March 19, 2021

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Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 109 years

March 30, 2018

Volume 110, Issue 37

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Massive overhaul to Manitoba’s education system announced

Banner Staff

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The province’s education system is about to go through some sweeping structural changes. On Monday, Mar. 15, education minister Cliff Cullen unveiled the results of a much-anticipated report outlining proposed modifications to kindergarten to grade twelve education.

The most notable suggestion made will see the removal of elected school boards, except for t he Fr a nc ophone school d iv ision. They will be replaced with a gover nment-appointed provincial advisory board and community councils for each schools. The adv isor y cou nci l w i l l consist of between six to 11 people. At least two of the members must be the parents of current public school students.

Manitoba’s 37 school divisions would also be replaced with 15 regions, that will be overseen by a ‘Provincial Education A ut hor it y ”. T he A u -

thority will be made up of appointed members and take over the bulk Back row L/R: Meghan Knelsen, of ad m i n i st r at ive re - Erich Schmidt, Thom Heijmans, Heather sponsibilities, including Gray, Liliane Dupuis. Front ITMinami Kijima, Haile collective bargaining, row L/R: Hubbard, Chassidy Payette, resources and workforce Morgan Ramsay, Bryce planning. This new edu- Quinn Hrabok.

Summers, cation model has been outlined in Bill 64, the Education Modernization Act, which was put before the legislature on Mar. 15. The hope is to have these infrastructure changes completed by July of 2022.

Cullen noted that, if Photo by Sheila Runions approved, this shift in education are aimed at cutting $40 million in administration costs and By money Sheila Runions redirecting that to Banner Staff the classroom. cans from the school foyer into and Chimo Beach areas for con- put away in the proper place on s r e p or t e d i n t he tion to the schools.

“Our system has more

BY MICAH Pupils co-ordinated the entire the church basement the after- tributions from the community. the PHOTO shelving units. WADDELL They were March 9 edition, the (school board) trustees noon will of March 21, where the all Better was said Education and done, fantastic!

We are (BEST) very, very promotion, which that Grade 12One Interdisciof the month-long most notable changes be occuring dueWhen to the Starts Today per capita than anywhere food and sorted. the Cliff scales Cullen at Riverdale Harvest pleased.” culminated in ceremoniousMar. plinary Studies in Science class announced strategy, ona Monday, 15was byweighed education minister is the end of all school divisions Elementary school staff memMarch 20 to Although the project was a sen- noted a total of 434 pounds, “a at Rivers planned a presentation else in Canada.

OurCollegiate ad- such as Rolling River. on Schools like Rivers Collegiate (pictured above) along with Oak River, Rapid City and project for Riverdale Harvest. Riverdale Harvest president ior students brainstorm, the en- fabulous amount,” says Heather. ber/Harvest volunteer Yvonne ministration expenses as Elton will be affected by the shift in that administration will be more centralized. tire high school was encouraged “We are so pleased they decided Crouch initiated a similar camDubbed the Boat Load of Food, Heather Gray and Liliane. of costssecured are a canoe from a percentage students Because the snow had melted to participate. The collegiate to help those we serve. A lot paign in her school. That threethatkids unless youenough ers’ Society also expressed about still being mediocre the plan, indicating that we know higher than Rolling most other of times don’t get week effort simply encouraged so much, the canoe could not hosted a poor boy floor hockey River School Division chbuti ld y serious Cullen. concern the in hasn’t thoroughly ad- to add provinces,” Cullen credit this pover group oftstudents students to leave on product be portaged across theitstreet to tournament in which play,ress with ansaid. intent to are f ill itover,” with said the canoe; 87 pounds and of food River- one athletes had to pay with food for certainly issues f irst, deserves there’ssome nopraise. removal of principals of the biggest The shift innon-perishables. education Although the Zion Church (home ofdressed collected from the younger dale Harvest).

Rather, issue the teens the canoe.

Some also to All start students stayed behind to was campaign was fully organized students deal it. studentsneed looking at from Shift reaction from the Society. is in reaction to Manitoba by that class, the original idea carried bags, boxes and garbage canvassed Rivers, Oak River help check expiry dates, sort and group on Thursday, March 22.

“There’s a lot of speak- all of those other things,” having some came of the low- MB Teachers Society from a suggestion made i n g t o out c ome s a nd said MTS vice president Additional stories on The Manitoba Teachest results inbymath and harvest volunteer Liliane ers’ Society (MTS) has achievements and assess- Nathan Martindale. the announcement on literacy in theDupuis. country.

“I heard the ideaexpressed at a meet- concern with ments and test scores but The Manitoba Teachpage 4 “The time for excuses

Can collections for canoes

A

ing in Brandon. St. Augustine School had tried Fill a Canoe in conjunction with the 10-day Festival du Voyaguer in Winnipeg in February. It was very successful and whenever I hear food bank, my ears always perk up!”

She then brought the suggestion to Riverdale Harvest, which supported the idea and asked her to present the promo-

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The canoe at Rivers Elementary School was adequately filled.

Photo by Heather Gray

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2 Rivers Banner March 19, 2021

Education review long overdue

T

he Province of Manitoba has received, and now released, a K-12 education report with 75 recommendations and Education Minister Cliff Cullen said the province has accepted all of them in spirit and principle. Some, but not all, are incorporated into Bill 64.

Bill 64 is before the legislature now, but will not likely pass this spring, as the opposition has the right to delay up to five bills until fall. They will likely delay Bill 64.

The K-12 report and Bill 64 are long overdue. Whether the 75 recommendations are the right ones remains to be seen.

The public has only seen the contents for less than 24 hours at the time this column is being written on Tuesday morning.

Rather than say each and every detail is the right direction or if all this planning will work out or not, it’s important to examine them. Minister Cullen said they had to do something and he’s correct. With admin costs appearing to be high compared to other provinces and with education results appearing to be low compared to other provinces, the need for action is evident.

That said, many of the premises for Bill 64 are long overdue.

Supporting education with land taxes is totally out of date. That change should have come about 40 years ago. Set up in the early part of the last century, education taxes on land was the way to go. Nearly every quarter section of land had a family

with kids living on it, it was assumed that most houses and businesses had kids living on the property. With that largely being the case, it somewhat made sense to tax land to fund education. Over the decades, the province has taken over some of the funding. Education serves all people, not just property owners. Education is a service to people so should be funded by all people.

Land taxes need to go towards services to land such as roads, water, sewer and numerous other land based service needs. If the government can switch education funding off property and onto general revenue, it will be a good thing. Land owners can then invest their tax dollars in improving, or in some cases, even just keeping their land. Farmers and commercial building owners have been unfairly burdened with education taxes and it needs to end. It is among the changes that are 40 years overdue. We need to remember that the last major change to the education system was in 1966, which, by the way, is 55 years ago. That was when school divisions were enlarged and wide spread school bussing started.

The school boards and school trustees are almost all mad about Bill 64 and that’s understandable. Also understandable is the government’s statement that school boards have spent most of their time agonizing over local tax rates and bargaining with teachers over wages. Bill 64 claims to place

RIGHT IN THE CENTRE

Ken Waddell teacher salary bargaining under a province wide authority. It may make a lot of sense and on the surface, it does make sense.

It will seem harsh, but newspapers basically stopped covering school board meetings years ago. For the two nights a month it took to cover school board meetings, it seemed like there was lot of rubber stamping going on. Board members hands were tied by the province and as so much of the funding was coming from the province, is that a surprise. In recent years, it has been tough to get people to run for school boards.

The third thing that jumps out is educational results. It’s reported that Manitoba is low on the Canadian charts by many measures. Defenders of the current education system say that those results are due to poverty. Could be, to some extent.

However, if poverty were the criteria for a lack of success, it didn’t hold back my oldest brother, who served in the Royal Canadian Navy for 15 years and had a long career in

business and transportation. It didn’t stop my second brother from obtaining two university degrees and serving for many decades in the Ag industry. It didn’t stop me from obtaining a University degree and a reasonably successful career in business, politics and journalism. Poverty can sometimes be an incentive to succeed.

The teachers union will be upset, because that is what they are paid to do. The school trustees will be upset, because their role is being re-assigned. The support workers union will be upset, but I am not sure why, as they will likely all have jobs and there may be more jobs in teaching and support services as money is shifted.

I think everyone’s big concern is that governments of all political stripes have a huge propensity to screw things up. It’s our job as journalists, and as citizens, to make sure they don’t. If we aren’t up that task, then we are all in big trouble.

What is Easter? - part 1

With Easter just around the corner, I need to pause the series on false gospels and religions for the next three weeks to discuss the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But before we do that, let’s have a brief look at the history of Easter and why Christ came to die.

Easter is derived from the name of the ancient AngloSaxon goddess of fertility, Eostre (spellings vary) to whom sacrifices were made around the time of the Jewish celebration of Passover. The first Passover feast ocurred when the Israelites were rescued from slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses. The Israelites sacrificed a lamb or kid (without defect) and applied the blood to the sides and tops of the door frames so the Lord would “passover” their houses when He came to pass justice upon the homes of the Egyptians. The Passover was celebrated for centuries until Christ, the perfect and final sacrificial lamb, ended the feast and established the Christian Church ( Jews not recognizing Christ as their Messiah, continue to observe the feast.)

When Christian missionaries evangelized some of the Anglo-Saxons, Eostre, their object of worship, was replaced by Jesus Christ, but the name remained with the customs of Easter varying around the globe. This time of year the Christian Church celebrates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the core of our faith. The Apostle Paul puts it this way: 1 Corinthians 15:14,17 - “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are

RiveRs BanneR Est. 1908

STAFF

still in your sins.”

For the majority of people, Easter is an age old tradition of painting and hunting for easter eggs, along with eating chocolate bunnies. Because of the rabbit’s rapid breeding habits, somebody thought it made an ideal replacement for the goddess of fertility. As a child and parent, I loved the festivities myself until I started to realize that Easter had been hijacked by a chocolate rabbit and Jesus Christ was replaced as the object of worship. I have no problem whatsoever with children having fun and getting treats, but I take issue when the practice infiltrates the Church and Christ has to play second fiddle.

Isaiah 42:8 - “I am the Lord...I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”

When a church does not put Jesus Christ front and centre, it has relinquished its title of a Christian Church.

Now let’s discuss why Christ had to come. The disease of sin entered our world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God, and each one of us inherits the illness that has to be treated because God hates sin. The prophet Habakkuk wrote this: Habakkuk 1:13 -“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.”

Then listen to what the Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Church in Rome: Romans 3:10 - “As it is written: there is no one righteous, not even one.”

Romans 3:23 - “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

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Romans 5:12 - “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam) and death through sin, and in this way death comes to all people, because all have sinned.”

Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death…”

God has passed judgement, and everyone stands condemned before a Holy, Just, and Righteous God. Paul had this to say about his condition and ours as well.

Romans 7:24 -”What a wretched person I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”

The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ came to rescue the perishing: Philippians 2:6-8 - “Who, being in very nature God. did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by…” to be discussed next week.

The eternal Son of God, God the Son, laid aside His glory and exalted position in the heavens to redeem lost sinners by taking on a human body to live amongst us and accomplish what nobody could achieve on their own, reconciliation to God the Father. More to follow next week, but in the meantime, please contact me at jgklassen@icloud.com if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY AD DEADLINE: TUESDAY 12 PM PRIOR TO ISSUE DATE Rivers Banner does not guarantee publication of any submitted articles or pictures. Such submissions, if printed, will appear at the discretion of the managing editor or publisher and only when time and space permit.

We are not responsible for fax and e-mail transmissions which are not confirmed either in person or by phone.

Staff Donna Falkevitch

John Klassen Rivers MB

Members of:

March 19, 2021 Rivers Banner 3

Home Bodies

By Rita Friesen Choose our

own response...

“T

here is room between stimulus and our response. Through this space, you have the possibility to choose your own response.”

Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor.

That statement, standing by itself, is a powerful truth; standing in the shadow of the author, it is an even more powerful truth. After having stood in the shadows of the gates of Auschwitz and Birkenau, for me, it is a mind bending, healing and humbling truth.

Frankl, a noted counsellor, teacher, humanitarian and scholar, lost his wife, parents and all but one member of his family to the horrors of man’s inhumanity to man, the Holocaust. While imprisoned, he counselled fellow victims, encouraging them to remember the good in the world, in their world. Ref lect back to happy times, beautiful places, loving people. Think on these things and never give up hope. One of his books, “Man’s Search for Meaning”, is still recommended reading. Frankl was able to speak his truth with love, despite, in spite of, the circumstances over which he had no control. No control over the circumstances, the possibility to choose his own response.

When I ref lect on situations, such as the Holocaust, the refugee camps filled with the homeless and hurt-

ing, the outbreak of the Spanish f lu a hundred years ago, well, the list can go on and on. When I ref lect on these situations, I give humble thanks. I don’t like missing the holiday festivities with my family and friends. I don’t like missing the little joys like shopping and coffeeing. I don’t like the fear and uncertainty, the formation of groups with very differing opinions of what is true and what is scare mongering. There are rifts deepening in families and communities. I don’t like that either.

I have a choice. I have a choice to think on those things that bring me peace of mind, a sense of purpose, satisfaction. If Frankl, enduring all that he felt and witnessed, could still be positive and helpful, then what is around me and before me pales in comparison.

There is concern for the elderly that are isolated.

There is concern for the youth that are lacking the experiences that we feel they deserve. When I was a child, a trip to town was not a given, but a privilege. To own a pair of skates was to be a “have”. The seclusion of my early farm life was wonderfully broken by visits from family and neighbours. I know we can’t have that, right now, but most of us do have the telephone, texting, Skype and Zoom. The young and the old have access to at least a visual connection to loved ones.

We do want more for our children than we had as children. As did our parents, and their parents.

“What man actually needs is not a tensionless state, but rather, the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him.” Viktor Emil Frankl (1905 – 1997) We have the possibility to choose our own response.

From last week's front page

From last week's front page

Observation

By Addy Oberlin Rivers Banner

T

wo stories caught my attention this week.

One mentioned what you need to do if you were poor and lived next door to someone who was rich and then talked about it if you were rich, lived next door to someone who was poor, and what the Bible teaches us what to do.

Then I read an interesting story about two brothers who lived like poor fellows and they found out how rich they were after they died. They did not share anything with anybody.

It made me thinking what I would do ….. It is so easy to love someone who is equal to us and become friends with them, but Paul tells us in Acts 20 when he says farewell to Ephesians elders that he “served the Lord with great humility and with tears” (vs.19).

Peter tells us in Acts 10;42 that He ( Jesus) commanded us to testify that He ( Jesus) is the one whom God appointed and that everyone who believes in Him ( Jesus) receives forgives of sins through His name (verse 43)..

There is no difference with who we share His love and His salvation.

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BY JANICE HEAPY, OAK RIVER

BY JANICE HEAPY, OAK RIVER

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C F E Z L Q Y A R G C E AC YF NEQ ZN LB M F M T V A Y A R G C E R T N E C KA MY MNH QP NE NM LF PMK TZ VD PE FR ATC NI EL LK GM BMU HI PL VN QL RPN KR ZB BP RF SAA CG IW IL JG PBM UD IV J W N O D E V Q R N R Y E R G Q N OB IR TSA AV GR

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By Chad Carpenter

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I H Y T R E P O R P M D T L H

BUILDING CANTEEN CEMENT BUILDING CENTRE CANTEEN CONSERVATION CEMENT EDUCATION CENTRE ERECTED CONSERVATION FACILITIES EDUCATION INSULATED PROGRAMS ERECTED PROPERTY FACILITIES RANGEINSULATED SAFETY PROGRAMS UPGRADES PROPERTY WILDLIFE

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Rivers Community Church 447 Edward Street, Rivers

204-328-7882

25% occupancy seating now allowed (60 people).

Call or text 204-328-7882 to ensure your seat!

If you are more comfortable sharing in our Sunday service from the safety of your home, please join us at 10:30 a.m. on our Facebook page: Rivers Community Church

4 Rivers Banner March 19, 2021

Centralization could negatively impact students BPSD superintendent reacts to K-12 Education Review results

Banner staff Rivers Banner The results of the provincial government’s K-12 Education Review has received its share of mixed reviews. Superintendent for RRSD Mary-Anne Ploshynsky said in response, “Education Minister Cliff Cullen provided a lot of information in his announcement on March 13 and we need time to process and unpack the information.

RRSD will work with government and our regional partners Beautiful Plains SD and Park West SD, through the process of Education reform and the “Better Education Starts Today Strategy”.

This is a major announcement and leaves our operational staff with stress and uncertainty related to job security. I want to emphasize that we have a lot of knowledge and experience in rural Manitoba and it is very important that rural job opportunities are provided in the new educational entities, either face to face or remotely depending on the role.

I encourage the RRSD community to keep informed and to check out the following government website for updates on how the transition will occur at: bettereducationMB.ca Fall 2021 is the release of the roadmap for implementation of actions and timelines. Going forward, our goal will be to communicate with our staff and communities on whatever lies ahead as we transition into a new entity.”

Bigger isn’t always better Jason Young, Beautiful Plains School Division (BPSD) superintendent, had a mixed reaction, with cautious optimism and concern.

“Change is difficult and I will approach this change with an open and hopeful mindset that some positive changes can come of this for our students,” Young stated. “Our students have always been and must continue to remain at the centre of the decision making process.”

In an interview before the review was published, Young had noted that amalgamations were expected, whether it was to come from this review or further down the line. However, previous amalgamations both

in Manitoba and neighbouring provinces have shown that method is not always beneficial.

Young explained that the government has been putting out a consistent message that too much money is being spent on administration, in particular, school boards, and it should be reallocated directly to classrooms. Young noted that the Beautiful Plains School Board has always believed this exact sentiment, that money should be directed directly to the classrooms, where it can have the greatest impact on students. He added that every conversation that occurs among the BPSD board starts with the question, “how will this decision benefit our students?”

The last amalgamation, which took place in 2001, came about because of similar statements of “unnecessary duplication”, with the estimate that the government could save up to $10 million by reducing school divisions from 54 to 37. “At that time, they used the same reason they’re using now, there’s too much administration,” he explained.

In reality, the total spending in amalgamated school divisions went up by over $27 million in one year, according to the Provincial FRAME report of 2003/2004. “Effectiveness and efficiency [in schools] is based far more on the decisions that are made and the culture that exists than they are on size [of divisions],” Young expressed in that earlier interview.

While the province’s announced changes to the education system are not defined as amalgamation, the grouping of 37 school divisions into 15 regions and transferring the majority of administration into one provincial authority can be seen as a form of amalgamation.

Concern for communities could disappear Young noted that moving most of the administration duties to one centralized, provincial authority could end up making it more difficult for schools to get what they need for their students. “I can only speak from our local context in Beautiful Plains, where I know we have a Board of Trustees who genuinely cares about our students, staff and communities. They work hard

Frontier

Swan Valley

Mountain View Lakeshore

Turtle River

Evergreen

Park West

Rolling River Fort la Bosse

Prairie Rose

Beautiful Plains

Pine Creek

Portage la Prairie

Turtle Mountain

to do what they believe is best for our kids, even when they know it may not be the most popular decision at times.

This is a caring group who has earned my utmost respect by their actions and choices.

I am not confident that one central authority will be able to duplicate this type of genuine concern for the communities we serve,” he expressed.

While this change will be gradual, Young said that he expects to see the impact in schools as time rolls on. “I am certain as more time passes and decisions are made by people further removed from our communities that our schools will undoubtedly be impacted.”

He continued, “I have always believed, through what I have seen with people, that relationships are key. The closer the relationship, and the more deeply a person knows someone, the more likely they are to try and do what they feel is best for that person. I see that with our parents, who care so deeply for their children. I see that with our staff, who know our communities and our families and I see that with our board, who represent the

Prairie Rose Western

Sunrise Lord Selkirk

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Brandon Prairie Spirit

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Interlake

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Seine River Hanover Red River Valley Borderlands ORIGINAL MAP FROM MBSCHOOLBOARDS.CA

The above map shows the current 37 school divisions and what the 15 regions will be once the divisions have been dissolved. The divisions will be “amalgamating” with those adjacent to them in matching colours. Some divisions, such as Hanover and Seine River, will be their own regions. All regions will be administered by one central provincial authority.

communities they serve. I hope that is not lost because out of that, the real loser will be our students.”

While it is evident the potential challenges this changeover could pose, Young maintained that he will keep an open mind to this new system and see where it leads. “I’m open minded and will work to understand how this is going to help our students, how is this going to improve their chances of being successful.”

Tempo’s Easter Sunday Special Baked Ham Scalloped Potatoes Vegetables Dinner Roll Cherry Cheesecake Choice of Soup, Salad or Juice

$2 inc 0.00 . ta x

Sunday, April 4, 2021 Dine In, Take-out or Free Delivery 4:00 - 8:00 Reservations or to Pre-Order 204-328-7730

2021 RIVERS YOUTH SOCCER For children/youth born between 2004 - 2017 U4 – U8 (2017 – 2013) - $60 Wed evenings

U9 – U17 (2012 – 2004) - $155

Twice weekly training, with possibility of games pending restrictions.

ALL participants must register online at www.westmansoccer.ca by March 31.

Acceptance of late registration will be dependent on factors such as roster size AND will have an added fee of $45.

Coaches needed!! If you would be willing to coach a team we want to hear from you!

For further info and questions e-mail riversyouthsoccerassociation@gmail.com and visit our page on Facebook, Rivers Youth Soccer.

AGM (via zoom): Mon, Apr. 5 @ 7 p.m.

Church Chatter

Dianne Kowalchuk Council Chair

Rivers United Church is moving through this pandemic like everyone else – with dogged determination and w ith hope for an end to the anxiety and separation.

For most of the year, our church ser v ices have been delivered by e-mail, and we very much appreciate the dedication of Rev. Margret Kristjansson, Rev. Glenna Beauchamp, and others who provided these messages. Paper copies of the services have been handdelivered to those who do not have internet access.

And so we are all connected on Sunday mornings. (If you would like to receive these services by e-mail, contact Donna Falkevitch at dfalkevi@ mymts.net .)

Council and committee meetings have taken place on the Zoom platform. A council meeting was held in that manner

on March 9th. We are thankful for the technology that allows us to connect to do the work of the church. Some of the time at this meeting was spent discussing upgrades to the church bui ld ing t hat we are contemplating, such as roof repairs, replacement of the front steps, and painting. We also learned that Rev. Margret will be ending her time with Rivers United on June 30th. She has been a great blessing to us in the past two years.

Worship while apart L ike a l l persons of faith, we believe in freedom of religious expression. We also value the

well-being of our church family and respect the expertise of the public he a lt h pr ofe s s ion a l s .

Weighing all of these factors, it was decided that Rivers United Church will not hold in-person worship services until public health orders allow the public gathering of 50 people indoors.

Easter is the most important day in the church calendar, but if we are not able to worship together in our sanctuary, then we will worship together while being apart. We will mark the Resurrection in our hearts and minds, and at the same time, pray for a day when all people can meet joyfully and safely.

March 19, 2021 Rivers Banner 5

Fuel stolen in Rapid City

By Cpl. Jacob Stanton Spruce Plains RCMP During the week of Mar. 8 to Mar. 14, Spruce Plains RCMP dealt with 35 police activities.

Mar. 8: RCMP received a complaint of theft of fuel from a business in Rapid City; the matter is still under investigation.

Police conducted a Covid compliance check in Neepawa. All person(s) were found complying with quarantine regulations.

Mar. 9: RCMP re-

sponded to a missing person report in Basswood. A fter thorough investigation, the person was located safe and well, and the report was determined to be unfounded.

Police received a call of a stalled semi in the RM of Minto-Odanah that was creating a dangerous traffic hazard as weather conditions were deteriorating. Police attended and learned a tow truck was on route.

Mar. 10: Police conducted proactive traffic

enforcement, engaging with several motorists.

Mar. 11: RCMP conducted Covid compliance checks at residences in Neepawa. All person(s) were found complying with quarantine regulations. Police received a report of a missing person in Kelwood. After investigation, the person was located with no cause for concern.

Continued on page 7

Stop in at the farm anytime to view our sale bulls.

To view the catalogue go to https://jasredangus.com/buy-the-beef-sale

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21033AA6

ready for a tornado?

6 Rivers Banner March 19, 2021 onrmed touchdown Environment Canada is the authority on weather Killarney. If there is bulletins, though we may also hear from Manitoba er the past few weeks Weather Network and other local media outlets more pen here. There were immediately. A tornado watch is issued when weather over the weekend as conditions are favourable to produce a tornado; however, Individuals should visit indicates vaccine have a warning is more serious.

A warning thatbeen a adminisBulletin tered, including www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vacNews Media Services g was issued for your tornado has occurred or has a high likelihood of being73,009 first cine/eligibility-criteria.html to doses and 33,922 second doses. do? Are you familiar about to occur.

Appointments and theyduring are eligible to This esponse plan and the The safestdetermine place toifbe a tornado is adata low includes spot vaccine Eligibility Criteria make an appointment.

If eliadministered at is included in that in an interior room away from windows, such as an at in-medical clinToday, eligibility to be imgible, call (toll-free) 1-844-626ics and pharmacies, though with that document ner room in the basement or underneath the stairs to the munized at a super site or pop- 8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC). there may be a slight delay in our family safe. basement. Rooms that have extra support in the walls up clinic is being expanded to Everyone who calls is screened reporting from some of these da sees the most tor- such as bathrooms are also ideal as bathroom pipes include individuals aged 77 or to ensure they meet current eli- locations. focused on southern provide extra support to the walls. MobileThis homes and older and First Nation people gibility criteria before booking week, Focused Imnces. With the peak camper trailers are very unsafe places to take shelter as (FITs) will aged 57 or older. munization Teams an appointment. y time between April they are not anchored to the ground.

Over the weekend, criteria The average wait time for visit more than 70 congregate heart were of a expanded potentialto also include: Get informed stay safe. For information living facilities with an estithe calland centre is expected to bemore 43 tornadoes occur visit: Public Safety Canada http://www.publicsafety.

• health-care workers, who less than 10 minutes and a call- mated 3,600 beds. The first gc.ca/res/em/nh/to/index-eng.aspx Environment may or may not provide dir- back option is available. An ordose of vaccine will be provided een a weather watch Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca. ect patient care, working in online booking tool is currently to all eligible and consenting

Covid-19 vaccine bulletin #51

outpatient health care settings being tested. More information residents. To date, more than including clinics, diagnostic will be provided about this op- 6,900 residents at 253 conimaging, laboratories, patient tion when it becomes available. gregate living facilities have transport, blood donor centres, The Covishield (AstraZen- received their first doses of the surgical centres, elderly day eca) vaccine is now available COVID-19 vaccine. programs and home-based through some medical clinThe Morden super site, care (expanded to include ics and pharmacies. Nearly located at the Access Event workers without direct patient 200 locations throughout the Centre, will open on March 22. care, no age restrictions); and province have received 18,000 The Winnipeg super site at the • people working in congregate doses. For more information RBC Convention Centre has living facilities (no age restric- about this vaccine, including expanded to include the third tions). its eligibility criteria and how to floor and is expected to launch Appointments are currently NDREAaccess it if you are eligible, visit this month as vaccine supplies available for the super sites in www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vac- become available. t DAMSON Winnipeg, Brandon, Thomp- cine/eligibility-criteria.html.

Pop-up vaccination clinics er Minnedosa-based mobile dental hygienist son, Selkirk and Morden and will begin this week in rural Roberds • Residential & Commercial sites located across at pop-up Vaccine•Administration and northern Manitoba comPersonal care homes Farm Wiring & Trenching -5 p.m. the province. Home care To date, 106,931 doses of munities, for people who meet

IRECTORY FINGERTIPS A A

mics

m. n

204-807-9496 adamsondahyg@gmail.com

435

Major HVAC; ts.

5-3691

ting p rap

elds

Mini storage units for rent.

Hamiota ~ Brandon ~ Birtle   Souris ~ Pilot Mound  Killarney ~ Deloraine

Ph. 204-328-7893



 

HAMIOTA: 204-764-2544  BRANDON: 888-726-1995

Place Emporium

allianceaccounting.ca

Hamiota’s

204-764-2744 FUNERAL DIRECTOR Dwayne Campbell ~ 204-764-2746

Hunt, Miller & Co. LLP

...because the memories are what we cherish

Jack Cram

Funerals, Cremations,, Lawyer Receptions

Phone 204-727-8491 or 204.727.0330 or 204-328-7540 (Thursdays, 1.888.694.8153 www.memorieschapel.com for appointments.

2-5 p.m.)

carpenter for hire

ars’ experience. l jobs, we do them all.

Reliable. sonable rates.

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Brandon - Rivers

current provincial eligibility criteria. Appointments are required and can be made through the provincial call centre. The initial two-week schedule is available at www. manitoba.ca/vaccine and will be updated regularly as new clinics are planned.

Eight communities participated in the two-week pilot project at Vaxport in Thompson.

In total, 706 eligible residents aged 18 and up received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaxport will continue to be available as an immunization site option for First Nation communities, Northern Affairs communities and remote northern communities identified under the community prioritization index.

• 18,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine.

An additional 20,500 doses of Moderna vaccine have been received by the province and will be reflected in tomorrow’s online dashboard.

This week, the province expects to receive 14,040 doses of Pfizer.

All data in this bulletin is current as of March 14, unless noted otherwise.

21033ge0

Vaccine Supply and Distribution To date, a total of 159,220 doses of vaccine have been delivered to Manitoba. This includes: • 112,320 doses of Pfizer vaccine; • 28,900 doses of the Moderna vaccine; and

204-761-2192

KNIGHT

Business Directory CMA CANADA

Shaping the Future

ACCOUNTING SERVICE Certied Management Accountants

PROS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Hamiota: 71 Maple Ave. 204-764-2544 Brandon: 20-18th St., 204-727-5927

Serving Rivers and area since 1906.

Phone 204-727-0694 or 1-800-897-5694 www.brockiedonovan.com

knightcm@mymts.net

For all your electrical needs

ALEXANDER ELECTRIC 204-721-4320

Jeannie’s Interiors

•

Residential & Commercial

•

Repair & Maintenance

•

HVAC Installations

•

Septic Truck Services

•

Licensed Gas Fitting

•

Duct Cleaning

•

24 hr Emergency Service

•

Backhoe & Skidsteer Services

• Residential & Commercial • HVAC Installations • Licensed Gas Fitting • 24 hr Emergency Service • Repair & Maintenance • Septic Truck Services • Duct Cleaning • Backhoe & Skidsteer Services

Hamiota, MB 764-2451 Autopac accredited repair shop Aftermarket parts & accessories Glass replacement & Towing hiwaycollision1984@gmail.com

Frame and Stud Fra Post Farm Buildings me

Professional Painting & Decorating

Jeannie Bos

204-573-1150 Rapid City, MB jeanniesinteriors@hotmail.com

Johan’s Construction Ltd. 204-745-7628 cell Rivers MB,

“Building for all your farm needs!”

Hunt, Miller & Co. LLP

Jack Cram, Lawyer Phone 204-727-8491 or 204-328-7540 (Thursdays, 2-5 p.m.) for appointments.

WWW.KROEGERBACKHOE.CA EXCAVATION-HEATMASTER OUTDOOR WOOD BOILERSPLUMBING & HEATING 204-761-8765

Way-Mor Agencies Ltd. Ph. 204-724-6870 Fax 204-328-4407 alepp@redlinetransport.ca Dry bulk transportation

Insurance, Travel, Investments, Real Estate

Phone 204-328-7540 204-566-2490

• Residential & Commercial • Farm Wiring & Trenching

Brandon - Rivers

204-761-2192

March 19, 2021 Rivers Banner 7

RIVERS

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS Obituary

PLACE YOUR AD BY:

PHONE: 204-328-7494 FAX: 204-328-5212 E-MAIL: info@riversbanner.com

DEADLINE: TUESDAY AT NOON Minimum charge: $5+GST Extra insertions: 1/2 original price

Help Wanted

Manitoba Commmunity Newspaper Association Province Wide Classifieds

DOUGLAS CHESSMAN CHESSMAN: Douglas John Chessman passed away peacefully with his wife and sister by his side at the Riverdale Health Centre on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at the age of 85 years. Doug will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Marion. In keeping with Doug’s wishes cremation has taken place and his family will cherish his memory privately. Arrangements are in care of Brockie Donovan Funeral & Cremation Services, Brandon, MB, (204) 7270694. Messages of condolence may be placed at www. brockiedonovan.com.

Health

For Sale

HIP/KNEE Replacement?

BATTERIES FOR EVERYTHING!

Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING?

50, 000 BATTERIES IN STOCK

The Disability Tax Credit allows for $2,500 yearly tax credit and up to $50,000 Lump sum refund.

Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide!

Providing assistance during Covid.

Expert Help:

204-453-5372

For Sale

*Auto *Farm *Marine *Construction *ATV *Motorcycle *Golf Carts *Rechargeables *Tools *Phones *Computers *Solar Systems & design * Everything Else!

FOODS Meat Cutters/Production Personnel Our people, perseverance, integrity, and exceptional partnerships have led HyLife to becoming Canada’s leading pork producer and global exporter of high quality pork products. The growing demand for our pork in Japan and China means we need exceptional people to help deliver our company vision. We have expanded our Neepawa facility to increase our overall production by 15% and in turn created new jobs throughout the company.

As a Meat Cutter/Production Personnel you will be a critical member of our team in the creation of our world class product. Our positions range from working on our slaughter production floor to shipping the final packaged product, with everything in between! With our wide variety of jobs, excellent people, and our drive for innovation you will certainly find a job that suits you!

Responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to: • Slaughter and eviscerate hogs for further processing • Harvest and package edible offal • Process pork carcasses into primal cuts • Butcher and package pork primal cuts into value added specifications for local, national and international premium markets • Carry out other tasks related to processing of meat for shipping to customers or storage • Sanitation

THE BATTERY MAN People who will succeed as members of our team will: 1390 St. James St., • Enjoy working in a fast paced, stable long term work environment WPG • Appreciate working in a culturally diverse workplace. We employ 1-877-775-8271 people from all over the world! www.batteryman.ca • Treat people with dignity and respect

Announcement

• Open to working in colder/warmer environments • Physically Fit • Experience as an industrial butcher or trimmer is an asset

Current starting wage is $15.15/hour plus $1.00 per hour perfect attendance incentive!

Wage scale extends to $22.10 per hour

Manitoba UP TO $1500made!

TRADE TopYOUR quality FOR OLD kitchen cabinets CUPBOARDS, TOWARDS YOUR - Custom, Stock & NEW DÉCOR Surplus KITCHEN - Free 3D design

EXPIRES: 2, 2021 - PromptAPR. service - Professional PROMPT SERVICE installation available

& FREE DESIGN USUALLY WITHIN Serving Manitoba 24 HRS province-wide for 25 years!

Ph: (204) 746-2223

office@fehrscabinets.com

FEHRSCABINETS.COM

1-800-758-6924

office@fehrscabinets.com

Trucks, Trailers, Truckbeds & Tires

• Full Repair & Safeties • Vehicle Parts, Tires & Wheels • Trailer Parts & Batteries • Sales, Financing, Leasing & Rentals EBY Aluminum: • Gooseneck and Bumper Pull Cattle & Equipment Trailers • Truck & Service Bodies • Generation Grain Trailers

KALDECK TRUCK & TRAILER INC.

Hwy #1, MacGregor, MB

1-888-685-3127

www.kaldecktrailers.com

Power Builder Advertising

WORKS!

• GET SEEN by over 340,000 Manitoba Homes!

• Use your LOGO! • Create instant top of mind awareness • Showcase your info, business, product, job, announcements or event • We format it, to make it look great!

• Starting at $339.00 (includes 45 lines of space) • The ads blanket the province and run in MCNA’s 37 Manitoba community newspapers • Very cost effective means of getting your message out to the widest possible audience Contact this newspaper NOW or MCNA at 204.947.1691 or email classified@mcna.com www.mcna.com

We believe that our success is founded on the strength of our team.

As such, we place a great deal of emphasis on attracting, developing and retaining good people, and consider every one of our employees to be a highly-valued member of the HyLife family. To that end, we are committed to providing a working environment that not only fosters personal growth, but also recognizes our employees’ contributions towards the common goal of our company’s success because of this HyLife has been recognized as a Platinum Member of Canada’s Best-Managed Companies.

If you have the qualifications and the passion to meet this challenge then we would like to explore your potential.

Please apply online at http://hylife.com/current-opportunities/ or email to jobs@hylife.com or mail to PO Box 10,000, 623 Main St E, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0.

We thank all applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Year Round Manager Required

Bookkeeping, balancing tills and payroll a necessity

Chef Helper

Help with food prep and menu ideas Living quarters available.

Send resume to admin@

narrowssunsetlodge. com or call Irv at

204-981-2831

Auctions McSherry Auctions 12 Patterson Dr. , Stonewall, MB

Online Timed Auctions @ iCollector.com Estate & Moving

Closes Wed Mar 31 @ 7:00 pm

Consignments Welcome!

Booking 2021 Auctions/ Online Auctions at Your Facility or Ours!

(204) 467-1858 or (204) 886-7027

www.mcsherryauction.com

Meyers Gun Auction April 18, 2021 To consign call Brad @ 204-476-6262 www. meyersauctions. com

Mobile/RTM

Office Hours

Mon: 9a.m. - 4p.m.

Tues: 9a.m. - 4p.m.

Wed: Closed Thurs: 10a.m. - 4p.m.

Fri, Sat, Sun, CLOSED

If the office is closed during office hours please call (204)573-0702 529-2nd Avenue, Rivers, MB info@riversbanner.com

Classifieds MUST be PREPAID Visa/Mastercard accepted

The Aurora 1648 SqFt RTM

3 bedrooms, ensuite, huge kitchen, quartz countertops, walk-in pantry, island. James Hardie Siding Huron Tripane Windows.

Pictures available www. wgiesbrechthomes.ca

Brand New Show Home 204-346-3231

NOTICES Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements.

For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.mcna.com.

URGENT PRESS RELEASES - Have something to announce? A cancellation?

A change in operations?

Though we cannot guarantee publication, MCNA will get the information into the right hands for ONLY $35.00 + GST/HST. Call MCNA (204) 947-1691 for more information, or email classified@mcna.com for

details. www.mcna.com.

FOR SALE HAVING AN ONLINE CONFERENCE OR VIRTUAL EVENT? Advertise it in the 37 MB Weekly newspapers and get noticed! Each week our blanket classifieds could be helping your organization get noticed in over 340,000 homes! It’s AFFORDABLE and it’s a great way to increase and connect with our 37 weekly member newspapers. For as little as $189.00 + GST, get your important messaging out! Call this newspaper NOW to book or email classified@mcna. com for details. MCNA - Manitoba Community Newspapers Association (204) 947-1691. www. mcna.com “JUST A CLOSER WALK” Bluegrass Gospel Songs

by KEN OLSON. $25.00 per CD: DONNA KOLOCHUK, 305-375 Whitmore Ave. East, Dauphin, Mani-

toba, R7N 1E8 FEED AND SEED FORAGE SEED FOR SALE: Organic & conventional: Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Red Clover, Smooth Brome, Meadow Brome, Crested Wheatgrass, Timothy, etc. Star City, SK. Birch Rose Acres Ltd. 306-921-9942.

LAND FOR SALE / PROPERTY FOR SALE Lakefront Lot – Lake Manitoba. Sand Beach, ready to build on. Only one lot left. Auction April 16. Go to beckvillebeach.com or mcdougallbay.com AUCTIONS WARD'S & BUD HAYNES FIREARMS AUCTION, Saturday, April 24th, Edmonton, AB. Online Bidding, Live Preview April 23rd. WardsAuctions.com.

Consign Now. Brad Ward 780-940-8378.

Spruce Plains RCMP Report M a r. 12: RC M P r e sponded to a disturbance at a residence in Gladstone. After discussion with the complainant, solutions were provided and no further police action was required. Police received a report of mischief in Clanwilliam. Police spoke with the complainant who was looking for advice and did not wish to proceed with charges.

Mar. 13: RCMP received a report of a single vehicle rollover in the RM of Rosedale. Neither the driver or passenger were injured and the vehicle was towed. Wet and muddy roads were to blame. Police responded to a report of a possible impaired driver in the RM of Rosedale. Patrols were made but the suspect vehicle was not located.

M a r. 14 : RC M P r e sponded to a report of a domestic assault taking place in Glenella. Police attended, spoke with all involved parties where there was no disclosure of an assault, no injuries and no concern for safety.

Police received a report of a court order being disobeyed in Minnedosa; the matter is still under investigation.

RCM P conducted nine traffic enforcement actions during this reporting period.

Public service announcement If you have any information about these crimes or any other cr imes, please contact your local RCMP Office or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Due to t he on-goi ng COVID-19 Pandemic, the Neepawa and Minnedosa RCMP detachments advise they will be limiting front counter services at the det a c h ment s u nt i l f u r t her notice.

We request that you contact each detachment at 204-476-7340 (Neepawa) or 204-867-2916 (Minnedosa) to inquire about criminal record checks or to f ile a report. Leave a message if needed and it will be checked the following business day.

Do not leave a message if you require immediate police assistance. You must dial 204 - 476 -7338 ( Neepawa), 204-867-2751 (Minnedosa) or 911 to have a police officer respond to you promptly.

8 Rivers Banner March 19, 2021