January 25 2019

Page 1

Nickel Belt News

Volume Volume 58 Number Volume58 59Number • Issue 4 911

Friday,January March25, 2, 2018 Friday, March 16, 2018 Friday, 2019

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Council takes Goose CEO Thompson’s BookCanada a way toRich, preserve and pass on Dr. Alan first step towards donates $1 million towards longest-serving physician, died Jan. 21 memories of growing Churchill reducing their polar bear conservation facilityup in Bears International board Motorcycle-riding doctor member and a former of that board known forchairman making from 2008 to 2017, money, which house callspledged and the going represents about half of the money the organwell beyond the call oftoduty ization hopes raise for

Polar Bears International (PBI) received a $1 million donation towards the construction of a new facility in Churchill during their Polar Bear Affair gala in Toronto Feb. 27. Dani Reiss, president and CEO of Canada Goose, as a current Polar BYwell IAN as GRAHAM

“Over the least decade of working with PBI, I have seen firsthand the passion and energy that the team puts into their important research and efforts to ensure polar bears have a future,” said Reiss in a press release. “It is a privilege to be a part of help-

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 most,” she said. tional activities on polar EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET Council approved fi rst Matechuk said that bear habitat conservation reading of a bylaw to resince the need to cut costs around the world.” The proposed Polar duce the number of coun- is partly due to the new, Polar Bears International Bears International House, cillors from eight to six at lower grant-in-lieu (GIL) House. construction of which is their Feb. 26 meeting by a that Vale Manitoba Oper“There’s different times that expected to begin at the vote of 6-3, with council- ations pays the city instead he’d been at our house and EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET start of the 2018 polar bear lors Ron Matechuk, Dun- of property taxes, the counDr. Alan Rich, who prac- he was here often socially season, will be built on do- can Wong and Judy Kolada cillors who negotiated that tised medicine in Thompson and he would leave here agreement could make it nated land on Churchill’s opposed. for 43 years and received and have to go and make Before the reduction possible for council to go main street and designed both the key to the city as a couple of house calls and to be energy efficient and becomes reality, however, through a trial period with well as a Queen’s Diamond then go back to his office ecologically sound. It will the bylaw must be the fewer members. Jubilee medal after going and do his bookwork until “If the three councillors serve as a site to educate subject of a public hearinto semi-retirement in 1 a.m. or so on the morning. ing, currently scheduled that negotiated the GIL, this visitors to Churchill about Thompson this Citizen file photo Swan River, died at the age The man would not stop.” for March 12, and then miserable, very poor polar change That dedication was what Dr. Alan Rich, seen here receiving of 73 Jan. 21, leaving behind thebears, key toclimate the city from then-mayor Tim Johnston and members of council in October and the urgent need to take receive second and third GIL, were to do the hongenerations of patients with earned Rich the key to the 2014, died Jan. 21. Rich practised medicine in Thompson for reading, 43 years after paying his way through university byresign workwhich are tentaourable thing and action, as well as provide memories of him making city from outgoing mayor ing at Inco. tively slated to occur March from council, we would broadcast facilities for house calls or maybe even Tim Johnston near the end and March 26 respect- have a couple of weeks to polar bear 12 stitching up the family dog. of his second term in 2014, sour note a few years be- media, protestssupport outside the hospital. that could this Gary thing fihere andwhether it stayedwe here for ively. Cityrebuild manager nd out want research and outreach efRich’s connection to which Johnston says was fore Rich received the key “When they attacked Dr. Ceppetelli or fix it or do whatever was about five or six years.” the bylaw to proceed all the way to assistpersonal,” visiting necessary.says Thompson began before one of only four such keys to the city, when two other forts, Rich, itand became He loved his third Norreading was Rich muchsaid for must be passed 180 days on this,” and old vehicles and he was a doctor, when he’d he awarded. he date was Matechuk, doctors employed at what scientists, said Ann educators Kaciulis, who fashion. prior to the election who repeated guests awhose “It meant something to was then the Burntwood other come to the city in the sumspearheaded publicwork pro- of very “At his wedding he was Oct.knowledgeable 24. If it is, theabout next comments made Feb. 12 and support are critical to them, mer to work at Inco and save me personally as the mayor Regional Health Authority – test on June 1, 2011, at the too. He could rattle dressed up really nice but I election could be a bit of when council voted 5-2 bear conservation. up money to pay for his next and certainly with Al, he Dr. Hussam Azzam and Dr. polar time. “They need to let him aoffcase about a 1914 whatever think that’s the one and only of musical chairs, to amend the Thompson a and know had gone through some Hisham Tassi – filed com- The year or school. retirefacility on hiswill owninclude with his how itincumbent was driven Charter time thatAct, I sawwhich him dressed with the eight stipuworkspace, bunkhouse, “He would take every challenging times near the plaints against Rich in 2011. own dignity.” and everything else. He was like that,” said Hall. “A councillors, assuming all of lates that council should andpersonal storage space shift or double shift that he end of his full-time career in Rich apologized to Azzam kitchen In his life, them really decide knowledgeable about clean shirt and a clean pair to run again, have eight councillors and equipment. could possibly get all during Thompson,” Johnston said. in a letter but then-BRHA for Rich was a unique charac- competing his old vehicles somesix old aofmayor, blue jeans andeffect he figured fororonly to the that “This is the single larThe recognition was sig- CEO Gloria King requested ter, sometimes difficult to available that summer in order to fimotorcycle that he found. he was really dressed to the spots, along with reducing the number of donation has That was his passion, his nines. He was not a clothes nance his education,” recalls nificant to Rich as well. that the apology be made gest understand when PBI speaking all the other candidates. council positions would andabout it is an hobby. He loved that.” “I visited Al many times in person. Rich refused received Wayne Hall, who knew Rich horse.” “new blood” from and passionate motorEliminating two council prevent to for about half-a century, as since he left and that was and retained a lawyer, who amazing cycles andcommitment old cars. That hobby was more To Johnston, Rich more positions would save just coming into council. securealways the polar both a friend and as the Hall one of the pictures he had so was informed Feb. 4, 2011 helping “Everybody said under about $20,000 the process than than lived up to motto in salarDeputy mayorhis Colleen I know that it meant a lot to that the BRHA was willing bear’s family’s doctor. that he future,” mumbledsaid and PBI that ies the end result, long-time of hoping to do more and perhaps about Smook said that isn’tgood neThat work ethic continued him,” said Johnston, whose to resolve the complaints executive was simply director because heKrista was a $5,500 Thompson veterinarian thanNews harm, andbyas proof ofand that Nickel photo Ianshe Graham to $16,400 in Belt cessarily true Wright. “We’re humbled relationship to Rich also inwhen he returned to ThompDr. Ken Bingham said in against Rich provided he very shy person,” said Hall, was in the number of people Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about hergenerous experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. expenses, based Valentino were among the gift Rich and travel son to practise after com- cluded being the owner of permanently retired from by whothis remembers how an the interview prior to his he met over the years who on amounts spent on top three vote-getters in the Professional pleting school. medicine would geta grateful.” excited when he travel retirement in the spring of 2014 knew and of those who BY IANmedical GRAHAM For Rich all the harsh weather to write things thatBuilding you have the ‘Oh, practice I’m just asofbad, right?’ extremely was not very safe thing swallow people say by when the two lowestdespite having not where “It was not uncommon on as- received for an 2017, recalling when heand let been have been in touch with him EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I have31, all2011, theseassumed stories and to fiSelkirk gure out.Avenue It’s pretty clear May to do butaI part jumped at old, it. I spending that Churchill residents and the of polar councillors on dangers council before, was located. sociate at Though all for somebody to say Rich’s status under an asobscure car that he was Rich use a greenhouse that to share condolences since she’s now written when I office get through.” I need to capture them for Erica thought was exciting should just fi nd somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it andthat Dani Reiss do- the two highest spending while Coun. Penny Byer Town ofsaid Swan in a coffee shop supervisor until the nated working restore. used be on the2016. grounds said his a book about her conversaexperien- “The DeMeulles sheRiver, wrote signed my grandchildren really until the plane landed and in easier toscal live. haddeath. been viable she would $1to million towards thetofi year fresh faces don’t automayortitled at theWhispers time, pretion, ‘Do you that the date, and “Hestarted had International’s to come and the say, Thompson Veterin“Amoved lot ofequate people know that ces growing up inknow Churchill, her book, in retirement because they will bethat losthe if Polar they throwing the ofShrinking “To ‘Those people have back to Churchcouncil to six matically to differBears him Stories with thefrom Queen’s he showed up at my door and desist any and all tell about it and lots of would ary Clinic. name,” Johnston said. “I’ve Addictions Foundation of sented the Wind: the “cease fuel me off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. I don’t.” put Thompson in ent results. proposed facility in ChurchJubilee and that at 10 o’clock last night to Diamond comments con- times it to me ,” Hall line “He came to mesimilarly one year been on phone steady.I Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for disparaging She also has a reputation cats, I show was probably sitting should justother leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, with “I’m notthe sure that whethill during the organization’s also prominent- cerning see how those pills any employee/mansaid. “At different times, I sized and hecommunities said, that er Everyone hasnew aI miss story to Gisele deMeulles said were writ- picture a couplewas of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s‘You quitegot disremiss thehave rock, the said you blood Bear gala To- greenhouse. displayed. things ager working for something me?’ or ‘Heshe set ly “I of BRHA, colleagues crated up Affair motors forinthat him I’ve got this share and that’s good. He ing wasn’t just sortThose of thought, “I had such a varied his- Polar Another thing spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though Coun. Blake Ellis, a com- makes that great a differ27. to something and,hisfor within my broken boneshe or would what- meant of ronto so thatFeb. heher could Model A. Iinwant get it ence truly was a very uniqueand inalways thought you know what, this tory andBRHA, I wouldpatients tell people spurred onsend wasthem the ment same reiterated boat another area they’re very dangerous bytoCoun. in what a council is meant ever fixed up forwould spring,’” said able dividual. Itand extended well the States Alberta do. and he showed up at me, tory,he this stuffsomething.” that’s in my BRHA hardtotimes facing Churchill I think we scream I really miss the Hudson stories and the theyBRHA.” would go, off NickelorBelt News Kathy Valentino. to do accomplish Rich’s medical my“In door make sure the head, The not health authority’s Ontario or someplace “Iwhy forgot ask depending beyond Thompson, his obmytoyouth I never true, is it?’ I’d go, or about thatyou so they Bay,” she says. “When Iimgo it’s going to becareer gone ‘That’s since the Hudson Bay Rail“When lookdon’t at to every on what the photo courtesy of Bingham. a treatment cast good was OK,’” said Hall. RichThey’d prompted he found operations some guy other which year. He moved it pact on people in the north.” felt at writing,” she in if I Thompson don’t write itended down,”on she ‘Yeah it’s of true.’ go, where have the option to do that? back home, standing on the way suspended city or municipality Continued on Page 3 Polar Bears International said. “But when I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re 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 • STATIONERY • CARDS ARE a very strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. said, ‘I’m sorry, youWE have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker 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 it on tape,CANADIAN I will write it DOLLAR deMeulles.STORE “It didn’t- dawn hardwareON store there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. LOOK FORput “GREAT THOMPSON” 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 OF THE Some peopleMON say it’s kind of lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to 9 do. of 10 that, yourNORTH! it’s something I’ll focus on - THU: 9 amis-going 9 pmto•beFRIDAY: 9 am - 10 pm • SATURDAY: am - 9Because pm • SUNDAY: am - 6your pm loved ones and 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.”


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