A kickoff to Dauphin’s Culture Days took place last week, with Meet the Makers Under the Stars, Sept. 22,  from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., outside Fusion Credit Union on Main Street North.

The evening gave those interested a chance to browse through some unique items made in the Parkland, along with opportunity to talk to the artists about their craft.

The event was also an opportunity to learn about The Creative Common, a unique and collaborative makers’ space under development in the community.

Gerdeep Pandher brought his nationwide Joy, Hope and Positivity Tour to CN Park in Dauphin, last week, promoting that message by teaching those in attendance Bhangra, a traditional dance of Punjab which celebrates food-growing, harvesting and a relationship to the land. Pandher gained social media fame during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He is best known for promoting motivation and optimism throughout the pandemic during which, in an effort to spread awareness about vaccinations, Pandher made a Bhangra dance video on a frozen lake in Yukon, which was watched by millions across the globe. “Joy is more than having fun. Joy means your nerves are calm, your anxieties are elsewhere. Your heart (not just lips) is smiling; your breathing is soothing like a breeze; your world is perfect in the mess of imperfections around you.

Joy could be an ideal meditation. If all emotions are valuable, then even tears of joy can make us get up and dance. One thing more about joy; we need it, just like we need food to survive. Go find your joy. Start by searching within yourself or going out in nature,” Pandher says.

Good weather, for the most part, has producers in the northwest region over the hump when it comes to getting the 2023 crop in the bin.

Although most of the region has received frost - with some damage evident in corn and soybean crops, depending on the stage of crops and degree of frost - daytime temperatures regularly rose to mid-to-high 20Cs meaning continued good harvest conditions.

The spring wheat harvest in most areas is approximately 95 per cent to 97 per cent done, with the northern part of the region slightly behind that at approximately 70 per cent complete.

Yields have been ranging from 50 bushels per acre to 90 bushels per acre, varying widely dependent on early season rains.

Initial reports of quality have been good, however, there are some reports of lower protein.

The canola harvest is in full swing and is approximately 40 per cent to 45 per cent complete with desiccation and swathing taking place as crops reach appropriate stages.

Yield reports have averaged from 40 bushels per acre to 55 bushels per acre, while some fields have yielded below 40 bushels per acre and some above 55 bushels per acre.

The field pea harvest is complete in the region and yields were variable due mostly to precipitation received through the growing season.

Fields with little precipitation ranged from 40 bushels per acre to 45 bushels per acre, while better fields came off at 60 bushels per acre to 70 bushels per acre.

Baling of pea straw is occurring and some post-harvest field work has been done.

Soybeans throughout the region are now mostly in the R8 stage and are moving towards maturity.

There has been a small start to the harvest in the Dauphin area and, while some crops may have been touched by frost, it is unknown at this time if any damage has occurred.

Seeding of fall crops started last week across the region.

Provincial picture

Harvest progress sits at about 64 per cent complete across the province, which is ahead of the five-year average of 54 per cent. Harvest continues in spring cereal crops, with barley at 95 per cent complete, oats at 95 per cent complete and spring wheat at 93 per cent complete. Overall, cereal crops remain in fair to mostly good condition. Many corn fields have achieved growth stage R6 and are drying down. The canola harvest continues with approximately 55 per cent of acres harvested. Soybean fields are mostly in the R7 to R8 growth stages with harvest progress at 21 per cent provincially.

Cereals

Spring wheat yields range from 35 bushels per acre to 70 bushels per acre, with highs of 90 bushels and a low of 16 bushels per acre in the driest regions. Across the province, the spring wheat quality is rated mostly fair to good. Protein levels range from 13.5 per cent and higher and grading No. 1 or No. 2 Canada. Oats have been yielding 90 bushels per acre to 130 bushels per acre with highs of 170 bushels per acre and some in the driest areas as low as 60 bushels per acre. Barley yields are between 70 bushels per acre and 100 bushels per acre.

Oilseeds

While the canola harvest sits at 55 per cent complete provincially, approximately 75 per cent of the crop has been taken off in the Central region. Overall crop condition reports have ranged from fair to mostly good. Sunflower fields are transitioning from the R9 growth stage with bracts becoming yellow and brown. The crop remains in good to excellent condition. The flax crop growth stages range from late stage 11 to stage 12 with lots of variability across individual fields being reported. The flax harvest in the Central region continues with approximately 40 per cent of acres in the bin. Reports put the crop in fair to mostly good condition.

Pulses and beans

Soybean fields continue to be harvested in most areas of the province with variable yields dependent upon summer rainfall. Yield ranges from 20 bushels per acre to 30 bushels per acre on the earliest harvested fields to 30 bushels per acre to 40 bushels per acre plus in recently harvested crops. Overall crop condition remains good. The dry bean harvest is approximately 72 per cent complete with yield ranging from 1,200 pounds per acre to 2,500 pounds per acre.

Forages and livestock

Corn silage harvest is well underway. There is a big push to get dryer fields chopped and into piles before rain hits. Beef producers continue to chip away at a second cut from fields that are predominantly grass and are baling straw for bedding and feed as it becomes available. Some producers are considering taking second cut on alfalfa fields that are in full bloom as the alfalfa’s root reserves should be well charged, and minimal regrowth is expected. Forage growth on hay and pasture land is mostly finished due to dry conditions. Light frost in parts of the Northwest region have producers concerned over nitrates in their annual crop silage and greenfeed still standing, and are advised to feed test prior to feeding. Some producers are supplementing hay on pasture to ensure nutrient requirements of cattle are being met and to take pressure off the grass. A handful of producers are beginning to move cattle onto fenced hayfields or harvested cropland to graze available regrowth and stubble. Water levels in dugouts are low, particularly in areas that have consistently missed out on rain. Some producers are hauling cows home and taking calves to auction marts.

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.”