The Rotary Club of The Pas has been busy helping deliver Meals on Wheels to seniors in the community.

Rotary President Don McKay discusses the program and how easy it is for anyone to get involved.

"I've personally never done it before, but I was writing with Jerry Miller who trained me and I'm now at the point where I'm confident to do a couple of days on my own, which is kind of neat.  It's a good experience.  So if it turns out you have a free hour from 11 to noon.  Call Brian , he'd love to hear from you and you know, find out that you're willing to volunteer to a very worthwhile cause."

Members of Rotary will also help out with an upcoming Radiothon at CJAR on June 13th and 14th to raise funds for the New to You store and the Workplace, which provides opportunities for those with special needs.

Other programs the Rotary Club is currently working on include Catch the Big One, Canada Day preparations, MBCI’s Grad Breakfast, and various donations to community activities, programs, and upgrades.

The University College of the North has opened the application process for the Primary Care Paramedic Program at The Pas Campus for the fall of 2024.

This program aims to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue a career in paramedicine.

The two-year diploma program is carefully structured to set students up for success, ensuring that graduates meet all prerequisites for the Primary Care Paramedic COPR exam.

Helga Bryant, UCN Dean of Health, highlighted the demand for paramedics in the North and the opportunities this program offers aspiring paramedics.

Additionally, the program provides Emergency Medical Responders exit options after the first year, offering flexibility for students who may need additional time to complete their training.

Prospective students can apply for the Paramedic Training program at ucn.ca.

It’s been over a month since the Lido theatre burned down, yet the pile of rubble remains.

The town is still working with the insurance company to resolve the matter and clean up the site, but Mayor Andre Murphy says it’s still a priority.

The town and council are working on addressing derelict buildings in the community.

Murphy provides an update here.

"Our staff, our councils has gotten a small committee together with the deal with derelict buildings and those type of things.  So they're reviewing the bylaws right now  I mean, there's a lot of buildings in the community that need to be some tender loving care.

"We're going to start putting some notices on those people a little bit more than we have been, just to sort of get our community cleaned up."

Murphy said a review of bylaws is also underway to deal with vehicles parked along boulevards and other areas where they don’t belong.

A revival project for the Lido Theatre is also being worked on.

However, Murphy said it is still early, and keeping the community updated on potential projects would be a priority.

Grad season is almost upon us as students of all ages prepare for the next stage of life.

Sometimes overlooked are the Adult learners.

In 2020, there were 922 graduates from Adult Learning Centers in Manitoba, nearly half of whom were indigenous, a number that has continued to grow since the start of the pandemic.

In Manitoba, programs are offered tuition-free for high school credits and upgrading courses that may lead to a high school diploma.

Over 40 centers are located across the province, including The Pas, Flin Flon, and Thompson.

Heather Marlow, with the Kelsey Learning Center, says the program this year has over 30 graduates.

She shares more here.

"The adult learning center when it started in 1996 school year.  And we had, I believe nine graduates that year.  This year, we are over 30.  But in that time in between, we've had over 1012 grads.  We kind of one of the original adult learning centers in the province."

Programs all over the province are offered in class and online, some in individual or class settings.

Programs run days and evenings to accommodate all adult learners.

Canada Post is offering free emergency mail forwarding service for residents who were displaced by wildfires in Manitoba.

The service will be free for up to 12 months for eligible residents of Cranberry Portage who are affected.

Residents have from now until June 23rd to register for the service.

Residents who purchased the service before May 24th are still eligible for a refund.

Contact Canada Post or online at canadapost.ca for more support.

The Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba is gearing up for walks across the province in support of the degenerative disease.

The society provides care for patients and their families when navigating dementia.

Geoff Mackleberg, regional coordinator with the Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba, talks about upcoming walks across the province.

"This coming up weekend in Winnipeg is the big walk on June 6th and Brandon, there's a walk Steinbach 7 to 1 on May 29th and Selkirk on June 13th.  Those are big organized walks as well as we have a number of PCHs that are trying to put together small walks.

You can register online to host events locally, individuals or groups are encouraged to at https://alzheimer.mb.ca/.

The Opaskwayak Health Authority's Mino-Pimatisiwin program will host an elders conference at the Kikiwak Inn on June 5th and 6th.

The Mino-Pimatiswin program, a land-based therapy initiative, aims to demonstrate the positive impact of outdoor activities on mental health and well-being, a topic that aligns with the focus of the conference.

The conference they are hosting is designed to bring awareness to elder abuse.

Alexis Yankee has more:

"The elders have curated questions that we are going to lead.  There's going to be Ruben, myself, along with five other counselors and we're going to have breakout sessions to have conversation with elders and youth."

Same-day registration will be available, but you can pre-register for the event; transportation will also be provided to elders if you call 204-627-7414

The Opasquia trail updated how the new floating boardwalk at Grace Lake handled the winter.

Al McLauchlan, with Opasquia Trails, shares details.

"We had some concerns.  We didn't know how it was going to overwinter with the freeze and the thaw, and I'm very happy to say that it has overwintered just excellent.  We've had no damage to the to the floatation devices whatsoever that we can see.  It's floating perfectly and it settled in for another year of people using it."

Mclauchlan said several people have already visited the trail this season.

The trail has already hosted a variety of birding tours, and there are plans for more in the future.

The boardwalk is now open to the public for the summer. To learn more about upcoming bird tours of the trail, search the Opasquia Trails Facebook page.

Favourable weather over the last two days has helped control the fires in Wanless and Cranberry Portage.

Evacuation orders are still in effect in Cranberry, and residents in other close communities remain on high alert.

Tom Lindsey, Flin Flon MLA, wanted to let people know that they will be addressing questions and concerns for area residents.

"If they have concerns.  The office in Flin Flon has been open.  You can phone now: 204 - 687 - 3246.  Lila will make sure that I get those messages and then I can get to ministers and try and get things addressed.  And certainly, we heard concerns right at the start."

Lindsey went on to say that the stress brought on by this disaster can have a direct impact on people's well-being, but they are there to address any concerns about highway conditions, evacuation orders, and available resources for those in need.

Fires in Wanless continue to burn 2 kilometres away from Highway 10 as crews have a well-established fire break.

Residents of Rocky Lake or Clearwater Lake are asked to dial 211, and they will be directed to the proper department for information.

As part of the town's spring clean-up campaign, yard waste will be picked up from residential areas on May 21st, 22nd, and 23rd.

You're asked to leave yard waste next to pick-up sites where regular waste removal happens.

This includes yard waste placed in disposable containers and bound twigs and branches measuring 4 feet and weighing no more than 25 pounds.

Anything larger than this can be removed by contacting the town offices at the cost of the homeowner.

The town will also waive tipping fees at the dump from May 21st to the 31st.

It's noted that ashes, sod, dog waste, and material from dismantled structures will not be picked up.

The town also offers bulky item removal and can help deal with derelict vehicles by calling 627 1125.

The Legion Ladies will host their annual Mother's Day tea over the weekend at branch number 19.

If you're still looking for something for Mom, take her to the Legion tomorrow afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. for tea, dainties, and other goodies.

The event will include a cake walk, raffles, a bake table, 50/50, door prizes, and a toonie table, and everyone is welcome to attend.

The legion ladies also host weekly meat draws at the branch every Saturday night, and tomorrow's Chase the Ace jackpot is now over 235 thousand dollars.

The Pas and Chamber of Commerce's Annual Trade Show & Sale starts today at the Roy H. Johnston Arena and will run through till Saturday Afternoon.

For years, the Trade show and sale has been the unofficial kick-off to summer in the community, and this year, over 45 vendors have registered for the event.

The arena will be jam-packed with goodies, including Fashion and Apparel, electronics, cars, outdoor equipment, and more.

Tomorrow, during the event, there will be a live performance from Naneway Iskew, which recently showcased its talents at the Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque.

That show will take place at 1 pm.

Admission to the event costs 2 dollars, half of which will go to community groups.

On May 4th, RCMP in Chemawawin responded to a report of a disturbance at a residence in Easterville.

When officers arrived, they found a 32-year-old female in critical condition. EMS provided medical assistance, but she succumbed to her injuries.

A second 35-year-old female victim was found a short distance away in a non-life-threatening situation; she was transported to Winnipeg and remains in stable condition.

RCMP has arrested and charged two youths, aged 13 and 14, with 2nd-degree murder and attempted murder charges.

Both youths have been remanded into custody, and RCMP continues to investigate.

The Ecole Opasquia Will host a year-end Musical tomorrow titled "Seussical Kids."

The Dr. Seuss-themed play is written by Lynn Ahrens with music by Stephen Flaherty and will host students from all classrooms.

There will be afternoon and evening performances happening at the school.

Some of the students involved shared more about the event.

"Ecole Opasquia school presents 'Seussical'!  Starring: Horton, Jojo, Maisie and some mischievous monkeys!

"Join us in the jungle of New in the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool on Wednesday, May 8th at 1:30 & 7 p.m.!

"There will be a silver collection at the door.  Come think all the things you can think!  Seuss!"

There will also be one last fundraiser for children at the school to help with the show's costs.

Today and tomorrow, students can purchase raffle tickets for 1 dollar to win a dozen Seussical-themed cupcakes.

The Swan Valley Co-op will host a Grand Opening celebration for the community this Thursday, featuring food, family fun, and in-store sales.

The Rotary Club and the Agricultural Society are providing some tents and tables for the event.

Free food will be served from 11:30 to 1:30 at the former Building Supplies Timber Mart on Highway 10, south of The Pas.

The co-op has a new program called Communities in full colour; Natasha Ralph, the manager at the Swan Valley co-op in town, shares details.

"Federated Co-op gives us some dollars to support community projects that are in need of paint.

We have our own Co-op Imagine brand of paint.  That allows us to get some community funding for projects that, you know, require a little bit of paint.  

So whether it's a storefront or a rec center or something that needs uh a little sprucing up, we're there to help."

Because this is the program's first year, Natasha said this year, 1,000 dollars will be available for local projects.

Learn more about the program by attending Thursday's Grand Opening event.

Prosthetics can be costly, and the War Amps of Canada can help provide them to amputees.

The group also provides child amputees with the tools they need to succeed despite the downfalls.

The War Amps work with veterans, advocate for rights and well-being, and help promote the independence of all amputees.

The War Amps have been helping amputees in the country for over 100 years; Bob Maguire, a Public awareness officer with the War Amps, shares more.

"We've been around for over 100 years.  We started after the first World War and we're looking forward to the next 100 years.  We're celebrating 50 years of our child amputee program next year.  So we're just looking forward to helping all Canadian amputees for the next generation."

The group's key tag program has been running for over 70 years and helps return keys when lost.

New tags are mailed out yearly, and if found attached to keys, they can be dropped into any Canada Post mailbox to be shipped back to the owner.

The mailing schedule for new tags to be mailed out can be found at waramps.ca.

OCN Chief and council have decided to issue a band council resolution authorized to banish any individual from the community due to the conviction or threat of drug or gang activity.

This is due to several concerns being raised in regard to organized criminal activity, including gang recruitment, drug dealing, and rival gangs.

The Chief and council want to send a clear message that this kind of drug and gang violence will not be tolerated in the community.

There is also a development plan that addresses several initiatives that will directly decrease gang activity and violence.

These initiatives include additional First Nation safety officers, community staff to handle monitoring and check stops, and surveillance monitoring equipment.

MFNPS will also increase their staff members in the community, increasing police presence.

A fire broke out early in the afternoon on April 30th at an apartment building on Tremauden Avenue in The Pas.

The Pas Fire Department responded to the report at approximately 1 pm.

A structure spread to the attic of the building, causing smoke and water damage.

The initial fire was put out quickly, but the attic space sustained extensive damage, which took several man-hours to contain.

One person was taken to hospital as a precaution due to smoke inhalation.

During this time, the fire department also received a report of a grass fire in the carrot valley and two fire alarms in town.

All these calls were promptly taken care of with help from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation Fire Department.

Two youths have been arrested in a forcible confinement incident that happened on the OCN on April 27th.

At approximately 4 pm, officers received a call involving a female being held hostage with a firearm.

When officers arrived, the two male suspects had fled on foot.

RCMP Dog Services were called in to track the suspects, and both were subsequently located and arrested.

They were found to be in possession of large quantities of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Heroin.

The two youths, both aged 15 from Ontario, have been charged with multiple offences and were detained into custody with a future court appearance.

The incident is still under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact the MFNPS OCN First Detachment at 204-623-8200.