The Parkland Rangers are left to play for next year after they were officially eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend.

The Rangers hosted the Winnipeg Bruins in a weekend twinbill at Credit Union Place, losing both games, 4-1, Saturday, and 6-0 on Sunday.

With little left to play for, Rangers head coach Tyler Carefoot said the players are now playing for pride, with an eye on the future, as well.

“They’re playing for the unconditional support that they got from their families over the last many years,” he said.

Sunday’s game featured several oddman rushes for the Bruins, which resulted in several goals.

“This particular game there was just far too many oddman attacks. I think they had three or four three-on-0s, one four-on-one and then you add up all the other two-on-ones,” Carefoot said.

Although the playoffs are now out of the question, there is still something to play for in the final three games of the season.

“If they aspire to play higher levels of hockey, there’s always somebody watching. But most importantly, as young men, think about the dedication and the commitment you’ve had for the program and, over and above that, the unconditional support that they got from their families,” Carefoot said. “That’s what it’s about. It’s a very hard league to play in, which is very evident. I’ve always said that I respected the grind for the kids from out of town. And I believe in the program. But in saying that, there needs to be some self-reflection from players that you can’t wait for someone else to do your job. You’ve got to go out and do it yourself.”

The Rangers end the season with three games on the road.

On Wednesday, they are in Brandon to face the league-leading Wheat Kings, who have yet to lose in regulation this season with an overtime loss the only blemish on their 40-0-1-0 record.

On the weekend, Parkland are in Beausejour to play the Eastman Selects, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

The decline in calls for service when comparing the third quarter to the fourth quarter of 2023 is to be expected, RCMP Staff-Sgt. Scott Linklater told Dauphin city councillors as he updated them on police activities, last week.

As part of his presentation during council’s regular meeting, Feb. 12, Linklater said total calls for service at the local detachment during the period covering Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023, was 1,261 compared to 1,740 during the previous quarter, a drop of 28 per cent.

“This is typical. In summertime most people are out there moving around and as cooler months start settling in people stay in and are a little bit quieter,” he said. “So this is a normal trend that we see.”

In fact, decreases were seen across all statistical categories, Linklater said. From October to December, there were 96 reports of offenses against people compared to 129 the previous quarter, a drop of 26 per cent. Total property offenses in the fourth quarter came in at 254 compared to 260, a decrease of two per cent while enforcement of provincial statutes for the fourth quarter was 179 compared to 227 from July to September, a drop of 22 per cent. Criminal Code charges classified under the “other” heading totalled 139 in the fourth quarter compared to 177 the previous quarter, a decrease of 21 per cent.

Call to assist the public in other types of files amounted 251, down 14 per cent from the 293 in the previous quarter, while prisoners held during the last quarter totalled 102, down from 136 over the summer.

“Out of RCMP West District, which includes Portage to the Saskatchewan border and from the US border all the way up to and including Swan River, we tend to be one of the busiest detachments in that area,” Linklater told councillors. “Our busiest month was November, where we had 46 total files per member and the average for the whole district was 26. So it’s almost twice as much. Our members do a lot of work and carry a big workload, but they get the job done.”

Traffic enforcement in the area has scaled up, Linklater added, and has resulted in the seizure of more guns and drugs than normal as criminals passing through the area are targetted.

From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023, police recovered four illegal firearms and seized 432 grams of cocaine, 4-1/2 grams of methamphetamine and 118 grams of Psilocybin (magic mushrooms). Gun seizures included three long guns, two of which were sawed off and one handgun.

“That is all due to the proactive efforts of our members going out there and doing traffic enforcement and actually using the laws available to interdict these things,” Linklater said.

Traffic enforcement in the fourth quarter also saw 340 traffic infractions with 248 tickets issued. Police laid three charges for impaired operation of a vehicle, two charges of refusing to provide a breath sample and six other Criminal Code related traffic offenses. There were 34 collisions during the period, 30 of which were reportable for property damage.

“I think overall we’re doing well,” Linklater said, adding he has recently heard comments that Dauphin is a dangerous city. “I don’t think we are. I don’t think we’re any more dangerous than any other city in Canada. We do have violence like every other community, but most of the violence that we’re dealing with, it’s people that are known to each other. There’s not a lot of just random violence."

Property offenses are a different story, he added, as it seems people are willing to pick up anything that is not nailed down. Phone scams are also on the rise, he said.

“We’ve had several of them over the last few months where I think victims have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s amazing how much people are losing and that’s only what’s been reported. There’s a lot that doesn’t get reported because people are embarrassed,” Linklater said.

When it comes to staffing, the chronic shortages that have plagued the local detachment, along with many detachments across the country, are starting to subside.

In fact, there are four corporals, all active duty, working out the local detachment, one over the normal allotment. And while the detachment is supposed to have 18 constables, there are two soft vacancies with people away on leave and two open positions, which should be filled by early summer.

Finally, with Linklater’s recent promotion, a new sergeant has been identified to replace him and should be in place sometime this coming summer.

“So our staffing situation looks really well. We have a good blend of members who are proactive and out in the community,” Linklater said.

The Manitoba Metis Federation celebrated Louis Riel Day at the Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre yesterday (Feb. 19). Traditional displays included animal pelts and trapping equipment and those were accompanied by games and crafts for youth. The event also offered a traditional feast.

Dauphin’s retail landscape is about to fill out a little more as Shoppers Drug Mart Ltd. has taken out a City of Dauphin building permit to construct a new store.

The store, planned for the former Village Mall location at 1430 Main Street South, will be approximately 15,000 square feet in size and employ up to 30 people. Construction costs are estimated at $2.45 million.

While not commenting specifically on the Shoppers Drug Mart project, mayor David Bosiak said retail developments are vital for the future of the community.

“Any kind of development that increases assessment is strategically important for our community, because it’s the only way that we can grow. And when I say grow, I mean grow sustainably. I’m not reaching for double digit growth like some of the communities around the southeast corner of the province have experienced and the challenges that come with that,” Bosiak said, adding that by making Dauphin a great place to live, work and raise a family, growth will follow. I believe that our council has a very strategic opinion on how we can grow sustainably, having wonderful community culture, by creating an environment of willingness to work together and to work on projects and the partnerships that we have coming down the road.”

Among those partnerships are the ones the City has with Pine Creek and Ebb and Flow First Nations with which they are currently involved in an addition to reserve process.

“We’re not chasing the big factories, we’re not chasing sort of low paid, under skilled workers. We’re chasing community builders. People who want to come and stay in our community,” Bosiak said, adding he has made a point of interacting with newcomers to the community to get a sense of how things are going. “And most of them seem pretty positive about the community and what they can get here. We’re close enough to Winnipeg and a big airport, but it’s a stable quality of life with, I’d like to believe good leadership, both administration and at city hall, with the right kind of initiatives coming out the other end.”

As a way of facilitating the Shoppers development, and at the same time sending a message out into the world that Dauphin is open for business, a special incentive package was developed by the Economic Development department to secure the development.

The package, valued at up to $50,000 includes:
• A rebate on water and sewer hook-up costs up to $25,000, conditional to the City performing the work. Payment would take place after construction has been completed and all bills are paid. Value: $25,000
• A 50 per cent rebate on dumping fees for the demolition waste from taking up the existing concrete slab brought to the City’s landfill site. Again payment would take place after construction has been completed and all bills are paid. Value: $5,000
• A 25 per cent rebate on the first two years of the net difference in the municipal portion of property taxes between the current assessment and the newly-assessed value of the property after completion. Value: $20,000.

Construction of the new store is expected to begin this spring, as soon as conditions allow.

Incentives such as this, tailor made to a specific project is quite likely the way of the future, Bosiak said.

“We have a couple of different kinds of incentives, but we also understand that one glove doesn’t fit everyone’s hand. So if we want to ensure that we’re responsive and that when we get into discussions or negotiations that the other entity or partner or proponent will understand that we can work with them,” he said. “So that if others want to come here, they know that they will get fair and equitable treatment.”

But, Bosiak added, there is only so much a municipality can provide to anyone and council and city administrators are acutely aware about not making promises that can not be delivered.

“It doesn’t quite happen and then, oops what do we do now?” he said. "So tailor made is probably a great way to describe how we want to move forward.”

The board of directors of Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) is pleased to announce that Treena Slate has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Slate will assume the role from Brian Schoonbaert, who will retire effective April 5, 2024.

Read all about it in this week’s issue.

For anyone who likes to tour across Manitoba, there are several small diners and drive-ins that provide excellent food and receive rave reviews online. Former San Clara resident Rick Larocque’s La Rocque Dining in Wawanesa has definitely received some praise and attention for their food and has been appearing on lots of tourism social media pages as a place one must visit.

Posts about La Rocque Dining have averaged just under 400 likes and 50 comments. Their Facebook page has 5,900 likes and 6,500 followers.

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

Municipality of Roblin council has approved new rates for fire protection and rescue services.

The rates were adopted at its first regular council meeting of 2024 held Jan. 9.

Find out more in this week’s MOR council briefs.

The second annual Roblin Nursery School Coed Volleyball Tournament Fundraiser happened on Feb. 9 at Goose Lake High.

There were six teams competing this year, up one from last year.

More in this issue.

Taking care of pets is a huge responsibility and judging by the number of stray and unfixed animals, more has to be done. The Pas and Area Animal Shelter (TPAAS) is now offering a Low Income Spay and Neuter Program to assist with the issue of pets not being spay or neutered in the tri-community.
“People apply to the Low Income Spay and Neuter Program that we offer here at The Pas and Area Animal Shelter,” said TPAAS Secretary Lynda Geswin. “Forms are available online through our Facebook page, at the vet clinic and at the shelter. This is a program that is subsidized both by the shelter and the local vet clinic. We are trying to support pet owners who want what is best for their pet but can't financially do it. There are only a handful of spaces per month. “The cost is $100 per cat neuter. $125 per cat spay and $170 per dog spay or neuter. Those costs include vaccinations. Animals must have their vaccinations before their spay or neuter, so people should start the application process early. “This program was pets have a longer life expectancy. only launched a couple of months ago,” said Geswin. “We have spayed two dogs, and have a few others going through the process.” Getting your pet spay or neutered alleviates a lot of problems that TPAAS is seeing with the overpopulation of stray animals. The benefits to getting your pet spay or neutered, far outweigh any negatives aspects, if there are any. “There are so many reasons to have your pet spay or neutered,” said Geswin. “In Manitoba, we are facing a cat and dog overpopulation crisis. There are so many dogs, and not enough homes for them all. There was a time when we were fairly successful finding placement for dogs with Winnipeg based rescues, but that time is over. Rescue placements are hard to come by, and the amount of animals in need seems to be in creasing instead of de creasing. “On a more personal level, spaying your pet can reduce difficult behavior such as aggression, marking territory, running away, and fighting are all common in unaltered pets. Spaying and neutering reduce the risks of some cancers, and as a result, “Some of the other challenges in pets who are not spay or neutered that we see are unneutered dogs packing up when there is a female in heat,” said Geswin. “Not only is it a challenge to keep un fixed animals at home, but they can also become aggressive in these situations. Female cats yowl and are very annoying when they are in heat. Male cats mark their territory by spraying on things. “Also, we get a lot of messages where people tell us they are over whelmed caring for a litter of puppies. Puppies are a lot of work.” TPAAS is fundraising to keep shelter operations going as well as looking for sponsors for the new Low Income Spay and Neuter Program. “We are currently looking for people who are interested in sponsoring a spay or a neuter in the month of February,” said Geswin. “Sponsor ship amounts range from $50 for a partial spay or neuter, to $485 to sponsor the full cost of a dog spay. “We are always looking for volunteers and foster homes. Specifically related to spay and neuter month, we are looking for volunteers who are willing to drive people to vet appointments. Many of our applicants do not have vehicles, and getting to appointments is difficult.” There are still lots of pets looking for their for ever home at the TPAAS. All adoption fees help cover costs of the first rounds of vaccinations and help offset some expenses the shelter has in keeping animals. “In the shelter, and in foster homes combined, we have 26 dogs, and 36 cats up for adoption,” said Geswin. “Adoption fees are as $230 male cat; $275 female cat; $325 male dog and $400 female dog. Costs include first vaccination series, which includes rabies for dogs, deworming and spay or neuter. “Adoption fees only partially cover the costs incurred by the shelter to do the basic vetting of an animal- vaccinations, de worming and spay or neuter. Almost all of our animals come needing all of those procedures done, and it is not unusual for us to have additional health related costs for an animal as well. “The shelter is open most Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,” said Geswin. “People are welcome to come by and see the animals. We are hosting an open house during NMTF, on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m."

An incredible opportunity came to Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) last week that gave youth a chance to come up with a way to do business and pitch it in front of an audience. Bears’ Lair Youth Camp made its first stop in Manitoba to offer a free youth entrepreneurship camp for Indigenous youth ages 11 to 18. The concept of Bears’ Lair started out with a vision to encourage entrepreneurs.
“I was the Economic Development Officer for the Squamish Nation in British Columbia, for 13 years and provided grants for entrepreneurs of the nation through a trust grant,” said Bears’ Lair Creator and Executive Producer Geena Jackson. “I started teaching classes on how to be an entrepreneur at night and provided a catered dinner and daycare for youth from toddlers to young teens, so the parents could learn, while the youth played in the gym, played video games and were entertained outside the classroom. After two out of six classes, the youth started sitting beside their parents, participating in the class and answering questions faster than their parents. A light bulb went off in my head. “These youth are absorbing the information faster than the adults, they are more technical savvy, and they do not have the barriers or triggers of being an entrepreneur like adults. They don’t know the hard work it takes yet; they are a sponge of positivity and possibility for the future. It is amazing. “I held the first Entrepreneur Youth camp in 2015, for the Squamish Nation and it was a huge success,” Jackson. “Now that TV show Bears' Lair is a huge success and up lifts Indigenous Entrepreneurs, it was a natural progression to educate, elevate and inspire Indigenous youth all over Canada. They are the future leaders and decision makers.” Bears’ Lair facilitated their camp at Oscar Lathlin Collegiate (OLC) and had several activities to enhance the students’ knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship. “There were 22 OCN youth that participated, all 11-19 years of age,” said Jackson. “We created five teams and they gathered at the high school, OLC, from February 2 to 5, to learn about business. The youth learned about team building, social confidence, financial literacy, public speaking, media training, constructive comments, feedback and stepping out of their com fort zone. We also played icebreaker and team building games, and the youth developed strong relation ships with each other and new friends. “Goals for the youth are set throughout the camp using our curriculum of five team challenges. Those consist of building a brand, which involves choosing a busi 24023gm0 ness type, creating a name, motto, design a logo and determine core values. Then there is the target market component where youth create products and services to solve a problem and determine who their audience and market is. “With the marketing strategy, youth decide how to advertise and reach customers, and from that create a marketing plan,” said Jackson. “Then they work on a budget and financial plan and youth have to determine their start up and operational costs, and how they will use their budget and any revenue for the future. Finally, the youth pitch their business by using the business model created. The youth film and deliver a five-minute business pitch that is premiered at the graduation and community celebration event. They work together in their teams with the guidance of a coach to create their business, and learn each factor of entrepreneurship.” The youth were mentored by local mentors in the community, each one had diverse background that brought forward different learning perspectives. “The mentors and coaches for the camp were Bears’ Lair team members, as well as OCN leadership and local business owners,” said Jackson. “This included Holly Chartrand, who is a local entrepreneur and award winning author; Savanna Sayese, who is a teacher with OCN; Dean Montgomery, the executive Producer of Bears’ Lair TV and president of Indigenous Initiatives; Jay Falkus, the director of operations for Bears’ Lair Dream Camps and head videographer and myself. “The judges for the graduation and celebration event were also an inspiration for the youth, as they were community and business leaders themselves. The judges were OCN Chief Maureen Brown; Darryl Bauer, OCN Eco nomic Development Officer; Courtney Hester, OCN Councillor and Dan Quesnel, who is the Scotiabank Manager. They were all excellent judges.” Several incredible entrepreneurial ideas were born as a result of the Bears’ Lair camp. Al though all presentations were solid, only one winner was chosen. “There were five groups who came up with amazing ideas,” said Jack son. “Bannock to go was the concept of a bannock cafe. Spirit Outdoors was a facility for youth that has programming for after school to encourage kids to do something active and away from video games and spending more time with each other. Maskwa Café was a proposal to set up a cafe that serves coffee, bannock, treats and a bookstore. OCN Attracts was an outdoor play ground for summer, fall and winter with activities for families and youth to be entertained. Dancing Raven Event Planning was a party event planning business for weddings, graduations, etc. “The team that created Dancing Raven Event Planning won. The judges were so impressed by all of the youth, but Dancing Raven had a small team of two people and the judges liked that they took on all of the roles of the business. The two-team members, Layne Nabess and Alzena Lajambe, persevered. They had a really good business idea and presented it very well. The winning team won $250 each and all other participants received $100 for at tending. All of the students also received matching hoodies and backpacks. “The kids came out of their shell, developed new friendships, all improved with public speaking and social confidence and most importantly everyone showed up and supported their team members,” said Jackson. “ It’s been said that 95 per cent of success in anything is showing up and the 22 youth did. They were in credible and our team can not wait to come back again.