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A somber day of truth, reconciliation, and remembrance takes place today, May 5th with Red Dress Day.
The significance of Red Dress Day was best described by Tammy Chief, Northwest Metis Council's gender-based violence project coordinator.
"May 5th is recognized as Red Dress Day. Northwest Metis Council and Red River Metis citizens alike, we want to remember and honor all indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people who were taken, who are survivors of violence, and families and community members whose lives have been forever changed."
The scale of this topic is far larger than most people might know, as Ms.Chief says many of the missing individuals are never even reported.
"The exact number of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited people in Canada is unknown as thousands of these deaths are disappearances. it's been misreported or misreported over the decades."
The display of red dresses hanging empty in trees and windows is meant to signifiy the pain and loss felt by loved ones and survivors.
The Northwest Metis Council in Dauphin hosted a commemorative art night yesterday to raise awareness and show support for Red Dress Day.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The Manitoba First Nations Police Service is asking for the public's help in finding a missing teen from Long Plain First Nation.
Kali Ari-May Rose Laporte was last seen on the evening of April 18th at her placement home in Long Plain First Nation. She's known to frequent Waywayseecappo, Portage la Prairie, and Winnipeg.
Laporte is described as First Nations, 4'11", approximately 100 lbs, with very short dark brown hair, and brown eyes, usually wearing a hat.
Police are concerned for her well-being and are asking anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to contact Manitoba First Nations Police Service, Long Plain Detachment at 204-252-4480.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Parks Canada will once again be opening the Lake Audy Bison Enclosure to park visitors on May 18th.
The opening of the bison enclosure will be followed by the campground and other day-use areas, which are expected to be open early this summer.
In a release, Parks Canada says that temporary fixes have been made to the eastern part of Lake Audy Road off Highway 10. They say that a small section of the road will be one lane, and visitors are asked to pay close attention when approaching on-coming traffic.
Visitors will have access to the Strathclair and Central Trailhead via the bison enclosure upon the reopening of the road. Work to permanently repair the remaining damage to Lake Audy Road off PR 354 and Highway 10 is expected to begin this fall.
Visitors of the Park are encouraged to plan ahead on the Parks Canada Website.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The federal public-sector union strike has officially come to an end with a tentative deal between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the federal government.
Canada Revenue Agency employees, who are represented by PSAC, have been told to return to work today by 10:30 Central at the latest.
Negotiators for the Union of Taxation Employees, an arm of PSAC, came to terms on an agreement that will see them get wage increases totalling 12.6 per cent for the years 2021 through 2024 as well as an additional fourth year to help protect workers from inflation.
The tentative agreement also includes a pensionable 25-hundred-dollar one-time lump sum payment.
The CRA says both sides agreed to undertake a review of virtual work arrangements as well.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The future of Dauphin will be the focus of the upcoming State of the City Address.
Mayor David Bosiak, as well as representatives from the Dauphin and district community foundation, the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, will be meeting on May 9th at the Aspen Lodge in the Parkland Rec Complex.
Mayor Bosiak is looking forward to making the most of his time in office, and this meeting is a great opportunity to make a road map for the coming years.
"We’ve got a new council, I’m a new mayor, and we’ve got a 4-year window of opportunity to do some things in the community"
Mayor Bosiak says that Dauphin is in an ideal situation to make some big moves for the city's growth.
"The timing is right for us as a community to be taking some actions, and that's not just the community itself, or the municipal government taking action, but a collective action of moving forward to address all of the issues and ideas and opportunities that are in front of us."
The Address will be taking place over the lunch hour, from 11:45 to 1:30 on May 9th.
If you are looking to attend the State of the City meeting, registration is through the Parkland Chamber’s website, or for more information, contact Stephen Chychota of the Chamber Group at 204-622-3140
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The Manitoba Government and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities(AMM) met Wednesday, to discuss proposed amendments to the Police Services Act.
The amendments would provide rural and urban municipalities with additional options to address their unique safety concerns. Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen says they know that rural crime is a concern across the province.
"There are unique challenges in rural Manitoba, particularly when it comes to the staffing of policing positions. Local municipalities need more options and more control to improve community safety," said Goertzen in a news release today. "Municipalities have long asked for the ability to have community safety officers enforce additional provincial laws."
Goertzen says they're making progress toward ensuring that municipalities will have the ability to address their specific safety needs.
"We've spoken to the federal government about doing more training and making sure we're getting our portion of RCMP officers, but there's still a significant vacancy rate, and that impacts on communities that have that contract policing arrangement with the RCMP."
Goertzen says the right programs can make it better for both the RCMP and the communities.
"So we've been working at how do we have layered policing options so that municipalities can find a way to have other type of enforcement, and then maybe relieve some of the pressure off the RCMP on more traditional forms of policing."
Goertzen also noted that he and municipal relations minister Andrew Smith have renewed calls to the federal government to fund the back pay it unilaterally negotiated for the RCMP. He says that unexpected additional cost could severely affect a lot of municipalities.
"Municipalities were not consulted nor were they involved in the negotiation of the back pay that the federal government negotiated in the RCMP contract. Simply handing the bill to municipalities isn’t good enough and will significantly impact local municipalities and their residents."
Goertzen says the AMM has mirrored that message to the federal government.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Northwest Metis Council(NWMC) is getting ready for Red Dress Day on Friday, which is also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People on Friday.
To help others get ready to spread awareness on Friday, the NWMC is hosting an Art Night at the Metis Community Centre from 4 to 6 tomorrow afternoon.
Tammy Chief, the Gender-Based Violence Project Coordinator for the NWMC says it's an opportunity to bring people together.
"We want children, youth families, Dauphin residents, and outlying communities, to come and join us as a part of reconciliation. Come and join us and then that way they can create those artworks, and bring them back and display them proudly on Friday, May the fifth."
Chief says they'll be making red dress pins, faceless dolls, and paper red dresses at the event.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
One person is in custody after they tried to rob a Swan River business with pieces of a broken CD.
Police were called to an armed robbery at a business in the 1200 block of Main Street in Swan River late Sunday morning. They were told that someone had come into the business to try and buy cigarettes but didn't have anything to pay for the items.
The man left but returned soon after with sharp shards of a broken CD. He threatened the employee and demanded cigarettes and the keys to the employee's vehicle.
The suspect fled the store empty-handed once he found out that police were on the way, but officers were able to identify him thanks to security footage.
Police located the suspect walking in the community soon after.
47-year-old Frank Keewatin from Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan was arrested and charged with Robbery with Other Offensive Weapon. He was remanded in custody, where he remains.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Dauphin RCMP is asking for the public's help to identify these people, who were captured on surveillance video.
Police want to speak to the individuals about an assault with a weapon that happened Friday at around 9:45 am, at a business on Main Street South in Dauphin.
Anyone with information, including the identity and contact info for the individuals, should call Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Manitoba NDP has announced a plan to "fix rural healthcare" that they'll put into place if elected this fall.
The plan includes five steps to try and address some of the biggest issues facing healthcare in rural communities across the province.
NDP Leader Wab Kinew says healthcare is the biggest challenge facing rural communities right now.
"I think everyone in rural Manitoba has been so concerned with the increase in closures and the cuts. We've heard time and time again from people who say, we want healthcare in our communities, and we need better than what we're getting right now."
The plan includes a large focus on rural healthcare recruitment says Kinew.
"We know so many communities are being forced to step in and offer these resources directly, so we think the province should get involved."
On top of recruitment, the NDP is also committing to reducing rural ambulance wait times, increasing nurses and other allied health professionals, expanding access to specialists, and improving rural senior care.
The NDP also plans on reintroducing a grant program that would give medical students $12,000 in each of their four years of medical school. In return, those students would have to work for six months in an underserviced part of the province for each year they received the grant.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Two Winnipeg men are facing a number of charges after the Russell RCMP caught them with drugs and cash.
The RCMP received the report at 7:20 pm on Saturday, April 29th, that a suspicious vehicle was parked on Baker Road in Vista, Manitoba.
Officers searched the vehicle and found approximately 17 grams of cocaine, cannabis, a replica air pistol, more than $5000.00 in cash, and drug paraphernalia.
Tal Tufeld, 25, of Winnipeg has been charged with:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Obstructing a Peace Officer
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
- Failing to Comply x3
- Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling (LGCA)
- He was remanded into custody.
Colin McMillan, 36, of Winnipeg, has been charged with:
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling (LGCA)
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
