A public meeting held last week to help determine the future of the Dauphin and District Community Food Bank has the organization’s directors re-energized to continue their search for a new home.

About 50 people attended the meeting to learn about the history of the food bank, the important role it plays in the community and the current difficulties it is having in finding a new home after being told it will have to vacate its current location at Parkland Crossing.

The meeting was also a chance to gauge public support for the food bank and brainstorm ideas to secure its future.

“I thought it was a pretty good turnout. I thought it was a lot of positives. We do have hopes for the future now,” DDCFB board chair Robin Gambler said.

“People that were there seemed to care about if there’s a food bank in Dauphin.”

The food bank has been searching for a new location, either to rent or to buy with no resolution to this point.

The Dauphin Church of Christ, which formerly owned Parkland Crossing and leases space to the food bank, has set aside some money to help out and has sent an appeal to other churches in the community.

As of the meeting, approximately $255,000 has been raised to help DDCFB purchase a facility, should one be identified, but directors feel at least $100,000 more needs to be secured before they are in a position to make an offer on any building.

Gambler said the meeting resulted in volunteers stepping forward to organize a public fund-raising plan and visit businesses to help raise awareness and support.

She added pledges from community organizations and contributions were received during and immediately after the meeting.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the board to raise awareness about the need for the food bank.

In 2024, Gambler said, the food bank served 3,720 people - including 1,308 children and 2,412 adults. Numbers grow at every intake, she said, and some days there are as many as 12 to 15 new applicants. 2024 saw the food bank take in 149,293 pounds of food donations and after purchasing the extras needed, distributed 216,485 pounds of food.

That work required 2,081.5 volunteer hours.

“We are a volunteer board of 12 with a lot of duties. It takes 15 volunteers to run a successful intake,” Gambler said.

“We are always looking for new volunteers to help out with pickups.”

Once details of the fund-raising campaign are finalized, Gambler said, people can expect numerous opportunities to get involved.

As the food bank is a charitable organization, all those contributing will receive a tax receipt, Gambler said, adding the building funds will be kept separate from DDCFB’s operational money.

“We’re going to have a building fund. Our treasurer will keep track of every dime that’s going into the building fund and she will mail a tax receipt,” Gambler said.

“There’s going to be fund-raisers coming up, lots of opportunities to get involved.”

With National Indigenous Day falling on a Saturday, the Swan Valley School Division held their celebration on Tuesday (June 17) for all students and staff in the division. A series of teachers and cultural displays were set up throughout Swan River Legion Park, allowing students to learn more about and celebrate Indigenous Canadians.

Construction of the soon to be opened Benito Splash Park kicked off last week. Pictured here are employees from PlayQuest Recreation, who are building the splash park, along with committee chairperson Holly Kushniryk, Municipality of Swan Valley West (MSVW) Lead Hand Derek Chez and MSVW CAO, Kristi Ronnquist (second, third and fourth from the left). The significant project for the community is hoped to be ready for use by the end of summer.

The Roadrunner Swim Club capped off their season at the Mike Mintenko Summerfest in Moose Jaw this past weekend, and were the only Manitoban Club to make the trek. This meet brought more than just races and ribbons. Held in an outdoor pool, this meet challenged swimmers to push beyond their comfort zones and rise to new heights, both in and out of the water.
While personal bests were fewer than usual, the weekend was filled with important milestones. For six of the Roadrunners, it was their first time ever swimming in an outdoor pool. Two of those swimmers it was their first swim meet away from their home pool — a huge step in their competitive journeys.
Outdoor swim meets come with their own unique challenges. Wind whipped through the venue, sending backstroke flags fluttering, birds and ducks flying overhead, and the weather shifted between sunshine and showers with a short 30 minute break due to thunder. Fynn Fox commented, "This meet would be better if it was indoors". Despite it all, the swimmers showed tremendous resilience, determination, and grit, adjusting to the unpredictable conditions with focus and positivity. Alyiah and Ashtyn Harris both agreed "It was freezing cold, but a lot of fun!" Ada Mathews

A new exhibit has arrived at the Sam Waller Museum that contains acrylic paintings by a northern Manitoba artist. The exhibit Canvases Touched With Acrylics by Eila Duncalfe consists of paintings that have been inspired by a deep love of the north and brought to life on canvas.
“I live in Flin Flon and have lived there for over 30 years,” said Duncalfe. I enjoy painting and doing puzzles in my free time. I started painting once my kids had left home. I found it really quiet at times, so I tried a few different hobbies and painting was the one I took to. I began spending a lot of time painting and learning more about it.

Mary Duncan School will welcome a new principal for the 2025-2026 school year. Sarah Loewen has been offered the position and is looking forward to her new role. Loewen grew up in The Pas and is familiar with the schools in the division from both attending them and then working in the community.
“I was born and raised in The Pas, the youngest of three girls in a family deeply rooted in education,” said Loewen.

The Northern Health Region is promoting a strategy geared towards men’s mental health and suicide prevention. The program is created from a male perspective and addresses a very real and serious issue that many men just don’t want to address.
“Buddy Up is a Canadian suicide prevention campaign created for men by men,” said Northern Health Region Mental Health Promotion Specialist Alexie Laplante. “The campaign encourages men to have real conversations with their buddies and to support them if they’re struggling with thoughts of suicide.”
The suicide rate among men is higher than women. This can be attributed to many unhealthy childhood factors that have caused toxic masculinity to manifest and prevent men from dealing with their feelings in a healthy and safe way.

On June 20, 2025, at 9:50 p.m., officers from The Pas RCMP responded to a report of a house fire located on Hunter Drive in Cormorant.
As officers were enroute to the scene, a further report was received that a firefighter had been assaulted by a 29-year-old male during the execution of his firefighting duties.
The fight had been stopped by other firefighters and the two parties separated with the 29-year-old fleeing the scene.
The fire was then extinguished with no reported injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Pas RCMP have issued a Warrant of Arrest out for 29-year-old Scott Wishart who is wanted for Assault and Uttering Threats.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact The Pas RCMP at 204-627-6204, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
The Pas RCMP continue to investigate.

The neighbouring communities of Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage were greatly impacted by the wildfires raging in northern Manitoba, as they were evacuated from their homes. The Pas Fire Department received a call for assistance to help with the evacuation.
“We received a call from Flin Flon Fire Chief Jason Kuras on May 28 at approximately 16:30,” said The Pas Fire Department Fire Chief Byron Shangraw. “This was shortly after the evacuation notice was given to the citizens of Flin Flon and surrounding areas. He requested a crew to assist with the evacuation and suppression of the wildfire.

The Town of Swan River has honoured two Swan River iconic leaders by naming two upcoming streets after them.
Dick Walker Trail and Glen McKenzie Bay will be the official designations of two new streets as part of a future residential subdivision north of the Rotary Soccer Fields and Orville Minish Field.
“These names are more than just markers on a map, they are lasting tributes to two men whose dedication, leadership and service have left a mark on our town,” said Town of Swan River Deputy Mayor David Moriaux, during an unveiling ceremony held on Thursday (June 19).
Moriaux recognized Glen McKenzie’s achievements during his time as part of the Town of Swan River council, which he was part of from 1988 to 2018, 23 years of which were as Mayor.
McKenzie was instrumental in building bridges between communities, notably through his role in the first Treaty Land Entitlement agreement between Swan River and the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation (SCN) in 2012, laying the groundwork for reconciliation and mutual respect. Since that time, SCN has also established two more Urban Reserves, and Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation has also developed an Urban Reserve.
McKenzie also helped form the G7, a coalition of Swan Valley municipalities that contributed to strengthening shared goals.
“One of his biggest accomplishments was the establishment of the 2014 Wellness Centre – a project that, despite its challenges, has become a key component of health and well-being in our community,” said Moriaux. “He also championed the Medical Services Recruitment and Retention Committee, ensuring that Swan River remained a place where families could access quality healthcare.
“Today, Glen McKenzie Bay stands as a symbol of leadership, vision and community spirit.”
McKenzie also was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, as a recognition of his service and commitment.
“I’m honoured to have a street or a bay named after me,” said McKenzie. “When you join municipal government, you never think about those kinds of things. In the 30 years I was in municipal government, I was very fortunate to have very good people to work with.
Dick Walker – who passed away in 2014 – was also recognized for his life dedicated to volunteerism and community service. He was a long-time member and president of the Swan River Rotary Club for more than 20 years, and served in the Swan River Valley Agricultural Society for 50 years. His passion for conservation was also evident in his 30 years of volunteer work with Ducks Unlimited.
From 1972 to 1980, Walker served as a town councillor, and even after his term ended, he remained involved through the Parks and Recreation Committee. He was also a driving force behind the Richardson Recreation and Wellness Centre, and the visionary behind the Duck Mountain Forest Centre, a project that continues to benefit our Valley’s environment and education.
Walker was also recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, as a testament to his lifelong commitment to making Swan River a better place.
“Dick Walker Trail will now serve as a lasting reminder of his generosity, his passion, and his enduring impact on our community,” said Moriaux.
Walker’s son, Bob Walker, accepted the honour on behalf of his late father.
“(Dick Walker) would be extremely proud of this,” he said.
Both the McKenzies and the Walkers received a replica street sign for themselves, and the official markers will be installed at some point in the future when the streets for the subdivision are further developed.