Municipal Election Forum & Debate Tonight

The Parkland Chamber of Commerce Municipal Election Forum for the City of Dauphin is tonight at 7 at the Watson Art Centre. The first hour of the event will give the 17 council candidates an opportunity to answer a question submitted by the public, while the second hour will feature a debate between the two mayoral candidates, Kerri Riehl and David Bosiak.

The chamber has been collecting questions from the public, to make sure they're asking the candidates questions that matter to the people of Dauphin. Chamber Executive Director Stephen Chychota says it's not too late for people to get their questions in.

"People can still submit questions up until the event, we may or may not be able to get to all of them. We do have quite a few on hand already from the public which is great, it's nice to have that response, so we will get through as many as we can in the time that we have, but by all means, send them over and if they're good questions we'll try make sure that they get incorporated into the forum."

Questions can be online here, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or written and dropped off at the chamber office (100 Main Street South). While the forum is an in-person event, Chychota says that the Chamber will be live streaming it on their FaceBook page so people can still watch if they're unable to attend.

"The event will be streamed live on our FaceBook page, everyone has the opportunity to tune into that and watch it if they like. They can share the content too, so anybody out there, individual or community groups, or anything like that feel free to hit that share button so it can broaden that reach, and then people can watch that content live as it's happening. Since it's going to be on FaceBook it will get saved on that platform so then people can review it after the fact as well."

The Chamber will be hosting another Municipal Election Forum and Debate for the RM of Dauphin on Tuesday, October 4th. They working on organizing Election Forums for other communities across the Parkland, and we'll bring you information about those events once they've been finalized.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Sep 28, 2022 - 5:52 am

The City of Dauphin is advising residents that starting tomorrow, September 28^th, at 8 a.m., C&B Stirling will be milling 2^nd St. N.E. from 1^st Ave. N.E. to 4^th Ave. N.E.

They say that the street will be closed to traffic until around 6 p.m. and that repaving will be completed at later date.

Furthermore, City crews will be preparing work sites on 2^nd St. N.E. from 5^th Ave. N.E. to 7^th Ave. N.E. for asphalt patching tomorrow afternoon.

The City is asking people to use alternate routes.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 27, 2022 - 4:59 pm

Beginning this afternoon, City of Dauphin crews will start pavement repair work at sites along Main Street South from Whitmore Avenue to 8th Avenue South. The work's expected to be completed by end of the day Thursday.

While work is being done, there may be some temporary lane closures in effect. The city asks that people be cautious when approaching any construction areas and passing workers.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Sep 27, 2022 - 1:53 pm

In light of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Manitoba government announced that it will be providing more than $370,000 to support community events and programming that promote awareness of the history and legacy of residential schools and encourage meaningful discussions on past and ongoing injustices.

Premier Heather Stefanson says that she encourages all Manitobans to take time to reflect on Manitoba’s past and the path forward, and to participate in events that promote healing and relationship-building.

“Sept. 30 is an important day for reflection, learning, listening, healing and reaffirming our collective commitment to work with Indigenous leaders, Knowledge Keepers, elders, survivors and all Manitobans to advance truth and reconciliation and move forward together to build a brighter future for all,” Premier Stefanson adds.

According to Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere, the provincial government passed legislation in 2017 to recognize September 30^th as Orange Shirt Day to encourage reflection and discussions about the trauma of residential schools on First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, as part of their commitment to the truth and reconciliation process.

“I am honoured to announce... that we are continuing to take purposeful action on our path to reconciliation by supporting a variety of initiatives that will support healing, learning and relationship-building,” Lagimodiere adds.

The minister says that as part of the provincial government’s observance of the day, non-essential government offices will be closed and flags at all provincial government buildings will be lowered to half-mast. In addition, the Legislative Building and the Memorial Park fountain will be lit orange and all schools will be closed.

A list of some of the events receiving government support, which includes the one being held by West Region Treaty 2 & 4 Health Services at Dauphin's CN Park, can be found here.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Sep 27, 2022 - 11:17 am

Jack Winters had his final court appearance yesterday before his two-week trial starts on October 17th in Dauphin. Winters is facing 15 different charges for a fatal collision in the RM of Dauphin in 2019.

Winters, who is from the RM of Dauphin, was arrested on July 17th, 2020, and charged with:

Two counts of Impaired Operation Causing Death
Two counts of Dangerous Operation Causing Death
Three counts of Impaired Operation Causing Bodily Harm
Three counts of Dangerous Operation Causing Bodily Harm
Two counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration that is equal to or more than 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, Causing Death
Three counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration that is equal to or more than 80 mg, Causing Bodily Harm

On August 16th, 2019 Dauphin RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Provincial Road 362 and Road 147 North, about 3 kilometers north of Dauphin.

Four-year-old Quinn and six-year-old Oksana Dutchyshen were on their way home from a swimming lesson when the collision occurred. They were taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died from their injuries. Two adult females in the Dodge Ram with the children suffered serious injuries.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Sep 27, 2022 - 5:55 am

Dwayne Lavallee was reported missing four years ago and the RCMP continue to investigate his disappearance. He was seen last in Ebb and Flow First Nation on September 22nd, 2018. His vehicle was found abandoned on a rural road soon after. Lavallee's family and police are hoping to hear from anyone who has reached out before, or anyone who may have new information. More details from the RCMP is below:

It’s been four years since Dwayne Lavallee was reported missing and the Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP continue to investigate his disappearance. He was last seen in Ebb and Flow First Nation on September 22, 2018.

Since that time, extensive searches have been completed after his vehicle was found abandoned on a rural road located off Provincial Road 276 on September 26, 2018. RCMP investigators, RCMP Search and Rescue, RCMP Police Dog Services, the Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), the Office of the Fire Commissioner, and numerous local volunteers have been involved in the searches.

Police and Lavallee’s family continue to seek answers in relation to his disappearance and are asking anyone who may have reached out before or may have new information to contact the Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP at 204-447-2513, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Image - RCMP

Details: Contributed by Alec Woolston; Published: Sep 27, 2022 - 5:17 am

The Dauphin City Council held its second regular council meeting of the month tonight. The council spoke about the Vermillion Park Trails, which were damaged by flooding earlier this year.

Work has yet to be started on repairing the trails, as the city had applied for funding from the provincial government's Disaster Financial Assistance program, and they had to wait for a quotation for repairs. The city has now received a quote from Inspection Plus for $52,000 plus GST, which brings the total cost of the repairs to $54,600.

The city's estimated share of the repairs is $40,943 which the council approved to be taken out of the Recreation Reserve. Now that the funding has been approved, Director of Public Works & Operations Mike VanAlstyne, says that Dauphin Rec Services is likely to start work on the repairs immediately.

On top of the repairs that need to be made, the city has also been informed that prevention measures need to be taken to be eligible for any future disaster relief assistance. Dauphin Rec Services has proposed the use of the Mitigation & Preparedness Program funding to commission a flood study and implement recommendations from the study.

You can watch tonight's full council meeting on the City of Dauphin website here.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Sep 26, 2022 - 7:43 pm

One of the names you will see on the ballot for the municipal election is Randy Daley. He is running for one of the six spots on Dauphin City Council.

Daley came to Dauphin with his wife thirty years ago after he was transferred here with the RCMP. Once he retired, the couple decided to stay in Dauphin.

"I care about what happens in Dauphin. I've been here for thirty years, I've been involved in the community at some level for pretty much most of the time", commented Daley.

That involvement in the community consists of working with the Dauphin and District Food Bank; the Dauphin Crisis Prevention Task Force; the Manitoba Junior Hockey League; the Dauphin Kings; and the DRCSS Clippers hockey team, to name a few.

When asked what he would like to see for Dauphin, Daley mentioned teamwork will be top priority to get things done.

"I think if we're all pulling on the same rope and have a positive attitude and be willing to listen and share, I go in to this with a real positive outlook", said Daley.

Some of the things he would like to see a focus on are local businesses; vulnerable people and attracting people and investments to our community.

Daley continued by saying a vote for him is a vote for someone who can bring a lot of valuable experience to the table.

"I believe I have the life experience and knowledge, and networks that I've built at a variety of levels of community and government, and I have time and energy to put into it ... you're gonna get an effort out of me", he added.

There are seventeen candidates for Dauphin City Council in total. The election itself will take place on Wednesday, October 26th.

Details: Contributed by Alec Woolston; Published: Sep 27, 2022 - 5:39 am

There is a slight change to yard waste collection in Dauphin this week to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Friday.

This means yard waste collection days have been bumped up. Day 1 collection is today (Monday), while days 2, 3, and 4 will follow. There will be no collection on Friday and regular collection days will resume next Tuesday, October 4th.

For more information about your garbage, recycling, and yard waste day, contact City Hall at 204-622-3200 or consult the 2022 Waste, Recycling & Yard Waste Calendar.

Details: Contributed by Alec Woolston; Published: Sep 26, 2022 - 6:54 am

COVID-19-related border restrictions in Canada are to expire as of midnight on Saturday, October 1st. The federal government is expected to make an official announcement today about them.

This means travellers will no longer have to submit public health information via the ArriveCAN app; provide proof of vaccination; or undergo testing before or after arrival.

As well, COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation will not be required when returning to Canada, nor will people have to wear masks on planes and trains or undergo health checks for travel on air and rail. You will also not be expected to monitor and report signs or symptoms of COVID-19 after arriving back in Canada.

The changes apply to all travellers regardless of citizenship.

Details: Contributed by Alec Woolston; Published: Sep 26, 2022 - 6:43 am

The Parkland Family Medicine Residency Program focuses on training physicians to deliver health care in rural areas.

Dr. Scott Kish, the site director for the program through the University of Manitoba, says that it has been having a strong impact on Dauphin since 1991.

"The vast majority of the physicians in Dauphin have come as a result of having the residency program, so they're graduates from our program... Many physicians in the surrounding communities... There are some of our physicians in Ste. Rose, Swan River, Brandon, Neepawa, Selkirk, Portage la Prairie... so many of our previous graduates have gone on to work in other rural settings in Manitoba," he adds.

Dr. Kish went on to say that the success that they've had in Dauphin is now being replicated across the province and that this was only possible because of that success.

"I think we're in a healthy position... There's a shortage of family physicians... across the country... I think there's lots of need for ongoing training and for training physicians in rural practices... I think there's going to be an ongoing expansion of rural training programs across the country," he adds.

According to Dr. Kish, they've been really fortunate to be able to recruit and retain physicians locally.

"I think that's one of the primary benefits and then I think the secondary benefit is just being able to seed and expand the physician base in other areas in the province and in rural Canada," he adds.

Dr. Scott Kish says that if someone from outside Canada is already a physician and they're looking to work in Canada, they would have to go through the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba to evaluate their previous training.

"For some of those physicians, there's... a one-year assessment process that they could do through the College. Some of our students would then apply for a competitive match through the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) and that's, unfortunately, a very competitive process and it's tough to get into our program, so out of seven hundred applicants to our program that are international grads, we would pick two of them," he adds.

Dr. Kish went on to say that it's less competitive for those who graduated from Canadian universities to be accepted into the program.