Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
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Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 61 • Issue 15
One year after first COVID cases in the region, northern leaders look back on lessons learned from the pandemic made the decision early on to the fact but we are making our move people from recreation voices heard from the whole It’s been just over a year to vacant spots in public works north.” since the first two cases of and City Hall that hadn’t been Getting answers from the COVID-19 in Thompson, filled yet,” Smook says. “The province hasn’t even been though that fact wasn’t made employees who stepped up to easy for Thompson’s MLA. public until months later. the plate and did these chan“I’ve asked repeatedly for But while that may have ges, a lot of them weren’t used meetings pertaining to the been the official start of the to the new jobs, new capacities vaccine rollout, on different city’s pandemic, it didn’t get they’ve had, so we definitely things pertaining to COVID, real until the fall. really appreciate that. Defin- and they’re not willing to meet May, June and July saw no itely a thank you to the public with us. A lot of the vaccine confirmed new cases of the for being patient with us, too, rollout issues in the north could virus anywhere in Northern while we were able to do this be avoided if they would meet Manitoba. because it definitely affected with the MLAs and other local There was one in August our level of service in some officials to ensure that groups and 14 in September, which ways.” aren’t being overlooked and saw multiple cases reported in Reducing in-person contact that it’s the best way to get the Northern Regional Health also affected two of the big- people vaccinated.” Authority (NRHA) on the gest parts of Thompson MLA Smook says the economic same day for the first time, Danielle Adams’s job: meeting pain imposed by restrictions on in what might be considered with constituents and sitting in shopping and business hasn’t assistance in dealing with more positive attitude toward to essentially reinvent the the start of the north’s second the legislature. been equally distributed. wave of infections, or even the “I think it’s had a lot more COVID-19 outbreaks is evi- us. I just hope that we can keep wheel when it comes to how “I’m doing office hours COVID vaccines are delivered real beginning of the first. remotely so people can still dramatic impact on our small dence that the federal govern- that up.” She’s also seen how partner- is the right approach. The number of northern in- connect,” she said. “I’ve done businesses than on our bigger ment was ill-prepared despite “It’s the most convoluted, fections increased more than a lot more virtual town halls. businesses, that’s for sure,” she knowing about these long- ships with other organizations standing issues and their posuch as the YWCA Thompson expensive plan on the plantenfold in October, to 198 total It’s been a different way to says. “I really feel our smaller tential to make the pandemic and Manitoba Keewatinowi et. It still doesn’t make sense cases, then continued rising – connect with people and it’s businesses could have been Okimakanak (MKO) to help that they’re bringing people to to 800 in November, 1,133 in just finding new and more given a little bit more leeway worse for First Nations. “The federal government house some of the city’s home- the vaccine,”Adams says.”It December and 1,833 in Janu- innovative ways to connect.” with the province because it’s knew how vulnerable com- less people make difficult needs to be the other way, ary before dropping to 968 in In any given week, some self-owned, they’re small, they where they’re bringing vacFebruary and 1,047 in March. MLAs are physically in the are going to look after their munities were in our region,” tasks easier. Ashton says. “They should Having one main hotspot cine to people. Gillam has an Through the first 11 days legislature in Winnipeg, employees, they’re going to have been working on being to react to in the form of airport and a hospital. Why of April, there had been 406 while others are participating worry, they’re going to make positive tests for the virus remotely. the people coming into their prepared even before this pan- COVID-19 has also helped can’t Gillam have vaccine at in the north, a daily pace, so “I spent all of the previous stores more accountable much demic and certainly early on the city to try to work more the hospital? Every one of the communities either has a far, higher than November’s session in the fall being re- easier than a Walmart that has in the pandemic and we didn’t proactively in other areas. see that.” “The slower pace has achealth clinic or a nursing stadespite weeks and weeks of mote,” Adams said. “That way a lot of people hanging out Positives tually enabled us to take a tion. They just have to bring public health restrictions MLAs are able to participate front.” Test reults haven’t been the deeper look inside at what the in the freezers and spend. Clearly, there’s still a long and we’re not having to do all Infrastructure deficiencies only positive things to result city really needs instead of al- The Northern Health Region road ahead in the north and in of the travelling.” have impacted many northern from the pandemic. ways just putting out fires and does flu clinics every year and Manitoba as a whole before For Churchill-Keewatinook communities, Ashton says. “I think northerners have trying to go on to the next,” they get the north vaccinated. it’s time for any victory laps, Aski MP Niki Ashton, advo“Before COVID hit, in done a really good job of folSmook says. The Northern Health Region but political leaders from the cacy work has shifted from my visits to communities I’d In some ways, Smook says, knows what they’re doing region have learned many les- taking place in the House of hear about access to quality lowing the rules and listensons from the first year of the Commons and at press con- affordable internet as one of ing,” says Adams. “We have the pandemic has been good with this.” Looking forward pandemic. ferences to also include the the top 10 issues and now it is shown how resilient and how for the city. Building permits amazing we are and I’m so actually rose in 2020 over the Although the pandemic is Changes power of the pen. Since the easily in the top five. I know The start of the lockdown pandemic began, her office has in some communities they proud to represent our region.” previous year, possibly be- still not over, the arrival of Particularly in First Na- cause, with people spending vaccines and the easing of era brought many changes to sent out nearly 50 letters on her just flat out said, ‘We can’t do tions, Ashton says, leaders so much more time at home, public health orders should the way the City of Thompson behalf to federal ministers and online learning. Our internet enable some projects that have is run, if not the actual business departments on topics from the capacity’s just nowhere near went all-out to try to prevent many embarked on home Nickel Belt News by Ian Graham renovations or began building been put photo on hold or delayed the virus from making it into that gets done, says Mayor need for doctors and military there.’” Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. to move forward, including Colleen Smook. Initially, all assistance to income supports Equally pressing is the need their communities because decks and garages. they knew the impact it would the community safety and Lessons city facilities were closed to for fishers and other workers. for better health care, access BY IAN GRAHAM For all thestrategy harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a it very safe shifted thing swallow when people say have. When did, they well-being and the If there’s one thing that the the public, though the closure to “It’s been me to clean and more EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I have all water these stories and to figure out.important It’s prettyfor clear do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar their efforts to containing it COVID-19 pandemic has sobering centre. of Though City Hallshe’s lasted only a few when right from get-go to be an Ihousing, thatthem directly now written I getthe through.” need tofactors capture for thought waswho exciting just findAdams somewhere deMeulles saidhave if it caringthat for those were should “Where that should demonstrated, says, bears, months and it her has experienremained advocate for our region,” Ash- my contributed to the number of and a book about DeMeulles said she wrote grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would infected. it’s that the provincial health likely been up and running open ever since. in touch cases andbe deaths ces growing up in Churchill, ton her says. book,“I’ve titledbeen Whispers in COVID-19 because they will lost in if they started throwing the care “Tosystem say, ‘Those people have moved Church“I really want to acknowis underfunded or at least intoback the to renovation “It made it Foundation very difficult for folks literally the several communities because fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose Addictions of with the Wind: Storiesaround from the I don’t.” to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. the immense strength and inefficient, with a struc- stage by now, it’s all just gosome of thenorthern people who didn’t North clock. We’ve raised issue after orders regarding ledge Manitoba director - Life in Churchill for public She health also has a reputation cats, I wasleaders, probably sitting should leave,’ quite ing“Itomiss shoreline, of so many advocates, ture that just actually led toispeople start the happening in theI use the internet or didn’t have issue directly with ministers. ” self-isolation couldn’t be folGisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, I miss the frontline workers in the health importing the virus into their next few months or so,” says access to actually come she and effectively. Challenges ing wasn’t something “I just sort of thought, lowed “I had such a varied his- field Another thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though and everywhere who’ve communities. Smook. pay billsthought or check she on things,” “We clearly the spurred Theknow COVID-19 always would you what, pandemic this his- tory andsaw I would tellthat people herouron was the same boat in another very dangerous and been making communities “A lot of the cases thatarea in- they’re The number one priority she said. rates of infection have been has also been a time of chaldo. tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson work throughout this crisis,” itially went into the First Na- for the city right now is the Like for so manyI people Smook saystoitbe hasgone been much in First “In my youth never lenges. head, it’s going ‘That’shigher not true, is it?’Nations I’d go, since the“I’ve Hudson Rail- about that so why were don’tfrom they Bay,” says. “When I go she said. comeBay to know tions communities budget,she which has to be preeverywhere, do if mind-numbing atdown,” times trying than init’s the general population felt good at learning writing,”toshe I don’t write it she ‘Yeah true.’ They’d go, way have the option to do that? back home, standing on the suspended operations in how many ways so many accessing medical treatment,” sented to the public, approved things virtually became the said. to keep“My up with and this is despite extrasaid. “But when I moved didn’t do all the that, did north kidsnew aredevelopnot go- ‘You of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on across our north have the MLA said. “[The govern- and then submitted to the order of the day. to get into ments to getdothe efforts so really many people to Thompson ing to as getwell it if as I don’t it ordinary you? You’ve gotthat to be “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an above and beyond to ment] needs to do broader in- proivnce by May 15. is on Zoom, to consider regional have made dur- gone the“Everything school of social work, province and it’s something I’ve al- communities old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so things moving, to keep vestments with telehealth and “The government did give even and municipal thisalltime andbefore we know it’s keep at thatwhen pointyou’re I had meeting to write ways wantedperspectives. my mom to Iing did that I was and it’ssafe.” just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” people us some COVID dollars and making telehealth more availwith different entities.” were an some issues … decades of fed- to such a small population think the people of Churchfor university and realized, do.“There My mom’s elder and because 27,’ andof they went ‘What?’” Now thatgoing she’s got For Smook, the pandemic able and ensuring that people we’re actually to be able The biggest impact for earlier that the north wasn’t eral neglect, the lack of invest‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so deMeulles says. one book under her belt, Looking back, some of now,” ill really want to thrive. brought out some of the don’t have to go to Winnipeg to use those to improve some the municipality on the many alwayswonderful in on the consultations ment and funding inare keythings areas hasThough right?’ I certainlywas developed stories be- those experiences she’s not there They’ve built their Itworlds try best in Thompsonites. for just a consultation. would deMeulles things in thesays city,”she saysmay Smook, recreation department, with before things happened but including health care, housing, 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. community spirit, I be better for budgets as they referring to $818,898.73 from the and of thethere gym with shut that’s much Ash- her“The andarenas came out storiesdefinitely at Parksgotten Canada in broader “I did infrastructure,” some pretty bizarre sister family if someone to you and “I have another in found it, inand the other last especialcontinue to came cut northern pa- Manitoba’s share ofbook federal down months, better overand the last We stuff ton said. a veryfor strong skill though in my Churchill I’veyear. always like fuel hauls into the members said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker still are. six to eight months, much tient transport.” Safe Restart funding that the it was handled without TheArctic fact thatatmultiple First ly “My do definitely have more just of a high writing and confi dencejob in hounded her, ‘Please, -35,” said cousinshe owns homethat community more about personmore positive,” said. the “In leave Sheyour also says it doesn’t story, city is receiving. losses. say in what is happening to us. Nations in Northern Manimy 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. general there was a much appear the province’s decision “We, as that’s a council it’s a little bitstory after toba to after. request military Page 5 clear and it. in It’sgeneral, there. Sometimes for you because your on mehad until That was a says. you somewhere else and all MaybeContinued in the nexton five years BY IAN GRAHAM
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”