A series of moose management meetings are scheduled to take place to discuss moose hunting in the Ducks and Porcupines.

The town halls are hosted by the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), Manitoba Natural Resources and Development along with the Canadian Section of the Wildlife Society.

Details in this week’s Review.

Pelicans are a bird of superlatives. While they don’t necessarily top the bird world in any one category, they rank high on many lists of “the largest/biggest/best” in North America.

For example, pelicans are among the heaviest flying birds (up to nine kgs), have one of the largest wing spans (up to three meters), and of course have the largest beak to rule them all.

Read all about pelicans in this week’s Moments in Riding Mountain

Opaskwayak Sundance was held from July 6 to 9 at Alvin and Marie Merasty’s property. This was the fourth Opaskwayak Sundance held and nine dancers graduated this year. Although the Opaskwayak Sundance is in its early years, Alvin Merasty have been involved in Sundances in other communities since 1985.
“This has been the fourth Sundance in Opaskwayak Cree Nation,” said Alvin Merasty. “This really got started because there’s been a resurgence of pan-Indianism. Joe Ross was instrumental in bringing Indigenous culture to a Christianized community. He was part of The Pas Friendship Center in the early 1970s, and he brought some Indigenous drummers and powwow dancers to teach it in the community. I really accredit him with how this cultural movement started again in the community.
“It strikes a chord in people, especially when they hear the Indigenous drumming and singing.

The Manitoba Underground Opera is returning to The Pas, giving children and people of all ages some exposure to classical music and opera. The goal of their Opera for Children Tour is to bring opera and classical music experiences across the province.
“The Manitoba Underground Opera was founded in 2008 by a group of students who wanted to share their love of opera,” said Manitoba Underground Opera Administrative Director Janice Marple. “Since then, we've grown into a fixture of Winnipeg's arts scene, presenting an annual season that includes three fully staged operas, concerts, and outreach events around the city. Our Opera for Children Tour began in 2017, and now brings opera to more than 1000 children all over Manitoba each year.”
This year’s production for the Opera for Children Tour is based on a classic children’s story that includes both animals and music.

Last week Arctic Gateway Group announced that the Port of Churchill’s 2023 shipping season is in full operation and the first resupply ship arrived yesterday.
“The Port is on track to see increased exports over last year,” said Arctic Gateway Group Board of Directors Chair Mike Spence. “Continued improvements on the rail and Port infrastructure will continue to improve service, including allowing train speeds to increase for rail operations. Improved service will be more attractive to shippers and further increase exports.”

The Swan Valley Farmers’ Market is now underway, with the first one of the year taking place on Thursday afternoon (July 13). Markets will continue to take place weekly from 4-6 p.m. at the Swan Valley Historical Museum, until the end of September, with vendors selling items such as fresh garden produce, baking, handmade items and more... 

Halverson Hauling has commenced the demolition of the former Conrad Apartments at 124 Fifth Avenue South in Swan River. The multi-family residence was evacuated in 2020 after multiple fires destroyed the building and approximately two dozen residents were displaced. The building has since been in legal limbo as invested parties are deciding whether the property owner or insurance company is responsible to pay for damages and demolition. The Town of Swan River has hired Halverson Hauling for a quoted price of $70,000 with the expectation that they will eventually recover the cost from the property owner. The demolition is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

A frustrating season for the Dauphin Mavericks got even more frustrating this past weekend.

The local men’s rugby side travelled to Yorkton, Saturday at the request of Sask Rugby, which reached out to Mavericks president Codi Harrigan about playing an exhibition game as part of the efforts to build a rugby program in that city.

But it was not to be.

“The team didn’t end up showing, so we just kind of hit the field there with some U18 players. They came with three players, so we didn’t really have a game,” Harrigan said, adding the trip was not a complete bust, however. “We gathered everyone and we took the opportunity to do some training.”

And that training was worthwhile as it included coaching from Jamie Cudmore a former professional rugby union player and captain of the Canadian national team, who played as a lock and as a flanker. Cudmore began his career with Capilano in B.C. He then played professionally in Wales for Llanelli and Llandovery, and in France for Grenoble, Clermont and Oyonnax.

“He was in the World Cup four or five times. Sask Rugby brought him down to do some development stuff,” Harrigan said, adding players present split into two sides and played a training game. “It was a great opportunity just to get his feedback and tap into some of his knowledge and his expertise. It was nice just making that connection.”

While the season has been difficult because Rugby Manitoba can not seem to find any competition for the Mavericks, there are still opportunities for the local club to play, with a game in Brandon scheduled for July 22, and a home game versus the Wasps set for July 29. But even that is presenting some hurdles for Harrigan.

“MARR (Manitoba Association of Rugby Referees) has pretty much said we’re on our own to find a ref, as well I don’t know why that is,” Harrigan said. “So that’s my next challenge I guess. I’m gonna make it my mission”

Harrigan is hopeful a refereeing clinic tentatively set for July 22 in Dauphin goes off as planned and adds to the pool of potential referees.

“I’m hoping we’ll have some newly-certified refs that can come to get their feet wet the weekend after,” he said. “There’s about 10 of us who did the online portion last year and we were waiting to do the clinical portion in person. They said they’d come out to Dauphin, but of course they didn’t. So we’re still after them.”

With the provincial U16 and U18 teams scheduled to play exhibition games in Dauphin July 22, it is the perfect opportunity to hold the refereeing clinic, Harrigan said.

“We’re trying to get it together for this weekend, but it just seems every road I take is a dead end,” Harrigan said, adding with Rugby Manitoba executive director Patrick Ryan stepping down, it is the perfect opportunity for the association to show it cares about rural programs.

“I would really like to see someone from rural Manitoba take that position over, because I think there’s a lot of potential outside the perimeter that just needs to get tapped into. We need to see that support from Rugby Manitoba.”

Exhibition

On July 22, exhibition games will take place at the Kinsmen Rugby Pitch at Vermillion Sportsplex between provincial U16 and U18 sides from Manitoba and Saskatchewan

The U16 girls get underway at 3 p.m. while the boys game starts at 4 p.m. On the U18 schedule the girls game starts at 5 p.m. while the boys kickoff at 6 p.m.

Local players taking part in the games include Felicity Salhuka and Paityn Bourgouin on the U13 roster along with Ben Miner, Colton MIner, Sully Fox and Kingston Stirling in the boys game.

On the U18 side Lars Gubjartson, William Miner, Rhett Thachyk, Joseph Lopez, Matt Zurba, Oliver Dandeneau and Scott Gower will compete with Manitoba’s U18 boys provincial squad. The girls roster will include Bree Walker, Brooke Miner, Chloe Fletcher, Mia Maguet, Emma Fox, Saje Marohn, Allee Hrechka, Raylyn Koshowski and Megan Thompson.

A total of 58 golfers braved less than ideal conditions to take party in the Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy Two person Lady Scramble at Dauphin Lake Golf Course, July 16.

Taking top spot in the first flight was the duo of Stephanie Remniak and Pearl Maksymetz with a 72, followed closely by Ashley Shaw and Cayley Mouck in second with a 76. The team of Gail Tycholiz and Martha Messinbird finished in third place with 81.

In the second flight the pair of Leanne Fedak and Diana Thorsteinson finished first with a 90. The second place team was Laurie Vandendool and Joan Vandendool shooting a 90, while Donna Campbell and Jan Pazuik finished in the third spot with a 91.

The third flight saw Donna-Leigh Davis and Donna Lesyshen finish in first with a 96, Colleen Johnson and Elise Karpiak capture second with a 98, and Lori Bourque and Margo Elliot finish in third with a 99.

The line up of Dauphin Consumer’s Co-op members looking for their equity cheques snaked its way through the produce section of the Dauphin Food Store last week.

Over 6,600 equity cheques were available to be picked up, July 11 to 13, as Co-op hosted its annual Equity Days.

A total equity allocation of $2.9 million, including $1.8 million in cash-back to members, resulted from a successful 2022.

Cheques that were not picked up during Equity Days have been mailed out.