As he drills down on the specifics, Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski is convinced last week’s budget tabled by the Stefanson government is just what the doctor ordered as the province moves out of the shadow of the COVID pandemic.

“I haven’t had an opportunity to get right into the nuts and bolts of the budget yet. What was presented was a high altitude overview and generalization of what we’re emphasizing,” Michaleski said. “I think it was a reasonable budget. It was a steady budget. We’re focusing more money on health care. I mean probably the key word is that it’s just a steady, steady budget for this time. We’re coming out of COVID, we’re starting to open things up. So there’s nothing overly surprising and that’s probably, I think, a really good tone for this budget.”

The document, Michaleski said, focuses the province’s investments in “all the right places.”

“I think we’re still on course for health care transformation. And there’s a more significant influence on indigenous and reconciliation efforts and that sounds really good. But again it’s steady as it goes and under the circumstance that’s most likely the best at this stage of the game,” he said.

The venture capital fund announced highlight the government’s efforts to rebuild the economy, he said, adding while cuts to the education property tax were not as robust as expected, they show the government’s commitment to making life more affordable for Manitobans.

“But you know it’s still a move in the right direction and, under the circumstances, that’s probably a cautious and smart approach. But we’re still going in that direction and all these things generally in the budget make Manitoba look very attractive for the next stage post-COVID,” Michaleski said. “There’s a lot of things that are changing in the world right now and we’ve really been in line with trying to make Manitoba attractive. (The budget is) still building on this, creating this positive environment for investment.”

In particular, Michaleski would like to see that investment come into the Parkland as growing and developing the area has been his focus during his time in government.

“Not only just in economic development, but in social development and aspects of that. When you start talking about family issues, education issues, K-12, all those things are a big part of the economic environment,” he said. “Of course, I’d like to see that grow in Manitoba, and in particular I’d like to see that focused energy on the Parkland region. I’m optimistic that the government is focusing on pretty broad growth strategies and I’m quite optimistic that Dauphin and the Parkland is in that scope.”

A local doctor was recently recognized by Doctors Manitoba.

Dr. Trina Mathison was presented with the Medal of Excellence, awarded to recognize those who demonstrate excellence in the medical profession and whose actions are a source of inspiration.

Dr. Mathison learned in early spring that she had been nominated by Dr. Candace Bradshaw, the incoming president of Doctors Manitoba.

“And then I found out a few weeks before it was announced that I would be getting the award,” she said. “I was kind of surprised. It’s not something that I really expected to have happen. It’s sure great to be recognized, because I work in a lot of different areas. So I was just surprised that would even be something that I would get nominated for.”

Dr. Mathison has been practicing in Dauphin since 2001. She enjoys working with the team at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre and Dauphin Medical Clinic.

“It’s a great place to work and we all get along really well. So I think that’s probably what I like the best. And Dauphin is great, too,” she said.

Dr. Mathison was one of eight physicians to be recognized this year by Doctors Manitoba.

“The physicians we are recognizing this year with our awards have one thing in common, their devotion to improving the health of Manitobans,” said Dr. Kristjan Thompson, President of Doctors Manitoba. ​“Some of these extraordinary physicians played a key role in leading our province through the pandemic and some found a way to advance other essential medical priorities despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19.”

A Prairie Mountain Health press release stated as a rural physician, Dr. Mathison has a broad scope of practice including cancer care, inpatient care, emergency medicine and surgical assistance, as well as offering care for the elderly and palliative care. Dr. Mathison has dedicated her career to serving the Parkland community for over 20 years. An active member of the region’s physician leadership group, she is described as a team player by her colleagues and medical learners, is well-loved be her patients and has found time to volunteer her time in the community, coaching all four of her children’s hockey teams.

Currently the site Chief Medical Officer of the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, Dr. Mathison has practiced as a general practitioner in oncology, acute inpatient care, emergency medicine, surgical assist, respiratory clinic care and personal care home medicine, as well as working at the Dauphin Medical Clinic. She is the medical lead for the CancerCare community program in Dauphin, with palliative care and care for the elderly being her areas of special interest. She has been known to do home visits for palliative patients and elderly patients. Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Mathison has contributed to Shared Health provincial meetings concerning COVID-19 and the impact on long-term care facilities, as well as a working group for palliative care.

Dr. Mathison admitted it is a little intimidating to be included with the other doctors honoured by Doctors Manitoba.

“They’re all very well known people. So it’s interesting to be included in this group of other physicians that are doing so well,” she said. “It’s just nice that I was thought of in this way to receive such a nice award.”
With most specialists centered in Winnipeg, Dr. Mathison feels it is important to recognize rural physicians.

“I think it’s great that they’re looking outside the Winnipeg boundaries to recognize other physicians, because there are sure a lot of hard working physicians in rural Manitoba,” she said.

A gala awards celebration to honour the winners will be held later this spring.

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the loss of the number of bees across Manitoba.

Every year apiaries loose a certain number of bees over the winter months. Many attributed it to poor weather conditions, pests and it just being part of the nature of things, but there’s also a more politicized angle to this.

“This happens every year with bee numbers,” said Wendell Estate Honey owner Tim Wendell.

Read the full story in this week's Roblin Review. 

The hiring of a new pro shop manager, a slight increase in membership fees, and three new young and enthusiastic  board members highlighted the happenings at the annual general meeting of the Roblin Golf & Country Club.

The AGM was held Wednesday in the  T&C Lounge with 10 members in attendance and was proceeded by a meeting of the executive.

Get the full details in this week's Roblin Review!

A lack of human resources has resulted in changes to the way the Municipality of Roblin operates its four rural waste disposal sites.

Effective immediately, the sites at Lake of the Prairies, Boggy Creek, Bield and Merridale will be closed Saturdays.

Check this week's Review for more!

via PMH

Prairie Mountain Health is advising the public that the upcoming Winter Storm / Blizzard may cause weather related services delays or cancellations of client appointments and / or scheduled events.

Please Call Ahead!

Before leaving your home, please call your health-care provider to confirm your appointment.

Home Care Clients are encouraged to activate their backup plans with family members and friends.

Clients can cancel or postpone visits by contacting the After hours line at: North: 1-833-620-0316 South: 1-855-644-0399 Central: 1-833-578-2325 For all emergencies, call 911.

Power outages can occur during blizzards and Manitobans are encouraged to prepare basic emergency kits with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight.

More information is available at: www.manitoba.ca/emo/prepare/kit.html#basic.

Due to the winter storm that is expected to hit the Parkland beginning tonight, delivery of the Parkland Shopper will be delayed.

The Parkland Shopper is normally delivered on Thursdays, but because of the coming storm, delivery is expected to be delayed.

In the interest of ensuring the safety of our carriers and delivery drivers, they will have the option of delivering the Parkland Shopper to households in the area between Thursday and Saturday.

If you wish to pick up your Shopper, Thursday, you may pick it up at the Shopper box located outside our entrance.

Craft breweries have taken off in Canada in a big way.

Between 2017 and 2018 the number of craft breweries in Canada increased by nearly 22 per cent.

That’s because, of course, the market is there for the speciality artisan beers. Over the last five years, the numbers show, sales have nearly doubled from one billion dollars in 2014 to $1.9 billion in 2018.

Today there’s upwards of 170 breweries across western Canada. And beer of all kinds – the simple to the complex, need hops – or, more accurately, the lupulin found inside.

That’s the stuff where the various flavours come from. Five or six years ago, Randy and Lyn Tye started thinking about what they might want to do as they approached retirement.

Randy had come to Manitoba more than 30 years ago from Ontario where he met Lyn, a farm girl from Russell (her maiden name is Thacker) with a love of horses, the outdoors and tending to anything that grows.

Get the FULL STORY in this week's Russell Banner!

It’s a challenging time all around for agriculture, business and industries all over the world.

The pandemic has left a huge impact and when combined with a drought year in Manitoba and inflation, many are just bearing down and riding it out.

The pandemic put forth challenges for businesses and industries to wear masks and ensure employees were properly social distancing while on the job.

“In many ways it was business as usual for us during the pandemic,” said Canmark Family Farming owner Henrik Thomsen.

Check this week's Banner for more!

Modern agriculture looks little like the early days of farming.

All aspects of farming have been modified by the access farmers now have to technologies to meet the demands of their work and the pressure a growing population places on farmers to produce quality food.

Farm automation, precision farming and smart farming are strategies utilized by today’s farmers. These technologies have become important ways for farmers to optimize the production of food and improve its quality.

Get more of this story in this week's Russell Banner!