March 1 2019

Page 1

Nickel Belt News

Volume 11 Volume 58 59 Number • Issue 9 9

Friday, March1, 2,2019 2018 Friday, 16, 2018 Friday, March March

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Council takes Canada Goose CEOamong heterosexual More cases Book asyphilis way to preserve and pass on firstnumbers step towards donates $1 million towards population resulting in highest memories of growing up in Churchill reducing their polar bear conservation facility

of children born with the infection in decades

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 well as a current Polar

“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 EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET most,” she said. tional activities on polar Council approved first Matechuk said that bear habitat conservation reading of a bylaw to resince the need to cut costs around the world.” duce the number of counis partly due to the new, The proposed Polar Bears International House, cillors from eight to six at lower grant-in-lieu (GIL) their Feb. 26 meeting by a that Vale Manitoba OperSome of the infants were has changed and we wanted construction of which is vote of 6-3, with council- ations pays the city instead BY IAN GRAHAM treated as a precaution. to make sure that providers expected to begin at the lors Ron Matechuk, Dun- of property taxes, the counEDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET “Some of those infants and the public know about start of the 2018 polar bear can Wong and Judy Kolada cillors who negotiated that A shift of syphilis infecthat have been treated in the that,” said Isaac. “Some of season, will be built on do- opposed. tions into the heterosexual agreement could make it nated land on Churchill’s population and an increase past six months had signs the risk factors that we’ve Before the reduction possible for council to go main street and designed in the use of injection drugs and symptoms of congenital identified is that in about 70 to be energy efficient and becomes reality, however, through a trial period with in Manitoba have resulted in syphilis and some didn’t,” per cent of the congenital ecologically sound. It will the bylaw must be the fewer members. a dramatic increase in the Isaac said. “If the mother cases the moms were using “If the three councillors serve as a site to educate subject of a public hearnumber of babies treated for had acquired syphilis in substances or injecting visitors to Churchill about ing, currently scheduled that negotiated the GIL, this the disease in the past six pregnancy but was not treat- drugs and also 30 per cent polar bears, climate change for March 12, and then miserable, this very poor months, acting chief prov- ed adequately then the baby, didn’t have prenatal care so and the urgent need to take receive second and third GIL, were to do the honincial public health officer once it was born, would be there is definitely a populaaction, as well as provide reading, which are tenta- ourable thing and resign Dr. Michael Isaac said at a treated at that point in time tion that we’re not reaching broadcast facilities for tively slated to occur March from council, we would news conference in Winni- as a precautionary reason.” that we need to do a better 12 and March 26 respect- have a couple of weeks to There was only one con- job reaching in terms of try- media, support polar bear ively. City manager Gary find out whether we want peg Feb. 25. research and outreach ef“Syphilis cases have genital syphilis case in 2015 ing to access prenatal care forts, and assist visiting Ceppetelli says the bylaw to proceed all the way to and one case in 2017. Prior and providing good harm been rising in Manitoba scientists, educators and must be passed 180 days third reading on this,” said over the past five years, to that, Isaac said, there reduction services to them. other guests whose work prior to the election date Matechuk, who repeated from 118 cases in 2014 hadn’t been a case of con- Having said that, we have and support are critical to of Oct. 24. If it is, the next comments made Feb. 12 to more than 350 cases in genital syphilis in Manitoba had cases of congenital election could be a bit of when council voted 5-2 syphilis where those risk polar bear conservation. a case of musical chairs, to amend the Thompson 2018,” Isaac said. “The in- for years. The facility will include a Other jurisdictions in- factors did not exist.” crease in women infected with the eight incumbent Charter Act, which stipuAt least one syphilis test workspace, bunkhouse, councillors, assuming all of lates that council should is noteworthy, rising from cluding Alberta, Quebec kitchen and storage space 16 in 2014 to 168 in 2018. and Newfoundland have is standard during a pregthem decide to run again, have eight councillors and for equipment. This is of particular concern also seen increases in con- nancy in Manitoba and the “This is the single lar- competing for only six a mayor, to the effect that because historically when genital syphilis cases and rest of Canada, Isaac said. gest donation PBI has available spots, along with reducing the number of Prior to the current syphcases increase in women the Centre for Disease Concouncil positions would received and it is an all the other candidates. cases of syphilis in new- trol and Prevention in the ilis outbreak, which began Eliminating two council prevent “new blood” from amazing commitment to borns increase as well and United States is reporting in 2014, syphilis was more helping secure the polar positions would save just coming into council. this has unfortunately oc- the highest rates of congen- prevalent among men who under $20,000 in salarDeputy mayor Colleen have sex with men, but bear’s future,” said PBI ies and curred in Manitoba with ital syphilis in decades. perhaps about Smook said that isn’t neDr. Michael Isaac Belt News photo Graham Complications of con- now it is increasingly be- executive director Krista $5,500 to $16,400 Nickel more than 10 infants treated in cessarily truebyasIanshe and Wright. “We’re humbled genital syphilisdirector can include ing seen among heterosexfor congenital syphilis inofthe Addictions Foundation Manitoba northern Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing travel up, mostly in Churchill. expenses, based Valentino were among the by this generous gift and miscarriage, stillbirth, pre- ual couples. seeing in North America on andthe being in a long-term therethree rightvote-getters now and again past six months.” amounts spent on top in BYMost IANof GRAHAM all to the harsh weather write things youbirth have ‘Oh, I’m just bad,by right?’ was a grateful.” very swallow whenrelationship people say weFor mature birth,that low Syphilis is as caused bac- extremely so wenot still have safe very thing good travel monogamous need have good provthose suspected to by the two lowest- 2014 despite having not EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET have alleasily thesetreatable. stories and figure and out. It’s pretty clear Iteria do but Ifor jumped it. I that residents and dangers of polar weight death shortly and An to treatments it,” heatsaid. with Churchill someone who and has been incialthe response to work with cases of congenital syph- to spending councillors on council before, Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just fi nd somewhere bears, deMeulles said ifget it after birth. Babies born with infant born with congenital Erica and Dani Reiss do- the Manitoba Health, Seniors beentwo tested for syphilis and while stakeholders try and ilis – when the infection highest spending Coun.and Penny Byer a book about hera experienDeMeulles said she wrote syphilis my grandchildren really nated untilActive the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would may have deformed would be admitand Living is collabdoesn’t have it are the most it under control,” Isaac said. is passed from pregnant syphilis $1 million towards in the fiscal year 2016. said fresh faces don’t autoces growing upbaby in Churchill, book, titled Whispers in because they will lost if they started throwing the effective “To say, ‘Those people have back to Churchbones, jaundice, brain and ted to hospital andbeusually orating with the federal First preventions. Themoved Nickel Belt mother to her – have her Shrinking council to six matically equate to News’s differPolar Bears International’s Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. I don’t.” Nations and Inuit Health Syphilis is not the only inquiries to the public occurred in either the Win- nerve problems like blind- given a 10-day course of proposed would put Thompson in ent results. facility in ChurchManitoba northern director North Life in Churchill for penicillin, She also said has aIsaac, reputation cats, I was probably sitting sexually should just leave,’ isinfecquite “I miss the shoreline, I or-deafness, meningitis while Branch and councils department nipeg Regional Health ness line withtransmitted other similarly health “I’m not sure that regardwhethill during the tribal organization’s Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss themany rock,babies I misshave the an adult can be treated with to get the world out in First sized tion that is on the rise in ing how Authority or the Northern and skin rashes communities said er you have new blood Polar Bear Affair gala in Toing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though “We noticed in late 2018 just a single injection of Nations communities. recent years Manitoba. been treated for congenital Regional Health AuthorCoun. Blake in Ellis, a com- makes that great a differFeb.her 27.isoncontracted always thought would you early know2019 what,a this tory and I would tell people ronto spurred was the same in another area they’re very dangerous and largehisin- long-acting penicillin. Syphilis “Ourboat gonorrhea rates are ence syphilis in the ity (NRHA) but she syphilis is and ment reiterated by Coun. in what aNRHA counciland is do. stuff of that’s in my stories Iup, think we would scream Ihow really miss theofHudson and theythere would creasethis in cases congenital “Fortunately is go, no hard from times sores facing on theChurchill genitals ourValentino. hepatitis C rates are able many cases syphilis present across the province tory, Nickel Belt News Kathy to do and accomplish “Inthere my have youth I never not true, is it?’ I’d go, so why don’t they Bay,” shethe says. “Whenseen I go it’sespecially going to be the Hudson Bay Rail- about syphilis, thegone last ‘That’s resistance to penicillin in since or elsewhere and courtesy the provsothat there is a depending in adults region and been cases head, youcertainly look at every on whathas the obphoto of up,“When felt good at writing,” she if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, have the option to do that? back home, standing on the way suspended operations six weeks, so the risk level the syphilis that we’ve been ince says Bears usingInternational condoms other high amount disease out have not yet been on answered. outside of those regions. city or of municipality Continued Page 3 said. “But when I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did northPolar 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 there. How would we feel to produce another. • CRAFT •and 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, youWE 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! clear and that’s it. It’s there. for you because your story on me until after. That was a says. you somewhereSPECIALISTS else and all Maybe in the next five years OFand THE Some peopleMON say it’s kind of lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. of that, yourNORTH! it’s something I’ll focus on - THU: 9 amis-going 9 pmto •be FRIDAY: 9 am - 10 pm • SATURDAY: 9 am - 9Because pm • SUNDAY: 10 am - your 6 pm loved 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.” Bears International board member and a former chairman of that board from 2008 to 2017, pledged the money, which represents about half of the money the organization hopes to raise for Polar Bears International House.

Use of injection drugs and absence of prenatal care are risk factors that increase chance of baby being born with syphilis, province says


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