January 6 2017

Nickel Belt News

Volume 57 Number 1

Friday, January 6, 2017

Thompson, Manitoba

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Paint night at the Snow Lake Motor Inn Back row, left to right Shelly Chrapun, Derek Chrapun, Jenna Wiwcharuk, Sadie Stabback, Amy Bradt and Leone Jackson. Front row, left to right: Marc Jackson, Brittany Hilderman, Brontë Hendren and Janelle Grant.

Nickel Belt News photo by Marc Jackson See related story on Page 4

Free naloxone kits to help prevent opioid overdose deaths available in Northern Manitoba

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Free naloxone kits are now available in nine locations around Manitoba, including three in Winnipeg and others in Flin Flon, Gillam, Pine Falls, Selkirk, The Pas and Thompson.

Naloxone is a drug that blocks the effects of opioids and can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly or via a nasal spray.

Administering it to some-

one suffering from an opioid overdose can keep them alive and breathing so first responders have time to transport them to a hospital or other medical facility for treatment. People who request a take-home naloxone kit will be given training on how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to use the kit, as well as information on addiction and harm reduction. The expanded distribution of

the kits via Street Connections builds on a program that saw 245 kits distributed in Winnipeg in 2016, which the provincial government says resulted in 31 overdoses being reversed.

“Overdose is one of the leading causes of accidental death in Manitoba,” said Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Kelvin Goertzen in a Jan. 3 press release. “Making naloxone kits available across

the province won’t stop the opioids crisis but it will save lives and help prevent overdoses.”

The RCMP announced in November that it was providing more than 1,000 naloxone kits to frontline officers throughout the province.

Opioids include drugs derived from opium poppies like morphine and heroin as well as synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs like

hydrocodone, oxycodone and fentanyl.

The RCMP said in November that fentanyl – a prescription painkiller far more powerful than morphine – is present throughout the province, including urban centres and rural communities policed by the RCMP, though its officers had not had to respond to any medical emergencies involving fentanyl yet.

Thompson RCMP police

community relations officer Const. Sandy Deibert said in a Nov. 24 news release that police have not encountered the drug in Thompson yet but it could eventually find its way here.

“For those not using illicit drugs, your risk is low,” the news release said.

“However unintentional exposure to the drug can cause serious harm. Signs Continued on Page 5

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Page 2

Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

Friday, January 6, 2017

News

Role in beating death of homeless man nets two-year sentence plus time served

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

A former Oxford House resident was sentenced to two years less a day plus time served Dec. 19 for his role in the May 2014 beating death of a homeless man in Winnipeg.

Oliver James Okemow pleaded guilty to manslaughter for taking part in two separate beatings of Wayne Harper along with another co-accused who is awaiting trial and another man named Jeremy Rae, who is now deceased.

Okemow and the coaccused, both of whom, like Rae and Harper, were homeless in Winnipeg at the time, attacked Harper while he was sleeping in

a homeless camp on May 24, 2014. The following morning, Okemow, his coaccused and Rae ran into Harper again and attacked him once more. Harper collapsed shortly after this attack and was taken to hospital in unresponsive condition where he died as the result of a large subdural hematoma that put pressure on his brain.

The court agreed that Okemow, who was arrested in December 2014 and admitted involvement to police, was the least involved participant in both of the attacks. He has been in custody since December 2015, having served a total of 398 days behind bars, for which he received 1.5

times credit for a total of 597 days. After he completes the remaining two years less a day he will be on probation for three years.

“I recognize the sentence I am imposing is at the lower end of what might be considered appropriate in similar circumstances,” Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Brenda Keyser wrote in her decision. “I have tried to balance the aggravating factors with the disadvantages suffered by Okemow and his prospects for rehabilitation. In this way, I believe the safety of the community is best served and the principles of sentencing best satisfied.”

The Crown had been

seeking a sentence of between four and seven years’ incarceration in addition to the time Okemow has already served, while the defence was asking for a sentence of three-and-ahalf years with a deduction of one-and-a-half years for time already served.

Keyser noted that mitigating factors in the sentencing decision included the fact that Okemow had pleaded guilty, albeit after a preliminary hearing, that he had displayed significant empathy for the victim and that he hadn’t meant to cause death or serious harm to Harper and his judgment was impaired by alcohol at the time of the beatings. She also noted

that, growing up in Oxford House, he and his nine older siblings had lived in a chaotic environment with a father that physically abused their mother and that both of their parents abused alcohol to the extent that the children frequently went without food when their parents spent all their money on alcohol. One of Okemow’s brothers has died of alcohol poisoning, a sister died in an accident on a winter road and another sister was murdered in Thompson in 1997. Before one his sister’s deaths, he promised to take care of his niece if anything happened to his sister, but that niece committed suicide in 2009 which caused Okemow to

feel that he had not fulfilled his promise, after which his use of alcohol intensified.

Okemow got married and moved to Lake St. Martin when he was 29 and lived there until his family was displaced by flooding and began living in Winnipeg, at which point he began consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, living as a transient and panhandling to survive.

Keyser noted that Okemow has not had much trouble with the law while living in Oxford House and Lake St. Martin and that he intends to return to Oxford House, where he still has family, once his sentence is completed and that he has had no issues while in custody.

Memorandum of understanding marks beginning of Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill transfer

BY KACPER ANTOSZEWSKI KACPER@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

The signing of a memorandum of understanding in December marks the beginning of the transfer of Manitoba assets from the ownership of OmniTrax Canada to Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (MCCN) and the Missinippi Rail consortium.

The signing comes roughly a year since MCCN first announced its intent to buy the Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill, during which time parties exercised due diligence regarding the purchase and negotiated both the rail line’s future as well as its operation over the period leading up to the rail

line’s official transfer.

MCCN Chief Arlen Dumas noted that the consortium continues to seek additional investors to ensure the complete and productive transfer of the rail line and port.

While Dumas would not comment on the full membership of the consortium, he notes all First Nations

stakeholders are welcome to join the initiative.

Dumas also made clear that while the project was helmed by First Nations groups, it requires the partnership of provincial, federal and average Manitobans to ensure it will become an asset for all northerners.

“We’re by no means excluding anyone,” he said. “We have to come together as we have in the past, through the fur trade, and through

developing the north. This initiative is for the benefit of everyone, and it will be successful.”

While federal and provincial governments have not made any formal offers of assistance as of yet, Dumas notes that the consortium are maintaining an open and regular dialogue with federal and provincial departments.

The process of the sale has been plagued with setbacks, including changes of

government, controversial reductions in rail service, the closing of the Port of Churchill, and a lawsuit filed by OmniTrax against Manitoba and former NDP officials. It remains unclear when or if the rail line’s service schedule will be restored to previous levels, or when the port will see ships moving in its harbour. Nonetheless. Chief Dumas remains determined.

“It will happen. It’s going to happen.”

Long pre-Christmas power outages in Lynn Lake due to Hydro staff being on vacation

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Lynn Lake suffered a couple more extended power outages in the week before Christmas due to the local Manitoba Hydro crews being unavailable.

A Dec. 18 power outage affected six residents, who were without power from noon to 7:30. On Dec. 22, 300 customers had no electricity from late afternoon until 9:35 p.m., about an hour after staff dispatched from Thompson were expected to arrive in the community. Manitoba Hydro public affairs officer Bruce Owen said the cause of the power outages is not known and that, on both occasions, Lynn Lake Hydro staff were out of the community on vacation, which meant that crews had to be dispatched from Thompson before power could be restored.

“We respond to outages throughout the north on a daily basis,” said Owen.

“Travel is always a challenge due to the geography we are dealing with and access. Lynn Lake has road access, but many remote communities do not, and our response by aircraft depends largely on weather conditions.”

Owen noted that Manitoba Hydro staff were travelling to Tadoule Lake Jan. 4 to respond to an outage that had been reported the previous day. Hydro had been unable to respond to that outage earlier because staff were unable to book a flight out of Thompson on Jan. 3.

“When the weather is poor, communities could be without power for extended periods of time and should have emergency plans and backup generators,” Owen said.

Friday, January 6, 2017

Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

Page 3

News

Designation of broadband Internet access as a basic service welcomed by remote communities and First Nations

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

The Canadian Radiotelevision and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) Dec. 21 designation of broadband Internet access as a basic telecommunications service for all Canadians is being welcomed by those who represent residents of remote Northern Manitoba communities and First Nations but they aren’t necessarily holding their breath in anticipation of blazing fast Internet speeds.

The CRTC’s Dec. 21 announcement stipulated that Internet service providers should strive to provide speeds of 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds and 10 Mbps upload speeds for fixed broadband Internet access and offer an unlimited data option, as well as ensuring that the latest mobile wireless technology is available not only in homes and businesses but also along major roads in the country.

To support this, the CRTC is establishing a fund that will provide up to $750 million over the first five years towards projects to expand broadband Internet infrastructure, particularly to underserved areas. The CRTC also wants service providers to ensure with the next six months that their service contracts are written in clear and plain language and make online tools available for consumers to manage their data usage.

“Access to broadband Internet service is vital and a basic telecommunication service all Canadians are entitled to receive,” said CRTC chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Blais in a news release. “Canadians who participated during our

Prospect of achieving standards set out by CRTC likely remains years down the line for many process told us that no matter where they live or work in our vast country — whether in a small town in northern Yukon, a rural area of eastern Quebec or in downtown Calgary — everyone needs access to high-quality fixed Internet and mobile services. We are doing our part to bring broadband services to rural and remote communities.

The availability of broadband Internet, however, is an issue that can’t be solved by the CRTC alone.

All players in the Canadian communications landscape will need to do their part to ensure Canadians have access to the services they need to participate in the digital economy. All levels of government must address gaps in digital literacy. Affordability concerns are best addressed by the emergence of a dynamic market place where service providers compete on price for telecommunication services, in conjunction with social responsibility programs of telecommunications carriers and different levels of government.

High quality and reliable digital connectivity is essential for the quality of life of Canadians and Canada’s economic prosperity.”

Lynn Lake Mayor James Lindsay told the Nickel Belt News that he doesn’t expect communities like his, which is literally located at the end of the road in northwest Manitoba, will see much improvement in their Internet speeds within the next decade.

“I believe MTS will have to make some multi-million dollar investments to both rural and remote areas

of Manitoba, and will be prioritizing their larger markets first,” Lindsay said. “After many years of asking MTS to address the needs of our residents and improve their telecommunication infrastructure here, we remain largely disappointed with their lack of progress. The only thing that our lobbying has been able to achieve is a $10/month discount for their ‘Lightning’ Speed DSL Internet Package for their customers in Lynn Lake. As the CRTC has given telecom companies in Canada direction to make these improvements in service quality a very broad timeline of 10 to 15 years, we don’t anticipate much in the way of service improvement in the near future. Speaking as a consumer and private citizen, when I consider the infrastructure improvements that delivering such vast improvements will require, I will be happily surprised if they can meet that time line without public investment in their upgrades.”

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson said in a Dec. 22 press release that MKO First Nations welcome the CRTC decision.

“MKO was an active intervenor in the CRTC hearings, through our partnership with the Manitoba Public Interest Law Centre, on the kinds of basic telecommunications services Canadians need to participate in the ‘digital economy’ and on the role the CRTC should take in ensuring basic telecom services are available, in-

Homes and vacant lots in Big Eddy transferred to OCN’s ownership Eleven houses, three duplexes and 14 vacant lots in the Big Eddy settlement were transferred to the ownership of Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) for a nominal fee by the provincial government in mid-December.

The government is also providing OCN with $200,000 to make repairs to the properties, some of which were previously owned and managed by Manitoba Housing, and the First Nation itself will also be investing in upgrades to the properties.

“The Opaskwayak Cree Nation recognizes and celebrates this important step for our people,” said OCN Chief Christian Sinclair in

a Dec. 14 press release.

“Ownership of land and housing in the Big Eddy settlement will enable the Cree nation to manage and upgrade the existing housing for the benefit of the OCN members who reside there. We will continue to work toward the eventual designation of the land as a reserve in fulfillment of our treaty entitlement agreement.”

The land in the Big Eddy settlement was identified

by OCN as part of treaty entitlement agreement in 1999 and an agreement between the First Nation and the province came into effect Oct. 31. Tenants currently in the homes will remain there for the time

being with OCN as the landlord until First Nation representatives meet with them to discuss the transition process and future plans for the properties.

“This transfer recognizes the importance of community-led decision-making for essential services like housing and land development,” said Families Minister Scott Fielding. “The Manitoba government has worked closely with the OCN chief and council to ensure this transition will be seamless for tenants.

This reflects our ongoing commitment to building local capacity, while also respecting our government’s obligation to indigenous communities.”

cluding to rural and remote communities. MKO was a strong advocate before the CRTC of the existing and growing importance of high-speed broadband Internet to rural, remote and northern First Nations,” said North Wilson. “MKO told the CRTC that, even with the significant limitations in existing services, the Internet is already essential to the MKO First Nations through the growing use of social media to communicate with both friends and family and to share information. As well, governments are increasingly moving to make access to services and to the essential information about these services available mainly through the Internet. Very few of the MKO First Nations have the Internet services mandated through the CRTC’s Basic Service Standard. The CRTC’s ruling will promote development of northern technology infrastructure and help to address gaps in health, education and social services as well as encourage innovation and excellence in governance and economic development. MKO will closely

follow the rollout of the CRTC’s decision, including the new $750 million fund to expand broadband Internet services to rural and remote areas. MKO is com-

mitted to work with both levels of government and the private sector to ensure that none of the MKO First Nations are left out as the industry and governments implement the new Internet Basic Service Standards over the deadlines mandated by the CRTC.”

Faculty of Social Work

Northern Social Work Program The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work at Thompson is now accepting applications for the Northern Social Work Program. The deadline for submitting applications is March 1, 2017. The program is scheduled to begin September 2017.

Students may complete the Northern Social Work Program as a fulltime or part-time student.

The program provides post-secondary education for Residents of Northern Manitoba, in particular those who have not had the opportunity due to economic and cultural reasons, lack of formal education, linguistic barriers or residence in remote areas.

Relocation to Thompson will be required.

Individuals can apply either under ACCESS or EXTERNAL categories. The ACCESS category is for mature students, 21 years or over, who have under 30 credit hours of university level courses. The EXTERNAL category is for regular students who have 30 credit hours or more of university level courses and are in good academic standing. For both categories, applicants must have resided in Northern Manitoba for 6 months or more prior to the application deadline or have been a long term resident of the North.

For information or applications contact the Faculty of Social Work at Thompson at 204-677-1450 or No Charge Dial 1-866237-5509 or visit http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/social_work/ programs/northern/591.html

Page 4

Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

Friday, January 6, 2017

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OBITUARIES ELEANOR “CHICK” (GISLASON) HURDAL, January 10, 1926 – December 16, 2016, Thompson Manitoba

Eleanor “Chick” Hurdal, 90 decided it was time to lay down her cards on December 16, 2016 peacefully with family by her side.

Chick was born on January 10, 1926 in a cozy wood home on Reed Lake, Manitoba to Hazel (Snye) Gislason and Gillie Gislason. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Skuli, six sisters, one brother and her grandson Alan Mulessa. Left to continue her life’s celebration is her daughters Kathleen (Hurdal) Jackson and Karen (Hurdal) Cathcart. Her grand kids Steven Jackson, wife Lorie and daughters Halle and Nicole; Juanita (Jackson) Farkas, husband Bobby and daughters Marlee and Katelyn; Tammy (Jackson) Parobec, husband Calvin and daughter Eva; Anna (Mulessa) Putney, husband David and daughter Courtney; Wanda (Mulessa) Irvine, husband Ray, daughter Megan and son Stefon; Derek Cathcart, wife Angie, daughter Dakota and son Thomas; Keri-Rae (Cathcart) Gallagher, husband Sean, son Liam, daughter Katharine and son Oliver. Alan has a son Gregorie and a daughter Breeann.

Chick married her husband Skuli Hurdal on Aug 3rd, 1946 in Flin Flon Manitoba. Their life commercial ¿shing took their young family too many of the lakes in Manitoba but Reindeer Lake was where they ¿shed and called home for many years. Eventually with their kids getting older Chick and her family moved to Lynn Lake, Manitoba.

Chick lived in Lynn Lake until 2009 and moved to Thompson, Manitoba.

Chick will be forever remembered as an avid card player, with a passion for baking and an endless love for her family and dirty jokes.

Contract Rummy and Rummoli will never be the same.

Graveside Memorial will take place in Lynn Lake, Manitoba summer 2017. Date and time will be announced at a later date.

DAVID DMYTRO (DAVE) KOSTIUK Our father was born on August 23, 1944 in Mayfair, SK and passed away unexpectedly at his home in Carberry, MB on Dec. 29, 2016 at the age of 72.

He will be forever remembered by his daughters, Davina Kostiuk (Kevin Stacey) Thompson, MB; Lynne Kostiuk (Ian Cowie) Sherwood Park, AB and step-daughter Missy Creaser of Brandon, MB. His grandchildren, Kathleen (Cody); Terence (Angelique); Dylan; Adelina; Kyra and Elli as well as 3 great grandchildren. His siblings, Tom Kostiuk; Mike (Aline) Kostiuk; Bev (Hugh) Foster and Sally (Morris) Huculak as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Also deeply saddened by his passing are his ex-wife Marie Kostiuk and several close friends, Cindy, Jim, Dale and Jocelyn, just to mention a few.

My Take on Snow Lake mjaxon@gillamnet.com Under the auspices of the 70th Anniversary Committee, Brittany Hilderman put on a series of “paint nights” during the period of Dec. 9-11. A succession of five events were held in three separate venues over the weekend with a total of 44 painters taking part over the two days. They were led

by Brontë Hendren, a businessperson out of Thompson, Manitoba.

Participants in each episode had the choice of painting one of two different canvasses. A mittened hand holding a decoration, or a winter night scene with Santa and his sleigh silhouetted against a massive moon. There was also the choice to paint the latter sans the sleigh.

In addition to a host of other such opportunities, Hilderman brought the idea of a “paint nights” fundraiser to the September 2016 70th Committee meeting.

After agreement that it was an excellent idea, she was urged by the membership to forge ahead with it. Putting wheels in motion, Hilderman searched for someone interested in making the trek to Snow Lake and taking on the event. “I found Brontë on the Thompson Buy and Sell (Facebook page),” she said.

The beauty of a paint night is that no one needs any special skill, everyone leaves with a canvas suitable for framing. After all, art is a tangible expression

of a thought or a feeling … and it helps when someone who has done it many times leads you through each step of what is actually a simple process. Everyone goes home with a masterpiece!

Actually, in this case, even the teacher had no real background in painting – only an interest, an idea, and the foresight and fortitude to carry it out. “I don’t have any training in art,” Brontë Hendren confided during a break in proceedings at the early evening Snow Lake Motor Inn event.

“I learned what I teach from YouTube.” She noted that after studying a number of videos, she formed a business plan and went about putting it into action. Hendren has held a number of paint nights in her hometown of Thompson, where she says, several customers of late have taken to holding them in smaller venues, such as their homes.

Through the idea and fundraising efforts of Hilderman, the 70th Committee gained “around $500 of start-up money,” said the organizer. Asked if there were any plans to repeat the event in the offing, she said she would definitely be doing more of them. “For anyone really… might even do one more for the 70th,” she replied. “I have not set a date yet, but in the New Year we will have ‘paint night’ again. It was so nice to have something different to do in town!”

Hilderman added that she was very appreciative of venues such as the Snow Lake Motor Inn, Legion Branch #241, and the Snow Lake Seniors’ Centre that offered up space to carry out the event, as well as Tawow Lodge for accommodating the artist. However, she says the most pleasing aspect of putting it on was to see the cross-section of people who came out to take part. “It was great to see all the paintings and participation,” said the organizer.

Dave was predeceased by his parents, Dmytro & Mary Kostiuk and his sister Deanna (Diane) Englisbee.

Dave was a free spirit. His drive and ambition allowed him various experiences in life that many people would not be able to claim.

His hard work ethic created the foundation of his success in both his personal and business endeavors. For his loved ones, it is with heavy hearts we say goodbye to Dave… our brother, father, grandfather, uncle, partner and friend.

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Nickel Belt News

Published weekly by Prairie Newspaper Group of 141 Commercial Place, Thompson, Manitoba, R8N 1T1. The Nickel Belt News is owned and operated by Prairie Newspaper Group, a subsidiary of Glacier Media Inc. Advertising rates are available upon request and are subject to change without notice. Conditions of editorial and advertisement content: The

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Nickel Belt News photo by Marc Jackson Zach Roberts on the Snow Lake Motor Inn main stage.

In another event last month, 60 or so locals attended the Snow Lake Motor Inn on the evening of Dec. 17 for a performance

by Snow Lake singing sensation Zach Roberts.

For a number of years now Roberts has been a staple around the local campfire circuit and a much sought-after performer at events highlighting area talent. However, this was the first show where the young singer/guitar player headlined. Those in attendance were in agreement on the prospect that there will be many more such shows.

Roberts began his first half-hour set at 7 p.m. and evenly spaced a couple more over the ensuing two-hour period. He played and sang songs made famous by a wide range of artists and added his own personal stamp to many. This was noted in particular with his arrangement/vocals on Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.”

The young man is renowned for his graveledged voice that lends itself well to the folk, rock

and country tunes in his repertoire; however, on this night there were two songs that brought out the goose bumps on many in the audience. They were George Ezra’s “Budapest” and Leadbelly’s “My Girl (In the Pines),” which was made famous by Long John Baldry and later, Nirvana.

Roberts showed a relaxed and easy presence on stage, even though he stated he was nervous. He introduced many of his songs with background and personal notes and kept himself grounded with a slight smile or chuckle during the odd occasion when he missed a note.

During the final set of his show, he brought a couple more bawdy tunes into the mix … much to the delight of those in attendance. Some folks even sang along.

At the close of the performance, he thanked his audience and the owners of the venue and people responded with thanks of their own … a prolonged period of clapping, whistles, and hoots! Well done Zach!

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Friday, January 6, 2017

Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

Page 5

Columnists

A bleak future for northern reserves

BY GRAHAM LANE Recently we have had worrisome news from Northern Manitoba. From the troubles of the Port of Churchill and its rail line, a scare from The Pas’ major employer and thoughts of moving the aboriginal-run casino, to continued plans to shut down parts of the Vale and HudBay’s operations in Thompson and Flin Flon. All affect the employment of aboriginals.

In the heady 1960s, Churchill reached a population of nearly 6,000 people. After the U.S. Air Force moved out and the rocket range closed down, Churchill’s population steadily declined to about 700 people. Tolko’s forestry operations in the Pas tried to make a go of it after Crown corporation Manfor couldn’t – trees are too small, markets too far away.

Many other communities in the north, such as Lynn Lake, Bisset, Pine Falls and Flin Flon, have had operations closed down or reduced, and have seen their working populations decline substantially. Gone are the days of never-ending price increases for all raw commodities – welcome to the days of cutthroat competition, flattening demand and low economic growth – spelling disaster for many northern resourcebased communities.

People naturally migrate out of declining communities to areas of economic opportunity, better health care, and greater educational opportunities. Until we see an explosion in the demand for our natural resources, the Manitoba North will produce less economic output and continue to lose population.

So, where does this leave our First Nations people living on northern reserves? The hope was economic opportunities would spill over into their communities. But with mine closures, forestry at risk, hunting and fishing offering limited opportunities and local industries relocating, what is the long-term economic outlook for our northern citizens?

This situation is important for all Manitobans. The aboriginal communities are part of Manitoba and Canada and we are all responsible for our aboriginal citizens. Aboriginals living in the north, and especially those on reserves, face a bleak future, economic and social. Frankly, there is little possibility for the majority to become economically selfsufficient. Right now, 90 per cent of the people on northern reserves are unemployed, with no hope of ever finding meaningful and longterm work outside of internal band administration.

Kits available in Thompson, Gillam Continued from Page 1 of an overdose can include, but are not limited to: severe sleepiness, slow, shallow breathing, lips and nails that turn blue, cold and clammy skin, and unresponsiveness. If anyone has concerns about exposure to fentanyl please contact emergency medical services immediately.”

Free naloxone kits are available from Thompson Public Health, Gillam Public Health, the Flin Flon Primary Health Care Centre, The Pas Primary Health Care Centre, the Selkirk

Public Health Office and the Nations-First Pharmacy in Pine Falls. Street Connections says that people with health coverage under First Nations Inuit Health are eligible for free naloxone kits from pharmacies where they are sold. Street Connections also recommends that opioid users bring someone who is likely to be with them if they overdose such as a friend or family member when they go to pick up a naloxone kit so that person will know how to respond to an opioid overdose.

FENTANYL – What you need to know IT’S ADDICTIVE

Fentanyl can be highly addictive when used to “get high”

IT’S STRONG

Fentanyl is a very potent drug – up to 100 times stronger than morphine & 20-50 times stronger than heroin

IT’S DANGEROUS

Using fentanyl to “get high” is very dangerous. It only takes a tiny amount (the size of two grains of sand) to result in overdose & death

IT’S FAST-ACTING

Fentanyl effects occur very quickly after use, meaning intoxication & overdose can occur before a person is aware something is wrong

For families wherever located and whether or not aboriginal, to have a purpose to their lives and believe their children will be better off than they have been, they need economic empowerment. The brutal truth is that no one can turn history back and support their families by hunting and fishing. And, it is increasingly unlikely mining and forestry will rescue them. While there will always be some traditional trapping and small-scale commercial fishing, it will never be enough to support our northern aboriginal population.

These people are trapped, dependent on a welfare state controlled by chiefs, band councils, and the federal government. To some degree, we can blame corruption and a lack of skills, but there are fewer employment opportunities in the North. There is no hope of these Manitobans becoming economically well off – period.

It is time that we looked for real alternatives to help our northern aboriginal people find meaningful and productive lives, rather than hiding them away on crime-infested reserves and other withering northern communities.

Graham Lane leads Manitoba Forward (www.manitobaforward.ca).

This commentary first appeared in the Winnipeg Sun on Dec. 2.

Church Services ST. JAMES ANGLICAN Rev. Jean Arthurson-Ouskan 10 Caribou 677-4652 11 am Sundays ST. JOSEPH UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC 340 Juniper Drive 778-7547 ST. LAWRENCE ROMAN CATHOLIC Fr Shantha Gandamalla and Fr Guna Sekhar 114 Cree R. 677-0160 Sat. 6:30 pm & Sun. 10 am THOMPSON PENTECOSTAL Pastor Dan Murphy Youth Pastor Colton Murphy Children’s Pastor Karen O’Gilvie 126 Goldeye 677-3435 thompsonchurch.ca Sunday school 9:45 am, Coffee time at 10:40 am Church Service at 11:00 am ST. ANDREWS PRESBYTERIAN 249 Thompson Drive 204-677-2799 Pastor Murat Kuntel Regular Hours: 11 am Church Service CHRISTIAN CENTRE FELLOWSHIP 328 Thompson Dr. N. 677-4457 Pastor: Arnold (Arnie) Pedersen Sun. School 9:45 am • Service 11 am FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 456 Westwood Dr. S. Ph. 778-8037 Service @ 11 am LUTHERAN - UNITED CHURCH OF THOMPSON Congregations worship at 52 Caribou Rd. at 10:30 am Sundays.

Phone 204-677-4495 LIVING WATER CHURCH Pastor Archie McKay Ph: 677-2469 Sunday services @ 7:00pm.

LIGHT OF THE NORTH CHURCH 32 Nelson Road GATEWAY BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH Pastor Dave Cook 159 Cree Rd 204-677-3000 Sunday School 10:00 am AM Service at 11, PM Service at 7 Prayer Meeting - Wednesday 7 pm THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS everyone welcome sundays at 10 AM 83 Copper Rd For more information, church tours or home visits call the Missionaries at 204-939-4382 or visit Mormon.org THE SALVATION ARMY Thompson Corps (Church) 305 Thompson Dr. - 204-677-3658 Worship services every Sunday at 11 am APOSTOLIC FAITH CHURCH 111 Goldeye Crescent Sunday 11:00 am Worship Service 3:00 pm Sunday School 7:00 pm Evening service Wednesday: 7:00 pm Bible study followed by prayer time.

Contact us at 204-679-2693 or 204-677-5003 BURNTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH 39 Beaver Crescent Thompson MB R8N 1C5 204-778-4494 Pastor Lee Pickett Sunday morning service 11:15 a.m Sunday evening service 7:00 p.m Wednesday prayer meeting 7:00 p.m

YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IT’S THERE

Fentanyl can be added to other drugs without the user’s knowledge.

There is no way for an average person to tell if fentanyl has been added to another drug – you can’t see, taste or smell fentanyl

IF YOU DO USE Don't use alone & take turns using – have a phone ready to call 911, be prepared with naloxone Start with a small amount - even a tiny amount of fentanyl can cause an overdose

X

Don’t mix with other drugs (including alcohol) – doing so increases the chance of an overdose

SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE

Severe sleepiness Slow heartbeat Trouble breathing Slow, shallow breathing or snoring Cold, clammy skin Trouble walking or talking

If these effects are present CALL 911

Learn about naloxone: zStreetconnections.ca > Overdose zTowardtheheart.com/naloxone

MBAddictionHelp.ca

1-855-662-6605

Free naloxone kits are being distributed in various locations throughout Manitoba to try to prevent overdose death from natural opiates like heroin as well as synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is up to 100 times stronger than morphine.

MALL HOURS: Monday 9:30 - 6:00 pm Tuesday 9:30 - 6:00 pm Wednesday 9:30 - 6:00 pm Thursday 9:30 - 6:00 pm Friday 9:30 - 9:00 pm Saturday 9:30 - 6:00 pm Sunday 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm *Some store hours may vary Mall Office Tel: (204) 677-2113 Fax: (204) 677-4611 www.shopcitycentremall.com

CLASSIFIED@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET 201 • SERVICES

505 • HOUSES FOR SALE FOR SALE BY OWNER 4 Minago Bay. Reduced to $100,000. If interested, call 204-348-7493. 34nb-tfn-nb

Tire Sales & Service Passenger - Light Truck - ATV Trailer - RV - Golf Carts - Forestry - Retreads - Section Repairs - Tubes Wheel Balancing - Repairs

52nb-tfnb

90 Hayes Rd. Thompson, MB Phone 677-3925 or Toll Free 1-877-677-9955

510 • RETAIL/ OFFICE SPACE OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE 500-5000 sq ft. available. Cameron/Hoe building 81 Churchill Drive. Contact Joe Aniceto.

204-679-0490 or Neil Cameron 306477-5668. 19nb-tfn-nb 2 COMMERCIAL SPACES for rent. One - 1,300 sq ft with storefront location, retail or office Two - 1,600 sq ft, ideal for light industrial or commercial use, easy load & unload & parking access, very reasonable rates. Call 204-677-2957 or 250-491-3946. 19nb-tfn-nb

501 • HOUSES FOR RENT AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY 3 bedroom side by side, recently updated throughout interior, electric heat. $1400 per month plus utilities. References required and no pets, Please call 204-677-3851.

39nb-tfn-nb

Service Advisor needed: Seeking a bright individual to join our service team with computer experience.

Job description: Greet customers, and listen to their description of the problems or service needed, administrative and customer relations, prepare service orders, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, taking time to understand the points being made, handle the functions of the service department.

Please drop off resume to Minute Muffler 35 Moak crescent

Our full-service garage requires a FULL-TIME MECHANIC Full benefit package & competitive salary.

Apply in person or by email: 35 Moak Crescent Thompson, MB R8N 2B8 minutemuffler@mymts.net

Marymound is presently seeking: Youth Care Practitioners – Three positions available: Permanent Part-time, 32 hours bi-weekly, Weekend afternoons; Permanent Part-time, 16 hours bi-weekly, Days, Weekends (Competition # YCP16-143); and Permanent Part-time, 32 hours biweekly, Overnights, Weekends (Competition #YCP16-143) – Marymound North Receiving Home Youth Care Practitioners are part of a multi-disciplinary team responsible for supervision and safety of youth through daily interaction and care. Participate in planning, assessing, and implementation of treatment strategies. Experience working with youth; ability to relate positively & therapeutically to youth; and must have excellent physical & emotional health. Education and experience considered.

Satisfactory Criminal Record and clear Child Abuse Registry/ Prior Contact checks are requirements of all positions as well as emergency first aid, valid driver’s license, and abstract. Knowledge of Indigenous customs, traditions, and beliefs will be considered an asset.

For more information about Marymound, visit www.marymound. com Submit cover letter and résumé quoting Competition # to: Competition No. YCP16-142 and YCP16-143 Human Resources 442 Scotia Street Winnipeg, MB R2V 1X4 Deadline to submit: January 12, 2017. e-mail: careers@marymound.com or online at www.marymound.com

Page 6

Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

Friday, January 6, 2017

Careers JOB POSTING RESIDENTIAL CARE WORKERS Part-Time Weekend (Two Positions Open) (Rotating Day, Evening & Night Shifts) ADDICTIONS FOUNDATION OF MANITOBA Eaglewood Addictions Centre, THOMPSON

Your search is over.

The Manitoba government offers you opportunity, diversity and a rewarding career.

Child and Family Services Worker (2 positions) 2 Regular/Full-Time Manitoba Finance, Rural and Northern Services, Northern Region, Flin Flon. MB Advertisement Number: 32444 Closing Date: January 23, 2017 Salary Range: $53,864 to $74,688 per year plus remoteness allowance, if applicable From the City of Flin Flon website: The City of Flin Flon is a unique northern-urban community with a trading area of over 15,000. The City of Flin Flon can boast a wide array of amenities, such as The Flin Flon Tourist Park and Campground, Baker’s Narrows Provincial Park, a number of ďŹ ne restaurants, nightspots, scenic trails, boardwalk, golf course, lakes and so much more.

The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) is a Crown Agency that contributes to the health and resilience of Manitobans by providing addictions services and supporting healthy behaviors.

Reporting to the Supervisor, Residential Programs, Residential Care Workers provide client and facility support. These positions require a commitment to a client centred philosophy and approach to the development and support of AFM programs and client services.

The Residential Care Worker will demonstrate the following: • • • •

Over 70 years old, Flin Flon continues to be a community with character, quality of life, and opportunity.

•

For more information about Flin Flon, Manitoba, please visit the website of the City of Flin Flon at http://cityofinon.ca.

• • •

Relocation allowance may be considered.

Preference will be given to Aboriginal People, Persons with a Disability and Visible Minorities. Applicants are requested to indicate on their cover letter, resume and/or application if they are Aboriginal, a Person with a Disability or a Visible Minority.

Applicants who are graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work within the next six months are encouraged to apply An eligibility list may be created to ďŹ ll similar part time and full-time, term and regular positions within Thompson, The Pas and Flin Flon and will remain in effect for 6 months.

The Child and Family Services Worker is responsible for the full range of statutory child welfare services to families and children within the designated geographical area.

This dynamic position requires effective social work case management skills as well as establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with individuals, families, services providers, and agencies.

Conditions of Employment: s -UST BE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO WORK IN #ANADA s -UST PRODUCE A SATISFACTORY #RIMINAL 2ECORD #HECK WITH 6ULNERABLE 3ECTOR 3EARCH

Child Abuse Registry Check and Adult Abuse Registry Check s -UST HAVE A VALID DRIVER S LICENCE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE AND ABILITY TO TRAVEL ON government business within the Province of Manitoba

•

Ability to communicate respectfully and positively with clients and staff and presents self in an approachable and friendly manner.

Demonstrates a genuine enthusiasm for client-centred care and demonstrates empathy and compassion.

Exhibits the ability to respond to client requests in a responsible, timely and flexible manner.

Demonstrates the ability to consider the needs of clients, other staff persons and the organization when making decisions within the role.

Demonstrates enthusiasm for ongoing professional development activities, and engages in reciprocal learning experiences with colleagues and supervisors.

Recognizes the importance of regular supervision meetings.

Demonstrates active listening abilities, is coachable and responds positively to supervision.

Demonstrates a strong commitment to personal and professional ethics, integrity and responsibility.

Ability to manage own emotions and strong feelings; maintain a calm and tactful composure under a broad range of challenging circumstances; think clearly and stay focused under pressure.

Responsibilities: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Provide support and be present where clients are.

Respond warmly, politely and helpfully to everyone, including all visitors to the building.

Respond appropriately to emergency crisis situations, modelling to clients how this is done in a positive way.

Conduct facility orientations.

Facilitation of educational sessions and client house meetings.

Performing light housekeeping/maintenance.

Building security duties.

Coordination and distribution of client and program supplies.

Copying program materials.

Responding to telephone calls.

Documentation according to role requirements.

Demonstrates the ability to operate Microsoft software applications, internet and email communications.

s -UST BE AVAILABLE TO WORK EVENINGS WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS WHEN REQUIRED

QualiďŹ cations:

QualiďŹ cations: Essential:

• •

s 0OST SECONDARY DEGREE IN 3OCIAL 3CIENCES PREFERABLY "37 s #ASE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE INCLUDING INTAKES ASSESSMENTS SERVICE COORDINATION

COUNSELLING AND MONITORING IN A SOCIAL SERVICES SETTING /THER COMBINATIONS OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE MAY BE CONSIDERED AT AN UNDERlLL OR COMMENSURATE CLASSIlCATION AND SALARY LEVEL s !BILITY TO MANAGE CRISIS SITUATIONS s %FFECTIVE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS s !BILITY TO PRIORITIZE AND ORGANIZE WORK DEMANDS s !BILITY TO WORK AS PART OF A TEAM s 0ROlCIENCY IN -3 /FlCE APPLICATIONS 7ORD AND /UTLOOK s %FFECTIVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS s %FFECTIVE VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• • • •

Desired: s !BILITY TO CONDUCT SAFETY ASSESSMENTS s !BILITY TO CONDUCT CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS s +NOWLEDGE OF THE #HILD AND &AMILY 3ERVICES !CT AND 2EGULATIONS For more information please visit our website at www.manitoba.ca/govjobs

Apply to: Advertisement No. 32444 Manitoba Civil Service Commission Human Resource Services 300-305 Broadway Winnipeg, MB, R3C 3J7 Phone: 204-945-4394 &AX Email: govjobs@gov.mb.ca

• • •

Grade 12 education.

Suitable combination of education and experience working in a residential facility, addictions related employment experience and/or volunteer work.

Experience working from a client centred perspective.

Excellent interpersonal skills.

The ability to work within and contribute to a positive team environment.

An understanding of, and sensitivity to, working with culturally diverse populations is essential.

Valid CPR-C with AED training and First Aid certification are required prior to beginning work.

Knowledge of the addictions field is required.

Fluency in English (French verbal and written an asset).

The Competencies for the Residential Care Worker opportunity are: • Adaptability/Flexibility • Client Centred Service • Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness • Effective Communication • Ethical Conduct and Professionalism • Planning and Organizing • Teamwork and Cooperation • Crisis Intervention • Understanding Substance Use, Abuse and Dependency • From this competition a three month eligibility list will be established for term and casual positions within the same program, work location and job classiďŹ cation.

It is AFM practice to request a criminal record check and conduct a child abuse registry check prior to finalizing the appointment of successful candidates.

WHEN APPLYING TO THIS POSITION, PLEASE INDICATE THE ADVERTISEMENT NUMBER AND POSITION TITLE IN THE SUBJECT LINE AND/OR BODY OF YOUR EMAIL. Your cover letter, resumĂŠ and/or application must clearly indicate how you meet the qualifications. We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Employment Equity is a factor in selection. Applicants are requested to indicate in their covering letter, resumĂŠ and/or application if they are from any of the following groups: women, Aboriginal people, visible minorities and persons with a disability.

Find out about other current job opportunities — click on the Jobs button at manitoba.ca.

Competition #s:

2016-077 (RE-POSTED) 2016-084

Salary Range:

$16.55 to $20.72 an hour plus remoteness allowance if applicable.

Closing Date:

January 20, 2017

Apply in writing to: Director, Northern Area Addictions Foundation of Manitoba 90 Princeton Drive Thompson, MB R8N 0L3 Fax: (204) 677-7328 E-mail: afmnorth@afm.mb.ca We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

AFM VALUES DIVERSITY AND LIVED EXPERIENCE www.afm.mb.ca

Check us out online www.thompsoncitizen.net

Friday, January 6, 2017

Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

Page 7

Careers

CAREER OPPORTUNITY t $PNQFUJUJWF 4BMBSJFT t 3FMPDBUJPO "TTJTUBODF t $POUJOVJOH &EVDBUJPO t 3FNPUFOFTT "MMPXBODF t &YDFMMFOU #FOFĂśUT

Help Wanted Part Time Security Guard For the Thompson Regional Airport Authority QualiďŹ cations: Must have valid Manitoba Security Guard Training/License.

Must have computer skills and experience working with Microsoft applications including word, excel, outlook and quick books. Incumbent must have sound and independent judgment, reasoning and discretion. Must have the ability to interpret and adhere to company policies and procedures.

General mathematical and bookkeeping skills would be an asset. Applicants must have a valid class 5 driver’s license.

Must be able to manage and prioritize his/her workload and work in a fast paced environment. Effective interpersonal skills, communication skills and proven ability to work cooperatively in a team environment are essential. Applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English. Applicants must be bondable, have a clear criminal record and provide a child abuse registry check.

Duties: Reporting to the Airport Security Manager or designate the incumbents will carry out all aspects of the security requirements at the Thompson Airport including watchperson, traffic / parking patrols, attending to the ATB as required including cleaning and garbage removal, cash collection and daily reconciliation, assist in emergency situations, as required.

Applicants must present a positive and professional image to all customers, inquiries and other interactions.

Applicants are requested to indicate in their covering letter or resume how they meet the qualifications of the position.

Starting wage is $20.00 per hour. Closing date is January 27, 2017.

Apply to:

>Director of Corporate Business Support '5& 5IPNQTPO .BOJUPCB As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director of Corporate & Business Support provides regional financial and decision support to the Leadership of the organization to facilitate the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the organization. The Director of Corporate & Business Support will be part of the Senior Finance Team that is responsible for managing the overall financial operations of the organization and will provide accurate information including analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and preparing financial reports.

This position works closely with all programs and departments, in particular the VP of Planning & Innovation, within the Northern Health Region (NHR) to build capacity in terms of financial planning within the Region.

This position will provide direct supervision to the Thompson Finance Office, as well as oversee the management of the Materials Management and Logistics Services Department, the Support Services Department and the Northern Patient Transportation Program Department.

Qualifications: t 1SPGFTTJPOBM BDDPVOUJOH EFTJHOBUJPO $1" $" $(" PS $."

PS VOJWFSTJUZ degree in Business/Accounting, with advanced degree. t $VSSFOU WBMJE ESJWFS T MJDFOTF BOE XJMMJOHOFTT UP USBWFM FYUFOTJWFMZ t ,OPXMFEHF BOE FYQFSJFODF JO TUSBUFHJD BOE PQFSBUJPOBM QMBOOJOH t ,OPXMFEHF BOE FYQFSJFODF JO RVBMJUZ BOE SJTL NBOBHFNFOU t ,OPXMFEHF BOE FYQFSJFODF JO EFDJTJPO TVQQPSU t &YUFOTJWF FYQFSJFODF BOE LOPXMFEHF JO BMM BTQFDUT PG DPSQPSBUF BDDPVOUJOH and financial management t 5IPSPVHI LOPXMFEHF PG BMM SFMFWBOU 'FEFSBM 1SPWJODJBM BOE PSHBOJ[BUJPOBM SFRVJSFNFOU SFHBSEJOH ĂśOBODJBM SFDPSET BOE SFRVJSFNFOUT t "EWBODFE LOPXMFEHF PG .4 0ĂłDF BOE &YDFM t ,OPXMFEHF PG DPNQVUFSJ[FE BDDPVOUJOH TZTUFNT t ,OPXMFEHF PG CVEHFU QSFQBSBUJPO BOE BOBMZTJT UFDIOJRVFT t &YQFSJFODF PWFSTFFJOH BVEJUT QFSGPSNFE CZ FYUFSOBM BVEJU ĂśSNT t .JOJNVN UISFF ZFBST TVQFSWJTPSZ FYQFSJFODF 'PS DPNQMFUF MJTU PG RVBMJĂśDBUJPOT QMFBTF WJTJU PVS XFCTJUF www.nrha.ca.

Please submit resumĂŠ by January 20, 2017 to: Lori Rasmussen, Recruitment Officer 867 Thompson Drive South, Thompson, MB R8N 1Z4 Fax: (204) 778-1477 Email: recruiteast@nrha.ca

$BMM VT UPEBZ -PDBM PS 5PMM 'SFF Northern RHA has a Representative Workforce Strategy, we encourage all applicants to self-declare. Criminal Record, Child Abuse, & Adult Abuse Registry Checks are required. We thank all candidates for applying. Only those selected for interview will be contacted.

www.nrha.ca

Thompson Regional Airport Authority Box 112 Thompson MB R8N 1M9 Melissa.Lounsbury@y-yth.ca Fax: 204-778-6477

TERM POSITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER EMPLOYER: Nisichawayasi Nehetho Culture and Education Authority Inc. Nelson House, Manitoba POSITION: High School Physical Education Teacher to June 30, 2017 DEADLINE: January 18, 2017 at 4:30 pm INTERVIEWS: Week of January 23, 2017 START DATE: February 3, 2017 - June 30, 2017 NNCEA is currently seeking a high school Physical Education teacher to teach S1-S4 courses for Semester 2, February 6 - June 30, 2017. Successful candidate will be required to teach the courses & manage/participate in the high school sports program.

Prime responsibilities include teaching, organizing sporting events, coaching. Due to current renovations of the high school building, high school staff work irregular hours from 2:30 - 8:30 p.m. These hours are temporary. Once the building is done, regular hours will apply. Housing is available.

QUALIFICATIONS: • A Manitoba Teaching CertiďŹ cate and major in Phys. Ed. or eligibility for certiďŹ cation in Manitoba. • Well-versed in Phys. Ed/Health curriculum for Manitoba, various methodologies, differentiated instruction, safety and First Nations of northern Manitoba. • Experience teaching in secondary school setting • CertiďŹ ed in First Aid & CPR SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING: • An ability to work with minimal direction in a fast-paced, unique environment. • Excellent classroom management skills, exibility, a love for students/teaching. • Excellent communication, interpersonal skills. • A team player who works well with others.

Please send a cover letter, resume and vulnerable sector check to: NNCEA Selection Committee @ AMEC, Nelson House, Manitoba Phone: 204-484-2095 Fax: 204-484-2257 Email: gailm@nhea.info ONLY THOSE SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE CONTACTED.

Opaskwayak Health Authority Beatrice Wilson Health Centre Home Care Nurse (Term) Opaskwayak Health Authority is seeking a qualified individual to fulfill the role of Home Care Nurse on a term basis.

Term Assistant Coordinator This is a 1 year term position with the possibility of permanency Kisewatisiwin Services-Thompson COMPETITION NUMBER: 2630.12.16 SUMMARY: Macdonald Youth Services requires an experienced Assistant Coordinator within the Kisewatisiwin (KISE) service area in Thompson, Manitoba. The Assistant Coordinator provides operational and administrative leadership to the service area while ensuring that services are provided in a manner consistent with MYS’ policies, Mission, Guiding Principles and Therapeutic Model of Care.

QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO DO THE JOB: Postsecondary degree in Human Services with several years’ management/supervising staff experience. A combination of education and experience may be considered, experience in the child welfare system, experience and/or knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act and Residential Care, experience with building networks with other professionals, agencies, social service organizations and community organizations, experience working in a clinical environment, must be able to operate from a systematic framework, Excellent interpersonal communication skills, demonstrated proficiency working with Microsoft Office at an intermediate level, valid driver’s license.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $68,340.00 d.o.q. per annum (pro-rated to the length of the term). This position is also entitled to a Northern allowance equal to an additional five percent (5%) of the salary. Resumes maybe faxed, 7787778, emailed, northern.careers@mys.mb.ca, or delivered to 102-83 Churchill Drive Thompson, MB quoting competition number before 12:00 noon January 16, 2017 Hours Worked: 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm MYS is committed to developing and retaining a diverse workforce. All job offers are conditional upon providing the following satisfactory, and current (within 3 months) background checks: Child/Adult Abuse Registry Check; Prior Contact Check; and Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. For further information about our other employment and volunteer opportunities please visit our website www.mys.ca.

Job Summary Reporting to the Home Care Manager, the Home Care Nurse is responsible for promoting, protecting & preserving the health of OCN community members through services directed to home care clients. The Home Care Nurse provides holistic care & practices nursing as defined by the Registered Nurses Act & in compliance with the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba Standards of Practice & Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics; cares for & directs the overall care of clients; is responsible for advocating, providing information, educating & supporting clients to ensure that the highest possible standard of service is provided; follows OHA policies & procedures; works in a multidisciplinary team & may be called upon to assist with other duties within the scope of the department.

Position Requirements: • Degree in nursing & active CRNM registration • 2 years of related nursing experience • Demonstrated skills in palliative care treatment, occupational therapy & physiotherapy regimes, postoperative care, client advocacy & teaching, medications, diets & lifestyle • Proficiency in Windows operating system, Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Excel, Outlook • Valid Manitoba Class 5 Driver’s License & daily access to a vehicle • Satisfactory employment record including attendance at work Closing Date: Open until filled Applications Must Include: • A cover letter that clearly indicates how you meet the position requirements • Resume • Copy of credentials (licenses, training, education) • Three professional letters of reference (colleague, supervisor or manager) – or – contact information for same (include position / title, current place of employment, phone number & email • Criminal record check (or indication that it has been applied for) • Personal contact information (phone & email)

Opaskwayak Health Authority Beatrice Wilson Health Centre Non-Insured Health BeneďŹ ts Dispatcher (Term) Opaskwayak Health Authority is seeking a qualified individual to fulfill the role of Non-Insured Health Benefits Dispatcher - Term.

Job Summary Reporting to the NIHB Coordinator, the NIHB Dispatcher is responsible for NIHB medical transportation administration, NIHB vision administration & general administration. The NIHB Dispatcher works in a multidisciplinary team; and may be called upon to assist with other duties within the scope of the program.

Position Requirements: • Grade 12 or GED equivalent • 1 year related experience (preferred) • Knowledge of standard office equipment • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook • Satisfactory employment record including attendance at work Closing Date: January 17, 2017 at 4pm. No late submissions will be accepted.

Applications Must Include: • A cover letter that clearly indicates how you meet the position requirements • Resume • Copy of credentials (licenses, training, education) • Three professional letters of reference (colleague, supervisor or manager) – or – contact information for same (include position / title, current place of employment, phone number & email • Criminal record check & child abuse registry checks (or indication that they have been applied for) • Personal contact information (phone & email) • Your application will not proceed to interview without the above information.

To obtain a complete job description, for additional information or to apply for this position please contact or submit your application to:

Your application will not proceed to interview without the above information. To obtain a complete job description, for additional information or to apply for this position please contact or submit your application to:

Carol A. Buchberger, Human Resource Manager Opaskwayak Health Authority Box 10280, 245 Waller Road, Opaskwayak, MB R0B 2J0 Email: carol.buchberger@ocnhealth.com Please mark all correspondence “CONFIDENTIAL�

Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Carol A. Buchberger, Human Resource Manager Opaskwayak Health Authority Box 10280, 245 Waller Road, Opaskwayak, MB R0B 2J0 Email: carol.buchberger@ocnhealth.com

WORK WITH US & GROW A CAREER

Please mark all correspondence “CONFIDENTIAL�

Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Glacier Media Group is growing.

Check our job board regularly for the latest openings: www.glaciermedia.ca/careers

Page 8

Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

Friday, January 6, 2017

Columnists

A new beginning Are you tired of people saying that the New Year is a new beginning or does this give you a sense of hope? I always thought that the start of the school year in September would be a more sensible time to celebrate because it is the start of a new year of experiences and opportunities.

Each individual starts a new year on their birthday and shouldn’t the whole world celebrate that you exist and continue to exist? Of course it should! You are precious and there is no one else like you anywhere so listen up world - celebrate!

Ah, but life isn’t like that.

One thing we can all celebrate in the northern hemisphere at least, is that by Jan. 1 the days are noticeably longer than they were on Dec. 21. It’s the reverse in the southern hemisphere, of course, and likely not anything anyone thinks of in the equatorial zone. Other cultures mark different days and if a country follows a calendar based on the lunar cycle then New Year’s Day changes from year to year.

Nonetheless most of us celebrate the start of a new year on Jan. 1.

While we all look for new beginnings, a new start, from time to time, a lot of the things people believe

seem to suggest that new beginnings aren’t possible.

People say things like: “You made your bed. Now lie in it.” It’s all tied up in what we call free will and whether we really have that.

The Bible seems to tell us contradictory things about the freedom to make our own decisions. On the one hand, God always seems to be giving people choices. The Ten Commandments are an example. God wants people to follow these but knows that we don’t.

Jesus says “Follow me” but knows that many people who start to will change their minds. On the other hand, writers of the Bible tell us that God knows every choice we will ever make.

Some parts of the church interpret that to mean that we have no choice because God has already determined what we will do. My belief is that God knows what all the possibilities could be that each of us can make but our decisions and choices are our own. This is the exercise of the free will that God has given us. This is why we are responsible for the consequences of our own actions.

We can ask for forgiveness, repent (change our minds about what we have done) and be forgiven.

The belief that God has

Spiritual Thoughts kingleslie@commstream.net

Rev. LeslieElizabeth King determined each of our actions and what will happen in our lives is paralleled in the field of science by the idea of determinism: cause and effect. We can see the logic in cause and effect. If you touch a hot stove you’ll get burned. But determinism goes further than cause and effect. At its most extreme form it posits that the conditions and actions of today have been determined by the arrangement and movement of atoms billions of years ago. There is no freedom of will, no free choice. Everything has been determined by those initial conditions.

Now, William and Margery Spufford had a child, John, in 1510 and George and Katherine Perkins had a son William in 1597. If they had not, I could not have been born in 1948 because they are direct ancestors of mine. And, if they and those who descended from them had not survived the Plague,

the Wars of the Roses, the persecution of Protestants under Queen Mary and others, the North Atlantic sea voyage in sailing ships, the American Revolution, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, World War I, the Spanish flu (which killed my grandmother’s neighbours) and World War II, I would not have been born.

This is an awful lot of stuff to have been determined by the arrangement and movement of atoms billions of years ago. The logic breaks down, I think.

Then, there is the whole hypothesis (not a theory, which is a tested and proven hypothesis) of the multiverse. The idea behind this is that for every possible choice we each make all of the other possible choices happen in another universe. So instead of there being the one universe we know and love, there are as many universes as there are choices the seven or eight

billion people on earth could possibly make. Is your head spinning yet? This whole hypothesis assumes that our universe and our choices determine the reality in this multitude of others.

Just a little arrogant, I think.

Perhaps we’re the result of the last choice anyone else anywhere would ever make.

The logic breaks down.

Neuroscience is getting in on the argument. Brain scans have revealed that before a person moves an arm (or does anything), or even thinks of moving it, part of her brain is activated. This is interpreted to mean we have no free will because we are not consciously deciding to activate our brains.

The assumption behind this way of thinking is that intentional decisions are what give us human freedom of choice. I can’t see how any hockey team could ever win a game, let alone skate, if each specific movement had to be made consciously. The logic breaks down.

So, if we are going to celebrate a new beginning at the start of a new year, or any other time, how are we going to make a new beginning? Has everything been predetermined?

No. God has given us the freedom to choose and the opportunity to do so. “I will

cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” (Ezekiel 36:25-26 in the Hebrew Bible also called the Old Testament).

“If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come.”

(2nd Corinthians 5:17 in the New Testament portion of the Bible). “God who was seated on the throne said ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:6).

Jesus said “You must be born again” (John 3:7).

After Jesus was crucified his disciple Thomas didn’t believe he was raised from the dead until he touched the resurrected Jesus. “Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God’ then Jesus told him ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”

(John 20:28-29).

Change is possible.

Choice is possible. It does not depend on the date on a calendar. It is a gift given to us by God. We can have a new beginning any time.

Happy New Year, whatever day it lands on.

Rev. Leslie-Elizabeth King is the retired minister of the Lutheran-United Church of Thompson.

On-reserve schools in remote Northern Manitoba First Nations underfunded given higher costs, says report

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

A report on federal spending on First Nations education by the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) released Dec. 6 found that the average per-student amount for on-reserve education in Manitoba was comparable to the per-student average in provincial schools, but remote First Nations schools often have higher costs that aren’t covered by the federal government’s spending.

In 2012, the PBO found, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) per-student spending in Manitoba was approximately $13,000, as was the provincial per-student average. However, in the

three remote communities the PBO looked at – Sayisi Dene First Nation, York Factory First Nation and Shamattawa First Nation – spending ranged from $8,800 to $10,700 per student in the 2012-13 fiscal year.

“In that fiscal year, all three communities received per-student rates below INAC and provincial averages – despite the fact that all three reservations are remote fly-in communities,” the report noted.

In comparison, per-student spending in the provincial Frontier School Division, which operated 39 schools with about 6,000 elementary and secondary students in 2012-13 throughout an area that covers 75 per cent of Mani-

toba, exceeded $20,000 per student, with about half of that revenue coming from INAC in the form of tuition fees paid to Frontier, which operates nine on-reserve schools under educational agreements, for educating students who live on-reserve.

The PBO noted that INAC does not adequately allocate funding for operating small schools in remote northern locations, which have higher costs due to heating, serving less economically advantaged communities and providing programs in indigenous languages because many students may not speak French or English as a first language, among other factors. About 30 per cent of INAC-funded on-

reserve schools could be considered remote or special access or are north of the 55th parallel, the PBO said. In Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories, territory-funded schools received considerably more per-student than provincial-operated schools in 2011-12, up to a high of $24,465 in Northwest Territories, double the national average of $12,200 that year.

“This reflects higher costs associated with operating small schools in remote, sparsely populated northern communities where a large percentage of students speak English or French as a second language,” the PBO report noted.

Among the 19 commun-

ities with band-operated schools across Canada that the PBO examined, funding ranged from $9,500 per student to $32,000 per student at northern fly-in communities. Had the same funding formula used to determine funding for provincial schools in Ontario been applied to band-operated schools in that province, the PBO estimates that they would have been funded at between $21,000 and $25,000 per student, significantly higher than what is available through INAC. “However, it may still be inadequate to effectively operate a small school in a remote northern community with no road access, hundreds of kilometres away from the nearest

neighbouring community, and without certified teachers who currently live in or are from the community,” noted the report.

Commitments by the federal government to spend $2.6 billion in total over five years up to 2020-21 could help address school-funding shortfalls at INAC schools as compared to provincially operated schools but the shortfall between the money the federal government intends to spend over that period and the money needed to operate on-reserve schools comparably to provincially run schools could still amount to anywhere from a low estimate of $376 million to a high estimate of $744 million in 2020-21.

Committed to reducing red tape As MLA for the Thompson constituency with the responsibility of representing northerners, I’m proud to be a part of our new Manitoba government. We are a team with strong leadership and an unwavering commitment to building a better future for all Manitobans.

Although our inherited challenges following the previous government’s decade of debt, decay and decline are significant, we are up to the challenge. We

know our decisions today can affect Manitobans for generations, and we take that responsibility very seriously.

By being accountable and transparent, we continue to restore trust in government. We are keeping our promises, such as to reduce fees for ambulance services and to allow commercial fishers the choice to sell their catches either through Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation or directly to

MLA Report kelly.bindle@leg.gov.mb.ca Kelly Bindle buyers. Important ambulance services are becoming more affordable for Manitobans, and commercial fishers in Manitoba can now

decide for themselves which option is best for them and for their families.

Our new government remains committed to pre-

dictable, sustainable and transparent tendering of infrastructure projects because we know it will drive economic recovery and make Manitoba competitive, affordable and attractive for investment. To further rebuild the economy, we are focusing on removing red tape and excessive regulations that hurt Manitoba businesses. Companies and non-profit organizations need their government to work with them

so they can succeed, serve their clients and create quality jobs, rather than have pointless regulations hold them back. We are committed to making Manitoba the most improved province for regulatory accountability by 2020.

As we continue to fix our finances, repair our services and rebuild the economy, we will make Manitoba families safer and stronger and create a better province for future generations.