The Thunderhill Ski Area held their Ski with Santa event this past weekend, Dec. 22. Santa and two of his elves brought plenty of Christmas cheer to skiers and families. Here, Santa and his elves pose for a photo with a young Santa fan.

As has been his tradition, Swan River resident Ed Maga constructed a snowman as tall as his house in his front yard this month. Check out the sizeable sculpture on the 400 block of Sixth Avenue North.

Dauphin will head into the New Year with the issue of recreation funding remaining unsettled after City council rejected a recent funding proposal from their counterparts in the Rural Municipality.

The RM forwarded the proposal to the City on Dec. 11 and rejected the plan at a meeting, Dec. 13, and informed their rural counterparts by way of a letter.

In part the letter read, “City council reviewed the RM joint services proposal dated Dec. 11, at a meeting held on Dec. 13. After very thorough review and discussion the city council agreed unanimously that it could not accept the proposal as presented. As indicated in your letter, for 2025 the City of Dauphin chooses to revert to the RM of Dauphin’s July 23 resolution. As Dauphin Recreation Services organizes to reflect the situation, please be advised that RM participation in the DRS board for 2025 remains unchanged. It is our intent to continue a dialogue with your council to find a long-term solution for DRS funding. The city looks forward to meeting with the RM soon to resume our liaison community meetings as there are many topics we can discuss that affect and benefit both of our municipalities including, your suggestion of proportional funding for other RM and City agreements.”

RM of Dauphin reeve Ernie Sirski said his council is extremely disappointed with the City’s decision to reject the proposal put forward.

“After only having it in their possession for two days,” he said.

“How serious of a discussion did they have in that short period of time? The RM council and management spent untold hours on the project, after the City’s request for the RM to submit a proposal. The RM proposed a structure that would have the City and RM be true partners in recreation and we are disappointed that the City rejected this concept so quickly.”

On the financial side, the RM proposal called for joint operating to be shared on a per capita basis, adjusted annually.

Additionally, the proposal called for capital cost to also be funded jointly on a per capita basis with the annual maximum contribution from the RM capped at $50,000.

Finally, the proposal called for the RM to receive a per capita share of the recreation portion of Dauphin’s Accommodation Tax.

The financial details of the proposal are materially the same as what the City was asking for from the RM, said mayor David Bosiak. Where city councillors have trouble supporting the proposal, he added, is around the RM’s vision of the board structure.

According to the RM proposal, while Dauphin Recreation Services will continue to operate as a separate agency, the RM plan proposes the current DRS board be disbanded and replaced by a new board made up of two elected officials each from the City and RM, who will be voting members, as well as the city manager and the RM CAO, who will sit as non-voting members. Any motions that result in a tied vote would be defeated.

“Basically they want to dismantle the recreation commission without any reflection that we have a 75-year agreement with the Ag. Society that we’re still in on and we still view them as a partner,” Bosiak said, adding the make up of the board does not reflect the funding realities and was also a sticking point for councillors.

“We’ve told them that their involvement needs to be proportional to their funding amount and to me that makes perfect sense. If you’re funding an organization 22 per cent you should have 22 per cent of the influence, or the say on that board or that body.”

For Sirski, the issue boils down to forming a “true partnership” with the City when it comes to recreation for citizens of both municipalities.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

It is always nice when you find a little money, whether that’s a $5 bill in the pocket of a jacket you haven’t worn for awhile or, in the case of the City of Dauphin, a share of a new $62-million provincial fund announced at the recent Association of Manitoba Municipalities Fall Convention.

The One Manitoba Growth Revenue Fund, will funnel that $62 million to municipalities across the province over the next five years, Premier Wab Kinew said.

“Last year, our government promised to treat municipalities like the true partners that they are and to respect the pressures they are under after years of freezes,” Kinew told municipal officials gathered in Winnipeg for the convention.

“This year, we’re establishing a new fund to provide extra support for programs now and into the future. Together, we’re giving Manitobans reasons to hope with a plan that makes life better across our province.”

With shares of the new fund determined on a per capita basis, for the City of Dauphin it will mean roughly $75,000 in “found money” annually for the next five years, said city manager Sharla Griffiths.

How that money will be used is yet to be determined.

“It’s always great to have some found money and we have a really progressive, exciting and excited council who want to do things,” she said.

“So we might be able to put this money into something special.”

The new fund is part of what Kinew is calling historic funding for municipalities. Budget 2024 provided $221 million in unconditional funding to all municipalities, including a two per cent escalator to the Municipal Operating Grant to help municipalities address rising cost pressures after years of funding freezes worth $4.4 million, the premier said.

However, when considering those years of frozen funding, combined with delays in receiving inflationary increases, the renaming of grant programs and uncertainties around the size and timing of grants, it is not as if the City is awash in discretionary funds.

“While we’re told historic funding, that kind of thing, it’s not like we now have a windfall . . . we’re catching up,” she said.

“But we will always take any money that’s given to us.”

The new growth revenue fund will be in addition to the operating grant. When combined, this increase to municipal funding is equivalent to 7.6 per cent, a $16.8 million guaranteed increase in operating funding for the next year.

It is an indication that the Province of Manitoba  is in the corner of its citizen’s, added Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard.

“True collaboration is about recognizing the challenges of our municipal partners and coming forward with real support to meet those challenges,” Simard said.

“Our new growth revenue fund is focused on helping municipalities deliver for their communities and continuing to offer the quality services Manitobans expect. We’ve got your back.”

In the last year, Simard noted record provincial investments for municipalities include:

• $221 million in unconditional funding to all municipalities including a two per cent escalator to the Municipal Operating Grant to help municipalities address rising cost pressures after years of funding freezes worth $4.4 million;
• $62 million for the One Manitoba Growth Revenue Fund, a historic commitment to municipalities across the province;
• $265,000 in funding to the Swan Valley General Investigation Section (GIS) pilot program as part of the provincial Public Safety Strategy;
• $42 million for the new Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities (Manitoba GRO) program, which provides dedicated capital project funding for municipalities outside Winnipeg;
• $4 million in additional funding to the Manitoba Water Services Board, which increases its funding to $24 million to support water and sewerage projects;
• $500,000 to the Municipality of Virden to support the expansion and renovation of Virden Regional Airport;
• $47 million to complete the rehabilitation of the Rivers Dam; and
• $19.6 million for the Souris bridge crossing.

The Thunderhill Ski Area opened the hill for the season this past weekend, Dec. 14, welcoming hundreds of people to the hill for the first time this season. The ski lift fills with kids waiting to head up the hill.

The Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre held its Gingerbread House Party this past weekend, Dec. 13, tasking all the families in attendance to make the best Gingerbread House. The Vestby family works hard on their three houses.

Since the beginning, and even before completion of the construction of the Northgate trail system, those involved have been advocating for a partnership with Parks Canada with an eye to developing world class mountain biking infrastructure.

And, while at times it seemed as though the wheels of government turned impossibly slow, there has been progress made, with initial scrubbing occurring this fall to join RMNP’s Edwards Creek Trail to the Northgate system.

That is thanks in part to advocacy for the project from Dauphin MLA Ron Kostyshyn.

In June, Kostyshyn sent a letter to Steven Guilbeault, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change educating him on the project and the vision and stressing the importance of a working relationship between the Northgate development group and Parks Canada.

“I encourage you and your staff to take a look at the Northgate Trail system outside the park at northgatetrails.com, as well as the extremely well-received user experience at maps.app.goo.gl/HZkFd8ftnXSxpaca6,” the letter read.

“With a bit of resolve, there is a real opportunity here to take this excellent trail network to the next level by connecting the Northgate Trail to trail networks within RMNP.”

POSSIBILITIES A8

Recently, Kostyshyn heard back through a letter from Parks Canada president and CEO Ron Hallman, who indicated his organization recognized the significance of the trail system as it exists today and the potential it represents.

He also provided an update of work completed on Parks Canada’s end.

“I am pleased to inform you the Edwards Creek Trail Project is moving forward. The project detailed design was developed and reviewed in spring of 2024. The project impact assessment was initiated in July with an archaeological field component completed prior to bird nesting seasonal restrictions on recreational trail projects of this scope,” the letter read.

“Member representatives of the Coalition of First Nations with interests in Riding Mountain National Park participated in this field work. Additional archaeological field work is scheduled for spring of 2025. An interim impact assessment was completed in late fall of 2024, for preliminary brushing of the trail to occur this fall and winter. Preliminary brushing, in progress, will allow for completion of the archaeology field work next spring, and to better inform the detailed (engineered) design for the proposed trail work. The Basic Impact Assessment (BIA) for the full project scope is in final review and construction work is expected to begin in the late summer or fall of 2025, following bird nesting season.”

That type of acknowledgment, and co-operation among all levels of government is important, Kostyshyn said.

“The Derailleurs group and the bike trail, it is just unbelievable the opportunities we could see in the tourism industry and economic development,” he said.

“This is an opportunity that has really blossomed and continues to grow. Just talking to the organization about future plans and competitive biking opportunities, worldwide opportunities, and I think, wow this is really unique.”

Once he learned about the scope of the project, Kostyshyn said there was no question he would get involved in promoting the project and doing what he could to advance it.

“It’s what an MLA should be doing and I’m very happy to help out in anyway. I think this is really important for our community,” he said.

“Just kind of blue skying the thoughts of what’s going to happen with this bike trail and competitions, it’s unbelievable. It’s people from across the world would be actually coming here and competing in Dauphin. Why not enhance the amazing tourism opportunities. We need to continue building.”

Read more in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

A local service club celebrated a milestone recently and has developed quite a history in the area.
“The Bowsman Lions Club started on December 7, 1984, and our 40th Anniversary celebration was held exactly 40 years to the date,” said Bowsman Lions Keith Behrmann. “The Swan River Lions Club sponsored us. Lion members Wayne McGimpsey and Garry Mills were instrumental in making this club happen. I believe there needed to be a minimum of 22 people signed up to form a Lions Club in the community. They approached members of the community to form the Bowsman Lions Club.
Behrmann was not a part of the original formation of the Bowsman Lions Club, but he transitioned to the club once another Lions Club in the area had folded.
“I was not a chartered member of the Bowsman Lions Club at that time,” said Behrmann. “First, I wound up being a member of the Birch River Lions Club, which was sponsored by the Bowsman Lions Club. Because of rural depopulation, the Birch River Lions Club folded. At the time, I was away working and when I came back, I was approached by Bowsman Lions member Ken Sutherland to join their club, and so I did.
“I don’t believe you can live in a community and not contribute. I’ve always been active in the community and still am to this day.”
The Bowsman Lions are deeply rooted in the history of the community. A major event that happened in the community, which put the town on the map, also became the inspiration for their logo.
“There is a lot of history for the Bowsman Lions,” said Behrmann. “When you take a look at our logo, it’s based on an event that happened in January of 1967. All the biffys in Bowsman were gathered up and burned because a water and septic system was installed in the community. It even wound up on CBC, so we fashioned our logo after that. Lion member Tyson Boychuk was part of creating the design.”
The Bowsman Biffy Burning made headlines across Canada and some news stations in the U.S. On New Year’s Eve in 1966, a crowd gathered near the new water and sewage treatment plant to watch the burning of approximately 26 biffys in the community.
The Bowsman Lions Club has been active in fundraising, both independently and as a joint effort with the other Lions Clubs in the Valley.
“One of the bigger events was the Bull-a-rama and the catalyst behind it was Lions member Outhwaite,” said Behrmann. “Over the years, that event sort of played itself out and it ran its course. Most of the money raised from that specific event over the years went to medical purposes for purchasing equipment to stay locally. We purchased equipment for eye surgery, maternity equipment and beds.
“We partnered with the golf course and split the proceeds 50/50 and did that a couple of times. Some of the money raised went to the Bowsman Daycare Centre. When the Ukraine-Russia War broke out, the Bowsman Lions put on a Ukrainian supper at the Veterans’ Hall. We were able to raise and contribute $18,000 to the relief fund.
“Last year, we put on another fundraising dinner and raised $16,500 that went towards the new CT Scanner in the community,” said Behrmann. “In 2025, it will be the actual 25th Anniversary of the Billy Beal event that raises funds for medical assistance. This year, we’ve contributed over $18,000 towards Valley residents through each Lions Club in the Valley. Everyone pitches in to make this happen.
“If it weren’t for the Lions Clubs in the Valley, we wouldn’t have cataract surgeries available in Swan River. We also banded together for Kids Sight, which is a handheld machine that goes into the classrooms and can tell if children need glasses or not. Every year, they go in and test this, and about 20 percent of children tested every year need glasses. This early recognition allows them to get a referral to an optometrist to get glasses.
“Other things we do to raise funds are recycling batteries, hosting pancake breakfasts and barbeques,” said Behrmann. “The Journey For Sight has been another big event we raise funds for and we have two members dedicated to that event. There are other things that our club has been in the background doing. It’s a matter of community service and if there Is a need there, we band together to help. There have been some instances where a traumatic event has happened to a family in the Valley and we’ve helped them in any way we could. The Valley community has always stepped up to fill in a need.
“It’s all part of the Lions mantra ‘We Serve’. It requires community-minded people who want to do community-minded things. There are just under 1.3 million Lions members in the world in over 180 countries and all started from the mindset of one individual, Melvin Jones, back in 1917, and has grown into what it is today.”
The Bowsman Lions are still looking to recruit members to keep the club going for more years to come.
“We need some younger members to join,” said Behrmann. “We did have a membership drive last year and had a few new members sign up.”
The 40th Anniversary celebration for the Bowsman Lions had some dignitaries come out for the event and welcomed some new members as well.
“The event was held on December 7 at the Bowsman Legion with a catered supper,” said Behrmann. “We had the District Governor in attendance and two members from Minnesota that were in attendance. We dedicated the evening to former Lions member Mel Brelinski who passed away.
“Lions members Corinna Medwid and Darcy Parsons were inducted as Lions members at the anniversary celebration.

The North West Regional Library, Swan River Branch welcomed Mrs. Claus to their building this past weekend, Dec. 7, reading books with all the children that came to visit. Grayson Moshenko (left), Jesse (centre) and Jackson Rooks (right) all stand with Mrs. Claus for a photo.

The benefit to Dauphin brought by the community’s two major festivals and the economic potential of the new Northgate Trails development are widely known . . . anecdotely.

But thanks to the City of Dauphin’s Economic Development (ED) department, there is now some hard data to back it up.

Utilizing some of the proceeds of last year’s accommodation tax, this past summer Dauphin ED, in partnership with Sport Tourism Canada  and The Data Jungle, conducted an economic impact assessment of Dauphin’s Countryfest, Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival and Northgate Trails.

The assessment looked at three factors: the spending of out-of-town visitors while they attend the events; the expenditures of the organizers in producing the events; and capital construction costs directly attributed to hosting.

Those numbers were used to extrapolate the impact on the regional, provincial and national economies.

That data was presented to the groups involved at a special meeting at city hall last week.

And the results are not surprising with it being revealed that through its $3,081,632, 2024 operational budget, Countryfest generated $5,577,610 worth of economic activity locally, $6,073,512 provincially and $9,453,100 nationally. The results are based on 452 responses to a survey conducted by ED staff and volunteers.

Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival, with a 2024 budget of $520,200, based on 200 survey responses, was shown to generate $2,579,557 of economic activity locally, $3,103,922 provincially and $4,481,878 nationally.

The numbers are not insignificant ED manager Martijn van Luijn said, when you consider that together, the total economic activity of Dauphin’s major festivals impact the local economy by $8,157,167, Manitoba’s economy by $9,177,434 and Canada’s by $13,934,978. You cannot forget that they also generate $2,490,000 in federal, provincial and municipal taxes, he added.

These numbers can be used to demonstrate the value of the festivals, while supporting funding and sponsorship programs, guiding strategic planning, advocating for community investment and promoting local engagement.

“The primary reason we did this was to help these organizations lobby for future funds and to help them build some evidence and data around how important this is to our community, so they can use that for future planning and for grant applications, etc,” van Luijn said.

“The cost of these studies was $15,000 and that’s probably something that they would not have done on their own. But after meeting with them, this was something that they needed.”

While the study of Northgate Trails did not follow the same format, user data collected through geo-fencing data with permission from user smart devices through Trails Canada Propulso Data Collection was used to create character profiles.

The results of the less than 1,000 user sample size showed that between January 2021 and December 2023, the facility has more than 600 visitors monthly, with October and January being the peak months.

Read the full story in this week’s Dauphin Herald.