Creative Common Inc. is set to begin work on its planned makerspace thanks to a recent grant from the province’s new  From the Ground Up - Safe Healthy Communities For All Program.

Up to $80,000 was awarded to the group to help with renovations to the main floor of its building on Second Avenue Northwest.

“It’s a $100,000 project to get the upstairs open, which is where the 3D printers are and the soldering stations and the classroom and a wood shop,” said Creative Common spokesperson Martijn van Luijin.

“So we are now going to be able to do all that, because we have enough to match the funds. We were a little bit short, but that’s why we were fund raising.”

van Luijin added two new bathrooms will be added to the space, while the building’s owner is planning to add a new facade and upgrade the electrical panel.

While it seems as if the project has been stalled, van Luijin said the group is ready to execute its plan in short order.

“We have already started the plan. We’re already getting contractors to come in and take a look at it and electricians,” van Luijin said.

“So we’ve been waiting for this, because we’ve been sitting on our hands. For about six months we just talked about it and now we are  hitting the go button.”

The project’s schedule will depend on how quickly tradespeople can begin, but the group is not resting on its laurels as planning is well underway to the develop the basement space with further amenities.

Plans already include a podcasting studio and a sewing lab, but there is additional space available

for other disciplines.

“We are tossing around some ideas, but we are at the beginning stages,” van Luijin said.

“We’re thinking about a VR room where you can wear virtual goggles and do programming and stuff like that, but we haven’t really talked about that very much. That’s expensive, so we’ll see.”

He added there are also code issues to consider such as egress. With just one set of stairs currently leading to the basement, a second exit will need to be incorporated.

The group is also exploring some strategic partnerships and is in discussions with the local library to increase accessibility.

“So, say you don’t have the money to get a (Creative Common) membership, but you still want to try 3D printing,” van Luijin said.

“If you have a library membership you could borrow a membership card for say three weeks and get introduced to it and get to meet other people doing it.”

The same kind of partnership is being worked out with Community Futures Parkland.

“For new entrepreneurs that want to maybe work on a prototype of something,” he said.

“But nothing is firmed up yet. We’re just all trying to figure this out.”

In the meantime van Luijin said the fund-raising will continue in an effort to make the space as special as possible.

“I have another grant program application in for some green initiatives around the building, but that hasn’t been decided yet,” he said, adding you can never have too much money.

“There’s no such thing.”

There will be some new faces, and one familiar one, around the Mountain View School Division board table following a byelection, last Wednesday.

Floyd Martens will return to the MVSD board as a trustee for Ward 1 along with newcomer Conrad Nabess, while Ward 2 will see Scott Lynxleg take the empty seat and Jarri Thompson will represent the City of Dauphin as a Ward 4 trustee.

Martens, who earned 203 of the 420 ballots cast in Ward 1, was one of three trustees to resign in June. He is looking forward to getting back to work.

“Every time there’s an election and you have people coming to the table. It’s a new board in lots of ways, so we’ll see what happens, what takes place,” Martens said, adding his initial focus will be on the budgetting process and ensuring what is happening in classrooms is benefitting students.

“Things within schools that are happening, that obviously are going to need to be the focus. For me that’s my priority.

“We need to focus on the things that are really significant. The province has been looking at a funding model and may have shared that information with the board, I don’t know. 

“Obviously we’re at budget almost now, so it needs to get in place relatively soon. My thought is where’s that at and what does that look like and what does that mean for Mountain View?”

For Lynxleg, the election was a learning experience that he is looking forward to continuing at the board table.

“My first priority was to get on the board, which is done and now it’s to attend first meetings, catch up on housekeeping of what a board member does. I’d like to hear from all board members now that we have a full board, to hear everybody’s thoughts on what we’re going to do as a board going forward. It’s time for some change, and good change, I think we need it, obviously we do,” he said, adding his goal is to bring the focus back to the children whose education should be the board’s main priority.

“My priority is the kids, all the kids. We kind of lose sight of that and I think somewhere along the road that was lost. What I’m going to be focusing on is working with the board, parents, staff, anybody that wants to contribute, and getting things focused, I guess back where they’re supposed to be.

“First of all we need safe schools and respect for everybody and inclusion and then you go from there.”

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

Dauphin city council took an opportunity to honour Brenda Gregory as they gathered for its regular meeting, Oct. 21.

Gregory is one of four inaugural winners of the City’s new Sunshine Award, but was unable to attend the Oct. 7 presentation of the awards to co-winners Jerry Joss, Clayton Swanton and Carla Wolfenden.

In presenting the award, mayor David Bosiak referred to Gregory’s commitment to the community spanning decades and continuing to this day.

“In the early ‘90s when she was on the rec commission, she was a sports mom, an activity mom involved with her kids in the community and doing a lot of great things in our community. I saw her yesterday at Northgate with the next generation, with her two grandsons, still being up there and caring a great deal,” he said, adding all of the Sunshine Awards winners are similar people in the way they contribute to the betterment of the community with no expectation of acknowledgment or reward.

“Brenda in particular has marshaled the Dauphin Derailleurs Cycle Club since its inception in 2017 and has been like the mother hen of the organization and has nurtured it and supported it. The only other thing I’ll say is that for the last couple of summers in particular, she’s been out on the trails in plus 35 degrees working with the green team with a leaf blower backpack or a weed eater or running kids back and forth on the trail system just making sure that we have this tremendous asset up there at Northgate.”

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

The City of Dauphin is weighing its options under a new provincial government program supporting critical infrastructure.

The Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities (Manitoba GRO) program kicks off with an investment of $42 million for projects which focus on community renewal, disaster mitigation, climate resiliency and recreation.

Municipalities outside of Winnipeg can apply for grant funding for up to 50 per cent of total eligible costs for capital projects under the following investment categories:

• public safety, which includes disaster prevention, flood mitigation and climate adaptation (such as drainage and flood water control), and fire stations and related capital items (such as trucks to enhance public safety);
• roads, bridges and active transportation (such as multi-use trails, airports and renewed road infrastructure);
• recreational infrastructure; and
• solid waste management and organic diversion (including garbage collection sites or recycling infrastructure).

“We are evaluating all the projects that we could apply for and then we’ll apply for two because it appears that we can only apply for two,” city manager Sharla Griffiths said, adding there is one project in the pipeline the City is seriously considering.

“There’s a new fire truck in the budget for 2025. That fire apparatus is one of the big ticket items,  just about $900,000. So if we can get a portion of that paid, that would be awesome. But we still have to evaluate all the other things that we want to consider.”

With a Nov. 15 application deadline, there is still time for the City to consider its options.

The City was awaiting word on its application to the From the Ground Up - Safe Healthy Communities For All program, formerly known as Building Sustainable Communities to make a final decision on which of its projects to promote. The province just announced the recipients of that program on Friday.

That aside, Griffiths is excited about the potential of the new program

“We are excited about this because of all of the categories that are possible,” she said, adding she is hopeful the program is not just a one-time funding opportunity and will continue in future years.

“With the new government we’re uncertain. We’re unsure if this is something that we can count on in the future, so we will try to get as much as we can.”

In announcing the program. Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Ian Bushie said the program is about making sure municipalities have the resources they need after years of being shortchanged by the previous government.

“We committed to resetting the relationship with our municipal partners and we are pleased to support strategic infrastructure projects that will support municipalities in their efforts to protect their towns and cities from potential disaster and build strategic infrastructure projects that promote growth and sustainability,” Bushie said.

The province’s commitment to co-invest in strategic infrastructure projects is an approach welcomed by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM).

“We also appreciate this renewed collaboration with the province and look forward to being actively involved in reviewing and providing feedback on applications, ensuring projects align with the interests and growth ambitions of municipalities across Manitoba,” said AMM president Kam Blight.

Funding for this program is sourced from the $73.8-million rural strategic infrastructure basket delivered under the Strategic Municipal Investment Fund.

Halfway through his mandate, Dauphin mayor David Bosiak is pleased with what has been accomplished and excited about what the next two years might hold.
That excitement is piqued even more considering the culture of co-operation and teamwork that is prevalent around the council table and throughout City Hall.
“The willingness to communicate. The willingness to share ideas. The willingness to have discussions even though we don’t have to agree on things, that we’re not having to fact check each other. We are talking about realistic things,” Bosiak said.
“I can probably speak on behalf of the entire council that we are all motivated to make Dauphin a better place. Not better by cutting things or reducing spending, but by providing beneficial and needed public good. We want to do everything possible that a city can do to make it a great place to live, a great place to own a business, a great place to want to own a business.”
While talk around Dauphin often revolves around the recreation opportunities and natural beauty that surrounds the community, a list of the city’s attributes has to include the educational opportunities, the world class health care availability and the volume of development currently under way.
But perhaps Dauphin’s strongest attribute is its people, he said, who consisently step up when called upon, such as during the recent Manitoba Summer Games.
“We have positive energy. We’ve had tremendous success with our events getting back up and running post-COVID,” he said.
“There’s an enthusiasm with the volunteers in our community that I’ve seen, which is so consistent with post 2004, the last time we hosted the summer games. I recall back in the day we were saying ‘well, we did that, what else can we do?’ And I have a sense of the same kind of energy and enthusiasm now. There’s just so many small examples of a synergy, of people willing to work together.”
With planning already underway for 2025, Bosiak is hoping city council can build on that momentum and enthusiasm to champion some new initiatives with potential to make life in Dauphin even better.

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

The inaugural winners of the City of Dauphin’s new Sunshine Awards have been announced.

Brenda Gregory, Jerry Joss, Clayton Swanton and Carla Wolfenden received the 2024 Sunshine Awards. Joss, Swanton and Wolfenden received their awards at the City’s regular meeting Oct. 7, while Gregory will be presented hers, Oct. 21.

The Sunshine Awards are a new initiative aimed at recognizing outstanding contributions of individuals or community groups, which positively impact the community.

An initiative of mayor David Bosiak, the awards will be presented annually during the Thanksgiving season as a way to celebrate those who make Dauphin a better place through their dedicated service.

“These awards are a way of expressing gratitude to those who go above and beyond to support the growth of our community,” Bosiak said.

“Each of this year’s recipients stand out in their own way for their volunteerism and acts of selflessness, which remind us of the community spirit that makes Dauphin such a special place to live.”

Dauphin fire chief Cam Abrey was honoured for his work done on behalf of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CACF).

At the association’s annual conference in Montreal last week, Abrey was presented a King Charles III’s Coronation Medal.

“There were 50 of us that received that medal through the CACF for their work that they did on the national level. Either through the national fire service or through their provincial fire services or a combination of both,” Abrey said, adding two other medals were presented to Manitobans including Steinbach fire chief Kelvin Toews and Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service deputy-chief Scott Wilkinson.

“We are all involved. I’m past president of the provincial association and Kelvin is our current president. We’ve both held a number of different committee seats on the national level. Scott Wilkinson has spoken at numerous conferences on the national level and he sits on a few different committees, as well.”

The coronation medal commemorates the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada. The medal is administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall. A total of 30,000 medals will be presented this year to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.

Currently Abrey sits on the CACF’s Cancer Prevention Committee aimed at developing policies and practises to help reduce the risk of firefighters developing cancer throughout their careers. He also sits on the Answer the Call Committee, which gathers information on ways departments can attract new firefighters and retain existing members.

“That’s probably the biggest challenge in the fire service today, bolstering the numbers on departments,” Abrey said.

Abrey also serves on the Executive Chief Fire Officer Committee, which oversees the professional designation program, and the Mental Health Committee, which looks for ways to assist those in all branches of emergency services who are at risk of developing post traumatic stress disorder.

The work is important and, while Abrey does not get involved for medals and pats on the back, it is nice to be recognized.

“It’s great honour. You have 49 others from across the country that are your peers that were there for the award, as well. You don’t do it for the recognition. You do it to try and improve the fire service and make it safer for those that are coming through,” he said.

“In December I hit my 25th year in the fire service and I never thought that when I stepped in that there would be any kind of recognition like this. I never thought that it would be a full-time career for me and I always tell the tour groups that come through the fire station that I’m living every little kid’s dream. I get to drive big red trucks and fight fires.”

City administrators have decided it is time to review Dauphin’s Zoning Bylaw.

“Our last zoning bylaw is from 2015 and we are approaching the 10-year mark, so it’s definitely time, that is one aspect,” said city manager Sharla Griffiths.

“A second aspect is our city plan or development plan just got reviewed and approved this spring and that’s another good trigger, or another good indicator that says we need to review our zoning bylaw.”

It is important the two planning tools work together, she added.

The recently approved development plan builds at the main corridors in the city - Main Street, Second Avenue Northwest, Buchanan Avenue, River Avenue, Whitmore Avenue and Mountain Road - which connect and define different areas of the community. From the commercial area around Main Street to the surrounding residential and green space areas, it is important that allowed development makes sense, Griffiths added.

“The city plan, or the development plan talks about areas of our community and generally what should happen there. The zoning bylaw speaks specifically about lots,” she said.

“We need to make sure that each lot is zoned appropriately and that the things that one can do on the lot are consistent with the city development plan.

“We find that the  2015 review, our current zoning bylaw has been working reasonably well. But the city plan is a very different format and contains some different concepts than the last City plan. So it makes sense to review them both back to back, so that they work together nicely.”

Urban Systems, the consultant which helped the city with its development plan, has been contracted to assist with the bylaw review.

The process is in its early stages, Griffiths said, with just one introductory meeting held to this point. She does expect the consultants will be in the community this week to meet with City staff and council members.

“So they can gather our thoughts and our local knowledge and say from their perspective what are some of the things that we should look at,” Griffiths said, adding she expects the entire process to take up to one year to complete.

“There will be a public consultation component to it eventually, but there is no time frame set yet.”

There are more players involved than just the City and Urban Systems, she said, which can stretch things out.

“We also have to work with the province, so Community Planning, Transportation and probably Environment. The development plan was circulated through Culture and Heritage. Then it also has to get ministerial approval,” she said.

“They could say here’s some recommendations, or give it back to us and say please consider these issues or these items where we would have to go back and rework something.

“But as long as we make the zoning bylaw support the city plan we should be good.”

While residential lots are likely to remain residential and commercial will remain commercial, there are some current trends to be considered, such as intensive housing, infill housing and tiny houses, which are not adequately addressed in the current bylaw.

“Right now we say that on a single family lot you can build a single family home. If you want to build a two family home, you have to come to council for a conditional use.” she said.

“Sometimes we go through a building season, or leading up to a building season and it’s variance after variance after variance, people looking to build a couple feet closer to the property line. So if council almost always says yes to building it a couple feet closer to the property line, maybe our setbacks can be changed. It’s about seeing where we are in terms of comparables, what fits on a lot and what makes sense for our community.”

The new Zoning Bylaw will be implemented once approved sometime in 2025.

Any time you can combine a passion with an opportunity and at the same time address a social need, you should count yourself lucky.

And that is what Melisa Stefaniw and Alex Man are doing after such a convergence allowed them to launch one of Dauphin’s newest businesses.

Back in Blacks, operating out of the former Blacks Cycle and Sporting Goods location on Main Street South, is a new consignment business focussing on redistributing used sporting equipment and apparel along with bike repairs.

“Alex and I have been heavily involved with Northgate Trails. We know there’s a huge need for sporting goods and cycle repairs in the community,” Stefaniw said, adding she was a founding member of the Dauphin Derailleurs Cycle Club Inc., while Mann was the trail designer working on the Northgate system.

“We are deeply, deeply tied to that sort of rec. asset in this community. Both of us have extensive backgrounds in outdoor recreation. Both of us have been coaches for a really long time  and competitors in various different types sports, really across the board with what we’ve done, winter and summer sports, team sports. We want to be able to support youth and teams in the community through our passion for it.”

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

A successful application to the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund will enable the City of Dauphin to install additional security cameras at  several of its facilities.

The $24,353.20 grant will allow the City to add 15 cameras to its existing system of 17 high-resolution video feeds already in place.

The new cameras will be placed on city-owned proprieties including one additional camera at the CN Station to cover a blind spot in the existing coverage.

“It is very much needed following a 1,000 per cent increase in vandalism to this building in 2023 over 2022, including a dozen incidents of windows being smashed, jeopardizing the safety of multiple office tenants,” deputy city manager Lisa Gaudet said.

“The RCMP have been unable to charge the suspect without video evidence.”

An additional camera will also be installed at Dauphin Public Library, Gaudet said, to provide an extra security measure in light of a troubling increase in loitering, mischief and threats to the safety of library patrons and employees.

The Dauphin Veterinary Clinic, while not a City-owned facility will also receive a camera to help deter people from abandoning animals at the building.

“The City does contribute to the Dauphin District Vet Services Board and vet services owns the building,” Gaudet said.

“Cameras will help to identify vehicles dropping off animals at the vet clinic.”

A fourth camera will be installed at the Dauphin Waste Disposal Site, while the remaining pieces of surveillance equipment are earmarked for the City’s waterworks facilities, to protect the assets, secure the City’s water supply, and provide surveillance for criminal activity in these areas.

Three of the cameras will be used to secure the water treatment plant south of the city, while the rest will be placed at entrances to the City’s three lift stations and at the Brown Avenue Reservoir.

Gaudet was surprised the City’s application this year was funded as Dauphin received approximately $45,000 in 2023 to upgraded seven existing cameras and install 10 new ones.

The Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund is capitalized by cash and proceeds from the sale of forfeited property seized from criminals.

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