NewsNow
Brandon’s Keystone Centre has reported a net operating loss of almost $727,000 in 2024, an improvement over $ 1.2 million in losses the previous year.
The financial report also said revenues were up 24% last year in part to rising attendance as the event industry continued its recovery from the pandemic.
The facility also participated in an Economic Impact Assessment, which showed it contributed 78.1 million dollars to the provincial economy and supported over 2,000 jobs.
Work on the facility in the past year included renovations to Westoba Place, with new seating, the addition of 13 large boxes, and air conditioning and dehumidification upgrades.
2024 also marked the 50th anniversary of the Keystone Centre.
- Details
- Contributed by Jeff Henson
More labour strife might be on the way in the province.
More than 500 front-line workers at three child welfare agencies in Manitoba are poised to strike, after voting against their latest contract offers.
170 members of Southeast Child and Family Services have been without a contract since March of 2022, while workers for the Métis Authority — including 221 at Métis CFS and 111 at Michif CFS — have been without a new deal since January 31st, 2023.
They’re asking for increases in line with the four-year, 14 per cent-plus general wage increase MGEU members doing the same work in the civil service received in the fall.
There has been no monetary offer from either Métis or Michif CFS, while Southeast CFS offered wage increases totalling nine per cent over four years.
- Details
- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Manitoba First Nations Police Service has named Jason Colon as its Interim Police Chief.
Colon, who was an Inspector with MFNPS, replaces former Chief Doug Palson, who died in a house fire at his home earlier this week.
In a news release announcing the promotion, MFNPS says Chief Palson was a remarkable leader, devoted public servant and beloved member of the policing community.
It adds Palson led with compassion, empathy and integrity, and was a tireless advocate for Indigenous-led, culturally safe, community-based policing.
MFNPS says there will be a more formal tribute in the upcoming days which will celebrate his life and his career in policing which spanned over 35 years.
- Details
- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Dauphin Fire Department observed a very slight decrease in their Incident Report tally for 2024.
232 calls were responded to, 4 fewer than in 2023 and 2022, but still seeing a lot of similar issues like false alarms, vehicle incidents, and kitchen fires.
Percentages of Incidents, Courtesy of the DFD Facebook page 
The largest sections; False Alarms and Motor Vehicle Collisions, made up 86 and 45 calls respectively.
Fire Chief Cam Abrey notes that while structure and kitchen fires may be smaller portions, they can represent a serious threat to the scale of damage.
Abrey reminds everyone to have smoke alarms on every level of the homes and check them every month.
The Dauphin Fire Department committed over 4500 hours to all of these responses, and another 2400 hours in training, a testament of the hard-working people who keep Dauphin safe.
- Details
- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Gilbert Plains Municipality is letting its residents know about a controlled burn that is slated to take place over the next few days.
Municipal staff will be conducting a controlled burn of tree and shrub piles in the old waste disposal grounds at the end of Fletcher Avenue.
The process began yesterday afternoon and is expected to last for a few days.
- Details
- Contributed by Jeff Henson
After taking a year off due to a lack of snow, the Journey for Sight Snowmobile Run is set to return later this month.
Dauphin Lions Club President Dean Lounsbury says nine riders are set to leave Dauphin on January 21st, heading to Flin Flon where the run will begin the morning of the 22nd.
"Our journey will take us from Flin Flon to Cranberry Portage for dinner, and our day will conclude in The Pas. Day two we go from The Pas to Swan River. Day three will see us split up with some going along Highway 83 and the others returning to Dauphin. Then on Day four, we conclude in Brandon at about 4 p at the airport, and then we will have supper and presentations. "
Money raised through the ride will go to the Eye Bank at Misericordia Hospital in Winnipeg, with some proceeds also going to the new eye centre in Swan River.
Anyone wanting to join in this year's ride can contact Lounsbury at 204-638-2687.
- Details
- Contributed by Jeff Henson
In the courts this week, Angel Chartrand made her initial court appearance, having her matters put over until January 27th.
The 29-year-old Dauphin woman was charged with several driving and trafficking offences following a traffic stop in the city last Saturday.
Meanwhile, a new court date was set for an Ethelbert man charged after a house fire in that community last June.
54-year-old Marc Dorais will be back in a Winnipeg court on January 27th to face charges that include Arson with Disregard for human life.
- Details
- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The R. M. of Lakeshore will host a Candidates forum tonight for its by-election in Ward One.
The forum, which is sponsored by the Parkland Chamber of Commerce, will take place at 7 pm at the Lawrence Community Centre in Rorketon.
A total of three candidates - Ernie Smandella, Rick Paradis, and Carey Guy - have submitted nomination papers to run for the lone vacancy on council from Ward One.
The by-election is set for January 15th.
- Details
- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Two local school divisions are cautioning their parents over an apparent cybersecurity event with their Student Information System provider PowerSchool.
Both Mountainview and Swan Valley School Divisions say the event took place in late December and affected customers across Canada and the U.S.
They add some PowerSchool data was accessed during this cybersecurity event, and that the company is working with cybersecurity experts to resolve the situation.
The school divisions say that PowerSchool has assured them that the accessed data has been deleted and they are confident that the data was not copied or uploaded elsewhere.
They emphasized that PowerSchool, not the divisions, was the target of the incident.
- Details
- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Chief of the Manitoba First Nations Police Service has lost his home and human remains were located.
On January 8 at 4:50 a.m., Portage la Prairie RCMP responded to a report of a structure fire at a residence off of Road 30 W, in the RM of Portage la Prairie, located north of High Bluff. The residence was confirmed as belonging to Doug Palson, Chief of Police for the Manitoba First Nations Police Service.
Once the fire was extinguished, investigators discovered human remains in the home, the identity of the deceased has yet to be confirmed.
The cause of fire remains under investigation.
- Details
- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Premier Wab Kinew recently sat down with newly sworn-in North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong to discuss trade and economic opportunities.
Discussions included the important role provinces and territories have in strengthening and protecting the Canada-U.S. relationship including agriculture, tourism, the addictions crisis and taking action at a local level on border security.
Kinew noted that he and Armstong first met while the governor was a congressman during a Manitoba trade mission to Washington, D.C. last spring.
North Dakota and Manitoba have had a historic relationship, working together to promote agricultural connections, trade partnerships, energy supply, tourism and business opportunities.
Two-way trade between the province and state totals more than $1.6 billion annually and supports 5,700 North Dakota jobs, making it one of the closest trade partnerships in the U.S. and one of Manitoba’s most important export destinations.
- Details
- Contributed by Jeff Henson
