The Fair and Rodeo grounds in Gilbert Plains will be a beehive of activity this week as Gilbert Plains/Grandview Agricultural Society volunteers prepare for their annual Fair and Rodeo, July 14 to 16.

“We’re going to be at the grounds starting to set everything up and any evening next week, if there’s any volunteers that want to come out, there will be stuff going on every evening,” society president Kevin Boese said. “Setting up tents and getting things cleaned up and ready to roll.”

Boese said new this year there is three full days of chuck wagon racing with races getting under way Friday evening and continuing Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

“When the chuck wagons association goes around, they like to set up and be there for three days and there’s lots of places that they don’t do that. So we just wanted to give it a try this year and I think it should be a good success,” Boese said adding the races add another element to the first day of the exhibition.

“We have the parade Friday afternoon and Friday evening there was never really much going on. Everybody was in town already anyways for the parade, so we figured why not have chuck wagons on Friday evening and that gives something else to do.”

On top of the parade at 3 p.m. and chuck wagon and chariot racing at 7 p.m. Friday attractions feature a light horse show beginning at 11 a.m., a petting zoo from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a beer gardens featuring an open mic opportunity at 4 p.m., a DJ beginning at 9 p.m. and karaoke.

On Saturday things get underway with a pancake breakfast at the Lions Club booth at 7 a.m. followed by slo-pitch and the light horse show at 9 a.m.

A trade and craft show kicks off at 10 a.m. as does a show and shine car show.

“Last year there wasn’t a lot of cars, however, we’ve had lots of interest this year, so we’re hoping for a lot bigger show this year,” Boese said. “We thought bringing that in would maybe bring a little different crowd than the agricultural stuff.”

Kids activities such as the petting zoo, face painting and the Kinds Zone run all day , as does the Kids Sand Pile under the Fusion Credit Union Tent where youngsters can bring a shovel and dig for buried treasure. A kids tractor pull takes place on the tennis court at 12:30 p.m.

At 3 p.m. those in attendance will be treated to something completely new when the Truco Trick Riders perform some amazing feats on horseback, Boese said, adding the group will perform again at halftime of the rodeo along with the popular Wild Pony Races.

“We had a few people commenting that there just wasn’t much going on at a half times, so that’s why we’re bringing in a little bit of entertainment for the halftime show,” he said. “I can’t remember anything like that ever being (at the rodeo) since I’ve been involved. That should be very entertaining. They should put on a really good show.”

Chuck wagons and chariots get back in action at 3:30 p.m. with a special Redneck Farmer Challenge scheduled for halftime. The competition will see teams of three people attempt to complete a series of farm chore related tasks in a timed event.

“We’re hoping to get four teams. We don’t have any time teams signed up yet, but we haven’t actually done a whole lot of advertising,” Boese said. “It can be anybody, it doesn’t matter who or what age. There’ll be some laughs involved in that, that’s what that one’s all about.”
Rodeo action gets underway at 7 p.m. and the day wraps up with a Party in the Dirt featuring After Dark Xtreme.

Things get going again early Sunday with rodeo slack taking place from 8 a.m. to noon, if needed.

Slo pitch, the light horse show, petting zoo, face painting, Kids Zone and Legion bingo are all back operation and a church service and free pancake breakfast are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Donations are welcome.

Chuck wagons and chariots get underway at 1 p.m., followed by a gymkhana at 2 p.m. and the rodeo at 4 p.m.

It is a full weekend that would not be possible without the hard work of volunteers and the support of sponsors and the community at large.

“It costs a lot of money and a lot of man hours to put these things on. Way more than the average person ever knows and way more than I ever knew before I started helping with this,” Boese said, adding it is all worth it when you experience the final product.

“I think it’s going to be a great show there’s going to be tons of stuff. There’s a little bit of something for everybody. If you can’t find something to do there, you might as well just stay home.”

The Northwest Metis Council, in partnership with the Dauphin Friendship Centre, Mountain View Teachers Association and Boho Tattoo, presented the first-ever Walk With Pride parade, June 28.

Starting at Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School, hundreds of parade participants showed their pride walking a route to Vermillion Park, where they enjoyed a hotdog barbecue, a bubble station, face painting, the splash park and live entertainment.

As part of the celebration, flash pride tattoos were offered by Boho Tattoo for $100 with 100 per cent of the proceeds earmarked for the DRCSS Pride Club.

Fighting back tears of joy, Chantel and her three children aged 16, 12 and 10, accepted the keys to their new home built through the efforts of Habitat For Humanity Dauphin Chapter and countless volunteers and sponsors.

“It’s an overwhelming unrealistic experience. It is still unreal today to me. It is about building, grounding, new routes for me and my family here in Dauphin. We’ve been here for a long time, but this is just the next step in our journey,” Chantel said, adding her children seem relaxed about the whole process.

“They’re excited, but I think once the day comes and we are moving in, it’s going to kick in more for them. I’m the one that’s been pretty busy getting everything done. Habitat for Humanity helped us out so much to get a home like this. This is a big opportunity for me and my kids. I’m going make the most of it, of course.”

Chantel accepts the keys to the home from Habitat for Humanity chair Rodney Juba.

With record setting gates, packed grandstands and long lines at attractions, success is the only word which can be used to describe the Dauphin Agricultural Society’s 130th Fair and Exhibition, June 29 to July 2.

“It’s been a great turnout here so far. We’ve had some pretty record days at the gates and it’s great to see the grounds packed with lots of people,” ag society president Teren Stykalo said. “You know we have the national stock dog show here and that brings lots of people in from all over western Canada. So it’s been great to see all the action here this weekend.”

Other attractions included numerous 4-H events, workshops, competitions and sales, along with multiple heavy and light horse classes, the small animal display, Kids Play Zone, Home Living Section, All About Science Show, Kids Pedal Tractor Pull, Extreme Dog Stunt Show, numerous vendors and, of course, the Select Shows midway.

“It’s just a good old-fashioned Fair people want to come out they want to do stuff around the community,” Stykalo said, adding it is about more than just the attractions which keep people coming back year after year. “They want the camaraderie. They want to see some stuff, some new stuff here and, of course, the midway is always a big draw. But we have lots of support from around the community, whether it’s businesses or people. Putting on big volunteer events and people want to be a part of that and they like to support it. So it makes a big difference when you have a big crew of volunteers. Everybody knows somebody who wants to come and support them and all of a sudden it’s a big draw to our fair.”

Despite the success of the fair year after year, Stykalo said ag society directors are always looking for way to improve.

“I think there’s always a forward Vision at some point. Of course it’s kind of hard to see in the blur of these three days, but we’re always looking at what’s going to be the next thing that people want to come back and see,” he said, adding he can’t thank the public, sponsors and the volunteers enough for their support.

“Because ultimately, at the end of the day, we want people to come back to the fair. We want them to have fun. We want them to look forward to next year even though it’s a whole year away. We want people to be excited to come back for next year.”

And so there will always be a next year, Stykalo encourages anyone with ideas or suggestions to get involved.

“We’re always looking for people to just come and show support and even if you’re willing and you want to volunteer, we’re always looking for volunteers,” Stykalo said. “And that’s probably the best way. If you have a good idea, come on the board and let’s talk about it and we’ll put some sort of plan to action.”

A local court room erupted in a display of shock, anger and anguish as Justice Sandra Zinchuk handed down a not guilty verdict for a Dauphin man facing 15 charges in connection with a 2019 drunk driving collision which killed two young sisters.

At the heart of the trial of Jack Winters, 28, was the identity of the person behind the wheel of a Ford F-150 registered to Winters, which ran a stop sign at the intersection Road 457 North and PTH 362 north of the city causing the collision, killing six-year-old Oksana Dutchyshen and her four-year-old sister Quinn.

Winters was travelling with his friend Jeffrey Thompson and court was told both men had been drinking heavily, with both men having high blood alcohol levels.

Winters’ DNA was found on the drivers’ side airbag and he was found on the ground near the driver’s door by first responders. However, in delivering her verdict Justice Zinchuk indicated the defense offered multiple alternate scenarios which could account for the DNA transfer.

The question of who was driving was further clouded by contradictory statements made by Thompson, who immediately after the accident told a first responder he was driving. Later that night in hospital, Thompson told police he “might” have been driving and in a final statement to police some months later indicated he was not driving.

Thompson died in an unrelated incident in 2020 making further clarification of his statements impossible, Zinchuk said.

Winters maintained throughout that he had no memory of the accident.

It all added up to reasonable doubt about who had care and control of the vehicle, Justice Zinchuk said.

“A reasonable doubt is not an imaginary or frivolous doubt. It is not based on sympathy for, or prejudice against, anybody involved in the proceedings,” she said. “Even if I believe that Winters is probably guilty, or likely guilty, that is not sufficient. Accordingly, I must find the defendant not guilty on all counts.”

Following the decision, the victims’ mother Claire McBride crumpled to floor in tears, while other supporters and family members hurled obscenities at the judge, the accused and his family and levelled charges of incompetence at police.

Outside the courtroom following the proceedings the girls’ grandmother, Gaylene Dutchyshen, expressed her “profound disappointment” in the verdict.

“We don’t have a reasonable doubt. We know our grandchildren are dead. This is not about me, it is about those two little girls. This is not an accident, this is wilful drinking and driving. They chose to get in that vehicle,” she said. “Total injustice and that’s all I can say. And we have to live with it, we have to live in the aftermath of being without those two little girls the rest of our lives.”

The Government of Treaty 2 Territory took the opportunity on National Indigenous People’s Day to share a little bit of their culture with a powwow demonstration at the 8th Avenue Hall in Dauphin, June 21.

The day also included a hotdog lunch and entertainment in the hall.

A new fund in support of seniors has been established by the Dauphin and District Community Foundation (DDCF) to handle donations coming in the wake of the June 15 crash which killed 16 members of the area community.

The Support Our Seniors fund will provide funding to programming, equipment and activities that support seniors, through the traditional community foundation model.

The fund was established on the advice of officials of Humboldt, Sask., who indicated their community was ill prepaid to handle donations following the 2018 accident which killed 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos Jr. A hockey team.

The new fund is not meant to compete with the wishes of the victims and their families when it comes to directing donations, but rather it is an option for those wanting to do something for the community, said DDCF board member Martijn van Luijn.

“If somebody wants to donate to a particular family member, absolutely just donate to that family member,” he said.

van Luijn said there have already been corporate inquiries about where to direct donations to community at large with Wawanesa Insurance being the first, pledging $50,000.

“We said that’s awesome, but hang on, let’s get organized first,” he said, adding the foundation’s endowment is made up of a general fund which can be used to support virtually any cause, and restricted funds which support a specific area.

“We don’t have a restricted fund for seniors. So that’s why the idea came up to do a Support Our Seniors fund.

“So the donation from Wawanesa will go into that.”

Those interested in contributing to the Support Our Seniors Fund can make this tax-deductible donation at www.DDCF.ca, calling the DDCF at 204-638-4598 or toll free 1-877-974-3631, or stopping in at the office located at 100 Main Street South in Dauphin.

Wayne and Gail Himpe of Repromap Ltd. apply an anti graffiti wrap on a traffic light control box at the corner of First Street Northwest and Second Avenue Northwest, last week.

The initiative was inspired by city councillor Kathy Bellemare after she encountered a similar initiative on a trip to British Columbia.

The wraps have graphics centred on Dauphin themes such as Indigenous heritage, agriculture, the environment and arts and culture, created by local graphic artist Jeanne Brenner.

Six switch boxes have been wrapped in the downtown core of the community with the blessing of Manitoba Highways, which owns the equipment, as phase one at a cost of around $8,000.

The community of Ste. Rose is celebrating a windfall which will allow for the completion of phase two of the Turtle River Trails project.

Through its Community Spaces program, Co-op has pledged $85,000 towards the project as part of a $1 million investment in 15 community projects across Western Canada.

“We are so very thankful to be the recipient of the Co-op Community Spaces Grant, to have Co-op partner with us to create such an amazing space for the people of Ste. Rose and surrounding communities to enjoy,” said Shari Shankaruk, chair of the Turtle River Trails Committee. “Valuable projects like ours, and communities across the country are becoming a reality because of this program. Co-op is a community-minded business and is undoubtedly known for their generosity and support in communities such as ours. On behalf of the Turtle River Trails project committee, I would like to extend a huge heartfelt thank you to Co-op for believing in our project and partnering with us to make it a reality.”

Intended to enhance, beautify and promote healthy living in the community, the Turtle River Trail system built during phase one, through phase 2 will be augmented with the construction of a toboggan hill, nature trail and nature play park, as well as a nine-hole disc golf course.

Dauphin Ste Rose Co-op general manager Lorne Eiffert said the local business is pleased to be involved with the development as it “reflects our vision to enrich the life of our communities.”

“Each project can be different in a community where it’s located and that’s the beautiful thing about local residents building their communities, they understand the community needs,” he said.

“I want to thank the Turtle River Trails committee for your commitment and extraordinary work you do on a daily basis. That makes such a big difference in the community of Ste. Rose. Co-op is proud to be part of bringing this project into reality and together we are improving the places where we meet, play, learn and share.”

Since 2015, the Co-op Community Spaces program has provided $12.5 million to 175 projects in three categories: recreation, environmental conservation and urban agriculture.

The program was developed as part of Co-op’s commitment to invest in the communities it serves.

Funding has also been secured through the provincial Building Sustainable Communities Fund in the amount of $83,250, as well as a $10,000 grant from the Thomas Sill Foundation which, when combined with the money from Co-op Community Spaces means phase two will be able to proceed without any further fund-raising being necessary.