A change in leadership  at Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) is being heralded as a good first step in restoring a positive relationship between Parks Canada and the communities surrounding the national park.

Parks Canada announced last week that  Field Unit Superintendent Leane Cooper is being replaced in her roll at RMNP, efffective Sept. 11 and will move to a similar position with the agency in the Northwest Territories.

Cooper is being replaced by Tom Sheldon, who most recently was a policy manager with Parks Canada.

The move comes amid backlash over a unilateral decision Cooper made to ban motorized boats on Clear Lake, announced just one day before the summer opening of the park on the Victoria Day long weekend.

It was a move to slow the spread of zebra mussels on the lake, which was made without any consultation, blindsiding cottagers and business owners. It also spawned formation of the group  Fairness for Clear Lake (FFCL), a coalition of community members, organizations, and businesses united by a shared commitment to the long-term health and prosperity of RMNP to provide a stronger, collective voice and to advocate for inclusive, transparent decision-making. 

“While today’s announcement changes a nameplate on a door, it does not on its own change a culture of secrecy and unaccountability,” said Riding Mountain MP Dan Mazier, whose riding includes RMNP, one of two national parks in the province.

“The culture of secrecy must end. So must the divisive practice of conveying different information to different parties behind closed doors. Parks Canada is a public agency that is supposed to serve all Canadians.”

For the full story, read this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

The dream of turning Second Avenue Northwest into a pedestrian destination in downtown Dauphin took one step closer to reality recently with the awarding of a design contract.

Dauphin Economic Development manager Martijn van Luijn said Urban Systems was chosen to lead the preliminary and detailed design of phase one of the Craft District Corridor Revitalization project at a cost of $69,839 plus GST. The 2025 City financial plan budgetted $85,000 for the

Van Luijn said Urban Systems has been involved with the project for some time, having completed a preliminary vision study for the project. The consultants have also completed other projects for the City.

In order to make the process fair and not rely on that past relationship, van Luijn said applicants were scored against a set of criteria involving overall proposal suitability, proposed schedule, service quality and reputation.

“Urban Systems was not only the most affordable one, they also scored the highest,” he said, adding the request for proposals drew one other bid from JRCC Engineering, which was close in both cost and score.

“So, we’re going to continue working with Urban Systems on getting this priced out and they’ll do all the technical drawings.”

This part of the process is the costing out of the vision for the district, which includes enhancements such as wider sidewalks, creating bumpouts, mid-block crosswalks, murals and lighting.

“We want to really make this a destination that is pedestrian friendly,” he said.

“We’re kind of taking a part of First Street towards the train station as part of that, as well, to create this really new entrance to our downtown where people can gather.”

Working towards a deadline of  Dec. 31, Urban Systems will produce a class A estimate complete with cost estimates and technical drawings.

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

Meeting with representatives of other Manitoba cities continues to be a worthwhile exercise, says Dauphin mayor David Bosiak.

Bosiak was in Steinbach last week to attend a meeting of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) Cities Caucus around shared challenges and priorities.

“Just about everybody to a man and woman in the room said we need to get together more as an urban caucus. Because at AMM (conventions) the discussion gets sort of watered down a little bit because you got over 150 municipalities. Big municipalities and others are small places,” Bosiak said.

“So it’s really nice to talk to like-minded municipalities with similar issues, concerns, and strategies on how we deal with it.”

One of the highlights for Bosiak was a presentation by the deputy-minister of Justice on a number of different files the province is working on around crime reduction, bail reform and homelessness.

“It was really well received and we were told that in the fall sitting of the legislature that they’re going to try and make them into law. Because they are a majority government that’s likely going to happen,” Bosiak said, adding while those are issues that all caucus members are dealing with, each has their own unique challenges.

For example, Bosiak said Steinbach city council contracted a private security firm to protect new developments as thieves were stealing tools and building material on a daily basis. Additionally, Bosiak said Portage la Prairie put in six community service officers to support RCMP around issues of crime and homelessness and addictions on their streets.

“We did the math and for us to hire four people was about $350,000 a year,” Bosiak said, adding the situation in those two cities is, admittedly, a little worse than Dauphin..

“We know we’ve got a really good situation right now, relatively speaking, with the RCMP, our component of officers, although it’s not full. So when compared to other municipalities, we’re not so bad. Yeah, we got issues. Absolutely. But not so bad.”

For the full story, read this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

Jason Gilmore has begun the important work of planning for a memorial honouring Dauphin’s railroad history through the preservation of key pieces of the turntable mechanism, which will be removed from in front of the Public Works Shop later this summer.

But it is early in the process, said the president of the Dauphin Rail Museum.

“The first stage I’m in right now is just trying to obtain a little bit of engineering, architectural help, in so far as design,” Gilmore said.

“I think (the monument) is going to be pretty simple, but the portion that we’re going to have saved is still 32,000 pounds. So just to ensure the base of it is stable and it’s not going to sink in a couple years. So that’s kind of the primary concern.”

Gilmore said he has been in touch with engineering and architectural schools, but as of yet, has not heard back.

“I did reach out to the University of Manitoba, but right now since they’re on break, maybe they’re sort of offline a little bit, too,” he said, adding he has worked with the school on projects in the past.

“When we 3D printed the rail station on the model layout, that was the Faculty of Architecture that helped us.”

Other options, Gilmore added, include either that U of M’s school of engineering or possibly Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba.

“I had an engineering friend say to reach out to them, because they’re younger engineers. I think going that route would be preferable, because it would create experience for them, plus a little bit of legacy when you indicate they assisted, say on a plaque or something like that,” he said.

There is, however, plenty of work that needs to be completed before a detailed design can take place, such as selecting a location for the monument and setting a budget for the project.

In terms of location, given the size of the pieces being preserved - an approximately 15-foot-by-15-foot cross section of the turntable which, includes the motor - options are limited. Currently two locations are being considered, Gilmore said. The first is just east of CN Place in front of the first rail bench. The second is in a section west of the caboose and east of the berry patch.

“We just haven’t nailed it down. And part of it is just logistics of how to get it in these spots. Is there an easier one? These are all the details that we have to really nail down,” Gilmore said, adding that although it is early in the process, he hopes to have the fixture installed next summer or early fall.

For the full story, read this weeks edition of The Dauphin Herald.

A public meeting held last week to help determine the future of the Dauphin and District Community Food Bank has the organization’s directors re-energized to continue their search for a new home.

About 50 people attended the meeting to learn about the history of the food bank, the important role it plays in the community and the current difficulties it is having in finding a new home after being told it will have to vacate its current location at Parkland Crossing.

The meeting was also a chance to gauge public support for the food bank and brainstorm ideas to secure its future.

“I thought it was a pretty good turnout. I thought it was a lot of positives. We do have hopes for the future now,” DDCFB board chair Robin Gambler said.

“People that were there seemed to care about if there’s a food bank in Dauphin.”

The food bank has been searching for a new location, either to rent or to buy with no resolution to this point.

The Dauphin Church of Christ, which formerly owned Parkland Crossing and leases space to the food bank, has set aside some money to help out and has sent an appeal to other churches in the community.

As of the meeting, approximately $255,000 has been raised to help DDCFB purchase a facility, should one be identified, but directors feel at least $100,000 more needs to be secured before they are in a position to make an offer on any building.

Gambler said the meeting resulted in volunteers stepping forward to organize a public fund-raising plan and visit businesses to help raise awareness and support.

She added pledges from community organizations and contributions were received during and immediately after the meeting.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the board to raise awareness about the need for the food bank.

In 2024, Gambler said, the food bank served 3,720 people - including 1,308 children and 2,412 adults. Numbers grow at every intake, she said, and some days there are as many as 12 to 15 new applicants. 2024 saw the food bank take in 149,293 pounds of food donations and after purchasing the extras needed, distributed 216,485 pounds of food.

That work required 2,081.5 volunteer hours.

“We are a volunteer board of 12 with a lot of duties. It takes 15 volunteers to run a successful intake,” Gambler said.

“We are always looking for new volunteers to help out with pickups.”

Once details of the fund-raising campaign are finalized, Gambler said, people can expect numerous opportunities to get involved.

As the food bank is a charitable organization, all those contributing will receive a tax receipt, Gambler said, adding the building funds will be kept separate from DDCFB’s operational money.

“We’re going to have a building fund. Our treasurer will keep track of every dime that’s going into the building fund and she will mail a tax receipt,” Gambler said.

“There’s going to be fund-raisers coming up, lots of opportunities to get involved.”

Dauphin Fire Chief Cam Abrey provided city councillors with a year-to-date overview of his department’s operations as part of council regular meeting, May 26.

To May 22, Dauphin Fire Department responded to 97 incidents, an increase of 17 incidents compared to the same time frame in 2024.

Proclamations

Council proclaimed June as Pride Month as an opportunity to celebrate diversity, promote equal rights and build awareness of the challenges faced by those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

June 1 was proclaimed   Lieutenant Colonel W.G. (Billy) Barker, V.C. Day, recognizing Dauphin’s bravest son as an Individual of National Significance as commemorated by the Government of Canada. Barker, a World War I pilot, is one of Canada’s most renowned and decorated servicemen of any armed conflict.

June 5 was proclaimed as World Environment Day as a call for urgent action to revive the damaged ecosystem globally. World Environment Day in 2021 saw the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global rallying cry for everyone to do their part in healing the ailing planet.

Finally, June 8 to 14 was proclaimed as Bike Week, recognizing the City’s adoption of an Active Transportation Strategy in 2021 as a commitment to active living, promoting cycling opportunities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Community events

In accordance with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries rules, councillors voted in favour of recognizing several Dauphin flagship events as community events. The list includes Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival Kick-off Party, June 14;  Dauphin’s Countryfest, June 26 to 29; Dauphin Agricultural Society Fair, June 27 to 29; Parkland Chamber of Commerce Annual Street Fair, July 31; Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival, Aug. 1 to 3; and Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival Parade, Aug. 2.

Operating grant

Council received correspondence from Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations Glen Simard informing them about the details of Dauphin’s 2025 municipal operating grant. This year Dauphin will receive a total $1,056,006.68 with 75 per cent of the grant, or $792,005.01, coming soon and the balance to be paid in September.

Additionally, the City will receive the full payment of its 2025 One Manitoba Growth Revenue Fund in the amount of $77,300.64.

Protecting the

economy

Council received correspondence from Simard, encouraging communication around the impact of the current trade dispute.

RMNP restrictions

Councillors reviewed an email from Parks Canada outlining its recent policy of allowing non-motorized watercraft on Clear Lake and outlying waterbodies in Riding Mountain National Park.  Users of non-motorized watercraft, including kayaks and canoes, may choose between an annual permit to use only Clear Lake or an annual permit to use the various outlying waterbodies in Riding Mountain National Park, such as Lake Audy, Moon Lake and Lake Katherine, in an effort to reduce the rate of spread of zebra mussels.

Lift assists

Council heard from City manager Sharla Griffiths regarding the rising rate of lift assist calls to the fire department by EMS staff. Griffiths said the Association of Manitoba Municipalities passed a resolution in 2023 calling for municipalities to not perform unnecessary lift assists as the costs were starting to become significant, however, the practice is continuing. Griffiths added the City of Selkirk tracked one year of actual costs and found it to be approximately $32,000.

Griffiths added the issue is part of a trend which has seen the Province  download many tasks to municipalities with insufficient or no monetary compensation.

Zoning bylaw

Griffiths told councillors the City has completed its first review of the new Zoning Bylaw. The bylaw has been sent back to consultants at Urban Systems to make changes and provide more information and options.

Accounts approved

Councillors authorized the issuance of 49 cheques totalling $1,709,988.50 to cover outstanding accounts. Three electronic fund transfers were also approved in the amount of $3,238.42.

Lagoon contract

Council awarded the contract for the general construction portion of the lagoon expansion to Penn-Co Construction Canada Ltd. of Steinbach, in the amount of $14,319,931.69 plus applicable taxes. The tender for the project attracted two very different bids  with the second coming from Strilkiwski Contracting Ltd. of Dauphin for $27,596,172.77. The work will be paid for through a combination of provincial and federal grants, withdrawals from the Utility Reserve and Gas Tax Reserve, as well as borrowing.

AMM resolution

Councillors agreed to submit a resolution for consideration to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities district meetings calling on the province to update and modernize The Mental Health Act.

Bylaws

Council gave first reading to Bylaw 09/2025 to amend the Zoning Bylaw regulating the use of land at 722 Main Street North.

The final contract in the City of Dauphin’s long-awaited lagoon upgrades has been awarded.

At its regular meeting, May 26, Dauphin city council accepted a proposal from Penn-Co Construction Canada Ltd. of Steinbach to complete the general construction portion of the project at a cost of $14,319,931.69 plus applicable taxes.

Mike VanAlstyne, director of Public Works and Operations with the City of Dauphin, said the contract involves installation of a new aeration system, as well as construction of a new operation’s building on the north side of the existing lagoon.

“That will house the chemical feed and the blowers for the SAGR system,” VanAlstyne said.

SAGR refers to a Submerged Attached Growth Reactor. It’s a wastewater treatment process that uses aerated gravel beds to remove ammonia, biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. SAGRs are particularly effective in cold climates, to achieve ammonia limits and improve overall effluent quality.

The system typically include a layer of insulation, such as wood chips or mulch, at the surface to prevent ice formation in the gravel bed during cold weather.

SAGRs are designed to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms on the submerged gravel beds, which effectively convert ammonia into less harmful nitrogen forms.

 “The SAGR system is being constructed within one of the existing cells. Then three of the existing cells will be taken offline eventually because they are not needed for the treatment process anymore. We’ll rehab one or two of them and then the plan is to use them as a drying bed for sludge in the future,” VanAlstyne said, referring to the organics that precipitate out and sink to the bottom and get harvested.

“Then we’ll give it to ag producers as a form of fertilizer.”

The project will actually see the footprint of the lagoon system cut in half.

“The treatment process is five times faster. So that’s the difference,” VanAlstyne said, adding the company will also be tasked with constructing a new access road to the facility.

Other contracts awarded as part of the project include an approximate $1 million deal with Stantec for design and construction administration and a $4.4 million contract with Nexom for the necessary treatment equipment.

The project will be paid for through a combination of provincial and federal grants, withdrawals from the Utility Reserve and Gas Tax Reserve, as well as borrowing to be repaid through a combination of tax levies and utility income.

“We expect to have a kickoff meeting within the next couple weeks. And I would think by the end of June we’ll have some mobilization happening,” VanAlstyne said, adding completion of the project is expected by September or October of 2026.

The first five months of 2025 proved to be a little busier for Dauphin Fire Department (DFD) than the same time frame in 2024, fire chief Cam Abrey told Dauphin city council at its regular meeting May 26.

Abrey said this year,  DFD has responded to 97 incidents as of May 22, an increase of 17 calls over 2024.

Abrey said the increase was due to motor vehicle collision calls doubling year-over-year and a busier spring with wildfire calls.

“Outdoor fires were exponentially raised, because it was a bit of a drier spring this year and there were a few fires that were getting away out in the RM,” Abrey said, adding there have also been three mutual aid calls in 2025 compared to one last year.

“A couple of large ones in Gilbert Plains that we went out and assisted with. But they have been here assisting us, as well. So we’re scratching each other’s backs lately this spring.”

There have been nine structure fires this year, which Abrey said is on the high side. Three of those fires in January and one in April are attributed to individuals squatting in detached garages.

Two of the nine fires are considered suspicious in nature. One was in a home in January, Abrey said, and the other was the announcer’s booth at the grass ring near Rotary Arena in February. The remaining structure fires were accidental in nature, he added.

In other areas, EMS lift assists are being monitored to determine the impact on DFD’s operations.

When it comes to covering two separate municipalities, Abrey said 13 of DFD’s responses have been to the RM of Dauphin, totalling 379 personnel hours, while 81 calls have been City and motor vehicle incidents totaling 1,352 hours. The three mutual aid calls have resulted in 88 personnel hours.

Those statistics can change quickly, Abrey added.

For the full story, read this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

Dauphin city councillors marked special days with proclamations as they gathered for their regular meeting, May 12.

May 15 was proclaimed as Moose Hide Campaign Day, recognizing the  “Indigenous-led, grassroots movement of men, boys, and all Canadians standing up to end violence against women, children, and all those along the gender continuum.” Founded along the Highway of Tears in British Columbia, the Moose Hide Campaign is a  response to the injustices and violence faced by many women and children in Canada, particularly those who are Indigenous.

May 17 was proclaimed as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia to draw attention to the 2SLGBTQI+ community and the discrimination and prejudice that is often directed at its members. The proclamation also recognizes the City of Dauphin’s support of diversity and that homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia are not welcome in the community.

Finally, May 25 to 31 was proclaimed as Access Awareness Week, highlighting the fact that  accessibility will improve the health, independence and well-being of people disabled by barriers.

Added to taxes

Councillors opted to added three outstanding receivable accounts to the tax rolls in the amount of $4,044.31. That total is comprised of $119.24 owing for quarterly garbage pickup at 18 4th Avenue SW, $2,617.43 related to 417 2nd Avenue NE for yard clean-up, tipping fees and fines for unpermitted burning and leaving a fire unattended, and a fine of $1,307.64 for two false alarms unpaid at 95 1st Avenue NE.

Councillors also voted to add an outstanding water account to the tax rolls in the amount of $463.21 owing at 210 6th Ave. NE after the previous tenant did not pay the final utility bill.

Pride

Council was informed plans for an upcoming Pride event on June 13 are progressing well with  a parade set to end in Vermillion Park, where food, activities and entertainment will cap the day. The City will show its support for the celebration by:

• proclaiming June as Pride Month at its May 26 regular meeting;
• changing its social media logos in June to reflect the Pride colours;
• posting on social media to affirm the City’s support for an inclusive and respectful community where everyone can live, work, and play in a safe and secure environment;
• flying the Pride flag at city hall from June 13 to 16;
• featuring two slides in celebration of Pride in Dauphin on the electronic sign at city hall; and
• purchasing 150 pride sunglasses to give away during the parade.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.

Dry spring conditions have kept Dauphin firefighters busy in recent weeks and, given the potential for serious harm, department officials are urging area residents to follow the rules around lighting fires and to use common sense before striking the match.

After a busy stretch the week before, during a time span between May 3 and 5, Dauphin Fire Department responded to six incidents, which included four calls for wild land blazes.

The first came in the afternoon of May 3 when  DFD was dispatched to a grass fire northeast of Dauphin after hydro lines came into contact with tree branches and showered sparks into the tinder dry grass below.

Just as firefighters were wrapping up that call, a mutual aid request came in from Sifton Fire Department at a yard and barn fire north of Dauphin. The two departments were working in high winds to control the fire, which was attributed to embers from a burning barrel when yet another call was received around 5 p.m. regarding a grass fire west of Dauphin off Hwy. 274.

Given everything that was going on, a mutual aid request was sent to the Gilbert Plains Fire Department, which responded with a full slate of manpower and equipment. The two departments working together limited damages from the fire, attributed to a controlled burn that outgrew the property owner’s ability to extinguish it.

That was not it for the weekend, however, as, after a call to assist paramedics in the city, fighters received another rural call for a blaze near Stony Point just after midnight.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a hay field on fire covering an area one mile wide east to west and two miles wide  north to south.

As the fire was located in a marshy area, and firefighting equipment was unable to access the area, firefighters remained on scene all night to ensure there was no threat to any structures.

It has been a difficult and stressful stretch for firefighters, that could have been much less difficult and stressful if a little more common sense had been exercised by some of those involved.

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