The Swan Valley Sport Fish Enhancement (SVSFE) ran another successful summer of youth fish camps. Several local youth gained angling knowledge and experience at local lakes surrounding the Valley.
“Our fish camp ran a total of 16 days facilitating somewhere between eight and 11 kids per day,” said SVSFE Fisheries Technician Brock Koutecky. “The first eight days were spent at the Red Deer River, while the final eight days were spent at Wellman Lake. Kids can attend each location one time, therefore most kids were able to come two days with one day at each location.
“Once camp registration was open, we were full within the first 48 hours and had kids on the waiting list. After getting a better grasp of demand, we were able to accommodate the kids on the waiting list by finding other volunteers and increasing daily capacity for a few days at each location. In the end, every registered kid was able to come at least one time, and in total, we facilitated a total of 88 different kids in 2024.”
Youth learned a variety of angling skills that they got to test out during the camp. Some of them experienced reeling in their very first catch Master Angler.
“The educational component focuses on all the aspects of sport fishing,” said Koutecky. “Topics include knot tying, safety, fish behaviour, fish anatomy/biology, fish ecology and seasonal movements, proper fish handling techniques, fishing ethics, and of course angling techniques, presentation and bait selection.
“There were so many individual highlights. Many of these include stories about a specific kid catching their first fish ever, or their first Master Angler ever, or their first bass ever for example. There were sure a lot of excited kids experiencing a first and the excitement that came with those moments.”
SVSFE is already planning for next year’s youth fish camps and determining what changes or improvements can be made.
“We are still in the process of making plans for 2025, but at this time we feel that we were able to accommodate demand and will probably make a few adjustments in future years,” said Koutecky. “I don’t think we will expand the program in terms of time, but will likely increase staff and volunteers which will therefore increase daily capacity.”
A lot of work went into planning and establishing the youth fish camps, from funding to volunteers.
“We would like to thank our program funders, The Manitoba Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund, and the Manitoba Government,” said Koutecky. “This program would not be possible without their support.
“Also, a huge thanks to Swan Valley Credit Union (SVCU), the Community Foundation of Swan Valley, and the Paul Olenick Memorial Fund for providing funds to assist with fish camp.
“A big shout out to all the businesses and volunteers who helped in various ways including The Elbert Chartrand FC, Mil’s Grill, Wellman Lake Lodge, 734 Custom Apparel & Promo Inc., Swan Valley Star and Times, Len Thompson Lures, Sticky’s Bait and Tackle, Mitch’s Jumbo Crawlers, Northern Lites Bait, Swan Lake Watershed District, Swan River Title Loans, Manitoba Wildfire Service, Westwood Inn Hotel and Indoor Waterpark, Valley Water, Matt Black, Bruce Taylor, Ursula Taylor, Duane Fleming, Elgin Barnett, Sheldon Branconnier, Jason Vill, Tyler Ashcroft, Norm Bruce, Brian Woloshyn, Todd Yakielashek, Phil Yakielashek, Tammy Webster, and Darren Webster,” said Koutecky.

Strawberry picking season has been in full swing for weeks, with Sweet Acres still offering berries to pick. Cally Ledoux (left), Matthew Wilson (second from left), Passion Zong (second from right) and Charlotte Wilson (right) enjoy their afternoon picking strawberries.

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) celebrated the grand opening of its MEDOCare Pharmacy in Dauphin with a ribbon cutting ceremony, Friday afternoon.

Vice-president of the Northwest Region and MMF Minister of Health and Wellness, and Early Learning and Child Care Frances Chartrand said the pharmacy has been in the works for several years

“Our Elders and seniors spoke about us having a pharmacy, having our own economic bills, our own economic development. And to also ensure that we provide programs and health services for them,” she said.

“So it’s a reality today.”

Funding, Chartrand said, was provided by the Red River Métis government.

“When we built the government’s office in the centre of the city of Dauphin, what we decided to do was the Elders and seniors talk about their prescriptions. We run a prescription drug program. So then we decided for it to be feasible to be one of our businesses that we would run directly out of our site,” she said.

Located at 422 Main Street South, the entrance to the pharmacy is on the south side of the building facing 5th Ave. SE. It is also wheelchair accessible via a ramp at the back of the building.

For now, the pharmacy is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“And we’re going to look at opening Saturdays or Sundays, but that will be down the road,” Chartrand said, adding the pharmacy is open to anyone in the Parkland.

“I’m so happy it’s in the City of Sunshine. I’m just excited. I just love making sure we have full support from the city. We have support from the RM and we have support from all the citizens in the City of Sunshine and the Parkland area,” Chartrand said.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.

A documentary featuring a true story about a woman’s journey through being adopted and reconnecting to her biological family has brought her to Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN). Kristal Parke has put together the documentary Because She’s Adopted, and shared her journey through adoption and reconnecting with her biological family.
“I’ve always known I was adopted,” said Parke. “It was important that my parents be open with me from the very beginning and something I was proud of.
“The narrative that my parents, particularly my adoptive mother imparted to me, was being adopted is a positive thing, that I was chosen, and that my biological mother loved me so much that she gave me a life that she wasn’t able to. It wasn’t until I was an adult and had my children, that I began to explore the challenging aspects of what it meant to not grow up with genetic mirroring, or connection to my biological family and culture.
“It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I began to allow myself to see the ripple effects of relinquishment,” said Parke. “As a mother, it was difficult to reconcile someone being able to relinquish their child. I harbour no judgement, as I know there are many circumstances in which natural mothers feel they have no choice.

The Remembering Kendara Memorial Walk was held again this year on August 6, at 5 p.m., behind UCN. For this year’s memorial walk, the biggest change was the weather, as it rained towards the end of the event. Each year the Remembering Kendara Memorial Walk is held, it grows not only in capacity but in terms of the outreach it has.
“It was the fifth annual KB Memorial Walk this year and it was different than previous years,” said Gloria Ballantyne-Packo. “The biggest difference was that it rained. In the past, it was usually it is scorching hot out. The rain held off until the participants got to the park for the barbeque.

A valley youth has aspirations of being one of the best Ukrainian dancers in Canada and has been striving to achieve that goal.  Kemi Bulycz is only 16 years old and has been active in the world of Ukrainian dancing at a very early age.
“I started Ukrainian Dancing when I was three years old and joined not only because my mom is the instructor, but because I loved dancing and performing around the house,” said Kemi Bulycz.
“My family has always had a member a part of the Benito Vesselli Dance Club since its first year as a club, which has been over 40 years. My Great Grandmother, Lillian Klemetski, helped organize, fundraise, sew costumes, and was a part of the Vesselli Dance Club from the beginning. She spent many hours pinching perogies and helping with its early success.
“Her daughter, my grandmother danced with Vesselli from the beginning of the club forming and later became the instructor for many years, my mom, danced with Vesselli from three years old growing into Vesselli’s head instructor and choreographer,” said Bulycz. “I have many aunts, uncles and cousins who Ukrainian dance, so I guess you can say it’s tradition and one way our family shares our love for Ukrainian culture. My two younger siblings are also a part of Vesselli and one of our favourite dances to perform is our sibling family dance.
“I love everything about Ukrainian dance but if I had to name what I love and enjoy the most it would be sharing my Ukrainian culture with the community.  I also enjoy learning more about the regions of Ukraine and how unique they each are; learning new dances; watching myself and my group and improve every dance season; and my absolute favourite part is performing on stage whether that be at competitions or Malanka, which is our year-end concert or guest performing within the community. I always feel excited and proud when I’m asked to guest perform at events like folk fest, weddings, family gatherings, etc., because I get to share my culture and what I love to do with everyone. 
“My current Ukrainian dance groups are Benito Vesselli Dance Club and Liliya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble,” said Bulycz.  “I also danced with Hudson Bay Cheremka Ukrainian Dance Club for 13 years but performed my last concert with them this spring.” 
Bulycz had the opportunity to attend the Spirit of Virsky this year in Alberta.  The Spirit of Virsky is an annual summer training program designed for all abilities of Ukrainian dancers around the world. Its goal is to push dancers to the highest levels and prepare them to be the best they can be.
“At a competition I attended this spring, one of the organizers from Ukrainian Dance World, who was helping bring the Spirit of Virsky Seminar to Canada, approached me,” said Bulycz.  “He is known in the Ukrainian dance community as an adjudicator, choreographer, advocate for Ukraine, and more. He was the instructor at the Rusulka Dance Camp I attended last summer and has watched me perform on stage at competitions.
“He brought up the seminar and told me that it would be a great opportunity for me to attend and help me grow in Ukrainian dance.
“The Spirit of Virsky Seminar was in Edmonton, AB, from July 15 to 20 and averaged six to seven hours of dance per day,” said Bulycz.  “We were taught by the best of the best in Ukrainian dance with the instructors being Viktoriya Karpenko, Maks Karpenko, and Tania Okseniuk from Virsky in Ukraine.
“We learned classical ballet, barre, jumps, spins, tricks, dance technique, Virsky Choreography and much more.  The experience was amazing and it felt great to walk into the Shumka Studio.”
Being at the Spirt of Virsky for the first time was an eye-opening experience for Bulycz.  She met and danced with Ukrainian dancers from all over the world.
“Being from a small town we typically practice in a school gym or a community hall,” said Bulycz. It was exciting to be in the Shumka Studio which had multiple practice rooms with mirrors and bars. 
“On my first day, I felt a little nervous being taught by the best Ukrainian dancers in the world and learning alongside some of the best dancers in Canada from Shumka, Cheremosh, and Volya, but I quickly got over my nerves and truly enjoyed the experience. Dancers from all over Canada, New York and Australia were there and it was fun to make new friendships and hear about their dance schools.
“In the evenings we enjoyed watching Virsky performances, had pizza parties and bonded over our love for Ukrainian dance and culture,” said Bulycz.  “I honestly enjoyed the whole seminar and every day I was excited to go back, even with tired legs and sore feet.”
There were components to the Spirit of Virsky seminar that Bulycz really enjoyed.  Despite the long hours of dancing, she enjoyed all aspects of it and knows that she will take home this experience and apply it to her future Ukrainian dancing techniques and performances.
“My absolute favourite part about the seminar was learning Virsky Choreography from famous dances like Pleskach and Hopak,” said Bulycz.  “We were taught a total of five Virsky dances over the week along with two warm-up dances. It was intense but a lot of fun and I learnt a lot. 
“On the last day of the seminar, we performed the seven dances we were taught for friends and family. Performing a 30-minute mini concert without any breaks we received a standing ovation and it felt amazing.
“The seminar helped me tremendously with Ukrainian dance,” said Bulycz.  “With the help of the three instructors, I was able to focus on arm, leg and foot positions, strengthen my ballet technique, and dance at a higher skill level than I am used to.
“This will all benefit and help me, and my future in Ukrainian dance. I will be able to practice what I learned at home and in dance practice, and also help my dance group by sharing everything I was taught.”
Bulycz has more plans for the summer with her Ukrainian dancing and will be performing and attending another Ukrainian dance camp this year.  All of this will be more experience she can use to apply to her Ukrainian dancing and achieve her goals of travelling as a professional Ukrainian dancer all over the world.
“I performed my Poltava Solo as well as a Volyn Trio with Vesselli Dancers Ava and Grace Keller at Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin over the weekend of August 3 to 5,” said Bulycz.  “I will be attending for my second year, the Rusulka Ukrainian Dance Camp in Gimli, MB. 
“I’m excited to start a new dance season in September with Benito Vesselli Dance Club and Liliya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble.   I hope to one day, join a professional Ukrainian Dance Group and travel the world performing.” 

The Swan River Dairy Queen held their annual Miracle Treat Day, where if a person buys a blizzard, they bring health and hope to local children.

The Opasquia Trails Board hosted a very important guest to check out their recent developments on the Grace Lake Boardwalk and Boreal Trail. The executive director for Trails Manitoba was given a tour on July 17, and talked about the trail system in the area and what the organization can do to help promote it.
“Trails Manitoba is a provincial nonprofit charitable organization that serves as an umbrella group for recreational trail groups, with a focus on non-motorized trail activities,” said Trails Manitoba Executive Director Tim Coffin. “Our mission is to support and promote the development and use of recreational trails throughout Manitoba to enhance the overall well-being of our communities.

The Pas RCMP search for missing 78-year-old female
On August 3, 2024, at approximately 2:30 pm, The Pas RCMP received a report of a missing 78-year-old female.
Laura Skelly was last seen on July 31, 2024 at approximately 9:20 am, leaving a residence on Campbell Street in The Pas.
The RCMP are concerned for her safety.
Laura was last seen leaving the residence in a 2019, black Jeep Compass, Manitoba license plate EXM 911. It is unknown where she may be headed.
The RCMP are asking anyone with information to call The Pas detachment at 204-627-6204, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

The Province of Manitoba has committed $2.11 million to repair damage done to the Gilbert Plains Country Club (GPCC) as a result of flooding this past spring.

Dauphin MLA and Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said it was an unfortunate circumstance that resulted in the flooding after a nearby dam was clogged creating ice jams, which lead to flooding in the area.

It was consultations with Premier Wab Kinew and different governmental departments that led to the provincial government to provide funding for repairs.

“With the importance of the Manitoba Summer Games happening in this geographic area and the golf course being considered as the golf course to be chosen, the government stepped up,” Kostyshyn said.

“This is a contribution that we feel will help move this forward and take the financial pressure off the golf course committee.”

Kostyshyn noted the ice jam is something that happens on an annual basis.

“I think it’s just a matter of communicating and paying attention to the importance of the immediate removal of the ice jams that tend to build up in that area. Definitely that will be an ongoing communication with the municipality and the golf course,” he said.

The dam, Kostyshyn said, was built a number of years ago.

“It’s a weir dam that really holds water back so they can use the river water as a means of irrigation on the golf course. So it’s a man-made dam, but usually what happens is the icebergs would flow over the dam. But this year, unfortunately, the icebergs started to accumulate and it accumulated to the point where it built a fairly high dam and then it create a back flood that created the problems that happened,” he said.

Kostyshyn said the government will continue to help out in any way it can given the importance of the golf course to the local tourism industry.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.