September 7 2018

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Nickel Belt News Volume 9 Volume 58 58 Number • Issue 3611

Friday, Friday, March March16, 2,7,2018 2018 Friday, September 2018

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Council takes Canada Goose CEO Book a way to preserve and pass on Workers’ rights had to be fought for, first step towards donates $1 million towards memories of growing up in Churchill Thompson Labour Day picnic crowd hears reducing their polar bear conservation facility BYPolar IAN GRAHAM Bears International

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.

“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 Oper(USW) Local 6166 Labour expected to begin at the vote of 6-3, with council- ations pays the city instead Day picnic in Thompson start of the 2018 polar bear lors Ron Matechuk, Dun- of property taxes, the counSept. 3. season, will be built on do- can Wong and Judy Kolada cillors who negotiated that agreement could make it “Remember somebody nated land on Churchill’s opposed. Before the reduction possible for council to go had to fight for this [day main street and designed becomes reality, however, through a trial period with off],” said USW Local to be energy efficient and 6166 president Warren ecologically sound. It will the bylaw must be the fewer members. “If the three councillors Luky. “The union moveserve as a site to educate subject of a public hearing, currently scheduled that negotiated the GIL, this ment’s still fighting for visitors to Churchill about everybody in the workpolar bears, climate change for March 12, and then miserable, this very poor place and fighting for huand the urgent need to take receive second and third GIL, were to do the honman rights. We’re fighting action, as well as provide reading, which are tenta- ourable thing and resign to get the governments to broadcast facilities for tively slated to occur March from council, we would do what we think is right media, support polar bear 12 and March 26 respect- have a couple of weeks to for all the people.” research and outreach ef- ively. City manager Gary find out whether we want In order to get govforts, and assist visiting Ceppetelli says the bylaw to proceed all the way to ernments to listen, he scientists, educators and must be passed 180 days third reading on this,” said said, people need to vote other guests whose work prior to the election date Matechuk, who repeated Nickel Belt News photos by Ian Graham wisely. and support are critical to of Oct. 24. If it is, the next comments made Feb. 12 “We’ve got civic elec- Burgers, cotton candy – not all of which ended up on Thompson Teachpolar bear conservation. election could be a bit of when council voted 5-2 ers’ Association president Cathy Pellizarro (above )– and speeches tions, we’ve got provinThe facility will include a a case of musical chairs, to amend the Thompson from NDP MP Niki Ashton, United Steelworkers Local 6166 president cial elections, we’ve got workspace, bunkhouse, with the eight incumbent Charter Act, which stipufederal elections, so you Warren Luky and Thompson Mayor Dennis Fenske (top right) , as well and storage space councillors, assuming all of lates that council should kitchen them decide to run again, have eight councillors and have to sit yourself and as Thompson MLA Kelly Bindle, were all on the menu at USWfor equipment. Local ask who’s helping us out 6166’s Labour Day picnic in Thompson Sept. 3. “This is the single lar- competing for only six a mayor, to the effect that here in the north?” said gest donation PBI has available spots, along with reducing the number of council positions would Luky, mentioning that crap about what happens been facing are because of received and it is an all the other candidates. Eliminating two council prevent “new blood” Ashfrom rights of previous centurshirt that matched want to acknowledge previous union president north of the Perimeter so political decisions that are amazing commitment to positions would save just coming into council. ies as the reason those at ton’s NDP orange jacket, that in secure order for us to Les Ellsworth is believed it’s something you have to made that don’t benefit helping the polar $20,000 salarDeputy mayor the picnic had theinday off Thompson MayorColleen Denfight back against to be considering running think about when you’re working people. For ex- bear’s future,” saidthese PBI under ies and perhaps about Smook said that isn’t to enjoy. nis Fenske said that nethe bad decisions we have to in this October’s munici- voting. You guys get out ample, governments that executive director Krista Nickel Belt News photo byasIanshe Graham $5,500 to $16,400 in cessarily true and “The nine-hour movecity government was dowork politically hand in pal elections in Thomp- there and make your vote sign off our resources and Wright. “We’re humbled Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly Churchill. expenses, based Valentino among the ment was ainlabour solidaring what were it could to enhand well. I’mgift proud son. “We feel we have the count.” thisasgenerous and travel allow foreign corporations by on the amounts spent on top three vote-getters in ity movement brought future for of the work thatsafe the thing NDP swallow ability get some help to Churchill-Keewatinook extremely to take or, right?’ in the was BY IANto GRAHAM For aallbright the harsh weather write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m us justover as bad, not a grateful.” very whenthat people say sure travel by the two lowest2014 despite having not attention to labour, to Thompson. does along with the labour from the federal govern- to Aski NDP Niki AshprivaEDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET haveofallChurchill, these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar figure out.MP It’s pretty clear Icase spending and been on council before, “This past year peoplejust ofcouncillors thesomewhere working movement, working hand should ment and she’s fromnow the written prov- when ton also the im- Itization sells them off straThough I getstressed through.” need tothat capture for thought was exciting find bears, deMeulles said has if it Erica andthat Dani Reiss do- the two highest spending while Coun. Penny Byer class, and it was 126 years been difficult for all of in hand to fight for jusincial government. We’re of being politictegicgrandchildren assets to American a book about her experien- portance DeMeulles said she wrote my really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would nated $1 working million towards in the fiscal year 2016. said don’t autothat [Labour Day] be- have us,”fresh he faces said. “We are tice, started for people, trying to getup people to use her allybook, active. billionaires andbeleaves ces growing in Churchill, titled Whispers in because they will lost if they throwing the ago “To say, ‘Those people moved back to ChurchShrinking council to six matically equate Polar International’s came antoactual holiday.,” moving thoughtoitdifferand to fight for Ithe dignity for choose monies and Foundation funds that are challenges that we Addictions of the“The Wind: Stories from the Iregions offBears and realized, ‘Holy live there. They ill in a heartbeat. don’t.” like ours hurting. fuel would put Thompson in ent results. Bindle said. “Today we there is a lot of work working people, to fight proposed facility in Churchalready in place and we face, especially in terms NAFTA, an agree- cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for Even She also has a reputation “I miss the shoreline, I line other similarly “I’m not sure whethlook with at it as long weekbeing done inthat backto during the lives of simplistic. want things be aofcouple ill the organization’s economic challenges, as ment that washerself. promised on Gisele these deMeulles saidtowritof reasons. a storyteller aimprove bomb.’” It’sa quite disre- miss the rock, Ithe miss the sized communities said er you have new blood end and it’s the end of ground to ensure that the people in our communities working here in ThompBear Affair gala inthat To- spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though justsort happen,” said to “I benefit working people, ing wasn’t something she didn’t “I just of thought, had such a varied his- Polar Another thing Coun. Blake Ellis, apeople com- makes that great a differsummer but a lot of community of Thompson across the country.” son and for the north. If we Ashton. reasons not and onlyI would has ittell not, it’s spurred always thought she would you know “The what, this his- tory people ronto Feb.her 27. on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and ment reiterated by Coun. in what a council is so would that we could Ience and surrounding region Thompson Progressive don’t why this we stuff face that’s thingsinlike made and things do. fight for ourselves, tory, my stories times facing Churchill Isuffered think we scream really miss the Hudson theyworse would off go, hard Nickel Belt News Kathy Valentino. able to do and accomplish have this, so they could continues to be sustainConservative MLA Kelly no“In one my else youth is goingI to and head, the closure of the for Canadians never not true, isand it?’ we’re I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go it’s going to smelter be gone ‘That’s “When you look at every depending what to thecall obphotooperations courtesy of have have the option rights.” able home, and aon place Bindle hearkened back to no one else the cityshe or if and refinery the tough seeingit’sthat play out go, in way felt good at in writing,” I don’t write or it down,” she ‘Yeah true.’ They’d the to do that? back standing on the suspended other city or municipality Continued on Page 3 Sporting an orange home.” the battles for workers’ Polar Bears International the province really give a times“My thatkids Churchill a bigdidn’t way do these days.didI north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on said. “But when I moved said. all that, are not has go- ‘You 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 pmloved 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.” EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET (PBI) received a $1 million The work donethe byconthe donation towards labour movement in the struction of a new facility past to secure workers’ in Churchill during their rights and Affair the need Polar Bear gala to in use democratic Toronto Feb. 27. rights to protect were Dani those Reiss,rights president front andof centre at the anand CEO Canada Goose, nual United as well as a Steelworkers current Polar


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