Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
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Wednesday, May 12, 2021
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Province tops 500 new COVID cases for third time in four days May 10 Book a way to preserve and pass on Man in his 50s from the north among four pandemic deaths reported Monday memories of growing up in Churchill
BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Manitoba recorded more than 500 new cases of COVID-19 for the third time in four days May 10. There were 502 new cases announced Monday, though four previously announced cases were removed due to a data correction for a net daily increase of 498 cases. Four deaths were also announced, one of them a man in his 50s from the north. He is the 49th northern resident to die as a result of COVID-19. The five-day test positivity rate in Manitoba May 10 was 11.6 per cent, the highest it has been since
Dec. 29. 399 of the new cases were in Winnipeg while Northern Manitoba had the lowest number of new cases of any health region on Monday, with 10 new cases. There are currently 10 northern health districts with active cases of COVID-19, six of which have more than 10 active cases. The Island Lake health district, with 151, and the Cross Lake/ Pimicikamak health district, with 45, have the most active cases, according to the province’s COVID-19 website. Manitoba has passed 42,000 total cases of the virus since the pandemic began and there are 215
Manitobans in hospital due to COVID as of May 10, 153 of them with active infections. Forty-eight of those with active infections are in intensive care, as are 12 who are no longer infectious but still require critical care. There are 13 northerners in hospital due to the virus, four of whom have active infections, There are currently no northern residents in intensive care due to COVID-19. There have ben 64 northern COVID-19 cases confirmed to have been caused by the B.1.1.7 variant of the virus which was first identified in the United Kingdom, as well 10 others caused by
uncategorized variants of concern. In the two weeks leading up to May 5, there had been nine COVID cases among people linked to schools in Thompson, including one each at Wapanohk Community School, Burntwood School and Riverside School, as well as six at R.D. Parker Collegiate, which resumed in-person classes May 10 after two weeks of remote learning only. Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Monday that stricter public health orders that came into effect the previous day were necessary in order to reduce the
number of new cases and the demand the pandemic is putting on health care resources. “We see the demands on the ICU so we have to change this trajectory,” he said, reminding Manitobans to self-isolate if anyone in their household has symptoms and is awaiting test results, and to be forthcoming about places they’ve been and people they’ve been in contact with when speaking with public health. “There’s no reason to withhold that information,” he said. “They don’t need to worry about the enforcement. These contact investigations are very important to ending transmission
chains.” Roussin said he expects case numbers will continue to climb for at least a week or two, maybe longer if people don’t change their behaviour. He did express optimism that the increase in cases could be turned around quicker now than it was in the fall and winter, thanks to people receiving vaccines. “These vaccinations are really our pathway out of this,” he said. “It’s very clear that the vaccine is protective.” As of May 10, 565,219 doses of vaccine had been administered in Manitoba, the provincial government said.
Stella Locker, a popular and principled fixture on council for 25 years, died April 29 at age 87 “She would debate hard, she would present her side One-time colleagues of but when that vote was cast, former long-time Thomp- it was done, move on to the son city councillor Stella next topic and you started Locker, who died April 29 fresh,” said Johnston. at the age of 87 after a fiveAdrian de Groot, who month battle with pancreatic served three terms on cancer, admired her for her council with Locker, said honesty and her ability to having her on the other side back up her arguments with helped him to sharpen his logic. arguments. Locker served on city “Coun. Locker at the council from 1989 to 2014, time certainly provided that Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham all while helping to run a stimulus in order to do that, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. business, and her family especially for me. She didn’t said her involvement in lo- agree just to agree. Things BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather write things that you have cal politics was the part of to were questioned, which is ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say EDITOR@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 her life in Thompson she good. It keeps that balance Though she’s now written when I getas through.” enjoyed most. in council well as makes I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it a book about her Tim experienDeMeulles said she wrote had been viable she would Former Mayor John- people think. I think it’s 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 have moved back to Churchston, who served one term healthy for a community to Addictions Foundation of the Wind:each Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. as a fellow councillor with challenge other. Stella Manitoba northern Life in Churchill She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I Locker and two asdirector mayor North certain- was that kind offora Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, I miss the with her as one of the coun- councillor.” Thompson Citizen file photo 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 though cil members, said he always Locker served seven con- Longtime former city councillor Stella Locker, bottom right, who died April 29, at her 85th birthday celebration in 2018 always thought shehim would know what, thisthree his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and knew what she told was you secutive terms under with the late Judy Kolada, top left, and Norma Howitt, bottom left, both of whom she served alongside on city council, do. tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson what she really felt and that mayors and probably would as well as her daughter Susan Buckle, top right. youthoutI for never it’s going gone she“In wasmy looking the head, have run again to in be 2014 if ‘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 felt good at writing,” she if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah true.’inThey’d go, way the option to do that? back home, standing on‘I’ll the suspended operations he was town bethat people showed up to have Johnston. agenda, there was no people she worked for: the it wasn’t for health issues. when it’s 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 “There were many times I scratch your back, you voters. Johnston says that if she cause he kew he would get Locker’s Real estate lookto “IThompson 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 always knew that she had, she undoubtedly would honest information from ing for a contribution to would be down at my build- scratch mine,’” he said. the of social large community a political game and Youinterest feel so her. I was like, ‘No, actually thriving their organization or their in ings late or driving by that’s them incredible “She had asense. genuine was school representing herwork, con- and haveit’s wonsomething again. I’ve al- old.’ at that point had to wanted mom all thatsought beforeher I was just dwindled down really sad for because you feel great.” “I always out and eventit’s and Stella was always to check andthem Stella’s carI small in the and community.” stituency andI what shewrite be- ways “I think that my Stella hadtoa I did 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 that she’s The community that got she lieved and I always knew broad base of constituents in for various opinions and I there,” said Johnston. “Stel- would be parked at the Plaza ‘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. knew I was always going la was always one of those because she was working. dedicated so much time and that she was doing it because this community that shared right?’ wonderful stories be- those Though she’sgonot worlds deMeulles says she may try to getexperiences an earful.” are things people I could to there and I They’ve She was abuilt hardtheir worker.” energy to is poorer for her she feltI certainly it was indeveloped the best many the same vision and she was a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. Her determination to bat- knew she would be supportTo de Groot, Locker was passing, says Johnston. interest of Thompson,” said absolutely true to them,” he and came out of there with stories at Parks in tle“Ifor didwhat some pretty bizarre sister and other family if to youwho and “I have another book in she believed in her ive because she supported ansomeone example came of someone “Thompson has definitely Johnston. said. “She madeCanada sure she a very strong skillshe in was my Churchill I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members said, ‘I’m sorry, by youvanity have or to me,” she says.that “It’shas a darker still are. was matched by her willthe community.” isn’t motivated lost someone been And even though made timeand for them.” writing and refused confidence in hounded her,he‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” “My cousin owns your home community aboutand personingness to help out said any Locker was also easythe to leave a desire to be recognized for story, here a more long time had a a fighter who to back Even after left Thompmy writing. I said writeLocker very put tape,said I will it deMeulles. didn’t dawn hardware store she and we’re going to displace al growth struggles. community“It effort. find because shethere,” had a treher accomplishments. very uniqueand character and down, Johnston son,itdeonGroot hewrite would clear and it. It’s there. for because your story on“There me untilwere after.many That was somewhere elsehidden and all Maybe the next five years timesa says. mendous work ethic, said you “There was no strengthinabout her.” wasn’t onethat’s to hold a grudge. payyou a visit to see Locker BY 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.”