Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Providing you with expert advice & friendly service. Book online at speedyglass.ca or try our free app on your iPhone
We look forward to serving you. Ϳͷ-A Kelsey Bay Thompson, MB R;N ͷS Ph: Ͷͺ-ͽͽ;-ͽͶͺ; Fax: Ͷͺ-ͽͽ;-ͽͷͺ
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 62 • Issue 11
March 14 was last day of Manitoba’s indoor mask mandate and other remaining public health orders BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
and when we connect with family and friends,” said Health Minister Audrey Gordon in a March 14 news release. “Let’s be patient, thoughtful and kind to each other as we navigate this new normal together.” Public health recommends that people isolate for five days after COVID-19 symptoms start until they have no fever and other symptoms have begun to improve. Those who test positive but do not develop symptoms are also asked to isolate for five days from the date of their test. It is also recommended that people with COVID-19 wear a mask until 10 days after symptoms begin or a positive test if they must have contact with other people and that those with symptoms or who have tested positive avoid non-essential contact with people at higher risk or in higher-risk settings during that time. “We will continue to provide public health recommendations and guidance on COVID-19, but now Manitobans are empowered to make their own decisions about what is right for themselves and their
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Monday, March 14, just a few days past the second anniversary of the first positive test for COVID-19 in Manitoba, was the last day before the province lifted its remaining pandemic-related public health orders, most notably the requirement to wear a mask in indoor public places. Effective 12:01 a.m. March 15, people could go mask-free in indoor public places, though staff, patients and visitors at healthcare facilities will still have to wear a mask and to change into a supplied medical mask after entering and answering screening questions. Orders restricting travel into Northern Manitoba also ended March 15, as did the requirement that people who test positive for COViD-19 must isolate. Manitoba also stopped doing individual COVID case investigations and no longer generates key codes for the federal COVID Alert smartphone app. “This path forward will be different for all of us, whether we choose to wear masks or not, or how
Thompson Citizen photo by Stefan Tomic/Getty Images March 14 was the last day that COVID-19 public health orders were in effect in Manitoba. families,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer. “We know these restrictions have taken a toll on many people’s health and well-being, but we also know that this shift may cause different stress and anxiety for some. This is a process for everyone to take at their
own pace and we need to remember to support each other as it happens.” In a weekly update to students’ caregivers, R.D. Parker Collegiate principal Bonnie Rempel said that masks will no longer be required for staff and students but that the choice of whether or not to wear one is up
to individual employees and students. The school is also advising staff and students who test positive or have COVID-19 symptoms to stay home for at least five days and not to return to school until symptoms are improving and a fever is no longer one of them. Manitoba schools are
no longer required to implement cohorts or impose physical distancing requirements. University College of the North recently announced that it would continue to require masks and proof of vaccination at its campuses and other facilities until the end of the winter term.
Thompson will ask Stats Canada to review city’s 2021 census population count Lundmark noted that ada’s review concludes that undercounts in the north the number of residents The City of Thompson are not uncommon. should be higher. plans to ask Statistics Can“Historically, in NorthMayor Colleen Smook Nickel Belt Ianchances Graham ada for a formal review of ern Manitoba, our census saysNews she photo thinksbythe Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. the 2021 census population is always off, even in the of better population numnumbers, believing that the smaller communities that bers upon review are good. BY IAN GRAHAMdid not to For allones the harsh weather write things thatwith,” you have local population I used to work he ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say “The that were doEDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I have all these stories and to fi gure out. It’s pretty clear to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar decline by almost five per said. ing the census kept reachThough now written when get through.” it cent sinceshe’s 2016. TheI2011 census, which I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, ing outdeMeulles to me [lastsaid year]if to a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would The official census re- said Thompson’s populareach out to the public,” ces in Churchill, Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to sultsgrowing showedupthat Thomp- her tionbook, had titled dropped 4.6 per she said March 7.Church“They Addictions Foundation of the Stories from fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. son had lost about 600 vent,Wind: was reviewed at the the I don’t.” didn’t feel that they were Manitoba director in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite getting “I miss the shoreline, residents northern in the last five North request- Life of the city and the accurate numbers.”I Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, I miss the years and had a population revised population estiMcInnis said evidence to ing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even of just over 13,000. mate rose to only 2.4 per support the review though doesn’t always thought she would what, thisit hisdangerous and Census numbers are you cent know less than what had tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re have tovery be an actual perdo. tory, this stuff that’s in my hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson stories and they would go, used to calculate per capita been in 2006. Nineteen son-by-person count of “In my I never head, 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 Bay,” she says. “When I go grants fromyouth the provincial of 30 it’s reviews requested Thompson's residents. felt at governments, writing,” she if write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back home, standing onperthe and good federal byI don’t Northern Association “Looking at building said. “But when I moved ‘You didn’t do all that, did said. “My kids are not gonorth of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on which means that an under- of Community Councils mits, looking at occupancy to Thompson to get into ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an count can significantly af- communities following levels, looking at garbage, the of socialbudget. work, and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. Youthere’s feel so fect school the municipal that census saw population water, wastewater, Thompson Citizen photo by blackwaterimages/Getty Images at “There’s that point aI had to write my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” number of ways countswanted rise as well. The City of Thompson plans to ask Statistics Canada for a review of its 2021 census all kinds of other ways that for university and realized, do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow got anecdotal data or informaThe Manitoba Bureau of population figures because it believes the number of residents is actually higher than you can that show she’s how those ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so now,” deMeulles says. one book under her belt, Looking back, some of ill really want to thrive. tion that would suggest the Statistics, which believed what was recorded. numbers have remained right?’ I certainly developed wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try population has not shrunk many the 2011 census missed the same, increased or dea lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. as much as this census sug- 16,000 or more of the in lost funding over five got revised upwards, it in- collect data in an effort to creased over time, to infer and came outcity of there with stories at Parks Canada in years. “I did some pretty bizarre her sistergrant and other family someone camepopulation to you and if a“Ipopulation have another book in gests,” said manager province’s residents, told is changing creased funding for if get the 2021 a very strong skill at in my and I’ve always like fuel the members ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says.he “It’s a darker still are. $50,000 said, Anthony McInnis the Churchill the Thompson Citizen in stuff in that area,” said. When the hauls 2011 into census the city by about increased, it should cost writing confidence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic count, at -35,” said per“My community morefor about personMarch 7and committee of the 2016 that each one of those Requests review must population which year.cousin owns the leave muchyour less home than the funding story, 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 al growth and struggles. whole meeting. missed people cost the was down about 600 people Although the city will difference would bring in be submitted by the end of clear and that’s it. It’sBrian there. for you because story on me2006 until after. That was a says. somewhere else and all Maybe Deputy mayor province roughlyyour $45,000 2022. in the next five years from before review, likely pay a consultant to you annually if Statistics CanBY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”