A Sandy Bay First Nation man is in custody in connection with a recent kidnapping on Ebb and Flow First Nation.
In the late morning of Oct. 1, Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP received a report of an assault that had occurred on Ebb and Flow First Nation.
Officers and paramedics located a 28-year-old man, who had been assaulted and had several cuts to his body. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Officers subsequently learned the victim had been at a residence when a second man entered and began assaulting him with multiple weapons.
The victim was then restrained and was thrown in the back of a truck. He was assaulted again before eventually escaping when he jumped out of the moving truck.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., RCMP located the truck driving on Lake Road Southeast and pulled it over. The driver was arrested without incident.
While searching the vehicle, officers found weapons that matched those used in the assault.
William Richard, 44, was charged with assault causing bodily harm, kidnapping without firearm, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, assault with weapon, forcible confinement, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and failing to comply with an undertaking condition.
The investigation continues.
• • •
Police are looking for help identifying the suspect in an armed robbery, which occured at a retail business on the 100-block of Main Street South in Dauphin, Oct. 8.
Responding officers learned a man walked into the store wearing all black, with his face covered and carrying a knife. The suspect walked straight to the cash register, took the till and walked out.
No one was injured.
RCMP are investigating, with assistance from the Manitoba RCMP West District General Investigation Section (GIS).
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5050, Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477, or to submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Editor’s note: Three individuals have entered the race to replace outgoing mayor David Bosiak in the city of Dauphin.
The Herald offered the candidates an opportiunity to introduce themselves and answer some questions over the next three weeks prior to election day.
Following are the responses received from Keith Durston and Steve Sobering. A third candidate, Carter Taylor-Luke, had not provided a response prior to press time.
Keith Durston
My name is Keith Durston. I was born and raised in Dauphin.
I’ve lived here most of my life. I did live in the Northwest Territories for a number of years. I have been a plumber and HVAC person for approximately 50 years.
Upon my return to Dauphin I built a successful plumbing, heating, and hot tub business.
Having run a private business I know you must work for the people in order to run a successful business. I am used to being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I believe being a mayor and representative of the people of the City of Dauphin is a 24/7 job.
The major issue with the City of Dauphin is the stagnation of development. New and proper economic development would lower taxes and grow the population, leaving resource monies for policing, crime prevention, infrastructure maintenance, and development.
Working with a multifaceted approval the city can do it all.
From my experience importance of working with provincial government and utilizing working with local organizations.
If successful I will contact the provincial government for work on a bypass from the Vermillion River to Edwards Creek. This could prevent future flooding in the City of Dauphin.
Steve Sobering
Community service has been at the core of my life. My parents ran a funeral business when I was growing up and I pitched in from an early age by cutting grass, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming and watching them work with families at difficult times.
I helped them volunteer with the Lions’ Club, their church community and the Chamber of Commerce. I saw by their example that to have a successful business you first need to contribute to building a successful community.
Perhaps not surprisingly, most of my career has been in funeral service and then, due to an interest in environment and energy reduction, a new career in energy efficiency. The opportunity to work with people to save money through energy efficiency really met my goal to have a career with meaning and purpose. During those years, while my wife Melanie and I were raising our children here in Dauphin I also went back to school and earned a Master’s Degree in business.
I have built community in Dauphin through volunteering. There is a vibrant group of progressive thinkers in this city working towards making Dauphin a great place to live. I have recognized, over time, that you can’t wait for someone else to fix things. You just need to roll up your sleeves and build the community you want to live in. As a past president of the Dauphin Rotary Club, I am proud to have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to contribute towards projects including the recreation centre and cinema. I was also one of the organizers of Manitoba MudRun, which raised several hundred thousand dollars to help build the Northgate Trail development.
I sit on two boards right now - Fusion Credit Union and Efficiency Manitoba. Participating on boards is just one more way to contribute to the community and I have learned a great deal about governance and the role boards play. This has served me well the last four years as a councillor at the City of Dauphin.
Dauphin is an amazing community and we enjoy living here. I am committed to working hard to address any challenges our community faces head on while simultaneously pursuing opportunities.
What is the major issue for council to consider?
There are many issues that the City must address. The needs and challenges of people struggling with drugs, mental illness or a lack of housing have become a central conversation. People sometimes feel unsafe on our streets. The city works closely with partners at community mental health, MMF, the Friendship Centre, and the RCMP to address these issues. This is a difficult topic and a clear priority for council, at the same time we still have many other responsibilities that we must continue working on at the same time.
To move the city forward, we need to attract talented people, skilled tradespeople, professionals and others to keep the city vibrant. There are vacancies in every sector that need filling. There is opportunity here. In this high cost of living time, Dauphin has the potential to be a very desirable place for families to move to.
While we try to fix problems, the city must also focus on longer term priorities. We must build the community we want while we are living in it. This is an exciting time for Dauphin. We are seeing historic investment in apartment blocks, the justice centre, hotels and more. The community has its chance on Oct. 28 to put the right team in place at the right time. Please vote.

A Dauphin woman eventually found herself in a holding cell after being repeatedly arrested by Dauphin RCMP officers.
On Sept. 4, at approximately 10:20 p.m., police responded to the first of several disturbances to occur this month at a residence in Dauphin.
Officers learned a woman known to the residents came to the home, caused a disturbance and threatened to fight them.
She left before police arrived, then returned later in the night and smashed windows at the residence. She was located walking behind bushes along Whitmore Avenue West and arrested. She was later released on an undertaking not to return to the residence.
On Sept. 9, at approximately 3:15 p.m., RCMP responded to a report of a theft at a business on the 1300 block of Main Street South in Dauphin. The suspect fled before officers arrived.
Officers identified the suspect as being the woman involved in the earlier incident. She was subsequently located at the residence she was on court-ordered conditions not to attend. The stolen items were found at the residence. She was arrested and released on a release order following a court hearing.
On Sept. 24, at approximately 5:20 p.m., RCMP saw the woman at a commercial property on the 1400 block of Main Street South that she was barred from attending. She was ticketed for trespassing, which carries a $672 fine.
On Sept. 25, at approximately 1 p.m., RCMP returned to the same residence as earlier incidents to investigate a report of a disturbance. Officers learned the woman had come to the home and attempted to fight one of the residents.
She was arrested nearby and later released on a release order.
On Sept. 26, at approximately 5:40 p.m., RCMP responded to yet another disturbance at the same address. The woman returned to the residence and assaulted a woman and a man - the latter of which she also threatened. She was arrested and this time remanded in custody.
Autumn Mekish, 28, is charged with two counts of assault, uttering threats, two counts of failing to attend court, three counts of failing to comply with a release order, two counts of failing to comply with an undertaking, mischief under $5,000, and two counts of theft under $5,000.

Kayla Gillis will carry the Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative banner into next year’s provincial general election as the party’s candidate in the Dauphin constituency.
The PCs announced the nomination last week, citing Gillis’ high profile across the Parkland and beyond for her lifelong contributions to local economic development and community-building efforts, as the driving factor behind her nomination.
Gillis served 15 years on the board of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival - 11 as board chair - in addition to her work with Dauphin’s Countryfest, Dauphin Tourism, and numerous other organizations.
In those roles, Gillis has helped lead some of Canada’s most notable cultural events, playing an instrumental part in spurring tourism in the region and the province as a whole.
Gillis also takes keen interest in the needs of Manitoba’s agricultural producers and the multitude of challenges faced by the sector today.
Beginning with her upbringing on a farm, she went on to graduate from Assiniboine College’s agribusiness program, served as vice-chair of the Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference, and spent more than a decade working in Manitoba’s agribusiness sector. She continues to support families, farmers, and businesses today as a leading financial service provider in the community.
“My parents taught me at a very early age that we should always strive to help others and make our community the best it can be,” Gillis said.
“That value has empowered me throughout my life to seek out any opportunity to give back to my community. Being able to advocate for the needs and concerns of our constituency at the provincial level is just that kind of opportunity.”
An enthusiastic community builder since her early years volunteering for the local 4-H Club, Gillis’ efforts have earned her the One to Watch Alumni Award from Assiniboine College’s Parkland Campus (2022), both a Global Citizen Award and a Community Leadership Award from the Royal Bank of Canada (2023), and the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025).
She was also a 2024 nominee for the Community Leadership and Social Action Award as part of YMCA Westman’s Women of Distinction Awards.
“From the recent flooding and hospital closure, to the economic fallout of tariffs, to every day cost-of-living pressures, Dauphin families have gone through a lot in a very short amount of time. Now more than ever, they need an optimistic path forward with real, practical solutions,” Gillis said.
“I’m ready to deliver that leadership as part of a Progressive Conservative team.”
The 44th Manitoba general election will be held no later than Oct. 5, 2027.

Police are hoping for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect involved in a recent armed robbery at a Dauphin convenience store
On Sept. 14, at approximately 6:25 a.m., RCMP responded to a report of an armed robbery that had occurred at a business on the 100-block of Main Street South.
Responding officers learned a man had come into the store wearing a mask and carrying a crowbar.
He threatened the store employee with the crowbar, then walked behind the counter and stole several packs of cigarettes. He then ran to the front of the counter, grabbed several bags of potato chips and a drink from the fridge, then fled the store.
The suspect was last seen fleeing down an alley.
Officers, with assistance from RCMP Police Dog Services, searched the area following the incident, but were unable to locate the man.
Police are asking for help indentifying the man, who at the time of the robbery was wearing a white sweater, black pants, white shoes, a black ski mask and gloves.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020, Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or to submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
• • •
A local cyclist was sent to hospital last week following a report of a collision with a vehicle.
The incident occurred on Fourth Avenue Southwest and Main Street in Dauphin. Upon responding, police learned a truck turning right onto Main Street was struck by a cyclist riding on the wrong side of the street.
The cyclist, a 33-year-old woman, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle, a 39-year-old woman, was uninjured.
No charges or tickets are expected.
• • •
Two people are facing numerous firearms charges after police executed multiple search warrants at residences in Dauphin and on the Pine Creek First Nation as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
The first search warrant was executed at a home on Hwy. 272 by the Manitoba West District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST), with support from the Manitoba West District General Investigation Section (GIS), Police Dog Services and Winnipegosis and Dauphin RCMP detachment members.
Once inside, officers found five firearms and some ammunition. Neither resident had a valid licence to possess firearms, with the man being prohibited via court order from possessing guns. The firearms were seized.
Further investigation led RCMP to writing and executing a second search warrant at a residence on King Street in Dauphin later that day.
Fifteen firearms and ammunition were seized from that residence.
As a result, Ernest Chief, 41, of Pine Creek First Nation is charged with two counts each of unsafe storage of firearms, unauthorized possession of a firearm and disobeying acourt order.
In addition, Natasha Chief, 36, of Dauphin is charged with two counts each of unsafe storage of firearms and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
• • •
During the morning of Sept. 16, Dauphin RCMP observed a man wearing a mask and gloves, while they were assisting paramedics at a medical call on Second Avenue Northeast.
A witness at the scene then directed officers to a knife and a cannister of bear spray that the man had just discarded.
The officers arrested him, at which point the suspect provided a false name.
Soon after, officers identified the man who was wanted in connection with a Sept. 11 incident in which a man had gone into the home of someone he knew, threw stuff around and damaged their television.
James Fredrick Ducharme, 22, of Duck Bay is charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and mischief under $5,000.
He was remanded in custody.

A nine-year-old Dauphin girl is dead following a utility terrain vehicle accident in the Rural Municipality of Dauphin, last week.
On Aug. 31, at approximately 5:15 p.m., Dauphin RCMP, Dauphin Fire Department and paramedics were disatched to the scene of a rollover involving a UTV near a rural residence.
A 40-year-old man was driving the UTV with his nine-old-year daughter as the passenger. The side-by-side vehicle made a turn while driving on the property towards the residence when it rolled.
The girl suffered significant injuries as a result of the incident. Lifesaving measures were attempted by first responders, however, despite efforts, the child succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Her father was transported to hospital in Winnipeg with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation is ongoing.
• • •
A Grandview woman found herself back in custody after providing a fake doctor’s note to avoid a court appearance.
On Aug. 31, Dauphin RCMP learned Amber Fisher, 42, who was scheduled for court sentencing, had submitted a doctor’s note indicating she was unable to attend after being seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision.
The note stated the collision occurred on July 22, and was given to her lawyer, who submitted the document to the court. The note was accepted by the courts and the Sept. 2 sentencing hearing on a theft charge was adjourned to a later date.
A court official followed up with RCMP, who began to investigate.
RCMP determined the doctor’s note was a forgery. A review of police files further confirmed no reports had been made involving the suspect being in a collision on that date in Manitoba or any other province.
On Sept. 1, the suspect was arrested without incident.
Fisher now faces charges of obstructing justice, forgery, and uttering a forged document.
She was remanded in custody.

The legal troubles of a former Dauphin mayor and member of Parliament got a little bit worse as police levelled 26 additional charges as part of a months long investigation in firearms trafficking.
Inky Mark was rearrested, Aug. 12, and charged with weapons trafficking, three counts of possession of a weapon when knowing possession was unauthorized, nine counts of possession of a restricted or prohibited weapon with ammunition without a license or registration, nine counts of possession of a firearm when knowing possession was unauthorized, possession of a firearm with a tampered serial number, two counts of failing to report a lost firearm and possession of more than six kilograms of explosives.
The charges are in addition to the 12 weapons-related offences charged at the time of Mark’s initial arrest in July following the execution of a search warrant at his Dauphin home.
During that search police located and seized hundreds of firearms, an antique cannon, ammunition and more than $300,000 in cash, which resulted in firearm trafficking, possessing a firearm with a tampered serial number and possession of property obtained by crime charges.
Since that time the investigation has continued, led by the RCMP West District General Investigation Section and supported by officers from the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team.
As part of that process, investigators were contacted by a member of the public on July 13, the same day that Mark’s arrest was announced, and told of an incident involving the suspect that occurred sometime between December 2024 and February 2025.
Officers learned the suspect responded to a social media post from a friend complaining about a coyote on their property by going to the person’s home unprompted and handing them a firearm with ammunition.
The individual did not use the weapon, which has been recovered by RCMP.
The investigation has also resulted in completion of work to process the evidence seized from Mark’s home in July.
Mark possessed 445 firearms at the residence, up six from the number reported at the time of his arrest. Of those 445 firearms, RCMP have determined that:
• 295 firearms were unsafely stored;
• 10 were prohibited; and
• 11 were restricted or prohibited firearms that were not registered to the suspect.
Additionally, 26.5 kilograms of explosives were recovered, which is more than four times higher than what licensed individuals are allowed to possess.
As well, a number of restricted or prohibited firearms were stored with readily available ammunition and two firearms registered to Mark were not located.
Mark was released from custody on an undertaking.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced Monday emergency department services will be restored at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre as a temporary facility by Labour Day.
Kinew made the announcement via a video on Facebook, adding the facility will provide the high quality services expected by Parkland residents.
Prairie Mountain Health CEO Treena Slate announced last week cleanup at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre (DRHC) is almost done and work is now set to begin the restore the facility.
“Since July 1 and the complete evacuation of DRHC, Prairie Mountain Health and Shared Health teams, along with their community and government partners, have worked together to make significant progress on restoring community-based services as close to Dauphin as possible,” she stated.
“Now that cleaning work is mostly complete in the flooded-out areas within the DRHC, they are now in the ‘restoration and rebuild phase’ of the project, with procurement of supplies and equipment underway.”
Additional progress on services to date includes:
• A new temporary Shared Health Diagnostic Patient Service Centre is located in the Provincial Building, Level 1, Room 111, 27 Second Avenue Southwest in Dauphin.
Services provided include lab, x-ray, EKG and Holter monitoring from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Since its opening on Aug. 7, the temporary Shared Health Diagnostic Patient Service Centre has served over 200 patients.
• The Ste. Rose Emergency Department (ED) continues to be staffed to provide ED services 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support the needs of Dauphin and area residents.
The regular staffing complement includes nursing staff trained in obstetrical care and staff to support mental health and addictions.
• The Grandview Emergency Department continues to be open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• An outpatient treatment clinic is open in the Community Health Services building, which is attached to the hospital.
• The Palliative Care Program will be based out of the Dauphin Personal Care Home starting, Aug. 24.
See next week’s Dauphin Herald for more on the restoration..

Dauphin Fire Department (DFD) was on the scene of a blaze last Wednesday, later determined to be suspicious in nature.
Shortly after 9 a.m., DFD was dispatched for a report of smoke coming from a residence north of the city along Hwy. 20.
Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke coming from a window on the north side of the home. Upon entry to the structure, crews located a fire in the stairwell along the north wall, with several of the stairs already burned away.
This fire was initially extinguished, and additional firefighters had to gain access to the second floor from ladders in order to reach the fire extension.
As firefighters were working on the second floor, the roof began to fail due to the flames impacting the structural members of the roof.
This required firefighters to take a defensive position as the second floor was deemed to be unsafe due to the collapse.
Once the fire was under control, crews again entered the second floor to completely extinguish the blaze.
The department was able to clear the scene at approximately 3 p.m. once the fire was determined to be completely out. The ensuing investigation into the cause determined the fire to be suspicious in nature.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5050 or Manitoba Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477.
Friday morning, just before 10:30 a.m., DFD was dispatched to a report of smoke coming from a home on 3rd Avenue SW. Upon arriving on scene, crews found the RCMP had forced the front door open to allow the firefighters entry to the home.
The firefighters entered the home, which is under renovation, and quickly located the fire on the main floor. As the staircase to the second floor had been temporarily removed as a part of the renovation, crews accessed the upper portion of the home using a window as an access point.
Once all areas had been cleared and no further fire extension was possible, crews ventilated the building to remove the remaining smoke.
The investigation into the cause of the fire has determined it was an accidental fire. As part of the renovations, the owner had been using an oil based stain on wood for flooring and trim. The rags used had been discarded into a plastic pail after use. The rags spontaneously combusted and the flames spread to other construction materials that were piled nearby.
When oil-based stains dry, they create heat. If the rags that were used for the application of the stain are crumpled up, this heat gets trapped and can build until the rags spontaneously combust.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires caused by spontaneous combustion are a significant hazard. These fires often start hours after a project is finished, typically at night when no one is around, making them especially dangerous.
What not to do with oily rags:
Tossing them in a pile on the floor. This is the classic scenario for spontaneous combustion. The pile acts as an insulator, trapping all the heat produced by oxidation.
Throwing them in the trash can. A crumpled rag in a trash can, surrounded by other flammable materials like paper and sawdust, is a fire waiting to happen. It’s a perfect fuel package.
Putting them in a plastic bag. A plastic bag is even worse than a pile. It not only traps heat, but also melts, adding fuel to a potential fire. Never, ever do this.
Leaving them in your pocket. It sounds unbelievable, but people have suffered severe burns from oily rags combusting in their pockets hours after finishing a job.
Putting them in the washing machine or dryer. The oil residue will not wash out completely. Putting them in a dryer adds even more heat, dramatically increasing the fire risk. This can burn your house down.
Always properly dispose of them, or use only water based stains.

Due to rapidly rising water levels along rivers and deteriorating conditions throughout the municipality, residents are strongly advised not to travel on any municipal roads unless absolutely necessary. Conditions are changing quickly, and many roads may be unsafe or impassable. Please be aware that not all road closures and hazards have been barricaded, as some affected locations cannot be safely accessed by crews at this time.
Traveling on municipal roads may place you at significant risk. Water can conceal washouts, road damage, and other dangerous conditions. Residents are urged to remain in a safe location and avoid unnecessary movement until conditions improve.
Public Works crews continue to monitor the situation around the clock and are responding to emergencies and reports as they are received. However, ongoing flooding and inaccessible areas may delay response times.
If you choose to voluntarily evacuate for your safety, please contact the Municipality at 204-638-4531 to register your evacuation location and contact information. In an emergency, call 911 immediately. For municipal emergency concerns related to flooding or infrastructure, contact the RM of Dauphin Emergency Line at 204-701-8523.
Residents are strongly encouraged to monitor local radio stations, media outlets, the RM website, and the RM of Dauphin Facebook page for updates. Conditions remain serious and may worsen with little notice.