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Unionized employees of Manitoba Public Insurance are voting on the latest contract offer made by the crown corporation.
The latest offer, which was tabled over the weekend, includes wage increases of 12.2 per cent over the four years of the deal, including three per cent for both last year and this year, as well as 2.9 per cent in 2024 and 3.3 per cent in 2025.
According to the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union, the offer also includes a one-time signing bonus of $1,800 per full-time employee and an additional 3.5 per cent increase for about 60 per cent of the unionized workers from a new maximum increment step for each pay grade.
Although still not happy with the new offer, MGEU President Kyle Ross said they would put it up for a vote by the membership.
Voting takes place until 6 pm Monday, with results to be announced Monday night.
If approved, it would end a strike that began on August 28.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Mounties in Dauphin are investigating a robbery that took place around the noon hour last Tuesday.
They say a masked male suspect entered a business on 1st Avenue NE and asked for help finding a few items - before taking the items and walking out of the store without paying for them.
An employee followed the suspect outside of the store, only to be assaulted and have a knife pulled on him.
The suspect, who was wearing a black jacket and carrying a black bag at the time, then left the scene on a red mountain bike.
RCMP are asking anyone who has info on this incident to please contact the Dauphin detachment at 204-622-5020 or Manitoba Crime Stoppers.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Helping families that have left Ukraine to establish roots in the Dauphin area is the focus behind the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund.
PUFF was originally launched early in 2022 to help bring 2-3 families from Ukraine to our region, but the demand has grown immensely since then, and so have the donations that have come into it.
Pam Iwanchysko is a volunteer with PUFF and says the local business community has really gotten behind this program.
"People like Reit-Syd Equipment, who have hired I believe 5 or 6 of our Ukrainian Families already. And then one of the biggest ones we have seen is all of the dentists getting together to buy winter clothing for all of the children. Dauphin Co-op gave us twenty thousand dollars in gift cards for families to buy gift cards. So the list goes on and on and on."
And the need continues to grow, as Iwanchysko says another four families were slated to arrive in the region over the weekend.
But the fund has not only helped with getting families established in the region - it has also played a big role in helping them find employment.
PUFF volunteer Pam Iwanchysko says thanks to grants from both the Dauphin and District Community Foundation and Kia Canada, they have been able to launch a project called "Education for Employment."
"We have been able to hire a couple of local teachers who are teaching evening English classes so that they can get better employment opportunities. And so that in itself has allowed a lot more people to get jobs. And when I say a lot more people - we now have 54 more families in our community who anybody wants to get a job has done so. We have well over 150 people, including children, who have come to our community."
PUFF also received over $144,000 in funding from the Canadian Ukrainian Foundation to not only help furnish homes for these 54 families but also help pay for utilities and buy groceries while family members worked towards finding employment.
Iwanchysko says they are working with Community Futures Parkland, who are not only helping monitor the funding they receive but are also helping some of the families with future economic development ideas.
"For example, we have a family that wants to start a restaurant here in town and have traditional Ukrainian food for example. So they are helping them with their business plan, developing a website and social media platform - that kind of thing. They are helping from that perspective, which is great. And again, this is all done in kind."
You can donate to PUFF through Fusion Credit Union.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
An investigation is underway after the Ethelbert Fire Department was called to put out a blaze.
On October 28 at about 3:15 a.m., Dauphin RCMP were on patrol when they saw a structure fire in the RM of Ethelbert. A residence, about three kilometres north east of the Village of Ethelbert, was fully engulfed in flames.
The residence, which is a complete loss, was unoccupied at the time of the blaze and evidence at the scene indicates that the fire was intentionally set.
If you have any information regarding the fire, you're asked to call the Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Local brewer Obsolete Brewing walked away with three awards from the Canada Beer Cup, which was held late last week by the Canadian Craft Brewers Association.
Their Dial Up Altbier took gold in the Altbier/Sticke (Strong) Altbier/Dark Lagered category.
Two other Obsolete Brewing products were also recognized, as their Music Machine Sour - Gramaphone and DIPA 64 brews each received bronze in their respective categories.
In a news release, Obsolete Brewing Co-owner Steve Sobering credited their brewer Marco Bardelli for their success.
The Canada Beer Cup recognizes independently-owned and -operated breweries across Canada.
The competition featured 66 different beer-style groups in 11 different categories.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A 19-year-old man will be back in court next month in relation to a double stabbing last year in Camperville.
RCMP in Winnipegosis says in June of 2022, a fight broke out between two groups of people outside a home after a woman was robbed.
The alleged incident left a 26-year-old man in critical condition in a Winnipeg hospital, and a 21-year-old man in stable condition.
Wilfred “J.J.” Chartrand had his matters adjourned to November 22nd.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Tuesday will be the next court appearance for a Winnipeg man charged in relation to a drug bust in the RM of Dauphin.
Local RCMP pulled over a vehicle in March of 2021 about 10 km west of Ochre River on Highway 5.
After the driver refused to provide a breath sample, he was arrested. with a subsequent search of the vehicle resulting in the seizure of a number of items.
They included 195 grams of cocaine, a large variety of cannabis products, an open bottle of liquor and cash.
32-year-old Jory Rowe will appear in a Winnipeg court on October 31st.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
If you're looking to add some fright to your Saturday night, you'll want to head to a special event at Northgate Trails.
Nothgate's Haunted Forest Walk will be taking place tonight, with the kid's walk starting at 7-7:30, and a much scarier adults' walk set for 8:30.
Melisa Stephaniw with Trail Tutors helped organize this free-to-attend event, and she gives a great deal of credit to all the local actors that are coming out to provide the spooky atmosphere.It’s getting spooky out at Northgate! Come for a walk or ride before the snow flies! Haunted forest walk starts tmrw night 7-7:30 for kids, 8:30 for adults!
Posted by Northgate Trails Dauphin on Friday, October 27, 2023
"We've got a lot of cool partners that we're bringing in, lots of dedicated folks. We've got Theatre Amisk, Second Story Players, and a bunch of actors. they're going to act out a witch storyline that links back to a little bit of the history of the park and why the area is considered haunted."
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 20 in Dauphin is all about giving back to the community and they have done just that once again.
After raising funds from people buying poppies and wreaths, Norma Johnson was on hand to donate $8,965 to the Dauphin Regional Health Centre's Palliative Care Unit. The funds will be used to purchase two blood pressure monitors.
Johnson handed the cheque to Greg Thompson, who is the Chairperson of the Dauphin Hospital Foundation, in front of the Legion in Dauphin.
"This could affect so many seniors or veterans," said Johnson. "These new machines will be there for those that need them."
The local Royal Canadian Legion Branch 20 has made many large donations in the past and as Johnson says, it's critical to continue doing so.
"It's very important to support and it's great that our hospital will have more equipment now," ended Johnson.
Johnson also urges Parkland residents to consider donating through purchases of poppies again this year.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
A 33-year-old man from Dauphin has lost his life after a motor vehicle accident earlier this week.
On Wednesday (October 25) at about 11:40 p.m., RCMP officers from Headingley and Stonewall responded to a report of a single vehicle rollover on Highway 1, located about one kilometre west of Highway 26.
The vehicle, with two occupants, was travelling westbound when it crossed over the bridge spanning the Assiniboine River. It then entered the ditch and rolled. The 33-year-old man was transported to the hospital and he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday.
The 45-year-old passenger, also from Dauphin, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Weather conditions are believed to be a factor in the collision.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The case of a Russell man accused of uttering threats online will return to court later next month.
RCMP in Russell says they were informed on January 11th about a man making threats on a social media account towards law enforcement personnel, government officials, and medical professionals.
Officers attended the suspect's residence and took him into custody after he reportedly resisted arrest.
42-year-old Michael Man will be back in court on November 22nd.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
