The closure of The Pas Association for Human Development is close to finalizing. The two remaining board members, Joan Brown and Darry Shotton, have retained a lawyer and accountant to help them close the books and prepare to grant out the remaining funds to projects that focus on accessibility and children.
A call for submissions was put out for people to submit their project ideas for consideration and now the first round of recipients has received them.
“In this first grant distribution of the remaining funds from TPAHD, we gave to Kelsey School Division to support four different projects,” said former TPAHD Board Member Joan Brown.

The new Member of Parliament (MP) for the Churchill–Keewatinook Aski Riding, Rebecca Chartrand, visited the tri-community area for a couple of days while making a presence during the local Canada Day celebration. MP Chartrand took the opportunity to meet with many levels of local municipal government, as well as community organizations and local citizens.
“We took in Canada Day as part of my visit here to The Pas,” said MP Chartrand. “We got to meet with the Town of The Pas Mayor, some of the councillors, the R.M. of Kelsey, the president of UCN, the superintendent for Kelsey School Division, Opaskwayak Cree Nation Chief and Council, The Pas OCN Chamber of Commerce, the Minisewin Family Resource Centre, The Pas Friendship Centre, and the Manitoba Metis Federation. It was a very busy couple of days and I met so many people in the community.

Local Canadian Ranger Sergeant Terry Fullerton, Swan River Patrol Commander has spent six years on the Swan River patrol, and his involvement with the Canadian Rangers has taken him through tasks and locations that he never would have expected.
His continued involvement and volunteering for bigger and better adventures has led him to be recognized by his superiors, who awarded him with a King Charles III Coronation Medal and a Ranger of the Year award, showing that Fullerton has indeed done some outstanding work with the organization.
Fullerton received both honours during an exercise held at the Edmonton Garrison from April 7-11, where he was surprised from being presented both.
“When I went up to get Ranger of the Year, the Lieutenant Colonel told me to take my time because this was really important,” said Fullerton.
He was subsequently honoured at the regimental banquet by sitting at the head table and meeting the division commander.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal is intended to recognize those that have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, region or community, highlighting outstanding volunteer efforts.
“(Fullerton) was selected for his community involvement as well as his involvement in the Canadian Rangers,” said Warrant Officer Wade Jones, Canadian Ranger Instructor of the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. “He’s always volunteering to take on additional tasks and courses.”
Likewise, Fullerton was also recognized as the Ranger of the Year for similar outstanding efforts as a Canadian Ranger.
“He stands out a bit more because of his involvement and his willingness to volunteer for different activities and different events we have going on,” said Jones. “Because he’s willing to do that, we see him quite a bit more than a lot of other Rangers. Terry is what we hope all the Rangers can get to at some point. He communicates very well and he’s active in Canadian Rangers both in the unit and in the community.”
Fullerton’s recognition also has earned him the privilege of participating in an exchange trip to Australia, where he will train with Australia’s NorForce, an infantry regiment of the Australian Army Reserve similar to the Canadian Rangers. The exchange program will see select Canadian Rangers spend a few weeks in the northern territory of Australia and learn local survival strategies and other exercises. Likewise, NorForce will then visit Canada at some point to experience the wild lands in our country, led by Canadian Rangers. Canadian Ranger Paul Hrabarchuk from the Swan River patrol went on a similar trip in 2023.
Fullerton’s experiences with the Canadian Rangers has taken him from the wild lands of Manitoba’s north, to the extreme northern climes of the Canadian Arctic, to the sacred steps of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa.
Fullerton joined in the Swan River patrol six years ago, soon after the patrol first formed, and he didn’t expect that his involvement would take him where it has.
“After being involved in management so long (with my job at Merv’s), my idea was to be the kid at the back,” said Fullerton. “Then, due to good opportunity and good support from my guys here, the opportunities became available, and once I retired, I was extremely fortunate to have the time and to take advantage of these opportunities and participate. Every time I did, it seemed to open up more doors for me.”
Fullerton is now a patrol commander and wilderness first aid instructor who gets to travel all around the country, and eventually beyond to the opposite side of the globe.
“I was quite apprehensive my first six months (with the Canadian Rangers),” said Fullerton. “I didn’t know if I was going to stay in it, but we have a good team in Winnipeg and that’s part of what made the difference. My Ranger instructors are all half my age, but the attitude they have towards everything is so cool and they’re good people that are easy to work with.
“I can’t imagine being retired and merely sitting around and reading a book. I’m all over the place, and the stuff we do is sometimes physically very challenging. I’m doing things I never thought I’d be capable of doing. It’s very rewarding and I’m having so much fun. And, it’s benefiting a lot of other people, directly and indirectly, and having a good team makes a huge difference.”
Jones echoes the sentiment that Fullerton is a great colleague.
“Although I’m his instructor, I don’t see myself as his boss,” he said. “I haven’t been in this role long, but I can tell that he’s going to be a joy to work with and the rest of the Swan River patrol.”

Benito held some activities to celebrate Canada, including hosting a classic car show at Buffalo Junction on July 1. Brad Kushniryk checks out some classic cars on display. Benito also held a pancake breakfast and supper to celebrate the 158th birthday of Canada...

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.”

With National Indigenous Day falling on a Saturday, the Swan Valley School Division held their celebration on Tuesday (June 17) for all students and staff in the division. A series of teachers and cultural displays were set up throughout Swan River Legion Park, allowing students to learn more about and celebrate Indigenous Canadians.

Construction of the soon to be opened Benito Splash Park kicked off last week. Pictured here are employees from PlayQuest Recreation, who are building the splash park, along with committee chairperson Holly Kushniryk, Municipality of Swan Valley West (MSVW) Lead Hand Derek Chez and MSVW CAO, Kristi Ronnquist (second, third and fourth from the left). The significant project for the community is hoped to be ready for use by the end of summer.

The Roadrunner Swim Club capped off their season at the Mike Mintenko Summerfest in Moose Jaw this past weekend, and were the only Manitoban Club to make the trek. This meet brought more than just races and ribbons. Held in an outdoor pool, this meet challenged swimmers to push beyond their comfort zones and rise to new heights, both in and out of the water.
While personal bests were fewer than usual, the weekend was filled with important milestones. For six of the Roadrunners, it was their first time ever swimming in an outdoor pool. Two of those swimmers it was their first swim meet away from their home pool — a huge step in their competitive journeys.
Outdoor swim meets come with their own unique challenges. Wind whipped through the venue, sending backstroke flags fluttering, birds and ducks flying overhead, and the weather shifted between sunshine and showers with a short 30 minute break due to thunder. Fynn Fox commented, "This meet would be better if it was indoors". Despite it all, the swimmers showed tremendous resilience, determination, and grit, adjusting to the unpredictable conditions with focus and positivity. Alyiah and Ashtyn Harris both agreed "It was freezing cold, but a lot of fun!" Ada Mathews

A new exhibit has arrived at the Sam Waller Museum that contains acrylic paintings by a northern Manitoba artist. The exhibit Canvases Touched With Acrylics by Eila Duncalfe consists of paintings that have been inspired by a deep love of the north and brought to life on canvas.
“I live in Flin Flon and have lived there for over 30 years,” said Duncalfe. I enjoy painting and doing puzzles in my free time. I started painting once my kids had left home. I found it really quiet at times, so I tried a few different hobbies and painting was the one I took to. I began spending a lot of time painting and learning more about it.

Mary Duncan School will welcome a new principal for the 2025-2026 school year. Sarah Loewen has been offered the position and is looking forward to her new role. Loewen grew up in The Pas and is familiar with the schools in the division from both attending them and then working in the community.
“I was born and raised in The Pas, the youngest of three girls in a family deeply rooted in education,” said Loewen.