Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Providing you with expert advice & friendly service. Book online at speedyglass.ca or try our free app on your iPhone
We look forward to serving you. Ϳͷ-A Kelsey Bay Thompson, MB R;N ͷS Ph: Ͷͺ-ͽͽ;-ͽͶͺ; Fax: Ͷͺ-ͽͽ;-ͽͷͺ
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 61 • Issue 16
Possible public exposures to COVID-19 variant may have occurred in Thompson Walmart and Safeway April 6 and April 10 Six total COVID cases involving the B.1.1.7 variant identified in Northern Manitoba
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Manitoba Public Health advised April 16 that there had been possible public exposure to a COVID-19 variant of concern at Walmart and Safeway in Thompson on April 6 and April 10. That d a y ’s COVID-19 bulletin said there may have been an exposure to the B.1.1.7 or United Kingdom variant of the virus at Walmart between 3:30 p.m. and
5 p.m. April 6 and at Safeway between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on April 10. Any person who experiences possible COVID-19 symptoms who was at these sites during the times of the possible public exposure should isolate immediately and go for testing. A COVID-19 outbreak has also been declared at the Flin Flon personal care home.
First northern COVID case involving a variant of concern reported in Northern Manitoba April 13
BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Draft city budget is over $40 million, 30 per cent higher than 2020, driven largely by increase in capital spending
The provincial government reported Northern Manitoba’s first COVID-19 case involving a variant of concern April 13. Six more cases were reported in the subsequent six days, all but one of them the B.1.1.7 or United Kingdom variant. The sev-
enth variant sample from Northern Manitoba has not been categorized, likely because it is connected to one of the other cases. Provincewide, there have been 711 COVID-19 cases involving variants of concern detected as of April 19 and 213 of them are considered active. The vast majority have been in the Winnipeg region
and the north was the last health region without any cases involving variants prior to today. Public health orders specific to the Pukatawagan/Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (MCCN) health district were also lifted by the province in consultation with MCCN leadership on April 13.
Anyone 40 or over can now receive AstraZeneca COVID vaccine, province announced April 19
while protective services will rise $414,000, general government services $384,000, The City of Thompson is planning to environmental health services $283,000 and spend nearly 30 per cent more in 2021 economic development $102,000. The only than it did last year, according to its draft expenditure category in which lower spendfinancial plan. ing is predicted is transportation services. Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham The overall budget, if the plan is ap- A significant portion of the cost increase in proved without changes, is nearly $41 director the protective services category will acome Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern Gisele deMeulles has written book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. million, about $9.5 million or 30 per cent in the form of bylaw enforcement, which BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write things that you haveto cost ‘Oh,more I’m just bad, right?’ higher than the $31.5 million that was spent is expected thanas $663,000 this was not a very safe thing swallow when people say EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I have all thesefrom stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar to filess gurethan out. It’syear, pretty in 2020, which was $2.5 million anclear increase of $217,000 2020. Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it was anticipated. Although transportation services spenda book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really had been viable she would Additional revenue to fund this spending ing is going down overall, the city is plan- until the plane landed and easier to live. ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have back to ChurchAll Manitobans aged 40 bers of doses administered help moved us reach more Maniis coming from provincial grants (other ning to spend $37,000 more on road mainAddictions Foundation of theoperating Wind: Stories fromlabour the and I don’t.” off and realized, ‘Holy to live there. They in a heartbeat. or over are Inow eligible to choose increasing quickly over the ill tobans, particularly those who than the unconditional municipal tenance $141,000 more on road fuel Manitoba northern director to North - Life for materials She also has a reputation I was sitting should leave,’ is quite may “I face misschallenges the shoreline, receive theprobably AstraZeneca/ coming just days.” or faceI grant), which are predicted increase by in Churchill maintenance than it did in 2020. cats, Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, I miss the Covishield vaccine, which Previously, administration barriers in going to a super about $4.4 million, additional federal gas The separate water and wastewater utility ing wasn’t something sort of thought, “I had such that spectful. If we werevaccine in the polar bears even available viathing pharmacies of the AstraZeneca site or pop-up clinic.”though tax revenue, which is she doubling“Itojust about budget is expected to go up abyvaried abouthis$1 is Another always thoughttransfers she would you know what, this history andConsumer I would tellrevenue people spurred her on was the same boat in another very dangerous and doctors’ offices, the provhad been suspended for area any- they’re Previously, Reimer and has $1.47 million, from accumulated million, to $8,828,046. do. tory, this stuff that’s in my hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the stories and they would go, of cases surplus and reserves, which are going up from water utility customers is predicted to incial government announced one except those aged 55 to said that the numberHudson youth never tax head, it’s goingincrease to be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’tathey shepeople says. “When I go April 19. 64 because it has caused rare Bay,” in which developed by“In $1.4my million, andI property revenue, by $2.26 million to $7,087,840. felt good at writing,” if I by don’t write itThe down,” ‘Yeahtreatment it’s true.’and They’d go, way option that? standing the suspended operations “Tens of thousands of have type ofthe blood clotto in do some re- back thesehome, rare blood clotsonafter which is estimated to she increase about cost she of sewage disposal said. “But when I moved ‘You didn’t do all that, did said. “My kids are not gonorth of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on $493,000. The city is also expecting to is budgeted to go up nearly $800,000 from doses of the AstraZeneca cipients, particularly among receiving the vaccine were 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 vaccine remain in clinics and women in Europe. lower than the incidence of receive about $285,000 more in recreation 2020 the school of social and it’swere something I’ve2021 al- draft old.’ Ifinancial was like, ‘No, large community a political You among feel so pharmacies across the prov- in “Based ongame all ofand thethat’s evi- incredible blood clotssense. occurring department sales of work, service, which The planactually is on thriving at that in point I had ways pubic wanted my I didatall that before I was and just is dwindled down for them because I small and you feel great.” ince,it’s which why we're ex- really dence sad available internationthe general population. down 2020 duetotowrite COVID-19 the mom city’s to website https://www.thompfor 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 panding the eligibility criteria ally to date, we continue to AstraZeneca is available health orders resulting in the arenas and son.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?‘Holy, I’m not badfor at most this, of she’s an artist, docId=7d0e71f1-6cbf-4087-a70b-a0cshe’s got so says. book under belt, Looking back, some of now,” really want to AstraZthrive. one for the deMeulles vaccine,” said Health ill believe benefits of the in Thompson at the her Walmart, gym being closed the year. right?’ I certainly many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things and Though there They’ve built their worlds says she may try Seniorsshe’s Carenot Minister eneca/Covishield vaccine to deMeulles Safeway and Shoppers Drug A large portion developed of the additional spending 5d377993b. 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. is coming in the form of capital spending, The public presentation of the draft fi- Heather Stefanson in a news protect against COVID-19 Mart pharmacies. People who and came out to of rise therebywith at Parksnancial Canada in is taking “I didplace someatpretty bizarre sister and other family someone to you and wish “I have another book in release Monday morning. “I if outweigh anycame potential risks,” to receive vaccinations which is due nearlystories $6 million plan City Hall on her a very strong in my Churchill and April I’ve always stuffand likewill fuelalso hauls the members ‘I’m sorry, you medical have to me,” “It’s appointa darker still physician are. want to thank and said, said Dr. Joss Reimer, must she callsays. to make from what was skill budgeted for 2020, mostly 29 at 7 p.m. beinto broadwriting dence in hounded her, ‘Please, Arctic -35,” said pharmacy “My cousin owns the leave home community more about personpartners for their lead ofyour the province’s Vaccine story, ments and bring their health for roadsand andconfi walks. cast via just Zoom.high People who at plan to attend myRecreational writing. I and 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. work to provide vaccine and Implementation Task Force. cards with them to their cultural services spend- the presentation in person must register in clear that’s to it.go It’sup there. for$700,000, you becauseorder yourtostory somewhere else andwill all Maybe in the next five years look forward to the num- you “Expanding the criteria appointment. ing isand expected by about do so. on me until after. That was a says. BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPONCITIZEN.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.”