The family of a Roblin woman who worked tirelessly to raise funds for the hospital and personal care home is absolutely mortified that mom can’t get a room in Crocus Court.

“We just can’t believe it,” said son-in-law John Titanich. “Especially after all that she’s done for this community.”

Read the rest of the story in this week’s Review.

After an exciting round of Chase the Ace that saw the pot grow and the cards shrink, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19 The Pas executive has taken a moment to reflect on another fantastic round. “We definitely want to thank the volunteers, members, non-members, staff and of course our patrons that have been with us from the beginning of this current CTA,” Legion President Angie Nikolychuk commented, adding a congratulations to the latest winner Monica Ross. This round of Chase began back in 2020 with a pot of approximately $17, 000 and grew to the $245,878 that Ross’ won March 4th.
Reflecting back on the event, Nikolychuk said the first Chase the Ace was different than the current one. At the beginning patrons had to buy a drink on a Saturday night to receive a ticket. “It was a very slow growing pot, but we also saw that it was not a great way to promote the event. So once that was given away, we relooked at our options and worked with Lotteries Manitoba to hold the event as it is now done,” she explained.

The excitement of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19’s Chase the Ace has come to end with Monica Ross taking home almost a quarter of a million dollars. Ross’ ticket was pulled and because it was the last card in the 54 card deck this round, she was a guaranteed winner. Despite not having to “guess” where the ace was, a smiling Ross nevertheless placed the free drink chip on the face down ace, more as a matter of ceremony than requirment.
“Before I even went up, I had like five other peoples (tickets) that each had sent me $20. I wrote their names, took the pictures, here’s your tickets, wrote my name on mine and when they called the number, I looked and I could see I think its in this one. Then I showed someone at my table is this the number they called, they were like ya that’s it,” Ross explained.

The Swan Valley Cheetahs Gymnastics Club displayed the skills of the gymnasts across all ages with a showcase on Sunday afternoon (March 12), the first time it’s been hosted inside their new building.

Swan River had an extra ice skating surface this season, located on the south side of the Swan River Centennial Arena, intended for easy-going family skating sessions.

After a five-game losing streak put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, a five-game winning streak has turned the tide for the Dauphin Kings.

After a 7-4 victory in Niverville, Mar. 5, the Kings skated into Waywayseecappo, Mar. 7, with a one-point lead over the Wolverines. A 4-0 victory extended that lead to three points and that is where they sit entering the week after both teams won two games over the weekend.

While the Wolverines swept a two-game set with the Winnipeg Blues, the Kings were completing a season series sweep over the Portage Terriers, scoring a 7-5 win, Friday in Portage, followed by a 4-3 shootout victory, Saturday in Dauphin. Then on Monday Dauphin took down the Freeze in Winnipeg 6-2.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said the biggest difference between the losing streak and winning streak is the players buying in and believing in each other.

“I think the trust in their teammates is a long time over due. And the work ethic and just little things that wins hockey games that we weren’t doing before,” he said. “We were playing hope hockey in that stretch. We were on the wrong side of pucks, the wrong side of battles, thinking offence instead of thinking creating offence from the back end. Our defence has been so solid and Sheffield got hot. The guys realize now we have a special group here.”

The Kings were missing six players from the lineup on Saturday, including defenceman Anthony Bax who was handed a three-game suspension for a cross checking major on Friday.

The other five players are all out with injuries.

“We’re a MASH unit. We need Radar, Hawkeye and BJ down here,” Hedley said.

Blake Boudreau is out with a shoulder injury, Jamie Valentino sprained an ankle while running during warmups before Friday’s game. He tried to play, but only lasted three shifts.

Mathew Gough is also injured and Jayden Harris is still on the injured list, as well, and Sheffield left Friday’s game with an injury.

To fill the gap, the Kings called up APs Madden Murray and Havryil Simchuk, who scored the only goal in Saturday’s shootout, while Murray was stopped in his attempt, which would have won the game for Dauphin.

“Madden Murray and Simchuk didn’t look out of place at all,” Hedley said.

Simchuk has been practicing with the Kings all year, so Hedley was aware of the talent he brings to the ice.

“We knew he’s got some skill and he’s patience,” he said.

The Kings conclude their regular season on Saturday in Winkler against the Flyers.

Hedley feels the league needs to change its playoff format and return to one division. There is a possibility the Wolverines could finish the season with 30 wins and still miss the playoffs.

“Wayway should be in the playoffs. They’re 11 points ahead of Niverville. It’s terrible. It’s not a good look on the league, at all,” he said. “I just think the playoff format needs to be looked at.”

Kings court:

Defenceman Owen Wareham was named to the league’s first all-star team along with Winkler defenceman Trent Sambrook. The forwards are Lucas Brennan of Selkirk, Briley Wood of Neepawa and Ryan Botterill of Portage, while the goaltender is Kobe Grant of Swan Valley. Named to the second all-star team were goaltender Tresor Wotton of Waywayseecappo, defencemen Brandon McCartney of Portage and Adam Rajsigl of Swan Valley and forwards Tyson Smith of Selkirk, Travis Hensrud of Steinbach and Carson Baptiste of Waywayseecappo. Selected to the rookie all-star team were goaltender Adam Comeau of Winkler, defencemen Carson Reed of Niverville and Warren Clark of Steinbach and forwards Carter Cormier of Selkirk, Nolan Chastko of Virden and Luke Janus of the Winnipeg Blues.

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

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

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

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

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

Applications for the Community Celebrations program are reviewed quarterly.

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

The Manitoba government presented its financial plan for 2023, leaning heavily on a strong economy to deliver $1.8 billion in affordability and tax measures along with an investment of $2 billion in vital programs and services.

“The theme of this budget was historic help and that’s really what the government is delivering here this time,” Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski said following the presentation of Budget 2023 in the Legislature, last week. “I think it’s timely support. I think the government has done a lot of work towards helping Manitobans during and through some tough times and I think this budget is needed support at a time that’s important.”

Michaleski said people in the constituency and across the province are experiencing a lot of uncertainty surrounding the emergence from the COVID pandemic and the high inflation rates, which are disrupting their daily lives.

“So the government, I think, is absolutely correct in applying the dollars and the focus of spending right now on tax relief. And we haven’t lost sight of the fact that we’re getting Manitoba open for business. A lot of the tax savings all contribute towards that environment,” Michaleski said. “I agree completely what the direction the premier and the government are going on this budget.”

Budget 2023 includes the largest personal income tax reduction in Manitoba history. Changes to the Provincial Basic Personal Amount will ensure that Manitobans do not pay a cent of income tax on the first $15,000 they earn in 2023. This measure alone will save the average two-income family over $1,000 and will remove 47,400 low-income Manitobans from the tax rolls. Changes to tax bracket thresholds in 2024 will provide even greater savings for Manitobans.

It is a budget that Premier Heather Stefanson said will leave more than $5,500 in the pockets of the average family by 2024, while delivering across-the-board funding increases in all 19 government departments.

“In the last year, the Manitoba economy emerged faster and stronger than anyone could have anticipated with more Manitobans working than ever before,’’ Stefanson said. “Budget 2023 reinvests every cent of new revenue to help Manitobans and our most vital services - all accomplished while keeping the province on track to eliminate the deficit.”

Critics of the document have questioned why tax relief measures are delayed until 2024. It is a position which Michaleski says fails to take in the whole picture.

“I don’t know if there’s a delay. It’s been sort of timely all the way along. We’ve been applying tax relief for a number of years. Something like the basic personal exemption, we made adjustments to that a number of years ago,” he said. “This latest one was a huge improvement to the pace. Personal exemption of $15,000, again that allows people to keep their money before the tax man comes after them. We consistently have been doing that. Tax relief on agricultural and residential property tax, we’re continuing on with those reductions. We’ve consistently been applying that and I wouldn’t say we’ve delayed anything too much.”

The budget also attempts to help heal the health-care system, with the largest-ever investment of $7.9 billion, an increase of $668 million. It is hoped that money will help shorten wait times and rebuild the front lines. Budget 2023 also initiates a $1.2-billion multi-year capital campaign that will add capacity to nine facilities including in rural hospitals, St. Boniface Hospital, Grace Hospital, CancerCare Manitoba and Health Sciences Centre.

“Budget 2023 is making significant investments to heal health care in our province to help people get the care they need, when and where it’s needed,” Finance Minister Cliff Cullen said in presenting the financial plan. “We’re making foundational investments to reduce diagnostic and surgical backlogs, hire more health professionals and support health infrastructure needs, but we’re also expanding coverage for diabetes insulin pumps and glucose monitors, and creating a new hearing aid program for Manitobans.”

The budget also provides an investment of more than $100 million to address the challenges of violent crime and homelessness across Manitoba.

“We all want to feel safe in our homes, on our streets and in our communities,’’ Cullen said. “Budget 2023 addresses the root causes of crime, with significant investments in homelessness, shelters and housing, addictions beds and enhanced services for mental health. There is also more for front-line police officers to fight violent crime.”

Budget 2023 reflects that a growing Manitoba starts with stronger communities and supports for affordable, quality services close to home.

Manitoba schools will benefit from historic funding - the largest increase in a quarter century - bringing funding for Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools to $1.7 billion, up $100 million from last year. The Manitoba government is also well on its way to creating 23,000 affordable child-care spaces and will invest $76 million this year to introduce affordable child care three years ahead of plans in other provinces.

Budget 2023 will provide more help than ever before for Manitobans with disabilities as funding increases to $640 million and contains an investment of $217 million in total municipal operating funding - $47 million more than last year. Millions more are earmarked for wastewater treatment, transit and other capital projects.

Cullen said Manitoba expects to have 114,000 new job openings over the next five years. Three in five of these jobs will require some form of university training. To meet this challenge the province will invest $65 million more into post-secondary institutions and cap university tuition increases at 2.75 per cent.

This year’s budget assists small business growth and supports the creation of new made-in-Manitoba jobs by increasing investments in loans and guarantees by $27 million to incent private-sector investment in enterprises that can demonstrate significant, sustainable growth and job creation. It also includes $15 million for the Community Economic Development Fund and $20 million to support economic development and investment attraction.

Recognizing the need for new investment opportunities Budget 2023 doubles the funds dedicated to venture capital to $100 million and eliminates payroll taxes for an additional 150 employers. The payroll tax rate will be reduced for the first time in 25 years in 2024, if the economy continues to perform as it has this year.

“I think it leans into the approach that this government has had and it’s a whole of Manitoba look,” Michaleski said. “So when we say there’s increases to education or health care, it’s a whole of Manitoba. That’s something that this government has done from day one and they continue to do that.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RMCPolice ticketed a driver for speeding on Highway 83 Wednesday afternnon.

The driver was clocked going 184 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. Ticket issued was worth $495.

Find out more in this week’s RCMP briefs.