SMP - April 18, 2025

South Mountain P re s s

FRESH AIR

DARRELL NESBITT/SOUTH MOUNTAIN PRESS

The sunshine and 15°C temperatures had citizens from Erickson and neighbouring communities welcoming the opportunity to pull on a pair of comfortable shoes and venture out for some fresh air on Friday, April 11, with or without a pet in hand. Even though the skies have been overcast over the past week, it’s amazing how much snow has melted, creating encouragement to crack open the books, purchase the seed, and plan projects... as bird chirping weather is here.

A look at the five candidates vying for votes in the 45th federal election to be held on Monday, Apr il 28

As Canadians prepare to vote in the snap election for the 45th federal election on April 28, voters in the Riding Mountain riding (formerly Dauphin – Swan River –Neepawa) will choose from five candidates, each representing a distinct party.

In the previous federal election, Dan Mazier of the Conservative Party secured a resounding victory, obtaining 59.1% of the votes, while the NDP trailed with 14.7%, followed closely by the Liberals at 12.4%. This year, Mazier is competing for re-election as the incumbent Member of Parliament. With crucial topics like cost of living, immigration, tariffs, housing, and

Canada’s sovereignty at the forefront, the stakes are high in this region. Let’s take a closer look at the candidates who are looking to gain your vote in Riding Mountain.

DAN MAZIER

Conservative Party ofCanada

Dan Mazier was first elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Dauphin – Swan River –

Neepawa in 2019 and re-elected in 2021. He served as the Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Economic Development & Connectivity prior to the election. Before entering politics, Mazier was the President of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Manitoba’s largest farm organization. Dan is a graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Agriculture Diploma pro-

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gram and was honoured by the faculty with a certificate of merit for his contributions in the agriculture industry. Dan holds a power engineer certification and has worked in the fertilizer industry for 17 years. He lives in the constituency, on his family farm near Justice.

RACHEAL FLINTOFT

South Mountain Press

A n urgent plea

Community rallies to support Erickson Food Bank through fundraising, song

DONALD BERGER

South Mountain Press

The Erickson & Area Food Bank, an essential support system for an increasing number of local residents grappling with food insecurity, is facing a serious financial crisis. In light of this urgent challenge, the organization is reaching out to the community for assistance, urging everyone to come together and lend their support during this critical time.

Despite the challenges and turbulent times, a wave of grassroots support is growing through recent and upcoming fundraising events to keep this essential service alive.

In early March, the Food Bank issued a heartfelt public message warning of an imminent funding shortfall that could force them to shut their doors by the end of the month.

“We are doing everything in our power to secure the necessary funds to continue our mission,” wrote the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. “But we want to be transparent with you about our challenges.”

The plea did not go unheard.

In February, supporters laced up for the Winter Dice Derby, a creative walking

fundraiser that saw participants roll dice at designated checkpoints along a 2 kilometre loop through Erickson. Roll the dice at each checkpoint; the highest scorers split a portion of the proceeds into both regular and silent walking categories, while all walkers were treated to two warm beverages, snacks, and community spirit. The event began at 46 Main Street and was designed as both a fundraiser and a reminder of the power of small-town generosity.

Regular walkers paid $20 to participate, enjoying a hearty bowl of chili and a bun along the route, while silent walkers paid $10.

Next up is a soul-stirring Benefit Concert at Good Street Hall on April 19, featuring musical guests Amy & Ed performing “Songs That Make You Feel.” The evening begins with a community potluck at 6:00 p.m., followed by the concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, and guests are encouraged to bring food donations.

As the Erickson Food Bank continues its vital work under growing financial pressure, these events provide more than just funding – they symbolize the compassion and resilience of a community determined not to let anyone go hungry.

Province invests in Highways 10, 16 near Minnedosa

The Manitoba government has announced an investment of $20.3 million to reconstruct provincial trunk highways (PTH) 10 and 16 near Minnedosa.

“Road investments are vital to support rural and northern Manitoba’s economy and these upgrades will support Minnedosa’s economy as the community continues to grow,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor. “These repaved highways will allow residents to grow their businesses as they welcome more visitors and create infrastructure that can support future economic growth.”

A key commerce route in southwest Manitoba, PTH 10 will receive new bituminous pavement between PTH 1 and PTH 25 and between the south junction of PTH 16 and the north junction of PTH 16. There will also be new bituminous pavement for Minnedosa’s rest stop at the north

PROJECT HALTED

DARRELL NESBITT/SOUTH MOUNTAIN PRESS

With all bids solicited by the Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson to complete the expansion of the Erickson Campground coming in at higher cost than feasible for the campground itself to pay, council opted to decline all bids and postpone the project until such time funds are secured. Adventures in nature via camping help strengthen family bonds, create memorable moments, and accepting what the community has to offer in terms of recreation.

junction of PTH 16. These projects will renew approximately 22.1 kilometres of highway, with work anticipated to begin in spring 2025, noted the minister. Surface improvements are also planned on PTH 10 between PTH 24 and the south junction of PTH 16, and on PTH 16 from PR 250 to PTH 10.

“Safety is a priority for our government,” said Naylor. “These new road investments will allow a smoother and safer journey for residents, and a repaved rest stop will ensure motorists can safely take breaks, so every person is able to get to their destination safely.”

This work in the Minnedosa area supportsManitoba’s Multi-year Infrastructure Investment Strategy, which outlines planned strategic investments in roads, highways, bridges, airports, and flood protection over the next five years in Manitoba, noted the minister.

Q

– What do you see as the three key issues in this federal election?

A – Tariffs. Trump’s unjustified tariffs show we need to put Canada First— for a change. We need to become less dependent on the U.S. Between 2015 and 2020, the Liberals killed $176 billion of known projects, that would have boosted our economic independence from the Americans.

That’s why Conservatives will build a Canada First National Energy Corridor to transport energy and critical resources efficiently across provinces to reduce interprovincial barriers, strengthen national unity, and increase global competitiveness. We’ll eliminate capital gains taxes on earnings reinvested in Canada, allowing farms, small businesses, and local companies to grow without being punished. And we’ll create a “one-and-done” approval system to replace endless red tape with clear timelines and decisions so major projects can move forward quickly.

Growing the Economy. Canada’s economy has been stagnant for the last 10 years. We need to create jobs and bigger paycheques for our people. Conservatives will cut income taxes by 15% for the average Canadian; launch a Canada First TFSA Top-Up to help Canadians invest in their communities; and cut federal red tape by 25% while requiring two regulations removed for every new one added. Time for Change. Canadians must decide if they want four more years of the same by rewarding the Liberals with a fourth consecutive term. Over the last decade violent crime is up 50%, housing prices have doubled, and taxes keep rising. There has been zero representation of rural Canada from the current government in Ottawa. Canadians are ready for change.

Q

– What do you see as the top three priorities in your riding?

A – Affordability – Families are stretched thin, seniors on fixed incomes are struggling, and small businesses are at risk of insolvency. Liberal tax hikes and inflationary spending have driven up the cost of everything. Conservatives will cut income taxes by 15% for the average Canadian, remove the federal sales tax on new homes, and raise the tax-free income amount for seniors to $34,000. It’s time to make work pay again and cut taxes.

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CANADA V TES

Rural crime – People are scared in their own homes.

We’re seeing security footage of brazen, armed robberies that were once unthinkable in our rural communities. This is the direct result of Liberal catch-and-release laws.

A Conservative government will reverse the Liberals’ cycle of catch-andrelease laws that let dangerous offenders back onto our streets. We will introduce “Three Strikes and You’re Out” legislation, ensuring criminals convicted of three serious violent offences face at least 10 years behind bars and are designated as dangerous offenders, removing the possibility of bail, house arrest, or early parole.

Furthermore, Conservatives will impose life sentences on the most dangerous criminals, including fentanyl traffickers, gun smugglers, and human traffickers.

We’ll also put an end to the Liberal experiment of legalizing hard drugs, instead focusing our resources on proven treatment and recovery programs.

Unleashing our Rural Economy – We must unleash our rural economy by supporting our agriculture, energy, and resource industries. That starts with repealing restrictive anti- development laws that block job-creating projects.

Conservatives will build a Canada First National Energy Corridor to efficiently move energy and resources across the country, boosting local economies and reducing reliance on foreign markets. We’ll eliminate capital gains taxes on reinvested earnings, making it easier for farmers, ranchers, and small businesses to grow. A “one-and-done” project approval system will replace years of red tape with clear, efficient timelines.

We’ll also cut 25% of federal red tape and require two outdated regulations be repealed for every new one added. And to support our skilled trades, Conservatives will ensure workers can fully deduct the cost of

travel and temporary relocation to put more money in their pockets and filling labour gaps across rural Canada. We will expand exports by unleashing the potential of the Port of Churchill in Manitoba. These policies will bring investment, jobs, and bigger paycheques to our communities.

Q – What personal qualities do you have that would make you an effective representative of your riding?

A – As a lifelong farmer and former President of Keystone Agricultural Producers, I understand the challenges rural families face because I’ve lived them.

For the past six years as your MP, I’ve delivered real results, both nationally and locally. That includes passing a law to hold internet companies accountable for misleading service claims, bringing passport clinics directly to our communities, and consistently delivering support where it’s needed most.

As the shadow minister for Rural Economic Development & Connectivity and Vice-Chair of Parliament’s Environment Committee, I’ve held the Liberals accountable for their policies that have disproportionately harmed rural Canada like their gas vehicle ban and fertilizer restriction policy.

I’m also knocking on thousands of doors to meet voters face-to-face, listen to their concerns, and earn their trust during this campaign. I believe if you’re going to ask for people’s vote, you need to show up and put in the work.

Q – What focus do you have for your campaign?

A – My campaign is focused on fighting for rural Canada because for too long, rural communities have been neglected, and even punished, by Ottawa.

I will be a voice in Parliament for the hardworking families, farmers, ranchers, and small business owners who keep our country going.

Conservatives will scrap the industrial carbon tax on Canadian-made essentials

like fuel, food, forestry, and potash to deliver lower prices and higher paycheques in rural communities.

We’ll repeal harmful Liberal policies that unfairly target rural life, including firearm bans that criminalize law-abiding hunters, farmers, ranchers, and sport shooters.

Conservatives will also strengthen Canadian sovereignty by establishing the first permanent Arctic base since the Cold War and make the investments needed to rebuild our armed forces, which will support our rural communities. This is in addition to expanding the Cadet Corps and the Junior Rangers to bring together our youth from across the country to learn, under the mentorship of members of the armed forces.

I’m running to defend the rural way of life, support the industries that drive our region, and make sure rural communities are represented in Parliament.

LIZ CLAYTON

Green Party ofCanada

My partner Henri and I have been living on the edge of the Agassiz escarpment for almost 20 years, on 32 acres of wildland, with some pretty big vegetable, herb and permaculture gardens and a few free ranging chickens. We built a low-energy northern greenhouse on the south side of our house 15 years ago, where we grow, eat, share, and sell fresh greens all winter long.

I’m a believer in life-long learning – it took me 30 years to complete a B.A. (English and Canadian Studies) from U of W. I’m currently an Educational Assistant for Prairie Spirit School Division, which is a great place to connect with all ages in our community. In the past, I’ve done a million survival jobs to support my little family as a single parent – working in the local general store, the highway diner, owning a food truck, direct sales, surveys, and freelance writer. I also worked nearly 20 years in

corporate radio, but my most formative experiences were launching and managing the campus and community radio station at U of M and administering a regional arts council – the Tiger Hills Arts Association.

Q – What do you see as the three key issues in this federal election?

A – The Economy, Canadian Sovereignty and Clean Energy.

People are really struggling right now. Our social safety net is stretched waferthin, and that was even before Trump’s costly tariffshenanigans and his regime’s threats of annexation. Our tax system hasn’t had a major overhaul since the 1960s, and today, we have ultrawealthy global corporations that are not paying their fair share. We need fair taxation to address income inequalityand take the tax burden off those who make less than $40,000 a year. We also plan to invest in truly affordable housing by basing the cost to 30% of household income and not on the inflated housing market. There is clearly a global economic reset underway, and unfortunately, many green initiatives have been thrown off the bus. Instead of digging deeper into fossil fuels, we see this time as an opportunity to strengthen the economy by doubling down on clean energy projects and protecting Canadiansovereignty withmade-in-Canada solutions. We should be scooping up scientists and researchers and becoming a world innovator in renewables. We would establish a Federal Strategic Reserve of key resources for building everything from housing to infrastructure. We would build a national East-West clean energy power grid, rather than a pipeline to the east. As Elizabeth May said, recently (and she does her homework), there are no refineries in Canada to process what we would be pumping through that pipeline, so... it would still be loaded on ships destined for Texas, like always. We CAN grow a

healthy, clean economy AND move away from fossil fuels. It’s not an either/or situation. You can read our full response, Protecting Canada, atgreenparty.ca.

Q

– What do you see as the top three priorities in your riding?

A – A Voice for the Prairies, affordability, and healthy communities.In our current “winner takes all” electoral system, only the winners get a voice, which has led a lot of people to question whether we actually do live in a democracy,especially in the Prairies the last few years. With just a few simple changes, we can have Proportional Representation and give everyone a voice. People are also concerned with the rural economy and shrinking opportunities for themselves and their children. They don’t know how they are going to survive the inflation and the uncertainty of the future. They’re concerned with finding affordable housing. They’re concerned about the bush and landmarks being pushed, forests logged, and lakes contaminated with invasive species. As people struggle to find affordable housing in our rural riding, I argue that we should have adaptable codes that allow people to decide what they want to live in, and rezone marginal lands to allow homesteading, and grow our struggling rural communities. As for human health, we have a plan for underserved and rural areas, pledging stable funding for indigenous-led health services, mobile health clinics, and expanded telemedicine.

Q – What personal qualities do you have that would make you an effective representative of your riding?

A – The role of a politician is to serve their constituents, not to further their own interests, or to be a parrot for their party. As a Green Party candidate, I am empowered to put the issues of my riding first. I bring to the table the ability to listen respectfully and mediation skills from my years in the volunteer sector and the education system. I believe in an inclusive world, where everyone should be free to be themselves, while respecting the rights of others. Riding Mountain is a gem of a place on this planet. I would be honoured to represent you in Ottawa, or, at the very least, work to network our little islands of green in this deep blue sea.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Dan Mazier

Liz Clayton Terry Hayward

Jim Oliver

April 18, 2025

Letters to the editor:

smpnews@mymts.net

OPIN ION

Growing up in a small town not all that bad

We all make our own choices in life each traveling different paths, many of us now living kilometers apart, and facing our own struggles. However, no matter the year, graduates of the Shoal Lake School or for that matter any small town school, are tied together by the community they were raised in.

It use to be that visitors would briefly see their classmates with a visit home, walking down a sidewalk or within a restaurant or other business establishment. Today, the number of classmates returning to the town they graduated from seems to be less and less with each passing year. Sure, classmate visits may still occur, however the decline of business fronts, means less friendly hello’s. Sometimes seeing parents of classmates back in the day was just as great of

Darrell Nesbitt

AROUND TOWN

an experience. Some are fortunate to still live in our small town and their children get to share in our little community. Growing up in Shoal Lake it felt like a family, bonded by nothing more than a community created by normal people who wanted their children to grow and thrive surrounded

by love. Today, it’s felt something is missing from that outlook.

The most important thing in a community is “Sense of Community’. A sense of community is an intangible component of a healthy community. It encompasses elements such as image, spirit, character and pride, along with processes such as communication, inter-group relations, and networking.

What builds a community? Community building is all about bringing people together and creating a sense of belonging. This can be done in various ways, but the most common methods include organizing events, initiating joint projects, networking, and supporting each other. What makes a community stronger? A focus on respecting one another, taking the time to learn and grow, sus-

tainability, promoting fun events and keeping in touch with fellow members are just some of the key ingredients that allow a community to flourish. In a community like this, the possibilities are endless.

For the past two years, I (as a board member) have strived to re-invent the magic of an ice carnival that once packed the arena with parents, grandparents, relatives and friends of youth taking part on a Sunday afternoon, but thus far to no avail. I keep my fingers crossed, as it’s felt an ice carnival would be an unique fundraiser to assist in the operation of one of the most substantial facilities in any town. I’m jealous to read and see pictures of such an event in area weeklies, but congratulate the clubs and skaters for their drive and determination to

excel at their sport.

True, my hometown of Shoal Lake doesn’t have a figure skating club, but it does have a skating club, featuring children with eyes gleaming of one day either becoming a stellar hockey player or a CanSkate skater doing twists, turns and awe-inspiring jumps.

By showing our children how rewarding it is to be involved with others and gain a sense of belonging, is a move that builds relationships that are meaningful and beneficial. I’m committed to seeing youth of today raised with the same sense of community that was instilled in myself, starting in 1968.

For me community is more than how it is defined. It is the values that we live by. It’s a sense of family with no biological relation. It is gathering together not only in times of celebration and despair, but in support of each other. Just simply knowing that someone is there for you in a moment of need, whether it be to lend a helping hand or just simply reminding you of how much greatness you have inside you, means so much. The “community” I am talking about was instilled in myself, and my peers, at a very young age. We went to school together, we went to church together, and we were in class and on the field together. Some parents were coaches while others cheered us on from the sideline. Spirit of the small town was wholesome, which has been parted with the decline of the family farm.

Travelling back to a small town – one of importance –has no better feeling!

Dan Mazier will stand up for our rural way of life

The Federal election is in full swing and Canadians will soon be heading to the polling booth. Riding Mountain (formerly Dauphin – Swan River – Neepawa) which stretches from Mafeking to Treherne, deserves a champion in the House of Commons that will stand up for our rural way of life. That champion is Conservative candidate Dan Mazier.

In a time when rural voices often feel drowned out by Ottawa politics, Dan has consistently stood up for our region, delivered results, and fought tirelessly for the people who call rural Manitoba

Letter

home.

Dan understands our communities because he’s one of us. A former president of Keystone Agricultural Producers and a lifelong farmer, he knows firsthand the challenges that producers, families, and small businesses face every day. Since being elected to Parliament, he’s brought that knowledge to Ottawa –and turned it into action.

As the Shadow Minister for Rural Economic Development, Dan pushed for greater

investment in rural infrastructure, including something critical for modern life: high-speed internet access. His Private Member’s Bill C299 addressed misleading advertising from internet providers, fighting to ensure that rural Canadians receive the reliable services they pay for. His work doesn’t stop in the House of Commons. Dan is deeply engaged in our region, bringing services such as passport clinics to every corner of the riding. Whether it’s supporting grain producers, speaking out on out-ofcontrol crime, or defending

V oters should notice who is showing up

As this election unfolds, voters in our riding should take a close look at who’s actually showing up – and who’s not.

Voters should find it very concerning that the so-called “local” Liberal candidate running in our riding doesn’t even live here. According to his own words, he “currently lives east of Winnipeg”. That’s not just outside of the riding; that’s a different part of the province altogether. How can someone who doesn’t live here claim to represent us?

Meanwhile, Conservative candidate Dan Mazier has been everywhere, meeting people face to face, attending events and listening to what matters most to voters. He’s putting in the time and effort to earn our trust and our vote. And honestly, when was

Letter

the last time you saw any other candidate in your community besides Dan?

It says a lot when someone just adds their name to the ballot and disappears. If they can’t be bothered to show up during a election, just imagine how little they would do if they were elected. At the end of the day, we

don’t vote for a Prime Minister, we vote for a local Member of Parliament. Our region deserves real representation from someone who understands us and is willing to show up.

Dan Mazier is doing exactly that.

Leslie Toovey Strathclair, MB

the rights of hunters and responsible firearms owners, he’s proven that he listens, learns, and leads with integrity.

More than anything, Dan Mazier brings stability, experience, and dedication. He is not chasing headlines – he’s delivering results. In a time when so many Canadians are

struggling under the pressures of inflation, high taxes, and government overreach, we need steady, grounded leadership. Dan brings that to the table, and it’s why he remains one of the most respected members of the Conservative team in Parliament.

Riding Mountain deserves a local representative who doesn’t

I urge my fellow constituents to support his reelection so he can continue being the strong voice rural Manitoba needs in Ottawa. Levi Cottingham Birtle, MB

Politicians should hear all voices

Conservative MP Dan Mazier blocked me from his Facebook page a few months ago for expressing views he didn’t like. Apparently, hearing from constituents with different opinions is just too much for him.

CaraZwibel, director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, has noted that online platforms have become today’s public squares. “Blocking a constituent sends a clear

Letter

message to those who wish to engage with them on matters of policy or otherwise: tread lightly. This kind of chill is terrible for our democracy. It says ‘agree with me or I will silence you.’” I live in Brandon but own property in Sandy Lake. I am a constituent. If Mazier only wants to hear from fans, is he planning to represent everyone – or

just Conservatives?

A politician who can’t handle opposing views isn’t strong enough to lead. Mazier’s decision to block me signals that he isn’t interested in dialogue, doesn’t respect the principle of free speech, and is actively shutting out voices he doesn’t want to hear. I would be very cautious about voting for a politician who treats constituents this way.

Jo-Anne Douglas Brandon, MB

just talk about rural Canada – but who lives it, breathes it, and fights for it every single day. That’s Dan Mazier.

Q

– What focus do you have for your campaign?

A – My personal passion is wilderness and wildland protection, and my passion has only increased since I moved to the country. In the past 20 years, I’ve seen the depopulation of our communities, as young people leave to seek opportunity elsewhere. I’ve seen the accelerated and widespread clearing of wildlands, as lands are sold to the highest bidder. Instead of neighbours, we end up with absentee landowners who don’t care one bit about healthy lands and healthy communities. We need to give farmers a tax break to keep their marginal lands as wildlands. And deincentivize clearing, by not allowing it as a deduction. Everyone I speak to feels exactly the same way, except the small handful of people doing the pushing or bidding. We think we are powerless. But guess what –we’re not powerless! Policies are not immutable – they can be changed if there is a public will to do so. It’s time to push back.

TERRY HAYWARD

LiberalParty ofCanada

Born and raised in Brandon, Terry has a lifetime of experience serving the people of Manitoba and Canada. A graduate in Agricultural Science from the University of Manitoba, Terry worked over three decades with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at various locations across Canada. In addition, Terry was a diplomat and trade commissioner in Washington, D.C., and Wellington, New Zealand, promoting and representing Canadian interests, products, and services.

In his service to Canadian Agriculture, Terry was Executive Director with the National Grains Bureau, the federal Rural Secretariat and prior to his retirement, he was Executive Director with the National Farm Products Council.

In retirement, Terry’s focus has been his family and community volunteerism and engagement. He is proud to be your Liberal candidate in Riding Mountain and is looking forward to bringing your voice to Ottawa.

Q

– What do you see as the three key issues in this federal election?

A

– The primary key issue is leadership. This election is about Canadians choosing the best and right Leader to form government who can take us through a crisis imposed on Canada by a once friendly neighbour

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CANADA V TES

and trading partner. That relationship has been broken!

We must deal with this very real situation that is threatening the Canadian economy. Our way of life is at risk.

• The second issue is reenforcing our place in the world as a reliable supplier of quality world class products like Canadian pork, beef, grains and oilseeds, wood, and lumber products. We will be tested on our ability diversify our markets, increase our ability to process and manufacture goods in Canada, replace imported U.S. food products and manufactured goods with Canadian products. We need to champion rulesbased trade agreements working with other governments for the benefit of all.

• Thirdly, with all the economic mayhem that has been created, we need a continued focus on the people of Canada. Supports for businesses, workers, families, youth, and seniors are critical. Canadians’ personal safety and security and wellbeing must be and will be top of mind for the Canadian Liberal government.

Q

– What do you see as the top three priorities in your riding?

A

– My top priority matches a consistent theme that voters are raising with me. This is the economy, an economy under threat by a foreign power. A power that was a friend and partner who has decided to break agreements, treaties and threaten the sovereignty of our nation, something last seen by the people of what is now Canada, when they fought a war with the U.S. in 1812.

• Leadership – Voters are asking for a strong show of leadership by our government to stand up to the United States President and his Administration as unfair tariffs are imposed and threaten Canada with annexation. My priority is to do everything possible to have Prime Minister Carney continue at the helm of our nation showing his leadership in managing this crisis, defending our rights, our way of living and our economy.

• People – My priority here is to ensure we have a government willing to invest in and protect its citizens. Be it through supports for businesses or social programs for every citizen, it will be done in a fiscally responsible way. I also want to see Prime Minister Carney’s plan implemented to fight

crime, protect Canadians, and build safer communities.

Q – What personal qualities do you have that would make you an effective representative of your riding?

A – Loyalty – I believe in loyalty to myself, my family, and my community.

• Conscientiousness – I am conscientious of the responsibilities I take on and work tirelessly to do the job demanded of me to the best of my ability. I will be accountable for my actions.

•Enthusiasm – In everything I undertake, I do it with a true sense of enthusiasm and optimism, be it as the Manager of the Manitoba Men’s Soccer Team for the Canada Games, as a grandfather supporting and encouraging my grandchildren or as a Liberal Candidate in this election. You can expect the same with me as your Member of Parliament.

Q – What focus do you have for your campaign?

A – With such a short campaign, my focus has been to get to as many towns and villages as possible to meet people and listen to their ideas and concerns. I am meeting people on their home ground, hearing from them their top-of-mind issues. Listening to the solutions they propose for me to take to Ottawa as their Member of Parliament.

This is a campaign of commitment from me to the people of Riding Mountain. As your Member of Parliament, I commit to listening to your concerns and needs, identifying what can be done and undertake action to address and find solutions the issues.

JIM OLIVER

People’s Party ofCanada (PPC)

Born in Manitoba, I have spent my entire life in the province, now residing on a 160-acre homestead on the eastern edge of Riding Mountain National Park. My primary focus is on raising my family and managing my farm, where my wife and I raise livestock, including cattle, poultry, and swine. As well, we cultivate a large vegetable garden with the help of our three young sons.

My professional back ground includes more than 20 years in the automotive parts industry, including 12 years of operating my own specialty automotive parts store, which I started in 2004. Having lived in rural Manitoba for most of my life, early in 2021 my family and I moved to Riding Mountain in pursuit of a quieter, selfsufficient lifestyle where we

are connected to both the land and the community.

Family values, honesty, and hard work sum up my motivating principles in life and in my work with the PPC.

Q

– What do you see as the three key issues in this federal election?

A

– The three main issues in the 2025 election appear to be U.S. tariffs, immigration, and carbon tax, with the looming American trade-war at the forefront of Canadian’s minds. Our Leader, Maxime Bernier, has been very vocal on the issue of Immigration since the inception of the party in 2018. The escalating carbon tax and other UN climate initiatives have also been of primary importance to the PPC, as these policies negatively impact the economy, driving inflation while offering no practical benefit to Canadians. Both big legacy parties have now addressed

these topics because public opinion has demanded it, however the PPC was speaking about their importance long before they were trendy.

As for tariffs, the U.S. is far too big for Canada to effectively trade blows like the Liberals and Conservatives are intending. We need rational and peaceful solutions that address the problems that exist between Canada and the United States, our oldest and strongest ally.

Q

– What do you see as the top three priorities in your riding?

A

– One of the most important issues in Riding Mountain revolves around our key industry, which is agriculture. Environmental alarmism effects every aspect of our lives, especially farming. Carbon taxes may have been scrapped for the consumer, but Canadian industries including farming are still subject to this suffocat-

ing tax. Both Conservatives and Liberals are committed to the UN and Paris climate accord which will mean more of these so-called “proenvironment” policies when the election is over. Also, firearms restrictions are of key importance as law-abiding farmers and hunters feel persecuted for ownership and use of guns that have been illogically outlawed.

And in speaking with families in the area, there is a great concern about what our children are being exposed to in school, specifically radical gender ideology, which has insidiously crept into the classroom, starting as early as kindergarten. Many families and whole communities have opted to remove their children from public school as a result of this harmful agenda.

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SNOW MUCH FUN

The

slopes of Minnedosa’s Ski Valley saw plenty of smiles, snow, and success for its first season un der new owners

DONALD BERGER

South Mountain Press

As the snow melts and another Manitoba winter winds down, Ski Valley’s new owners, Jay and Elin Klym, are taking a well-deserved moment to reflect on their first season at the helm of Minnedosa’s favourite ski hill.

Their verdict? It was a fabulous winter filled with new faces, community connections, and plenty of fresh tracks.

“We had an incredible first season,” Elin says. “Our biggest highlight was our customers. We loved meeting new people from all over the world who came out to try the slopes and seeing our local community enjoy winter at Ski Valley.”

The Klyms took ownership of Ski Valley ahead of the 2024–25 season and hit the ground running. Their goal was clear: make skiing and snowboarding accessible, fun, and family-friendly. That vi-

sion resonated with visitors, some travelling from as far away as Brazil, England, and Australia, eager to experience the invigorating landscape and friendly atmosphere.

Locals and out-of-town guests alike praised the improvements and fresh energy on the hill.

“We had a lot of positive feedback,” says Jay. “Hearing how much people enjoyed themselves made all the hard work worthwhile. We plan to keep building on that energy and adding programs and features so skiers and snowboarders are excited to keep coming back.”

Naturally, every ski season brings its challenges.

“The weather early in the season worked in our favour, and we were able to open in mid-December, which allowed families to enjoy the hill over the Christmas break,” Jay explains.

But like every Manitoba winter, cold snaps arrived.

The Klyms responded quickly, rescheduling school groups and visitors for milder March days, ensuring smiles all around.

BUILDING A NEW EXPERIENCE

This season saw the introduction of fresh programs and events that added to Ski Valley’s appeal. A multi-week recreational ski program for kids – the first of its kind at the hill – was a huge success.

The Klyms also hosted a Level 1 CSIA instructor course, expanding the roster of local instructors and making it easier for beginners to learn.

Ski Valley’s new introductory terrain park proved popular with snowboarders and skiers alike, providing a fun, safe space to build skills. And as the season neared its end, the hill came alive with Snowfest, a community celebration featuring prizes, live music, an on-hill scavenger hunt, and plenty of good

cheer.

Families, beginners, and seasoned skiers of all ages carved up the slopes this year.

“Our approachable learning hill outside the chalet was always busy with beginners,” says Elin. “We appreciated the strong local support and were thrilled to welcome so many visitors.”

LOOKING AHEAD

As they look ahead to next winter, Jay and Elin are eager to build on this year’s success. Expanding lesson programs, particularly the Snow Academy multi-week sessions for kids, is a top priority.

“We know how valuable the lesson program is, and we want to continue to grow it,” says Jay.

While details for next season are still being finalized, the Klyms are already planning new features and events for the 2025–26 season. Their long-term vision is clear: to

keep listening to guest feedback and continue improving Ski Valley as a favourite destination for families and friends across Minnedosa and beyond.

For the Klyms, Ski Valley isn’t just a business – it’s a place where community thrives, and lifelong winter memories are made.

“We’re proud of what we accomplished this season,” says Elin. “And we’re already excited about what’s to come. We can’t wait to see everyone back on the slopes next winter.”

The best thing about newspaper advertising is that you can refer back to it again later if you need to. You can even cut it out and carry it with you to the store. What would you do if you heard this on radio or saw it on television. How could you be sure that what you think you heard or saw was correct? Do you have time to check?

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SkiValley’s new owners Jay and Elin Klym hit the slopes with their children Reid and Amy,from left,during their first season at the helm ofthe Minnedosa institution

IT’S PARTY TIME

Winnipeg’s Dirty Catfish Brass Band set to bring their big band heat and funky beat

DONALD BERGER

South Mountain Press

The Minnedosa Community Conference Centre is about to burst with rhythm, soul, and high-energy horns as the next feature in the Expressions Concert Series hits the stage.

The acclaimed Dirty Catfish Brass Band will deliver an unforgettable night of music guaranteed to get the crowd moving on Friday, April 25. As one of Canada’s most sought-after live acts, this Winnipeg-based ensemble promises a night unlike anything Minnedosa has seen – a brass-driven, funk-fueled party packed with irresistible energy and a New Orleansinspired vibe.

The Dirty Catfish Brass Band, formed in 2011, draws inspiration from the vibrant brass bands of New Orleans, fusing that tradition with prairie soul and Canadian flair. Known for their wild, high-octane live performances, Dirty Catfish Brass Band is equally at home on a festival stage, a street corner, or a community event. Their aim? To inspire, create, and instigate – but mostly, to get people dancing.

“We want people on their feet, having a good time,” said Kyle Wedlake, band member and one of Winnipeg’s most respected music educators. “Whether playing to thousands or a small-town crowd, we bring everything we’ve got.”

Dirty Catfish Brass Band is known for its tight, yet reckless sound – a blend of funky grooves, powerful

phrasing, and rhythmic swagger that makes it impossible to sit still. Their music reimagines the streets of Winnipeg as a hotbed of brass-fueled soul. When they hit the stage, the energy is electric. Their live shows burn a lasting impression – the kind of music that makes you feel alive and keeps you smiling and moving.

PRAIRIE POWERHOUSE

The nine-piece group includes some of the most highly trained and versatile musicians in the province. Collectively, they hold an impressive twelve university degrees in music from prestigious institutions such as McGill University, University of Toronto, University of Manitoba, Humber College, and others.

Beyond their academic credentials, Dirty Catfish Brass Band’s members are deeply involved in Winnipeg’s arts community. Many have played, recorded, and collaborated with renowned artists, including Royal Canoe, The Bros. Landreth, Begonia, JP Hoe, Sweet Alibi, and Rayannah. Their positive, joyful approach to music has made them a go-to act for everything from sports games to community fundraisers.

Greg

They’ve performed alongside and opened for international stars such as Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Galactic, Jon Cleary, and Five Alarm Funk. Their highprofile appearances have included performances for the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, CancerCare Manitoba, United Way Winnipeg, and the Manitoba Marathon. Yet, despite their big-stage credentials, they remain committed to sharing their music with smaller communities like Minnedosa.

Dirty Catfish Brass Band has released two recordings that showcase their signature sound:

Brass Riot (2014): Their debut album captures the energy and spirit of their live shows. Featuring original compositions and brass band standards, Brass Riot takes listeners on a rhythmic journey steeped in tradition and bursting with contemporary energy. Big Shiny Brass (2016): Their second release is a six-track EP that puts a playful spin on pop classics. From Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” to hits by The Guess Who and Justin Bieber, Dirty Catfish Brass Band brings their brassy sound to familiar tunes. Their cover of “Shake It Off” has become a fan fa-

vourite, amassing over 600,000 views on YouTube and proving that a horn section can bring new life to modern pop. COMMUNITY & EDUCATION

One of the unique aspects of Dirty Catfish Brass Band is their dedication to music education. Beyond their busy performance schedule, the members of Dirty Catfish Brass Band are passionate about sharing their knowledge and love of music with the next generation. Each year, the band hosts workshops and clinics across Manitoba and beyond, teaching students the art of brass band performance, improvisation, and group playing. This summer, they will offer a New Orleans Brass Band Camp in Winnipeg, open to students aged 1319 with at least one year of playing experience. Running from Aug. 11-15, the camp provides an incredible opportunity for young musicians to learn from some of Canada’s top brass players. Participants will take part in instrumentspecific classes, group improvisation sessions, and mass band performances – all culminating in a final concert at Omand Park in Winnipeg. “It’s about more than just playing notes,” said Wedlake. “It’s about building confi-

dence, learning to collaborate, and finding joy in making music together.”

GET READY TO DANCE!

If you’ve been craving a night of live music that will lift your spirits and get your feet moving, this is the event you’ve been waiting for. No matter what they’re playing, Dirty Catfish Brass Band’s

music is about connection –drawing the audience in and keeping them engaged from the first note to the last. Minnedosa get ready to clap, dance, and celebrate the awesomeness of the Dirty Catfish Brass Band’s explosive sound, infectious energy, and undeniable talent that will make this a night to remember.

A BEACON OF HOPE

Fundraising radiothon held as STARS celebrates its 40th anniversary of providing critical care missions

South Mountain Press

For 40 years, STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service) has been a beacon of hope, delivering critical care to those who need it most –no matter where they are.

Thanks to fundraisers, such as the Critical Care on the Air radiothon presented by BHP – a world-leading resources company – listeners learned about STARS’ mission and how donations impact critical care missions.

More than 50 radio stations across Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan took part on April 1 and 2 with the 12-hour broadcast helping to ensure STARS can continue to save lives.

Over the airwaves, listeners heard powerful stories from Very Important Patients (VIPs), STARS flight crew members, and community allies who have been impacted by STARS firsthand.

Among the VIPs sharing impactful stories on the Critical Care on the Air – STARS website are Paula Johnson, a pharmacy technician at the Black Diamond Hospital in Fort MacLeod, AB, who was thrown from a horse, knocking her unconscious with potential head and spinal injuries, making her situation critical; Tyler Lister, a young man battling pneumonia and ending up in the ICU for 22 days, and the flight from Moose Jaw to Regina, SK

saved his life; Lyle Griffin, who was helping his future son-in-law with harvest when a farming accident near Langenburg, SK nearly took his life, but it didn’t thanks to local EMS personnel and STARS; and Sean Rickards, a Manitoba husband and father of three, who was severely injured at a worksite between a

backhoe and semi-truck, when a miscue wedged him between the two massive machines.

“STARS was built by the community, for the community, and for the last 40 years, we have relied on the support of our allies to continue our mission of providing critical care, anywhere it’s needed,”

Neepawa: The Banner & Press – The Town of Neepawa has been fighting off a plague of grease for just over two years but it seems the pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Items such as cooking oil are being wrongly dumped down sink and toilet drains and it’s costing the Town thousands of dollars. Manager of Operations Denis Saquet feels issuing stiff fines may assist with the situation. Recently an 8inch pipe was plugged, with officials narrowing it down to the possibility of one, two or three houses on 1st Avenue. Along with the latest incident, a situation in January set the Town back around $30,000 when Uni-Jet Industrial Pipe Ltd. of Winnipeg was brought in for two days to clear and videoscope some of the lines.

Boissevain: The Recorder – As one of three finalists in the BASF Growing Home contest, the Boissevain School Parent Advisory Council Play-

ground Committee is looking for your vote, with the hope of securing $25,000 to assist in transforming two existing playgrounds at Boissevain School into inclusive and accessible outdoor spaces for all students and community members. Formed in 2023, this enthusiastic group has already raised $170,000 toward their ambitious goal of $500,000 to upgrade the school’s aging playgrounds, which have been in use for 30 to 50 years. The other two contenders are in Lac du Bonnet and the Municipality of Louise.

Moosomin: The WorldSpectator – Jess Moskaluke of Rocanville received the award for Single of the Year for her song “Go Get Er” and was named Country Artist of the

at the Saskatchewan Music Awards last month. Teagan Littlechief, a country rock artist from White Bear First Nation, was awarded the Contemporary Artist of the Year. Littlechief has been on the rise since winning Yorkton’s GX94 Star Search at age 15.

Roblin: The Review – A North Dakota based housing developer is making plans to move his operation to Roblin. With the state of politics in the United States and costly tariffs on Canadian lumber expected, Kwiecien Glupiec, originally from Poland, says he has had enough. Having had the opportunity to fish in the area, Roblin’s beautiful scenery, reminds him of the lake district in Poland, and feels it would be ideal to showcase his carpentry experience in building RTM Tiny Homes.

Pilot Mound: The Hometown View – Andrew Scharf of Manitou, nominated by

said Dr. John Froh, President and CEO of STARS. “The radiothon offers our crew and patients a chance to connect with community allies – old and new – and showcase how significant their support is to our organization, and the direct impact it has on STARS’ life-saving operations across Western Canada.”

Founder Dr. Greg Powell, often shares stories of the early days when STARS was started in 1985, when he would go to the mailbox and hope there was enough donations to cover helicopter fuel that week. From those days to now, amazing sponsors and community leaders have rallied around STARS Rescue

events, raising more than $1.3 million for critical care this past fall.

Factoring in the 3,927 missions – Alberta 1,720, Saskatchewan 1,025, and Manitoba 1,182 – flown from the organization’s six bases in 2023-24, a total of 60,000+ have been recorded since the initial launch of STARS in 1985. From a daily perspective, an average of 11 missions, are flown.

“Keeping our patients at the center of all we do will continue to be the guiding light for STARS. I am honoured to step into this important role that serves vulnerable patients in rural and remote areas of our provinces,” said Dr. Froh, steppeing into the role of president and chief executive officer, back in January, replacing Katherine Emberly.

STARS was born from the conviction that no one should go without the care that could save their life. Operating 24/7 from bases in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, Regina, and Winnipeg, STARS is your best hope in a worstcase scenario. If you need critical care, our mission is to be there for you – physically or virtually – in whatever capacity, as a lifeline for patients in rural, remote or indigenous communities. Because when it comes to the next patient needing STARS… it’s never too far for an iconic helicopter to fly.

Year

Greenvalley Equipment Inc., was not only one of the 47 territory ‘Mechanic of the Year’

champions but was also awarded the very prestigious award of Division Champion for the John Deere Technician of the Year and the sole Canadian winner.

DARRELL NESBITT

Dealing with the wild pig problem -part 2

Welcome to part two of the problem with pigs. In the previous article, I wrote that wild pigs shouldn’t really be able to persist in Manitoba, due almost exclusively to our long and cold winters.

Perhaps a good start to this article is to explore why wild pigs are such a big deal. Around the world, wild pigs are known to transfer disease to domestic pigs while acting as ecological bulldozers.

On the disease front, wild pigs can carry over 30 bacteria and viruses and more than 40 parasites, including trichinosis. In terms of their feeding habits, they damage field crops, including digging up newly planted fields of grain and potatoes. In natural areas, pigs are particularly destructive to wetlands where they root and wallow in shoreline vegetation, impacting water quality and creating erosion.

In the previous article, I asked the question on how, despite our winters, these pigs could maintain their populations here in Manitoba. The answer to their success can be summed up by three factors: their ability to find high qual-

ity food, the bolstering of the resident population through immigration, and finally, the direct and indirect impacts of climate change. Exploring these factors in detail, the food source comes in the form of field corn. A cornfield offers the very best of all worlds. The standing stalks provide a convenient windbreak, allows pigs to hide from hunters, and of course the corn itself is the perfect food – easy to find, easy to digest, and rich in energy. Without corn, it is unlikely that pigs could survive in Manitoba, especially during

winters like this year. And this is where the indirect impacts of climate change become relevant. Corn was generally not available to wildlife 30 or 40 years ago, especially in the Westman region.

However, with longer and hotter summers, along with the creation of new varietals, corn is now a viable field crop in southern Manitoba. And pigs love corn and are especially attracted to areas where cattle producers are using cornfields as part of a winter grazing program. And, as an aside, I’m not saying that corn should be eliminated as a crop in order to control wild pig populations. There are better ways of eliminating pigs as outlined later in this article.

An alternative food source worth mentioning is cereal crops that remain unharvested in the autumn and winter due to wet weather. Luckily, farmers are normally able to harvest their crops each autumn, making this source of food too unreliable to establish a large population of wild pigs. The direct impacts of climate change are also important. Shorter, drier (less snow), and warmer

winters aid in pig survival. In their natural ranges in Eurasia, pigs only thrive in areas where the mean or average winter temperatures are above -4ºC.

Our winters are nowhere near that warm, but they are trending in that direction. And during relatively mild winters, like the ones we experienced in both 2023 and 2024, more pigs are able to survive the winter, bolstering the breeding population the next summer.

Finally, according to Dr. Wayne Lees, adding insult to injury, wild pig numbers are augmented from time to time by the addition of new pigs. Whether this is from pigs that escape farms or from pigs that are intentionally released, each year new adult pigs find their way into the wild.

In some jurisdictions hunters have been caught releasing pigs into the wild, with the intent to provide opportunities to hunt them. Stopping these releases, whether intentional or not, is the easiest solution to controlling the wild pig population. There are a couple of other good news nuggets hidden here. The first is that

wild pigs are not taking over Manitoba. While they may persist in small groups, they are unlikely to thrive anytime soon.

The second is that the interiors of large, protected areas such as Riding Mountain and Duck Mountain parks are never going to have persistent populations of wild pigs. There just isn’t enough food, there are too many predators, and the winter conditions are too harsh. This leads me to the management of wild pigs.

Much of the following information comes from the “Squeal on Pigs” website, the perfect place to get up-to-date information on wild pigs in Manitoba.

What are the solutions to ridding ourselves of these wild marauders? Contrary to belief, you can’t effectively hunt them into extinction. As reported, they are incredibly smart, and will immediately change their habits once they learn they are being hunted. In particular, they will scatter to new areas and become more active at night. Instead, managers are currently using traps to capture larger groups of pigs. Again, they are very smart, so

efforts are made to ensure that all the pigs in a group are captured at the same time, as any outside the trap will quickly learn to avoid them in the future. These trapping efforts are mainly centred in farm fields adjacent to Spruce Woods Provincial Park, the epicentre of wild pig populations in Manitoba.

According to the people in charge of the trapping program, over 90 wild pigs have been trapped so far this winter, which indicates that this is by far the most effective method of control. With a prewinter population of between 300 and 1,000 animals (which is quite a range, but managers’ report that getting an actual population size of pigs is very difficult), it will be interesting to see how the wild population has fared after a normal Manitoba winter. In the meantime, if you spot a wild pig, report it to the “Squeal on Pigs” website.

Ken Kingdon lives in the heart of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve. Send him a text at 204.848.5020 if you have stories to share.

Ken Kingdon MOMENTS IN RMNP

CANADA

V TES

Q

– What personal qualities do you have that would make you an effective representative of your riding?

A – I have experience in business management, including starting and operating my own retail/wholesale automotive business. To be successful at such an endeavour requires commitment, motivation, creativity, and ingenuity. I am dedicated to my community and to my family and seek to find the best possible outcome where I am able to affect change.

I manage a small farm and as a result, I feel a strong connection to the land as well as my neighbours and community.

I believe in a minimal, conservative, and staid approach to government, whereby the traditions and standards of the past help guide us towards a positive future, rather than relying on modern trends and novel concepts that distract us from our goal of a healthy and prosperous nation.

Q – What focus do you have for your campaign?

A – The focus of my campaign is on encouraging traditional values and strengthening Canadians and their families. Of everything else we might invest in, the Canadian people as the foundation of this country, are the priority. Protecting our health, freedom of speech, bodily autonomy, and stopping the growing intrusion of government into every part of our lives. And to the same end, removing Canada from supra-national organizations and agreements that do not

benefit Canadians, such as the UN’s Paris Climate Accord Treaty. Ending the consumer carbon tax is only a beginning. It and other carbon measures affecting Canadians are tied to the Paris Accord and as long as we are part of it, we shall suffer. Change begins in our own communities with honest conversations, practical solutions, and the courage to do what’s right. I’m here to represent the hardworking families, farmers, small business owners, and everyday folks who make Canada strong.

ANDREW MAXWELL

New Democratic Party

Andrew Douglas Maxwell, of the New Democratic Party, was unavailable to provide comments by press time

The campaign trail is lively with activity as candidates work to capture the hearts and minds of voters in the Dauphin – Swan River –Neepawa riding. In this snap election, many critical issues dominate the discussions, pushing voters to consider their choices carefully.

As Election Day on April 28 draws near, it’s vital for everyone to ensure they are registered and plan their participation. Eligible voters must be Canadian citizens, at least 18 years old, and able to prove their identity and address. Advanced voting runs from April 18 to 21, and you can also vote early at your local Elections Canada office until April 22. Make your voice heard – voting is not just a right; it’s an essential part of shaping the future.

FLIGHT OF FANCY

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All repairs, renovations, and new construction Cell: 204-232-9797

Rolling River Festival of the Arts benefits community

DARRELL NESBITT

South Mountain Press

Art brings people together physically — at galleries, museums, performance spaces — and culturally, through its capacity to tell a community’s shared story, to inspire reflection, and form connections that transcend differences.

Being in existence for over 40 years, the Rolling River Festival of the Arts (RRFA), a non-profit volunteer based organization which provides a venue for student performance and adjudication in the following disciplines – piano, speech arts, band, instrumental, vocal, choral and dance – showcases how participation in the arts, develops many important skills and attributes that can benefit all aspects of one’s life.

“We had a lovely festival with performances Monday, March 24, and Tuesday morning, afternoon and evening of the 25th, and then morning and afternoon on Thursday the 27,” expressed Val Dornn, a committee representative. “It’s exciting to see so many young people participating and growing in the performing arts. Results were as follows…

PROVINCIAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Piano Solo, Primary –Avie Wilson, Minnedosa, PK 2101; Jenny Lin, Minnedosa, PK 2104.

Piano Solo, Elementary –

Kayman Klunder, Onanole, PK 2154; Lucy Ridgen, Brandon, PK 2152. Alternate –Isaiah van Otterloo, Dauphin, PK 2204.

Piano Solo, Junior – Silas Stahl, Minnedosa, PK 2301.

Piano Solo, Intermediate – Karli Janzen, Winnipegosis, PK 2356.

Piano Solo, Advanced –Elisabeth Hiebert, Minnedosa, PK 2456.

Piano Solo, Popular/Contemporary, Elementary –Isaiah van Otterloo, Dauphin, PK-PC 2212. Alternate –Maria-Jean SlobodzianPlustwa, Dauphin. PK-PC 2162.

Piano Solo, Popular/Contemporary, Junior – Paige Slack, Dauphin, PK-PC 2262.

Piano Solo, Canadian Composers, Primary – Avie Wilson, Minnedosa, PK-C 2111.

Piano Solo, Canadian Composers, Elementary –Kayman Klunder, Onanole, PK-C 2161. Alternate – Lucy Ridgen, Brandon, PK-C 2161. Piano Solo, Canadian Composers, Intermediate –Karli Janzen, Winnipegosis, PK-C 2361.

Piano Solo, Canadian Composers, Advanced –Elizabeth Hiebert, Minnedosa, PK-C 2461.

TV/Movie Musical Classes – Vocal, Primary –Maria-Jean SlobodzianPlustwa, Dauphin, PV-TV1163.

TV/Movie Musical Classes – Vocal, Elementary –Karli Janzen, Winnipegosis, PV-TV 1213; Josie Ber-

gen, Winnipegosis, PV-TV 1213.

TV/Movie Musical Classes – Vocal, Junior – Jacobi Van Luijn-Michaluk, Dauphin. PV-TV 1263.

Musical Theatre Vocal, Primary –Maria-Jean Slobodzian-Plustwa, Dauphin, PV-MT 1164.

Musical Theatre Vocal, Elementary – Karli Janzen, Winnipegosis, PV-MT 1214.

Musical Theatre Vocal, Junior – Jacobi Van Luijn-Michaluk, Dauphin, PV-MT 1264.

Strings Solo, Primary –Kate Ridgen, Brandon, PS 3031A.

Classical Guitar, Elementary – Dexx Wilson PG 4305.

AWARDS/MEDALLIONS

Piano Solo: Grade 1 – Rachel Stahl, Oak River; Grade 2 – Avie Wilson, Minnedosa; Grade 3 – Kayman Klunder, Onanole; Grade 4 – Isaiah van Otterloo, Dauphin; Grade 5 – Paige Slack, Dauphin; Grade 6 – Silas Stahl, Minnedosa; Grade 7 – Karli Janzen, Winnipegosis; Grade 9 – Elisabeth Hiebert, Minnedosa; Canadian Composer Class Award – Kayman Klunder, Onanole.

Violin: Violin Solo – Kate Ridgen, Brandon.

Guitar: Guitar Solo –Dexx Wilson, Minnedosa.

Vocal: Vocal Solo 14 years & under – Karli Janzen, Winnipegosis; Vocal Solo Junior/Intermediate – Jacobi Van Luijn-Michaluk, Dauphin.

Speech Arts: Solo Spoken

Poetry, Grades 4-6 – Everleigh Turner, Douglas. Solo Spoken Poetry, Grades 7-12 –Lillian Greenwood, Douglas. Minnedosa UCT Speech Arts Choir Grades 4-6 – Douglas Elementary Grade 3/4 Class. Public Speaking – Georgia Richards, Minnedosa. Solo Prose Reading – Raeyah Thomson-Butler, Minnedosa. Dance: Dance Solo, Ages 9-12 – Lucy Ridgen, Brandon; Dance Solo, Ages 13-18 –Fiona Wilson, Brandon; Dance Duo/Trio/Group, Ages 9-12 – Cruz Cochrane & Paisley Spraggs, Minnedosa; Dance Duo/Trio/Group, Ages 14 & under – Anna Storozynsky & Autumn Neufeld, Brandon; Dance Duo/Trio/Group, Ages 18 & under – Bell & Becca Dyck, Brandon.

PIANO SCHOLARSHIPS

Rivers Home Hardware Scholarship ($50) – Avie Wilson, Minnedosa (Piano SoloRCM Grade 2).

Hank & Susan Guenther Memorial Scholarship ($50) –Kayman Klunder, Onanole (Piano Solo-RCM Grade 3).

Cenovus Energy Scholarship ($50) – Jesse Stahl, Minnedosa (Piano Solo-RCM Grade 4).

W.A. Burr Memorial Scholarship ($50) – Paige Slack, Dauphin (Piano SoloRCM Grade 5).

Cenovus Energy Scholarship ($50) – Silas Stahl, Minnedosa (Piano Solo-RCM Grade 6).

Cenovus Energy Scholarship ($50) – Karli Janzen,

Winnipegosis (Piano SoloRCM Grade 7).

W.A. Burr Memorial Scholarship ($50) – Elisabeth Hiebert, Minnedosa (Piano Solo-RCM Grade 9).

David & Shirl Krahn Piano ($100) – Isaiah van Otterloo, Dauphin (most promising piano student competing in Grades 4-7).

Cenovus Energy Highest Mark Scholarship ($150) –Karli Jenzen, Winnipegosis (Grade 5 & up).

Cenovus Energy Highest Mark Scholarship ($300) –Elisabeth Hiebert, Minnedosa (Grade 8 & up).

VOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Cenovus Energy Scholarship ($50) – Maria-Jean Slobodzian-Plustwa, Dauphin (Vocal Solo, 14 years & under).

Norm Sims K.C. & Family Scholarship ($150) – Jacobi Van Luijn-Michaluk, Dauphin (Vocal Solo, Most Promising, 18 years & under).

Cenovus Energy Scholarship ($100) – Karli Jenzen, Winnipegosis (Vocal Solo, Most Promising, Runner Up –18 years & under).

VIOLIN SCHOLARSHIP

John A. Krahn Memorial Scholarship ($50) – Kate Ridgen, Brandon (Violin Solo).

GUITAR SCHOLARSHIP

Cenovus Energy Scholarship ($50) – Dexx Wilson, Minnedosa (Guitar Solo).

DANCE SCHOLARSHIPS

W.A. Burr Memorial ($50)

– Olivia Bryden, Brandon & ($50) – Peyton McNarland, Brandon (Jazz Duo)

Cenovus Energy ($50) –Olivia Bryden, Brandon (Ballet/Lyrical – Solo).

W.A. Burr Memorial ($50) –Cruz Cochrane, Minnedosa & ($50) – Paisley Spraggs, Minnedosa (Hip Hop Duo).

Springland Manufacturing ($50) – Anna Storozynsky, Rural Brandon & ($50) –Autumn Neufeld, Rural Brandon (Tap Duo).

Rivers Super Thrifty Drug Mart ($50) – Alyssa Bell, Brandon & ($50) – Becca Dyck, Brandon (SelfChoreography Adjudicator’s Choice Duo).

Cenovus Energy ($200) –Fiona Wilson, Brandon (most promising dance soloist).

Cenovus Energy ($150)–Kate Ridgen, Brandon (most promising dance soloist, runner up).

Rolling River Festival of the Arts plans, organizes and operates a festival for performers in the disciplines of vocal, choral, piano, instruments, speech arts and dance. Sessions are adjudicated by professional and paid adjudicators, with feedback being provided for each performance. Certificates, awards and scholarships are given out, where warranted. Outstanding performances in certain classes are recommended to compete at the provincial level. The executive holds regular meetings and engages many volunteers to assist during festival week.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins

Q: There’s a lot of talk online about how important amino acids are. Can you explain what they are, why they matter, and how to make sure I’m getting enough of them? – Gary T., Culver City, CA

A: There are more than 20 amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins that are found in almost every part of your body –hair, skin, bones, muscles and organ systems. They also help make enzymes that power your metabolic and digestive processes and fuel chemical reactions. The Cleveland Clinic describes them as “like the letters of the alphabet. When you combine letters in various ways, you make different words. The same goes for amino acids when – you combine them in various ways, you make different proteins.”

Some amino acids are non-essential – our body produces them, so we don’t need to get them from food. Some are conditional. They include arginine, cysteine, glutamine, tyrosine, glycine, proline, and serine – and they’re important when you are ill or under stress. Others are essential but adults cannot make any of the nine essential amino acids (histidine, lysine, isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan, valine, threonine, methionine and phenylalanine) and need to get them from food or supplements.

With the exception of leucine, you don’t need to eat foods with amino acid combinations that create proteins at every meal, but you want a mix of them throughout the day. Foods that deliver all 20plus amino acids (and complete proteins) include chicken, fish, dairy, chia seeds, quinoa and tofu. Foods that deliver a good variety of amino acids are 100% whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, fruits and vegetables. A balanced, healthy diet

Dr. Roizen HEALTHY LIVING

will give you all the amino acids and protein your body needs. For help creating a balanced diet – and enjoying really tasty food, check out my “What to Eat When Cookbook.”

Q: I’m scared because so many folks I know are getting cancer. What can I do to dodge the bullet? – Katrina R., Brookings, SD

A: In 2024, the U.S. was headed to 2 million new cancer cases (5,500 diagnoses a day), according to the American Cancer Society. And there are more cases of melanoma and breast, prostate, endometrial, pancreatic, and kidney cancer than ever. There’s also a rising incidence of colorectal cancer in folks under age 55, liver cancer in women, oral cancers associated with HPV, and cervical cancer in women ages 30-44.

Many of these increases are related to: the epidemic of obesity (70% of adults in the

U.S. are overweight or obese); Type 2 diabetes (more than 32 million); chronic inflammation (around 125 million Americans live with a chronic inflammationmediated disease); and a diet loaded with highly processed foods, red meats and added sugars.

Making healthy life choices can do a lot to prevent cancer. They include not smoking anything, exercising regularly, having a posse (emotional support matters for all aspects of health) and eating a healthy, plant-based diet with plenty of fatty fish

(skip red meat), legumes, seven servings of fruits and veggies a day, and whole grains. Plus, enjoy nuts, seeds, coffee, and dark chocolate. That basic Mediterranean diet (you may add a glass of wine) is very powerful.

According to a new study in JAMA Network Open, strict adherence to the diet slashes the risk of obesityrelated colorectal, liver and kidney cancer risk by up to 48%. And it helps tamp down the risk of esophageal cancer, too. Exercise adds a benefit: According to a 2019 study,

Sharkey, CPA,

breast cancer risk falls by 10%, colon cancer by 14% and liver cancer by 27% with five hours of exercise a week. For support in your journey to a longer, healthier, happier life, sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus Cleveland Clinic and author of “When” and its companion cookbook. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@ longevityplaybook.com.

Lake – 515 4th Ave. Phone: 204-759-2680

Easter lilies prefer relatively cooltemperatures in homes

It’s the season for the Easter lily

As Easter approaches, the characteristic symbol of the Easter lily begins to grace our shops and homes. We have long associated this plant with spring and the Easter season.

Lilium longiflorum, the Latin name for the Easter lily, is native to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. The Easter lily is a mark of purity and grace throughout the ages symbolizing joy, hope and life.

Traditionally, the Easter lily yields large white flowers, but others range from cream to pink and may include the cultivars ‘White Heaven’, ‘Deliana’ or ‘Nellie White’, which is one of the most popular lilies grown commercially.

Prior to 1941, the majority of the Easter lily bulbs were exported to the United States from Japan. World War II eliminated the dependence on Japanese-produced bulbs and commercial bulb production shifted to the U.S. Just 10 farms in a narrow coastal region straddling the CaliforniaOregon border produce over 95% of all bulbs grown for the potted Easter lily market. The production of consistent, high quality lily bulbs requires specific climatic conditions, which just happen to exist in this region aptly termed the Easter Lily Capital of the World. The Easter lily bulbs must be cultivated in the fields for three, and sometimes four years, before they are ready to be shipped to commercial greenhouse growers. Throughout that time, the bulbs are never dormant and require constant care and attention to assure superior quality and cleanliness. Each bulb is handled up to 40 times before it is ready to be shipped. The Easter lily bulbs are harvested in the fall, packed and shipped to commercial greenhouses where they are planted in pots and forced under controlled conditions to bloom for the Easter holiday. The cultivar most widely grown today is ‘Nellie White’. When purchasing an Easter lily, look for high quality plants that are aesthetically pleasing from all angles. Select medium-to-compact plants that are well balanced and proportional in size – not too tall and not too short. Choose plants with foliage that is dense and plentiful, all the way down to the soil line. As the flowers mature, remove

the yellow anthers before the pollen starts to shed. This gives longer flower life and prevents the pollen from staining the white flowers. When a mature flower starts to wither after its prime, cut it off to make the plant more attractive while you still enjoy the fresher blooms.

In the home, Easter lilies prefer relatively cool temperatures of 18 to 21 C (65 to 70 F). Avoid placing plants near drafts, and avoid exposure to excess heat or dry air from appliances, fireplaces or heating ducts. The lily will thrive near a window in bright, indirect natural daylight. Easter lilies prefer moderately moist, welldrained soil. Water the plant thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch, but avoid over-watering. If the pot is wrapped in decorative foil, be careful not to let the plant sit in trapped, standing water. For best results, remove the plant from decorative pots or covers, take it over the sink and water thoroughly until water seeps out of the pot’s drain holes to completely saturate the soil. Allow the plant to air for a few minutes and discard the excess water before replacing it back into its decorative pot cover. It is very difficult to force Easter lilies into bloom a second time. What you can do is plant them outside in the spring and they may bloom again in the fall. They require a location with bright light, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. They need some shelter from extreme heat or wind. They will not survive our prairie winter. Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us atwww. orchidhort.com; by email at growyourfuture@gmail.com; or on facebook @orchidhort.

Patricia Hanbidge GARDENING

DEADLINE: Tuesday at 12:00 Noon

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Mail: Nesbitt Publishing Ltd., Box 160, Shoal Lake, MB, R0J 1Z0

Reach the entire Province: $189.00 (49 weekly papers) Westman or Eastman regions: $119.00

OBITUARIES

DINSDALE: Walter George Gunnar Dinsdale passed away peacefully, March 21, 2025, with his loving wife Jewel, holding him. (Erickson Personal Care Home.) Gunnar was the first born to Walter and Lenore Dinsdale, Nov. 23, 1948. His parents, being musicians and scholars, taught him from early on the love of music and learning which kept with him throughout his life. He had a wonderful voice, boy soprano developed into a rich baritone. He was a great asset to several bands as euphonium player: Ottawa Citadel Band, Dinsdale Band, High School Band. Music was his priority along with studies. Christmas Eve 1965 Gunnar was rushed to hospital in Ottawa, ON, then off to Montreal Neurological. There Dr. Branch, a new surgeon performed over 24 hours of surgery on Gunnar for a mid-brain tumour wrapped around the brain stem. It was experimental, to save his life. Six months in a partial coma with family and friends by his side he was transported in a hearse by his parents to Ottawa. The last part by police escort as they were caught speeding. Who would think that of his parents? After being in hospital, there, he came home. Friends, mailman and relatives helped Lenore transport Gunnar when necessary. Gunnar finished grade XII and XIII. He had rehabilitated from being blind, immobile, speech not happening to seeing the stars outside a railway car window and walking with a cane, a brace on his left leg. It was a recovery only Gunnar could do. His perseverance and determination inspired all who met him. He enrolled in Brandon University. Here he studied, diligently, with friends, relations and strangers reading his courses to him and oral examinations majoring in Religion. I believe his minor was music. He could mark better times than conductors. Writing was a slow process, too slow for timed exams. His tenacity resulted in: B.A., B.Ed., and a Special Education Certificate. He was hired by Brandon School Division, in Special Education for Fleming and then George Fitton. Mr. Dinsdale was an inspiration to all his students and his colleagues as a man to respect. Whenever his students met him, they stood up straighter, talked more clearly, and smiled brighter. He had one rule, they had to get to the room on their own, but after that, they were in for learning ‘Fun’. He worked at Camp Woodlands

summers, as Camp Counsellor; while autumn, winter and spring saw him in school. This was an important time to enjoy the sunshine, get a tan, and teach children to enjoy their summer as well as Bible experiences in a fun way. Gunnar and Jewel reconnected again after knowing each other at Bethel Smorgasbords, family functions, as well as university. Jewel was working at South Gate. Gunnar would stop and chat. A letter with bluebirds came, asking Jewel out to supper at the Old Hotel Café. Driving along the lakeshore enjoying the autumn colours created a change in the lives of two people. Summer of 1988, they were married at Danvers, in a rainbow wedding. Gunnar had ridden in the Rockies, but did not do much riding since his illness, although his mother and Uncle Leonard had him up. He began riding with Jewel and then Andrew, first on Jewel’s Stormy and then on Harold. When Andrew came, Jewel was usually on young horses, so Gunnar took Andrew with him. Shadow arrived and Andrew stole him from Jewel. (Lots of fun times.) After a trip through the States with a trailer we settled in Erickson, MB, Gunnar’s choice. Andrew finished school and went to Neepawa. With Covid, Andrew returned home. Gunnar from a young age had a strong faith and was well respected for it. He did not force it but lived it. For the Salvation Army, he was in the Band and rode the bus to pick up people to take to the service. First Presbyterian saw him as Head of Sunday

Classified Advertising Rates

Minimum 25 words $7.00, additional words 25¢ (plus GST) Extra weeks are one-half original cost • Not responsible for errors in handwritten submissions Special rate for Obituaries, Cards of Thanks, In Memoriams

Minimum 25 words $7.00, additional words 20¢ (plus GST) • It is preferred if Obituaries can be emailed. Any obituary copy that is typeset by our staff will be subject to proof approval prior to publication. No discount for municipal or government ads • Ads not pre-paid by Thursday Noon are subject to a $2.50 billing charge

School, Erickson Lutheran Church saw him as inspiration for all as active member and baritone in the choir. Gunnar’s last years showed reduced mobility and into a wheelchair, the last three years he needed 24-hour care by Jewel and Andrew. He was still an inspiration. Jewel had to have an operation, so care was arranged for the interim. Gunnar signed the papers himself to say. Things in his health went array and he was in Palliative Care in addition to his wife and son for his remaining days. He has no more pain. He is in ‘Heaven’ now with all those who have predeceased him including animal friends: Sasha, Gadjet, Stormy and Harold. Gunnar never complained. He always supported those around him with “You can do it!!” He was predeceased by his parents Walter and Lenore Dinsdale. He is survived by his brother Greg (Linda), sister Beth (Doug), brother Eric (Fran) and brother Rolf. Mourned by friends and relations, he was well loved by all who knew him. Donations may be made to the Erickson Lutheran Church, Bethel Historical Society or National Wildlife. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. from the Bethel Historical Church, Danvers, off #10 highway between Onanole and Erickson. Smorgasbord following. (Everyone bring food. This was Gunnar’s favourite event). Condolences may be shared with the family at www.raesfs.ca. Rae’s Funeral Service of Erickson are in care of arrangements.

PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER

The Municipality of Russell Binscarth is seeking a skilled and motivated Public Works Manager to lead our infrastructure and maintenance operations. If you have experience in public works, project management, and leadership, we want to hear from you!

Salary: Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package and an excellent group health plan

Schedule: Permanent Full-Time; Evening and Weekends may be necessary based on operational requirements

Start Date: Based on mutual agreement

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the planning, maintenance, and improvement of roads, utilities, parks, and public facilities

• Manage department budget, co-ordinate capital improvement projects and municipal infrastructure plans

• Complete necessary reports, documentation and forms required by federal, provincial and municipal statutes, programs and policies as it relates to public works and infrastructure maintenance and repair

• Supervise public works staff and oversee work contracted to third parties to ensure a safe and efficient work environment

• Co-ordinate with local government agencies, contractors, and the public

• Ensure compliance with environmental and safety regulations

• Respond to emergencies, including weather-related events and infrastructure failures

Qualifications:

• A college or university degree in civil engineering would be an asset; however, the Municipality is willing to discuss relevant work experience

• A minimum of five years’ experience supervising in a Public Works environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• Experience in public works, construction, or municipal services

• Experience and/or understanding in the operation of heavy equipment

• Familiarity with Asset Management planning would be considered an asset

• Strong management, record-keeping, organizational and problem-solving skills

• Excellent communication skills, and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information

• Positive and professional attitude to keep building a strong team

• Valid Class 5 driver’s licence

• Class 3A (or willingness to obtain) would be considered an asset.

Submit your resume including three references and cover letter with salary expectations to: Municipality of Russell Binscarth

Attention: Twyla Ludwig, Interim CAO

Box 10, Russell, MB R0J 1W0

Email: cao@mrbgov.com

Phone: (204) 773-2253

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Only those candidates chosen for an interview will be contacted.

For more information, visit www.russellbinscarth.com.

South Mountain Press

COMING EVENTS

It’s hard to believe but not everyone has Facebook. This ad you’re reading costs $13.50 and reaches over 5 communities and 3,000 readers every week. And next week it will be half price. Planning an event? If you tell them they WILL come. Call Michelle at 204759-2644 ext. 1.

ARTICLES FOR SALE

Four, 20” KMC Rockstar rim w/ tires in very good condition 5 x 150 bolt pattern fits Dodge and Toyota Tundra. Has two new 35 x 12.50 R20 Deep Digger tires and two LT 295/60R20 Trail Grapple tires (70 percent tread). $1,800. Call or text Wayne 204-859-0013.

Did You Know? We print Personal and Business Cheques! 100 Personal Cheques $99 + taxes, 100 (manual) Business Cheques $91 + taxes, 250 (laser) Business Cheques $210 + taxes. Call Connie at 204-759-2644 Ext. 2 or email ctwprinting@mymts.net. Nesbitt Publishing, Shoal Lake.

Need Class 1 drivers? Spring hiring? Selling something? Jump on our great prices and start getting responses. Have your blanket classified ads seen in the 31Member Newspapers which are seen in over 368,000+ homes in Manitoba. Please call this newspaper 204-759-2644 to book now or call MCNA at 204-947-1691 for more details or to book ads. MCNA - Manitoba Community Newspapers Association. www.mcna.com

WANTED

Licensed gun dealer looking for firearms in all classes, and anything firearms related. Inheritance assistance provided. Can store handguns during the ban. Call or text Keith 204-471-9015.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Nice 20-acre retirement or subdividing opportunity 4 miles west of

Brandon on paved road. 1,572 sq. ft. home including appliances, wheelchair accessible, one-level, attached garage. Also, additional adjoining subdivided five-acre lot. Immediate possession, private sale. $750,000. Call 1-204-723-0083 for appointment to view, anytime.

NOTICES

Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-405-1228 www.firstand secondmortgages.ca

Does Facebook support local? Has your organization ever called up Facebook and asked them for a donation to your cause? Local businesses rely on local support to exist. Shop local today.

Urgent Press Releases. Have a newsworthy item to announce? An exciting change in operations?

ROLLING RIVER SCHOOL DIVISION

MECHANIC

(Licensed Trade)

SCHOOL BUSES AND FLEET VEHICLES

Full Time - Permanent 8 hours per day • Monday - Friday 12 months per year

The position is based at a central garage / shop in Minnedosa, MB with 2.5 FTE Mechanics who maintain a fleet of 40 school buses and 15 fleet vehicles.

For more details and application information, please visit our website at www.rrsd.mb.ca select Employment then Support Staff Positions.

Thank you to all applicants for their interest in Rolling River School Division. Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

HELP WANTED

has immediate openings for the following positions:

■ Light Duty Mechanic

We are looking to hire a full-time light duty mechanic. Duties to include, but not limited to: general mechanical repairs, oil changes, install and balance tires, perform tire rotations, etc. Individual must be organized, highly motivated, and have a keen eye for detail. Individual should have excellent communication and people skills and take pride in delivering outstanding customer service and quality workmanship.

■ Front Office Staff

We are looking to fill a full-time front office staff position. Duties to include, but not limited to: answering phones, setting up appointments, invoicing, parts orders. Individual should have excellent communication and people skills and take pride in delivering outstanding customer service. General office experience and automotive knowledge would be an asset. Onsite training will be provided.

Drop off resumes:

Shoal Lake Rad & Glass, 316 Elm St., Shoal Lake, MB

Email: shoallakeradglass@gmail.com

Phone: 204-759-2251

We appreciate your interest but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Though we cannot guarantee publication, MCNA will get the information into the right hands for only $35 plus GST. Call Manitoba Community Newspapers Association 204947-1691 for more information, See www.mcna.com under the ‘Types

of Advertising’ tab for more details.

Invest in advertising. The cost of advertising is small when you think of the number of people who will potentially attend your event simply because they saw your ad in the

newspaper. If the cost of advertising is covered by just two or three admissions to your event, any additional guests you welcome is money in your pocket. Advertising does not cost, it pays! Call Michelle at 204759-2644 ext. 1.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Salary: Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package and an excellent group health and dental plan

Schedule: Permanent Full-Time

Start Date: Based on mutual agreement

About the Municipality:

The Municipality of Russell Binscarth includes two urban communities and a former rural municipality with a population of approximately 2,600. Located in the picturesque Parkland Region near the Saskatchewan border, Russell is bordered conveniently by Highways 83 and 45, and connected by Highway 16, and Binscarth is located along Highway 16. This presents a constant influx of travelers and tourists drawn in by the impressive quality, selection, and abundance of opportunities for shopping, relaxing and recreation. Where small town comforts combine with modern amenities to prove that Russell Binscarth is a place where you can truly prosper and grow!

Job Summary:

The Council of the Municipality of Russell Binscarth is seeking a dynamic and experienced Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide strategic leadership and oversee the efficient operation of the Municipality. Reporting directly to the Mayor and Council, the CAO will be responsible for implementing Council policies, managing municipal departments, and ensuring the effective delivery of public services. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary leader to guide the Municipality toward sustainable growth and excellence in governance. Come join us…be a part of it all! The applicant should possess technical skills in municipal administration, financial management and human resource management. Strong communication, analytical and leadership skills are just some of the requirements of the position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of municipal operations, ensuring alignment with Council priorities.

• Implement and execute policies, plans, and directives established by Council.

• Lead, mentor, and manage municipal staff to foster a culture of efficiency, professionalism, and accountability.

• Develop and manage annual budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and long-term financial sustainability.

• Oversee municipal infrastructure projects, economic development initiatives, and service delivery improvements.

• Act as the principal advisor to Council, providing research, analysis, and recommendations on policy and operational matters.

• Promote employee engagement by cultivating a safe, supportive, high-performance work environment.

• Represent the Municipality in dealings with external stakeholders, including government agencies, community groups, and business partners.

• Provide effective advice and support to Council in developing, implementing and executing bylaws, policies and strategies to realize Council’s goals and objectives.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant municipal, provincial, and federal regulations.

• Engage with the public to promote transparency, responsiveness, and community involvement in local governance.

Qualifications and Experience:

• A post-secondary degree in a relevant discipline such as Public Administration, Business Administration, Commerce, Political Science or a degree in a related municipal field such as Planning or Engineering.

• A certificate in Manitoba Municipal Administration is an asset.

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in municipal government or a related sector or an equivalent combination of training and experience in other relevant settings.

• Strong financial management and budgeting experience.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage diverse teams effectively.

• Knowledge of municipal law, governance, and administrative processes.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Ability to think strategically and implement innovative solutions to complex challenges.

• Experience in economic development, urban planning, and infrastructure management is an asset.

How to Apply:

Individuals interested in an opportunity to work in a dynamic and growing municipality should submit a resume and cover letter outlining their qualifications and relevant experience to Interim CAO Twyla Ludwig at cao@mrbgov.com with the subject line “CAO Application” or by mail to Box 10, Russell, MB R0J 1W0. Please include salary expectations and a minimum of three professional references.

The Selection Committee intends to review applications as received and interview as early as April 28, 2025, with applications continuing to be accepted until the suitable candidate is found.

For more information on the Municipality of Russell Binscarth and a complete description of this exciting opportunity, visit us at www.russellbinscarth.com. We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

South

Friday, April 18, 2025

RCMP investigate numerous rural property thefts

On April 10, following further investigation by theManitoba RCMP’sPortage la Prairie General Investigative Section, and in collaboration with officers from Manitoba First Nations Police Service, a search warrant was granted at a residence in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation. Officers from the RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT), Manitoba West District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST), Manitoba Integrated Law Enforcement Team (MILET), and Amaranth RCMP were also on scene to assist in execution of the warrant. During the search, officers arrested an 18year-old male, as well as a 16year-old male youth, both from Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation. A number of stolen items were also recovered, including: a Can-Am Outlander, Dodge Ram 2500, significant amount of methamphetamine, air compressor and battery charger, and over $4,000 in Canadian currency. Both the 18year-old male and the male youth have been charged with: Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Less Than

RCMP Briefs

or Equal to $5,000 x2, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000, Breaking and Entering with Intent x2, Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purposes, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, and Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm. A Warrant of Arrest has been issued for an additional male, 20 years old, of Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation in connection with incident.

“Since the very first call, our officers have not stopped looking for the people responsible for these brazen thefts carried out with firearms,” said Staff Sergeant Marcus Paddock, West District Manitoba RCMP. “The investiga-

tion involved dozens of officers and quickly led to the execution of a search warrant and the arrest of two individuals as well as the recovery of stolen items. We will continue our work until the final suspect is safely arrested.”

The investigation continues.

On April 10, Blue Hills RCMP responded to a single vehicle collision on Railway Avenue in the town of Glenboro. When officers arrived on scene they discovered a vehicle with one occupant, had impacted into a tree. The driver, a 28-year-old male from Cypress River, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was declared deceased on scene by Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The vehicle had been travelling in town when it hit a hydro pole, then proceeded to strike a tree where it came to a stop. As a result of the collision, some parts of Glenboro were without electricity for a short period. Blue Hills RCMP along with a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist continue to investigate.

On April 10, Swan River RCMP received a report of a sudden death at a residence located on Crescent Drive in Swan River. Officers attended and located a 46-year-old male, from Swan River, outside the home with injuries. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The death is considered suspicious and remains under investigation. The investigation is in its infancy however we do not believe there is a risk to public safety. Swan River RCMP, along with assistance from RCMP Major Crime Services and RCMP Forensic Identification Services, continue to investigate.

On April 6, Dauphin RCMP officers were conducting patrols on Main Street in Dauphin and recognized a male walking as being on an unendorsed warrant. Officers attempted to arrest the 21year-old male, but he fled from police. While pursuing the male on foot, officers observed him searching through a satchel he was wearing, pulling a handgun out and throwing it on the roof of the nearest building. Officers

caught up with the suspect and were able to arrest him without incident and retrieved the loaded handgun from the roof of the building. Officers also seized from the male crack/cocaine, a large amount of Canadian Currency and illicit pills. The 21year-old male, from Dauphin, has been charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Unauthorised Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Resist Arrest, as well as other Weapon offences.Dauphin RCMP continue to investigate.

On April 4, Gypsumville RCMP responded to a report of a stabbing outside a residence located in Lake St. Martin First Nation. Officers, along with EMS, responded immediately and located a 22year-old male with critical injuries who was later pronounced deceased on scene. His death is being investigated as a homicide. The ongoing investigation led to the April 5 arrest of a 19-year-old male who was taken into cus-

tody without incident. On April 6, RCMP Search and Rescue officers attended to Lake St. Martin First Nation and conducted a ground search of the crime scene and surrounding area. Later that afternoon, a 19-year-old male, was charged with Manslaughter and remanded into custody. Gypsumville RCMP, along with assistance of Major Crime Services and Forensic Identification Services, continue to investigate.

On April 4, Berens River RCMP received a request from First Nation Safety Officers (FNSO) to assist with a report of an individual believed to be transporting illegal drugs into the community.Officers assisted First Nation Safety Officers and conducted a vehicle stop. As a result, Officers seized 56.4 grams of cocaine, 55.7 grams of crack cocaine along with Canadian funds believed to be proceeds of crime.A 32year-old female from Berens River was arrested for Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and released for court. Charges are pending.

Provincial Roundup