The Manitoba government is working with three nursing regulatory colleges to create a streamlined path for former nurses to return to work.

The interim changes will ensure former licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses who worked in Manitoba’s health-care system in the last five years and were in good standing with their regulatory college have a faster, more flexible pathway to return to their profession.

Find out more in this week’s paper.

Grandview’s Lindsey Morran went to his first ever Trappers’ Festival in The Pas last year to compete and won first place for his chainsaw carving.

He went again this year and took home the top prize in the Brody’s No Frills chainsaw carving competition again.

Read all about it in this week's Review.

The Manitoba U18 AAA League Board of Directors formed a Competition Committee in December 2022 to look at restructuring the league.

Last July, the committee provided four recommendations to the board of directors. On Aug. 27, those concepts were voted on for the committee to pursue.

Read more in this week’s issue.

This year’s Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival (NMTF) Queen Trapper has come from a long line of competitors. She has competed against her sister who was last year’s Queen Trapper in hopes of winning the title and this has been her year.
“I have been competing in the NMTF’s Queen Trapper events since I was 13 years old, and I'm 36 now, however, I did take a break in between than to have my four children Marcus, Myles, Kacey and Kylie,” said NMTF 2024 Queen Trapper Kristen Burns. “It’s been almost 20 years that I've been competing and I owe it to my family who has always been supportive of me.

With the wrap up of the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival (NMTF) also comes the introduction of a new Fur Queen and reigning court. This year’s Fur Queen and reigning court are looking forward to embodied the tri-community spirit and representing the community at events.
For the new Fur Queen, being crowned as such was something that seemed to be a once in a lifetime experience that she always dreamed of.
“Growing up as a young girl, I always looked forward to seeing the beautiful ladies who were part of our NMTF Fur Queen competition,” said NMFT 2024 Fur Queen Lynelle Bon. “Their excitement, happiness, dedication, positivity and more truly showed how much they enjoyed the competition. Seeing the ladies enjoying their once in a lifetime experience always influenced me on wanting to run for Fur Queen.

The Pas Handi-Van is preparing for their annual radio pledgee show to help raise money for their operations this year. Along with raising operating funds, they are looking at raising money to purchase a new handi-van unit.
“We have our radio pledge show coming up on March 7 and 8,” said The Pas Handi-Van Office Manager Val Miron. “The community has always been beyond generous with their donations to support The Pas Handi-van; it simply amazing. The radio pledge show provides more ongoing operational support to The Pas Handi-van. Anything over that will go to the costs of a new van.

Canada Post is still struggling to provide consistent service to residents in the tri-community area. A letter of complaint was sent to Canada Post by a long-term resident of the area, who is beyond frustrated at the delays and lack of service.
In a letter written to the Churchill-Keewatinook Aski MP Niki Ashton and Manitoba NDP MLA Amanda Lathlin the following was stated, “I’m a long-time resident of The Pas with a considerable concern about the abysmal service from Canada Post in our community. I ask as elected representatives for the people in The Pas and surrounding area that you look into this matter and advocate for us for immediate improvement.
“Aside from the lack of access to the wickets in the post office during business hours, to the lack of timely delivery of parcels and mail that as a community we hear is due to staff shortages and inadequate space at the local post office; this has led to unreliability and limited access to a service we used to trust.

The Thunderhill Ski Area was opened up on Friday evening (Feb. 23) for Kinsmen Night Skiing, with more than 120 people enjoying the hill and the new Co-op Chalet...

The onset of heavy snowfall on Monday morning (Feb. 26) resulted in dangerous driving conditions, evidenced by an apparent low-speed, head-on, two-vehicle collision on Main Street in Swan River in front of the Swan Valley Health Centre. No reports were available at press time as to whether there were any injuries.

A five-game winning streak has propelled the Dauphin Kings into the playoffs.

Dauphin scored a 7-1 win over the Swan Valley Stampeders, Feb. 20 in Dauphin, before blanking the Portage Terriers, 2-0, Friday in Portage.

On Saturday, back in Dauphin, the Kings beat the Niverville Nighthawks, 4-1 clinching a playoff spot.

At 32-14-1-1 for 66 points, the Kings remain in third place, two points back of the Blizzard Jr. A Hockey Club, with two games in hand.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said the team has had a busy stretch lately, which resulted in the players being a bit mentally tired against Niverville, Saturday.

“We found a way to win. That’s the biggest thing. We got patient. We got tough on pucks when we had to,” he said. “And what can you say about Sheff (goalie Cole Sheffield). He’s been rock solid for us. He’s been the guy, that’s for sure. No doubt.”

Hedley felt the Kings played a great road game, Friday in Portage, where Sheffield made 25 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season.

“We were more on our toes (Friday) night. We had some good speed. We were relentless on pucks. Hunted pucks, hunted rebounds. We had a good road game,” he said. “But Sheff made some big saves when he had to toward the end of the game to keep that a 1-0 game.”

After taking an early lead, the Kings took a couple of penalties which put them back on their heels.

“And we weren’t really jumping. They were beating us to pucks. But at the same time, we did keep them to the outside a lot of the times. Didn’t give them a lot of quality chances. But we killed some big penalties and the only goal they got was a turnover,” Hedley said. “We had a lot more than we wanted to tonight and if they had taken advantage of them, we would have been in trouble. But we found a way to get it done.”

In just their second season in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Niverville has been struggling since the start of the new year, resulting in the firing of their head coach and general manager Kelvin Cech.

With Dwight Hirst taking over as head coach and Mike McAulay the interim general manager, the Nighthawks are hoping the change will turn things around.

Hedley has seen a difference in their play from earlier in the season.

“I think they were a hungry hockey club. They were working hard. They’re in a fight for their life in a playoff spot,” he said. “I thought they might come in with a little bit more urgency. I think they had a pretty good second period. We weren’t very good in the second period and they definitely out worked us. But in the third period, we got better.”

The Kings will have a busy week, beginning tonight when they travel north to face the Blizzard in The Pas at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday, they will be in Swan River for a game at 12:30 p.m.

On Friday, the Winnipeg Freeze are in town for a 7:30 p.m. date, and on Sunday, Dauphin travels back to The Pas to play the Blizzard at 7 p.m.