Nickel Belt News
Volume Volume 58 Number 11 Volume 58 59 Number • Issue 129
Friday,March March22, 2, 2019 2018 Friday, March 16, 2018 Friday,
Servingthe theNorman Norman Region 1961 Serving Region since 1961 Serving the Norman Regionsince since 1961
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Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing Churchill reducing their polar bear conservation facilityup in
Council Canada Goose Cross Lake’s Brady KeeperCEO signs contract with NHL’stakes Florida first step of towards donates $1sophomore million towards Panthers after season with University Maine Former OCN Blizzard and Norman Northstars defenceman Brady Keeper Polar Bears International signed an entry-level con(PBI) received a $1 million tract with the National donation towards the conHockey League’s Florida struction of a new facility Panthers March 18. in Churchill during their Keeper, a member of Polar Bear Affair gala in Northern Manitoba’s Toronto Feb. 27. Pimicikamak Cree NaDani Reiss, president tion, recently completed and CEO of Canada Goose, his second season with the as well as a current Polar NCAA University of Maine Black Bears, playing 36 games and leading all of the team’s blueliners with seven goals, 15 assists and 22 points. That follows a freshman season in which the six-foot-tall, 200-pound Keeper scored six goals and set up 16 others for 22 points in 37 games. His first NCAA season also saw him record one three-point game, five two-point games and two game-winning goals, while registering 42 blocked shots and 96 shots on net. “Brady is a promising puck-moving defenceman
who possesses strong offensive instincts and plays a physical game,” said PanBears International board thers general manager Dale member and a former Tallon on the team’s webchairman of that board site. “He has been a leader from 2008 to 2017, for the University of Maine pledged the money, which and found success as one of represents about half of the team’s top defenders. the money the organWe are excited for Brady ization hopes to raise for to join the Panthers.” Polar Bears International “Brady Keeper possesses House. extraordinary feel for the offensive elements of the game,” said Black Bears coach Red Gendron in a press release. “He instinctively knows when to move the puck, when to hold it, where to move it, where and when to skate to space to get the puck from a teammate, and possesses an elite shot. He is a gritty competitor who defends at a very high level as well. He’s earned his opportunity and did so while also being a great teammate and quiet leader. We will miss all he brought to our team, but we are also very happy for him.”
Keeper played 161 games for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Bliz“Over the least decade of zard over four seasons, working with PBI, I have scoring 52 goals and 81 seen firsthand the passion assists for 133 points. He and energy that the team won the Steve “Boomer” puts into their important Hawrysh MVP Award and research and efforts to the Brian Kozak Trophy as ensure polar bears have the league’s top defencea future,” said Reiss in a man and was also named a press release. “It is a privfirst-team all-star after the ilege to be a part of help2016-17 season that saw him score 23 goals and 25 assists in 48 games. Keeper played one season with the midget AAA Northstars in Thompson, recording seven goals and 18 assists in 42 games in 2013-14, when he was recognized by the team for earning the most defensive player of the game citations over the course of the season. He was also a member of the Keystone Junior Hockey League’s Norway House North Stars in 2012-13, scoring six goals and 28 assists.
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, Bears International House, cillors from eight to six at lower grant-in-lieu (GIL) construction of which is their Feb. 26 meeting by a that Vale Manitoba Operexpected to begin at the vote of 6-3, with council- ations pays the city instead start of the 2018 polar bear lors Ron Matechuk, Dun- of property taxes, the counseason, will be built on do- can Wong and Judy Kolada cillors who negotiated that agreement could make it nated land on Churchill’s opposed. Before the reduction possible for council to go main street and designed to be energy efficient and becomes reality, however, through a trial period with ecologically sound. It will the bylaw must be the fewer members. “If the three councillors serve as a site to educate subject of a public hearing, currently scheduled that negotiated the GIL, this visitors to Churchill about for March 12, and then miserable, this very poor polar bears, climate change receive second and third GIL, were to do the honand the urgent need to take reading, which tentaourableofthing Belt New photoare courtesy of University Maineand Blackresign Bears action, as well as provideNickel tively slated to occur March from council, we woulda Former OCN Blizzard andfor Norman Northstars player Brady Keeper of Cross Lake signed broadcast facilities 12 and March 26 respect- have a couple of weeks to media, polarcontract bear with two-yearsupport entry-level the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers March ively. City manager Gary find out whether we want research and outreach ef18 after completing his second season with the NCAA University of Maine Black Bears. forts, and assist visiting Ceppetelli says the bylaw to proceed all the way to be passed this,” said 2017 NHL drafts180 and days nine third patedreading in the on L.A. Kings scientists, educators Keeper was one ofand 30 must prior to the election date Matechuk, who repeated other unsigned, undrafted development camp in other guests whose work players, including 10 Oct.invites, 24. If itwho is, the next comments camp particiJune 2017.made Feb. 12 and support are2016 criticaland to of drafted in the polar bear conservation. election could be a bit of when council voted 5-2 The facility will include a a case of musical chairs, to amend the Thompson workspace, bunkhouse, with the eight incumbent Charter Act, which stipukitchen and storage space councillors, assuming all of lates that council should them decide to run again, have eight councillors and for equipment. competing for only six a mayor, to the effect that “This is the single larand 486 votes, respectively. Provincial court Judge Todd BY KYLE DARBYSON available spots, along with reducing the number of KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET “I’d just like to thank Rambow swore in March gest donation PBI has all the other candidates. council positions would A week after winning the everyone, the citizens and 11 byelection winner Andre received and it is an Eliminating two council prevent “new blood” from amazing commitment to March 11 byelection, Andre family, friends, volunteers, Proulx during the March helping secure the polar positions would save just coming into council. Proulx officially became the and everybody that helped Deputy mayor Colleen 18 Thompson city council bear’s future,” said PBI under $20,000 in salareighth and final member of me out,” he told the public ies and perhaps about Smook said that isn’t nemeeting. executive director Krista the 2018−2022 Thompson directly on Monday night. News photo Graham $5,500 to $16,400 Nickel in Belt cessarily truebyasIanshe and Nickel Belt News photo Wright. “We’re humbled city council when he of was “I’m northern really happy to beGisele able deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing travel Addictions Foundation Manitoba director up, mostly in Churchill. expenses, based Valentino were among the by Kyle Darbyson by this generous gift and sworn in by provincial court to serve Thompson.” on the amounts spent on top three vote-getters in BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather write things you have was not a grateful.” very safe thing travel swallow people say 2014 Judge Todd Rambow March to Proulx andthat Chong in- ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ extremely bywhen the two lowestdespite having not EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figuretied out.for It’sthis pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I spending that Churchill residents and the polar 18. itially eighth and been on dangers council of before, say much during thought that was exciting should justcouncillors Though she’s written council when I get through.” I need to capture them for Erica fi nd somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it Following thenow ceremony, seat during Octo- didn’t and Dani Reiss dotwo highest spending while Coun. Penny Byer Monday’s meeting, he cast until the plane landed and the a book about DeMeulles saidmunicipal she wrote my grandchildren really nated easier to live.year 2016. had been viable she would Proulx took her his experienseat be- ber’s general $1 million towards in the fi scal said fresh faces don’t autoa pretty important vote on they started throwing the ces growing up in Churchill, her book, with titled both Whispers in because they will be lost if Polar “To say, ‘Those have moved back to tween councillors Brian election, candiShrinking councilpeople to six matically equate toChurchdifferInternational’s a resolution to hike bus fuel offBears Addictionsand Foundation of dates the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” and I realized, ‘Holy would choose put to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. Lundmark Judy Kolada receiving 1,009 votes. Thompson in ent results. proposed facility in Churchfares and eliminate monthly Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill fora She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting line should justother leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, inside council chambers for The city eventually called with similarly “I’m not sure that wheth-I ill the organization’s simplistic. Gisele deMeulles said writ- byelection a couple of when reasons. as a storyteller herself. onduring a bomb.’” It’s quite disremiss thehave rock,new I miss the Monday’s meeting. a judicial passes. sized communities said er you blood Coun. Jeff Fountain was Bear Affair gala inthat To- spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though ingThe wasn’t she recount “I justcouldn’t sort of break thought, “I had such a varied his- Polar Another thing localsomething mechanic and this Coun. Blake Ellis, a com- makes that great a differthe most vocal supporter spurred Feb.her 27. on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and always thought would deadlock. you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people ronto business ownershe received ment reiterated by Coun. ence in what a council is of this resolution, saying do. thison stuff that’sfee in my I thinkValentino. we would scream able I really miss Hudson 578 votes in the byelection, tory, Vote transit in- stories and they would go, hard times facing Nickel Churchill Belt News Kathy to do andthe accomplish that the city’s current pub“In my youth I Chiew never crease about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When go head, it’s going to delayed be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Railbeating opponents resolution “When you look at every depending on what the Iobphoto courtesy of felt good writing,” don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ on They’d have the option to do that? back home, standing on the way suspended operations other Chong andat Blake Ellis byshe 46 if IEven though Proulx Continued Page go, 3 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 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“GREAT it on tape,CANADIAN I will write it DOLLAR deMeulles.STORE “It didn’t- dawn hardwareON storeFACEBOOK! there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. LOOK FOR THOMPSON” 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 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 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.”
Thompson city council finally made whole after Andre Proulx is sworn in