Nickel Belt News Volume 11 Volume 58 58 Number • Issue 189
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Council takes Goose CEO BookCanada afor way toraises preserve and pass on Relay Life over $100,000 first step towards donates $1 million towards to fund cancer research memories of growing up in Churchill reducing their polar bear conservation facility 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 fi rst Matechuk said that bear habitat conservation reading of a bylaw to re- since 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 becomes reality, however, through a trial period with to be energy efficient and 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 polar bears, climate change for March 12, and then miserable, this very poor and the urgent need to take receive second and third GIL, were to do the honaction, as well as provide reading, which are tenta- ourable thing and resign March fromphotos council, weDarbyson would Nickel Belt News by Kyle broadcast facilities for tively slated to occur Right before the relay began on Saturday, RCMP Special Const. Robert 12 and March 26 respecthaveduring a couple of weeks to media, support polar bear Cancer survivors sport the Canadian Cancer Society’s signature yellow t-shirts the beginning of Cleveland stepped up to the microphone and told everyone his story about ively. City manager Gary find out whether we want research and outreach efthe 2018 Thompson Relay for Life. surviving stage three colorectal cancer. forts, and assist visiting Ceppetelli says the bylaw to proceed all the way to reading we on this,” scientists, educators and must be passed 180 days third team took turns walking “Because havesaid reBY KYLE DARBYSON prior to the election date Matechuk, who other guests whose work around the designated track layed during the repeated past five KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET comments made Feb. 12 and support are critical to of Oct. 24. If it is, the next years, an additional 33 In its 17th year, the in both the C.A. Nesbitt and election could be a bit of when council votedmade 5-2 polar bear conservation. clinical trials were Thompson Relay for Life Gordon Beard arenas. to Manitoba, amend the Thompson The facility will include a a case of musical chairs, in While both arenas were providing acshowed that it still has the with the eight incumbent Charter Act, which workspace, bunkhouse, cess to the very lateststiputreatpower to inspire people, clogged with a variety of lates that should kitchen and storage space councillors, assuming all of ments and council procedures for since this latest iteration participants, ranging from them decide to run again, the have eight councillors and for equipment. enrolled 282 Manitoba raised over $100,000 to help local business owners to a mayor, to effect that “This is the single lar- competing for only six patients,” members of Thompson Fire shethe said. fund cancer research. available spots, along with reducing the number of gest donation PBI has “We have survivors here According to Thompson & Emergency Services, a all the other candidates. councilthat positions would received and it is an big spotlight was placed on today without these Relay for Life commitEliminating two council drugs preventthey “new blood” from amazing commitment to would not be tee chair Donna Wilson, the cancer survivors thempositions would save just coming into council. helping secure the polar here with us. That is thanks this year’s event, which selves, who completed the mayor Colleen bear’s future,” said PBI under $20,000 in salar- to Deputy all of you and thanks to took place April 28 at the event’s inaugural lap in the ies and perhaps about Smook said that isn’t neexecutive director Krista all News of our sponsors. We Thompson Regional Com- Canadian Cancer Society’s Nickel Belt photo by Ian Graham $5,500 to $16,400 in have cessarily true as this she fight and Wright. “We’re humbled signature yellow t-shirts. to help keep munity Centre, attracted Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director 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 Special Const. Robert going.” 28 teams, which is a step on the amounts spent on top three went vote-getters in wasthat part the ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ extremely Wilson onweather to say BY over IAN the GRAHAM For all the harsh to write things youofhave was not a grateful.” very safe thing swallow when people say up 24 groups that Cleveland travel by the two lowest2014 despite having not vanguard during this openthroughout 17 EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents that, and the dangersthe oflast polar signed up in 2017. spending councillors and years, been on council before, lap,I get not just because he’s ICancer the Thompson ReThough she’s now written when through.” need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just fi nd somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it Participation wasn’t lim- ing survivors weren’t alone during opening of the Relay for Life in while Coun. Penny Byer Erica andthe Dani Reisslap dotheApril two28 highest spending veteran the my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier lay Life has raised well a book herofexperienDeMeulles said she of wrote to live. hadfor been viable she would ited to about citizens Thomp- a seven-year Thompson, since their family members on hand to provide support. nated $1were million towards in the fiscal year 2016. said fresh faces don’tfor autoalso because million dollars the ces growing up in Churchill, RCMP, her book,but titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people over have amoved back to Churchson, since the top-earning Shrinking council to six matically equate to differPolar Bears International’s received the‘Holy way about funding an Canadian a survivor stage Cancer Society, Addictions the Wind: Stories of from the support off and Ialong realized, choosehow to live there. is They ill in a heartbeat. I don’t.” was crucial to his Ifuel group was Foundation comprised of he’s would put Thompson in ent results. proposed in Churchrecovery. friends and important of recovery cancer. for eventual makes on a perI Manitoba northern director three Northcolorectal - Life in Churchill She also has a reputation from cats, I family, wasfacility probably sitting should justpart leave,’ is quite which “I miss the it, shoreline, residents from Norway line with other similarly “I’m basis, not sure whethill during thedoctors, organization’s journeyherself. was more employers, nurses, as well, since most of the miss Duringofa reasons. short speech to as“My capita onethat the the top Gisele deMeulles said a storyteller on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disrethe rock, I of miss House, who raised anwritim- a couple sized communities said er you have new blood Polar Bear Affair gala inthat To- money just such abouta varied treatments staff and especially from in these Cleveland high- than earnersbears in theeven country. ing wasn’t something she the“Icrowd, just sort of thought, “I had his- support Another thing spectful.raised If we were the polar though pressive $9,560. Coun. Blake Ellis, a commakes that greatabout a differthe people thaton shared goes into they’re the what, importance of and To learn the always thought would you know this historyoperations,” and I wouldsaid tell Clevepeople spurred wastheir the events same boat in directly another area verymore dangerous and The relay itselfshe kicked off lighted ronto Feb.her 27. ment reiteratedand by clinicCoun. Relay ence in what aplease council is withfacing me. They were cancer like thethat’s Relay for land, life,the visit do. tory, this stuff in my hard times Churchill I thinkresearch we would scream I reallyfor miss Hudson storieswho and was they diagnosed would go, stories around 5 p.m. and ran until events Nickel Belt News Kathy Valentino. able to do and accomplish “ItI’dwas mentors.” trials that end up saving saying that receivCanadian Cancer “In Sunday. my youth I never Life, ‘That’s in not 2013. true, is it?’ go, my about that so why don’t they the Bay,” she says. “WhenSociI go head, it’s going to be gone back since the Hudson Bay Rail- al 2 a.m. Throughout “When you look at every ety’s depending onwebsite. what the obcourtesy of people’s all true.’ the support Of suspended course,photo Wilson talked suchwrite strong communal official felt at writing,” she ing if I don’t it down,” she about ‘Yeah it’s They’dthat go, way have the lives. option to do that? back home, standing on the operations this good nine-hour period, each other city or municipality Continued on Page 3 Bears last International said. “But when I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did northPolar of Gillam spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on to Thompson to get into ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an the school of social work, and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so at that point I had to write ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” WE SELL for university and realized, do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got • HOUSEWARE • ELECTRONICS ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so under her belt, Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. one book HELIUM • TOYSThough she’s not there • FRAMES right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try BALLOONS! a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. • CRAFT • LINEN and came out of there with stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someone came to you and “I have another book in • the STATIONERY • CARDS a very strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into said, ‘I’m sorry, you WE 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! 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 Some peopleMON say it’s kind of is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, yourNORTH! it’s something I’ll focus on OFand THE - THU: 9 am - 9 pm • FRIDAY: 9 am - 10 pm • SATURDAY: 9 am - 9 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.