Conservation Officers Perform Checkstop at Border

Over the weekend of June 10 and 11, the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service partnered with Canadian wildlife officers to conduct a fish, wildlife, and Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) compliance checkstop at the Canada-US border crossing at Emerson.

Over the two-day operation, conservation officers and Canadian wildlife officers inspected more than 140 vehicles. In total, 10 tickets were issued; four Manitoba Fishery Regulations for over limits of fish, four Manitoba Fishery Regulations for transporting fish without identifying skin and one Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) for unlawful export of a bear and one Water Protection Act for transporting a boat without the drain plug removed.

Four warnings were issued for the unlawful export of an animal part and one warning was issued for fishing over the limit. Officers were encouraged by the overall level of compliance and the opportunity to interact with the public at a border crossing location where the export of the province’s resources could be assessed.

Anyone with information on illegal activity is asked to call local Natural Resources and Northern Development office or the Turn in Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-7820076.

By Dan Guetre

Growing up in Hadashville, Nicholle Realle (Reimer) was an avid reader and always thought about what it would be like to be on the other side. She recently fulfilled the dream by publishing her first novel.

While the writing has been there since she was six years old, she put off it off until she could commit the time, and even then, had to take a break as family was her priority.

“I started the book 13 years ago,” explained Realle. “It was difficult to find time to write with two kids and a full time job.”

Eventually, Realle was able to slot it into her busy life after her children reached adulthood.

“Once my kids were adults I decided it was time for me to fulfill my dream of being a published author,” she said.

Challenged with how to proceed from this point, Realle explained her road to creating a finished product she was willing to put her name to.

“I had a very rough draft finished when my oldest turned 18,” she noted. “I realized that I needed to figure out how to turn what I had into a complete novel.”

Realle followed this up with a “novel” approach.

“I began by listening to what other writers had to say,” she said. “Thanks to the internet, I was able to watch seminars and lectures and get in touch with other writers. I read books on writing books, studied novels, and got advice from an editor,” said Realle. “After a few years of learning and rewriting, I finally had a draft I was happy with.”

As for the book, the idea and story developed from a personal connection.

“The House in the Valley deals with mental health issues and autism,” she explained. “It is dedicated to my autistic niece and nephew,” she said.

“They have inspired me to write about the struggles with having children like that in the family,” she added. “I’ve always felt their intelligence is underestimated and they are often overlooked because many people think they aren’t aware of what is going on around them.”

Half of the book is told from the point of view of “Jessica”, a carpenter from rural Manitoba struggling to understand why her mother has ended her own life, with the other half told from the point of view of her mentally ill mother.

According to Realle, “it gives insight into the mind of someone with autism and OCD.”

The House in the Valley is the first published work for Realle, a Red Seal Carpenter who continues to work full time.

If you are interested in reading a copy, it is available on Amazon in both paperback and a Kindle version.