What began as a new partnership between Huddle Brandon and the Park West School Division has become a growing resource for youth across our region. Since opening as a satellite site in October 2024, Huddle has been connecting young people with mental health supports, wellness programming, and community resources—while building relationships that help interested youth and young adults feel supported, valued, and hopeful.
Huddle is a free, youth-focused organization that provides trauma-informed and culturally safe health and wellness services for young people aged 12 to 29. Russell is proud to be the first rural community in Manitoba to pilot the Huddle model as a satellite of Brandon, working in partnership with Huddle Brandon, the Park West School Division, and provincial and federal governments to make mental health and wellness supports more accessible in rural Manitoba.
At its heart, Huddle's mission is to meet young people where they are, listen to their needs, and help connect them with the right supports. Sometimes that means arranging counselling. Other times it means helping someone obtain identification, access employment or literacy supports, connect with health services, or simply provide a safe space where they know someone cares and they are not alone.
A Growing Rural Resource
Huddle Brandon first launched a satellite site in Russell in October 2024, and it has continued to grow as more youth, and families learn about the supports available. The program currently serves young people from communities throughout the region, including Russell, Rossburn, Birtle, Binscarth, Inglis, Waywayseecappo, and surrounding areas.
Today, the Huddle satellite in Russell includes a full-time Service Navigator, a part-time Peer Supporter, and a counsellor who provides three hours of counselling each week. Provincial and federal funding has been secured through April 2029, allowing the team to continue building services that respond to the unique needs of rural youth. Additional funding/grants are pursued from businesses, foundations and individuals to enhance programming by bringing in mental health professionals, providing meals and snacks, purchasing program supplies, and expanding wellness opportunities for youth and families.
What Happens at Huddle?
Every young person who would like to access our Huddle services begins with a brief, approximately 20-minute intake meeting with the Service Navigator. This conversation helps identify each individual's goals and needs so they can be connected with the most appropriate supports. The intake isn't a test or assessment—it's simply an opportunity to get to know each individual and determine how Huddle can best support them. There are no membership fees or costs, and services are available to any youth aged 12 – 29 who would like to participate.
Huddle offers a variety of services, including:
•Individual service navigation and goal planning
•Free counselling by appointment
•Weekly and monthly wellness programming throughout the school year
•Mental health education and peer connection
•Employment and literacy support
•Referrals to community resources and specialized services
•Help obtaining identification and navigating government or community systems
Programs continue to evolve as community needs change. This coming school year, Huddle plans to continue Wednesday after-school wellness programming for Grades 9-12 in Russell, while also introducing a monthly support group focused on anxiety and depression, facilitated by mental health professionals. Monthly wellness programming also continues for students at Rossburn Collegiate and counselling will continue Mondays by appointment.
Intrigued? Pick up the latest copy of the Russell Banner and turn to page 7 to find out more.

Kids from around town enjoyed the games and activies as Russell’s Tim Hortons held their annual Camp Day on July 15th.
Camp Day is Tim Hortons' biggest annual charitable event, where 100% of the proceeds from all hot and iced coffee sales are donated to the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, which is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1974 by Ron Joyce to honor his late friend Tim Horton.
For over 50 years, Tims Camps has been a leader in youth development programming, helping young people from underserved communities gain the skills and confidence to rewrite their stories for a brighter future, through experiences both at camp and in the classroom, youth build resilience, leadership, and responsibility, empowering them to thrive in school, work, and life.
Across North America, Tims Camps has provided life-changing experiences to nearly 350,000 youth – at no cost to them or their families.
This is made possible through the generosity of Tim Hortons Restaurant Owners, guests, corporate sponsors, donors, and community partners.
These funds help send youth from underserved communities to multi-year, camp-based development programs.

Elizabeth Fingas put on the Walk for You in memory of her mother Karen in Inglis a couple of weekends ago. She was absolutely thrilled with the turnout and the response to her efforts right from the time she announced her plans.
She had this to say:
“People were eager to donate and help those in need immediately after I had started advertising. Family and friends not only donated but also offered to help with anything I needed.
My family was the biggest supporters. They took the weekend off to make sure they could come and help plan the night prior, set up in the morning, make sure all things went smoothly and helped clean up afterwards. My family consisted of Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents and so so many others. I am beyond grateful for their help and support as the event would not have turned out as good as it had.
Also huge thanks towards the community and all those who donated, participated and showed their support.
As of right now, we have fundraised roughly $6,000 for the Community Cancer Care Centre in Russell and still have a few donations coming in. I am beyond in shock and so grateful for the outcome. $6,000 is truly jaw dropping and I am so glad that we are able to help those in need.”

Golf here has never been just golf. It has been coffee or supper with neighbours, leagues that double as reunions, and a course that, at its best, has drawn visitors from across the Parkland to see why Roblin calls itself the Jewel of the Parkland.
This is why what happened to our golf course this summer matters to every one of us, not just the golfers among us.
Find out what you can do to help in this week’s Review.

Riding Mountain MP Dan Mazier is concerned about Prairie Mountain Health’s response to the situation at Dauphin Regional Health Centre.
In a letter to Uzoma Asagwara, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, Mazier indicated as the federal representative for the area, he has been effectively stonewalled in his attempts to tour the facility and assess the damage for himself.
“Despite repeated efforts by myself and my office, Prairie Mountain Health failed to respond in a timely manner or facilitate a visit. Instead, they offered a Microsoft Teams meeting nearly two weeks later,” Mazier said in the letter, adding a virtual meeting weeks into the closure of a critical regional hospital is insulting to the seriousness of this situation and demonstrates an unacceptable lack of urgency.
“This is particularly troubling given that Premier Wab Kinew and members of the media were permitted to visit the facility, suggesting that political considerations may be influencing what should be a non-partisan response.”
While he continues to work with his federal counterparts on a response to the crisis, Mazier indicated the community, which expects all levels of government to work together, should not have to wait for PMH to engage their elected representatives.
“Even more concerning, health care professionals raised serious concerns with me about the lack of timely information and visible attention from Prairie Mountain Health’s senior leadership,” Mazier continued, indicating it is unclear whether PMH CEO Treena Slate has personally visited the facility.
“Leadership cannot be exercised from a distance during a time of crisis. Frontline workers are operating under extraordinarily difficult circumstances while being left without adequate updates or clear direction.”
Mazier indicated he has also heard concerns about the temporary triage clinic established in the wake of the closure, including a lack of medications, equipment or clinical capacity required to treat patients who arrive with a medical emergency.
“Physicians have proposed practical temporary solutions, including a mobile medical unit, yet I am advised that these proposals have received no meaningful response from either your department or Prairie Mountain Health,” Mazier wrote.
A lack of communication between PMH’s senior leadership, physicians and other health care professionals has frontline workers operating without consistent information or a co-ordinated plan.
“These reports require immediate investigation and a clear public explanation from your department and Prairie Mountain Health,” Mazier said.
The community is facing uncertainty when it comes to health care and a lack of communication is further eroding their confidence, Mazier wrote.
Regular communication with health care professionals and the public, providing clear information on the plan and timeline for restoring hospital services is crucial, Mazier indicated, adding he has been actively advocating with the Minister of Emergency Management to ensure the federal government understands the severity of the flooding and the urgent needs facing the region.
“I have also called for targeted federal assistance to support the restoration of hospital services. However, delayed responses and absent leadership undermine that co-operation and our ability to support affected residents,” Mazier indicated to Asagwara.
“Every level of government should be working together to support the people of the Parkland region.”

On July 13, at approximately 4:50 a.m., RCMP responded to a commercial alarm that was triggered at a business on the 1400 block of Main Street South in Dauphin.
Officers went to the scene and learned two individuals had driven up to the business in an orange utility task vehicle (UTV) and smashed a window.
They pried the business’ door open by connecting a strap to the UTV, then hooked the strap to an ATM inside and dragged it out. The suspects then left the scene.
Police are looking for the public’s help in identifying the two suspects, whose images were captured on surveillance video, and tracking down the UTV, which had been stolen a night earlier from a nearby Main Street business.
The UTV is a 2012 Kubota RTV 900XT, Alberta license plate UTZ62.
One suspect was wearing a black sweater with a hood and a white Reebok triangle logo on the front.
The other suspect was wearing a full-face covering ATV helmet with what appears to be a “V” or “VH” written on the side.
They were wearing dark-coloured masks and gloves.
Anyone who can help identify the suspects, or provide information on the incidents is asked to contact Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020, Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or to provide a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

The City of Dauphin is looking for ways to mitigate the damage if the flooding experienced in the community at the beginning of July should ever happen again.
At their regular meeting July 13, Dauphin councillors discussed ways to lessen the effects of the Vermillion River on the community in the future and passed resolutions calling on the province to aid them in those efforts.
Among the discussions was the need for better monitoring of the river upstream of Dauphin, and within city limits, and improved riverbank elevation data, along with the possibility of developing a river diversion project.
When it comes to river monitoring, there currently is just one station upstream of Dauphin at the Vermillion dam, and one downstream where the river crosses Hwy. 20 north of the city.
Additional monitoring, when combined with accurate and comprehensive riverbank elevation data can go a long way to forecasting potential flooding, identifying vulnerable areas, and implementing timely mitigation measures, city manager Sharla Griffiths told council.
In this latest incident, when city administrators were looking for information about river levels, the capacity of the Vermillion River within city limits and how close the river was to spilling its banks, that information was not readily available.
“We didn’t know where to look for that. We assumed it was there and it was on us that we hadn’t found it,” Griffiths said.
“Unfortunately, it’s not there. There is no Vermillion River monitoring upstream of Dauphin except at the Vermillion Dam, there’s nothing in Dauphin and it’s at Highway 20 on the other side.”
Realtime information on river flows and water levels is used to great effect when it comes to flood preparations in other communities, she added.
“We see people in other communities, sandbagging certain areas to different levels and stuff like that,” Griffiths said, citing Brandon as an example of a community
“It's the province who monitors the river levels. They have a whole hydrologic department that runs scenarios based on those levels and it alerts them what when things are happening. So we want to be part of that monitoring system.”
While some communities might get two to three weeks of notice about potential flooding, that would not be the case in Dauphin, given the topography of the area.
“Just doing some really quick and dirty analysis with EMO, we would get 24 to 48 hours notice of something happening,” Griffiths said, adding advance warning would help improve flood forecasting, emergency preparedness, and long-term flood resilience..
“We do have to get that information, be proactive, learn what those levels are so that we can mitigate, and there might be have to be some more permanent mitigation measures put in because we wouldn’t get that (lengthy) heads up.”
One of those more permanent mitigation measures being considered is some sort of river diversion infrastructure designed to reduce flood risks, protect homes, businesses, and essential public infrastructure and improve long-term community resilience.
On the recommendation of Griffiths, councillors passed a resolution calling on the province to undertake the necessary hydrological studies, engineering assessments, planning, design and construction of a potential Vermillion River floodway in collaboration with the city and neighbouring municipalities to reduce future flood risks while avoiding adverse impacts on surrounding municipalities.
“I really only knew of like the Winnipeg floodway or the Portage diversion. It seemed like it had to be something massive that was protecting a lot of things. However, in talking to EMO, there’s communities that have 78 residents that the river is diverted if it goes up above certain levels,” Griffiths said.
“When we look at Dauphin being a city, and it’s the largest urban concentration in the Parkland, I think it’s valid for us to ask the Province to entertain a discussion about this.”
It is important that any such project would not cause problems further downstream, she added.
“The last thing we want to do is cause more flooding downstream at the cost of saving the city. However, there has to be a trade-off and it would be in consultation with our neighbours.”

A Dauphin baseball player is one of five from Manitoba selected to take part in the 2026 World Children’s Baseball Fair in Narita, Japan, July 30 to Aug. 7.
Anders Procyshyn, 10, was chosen after his mom received an email from Baseball Manitoba about an exciting baseball travel experience to Japan.
“And my mom asked me if I wanted to do it and I said, ‘yes’. So I wrote an essay and submitted it and they picked me,” he said.
Procyshyn said it was pretty loud when he learned he was selected.
“I was in a hotel in Winnipeg. I was with my grandma and my dad called my grandma and he told me and I was jumping around and everything. I was pretty excited,” he said.
While he plays shortstop, catcher is Procyshyn’s favourite position.
“Because I like throwing the ball to second and third on a steal and to encourage the team,” he said.
Procyshyn recently won a silver medal in Portage with the Dauphin Fusion Credit Union team. He was sorry he couldn’t play close to home for provincials, but the flooding caused the tournament to be moved from Grandview to Portage.
Joining Procyshyn are Edrick Emilson of Lundar, Luwen Zhang of Winnipeg South, Brianne Kaemingh of Kenora, Cole Williams of West Winnipeg and chaperone Riley Hruska of West Winnipeg.
The World Children’s Baseball Fair was initiated by world home run kings Sadaharu Oh and Hank Aaron to introduce and promote baseball throughout the world.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn the correct basic skills of baseball instructed by the coaches who are selected by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
Participants will partake in cultural and recreational activities with local children, such as learning Japanese dancing and martial arts.
It won’t be Procyshyn’s first time traveling in a plane, but it will be the first time he’s traveled to Asia.
Procyshyn hopes to use the camp to get better at all aspects of the game.
“Learn new things like meet new kids. Get better at everything. I want to learn how they make sushi. I’m going to try it,” he said, adding they will go on some tours, as well.
“So I’m excited about that,” he added.
The group will also take in a professional baseball game.
Procyshyn lists the Toronto Blue Jays as his favourite team and Kazumo Okamoto as his favourite player, although he also likes Ernie Clement, who he mentioned in his essay.
Procyshyn and his family had the chance to watch the Blue Jays when they were in Detroit, May long weekend.
“I met those guys in Detroit. And I met Trey Yesavage, because he was in my essay, as well. He was impressed. And then Ernie Clement told me he didn’t know much French,” he said, adding Andres Giménez gave him his bat, although he didn’t autograph it because he didn’t have time.
Procyshyn’s brother got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to sign his baseball and they met several of the other players.
“We just had some seats beside the dugout and they gave us special access to the dugout,” said Procyshyn’s father Barret.
“They were good seats. We had no idea, but the way the dugout was, they had to walk right by us and they were just so thrilled. They were stopping and talking to us.”
Barret added they were wearing Blue Jays gear and had some balls and cards, just in case.
Anders is looking forward to the flying over the Pacific Ocean.
“I think that’s going to be cool. I’m excited to meet new kids there. And I’m excited for the professional baseball match,” he said.
“I want to thank my mom for asking if I want I do this. I want to thank my dad for helping me learn and teaching me how to play baseball. And I want to thank Baseball Manitoba for organizing this.”

The Parkland Pirates seem virtually invincible.
In Manitoba Cup action this past weekend in Winnipeg, the local U19 men’s rugby team ran over an unsuspecting Winnipeg/Eastman squad 85-5.
“We just have this team right now that just won’t stop. They just want more. They just can’t get enough rugby,” Pirates head coach Aaron Miner said, adding the group is a tight unit, on and off the field.
“The whole team stayed after their game and watched Team Canada’s Zimbabwe game, as a team. The bonding is so tight with this group. We just can’t ask for more.”
Manitoba Cup action moves to Dauphin this coming weekend for the last tournament in the series and Miner expects the Pirates will face stiffer competition on their home field.
“Westman has really bolstered their lineup. They have one guy coming back from (the University of Victoria) and one guy coming back from his club team’s tour in New Zealand. So we expect to see a little more out of them,” he said.
“We also have a few guys coming back off of injury for next weekend. So, we’re hoping for the same result, but if it’s a tighter game against Westman, that’s to be expected.
“It will be a big day of rugby at Kinfield here in Dauphin. We’re going to be using both fields. There will be rugby all day long for anybody wanting to come out and watch.”
This year has been the first for the Manitoba Cup series and Miner thinks it has been a success. The games provide a good opportunity for provincial coaches to identify players for Team Manitoba and other upper levels of the game.
“I actually had breakfast with Team Canada coaches in Winnipeg and there’s a lot of our players on their radar right now,” Miner said, adding there are more and more opportunities for young players to advance in rugby, including to university programs and even professional teams.
“It’s inspirational as a coach to hear that and it’s great news for our players - and up and coming players - that Parkland is now on the map. We need to continue with this intensity of promoting the program here.”

Team Rubicon began helping homeowners in Swan River and area with the long and difficult work of cleaning out their flood-affected houses and getting them one step closer to recovery. Non-governmental organizations like Team Rubicon and Red Cross were available to help assist people looking for assistance and resources in these disastrous times, while Christian church-supported organizations like Samaritan’s Purse and Christian Aid Ministries have also been putting in long hours, days and weeks to help the extensive clean-up process.. See more photos on A9