Nickel Belt News
Volume 56 Number 41
Friday, October 14, 2016
Thompson, Manitoba
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Frosty fallout
Nickel Belt News photo by Kacper Antoszewski A fresh coat of powder from last weekend’s massive snowfall near the horse stables north of Thompson.
Mayor Mike Spence: moving the yardstick BY LYNNE BEREZA Mike Spence begins his days much the same way most of us do – with breakfast and coffee, thinking about what’s on his todo list. The self-described news junkie will catch up on what’s happening in the world, and if time allows, he might check the sports scores before heading to
the office. Of course, there are a few differences. Spence is usually breakfasting at a local hotel, the Seaport, which he owns with his brother. And his office is in the Town Centre Complex in Churchill, also known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World. Oh, and he’s the mayor, a post he’s held for over 20
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years. Then there’s the fact that Spence’s town of 860 people has recently been dealt the devastating blow that its largest employer is shutting down, throwing 50 people out of work. It’s that last fact makes Spence, thankfully, part of a rather small club. But if anyone is equipped to cope
with it and see his community not only survive, but thrive, it is Mayor Michael Spence. Born in Churchill, Spence moved with his parents to York Factory until he was two. The family returned to Churchill and it has been home ever since. His dad was a trapper, and upon finishing high school, Spence
knew he wanted to be his own boss, too, so he’s been self-employed since he was 20. Along with the hotel (which is truly a family affair, as Spence’s wife Lawreen is the general manager), he and his brother own Wat’chee Expeditions, a wilderness lodge about 40 miles south of Churchill. His entry into local pol-
itics began the same way it does for so many – he was tapped on the shoulder not long after he became noticed for his business acumen. “When you’re younger like that and focused on business, there’s always somebody that comes along and encourages you to get involved in local Continued on Page 2