The Thunderhill Ski Area opened the hill for the season this past weekend, Dec. 14, welcoming hundreds of people to the hill for the first time this season. The ski lift fills with kids waiting to head up the hill.

The Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre held its Gingerbread House Party this past weekend, Dec. 13, tasking all the families in attendance to make the best Gingerbread House. The Vestby family works hard on their three houses.

The Municipality of Roblin (MOR) is hoping to find 100 householders willing to take part in a pilot project to keep their food and organic kitchen waste out of the landfill.

The pilot project, introduced at the MOR ratepayer’s meeting back in November, uses an innovative countertop appliance from a company called FoodCycler.

Read all about it in this week’s issue.

Since the beginning, and even before completion of the construction of the Northgate trail system, those involved have been advocating for a partnership with Parks Canada with an eye to developing world class mountain biking infrastructure.

And, while at times it seemed as though the wheels of government turned impossibly slow, there has been progress made, with initial scrubbing occurring this fall to join RMNP’s Edwards Creek Trail to the Northgate system.

That is thanks in part to advocacy for the project from Dauphin MLA Ron Kostyshyn.

In June, Kostyshyn sent a letter to Steven Guilbeault, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change educating him on the project and the vision and stressing the importance of a working relationship between the Northgate development group and Parks Canada.

“I encourage you and your staff to take a look at the Northgate Trail system outside the park at northgatetrails.com, as well as the extremely well-received user experience at maps.app.goo.gl/HZkFd8ftnXSxpaca6,” the letter read.

“With a bit of resolve, there is a real opportunity here to take this excellent trail network to the next level by connecting the Northgate Trail to trail networks within RMNP.”

POSSIBILITIES A8

Recently, Kostyshyn heard back through a letter from Parks Canada president and CEO Ron Hallman, who indicated his organization recognized the significance of the trail system as it exists today and the potential it represents.

He also provided an update of work completed on Parks Canada’s end.

“I am pleased to inform you the Edwards Creek Trail Project is moving forward. The project detailed design was developed and reviewed in spring of 2024. The project impact assessment was initiated in July with an archaeological field component completed prior to bird nesting seasonal restrictions on recreational trail projects of this scope,” the letter read.

“Member representatives of the Coalition of First Nations with interests in Riding Mountain National Park participated in this field work. Additional archaeological field work is scheduled for spring of 2025. An interim impact assessment was completed in late fall of 2024, for preliminary brushing of the trail to occur this fall and winter. Preliminary brushing, in progress, will allow for completion of the archaeology field work next spring, and to better inform the detailed (engineered) design for the proposed trail work. The Basic Impact Assessment (BIA) for the full project scope is in final review and construction work is expected to begin in the late summer or fall of 2025, following bird nesting season.”

That type of acknowledgment, and co-operation among all levels of government is important, Kostyshyn said.

“The Derailleurs group and the bike trail, it is just unbelievable the opportunities we could see in the tourism industry and economic development,” he said.

“This is an opportunity that has really blossomed and continues to grow. Just talking to the organization about future plans and competitive biking opportunities, worldwide opportunities, and I think, wow this is really unique.”

Once he learned about the scope of the project, Kostyshyn said there was no question he would get involved in promoting the project and doing what he could to advance it.

“It’s what an MLA should be doing and I’m very happy to help out in anyway. I think this is really important for our community,” he said.

“Just kind of blue skying the thoughts of what’s going to happen with this bike trail and competitions, it’s unbelievable. It’s people from across the world would be actually coming here and competing in Dauphin. Why not enhance the amazing tourism opportunities. We need to continue building.”

Read more in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

Winter is here and with that comes the joys of plugging in one’s vehicle to ensure it will start in the winter. One thing that is overlooked is fire prevention when it comes to plugging in vehicles during the coldest winter months.
“Faulty or improperly maintained heaters can overheat, leading to fires,” said The Pas Fire Department Fire Chief Byron Shangraw. “Exposure to cold temperatures can damage vehicle wiring, increasing the risk of short circuits and fires.”

The search for an executive director for the Aurora House ended early this fall, as a candidate was hired. Jean Clearwater is new to both the position and the area but comes with lots of experience with helping women escape domestic violence and providing support.
“I’ve worked for many years with various organizations in this field before accepting this position with Aurora House,” said Aurora House Executive Director Jean Clearwater. “I started this position on October 1, and it was also my first introduction to The Pas. I moved from Teulon to The Pas for this position. The people here have been wonderfully welcoming and very friendly.”
Clearwater is all too familiar with the challenges that women facing domestic violence have when living in rural or northern areas. There just aren’t the resources that there are in the urban centres.

Once Christmas and New Year’s pass, the community will only get a brief pause before they start up for the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival (NMTF). This year’s Fur Queen Competition has more candidates running than it has seen in a while.
“There are eight Fur Queen candidates this year, which is more than last year,” said NMTF Fur Queen Director Krista Tooley. “It is also more than we've had in a few years, which is exciting!

The Opaskwayak Cree Nation Chief and Council have ordered a semi-lockdown of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation effective as of November 30, 2024, directly due to the recent increase in criminal activity we have been experiencing.
The Opaskwayak Cree Nation has been dealing with the escalation of gang violence, drugs, assaults, suicides and high-speed chases for quite some time. Crime is extending to all corners of our community and surrounding areas and escalating to outside of our jurisdiction. Statistical data has shown that some numbers have stabilized but also become more serious and violent in nature.

A local service club celebrated a milestone recently and has developed quite a history in the area.
“The Bowsman Lions Club started on December 7, 1984, and our 40th Anniversary celebration was held exactly 40 years to the date,” said Bowsman Lions Keith Behrmann. “The Swan River Lions Club sponsored us. Lion members Wayne McGimpsey and Garry Mills were instrumental in making this club happen. I believe there needed to be a minimum of 22 people signed up to form a Lions Club in the community. They approached members of the community to form the Bowsman Lions Club.
Behrmann was not a part of the original formation of the Bowsman Lions Club, but he transitioned to the club once another Lions Club in the area had folded.
“I was not a chartered member of the Bowsman Lions Club at that time,” said Behrmann. “First, I wound up being a member of the Birch River Lions Club, which was sponsored by the Bowsman Lions Club. Because of rural depopulation, the Birch River Lions Club folded. At the time, I was away working and when I came back, I was approached by Bowsman Lions member Ken Sutherland to join their club, and so I did.
“I don’t believe you can live in a community and not contribute. I’ve always been active in the community and still am to this day.”
The Bowsman Lions are deeply rooted in the history of the community. A major event that happened in the community, which put the town on the map, also became the inspiration for their logo.
“There is a lot of history for the Bowsman Lions,” said Behrmann. “When you take a look at our logo, it’s based on an event that happened in January of 1967. All the biffys in Bowsman were gathered up and burned because a water and septic system was installed in the community. It even wound up on CBC, so we fashioned our logo after that. Lion member Tyson Boychuk was part of creating the design.”
The Bowsman Biffy Burning made headlines across Canada and some news stations in the U.S. On New Year’s Eve in 1966, a crowd gathered near the new water and sewage treatment plant to watch the burning of approximately 26 biffys in the community.
The Bowsman Lions Club has been active in fundraising, both independently and as a joint effort with the other Lions Clubs in the Valley.
“One of the bigger events was the Bull-a-rama and the catalyst behind it was Lions member Outhwaite,” said Behrmann. “Over the years, that event sort of played itself out and it ran its course. Most of the money raised from that specific event over the years went to medical purposes for purchasing equipment to stay locally. We purchased equipment for eye surgery, maternity equipment and beds.
“We partnered with the golf course and split the proceeds 50/50 and did that a couple of times. Some of the money raised went to the Bowsman Daycare Centre. When the Ukraine-Russia War broke out, the Bowsman Lions put on a Ukrainian supper at the Veterans’ Hall. We were able to raise and contribute $18,000 to the relief fund.
“Last year, we put on another fundraising dinner and raised $16,500 that went towards the new CT Scanner in the community,” said Behrmann. “In 2025, it will be the actual 25th Anniversary of the Billy Beal event that raises funds for medical assistance. This year, we’ve contributed over $18,000 towards Valley residents through each Lions Club in the Valley. Everyone pitches in to make this happen.
“If it weren’t for the Lions Clubs in the Valley, we wouldn’t have cataract surgeries available in Swan River. We also banded together for Kids Sight, which is a handheld machine that goes into the classrooms and can tell if children need glasses or not. Every year, they go in and test this, and about 20 percent of children tested every year need glasses. This early recognition allows them to get a referral to an optometrist to get glasses.
“Other things we do to raise funds are recycling batteries, hosting pancake breakfasts and barbeques,” said Behrmann. “The Journey For Sight has been another big event we raise funds for and we have two members dedicated to that event. There are other things that our club has been in the background doing. It’s a matter of community service and if there Is a need there, we band together to help. There have been some instances where a traumatic event has happened to a family in the Valley and we’ve helped them in any way we could. The Valley community has always stepped up to fill in a need.
“It’s all part of the Lions mantra ‘We Serve’. It requires community-minded people who want to do community-minded things. There are just under 1.3 million Lions members in the world in over 180 countries and all started from the mindset of one individual, Melvin Jones, back in 1917, and has grown into what it is today.”
The Bowsman Lions are still looking to recruit members to keep the club going for more years to come.
“We need some younger members to join,” said Behrmann. “We did have a membership drive last year and had a few new members sign up.”
The 40th Anniversary celebration for the Bowsman Lions had some dignitaries come out for the event and welcomed some new members as well.
“The event was held on December 7 at the Bowsman Legion with a catered supper,” said Behrmann. “We had the District Governor in attendance and two members from Minnesota that were in attendance. We dedicated the evening to former Lions member Mel Brelinski who passed away.
“Lions members Corinna Medwid and Darcy Parsons were inducted as Lions members at the anniversary celebration.

The North West Regional Library, Swan River Branch welcomed Mrs. Claus to their building this past weekend, Dec. 7, reading books with all the children that came to visit. Grayson Moshenko (left), Jesse (centre) and Jackson Rooks (right) all stand with Mrs. Claus for a photo.