Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 57 • Issue 50
Host tour outlines preparation progress for Manitoba Games BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE MASSACRE REMEMBERED NEWS - PAGE 3
CHILDCARE CENTRE HELPS STUDENT PARENTS OUT NEWS - PAGE 5
Thompson played host to the CEO of Sport Manitoba and provincial representatives for sports included in the Manitoba Games Dec. 1-3, providing an opportunity for Thompson volunteers to outline what's been accomplished and provincial officials to impart some wisdom of their own. "Looking at the planning that's been going on by all your tremendous volunteers here in Thompson, things are really lining up well for a phenomenal games coming up in three months," said Sport Manitoba CEO Jeff Hnatiuk Dec. 2. Hnatiuk knows about putting on a multi-sports games, having been the head of the Canada Games that took place in Winnipeg last summer. "From what we've seen things are really very much on track and we're very
impressed with what people are saying and can't thank the community of Thompson and the people of Thompson enough for the work that they've done so far." One of the things people don't always realize about hosting an event like the Manitoba Games is how every decision has an effect on everything, like when you toss a pebble into a pond and the ripples spread across the whole water surface. "If a sport schedule changes, that changes transportation, it changes the athlete feeding area," said Hnatiuk. "There's a sort of ripple effect in a host society so planning as much as you can in advance obviously is very important." Among the provincial sports officials in Thompson for the tour were Ron Edwards AKA "Dr. Ping Pong," the executive director of Table
Tennis Manitoba. "I've been working with Manitoba Tables Tennis for 31 years," said Edwards. "I've been helping out the Frontier School Division with the Frontier Games that affects so much of Northern Manitoba for probably 25 years and some people have told me it's the second biggest sport behind hockey." As part of the Manitoba Games, there will also be a fun tournament for Thompsonites to take part in. "There's a chance for local kids and adults, whoever wants to get involved in the games to come on out and try their hand at table tennis," said Edwards. Archery will also be on the sports agenda and Archers and Bowhunters of Manitoba executive director Ryan Van Berkel said that because Continued on Page 2
Thompson Citizen photo by Ian Graham Sport Manitoba CEO Jeff Hnatiuk was in Thompson for a Manitoba Games host tour Dec. 1-3.
Guilty plea leads to second-degree murder conviction in killing of Nicholas Brophy BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
THOMPSON SKATERS COMPETING IN MANITOBA GAMES SPORTS - PAGE 6
MERRY XMAS PAGES 8 & 9
One of three men accused of killing 18-year-old Nicholas Brophy in Thompson following a robbery in September 2015 is going to prison for at least 10 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder Dec. 11. Justin Noah Baker, who was 19 at the times of Brophy’s killing, apologized to Brophy’s family members in the courtroom prior to being sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for the first 10 years. “I’m sorry for what I did,” said Baker, now 21. "I’m sorry for the pain I caused the family and the role I played in the death of your son.” In addition to the sen-
tence and 10-year parole ineligibility, Baker is also prohibited from owning weapons for life. Brophy was reported missing Sept. 9, 2015, a day after he was last seen by friends. Extensive searches by family and friends along with other organizations like the RCMP, the Canadian Rangers and the Office of the Fire Commissioner were unsuccessful in locating Brophy but Baker discussed Brophy’s death with a number of people, one of whom came forward to police, said Crown counsel Brent Ian Davidson. This led to a ground search by RCMP in the area described by Baker, which resulted in the discovery of a skull, which dental analysis confirmed was Brophy’s. Baker told
police in statements that he and two co-accused - Mark Thomas and Zach Linklater – had run into Brophy and robbed him, then taken him to an isolated area where they assaulted him, culminating in a series of kicks and stomps to various parts of his body. They then covered up the body with branches and Baker was told to leave one of his socks with the body. This fact, not released by police, helped confirm his involvement in Brophy’s murder. Baker began cooperating with the police and the Crown in March of last year and testified in a preliminary hearing for Linklater and Thomas last summer. “He stepped forward wanting to take responsibility,” said defence counsel
Laura Robinson. “He knows he can’t change the past, he can’t go back to that night and do something different.” Robinson also said it was clear Baker wasn’t the ringleader and that, at the time of Brophy’s killing, he had no criminal record, though he has subsequently been convicted for an assault in December 2016. “What [Baker and his co-accused] took from [Brophy’s family] is a family member who was a little bit of something to all of them,” said Davidson, noting that Brophy was traditionally the one who handed out the gifts to all of his family members at Christmas. “They say they have no enjoyment ... in part because of what Justin
Baker took from them.” Robinson said moving to Thompson at the age of 15 and becoming involved with drugs and alcohol was what led Baker to the play the role he did on the night of Brophy’s death. “The circumstances leave me rather disturbed in terms of the gratuitousness of the violence,” said Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Chris Martin, who accepted the joint recommendation of the Crown and defence of a sentence of life in prison with no parole eligibility for 10 years. Family members in the courtroom, who included Brophy’s mother, grandparents, aunts, an uncle and a cousin, did not provide any victim impact statements to the court.
WE SELL • ELECTRONICS HELIUM • FRAMES BALLOONS! • LINEN • CARDS WE ARE THE PARTY LOOK FOR “GREAT CANADIAN DOLLAR STORE - THOMPSON” ON FACEBOOK! SPECIALISTS OF THE NORTH! MON - THU: 9 am - 9 pm • FRIDAY: 9 am - 10 pm • SATURDAY: 9 am - 9 pm • SUNDAY: 10 am - 6 pm • HOUSEWARE • TOYS • CRAFT • STATIONERY