At about 6:30 pm on Tuesday April 21st, Scott Gregor, the CFO of Riding Mountain West was checking out the water flowing under the municipal road off of Hwy 83 to the entrance to the Asessippi Beach & Campground.
“I had driven down the road over the Bear Creek around 6:15 p.m, and the water was really flowing down the road and over the culvert,” Karen Goraluk said.
“Scott who works for the RM was there watching and I guess he heard a noise and ran to back his vehicle and backed it up and he was still able to get a video of the culvert letting loose and going down Bear Creek before it ended up in the Shell River where it is now.”
A few days prior, the RM, she said, had been keeping an eye on that portion of road.
“They had their back hoe there and sat there for a few hours one evening keeping the culvert clear so that the water was flowing west,” Goraluk said.
Bear Creek, Karen explained, comes all the way from the Riding Mountain National Park and winds its way down and goes through the culvert right beside Asessippi Beach & Campground and ends up in the Shell River and then into Lake of the Prairies.
“If you go to the Inglis school and head north down the provincial road just north of the school, Bear Creek has two big culverts there.”
“And all that water comes down from there plus all the runoff along the creek and it all passes past the campground.”
Although nothing of this magnitude has happened since the Goraluk family took ownership of the Asessippi Beach & Campground in 2008, Karen said she knows that a washout like this has happened in the past when the washrooms and a septic tank were demolished by the waters of Bear Creek a number of years ago.
Goraluk said she’s spoken to the RM of Riding Mountain West who have assured her that a new culvert is already on order and are hopeful they’ll receive it in time for their May long weekend opening at the campground.
In speaking to Glenda Lemcke, the CAO of the RM of Riding Mountain West, came assurances that the culvert is indeed on order and is expected to arrive within two weeks.
If for some reason, the culvert does not arrive within that time frame, the RM will come up with a plan to ensure that road will be open.
Intrigued? Pick up a copy of Russell Banner at our office or one of our fine newspaper dealers and turn to pages 1 & 2. 

BY: JENNIFER LAVIOLETTE

A new youth sports team has been established in Roblin, giving youth a chance to play basketball. The Roblin Raptors is a club basketball team started by head coach Ryan Wiesner. Assistant coaches are Danny Andres and Brandin Beasley, and the team managers are Rita Collins and Tara Martin. This team started as a result of some strong interest coming from the elementary school.
“Rita Collins was coaching the boys’ elementary school team and I was helping out a bit, while also coaching the guys at GLH,” said Roblin Raptors Head Coach Ryan Wiesner. “There seemed to be some keen players at the elementary. I also knew a few homeschooled boys who were excited to play basketball on a club team, so I put out some feelers to see what the interest would be and to my surprise, 11 guys signed up.
“We are a 14U team, whereas it’s more common to have a 15U team, so we’re playing against older competition a bit this year. There are 15U programs in Yorkton and Dauphin, as well as larger centres like Brandon, Winnipeg, Regina, etc. Sometimes other surrounding communities have programs too, but none were able to do that this season.”
The Roblin Raptors just started their first season earlier this month made their first appearance this past weekend at a tournament in Dauphin.
“Our first practice was April 6, 2026, and we’ve had two a week since then,” said Wiesner. “The boys are improving so much.
“Our first tournament was in Dauphin this past weekend, on April 18 to 19, 2026, and due to this being our first season and playing older competition, it was a true growing experience. The boys showed a ton of grit and determination and by the fourth game, they played very well.
“We all were extremely proud of their effort and were able to see them put up 43 points, and their defence improved a lot too,” said Wiesner.
There is an opportunity for a home audience to cheer on and support this new local youth basketball team next month, when they host their first tournament.
“The club basketball season is relatively short compared to other sports,” said Wiesner. “It only goes from April until the beginning of June.
“We have a home tournament planned for May 10, 2026, and we’re also going to the Club Basketball Manitoba Championships from May 22 to 24, 2026. There is also the possibility of some exhibition games coming up too. The whole point of the program is to help the players have fun and to grow and develop their skills as basketball players.
“Come on out and cheer us on May 10 at the Goose Lake High Gymnasium,” said Wiesner. “The first game is at 2 p.m. and the last one at 6:30 p.m.”

The Municipality of Roblin held its Financial Plan Hearing on April 20, 2026, with head of council Robert Misko facilitating the presentation. The municipality’s revenue for the 2026 fiscal year is estimated at $10,504,422.42. The breakdown in that revenue is as follows: $6,310,156.79 in municipal taxes and grant-in-lieu; $4,852,245 in school requisition; $1,366,952.23 transfer from accumulated surplus, and $2,827,313.40 in other revenue.
On the municipal expenses side, the municipality’s 2026 budget has allocated $925,610 for general government, $856,225 for protective services, $3,120,400 for transportation, $607,795 for environmental health, $77,600 for public health and welfare, $101,700 for environmental development, $142,400 for economic development, $883,870 for recreation and culture, $1,988,804.56 for fiscal expenses, $526,316.10 in debenture payments, $594,322.22 in Ag Tax Credits and $448.54 allowance for tax assets.
Last year, the municipality budgeted $862,840 for general government services and the actual amount spent was $789,307.50. This year has been budgeted for $925,610 and next year’s budgeted amount is forecasted to be $930,250. Some of this year’s notable expenses for general government services consist of $20,000 in Asset Retirement Obligations and $12,000 for new iPads or laptops for new council members. It also factors in staff wage increases and the cost of the upcoming municipal election in October of this year.
For the protective services portion of expenses, last year it was budgeted at $858,055 and came in at $823,016.87. This year has been budgeted for $856,255 and $873,300 for next year. Policing and fire department costs have increased slightly, so council considered that when budgeting.

Read the whole report in this week's Roblin Review on page 6.

If you are not sure which roads are flooded, washed out, impassable and closed, residents are encouraged to check the Municipality of Roblin website www.roblin.ca for current and active road closures.
The website will be maintained and kept up-to-date according to a post on the MOR Facebook page.
The Municipality may close or reopen roads at any time to ensure public safety and to protect municipal infrastructure.
Drivers are asked to respect all road closures, as travel on closed roads can create unsafe conditions and cause damage to both, vehicles and the roadway.

The Roblin Dance Club held two separate year- end dance recitals at Roblin Elementary School this past weekend.
The “Suzir’ja” recital on Saturday evening and their annual Spring Recital on Sunday afternoon.
At the “Suzir’ja” recital, the audience enjoyed Ukrainian dance performances taught by Dariya Senderewich. This year’s dance assistants were Sadie Andres and Reese Stephanow.
At the Spring Recital, spectators were treated to a variety of dance styles, including hip hop, jazz, tap, musical theatre, and ballet, taught by Bobbi Stroud, Kristyn Eftoda, Renay Mysko, Myla Keeler and Maya Wilson.
Don’t miss next week’s Review for more pictures.

With more than 130 vendors and large crowds throughout the weekend, the Dauphin’s Countryfest Business Expo was a great success.

Business Expo chair Natalie Haslund, who also serves as beverage services chair for Countryfest, was pleased with the number of vendors for this year’s event.

“There was probably an extra 20 to 30 vendors added on. Tons more crafters, crafter-plus. The attendance has been phenomenal. Our 50-50 is double from what it was last year. It’s just been a great turnout, so I’m really happy with that,” she said.

While there were plans to add more crafters to the expo, Haslund said the request from local crafters to attended was already there.

“We took it over last year from the Kinsmen and we weren’t sure what to expect. We took it over in January and only had four months,” she said.

“This year we had a year to plan for it. So there was just better planning, I think more awareness about the expo. And we were able to advertise a little bit more, as well. So we knew what to expect or what we could offer everybody.”

Last week’s snow storm kept some out-of-town vendors from the expo.

“It was just the snowfall. The only reason why some a few vendors did not show up, they were snowbound or they just couldn’t get out in time,” Haslund said, adding organizers extended the set-up time to Saturday morning to allow for that after the storm hit.

Changes were also made to accommodate the entertainment lineup, which included Bluey, Taylor Swifter and Princess Bell.

“But overall, the turnout was really good,” Haslund said.

“This year was a great success and we look forward to doing next year and seeing how we can do more.”

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet visited the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School on Thursday (April 16), with students from the company presenting an excerpt of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, as well as other internationally-inspired cultural dances.

A Tundra Swan was captured visiting a pond area in the Little Woody District.

Northwest Missouri State University junior Clara Peake became the eighth different Bearcat in the history of the program to capture first-place honors as she gained medalist honors at the 2026 Spring Regional Preview held at Shangri La Country Club.
Peake fired a final round three-under par 69 to win the event by three shots. Peake was dialed in for her final round as she netted seven birdies. She began her round on the fourth hole and secure dbirdies at No. 5, No. 8, No. 9, No. 10, No. 14, No. 1 and No. 3. Peake shot a final round 69, which gave her a 54-hole total of 211 (-5).
Peake led the field with 17 birdies.
It is the 20th time a Bearcat golfer has finished first in an NCAA Div. II women's golf tournament. It is Peake's third career top-three finish and fifth top-10 finish.

Asessippi Ski Area & Resort wrapped up its 2025–2026 winter season with a weekend full of energy, creativity, and community, highlighted by the return of its Annual Slush Cup and the debut of a brand-new Easter event.
On Saturday, April 4, Asessippi hosted its Annual Slush Cup, drawing a large crowd of spectators and 36 participants ready to take on the challenge. This year’s event featured a pond skim format, where riders attempted to glide across a chilly water feature.
While many competitors made a splash, one participant successfully skimmed across the pond, earning bragging rights (and a prize) for the triumph. The event also saw a wide range of costumes and strong spectator turnout, creating a active and entertaining atmosphere on the hill.
The following day, Sunday, April 5, Asessippi introduced its first-ever Asessippi Eggstravaganza, a family-focused Easter event that brought guests together across the resort. Activities included a resort-wide outdoor egg hunt, an indoor kids hunt, and a bunny counting challenge.
“It was great to see kids so excited and lined up for first chair to start the outdoor hunt,” said Baily, Marketing Manager at Asessippi. “The response was incredibly positive, and we’re already planning to bring it back for Easter weekend next season.”
Leading into the final weekend, Asessippi also saw strong attendance during Manitoba Spring Break, supported by targeted promotions and family-focused offers that brought visitors to the hill during one of the busiest times of the season.
Overall, Asessippi reports a successful season, marked by strong guest engagement, well-attended events, and continued growth in its programming.
Looking ahead, the resort plans to bring back its signature events while continuing to expand its event lineup and guest experiences for the 2026–2027 season.