Nickel Belt News
Volume 11 Volume 58 58 Number • Issue 449
Friday, March 16, 2,2,2018 Friday, March 2018 Friday, November 2018
Thompson, Manitoba Thompson, Manitoba
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Council takes Canada Goose CEO Book aManitoba way to preserve and pass on Sport takes northerners to first step towards donates $1 million towards the mat during three-day wrestling camp memories of growing up in Churchill reducing their polar bear conservation facility
Coach Kendall Robinson said he travelled to Thomp“Over the least decade of ing them build a muchBears International board son for this weekend camp member and a former working with PBI, I have needed facility which will to introduce some of his chairman of that board seen firsthand the passion serve as a launch site for newerour athletes to the sport BY IAN GRAHAM that’s size, we have the from 2008 to 2017, and energy that the team PBI’s research and educaand make connections with EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET most,” she said. pledged the money, which puts into their important tional activities on polar wrestling said enthusiasts Council approved first local Matechuk that represents about half of research and efforts to bear habitat conservation like Zielke. reading of a bylaw to resince the need to cut costs the money the organ- ensure polar bears have around the world.” “I’m hoping to have a ization hopes to raise for a future,” said Reiss in a The proposed Polar duce the number of coun- is partly due to the new, good time with the kids, to cillors from eight to six at lower grant-in-lieu (GIL) Polar Bears International press release. “It is a priv- Bears International House, get toVale know the wrestling their Feb. 26 meeting by a that Manitoba Operilege to be a part of help- construction of which is House. club that they’re starting in the spring, this three-day expected to begin at the vote of 6-3, with council- ations pays the city instead here and hoping to counhave development camp, which lors Ron Matechuk, Dunof property taxes, the start of the 2018 polar bear them come up to Cross Lake took place Oct. 26−28, was can Wong and Judy Kolada cillors who negotiated that season, will be built on doto have a wrestling week much larger in scale and run opposed. agreement could make it nated land on Churchill’s with us orfor us come down to by a coaching staff made up Before the reduction possible council to go main street and designed have a wrestling week with entirely of top-tier profesto be energy efficient and becomes reality, however, through a trial period with them,”members. said Robinson. sional athletes. the bylaw must be the fewer ecologically sound. It will Moving forward, FerCoach Leah Ferguson subject of a public hear“If the three councillors serve as a site to educate guson said that the best took charge throughout this ing, currently scheduled that negotiated the GIL, this visitors to Churchill about way for coaches like Zielke weekend-long event and for March 12, and then miserable, this very poor polar bears, climate change and Robinson to grow their used her years of experience and the urgent need to take receive second and third GIL, were to do the honprogramsthing in Thompson and wrestling in domestic and reading, which are tentaourable and resign action, as well as provide Cross Lake is by maintaining international competitions, tively slated to occur March from council, we would broadcast facilities for a consistent schedule. including the 2012 Olymmedia, support polar bear 12 and March 26 respect- have a couple of weeks to Otherwise, shewe encourpic Games in London, to ively. City manager Gary fi nd out whether want research and outreach efages anyone, regardless of teach the participants about Ceppetelli says the bylaw to proceed all the way to forts, and assist visiting age, sex, or body type, to proper fitness, nutrition and must be passed 180 days third reading on this,” said scientists, educators and try their handwho at competing technique. Nickel Belt News photo by Kyle Darbyson prior to the election date Matechuk, repeated other guests whose work in amateur wrestling, espe“I want the kids to really The husband-wife team of Jordan and Leah Ferguson lock up at the Bill Comaskey Wellness Oct. 24. If it26is,during the next made Feb. 12 Oct. the comments and support are critical to of Centre cially with the 2019 Western have a sense of accomplish- first day of Sport Manitoba’s latest wrestling camp in Thompson. election could be a bit of when council voted 5-2 polar bear conservation. Canada Summer Games bement,” she told the Nickel The facility will include a a case of musical chairs, to amend the Thompson ing rightAct, around the corner. Belt News. “I want every kid was primary dedicated to whole three hours, which is This three-day affair also with So the far, eight Zielkeincumbent said he’s Charter which stipuworkspace, bunkhouse, “If that you’ve ever should roughto leave camp and know that basic techniques and fitness impressive,” said Ferguson served as a learning experi- councillors, managed to assuming attract a steady all of lates council kitchen and storage space housed ever,councillors which is every they’re super strong and their testing, the next two days following the first session ence for local coach Lyall them group decide of around 10 particito run again, have eight and for equipment. I’ve ever met inthat my bodies are really capable.” focused on more complex on Friday. “It’s a lot of Zielke, who’s been trying to competing pants throughout the foursix or aperson for only mayor, to the effect “This is the single larlife, you’d probably beneFerguson attempted to moves, exercises and sport stuff, so we basically went restart Thompson’s wrest- available five meetings they’ve hosted spots, along with reducing the number of gest donation PBI has fit and like the sport,” said hammer this point home psychology. through the whole founda- ling program which has all during this current school council the other candidates. positions would received and it is an Ferguson. “And you burn, through gradual escalation. and is looking forward “I think it went well. The tion of everything you need been dormant for around a year, Eliminating two council prevent “new blood” from amazing commitment to Whereas the first session kids actually maintained the to wrestle.” decade. to incorporating Ferguson’s I think, three times as many helping secure the polar positions would save just coming into council. in amayor wrestling go as advanced coaching tech- calories under $20,000 in salarDeputy Colleen bear’s future,” said PBI you do insaid any that otherisn’t physical niques intoperhaps his own program. ies and about Smook neexecutive director Krista Nickel Belt News So photo Ianshe Graham activity. it’sbyas just the best “We’reto just$16,400 getting into $5,500 in cessarily true and Wright. “We’re humbled Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing it, up,doing mostly Churchill. theinbasics and once thing to get your kids into by this generous gift and travel expenses, based Valentino were among the and three the most natural thing we the get aamounts little better, a little on spent on top vote-getters in BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ extremely was not a grateful.” very safe thing swallow when people say too.” more technique down, we’re 2014 travel by the two lowestdespite having not 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 and the dangers of wrestpolar Zielke’s next local going to look for tournaspending councillors and been on council before, Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for Erica thought that was exciting should just fi nd somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it and Dani Reiss do- the ling meet-up taking place ments,” said. “We plan while two he highest spending Coun.isPenny Byer a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would Nov.fresh 3 at faces the Bill Comason the hitting hopefully at least said nated $1 million towards in fiscal year 2016. don’t autoces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchkey Wellness Centre from one, maybe two this [school] Shrinking council to six matically equate to differPolar Bears International’s cohol is believed to have played a A 22-year-old man is presumed tion, had fallen from the structure, Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anybody year.” would put Thompson in ent results. in Churchdrowned after he fell fromNorth the old to residents as “black role in the proposed fall. I wasfacility Manitoba northern director - Lifeknown in Churchill for Shethe also has a reputation cats, probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite is “I miss the shoreline, I welcome to attend. Sport latest line withManitoba’s other similarly “I’m not sure that whethtrain bridge into thewritFairford River of bridge.” whenherself. RCMP, ill theduring fire departthe organization’s Gisele deMeulles said a couple reasons.He was with as friends a storyteller on a local bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the To find out more about event communities in Thompson said also er you have new sized blood Oct. 30. he fell but they lost sight of him. ment and community volunteers Bear Affair gala inthat To- spectful. If we were in the polar ing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied his- Polar Another thing bears even though this localthat wrestling attracted participants from makes Blake Ellis, a comgreat program, a differGypsumville a It was dark when the oc- tellsearched the Feb. man, not the Coun. always thought sheRCMP would received you know what, this historyincident and I would people for spurred her ondid was same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and ronto 27.but call Zielke at 204679-4625 nearby Cross Lake, some of ment reiterated by Coun. ence in what a council is that the curred andinthe wasand strong, locatego,him.hard The times searchfacing continued do. report around 7:15 p.m. tory, this stuff that’s mycurrent Churchill I think we would scream Iorreally missat the Hudson stories they would email him zielkelyall@ whom wrestled in that very Nickel Belt News Kathy Valentino. able to do and accomplish man, from Pinaymootang RCMP in a press release. Al-is it?’ Oct. “In my youth I never First ‘That’s not true, I’d 31. go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go head,Nait’s going to said be gone gmail.com. facility during 2018 depending “When you look the at every on what the obphotooperations courtesy of same felt good at writing,” she if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended have the option to do that? back home, standing on the Manitoba Games. other cityWinter 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 BY KYLE DARBYSON
KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET Polar Bears International Over 20 northern resi(PBI) received a $1 million dents sacrificed their entire donation towards the conweekend to learn the fundastruction of a new facility mentals of amateur wrestling in Churchill during their at the Bill Comaskey WellPolar Bear Affair gala in ness Centre in Thompson. Toronto Feb. 27. Serving as a follow-up Dani Reiss, president to Sport Manitoba’s free and CEO of Canada Goose, wrestling clinic from back as well as a current Polar
ranks in October
Man presumed drowned after falling into Fairford River
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, 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! 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.”