 - 2:25 pm

Ted Rea is running in the municipal election to become a councillor on Dauphin City Council.

According to Rea, he was born in Dauphin in 1964 and retired two years ago after working as a teacher for thirty-two years.

He feels that it's time for a new challenge in his life and sees running for council as an opportunity to give back to the community he's lived in for almost his entire life.

"I'm not a politician. I'm not going to go out and make a bunch of promises that I may not be able to keep," Rea adds.

Tea Rea went on to say that if he is elected, he will listen to both sides of an issue before making an informed decision.

"I believe that through my experience in the educational field, I definitely possess the ability to work in group situations as well as with people on an individual basis, so I think that's also an important aspect of being a councillor," he adds.

Rea believes that Dauphin has difficulties attracting big businesses to set up operations in the city.

"In the last few years, the town has made some steps towards rectifying that situation, but I think... that's one... thing that I'd really like to see move on in a positive direction," he adds.

Rea went on to say that people should vote for him because he's honest, hardworking and a good decision-maker.

Anyone interested in running for municipal office has until September 20^th to register.

The municipal election is scheduled for October 26^th.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 2, 2022 - 6:15 am

September is World Alzheimer's Month.

Liz McLeod, senior manager of regional services for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, says that World Alzheimer's Month is an opportunity to talk about dementia and that it's a globally-coordinated effort.

"Countries around the world are emphasizing that it's Alzheimer's Month and it's an opportunity for those policymakers [and] governments... to recognize that dementia is a serious health issue and it will have overwhelming implications on services in health systems around the world as the population grows older," she adds.

McLeod says that there will be special events coming up to mark the occasion, starting with emphasizing the issues on their website.

"Some of our educational events will have a research forum in September, which will highlight what is new in research [and] what is important. It will help you decipher the headlines you see in the media and figure out, kind of, what's more important and what's less important in terms of what's coming out," she adds.

McLeod went on to say that they also want to let people who have a diagnosis of dementia know that they're not alone.

"We see them. We're aware of them... We're trying to help them by looking for funding [and] looking for programming," she adds.

Liz McLeod says that there are a lot of resources online for those looking to learn more about Alzheimer's disease.

She recommends that, in addition to visiting their website, people visit the Alzheimer Society of Canada website and watch Teepa Snow's videos on YouTube.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 2, 2022 - 6:00 am

The Manitoba government announced today that an additional $1.3 million will be invested to support the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba in delivering school nourishment programs.

Minister of Mental Health and Community Wellness Sarah Guillemard says that these programs will help many families affected by rising food prices and will enable the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba to cover a larger percentage of costs for meal and snack programs at funded schools.

"School nourishment programs support healthy eating and food security for Manitoba children during the critical, ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic," Guillemard adds.

According to Guillemard, evidence suggests the programs are crucial in encouraging school attendance, supporting learning and promoting lifelong health and wellness.

Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko says that school nourishment programs provide a social school environment where students can consume nutritious food, ensuring a healthy, nutritious start for the day.

“This additional investment was identified as a priority in the report of the Manitoba Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education and aligns with the Manitoba K to 12 Education Action Plan’s identified actions to remove barriers to participation and engagement in learning," Ewasko adds.

According to a news release from the provincial government, the new investment brings the total provincial funding for school nutrition programs this year to $2.5 million.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 1, 2022 - 8:11 pm

A man in his mid to late 20s is dead after a vehicle-pedestrian collision seven kilometres west of Dauphin.

Dauphin RCMP responded to the collision on Wednesday night around 10 p.m. on Highway 5 near Road 115W. The man was walking in the eastbound lane of Highway 5 when he was struck by an eastbound vehicle which was being driven by a 66-year-old man from Neepawa.

The driver of the vehicle immediately pulled over and called 911 and waited for RCMP to arrive. The male was pronounced dead on the scene. No other injuries were reported.

RCMP is asking anyone who may have seen an individual walking on Highway 5 prior to the collision to contact the Dauphin RCMP at 622-5050.

You can also call Manitoba Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a secure tip online at Crime Stoppers or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to CRIMES (274637).

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Sep 1, 2022 - 2:29 pm

The Manitoba government announced earlier this week that it will provide $6.5 million in funding to support students and teachers in the return to in-person learning.

Of that funding, $2 million will go towards initiatives focused on strengthening student learning and supports including:

approximately $1 million for the Manitoba Remote Learning Support Centre (MRLSC) to provide after-school learning supports for students in grades 1 to 8;
$250,000 for the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Survey, which will collect data on the health and well-being, social environments and health behaviours of children and youth for students in grades 6 to 10;
$150,000 to Kids Help Phone, 24/7 counselling and crisis supports; and
$390,000 for online resources and video-streaming services, including enhancements to support French, French immersion, and French/English program educators through Direction des ressources éducatives françaises (DREF).

“As Manitoba students and their teachers head back to school, our government is continuing to make significant investments to support their mental health and academic needs,” Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko says. “This year, schools will offer the full kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum and all the extracurricular activities that bring the school experience to life. Sports, recreation, tournaments, band and choir are just a few examples of what can be expected for the coming year.”

More information can be found on the Province of Manitoba website.