The countdown to Manitoba’s quintessential country music festival is on. Dauphin Countryfest kicks off June 25 and with an eclectic and iconic mix of artists set to hit the stage, it is going to be legendary.
The four-day music festival takes place in the idyllic Selo Ukraina site just five minutes south of Dauphin, and according to organizers, not only is the festival an economic boost to the community, it is more importantly an opportunity for country music fans to build community.
“The togetherness it creates in our community, the sense of pride it gives us to host such a large event is immense,” said Countryfest First Vice-President Bob Gilroy. “The economic impact for a rural Manitoba community like Dauphin does not go unnoticed with an event the size of Countryfest. In its initial years, Countryfest was similar to many rural community events - small and with little financial input and a lot of volunteer blood, sweat and tears. Over the past 37 years, the festival has grown to the point that one cannot ignore the economic boost it provides Dauphin directly and by extension the Parkland region.

Midwest Karate The Pas has shown that hard work and dedicated training lead to success. Students in the club attended the JKA National Championship in Winnipeg, where they came home with several medals. The tournament is held annually in the spring and tests the athletes’ ability in both kata (patterns) and kumite (sparring).
"Our students did exceptionally well. I am always proud when they take part in a tournament as it can be challenging," said The Pas Head Instructor Sensei Jodie Kuhl. "Our athletes did bring home a number of medals, which is fantastic. I'm also very proud as an instructor and coach, regardless of the medals. The students work hard and put themselves into competition, not knowing how it will go. It takes a lot of nerve to compete at the national level. Each athlete who attended made our club proud."

May 10 marked World Lupus Day, a time to bring awareness to a complex and often misunderstooddisease that affects many Canadians. In recognition of this day, Lupus Canada issued a national challenge from May 1 to 10, encouraging Canadians to complete 1,000 repetitions, whether it’s running, cycling, swimming, or another physical challenge, to raise awareness for lupus. Why 1,000? Lupus is often called the Disease of 1,000 Faces because it affects everyone differently.
Kelly Petryk, a dedicated coach with The Pas Roadrunners, has been living with lupus for 14 years. Determined to raise her voice and make some waves, she took the challenge to heart with a goal to swim 1,000 laps over 10 days.