April 08 2015

Page 1

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Serving the Hub of the North since 1960

Volume 55 • Issue 14

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Four arrested for Thompson break-and-enters BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

COLOURING CONTEST: RESULTS TO BE PRINTED APRIL 10 IN THE NICKEL BELT NEWS

HOME ROUTES CONCERT SEASON WRAPS UP SUNDAY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 6

One adult and three youths were arrested March 31 in Thompson in connection with a three-week string of break-and-enters that began March 5. Nineteen-year-old George Moose of South Indian Lake and three males who cannot be identified under the terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act because they are under 18 face multiple changes of break-and-enter. All four remain in custody pending an appearance in Thompson provincial court April 12. One uniformed RCMP officer and five plainclothes officers in bulletproof vests conducted a search at a house in Eastwood in the late afternoon and early evening March 31. The uniformed officer placed what looked like two rifles in the cruiser’s trunk and RCMP say some of the stolen property has been recovered. The investigation continues and police expect to make more arrests.

Thompson Citizen photo by Ian Graham A Thompson RCMP officer places what looks like a rifle in the trunk of a cruiser during a police search of a house in Eastwood on March 31.

New hand on the helm of Thompson Unlimited EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

BUBBLEMAN BLOWS AWAY SNOW LAKE SPECTATORS COLUMNISTS - PAGE 2

SCHOOL BOARD HOSTS MANITOBA HOOPS CHAMPS SPORTS - PAGE 8

Paul Desjardins has been hired as the new general manager of Thompson Unlimited, the economic development agency tasked with promoting the growth and diversification of the local economy. Desjardins takes over from Gord Wakeling, who joined the organization on a contract basis in December 2013 and continued on in a reduced role while the search was on for a permanent replacement after relocating to Winnipeg. Desjardins and his family came to Thompson from southern Ontario in 2009. “As the general manager of Thompson Unlimited, I plan to work closely with our region to implement our Economic Development Ac-

tion Plan and explore every possible opportunity we have,” said Desjardins in a March 31 City of Thompson press release. “It has been a pleasure to work with many new people in the Thompson Unlimited capacity,” said Wakeling in an email to the Thompson Chamber of Commerce March 21. “I hope that we can continue to work together in the future. Thompson Unlimited is in good hands and I know there are more good things to come.” Wakeling said that he had volunteered to help Desjardins during the period of transition as he settles into his new role. “Thompson is a growing community ready to meet the needs of our residents and our region; Thompson

Unlimited is structured to facilitate that growth,” said Mayor Dennis Fenske. “I would like to offer our congratulations to Paul in his new role and look forward to working with him.” There are still vacancies on the Thompson Unlimited board that were created when Rick Oberdorfer, Manish Pandya and Don MacDonald tendered their resignations last August, though they agreed to remain on until the end of 2014 at the request of council. All three had served on the board since Thompson Unlimited was founded as the Thompson Community Development Corporation more than 10 years ago. City manager Gary Ceppetelli said some of those vacancies have been filled and council is waiting to

be notified about the new board members. After that, the appointments need to be ratified by council. Thompson Unlimited received $2.5 million through the city from Vale over 10 years from 2002 until the end of 2012. Vale’s contribution to economic development remained $250,000 in 2013, but dropped to $100,000 for 2014 and 2015 and will fall again to $50,000 for 2016. Thompson Unlimited received about $150,000 in funding from the city last year, which puts it closer to the lower end of the scale when compared with other communities in Manitoba – higher than Steinbach, which spends about $100,000 per year, but lower than Portage la Prairie at $246,000, Brandon

at $407,000 and, of course, Winnipeg, which spends $5.36 million per year on economic development. Former general manager Mark Matiasek’s contract was not renewed by the Thompson Unlimited board upon its expiry in late 2012 when the 10-year agreement with Vale was about to expire. Matiasek had been general manger of Thompson Unlimited since February 2008, a few months after his predecessor, Bruce Krentz, resigned to take a post as the City of Thompson’s director of recreation, parks and culture. Former Thompson Unlimited development coordinator Betty Landego resigned in late 2013 and development co-ordinator Roxie Binns left for health reasons.

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April 08 2015 by Thompson Citizen - Issuu