With one change in the list of scheduled performers made, everything is now in place for the 35th edition of Dauphin’s Countryfest.

George Fox will step in to replace Mark Chesnutt, who underwent emergency bypass surgery, recently. Fox will bringing his classic hits and unforgettable performances to the Play Now Main Stage as part of Sunday’s lineup.

The 2024 Dauphin’s Countryfest Homecoming Edition, takes place at Selo Ukraina south of Dauphin, June 28 to 30.

According to Countryfest general manager Kamryn Winters, this year’s festival promises to be a memorable celebration of music, community and nostalgia.

“The Countryfest team has been working tirelessly and has now moved up to the festival site to ensure everything is set for an incredible weekend,” Winters said.

Ticket sales have surpassed last year’s totals, Winters added, thanks in large part to local support, but also representing growing excitement outside the region.

“Local businesses have stepped up immensely in the last two weeks by purchasing Business Party Packs for staff, family and friends,” she said.

“We cannot thank our community enough for the support they give every year.”

Additionally, volunteer needs have been met and surpassed.

“Thanks to the overwhelming support from our dedicated workers from as far away as Brandon to the Pas. Our volunteers don’t stop at the city limits,” Winters said.

Weather is always a concern, Winters added, but the forecast for the weekend looks promising with clear skies and warm temperatures expected throughout the event.

That will make for enjoyable performances  including the throwback to the 1990s with main stage appearances by country music icons such as Clint Black, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Michelle Wright, Doc Walker, Jason McCoy, Quinton Blair, The C-Weed Band, Alabama, Diamond Rio, The Frontmen, Patricia Conroy, Lisa Brokop, Beverley Mahood, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Jo Dee Messina.

Meanwhile, the hilltop stages will offer a dynamic mix of tribute bands covering genres from rock to folk and everything in between, alongside some fantastic headlining rock bands in Harlequin, Snake Oil and Who Made Who a tribute to AC/DC, Winters said.

“Attendees can also look forward to a vibrant marketplace, as we have a full lineup of vendors offering a diverse array of food and shopping options. From gourmet treats to unique crafts, there’s something for everyone,” she said.

“Join us at the 2024 Dauphin’s Countryfest Homecoming for a weekend filled with great music, delicious food, and unforgettable memories. Let’s come together to celebrate our community and enjoy the best of country music in the heart of Dauphin.”

For more information, ticket purchases, and 50/50 draw details, visit www.countryfest.ca or contact the festival office toll-free at 1-800-361-7300.

It was a long battle, but Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Dan Mazier has helped to level the playing field in Canada’s telecommunications landscape.

After more than three years of extensive work, cross-party negotiations, and navigating the parliamentary process, the Senate officially passed Mazier’s private Member’s bill (C-288) that amends the Telecommunications Act to force internet companies to disclose transparent and accurate information on the speeds they sell Canadians.

“For too long, Canadians have been purchasing internet services at sky-high prices only to realize the quality and speed they expected to receive is nowhere near what they actually receive,” Mazier said.

“This is because the government has allowed internet companies to advertise speeds Canadians may never receive.”

Bill C-288 will force internet companies to disclose accurate speeds that reflect what a consumer is most likely to obtain instead of a maximum theoretical speed. Currently, internet companies use language such as “up to” when advertising their service quality, leading consumers to believe a service will be better than it actually is.

“A lack of accurate information when choosing an internet service can result in consumers overpaying, user complaints, and not purchasing the best-fit service. It also reduces overall service quality within the telecom industry,” Mazier said.

Telecommunication experts and advocacy organizations across Canada rallied behind Mazier’s bill from the beginning, helping garner support for the legislation from all political parties.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.

On May 29, as a result of an ongoing investigation into the illegal sale of liquor from a home, officers from the Ste-Rose du Lac RCMP, along with assistance from the Manitoba West District CREST unit and Police Dog Services (PDS), executed a search warrant under the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act at a residence located in Ebb and Flow First Nation.

As a result of the search, officers seized numerous bottles of liquor, several cases of beer, over seven grams of crack cocaine, marihuana, unstamped tobacco, over $5000 in cash and a loaded firearm.

Upon entry into the home, officers arrested three suspects, a 45-year-old woman and two men, aged 29 and 17. They were later released for and August 29 appearance in Dauphin Provincial Court where they will face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking, unauthorized possession of a firearm, unsafe storage of a firearm and possession of property obtained by crime.

Charges were also issued under the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act for the unauthorized sale of liquor and possession of fewer than 25 units of unmarked tobacco.

Police continue to investigate.

Jordan’s Principle is a child-first principle to ensure First Nations children get the services they need when they need them.

Jordan’s Principle was established by First Nations in response to the death of five-year-old Jordan River Anderson, a child from Norway House Cree Nation, who suffered from Carey Fineman Ziter syndrome, a rare muscular disorder that required years of medical treatment in a Winnipeg hospital.

After spending the first two years of his life in a hospital, doctors cleared Jordan to live in a family home near the hospital in Winnipeg.

However, the federal and provincial governments could not resolve who was financially responsible for the necessary home care.

For over two years, the Government of Canada and Manitoba provincial government continued to argue, while Jordan remained in the hospital.

In 2005, at the age of five, Jordan died in the hospital; he never had the opportunity to live in a family home.

Private Members Motion 296 in support of Jordan’s principle passed in the House of Commons, on Dec. 12, 2007.

May 10 is Bear Witness Day, an annual observance dedicated to Jordan’s Principle.

CALLING ALL COOKS!

We at the Dauphin Herald want YOU to submit your awesome holiday recipes so we can share them with everyone in the Parkland this holiday season! We're looking for anything from desserts to sides to drinks and more!

Email yours to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and it could end up in our Christmas Special Section in December!

Deadline is Thursday December 7th!

Ever wonder what the Dauphin Herald online papers look like? Ever thought about switching from your paper copy to an online edition? 

Now is your chance to check it out and see how you like it with the Dauphin Herald's Total Market Coverage for September 2023.

Read below, enjoy!

When Lorne and Bernice Black first took over the family business, they had to figure out where their interests laid so they could better focus their efforts.

And now as they prepare to walk away from Blacks Cycle and Sporting Goods at the end of this year, they have to again go through a self examination to focus their retirement.

“We don’t know what we’ll do or what we want to do,” Bernice said. “We are going to have to go find out who we are, I guess.”

"Maybe do more fishing and maybe some hunting,” Lorne added.

There were many factors which went into the decision to call it quits, Lorne said, such as supply chain issues, shrinking profit margins and competition from bigger companies and online sellers.

“And I’m worn out. I’m wearing out from it, it’s a long time to do retail. Forty-two years I’ve done,” Lorne said, adding he used to make the daily trek from Barker School to work in the store with his father.

And while they do have fond memories of their own children growing up in the store and interacting with customers, there really is not an opportunity to hand down the business to them.

“The boys are not interested, really. They have pretty good careers of their own,” Lorne said, adding they never pressured their children towards taking over the business. “We kind of steered them away from it because we saw what the ’90s were like. The ‘90s were not fun trying to make a living here, honestly. But in some ways it’s kind of sad, too, because we are making money, but we’re just out of time and out of life.”

The business was launched in 1945 as a bicycle repair shop with $800 Lorne’s father Ernie borrowed from a family member.

In 1948, Ernie moved the business to its present location, renting the southern half of the front of the building from the Oddfellows Lodge. As he expanded the lines of sporting goods he carried, Ernie acquired space in the building as it became available and in 1960 was able to purchase the building from the Oddfellows.

Continuing to grow the business, Ernie added a workshop in the 1970s and a full basement under the back portion of the building in the 1980s.

The business has changed over the years, Lorne said, as his father carried a wide range of sporting goods and over the last 30 years he and Bernice have narrowed the focus.

That history, however, makes it difficult to just lock the doors and walk away.

“This old building is full of stuff, that I have to go through. It’s going to take time. I’m closing the door, but I’m still going to be here for a few years to clear out this building. So we’re hoping to sell online and things like that. If not we’re going to have to do an auction or something like that,” Lorne said.

“The attic is full. We are a family of keepers of things and my dad kept everything. I cleaned out some of the garbage, so to speak, but there’s still a lot of junk in the attic I want to go through and I can’t just do that in a month or two. It’s going to take time.”

With only a few tire kickers showing interest in the business it didn’t make sense keep trying to find a buyer.

“It was going to be a tough brand to sell off,” Lorne said, adding when they originally started in the business, he and Bernice planned to stay for 20 years.

“As much fun as it’s been, it’s time to live our lives and have some freedom. People don’t realize what a ball and chain it is. (Lorne’s) dad was in retail his whole life and his dad always said he saw it like a prison sentence running your own business,” Bernice said. “There’s a lot of good memories. And our customers were going to miss so much. That’s going to be the hardest part. But what do you do? It’s time.”

Meanwhile, after 77 years in business, Dauphin Music and Electronics is also closing its doors.

Co-owners Danny, Dave and Theresa Zabiaka first began talking about a possible closure about two years ago, when they put the business up for sale.

“We’re all getting up in age, so it was time to move on,” Danny said, adding there was a little bit of interest, but nothing worked out. “Without any buyer for the business, we had to make the decision to shut down and put the building up for sale.”

Danny plans to move to Alberta to be closer to family, while his sister Theresa will move on to something else.

“That’s why the decision was made. I have family calling my name. The big thing for me was I have family calling my name out to Alberta,” he said. “And it wasn’t as much fun as it used to be coming into work every day. It started feeling more like work. For years it was always fun coming in. Lots of people around. It was turning into more work and I wasn’t enjoying it as much.”

Zabiaka admits it is a sad moment for him to see the store close after 77 years of operation.

“I’d like to see the legacy carry on. We’ve been here a long time. Of course, none of us had any family that are interested in taking over, so we had to go looking elsewhere for someone to take over. That didn’t happen,” he said. “It’s a sad day for me and my siblings, because we’ve all been here for so long. But that being said, I’m ready to move on. I’m at the point in my life when I need to do other things.”

The final day the store will be open has yet to be determined. Before that can happen, there will be four weeks of liquidation.

Zabiaka estimates the middle of October, around Oct. 15, will be the last time they will officially be open, offering the biggest discounts.

“There will still be some stragglers and we’ll make some arrangements to take care of whatever is left. So probably, the last day would be at the end of October or there abouts,” he said. “No nailed down actual date yet.”

The liquidation sale has already begun, but Zabiaka said they don’t have a lot of stock, because word has gotten around and people have been stopping by to pick up some deals.

“A lot of our products were discounted to some degree. And we haven’t been ordering stock for the last little while, so we don’t have tons of stock to get rid of. But everything has to go, so we can close,” he said.

Zabiaka said it has been a great run, while he has been at the store.

“It’s been a lot of fun, with meeting a lot of people. It’s been awesome that way,” he said. “It’s mixed emotions, of course, but I’m ready to move on. I came to that conclusion about a year-and-a-half ago that it’s time. So that’s the way it is.”