The Manitoba government, joined by community leaders from across the province, laid out its plan Tuesday to work together, strengthen health care, lower costs for families and grow the province’s low-carbon economy in the speech from the throne.

“Today is a new day in our province,” said Premier Wab Kinew.

Find out what the NDP government is planning in this issue.

The Smellie Block in Russell – the home of Gambler First Nation’s admin offices – was the setting of a historic announcement Nov. 10 as Gambler First Nation announced a million-dollar donation to its newly inaugurated John James Tanner Legacy Foundation through the Potash and Agri Development Corporation of Manitoba.

The foundation was created to provide crucial educational, financial, social and psychological support to the children and families of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, men, boys, two-spirited, and LBGTQIA individuals during times of crisis.

Want to know more? Check out this week’s paper.

RCMP respond to several mental health calls, six mental health calls so far in the month of November, five in the month of October in the Roblin area. These calls are likely to go up during the holiday season.

If you see someone struggling, or sad, or depressed, have the tough, uncomfortable conversation with them. Be kind. Be caring. If you feel the person is a danger to themselves or someone else and they are not wanting to talk to a health care professional, call police immediately.

Want to know more? Check out this week’s RCMP report.

The Manitoba government is taking steps to conclude the work of the Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force (DSRTF), redirecting focus and funding back to public health-care delivery with priority investments in public surgeries and diagnostics.

“Manitobans deserve to get surgeries and diagnostic tests right here in Manitoba and our public health system can and will deliver them,” said health minister Uzoma Asagwara.

More in this week’s Review.

Given a sudden spate of sightings this fall, otters are the subject of this month’s article.
As an example, in early November, Rae and I were out for a skate on a nearby lake when far off in the distance we spotted a trio of otters. They were slipping and sliding their way along the ice, oblivious to our presence.

Check out this week’s Moments in Riding Mountain to find out more.

Women in Roblin are now going to have the option of going to the Roblin Clinic to see a physician who can assist them strictly with women’s health issues only.

Dr. Jenilee Misko will be offering a Women’s Wellness Clinic in the community starting this month. Misko saw the need for the treatment of women’s health issues in a bigger urban centre, where she is currently working, and felt that rural female patients should have the same services.

Read all about it in this week’s issue.

Roblin Branch #24 of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Sergeant-at-Arms Bernie Kozmeniuk leads the Colour Party to begin this year’s Remembrance Day services held Saturday at the Community Centre.

This year’s service of remembrance was especially poignant with the passing on Oct. 30 of the Roblin district’s last surviving World War II veteran Alex Smigelsky who took part in the Liberation of Holland. MCing the service was his son Wes while the guest speaker was his grandson RCMP Sergeant Chris who talked about his own experiences in Holland as one of 12 RCMP members  tasked to participate in the 60th anniversary celebrations of that liberation back in 2005.

Check out our coverage in this week’s Review.

Private James “Jimmy” Moar was born in Crane River in 1915, and was one of 15 children. He moved to Swan River after completing grade five, to work, and then back to Crane River. In 1941, James and his brother, John, walked over 160 kilometers to Swan River to enlist in the Canadian Army.

James was stationed to Hong Kong and became part of the Winnipeg Grenadiers. The Empire of Japan forces began bombing Hong Kong, shortly after his arrival there. On December 19, he was wounded by a piece of shrapnel, then on Christmas Day, Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese forces. James and several others became prisoners of war (POW).
Moar survived, returned to Canada and retired to The Pas where he lived until his passing in 2000.

Read the rest of the story in this week’s Review.

Assiniboine Community College (ACC) is bringing a learning opportunity to Roblin. In an effort to train more Child Care Assistants (CCA), an accelerated CCA course is going to be running in Roblin in January.

“This is the first time we have hosted the CCA program in Roblin through our rural rotating sites program,” said ACC communications cspecialist Kyla Cottom. “This model is an accelerated program, which we will be bringing to rural communities across Manitoba.”

Find out more in this week's Review.