Nickel Belt News Volume 9 Volume 58 58 Number • Issue 3411
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Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill look new again reducing their polar bear conservation facility
Canadian Transportation Agency says Council takes Canada Goose CEO Making Hudson Bay Railway has until Aug. 27 to somethingfi old rst step towards show they are complying with repair order donates $1 million towards BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
The Canadian Transportation (CTA) has PolarAgency Bears International informed the Hudson Bay (PBI) received a $1 million Railway (HBR) that it has donation towards the conuntil Aug. 27 demonstrate struction of to a new facility that it is complying a in Churchill duringwith their repair order issued in June Polar Bear Affair gala in or the agency will estabToronto Feb. 27. lish specific deadlines for Dani Reiss, president compliance steps and take and CEO of Canada Goose, orders as well to as aenforce current those Polar deadlines. “HBR’s contention that a tendering process constitutes compliance with the Agency’s order to ‘initiate the repair of the railway line by July 3, 2018’ is questionable, particularly in the absence of a concrete plan on how HBR will meet the requirement ‘to complete the
repair and resume operation of the railway as expeditiously as possible,’” the CTA in a document Bearswrote International board dated Aug. 21. member and“The a Agency former is of the preliminary view chairman of that board that HBR has failed to comfrom 2008 to 2017, ply with the the money, order and that pledged which the Agency should estabrepresents about half of lish for the specific money deadlines the organcompliance steps – taking ization hopes to raise for into the importPolaraccount Bears International ance of rail service over the House. winter period and limited construction season – and take action to enforce those deadlines.” HBR president Sergio Sabatini told the CTA Aug. 1 that his company has begun soliciting bids to repair the section of the line between Gillam and Churchill but doesn’t have the money to
pay for the repairs itself. A report to the CTA, which ordered HBR to begin repairs by July 3, said “Over the least decade of that the process began with working with PBI, I have an inspection track seen firsthand of thethe passion June 11 and June 12 by AEand energy that the team COM, which was retained puts into their important by HBR to prepare a request research and efforts to for proposals (RFP).have The ensure polar bears RFP was issued June 28 a future,” said Reiss in to a six pre-screened contractors press release. “It is a privwith necessary ilege the to be a part ofexperihelpence to perform the repairs and four of those contractors sent representatives to a mandatory site visit July 12 and 13. Bids were due Aug. 3 and AECOM said it was “confident there will be multiple bids and methodologies to consider. “ HBR says it believes a Continued on Page 2
ranks in October
ing them build a muchneeded facility which will serve as a launch site for that’s our size, we have the PBI’s research and educa- BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET most,” she said. tional activities on polar Council approved fi rst Matechuk said that bear habitat conservation reading of a bylaw to re- since the need to cut costs around the world.” The proposed Polar duce the number of coun- is partly due to the new, Bears International House, cillors from eight to six at lower grant-in-lieu (GIL) construction of which is their Feb. 26 meeting by a that Vale Manitoba Operexpected to begin at the vote of 6-3, with council- ations pays the city instead start of the 2018 polar bear lors Ron Matechuk, Dun- of property taxes, the counseason, will be built on do- can Wong and Judy Kolada cillors who negotiated that agreement could make it nated land on Churchill’s opposed. Nickel Belt News photo by Kyle Darbyson Before the reduction possible for council to go main street and designed On Aug. 22, wildlife artist Earl McKay took time away from hosting his local exhibit to try becomes reality, however, through a trial period with to be energy effiWay cientwolf andstatue restoring a Spirit that he first painted in 2006. Along with this piece near bylaw must be the fewer members. ecologically provincial sound. It building, will the Thompson’s McKay also painted four of the other wolves town: one “If the threeincouncillors serve as a site to educate subject of a public hearby the hospital, one by North Centre Mall and two others just outside of the Ma-Mow-Wevisitors to Churchill about ing, currently scheduled that negotiated the GIL, this Tak Friendship Centre. McKay, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, will be selling his art at for March 12, and then miserable, this very poor polar bears, climate change receive second and third GIL, were to do the honthe Meridian Hotel until Aug. 25. and the urgent need to take action, as well as provide reading, which are tenta- ourable thing and resign broadcast facilities for tively slated to occur March from council, we would media, support polar bear 12 and March 26 respect- have a couple of weeks to research and outreach ef- ively. City manager Gary find out whether we want forts, and assist visiting Ceppetelli says the bylaw to proceed all the way to scientists, educators and must be passed 180 days third reading on this,” said other guests whose work prior to the election date Matechuk, who repeated and support are critical to of Oct. 24. If it is, the next comments made Feb. 12 2020 is pleased with this … some certainty in terms with having identified election could be a bit of when council voted 5-2 BY KYLE DARBYSON polar it, bear conservation. latest development, assist- of the land being available through multiple surveysa a case of musical chairs, to amend the Thompson KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET The facility will include having access to lake- with the eight incumbent Charter Act, which stipuDuring meetings July 16 ant project manager Harold and then what we’ll do is we that workspace, bunkhouse, properties and and Aug. 13, the Thompson Smith said that they don’t will seek a developer to take front kitchen and storagecottage space councillors, assuming all of lates that council should is one of the main rea- them decide to run again, have eight councillors and Planning District approved a know when they’ll get a re- over from there and we’ll do lots for equipment. whyisresidents staylarin competing for only six a mayor, to the effect that pair of land applications sub- sponse from the Manitoba some sort of a public call to sons “This the single identify that developer.” the north. mitted by Thompson 2020. government. gest donation PBI has available spots, along with reducing the number of council positions would “It’s a lengthy process,” Both of these applications received Smith also The first request was to and mentioned it is an all the other candidates. Eliminating two council prevent “new blood” from Thompson 2020 is inbuy 371 acres of land near he said. “They have to check fall under Thompson 2020’s that amazing commitment to positions would save just coming into council. in developing lots Ospwagan Lake, which the in with all the government overarching goal of helping terested helping secure the polar Deputy mayor Colleen hobby farms said near PBI the under $20,000 in salarThompson 2020 team plans departments and consolidate the community develop a for bear’s future,” ies and perhaps about Smook said that isn’t neGolf Club, which on turning into a cottage lot their response and I plan to more diverse, self-sustaining Thompson executive director Krista Nickel Belt News photo Graham $5,500 to $16,400 in cessarily truebyasIanshe and follow up with them in the economy during financially will require the amendment subdivision. Wright. “We’re humbled Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. travel expenses, based Valentino were among the of Thompson zoning bylaws The second application next month or so to try and turbulent times. by this generous gift and on the amounts spent on top three vote-getters in if I things can get a timeline. Ever announced that asection land res- swallow was to lease a 130-acre see extremely grateful.” BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write that you have ‘Oh, I’msince justVale as bad, right?’ since was not very of safe thing when people say travel by the two lowest- 2014 despite having not it typically to drastic reductions of their limits. stretch of land just north But EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I have all these stories and ides to figure out. It’stakes prettysix clear to dowithin but I city jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar spending councillors and been on council before, nine months.” operations in Thompson as “Some people have potato of Though Paint Lake Provincial she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it Erica and Dani Reiss do- should the two highest spending while Coun. Penny Byer While the members of far back as 2010, city offifarms, people have dog kenPark for the purpose of dea book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would nated $1 million towards the fiscal year 2016. said fresh faces don’t auto2020 are eager have proposed horses, but in “To veloping seasonal camping Thompson ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in cials because they will be devellost if nels, they they’ve started got throwing the say, ‘Those people have moved ChurchNickel Beltback Newstofile photo Shrinking council to six matically equate to differPolar Bears International’s to move this process foroping cottage lots and other it’s in a residential area so grounds. Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. Theyproject ill inmanager a heartbeat. Thompson 2020 assistant Harold Smith would put Thompson in ent results. quickfor to plots landhas forarecreational their in home and should After being approved by a ward, proposed ChurchManitoba northern director North -Smith Life inwas Churchill Sheofalso reputation they cats, Ibuild wasfacility probably sitting just leave,’ is quite the shoreline, aI addresses owners “I andmiss city line with local otherbusiness similarly “I’m not officials sure thatduring whethclarify that they’re going activities in the hopes of they have this other use,” majority of planning district ill during the organization’s simplistic. Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” It’s quiteofdisremiss the rock, I miss the Thompson Chamber Commerce meeting at the Meridian sized communities said er you have new blood to pass this work off to the attracting tourism dollars said Smith, giving examples members, both applications Bear Affair gala inthat To- spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though ing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied his- Polar Another thing Hotel January 2018. Coun.inBlake Ellis, a com- makes that great a differprivatewhat, developer co- and their of what this couldthe be same are currently awaiting ap- right always thought she would you know thisorhistory retaining and I would tellcurrent people spurred her on was boat in another area they’re very dangerous and ronto Feb. 27.land ment reiterated Coun. ence in what a council is operative when they finally population. used for. “We’ve heard for proval from the province’s tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we wouldbyscream do. I really miss the Hudson NickelaBelt News build Kathya Valentino. able2020’s to do and get the green light from the Following their launch in years that there’s demand home.” otheraccomplish goals Iand Crown Lands and Property “In my youth I never head, it’s going to be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t they son Bay,” she says. “When go “When you look at inforevery initiatives, depending please on what thetheir obprovince. June 2017, Thompson 2020 for … more of a rural, agriTo find out more visit photo courtesy of Agency. felt good at writing,” she if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back home, standing on the other city or municipality “Our objective to goget picked up this and did ran cultural, large-lot place to mation the ThompContinued on Page 3 Even though Thompson Bears last International said. “But when I moved said. ‘You didn’t do ball all that, “My kids areisnot north Polar of Gillam spring. I think about right now they’re website. Hudson Bay looking out on to Thompson to get into ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an the school of social work, and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so at that point I had to write ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” WE SELL for university and realized, do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got • HOUSEWARE • ELECTRONICS ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so under her belt, Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. one book HELIUM • TOYSThough she’s not there • FRAMES right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try BALLOONS! a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. • CRAFT • LINEN and came out of there with stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someone came to you and “I have another book in • the STATIONERY • CARDS a very strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into said, ‘I’m sorry, you WE have toARE me,” she says. “It’s a darker members still are. writing and confidence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave your home community story, more about personTHE PARTY my writing. I write very put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. LOOK FOR “GREAT CANADIAN DOLLAR STORE THOMPSON” ON FACEBOOK! SPECIALISTS clear and that’s it. It’s there. for you because your story on me until after. That was a says. you somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years Some peopleMON say it’s kind of is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, yourNORTH! it’s something I’ll focus on OFand THE - THU: 9 am - 9 pm • FRIDAY: 9 am - 10 pm • SATURDAY: 9 am - 9 pm • SUNDAY: 10 am - your 6 pmloved ones blunt or direct. I don’t tend never done it and I thought, Being on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to history is gone?’” doing.”
Thompson 2020 takes the next step in cottage lot, seasonal campground development