After years of mill rate reductions and freezes, Dauphin residents will see an increase in their property tax bills for 2023.

Dauphin city council passed the 2023 financial plan at a special meeting, May 11, which will see the mill rate rise from 18.332, which raised $6,382,457 in 2022, to 18.937 this year, which will raise $6,827,186, representing a 6.3 per cent increase.

“It became apparent very early in the 2023 deliberation process that we could no longer provide the same level of service without needing to raise some taxes,” Mayor David Bosiak said. “So therefore for 2023 there will be a 6.3 per cent Municipal tax increase or a 3.3 per cent increase in the mill rate in order to continue to provide a consistent, if not better level of service to our residents. So those were some decisions and discussions that we’ve had to get to this particular point and I think that we’ve balanced both a need for generating revenues to support our operations and also to hold the line as best we can on, I’ll call it frivolous or any spending that is not absolutely necessary for us as a community.”

The plan also includes increased income from grants in lieu of taxes and “other” revenue for a total revenue/expenditure balance of $13,295,966.

On the expenditure side of the ledger, General Government Services will see an increase in its budget to $1,433,111 from the $1.389 million budgetted in 2022. That represents a 4.19 per cent increase driven mainly by regular staff wage increases and in-person conferences and training, community grants and appropriations of $58,000 and a Dauphin Regional Airport Authority subsidy of $98,000.

The Protective Services budget will see a six per cent overall increase to $3,754,132 in 2023, mainly due to increased RCMP costs resulting from retroactive unionization costs and wage increases. Other areas covered under the budget category include fire, emergency measures, building inspection, animal control, insect control and bylaw enforcement.

Transportation Services expenditures will increase by 7.58 per cent for 2023 to $1,945,576. The budget category includes administration and operating costs for Public Works and engineering, such as maintenance of curbs and gutters, lanes and roads, as well as general pavement repairs, crack sealing, sidewalk repairs, drainage maintenance, mowing, street cleaning, snow and ice removal, bridge maintenance, street lighting and signage.
Environmental Health will also see a slight increase of 1.64 per cent to a total of $1,030,239 to cover operations such as collection of garbage, yard waste and recycling, as well as maintenance and operation of the waste disposal grounds. Plans are to purchase more garbage and yard waste bins.
Public Health and Welfare Services again remains unchanged at $33,749 as the category consists entirely of a one-tier social assistance payment to the Province.

Environmental Development Services sees a decrease of 24.35 per cent to $222,407 as the Development Plan review nears completion. Other areas covered under the budget category include Dutch Elm Disease tree removal, Communities in Bloom, weed control and city events, such as parades and Remembrance Day services.

The Economic Development Services budget, which fluctuates depending on development, will see a sizeable increase of 30.39 per cent to $525,733 for 2023. Areas covered by the increase include economic development incentives programs for residential and commercial developments, tipping fees, spec homes and operation of the Dauphin Business Park. The category also includes Tourism related costs such as the Adventure Guide and place branding program, as well as merchandise costs, displays, the City’s website and photography and ideography expenses. Other areas include Tourism

Accommodation Tax Project and the Veterinary Services Board appropriation.

Recreation and Cultural Services will also see an increase, 7.93 per cent overall, to a total of $2,164,866. While over 86 per cent of that budget consists of operating funds for Dauphin Recreation Services, the money also includes appropriations for other facilities, such as the Watson Arts Centre, Fort Dauphin Museum, the Dauphin Rail Museum and the library. Also included is money for the Community Band and the Community Jazz Band.

Fiscal Services, which outlines capital expenditures and reserve transfers totals $13,994,146 in 2023 about $650,000 more in capital spending and transfers. Also included is the City’s portion of the Main Street South twinning project, which involves $8.15 million in borrowing.

Utility Fund

Income in the utility ledger will decrease in 2023 due mainly to less in the way of Provincial grants to $3,660,006.

The bulk of that income will come through residential water sales budgeted at just over $2.3 million and sewer service charges totalling $663,273.

On the expenditure side, operation and maintenance of the water supply system accounts for the majority of expenses at just over $2 million while sewage collection and disposal accounts for another $415,145. There is also $863,026 in capital work planned, transfers to reserves in the amount of $250,000 and $83,517 in debenture debt charges.

For the third year in a row, Fusion Credit Union is proud to present “Community Infusion”, the business idea competition that infuses economic growth and prosperity into our local communities.

“At Fusion, we are ‘here for good’, and to us, that means we are committed to our communities today and for the long term,” says Fusion CEO Darwin Johns.

Find out more in this week’s Review.

All lakes in Manitoba are at risk for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) such as zebra mussels. Sadly, some lakes in the province are already plagued with AIS, which cannot be reversed.

In an effort to ensure Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) remains free of zebra mussels, a new program has been implemented.

Read this week’s paper for the rest of the story.

Board game enthusiasts have a new challenge coming to the community. Warhammer 40k is in the works to take place in The Pas this summer. Warhammer is a tabletop war game originally created in 1983 and has been deemed the most popular miniature war game in the world.
Several editions have been released since the game’s conception, but the overall concept has remained the same.
“Warhammer 40k can be played a few ways, from casual, competitive and anywhere in between,” said Warhmmer 40k Organizer Garret Olson. “The game itself ranges from around one to three hours, depending on the size of armies being played.

The art of snowshoeing is alive in well in northern Manitoba thanks to Indigenous snowshoe maker and racer Diane Buck. As a child, Buck can recall snowshoes being a staple for people in the community and she remembers participating in snowshoe races as a kid.
“At a very early age I was a competitor in snowshoe racing at the Trapper’s Festivals and in Moose Lake, which led me to love snowshoeing,” said Buck. “I did a lot of racing in various communities after that.
“Moose Lake was actually a snowshoe town, where everyone had their own snowshoes and did a lot of it in the winter months. My dad was also a snowshoe maker and he made a couple year, but not as many as I do now. He taught me how to make the traditional style snowshoe.

The Pas Arts Council recently recognized the efforts of one of its long-standing dedicated volunteers. Jan McDonald has served as a volunteer with The Pas Arts Council for 37 years. It started out as a position with the organization, but then she decided to stay on as a volunteer.
“I had been attending The Pas Arts Council events for years and when a job posting came up for an Arts Council Coordinator I applied and got the job,” said McDonald. “I worked in the position for two years and then I decided I would stay on as the volunteer treasurer.
“I have been the volunteer treasurer since 1987 and the chair of the touring committee. Other positions I have held have been the chair of the Northern Juried Art Show (NJAS), the chair of the Northern Arts Committee, the Northern rep on the Manitoba Arts Network, and chair of the Cultural Days Committee.”

This past weekend there were lots of red dress and MMIWG2S+ events in the tri-community to raise awareness, and to show support and love for those who have experienced this injustice. The Pas Family Resource Centre organized a Red Dress Round Dance last Friday at the intersection of Edwards and 2nd Street, to show support for National Red Dress Day.
“We had such a huge turnout and it exceed our expectations, and what we had hoped for even,” said The Pas Family Resource Centre’s Renee Kastrukoff. “There were over 150 people in attendance for the Red Dress Round Dance and lunch. It was absolutely fantastic and beautiful to see so many community and family members come to honour their MMIWG2S loved ones. Even if people didn’t have a MMIWG2S+ individual they were directly connected to, lots still came out to show their support.

With the recent stretch of warm weather, farmers across the Valley were able to get into their fields and get the 2023 farming season underway.

The Dauphin Clippers rugby teams are off to dominating starts in the Westman High School Rugby.

The Clippers girls started the season with a 55-0 win over the Swan Valley Tigers, May 2, before hammering the Vincent Massey Vikings, 77-0, last Thursday.

Felicity Sahulka led the Clippers with two tries against Swan Valley, while Tanya Devos, Brooke Miner, Emma Fox, Chloe Fletcher, Bree Walker, Rhoda Evans and Ruth Evan added singles. Miner added five converts.

On Thursday against the Vikings, Fox, Fletcher, Victoria Carter, Jana Manzano each had two tries, with Allee Hrechka, Miner, Mai Maguet, Evans and Saje Marohn adding singles. Miner also chipped in with six converts.

“You can see they’ve been putting the work in at practice,” said Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak. “And especially the ones that had the opportunity to travel to Ireland. You can really tell that experienced paid off and we’re rolling in the season right now.”

As well as the girls played, there are areas of the game Sarkonak would like to see improved upon.

“You want to improve every game and every practice. Our key themes that we’re really focusing on is playing an expansive game, going sideline to sideline, playing with flow. Which means moving the ball and not getting tunnell vision and playing as individuals,” he said. “I’ve been preaching to the girls all year that the higher level coaches, they don’t really key in and focus on who is scoring the tries or kicking the converts. They’re looking at what led to the try being scored. The commitment of the defender, drawing and passing, skipping a pass or essentially, just creating space and putting the ball in the space.”

The girls were in Brandon, Monday for a game against Crocus Plains, followed by a date with the Rivers Rams on Thursday.

Sarkonak hopes to see the girls continue their momentum.

“I’ve been talking to the coaches around the league and keeping an eye on the standings and we’re looking forward to this,” he said, adding Crocus Plains won their first game over Souris, while Rivers will be Dauphin’s toughest test as the league champion for the last few years. “We’ve had that one circled all year and we’re really looking forward to it,” he said.

While dominating wins are great, Sarkonak also pointed out they can lead to bad habits forming.

“Or individuals wanting to pad the stats a little bit. The coaching staff is staying on them just to keep the team-game mindset and just to move the ball and work together and good things will happen,” he said.

The Clippers boys also swept their two games, beating the Crocus Plains Plainsmen, 47-5, on Tuesday and Vincent Massey, 42-5, on Thursday.

Guzman Garcia had two tries to lead the Clippers against the Plainsmen. Scott Gower, Lars Gudbjartson, William Miner, Landyn Garton and Louis Prevot added singles and Prevot also recorded six tries.

Against the Vikings, Miner had two tries, while singles were added by Garcia, Joseph Lopez, Julien Lopez and Alex Thompson. Garcia added three converts and Prevot had one.

Clippers coach Aaron Miner said the Clippers are already in midseason stride after they started practicing in early January.

“We’re where we expected to be,” he said.

Miner has seen an improvement in the play of those players who were part of the trip to Ireland. Those who weren’t, he added, are working hard to catch up.

“They’re putting in a lot of extra time and effort at the gym and running at the track. It’s just been amazing to see them catch to the 15 that did go to Ireland,” Miner said.

The team’s experience, Miner said, was a key to the two victories to open the season.

“We’re playing against some strong teams that have great athletes, as well. But with our two exchange students having ample experience, it just put us over the edge,” he said. “They’re doing things that other teams don’t expect Canadian teams to be able to do at this age.”
The ability shown by those students - Prevot and Garcia - is showing other teams how good they can be if they work hard enough.

Most of the Clippers players were in Brandon for a U17 rugby camp, with coaches from Team Canada and Team Manitoba, featuring three days of practices.

“Those players got an extreme amount of practice and good coaching. Those that are in Grade 12 know we haven’t had a lot of chances to practice. We are playing so frequently now, that we’re not getting a chance to get some practice time in,” Miner said.

The Clippers boys joined the girls team in Brandon for a rematch with the Plainsmen on Monday.

In the midst of National Nursing Week, the health care professionals working locally have an extra reason to celebrate.

The RBC Foundation has supported continuing education for local nurses through a $10,000 donation to the Delha Cort Fund held by the Dauphin Hospital Foundation.

The fund, started by an endowment from Cort, a long-time nurse at the Dauphin hospital, encourages staff to pursue continuing education.

Priority is given to facility-related education, which can enhance an employee’s current job performance or personal development toward advancement in their health care careers.

“RBC recognizes the impact that nurses have in our health care system is unparalleled. Dedicated, committed, and always answering the call no matter the sacrifice, they are our caregivers and comforters during our deepest times of need,” said Kim Ulmer, RBC regional president for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Western Ontario.

“We aim to give back to nurses through a donation supporting their continuing education and professional development, to refresh their skills and open more opportunities for their career options and advancement.”

The show of support comes at a critical time. Recent Statistics Canada data shows Canadian frontline healthcare workers are feeling strained and overloaded.

Last July, Statistics Canada reported 23,620 vacant nursing positions in the first quarter of 2022 - up 219 per cent from 2019 - and an all-time high of 136,800 job vacancies within the health sector throughout the first quarter of 2022.

Recent data released by Mental Health Research Canada also shows that health care workers, and nurses in particular, were profoundly impacted by the pandemic.

“Recruitment and retention of health care professionals is front and centre in Manitoba and Canada right now,” said Greg Thompson, Dauphin Hospital Foundation chairman.

“We continue to provide various levels of training support for nurses to offer even better patient care and we sincerely appreciate RBC Foundation’s contribution to our foundation, which allows us to offer even more educational opportunities.”

Held in honour of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, National Nursing Week is designed to increase the awareness of the many contributions nursing makes to the wellbeing of Canadians.

National Nursing Week runs from May 8 to 14.