Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 59 Number • Issue 3711
Friday, March 16, Friday, September 13,2018 2019
Thompson, Manitoba Thompson, Manitoba
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NDP’s Danielle Adams takes Thompson’s legislature seat back from Progressive Conservatives BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
First-time political candidate Danielle Adams of the NDP thwarted incumbent Progressive Conservative Kelly Bindle’s bid to become the first PC MLA re-elected in the 50-year history of the Thompson electoral division Sept. 10. Adams, who worked for the last decade as a constituency assistant for Churchill/Churchill-Keewatinook Aski NDP MP Niki Ashton, beat Bindle handily to become the next Thompson MLA, receiving 2,651 votes to 1,750 for Bindle with 52 of 52 polls reporting in unofficial election night results. Bindle had beaten the NDP’s Steve Ashton in 2016, ending a 35-year run for the former MLA, who is Niki Ashton’s father. Adams is the first female MLA for Thompson. “This is not my win,” said Adams in her victory speech. “This is our win. This was a team effort. We showed the PCs what northerners want. They want a representative in Winnipeg that’s going to speak for them. Northerners want somebody who’s going to stand up for value-added jobs, going to stand up to this privatization and cuts agenda and Thompson and the north spoke. They’re sending me to Winnipeg
many years and I have no doubt that she is going to give ‘er when it comes to taking Pallister on.” PC candidate Kelly Bindle told supporters at his election night gathering that he was glad to see the PCs win another majority, taking 36 seats compared to 18 for the NDP and three for the Liberals. That’s four fewer seats than the PCs won in 2016, while the NDP picked up four more than in the last provincial election. “I’m happy our team won the game with a majority government, so we can still go forward with our agenda,” said Bindle. “It’s unfortunate that I didn’t score a goal here, but I’m still glad our team won. Manitobans are in good hands. It’s been an absolute honour to serve them. It’s been very humbling and I’m very glad I got that opportunity. Not a lot of people get that opportunity.” Later, at the Adams campaign headquarters, Bindle congratulated the winner. “You’re in for a heck of a ride,” he said. Adams’s victory in Thompson was one of two northern races that saw the NDP take back seats they lost in 2016, as Ian Bushie was elected in the Keewatinook electoral district, which was won by Liberal Judy Klassen in 2016.
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham The NDP’s Danielle Adams beat Progressive Conservative incumbent Kelly Bindle handily in the Sept. 10 provincial election to become Thompson’s next MLA and the first female MLA for the electoral division in its 50-year history. and [Premier Brian] Pallister ain’t seen nothing yet.” Adams said it was surreal to watch the results come in and see her lead over Bindle grow as the night wore on. She credited her victory to meeting with voters faceto-face and hearing what
they had to say. “It’s about knocking and talking to people and listening,” she said. “You can’t represent people if you don’t listen to them.” Campaign manager Blair Hudson said Adams’s work ethic was impressive. “It’s not often that the
candidate knocks on twice as many doors as the nextbest person knocking on doors,” he said. “She knocked on every door in every community in the constituency so, Danielle, this victory is absolutely yours.” The candidate’s former
boss said she knew Adams would do well as an MLA. “I couldn’t be more proud of the fact tonight that Danielle is going to be representing here, our community, our part of the north,” said Niki Ashton. “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with her for so
Kelly Bindle won’t get to share in the spoils of provincewide PC victory Former Thompson MLA says it’s been an “absolute honour” to serve Northern Manitobans for the last three years
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. BY IAN GRAHAM
to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting done,” years, including the landed openingand of a book about her experienDeMeulles said he shesaid. wrote my grandchildren three really until the plane BY KYLE DARBYSON KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET Even though Bindle was disappointto addictions medices growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will bethe lostrapid if access they started throwing the While Brian Pallister’sof Progressive that from he won’t to represent cine (RAAM) clinic the ThompAddictions Foundation the Wind:ed Stories the get fuel off andand I realized, ‘Holy I don’t.” Conservative party enjoyed Thompson at aforprovincial levelhas anyson General Hospital’s chemotherapy Manitoba northern director a decisive North - Life in Churchill She also a reputation cats, I was probably sitting win during the 2019 elec- ofmore, he still took solace the fact that treatment on unit. Gisele deMeulles saidprovincial writ- a couple reasons. as ainstoryteller herself. a bomb.’” tion, the same can’t be said his party was able to form a renewed doesn’t thing have anythat iming wasn’t something shefor incum“I just sort of thought, “I had such a variedWhile his- Bindle Another bent Thompson Kelly Bindle. government after for the he the did always thought MLA she would you knowmajority what, this his- tory andscooping I would tellmediate people plans spurred herfuture, on was Binup a total seatsstories compared thewould takego, a brief moment on Tuesday to do.Around 11:10 p.m. on Sept. 10, tory, this stuff that’sofin36 my hard times facing Churchill and to they dle“In andmy his campaign manager head, Jordanit’s going NDP’sto18. Adams a piece adviceBay nowRailthat youth I never I’d go, be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’give since the of Hudson Katzgood saw the writing onshe the wall and write “I’m happyshe our team wonit’sthetrue.’ gameThey’d she’sgo, goingway to take over hisoperations seat in the felt at writing,” if I don’t it down,” ‘Yeah suspended conceded race Itomoved NDP candidate majority legislature. said. “Butthe when ‘You didn’tso dowe all that, did north of Gillam last spring. said. “My with kids aare not go-government, Danielle Adamstoin get person party go forward agenda,” “Stick to the to to Thompson intoat her ing to get can it ifstill I don’t do it with you?our You’ve got to be really “It goals used you’re to be trying a really headquarters Selkirk Avenue. he said. “It’s didn’t accomplish and don’t takecommunity things perthe school ofon social work, and it’s something I’veunfortunate al- old.’ Ithat wasIlike, ‘No, actually thriving large all 52I polls reported Elec-wanted scoremy a goal I’m “If dwindled someone down starts at After that point had to write in, ways momhere, to but I did allstill thatglad beforesonally,” I was he andsaid. it’s just tions Manitobaand determined Adams our team won.and Manitobans arethey in good taking things to heart then itpopulation just makes for university realized,that do. My mom’s an elder 27,’ and went ‘What?’” to such a small received 2,651 cent hands.” the job muchdeMeulles harder.” says. ‘Holy, I’m not votes bad at(over this,50 per she’s an artist, she’s got so now,” Looking back, some of that of all ballots cast), whereas many Bindlewonderful Bindle was befirst elected as Thomp- are things Otherwise, Bindleshe’s alsonot wanted right?’ I certainly developed stories those experiences Though there only to university capture 1,750cause votes.sheson’s MLA during 2016 provincial to thank his in general, a lot managed of skill in always tells her the she might not do again. anyconstituents longer, her parents and Incame a conversation Nickel at election, when he NDP’s supported him or not and out of therewith withthe stories Parks Canada in defeated “I didthe some pretty whether bizarre they her sister and other family Belt News, the PC Ashton by 185stuff votes tofuel endhauls his into during as Thompson’s a very strong skillcandidate in my thanked Churchill Steve and I’ve always like thehis tenure members still are. MLA. his team,and his confi supporters vol- her, 35-year reign as the region’s provincial an absolute honourthe to writing dence and in his hounded ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” “It’s said been“My cousin owns unteers for their tireless work put during representative. he said.store “It’sthere,” been very my writing. I write very it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’tserve dawnthem,” hardware she his re-election Tuesday gaveThathumbling and I’m very glad I got that clear and that’scampaign. it. It’s there. for you because yournight’s story election on meresults until after. was a says. “Ourpeople team say worked veryof hard.isI going can’t to Bindle time to reflect on some ofthingopportunity. Not a lot of of people get Some it’s kind be lost,’some and she’s very dangerous to do. Because that, think more tend we could havedonehis favourite memories from lastfullthat opportunity.” blunt of or anything direct. I don’t never it and I thought, Being on athe plane of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham
For all the harsh weather swallow when people say that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it easier to live. had been viable she would “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchchoose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go have the option to do that? back home, standing on the I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got ill really want to thrive. one book under her belt, They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try there. How would we feel to produce another. if someone came to you and “I have another book in said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker leave your home community story, more about personNickel Belt News photo by Kylestruggles. Darbyson and we’re going to displace al growth and Kellysomewhere Bindle poses forand a photo his campaign party you else all at Maybe in the next fiveheadyears quarters at ones NC Crossroad 10 moments after your loved and yourLanes it’s Sept. something I’ll focus on history is gone?’” doing.”Danielle Adams. conceding the race to NDP candidate