Winnipegosis RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a Winnipeg man wanted in connection with an armed robbery at a business in Camperville, recently.

On Feb. 25, at approximately 5:55 p.m., Winnipegosis RCMP responded to a report of a at a business on Hwy. 20, in Camperville.

Two male suspects, both wearing high-visibility jackets, entered the business, one armed with a firearm.

One of the suspects pointed the gun at the employee and demanded cash.

Both suspects then fled in a vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money and other items.

The employee was not physically injured.

The vehicle is described as a four-door gold and grey-coloured vehicle with two smashed windows. It has a Manitoba dealer licence plate attached.

Officers have identified one of the suspects as 42-year-old Kory Flamand of Winnipeg, and have obtained a warrant for his arrest. He has been charged with robbery with a firearm and two counts of failing to comply.

RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Flamand.

Officers continue to work on identifying the second suspect involved in the robbery.

If you have information on the whereabouts of Kory Flamand, or information on the robbery, call Winnipegosis RCMP at 204-656-7000 or Crime Stoppers anonymously toll-free at 1-800-222-8477. You can also submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

The Dauphin Men’s Bonspiel will take place at the Parkland Recreation Complex. You still have time to get your team in. Contact Dusty Mayuk at 204-572-6735 to register your team.

There will be a live Calcutta, catered meal, great prizes and loads of fun. The Curler’s Lounge will be open all weekend long.

Credit Union Place and the Rotary Arena are host to the U11 Rural A Hockey Provincials. Teams from across the province will battle it out for the championship banner. Our facilities will be jam-packed with sporting events for the community to come and check out.

There will be some changes coming this week in regards to the public health orders. Current information can be found on our social media sites and our website.

Calling all junior curlers. CurlManitoba will hold an ID Curling Camp for young curlers to be evaluated and selected for CurlManitoba’s Jr. High Performance Curling Program in the Parkland for the 2022-23 season.

The ID camp is open to all female and male junior curlers. The Junior High Performance Curling Program is for dedicated young curlers 11 to 21 years of age, who want to train in a competitive and fun environment with the focus on developing individual skills.

It consists of training sessions ranging from sport psychology and mental training, strength and conditioning to technical, position specific, strategy and tactical training. The ID Camp will be held at the PRC curling rink, Mar. 13, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. For all the information, please visit our website at dauphinrec.com.

After an investigation into a racist gesture by Dauphin Kings defenceman Klim Georgiev, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League has suspended the 20-year-old Toronto native for 18 games, 11 regular season and seven playoff games.

The suspension is subject to completion of the process of reconciliation as a result of his gross misconduct penalty for discriminatory taunting under Hockey Canada rule 11.4.

Georgiev received a gross misconduct for his actions at the end of a game between the Kings and Waywayseecappo Wolverines, Feb. 19.

The discriminatory taunting was a public display, which consisted of a widely recognized racial gesture which was hurtful to many who viewed it. The gesture was directed specifically to an Indigenous player while he was skating away well after the final buzzer of the game.

This gesture, it was indicated, was in retaliation to the action of the opposing player making a celebratory gesture earlier in the game after a goal. After a thorough review of the video and in consultation with the on-ice officials, this factor was found to be without merit or justification. The opposing players’ celebratory action was a common manner of celebration after a goal.

In any event or situation, hurtful retaliation is unacceptable, a league statement said.

This incident has been reviewed and deemed as conduct detrimental to the game of hockey and the MJHL.

Georgiev’s apology to the player and the Wolverines organization has been accepted and he has started his process of reconciliation, which will include further anti-racism and cultural sensitivity training. The MJHL asks everyone to respect Georgiev’s privacy as he goes through this process.

The Dauphin Kings organization has accepted this decision and has committed to working with Georgiev throughout this process. The Kings have also committed to continuing their work with Wade Houle of Bright Sky Consulting and Treaty 2 leadership in consultation with the Wolverines’ organization to address this incident and to further combat racism in hockey.

The MJHL sincerely appreciate and recognize Houle’s ongoing efforts in delivering the on-going MJHL Anti-Racism and Cultural Sensitivity Training Education Program to all member teams and for his significant additional consultation during this review and ensuing process. Bright Sky Consulting works with a variety of businesses and organizations who seek Houle’s expertise in the implementation of their in-house anti-racism, discrimination and cultural sensitivity training. Houle is an MJHL alumnus and is a member of the Ebb and Flow First Nation.

Racial and discriminatory actions, gestures or behaviours, regardless of intent, will not be tolerated in the MJHL. The league appreciates and wishes to acknowledge the input and co-operation by all parties involved throughout this review process and it remains resolute in its pledge to further educating and advancing its commitment to providing a diverse and inclusive environment free of discrimination of any kind.

The Kings expressed their support of the MJHL’s decision to suspend Georgiev and will continue to support and guide him through this process.

Although Klim and the Kings have taken many steps towards the reconciliation process, they recognize that there are many more steps to take.

The Kings would like to thank the Wolverines organization and their community for keeping an open mind and allowing the Kings to take these steps.

The Kings also ask that everyone please support Klim’s personal life and allow him the opportunity to work through the reconciliation process.

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) has been surveying its members to get an idea of the fiscal impacts of COVID-19 on Manitoba municipalities.

According to survey data, municipalities in Manitoba collectively experienced an estimated $91.8 million operating loss in 2021 while an additional $53.3 million shortfall has been forecasted for 2022.

Municipalities have also incurred $7.3 million in pandemic-related costs related to staffing needs, purchasing PPE and enforcing provincial public health orders.

In addition, 89 per cent of municipalities have experienced further operating losses since the Province flowed $106 million on behalf of the federal government under the Safe Restart Agreement (SRA) in October 2020.

Consequently, 52 per cent of municipalities indicated that it could take between two to eight years to financially recover to precrisis COVID-19 levels.

“It is clear that municipalities continue to experience significant operating shortfalls due to the ongoing pandemic,” said AMM president Kam Blight. “While these numbers show a significant financial gap, the figures are actually lower than expected since many municipalities were forced to reduce services given their legal obligation to not run deficits.”

The survey was administered in January and 77 responses were received.

The AMM was particularly interested in the financial impacts since 2021 and financial pressures experienced by municipalities overall.

The findings will be provided to the provincial and federal governments as they contemplate additional financial assistance to municipalities in their respective budgets.

“Our latest survey continues to show that the largest financial hit to municipalities has been related to operating recreational facilities and other public municipal buildings,” Blight said. “Moving forward, it is vital that all orders of government work together to ensure greater supports are provided so municipalities can continue offering essential services that Manitobans depend on.”

The Dauphin COVID-19 Vaccine Supersite is closing.

The clinic housed at the Ukrainian Orthodox Hall will close, following its last clinic, Mar. 2.

Those still needing to receive their first, second or third dose of COVID-19 vaccine can do so between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Both booked appointments and walk-ins are available.

To book an appointment, visit protectmb.ca or call 1-866-626-8222.

Beyond Mar. 2, Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) will hold pop-up clinics in and around Dauphin.

Stay up to date on when and where those clinics will take place by visiting prairiemountainhealth.ca or following the health region on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

COVID-19 vaccine is also available through physician offices and pharmacies.

PMH thanks everyone who has visited the Dauphin COVID vaccine site for their vaccination. PMH also wishes to extend its thanks to the staff at the Ukrainian Orthodox Hall for all they have done in supporting the vaccine clinic and the clinic staff.

The Manitoba RCMP West District, which includes Dauphin, experienced a significant decrease in calls for service in January compared to the same time period the previous year, dropping nine per cent from 4,756 last year to 4,607 in 2022.

Decreases were reported in all categories, except crimes against property.

The following increases and decreases are being highlighted:

Common police activities had an overall decrease of 14 per cent from 536 in 2021 to 462 this year, with the highest individual decreases in suspicious person, vehicle or property down 28 per cent from 167 to 120 and breach of peace down 37 per cent from 165 to 104.

Crimes against the person had a decrease of six per cent from 279 to 262. Sexual offences decreased by 50 per cent from 24 calls in 2021 to 12 in 2022 and assaults decreased five per cent from 156 to 148.

Crimes against property, overall, saw an increase of 11 per cent from 489 calls to 543, theft under $5,000 increased 44 per cent from 94 to 135, while break and enters increased 28 per cent from 88 to 113 and theft over $5,000 increased from 15 per cent from 40 to 46. Finally, fraud decreased 25 per cent from 61 to 46.

Drug enforcement saw an overall decrease of 33 per cent from 48 to 32 and specifically, possession decreased from 15 to 10.

Similar decreases were seen across the province with the East District down 13 per cent from 7,009 to 6,754 and the North District dropping 10 per cent to 5,200 from 5,889.

The complete statistics can be found at www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/mb/stats/index-eng.htm.

The Major Pratt Trojan Girls Volleyball team emerged victorious bringing home gold from the MHSAA AA provincials in Warren Manitoba.  Back row left to right: April Dalman (grade 12), Mia Cadotte (grade 11), Kylee Peake (grade 11), Cali Lovas (grade 11), Halana McCulloch (grade 11), Taylor Cheyne (grade 10), Coach Tanya Thompson, Emily Lavallee (grade 11) Front row left to right: Kiera Haney (grade 11), Sunay Pieterse (grade 11) and Kate Melnyk. 

Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski will miss the fall legislative session the Manitoba PC Caucus announced Friday.

Michaleski will be on an extended doctor recommended medical leave and will not be present for the remainder of the fall session. It is unrelated to COVID-19.

Manitoba Hydro filed its 2021-22 Interim Rate Application with the Public Utilities Board (PUB), last week, requesting an overall average five per cent electricity rate increase, effective, Jan. 1, 2022.

The Corporation was directed to file an application with the PUB following the cancellation of Bill 35 and the associated electricity rate increase.

The Manitoba Government announced late Friday afternoon that they are changing public health orders with Christmas on the horizon.

Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon, and Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer made the announcement Friday adding there is a strain on the province's health care system.