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Tom Gibbs has spent the last two terms on council for the R.M. of Dauphin and for the most part, it's been very enjoyable. 

"We have a pretty diverse council and it makes for great conversation and constructive conversation," said Gibbs. 

Now as we look forward to the Municipal Election on October 26, Tom is running again; however, this time he is running for the position of Reeve. In talks with current Reeve, Ron Ryz, Ron mentioned to Tom that he didn't have enough time to commit fully to the position; however, Ryz is running for council.

Tom says he has plenty of time and he is fully committed to the R.M. of Dauphin.

"What I've witnessed during my time on council is that there needs to be continuity between staff, previous councillors and the new councillors," said Gibbs. "I want to help provide that continuity to help build and grow on."

If he is elected, Tom would look forward to working with staff and council to provide the great services to the R.M's residents that they expect.

"Also at the lowest cost possible with the understanding that it's a balancing act, good roads and great services come at a cost," said Gibbs. "I would also look forward to working with the previous council, indigenous groups and neighbouring municipalities to try and bring additional trade and commerce into our region. We are stronger as a group than we are as individuals."

Tom is going up against Ernie Sirski for reeve.

Stay tuned in the coming days as we will continue to highlight this year's candidates in Dauphin and the RM of Dauphin. You can still register to run for Mayor or council until September 20. 

Starting tomorrow, August 19th, at 5 a.m., Main St. S. from 9th Ave. S.E./S.W. to 10th Ave. S.E./S.W. will be closed to all traffic for water main work.

The City of Dauphin is asking that you use alternate routes while that portion of the road is closed.

According to the City, it should be open by early evening.

They're also warning residents that water in the area may be discoloured because of this work and that they should avoid running water.

If residents notice that their water is brownish in colour, they should let it settle for a couple of hours before running cold to clear their lines.

The provincial government has announced that the minimum wage in Manitoba will increase to $15 an hour by October 1st, 2023.

The province plans to increase the minimum wage, which is currently sitting at $11.95, three times starting October 1st, 2022 when it goes up to $13.50. Then, on April 1st, 2023 it will increase to $14.15, and the final increase will come on October 1st, 2023.

Premier Heather Stefanson made the announcement this afternoon.

"Today's announcement delivers on our commitment to making life more affordable for all Manitobans. This phased-in approach will ensure small businesses remain strong and continue to grow while helping workers and their families get ahead by earning bigger paycheques. Our balanced approach to increasing the minimum wage will help workers make ends meet while also recognizing the concerns of small businesses who are struggling during this difficult time."

The province was originally planning to raise its minimum wage to 12.35 this fall. In May, the Saskatchewan Government announced a larger increase to its minimum wage coming this fall, which would have left Manitoba with the lowest minimum wage in the country.

UPDATE: The severe thunderstorm watches have ended.

The original article follows:

Environment Canada has issued multiple severe thunderstorm watches for Dauphin and surrounding areas.

They are currently in effect for many communities in the following areas:

According to Environment Canada, a moist and unstable airmass remains in place over southern Manitoba this afternoon.

They also say that clearing skies in western Manitoba could help lead to thunderstorm development later today and that some of the storms that develop could become severe with large hail, strong wind gusts and heavy rains being the main threats.

If you're in or around Russell Thursday and you have an interest in a career with the RCMP, you're in luck.

The RCMP Recruitment Team will be at the Russell & Area Career Fair at the Russell Inn. 

It'll take place from 2 to 6 p.m. and it is for one day only. 

Around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning, Dauphin RCMP officers saw what looked like a drug deal happening on 1st Street South. When officers approached the suspects, they fled on bicycles and the officers chased them on foot.

Officers were able to catch 21-year-old Collin Pruden from Saskatoon and found a sawed-off shotgun, a handgun, bear spray, and break-in instruments in his backpack. He was remanded into custody and charged with Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon x2, Possess Weapon for Dangerous Purpose x2, Carry Firearm in Careless Manner and Possess Break-In Instruments.

Officers continue to search for a 24-year-old male and 30-year-old male, both from Dauphin, who will face charges once apprehended.

Manitoba-based CanTalk Canada is offering free Ukrainian-language interpretation services to organizations across Manitoba and the rest of North America.

Maureen Mitchells, founder, president and CEO of CanTalk (Canada) Inc., says that any organization that's trying to help Ukrainian refugees with things, like finding a home, getting access to education, and finding out about what official or formal requirements are needed to settle into a new area, will be provided with 250 free minutes of immediate Ukrainian-language interpretation over the phone.

"CanTalk, with the immediate interpretation over the phone, sets up a toll-free number... All companies or organizations or even individuals, if they're sponsoring Ukrainian refugees, have to do is phone this 1-800 number. We take their basic information and when a call comes in through this number that we provide to them, a language facilitator...will... take their name or number because it'll already be registered and on that basis, we connect them to a Ukrainian interpreter/translator and then the conversation can proceed. It's a three-way conversation, but it always goes very smoothly," she adds.

Mitchells says that CanTalk is trying to help where they can and that she believes that now is not the time to take advantage of, what she calls, an unfolding human tragedy for monetary gain.

"We want other companies and organizations who are engaged in hiring Ukrainian refugees [to] help those individuals reach their full potential... It's quite difficult for any refugee to find a new home and to move... into an area that's totally foreign to them, so when you provide this immediacy of communicating in your own language, it removes that sting of feeling intimidated or distressed because they can't quite understand either the direction or information being shared," she adds.

She says that the language support doesn't necessarily stop after the free minutes have been used up and that as long as there is a need to support Ukrainian refugees, they want to be there to help.

"Though there's no absolute limit, there is a timeframe as to how long the program will be available and right now, we have it available for up to a year, but again this could change," she says.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Ukrainian-language services offered by CanTalk can call 1-833-215-0586 or visit their website for more information.

Sharon Riehl moved to Dauphin in 1995 and she bought her first home in the city two years later in 1997. She has grown to love Dauphin and in her opinion, there is no place like Dauphin and no place she would rather be.

Living in the community for more than 25 years, Sharon has seen Dauphin grow but she has also seen crime rates rise as of late and now, she wants to give back as she has so much in the past by volunteering. Joining a long list of well-known and established Dauphinites, Sharon is running for council in the upcoming Municipal Election that takes place on October 26.

Riehl has a passion for people and she has a passion for the community of Dauphin and she's ready to take the next step if elected.

"I want to see our community come together as one and I want to be able to work with fellow councillors," said Riehl. "I want to help make it a community where people aren't scared to be outside on the streets."

Sharon says she is for the people and all she wants is a safe Dauphin and a Dauphin where everyone wants to stay and live, regardless of age. She says she is an extremely loyal and committed person that is ready to help in any way possible.

"I have the time and I am ready to do this," said Riehl. "I'm willing to learn and I'm willing to put myself out there. Being a part of a team excites me for the greater good of Dauphin."

Stay tuned in the coming days as we will continue to highlight this year's candidates in Dauphin and the RM of Dauphin. If you would like to join Sharon in running for council or mayor, you have until September 20 to do so in Dauphin and the R.M. of Dauphin. 

UPDATE: The remaining severe thunderstorm watches and warnings have ended.

The previous update follows:

As of 5:44 p.m., the severe thunderstorm warning for the Mun. of Ste. Rose incl. Laurier has ended.

The second update follows:

At 5:30 p.m., Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the following communities:

  • Mun. of McCreary incl. Norgate
  • Mun. of Ste. Rose incl. Laurier
  • R.M. of Alonsa incl. Ebb and Flow Res. and Sandy Bay Res.

Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, up to nickel-size hail and heavy rain.

They say that the severe thunderstorm is located 10 km east of McCreary, moving east at 20 km/h and that heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.

More information can be found on the Environment Canada website.

The first update follows:

As of 3:29 p.m., the severe thunderstorm warning for the R.M. of Mountain including Mafeking and Birch River, as well as Westgate Red Deer Lake and Barrows, has ended.

As of 2:49 p.m., the severe thunderstorm warning for Porcupine Prov. Forest has ended.

The original article follows:

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the following communities:

  • Porcupine Prov. Forest
  • R.M. of Mountain including Mafeking and Birch River
  • Westgate Red Deer Lake and Barrows

Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, up to nickel-size hail and heavy rain.

They say that, in and around Mafeking, Baden, and Powell, heavy downpours are likely to cause flash floods and water pooling on roads and that intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops.

In addition, Environment Canada has also issued a severe thunderstorm watch for many communities in the Swan River - Duck Mountain - Porcupine Provincial Forest area.

They say that conditions in those communities are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing heavy rain and that these storms will be slow moving and will produce locally heavy rainfall amounts.

Jack Bremner seeded his wheat and not even 24 hours later, four inches of rain fell on his field. That resulted in the seed rotting in the ground.

About 100 of the acres of wheat will now go towards cattle feed and that means of the 124 acres seeded, Bremner is expecting to only harvest about 24 acres. It isn't all bad; however, for Bremner, this year as his canola crop is looking great. At this point, it's still blooming and it's one of the best canola crops he has ever had.

"When we got that four inches of rain, my entire land was covered in water, that's all you could see," said Bremner. "I can't believe it survived and it has flourished, it's been blooming for about five weeks now."

Bremner said he has seen some canola fields that have finished blooming and those farmers may be out harvesting not long from now; however, that isn't the case for Jack. He says they're going to be harvesting a lot later than usual, Jack isn't expecting to begin harvest until well into September. With that, Bremner will begin harvesting well into the time when the temperatures start to take a plunge and that's when frost can become a major issue.

"I'm definitely worried about it cooling down to a point where it freezes," said Bremner. "That could mean the canola could be worth nothing, it just depends on how damaged it is. To be this late into August and for the canola to be full blooming, that's a little scary."

Jack says he put a ton of money into the ground this year and if they do get frost on their crop, that would be devastating.  

The opening of the Ste. Rose Farmer's Market originally scheduled for this Thursday has been postponed.

The market is now set to open next Thursday, August 25th, at Molgat Park in Ste. Rose du Lac and will run every Thursday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. until September 8th.

Marie Sorlie, recreation director for the Municipality of Ste. Rose and the R.M. of Lakeshore, says that it will most likely be extended to September 15th due to the late start.

She also says that there are many reasons behind the postponement.

"There's actually only one vendor that has signed up for it and according to public health, we have to have those in ahead of time... The market coordinator is actually sick with COVID, so not available to be there to coordinate the market this Thursday," she adds.

She points to the late gardens and so-called crazy season they've had as to why they haven't had more vendors sign up.

Anyone interested in selling produce at the farmer's market is being asked to call or text Marie at 204-648-4797 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

They must also pay a fee of $10 per table they wish to reserve.

More information can be found on the Lakeshore & Ste Rose Recreation Facebook page.