About 120 students - mainly from grades 5 - 9 from Inglis, Major Pratt, Binscarth School, Ecole St Lazare and Birtle gathered at the Geo. P. Buleziuk Centre as Gambler First Nation hosted an event focusing on the meaning and importance of Reconciliation Day in Canada. Although it wasn’t requested, many area students showed up in orange shirts. Pizzas from Twin Valley Coop in Russell and the delicious cinnamon mini donuts made by cuisinA of Russell along with fruit and muffins were provided for the students and staff in attendance - thanks to the hard working ladies at the Health Centre in Gambler First Nation.

Read all about it in the October 7th, 2025 edition of the Russell Banner.

A bronze plaque honouring an Indigenous trapper and community leader from northern Manitoba was unveiled on Monday, September 30, 2025, by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), its conservation partners, family and friends.
William ‘Lupoo’ Cook was a resident of Opaskwayak Cree Nation until his passing in the early 2000s. Cook fished, hunted and trapped in the sprawling Saskatchewan River Delta, north of The Pas and became an active voice for conservation and local hunters.
“Billy cared about nature and his trapping heritage,” recalls Chris Smith, DUC's retired Head of Conservation Programming for Boreal, who first met Cook in the early 1980s when he was president of the local trappers’ association. “Billy became a key contact for us with guidance on what was important for the First Nations people.”

Concerned citizens gathered for the Swan River Crime Meeting facilitated by the Town of Swan River on Wednesday, October 1, at the Veterans Hall. The meeting had many in attendance, both in-person and virtually, with the recording of the meeting gaining around 1,715 views in less than 24 hours.
Roger Bouvier was the moderator for the evening and this time the focus of the meeting was to answer questions from the public. In attendance to answer questions were: RCMP West District Staff Sergeant Scott Linklater; Swan River RCMP Corporal Cole Plaetinck; James Wigley, Stacy Grindle and Jakki Lumax for Canadian Mental Health; Andrew Minor, Executive Director of Manitoba Police Commission and Senior Advisor, Public Safety Division; Mark Lafreniere, Director of Manitoba Prosecution Services; Dr. Erin Knight, Health Sciences Centre; Lanna Many Grey Horses, Assistant Deputy Minister for Homelessness for the Manitoba Department of Housing, Homelessness and Addictions; Owen Fergusson, Assistant Deputy Minister for Manitoba Justice.
The following organizations were invited but declined: Shannon Isley, Director for Manitoba Harm Reduction; Treena Slate, CEO for Prairie Mountain Health; Province of Manitoba Department of Health and Office of the Chief Provincial Public Health Office.
There were some discussions regarding police staffing levels. Out of 22 regular members, there are 12 who are active for duty. The Swan River RCMP detachment is expecting three more members coming in around November. The GIS Unit positions are new ones, with the majority of the positions yet to be filled, except for the Corporal position, which has been given to a member who is on maternity leave currently. Staff Sergeant Linklater indicated that they are holding off on the constable positions because there has been some interest shown within the detachment for these positions. They don’t want to take members away from the regular detachment to fill the GIS Unit, so as the detachment numbers go back up, those positions will be filled.
“From July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, there have been 124 serious violent crime occurrences,” said Staff Sergeant Linklater. “That ranks amongst the top three detachments in the Manitoba West District and 14th in the division of 70 detachments.”
The stats presented indicated that property crime in the Swan Valley is trending below the five-year average in the most recent quarter. Within the same timeframe, there were 676 property crime occurrences that took place. This also placed Swan River in the top three detachments and sixth in the division for property crimes.
Shoplifting in Swan River is also trending below the five-year average, according to stats presented. The worst year for shoplifting occurrences in Swan River was in 2023, with 353 occurrences reported. This year, to date, there have been 56 shoplifting occurrences reported.
When it comes to repeat offenders, ten repeat offenders have caused 89 property crime occurrences, 43 person crime occurrences, 33 CDSA occurrences; 170 total occurrences under the criminal code in one calendar year. These repeat offenders have committed crimes not only in the Valley, but in Winnipegosis, Dauphin and Ste. Rose.
A question was asked about why there were so many repeat offenders. It was explained that there are a lot of proposed changes being made to the federal government about holding repeat offenders. Much of this is related to the Criminal Code, which is handled by the federal government, not the provincial government.
In Manitoba, specially tasked units have been created to focus on repeat offenders. An ankle monitoring program has also been established to help keep track of those who are out on bail or probation who have repeat offences in their criminal record.
Comments from attendees were that the data was cherry-picked, that bureaucrats are talking in circles and that a lot of people have given up on reporting the crime. Community member and lawyer, David Gray, pointed out that there were some issues with the meeting and that an agenda is not simply a list of speakers and the need for direct answers.
Some questions were asked about CMHA’s activities and why the building was put on Main Street. James Wigley took the time to explain to people about harm reduction. He explained that although CMHA does do harm reduction methods, they do not hand out sharps or do any medical type of harm reduction. CMHA focuses on housing, employment, education, life-skill training, rehabilitation and peer support as harm reduction methods. Health organizations and regions are the ones that handle the medical supplies for harm reduction.
Wigley did note that there has been tremendous success and progress in helping people; however, the need is so great that the general public is only seeing what is not working rather than what has worked.
Another question was asked about whether or not any of the municipalities had a say on whether or not harm reduction services would be offered in the community. Presenters stood by their stance that harm reduction saves lives, from naloxone to new needle distribution and is evidence-based. The same person talked about how the discarded needles are scattered all over public places, such as playgrounds, parks, and how there is now an HIV outbreak. They asked if this was not enabling the problem. The Assistant Deputy Minister for Homelessness did note that the province provided $45,000 for needle clean-up.
Questions stemmed around how to get rid of harm reduction supplies and the risk it has put people in the community at with all the discarded sharps. A direct question was asked on how to get harm reduction out of the community. No one on the panel was able to answer that question. Citizens asked Mayor Jacobson to ask this of the province and PMH, and to look how to get rid of handing out sharps in the Valley.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was held last Tuesday (Sept. 30) at the Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre, in honour of Residential School survivors, and those who did not return home. The event presented speeches from survivors Fred Stevens and Dennis Chartrand who told of their experience at residential schools, followed by a walk down Main Street. Pictured here, Amber Stevens (left) and Josh Tripp (right) walk ahead of the group holding the “Every Child Matters” flag.

Wednesday was an exciting day for chair Kathy Zachedniak and the rest of the Roblin Playgrounds Revitalization Committee.
That’s because a crew from Len’s Landscaping out of Winkler arrived in town to deliver and install the main playground structure at Lions Park.
For the rest of the story pick up a copy of this week’s Review.

The City and the RM of Dauphin have struck a deal when it comes to funding recreation in the community in the future.

The agreement in principle arrived at last week will see the RM provide $419,000 in recreation funding next year followed by per capita contributions in 2027 and 2028 with a cost of living cap on any annual increases. As well, the RM will contribute $50,000 per year for capital requirements over and above its operating contributions.

A new board structure will also be developed to guide Dauphin Recreation Services going forward, although details are yet to be worked out.

Pleased to have arrived at an agreement, Mayor David Bosiak said work is now underway to  complete the paperwork and get the deal signed.

“We basically said we would leave it up to the senior administrators to come up with the proposals and we’ll sign it. Charlotte (city manager Griffiths) and Grady (RM CAO Stephenson) are working on it,” he said.

Referencing a past deal on the issue he thought was completed, which later fell through, Reeve Ernie Sirski is not ready to comment on the current plan.

“Until this deal is signed, sealed and delivered, I’m not making any comment,” Sirski said.

“We’ll have a signing ceremony and we’ll invite the press, but until that time, I’m not making any comment.”

A long-standing and dedicated member of The Pas Arts Council was recognized for their efforts in promoting and bringing the arts to the community. Jan McDonald has been involved with The Pas Arts Council for 40 years and continues to volunteer with it because she loves it.
“I joined The Pas Arts Council in 1985 as their coordinator and since 1987, I have been the treasurer,” said McDonald. “I was always interested in arts events and when the position of coordinator was posted, I thought it was a position I would love working at.
“After a couple of years, I went to work at Keewatin Community College as the bookstore manager and stayed on The Pas Arts Council board as a volunteer. The position has seen an increase in duties over the years, as so much of our programming depends on grants; applying for grants and grant reports are what I spend most of my volunteer time on.”

The Manitoba First Nations Police (MFNP) have had a strong presence in Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) and have been serving First Nations communities for some time. It gives First Nations people an opportunity to be a part of the safety solution in First Nations communities.
“Our police officers, like the RCMP, are highly trained and have full policing authorities as any other police officers in the Province,” said MFNP Community Outreach Liaison Irene Huculak. “In 12 First Nation communities, with Fisher River Cree Nation joining our policing family in October, have chosen the MFNPS to be their partners in public safety largely because we were developed and built for First Nations by First Nations.

The Province announced the first recipients of the Manitoba Mosaic Awards on September 19, 2025. The Manitoba Mosaic Awards were created to recognize the outstanding contributions of newcomers, immigrants, refugees and community partners.
There were six Mosaic Awards created: Community Spark Award, Young Bridge Builder Award, Newcomer Trailblazer Award, Welcoming Community Champion Award, and the Heart of the Community Award. A local organization was nominated and selected as an Honouree Recipient.
“We are honoured to have been nominated for a MOSAIC Award by one of our clients,” said North West Immigrant Services Settlement Manager Analyn Lotivio. “The North West Immigrant Services The Pas Office was the Honouree Recipient of the Welcoming Community Champion Award.

The North-West Regional Library’s Swan River Branch just recently finished showcasing a new art display done by local artist Gus Martin. Martin’s love of art, drawing and painting was fostered at a very early age, continued throughout his school years and onto a career he loved.
“I started with art right off the bat as a young child,” said Martin. “I was constantly drawing and even received awards for my artwork when I was younger. In grade 5, I had a teacher who was very into art and she noticed I put more effort into what I was drawing. She worked really hard to help me. She even approached artist, A.Y. Jackson of the Group of Seven, to come to our school and I had the opportunity to hear how he paints. I think that may have helped direct me in terms of the way I wanted to go with my art.
“This teacher put in a lot of effort to help me attend an art high school known as Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. It was a bit out of our neighbourhood and required me to take a bus there. It was there that I learned about graphic arts and other styles of art.
“After that, I went to Ontario College of Art and then I went on to work in an advertising agency where I was a graphic designer, illustrator, visualizer, and then later on an art director,” said Martin. “I did that in Holland, Europe, and because I had dual nationality, I did that for about 15 years. I met my wife in Canada, but she was also from Holland.
“We moved back to Canada to Muskoka, Huntsville, Ontario. There, I started up a sign shop where I did some really off-the-wall signage that was handcrafted. It became very popular in town and created a look for most of the stores there. I did that for 25 years and it was a very successful business.
“Our daughter was very musical and she went to university to study piano,” said Martin. “She was looking for jobs and got one in Swan River. Her husband also got a job in Swan River, both as teachers. They had children and all of a sudden, life got hectic. We had retired and in 2021, decided to move to Swan River so we could help out with the grandchildren.”
Martin has adapted to life in the Valley and puts a lot of focus into painting. He finds beauty in the natural surroundings and puts it on canvas. Martin has also showcased some of his work in other art galleries.
“In the last six years, I’ve been doing what I really want to do, and that is painting,” said Martin. “I started doing that in the cold winters and built my studio. I started painting quite a few paintings over the winter and it’s built up.
I’ve put paintings up at the library and at the North West Round Up and Exhibition. I’ve had an exhibition in Wasagaming, which went very well. I received a good response and sold some of my work.
“My daughter is very active with the library and they asked if I would be interested in displaying my work there,” said Martin. “This is the second time that I’ve done this. There is a wide variety of people who go to the library, so I tried to choose a diverse collection of paintings to show something for everyone who goes there.
“The paintings I do are mostly of this area and consist of the river, farm animals, landscapes and other things. It’s very intense and detailed work that I do. Generally, a painting can take anywhere from a week to three weeks to finish. I do all acrylic painting and it’s something that I enjoy working with. I started with watercolours just to get the feel for mixing colours, then I switched over to acrylic. I love working with acrylic paint because it’s very forgiving and if I want to change something, it’s easier to do.
“It allows you to do a lot of detail,” said Martin. “It compares to oil-based paintings, but acrylic paint dries much quicker. When I’m painting, I like to keep going and not have to wait for things to dry. I usually paint for four to five hours a day.
“I like to use a photograph when I am painting. I walk my dog every day, and when I see something, I take a photo for reference. When I’m painting it, I make it look the way I want it to or my interpretation of it. “
Martin has really found something he is passionate about when it comes to painting. He plans to continue with it and just go wherever it takes him.
“I still want to keep painting and doing it for my own satisfaction,” said Martin. “If it goes anywhere, it doesn’t matter because I really enjoy doing it. I have sold some paintings and at times it almost feels like giving a child away, because so much work went into them. I would like to go to Winnipeg and do something, but the distance is just too far.
“I did showcase and sell my work in Wasagaming, which wasn’t too far. There is a really nice gallery there. I know there is one in Yorkton and I’ve been debating whether or not to try there. I’m not sure where this will go, but I’m just enjoying it for now.
“With all the jobs I had before, there were a lot of pressures with timelines to turn things over quickly,” said Martin. “Now with this, I can take my time and I enjoy what I’m doing. I had the benefit of knowing what I wanted to do back when I was a kid. I loved art and got into my own world at that time. Throughout my whole life, I was fortunate to do what I loved.
“I wish I could go back and find that Grade 5 teacher and tell her what a difference she made in my life. It’s very special to have had a public school teacher put a person on the career path they loved for most of their life.”