Dauphin Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation (DNRC) made it official with the unveiling of its new logo and facility during an open house, last Thursday.

The grand opening of the facility located at the former Dauphin First United Church was postponed earlier this summer following the bus crash at Carberry, June 15.

The building, previously known as Under One Roof, will now go by the moniker Dauphin Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation Community Centre or DNRC Community Centre.

The grand opening included tours of the facility, speeches by local dignitaries, a ribbon cutting and a hotdog barbecue hosted by the HERO Club, a tenant at the facility.

The DNRC operates as a not-for-profit entity in the geographical area defined by the City of Dauphin boundaries concentrating on pockets of need.

DNRC’s mandate is to empower the neighbourhood through collaboration and leadership to build a healthy community.

As the strike by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) employees stretches into its third week, the Manitoba Government Employees Union (MGEU) is asking for a conciliator to be brought in to end the job action.

At a news conference last week MGEU president Kyle Ross indicated a conciliator was instrumental in ending the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries strike last month and he is hopeful the same could be achieved for the 1,700 MPI employees currently on the picket lines.

“The conciliator is just an opportunity to bring in someone to facilitate conversation, and we know at MBLL, once that conversation started, we were able to resolve this very quickly,” Ross said. “We’re hopeful that this will bring up those discussions at the table, and we can get these members a fair offer to vote on and put an end to this strike.”

The main roadblock in the negotiations is wages for workers.

Calling the union’s approach “disappointing”, MPI board chair Ward Keith said the MGEU, from the beginning, has rejected an enhanced four-year collective agreement worth 17 per cent in total monetary value, as well as an offer to avoid strike action by going directly to voluntary arbitration.

The union, he added, is demanding almost double the settlement pattern established across the provincial sector.

“Conciliation is not required to end this strike – that could happen tomorrow without any risk to our employees,” Keith said in a statement. “But we’re still open to exploring conciliation with MGEU if we’re on the same page. Obviously, we won’t resolve the impasse over general wage increases, but a conciliator can help us streamline the arbitration on that issue, and we can discuss other issues to narrow the overall dispute.”

From the union’s perspective, arbitration takes away it members’ “democratic rights” and Ross would rather hammer out a deal at the negotiating table.

“Arbitration is an imposed deal, and we would rather have an opportunity for our members to vote on a deal,” he said.

Striking employees include estimators, adjusters, call centre workers and service centre representatives.

“No one wants the strike to end more than MPI,” Keith said. “We continue to seek the quickest and most responsible approach to resolution, so our dedicated 1,700 employees can return to their important work of delivering services that Manitobans rely on every day.”

Mike VanAlstyne, Dauphin’s director of Public Works and Operations, right, checks out the progress of crews from Maple Leaf Construction as they put new curbs and gutters in place on First Avenue Northeast.

Getting that infrastructure reconstructed is the first step towards a new sidewalk and reopening the street to foot traffic looking to access businesses along the block.

Maple Leaf Construction also ran their curb and gutter machine along reconstructed blocks on Ninth Avenue Southeast, Fourth Avenue Northeast and Aster Bay.

Public Works crews work at ripping up the sidewalk, curb and gutter along a block of First Avenue Northeast in anticipation of Maple Leaf Construction arriving in town with its curb and gutter machine.

The construction company will add the work to its list, which includes new curb and gutters on sections of 10th Avenue Southeast, Fourth Avenue Northeast and Aster Bay.

City officials say utilizing the curb and gutter machine on the First Avenue project will shorten the disruption for businesses on the block.

Residents at Kinsmen Villa had a special visitor last week when a wayward black bear decided to use a tree outside the Sixth Avenue Northwest apartment block for a late morning nap.

It is that time of year when bears are on tour looking for that last bit food to build up fat prior to winter.

And with a river running through the middle of the community, the bears are provided with a perfect highway to embark on their adventures. Sometimes those adventures will bring them into the city and in contact with its residents.

If left alone, the animals will usually continue on their way without causing any problems. In fact, problems with bears are usually created by people.

Here are some tips to help you avoid attracting bears to your property:

• Garbage - eliminate odours. Put garbage in containers that have tight fitting lids, and only put it out on the morning of garbage day, not the night before. If possible, store garbage in bear-resistant containers, or indoors (house, shed, garage). Do not store garbage in plywood boxes, old freezers or vehicles. Put meat scraps in the freezer until garbage day. If you do not have curbside pick up, take your garbage to the dump often. Frequently wash garbage cans and recycle containers and lids with a strong smelling disinfectant.

• Bird and pet food - Fill bird feeders only through the winter months. Do not leave pet food outdoors. Feed pets indoors, not outside or in screened-in areas or porches.

• Fruits, vegetables and compost - Avoid landscaping with trees, shrubs or plants that produce food known to attract bears (some examples include crab apple trees, mountain ash, beech and oak). Do not put meat, fish or sweet food (including fruit) in your composter. Remove vegetables and fallen fruit from the ground. Pick all ripe fruit from trees and bushes.

• Smells - Be aware that cooking odours can attract bears. Remove grease and food residue from barbecue grills, including the grease cup underneath, after each use.

Learn about bears, their needs and behaviour. Share your knowledge with others and encourage your neighbours to practice bear-wise habits.

The need for some form of affordable, accessible public transportation has long been a topic of debate in Dauphin. And that conversation has arisen once again, prompting the Dauphin Neighborhood Renewal Corporation (DNRC) to take action by way of facilitating a stakeholders meeting.

“From a board’s perspective, and a staff perspective, from clients and stakeholders you work with and just some of the work that we do, it came to our attention that the lack of some kind of public transportation was affecting community members,” DNRC board member Phil Fafard said. “So we took it upon ourselves, as part of our mandate, to help initiate and facilitate a process whereby the stakeholders would come together to, first of all hear from the stakeholders, as to whether or not they saw this as an issue.”

The idea was to explore what kinds of transportation services are being provided in the community, whether those were fully addressing the needs and if not, whether people were willing to work towards a community-based, made-in-Dauphin solution.

“We invited as many stakeholders as possible and that included the City, provincial organizations, service providers, private business owners and non-profit organizations to this meeting to hear from them about whether or not is there an issue,” Fafard said, adding there was a concensus among attendees that there is, in fact, a gap in services around transportation in the community.

“It’s affecting community members in terms of their participation in the community or the economy. Even just being able to get around town, whether it’s for child care, for work, shopping.”

In the end, a group of people indicated their to advance the conversation through participation on a steering committee.

“To look at, and do a little research to find out what is available, what isn’t available, what the need is and maybe look at some potential options that Dauphin could pursue as a community,” Fafard said, adding while DNRC initiated the process, it will not lead the process going forward. “I think at the start of the committee work we’ll certainly be involved in terms of help and support. And we may remain involved, but we may not be the lead in terms of where this goes. That will be determined by the committee and who is able to actually pursue a solution.”

Fafard added the process is in its infancy and there may be many options available ranging from public systems, to private businesses to public-private partnerships.

“We’re reaching out to the other communities in Manitoba to find out what they’re doing. That will be part of the research. So it’s really just the start of a process and I don’t know how long it will take, but we’ll see where it goes,” he said. “I think we have a group of people who know that this issue is holding back and affecting community members. And it’s actually holding back the community of Dauphin from an economic development standpoint. We heard that from business owners and non-profits. So it’s an important issue, that has been an issue for a long time and really needs a solution.”

A dedicated community advocate has been recognized for the effort he puts into improving the lives of others.

Jim Perchaluk received a Community Service Medallion for his work as president of the the Ukrainian Folk Arts Centre and Museum, the Selo Ukraina site, and other volunteer efforts such as the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund.

Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Dan Mazier made the surprise presentation during a visit to Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival (CNUF).

“In reading and speaking with others on Jim’s contributions over the years, it is clear how selfless he was, and continues to be, in supporting his community and those around him,” Mazier said. “Jim’s contributions are genuinely bettering the lives of countless people and these contributions should not go unrecognized.”

The award truly was a surprise for Perchaluk.

“It came out of the blue,” Perchaluk said, adding you do not think about awards and recognition when you donate your time and talents. “When you volunteer you’re not looking to get anything in return. I guess I’ve been volunteering with Selo for more than 25 years and out of the blue somebody recognized that. It was quite an honour.”

The full story is in this week's Dauphin Herald!

After many years as an educator teaching about the workings of government in his social studies classes, Gord Wood is looking to get directly involved.

Wood is seeking election to the Manitoba Legislature in the Dauphin constituency as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party in the upcoming provincial election.

“I’ve had a very strong interest in the democratic system and always thought at some point I would like to be involved in running for an election,” Wood said. “So when the opportunity came up with Mr. (current MLA Brad) Michaleski retiring, I put my name forward and was able to receive the nomination in late June for the candidacy for the PC party.”

Wood has been going door-to-door throughout the constituency talking with voters to get a handle on what people are expecting from their next provincial government.

He has been having good conversations, he said, and some common themes have been emerging.

“Concerns about our health care system, concerns about affordability, concerns about crime, in the Dauphin area in particular and the entire area in general, concerns about the education system and where that’s going. So those are those are probably the major ones that have flushed out here as the campaigns or the canvases gone on,” Wood said. “Every issue affects people in different ways, we’re all dealing with different life circumstances, but it’s interesting how those themes still seem to come out for majority of our constituents.”

In all instances, the governing PCs are best equipped to deliver results, Wood added, citing the party’s record on crime, investments in health care and plans for public education.

And when it comes to representing the area within the party, Wood feels he is the proper choice for voters.

“People that know me or have worked with me or had interactions with me know that I’m going to work for them. I’m going to ask questions. I’m going to dig into where we need supports and really seek out as much knowledge as possible, connecting people with the right individuals,” Wood said. “A lot of that is the role of an MLA, trying to connect, whether it’s government to the right people or the individuals that are in need, connecting them with the right services.”

In his campaign literature, Wood commits to fighting for good jobs, more businesses and development which will create more opportunities for area residents.

The candidate also commits to fighting for agriculture which he considers the backbone of the province. Specifically, he will work to keep the School Tax Rebate for farm properties, keeping more money in the pockets of those who grow our food.

When it comes to crime, Wood will ensure front-line officers get the resources they need, while also investing in more mental health, addictions and homelessness services.

And whether it’s healing the health care system, creating good jobs, providing reliable infrastructure or keeping taxes low, Wood vows to keep the best interests of constituency resident and all Manitobans at the forefront.

“I will fight to make sure Dauphin and the surrounding communities are positioned well for the opportunities of tomorrow,” he said. “I will be out at the door for a majority of that time, contacting as many people as possible. There are a few events on my calendar but really, right now it’s about meeting individuals, connecting with them and hearing what their concerns are and addressing how the PC party can support them.”