The Major Pratt Senior Girls Varsity Volleyball Team have had an absolutely stellar season to date, winning all but one of the six high school tournaments they’ve entered.

The team is hoping to continue their success throughout the remainder of their season and their goal is to bring home the Provincial Championship banner for the second year in a row.

Provincials are set for Dec 1-3 in The Pas. While that record is due to the skill, hard work and determination of the ladies of Major Pratt, someone who hasn’t been talked about much is their coach Tanya Thompson who helped coach Team Manitoba to a gold medal in the 2022 Canada Summer Games for Women’s Indoor Volleyball (U19 age class).

Tanya says her admission into the Canada Games Women in Coaching Apprentice Program was a dream come true - even if Covid changed things up a little and definitely made the process longer. (Tanya found out she was accepted into the program in March 2020 and was originally supposed to be coaching as part of the games in 2021 which, because of the pandemic, was delayed until this past summer).

Get the full story in this week's Russell Banner!

The wait is over and change has finally come to Swan Valley West municipality.
Voters elected their new reeve and council to represent them and they’re already at work. Newly elected Swan Valley West Reeve Bill Gade says the feedback he has been hearing from ratepayers has been nothing but positive.
“I’ve never seen ratepayers so happy to see a change in leadership,” said newly elected Swan Valley West Reeve Bill Gade. “We’ve already held two meetings already, and at the end of those meetings, every member of Council was sitting around the table laughing, chatting and talking, not about municipal business, but about what was going on in our lives and in general. That, in my mind, was step one to get a Council of seven people to actually speak and listen to each other. Council members seem happy to see each other and that’s going to be the basis of making a difference.”
There has been some concern in the past with Swan Valley West ratepayers feeling like there was no transparency or open communication with the previous council.
The newly elected council for Swan Valley West is aware of that issue and trying to provide more information to the public about what is going on.
“We’re going to do a few things,” said Gade. “At our first meeting, we chose to discuss the fire department in the public meeting. I have heard from countless numbers of people who watched that discussion, that they appreciated that we told them a little bit more about what is going on, instead of going in camera and hiding. We can’t do that for every topic, every time, but we’re going to try to discuss it more in meetings so that people see what’s going on.
“Outside of the meetings, we’re going to do a much better job of telling people what is going on. We’ve already discussed as a council a few different topics that are a high priority to the public, of getting the information together and making sure it’s accurate, and then releasing it to the public, so they can form their own opinions.”
Gade knows there are several issues on the table, that need to be dealt with, but the new council can’t address them all at once. Swan Valley West is working on putting a plan in place to deal with both the roads and water situation in Benito.
“There’s a bunch of them,” said Gade. “We’re looking at roads right now and everything to do with them. Unfortunately, it’s so late in the year that we’re not going to make an impact on that right now, but we’re going to when it comes to snow plowing and do a better job of that. It will be springtime before we can address the issues with the roads in the municipality, but we’re already talking about what kind of gravel we need and where it needs to go. We’ve got some contractors ready to get more product available so when spring comes, we’re ready to go. This is one of the main things we want to get done.
“The water quality in Benito is an ongoing discussion. It’s just as important as the roads and is being dealt with. There will be more to publicly say on that in a couple of week's time. On Oct. 1, we saw an interim order from the Public Utilities Board that is seeing the water rates in Benito triple or quadruple. That’s on our radar and we’re looking into that. We’re hoping to have information for the public on that matter in a couple of weeks and what we’re going to do about the water quality and pricing. There’s likely some resolution other than saying pay more, pay more. There’s probably something more fairly that we can do for people in Benito because we want fairness. We want everyone to pay their fair share and no one to get a free ride.”
It’s been well known about the controversy of having someone working in media and being on a municipal council, and Gade has been no stranger to this ordeal. This time around, he is taking a more active stance to try and separate the two roles.
“There’s going to be some challenges and we can all see that there will be some in terms of this,” said Gade. “We’ve hired an additional person at the station, to work as a reporter, to try and address that challenge and get me out of the day-to-day news operations. I will always be here managing the stations; that’s what I do and I own them.
“I’m trying to get out of some of the roles to prevent any conflict so that we don’t have a matter where it’s the reeve saying something. We’re going to be working very hard that when things are broadcast, it’s the radio station, and if the Reeve has something to say, it’s the Reeve who says it. On Facebook, there’s now a reeve account and if I need to say something as reeve, it will be posted on that account, so it will be clear as to who is saying it, rather than a news story from the station.”
Recently Swan Valley West has accepted the resignation of former CAO, James Webb. Gade knows it’s been a challenge in the past to fill that role, but feels with the positive changes moving forward, that the municipality will find the right and properly educated person to take on the job.
“We’ve had some discussion about this and there’s some advertising out for the CAO,” said Gade. “We’re looking for someone who has municipal experience, that understands The Municipal Act, and the rules we have to operate by, so we don’t have any more expensive mistakes. It’s not a secret that we’ve had some challenges in the past filling that role, but we’ve had some interest in the position already.”

Last Friday (Nov. 4), the Manitoba Métis Federation celebrated the grand opening of the Elbert Chartrand Child Care Centre, a 40-space centre designed to serve infant and pre-school children located on Second Street South.

At top, from left, newly-elected councillor Steve Sobering and city manager Sharla Griffiths look on as mayor David Bosiak reads his oath of office prior to city councils inaugural meeting, Monday night.

The new council of Bosiak, Sobering and councillors Randy Daley, Ted Rea, Kathy Bellemare, Devin Shtykalo and Christian Laughland got right down to business electing Laughland as deputy-mayor and assigning signing authority for the new administration.

The new group’s first regular meeting takes place Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.

At the bottom, Newly-elected reeve of the Rural Municipality of Dauphin, Ernie Sirski, signs his name after reading the oath of office at a swearing in ceremony, last Thursday.

Sirski and the new council, which includes Tammy Koshowski, Todd Boguski, Midge Sametz, Ron Ryz, Ken Shewchuk and Ken Plustwa, will have their orientation meeting this week, followed by their first council meeting, Nov. 15.

The top skaters from Manitoba and Saskatchewan competed in Stonewall at the Junior/Senior Sectionals over the weekend.

Dauphin’s Breken Brezden finished first in the short skate and first in the free skate to captured the gold medal in the junior ladies event.

This earns her a spot at the Skate Canada Challenge the first week in December, where the top skaters from across Canada will compete to earn a spot to the Canadian Nationals in Oshawa in January.

The 122nd annual Firefighter’s Ball took place, Saturday, hosted by the Dauphin Fire Fighters’ Association.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2022 Jack Carey Memorial Fire Fighter of the Year Award, which was presented to Sabrina Anderson.

In introducing this year’s winner, Fire Chief Cam Abrey said Anderson gives back to the department much more than she takes, noting she is quick to sign up as the weekend standby during the summers and to help out around the station.

Anderson’s attendance is outstanding, Abrey added, with 89 per cent of emergency response in 2021, or 178 of the total 201 calls last year. In 2022, as of the end of September, she attended 87 per cent of all incidents, or 156 of 179 so far.

Abrey has worked alongside Anderson at many incidents, and noted the level of compassion that she demonstrates when it comes to patient care is top notch. There is definitely a compassionate layer beneath the gruff exterior. The nomination stated, “they have been there for me and others on numerous occasions as a shoulder and an open ear. I always walk better after a conversation with them if going through a rough time.”

Although not an officer of the fire department and not an instructor, Anderson shows up to classes to assist with training, which Abrey appreciates. The award came as a complete surprised to Anderson, who realized Abrey was talking about her when he mentioned she had signed up to be the summer standby.

“There was only two of us that were on every weekend,” she said.

The award, Anderson added, means everything to her, even though she was at a loss for words.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m very thankful and very appreciative for the recognition,” she said.

Anderson joined DFD in August 2018. She originally had an interest in paramedicine, but a chance meeting with Abrey led to her checking out what DFD had to offer. And she decided to become a firefighter.

“We’re there on people’s worst day of their lives and so it brings me peace of mind to know we’re helping somebody, even in the slightest way possible,” she said. “I’m very thankful for all of my fellow firefighters and chief.”

The history of the award goes back to 1978 when Carey, a long-time member of the Manitoba Fire Service, created and financially supported the Fire Fighter of the Year Award. He had served 23 years with the Brandon Fire Department, seven as the Fire Chief and then joined the Manitoba Fire Commissioner’s Office as a fire investigator.

It was during this time that he became acquainted with Dauphin Fire Department (DFD) and its membership.

Throughout the years to follow, he became a close friend and an avid supporter of DFD. The current award was dedicated in Carey’s memory in 2006 to honour his outstanding service and the Dauphin Fire Department’s fond memories of him.

With this award, a trophy was established that would bear the recipient’s name and would be housed at the fire station on display. A companion trophy is also given to the recipient for permanent possession.

A former NDP MLA and cabinet minister is back in the provincial political scene.

Ron Kostyshyn will run again for the Manitoba NDP in the 2023 provincial election in the Dauphin riding after earning the nomination this past weekend.

“I’ve spent decades serving this community, first as a reeve and then as an MLA, because I want to make life better for families in the Parkland,” Kostyshyn said. “Over the last few years, I’ve seen how PC cuts have damaged our health care system and how their changes to Crown land leases have hurt cattle ranchers. I’m ready to fight on behalf of my community, alongside Wab Kinew, to fix health care and make life more affordable for Dauphin families.”

Kostyshyn was first elected as MLA of Swan River in 2011 and served as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives and Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.

Prior to and following his time with the provincial government, Kostyshyn served as the Reeve of the RM of Mossey River in the constituency of Dauphin. He finished his term prior to the most recent municipal elections.

Kostyshyn was born and raised in rural Manitoba, and his family has operated a cattle ranch for decades. He has sat on the board of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, the Manitoba Conservation Commission and various other local organizations.

“Ron brings years of experience and expertise to our team,” said NDP leader Wab Kinew. “He’s committed to serving the people of Dauphin and Manitoba and he’s excited about what the next NDP government can do for families.”

As the fourth session of the 42nd Legislature came to a close, Manitoba’s official opposition focused its efforts on fixing health care and helping families in the cost-of-living crisis.

“Manitobans want to see their government fix health care and make life more affordable. This session, with a provincial election around the corner, we put forward ideas to fix the damage done to health care and help families feeling the pressure of rising prices,” Kinew said. “Working families need a government that understands the challenge they face and is ready to help them, but the PCs are only focused on helping their wealthy friends.”

In Question Period, New Democrats raised record emergency room waits and hallway medicine at hospitals across Manitoba. The NDP urged the PC government to address chronic nursing and doctor shortages and to eliminate burdensome red tape that prevents Manitoba nurses from working in the province. They flagged the impacts of PC health care cuts on families, including cutting home care supports, abandoning the foot care clinic in Thompson and blocking addictions organizations from testing street drugs.

Kinew said in this session the Stefanson PCs resurrected Pallister-era Bill 36, which would raise Hydro rates and eliminate public oversight of Manitoba Hydro, after the first bill was stalled by the NDP. Kinew announced an early campaign commitment to freeze Hydro rates so that families can catch a break, while Premier Stefanson voted for a five per cent rate hike. Kinew urged the PCs to stop raising milk prices, to use MPI reserves to lower autopac rates, and his caucus brought forward legislation to end unfair rent increases.

As part of their commitment to community safety, the Manitoba NDP announced a plan to end chronic homelessness by following a Houston, Texas model to match unsheltered people with available housing.

Bullying seems to be a topic that is always in the news and despite the stories that come forward about these types of incidents; there very rarely is there a solution to this unacceptable form of behaviour. Recently seven-year-old Opaskwayak Cree Nation youth Wynston Martin was a recent victim of bullying when two young men stole his hockey card collection he was carrying, while waiting to get on the bus.
Wynston was extremely proud of his hockey card collection that he had been building for years. He’s a dedicated and true fan of the St. Louis Blues. Wynston was devastated by the loss of his collection, so his grandmother turned to social media for some support and asked if anyone would be willing to donate any hockey cards to her grandson, to help rebuild his collection.

Another successful Linkages conference was held this year, in The Pas by UCN, Manitoba Chamber of Commerce and Look North. Linkages was held on October 20 and 21 at the Kikiwak Inn and this year’s theme was Northern Manitoba and the World. It focused on initiating creative, critical thinking and collaborative conversations about northern economic development and the future.
Some of the objectives and outcomes of the Linkages were to assess the current northern economic situation and to describe the effects geopolitics has on Northern Manitoba. The conference also focused on understanding the importance of reconciliation for the economy and to identify strategies for growth and regional prosperity.

Manitoba has chosen a new Advocate for Children and Youth for the province this month. Sherry Gott, from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (SCN) has been appointed as the new Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth.
“The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth in an independent office that’s non partisan of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly,” said Gott. “Our office represents the rights, interests and view points of children and young adults throughout Manitoba, that should be receiving provincial public services. In this position I am able to advocate, support and amply the voices of children, youth and their families as they receive services.”