After a challenging campaign, Steve Sobering is looking forward to setting the City of Dauphin on a course for four more years of progress and prosperity as its new mayor.
Sobering earned the top council job in the Oct. 28 municipal election with 1,136 votes, or 57.4 per cent of votes cast, ahead of challengers Keith Durston with 752 votes and Carter Taylor-Luke with 91 votes.
“We have a great community. We have businesses relocating here. We have population growth. We have people moving here,” Sobering said
“So I think there’s always those things that every community would like to improve, but we’re definitely in a great position in the City of Dauphin.”
With some new faces around the table, Sobering is looking forward to sitting down with his council to reaffirm priorities and discuss issues which he heard a lot about while campaigning.
Sobering heard from a lot of people leading up to election day and they were very clear about the issues they felt were important.
Crime, safety, homelessness and addiction and affordable housing were always a main topic, he said, and the City will continue to make those issues a focus of their operations.
“Every conversation always ended with that,” Sobering said.
“But there were also a lot of people who were just really excited to see some of the hopeful projects that are moving forward.”
A lot of that hope centres on building the tourism industry in the community and the area through partnerships with groups like Northgate Trails and businesses in the Second Avenue Northwest Craft District.
“There’s always room for improvement in everything we do,” Sobering said, adding he is excited for the City to get started on the Craft District project
“I’m looking forward to seeing us break ground on that. And then on to the next project. We have lots of potential here.
“I’ve also been talking to the organizers about getting a tour of the development at Northgate. Sounds like a lot of work has been done in carving out the trail network, and I want to make sure we do a good job of taking advantage of that project, tying it into our tourism, and just our overall making Dauphin a great choice for livability.”
When it comes to the Craft District, Sobering is a little confused about the strong opposition to the project among some groups.
Boiled down, he said, the concept is basically a sidewalk renewal, which would cost the City about $400,000 for a simple remove and replace. The budget for the project was set at $700,000, he said, with a contingency of $200,000, so if cost overruns materialized there would not have to be another round of council approvals stalling work.
People took that “possible” $900,000 budget, rounded it up and used the $1 million figure to fuel their opposition.
“But in reality it’s a $200,000 to $300,000 add-on to probably a $400,000 spend, which we would spend anyways if we’re doing curbs and sidewalks,” he said, adding the scope of the project pales in comparison to the Justice Centre, the Prairie Park Place Early Learning Centre or the Northgate development.
“Yet it’s probably going to have one of the biggest impacts, the best bang for our buck, out of all of those projects as far as the city is concerned.”
It’s all part of making Dauphin the best community it can be, full of opportunities and proud residents.
“My dream, if I looked at Dauphin 10 years from now, what I’d love to see is, when you drive in from the south, all the buildings are full on Main Street. We have a prosperous commercial district. All the buildings are in good shape and look attractive and inviting,” he said.
“There’s a multi-use path system that connects everywhere. So if you’re just a mom pushing a stroller for a newborn, or an elderly person zipping around on your mobility scooter, or just somebody out there enjoying a beautiful sunny day, you can get to wherever you want in the city safely and in a way you can enjoy. You’re going to find an attractive little tourist hub of our downtown. It won’t be a scary place to go, it’ll be an exciting place to explore.
“You’re going to have recreation. Whatever it is that means to you, you’re going to have it.”
Such lofty goals cannot be realized by one person, or seven around the council table, Sobering said. It will take the effort of the entire community pulling together so Dauphin can realize its potential.
“I would really encourage people, now that the election is over, people that were making posts on Facebook and really engaged in stating their opinion, positive or negative, just to get out there. If there’s something they’d like to see in Dauphin or something they don’t like in Dauphin, get involved and help out,” he said.
“There’s always groups looking for people to contribute. The food bank could always use more volunteers, more donations, more help filling those shelves. We have groups that are trying to do what they can for the people that don’t have homes and need care. We always have projects on the go, like Maamawi Park, they’re doing a next phase that you could get involved in. Northgate’s always taking on volunteers to help trail build. There’s so many things. Whatever it is that people are excited about, just go out there and contribute.”

Area renal patients are once again able to access treatment in Dauphin thanks to the opening of a temporary hemodialysis unit in the Community Health Building in Dauphin.
The unit began serving patients yesterday (Nov. 2).
“We are so happy to welcome the patients back to Dauphin and staff back to Dauphin. We are optimistic that both will appreciate the new space, or the temporary space, where the dialysis unit will be housed,” said Prairie Mountain Health CEO Treena Slate, adding the unit will boast six stations, the same number as the regular service prior flooding in June, which forced the closure of the Dauphin Regional Health Centre.
While she has not yet received feedback from patients as of yet, Slate said staff are “very happy to be home.”
With winter approaching, Slate said it was important to have dialysis services available in the region once again.
“We don’t want people driving more than they need to, and it was my goal right from the beginning of this to get dialysis back there as soon as we could. So, really happy for this, and I would expect that patients and staff will be as well,” she said.
“It’s such a tremendous pull on your life to be on dialysis, three or four times a week, and having to commit to that. And then to add excessive travel onto that is . . . I can’t even imagine the impact that had on people. So I’m really happy that we’re able to have this back in Dauphin.”
In terms of the big picture, cleanup restoration work is continuing, Slate said, adding that during a recent tour of the DRHC’s lower level she was encouraged to see new hoses and cable hanging, capped off and waiting to receive new pieces of mechanical and electrical infrastructure when they become available.
“They’re having to do abatement in part of the basement still, so that work is continuing. But excellent progress has been made,” she said, adding that although there is no firm timeline in place, she expects things to progress quickly once equipment starts to arrive.
“Once the pieces start arriving, we can get systems back online. Then I’m hoping that getting the air-handling units in place, and enough airflow in the building, and heating, and the medical gases.
“I think we’ll start to see things open up in quick fashion.”
As for what services might be next to come online, clinical teams are providing input on “ what is dependent on what.”
Diagnostic services have expanded recently with the return of stress testing and ultrasound is back in its usual location.
“It would be nice to get our usual CT scanner room back up and running, just so that we can make some space for some of the other trailers that have to arrive,” Slate said.
“And we’ll see what else is possible in the coming months around some of the other services on that main floor, like endoscopy, and maybe moving cancer care back to Dauphin sooner rather than later.”
Ultimately, Slate will be pleased with the addition of any services back to the DRHC.
“Having any more beds open would be great, but we know that we need other things in place before all of that can happen,” she said.
“So we’re trying to be patient. I think we are. But it is very exciting when we tour to see the advancements that they’ve made. It’s just tremendous.”

With the voting in Manitoba’s municipal election looming, Dauphin’s outgoing mayor is worried some Dauphin residents may be considering casting their vote based on misinformation about the City’s Craft District vision for Second Avenue.
“I’m worried that it has become a wedge issue,” mayor David Bosiak said, referring to recent social media posts being shared claiming malfeasance on the part of members of council and City staff throughout the process.
“At no point in the planning or approval process was coercion, improper influence, or any attempt to circumvent policy or established municipal procedures involved. All decisions were made through the City’s required public processes, with council exercising its authority independently. I can state unequivocally that neither councillor Steve Sobering nor Economic Development manager Martijn van Luijn exerted any undue influence over the development or approval of the plan. Any claims otherwise are simply false.”
The concept of a Craft District emerged through community consultations undertaken in 2022 and 2023 as part of the development of the City Plan, a process which involved not only the current council, but also its predecessors, with the assistance of consultants from Urban Systems. The resulting City Plan was unanimously approved by council.
As a result of that work, Dauphin’s Economic Development Committee - which Bosiak chaired - recommended the development of a downtown revitalization plan, an initiative which received unanimous support from council, Bosiak said.
Urban Systems was once again contracted to lead the process following a request for proposals issued by the City.
The consultants undertook a planning process, which ran for more than a year and a half, Bosiak said, and included consultations with council, city administration, businesses, and the public at large, along with considering best practices and approaches taken in other Manitoba and Western Canadian communities.
As a result of that process, Urban Systems presented council with the Craft District concept, which was unanimously approved.
“Funding associated with the initiative was included in two municipal budgets, both of which were subject to the City’s public budget process,” Bosiak said.
“While there were questions, there was no indication of public disapproval at that time.”
The idea of a craft district is related to a broader vision of tourism, he added, and offers an important opportunity for promotion of the community. When coupled with other attractions, such as the Northgate Trail System, could mean big things for the local economy.
“A whole bunch of people are coming to Clear Lake already. How do we get them up to Dauphin and Northgate for a day or for a day and a half? What do we need to have besides a bike trail system? Maybe a funky little bakery, an artisan meat shop, a brew pub, a couple of neat restaurants, maybe a couple little stores on Main Street,” Bosiak said.
“Dauphin has that and it’s attractive to tourists.”
It is also attractive to people looking relocate to Dauphin permanently, he added.
“To young professionals like lawyers, doctors, nurses, lab techs and other people that we need here. People that want to work in the justice center, people that want to work in the treatment center. They can fill their weekends right here,” Bosiak said, adding he has heard feedback to that effect from young RCMP officers, who have recently come to work in the city because of what it has to offer and because of its potential.
“Dauphin right now is top of the list in Manitoba of where young officers want to go.
“Our issues are very similar to other municipal issues in Manitoba and across the country, but our opportunities are very unique. We need to act on them.”

While there is still no timeline in place for the complete reopening of Dauphin Regional Health Centre, Prairie Mountain Health CEO Treena Slate was in Dauphin, last week, meeting with engineers and contractors trying to nail down something more definite.
“We’re meeting with our clinical folks, the engineering company, and our construction company, and working on developing a schedule and a set of priorities based on what the clinicians see are the priorities,” Slate said, adding all options are being explored should systems such as HVAC and other infrastructure or medical gases become available.
“So we are hoping for some overarching, high-level timelines or estimates in terms of what the public can expect in the coming months. But with what we know right now, we want to try to plan with what systems we have, so we can open sooner rather than later.”
Slate added some announcements are expected soon around cancer care, hemodialysis and the expansion of lab services to support patient care.
“Around some of the tests that will be offered. That’s important. We want to make sure that we’re supporting physician practice and clinic practice,” Slate said, adding more lab services will also benefit the public in tangible ways.
“Because people are right now having to travel for some of those tests, and we want to limit that as much as we can.”
With the emergency department open and other services increasing, the need to get more support departments up and running is more urgent.
“We are working on also getting some mobile trailers in to support some of the services that are going to be shut down for a long period of time. We’re not going to have a sterilizer for a long period of time. We’re not going to have a pharmacy for a long period of time,” she said.
“So we’re working on getting some mobile supports for those services in, so that we can get things up and running as soon as we can.”
Those services which can be offered, such as emergency medical services, have been operating well and have been busy, Slate added.
“The volume, the number of patients we’re seeing in the Dauphin emergency room, are pretty close to what we normally saw in the Dauphin emergency room. So that’s a good sign that people are accessing that service,” Slate said, adding PMH is constantly looking to tweak operations to make things more streamlined.
(The ER) has actually been working okay. I mean, it’s not the same as it always was, so we’re working on improving accessibility to spaces in the emergency department. Those are things that we can expand sooner rather than later in the emergency department to get it a little bit more functional and accessible.”
From the beginning, much of the remediation work has focussed on the hospital’s crawl space, which houses many of the mechanical systems and was completely filled with silt from the flood waters. Meaningful progress on that work has been made, Slate said.
“They’ve done a tremendous job of cleaning out that silt. After that’s cleaned out, they still have to do soil testing and some remediation work in there, and then they can at least get at some of the infrastructure to start replacing it and get working on that,” she said.
“It’s not completely done, but they’ve made really good progress on it.”
Throughout it all, feedback has been positive, Slate said, from the public and from PMH staff.
Patients and staff are pleased things are getting closer “normal” and ensuring critical services such as cancer care and hemodialysis back close to home before the snow flies is really key, she said.
“The staff that can be home and working, I think are, for the most part, happier to be here. But really, everybody wants everything back up and running just as it was. We want that, too, of course,” Slate said.
“We just have to work with the project teams on getting things done as soon as we can, and making sure that the clinicians and the frontline staff are involved in that planning, so that they can inform what makes sense in terms of their workflows and providing the most appropriate care for patients.”

Development of Maamawi Park in Dauphin is being advanced by a $100,000 gift from the Province through the From the Ground Up - Safe Healthy Communities for ALL program.
The money is earmarked for the third phase of the project aimed at developing a new learning and activity centre promoting healthy recreaton, inclusion and reconciliation in the region.
“Strong communities are built around places where people can gather, learn, play and connect,” Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard said in announcing the grant, last week.
“Our government is proud to support Maamawi Park, because it creates a safe and healthy community space for everyone in Dauphin. This investment will provide new opportunities for families, children, elders and visitors to enjoy the outdoors, while deepening understanding of Indigenous history and culture in the Parkland region.”
This phase of the community-led project will expand recreation opportunities, while creating a safe, healthy and welcoming space for residents of all ages. The goal is to establish the first of four planned learning and story stations.
The activity station will be themed “the north” and will feature interactive play and exploration areas, Indigenous storytelling elements, public art, educational signage, landscaping and gathering spaces developed in collaboration with Indigenous partners.
Planned features include a bear tunnel play structure, cedar groves and shelters, musical play elements, Indigenous artwork and storyboards, as well as native plants and landscaping.
“This project reflects what makes the Dauphin area such a great place to live - people coming together to build something that benefits the whole community,” said Agriculture Minister and Dauphin MLA Ron Kostyshyn.
“By investing in Maamawi Park, we are creating more opportunities for children and families to be active, supporting reconciliation through learning and understanding, and helping ensure Dauphin remains a safe, healthy and welcoming community for generations to come.”
The free and accessible learning centre is expected to serve not only the City of Dauphin and the Rural Municipality of Dauphin, but also the broader region and neighbouring First Nations communities.
“Maamawi means together, and that spirit has guided this project from the beginning,” said Larry Budzinski, a member of the Maamawi Park Steering Committee.
“The next phase will create a unique space where people can gather, play, learn and celebrate Indigenous culture together. We are grateful to the Manitoba government and all our community and Indigenous partners for helping bring this vision to life.”
The project is being led by Dauphin Recreation Services in partnership with the Anishinaabe Nations in Treaty 2 Territory, the Northwest Métis Council, the Dauphin Friendship Centre, the City of Dauphin, the Rural Municipality of Dauphin and other local organizations.
Dauphin Recreation Services is a non-profit organization led by a board of directors, funded jointly by the City of Dauphin and the RM of Dauphin. It manages facilities and parks that serve both municipal regions, including 11 parks inside the city and four parks in the rural municipality.
The From the Ground Up - Safe Healthy Communities for ALL program provides up to $100,000 to help non-profits, municipalities and northern affairs councils fund community revitalization, youth programs and capital improvements that strengthen local infrastructure and support vibrant community life.

The candidate list for the Oct. 28 general municipal and school board election has been set and ballots are being printed.
City of Dauphin
In the City of Dauphin, three people are vying for the mayor’s chair left vacant by the retirement of David Bosiak. Hopefuls include current councillor Steve Sobering, along with Keith Durston and Carter Taylor-Luke.
There are 10 people attempting to secure six council seats on the next City council. Incumbents Christian Laughland, Devin Shtykalo, Ted Rea and Randy Daley are all seeking relection and will be joined by new candidates, including Amanda Novak, Michelle Nyquist, Jason Alf, Michael Winters, Scott McCallum and Richard Mitchell.
RM of Dauphin
Voters in the Rural Municipality of Dauphin will not have to make any decision regarding the municipal council as all candidates are acclaimed.
Ernie Sirski will return for a second term as reeve, while incumbent councillors Ken Plustwa, Ken Shewchuk, Tammy Koshowski, Todd Boguski and Midge Sametz are also all acclaimed.
The RM will be short one councillor, however, as no one stepped up to take the seat left vacant with the retirement of councillor Ron Ryz.
MVSD
The creation of a new board of trustees for Mountain View School Division will involve elections in three of four wards.
Incumbents Floyd Martens and Scott Lynxleg have been acclaimed in Ward 1, while Ward 2 will see Kyle Lylyk and Mindy Rickards compete for one seat on the board.
In Ward 3, five candidates are hoping to secure one of two seats on the board. They include incumbents Sonia Blanc, Gabe Mercier and Jason Gryba, along with newcomers Wanda Sime and Matthew Bayduza.
With four seats open in Ward 4, incumbent Jarri Thompson is joined on the ballot by Dan McKay, Rigby Devos, Michelle Smigelski and Rodney Juba.
Lakeshore
In the Rural Municipality of Lakeshore, Richard Kachur has been acclaimed reeve and three councillors - Cherie Robertson, Diana McIntyre and Michael R. Brunen - have been acclaimed in Ward 2.
Voters, however, will have to choose three councillors in Ward 1 from a list of candidates, which includes Claude Hykawy, Crystal Charlebois-Fiddler, Teddy Sraybash and Rick Paradis.
Ste. Rose
In Ste. Rose, Robert Killam has been acclaimed as mayor, but there will be an election for council with six people looking to fill four seats.
Candidates include Shari Maillard, Julie Peloquin, Darrel Deslauriers, Joey Frobisher, Steven Hopfner and Ivan Worrall.
Mossey River
Mossey River Municipality will see elections held for reeve and urban council positions, while three rural councillors - Greg Boyko, Alden Zurba and Leon Bergen - have been acclaimed.
Reynold Sahulka and John (Jack) Fleming are vying for reeve, while Justin Barsewsky, Angel Johnson, Rodney Grahn, Sherry (Harrison) Lytwyn, Roger Pilon and Ivan Fleming are squaring off to become urban councillors.
Gilbert Plains
Election interest in the Gilbert Plains Municipality is high with numerous candidates in the running.
James Manchur and Larry Malowski will square off for the reeve chair, while council positions will be contested by Raymond Rodgerson, Craig Von Bargen, Carsten Dykun, Aaron Klepak, Lyall Bates, Kristen Rubeniuk, Brett Ewanyshyn, Charles Jeffers, Leanne McKay, Grant Pope, Aaron Dykun, Drisen Harapiak and Vern Ellis.
Ethelbert
Voters in the Municipality of Ethelbert will have some choices to make on polling day with a full slate of candidates seeking election.
Mike Semeniuk and Kevin Boese are seeking to become reeve, while hopeful councillors include Bruce Podolsky, Greg Woytkiewicz, Cory Chymy, Dusty Rushinka, Debbie Jodouin, Wayne Pitura, Richard Evans, Randy Hancharyk.
Voting day in the 2026 general municipal election is Oct. 28.

A successful fund-raising campaign has brought Countryfest Community Cinema back from the brink of financial disaster and has the organization excited about the future.
With customers slow to come back after the pandemic Countryfest Community Cinema launched a plan to raise urgently-needed capital, through a GoFundMe effort and a corporate fund-raising campaign, raising about 80 per cent of its $100,000 goal, said board chair Ron Hedley.
“We again got such good support,” Hedley said.
“I just appreciate how people have come and stepped up to help with the theater every time we ask.”
Hedley said the theatre has paid off in excess of $1.4 million from it’s mortgage in the 15 plus years it has been open, however, pandemic restrictions meant the organization had to drain its reserves to stay afloat during COVID. Getting the crowds back to not only cover operating cost, but to also build those reserves back up has been difficult.
“This is the second time where we said we’re kind of desperate right now,” Hedley said.
“It’s a tough market. We’re pretty self-sufficient, but we also know that we’re at the mercy of Hollywood and the movie quality. It’s going to be a struggle for a while, but we are holding our own.”
To help shepard the organization through the rebuilding, a new manager has been hired.
Angelena Neely brings a wealth of experience in the service industry, with staffing and running businesses.
“She’s been incredible so far,” Hedley said.
“So that combination, along with her excitement, has us feeling good.”
That does not mean the organization is resting on its laurels, Hedley said.
Although plans are still being worked out, Countryfest Community Cinema is planning a membership drive, selling monthly subscriptions to the theatre.
“Ask people to step up. That won’t be any big fund-raising campaign, but more about the same way you pay for Netflix or Amazon or whatever. That would be $20 to $25 a month that goes to the theater,” Hedley said, adding he would hope to sign up 200 to 300 people.
“I think it’s very attainable, because people have always stepped up to help.”

For more than a quarter century the humble little tab found on the top of aluminum drink cans has meant freedom for young Manitobans facing mobility challenges.
The Tabs for Wheelchairs program began in the spring of 1998 when Holy Cross School in Winnipeg began saving tabs. By fall of that year, there were another seven schools that joined the cause.
The first specialized wheelchair was presented in the spring of 2000 to Carly, a five year old with cerebral palsy, who needed a specialized wheelchair to attend Kindergarten.
After the presentation was picked up by media outlets, participation in the program exploded and now there are approximately 200 schools and 300 business and organizations which collect the tabs across the province.
Locally, the Tabs for Wheelchairs initiative is championed by Rachel Goy
“For myself, I know personally how important it is for a child to have the proper equipment to meet their daily challenges, so I have been collecting tabs for this program for a very long time,” Goy said.
“Over the years, I didn’t always know where to leave them, so while I was employed with Dauphin Co-op, I decided to become more actively involved in the program. I started promoting the Tabs for Wheelchairs program through Co-op and I asked that collection bins be located at two of the stores. Then I began bringing bags of tabs to Winnipeg whenever I was making that trip.”
Recently, Goy accepted a sizeable donation of tabs from the family of eight-year-old Olivia Morrisseau, who lives with cerebral palsy.
The condition, Olivia’s grandmother Connie Morrisseau said, means that things most people take for granted, such as walking, talking or even putting on shoes takes Olivia a little longer to accomplish. She added the challenges have taught her granddaughter creativity and perseverance.
As Olivia grows, those challenges will increase, and that is why Connie decided to get more involved with the program.
“Five years ago I decided that I would collect tabs for a wheelchair,” she said.
“My thought then was that someday Olivia may need one to keep up with her friends when there is outings at school. Olivia loves being around her friends.”
Just recently, Olivia received her first wheelchair, a loaner from Specialized Services for Children and Youth (SSCY) through the Manitoba Possible Wheelchair Program.
“So Olivia and I would love to give back. Although she didn’t receive her wheelchair through tabs, it’s something we wanted to do,” Connie said.
“We collected two water jugs full of tabs. So many people have cheered Olivia on, family, friends and teachers, now Olivia and I want to be the people doing the cheering for someone else. Kindness doesn’t require running fast, or lifting heavy boxes. It just requires an open heart and this describes Olivia to a tee.”
The collection was not something the two undertook on their own as an army of family and friends joined the effort.
In fact, Olivia’s great aunt Talinna Kuchma from Sydney, B.C., was home for a visit and paid extra for her flight in order to transport a suitcase full of tabs.
“Last summer, I had the privilege of my granddaughters Leia and Amelia visiting from Europe. When they watched me removing the tabs from all the cans that came through the house, they asked why I was taking them off. I explained that I had a great niece, Olivia, who had cerebral palsy. I explained to them that what they find easy to do, she struggles with,” Kuchma said.
“I also explained that at some point there was a very good chance she would need a wheelchair and by saving these tabs it helped to supply wheelchairs. The girls are both very loving and empathetic, and immediately took on the cause on Olivia’s behalf. They are collecting them in England and Germany and sending them to me whenever somebody comes to visit. So some of the tabs that have been brought today are from them.”
Goy explained payment for the tabs has varied from 30 cents to 65 cents per pound, depending on the value of aluminum at the time.
There are approximately 1,500 tabs in a pound. The purchase of a $6,000 wheelchair requires approximately 14 million tabs, or about 9,500 pounds. For a $10,000 wheelchair, it’s approximately 24 million tabs, or about 16,000 pounds, she said.
Despite those large numbers, almost 70 chairs have been presented since the program began. The chairs are presented in June each year during an assembly at the Holy Cross School gymnasium.
Goy was lucky enough to attend the ceremony in 2024 where she met the two recipients and their families.
“It was an incredible and heartwarming experience,” she said.
“The bags of tabs are lined up along the walls. There are stacks of them everywhere and it is a pretty impressive sight to see.”
While Goy is no longer employed at Dauphin Co-op, the business remains as a drop off location for tabs for those wanting to contribute at both the Food Centre in Dauphin, and the Home and Agro Centre in Ste Rose. There are also collection containers at all schools in Dauphin, as well as Ste Rose School and the Watson Arts Centre.
Tabs can be removed from drink cans, canned fish, canned pet food and other food products. Any color of tab can be used, Goy said.
Since October of 2022, Goy has delivered more than 1,400 pounds of tabs to the Tabs for Wheelchairs Program. That’s approximately 2.1 million tabs.
“Removing and collecting the tabs is such a simple thing to do. I really appreciate that so many people are helping out, because every tab counts,” Goy said.
“So if you are having a gathering, a wedding, a backyard bonfire, please remember this important program and save those tabs.”
Anyone wanting more information on the program, or wanting to arrange a dropoff of tabs, can call Goy at 204-572-5102.
Fun facts about the program
• Donations of $20 or more can receive tax receipts.
• Tabs drop-off location and where all the tabs are bagged by the individuals at the Day Program is at Trailblazers Life Choices Inc. (1069 Autumnwood Drive).
• Western Scrap Metals Inc. (18 Sutherland Ave.) has a running account, so that any scrap brought in (any size from cans to old refrigerators) can be donated directly to Tabs for Wheelchairs.
• Wesman Salvage in Brandon (855 49th St. East) does exactly the same thing as Western Scrap Metals Inc.
• Average prize of wheelchairs is $4,000 - $6,000.
• YRC Freight transports all tabs from Holy Cross School to Western Scrap Metals Inc. every June at no cost to the Tabs for Wheelchairs program
• In 2018, the program received a generous donation of $30,000, which was used to purchase extra specialized wheelchairs for seven young people in Manitoba
• St. Boniface Bag Co. donates all the white bags.
• HT Mobility Medical (451 Henderson Hwy) is where all the wheelchairs have been purchased.
• Record single-year haul - a recent single-year drive brought in 23.5 million tabs (460 bags) collected by 188 schools.

It has only been operating for a week, but operation of the temporary emergency department at Dauphin Regional Health Centre has been smooth.
“Any little challenge that has come up, we’ve been able to quickly work together to find solutions,” said Prairie Mountain Health chief executive officer Treena Slate.
“Thanks to the excellent planning that went into establishing the ER in Dauphin with the concerted efforts of our clinical teams, the physicians and nurses, and support staff and the lab and diagnostic staff, everything has gone very well.”
The idea of temporarily rebooting emergency medical services in the existing space came up late in the process of evaluating options, Slate added, which included evaluating other spaces, as well as the use of trailers and tents.
Once the idea of moving back into the main floor of DRHC was identified, everything came together quickly.
“Our contracting partners informed us that we might be able to access and energize undamaged air handling units on the roof of the emergency department. Once we found out that it was going to be a possibility to use the actual emergency room space, we were very excited about that,” Slate said, adding the advice was received in mid-August.
“We quickly came together to get plans in place to make it happen. So, it’s just tremendous that we were able to achieve that.”
The project was possible due to recent renovations on the emergency department, which included new, dedicated air handling. However, Slate stressed the solution remains a temporary one as much of the infrastructure for that newer part of the building was submerged in flood water in the basement and damaged.
“But fortunately there was several air handling units positioned on top of that newer part that we were able to tie power into,” she said.
“We’re still dealing with temporary power. It’s not generator power, it’s directly from Hydro, but it’s shunted more temporarily into the building than the permanent structures will be. If you look at the outside of the building, you’ll see some cabling going up to the air handling units.
“That was all done in recent weeks. So, it’s just amazing what the electrical engineers were able to accomplish, and the contractors, the construction company, and the mechanical engineering people, as well.”
With this big hurdle out of the way, PMH can now start to focus on returning other services to the community.
Saying she wants it all, right now, Slate knows that is asking a bit much under the circumstances, given the situation.
“We know that there’s limitations, given that we’re dealing with limited power sources and still most of the air handling units for the building were damaged and have to be replaced. So, there’s limited capacity, with what we have and with what was not damaged, what can we do? I think that’s the question right now,” she said.
“We’re looking at what else can be accessed on that main floor space as a starting point. We still need our elevators in service, so that we can access our upper floors. Several of our elevators actually have to be replaced, which is going to take a little while. So we’re looking at all possible solutions.”
Those solutions might included repurposing space on the hospital’s main floor into interim care space, she added.
In the meantime, a mobile CT scanner is on its way and should be operational by the end of the month, however, while the MRI is located on the main floor of the facility, there is not a sufficient enough power supply to get it operational.
“We’re exploring every option and we’ll know more in the weeks to come from the engineers involved on what might be possible. But we definitely want to get that going as soon as we can, for sure,” Slate said.
Work is also underway to move care services such as dialysis and cancer care closer to home, especially considering winter is approaching and travel will be difficult for patients, she said, adding PMH hopes to make some announcements soon.
In the meantime, clean up continues in the crawl space of DRHC, while restoration work is underway in other parts of the basement.
A timeline for the complete reopening of the facility remains elusive.
“But we are working actively with our contractors to get that as soon as we can. We want to know more than anybody what we can open next,” Slate said, adding endoscopy is high on the list of priorities.
“We keep working and haven’t slowed down our pace on this at all just because the emergency department is open. Everything is still in action. We’re still working really hard to get some solutions to open more services as soon as we can,” she said, adding parts are being ordered and will be installed as they arrive.
“I know (having the hospital closed) creates so much concern for folks, especially those who have limited access to transportation. We recognize that and it causes lots of angst for us as a service delivery organization not having all the inpatient bed capacity that we’re used to in Dauphin.
“I just want to reassure the public that all emergency room services that normally were available in the Dauphin ER are available right now in the Dauphin ER.”

When you want to know how people are doing, the logical thing to do is ask them.
That is exactly what the Manitoba Progressive Conservative caucus did during a three-day visit to Dauphin last week.
“Anytime we can get out and meet the great people of Manitoba, it’s well worth it and Dauphin, with all the stuff they’ve gone through in this last year here with the flood and the hospital, it’s great to get the caucus out . . . and hear from them what their concerns are,” said party leader Obby Khan.
“When you get 20 MLAs up here and all of the staff, it’s a great time to get out and meet people in Manitoba. So, I take full advantage of it as a leader and I’m really enjoying our time up here.”
Following a meeting with area municipal councils and community organizations, as well as some good old fashioned door knocking, Khan said it was clear what is forefront in the minds of community residents.
“The issues, they cover a wide range, but they’re all focused on the same thing. They’re all on the flood and what this government is doing to help, the delay in response and action from this government when the premier promised that he will help every Manitoban,” Khan said.
“So people are really concerned about that, that the premier said he’ll leave no Manitoban behind and they feel like they’re being left behind.”
Public safety and crime was another major theme, the same as it is across the province.
“I was actually shocked to hear from the chamber and a few other organizations that that was their number one concern after dealing with the floods, crime and safety in Dauphin and surrounding communities,” he said, which ties in with uncertainty around the future of Dauphin Regional Health Centre.
“People are tired of announcements. They want action. So, although the ER is opened, they want to know when surgeries could be back online, when people will be able to receive chemotherapy, when the MRI machine will be operating. People want answers, they don’t want empty announcements. That’s the overarching message I take away, dealing with the floods and just empty announcements.
“When are they going to build the jail like they promised? When are they going to tackle the real problems that they’re having in the community? So that’s been the reoccurring theme is that people don’t want announcements, they want action.”
Information like that gathered in Dauphin last week, informs the PC strategy as it goes forward in attempting to find practical solutions to the challenges Manitobans are facing, Khan said.
And the challenges are the same across the province, Riding Mountain MLA Greg Nesbitt said.
“No matter where you go, cost of living is a big thing, affordability. People are having trouble putting groceries on the table, saving money, things like that. Young people are having trouble saving money to make down payments on houses and things like that,” he said.
“So, we’ve got to get the economy moving, that’s what we’ve got to do. The economy has been stagnant under Wab Kinew, nothing’s been happening.”
Manitoba has so much untapped potential, Khan added, but the NDP government doesn’t seem to support development.
“What has our premier done in the last year and a half? He said no to a pipeline in the south that Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta said yes to. He said no to a $4 billion investment in the province of Manitoba. He has said no to every major project. There’s not one major project in this province happening right now,” Khan said.
“And there’s nothing on the horizon in real terms other than the talk of Churchill, which, although I think most Manitobans and we agree is an amazing aspiration to work towards, but it’s not going to help people today put food on the table. That’s the reality of the world we live in and the premier doesn’t live in that world.”
And while effecting change can be difficult from the opposition side of the Legislature, Khan promised he will continue to hold the premier and the government to account on the issues which matter most - the economy, health care, public safety and more.
“What I can hopefully get him to do is admit the truth to Manitobans, that he has failed them on every single one of his promises,” Khan said, adding he hopes last week’s caucus retreat in Dauphin sends the message that his party is looking out for them.
“The Parkland plays a key role in Manitoba’s growth and economic success. But it’s not enough to just say that. We have to make sure that local communities actually see themselves as partners in Manitoba’s prosperity, and that no one is getting left behind.
“Dauphin families have been hit from all angles over the past few months - a shuttered hospital, devastating flooding, tariffs, and so on. Our Progressive Conservative team wants to show these families that we are here for them every step of the way.”