The Swan River Valley Agricultural Society’s grandstands are getting an overdue facelift. Workers began the process of repainting the Swan River landmark last week. 

Roblin Forest Products, one of Manitoba’s oldest forest products companies founded in 1958, has started the week off under new ownership.

RFP has been acquired by Bell Lumber and Pole, a company with an extensive history in the industry that goes back over a hundred years and several generations.

Read the rest of the story in this week’s Review.

One Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute (MBCI) student travelled out of province to compete in this year’s National Skills Competition. Namirembe Afatsawo placed at the provincial level this year, which earned her a spot to compete nationally.
“The National Skills Competition took place from May 30 and 31,” said Afatsawo. “I travelled to Quebec City for the competition, thanks to The Pas Legion, Monette Farms, The Pas Legion Ladies Auxiliary and The Pas Rotary Club as supporters.”

The Sam Waller Museum has lined up a Home Routes concert that will bring an evening of songs and stories that celebrate the history of Indigenous people in Manitoba. Musicians Ted Longbottom, Ryan D’Aoust and Daniel Koulack will be performing on Sunday, June 16.
For musician Daniel Koulack, his love of music drew him in as a child and he continued on with it into his adult years.
“As a little kid, when I got to see and hear people playing music in person especially at home or at a party it was like magic to me,” said Koulack. “I started playing violin lessons when I was seven years old.

University College of the North (UCN) had the vision to have a work of art embodying the Seven Sacred Teachings on the grounds of their campuses. The sculpture will serve as a place for people to gather.
“UCN worked with architect Ted Maciurzynski to create the sculpture,” said UCN Communications and Events Coordinator Jackie Rechenmacher. “The sculptures focus on creating culturally appropriate gathering spaces at the two main campuses in The Pas and Thompson.
“Each sculpture features the importance of the Seven Sacred Teachings: Wisdom, Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Humility and Truth that guide UCN’s vision of building better futures for a stronger north. The sculpture is the focus of the gathering space, featuring seven pieces of varying sizes of stainless steel that curve inward at the top.

An Ethelbert man is in custody in connection with a recent arson in that community.
In the early morning hours of June 1, Dauphin RCMP responded to a report of an arson at a residence located on Railway Avenue in Ethelbert.
An occupant of the residence reported hearing noises outside her window and when she looked outside, observed a fire on the outside corner of her home. She observed a male suspect running away from the scene.
The woman, along with her three children, exited the home without injury.
The local fire department, attended the scene and extinguished the fire. Minor damage was reported.
Officers made patrols in the area failed to locate the suspect. A description of the suspect was provided which allowed officers to identify the man.
Later that day, police went to a property, located north of Ethelbert, and arrested a 54-year-old man for arson.
Upon his arrest, officers located three knives and a hatchet in his possession.
Marc Andre Dorais, of Ethelbert, has been charged with arson with disregard for human life, criminal harassment, mischief, possess ion of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and three counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
He was remanded into custody for a court appearance in Brandon.
Murder update
Police have officially charged a suspect in connection with a double homicide in Minegoziibe Anishinabe, June 2.
Oryan Flamand, 19, a community resident, is facing two charges of second degree murder related to the shooting deaths of a 34-year-old man and a 52 -year-old woman. He remains in custody.
The investigation continues.

Assiniboine Community College (ACC) Parkland Campus held its graduation ceremony, Friday at Credit Union Place, to celebrate the 66 graduates comprising the Class of 2024.
Following opening remarks from Parkland Campus director Carol Stewart and greetings from ACC president Mark Frison, graduate Joana Ribagorda gave the Valedictorian speech.
After thanking the Valedictorian Selection Committee for giving her the opportunity, Ribagorda had her fellow graduates give themselves a pat on the back for making it this far and encouraged them to congratulate those sitting beside them, as well.
Ribagorda then had the graduates face their family and friends in attendance to thank them and encouraged the graduates to give themselves a round of applause.
Ribagorda began her speech noting that everyone has a favourite children’s book, one of hers being Oh! The Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss.
“Allow me to convey to you how the small tales we hear contribute to the beauty we witness and encounter both on and off campus. They enable us the opportunity to learn from someone else, which gives us the power to alter, reinforce, or question our preconceived notions and ideals,” she said.
In the hopes that her fellow graduates may remember the little stories they came across during their own journey, Ribagorda then shared a couple of stories that shaped her ACC experience.
“In 2022, when COVID was still around the corner, my brother asked me if I was willing to pursue the social service worker program here in Dauphin. I have seen some friends and loved ones pass away. Scared that I may not see him again if COVID continues, I agreed. He is also a graduating today, by the way,” she said, adding she then moved from the Philippines to Dauphin to be closer to her brother and his family.
Ribagorda noted their aunt, one of their primary role models, was a former social worker in the Philippines and she decided to follow in her aunt’s footsteps by becoming a social worker and make a difference in other people’s lives.
“But at the back of my mind, being an international student, a newbie in Canada, I wondered if I would survive the fear and challenges of culture shock, extreme weather conditions, academic pressure, financial burden and social isolation,” she said.
“But the good news is that to date, this Filipina has lived in Dauphin for 639 days.”
Most of the time, Ribagorda continued, we connect faith with a rigid religious conviction, but we also frequently forget that having faith also means having total confidence and trust in both oneself and other people.
“Even though we frequently fail to see our own potential, we eventually have the confidence to accept our abilities, because someone else has placed their trust in us. It might be our parents who worked extremely hard to get us into one of the top Canadian colleges, which we now call our alma mater, or it might be our spouses, partners, friends, classmates or other students who supported us at every turn,” she said.
“It could be our instructors, mentors or administrators who took the time to know our stories and shared their own. To everyone who poured their faith on us, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”
The second tale, Ribagorda said, centered on a devoted wife, a mother of three, a fantastic chef, and an exceptional student.
“Her name is Blessing. When someone needed a place to stay, she never hesitated to offer her place. I knew because my fellow worker was the one who found shelter. I was able to comprehend the true meaning of ACC leadership through this story: selfless servants who willingly help,” she said.
“Serving others comes more from a sense of obligation than from self-interest. Since strangers are also individuals in need of our help, we go above and beyond to help them. Fellow graduates, as we leave this college, let us keep this principle close to our hearts.
“I still remember this statement from a chat I once had with Elder Bev at the student lounge. She said that like a soft wind, kindness has the capacity to cheer us up, heal our hearts and shine light into the dark corners of our existence. Therefore, let us build compassionate structures, put understanding bridges in place, and plant seeds of love. We transform ordinary situations into remarkable memories by these small gestures, making us become alchemists.”
These brief tales, which Ribagorda said originally made up a small portion of her college experience, nevertheless perfectly captured the essence of her academic journey - one of faith, service and kindness.
“I want you to reflect on and value the various stories you have heard and the influence they have had, and will continue to have, on your life today. It could be a straight forward account of a lunch date or an after-class get-together, or it could be about the A+ you and your project partners achieved after many sleepless nights. These stories, for whatever reason, have shaped who we are now,” she said.
“Look around you. There are faces we recognize and faces we don’t, but one tale unites us all and forges an unbreakable bond between us as people today. This is the story of how we reached a goal for which we have worked incredibly hard. After reaching this goal, our stories of achievement, failure, uncertainty, and hope will never be the same.
“My fellow graduates, let us carry with us and share the stories of our college experiences wherever we go. Let us keep crafting, daring and brave stories that showcase the finest versions of ourselves - not for our own fame and benefit, but rather to uplift and influence people around us. Stories that portray life in the only manner we know how to best educate minds, touch hearts and change lives can help us all contribute to creating a better society.”
Ribagorda closed with an excerpt from Dr. Seuss’ Oh! The Places You'll Go. 
Congratulations! 
Today is your day. 
You're off to Great Places! 
You’re off and away! 
You’ll be on your way up! 
You’ll be seeing great sights! 
You’ll join the high fliers 
Who soar to high heights. 
Kid, you’ll move mountains! 
So . . . get on your way!
Here is the Class of 2024.
Adult Learning and Upgrading Programs
Mature Student High School - Delaney Brunelle, Tammy Chief, Davin Heroux, Alex Lavallee, Darcy Malcolm, Deyja-Bree Manoakeesick, *Dana Mingo, *Ceejay Oakley, *Courtney Seitter, Jacob Vermeylen and Richard Yarema.
STRIVE Succeeding in the Work World - Document of Achievement - Jouel Brazeau, Shanye Delorme, Skye Delorme, Brody Ferland-Ironstand, Darrell Gaouette, Damian Gaouette, Napolean Johnston, Murray Pashe, Caity Richard, Martha Richard, Megan Stilborn, Lacey Stilborn, Patrick Sutton and Brittany Swan.
Peters School of Business
Business Administration: Accounting Diploma - Samantha Horvat, *Stevie Kay, Sebastian Keewatin and *Paul Rehaluk.
Business Administration: Human Resource Management Diploma - Judy Levasseur, Jacelynn McDonald and Dustin McKay.
Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment
Horticultural Production Certificate - *Natalie Gabriel, *Jacqueline Hanke, Audrey Klyne, Madison Mazier, Willow Menard and *Lukas Serafin.
School of Health and Human Services
Early Childhood Education Diploma - *Charlene Campbell, *Sabrina Conrad, Alyssa Corbel, *Champagnee Delaronde, Skye Haluka, *Kristyn McNarland and *Adele Oshawee.
Social Service Worker Diploma - *Kesha Chartrand, *Blessing Chukwunonso, *Jennifer Coombs, *Taylor Gaudry, *Tatayana Genaille, *Stephanie Kropelnicki, *Joana Ribagorda and *MacKenzie Szymesko.
School of Nursing
Comprehensive Health Care Aide Certificate - *Kyra Campbell, *Ethan Dumas, *Sophie Kaminski, *Katie Kothlow, *Savannah Kovach, *Zoe Lewandoski, *Kaylee Robinson and *Whitney Wray.
Comprehensive Health Care Aide Challenge Certificate - Jojit Lusung.
School of Trades
Heavy Equipment Operation Certificate of Achievement - Jakob Dewarle, Joshua McKay, Carter Sahulka and Sage Thompson-Roulette.
* Graduating with distinction/honours.
Kristyn McNarland received the Governor General’s Academic Medal, which is awarded for overall academic excellence to the student who achieves the highest overall average upon graduation from a diploma-level, post-secondary program.
Blessing Chukwunonso received the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal Award. Students awarded this medal are nominated by any combination of three staff and students and are selected based on academic and technical ability, participation in college or community activities, as well as having good character and personality.
Sebastian Keewatin, Judy Levasseur, McNarland, Audrey Klyne, Deyja-Bree Manoakeesick and Taylor Gaudry were all awarded the One to Watch Graduation Award.

A special day is planned to honour and remember those involved in a tragic bus crash near Carberry on the first anniversary of the accident, which left 17 people dead and eight others with significant injuries.
The event at CN Park is also being organized to unveil a memory bench provided by an anonymous donor dedicated to those killed in the accident and a monument which includes the names of all of the passengers and tells the story of that day.
“We’re going to have representation from the Province, the City, the RM of Dauphin and Ministerial Association. Then we’re going to have a tribute to the passengers and the first responders. Some of the first responders (involved in the aftermath of the crash) are coming. We have a lot coming and we’re going to honour them and then the unveiling of the monument,” said Theresa Rausch, whose mother Cathy Day died in hospital about a month after the accident.
Rausch was joined by Darlene Prytula, Lavonne Tyschinski, Patrick Furkalo and Dave Showdra - all of whom lost family members in the accident - in planning for the monument and the ceremony.
“We kind of started this, you started reaching out to each other. We got together and that’s our counseling sessions. We get together . . it was once a month, but now it’s once a week,” Rausch said.
“It’s so they’re not forgotten, to honour them.”
The monument was made possible through a grant from the province, funds raised by the Dauphin and District Community Foundation’s Support Our Seniors Fund, which was set up after the crash, contributions from the City and RM and the Dauphin Firefighters Association, as well as other donations from individuals and local businesses.
The monument was designed and manufactured by Repro Map in Dauphin, in consultation with the families of the victims, Rausch said.
The ceremony in CN Park gets underway at 2 p.m. sharp and will be followed by a tea at the Dauphin Active Living Centre, which will also offer a viewing opportunity of the event made possible by a live stream provided by Pathways Funeral Services.
The collision happened when the bus carrying Dauphin area residents to a casino near Carberry for the day was hit by a semi at the intersection of Highway 5 and the Trans-Canada Highway.
Dashcam footage reviewed by police shows the semi had the right-of-way and information was sent to the Manitoba Prosecution Service earlier this year to determine if charges should be laid.
The accident also prompted a review of the intersection by the Manitoba government, which later earmarked $12 million to upgrade the infrastructure.
A report released in January provided three potential options on how the intersection could be improved. Construction is expected to be complete in late 2026.

Users at Dauphin Recreation Services will have noticed some damage done to the facilities at the Parkland Recreation Complex.
According to DRS general manager Ryan Vanderheyden, there had been a small leak over time.
“And so we were getting our roof done. And unfortunately things happened. The company that was working on there, some of the gravel clogged up the drain,” he said.
So when the area was hit by heavy snowfall and rain a couple of weeks ago, the water could not drain off the roof.
“So we were in the process of getting that fixed and then kind of a fluke accident that happens. We should be able to get everything covered through insurance and it will be a lot of work,” Vanderheyden said.
“It will benefit us to have everything fixed right.”
At this point, there is no number value to place on the damage as it is still being examined. But Vanderheyden said a lot of things got ripped out.
“If you are in the rec. center, you’ll see that anyway in the hallway from the curlers lounge to the Aspen Kitchen had damage to it. And even some of that damage, the water was flowing so much into the rec. center that there’s stuff in our first floor that got damaged, as well.”
As for how long it will take to fix, Vanderheyden said that is a guessing game with some of the materials that may need to be ordered in.
“But with some of the other parts of the reno, just being drywall and paint, that should go relatively quick. But there would be some stuff like carpet that might be a special order,” he said.
“So we’re guessing anywhere from two months to three months.”
None of the schedules at the Kin Aquatic Centre have been interrupted by the damage.
“We’re going to have our renovations done as quickly as possible. The contractor is working hard. We look forward to getting back to normal and getting that all fixed right,” Vanderheyden said.

Manitoba country rocker Ryan Keown has passed on his love of music and singing to his eldest son, Austin Ryder, who is now coming into his own in the country music industry. Ryder fostered a love of music at an early age, which resulted in him singing on stage and taking guitar lessons.
“I would say I’ve always been in love with music,” said Ryder. “I grew up with having music played in the house all the time, and being an extroverted person, I was always singing and making noise, which drove my family crazy at times.
“I started as a young little boy in about grade 4, as a special guest with dad’s shows where I would come up and sing a song with the band. It was always the song, Wagon Wheel, which is a crowd favourite. It wasn’t long after that I wanted to take guitar lessons, so I went to Stan Ostafie and he taught me how to play. Then in grade 8, that grew into me opening up for my dad’s shows and performing the first set of the night with his full band.
“It grew from there and I got the singing bug,” said Ryder. “I started learning some songs on my own and practicing to play alongside my dad in the band.”
For Ryder, watching his dad perform with his band was a normal way of life and an excellent way to spend time together as a family. It also instilled in him the dedication needed to foster talent and passion, and all the hard work needed to make it a reality.
“Growing up, I didn’t know anything different when it came to living the life of a musician,” said Ryder. “When I was in school, it was normal to know that on weekends, we would be travelling to wherever my dad was headlining or a concert. It was something all of us grew up with and it was fun, exciting and provided with some good stories to tell afterwards.
“I normalized following my passion and dreams from an early age as a result of that. My dad showed us that if we wanted to do something, we could absolutely make our dreams a reality and chase them. He was very encouraging in that.
“My dad was more of a role model and supported me when it came to music,” said Ryder. “He didn’t want to take on the direct role of pushing me into music. He wanted it to be a passion of my own, so I took music lessons from Stan and I kind of grew from there. He provided me with some opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to get on my own, but he wanted to be careful to ensure it was something I wanted to do.”
Ryder has experienced what it’s like to perform with a band on stage. It’s a different experience to performing solo and he feels like a band is your team that gets you through every aspect of performing on stage.
“I think that my start with performing with a full band happened before I started taking lessons of my own, that having the band there was a comfort and support system,” said Ryder. “I knew that the band had my back and if anything went wrong, they knew what to do and how to help me. That was empowering to have a full band. It’s awesome to have it all come together because you work so hard learning these songs on your own, and then being able to play them with a band to make music is a great experience.
“I have been fortunate to play with a couple of different bands in Calgary, even though I’m most familiar with our band back home, but the ones out here really know their stuff and they’re there to help. You can’t make a mistake with them, because they will follow you and help you out. It’s good to know that if it doesn’t go perfectly, no one will know because the band is there to back you up.”
When it comes to listening to music and performing artists, Ryder has his favourites in the country music industry.
“Vocally, I think Chris Stapleton is hands down the best in the business,” said Ryder. “He’s in a league of his own and to say one inspires to be like him is a bit of a longshot, but he is incredible. Stage presence-wise, I really look up to Cody Johnson. I recently saw him in concert in Calgary and he’s such a true classic cowboy. He is super humble, kind and classy on stage. He’s absolutely an entertainer.”
Ryder has been busy since he graduated from high school in Roblin and has been studying at university while making music. He has gained a lot of exposure and experience on stage performing in Calgary for different events and venues.
“I will be starting my fourth year of biochemistry in Calgary and will be graduating next spring,” said Ryder.
“Aside from my studies, I’ve been playing at local venues in the city. I’ve played at Ranchman’s numerous times and recently at Calgary’s International Beerfest. I do get a lot of opportunities to practice quite a bit. In my free time, so on Friday nights, you can catch me at the Ronald McDonald House playing music and singing to the families and children staying there for medical reasons. They are an audience that I get to practice for every week, which also helps me prepare for the bigger shows in Calgary. It’s a good balance, otherwise, I would find myself heavily involved in my schoolwork without any opportunity to keep up with my music.
“Calgary is called Canada’s Greatest Honky-Tonk, so knowing that and walking into Ranchman’s is intimidating but special at the same time,” said Ryder. “It was a great opportunity because there’s an atmosphere in there and the vibe from the stage, dance floor and employees are country to the core. It’s special to me because knowing the musicians who have played that stage before me and now, I’m getting to take part in that is all so surreal. It draws a different crowd than what I’m used to back home.”
Along with performing on stage, Ryder is now embarking on songwriting and recording. He will be releasing his first single very soon.
“I’m doing a little bit of writing now,” said Ryder. “My new single, Spin, that is coming out is one I didn’t write but was pitched to me out of Nashville. After listening to a couple hundred songs, when I heard this one, I knew I could make it my own. I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to put my own spin on it and recorded it a couple of months ago.
“This single is all my own. I started meeting my producer, Bart McKay from Saskatoon, to get a feel for where we wanted the song to go. We put some inspirations that we want to include in the song and how we could modify it, versus the placement of things.
“Then it was a two-day studio session. On the first day, we laid down the tracks and recorded every part that fit the vision we had for the song. Then the second day, was the vocals, which was a half-day process of me singing the same song on repeat, with some changes in inflections and articulation of my words. Then we dove into the individual sections of the song to get the most out of it.
“I’m pleased with the way it has all come together and Spin should be out in the very near future,” said Ryder.”
Summer is going to prove to be a busy one for Ryder and he has a schedule packed with gigs and performances all over, from Manitoba and back into Alberta.
“We’ve got a busy summer coming up,” said Ryder. “Fortunately, I’ve had lots of opportunities here in Calgary, but I look forward to going back home. We have a long list of summer performances back home playing festivals, such as Dauphin Countryfest, as well as some rodeos and festivals. Then we will travel back to Calgary for the Stampede. Dad will get to take the stage with me at the Calgary Stampede, so this is the first gig that I’ve booked for him.”