The City of Dauphin will see its lagoon system finally get upgraded and expanded.

The federal and provincial governments announced more than $34.4 million in funding for 10 wastewater and waste management projects in Manitoba, including $9.1 million for the Dauphin project.

Work will include constructing and upgrading a lagoon reactor system, building a new sewage treatment facility, and installing new pipes and will result in increased capacity to treat and manage wastewater and to accommodate population growth.

The announcement was made Monday by Manitoba Labour, Consumer Protection and Government Services Minister Reg Helwer.

The City’s Director of Public Works and Operations Mike VanAlstyne, said the upgrades will allow the city to continue their current operations and improve the quality of the effluent released into Vermillion River once it has been treated.

“The improvements will also allow for a sustained population growth and industrial growth,” he added. “It’s going to be good. It’s going to improve our environmental outputs to the world and to the surrounding areas and lakes and wetlands. By reducing nitrogen and phosphorus levels, you’ll have cleaner waterways that meet environmental conditions.”

Design work is expected to begin this winter, with construction expected to begin in 2024 or 2025.

“It’s a large project that takes some detailed work. We’ll work with the province and the federal government, because the water quality regulations fall with them now. So they’ve output limits to what the water quality should be, so we have to work to meet those.”

After many years of trying to get this project off the ground, Dauphin mayor Christian Laughland said the announcement is huge for the community when to comes to expansion.

“And just overall facility operations, too. It’s really good to see,” he said. “It means a lot just from the expansion side, especially with the fact that the highway on the south side is being updated now, as well. I’m really looking forward to the next, really, five to 10 years in Dauphin. I think it’s going to be a really exciting time to be really open for business and have a lot of different companies, private and public, come to the community and, hopefully, operate out of here.”

Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski said the federal and provincial governments working together with municipal government was a key to the project coming to fruition.

“The timing is good. We need this type of infrastructure investment for the growth and development of the community and it’s just fantastic that we’re getting this commitment,” he said.

Businesses, Michaleski said, are looking for regions and communities that are developing their infrastructure to attract business.

“It’s a very positive signal from Dauphin to the business world, to the investment world that we’re getting out in front of this, that we’re making the structural investments needed,” he said. “It’s great that the province and federal government are both onside with this.”

After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival (CNUF) made a triumphant return over the weekend with three fun-filled days full of Ukrainian culture and heritage.

CNUF president Kayla Gillis felt this year’s festival was fantastic, thanks in part to more people attending than expected.

“I would say that we had about 7,500 through the gates, which was phenomenal,” she said.

Gillis feels the festival’s success year-after-year can be attributed to the patrons who keep coming back.

“Bringing in that high caliber entertainment. Bringing in local entertainment, as well. But I really have to say it’s our patrons and our sponsors that really keep the festival going. So I hope they continue,” she said.

Gillis was at a loss to explain what made this year such a success, suggesting the lack of a live event the last two years had people eager to celebrate its return.

“I think it was just getting together and just having that enjoyment. Coming together as a community, coming together as a festival family again,” she said. “I know with recent events that happened in Ukraine, too, I know a lot of people have been coming just to show their support to our culture.”

Some of the Ukrainian families who relocated to the Parkland because of the war in Ukraine were in attendance and even stepped up to volunteer at the gates and in Baba’s Kitchen.

“It was really nice to see,” Gillis said.

Saturday’s Zabava was cut short because of rain, but it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of everyone in attendance. Gillis was appreciative of the support of the many people who volunteered during the festival. Of the 210 people who volunteered at the festival, Gillis noted an organization came from Brandon, as well as some from Saskatchewan.

“A lot of the service groups in town helped us out. So it was really nice to see that everybody came to help and support us,” she said.

But the plan for next year is to being in something new every year.

“Which brings in new attractions, which brings in new people that haven’t been here before,” Gillis said.

The war in Ukraine was on the mind of everyone in attendance, with one dance group performing a military style dance.

“That was a very special moment. There wasn’t a lot of dry eyes in the stands for that dance. But I think everybody is thinking about it and you could tell, everybody wants to make sure that everybody is happy and supporting (Ukraine),” Gillis said, adding there were a couple of groups were collecting funds, as well.

Planning is already underway for next year, Gillis thanking everyone who attended this year’s festival.

“Thanks to our supporters, contributors, everybody. It’s been phenomenal. It’s a little overwhelming, a little emotional. It’s been fantastic.”