Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 59 Number • Issue 1011
Friday, 16, 2018 Friday, March March 8, 2019
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Book a way to preserve and pass on Dog killed with machete High number of in afternoon home invasion in advance votes cast for memories of growing up in Churchill March 11 byelection Thompson’s Juniper neighbourhood indicate turnout should exceed dismal 7.5 per cent in 2009
BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Turnout March 11 could be higher than is typical for byelections in Thompson if the number of people who came out to vote in the advance poll March 4 is any indication. Senior election official Dave Turpie said 365 people showed up at City Hall on Monday to have their say in the three-candidate race between former councillor Blake Ellis, Chiew Chong and Andre Proulx, the latter two of whom tied in the election night count last Oct. 24 as well as in the judicial recount that followed. It was one of the largest one-day advance voting turnouts that Thompson has had, Turpie said, and about 80 per cent of the total number of people who voted in advance polls for the Oct. 24 municipal election, which took place over three days. More people voted yesterday than on any of the advance polling days in the fall, when 215, 124 and 121 people turned out, respectively. “It was steady right from the get-go,” said Turpie. If the trend holds up and the byelection sees 80 per cent of the turnout of the fall election, that would mean more than 2,200 voters, or about 30 per cent of the electorate, which totals about 7,400 people. That would be a much higher turnout, both in percentage terms and in absolute numbers, than the most recent Thompson byelection in 2009, when only 7.5 per cent of voters – 673 Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham people – cast ballots in a five-candidate race that saw Erin Stewart win with 218 votes, be- Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director ing one of only three candidates to attract more BY IAN For all the harsh weather to per writecent things that you thanGRAHAM 100 votes. About 20 turned out have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I have all these stories and to fi gure out. It’s pretty clear to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar for a council byelection for two vacant seats in Though now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it 1991,she’s when two sitting councillors, including a book about her experienDeMeulles had been viable she would Bill Comaskey, resigned their seats tosaid seekshe thewrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. ces growing upmayor in Churchill, herthe book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchoffice of following death of Mayor Addictions Foundation thestill Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. Don MacLean whileofhe was holding office. Manitoba northernvoters director North Life inmember Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I Thompson will elect an-eighth GiseleofdeMeulles said writas a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the council March 11. a couple of reasons. ing wasn’t she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though Pollssomething will be open at the Thompson Regional always thought she would know this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and Community Centre fromyou 8 a.m. to 8what, p.m. Modo. bile polls will be at Harmony tory, this stufffrom that’s scream I really miss the Hudson House 10in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would Nickel Beltthey News courtesy of says. Robyn“When Shlachetka “Ina.m. my toyouth I never ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, about that so why don’t Bay,” she I go head, it’s going to be gone since the Hudson Bay Railnoon March 11, at Rotary Place from 1 A dog died from injuries inflicted when three men forcibly invaded a home in Thompson’s Juniper area around 1 p.m. felt good writing,” if I don’t writeHospital it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back home, standing on the p.m. at to 2:30 p.m., she Thompson General Marchdidn’t 4, RCMP say.that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on said. from “But3when do all said. “MySpirit kids Manor are not go- ‘You p.m. toI 4moved p.m. and Northern to Thompson gettointo from 4:30to p.m. 5 p.m.ing to get it if I don’t do it the school of social work, and it’sonsomething I’ve alVoters who are unable to vote election day at that point I had to write waysatwanted myuntil mom to may apply in person to Turpie City Hall for university do. Myballot mom’s an elder and March 8 and for arealized, sealed envelope ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s Any Canadian citizen 18 or older who hasgot so right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful lived in Thompson or owned property instories the bea lot city of skill in university she alwaysdate tells her for six months prior cause to the byelection and came out of there with stories at Parks Canada is eligible to vote. Voters may be required to in a very strongone skill in my Churchill and I’ve always produce piece of government-issued photo writing and confidence her, ‘Please, identification such in as a hounded driver’s licence or a just my writing. very it on tape, I will write it passport Iorwrite at least two put other documents that clear and that’s it. It’s there. for you because your story provide proof of identity. Some people say it’s kind of is going to be lost,’ and she’s blunt or direct. I don’t tend never done it and I thought,
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 Three men are‘No, wanted by Thompson drop on his face. injuries to have been inflicted old.’ I was like, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s believed incredible sense. You feel so RCMP following a March 4 home invaTwo adults and a child were in their by the suspects. I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” sion and in the Juniper that resulted in a Ash Street home around 1 p.m. One of theNow home’sthat occupants saidgot on 27,’ they went area ‘What?’” to such small population think theMonday people of Churchshe’s theLooking death of back, one of some the residents’ dogs.deMeulles when the men knocked on thewant doorto Facebook that book the dog, a Great says. under her Dane belt, of now,” ill really thrive. one hacked with machete. Theexperiences first suspect described as and asked be let in.They’ve The homeowner those arewas things Though she’s nottothere built their puppy, worlds was deMeulles saysashe may try a young male, approximately six to let them but they RCMP and the Forensic she might not do again. anyfeet longer,refused her parents and enter there. Howforced would weThompson feel to produce another. tall“Iand 200 pounds, wearing her a grey The occupants Identification continue investidid some pretty bizarre sister their and way otherinside. family if someoneescaped came to you and “IUnit have anothertobook in tuquelike withfuel a white a greymembers jacket still out the called‘I’m police. The gate and with information on stuff haulsstripe, into the sorry, you have to anyone me,” she says. “It’s a darker are.back door andsaid, and winter The other were cousin suspects remained the your homehome for acommunity the incident is asked call Thomphigh Arcticboots. at -35,” said two “My owns the in leave story, more to about persondescribed only malesdawn dressedhardware in dark short before area priorto displace son RCMP 204-677-6909, Crime deMeulles. “It as didn’t store time there,” shefleeing and the we’re going al atgrowth and struggles. clothing. Witnesses said allathree were to RCMP arriving. you somewhere else Stoppers at 1-800-222on me until after. That was says. and all anonymously Maybe in the next five years Indigenous in appearance and thatBecause one Oneof of thethat, occupants’ dogs was found 8477 or toit’s submit a secure online very dangerous thing to do. your loved ones and your something I’lltip focus on of the on suspects a tear injured in hard the backyard and later died of at wwww.manitobcrimestoppers.com. Being a planehad fullaoftattoo fuel ofdeMeulles finds it to history is gone?’” doing.”