Elected officials and senior administration from the Rural Municipality of Dauphin and the City of Dauphin were given a tour of Vermillion Growers’ greenhouse development located on the northern edge of the city, recently.

The tour opened the participants’ eyes to the level of technology integrated into the operation and the economic potential for the area.

The facility is expected to accept its first plants sometime in May with the first crop to be harvested soon after.

Manitobans may soon be able to purchase their alcohol with their groceries after the Manitoba government introduced amendments to the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act and the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act that would enable retail store operators to be licensed to sell liquor as part of a five-year pilot project.

The proposed amendments would create the necessary conditions for a five-year liquor retail pilot project that would be set out in regulation including:
• when the five-year period begins;
• eligible pilot project participants;
• proximity and number of pilot project stores; and
• display requirements for liquor.

Under the proposed amendments, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries would be able to enter into liquor retail agreements with operators provided the terms of the project are met.

In addition, the definition of a liquor store would be condensed and clarified to mean the premises or that part of the premises specified in a liquor store license where the retail sale of liquor is authorized. The change would provide flexibility when determining who is eligible for a liquor store license and expands eligibility to meet the needs of a pilot project agreement holder.

Participating retailers would have to purchase liquor from Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.

Fort Dauphin Museum will help the community celebrate its 125th birthday this summer, thanks in part to a grant through the Community Celebrations program of the Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund.

The museum received $5,000 to help organize the July 11 birthday party.

Through the program Manitoba government awarded $323,000 to 67 community events across Manitoba, Department staff evaluated grant applications based on project goals and eligibility, feasibility, and community impact.

The $100-million fund was established in August 2022 to support arts, culture and amateur sport.

Funding is distributed through three programs:
• large capital projects;
• small capital projects and special initiatives; and
• community celebrations.

Applications for the Community Celebrations program are reviewed quarterly.

The current intake for the program is open until Mar. 15.

Search and rescue specialists will hone their skills at a special training exercise in Dauphin, this weekend.

Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) will hold a Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) in the Dauphin area, Mar. 18.

The Dauphin SAREX 2023 participants include the Canadian Air Force’s 435 Squadron and its Hercules aircraft and SARTEC’s (parachute jumpers) along with the RCMP Search and Rescue unit, CASARA pilots, ground homing specialists and drone teams.

The exercise will centre on a simulated crash site designed and constructed by the 50 Squadron Air Cadets, Dauphin.

CASARA is a Canada wide volunteer aviation association dedicated to the promotion of aviation safety, and to the provision of air search support services to the National Search and Rescue Program.

CASARA Manitoba is dedicated to the development and maintenance of a capability within the province for private light aircraft and crew to assist in searching for lost aircraft and others who may require such assistance.

In addition to training search professionals, CASARA assists the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian military and its divisions, Parks Canada, and local municipal forces in searching for aircraft, boaters, hikers and others in need of assistance.

Kyle Forsyth topped the field at the Dauphin Men’s Bonspiel, presented by Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy, over the weekend.

Forsyth and his team of Jarvis Whyte, Trent Hill and Cody Hill won the championship event, sponsored by Embroidery by Design, beating Dave Marohn in the final. Rob Rempel was third and Logan Devos was fourth.

In the second event, sponsored by McMunn and Yates Building Supplies, Seth Gares and his team of Darcy Gares, Jeff Campbell and Blaine Johnson beat Dwight Bottrell in the final, with Jared Nimegeers in third and Nolan Hadway in fourth.

Darcy Todoruk and his team of Mark Graham, Dustin Mayuk and Chris Todoruk won the third event, sponsored by Parkland Source for Sports, beating Rob Fisher in the final.

Third place went to Steven Michaleski and in fourth place was Craig McLean.

The fourth event, sponsored by Baker Computers, was won by Greg Todoruk and his team of Barrett Procyshyn, Jeff Abrahams and Jeremy Mills. They beat Mike VanAlstyne in the final. Third place went to Peter Prokopowich and in fourth place was Luke Michaleski.

The nominees for the Parkland Chamber of Commerce’s annual appreciation awards have been announced.

Nominated in the Business Person of the Year category are Marion Pernarowski, Angela Kotyk, Kathy McLennan and Brenna Haverluck.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year nominees include Kara Braschuk of Parks Edge Physiotherapy, Gabrielle Carriere of Hair Maiden, Amy Thompson of Amy Rae Maker and Kayla Luky of Old September.

In the Community Appreciation Group category, nominees include the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund, the Ste. Rose Art Hives, Regional Connections and Habitat for Humanity.

Darren Eddie, Ashley Shaw, Peter Nadolny and Rodney Juba are all up for the Community Appreciation Individual award.

Winnipegosis Meat Market, Tim Hortons Dauphin and Steiner Plumbing and Heating are all up for the Outstanding Business award, while Side Hustle Business nominees include Terry Bloomer of Sweet Legs Dauphin, Craig MacCarthy of North Mountain Adventures, Jeff Schulz and Joe Houston of Go Beyond Games and Johnny Braschuk of Braschuk Plumbing and Heating.

Finally, the Start Up Business nominees include Grand Vieux Liquor Co., EXTFIT, Baxter Home Service, Hockridge Trade School and 5'1 Perspective.

The awards will be presented at the chamber’s Celebration Night, which will also include the presentation of the Legacy Business Award, Mar. 14, at Countryfest Community Cinema beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for chamber members and $20 for non-members.

Those who are unable to attend in person, but would like to watch online can do so for $5.

For tickets and more information, contact chamber executive director Stephen Chychota at 204-622-3140.

Earlier in the day the organization will hold its 2023 Chamber Appreciation Lunch at Aspen Lodge at the Parkland Recreation Complex at 1 p.m.

The event will recognize 40 members with Milestone Achievement Awards.

The Dauphin Clippers remain in the hunt for first place in the Westman High School Hockey League despite a setback over the weekend

Dauphin opened the weekend with a 6-3 win over the Glenboro/Carberry/Baldur Wildcats, Saturday in Dauphin.

Jake Kuzmiak scored twice and added an assist to lead the Clippers to the victory.

Also scoring for Dauphin were Liam Chartrand, Ethan Carnegie and William Miner, while Owen Chubka made 34 saves for the win.

Trey Dickson with two and Jaren Waldner scored for the Wildcats. Sawyer Wiebe made 32 saves in a losing cause.

On Sunday, Kash Henkelman scored twice and Owen Martyniuk stopped 24 shots to lead the Swan Valley Tigers to a 2-0 win over the Clippers in Swan River.

Chubka took the loss after stopping 24 shots.

With the Killarney/Wawanesa Raiders winning both of their games, last week, they now hold down sole possession of first place with a 24-2-0-1 record for 49 points, two ahead of the Clippers.

And with three wins last week, the Tigers have all of a sudden moved into the hunt for first, as they trail Dauphin by just a single point.

Each team has three games remaining in the regular season.

This week, the Clippers are on the road to face the Reston/Elkhorn/Melita/Pierson Renegades, Friday, and the Vincent Massey Vikings, Sunday in Brandon.

In partnership with the Manitoba Health Care Providers Network (MHCPN) and Max Rady College of Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) hosted the University of Manitoba medical student Rural Interest Group (RIG) in Brandon, last week.

The RIG weekend promotes the benefits of practicing medicine in rural communities and available lifestyle opportunities. Some 34 first and second-year medical students participated.

PMH has advocated for the initiative as it provides the health region with additional opportunities to engage medical students early in their training.

Clinical workstations were set up at Brandon Regional Health Centre to allow the students to put their skills to the test by undertaking tasks like suturing, casting and airway management.

Prior to the two days, tudent RIG co-president Sydney McLaughlin says participants looked forward to the event after a brief pause due to the state of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“On behalf of both the Rural Interest Group and the University of Manitoba medical classes of 2025 and 2026, I would like to extend a huge thank you to PMH for the preparations and for welcoming us again this year,” McLaughlin said. “These events are so important for our education as they expose students to what it is like to work in rural medicine, provide opportunities for students to network with doctors and residents, and give us an idea of what it is like to work within the health region.”

A former CEO of Fusion Credit Union was honoured with the Order of Merit from Manitoba Credit Unions.

Ron Hedley received the honour last week as a demonstration of his significant commitment to the credit union system at the local, provincial, national and international levels.

“It was such an honour to receive this award,” said Hedley, who retired from a 40-year career in the credit union system in June 2020. “I accepted it on behalf of all the terrific people I had the good fortune to work with. All of the staff, management teams, and boards were such a large part of the successes and the happiness of my career. It was because of all of them that I enjoyed the first day and the last day of my 40 years.”

Those selected to the Order of Merit have made tangible contributions to the development and operations of credit unions and have demonstrated leadership in the philosophy of people helping people.

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