You can’t beet ‘em!

Beets are a popular garden vegetable in Manitoba. These vibrant-coloured root vegetables can be enjoyed in many different ways, from soup or borscht to salads, pickles, and juices. There are three basic varieties of Beta Vulgaris (beetroot or beets): chard – grown specifically for its leaves, beets – grown for their round roots, and sugar beets – grown for making sugar from their long, thick root. The red beets normally grown in gardens look very different from sugar beets. While red beets are usually short, round, and a rich red-purple colour, sugar beets are a longer, pointed shape and have white-yellow skin. Beets are rich in nutrients such as Vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, antioxidants, folic acid, and fiber.

Around the world, sugar beets are grown commercially to be processed into sugar. Canada produces sugar from sugar cane that was grown in other parts of the world, and sugar beets that were grown in Alberta and Ontario. There is only one sugar beet refinery in Canada, located in Taber, Alberta. Approximately 10% of sugar produced in Canada is made from sugar beets. There is no difference between the sugar made from sugar cane and sugar beets, however, if you want to support Canadian beet farmers, look for Roger’s Sugar with a black factory stamp that begins with “22”.

Red beets are known for staining everything they touch a deep pink colour, but did you know there are also yellow or golden beets and Chioggia or candy cane beets? Red beets are the sweetest compared to these other colours.

Beets are often sold in bunches with their stems and leaves attached, but they can also be purchased in bulk without their leaves. Beets sold in bunches are usually fresher, and the first sign of aging is wilting leaves. Choose beets that are no larger than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, with clean, unblemished skin. Large beets can be tough and woody.

To store beets, keep them in the fridge for up to three weeks in the crisper drawer. Remove the leaves 2 inches above the root, this will help the beet retain moisture longer. The beet leaves can be stored loosely in a plastic bag in the fridge, and added to soups or salads. Wash the leaves only right before using them. Raw beets don’t freeze well, however cooked beets can be sliced or chopped up and frozen. Beets can also be pickled, and stored in the pantry for over a year.

Check out these delicious ways to enjoy beets:

Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Recipe – Love and Lemons

Perfect Roasted Beets Recipe – Cookie and Kate

Ukrainian Borscht Recipe (Authentic) – iFoodReal.com

Medical students participate in “Rural Week” within PMH

A full slate of first-year medical students from the University of Manitoba’s (U of M) Max Rady College of Medicine (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences) participated in ‘Rural Week’ within Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region May 26 – May 31st.

Rural Week— coordinated annually by the Department of Family Medicine, Shared Health (Manitoba Healthcare Providers Network) and rural regional health authorities —provides medical students with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of how rural and northern Manitoba medical practices function.  It also promotes the many benefits of working and living in a rural/northern Manitoba area.

This year, 38 medical students were assigned to 13 PMH communities, which included Brandon, Dauphin, Deloraine, Grandview, Hamiota, Neepawa, Roblin, Russell, Souris, Ste. Rose, Treherne, Virden and Winnipegosis.

Students participated in a variety of rural physician practices, and in most cases, tagged along with a ‘doc’ to see how their patient days unfolded. As part of their visits, students also received assignments that saw them explore communities on their own.

PMH Regional Lead of Medical Services, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Adrian Fung added: “Rural week is an exciting time, as it allows us as a region to highlight our communities, staff, and facilities to the medical students, while also giving the students a chance to see how rewarding and fulfilling rural practice is!”

PMH sincerely appreciated the efforts of all of the physician preceptors, health-care professionals and community volunteers that helped to ensure Rural Week was once again a success.

Rural Week, as part of the U of M medical 1 curriculum, first started as an optional experience in 2003 and was approved as a mandatory component the following year.

Smilezones installed within Dauphin Regional Health Centre

Patients, families, visitors and staff at Dauphin Regional Health Centre (DRHC) have reason to smile. In fact, there are four reasons, following the grand opening June 14 of new Smilezones within the second-largest hospital in Prairie Mountain Health region.

Prairie Mountain Health (PMH), in collaboration with Smilezone Foundation and sponsor Dauphin Tim Hortons, officially opened four new Smilezones within the hospital’s lab and imaging waiting area, Emergency Department (two decorated rooms) and the Palliative Care family room. The bright, calming and inspiring Smilezones include murals, child-friendly sensory development materials, and new media entertainment systems meant to enhance the facility’s person-and family-centred care.

Prairie Mountain Health CEO Treena Slate says this friendly hospital facelift can help ease stressful experiences for children, parents, and families and also boost morale for staff.

“Smiling is contagious and can act as free therapy simultaneously! We are very pleased that hospital patients, visitors, and our staff are now greeted with beautiful nature-themed murals and child-friendly options in easily identifiable areas of the facility. We are exceptionally grateful to the donor families from Tim Hortons and the Smilezone Foundation who approached us with the idea and coordinated work that allowed this extra-special project to come to fruition,” Slate stated.

“Smilezone Foundation is thrilled to be a part of this renovation at Dauphin Regional Health Centre, marking our second project in Manitoba,” said Scott Bachly, Smilezone Foundation Co-Founder. “These enhancements bring joy to children and families during their hospital visits, and seeing their smiles is the greatest reward for our efforts. We thank Dauphin Tim Hortons and the Crisanti and Pardy Families for their generous support and dedication to our mission of making tough days a little brighter for kids receiving treatment.”

“The Crisanti and Pardy families are honoured and sincerely grateful to have the opportunity to work with the amazing team at Smilezone and staff at Prairie Mountain Health and we are delighted that the Smilezones have garnered many positive and uplifting comments already,” said Greg Crisanti.  Along with the many local sponsors, community supporters and area residents that contributed to the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign earlier this spring, we could not be more thrilled with how everything turned out!”

Recognizing one year anniversary of Carberry Tragedy

PMH would like to acknowledge the tragic bus crash that occurred by Carberry on June 15, 2023, the ongoing healing that has occurred, and is still occurring. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the victims, their families, and the entire communities affected by this devastating event. 

If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, or needing to connect with supports at this time, do not hesitate to call PMH Crisis Services at 1-888-379-7699.

A Ceremonial Tribute in Remembrance will be held on June 15, 2024 at 2pm in Dauphin at:
CN Park
15-1st Avenue NW
Dauphin, MB

The Dauphin Active Living Centre invites you to join them after the ceremony for a Memorial Tea from 2:30pm to 4pm at 55- 1st Ave. SE

More information can be found on the 730ckdm community calendar.

Dauphin HERO Club celebrates three decades of program support

The Dauphin HERO Club held its 30^th year recognition event on May 8. The HERO Club, which started back in 1994 when the Brandon Mental Health Centre downsized and eventually closed, provides a welcoming , supportive and safe space for people recovering from mental health challenges through the PMH Mental Health program.

Hero Club members and staff develop strategies to support recovery by providing opportunities for recreation, education, employment, and friendship.

“Thirty years for the “Helping Everyone Reach Out Club” in Dauphin is quite an accomplishment!” stated PMH CEO Treena Slate. “We know that there are many success stories and a few challenges which have occurred over the last three decades. We know the Club helps members live fruitful and enriched lives with the support of people who understand the struggle. Congratulations on 30 inspiring years and continued success with the program well into the future!”

Prairie Mountain Health provides coordination and other program assistance to the HERO Club through its mental health program. Dauphin was the first of four HERO Club sites established within the health region.  Roblin, Russell and Swan River are the other sites within the region.

The Hero Club model has become a ‘community within a community’, allowing members and the community to provide information to the general public on mental illness, and set the tone that recovery is possible.  Its motto is “A place to go, a place to be, a place to grow, a guarantee!”

The Dauphin HERO Club will always be known for its high-profile and very successful hot dog cart, among many other initiatives. The Hot Dog Cart returns to action twice a week this year. On Fridays, the Cart will be at the Obsolete Brewing Company location from 10:30-1:30. On Tuesdays, the Cart will be in front of the Dauphin Neighborhood Renewal Office (formerly Under One Roof) from 10:30 to 1:30.