April 29 2020

Nickel Belt News

Volume 58 Number 11

Friday, March 16, 2018

Thompson, Manitoba

Serving the Norman Region since 1961

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

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Volume 60 • Issue 17

Remembering Nova Scotia victims Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill

Northern Manitoba RCMP detachments joined those across the country, other police forces and civilians for Wear Red Friday April 24 to remember their fallen colleague Const. Heidi Stevenson and 21 other victims killed by an armed man in Nova Scotia April 18-19. Pictured here are RCMP officers taking time to remember in Thompson (bottom right), Nelson House (top right) and Gods Lake Narrows (left).

WHEN YOU NEED advice, CONTACT US.

Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill.

BY IAN GRAHAM

Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham

to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents Though she’s now written when I get through.”

I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really 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 Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disreing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, Another thing that spectful. If we were in the “I had such a varied hisalways thought she would you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area do. tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream “In my youth I never head, it’s going to be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t they felt good at writing,” she if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? said. “But when I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re to Thompson to It’s get normal into ingto to have get it ifquestions I don’t do it about you? You’ve to be really right “Itnow. used Your to be local a really feeling like they’re pawns yourgot insurance broker 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 support the Iexpertise looking One conversation at that point I hadistohere write toways wantedyou my with mom to did all that you’re before I was andfor. it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I for university andtoday realized,could do. My mom’s ansome elder and 27,’ and they went to such a small population think give you peace of mind for‘What?’” tomorrow.

Whenever you need us,the people of Church‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. we’re just a call or click away. right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds 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 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 a very strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to writing and confidence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave your home community 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 IBAM.MB.CA 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 Some people say it’s kind of is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do.

Because of that, your loved ones and your 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?’”

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

YOUR BROKER CAN HELP.

For all the harsh weather and the dangers of polar bears, deMeulles said if it had been viable she would have moved back to Churchill in a heartbeat.

“I miss the shoreline, I miss the rock, I miss the polar bears even though they’re very dangerous and I really miss the Hudson Bay,” she says. “When I go back home, standing on the Hudson Bay looking out on the bay, it just gives you an incredible sense. You feel so small and you feel great.”

Now that she’s got one book under her belt, deMeulles says she may try to produce another.

“I have another book in me,” she says. “It’s a darker story, more about personal growth and struggles.

Maybe in the next five years it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”

Page A-2 • News

www.thompsoncitizen.net

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Manitoba COVID-19 recoveries top 200, reopening plan set for unveiling this week

BY CASSIDY DANKOCHIK FLIN FLON REMINDER

Over 200 people in Manitoba have recovered after catching COVID-19.

Provincial chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin made the announcement during a provincial briefing on COVID-19 April 27.

One new case was detected by the province, a day after four new cases were detected April 26, bringing the provincial total to 272 since the first

positive test was announced March 12. Sixty-one cases were active as of Monday at 9:30 a.m., with seven people in hospital, two of them in intensive care. Six people have died from COVID-19 in Manitoba.

More than 23,000 tests have been conducted and processed at Cadham Provincial Laboratory in Winnipeg since the outbreak began.

Only three cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Northern

Regional Health Authority.

No new cases have been reported in nearly three weeks.

“Our numbers have been stable and reflective of Mantiobans efforts at maintaining and flattening our curve,” Roussin said. “We have not seen significant community based transmission.”

Lanette Siragusa, Manitoba chief nursing officer, said workers at all personal care homes in the province will

be only working at a single facility moving forward. The move follows a similar rule put in place in Saskatchewan earlier this month.

She said the new measures will help prepare for Manitoba’s plans to begin reopening the province’s economy.

Plans for getting people back to work are expected to be announced later this week.

“We are at a different phase here in Manitoba, really to the credit of all Manitobans who

have embraced the public health orders and stayed home when they’re sick and kept that physical distancing.”

“We’re going to announce the detailed plan this week,” Roussin said.

“We’re looking at certain non-essential businesses that will open. It’s not a return to normal. There will be a number of restrictions.”

Restrictions on Northern Manitoba travel are expected to remain in place, even as the

rest of the province loosens their measures. Currently, the provincial health order relating to the restrictions will remain in place until May 1, when it may be extended.

Non-essential travel north of the 53rd parallel in Manitoba has been restricted by the province since April 17.

Anyone with symptoms, even mild ones, is encouraged to call Health Links – Info Santé to see if they can get tested.

Nearly 500 School District of Mystery Lake students trying to learn from home without internet access

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

The suspension of in-person classroom learning as a result of COVID-19 pandemic precautions could have a greater detrimental impact on lower-income students in Thompson, a significant proportion of whom do not have internet access at home.

School District of Mystery Lake (SDML) superintendent of educational services and programming Lorie Henderson told the district’s board of trustees at their April 21 meeting, which was broadcast via Facebook, that about one in six students in the district do not have access to the internet and that there is only one of the district’s seven schools where all students have it.

“Students without connectivity, right now our number is 498 students across the district,” she said.

There are approximately 3,000 students enrolled in SDML schools.

Schools have been unable to contact a similar proportion of students since classes across Manitoba were suspended at the end of the day March 20.

“This is our early numbers but there’s been concern with students who have not had any contact with the schools,” Henderson told the board. “We’ve received the information from the schools and to date we have 453 students who have not made contact or the schools haven’t been able to get a hold of the parents.

If you haven’t heard from the teachers or the school, please reach out. The communication needs to be ongoing. That’s about 15 per cent of our population.”

The inability to contact these students and their families is not due to a lack of effort, Henderson said.

“One of our schools that

were having a hard time contacting parents … there were 270 home visits to one school’s population,” Henderson said. “The work continues.”

Another 131 students who came to Thompson from outlying communities, some of which do not have high schools, have returned home since school was suspended.

“They’re still in contact with the schools,” Henderson said.

The district has loaned out 64 electronic devices to students to enable them to participate in online learning.

A web portal to help parents assist teachers in ensuring learning continues while classes are suspended is available at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/ mylearning/index.html in both English and French as well as for students in French immersion.

“I know that parents are

feeling very overwhelmed with the remote learning,” said Henderson. “I know there’s been lots of questions around learning expectations.”

Further information regarding the roles and responsibilities of schools, teachers, parents, caregivers and students is expected to be coming from the province shortly.

R.D. Parker Collegiate principal Rob Fisher said in his April 19 email announcement to parents and caregivers of Grade 9 to Grade 12 students that students are expected to complete assigned work and that teachers can use their professional judgment to determine the appropriate amount of learning time and the format of student assessments, though teachers should plan for a minimum of three hours of curriculum-based learning per week for semestered courses.

“Students in Grades 9–12 will receive, at minimum, the grades they achieved at the time of suspension of classes, (your midterm report card mark) but they will be required to engage in remote learning,” Fisher wrote. “Students will have the opportunity to increase marks. Students who do not engage in remote learning will be required to undertake recovery learning next school year. We are still waiting for direction of what ‘recovery learning’ will mean so to be sure there are no problems later, engage in the learning that is being provided to you by your teachers and complete your assignments to the best of your ability.”

Remote learning is difficult for teachers as well as students, says Thompson Teachers’ Association president Cathy Pellizarro.

“It is definitely a challenge and teachers are all working hard to meet the

individual needs of all students,” Pellizarro said.

Henderson said all district staff are making great efforts to provide the best education they can under unprecedented circumstances.

“This has been and uncharted journey and will continue indefinitely,” she said. “We have many staff members who are willing to go above and beyond to meet the needs of our students both academically and in their well being. So many of our students just want to be back in school.

They miss everything about school, especially the people who make a difference in their lives. My wish is that they are all OK and receiving all that they need to learn and grow. If students are struggling or just want to check in, please reach out to your school or teacher. All of our phones and emails are checked regularly.”

have had their work duties change and some opted for the layoff rather than working in other roles. Others could not continue working as they had due to childcare issues or immune system deficiencies that put them at greater risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

“Some of them [who have been repurposed into different roles] are going and delivering work packages to homes of people, like paperwork for some of the kids that don’t have the technology for teachers to be able to scan the materials, so they were dropping work packages off and picking up work packages,” said Bartlett. “Some of the educational assistants were tasked with trying to clean out some of the desks and the lockers and supplies for students, bag them up, tag their names on them so parents could come and pick them up. These are really tasks that are not within their present job descrip-

tion. We also did a little bit of crossing over with the two unions. For example, if we had someone in the clerical union who had some experience in the past doing custodial work they very well could have been repurposed on the custodial side. We literally were trying to do everything we possibly could to find meaningful work to keep people employed.”

The suspension of classroom learning and the provincial government attempting to save money to be redirected towards health care will also have impacts on the district’s finances.

“The province has mandated that all expenditures cease except for those that are directly related to inhome remote student learning,” said secretary-treasurer Kelly Knott. “We’re working on the fiscal and workforce sustainability exercise that the province has issued. Included in

that is the 15 per cent reduction of executive and managerial costs that were announced many months ago through the budget process. We are looking at

deferring non-essential expenses. We’re in the middle of identifying those at this time.”

Bartlett also told the board about four teachers

who have submitted their resignations effective June 30.

Two have been employed by SDML since 2018, another since 2015 and the third since 2012.

Thirty members of school district’s clerical staff and educational assistants have opted for layoffs, school board told

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

About 30 members of the School District of Mystery Lake (SDML) clerical and support staff chose to be laid off due to operational changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic school closures, the board of trustees heard at a meeting broadcast via the district’s Facebook page April 21.

“We had offered what we referred to as an alternative layoff that went out to clerical staff as well as educational assistants,” superintendent of human resources and policy Angele Bartlett said in response to a question from board chair Don Macdonald about the effects of pandemic precautions on staffing levels.

“We had 30 people opt for the alternative layoff.”

With classroom learning suspended, some district staff who primarily dealt with students, such as educational assistants,

Thompson RCMP arrest man accused of pointing a shotgun at someone Thompson RCMP seized multiple firearms after responding to a call about a man pointing a shotgun at someone April 23.

Multiple police officers responded to a report of one man pointing a shotgun at another man outside a Juniper Drive residence shortly before 3:30 p.m. Thursday, arresting a 51-year-old man without incident. While executing a search warrant at the suspect's residence later, police seized multiple guns as well as ammunition. The 51-year-old faces multiple charges,

including pointing a firearm, careless use of a firearm and unsafe firearm storage.

Thompson RCMP ask any witnesses to the gun-pointing inci-

RCMP photo dent or anyone who has private video surveillance of the incident to call the detachment at 204-677-6909 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

www.thompsoncitizen.net

News • Page A-3

City reviving community development corporation nearly four years after Thompson Unlimited’s demise

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

All but one of the councillors participating by telephone in the April 13 Thompson council meeting voted in favour of reviving the Thompson community development corporation, which has lain dormant since mid-2016, when Thompson Unlimited’s general manager and board resigned.

Coun. Duncan Wong was the only participating councillor to vote against the revival, saying he was concerned about how the agency would be funded.

“What we know is we don’t even secure the fund-

ing yet,” he said.

City manager Anthony McInnis said the resolution that passed is only the first step in raising the corporation from the legally dead, giving council and city administration to ability to incorporate with the provincial companies office.

Not all those who voted in favour of the resurrection the day after Easter did so without reservations.

Coun. Jeff Fountain said the previous incarnations of the development corporation had not impressed him with their track record.

“In my opinion, they’ve not produced much in the way of successful results,”

he said, though he hopes this time it will be different, provided council and administration provide sufficient oversight.

Fountain was supposed to be one of three councillors, along with Coun.

Earl Colbourne and Coun.

Brian Lundmark, to be appointed to the corporation’s interim board for a period of up to a year, alongside Mayor Colleen Smook and McInnis, but offered to let someone else take his place after Coun. Kathy Valentino pointed out that he had replied to an email extending the offer to him a day later than requested.

“I think you should make

a change because the procedure wasn’t followed,” Colbourne said.

After some discussion, Fountain was replaced by deputy mayor Les Ellsworth, who had earlier offered to fill one of the spots if no other volunteers came forward.

That so-called friendly amendment to the resolution didn’t bode well for Wong, who remarked sarcastically that he could see how much success the corporation would have based on the difficulty of simply appointing an interim board.

Wong was the only councillor opposed to the resolu-

tion appointing the interim board.

Thompson Unlimited, as the community development corporation was known for the last decade-plus of its existence, was effectively dissolved in June 2016 when the general manager resigned, followed by the board, which had been appointed about a year earlier.

Thompson Unlimited received $2.5 million through the city from Inco and then Vale over 10 years from 2002 until the end of 2012. Vale's contribution to economic development remained at $250,000 in 2013, but dropped to

$100,000 for 2014 and 2015 and to $50,000 for 2016.

Former Thompson councillor and former Thompson Citizen editor Blake Ellis said in an April 13 Facebook post that it isn’t a good idea to recreate a model that wasn’t working over the last few years of Thompson Unlimited’s existence unless the new corporation is given sufficient resources.

“If city council wants to recreate Thompson Unlimited, it will have to give the organization far more money than it likely wants in order to see the fruitful results it desires,” he wrote.

Workers Compensation Board refunding $37 million surplus to employers to help ease pandemic cash

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Manitoba businesses are getting a $37 million refund via a Workers Compensation Board (WCB) surplus, Premier Brian Pallister announced April 21.

It is expected that about $29 million will go back to private sector employers, with about $7 million of that ending up with small businesses, the WCB said in a press release. About $6.2

million will go to health care employers including regional health authorities, CancerCare Manitoba, Riverview Health Centre and personal care homes.

“It allows us to return money to businesses at a time when cash flow is a real challenge,” Pallister said of the WCB refund.

Eligible employers will receive a credit to their account based on 20 per cent of their 2019 premium, provided they

have fulfilled their payroll reporting responsibilities for 2019 and paid a WCB premium last year.

This is the second year the WCB has returned surplus funds to eligible employers.

“With a healthy reserve fund, we are pleased to provide a refund of approximately 20 per cent to employers to help bolster their bottom line,” said WCB chairperson Michael Werier. “It’s incumbent upon businesses like

ourselves to do our part to actively help support financial recovery efforts over the next several months.”

WCB is also deferring premium payments and extending the payroll-reporting deadline to the end of May and not charging interest or penalties for non payment until October.

Pallister also said that Manitoba will contribute $16 million to a federal government program to provide

rent assistance to commercial enterprises.

Steps to reopen the economy following pandemic shutdowns and public health orders will be taken when it is considered safe to do so.

“Public safety will always be our first concern,” Pallister said, with the economy a close second. “Its recovery will become our central focus in tandem.”

He also said that proposed cutbacks or work hour re-

ductions in some areas of the civil service are necessary to ensure the health care system is adequately funded at a time of greater demand on its resources.

“We need to find hundreds of millions of dollars and we are going to find those resources,” said Pallister, arguing it makes no sense not to access Employment Insurance funds that employers and employees have paid into and borrowing money instead.

AUTOMATED COLLECTION

BID OPPORTUNITIES

• 1 Westwood • 2 Burntwood • 3 Riverside/Deerwood • 4 Eastwood • 5 Juniper/Southwood/BTC

Tenders will be received by the Purchasing Agent at City Hall, 226 Mystery Lake Road, Thompson, MB. R8N 1S6. Tender details and closing dates are as follow:

The automated carts must be placed along your curb no later than 8 am on the day of scheduled pickup AT LEAST one metre apart from other cart/objects. No Parking on residential streets between the hours of 8 am and 4:30 pm during Garbage/Recycle days for that area. Example: if it is Westwood’s Garbage/Recycle day there is to be no parking on the residential streets in the Westwood Area. This is to aid in the safety for both the residents of Thompson as well as City crews.

Vehicles found parked on the streets will be ticketed.

APRIL/MAY 2020

MON

13

TUE

14

WED

15

THU

16

FRI

17

2 3 4 5 1 20 21 22 23 24 2 3 4 5 1 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 1 4 5 6 7 8 2 3 4 5 1 11 12 13 14 15 2 3 4 5 1

Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 03:00 P.M. (CST) RFT # 20-12942 – WATER AND SEWER RENEWALS FOR THE CITY OF THOMPSON Friday, May 1, 2020, at 03:00 P.M. (CST) RFT #20-12950 – SUPPLY OF ONE (1) WATER LEAK NOISE CORRELATOR TO THE CITY OF THOMPSON Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at 03:00 P.M. (CST) RFT #20-12952 – SUPPLY OF INFRARED ELECTRIC HEATERS TO THE CITY OF THOMPSON Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at 03:00 P.M. (CST) RFT #20-12953 – SUPPLY OF SUPPLY OF POLYMER FOR THE NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AT THE CITY OF THOMPSON Bid documents may be obtained from the office of the Purchasing Agent, 120 Seal Road, Thompson, MB. Phone (204) 677-7974, email purchasingagent@thompson.ca between the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The City shall have the right to disqualify Proponents from the bidding process if they have poor performance including failed to complete their obligations under any prior contract with the City of Thompson or have been involved in vexatious litigation with the City.

The lowest or any submission need not be accepted by the City of Thompson. The City shall have the right to evaluate competing bids in accordance with its own criteria for evaluation applied to the work being proposed, whether or not such criteria has been expressly related to the Proponents. The City of Thompson reserves the right to award work to the Proponent which it deems to be in the best interest of the City.

CITY OF THOMPSON

226 Mystery Lake Road Thompson, MB R8N 1S6 Phone: 204-677-7910 communications@thompson.ca

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

AMBULANCE / FIRE ....................... (204) 677-7911 R.C.M.P........................................... (204) 677-6911 COMMUNITY SAFETY OFFICERS .... (204) 677-7916 HOSPITAL . ..................................... (204) 677-2381

PHONE NUMBERS

THE THOMPSON RECYCLING CENTRE

MAYOR AND COUNCIL . ................. (204) 677-7926 CITY MANAGER ............................. (204) 677-7951 GENERAL INQUIRIES . .................... (204) 677-7910 DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ....... (204) 677-7973

invites you to their AGM Thursday, April 26 at 4 pm

www

226 Mystery Lak

BID OPPORTUNIT

Bids will be received by the Purchasing Agent at City Hall, 226 Mystery L and closing dates are as follow: Friday, April 6, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. (CST)

Page A-4 • Opinion

Opinion Opinion Opinion Opinion OPINION www.thompsoncitizen.net

Wednesday, Wednesday,March March21, 21,2018 2018 Wednesday, Wednesday,March March21, 21,2018 2018 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Letter Lettertotothe theEditor EditorLetter to the Editor Letter to the Editor Letter to the Editor

www.thompsoncitizen.net www.thompsoncitizen.net www.thompsoncitizen.net

Thompson Citizen Thompson Citizen Wednesday, April 29,Citizen 2020 Thompson 141 Place, 887 141Commercial Commercial Place,Box Box 887 141 Commerc 141 Comme 141 Commercial Place, Box 887 Thompson, Manitoba R8N 1T1 Thompson, Manitoba R8N 1T1 Thompson, M Thompson Thompson Citizen Thompson, Manitoba R8N 1T1 Phone: 677-4534 • Fax 677-3681 Phone: 677-4534 • Fax 677-3681 Phone: 677-4 Phone: 677 141 Commercial Place, Box 887 Phone: 677-4534 • Fax 677-3681 e-mail: e-mail:generalmanager@thompsoncitizen.net generalmanager@thompsoncitizen.net e-mail: generalmanager@th e-mail: generalmanager@t Thompson, MB R8N 1T1 e-mail: generalmanager@thompsoncitizen.net Page Page4 4 www.thompsoncitizen.net www.thompsoncitizen.net Phone 204-677-4534 Fax 204-677-3681 Page 4 generalmanager@thompsoncitizen.net

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I am glad totosee Canada asas towards TB elimination.

I in am glad see Canada the resource sector and intowards TB elimination.

I am glad to see Canada as learning, which could lastglobal the rest this year, isthe affecting a atop totothe fund toschool tuberculosis. topdonor donor the global fund tofight fight tuberculosis. aof donor to the global to fight tuberculosis. atop top donor to globalfund fund to fight tuberculosis. vestment by Arctic Gateway aI top donor tothis the global fund to fight tuberculosis. students from Thompson and outlying areas whothis don’t have the that this commitment in future Ihope hope that commitment continues inthe the future I hope that commitment continues ininthe I continues hope that this commitment continues thefuture future Group in transportation were Isame hope that this commitment continues in the future tools towe participate in distance learning activities asmeet their peers. sosothat can our to stop TB. thatwe canmeet meet ourgoal goal to stop TB. so that we can our totostop TB. so that we can meet ourgoal goal stop TB. creating jobs and contributsoNearly that we meet ourdivision, goal towhich stophas TB.about 3,000 stu500can students in the dents overall, do not have access to the internetKarolin at home, the school Klement Karolin Klement Karolin KarolinKlement Klement Karolin Klement board heard. And more than 450 of the district’s students have not Calgary Calgary Calgary Calgary been contacted by or been in contact with their schools orCalgary teachers, since the last day of in-class learning on March 20. While the preEditorial Editorial Editorial Editorial Editorial cise circumstances of these students are unknown, it seems fair to assume that the reason some of them do not have internet access at home is because they can’t afford it, meaning that the shift away from classroom learning for the time being could have a detrimental BY JOSEPH QUESNEL effect on lower-income students, some of whom who already faced Manitoba Premier Brian Palsignificant barriers to getting the most out of their education before lister recently threw cold water COVID-19 drastically shifted the school landscape in Manitoba, on the notion of Western Canada across Canada and around the world. separation, saying good relationManitoba-wide, 79.9 per cent of students who started Grade 9 ships aren’t built on threats to in September 2014 had graduated by June 2018. Non-Indigenous leave. females had the highest five-year graduation rate, in excess of 90 per But Pallister has similar cent, while more than 85 per cent of non-Indigenous males completed on his oth Luke many of the people othofofThompThomp- mer mer councillor councillor Luke issues many of own thedoorstep: people oth mer councillor Luke othofofThompThompmer councillor Luke high schooloth in theof same timeframe.

For Indigenous females, the on- many Thompmer councillor Luke of the people Northern Manitoba alienation son’s local Robinson, who served opposed to the plan son’s local Robinson, who local served opposed who to the plan son’s Robinson, served son’s local Robinson, who served time graduation rate at thelocal end of theRobinson, 2017-18 school year was 51.2 opposed son’s who served to thecouncil plan is real and theregular government must elected bodies one term on council are the critics elected bodies one term on council are the regular critics elected bodies one term on elected bodies one term on council per cent and for male Indigenous students itterm was about 46council per cent. are elected bodies one on the regular critics seriously. have considered profrom 2010 toto2014 beof who attend have considered profrom 2010 2014 be- take ofitcouncil council who attend have considered profrom 2010 2014 behave considered profrom 2010to to 2014 beIn the north, however, overall graduation rates are lower than the Last year, the Frontier Cenhave considered profrom 2010 to 2014 beof council who attend posals to reduce the fore being defeated by meetings and ask their posals to reduce the fore being defeated by meetings and ask their posals to reduce the fore being defeated byby posals to reduce the fore being defeated provincial average, with about 64 per cent of students in the Flin tre for Public Policyask initiated a posals toofofreduce the fore being defeated by meetings and their number representaMayor Dennis Fenske elected officials quesnumber representaMayor Fenske electedDennis officials quesnumber of representaMayor Fenske number of representaMayor Dennis Fenske Flon Schoolof Division who started high schoolDennis inDennis September 2014 elected landmark discussion on redrawnumber representaMayor Fenske officials questives them in race totobecome tions week after week, tives comprising them inthe the race become tions week week, tives comprising them in the race toafter tives comprising them ing in the race tobecome become finishing bycomprising June 2018 and about 51 per cent in the Kelsey School provincial boundaries to protives comprising them the race to become week aftermay week, and ofofPas. them head of council last their opinions not andone one them made in head of council last tions their opinions may not and one ofof them made head of council last and one them made head of council last Division in The Themade four-year SDML graduation rate in June vide tidewater access.

Northern and one of March them made head of council last their opinions may not a achoice that Thompsonites be to dissuade choice 13not that Thompsonites beenough enough to dissuade atime choice March 13 time that Thompsonites atime choice March 13 not Manitoba time that Thompsonites 2018 was 47.2March per cent13 and innot the Frontier School Division it not was mightto takedissuade some cues atoto choice March 13 not time that Thompsonites enough shrink its numbers, went totothe about the majority from forshrink its numbers, went the polls about be the majority from forto shrink itsits numbers, went to the 32.6 per cent. The latter two were the only divisions inpolls the province to shrink numbers, went to thepolls polls about from that discussion to about engage to shrink its numbers, went to the polls about the majority from forasasschool board trustthree-and-half years ging ahead, especially where fewer than half of students started Grade 9 in September school board trust-who three-and-half years ging ahead, especially as school board trustthree-and-half years as school board trust- regions three-and-half of Saskatchewanyears and as school trustyears especially ees voted 6-1 against ago –voted in6-1 ofof ging since the of 2014 graduated on time. ees votedboard 6-1 against three-and-half agovoted –was was6-1 infavour favour since theinnumber of ees against ago – ahead, favour ees against ago –was was innumber favourof of Ontario. ees voted 6-1 against ago – was in favour of since the number of the COVID-19 pandemic dynamic and its full reducing a Though bybytrustee the numbers, people about aresolution resolution trustee reducing the numbers, peoplewho who care about areducing resolution byby trustee the numbers, aremains resolution trustee reducing thecare numbers, Northern Manitobans underaRyan resolution by trustee reducing the numbers, who care about effects won’t be known untilonly well after the fact, Manitoba’s economy Land (the with the other seven opthis one way or another Ryan Land (the only with the other seven op- people thisthe one way or another Ryan Land (the only with other seven opstand the economic hardship Ryan Land (the only with the other seven opRyan Land (the only with the other seven opthis one way or another is bound to take a severe blow, which could make it difficult for vote posed. coundoesn’t even reach have been voteininsupport) support)totorere- vote posed.

Although coundoesn’t evenexperienreach ininAlthough support) reposed.

Although counvote support)to to re- Albertans posed.

Although counvote in the support) to reAlthough coundoesn’t even reach those with only high-school diploma tohasn’t find jobs after graduation. duce ofof posed. cil voted on double digits.

And the region may have duce theanumber number cil hasn’t yet voted on double digits. duce the number of cil hasn’t yet onon duce theyet number of cing. cil hasn’t yetvoted voted duce the number of cil hasn’t yet voted on double digits.

For those with less than a Grade 12 education, it will likely be even to take a page from Alberta’s trustees from seven to second reading of that Whether or not the trustees from seven to trustees second from reading of that Whether or ofnot the toto second reading trustees fromseven seven second reading ofthat that trustees fromnever seven to tosecond reading of stage that Whether or not the harder. possible achieve equity ofnext outcomes for Wexit movement to finally get five. bylaw, the number ofof councillors five.It is likely bylaw, the next stage number councillors five. bylaw, the next stage five. bylaw, the next stage all students, because there are manytowards factors that can influence or number five. the next stage councillors attention it deserves.

One itnight ofor school board One night night earlier, earlier, bylaw, towards itbecoming becoming of- the or school boardtrusttrustOne earlier, towards itof ofOne night earlier, towards itbecoming becoming ofinterrupt a given student’s education, possibly causing them to drop One night earlier, towards it becoming ofor school board trustPushing for redrawn borders slightly ficial, atat least ees be slightly more more than than a a slightly ficial,there’s there’s least eesshould should beatreduced reduced more than aaaa ficial, there’s at least aa slightly more than ficial, there’s least out entirely. more The goal,than however, be there’s at least toat offer equity slightly a should ficial, least a ees should be reduced or talking about going itquesalone half-dozen Thompsonbetter than even chance isbetter not the sort ofchance half-dozen Thompsonbetter than even chance is not the sort of queshalf-dozen Thompsonbetter than even half-dozen Thompsonthan even chance of opportunity. The coronavirus didn’t causethan the factors associated is half-dozen Thompsoneven not the sort ofthere quesmay force the Manitoba govites showed up that itshowed approved. tion which isis ites showed upto tovoice voiceforbetter that itwill willbe be approved. tion for which there ites showed up tochance voice that itfor be ites up toBut voice that itwill will beapproved. approved. with worse educational outcomes lower-income students. for tion ernment to which address the unique ites showed up to voice that it will be approved. for there is their opinion on a proAs watchers of council a right or wrong antheirinopinion on adon’t pro-have As watchers ofa council a watchers right or of wrong antheir opinion onon As their opinion aproproAs watchers ofcouncil council students the SDML who access to internet home to a economic and infrastructure their opinion on awould proAs watchers of atcouncil right or noticed, wrong anposed bylaw that will have noticed, the swer.

On the pro posed bylaw that would will have noticed, the will swer.

On the proside side posed bylaw that would have the posed bylaw that would will have noticed, the use while in-class learning is suspended, it certainly has the potential needs of On this region. posed bylawshrink that would will have noticed, the swer. the pro side see council from proposals that make of the current see council shrink from proposals that make ofkeeping keeping the current see from proposals that make see councilshrink shrink from proposals that make to heighten theirshrink effects.

And as long ascouncil educational outcomes in of The regionalthe economy has see council from proposals that make keeping current eight councillors iteight the council floor the option eight Manitoba councillors to eight ittoin tothe the council floor the option councillors toto certainly itnumbers, totothe floor councillors itnumbers, thecouncil council floor Northern are worse to than those south, or across the suffered some major eight councillors to it to the council floor numbers, the option six, including the have aprovincial toto be that but six, not not including the north have atendency tendency be blows: thatall butone oneof the six, not including the have aall toof be six, not including the have atendency tendency tothe be province as a whole, all the looking the government six, not Only including the a tendency toleast be all board but one ofleast the mayor. one ofof have approved bybyisone at school members mayor.

Only one approved at least school board members mayor.

Only ofof that approved by at does in an attempt to create a stronger regional economy not going mayor.

Only one approved by at least The Portboard of Churchill closed mayor. ofas much approved by atits least members that ofone people two-thirds ofof memopted isof the arguto benefit theOnly region’s residents ashandful ithandful should. thathandful handful of people two-thirds mem- school optedfor, for,of isits the arguthat ofits two-thirds that ofpeople people two-thirds itsmemmem-

and the need to transport them to market are still there. After the pandemic, there will be private sector jobs in the resources sector.

Those jobs require skills and training.

The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of jobs we often don’t think of: truck drivers, delivery people, grocery store staff, and so on. Such positions were hard to fill before the pandemic. After the pandemic, there will be private sector jobs in the north.

Those jobs require skills and training.

eral government was working with Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) on devolving responsibility for Indigenous healthcare in Northern Manitoba, and the $500 million envelope that supports this critical activity. The pandemic has only served to highlight the value of healthcare workers to our collective wellbeing. After the pandemic, there will be healthcare jobs in the north.

Those jobs require skills and training.

UCN stands ready to do its part during the pandemic.

But UCN also knows that

critical needs for the short term, and critical needs for the long term. Both are just as important. It is right that we row as hard as we can right now, but this is a marathon, not a sprint: we need to be able to row hard for a long time to recover from COVID-19 socially and economically. UCN is contributing what it can now so it can contribute what it can in the long term.

Edwin Jebb is the Chancellor for the University College of the North and a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation band council.

Northern Manitoba alienation must be addressed

Pushing for redrawn borders may force the province to address the unique economic and infrastructure needs of the region

School board opts status quo, SchoolSchool boardboard opts for for status quo, qu opts for School board opts for status status qu which way city council go? whichwhich way will will city council go? go? way will city which way will city council council go B B B B to grain shipments, forcing operators of the subarctic seaport to reconsider its future.

In The Pas, the closure of a heavy paper plant eventually led to a successful restructuring.

Hudbay’s Flin Flon mine and processing facilities are set to close in 2022. workload and workload around and many ofof around the many the people people workload around There is uncertainty overand the allows for diallows for greater diopposed to the opposed togreater the plan plan fate of Vale’s mining and milling allows for greater diversity viewpoints, versity of viewpoints, are the regular critics are theof regular critics operations in Thompson. versity of viewpoints, though Ryan Land was though Ryan Land was of council who attend of council who attend Many inRyan Northern Manitoba though Land was mostly correct in saymostly correct in saymeetings and ask their meetings and ask their believe the government in Winmostly correct in saying that, inin terms ofof ingisn’t that, terms elected officials queselected officials nipeg as supportive ofquesmining that, in terms of class and ethnicity, the class and ethnicity, the tions week after week, tions week after week, ing as provincial governments class and ethnicity, the trustees aren’t really trustees aren’t really their opinions may not their opinions may not elsewhere. aren’t really trustees abe microcosm ofof has the a enough microcosm the be toManitoba enough todissuade dissuade For example, a microcosm of the School District of MysSchool District of forMysthe majority the majority from forfallen behind otherfrom jurisdictions School District of Mystery Lake’s tery Lake’s population ging especially in termsahead, of policypopulation and tax atging ahead, especially tery Lake’s population as IfIfyou’ve asa awhole. whole. you’ve since the ofof tractiveness for number mining investsince the number as aOnly whole.

If you’ve been to many school ment. three years the been to many school people who care about people who careago, about been to many school board meetings province was among the top(and five board meetings (and this one way another this one wayoror another board meetings (and jurisdictions worldwide inreach terms apart members apart from from members doesn’t even doesn’t even reach apart from members of investment attractiveness. of the well, of themedia, media, well,you you double digits. double digits. of the media, well, you Northern communities and haven’t), you would haven’t), would Whether the Whether oryou or not not the haven’t), you First Nations the would governknow that they don’t know that they don’t number ofawait number of councillors councillors know that they don’t ment plans for developing criticoften feature nearly asas often feature nearly or school board trustor school board trustoften feature nearly as almuch transportation infrastructure debate or much debate or divdivees should bebereduced ees should reduced toision Manitoba’s farcity reaches.

Many much debate orcouncil divas ision assort city council isis not of notthe the sort ofquesquesfly-in communities still lack ision as city council meetings, at least not meetings, at there least not tion for is tion forwhich there is connection towhich the wider econmeetings, at least not over the past couple over the past couple a right or wrong ana right or wrong anomy andthe world.past couple over of But they’ve of years. years.

But they’ve swer.

On the pro side swer.

On the pro side Despite some northern highof years.

But they’ve made their decision made their decision of keeping the current of investments, keeping the current way Indigenous made decision and appears there and itittheir appears there numbers, the option numbers, the communoption communities and rural and it appears there will be seven school will be seven school that all but one of the that all but one of the ities look to Winnipeg for more will betrustees seven at school board board trustees atleast least school board school boardmembers members leadership. board trustees at least until until2022.

2022. opted for, isisthe Manitoba lacks a Plan Nord. opted for, thearguargu-

Five years ago, the Quebec government and Indigenous groups unveiled this economic development strategy involving historic investments in the natural resource sector in the far north.

The Quebec plan managed to reconcile economic development boreal conservation, for reducing members, forwith reducing members, workload around and workload around and for reducing members, something that has eluded the whether they belong whether they belong allows for diallows for greater greater diManitoba government. whether they belong to school board to the theofof school board versity viewpoints, versity viewpoints, ailingschool economy isn’tit to board orAn council, that or the council, is that though Ryan Land was Ryanis Land wasit thethough only significant challenge or council, is that it will money.

The will save save money.

The mostly correct ininsaymostly correct sayhanging over the region.

As in will save money.

The amount large amount isinnot not large ing that, terms ofof ing that,isin terms rural Saskatchewan, Northern amount isethnicity, not$20,000 large overall – about overall – about $20,000 class and the class and ethnicity, the Manitoba–isabout dealing$20,000 with rural overall in councillors’ salarin councillors’ salartrustees aren’t really trustees aren’t really crimecouncillors’ problems. in salarper year apies per year plus plus apaies microcosm of the aAnd microcosm of2019, the in November ies per year plus approximately half that proximately half that School District School Districtof ofMysMysMaclean’s magazine declared proximately half that amount, average, amount, on average, tery Lake’s population Thompson hason been Canada’s tery Lake’s population amount, on average, for travel and for annual and as a annual whole.

Iftravel you’ve most violent city three as a whole.

Iffor you’ve for annual travel and expenses.

For the city, straight years.

This based expenses.

Forwas the city, been toto many school been many school expenses.

For the city, which has a ofof on information from Statistics which has abudget budget board meetings (and board meetings (and which has a budget of Canada’s crime severity index, around $30 million, around $30members million, apart from apart from members around $30 police million, which examines data that represents probthat represents probof the media, you of the media,well, well, you that represents probfrom cities across Canada. ably less than a drop inin ably less than drop haven’t), you haven’t), youawould would ably less than athedrop in Thompson has busiest the proverbial bucket, the proverbial bucket, know that they don’t know that they don’t the proverbial bucket, court docket of Winnithough itoutside about aa though it isis about often feature nearly asas often feature nearly though it is about a peg.

And the Thompson court fifth the cost fifthofof theoverall overall cost much debate oror divmuch debate divoffice reportedly deals with a per fifth ofas the overall cost of mayor and counofthe the mayor and counision city council ision as city council capita caseload about 14 times of the mayor and council. cil. meetings, atatleast not least not themeetings, size of Winnipeg’s provincil.

Critics of the proCritics of the proover the past couple over the past couple cialCritics court. of the proposed reduction say posed reduction say of years.

But they’ve of years.

But they’ve This problem is exacerbatposed reduction say that it will prevent that it will prevent made their decision made their shortage decision ed by a significant of that it willfrom prevent “new blood” being “new being and it appears there and itblood” appears there Crown attorneys infrom the being region. “new blood” from elected and, theoreticelected and, theoreticwill be seven school will be seven school Crown attorneys regularly must elected and, the theoretically, reduce ally, reduce the board trustees atdiversleast board trustees atdiversleast be flown into Thompson and ally, reduce the diversity of opinions, ityPas. of opinions, but that until 2022.

The Critics arguebut thatthat acuntil 2022.

cused are being denied their right to timely bail hearings, trials and sentencing.

For many northern communities, the lack of access to timely sentencing and court resources contributes to a sense of regional lawlessness and desperation.

To address all ofof these issues, the citizens Thompthe citizens of Thompfor reducing members, for reducing members, the citizens of Thompthe province might have to raise son elected more truly son elected more truly whether they belong whether they belong the stakes by engaging intruly a disson elected more independent-thinking independent-thinking toto the the school school board board cussion about redrawn boundindependent-thinking candidates who aren’t candidates aren’t or council, iswho it or council, is that that aries.

This couldwho certainly lead it candidates aren’t married to aligning married to aligning will save money.

The will saveconcessions money.from The to significant married to not aligning themselves with any themselves with any amount large amount not large the province is orisatwith least help rethemselves any particular side, because particular side, because overall – about $20,000 overall – about $20,000 focus the premier’s attention. particular side, because right now, the number right now, the number in councillors’ salarin councillors’ salarFor example, many people right now, the number of opinions on council of set opinions on council ies per year apies per yearplus aphave their sights onplus opening of on council isproximately generally two –that for isopinions generally two –that for proximately half half Churchill to an oil pipeline from is generally – for and against. and against. amount, onontwo average, Alberta.

And while Pallister says amount, average, and against.

Maybe the low Maybe the low turnfor annual travel and he’s open to the idea, theturnSasfor annual travel and Maybe the lowhas turnout people with katchewan government been out ofof people with expenses.

For expenses.

Forthe thecity, city, out ofhaspeople with opinions how more proactive establishing opinions on how which budget ofof which hasainaon budget opinions on how aaround cabinet committee to explore many there manycouncillors councillors there $30 around $30 million, million, many councillors there their options. should bebeisn’t exshould isn’tan an exthat represents probthat represents probshould be isn’t an exIf the people of Northern pression of apathy but pression of apathy but ably less a adrop ably lessthan than dropin in pression of apathy but Manitoba made it clear they of Experiofpragmatism. pragmatism.

Experithe proverbial bucket, the proverbial bucket, of pragmatism.

Experiwere open redrawing borence has quite ence has quite though ittoitshown isshown aa though is about about ence has shown quite ders to facilitate a pipeline, this often that this often that thiscouncil council fifth ofof the cost fifth theoverall overall cost might force thethis Manitoba govoften that council –of others before itit– – –and and others before of the and counthemayor mayor and counhand.

–ernment’s and others before itthe – is going to do what is going to do what the cil. cil.

Someone clearly needs tothe reis going to do what majority of its members majority of members Critics of the proCritics ofits the promind the government of Manimajority ofright, its members think isreduction regardthink is right, regardposed say posed reduction say toba that northern alienation is think is right, regardless of most less of what the most that it will prevent that itwhat willthe prevent alive and well. less of what the being most vocal taxpayers think. vocal taxpayers think. “new blood” from “new blood” from being Joseph Quesnel is a research vocal taxpayers think.

If that is the case, If that is the case, does elected and, theoreticelected and, theoreticassociate with the Frontierdoes CenIf that is thematter case, does itally, how it really matter how ally, reduce the reduce thediversdiverstre forreally Public Policy. it really how many ofofmatter them there many there ity of but that ©them Troy Media ity ofopinions, opinions, but that

the thecitc son sonele indepe indep candid candi marrie marr themse them particu partic right rightn ofofopi op isisgen ge and andaga May Ma out out o opinio opini many many should shou pressio press ofofprag pr ence enceh often often – –and and isisgoin go majori majo think think less lesso vocal vocal IfIfthat tha it it rea re many many that handful of people ofgiven its –memfor, isit the argu2022. ityOne of opinions, but thatifif many of them there with an – –forbers and, that ment that spreads the One ofofthe arguments only be true are? with anopinion opinion for- two-thirds bersan and, given that opted mentand, thatit spreads the until One arguments would only be true are? only with opinion bers given that ment that itthe the the would with an opinion –forforbers and, given that ment that itspreads spreads the would Oneofof thearguments arguments would onlybebetrue trueifif are? are? with an opinion – for- bers and, given that ment that it spreads the One of the arguments would only be true if are?

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Nickel Belt News Volume 60 • Issue 18

Friday, May 1, 2020

Thompson, Manitoba

Serving the Norman Region since 1961

Arrival of new cooks at Keeyask at odds with Manitoba Hydro’s plans and Northern Manitoba travel ban, MP says

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Northern Manitoba MP Niki Ashton says Manitoba Hydro should reassess a plan to bring 10 new cooks into the Keeyask generating station work camp in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Workers at the site and First Nations partners in the area near Gillam were informed April 19 that the cooks would be arriving, despite the Crown corporation having said that employees would not be coming and going from the site, where

about 600 people voluntarily remained behind, as of March 21.

“This is not in line with Manitoba Hydro’s clear commitment to ensure safety at their site by prohibiting new staff to enter,” said Ashton in an April 20 letter to Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin.

“This recent announcement has created major concerns among workers in the camp and First Nations who were willing to recognize Hydro’s previous efforts.”

Chief Doreen Spence of

Tataskeweyak Cree Nation at Split Lake, one of four First Nations in the area of the under-construction generating station, told the Winnipeg Free Press that she didn’t like the idea of Manitoba Hydro dictating to them about what they consider safe.

The Free Press also reported that Keeyask reopened its gym April 11 and its dining room on April 14, with seating restrictions in place. The bar will be reopened soon if resources allow, according to a daily safety notice sent to

employees, some of whom, along with contractors, contacted the Free Press with their concerns.

The new cooks, who work for Sodexo, will not be quarantined, Hydro reportedly informed workers, because they are needed to replace cafeteria staff who have left. They will have their temperatures taken and fill out health surveys at the start of their shifts for two weeks after their arrival.

Manitoba Hydro told the Free Press that the Northern Regional Health Authority approved of the company’s

protocols and that all Manitoba Health guidelines were being followed to protect workers and contractors as well as residents of nearby communities.

“Communities across our region are aware of the heightened risk of a COVID-19 spread through work camps and back into communities,” Ashton said in her letter the chief public health officer. “We are hearing news of infections in camps and mines in northern regions of the country. Our region cannot afford one infection

and that is why calls for temporary shutdowns must be respected. The travel restriction [into Northern Manitoba, which took effect April 17 and lasts until at least May 1] will do nothing to prevent the virus spreading in work camps and mines across our region that require contractors to continue operations.

I therefore would ask your teams to reassess the current exemptions especially in light of this current situation and respect the calls for temporary shutdowns, including at Keeyask.”

God’s Lake First Nation member shot and killed by Winnipeg police April 18 was third Indigenous fatality from police shooting in 10 days

AMC grand chief says gaps in Manitoba Police Services Act may be contributing factors to these incidents

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

A 22-year-old man originally from God’s Lake First Nation in Northern Manitoba was shot and killed by Winnipeg police April 18, the third Indigenous person to die in a police shooting in the city in the span of 10 days.

The Winnipeg Police Service said officers responded to a call around 4 a.m. from a resident of Adsum Drive who said he was taking his garbage out when two armed men confronted him and demanded money. He was assaulted by the men but fled and called 911. A second call to police said windows were being broken at an Adsum Drive apartment building. Police located two male suspects, which is when an officer fired their weapon.

One of the men, since identified as 22-year-old Stewart Andrews, received emergency first aid from police and was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The other person, a 16-year-old male, was treated in hospital for minor injuries. He was charged April 19 with rob-

bery, use of an imitation weapon while committing a indictable offence, possessing a weapon, possessing a firearm, pointing a firearm, possessing a weapon/firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order and two counts of failing to comply with a sentence. He was detained in custody.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU), which investigates all serious matters involving on- and off-duty police in Manitoba, took over the investigation and deployed investigators to the scene.

Because the incident involved a fatality, a request to the Manitoba Police Commission for a civilian monitor was made.

Andrews’s sister Alexcia Andrews told CBC that her brother recently became a father and was raising that child and two others along with his girlfriend and that he was also a loving grandson who would do anything for his grandparents.

Earlier in April, Winnipeg police shot and killed 16-year-old Eisha Hudson during what they called a chase that began when a group of teenagers robbed

a Liquor Mart. Less than 12 hours later, 36-year-old Jason Collins was shot by police responding to a domestic violence call.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) said in an April 21 statement that the Manitoba Police Commission should investigate the structural causes that contributed to these Indigenous people’s deaths.

“Contrary to Danny Smyth, the Winnipeg Police Service’s chief of police, this loss of the lives of First Nations people by the WPS are not an ‘anomaly,’” said AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas in a press release.

“Over the years, First Nations have been dehumanized, mistreated and have been killed through WPS officer involved shootings since before the J.J. Harper incident and the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry (AJI) in 1991. The scales of justice for First Nations in Winnipeg continue to be broken and need to be fixed immediately. The AMC does not have confidence in the Manitoba Independent Investigation Unit to conduct a full and complete investigation and disclosure of all

UP-TO-THE-MINUTE CORONAVIRUS UPDATES AT thompsoncitizen.net/covid-19

Thompson Citizen photo by Ian Graham Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, seen here in Thompson March 2, says that three police shootings of Indigenous people by Winnipeg police in a 10-day span are not an anomaly. the circumstances surrounding each of these shootings.

In light of this, the AMC is calling on the civilian oversight committee, the Manitoba Police Commission, to work with the AMC to develop a terms of refer-

ence, as well as assisting to retain an investigator under its mandate to investigate the Winnipeg Police Board for its monitoring of the relationship between First Nations and the WPS. The AMC also recommends that this investigation look into the legislative gaps in the Manitoba Police Services Act that may be contributing factors to the deaths of these three young people and the ongoing race-based violence experienced by First Nations within the City of Winnipeg.”

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand

Chief Garrison Settee said in an April 25 press release that MKO extended condolences to the families of Andrews and the others killed in Winnipeg police shootings, even though they do not condone the alleged crimes associated with the incidents.

“The police-involved shootings require a thorough investigation,” said Settee.

“I urge the Winnipeg Police Service to take a good look at what is happening within their ranks and to work closely with Indigenous leaders to ensure we resolve these serious issues by working together.”

Page Page B-2 4 • News

Nickel Belt Nickel BeltNews News••www.thompsoncitizen.net www.thompsoncitizen.net

Friday,March May 1, Friday, 16,2020 2018

Unusually high rain, reduction of beaver control program factors in washout where train derailed in 2018: TSB

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

It took more than seven hours for emergency medical personnel to arrive on the scene of a Hudson Bay Railway freight train derailment near Ponton in September 2018 because they needed to ensure the scene was safe because the train was transporting dangerous goods, a Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigation report released April 23 says.

A conductor who was one of two crew members trapped in one of the train’s locomotives died a little more than an hour after Thompson Fire & Emergency Services (TFES) personnel arrived at the scene, about 15 kilometres southwest of Highway 6 south of Ponton. The other crew member, the locomotive engineer, was extricated from the wreckage shortly afterwards and taken by helicopter to Thompson General Hospital in critical condition.

The train was travelling about 40 kilometres per hour when it hit a 50-foot section of track where the rail bed had washed out. Because the rails and ties were still in place, the engineer did not apply the emergency

brake before the derailment occurred because he could not see that the rail bed had washed away.

The section of track where the three locomotives and four other cars derailed had been inspected two days before the Sept. 15, 2018 accident. At that time, the rail bed was still intact.

The cause of the washout was the breach of beaver dams upstream and east of the rail line, which increased the flow and volume of water accumulating just east of and immediately adjacent to the site where the accident occurred. This increased hydraulic pressure on the raised sand-based fill under the track, saturating it and washing it away along with two wood box culverts through which water normally flowed. The force of the water carried timbers from the box culverts, which had been identified for replacement, as far as 1,000 feet downstream of their original location, the TSB said. Precipitation in the summer of 2018 was about 60 per cent higher than the historical average.

The derailment occurred around 4:30 p.m. and was spotted by a helicopter pilot picking up surveyors in the area about an hour later. Be-

cause the accident occurred in an area where train crews were not required by HBR policy to check in at regular intervals, the accident might not have been noticed until the train failed to show up at Wabowden around 6 p.m. if not for the helicopter.

Previous railway owner OmniTrax had engaged in a beaver dam removal project along the railway a few years before the accident, but abandoned it in 2017 when flooding north of Gillam led to the company shutting down rail service on the line. The railway and the Port of Churchill had been purchased by the Arctic Gateway Group less than a month before the accident occurred. The TSB also said that track inspectors and supervisors employed by HBR had not received any geotechnical training since OmniTrax purchased the rail line in 1997, nor prior to that, and were not fully aware of the potential consequences of uneven ponding against the rail bed and how this could affect soil stability.

The location of the accident slowed emergency responders from arriving at the scene. An attempt to travel to the site using all-terrain vehicles failed

Garden Hill First Nation man dies in snowmobile collision A 31-year-old man from Garden Hill First Nation died in a snowmobile collision sometime on the night of April 23 or morning of April 24.

Island Lake RCMP received a report about the collision

on the shores of Bella Lake in Garden Hill First Nation around 9:30 a.m. last Friday. Community members had located the snowmobile and the rider.

It is believed the man, who was pro-

nounced dead at the scene, hit a large snowbank, collided with a tree and was thrown from the snowmobile. He was not wearing a helmet at the time.

RCMP continue investigating.

Spiritual Thoughts

educentr.dumont@gmail.com Sister Andrea Dumont

Nickel Belt News photo courtesy of Transportation Safety Board of Canada A photo of the site south of Ponton where a Hudson Bay Railway train derailed Sept. 15, 2018. The yellow lines and arrows indicate the high water line and flow direction of water pooled next to the track that washed out a 50-foot section of the rail bed in the two days between the previous inspection of the track and the fatal accident. when they sustained flat tires and they were eventually transported to the site on an HBR hi-rail truck that initially travelled in the wrong direction, towards Wabowden, before turning around and heading to the accident site west of Highway 6 south of Ponton.

Equipment used in the extrication of the crew members who were pinned in the

locomotive cab had limited effectiveness when cutting the heavy-gauge steel used in locomotive construction.

The TSB also said that HBR’s emergency response plan did not set forth any processes or procedures for responding to a train derailment, particularly one that involved dangerous goods and employee injuries/fatalities, occurring in a remote

location.Since the accident, HBR has inspected all culverts on all its railway subdivisions and initiated a more comprehensive beaver control program. It has also updated its emergency response plan and modified its communications policy to require crews to check in with rail traffic controllers every hour when travelling in remote areas.

Charter planes transporting federal nursing MLA Report station staff to remote First Nations to kelly.bindle.mla.offi ce@gmail.com Constituency Office: reduce coronavirus exposure risk Unit 3-40 Moak Crescent

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Thompson, MB R8N 2B7 204-677-2066

Kelly Bindle A charter plane bearing the colours of the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes flew into Manitoba airspace last week, but the team onboard consisted of nurses rather than athletes.

The Nolinor Aviation plane was bringing 46 nursing professionals to nursing Nickel Belt News photo courtesy of Nolinor Aviation stations in 23 fly-in First Nations communities south A Nolinor Aviation plane decked out in the colours and logo of the 60th parallel in north- of the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes touched down in northern ern Ontario and Manitoba, Ontario and then Winnipeg last week carrying nursing stasaid an Indigenous Services tion staff bound for fly-in First Nations in those provinces.

Canada spokesperson. The LON CONSTITUENCY MLA FOR FLIN FLON CONSTITUENCY last stages of the journeys of transmitting COVID-19, using longer four-week rofor the health care workers, the spokesperson said. This tations to minimize staff part of the normal staffing practice enables passengers turnover and protect the REPRESENTING: Brochet, Cold Lake/Sherridon, complement for the nursing to board at exclusive ter- health and safety of people stations in the Manitoba and minals where strict health living in these communities.

Cranberry Portage, Cross Lake, Flin Flon, Ontario communities, were and safety procedures are Quebec-based Nolinor Herb Lake Landing, Lac Brochet, Leaf Rapids, on charter flights by airlines enforced, which is not eas- Aviation president Marco Lynn Lake, Norway House, Pukatawagan, that already serve those ily done at major airport Prud’homme told the Nickel destinations. Once staffing terminals where most com- Belt News that the plane is Snow Lake, South Indian Lake, Tadoule Lake schedules are adjusted, this mercial flights arrive and adorned with the Alouettes approach will be used for depart. logo because the company Constituency Office: all First Nations south of Prior to the deployment sometime provides charter B.93 Main Street, Flin Flon, MB. the 60th parallel where In- to the 23 First Nations, services to the CFL team, pm HOURS: Mon–Fri, 9 am – 4 pm digenous Services Canada all nurses and other med- but it also has contracts Thompson employs nursing staff for ical professionals had RCMP to to transport federally conPHONE: 204-687-3246 the duration of the novel self-isolate at home for tracted medical personnel, Drug Tip Line FAX: 204-687-5649 coronavirus pandemic to two weeks and self-screen prison system employees ensure continuity of service their health status. Indigen- and sometimes Coast Guard EMAIL: anitoba.ca EMAIL:tom.lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca tom.lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca while minimizing the risk ous Services Canada is also staff.

NDSEY TOMLINDSEY

204-677-6995

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Friday, May 1, 2020

Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

Columnists • Page B-3

Northerners need to be told exact locations of COVID-19 cases Our province, as is the case across all jurisdictions in Canada, has drastically adapted its operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in a short period of time.

As of Thursday, April 23, there has been a total of 262 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba.

So far, there has been a total of three positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Northern Manitoba.

There have been calls for the Manitoba public health

officials to disclose the number of COVID-19 cases by community and to increase testing in Northern Manitoba. However, the province is adamant about not making this kind of commitment to Northern communities. This is a time when Northerners need to know that they can count on their government.

Northerners are concerned about the reluctance of the provincial government to name COVID-19 cases by community. This is problematic because its pro-

MLA Report Danielle.Adams@leg.gov.mb.ca

Danielle Adams

motes high levels of unease and anxiety in the North.

Many in our communities are left with uncertainty and more susceptible to latch on to rumours about locations of these confirmed cases.

We urge the government to take this concern into consideration and name the communities that have confirmed cases.

As evidently shown, this is a public health issue and

our communities need to be aware of exact areas where positive cases are found while they continue to observe the outlined precautions. In addition, the NDP has also made demands for public reporting: • of the number of completed tests per screening site to keep Manitobans informed; • on the number of swabs done for COVID-19 by site; and • of tests still awaiting

results as is done in other jurisdictions, such as Ontario.

If you have concerns regarding COVID-19 or suspect that you are presenting symptoms call Health Links at 204-788-8200 or 1-888315-9257 toll-free or access their screening tool at https:// sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/ screening-tool/.

Also, feel free to email me at Danielle.adams@yourmanitoba.com or contact my office at 204-677-2744 for any questions or concerns.

Provincial government slow to provide direct financial relief for Manitoba families and small businesses

Tom Lindsey

ments in research, it has been slow to announce immediate direct financial relief Manitobans. In fact, Manitoba is the only provincial government that has not provided any direct financial assistance to families nor small businesses amid these uncertain times.

This is very disheartening, as we should be looking at the effective solutions taken by other jurisdictions to help citizens and follow suit sooner rather than later.

Many of our local business may not survive without some assistance from our provincial government.

People who are already struggling may now be getting overwhelmed by debt and despair. It is time for the Pallister government to start caring about people.

We had an emergency

NBN

ployed. While necessity may be the mother of invention, we need to ensure the future we invent will look brighter for everyone.

While the office is closed we continue to work from home and can be reached by email at Flinflon1@yourmanitoba.ca or Tom.Lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca or by calling 1-204-687-3246.

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Province needs to ‘step up’ for northern residents in COVID-19 fight: MLA

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As this virus maintains its presence in our province better reporting must be done to keep our northern communities informed about the cases. Reports on northern cases of the virus have remained general by only specifying a number and health authority (e.g.

Northern Regional Health Authority) rather than stating a specific community.

Whereas, in southern regions information has been much clearer on cases in Winnipeg and Selkirk.

The lack of clarification in the north has led to rumours and speculations in the absence of fact. However, more information for people in the north will be beneficial, because with the necessary details people can react accordingly.

While the government has made some invest-

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water in many of our northern communities. We must work together to prevent the virus from getting a foothold in our north.

This period has been a time that may fundamentally change the way we do things post-pandemic.

For example, changes in how we shop, how we work or where we remain em-

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Nickel le Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

k Vehi Par c

Flin Flon MLA Report

sitting of the Manitoba pandemic. legislature on April 15 There have now been to deal with COVID-19 additional restrictions related legislation. Un- placed on travel north of the fortunately, none of these 53 parallel and while some bills dealt with immediate may find this disruptive, financial relief for Mani- we need to recognize the tobans and the government challenges to health care initially tried to slip in and throughout the north. There ram through all their other is a shortage of intensive harmful legislation that care beds throughout our would have affected us all region, a shortage of medfor years to come. These ical staff in all of our combills included Bill 44 – The munities and overcrowding Public Utilities Ratepayer and lack of access to clean Protection and Regulatory Reform Act, which would have allowed the government to increase hydro and MPI rates without CLASSIFIED@ independent oversight;\, THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET and Bill 8 – The Pensions Benefits Amendment Act, which weakens pensions during these difficult financial times. We were 301• HELP WANTED successful in putting a stop to this and the sitting was spent dealing with QUIZNOS THOMPSON is looking for two full-time shift managers. ExperiCOVID-19 Friday, Marchspecific 16, 2018bills. ence in the same industry will be an As the Official Opposition asset. Minimum education required we managed to make sev- is a bachelor degree or equivalent. eral amendments to those Valid driver’s licence required. Interbills to better reflect the ested candidates please drop off your resume at Quiznos Sub, 50 Selkirk needs of Manitobans. We Avenue, Thompson, Manitoba, R8N will continue to work to 0M7 or emailvijay.ralhan@outlook.

CLASSIFIED@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET convince the government com. 10nb -8-17 to help people and small 510 • RETAIL/ business to survive this

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HIRING seem to be taking a cut and cerned because the numBY NICOLE WONG, of COVID-19 cases in clash agenda and trying to berEXPERIENCED LOCAL JOURNALISM push through their narra- Northern Manitoba has been INITIATIVE REPORTER, E-Licensing Campaign Phase 2 ad PLUMBERS tive under the guise of the low, and that the province WINNIPEG SUN Thompson Nickel Belt News that they remain Ad size: 2 cols (3.17") wide x 70 lines A leader in Northern COVID-19 crisis which is is banking Requires driver’s licence.

Manitoba believes that the not what needs to be done.” low.Please send resume: Adams added that the “The government should province should do more mrplumb@mts.net R FLIN FLON CONST MLA FOR FLIN FLON CONSTITUENCY more to prevent to support their residents austerity measures the be doing 204-677-2013 during the COVID-19 province implemented are these cases from happening 2nb-tfn-nb creating a negative impact instead of being reactive. pandemic.

“They should also be Thompson NDP MLA in Northern Manitoba.

Thank you to all who normally volunteer “This is happening at more transparent and indiDanielle Adams said the in our communities and a special thanks within the region government should expand a time when we need the cate where 183 Cree Rd, Thompson MB, R8N 0C2 to all who are volunteering during these are1-800-565-2401 COVID-19 cases the testing parameters as government to be investing. there Toll free: PH: 204-778-8387 FAX: 204-677-4087 well as adding more testing Instead of providing finan- so officials and community trying times.

Looking can for 1 full 1 gotime andand make sites to make it easier for cial support for Manitobans, members cook starting wage especially northerners, they the part besttime choices for them,” people to get tested. $14.00/hr with experience “This should have been are cutting jobs,” she said. she said.

Offi ce: Constituency Office: preferred.

“Job sharing does not ne— Nicole Wong covers happening yesterday,” she Apply at the front desk et, Flin cessarily Flon, MB.93 Main Street, Flin Flon, MB. make a reality in northern and Indigenous said April 20. “The north –Fri, 9 am – 4 pm HOURS: Mon–Fri, 9 am – 4 pm Sun needs the government to the north. You cannot ask issues for the Winnipeg somebody in Winnipeg to under the Local Journalism step up and show leader687-3246 PHONE: 204-687-3246 ship as well as providing job share for Thompson. Initiative, a federally funded 183 Cree Rd, Thompson MB, R8N 0C2 the 7-5649 FAX: 204-687-5649 That just doesn’t work,” program that supports financial support.

Toll free: 1-800-565-2401 PH: 204-778-8387 creation of 204-677-4087 original civic “The government has she added.

FAX: EMAIL: ndsey@yourmanitoba.ca EMAIL:tom.lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca tom.lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca Adams said she is con- journalism. not been doing that. They

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Page B-4 • Careers

Nickel Belt News • www.thompsoncitizen.net

Opaskwayak Health Authority Beatrice Wilson Health Centre

Employment Opportunities Opaskwayak Health Authority is seeking qualified individuals to fill the following positions: • Van Driver – Non Insured Health Benefits, Opioid Replacement Therapy & Jordan’s Principle (2 full-time, 1 part-time) • Behavioural Health Clinician – Community Wellness (4 pos) • Behavioural Health Facilitator – Mental Wellness • Nurse Practitioner – Clinical & Primary Care • Midwife – Maternal Child Health (2 pos) These are preference competitions. All applicants are encouraged to apply, however first consideration for this competition will be given to current OCN employees, OCN members & Indigenous applicants.

Applicants are requested to self-declare at the time of application.

All positions are open until filled. Please contact us to obtain a complete job posting prior to applying.

Carol A. Buchberger, Human Resource Manager Opaskwayak Health Authority Box 10280, 245 Waller Road, Opaskwayak, MB R0B 2J0 Email: carol.buchberger@ocnhealth.com Please mark all correspondence “CONFIDENTIAL” Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Northern Manitoba travel ban welcomed by community leaders

BY NICOLE WONG, LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, WINNIPEG SUN

Leaders in Northern Manitoba communities are thankful for the travel restrictions placed to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Manitoba’s chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin issued a ban April 16 for non-essential travel to northern and remote communities until May 1, starting on April 17.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief Garrison Settee said this

ban is an important measure to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus to First Nations in Northern Manitoba.

“On behalf of MKO, I send my thanks to Dr. Roussin as well as the province of Manitoba for ensuring this measure is put into place,” Settee said.

“We currently have no cases of COVID-19 in our MKO First Nations and our leaders are doing everything within their power to prevent the introduction of this virus into our communities.”

Settee added that the northern First Nations are particu-

larly vulnerable to this virus as they lack health-care infrastructure, have understaffed nursing stations and lack housing that would better implement safety measures.

Flin Flon NDP MLA Tom Lindsey told the Winnipeg Sun April 17 that he believes that the restrictions were necessary due to the contagion of COVID-19.

“So many of our northern communities do not have access to decent medical services. A lot of the more remote communities have a nursing station but they do not have a hospital,” he said.

“Even in Flin Flon, our hospital is so restricted in what it can do and the number of doctors we have.”

Lindsey said he thinks people living in Northern Manitoba have to do more than is expected of them because of the limited medical services.

Thompson NDP MLA Danielle Adams said the restrictions were a welcome announcement that needed to be in place to protect the people in Northern Manitoba.

“It was a great first step but now we need the government to continue listening to northerners and do more testing, including adding more testing sites,” Adams said. “They also need to an-

nounce where COVID-19 is in the north so communities can make choices that work best for them.”

Adams added that she encourages the people in Northern Manitoba to contact her office if they are struggling to work or return home because of the travel restrictions.

The Pas NDP MLAAmanda Lathlin said the restrictions should have come much earlier in regards to protecting Northern Manitoba from the virus.

“This will have a positive impact in the community especially with our most vulnerable, which happens to be the First Nation communities.

It will provide more security with the people because they are already worried about the health-care system here,” she said. “If we start having people test positive here, our people have to be flown out to Winnipeg for their intensive care unit beds, so this provides a side relief whereby at least there are other components to protect the communities in Northern Manitoba.”

— Nicole Wong covers northern and Indigenous issues for the Winnipeg Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.

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Fate of money students raised for cancelled European field trip ignites debate at school board meeting

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

“If you have someone from a low-income family who’s worked and worked at considerable inconvenience should that money not go back to the student for the work?” asked trustee Leslie Tucker.

SDMl secretary-treasurer Kelly Knott said that previously only out-of-pocket expenditures have been reimbursed.

“In this trip, students will be out their insurance and the enrolment fee of $400 so parents who have paid that and are out of pocket, we would pay that back out of the student accounts,” Knott said. “Generally all other funds would remain in a general travel fund similar to what we do with the music students that fundraise for many, many years through their high school careers. If they have money

left in their account when they graduate Grade 12 we do not cut cheques back to the music students. It can … be bequeathed to siblings or relatives or it stays in the general music program.”

The implications of setting a precedent for future similar situations was also considered.

“I want to know how it might influence other things,” said board chair Don Macdonald. “It’s at least potentially a precedent for things like band or athletics.”

The 25-minute discussion did not resolve the issue, however. Bartlett was tasked with gathering information about how the money in the individual accounts was raised and how other schools have dealt with similar situations, with trustees intending to vote on what to do with the money at their next meeting.

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The question of what to do with money in graduating R.D. Parker Collegiate students’ individual fundraising accounts after a scheduled trip to Europe was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic sparked an April 21 discussion longer than some entire School District of Mystery Lake (SDML) board meetings in recent memory.

A trip to Europe to attend commemorations of the liberation of the Netherlands at the end of the Second World War was scheduled to take place in May and some of the students who raised money for the trip will be graduating at the end of June.

SDML co-superintendent Angele Bartlett suggested the money in graduating students’ individual fundraising accounts could be transferred

to their younger siblings for future school trips, used to cover their travel expenses back to Thompson if their graduation ceremony is delayed until the next school year or donated to a charity of their choice in their name, but some trustees felt that the students should receive the money they fundraised for whatever they wanted to spend it on.

“You’re talking about a group of kids now that is on their way to university, they have no chance of summer employment and they could probably use this money,” said trustee Guido Oliveira.

“These kids worked for this money and I think it belongs to these kids and I think it should be given back to these kids. There should be a record of what kids worked what and what fundraising they did.”

News • Page A-5

Fishing

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What graduation will look like for R.D. Parker’s Class of 2020 remains a mystery

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Like a tasseled graduation cap just thrown skyward at the climax of a conventional high school convocation ceremony, the nature of R.D. Parker Collegiate’s celebrations for the Class of 2020 remains up in the air.

COVID-19 pandemic precautions have led to a ban on large gatherings but that doesn’t mean that all hopes for a recognition of graduating students’ achievements have been written off, the School District of Mystery Lake (SDML) board of trustees heard April 21.

“Obviously this is a big concern for the R.D. Parker

principal and that committee who look at organizing grad,” said SDML co-superintendent Angele Bartlett. “Right now they’re not making any calls as to when it’s going to happen. There’s no talk of cancelling it.”

“We’ve been told that a department [of education] directive will not be issued regarding convocation,” said co-superintendent Lorie Henderson.

Bartlett said the companies that provide graduation gowns and photography services say they can be ready as long as they have two weeks’ notice.

“My biggest concern is to make sure the message gets out that we are looking,” said

trustee Guido Oliveira. “We haven’t given up. We have not forgotten. We are going to work on this, whether it means at a later date, what platform, what we can do, we are looking at it. It might not be a gathering as such. We might have to look at something different.”

“The information needs to be brought out to these kids because, a lot of them, they are online and posting things that they’re worried about not getting their diploma, not having prom,” said trustee Lindsay Anderson. “I know these things aren’t something that they should be worried about but they are worried about it still.”

Trustee Leslie Tucker said too much reassurance shouldn’t be given because what can be done will be dictated by public health concerns.

“We will follow what we are instructed to do absolutely,” she said.

“This is a discussion that’s not just occurring across the province, it’s according across the country,” said board chair Don Macdonald. “There have been some fairly interesting ideas tossed out by some schools so far. If push comes to shove and we can’t do it in a conventional way, I don’t think there will be any shortage of ideas for how to do it in an unconventional way.”

RDPC senior girls basketball players named to Basketball Manitoba all-star teams

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

A pair of R.D. Parker Collegiate senior girls’ basketball team members were recognized by Basketball Manitoba April 18 to cap off a season cut short by the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic that shut down schools in late March.

Emma Deibert was named to the first A/AA/AAA female all-Manitoba team for her season with the Trojans, who started the season on a 12-0 run before dropping the final of a tournament in Thompson in mid-February and then won twice at the interzone playoffs to book a spot in the senior girls provincials which ended up bering cancelled.

Deibert was also selected for the A/AA/AAA female graduating all-star roster, along with her teammate Erica Anderson.

Thompson Citizen photos by Ian Graham Emma Deibert (above) of R.D. Parker Collegiate’s senior girls’ basketball team was named to the A/AA/AAA female first all-Manitoba team by Basketball Manitoba April 18. Deibert was also selected for the A/AA/AAA female graduating allstar roster, along with her teammate Erica Anderson (below).

THANK YOU! Dallas Ginter, Discovery Toys by Dallas in The Pas and Ainsley Morin (One more Book Mama), The Pas representative for Usborne Books, would like to say thank you to the following sponsors of the 2020 Easter Baskets for Community Children. The funds raised enabled these ladies to present 27 Easter Baskets filled with toys, books and treats to children whose families were being supported by the Thompson Crisis Centre.

MIHKAN HOLDINGS • Caelin Webber • Ron and Donna Dyer • Debbie Bachinsky • Alysa Ferguson • Wendy Pitre • Candace Price • Jeff Mcinnes • Lindsay Anderson • Taniesha Rose • Aurora Dental • RDPC Pathways Staff • Keith and Donelda Derksen • Mario and Sonia Buscio • Chrissy Roeckenwagner • Susan Buckle – Lockers Real Estate Brokers • Bruce and Jana McDonald

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School District of Mystery Lake 2020 / 2021 School Year Registration Registration for the 2020/2021 School year is being accepted at all School District of Mystery Lake schools, during regular school hours. Call the school to make arrangements or registrations can be dropped of at the School Board Office.

Registration must be completed for your child at your catchment school. Applications for School of Choice must also be submitted to your catchment school on or before May 15th 2020. The School Of Choice form can be found at https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/ schools/choice/index.html#apps School District of Mystery Lake will be offering half-day Kindergarten programs at all schools for the 2020/2021 school year with the exception of Wapanohk Community School. Student entering Kindergarten must be five years old by December 31, 2020 (born 2015) Welcome to Kindergarten events for the month of June have been put on hold. New dates will be posted on the Division Web site www.mysterynet.mb.ca and school web sites.

Registration for R D Parker Collegiate is also being accepted. The Registration form can be dropped off in the drop box located at the front of the school between 8:00 am- 8:00 pm, faxed to 204-7785050, mailed or emailed to rdpcrec@mysterynet.mb.ca The person registering the child must; • be a parent or legal guardian.

• Provide a legal document to verify birth date and child’s legal name (ex. Birth certificates, passport, baptismal certificate or MB Health card) • Present a Manitoba Health Card • Provide proof of residence • valid Manitoba driver’s licence, rental lease agreement, house title, utility bill or tax statement indicating your current address.)

• If not a Canadian citizen, please provide Landed Immigrant documents, visa, etc.

School Contact information: R D Parker Collegiate 272 Thompson Dr North École Riverside School 119 Riverside Dr Wapanohk Community School 453 Princeton Dr Juniper School 306 Juniper Dr Deerwood School 101 Beaver Cres Burntwood School 103 Arctic Dr Westwood School 46 Mallard Cres

204-677-6200 204-677-6115 204-677-6140 204-677-6242 204-677-6125 204-677-6100 204-677-6190

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Page A-6 • News

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Thompson RCMP busy with speeders and unregistered vehicles April 24-25

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

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RCMP photo A 38-year-old Leaf Rapids man prohibited from driving anywhere in Canada was charged after being stopped by Thompson RCMP while driving 150 kilometres per hour in a 90 km/hr zone on Highway 391 north of the city April 24.

Thompson RCMP were busy penalizing traffic scofflaws April 24-25, giving out 50 tickets over those two days, the majority of them for speeding.

Six people were fined for driving unregistered vehicles on Friday and Saturday, including a woman with a suspended driver's licence and a woman without a driver's licence, as well as a man who was travelling at 145 kilometres per hour on Highway 6. He wasn't the most egregious speeder RCMP

stopped over the two days.

That honour belonged to a 38-year-old Leaf Rapids man, currently prohibited from driving anywhere in Canada, stopped going 150 km/hr in a 90 km/hr zone on Highway 391 north of the city a little after 6 p.m.

April 24. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle while prohibited and released to appear in court at a later date, while the truck he was driving was towed and impounded.

Three other drivers were stopped Friday and Satur-

day for travelling 50 km/hr faster than the speed limit, including a man and a woman both stopped while going 140 km/hr in a 90 km/hr zone on Highway 391 and a man going 123 km/hr in a 70 km/hr zone within Thompson. All received serious offence notices and will have their driver's licences reviewed.

Other tickets handed out April 24-25 included 27 more for speeding, three for driving without a licence, one each for unlawful consumption and

unlawful transportation of cannabis in a vehicle, and four for disobeying traffic control devices.

Police also charged a 28-year-old woman with impaired driving after responding to a vehicle stuck in the mud near the Millennium Trail near the Miles Hart Bridge April 26. The driver failed a roadside screening device and later provided breath samples with more than 2.5 times the legal limit of blood-alcohol content for driving a motor vehicle.

Council approves purchase of new ice resurfacer

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Thompson city council unanimously approved the purchase of a new ice resurfacer for the Thompson Regional Community Centre at its April 13 meeting.

The cost for the propane-powered machine quoted by Fer-Mac Equipment Ltd., the only supplier to respond to the city’s request for tenders, is $83,567.25 plus provincial sales tax and GST after a $28,000 credit for the trade-in of the existing ice resurfacer.

The city looked at the option of buying an electric-powered ice resurfacing machine but recreation director Carol Taylor said in a memo to council that the cost would be $60,000 to $80,000 higher, in part due to the necessity of installing a charging station. Electric ice resurfacers also require eight hours to fully recharge, which would not make it a good option for use during hockey tournaments.

Taylor also said that the basic ice resurfacer cost was well under budget, en-

abling the city to purchase additional options such as a tire wash to prevent gravel, sand and salt from outside getting into the arena and onto the ice, as well as an automatic auger, automatic snow break and an advanced water system.

The purchase of the new ice resurfacer was included in the 2020 capital budget with a maximum cost of $127,000.

The current ice resurfacing machine was purchased in 2011 at a cost of $88,500 after trade-in.

Delivery of the new ice resurfacer will occur within 43 weeks from the date of the order.

“The city’s been having issues with its current Zamboni,” said city manager Anthony McInnis.

These issues included a breakdown just before the 2019 Munn Cup atom hockey tournament, when Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation came to the rescue by offering the use of its ice resurfacer.

That solution prompted RCMP to remind Northern Manitobans that it was not

appropriate to dial 911 for hockey-related emergencies after someone from Nelson House called to ask where they could rent an ice resurfacer for an upcoming hockey tournament.

“We understand that in Canada, this could be an emergency to some,” read a Feb. 15, 2019 statement from the RCMP. “However this is not a valid reason to dial 911.”

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News • Page A-7

Playgrounds closed, water treatment operators working in shifts as part of Thompson’s pandemic response

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Thompson city council unanimously approved a resolution to close city playground structures at their April 13 meeting.

The decision was made as a result of the city’s insurance provider informing the city that if they weren’t closed the insurance policy would not apply to the playground structures, said city manager Anthony McInnis.

“The playgrounds themselves will be open but the playground structures would be closed,” he said, adding that the reason the decision came to council was due to the provincial Municipal Relation department’s interpretation of

the Municipal Act “It’s not only the City of Thompson,” said McInnis.

“This is being done by virtually every municipality that’s part of the AMM [Association of Manitoba Municipalities], which represents all municipalities in the province, for the same reasons.”

Coun. Jeff Fountain asked how the closures would be enforced.

“Once we’ve closed the park, what efforts are we going to be able to go through to ensure that they’re not being used and if we aren’t diligent with that are we putting our insurance at risk?” he said.

“My understanding is what we have to do is placard the facilities and possibly put up

some sort of barricade,” said McInnis. “We’re still working on what is exactly required. My understanding is there won’t be active policing of it though if it is noticed or there is a report we can then go and enforce that but it basically becomes a use at your own risk because the city has posted that it’s not to be used and is closed.”

Other outdoor city recreation facilities like the Millennium Trail and the off-leash dog park remain open Earlier in the same meeting, Mayor Colleen Smook outlined some of the city’s actions taken with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic in response to an email inquiry from a city resident.

“The water treatment plant, we currently have rotating shifts and social distancing implemented among our water treatment operators,” Smook said. “One of our directors is also a certified water treatment plant operator and he is self-isolating to help ensure that he’s available in an emergency.

We’re currently updating our existing emergency plans to ensure the plant continues operating if staff levels become more of an issue. Water treatment continues as normal and COVID-19 has not been detected in any municipal water supply.”

The mayor also said that some actions taken by Northern Manitoba First Nations to limit

access to their communities can not be replicated by the City of Thompson because municipalities and First Nations are governed by different legislation.

“We can not block access to Thompson,” she said. “First Nations communities are governed by the Indian Act. They have different powers and rules than we do. We cannot block access on the highway as that’s provincial land and we don’t have the authority.”

Smook also said that the city has no more information about positive tests for the novel

coronavirus in the Northern Regional Health Authority area than the general public does.

“Whether there is a case in Thompson or there isn’t we shouldn’t behave as if there isn’t,” said the mayor. “People should be taking the same critical precautions to keep themselves and our community safe.”

Those precautions include staying home as much as possible, washing hands frequently and staying at least six feet away from other people when in public places.

www.thompsoncitizen.net

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OBITUARY JUDITH ANN KOLADA It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Judith Ann Kolada (nĂŠe Hebb) age 75 of Thompson MB on April 18, 2020. She passed away surrounded by family after a long, hard battle with Cancer.

Pandemic parades

Judy was born on April 21,1944 in Bridgewater NS. After graduating from Bridgewater Business College she moved to Thompson MB where she married Carl Kolada in 1965. She spent her career working for the provincial government initially with Northern Affairs in surrounding communities, and later as an Employment Standards Officer with the Department of Labour. She was also well known for her time on City Council serving nearly 25 years as a councillor.

Judy was also passionate about her time with Canadian Cancer Society, Elections Canada, and board member of Northern Health Region. She was a proud mother of her two sons, four Grandchildren and three Great Grandchildren, she loved to visit with family and friends, she was well known and respected throughout the community.

With the COVID-19 pandemic having suspended classroom learnign since March 20 and causing the cancellation of the annual Knights of Columbus indoor track meet, originally scheduled for April 24, Thompson saw a pair of vehicle parades last week, starting with one

by Wapanohk Commnity School teachers and staff on Tuesday (top), followed by a school mascot parade on Friday (bottom).

Judy will be forever missed and always remembered with love by her two sons; Kerry Kolada and Kenneth Kolada, Grandchildren; Kristopher(Cynthia), Brittany(Justin), Kenneth Jr and Alyssa(Bryce), great grandchildren Kloud, Cordelia and Zane. She is also survived by two brothers Gerald Hebb of Bridgewater NS and Brian Hebb of South Carolina USA. Two sisters Linda(Max) Lohnes of Conquerall Bank NS and Brenda Hebb of Bridgewater NS. She was predeceased by her mother Ada Hebb, father E. Clayton Hebb, brothers Paul Hebb and Millegge/Peter Hebb.

Thompson Citizen photos by Ian Graham

Nickel Belt News

UP-TO-THE-MINUTE CORONAVIRUS UPDATES AT

Cremation is to take place and memorial service in Thompson MB will be announced at a later date when all can be included, she will then later be laid to rest in Nova Scotia after a small lieu Due to Easter the service. deadlineInfor of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be advertising in the April 10 edition made to a charity that she was so passionate about; of the Nickel Belt News is the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrooke St, 3:00 pm Monday, April 6, 2020.

Winnipeg MB R3C 2B7. Boardman Funeral Home 204-778-7982.

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