Dawson Trail Dispatch April 2021

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

“Blessing Bags” Spread Love in Grunthal

The staff of the Patio Grill in Grunthal has been delivering “Blessing Bags” to essential workers in the community.

These lovely women from the Patio Grill in Grunthal have been spreading wings of hope by offering a literal helping hand within the community, of each month.

Since the beginning of the year various customers have been paying for the delivery of mass meal blessing bags to a variety of essential workers. For example, 140 meals were made for the staff at the Menno Home in Grunthal.

“When we had a customer offer to pay for a quarantined family’s meal we had no idea it would take off like this,” stated a spokesperson.

“Words cannot describe how encouraging this has been; not only to those who received these meals but to those of us who got to make and deliver them as well!”

The “blessing bags” have consisted of everything from complete meals to homemade soup and buns.

Each bag carries a special message for the recipient.

Submitted photos

April 2021

“Raise the Woof” Campaign for New Pet Shelter Kicks Off

2021 will be a year of many firsts for Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue (SAAR) as they concentrate on raising funds to build a permanent shelter with their #RAISETHEWOOF fundraising campaign.

Volunteers realize it is a journey they cannot take alone. According to SAAR, Steinbach and its many rural areas have continuously been a source of generous and consistent support.

Their organization is reaching out to the southeast communities and supporters to help bring their new shelter to fruition.

“Our first initiative for 2021 is the GIVE ME 5 event,” according to a recent media release. “The process is simple. We are asking our social media followers, donors, and everyday citizens to simply donate $5 online at .steinbachanimalrescue. com or in person at Clearspring Animal Hospital, Pet Vet, Pet Valu, or Best West Pet Foods. Our goal is to collect 5,000 donations of $5 each.”

This invitation, if successful, will garner $25,000 and will be key to setting the pace for further campaigns. The Raise the Woof Campaign runs until April 11.

To donate, volunteer or for more information visit steinbachanimalrescue.com/support-us, email steinbachanimalrescue@gmail.com or phone 204-807-5559.

The Steinbach & Area Animal Rescue Inc. is a non-profit registered charity that is 100% volunteer-based and dedicated to finding forever homes for abandoned, homeless, and surrendered companion animals.

On average, SAAR has the capacity through its Foster Home network to process up to 20 animals every month but is faced with having to reject 75% or more of the calls they receive for support. Foster homes are continually operating at capacity with waitlists for openings.

April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

St. Adolphe Competes for Hockeyville

One of the many creative ways people are showing support to the community.

By Marianne Curtis

If selected, St. Adolphe would be the first-ever Manitoba community to win the prize.

Submitted photos

Community spirit is thriving in St. Adolphe these days, as residents show their support with flags, and yard décor as the community competes to be named Hockeyville.

On March 20, St. Adolphe was announced on Hockey Night in Canada as one of the top four communities in the bid to become the next Kraft Hockeyville.

The Kraft Hockeyville 2021 grand prize would see St. Adolphe awarded with $250,000 and the opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game.

Earlier this year, St. Adolphe Arena’s ice plant failed, making major repairs inevitable. Originally constructed in the late 80s, there is also a need to fix a wall

with significant mould damage and begin the process of expanding the facility’s dressing rooms to accommodate the growing female hockey program.

“The $250k would be used to fix a mould problem, upgrade the dressing rooms, replace the ice plant and complete any other upgrades that should be done on a building that is used and loved as much as this one is,” stated a spokesperson for the committee.

Several local politicians have joined the support chain, including Senator Don Plett, Provencher MP Ted Falk, MLA for Springfield Ron Schuler and Ritchot mayor Chris Ewen.

“St. Adolphe’s strong community spirit and love of hockey make it the perfect candidate for Kraft Hock-

Don’t forget to vote!

eyville,” said Ewen. “Gear up and get ready to vote St. Adolphe!”

“Hockey is a shared passion that connects our communities in southeast Manitoba,” added Falk. “Now we need Team Manitoba to come together to put the puck in the net.”

The St. Adolphe Arena is not just used for local hockey. During the flood of 1997, it became the site for the Canadian Armed Forces home base when the community was evacuated. It is used as a meeting place, for ringette and figure skating.

If selected, St. Adolphe would be the first-ever Manitoba community to win the prize.

Everyone is encouraged to vote for St. Adolphe beginning April 9 at 8 am until April 10 at 4 pm. Voters can register and vote online at krafthockeyville.ca.

Lorette Man Named to National Ski Board

By Marianne Curtis During the summer, Chris Maxemuck can be found operating C and S Greenhouse, and in the winter he can be found enjoying the slopes and promoting downhill skiing to enthusiasts young and old.

In 2019, Maxemuck was introduced to Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CADS) and over the course of time was able to meet so many wonderful and passionate individuals. CADS gives people living with disabilities the opportunity to eliminate barriers in a fun and inclusive environment that embraces diversity, but in an accessible community that treats each individual with respect.

“I have accepted a position with CADS National on their sponsorship Committee, our goal is to find sources of funding so adaptive sports can continue to grow and flourish across Canada,” said Maxemuck. “We just wrapped up our first meeting this afternoon and I am very humbled that they selected me to serve in this capacity.”

“I see a lot of potential for growth within the central region and across Canada. My goal is to create synergy and a unified

Chris Maxemuck does not let living in the middle of the prairies keep him from indulging in his love of skiing.

message of accessible alpine adventures for all ages and abilities,” Maxemuck continued.

This adventure began three years ago, at a local McDonald’s with a small act of kindness and a cup of coffee.

Since then Maxemuck improved his skiing and teaching abilities, travelled throughout North Western Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan and worked with various community groups and organizations via involvement with alpine skiing.

Read the Dispatch online at www.dawsontrail.ca

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

April 2021

Province Doubles Support for Fire Protection and Emergency Preparedness

MLA Wayne Ewasko visited the Whitemouth Fire Hall recently to deliver almost $140,000 in a fire protection grant. The Provincial announcement totalled $366,000 in the Lac Du Bonnet constituency. L to R: Whitemouth Fire Chief Paul Thomson, RM of Whitemouth Reeve Walter Amerongen, RM of Whitemouth Deputy Reeve Manny Sikkenga, RM of Whitemouth Councillor Glenn Malkoske, Lac Du Bonnet MLA Wayne Ewasko and Whitemouth Fire Captain Carlin Giesbrecht.

Submitted photo

Wayne Ewasko, MLA for Lac du Bonnet, was pleased to highlight a recent provincial announcement of $9 Million in Fire Protection Grants to protect Manitobans. This includes over $366,000 towards approved projects for 5 communities in the Lac du Bonnet constituency.

“Our PC government recognizes the value of effective fire prevention services in keeping our communities safe,” said Ewasko. “These projects in our community will strengthen fire protection and emergency response services and protect residents and businesses for generations to come.”

Projects selected to receive funding in the constituency of Lac du Bonnet include the RM of Alexander – Training Equipment for Bird River Fire Dept. “Max Fire Box” ($7,828.30); RM of Brokenhead – Extractor for Beausejour-Brokenhead Fire Department ($30,145.21); LGD of Pinawa Upgrade of Old Analog Repeater System to Digital Platform for Pinawa Fire Department ($23,816.98); RM of Whitemouth – SCBA Gear for Whitemouth Fire Department ($138,222.07); Southeast Whiteshell – Side by Side for SE Whiteshell Fire Department ($51,895.00) and Southeast

School Boards Ask Residents to Speak Out Over 3,000 parents have already signed an Open Letter from over 200 communities across Manitoba including many communities within southern Manitoba. The letter addresses the Education Modernization Act that was introduced in the Legislature.

If passed into law, this act would dismantle the current public education system in Manitoba.

According to the letter, the Premier and Minister of Education claim that this legislation will result in a better education system for Manitoba families.

“Instead, it is clear that our government is using the current crisis as an opportunity, taking advantage of our collective pandemic related grief, anxiety, and fatigue, to impose radical changes to our K-12 school system,” reads the letter. “As parents, we are deeply concerned, appalled even, by Bill 64’s proposal to centralize the control of educational decisions, policies, and frameworks.

While some consolidation of school boards to make the system less ‘top heavy’ was anticipated, as parents, we find the proposed elimination of ALL English school boards and their publicly elected school trustees

unacceptable.”

The letter calls that every elected MLAs to oppose Bill 64, and advocate for an equitable and democratic provincial education system in Manitoba that includes elected public school trustees, not an appointed Provincial Education Authority Board.

Seine River School Division Chairperson Wendy Bloomfield has already sent a response to the province.

“Given the enormity of this issue, I would ask that, at minimum, your government delay passage of Bill 64 until such time as all interested parties have had an opportunity to thoroughly understand the implications and apprise government of their issues and concerns,” said Bloomfield. “But the announcement

by Minister Cullen and further statements by Premier Pallister have left me feeling stunned, hurt and angry.

Either Mr. Pallister doesn’t have a very good understanding of what Boards actually do, or he is choosing to ignore facts to achieve his intended purpose.”

The Seine River School Division is holding an online town hall meeting to discuss this matter on April 7.

Whiteshell – SCBA Gear for SE Whiteshell Fire Department ($114,271.25).

The Fire Protection Grant was open to municipalities and Northern Affairs communities through the Department of Municipal Relations to support projects or activities that would improve fire protection and emergency response. The fund was originally set to administer $5 million in grants. However, due to an increase in applications received, funding was nearly doubled to support over $9 Million to assist more communities and projects.

April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Putting Our Students First Our PC government is committed to creating an education system that puts our students first. We recently announced our Better Education Starts Today (BEST) strategy, a K-12 education system plan that will shift resources from top-heavy administration to the classroom.

This plan streamlines the school system by unifying 37 school divisions into one Provincial Education Authority (the authority) while maintaining the French school division, Division Scolaire francomanitobaine (DSFM). The authority will manage administrative services and 15 regions will be focused on addressing local needs. Parents will have more meaningful involvement in local decision-making through new School Community Councils.

Manitoba is one of the highest spending provinces on education and getting among the country’s lowest student achievement results in math, science and literacy. We want students to graduate school with the knowledge, skills, and competencies they need to pursue postsecondary education and a successful career path. This strategy will create a provincial education system that is accountable for results, classroom focused, student centred and parent friendly.

These important changes are expected to free up over $40 million that will be re-invested into the classrooms to support the needs of students. In addition, we remain committed to making $1.6 billion in additional investments in education over the next four years to ensure our students have the best opportunities for success.

We are well on track to achieve our election commitment of building 20 new schools across the province, with six already open and in use.

It’s time for a change. It’s time to put our students first. For more information on Manitoba’s education system, please visit bettereducationmb.ca.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact my constituency office at ca.lagasse@outlook.com or 204-807-4663.

Bob Lagassé, MLA for Dawson Trail

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Provencher Policies Pass at Convention In March, the Conservative Party of Canada held its bi-annual policy convention. More than three thousand delegates (10 from each riding in Canada) met virtually for the three-day event to debate policy priorities for the Party.

Ridings across Canada put forward hundreds of policy proposals on a wide variety of subjects from criminal justice to health to government accountability. These were then voted on by party members, narrowing down the number of policy proposals that would make it to convention to 34.

I am proud to say that out of hundreds of proposals, not one but two policies originating in Provencher made the final cut. Both were passed with wide margins of support at convention, and both are excellent reflections of the compassion and generosity of those that call southeast Manitoba home.

The first policy was based on my 2016 Private Member’s Bill C-239: The Fairness in Charitable Gifts Act. In a nutshell, the policy aims to provide fair tax treatment for donations to charities by bringing tax benefits in line with those in place for political donations.

Donations to a political party should not receive a more favourable tax break than donations to a registered charity.

Charities play a critical role in Canadian society and Canadians should be incentivized to support them by increasing the tax incentive to do so. As a region that is regularly recognized for being the most generous in Canada, this policy just makes sense. We walk the walk here.

We are also a riding with a high number of foster and adoptive families and, as such, we wanted the Conservative Party’s policy declaration to acknowledge and support these families.

That’s why we put forward a policy proposal to call on a future Conservative government to put in place a national adoption strategy.

Canada has some 78,000 kids in the child welfare system. Nearly half of these children will become permanent wards of the state, never experiencing the love and stability that comes from having a forever family. Of these, nearly half will experience issues with attachment or other mental health issues and many will also become involved with the criminal justice system. These realities don’t need to be inevitable for Canadian children.

The human, social, and financial costs of kids in care cost taxpayers billions of dollars per year in both direct and indirect costs. So while child welfare is primarily a matter

of provincial jurisdiction, there is a role for the federal government to play.

A child’s greatest need is a stable family to provide them with security, a sense of identity and, above all else, love. The measures in this policy can help to promote and facilitate domestic adoption and help kids in care find their forever family.

I was so pleased to see the wide support for our policies, and I am so proud of our team and the great people here in Provencher.

I am looking forward to when Canada’s Conservatives form government so that we can advance these compassionate, common-sense policies that will benefit so many Canadian families.

For more information on this or any issue please feel free to contact my office toll free at 1-866-3331933 or at 204-326-9889. Visit me on Facebook.com/TedFalkMP. You may also write my office at 76 PTH 12N, Steinbach MB, R5G 1T4 or visit my website at tedfalk.ca.

Volunteers: The Heart of Our Community

Partnering together to create neighbourhoods where we can live, grow, work and play is the main reason why Springfield is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Manitoba’s Capital Region.

It is the perfect four-season community for family, business and simply enjoying life. As your MLA for Springfield-Ritchot, it is a joy to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of my constituents.

Many of these individuals have passionately dedicated their time, energy and knowledge to bettering their respective communities.

Lawrie Kyle is one of these people and has been volunteering in Springfield for 54 years and count-

ing! Ever since the volunteering bug bit Lawrie in 1966, he can’t help but give his time away to others. “54 years came and went just like that,” says Lawrie. “It didn’t even feel like work. It was a way of life.”

Lawrie has worn many hats, in many communities, throughout his decades of volunteerism. He’s volunteered all throughout the RM of Springfield, including with the Springfield Curling Club in Dugald, the Costume Museum of Canada and the Springfield Archives. He has been part of the National Parole Board of Canada and, in 2019, was awarded Volunteer of the Year by the Board of the Oakbank-Springfield Kinsmen Seniors Complex.

I have often seen him on a summer’s day, helping at the annual Country Fair of the Springfield Agricultural Society in Dugald. People from far and wide also enjoy his acting talents in the annual Oakbank Dinner Theatre, which is not just a fundrais-

ing event for his church but is also a ‘must see’ for many Manitobans.

Lawrie says volunteering helps him keep busy, even though he wishes he still had the energy he had in 1966.

“There’s a lot of good people involved in the volunteering I’ve done,” said Lawrie. “A big thanks needs to go out to them as well.” Lawrie continues to volunteer at the Springfield Archives where he documents the history of schools in the Springfield area. “Every group you volunteer with becomes a family,” said Lawrie. “There’s a satisfaction that comes with it. It’s all for fun, really.”

As always, I am privileged to serve you and your family as your MLA. I welcome your questions, comments and concerns at Ron@RonSchuler. com or by mail at Box 150, Oakbank, MB R0E 1J0. By contacting me with your views, you are helping to keep our government informed on what our citizens are thinking and feeling, and I sincerely thank you for that.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

New Budget, New Resources for Students Our PC government is committed to creating an education system that puts our students first.

We recently announced a K-12 education strategy that will shift resources to the classroom and provide parents with greater say in their children’s education. The plan streamlines the school system by unifying 37 school divisions into one Provincial Education Authority to manage administrative services while creating 15 regions focused on addressing local needs.

Parents will have more meaningful involvement in local decisionmaking through new School Community Councils. These important changes will allow up to $40 million to be re-invested into addressing the needs of students. For more information, please visit bettereducationmb.ca.

This March, Manitoba experienced above normal temperatures and combined with the lack of precipitation this past winter, the danger of serious wild fires is real. I have noticed that over the last few weeks

many fire departments have already been out fighting grass fires.

Spring is a beautiful time of year and after a long winter everyone is just waiting to get outside, and with this comes the need to cleanup all the dead grass left behind by winter.

However, I encourage all Manitobans to check with local authorities on any current burning bans in their area and take all necessary precautions to ensure compliance with fire safety practices.

Having been a volunteer fire fighter for many years, too many times I have witnessed fires that were started innocently and got out of control, destroying homes and property. Wild fires can be very dangerous and destructive. We don’t know what Mother Nature has in store for us this spring but I am one that is hoping for enough moisture to keep the number of grass fires down, so Manitoba firefighters can enjoy spring without having to constantly be out battling grass fires.

Spring is also the time when the provincial government releases

its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Finance Minister Scott Fielding has announced the budget will be released on Wednesday, April 7, setting out the province’s financial and economic plan to protect Manitobans and recover the economy.

Nearly 51,000 Manitobans participated in this year’s budget consultation process including telephone town halls, virtual meetings, an online survey and written submissions. I encourage everyone to stay tuned for more details on the upcoming Budget 2021.

As always, I look forward to hearing from you with your questions or concerns. I can be reached at my constituency office at 204-424-5406 or at dennis.smook@leg.gov.mb.ca.

Putting Students First with Manitoba’s BEST Spring is finally here and I hope you, your family and loved ones continue to stay COVID-safe while adhering to current public health guidelines.

Our vaccine rollout plan continues to allow more and more Manitobans to get vaccinated in the coming weeks and months, and with that I hope we can celebrate the many activities and attractions that Manitobans know and come to expect. The Lac du Bonnet constituency is home to a great number of beaches, campgrounds, trails, and parks so I encourage you to get outdoors to enjoy and appreciate what nature offers.

March 15 was a historic date as my colleague Cliff Cullen the Minister of Education announced and released the much-anticipated Kindergarten to Grade 12 Report, Better Education Starts Today (BEST).

As a former teacher and guidance counsellor of 17 years in the Sunrise School Division, I welcomed the BEST Report and know that current and future generations of students around the province will benefit from the report’s recommendations. Our PC government is committed to creating an education

system that puts students first, that will shift resources to the classroom and provide parents with greater say in their children’s education. The plan streamlines the school system by unifying 37 school divisions into one Provincial Education Authority to manage administrative services while creating 15 regions focused on addressing local needs. Parents will have more meaningful involvement in local decision-making through new School Community Councils.

These important changes will free up resources to be re-invested into addressing the needs of students.

For more information, please visit bettereducationmb.ca.

In my role as Minister, I recently spoke in the Manitoba Legislature on the second reading of Bill 33, The Advanced Education Administration Act. This important bill, which will soon move to committee stage then onto third reading before receiving royal assent, ensures our students have access to high quality, affordable post-secondary today and into the future. This bill excludes fees that are set by student unions or associations from future tuition and

student fee guidelines as those are decided by students themselves in a democratic process.

I was pleased to meet with two student groups – the Manitoba Alliance of Post-Secondary Students and the Canadian Federation of Students Manitoba – on two occasions each over the past three months to provide them with technical briefings on Bill 33. Like with all my constituents and stakeholders, I welcome the opportunity to have meaningful discussions with as many post-secondary partners as possible. It is my role to listen, engage and represent their interests so that we all may benefit.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me at wayne@wayneewasko.com, or call me at 204-268-3282. Also, you can follow me on Twitter @wayneewaskomla and friend me on Facebook.

Diabetes Framework Bill Passes Second Reading A bill seconded by Provencher MP Ted Falk to establish a national framework for diabetes has passed 2nd Reading.

Introduced by Brampton South MP Sonia Sidhu, Falk endorsed Bill C-237 in recognition of the many southeast Manitoba residents living with diabetes.

“Approximately 11 million Canadians are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes,” said Falk. “In a 24-hour period, about 20 Canadi-

ans will die as a result of diabetes complications; 620 will receive a diabetes diagnosis, and 14 will have their lower limbs amputated.

These numbers represent real people whose lives have been lost or dramatically changed as a result of this disease.”

The National Framework for Diabetes Act provides for the development of a national framework designed to support improved access for Canadians to diabetes preven-

tion and treatment.

“There is merit to committed and coordinated federal leadership to tackle diabetes in Canada,” said Falk. “We have an opportunity to move the ball forward with a strategy that will support those living with diabetes and help prevent millions of potential cases.”

Bill C-237 received unanimous support in the House of Commons and is now referred to the Standing Committee on Health for study.

April 2021

Vaccinations and Murky Politics If we listen to our Premier’s rhetoric we are still short of vaccine supplies, and that Prime Minister Trudeau is guilty again of this shortfall and the delays.

But in reality we have a backlog on actual vaccinations with a substantial quantity of product waiting to get into willing arms. The Provincial government’s website states that they have received 289,130 doses and administered 191,029. That leaves 98,101 vaccines not administered.

Nationally part of that shortfall is a million plus shots of AstraZeneca because it has run into a potential negative side effect of causing blood clots in females under 55 years of age. It begs the question how many of the 98,000 Manitoba doses that sit in coolers and freezers are AstraZeneca doses?

For the time being this is a serious glitch but other proven vaccines are present and available. In April the Federal government’s scheduled deliveries to Manitoba shows that we will receive 153,270 of the Pfizer, 70,400 of the Moderna and 66,500 of the AstraZeneca vaccines. For April and early May that’s over 289,000 shots that could be administered. Can our provincial government reduce the back log and speed things up? Will they be ready for the next deliveries in May of 150,000 Pfizer vaccines?

In the meantime two known variants of the COVID virus which have been proven to be more transmittable and deadlier than the original manifestation are putting a lot of stress on the race to immunize the population ASAP. To deflect criticism about delays in immunization, the provincial government has introduced too much politics in the mix. There is no other option; ramping up vaccinations is a job 1.

Deflection and murky political talk can only work for so long though. This is the same provincial government that commissioned a report on Manitoba Hydro at the cost of one million dollars to an exConservative Premier, Brad Wall of Saskatchewan. The conclusion of the report does not tell us of two contracts which had total sales of 315 megawatts over ten years to Saskatchewan, giving Manitobans a windfall of $5 billion in Manitoba Hydro sales over those 10 years.

This makes the original western power line, an NDP project worth some well earned foresight.

Ex-Conservative Premier Brad Wall apparently was not aware of these contracts? First I would say that ex-Premier Brad Wall should have sent Manitobans a “Thank You “. Secondly, I would say integrity took a mortal hit since the report was probably unnecessary in the first place. If our government didn’t know the result beforehand they’re guilty of laziness. This is politics at its worst.

And to think that global weather changes is the present government’s weakest portfolio. The climate changes that we are faced with right now will demand constant leadership the like of which we have never seen before.

A change in government perhaps is needed?

April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Spring Thaw Uneventful

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Dry Spring Keeps Fire Crews Busy

With the annual spring run-off nearly complete in southern basins, communities and municipalities are breathing a sigh of relief because the risk of a flooding event remains very low in Manitoba.

According to Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced, “The risk for any high water activity remaining low this spring.”

“Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre will continue to monitor watershed conditions across the province and our government is prepared to respond to any potential hydrologic events to ensure the safety of all Manitobans.”

Long-term weather projections indicate a higher chance for near normal to below-normal precipitation for April and May. The Red River has peaked levels within the Red River Valley from Emerson well within the riverbank.

The RM of Tache’s drone helped fire crews shut down a wild fire near Ross mid-March.

Municipalities have begun the process of issuing fire bans throughout the region as drying winds are elevating the risk of wildfires this spring, and in areas have already started.

On March 17, the RM of Tache fire crews were called out to the Ross area where they spent five hours combating a wild fire and another three cleaning up after the call.

According to RM of Tache municipal Fire Chief Allan Rau crews arrived on scene to find a large wall of smoke and fire.

“Due to the terrain and no road or trail access, we had a tough time reaching all fire areas. Our crews worked hard and we were able to stop the advance. We established

three points of attack on a fire that was approximately 1,500 hectares in size and had the fire under control within 5 hours,” said Rau. He further thanked Andy Brandt, RM of Tache Public Works Manager who assisted by using the municipality’s drone.

“This allowed us to gain valuable scene surveillance,” Rau noted.

“This was very useful to establish a successful fire attack.”

Rau added that crews were grateful to Ste. G’s Store who kept the teams fed and hydrated while on scene.

RM of Piney municipal Fire Chief Bill Stowe reminds residents that until things green up, there is a significant risk of wildfires that can get out of hand quickly putting nature,

Submitted photo.

people, buildings, and entire communities in danger.

“We all need to do our part to reduce and if possible, eliminate the risk,” said Stowe. He then offered some advice on how to keep safe during fire season.

“By removing dry pine needles from your eavestrough or cedar mulch in gardens or window wells, you could reduce the risk of a house fire if a spark were to ignite near your home,” Stowe suggested.

“Raking up dry leaves around your home and removing all wood piles that are piled against a building are just a few simple ways to reduce the severity of a wildfire.

For other ideas on how to keep your home and property safe, visit Fire Smart Canada online.

Local Producers Participate in Cover Crop Study

University of Manitoba PhD student Calum Morrison is inviting local farmers to participate in a cover crop survey he is conducting.

Submitted by Calum Morrison

By Marianne Curtis If you farm in southern Manitoba, a University of Manitoba student is looking for your help with a valuable survey he is conducting on cover crops.

Callum Morrison is a PhD student from the University of Manitoba who is running the very first cover crop survey to take place across the three Prairie Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as a similar project in Ontario.

Morrison is turning his attention to researching how crop covers benefit farmers specifically in southern Manitoba. A cover crop is a plant that’s grown to provide cover to the soil.

“There are several farmers who have taken part from south eastern Manitoba! Cover crops also have

the potential to provide environmental benefits including climate change mitigation and keeping our lakes and rivers clean which will be of interest to people engaged in other lines of work,” Morrison added.

“Some of our goals are to determine the current extent of cover cropping on the Prairies, why cover crops are being grown, and determine how farmers are fitting cover crops into their rotations,” Morrison explained. “We also want to identify what benefits and problems farmers have experienced, and highlight new areas for research, with the aim of support farmers in their decision making and growing cover crops.”

Morrison wants to hear from all groups of people because southern Manitoba farmers have opportunities to benefit from cover crops as

well. He also wants to hear from farmers that do not use cover crops.

This will highlight what challenges limit cover crop adoption on the Prairies, and what mitigation practices may be needed to assist farmers to adopt cover crops in the future.

“I really hope that this will be a tremendous benefit to any local farmer who’s wanting to see what’s going on in their local area,” he said.

“Maybe he wants to learn a little bit more about cover cropping, but also help guide future policy and research in cover cropping.”

To help him with his research, Morrison invites local farmers to share their experiences and ideas about cover crops. Farmers interested in contributing to Morrison’s research can visit surveymonkey. com/r/prairiecovercrops2020.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Liberals Defeat Conservative Motion for Reopening Plan In Ottawa, the Federal Conservatives introduced a motion on March 18 calling on the government to present a plan within 20 days outlining a re-opening strategy.

The motion was put forward despite slow vaccine immunization progress and provincial and territorial jurisdiction over pandemic restrictions and a re-opening strategy while facing rising COVID-19 variant cases across the country and south of the border. The motion was defeated.

“One year after COVID-19 first arrived in Canada, Canadians deserve more than an unending cycle of restrictions,” said Ted Falk, Provencher MP. “The only way to give Canadians the certainty they deserve is to present a clear, data-driven plan to support a gradual, safe, and permanent lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.”

“As the governing Party, the Liberals need to marshall the resources of government to develop a data-driven plan for reopening.

In our capacity as the Official Opposition,

Conservatives have pointed to plans that have been laid out by other countries and have encouraged the Liberals to use them as templates,” he said.

Falk cited allies such as the US and the UK who have both released public plans for economic reopening. He says, for example, the United Kingdom has put forward a step-by-step plan to ease restrictions.

“They’ve publicly outlined the tests they use to determine whether it’s appropriate to ease restrictions. Canadians would benefit from seeing this type of basic information laid out by their government,” explained Falk.

“The Liberals rejected this basic request, continuing to leave Canadians without a plan for the future,” said Falk. “COVID19 restrictions have caused a great deal of strain to Canadian families and businesses and have dramatically impacted Canadians’ mental health. This must change.”

It’s Time We Put Students First

By Cliff Cullen It is time we put students first. Maintaining the status quo is no longer an option.

For too long Manitoba has been spending more on education than most other provinces, but ranking last in student achievement outcomes in the country. In a 2018 international assessment, Manitoba students ranked 9th out of 10 provinces in reading and last in math. Statistics show that 64 per cent of students are meeting expectations in the fundamentals of reading and 55 per cent in math, as well only 51 per cent of Indigenous students graduate within four years, compared to 90 per cent graduation rate among their non-indigenous peers.

It is because of these alarming statistics that our government commissioned the K-12 review. This led to the tabling of Bill 64, our government’s Putting Students First act, and launching our Better Education Starts Today (BEST) strategy with the goal of improving student outcomes and achievements.

The BEST strategy will shift resources to the classroom while giving parents and guardians much more input into Manitoba’s K-12 education system and how it works for their children. We want an education system that is accountable, results-oriented, classroom-focused, and student-centred. We believe this model will make Manitoba’s education system the most improved in Canada. We want students to graduate high school with the knowledge, practical and life skills, and competencies they need to move forward with the best possible opportunity to succeed.

Over the years, student achievement in Manitoba has been hampered by a top-heavy and bloated bureaucracy with high administration costs that take away from the fundamental resources away from the classroom.

Manitoba has the highest number of school divisions and trustees per capita in the country, resulting in vastly different standards and resources for parents and students across the province. For instance, Winnipeg alone has six school divisions with 54 trustees overseeing 100,388 compared to Toronto with one school division with 22 trustees overseeing 246,985 students.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the difficulty responding to the needs of 37 different autonomous school divisions. We needed to shift resources to where they were

Cliff Cullen is the Province of Manitoba Minister of Education.

Submitted photo

needed most, and quickly. Inconsistent access to technology across schools made it difficult to teach, learn, innovate and maintain human connections in a virtual world.

We also learned that parents and caregivers needed timely, accurate, and consistent information, but it varied greatly depending on where you lived.

Our plan streamlines administration by unifying 37 school divisions into 15 regions under one Provincial Education Authority, along with the Division Scolaire francomanitobaine (DSFM) to provide a focus on local needs and giving parents more of a voice and control over decision-making through new School Community Councils.

We know this looks like a lot of change, and there will be a lot to digest over the coming days, weeks, months and years of how we are going to improve our education system.

Making the changes our system needs is not a one-day fix. For now, parents and guardians can be rest assured their child’s education will be unhindered.

We know COVID is still here. But we also need to plan for the future of today’s children and those of the next generation. We want to hear from Manitobans and further the conversation with our education partners, parents, and the wider Manitoba community, through EngageMB.ca.

Together we will make sure our students will have an education system that works for them and sets them up for their future success.

Manitobans can read our strategy at BetterEducationMB.ca.

April 2021

Petition Underway for Police in Lorette

Residents within the community of Lorette are hoping to get the RM of Tache’s attention when it comes to providing policing services in the community. Currently, there is a petition circulating where residents can add their names to a growing list of people demanding that the municipality either establish their own police station or add more RCMP in town.

Rising crime levels in the RM of Tache have been a concern for years, but the recent senseless murder of a well loved couple from the community has escalated concerns.

On March 25, police were called to reports of a break and enter at a home just north of Landmark. When they arrived, they found the dead bodies of two seniors in their seventies. Karlton Dean Reimer from Steinbach was arrested that same day and later charged with their murders.

The RM of Tache often gets criticized for having a slow police response time. Present arrangements have the St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP Detachment monitoring the west side of the municipality with Steinbach RCMP monitoring the east.

RM of Tache mayor Justin Bohemier said the news was “hard to fathom” and his sympathies went out to the family. He added that delayed police response time was not a factor in this incident.

“The RCMP were quick to react to this situation,” he said. “We have good coverage from very good RCMP detachments, they work very well with us and we are all relieved that somebody is in custody for this atrocious crime.”

Petitions are available to be signed at ten community businesses including, Chicken Chef. CJ Hair Salon, Pharmacy, Village Insurance Brokers, Home Hardware, Liquor Store, Dawson Trail Motor Inn Restaurant & Vendor, Jeanson’s Grocer, Marketplace and Coop Gas Station.

Lorette residents have been trying to be proactive with community policing for a number of years. Two years ago, the Lorette COPP started up again and volunteers have been out patrolling the streets.

The main goal of the Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) is to be on the look-out for any suspicious or criminal activity, to record this activity and, where appropriate, to report such activities to the police. COPP members act as additional “eyes and ears” for their community and the police, which assists in reducing crime. Volunteers can help with community patrols, and assist RCMP in other ways such as conducting speed watches and seatbelt checks.

Volunteers should be prepared to commit a few hours a month to the program, and the more volunteers available, the fewer shifts each team requires. A criminal background check is required, and provided complimentary to all accepted volunteers.

Anyone wanting to volunteer or want more information can contact COPPcoordinatorlorette@gmail.com.

April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Fishing Licenses Available Online Don’t let COVID rob you of the opportunity to hit the waterways and take the family fishing. Once again, fishers can purchase 2021–22 angling licenses online through the province’s e-licensing portal.

The recreational angling season officially opens on May 15 in Manitoba’s southern region, and May 22 in the northwest and north central regions. The northeast region remains open to angling year round. The 2020 angling season officially closes at midnight on April 4 in the southern division, and April 30 in the northwest and north central divisions.

Last spring the province introduced the online service for the sale of outdoor licences and permits, including angling licences, taking the sales out of local stores and businesses.

All anglers are required to obtain an angling licence to fish in Manitoba, unless exempt. Angling licences are now available online 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and can be immediately purchased and printed at home. For more information and to purchase an angling licence, visit manitobaelicensing.ca.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Petition to Reduce Speed Near St. Malo Submitted

A concerned resident from St. Malo has personally submitted a petition containing over six hundred signatures to the RM of De Salaberry council.

Lucy Sloan lives south of St. Malo, and has to travel Highway 59 nearly daily.

“Just recently, this town has experienced another accident where two young teenagers in St. Malo were hit by a vehicle as they were entering the highway from Benoit Street by a vehicle coming north on Highway 59,” Sloan explained. “I have personally experienced this on the turnoff, where the corner creates a blind spot increasing the chances for an accident to occur. Add the fact that it is 100 km at this corner and this creates a very dangerous intersection.”

The petition asks the RM of De Salaberry to consider three requests including to reduce the speed approximately 1/2 a mile prior to entering the intersection from the south end of Highway 59 to at most 80km an hour and better signage indicating a high traffic incident area or high traffic crossing area. It also asks for better signage and speed reduction at the crossing to the St. Malo Provincial Park at Highway 59 and Beach Road/De La Grotte Avenue and coming into the town from the north before the bridge.

“The petition is in, with almost 600 signatures and letters of support from the Garderie des Bambins Daycare, Debonair Campground, St. Malo Chamber of Commerce and MLA Dennis Smook,” said Sloan. “I also

presented statistics from The Provincial Park and more! A great big thank you to all that have been supporting the initiative! We have done all we can, now we will wait and see!”

There has been an increase of residential homes off Gosselin Road and therefore further increase in traffic.

In addition, to transporting children to the daycare facility, the arena for sports and other activities, and to school; this road is extremely busy and used often said Sloan.

She noted that the bus route takes children down this road every day, putting many children at risk.

“As well, my children and other community member’s children must cross this intersection to travel when biking to school,” Sloan added.

“I am requesting these changes be done in a timely manner before we create more trauma or lose yet another life because of the poor signage and inappropriate speed limit,” she concluded.

On March 30, St. Malo resident and business owner Lucy Sloan presented a 600 signature petition along with letters of support to reduce the speed south of St. Malo further than it currently is.

Submitted photo

Fire Claims Falcon Lake Community Meeting Place

On March 26, the well-known Christie House at Falcon Lake Resort was destroyed in a devastating fire.

Submitted photo

The community of Falcon Lake are uniting around a well-loved family after a devastating fire claimed their home and part of their business.

On March 26, Barb Hamilton and Craig Christie lost their home to a devastating fire that was caused when a spark from their fireplace ignited the cedar shingle roof. The beautiful hip roof cedar home served as a family dwelling and welcome center for Falcon Lake Resort.

“Everyone and their dogs are safe

and sound, but devastated at the loss of this gathering space,” stated their children Emily, Caleigh and Brooke.

“Nothing tangible was saved. The photo albums, mementos, antique family heirlooms that go back many generations all gone. Nothing.”

While waiting for the fire department, Barb and Craig scrambled to decide what was worth saving, trip after trip in and out of the house resulted in a pile of belongings left 40 feet away from the house.

“Over the course of the next hour, what felt like the entire South Whiteshell Community descended upon the property, desperate to help.

The local volunteer fire department of about 25 fire fighters scrambled to find a source for water to feed their pumper trucks. The dry spring meant no water in the ditches and ice still covered the lakes,” continued the kids. Family members scoured downwind of the fire with wet wool blankets to stamp out any falling embers and protect the forest. In spite of efforts, the entire place, including the items taken out were lost within one hour.

As a special thank you for the hard work done by the department, the Christie family have organized a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the local fire department.

“We are raising money for the South East Fire Department in memory of this beautiful home. Our local fire department is 100% volunteer based and is a huge asset to our community. They were an incredible force against the terrible blaze that took our home. The department also lost some of their own equipment to the fire including hoses as well as sustaining damage to their fire truck,” they added.

To support this fundraiser, visit gofund.me/4d228d0d.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

April 2021

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April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Changing Lives Tammy Bekkering, Steinbach

By Red River College student Alexis Rodriques

Tammy has impacted the lives of many individuals through her countless hours of volunteering .

Bekkering has impacted the lives of many individuals through her countless hours of volunteering Buying a house is often a life-changing decision. For Tammy Bekkering, it not only changed her life, but changed the life of a gentleman she met through the organization she volunteers for, Steinbach Community Outreach.

SCO is an organization that helps those who are homeless or living in poverty. For the last five years, Bekkering has been volunteering as an advocate.

She met a gentleman who suffered from mental health issues and had nowhere else to turn. Three years ago she offered to let him rent out the home she was about to purchase. Now, he will be at Bekkering’s anniversary party this year.

“The people I get to connect with, and feel like I can make a difference, they start becoming friends and family,” said Bekkering.

As an advocate, Bekkering works with individuals to determine what needs to be done for them to have long-term, safe, and stable living conditions. Since becoming Bekkering’s tenant, the gentleman was able to get his old job back and live in a much more stable and nurturing environment.

“When I was nominated it was a surprise to me. I do not volunteer for any recognition. I do it because I want to help make peoples lives better and if I can do that, that is reward enough,” Bekkering stated. “The good thing about these awards is it shows that Manitobans are giving back to make their community a better place and there are lots of people making that happen in different ways.”

Bekkering spends a lot of her personal time, money, and emotional energy helping people. Every second week, she’ll drive people into Winnipeg for appointments and meetings.

“If nine people take advantage of me, but I can make a difference for one, it’s well worth my time,” said Bekkering. The gentleman who became her tenant tells her she changed his life. “I will keep volunteering with Steinbach Community Outreach and helping people as long as I can.”

South-East’s Trail Blazer Murielle Bugera, St. Pierre-Jolys

By Marianne Curtis and Red River College student Brayden Solberg

Murielle is a fourth-generation farmer.

For the past twenty years, Murielle Bugera has been involved with a multitude of initiatives in the St. Pierre-Jolys and St. Malo area.

Her legacy includes the creation of the Crow Wing Trail, which was a project she founded years ago alongside volunteers from six municipalities and one First Nation. The trail which spans 193 kilometers from Emerson to St. Norbert connects neighbouring communities, brings Canadian history to life, and promotes healthy living by encouraging hiking, biking, and horseback riding on the former ox cart trail.

A fourth-generation farmer, Bugera (née Préfontaine) never misses an opportunity to give back to her community, but she is ready to slow it down and spend more time with family.

“There are so many opportunities that are community and especially youth related. I am not looking at being too busy as I am lucky enough to still have my parents here in their late 80s so I am spending some quality time with them,” said Bugera. “I’m spending time with my children and grandchildren of course… my children too many times knew I was gone to another meeting while they were growing up so I gotta make up for lost time.”

Bugera remains humble in spite of an illustrious resume of volunteerism that also features the creation of the Rat River Health Council, a community group that works alongside Manitoba’s Regional Health Authority (Southern Health-Santé Sud) to promote quality health services and membership with the Parc Carillon Committee.

“It reaffirmed that I am uncomfortable as I know that there are a lot of volunteers out there, many much more deserving than me,” Bugera said. “However there is one opportunity that these awards might provide, I might look for opportunities to talk about volunteering and encourage youth to do so.”

See information on all of the Manitoba Honour 150 Medal Recipients at https://manitoba150.com/en/programs/honour-150-recipients/

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

April 2021

Building Lasting Legacies Robert Cesmystruk, Vita

By Harry Siemens and Red River College student Oksana Preachuk

Robert started as a community leader in the Vita area in 1967, serving with outstanding volunteer initiatives that impacted community life and establishing long lasting legacies.

Creating lasting legacies in Vita and the surrounding region is what Robert Cesmystruk started to do as a community leader in 1967.

His outstanding actions because of his volunteer initiatives have made an impact and resulted in lasting community legacies.

Cesmystruk helped establish the RM of Stuartburn Fire Department and was the first fire chief from 1976 to 1986. When not driving the ambulance he assisted as an attendant and also served as a member of the hospital board and a director with South-Eastman RHA. He helped establish the Vita Curling Club and raised funds to develop baseball diamonds and a tennis court as a Lions Club member.

Cesmystruk coached, refereed and was a slow-pitch league organizer. He led in the 4-H clubs, served on the Vita Credit Union board.

He served as treasurer for the Vita & District Resource Council since 2012; as a church elder since 1976; and on the parish executive since 1984. “I hope I have helped to establish a community where everyone can be safe, happy, active and prosperous,” Cesmystruk said. “And in so doing made life better for my family and myself as well.”

Cesmystruk completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the U of M and returned to Vita to teach at the age of 19 and later attained his Bachelor and Master of Education degrees. At 23, he became the vice principal of Shevchenko School and later served as the principal for 25 years before becoming Superintendent of Boundary School Division. Cesmystruk worked on amalgamation into Border Land School Division before retiring in 2002 followed by sharing his wisdom as a trustee for five years.

In an interview, Cesmystruk spoke about how he first helped with the curling rink building in 1966, then later helping with the flooding and scraping of the ice. While never farming on his own, he grew up on a farm.

He and his wife celebrated 50 years of marriage in a small way but hoped to do a big one once the pandemic lets up. “We’ve had a good life. I said when we reached 50 years, I said, I’d sign up for another 50. If I had a chance to do it again, I’d do the volunteer work again. I enjoyed it throughout. Sometimes demanding, but otherwise it is all enjoyable.”

“When I volunteered for the various activities I was involved in I did not think of being recognized for my service. There were things that needed doing and I was able to help so I did,” Cesmystruk stated.

He still serves as the president of the church doing the books for the parish. “I have always treasured the opportunity to work with others and know there are many others that are deserving of recognition as well,” he added.

“As you can see I have moved to more mental tasks as I have aged but I feel blessed to be able to do the work that is entrusted to me by these organizations. Helping others is a privilege and I am glad that I have the ability and opportunity to do so,” he concluded.

Healthy Community is Happy Community Cyndy Friesen, Steinbach

By Red River College student Miya Saj

Cyndy has focused her life on helping others feel equal and valued.

For three decades, Steinbach’s Cyndy Friesen has focused her life on helping others feel equal and valued Cyndy Friesen has dedicated her life to helping others by assisting her community of Steinbach through volunteerism and community service. Friesen has volunteered for numerous organizations, where she works to make individuals feel safe and valued. “I strongly believe that a healthy community is a happy community,” said Friesen.

Since 2015, Friesen has donated her time to Agape House, a crisis center for women and children experiencing family violence, where she currently sits on the volunteer board and previously held the role of copresident. “Cyndy is a fantastic advocate for Agape House and brings wonderful energy and passion to the role,” said Tracy Whitby, executive director of Agape House.

Friesen has volunteered for many other organizations, including the MS Society, Diabetes Canada, Steinbach Community Christmas and arranging annual Terry Fox Runs and Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life, a fundraising relay for cancer, among many other initiatives in her community.

In addition, Friesen frequently helps out at Soup’s On, a local soup kitchen in Steinbach. There she helps with food preparation, serving and assisting the soup kitchen’s guests. “What makes Cyndy an outstanding volunteer is her passion and her devotion to treating everyone equally, with the utmost respect and dignity,” said Joy Neufeld, founder and manager of Soup’s On. “Every individual deserves to live in a safe and welcoming community,” said Friesen.

“Since this award was publicly announced, I have had numerous community members reach out and share that I’ve inspired them to volunteer,” Friesen continued. “At this point, I plan on continuing to volunteer with organizations that I currently am involved with.”

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April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

The Face of Special Olympics Merle Gadsby, Steinbach

Merle has transformed the world of sport in the Eastman Region.

By Marianne Curtis Merle Gadsby is well known in the region as the face of Special Olympics in Steinbach. She never meant to become a head coach with Special Olympics but over the past thirty-five years, she has coached athletes with intellectual disabilities in snowshoe, track and field, swimming, bowling and golf.

Gadsby has also raised funds, trained other coaches, and built long-lasting friendships with many of her athletes. Recently she became a Special Olympics Manitoba (SOM) Regional Leader and currently oversees the Eastman Region, encompassing 13 programs, 166 athletes, and 24 coaches.

In doing things she loves, like teaching (her first career), playing golf, and making friends, Gadsby has transformed the world of sport in the Eastman Region.

“When you see someone that you’ve helped and trained, and you see them doing really well in competition, it is so gratifying,” said Gadsby.

“I think that everyone needs to volunteer and give back to their community. I think we need to start when we are younger and there are many areas that need volunteers,” Gadsby continued.

She said that she was not surprised with her nomination because she has always been commended with the time and energy she’s put into the Special Olympics athletes in Steinbach.

“I have discovered that I miss seeing my athletes because of COVID and it is over a year since we have been able to work out in our programs,” she added, but she is looking forward to getting back to work.

“I will continue to volunteer in the community after I have my COVID-19 vaccines with Special Olympics, Steinbach Food Bank, Steinbach MCC and my Church.”

Volunteer Spends Decades Committed to Community Claudette Lavack, Ste. Anne

By Red River College student Cody Sellar

For decades Claudette has tried to improve lives in Ste. Anne.

For decades Claudette Lavack has tried to improve lives in Ste. Anne, and she’ll continue as long as health permits.

The influence of Claudette Lavack spreads root and branches through Ste. Anne. Since the mid-1980s, she’s worked with youth in the Justice Committee who meet with youth in the justice system and tries to steer them on a correct path after having made amends for their misdemeanors.

She helps organize Christmas hampers every December with Accueil Kateri Centre, the local food bank, where she volunteers bi-weekly whenever she can.

She goes weekly, along with other volunteers to Villa Youville Nursing Home, where she bakes cookies, muffins, and other treats with and for the residents. She also leads the residents in a sing-along.

Despite having retired from years of service as principal and teacher, she volunteers at École Ste. Anne Immersion, the local French immersion school. The list goes on.

“I intend to continue volunteering as long as my health permits,” said Lavack. “It’s important for me because I had the example of my parents, who always volunteered in their communities,” she said.

Those close to her say she’s hesitant to accept accolades — another reason they want to see her recognized. “She’s putting others ahead of her own needs,” said Vicki Bouchard, Lavack’s niece and nominator, who says her aunt has a talent for recognizing where support is lacking.

Lavack said she noticed many children with food insecurity while teaching, so in 2016 she was part of a steering committee that created the food bank Accueil Kateri Centre Inc. They started with 15 and are now serving 75+ families biweekly. Above all, it’s children she strives to help.

“I find it enriches my soul,” she said.

For decades, Lavack’s generosity has lifted those around her.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

April 2021

An Unstoppable Force Keeps Inspiring Dan Guetre, Richer

Dan with his grand daughter. He is hoping the generations following him commit some time to their community.

By Marianne Curtis and Red River College student Nicole Brownlee Many people know Dan Guetre as the owner of several newspapers including The Dawson Trail Dispatch and the AgriPost but in his own home town of Richer, he is well known for volunteering time or services in whatever capacity possible.

Guetre was first inspired to volunteer in his late teens when his father brought him to Black Bear Days, a beloved Richer festival. Now, Guetre carries his father’s spirit when he helps organize each of Richer’s community events including the Richer Rough Stock Rodeo.

“After being notified that I was a recipient of a Manitoba Honour150 award, and reading the list of recipients from across the province, I was awestruck and humbled with the caliber of people each community has leading the way. Strangely, now I just want to do more,” said Guetre.

Not even a bout of kidney stones can keep Guetre from being involved. The night Guetre began treatment, he remembered he had a community club meeting and without hesitation he drove from Ste. Anne back to his home town of Richer. “I was in my hospital pyjamas and I sat there and smiled through the whole thing,” said Guetre. “I never miss a community club meeting.”

He has already shaved his head for cancer, raised over $400,000 for Richer’s ice rink, and immediately jumped on board and helped organize his own personal favourite festival, the annual Richer Roughstock Rodeo.

“I have now added another non-profit to my volunteer schedule. At first I was a little hesitant, worried about not being able to give the time they needed, but I have come to the conclusion that it is a great fit,” Guetre continued. “This community as a whole has great respect for everyone who gives their time to improve our surroundings. This award was a surprise and greatly appreciated. Personally, it made me realize how important the people around me are, they created an atmosphere where volunteering can thrive.”

Woodmore’s Volunteer Extraordinaire Ken Griffin, Woodmore

By Marianne Curtis and Red River College student Oksana Preachuk

Ken modestly said that he enjoys taking care of “things that needs to be done.”

For Ken Griffin, retirement is about spending his days volunteering for his communities and helping others.

A humble man, Griffin modestly said that he enjoys taking care of “things that needs to be done.”

Since retiring, he can be found helping out in Vita, Woodmore, Emerson and St. Malo. When it was time for Mary Pott to move into the Vita Personal Care Home, Ken Griffin helped find her a motorized vehicle that Mary felt comfortable using, giving her independence of movement.

“All my life, I’ve always enjoyed helping people.” Griffin said.

When asked what he has learned about himself after getting this award, he simply replied that “There are lots of people who do lots for everyone.”

Griffin volunteers for a number of community services such as the Emerson Franklin Food Bank, and the Woodmore Community Hall Renovation Project. He even helped raise money for the renovations by selling calendars and arranging craft and bake sales.

He also volunteers for the Greenridge United Church Outreach Committee, where he helps plan fundraisers and donating hampers for people in need, to places such as Agape Table Inc. and the Lenten Purse Initiative.

Griffin said that he plans to continue taking his volunteering, “One day at a time and do what needs to be done.”

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April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

A Bit of Stubbornness Brings Joy to Many for Years to Come Jennifer Plett, Landmark

By Marianne Curtis and Red River College student Aldin Sabic

Jennifer Plett is known in her community for not knowing the word “can’t” and having the ability to get things done, regardless of obstacles.

Landmark mom Jennifer Plett used her talent to organization skills to improve the safety and recreation opportunities in the community when she undertook one of the largest projects of her life for the community’s kids.

Her desire for a tight-knit community made her decide to take action when she realized the school playgrounds were in terrible condition. This inspired her to lead a playground project to build several new structures in different locations in Landmark. She said that her proudest moment to date was seeing the finished products.

Plett said that until she won the award, she did not know how much the work she’d done in the community and how it meant to people.

“I really appreciated the phone calls and texts that I received when the award was made public. Connections, even if they can’t be in person right now, are so important these days,” said Plett, noting that while she enjoyed this project, it was also draining. “They required a lot of time and energy and when it came to installation time, they required volunteer input from the community.”

“If anybody would like to start a project that I believe in, I’d be happy to mentor and share my experience,” Plett continued. “I hope that my days of being in charge of big projects like that are over. I now prefer the smaller, more personal, projects that are easier to start and easier to finish.”

Plett is also known in her community for not knowing the word “can’t” and having the ability to get things done, regardless of obstacles.

“Some people are gifted with things like creativity,” said Plett. “Mine are stubbornness and organization.”

The Passion and Spark that Builds a Community Jeannot Robert, Ste. Agathe

By Marianne Curtis and Red River College student Cody Sellar

Robert was described as the “heart and soul” of his community.

Jeannot Robert from Ste. Agathe will be remembered as a man who was passionate for his community.

When the Red River burst into Ste. Agathe in 1997, pouring into homes and businesses, Jeannot Robert began sowing the town anew in the flood-drenched soil that was left behind.

He had already plunged into the community after settling there in 1975, pushing to develop the town as president of Ste. Agathe Community Development Inc. (CDI) and volunteering to support his community and Franco-Manitoban culture.

Robert spent countless hours developing residential subdivisions. He served his community as an elected official in the RM of Ritchot, school trustee and long-time member of the Ste. Agathe CDI, among countless other volunteer committees.

“He’s the heart and soul of the community,” said Jackie Hunt, who served with him for six years on Ritchot’s municipal council. “He always sees the glass is half full.”

Robert’s dream was to see more small businesses and services in town to support his neighbours, particularly young families.

It’s important for me,” Robert said. “To be more like a family-based community.”

“What I love most, the reason I moved back here, is the open air, the security,” Robert said.

“It’s a great area to raise your kids.”

Robert passed away on March 28 surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer.

His family said that he was proud to know that his passion has sparked initiatives in the younger generation who continue to grow and better the town of Ste. Agathe

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Where to Find the Best Home Décor Updates Canadians are spending more time than ever before at home.

Dining room tables have transformed into workspace and living space is now the classroom and a meeting room.

As the season changes, now is the time to think about cleaning or sprucing up our living spaces.

With many local retailers opening online storefronts, selling or buying items might be easier, closer and more cost-effective than you think.

Going local can have some great benefits to you and your community: a) Budget-friendly without sacrificing quality. Buying from local sellers is a great way to stylishly furnish your home while supporting local community members and businesses. Not only are locally sourced items often more affordable than big-box furniture, you can also rely on quality that lasts. b) Give your home a unique personality. Local items contribute to your home’s unique character and

personality. Furniture or décor from a local seller or store adds a special flare to your home with unique new or pre-loved pieces. c) Lessen your impact on the environment. Local sellers and businesses often have a smaller carbon footprint than larger companies and tend to do more good for their immediate community — whether that’s supporting a local charity or non-profit organization.

Here are two places to purge and find great new pieces nearby.

1. Secondhand stores; Local secondhand stores and professional resellers are always looking for new items to sell. Find secondhand stores near you through an online search on Facebook or Instagram or a buy-sell platform.

2. Online resale sites; Whether you’re looking for a new desk, an antique dining table, or a new mode of transport, online resale sites like Facebook Marketplace help you discover, buy and sell goods. It’s easy to stay safe this way too. Just log onto your ac-

Take Some Time to Make Your Home Shock-Free Children are natural explorers — especially those under the age of five, who seem to get their hands on everything. This can put them at risk for electrical shock. The good news is all electrical shocks are preventable.

Here are eight simple fixes to make your home a safe zone for the children in your life: 1. Replace broken or missing cover plates on outlets or switches immediately. The plastic covers create a barrier between people and exposed wires; 2. Install tamper-resistant receptacles to protect small children from shocks. The receptacles have special shutters that cover the plug slots and help prevent little fingers or objects from going into the outlet; 3. Never leave a light socket empty. Replace burned-out bulbs once a new bulb is available; 4. Keep electrical cords away from small children and pets. They

often explore new things by putting it into their mouths; 5. Show older children how to safely plug and unplug an electrical device by grasping the plug, not the cord. Never overload outlets by plugging in too many devices.

Use an approved power bar that has surge protection instead; 6. Check all electrical cords and replace any that are damaged. Only use extension cords temporarily, not as permanent wiring; 7. Teach children to never use an electrical device near water or with wet hands. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination. Have GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters) installed in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms; 8. Hire a licensed electrical contractor if your home is need of an electrical upgrade.

For activities and videos that help teach children how to be safe around electricity, visit hydro. mb.ca/safety.

Furniture or décor from a local seller or store adds a special flare to your home with unique new or pre-loved pieces.

count to find what you want and sell what you don’t.

It’s also important to stay safe when buying second hand.

Make sure to follow guidance from your local health authorities when meeting someone to buy or sell secondhand items, and always meet in a well-lit, public area.

Article courtesy newscanada.com

April 2021

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April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Increase Your Home’s Liveable Space and Value For much of the past year, most Canadians have spent more time than usual at home where some have discovered that their family needs more space. A basement renovation is one of the most popular home renovations. It not only provides more usable living space but also greatly increases home value.

Whether the plan is to use the space as a family recreation room, media room, or home office, soundproofing should be a key component of the reno. Soundproofing is often overlooked because unlike flooring or choice of paint colour, it’s not visible once the construction is complete.

Soundproofing is an effective and cost-efficient way to ensure the peace and comfort of family members upstairs and downstairs. The cost of soundproofing for the average basement costs less than $1000 but it makes a huge difference in the enjoyment of your home.

Bryan Baeumler, HGTV host and professional contractor, knows all about basement renovations and believes soundproofing should be part of every project.

“The right soundproofing solution is especially important for basement renos since it needs to serve two

A basement renovation is one of the most popular home renovations. It not only provides more usable living space but also greatly increases home value.

purposes: providing the best possible sound quality inside the room and limiting noise transfer to and from the rest of the house.”

Baeumler suggests using Sonopan with NoiseStop Technology (see sonopan.com).

The panels are lightweight, simple to install behind drywall and environmentally friendly because they’re made from 100 per cent recycled wood and are 100 per cent recyclable.

“It’s the best possible, most cost-effective soundproofing option,” says Baeumler. “It absorbs a wide range of frequencies and significantly reduces the transmission of sound and vibrations. The panels are lightweight, simple to install behind drywall, and can be installed by a contractor or you can do it yourself. Because they contain no added formaldehydes or VOCs (volatile organic compounds), there isn’t a negative

impact on in-home air quality.”

He says when installing a drop ceiling in a basement, install soundproofing first.

It’s important to create a solid barrier to stop sound. Although certain tiles can do a decent job absorbing sound, much of the noise still travels through the tracks. Seal any gaps with acoustical caulking and adding insulation batts can be used to increase soundproofing value.

While soundproofing is most easily addressed in new construction, when applying over an existing wall, follow the normal installation procedure. Make sure screws are long enough to secure panels into framework and then add drywall as usual.

Soundproofing can help ensure that you’re making the best use of your available space and protects the investment in your home.

Article courtesy of newscanada.com

Know What’s Below!

Every year, homeowners and contractors damage buried utility lines on their property or job sites, resulting in widespread outages, costly repairs, injuries, lawsuits, and tragically, even fatalities. These accidents can be easily prevented with a free and simple locate service.

Before you dig, drill, or excavate, contact ClickBeforeYouDigMB.com to find out the location of underground natural gas and electrical lines. This could save your life and the lives of those around you.

Manitoba Hydro is part of the ClickBeforeYouDigMB.com service provided by the Manitoba Common Ground Alliance.

A property owner or contractor can request natural gas and electrical line locates, along with other utilities, with one online request or phone call. It’s simple to use and available 24/7.

Once the request is submitted and the locate is scheduled, Manitoba Hydro will mark underground natural gas and electrical lines, free of charge, so work can proceed safely.

Plan ahead If you’re planning a project that involves disturbing the ground deeper than 15 centimetres like digging postholes for a fence, planting a shrub, garden or flower bed, in-

stalling a sprinkler system, or a larger excavation project you must submit a locate request to ClickBeforeYouDigMB.com at least three full working days before you begin your project. If you don’t have access to a computer, you can call ClickBeforeYouDigMB at 1-800-940-3447.

Dangers of Hitting Underground Lines The depth of buried gas lines and electrical cables can change over time, depending on the type of soil covering them, erosion, and other activities above ground, like streetwidening or landscaping.

If you dig into the ground and hit an electrical line, you may: - suffer a serious injury from a shock or be electrocuted; - cause a power outage; - be liable for the cost of repairs.

If you dig into the ground and hit a natural gas line, you may: - release natural gas, which, if ignited, can cause injury or even death; - damage or destroy your excavation equipment; - cause a local or widespread natural gas disruption, including evacuation; - be liable for the cost of repairs.

Dig safe! Contact ClickBeforeYouDigMB. com to know what’s below.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Father and Son Open New Grunthal Area Campground

April 2021

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Province to Reimburse COVID Expenses to Regional Health Authorities

By Marianne Curtis

Father and son team Daniel and Andrew Fehr are excited about opening their new campground and recreational park just south of Grunthal.

By Marianne Curtis Opening for its first season, a new campground and recreational park in Grunthal welcomes campers interested in off grid living, tiny homes and seasonal sites.

Father and son team Andrew and Daniel Fehr are using their own personal knowledge to offer campers a variety of off-grid living and modern camping at the new Green Valley RV and Cabins.

“I have an off-grid cabin on another property south of Grunthal, and I’ve had people fly in from New York and France just to spend a month in a cabin with no running water and an outhouse; just to kind of get away and recuperate and recharge and refill,” Daniel explained. “I did have a bed and breakfast before and I’ve had people requesting to stay longer and asking if I had a little place where they could park or do something.”

With that in mind, the Fehr’s took their project to the RM of Hanover and were pleased to get approval to start.

“We are working on our sites this very minute getting them ready and presentable

Submitted photos

and waiting for the green to come back Future plans include a small golf course, which won’t be long now,” added Andrew. and small cabins.

“We are a father and son operation workGreen Valley RV and Cabins is located a ing together developing our plan.” mile and a half south of Grunthal, within At this time, the goal is to offer sixty-two easy walking distance of the Grunthal serviced sites that are large enough to pull a Centennial Park, and driving distance to trailer through. They are also encouraging St. Malo Provincial Campground. park models and tiny homes.

“We have off grid camping available along with fully serviced sites for year round use. Boondocking will also be available this year as we don’t have our phase two sites ready yet,” Andrew noted.

There is also a small manmade lake, and a Mongolian Yurt. “We have a Mongolian yurt,” said Fehr. “I’ve been to Mongolia seven times and travelled between Russia and China and, seeing how they live, we want to incorporate that into a little Mongolian village possibly, so we got a lot “We are a father and son operation working together developing of great plans ahead.” our plan,” says Andrew Fehr.

A recent announcement by the province that they would be providing $205.3 million to regional health authorities for personal care homes (PCHs) and community health agencies (CHAs), service delivery organizations (SDOs) and specialized equipment purchases to offset funds spent to deal with COVID-19 is welcome news to all the health authority’s.

Southern Health-Santé Sud Financial Officer Ken Klassen confirmed that as of the end of February, Southern Health had accumulated about $7.4 million in COVID related costs.

“Manitoba Health has made a commitment to cover our costs up to a certain amount because it caused us to go into a deficit,” Klassen said.

“We managed to cost save in areas where we cancelled programming, but a $1 million deficit is still projected.”

Klassen said that the remaining $6.4 million of COVID related costs already spent will be absorbed by the budget because of cost savings in other areas. “We’ve saved money in many areas because some programs slowed down, and we’ve saved money by cancelling meetings,” Klassen explained. “These are one time shut downs, such as our surgery program that slowed down in spring, and we were able to ramp them back up. That was a significant savings for us.”

Klassen made it clear that programs shut down due to COVID closures were just temporary and this would not be an opportunity to drop programming. “As things open up and things return to normal programming will reopen,” Klassen promised.

Eligible costs include service delivery organizations such as operating screening and testing sites, the provincial health-care centre, and alternate isolation and accommodations; personal care homes: increasing cleaning and janitorial services, operating the one-site staffing model and further staff costs related to additional sick time, and the need for social distancing within a shared facility; and specialized equipment: purchasing specialized acute care equipment for treating COVID-19 patients in-hospital including ventilators, IV pumps, patient monitors and disinfection equipment.

“We did not need any ICU equipment, we got a few ventilators and some fit testing masks, but not as much as other areas,” Klassen noted.

He noted that the province has made it easier for the health authorities by directly managing costs associated with testing sites and vaccination clinics such as accommodations, cleaning, extra staff and equipment.

The province has also supported personal care homes by procuring personal protective equipment and creating a distribution protocol for the health-care system; limiting the movement of staff to ensure they are assigned only to a single site to mitigate the spread of the virus; and developing all-season shelters that allow residents to safely visit with loved ones, the majority of which have now been delivered.

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April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Falk Denounces Expanded Medical Assistance in Dying Provencher MP Ted Falk responded recently to the federal government’s plan to expand medical assistance in dying (MAID) to those with mental illness.

“The House of Commons passed Bill C-7 by a margin of 180 in favour to 149 opposed,” said Falk. “This bill expands access to medical assistance in dying by removing critical safeguards intended to protect vulnerable Canadians, including those with disabilities and those living with mental illness. I voted against this bill.”

“Given the life-or-death nature of this bill, I was particularly saddened to see most Liberal and all Bloc Quebecois MPs vote against an amendment that, at the very least, would have prevented access to MAID where mental illness is the only reason for the request,” continued Falk. “This decision undermines suicide prevention initiatives and normalizes death as a solution to suffering.”

Falk said hundreds of constituents have reached out to his office to make their views known and many shared his concerns.

“Regardless of where we fall on this issue, now more than ever, we must do all we can to ensure no one is coerced into receiving MAID or made to feel their life is not worth living,” said Falk.

“The MAID law is subject to an upcoming review and I fully intend to contribute constructively to that discussion. We each must do what we can to affirm that every life has value, worth, and purpose.”

Connect with the Healthy Communities Conference

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Red River Co-Op Speedway Under New Ownership

By Marianne Curtis Dirt track drivers throughout the region are looking forward to a new season at Victory Lane Speedway in St. Adolphe after it was announced that the track is under new ownership.

At the beginning of March, husband and wife team Robert and Brenda Stutsky announced that they are the new owners of the facility the facility formerly known as the Red River Co-Op Speedway.

“We are incredibly excited to have purchased the iconic Victory Lane Speedway! Yes, the track’s name will again be Victory Lane Speedway,” said the Stutsky’s.

Opening in July 1973 with a sellout crowd of 3,500 people the facility has been known as Winnipeg Speedway, Victory Lane, and then Red River Co-Op Speedway.

The Stutsky’s are no stranger to the racing scene as over recent years they have been supporting their daughter Victoria, who is the

only female racing in the Midwest Modifieds.

“This coming year will be filled with unknowns, from the number of fans in the stands, to whether drivers will be able to race at other neighbouring tracks,” said Stutsky. “We have many rebuilding plans, but we can’t do everything at once, especially during these uncertain times.”

The first of twenty-four tentatively scheduled races is expected to take place on May 6, with practices expected to commence midApril depending on track conditions and COVID regulations. The schedule is also based on open and facilitating racing at other tracks.

If the borders remain closed then the schedule will be revised accordingly.

“We will not be able to open for racing with the current public health orders, but we will manage practices until we are able to open,” the owners confirmed.

Some changes are already in the

works for the new season.

“In order to return to an affordable family friendly night out, we started by lowering ticket prices.

Sponsorship package prices are also significantly reduced, and our new Pick-a-Race/Pick-a-Class sponsorship package makes it affordable for almost any person or business to support the speedway and drivers to ensure that both will be around for years to come,” Stutsky said.

Victory Lane Speedway racing classes includes WISSOTA Late Model, WISSOTA Modified, WISSOTA Midwest Modified, Pure Stock, Super Truck, and 4Cylinder Classes. These popular classes attract competitors from St. Malo, Landmark, Richer, Ile des Chenes, St. Adolphe, Steinbach, La Broquerie and Lorette to compete against other drivers from other communities in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and the United States when the boarders are open.

Most people, regardless of culture, profession, work settings, life stage and age, experience feelings of loneliness. The health of our populations is directly related to our ability to be connected.

Join Southern Health for the 22nd Annual Healthy Communities Conference as a kick-off to their eventful Mental Health Week in May. Their conference planning committee has worked very hard to bring you a virtual conference experience like no other, filled with impactful workshops, programming ideas and follow up resources all from the comfort of your home or office.

The conference offers ways to withstand the inevitable struggles of life, to find meaningful help and to gain the connections we all desire and need.

The deadline to register is April 14 for this free virtual 22nd annual Healthy Communities Conference “Wired for Connection: The Pathway to Resilience” to be held on Wednesday, April 28 from 9 am - 3:45 pm.

Most sessions will be available to registered participants for post-conference viewing as well. For more information and conference highlights, visit mymorden.ca/wired-for-connection.

The daughter of the new owners of the Victory Lane Speedway Victoria Stutsky (24) is one of the only female race car drivers currently racing on the track.

Photo by Marianne Curtis

Alzheimer Society Seeks Board Members The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba is currently looking for two board members and they are asking people throughout the province to join the board.

According to Daniela Wenger, Alzheimer Society of Manitoba spokesperson, the board is hoping to have full representation across the province.

“The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba is looking for leaders in the community to fill two board member positions,” Wenger confirmed. “The successful candidate will help guide the organization’s work to support families living with dementia throughout the province.”

Interested and qualified applicants with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to provide a cover letter and resume by April 19. Visit Alzheimer.mb.ca for the full listing and for more information.

RMs Receive Support for Stronger Asset Management Practices The Government of Canada is investing almost $131,000 in 3 new projects in southeast Manitoba communities through the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on behalf of the federal government. The program aims to strengthen local infrastructure planning and decision-making by increasing local asset manage-

ment capacity through investments in activities such as asset management training, technology and software enhancements and information sharing.

With $36,560 in funding, the RM of De Salaberry will develop a consolidated asset management framework (asset management policy, strategy, roadmap, and plan) to inform infrastructure investment decisions,

with a focus on roads, bridges, and culverts. The municipality will also train staff on appropriate principles for plan execution.

Additionally, the RM of Tache is receiving $50,000 to setup and improve data collection and reporting.

The Rural Municipality of La Broquerie will establish an asset management plan with the help of $44,240 in funding.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

April 2021

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Tax Reconciliation: Tax Reckoning?

Have you filed your taxes yet? Is the outcome similar to last year? For many taxpayers that were not affected work-wise by the pandemic, your tax situation may be about the same.

For taxpayers with similar income and situations compared to the previous year, the only change may be the increase in the Climate Action Incentive, also known as the carbon tax rebate.

Every family receives it and this year it’s just a bit more.

But for many taxpayers who have lost their job, or have reduced employment income, their tax situation is very different. These taxpayers have received the COVID benefits like CERB and CRB. The good news is most taxpayers are finding out that the amount they owe is not as much as they had anticipated. It’s a good phone call for me when someone owes more in taxes than last year, but they are relieved that it isn’t as much as they had thought it would be.

Tax Reconciliation We think of preparing and filing personal income tax returns as tax reconciliation. We reconcile your taxes payable versus how much tax has been deducted from various sources of income.

If your tax payable is less than the

tax withheld, then you will get a tax refund. If your tax payable is more than the tax withheld on your sources of income, you have tax owing and you need to pay the difference.

How do we calculate your taxes owing? It’s not simple. It’s not just based on your income. It’s the various tax credits available that make tax preparation “complicated”.

Tax credits do not reduce your taxable income, but they do reduce the taxes payable.

When I hire new tax preparers at our office, one of their first observations is: “I thought taxes were easy”.

It may be easy if you are filing your own taxes year after year and not much changes. But as my new employees find out, almost every tax file is different.

You don’t know what you don’t know What makes our tax system complicated is all the tax credits that taxpayers may be eligible to claim. If you don’t know about them, how do you know to claim them? Often it is new clients that I meet with and I review previous years’ tax returns and ask about credits that were not claimed and the answer is “I didn’t know I could claim that on my taxes”.

There are so many tax credits available and as professional tax preparers

we need to consider each file in front of us: which tax credits might they be able to use? What information has not been provided to us? What do we need to ask for? Almost every file we work on, we end up contacting clients to ask for more information.

Because it’s hard to keep track of all the tax credits available, many clients turn to tax services like ours. We know of the various credits that exist and learn about all the new ones each year and check to see who qualifies for new credits.

Has your income changed? Do you now qualify for some credits? Has your family situation changed? Are there new credits we need to ask you about?

For us, filing your taxes is more than just reconciling your taxes payable and how much tax was deducted. It’s about digging for tax credits that will increase your refund or reduce your taxes payable.

Snowbirds never left Are you old enough to remember when we all paid for Autopac at the end of February every year? Remember the line ups at the insurance offices the last two weeks of February?

That is how we are experiencing the income tax preparation this year. We have received so many tax returns early to end of March, instead of

spread out over six weeks into midApril.

We believe the flow of tax returns this year is different because everyone is home and so many senior snow birds are able to get their tax information together much earlier than normal.

With no one away on vacation, it seems so many people have time to get their tax papers together and we have received it much earlier than normal.

It’s a struggle to get everyone’s taxes completed in a timely manner.

I thank my staff for trying to get the taxes done as quickly as possible.

There have been more delays than previous years on some tax files.

Thank you to our clients for their patience as we try to process so many tax returns in a short period of time.

Deadline still April 30 Remember to file your taxes before the normal April 30 deadline. The only exception is those who are selfemployed and their spouses. Your deadline to file is still June 15.

We encourage you to file your taxes before the end of April especially if you have taxes owing. The penalty if you file after April 30 is 5% of the amount owing, plus 1% for every month you are late. So even if you cannot pay the amount owing, get it

filed on time!

CRA has announced that if you received COVID benefits in 2020 and you have an amount owing, if you file by April 30, they will waive the interest until April 2022. So you have another year to pay it, interest free.

This is only available if your taxable income is less than $75,000.

If you received CERB, CRB, EI, provincial COVID benefits; file on time! The interest relief is not a filing extension, just a payment extension.

If you did not receive any COVID benefits and you owe, you do not get interest relief.

So no reason to not file by April 30.

Get it filed so you know how much it is. And you may be pleasantly surprised it may not be as bad as you think it is.

Anni Markmann is a Personal Income Tax Professional and Certified Financial Planner; living, working, and volunteering in our community.

Contact us at 204-422-6631 or 36 Dawson Road in Ste Anne (near Coop) or Info@SAtaxes.ca.

Tax Season Looks Different This Year

compared to others if they received any form of COVID support.

“Overall, my suggestion for individuals would be to expect to pay taxes or have a significantly reduced refund this year if you received any COVID support and be sure to inquire with your tax expert regarding additional tax credits you may be entitled too,” Lambert noted.

“These individuals need to realize that any COVID benefits received haven’t had any income taxes deducted. This government support will be issued on either a T4A or

T4E, depending on when you received the money, as employment insurance benefits or CERB,” Lambert explained.

Also new this year, four new boxes have been added on T4s that lists income earned from March to June.

“It is not income that needs to be added in addition to the total gross income. This is just boxes for information purposes.”

For individuals forced to work from home, the new “flat-rate” method was introduced this year means you can deduct $2 per day

worked from home up to a maximum of 200 days, for a total refund of $400. To claim this method you do not need to provide forms from your employer. If you have worked from home longer than the 200 day period or have expenses greater than $400, the detailed method must be used.

“This method prorates the space of your home you are using for business by the total square feet of your home; however, expenses such as mortgage or property tax are not deduction.” Lambert explained. “Only

expenses such as electricity, heating and internet are eligible. The detailed method requires a signed T2200 form from your employer and a T777 completed with your tax return.

She reminded everyone to not forget the climate action incentive, meant to help reduce the cost of carbon tax which has been increased this year. A family of 4, consisting of 2 adults and 2 children are entitled to $720. Make sure your tax expert is claiming this deduction, she added.

By Marianne Curtis Local expert Jennifer Lambert, owner of JKL Bookkeeping Services said some people will have a significantly different tax return this year

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April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

A Comforter in All Times Have you ever wondered why you are here on planet earth? People that believe in evolution have difficulty finding real true purpose in life because they believe they are a result of fate and chance, rather than design.

I’ve heard people say, “This world would be a better place if I’d never been born” or “I’m Daddy’s little mistake,” or “I am of no value in this world so I may as well not be here.” Our government promotes these thoughts by legalizing euthanasia as an easier way out of our problems; rather than face them and deal with them as God intended.

Let me assure you, from the authority of God’s Word, the Bible, that you are not an accident of nature but rather appointed of God for a special purpose. Ephesian 1:4 tells us that God “Hath chosen us in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world.”

God in His foreknowledge knew man would sin and disobey Him. This sin has brought heartache, disease, environmental problems and worst of all, separation from and loss of fellowship with God. But God had a plan. Even before man sinned God had arranged with His Son, Jesus Christ, to go down to earth, be born as a human, live 33 years and then die on a cross and shed His blood as total payment for all men’s sins. Ephesians 1:9 calls this a “Mystery” that was hidden up till 2,000 years ago. God has “chosen” that all people can come to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Bible says He will not turn anyone away, because He loves the world (people).

If you are struggling with many questions in life, Revelation 3:20 says Christ is knocking on your heart’s door asking permission to come in. If you invite Him in, He will forgive all your sin, make you a child of God and be a Comforter to you at all times.

He will give you the proper solution to all life’s questions and give you purpose and hope. No one else can do this for you.

Why not come to Jesus Christ today, while there is still time and He is still knocking? There may come a time when it is too late.

Don’t put this decision off; it is too important to just let it slide for another day.

Praying that God will help you make the right decision today!!

God Bless you as you seek Him and His will in your life.

Memberships: 2021 memberships available for $25 per person. Join now to enjoy our member’s benefits!

COVID Popup Clinics: Appointments are required for these sites, and can be made by calling the vaccine call centre at 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC) from 6 am to 8 pm daily. Have your health card ready. Visit gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/clinics.

Breast Cancer Screening: April and May. CancerCare Manitoba’s mobile mammography clinic is hitting the road and parking at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre for the months of April and May. Use this opportunity to get screened and make sure you’re healthy for many years to come! Screening is offered on an appointment only basis.

Please call 1-855-952-4325 to make an appointment.

Pen Pals: Letter writing fun! Pat Porter Active Living Centre in collaboration with the Shine Homeschool group is looking for people interested in participating in a pen pal program. Those interested would exchange letters with students from the group on a regular basis. This group of young and bright students frequently volunteers at the Centre and would love to chat with you.

Sign up and make a new friend!

Please call 204-320-4600 or email communications@patporteralc.com if you would like to be added to the mailing list.

Fireside Stories: On Tuesdays and Fridays at 1 pm on Facebook! Grab

a cup of tea/coffee and get cozy every Tuesday afternoon at 1 pm as Meg and Cathy from our Circle of Friends program read from the Stuart McLean collection. Join us live on Facebook/patporteral at 1 pm or watch later on your own time.

PPALC Cookbook: Share your recipes with us! We’re making a cookbook and we need your help!

Do you have a recipe with a special story? We are looking to put together a cookbook featuring recipes (and their associated stories) submitted by you! Share your favourite recipe and include a story. For example, tell us where it came from, the first time you made it or anything else you’d like to say! Types of recipes are not limited. You may submit main dishes, snacks, baked goods or desserts. To submit a recipe you may drop it off at the Centre or email communications@patporteralc.com. It would be great if you included a photo of the finished product also! We look forward to seeing your delicious recipes!

Perogies: Freshly made and for sale! Handmade by staff at the Centre, these cottage cheese perogies are delicious and ready to be enjoyed. $6 per dozen. Please call 204-320-4600 to order.

PPALC 2021 Calendars: Featuring local photographers! Come grab a calendar for 2021! Featuring beautiful photographs submitted by local photographers. $5 each and available for pickup at the Centre.

Give us a call at 204-320-4600 to order one today!

Centre Closure: The Pat Porter Active Living Centre will be closed to all non-essential programming and services until further notice.

We are following the public health authority recommendations and encouraging you to stay home as much as possible and make sure we all reduce our contacts. This is for your safety, my safety and the safety of all of our loved ones. This is a community effort and we can do this!

We will remain open for essential services: Meals on Wheels in Steinbach and Grunthal will remain open for meal delivery only, please make sure you call by 9 am if you would like to order a lunch.

If you need help with shopping, mobility equipment or transportation call to make arrangements for us to provide assistance.

If you, or someone you know just needs someone to talk to, please call us 204-320-4600 and one of us will gladly spend some time with you.

Staff will be at the Centre from 9 am – 4 pm if you need support or assistance. Please feel free to call and we can assist you. We are here for you! We are in this together and we will come out of this together.

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay home.

For more information on our programs, activities or volunteer opportunities from Monday to Friday, at 9 am to 4 pm call Sonja at 204320-4603 or the reception desk at 204-320-4600.

Niverville Woman Named to Ducks Unlimited Board Colleen Dyck from Niverville was one of six influential leaders recently appointed to the Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) board.

In her new role, Dyck will support the organization’s work to conserve wetlands and deliver large, landscape-level impact that advances sustainability, biodiversity and climate resiliency.

Dyck is an award-winning entre-

preneur and international agriculture ambassador. She is the owner and operator of GORP Clean Energy Bars & Mixes, a manufacturing facility located on the family grain farm, Artel Farms.

She is also an active community leader who is passionate about supporting emergency food assistance programs around the world.

DUC is one of the largest and lon-

gest-standing conservation organizations in the country. Established in 1938, DUC has conserved 6.5 million acres of wetland and associated natural habitat across Canada.

These habitats, including one in Niverville, provide valuable environmental benefits to society by mitigating floods, filtering pollutants from water, storing carbon and supporting wildlife.

Municipalities Sign Waste Management Contract Both the RM of Stuartburn and the RM of Piney are celebrating the signing of their first mutual joint municipal garbage contract.

This past month, the BPPS Recycling and Waste Management Board was officially launched with the signing of the agreement between the RM’s of Stuartburn, Piney and Buffalo Point First Nation.

According to the RM of Piney,

“This exciting new partnership provides for a new and innovative opportunity to manage solid waste within southeast Manitoba.”

Many operational details are evolving as the partners move away from Eastman Recycling pickup service to our regional solution,” added Stuartburn council.

“Our primary goal is continued recycling services without inter-

ruption, but there will be some transitional challenges,” reads a notice from the municipality.

The municipalities remind residents to be patient as the Buffalo Point-Piney-Stuartburn Waste Management Board works to improve service delivery and a more environmentally sustainable approach to solid waste management for the southeast region.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

April 2021

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He Died of a Broken Heart KR Barkman Artist Call Out We are looking for artists of all kinds to join our outdoor KR Barkman Concerts in the Park summer series. Musical groups and soloists, dancers and theatrical performers come and share your talents with the community. Visual artists create on site, surrounded by inspiring sights and sounds! All featured artists may sell their merchandise in the park during the show.

Visit SteinbachArts.ca to submit your application before April 15.

50/50 For Kids! is Coming Soon We’re excited to announce our 50/50

50/50 for Kids! is coming soon

For Kids! with Steinbach Online running from April 12 to May 5. Win up to $50,000 and support the kids in your community. There will be two Early Bird Draws on April 21 for a $1,000 GNM Fine Jewellers gift card and an April 28 draw is for a $260 outdoor fire pit from McMunn & Yates and a $500 Sobeys gift card Grand Prize Draw on Wednesday, May 5 at 10 am.

Purchase your tickets online at steinbacharts.ca or visit the local business sponsors to purchase tickets in person.

Or follow our new 50/50 social media accounts to find out where we’re set up for the day.

Win prizes now!

Join our daily contests by following us on Facebook and Instagram @steinbacharts5050 and Steinbach Arts 5050.

Funds raised support our After School Arts Program – ASAP. Our ASAP program provides a calm and comfortable setting where youth can participate in visual arts, music, theatre, or dance with our artists and instructors.

South East Open Judged Exhibit!

SAC’s open exhibit from April 19 May 20, showcases the artistic talent in our community. We invite you to enjoy local artwork in our 23rd annual SOJE exhibit. Come experience the variety of mediums on display in our hall gallery.

In-Person Classes Are Back!

The Steinbach Arts Council is excited to be able to offer in-person classes again, starting April 5. After months of hosting virtual classes, we are again able to meet in-person. We’re making classes safe and healthy for our community in-person! To see what we are offering, visit our website today.

Summer Employment We’re planning our Summer Arts Day Camps and we’re accepting applications for summer employment as Camp Directors. Visit Steinbacharts.ca for details about our job postings, and send your resume attention to David Klassen, Director of Programming) to DKlassen@steinbacharts.ca.

Ready, Set, Book Your Campsite!

As of April 5, reservations for Manitoba campgrounds, cabins and groupuse areas will begin with staggered dates.

The Manitoba parks reservation system will accept bookings in three phases with April 5 for campsite reservations open for the Birds Hill Provincial Park campground; April 7 for campsite reservations open for the Winnipeg Beach, Betula Lake, Big Whiteshell, Brereton Lake, Caddy Lake, Falcon Beach, Falcon Lakeshore, Nutimik Lake, Opapiskaw, Otter Falls, West Hawk Lake and White Lake campgrounds; and April 12 for campsite

reservations open for all remaining provincial park campgrounds. Online bookings will be available at 7 am.

To accommodate the expected high demand on April 5, the opening day of the parks reservation system, online and call centre services will begin at 7 am at prs.gov.mb.ca or call 204-948-3333 (in Winnipeg) and 1 888-482-2267 (toll free).

Campers are advised to check the website for call centre hours on other days, and those making online reservations should check to confirm their user IDs and passwords prior to April 1. For more information, visit manito-

baparks.com.

Park vehicle passes will also be available online in early April as part of the province’s e-licensing program. For more information on the e-licensing program or to purchase a park vehicle pass when the program launches this spring, visit manitobaelicensing.ca.

If you miss out on booking a campsite online, do not be discouraged.

There are many privately owned campgrounds within a one hour radius of Winnipeg that have space for casual and seasonal camping. The Dawson Trail Dispatch will start featuring them in an upcoming issue.

Steinbach Housing Project Included in Funding Announcement Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen is thrilled with a recent provincial announcement that will see the City of Steinbach receiving a new grant for $1,337,500 to help support the development of additional affordable housing.

On March 29, the province announced a total of $12 million in grant funding to ten municipalities throughout the province to address the needs of vulnerable Manitoba’s and help protect them

through affordable housing initiatives.

“The real estate market is coming in one of its best years ever and development in the region is very strong. This grant is intended to assist that as the City and region grows there is affordable housing for residents,” stated Goertzen.

According to the province, this approach enables the municipalities to leverage additional sources of funding.

The funding will enable and empower municipal partners to help those who face barriers to housing in their communities, by supporting the creation of affordable housing and home ownership opportunities that will protect more families for years to come.

The other municipalities receiving the funding are Brandon, Dauphin, Flin Flon, Morden, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, The Pas, Thompson and Winkler.

Welcome Basket in Lorette Looks at Business Promotion

Are you a Business Owner/Manager in the LUD of Lorette?

Would you like to find out how you can promote your business without

paying for advertising? Contact the Lorette Welcome Basket Committee at lorettewelcomebasket@gmail. com to find out more.

Psalm 96:1-2… 1) Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2) Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. (NIV) Ever have the desire deep down in your heart to go to church, and you wonder why?

Well, personally, it makes me feel kind of good inside; and besides, it puts a song into my heart. It makes us want to be thankful. When we go to church, we want to praise a God who will come to judge the world… He will come to make things right. Too let us know that Jesus died of a broken heart and that He, God the Father raised Him from the dead on the third day. He will let us know that when Jesus took our sin upon Himself on the Cross, that He, God the Father being Holy, could not look upon sin, and therefore, turned His face from Jesus Christ and that broke Christ’s heart.

Our first responsibility in any church service is to worship God. It should be a genuine personal response of devotion and praise. True worship I believe is singing songs that come from deep down in our soul; songs that bless not just the song leader but the whole congregation and the very heart of Christ Himself. Bible reading, prayer, praise items, and preaching are all part of a worship service. A worship service should not be mechanical, but a joyous experience that lifts our soul in praise and adoration to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Attending a church service and worshipping in that church service are two different things. I suppose I need to ask myself the question, how often do I truly worship?

I can remember sitting through an entire church service never really paying attention to what was happening in the worship service.

It was as though my body was there, but my heart and mind were doing something else. I sing along without giving any thought to the meaning of the words. I see the preacher behind the pulpit, but I do not hear his message.

I am like a puppet waiting for his master to make things happen, it is so mechanical.

However, I have come to understand that being in church and worshipping are two different things. I have come to understand that worshipping is an expression of the soul; it is the stirring of the Holy Spirit within our heart, drawing our attention to Jesus Christ and the spiritual freedom we can enjoy.

There are times when a proper respectful Christian atmosphere is very necessary for worship. I must have the thought in my heart that I will worship the Lord and I must strive to maintain this respect before God. A worship service should encourage us to talk about our salvation. Talk about Christ’s saving grace. Talk about the God who existed before anything existed. Talk about a God who created the earth by His spoken word. Talk about a God who took the dust from the ground and made the first man called Adam. Praise Him for the seeding and the harvest season. Praise Him for the trees, the birds, and the vastness of the roaring sea. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does. Yes! It should teach us to reach out to those who do not believe. If we are saved as we say we are, then showing God’s power and saving grace in our new life is something that we might want to share with others.

Every Christian, I believe, wants to be part of a church congregation. We want to worship a righteous and a Holy God. The Holy Spirit within us reveals God’s loving-kindness. The Holy Spirit reminds us that God made known His love with the death of Christ on the Cross, a final sacrifice for the sins of the world. No wonder we want others to know what a wonderful and mighty God we have! Is there anyone of us who can understand His wisdom? Every living breathing thing lives by His power. Yes! We worship God and we recognize His awe-inspiring perfect love for us. We all want to understand and sense the touch of the Holy Spirit and the direction that God has appointed unto us…To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done.

Would you pray this prayer with me? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change.

My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have peace in my heart. I really want that peace, joy, and happiness that I long for. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will bring honour to Your Name.” Amen.

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April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

RCMP FILES If you have any information in regards to any item here you are asked to contact the Steinbach RCMP Detachment at 204326-4452 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or manitobacrimestoppers.com or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to Crimes (274637).

Thieves Bypass Two Locks During Bike Theft On the evening of March 17 a 2017 Specialized Hellga expert fat bike was stolen from the back rack of a vehicle parked in a driveway on Hanover Street in Steinbach. Suspects cut two locks and got away with the fat bike.

If you are a witness or have information on this occurrence, please call Steinbach RCMP at 204-326-4452, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800-222-8477, or secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Safety Equipment Saves Snowmobiler’s Life It was just after three in the afternoon on February 21 and the conditions of the day were excellent for two groups of riders heading out on snowmobiles at -10 °C with a south wind. The trails were a bit rough due to lack of snow, but nothing that would deter these seasoned snowmobilers. The two groups were unknown to each other and had set out on the trails heading in a direction that would have them meet head on near Freedom Road.

The two groups met on a curve. It appears one snowmobile may have been over too far and tried to correct when the driver saw the oncoming sleds, but he overcorrected, causing the machine to roll with the rider still on it. A driver from the other group was thrown from his sled when it collided with the rolling snowmobile.

Two Falcon Beach RCMP officers were out on a snowmobile patrol when they received the dispatch of the collision and were on scene very quickly. The two 54-year-old men involved in the collision, one from Niverville and one from Winnipeg, both received injuries, with one requiring a trip to the hospital. When the police officers saw the equipment of the rider from Winnipeg who had rolled on his snowmobile, there was a stark reminder of what could have happened if the rider had been less prepared.

A hole in the rider’s helmet went almost all the way through. His jacket had extra protection padding, which was now exposed and scraped up. If he had not been wearing this equipment, he likely would not have survived to tell the tale. Without safety equipment, this day would have ended in tragedy.

The RCMP share these photos with the permission of the rider to remind everyone that while doing any activity, take safety precautions and ensure that you have the proper equipment; it could just save your life.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Vehicle Stolen from Home in Steinbach On February 26 at approximately 6:10 am, Steinbach RCMP received report of a stolen 2005 Nissan Altima, grey in colour bearing British Columbia plate KG378D. The vehicle was stolen from a residence on Giesbrecht on the same day between the hours of 5 am and 5:30 am.

If you have any information, in regards to the above incident, you are asked to contact the Steinbach RCMP Detachment at 204-3264452 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800222-8477 or manitobacrimestoppers.com or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to Crimes (274637).

Search for Stolen Truck On the morning of March 31 a black 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup truck with a tonneau cover on the box bearing the Manitoba licence plate EAF 782 was stolen from a residence on McKenzie Avenue in Steinbach.

If you are a witness or have information on this occurrence, please call Steinbach RCMP at 204-3264452, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Early Morning Vehicle Theft

RCMP Search for Aggressive Shoplifters

On March 25 at approximately 4:35 am, Steinbach received a report of a stolen vehicle from a residence situated on Westdale in Steinbach.

The vehicle is described as a 2012 Toyota Matrix, grey in colour bearing Manitoba plate GZH257. The vehicle did have 1/2 tank of gas.

If you have any information on this occurrence, you are asked to call the Steinbach RCMP at 204-326-4452, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800-222-8477, or secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

The Steinbach RCMP received a report of shoplifting from the 1st Choice Convenience store in Steinbach that took place at approximately 11:45 AM on March 26.

A female shopper left with $60 of groceries while a male tried to distract the store staff. The female was approached outside the store about the incident and became aggressive toward the manager. Both the female and the male left on foot heading west on Main Street.

If you are a witness or have information on this occurrence, please call Steinbach RCMP at 204-326-4452, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800-222-8477, or secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

RCMP Ask Witnesses to Contact Them On the evening of March 12 an altercation between a female and unknown male occurred near Hwy 52 E in Steinbach. An “elderly couple” intervened and drove the female home. Steinbach RCMP are looking to speak with that couple and any other witnesses to this occurrence.

If you are a witness or have information on this occurrence, please call Steinbach RCMP at 204-3264452, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Pet Poisoning Investigated On March 12 Steinbach RCMP received a complaint of a dog believed to have been poisoned and, unfortunately as a result, was euthanized.

The incident occurred on Dawson Road in the RM of Ste Anne. No further comments will be provided as police continue their investigation.

Anyone with any additional information on this matter is asked to contact the Steinbach RCMP at 204-326-4452 or Crimestoppers.

RCMP Searching for B & E Suspect On March 11 at approximately 7 pm, Steinbach RCMP received a report of a break-in to a residence on Cutlass Drive in Steinbach that took place sometime between 5:20 pm and 7 pm the same day. The thief stole miscellaneous jewelry and collector coins.

If you have any information in regards to the above matter, you are asked to contact the Steinbach RCMP Detachment at 204-326-4452 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Be aware of happenings in your neighbourhood and report suspicious activity to the authorities.

Check on your neighbours.

Call 911 if you suspect a crime is in progress or has occured!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Break-Ins Discovered During Cottage Reopening Now that spring is here and temperatures are warming up, RCMP are witnessing an increase in traffic cottagers returning to their seasonal properties Unfortunately, some are returning to find that their seasonal property has been broken into or vandalized.

According to Sprague RCMP Corporal Richard Graham a number of returning cottagers have filed break-in reports for incidents that occurred over the winter months but went undetected until now.

“If you’re the victim of a break-in, or theft, call the Sprague RCMP to report the incident. We can’t help if we don’t know it’s happened,” Graham said.

He further offered a number of helpful suggestions to reduce the risk of breakins on vacant cottage property.

“If you can’t come and check on your property throughout the winter months, speak to your neighbours or friends who live in the area,” Graham continued. “Ask them to keep an eye out, and report suspicious activity or vehicles to the RCMP.” Hiding items from view and removing valuable items when closing for the season are very important, especially firearms, he added.

“Never leave firearms in your seasonal residence over the winter months, even if you have a gun safe. The bad guys will just take the whole safe with them, and open it later,” Graham noted.

Improving the security and access to a property is also important, he added.

“A solid gate is going to stop more curious criminals than a rope gate, or nothing at all,” he concluded.

If you would like more information on how to prevent thefts from your property, feel free to call your local RCMP detachment.

Two Charged in Tache Pot Bust Two Winnipeg men have been charged as a result of a recent RCMP raid on an RM of Tache property.

On March 11, as a result of an ongoing investigation, officers from Steinbach, the Steinbach General Investigative Section (GIS) and with assistance from the East District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST) executed a search warrant under the Cannabis Act at a residence located in the RM of Tache.

The search of the property resulted in the seizure of 500 cannabis plants in various stages of production as well as over 84 kilograms of dried cannabis.

Two males from Winnipeg, ages of 34 and 32, were arrested on scene and later released for a court appearance scheduled May 27 in Steinbach. They are facing charges of Possessing Illicit Cannabis, Possess Cannabis for Purpose of Selling, Cultivate Cannabis plants and Cultivating more than 4 Cannabis Plants.

Steinbach RCMP continues to investigate.

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Release Your Aroma of Hope In The Moment

By Arlene Derksen

The air in the room seemed to pop with fireworks of pungency. My mouth danced with an array of sensations as my other senses awakened to heights only reserved for these kinds of moments it seemed.

Fresh, bright, green baby Dill.

Every cut of my mom’s trusty serrated knife seemed to release another invisible, but instant aroma cloud into the small 70s kitchen.

My heart and mind were instant-

ly happy and my soul danced right along with my happy senses.

Gently but swiftly, my mom scooped up the fresh mound of bright green dill from her trusty well-worn cutting board, and gingerly added it to the already simmering large stock pot of delicious Mennonite soup, filled with other magical, garden fresh ingredients, all preparing to contribute to this wonderful gathering of mouth-watering wonder.

All these ingredients needed to be prepped, cut and cooked to release what only each could release. A potato released potato, dill released dill.

Sitting on the cutting board uncut, unprepped would never bring the desired aromatic

soup to its best potential and serve with the aromatic taste intended.

We all have an “aroma” gift, just waiting to be released to the world. The world needs us to share with it that which only we can contribute; the gift of “us” that is meant to be shared.

Sometimes that aroma will be released in joyful moments and sometimes in hard ones.

Either one can break open what is hidden in each of us.

If we all choose to release our gifts/aroma, and “marry” them together with each other, the world will be a better place; happy hearts, minds and souls. A place of hope; when we release our aroma of hope.

April 2021

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Parent Peer Group Established The Steinbach Family Resource Centre (SFRC) has established the “Nobody’s Perfect” parenting group in order for parents to meet, discuss, share and discover solutions and ideas for positive parenting.

The parenting group will meet in-person on Wednesdays for 6 weeks at 1 pm starting on April 14.

For more information or to register, contact the SFRC by emailing Maggie@steinbachfrc.ca or by calling 204346-0413.

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April 2021

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Local Author Asks “Are We All Cannibals?”

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Artisan Hall Opens in Roseau River

By Marianne Curtis A Niverville author is celebrating the release of his new book called Are We All Cannibals? a book that tackles the subject of social cannibalism.

An ordained minister, David Braun is a husband and father to four daughters with a passion for writing, fused with his message of identity has opened doors for him to minister to people in places around the globe.

In Are We All Cannibals Braun invites readers into his own life as a successful third generation pastor in his quest for true fulfillment. What Braun discovers rocks his foundations, freeing him to the simple truth that the only way to find perfect stability and purpose was to let himself grow down versus grow up.

“You can’t know who you are until you know who your Father is, and you don’t know your Father until you experience his heart. As you get to know your Father, he speaks empowering definition and heavenly identity into you, releasing deep security into your being,” said Braun in his book.

So many believers today feel consumed by exhaustion, anxiety, and shame. “What if there was a profound answer to the questions of meaning and fulfillment already planted in you? What if the answer of belonging, protection and provision were adventure-filled and child-like?”

Braun asks.

Roger Armbruster, Founder & Director,

A variety of local vendors have their items for sale in the new Artisan Hall located in Roseau River, south of St. Malo.

Supplied photo.

Niverville author David Braun with his new release called Are We All Cannibals?

Canada Awakening Ministries encourages believers to pick up this book.

“David Braun speaks and writes not simply as one who knows about Father God, but as one who knows the Father. I was able to observe him up close, in person, when he was going through some of the experiences described in this book,” Armbruster said. “He has been contending to see the Church of Jesus Christ reflect Him more as a family than as an institution.”

Released publically March 23, Are We All Cannibals is available for purchase at Christian bookstores and on Amazon.

Local producers from southern Manitoba have a new venue to sell their items that is large enough to provide space to many while giving customers a variety of merchandise to choose from while shopping.

This past month, Matt and Peral Reimer, owners of Reimer Concrete and Building Supplies in Roseau River started hosting vendors in their Artisan Hall. The Reimers bought the business back in 2017 and have been looking for ways to breathe new life into the forty-year old building.

The Reimers thought that during the pandemic, with folks stretched to the limit financially, this would be a good time to give back to the community. Of course, if Artisan Hall brings in new traffic that can benefit the store as well it is a win/win for both the owners and vendors.

After employee Karl Wagenhoffer suggested the Artisan Hall, renovations were made by the company to a generous portion

of the store, with vendor volunteers Vivian Bott, Dennis Edwards and Janet Kroeker painting the new venue. What makes this market unique is that all items are grown, harvested or created by artisans in the RM of Stuarburn and the RM of Franklin.

The list of local vendors offer a vast variety of items including honey, preserves, home décor, walking sticks, deacons benches, salves, grainbags, plants, books, CD’s ,inspirational plaques, wood cutting boards and coasters, handmade children’s clothing, accessories, repurposed furniture, woolen pillows, felts, dryer-balls and hand-made soaps.

To make the store even more welcoming, a community bulletin board, as well as a free book, puzzles and seed exchange shelf is available for people in the area.

The store is located on Road 13N, less than a mile west of Highway 59. If you would like to be a vendor, call 204-427-2434.

Stuartburn Offers Twine and Film Recycling The RM of Stuartburn is proud to offer a free recycling program for agricultural film and twine. The program is an extension of the municipality’s combined mission of building a stronger community.

According to the council, from now until October, growers can return bale and silage wrap, grain bags, silage film and plastic (polypropylene) twine for recycling at the municipality’s transfer station.

“The program is part of the agricultural industry’s commitment to responsible management of its products throughout their entire lifecycle,” stated council.

The municipality has made it easy for farmers to gather the materials by providing free collection bags from the transfer station.

A few rules do apply, such as materials must be kept separate and be returned in a clean and dry condition, free from dirt, straw and moisture. Items such as large rolls of grain bags or silage film can be tied securely with twine. Nylon twine/rope, netting, feed/ seed bags and excessively dirty materials will not be accepted.

Funding and materials for this program is coming from a three-year, government funded project expected to increase farmer access to recycling programs and explore ways to deliver long-term, permanent programs.

Since 2013, more than 35,000 kg of agricultural plastics has been diverted from burn piles and landfills. The bags and program are being provided by Clean Farms. To find out more visit their cleanfarms.ca.

The RM of Stuartburn is piloting an agriculture recycling program at their waste transfer site.