Dawson Trail Dispatch
Celebrating 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!
September 2020
Tache Councillor Raises Alarm Over Silica Sand Testing
Celebrating 25 Years of Rural Reporting Compiled By Marianne Curtis Twenty-five years ago the very first copy of the Dawson Trail Dispatch rolled off the press. Today, the Dispatch is one of the few independent newspapers left in the province. Since then, 2.25 million combined print copies have been distributed throughout approximately fifty-three communities in southeastern Manitoba. Dan Guetre, the owner and Managing Editor, started the successful monthly newspaper on the belief there was a need for a newspaper in the southeast region that focused more on the rural communities. “There were interesting stories everywhere, and while the newspaper in the area of the time did a good job, most of the news was Steinbach focused. The smaller population centres were constantly being overshadowed. The Dawson Trail Dispatch was created to fill this void,” said Guetre. “I remember the feeling of visiting the printer when the first issue was coming off the press. There was excitement and anxiety at the same time. Now, 25 years later, the anxiety may be gone, but the excitement still exists.” Guetre did not just want to start a newspaper; he wanted to create a legacy while paying homage to the region he personally decided to call “home”. “From a historical perspective, the Dawson Trail was key to bringing many of the original settlers to the area. It seemed appropriate to name this new venture after the original route many of our ancestors travelled to discover a new life in the west. Using the word Dispatch seemed appropriate since historically it referred to a message that needed to be delivered,” Guetre added. Continued on Page 2...
The cover of the inaugural Dawson Trail Dispatch in September 1996.
On August 22, RM of Tache councillor Armand Poirier raised the alarm that the community of Lorette should be concerned about proposed silica sand testing in the area. According to Poirier, the RM of Tache council was recently informed by Manitoba Conservation and Climate that testing for one of CanWhite’s proposed silica sand mines is to be completed by December 31, 2020. “This testing is to be conducted just outside the town limits of Lorette, approximately two miles from our town well,” said Poirier. “CanWhite is authorized to pump up to 143,000 cub metres (143 million litres) of water from the wells for testing and analysis.” Poirier said that testing, “May directly affect our local water supply and quality for the community and that of 64 thousand other residents who depend on this aquifer.” “If CanWhite is satisfied with the test results the consequences of this include but are not limited to water quality and quantity, but to all facets of our infrastructure and our well being,” Poirier continued. “The RM council is very concerned about these developments.” Poirier further suggested that residents campaign their MLA, the mayor and other members of council on this issue to make sure they opinions were expressed. As a result of this campaign, Councillor Steve Stein has confirmed that Can White has changed their mind at this time. “CanWhite has decided not to proceed with the drilling of the test well at this time,” said Stein. “We will continue to engage them, and the minister in charge of mines to ensure our water source is protected.” RM of Springfield residents raised the alarm in July when it was disclosed that CanWhite Sands Corp. is planning an $80-million project that would extract and process the resource from a large area in the municipality. But the project is facing fierce opposition from some members in the community, who are voicing concerns over the facility’s impact on the environment and the Sandilands aquifer that provides water to a number southeast communities. They were also concerned about dust particles in the air that contain silica, which can cause silicosis, an incurable and deadly lung disease. Silica sand is used in a variety of products, including glass, batteries and an many construction products.