The Rural Municipality of Dauphin will soon have a new Chief Administrative Officer.

Grady Stephenson will take over the position effective, July 28. He is currently the CAO for the Town of Carberry.

“It was a different challenge,” he said of accepting the position with the RM of Dauphin.

“I come from a small town and a rural municipality is going to be a different challenge for me. That would be a good opportunity for some growth and to help out the RM and the community out there,” he said.

Stephenson has been CAO in Carberry for about 5-1/2 years and worked in the public works and parks and recreation departments before that, giving him   11 years of experience in municipal work.

Among the challenges Stephenson expects is going from an urban setting to rural.

“It’s a little bit different for me and coming from basically the desert to somewhere with challenges with water in the springtime and flooding will be new to me,” he said.

“But I know there is some great staff there that are going to be able to guide me through that and help me out to get my feet wet, no pun intended. I think there’s going to be other challenges, too, but we’ll cross those bridges when we get there. I think it’s going to be good.”

Stephenson is looking forward to the opportunity and getting to know the area.

“I’m an outdoors guy, so I look forward  to some of the fishing and hunting opportunities up there, as well,” he said.

RM of Dauphin reeve Ernie Sirski said Stephenson conducted himself well in his interview with council.

“He brings a lot of municipal experience to the table, which is something that we rated very highly. He handled himself very well and we liked what he offered for us,” he said.

There will be an adjustment period for both parties as they get to know each other.

“The first thing is to get to know us. He’s got to get to know the council. He’s got to get to know the staff,” he said.

“When you come into this kind of position from outside, it’s going to take a little bit of time. So I think that’s the first thing we’re going to try and do, is get hm to know us, so that he can start doing his job in the best possible way.”

Council, Sirski added, is looking forward to Stephenson’s contribution to the RM in helping lead the municipality in a direction that is positive for the RM.

“We’ve done a new strategic plan and we’re looking at rolling that out, but we want to make sure that we roll it out properly and that he knows what the strategic plan is and what it contains, as well as the council has a good understanding of it,” he said.

“And, of course, a whole bunch of other files that we’re dealing with at the same time. So we’re looking forward to his help in those regards.”

An Indigenous designer with roots to Opaskwayak Cree Nation is headed off to Milan, Italy’s Fashion Week this fall. Dreyden Flett Roulette has always had a creative side and flair while growing up, and it’s one that was fostered by his family.
“I grew up between Winnipeg and Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) for the first 10 years of my life,” said Flett Roulette. “My love for art really blossomed in OCN. I’ve always been a curious kid—anything creative I could get my hands on, I did. Drawing, painting, ceramics. I used to fill my mam’s (grandma’s) walls with art. She was the first person who introduced me to it.
“Since then, I’ve received recognition, awards, and certificates from schools and community events. I was quiet, but the moment I held a pencil and sketchbook, I was in my element. In 2016, I was introduced to the Red Road, and that changed everything for me. My parents created a healthy life of culture on top of being an artsy kid.

The committee spearheading the Tri-Community Culture Days is putting out a call for people who have new ideas for events to come and bring those concepts to life. There are several events already scheduled to take part at these year’s event, but there is always room for more.
“For Culture Days 2025, taking place September 26 through October 5, we have many exciting new events in the works as well as some new twists on old favourites,” said Tri-Community Culture Days Chair Gabrielle Swan. “We are excited for Heather Gibson of MBCI's music program to be coordinating this year's community concert on Friday, September 26. The quilt show and marketplace coordinated by Debbie Howel will also be taking place again this year Saturday, September 27. Family Fun Day at the Sam Waller Museum will be another crowd favourite led by Cheryl Antonio on Sunday, September 28.

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.