The end of any year is a time for celebration and reflection. It is also a time to cast thoughts towards the future to wish and to plan.

With 2024 coming to a close, Dauphin’s elected officials at all three levels of government did just that.

Here are their hopes for 2025.

Dauphin-Swan River- Neepawa

For Dan Mazier, MP for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa, the goals for the coming year focus on building on his work completed throughout his time as MP for the riding.

As a member of the opposition, Mazier keeps hearing people are ready for an election, due mainly to the policies of the current Liberal government.

Affordability, he said, is the number one issue that he keeps hearing about, along with other issues such as a housing shortage, inflation and crime.

Last year, Mazier spearheaded a private members bill C-299 for connectivity and internet service providers.

Looking ahead, Mazier said the focus will shift to cell phones.

“With my bill, they have to be a lot more transparent in what kind of service they’re selling you. That is going to, hopefully go over to cell phone service,” he said.

During his travels throughout the constituency, Mazier has noticed there are holes in cell phone service.

“There’s something going on in our cell phone service area and I know why it is. It’s because they’re going up in spectrum and they need to install more infrastructure, but they’re just not in rural Canada,” he said, adding that is something he plans on addressing to hold service providers more accountable.

Mazier hosted passport clinics throughout the riding in the summer, which proved to be popular, with more than 400 people taking part.

“So we plan on, again, providing that service that government just doesn’t provide in rural areas,” he said.

The primary focus in the new year, Mazier said, will be to hold the government to account until such time as an election is called.

“That’s our job. Bottom line, that’s our job,” he said.

“My number one focus is representing the Parkland and the riding in Ottawa on your behalf. It’s an honour every day to do it. And I have to honestly say, it’s been an honour of my lifetime to be doing this. I do do it with great enthusiasm and vigour on behalf of all the people in the constituency.”

Dauphin constituency

For Manitoba Agriculture minister and Dauphin MLA Ron Kostyshyn, his hopes for the constituency centre on the successes his NDP government has enjoyed over the past year.

“It’s great to be working with a government that’s been proactive in the last year,” he said.

“We’ve got some challenges ahead of us, but we’ve made some progress.”

Looking at the big picture, Kostyshyn is proud of the progress that has been made across the province in the areas of health care, education and making life affordable for Manitobans.

If he had his way, that progress would continue in the coming year.

“Not only in the Dauphin constituency, but all through Manitoba,” Kostyshyn said.

“If I had a big wish, and if I could make that happen, that’s probably going to be my number one opportunity.”

Focussing a little closer to home, Kostyshyn said the constituency has realized some major accomplishments over the last year.

Pointing to the success of the Manitoba Summer Games and the facility legacy left by that event. He also pointed to the redevelopment of Main Street South in Dauphin and the scheduled construction of Prairie Park Place, a new day care facility, and the growth and potential of the Northgate Trails system as examples of why 2024 was such a good year in Dauphin Valley.

“Also the financial support towards the Gilbert Plains golf course. You know, there are so many things,” he said.

“We can go back on a number of other things from the ground up”

And while some might be inclined to sit back and revel in those triumphs, now is not the time to rest on our laurels, he said.

“Specifically being my backyard, me being the MLA for Dauphin, we need to make things progress, and I think we’ve made some major inroads this year,” Kostyshyn said.

“I think we’re going to continue to grow the opportunity in the Dauphin constituency and the surrounding area.”

As a producer and minister of agriculture, Kostyshyn knows the importance of agriculture across the Dauphin constiuency. Celebrating some of the successes that have been realized, particularly in the area of  Crown land leases.

Looking forward, he hopes the conditions are right to continue along the path to prosperity for everyone through further successes in agricuture.

“We look forward to, hopefully, a profitable year for all agriculture producers and in the industries directly or indirectly associated with agriculture,” he said.

And while success is never a guarantee, Kostyshyn added he will be doing his part to make sure every opportunity is seized on behalf of Dauphin area residents and Manitobans as a whole.

“Our government, we are going to be proactive trying to make life affordable for everybody. one of (the steps) being we’re going to freeze Hydro rates as a beginning to the New Year,” he said, adding he will be doing his part to make 2025 as successful and positive as it can be.

“As the MLA for Dauphin, I will be talking to the Health minister, be talking to the Education minister, be talking to the Finance minister. We’re talking about economic growth in the province of Manitoba and throughout the Dauphin constituency.”

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

Dauphin MLA Ron Kostyshyn recently honoured the legacy of John Shuttleworth through his contributions to ensuring community safety through Dauphin’s Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) program with a special Member Statement read at the Legislature.

Following the statement, Kostyshyn presented a framed copy of the speech to Shuttleworth’s wife Anne and daughter Sho-Sho Shuttleworth-Lafontaine, along with granddaughter Sarah, and son-in-law Cory.

John Shuttleworth’s dedication to ensuring that residents of Dauphin and surrounding areas had a way to get home safely after holiday celebrations lives on through three generations of volunteers.

His vision has been carried forward by his family and many committed community members, making the RIDE program one of Manitoba’s longest-running and most impactful initiatives.

The Dauphin Friendship Centre provides a safe space for  RIDE to operate each holiday season and the organization’s ongoing support has been invaluable.

Now in its 32nd season, RIDE continues to play a vital role in reducing impaired driving and keeping the community safe.

For Kostyshyn, it was a privilege to recognize the incredible work of RIDE volunteers at the Legislature and extend gratitude to everyone who dedicates their time and effort to ensure its success.

RIDE operates Fridays and Saturdays throughout December, and New Year’s Eve. Anyone wanting to access its services can call 204-639-5707.

Dauphin and District Community Food Bank (DDCFB) received an early Christmas present from Dauphin Consumers Co-op last week.

Reflecting on its 85 years of serving the community, Co-op wanted to round out 2024 in a way that honours its position in the community, by giving back.

To that end Robin Gambler of the DDCFB was lured down to the Co-op Food score under the guise of having a photo taken with a donation from Co-op. It wasn’t until she got that Gambler learned she wasto take part in a surprise shopping spree in aid of DDCFB.

Rather than simply having a photo taken, Gambler raced through the store pushing a shopping cart while Co-op employees filled it items necessary for the food bank to provide vital support to those in need.

In the end DDCFB received more than $850 in groceries.

“Co-op you are amazing. That was so much fun and on behalf of the Dauphin and District Food Bank we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Gambler said.

As the co-operative celebrate its history of service and success, Marketing and Community Relations manager Joan Chetyrbok said it' is important to remember that giving back to the people that helped aachieve that success is what truly makes the community stronger.

“This shopping spree is a way for us to say thank you and give back to an organization that has made such a positive impact,” she said.

“Our goal is to help stock the shelves of the food bank, ensuring that families and individuals in need have access to the food and resources they require. It’s a wonderful way to give back, especially as we head into the holiday season when donations and support are so important.”

A well-respected producer from the Ste. Rose is being honoured by the Manitoba Forage Growers Association.

Shauna Breault, along with former MFGA board chair Lawrence Knockaert, a dairy farmer from Bruxelles, was announced as the organization’s 2024 Wall of Fame inductees during the MFGA’s seventh annual regenerative agriculture conference, last week.

Breault, a regenerative agriculture rancher from Toutes Aides, was an integral voice in forage and lease matters on Manitoba’s Crown agricultural landsas part of the MFGA board before leaving in 2023.

“I have had the privilege of sitting on the MFGA board with Lawrence and Shauna, both who have contributed above and beyond to our MFGA organization,” said Mike Duguid, MFGA chair. 

“Shauna was a key board member on the MFGA board. Consistently, her thoughts on important matters were always in line with where we needed to go, and often we did. Shauna, husband Clayton and their family, are leaders on regen ag at their large ranch operation, including operating on Crown lands leases north of Ste. Rose. Shauna’s leadership on Crown lands both as a leaseholder and as MFGA’s lead on the file led to many meaningful, solutions-focused conversations with ministers and senior leaders at Manitoba Agriculture that, to this day, continue to showcase the importance and connectivity of the MFGA and including our voices at the table in key discussions.”

Breault is being inducted in the Agriculture Leadership/Government Relations category while Knockaer will join in the area of Organizational Leadership.

The 2024 recipients bring the number of MFGA Wall of Fame honourees to 12 over four years.

The MFGA Wall of Fame resides on MFGA.net.

Duguid said the nominations were collected in conversations and at board meetings and the elected 2024 recipients were unanimously approved by MFGA board members during meetings leading up to the conference. He added a main principle of the induction process is that the inductees cannot be current board members or staff members.

Eight teams are competing in this year’s Bayer Crop Science Parkland Super League of Curling, which takes place every Sunday at the Parkland Recreation Complex curling rink.

Play began, Oct. 20, with defending champion Kyle Forsyth of Turko Fertilizer opening with a 6-5 win over Bryan Preston of Fire Line Group.

In other games, Greg Todoruk of Richardson Pioneer defeated Glenn Toews of Nutrien Ag Solutions, Chad Sahulka of South Fork Ag Services beat Tiffany McLean, 8-2 and Oil Depot’s Jim Todoruk beat Rob Fisher, 7-6.

Results from Oct. 27 saw Forsyth beat Fisher, 7-1; Toews defeated Sahulka, 7-3; Jim Todoruk beat Greg Todoruk, 5-2; and Preston beat McLean, 7-3.

On Nov. 3, Fisher beat McLean, 7-2; Jim Todoruk beat Toews, 8-0; Preston defeated Sahulka, 7-4; and Greg Todoruk beat Forsyth, 7-5.

On Nov. 10, Toews beat Preston, 6-2; Greg Todoruk defeated McLean, 6-3; Jim Todoruk beat Forsyth, 7-6; and Sahulka got past Fisher, 7-5.

Manitoba’s Order of the Buffalo Hunt has some new, special members.

Premier Wab Kinew awarded one of  province’s highest honours to the first responders of the Carberry bus crash recognizing their bravery and dedication following the bus crash, which killed 17 Dauphin-area seniors on June 15, 2023.

“We want to honour those whose valour and heroism helped to embody the best of Manitobans,” Kinew said.

“When we think of the first responders and how they stepped up and answered the call that day and in a moment of challenge or a moment of danger, they went towards the crisis instead of running away.”

A total of 134 first responders were inducted into the Order of the Buffalo Hunt following a ceremony held last week at the Legislative Building.

First responders from the Carberry North Cypress-Langford Fire Department, Brandon Fire and Emergency Services, Neepawa Volunteer Fire Department, Shared Health Emergency Response Services, STARS air ambulance and Manitoba RCMP, as well as provincial call takers and dispatchers, were inducted.

Pilots and medical staff who were on board two Saskatchewan government fixed-wing air ambulance (Lifeguard) flights that responded and transported patients from Brandon to Winnipeg were also inducted.

Keith Loney, fire chief of the Carberry North Cypress-Langford Fire and Rescue, Yves Guillas, fire chief of the Neepawa Volunteer Fire Department, Terry Parlow, chief, and Kevin Garrioch of Brandon Fire and Emergency Services, and Ryan Schenk and Grant Winder from the Office of the Fire Commissioner were on hand to accept the framed certificate and statuette on behalf of all recipients.

Former Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP Robert Sopuck died at the age of 73, last week, his family confirmed in a statement.

Sopuck’s family “were shocked by the sudden, but peaceful passing of Robert on Oct. 23”, the statement read.

Sopuck became the area MP in 2010 in a byelection to replace Inky Mark, who stepped down to run for mayor of Dauphin.

He was re-elected in  2011 and 2015 before retiring from politics in 2019.

“Robert led a full life, rich in experience, love, challenges and accomplishments,” the statement read.

“He made major contributions to land, water and wildlife conservation locally and nationally; along the way he mentored many young people who, in various ways, have picked up the torch for issues and challenges that mattered to him; he was a loving husband, father, uncle and grandfather to family members who knew how much they were loved by him, and now keenly feel his untimely passing.”

Former prime minister Stephen Harper, who Sopuck served on the Standing Committee for Environment and Sustainable Devel-opment, as well as the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans paid tribute to Sopuck on X.

“He championed Ukraine’s sovereignty, chaired the Hunting and Angling Caucus, and worked tirelessly for the people of Western Manitoba,” Harper said.

“Bob is in our prayers this evening as we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”

In a news release Friday, Manitoba Prog-ressive Conservative Leader Wayne Ewasko called Sopuck a champion for rural Manitoba and a mentor to many in the legislature.

A celebration of life for Sopuck will be held at 2 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Sandy Lake Community Hall.

Countryside Studio and Gym was crowned as the 2024 Community Infusion winner in front of a packed house in the Aspen Lodge at Credit Union Place in Dauphin, Oct. 23.

Based in Hamiota, Countryside Studio and Gym received $20,000 in grant money to expand its operation. Community Infusion is an initiative designed to promote economic development and entrepreneurship in communities, sponsored by Fusion Credit Union.

“The dedication and commitment that all finalists have for their business ideas was demonstrated on stage last night,” Fusion CEO Darwin Johns said.

“They all have a passion for what they do, which is truly inspiring. Community Infusion was created to support economic development initiatives in our communities and we’re happy to have provided a platform to showcase all the amazing ideas. We are proud to have participated in this part of their journey and we wish them all continued success.”

Also in the final five was Friendly’s Grocery Co-op from Inglis, which received second-place and a $4,000 grant. Other finalists included MultiCook from Brandon, Parkland Radon from Inglis and Systems Beauty College from Brandon. These three finalists all received $2,000 each to grow their business ideas.

Community Infusion is an initiative where community engagement meets entrepreneurial passion, said Mike Csversko, Brand and Business Development manager at Fusion.

Each spring, current and aspiring business owners can apply to share in up to $30,000 towards a new business idea, or an expanding business.

This year, Fusion received 18 submissions. Based on scoring criteria, 11 businesses moved onto the next round, which involved the submission of a business plan. Five finalists then pitched their business idea to a panel of judges, last Wednesday.

As a locally based financial institution in the Parkland and southwestern Manitoba, Fusion considers community impact and contribution to be a top priority.

“The Community Infusion program is a way in which Fusion can play a role in supporting job creation, entrepreneurial support, and business development,” Csversko said.

“Our goal for Community Infusion aligns with the priorities of Countryside Studio and Gym, and their plans to grow in the community of Hamiota. We are encouraged by their drive to grow commerce in the region, while committing to employment creation. We look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

Full details regarding the event can be found at www.fusioncu.com.

A ceremony steeped in history and RCMP tradition took place at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site, last week, to mark the symbolic passing of command of the Manitoba RCMP from one officer to their successor.

While Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy took office in May,  on Oct. 17 he accepted the RCMP D Division Ensign from RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme after it was relinquished by outgoing Commanding Officer, Deputy Commissioner Rob Hill.

“The RCMP is a modern police agency that uses state-of-the-art technology and investigative methods, and we are also deeply woven into Canadian history,” said Sergeant Major Bettina Schaible, the officer responsible for keeping and maintaining RCMP history and tradition in Manitoba.

“The Change of Command ceremony is important as it allows the officers under the command, as well as the community at large to bid farewell to their outgoing commanding officer and welcome in their new commanding officer. Ceremony is important to the RCMP. When we put on the iconic Red Serge, it means something special to each and every one of us. On this day, we wear it to honour the importance of a change in command and new leadership.”

For the full story, read this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

Dauphin Co-op’s Ste Rose Home and Building Centre has received a prestigious award through the Federated Co-op Ltd. (FCL) system.

The Ste. Rose outlet was presented the Co-operative Retail System (CRS) Home Centre Commitment to Excellence Award for Retails in the East Zone, which covers southern Saskatchewan and all of Manitoba.

 This is the second year in a row that Dauphin Co-op has earned this award, a first for Co-ops across Western Canada.

Each year, the CRS Home and Building Solutions Department recognizes excellence in retailing. The Home Centre Commitment to Excellence Award is presented to those home and building centres which achieve excellence in financials, operations, customer experience and community involvement

Stephen Bunka, Dauphin Co-op Building Division Manager, credits a strong focus on Co-op brand identity across the division as the reason for the success.

“Building and maintaining trusted relationships with members, customers, contractors and each other is a daily focus. Through accreditations and continual training, they are able to offer insights, advice and estimates on building or renovation projects – large or small. They take special care with product selection and do everything they can to ensure products and delivery expectations are met or exceeded,” Bunka said.

“The Ste. Rose Home and Building Centre is an anchor in the community it serves. The team makes our vison to enrich the life of our communities, and mission to make a difference by building valued relationships with our members, team members and communities one interaction at a time, come true everyday with their actions and interactions with the community and each other. If you ever stop by the store you will see how they make every one feel at home there. They know their guests by name, they have fun together and they offer the communities all the amenities that are needed to build, feed and maintain their homes and farms.”