Knights of Columbus indoor track meet returns May 12 after three-year hiatus

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

After a three-year hiatus, the Knights of Columbus indoor track meet is back today, with hundreds of students from Thompson’s seven elementary schools taking part.

The event was last held in 2019, when the École Riverside School Rams ended a 16-year run of Westwood School collecting the most overall points at the meet, which is open to students from Grades 3 to 8.

“COVID obviously put a damper on everything,” said Riverside gym teacher Martin Vermette.

Riverside is in charge of organizing this year’s event in collaboration with the Knights of Columbus.

It’s Vermette’s second time being part of the organizational team.

“I’ve been here quite a few years,” says Vermette, adding that the students and staff at Riverside are happy to be part of the event’s long-awaited return.

“They’re very excited and pumped. It’s a big community event that brings everybody together in the arena.”

Running for about 12 hours, starting at 9 a.m. and continuing into the evening, when the finals of many of the running events are held and the overall champion crowned, the track meet will take place in the C.A. Nesbitt Arena.

At their May 8 meeting, city council granted a request from the Knights of Columbus to waive half of the $1,438 cost to rent the arena for the whole day.

“The games have been an active part of the community since the 1970s and provide many students with a very good experience of sportsmanship, and a chance to meet students from other schools in Thompson,” said Knights of Columbus indoor games chairperson Mario LeClerc in a letter to the city requesting the 50 per cent fee waiver.

“It’s nice to start to get those extra events happening and getting back to normal,” said Riverside principal Jonathan Wamboldt. “There’s lots of volunteers to make it happen. We’re thankful for al the volunteers and the support of the Knights for promoting and actually funding the event.”

For those who can’t make it to the arena in person for either the daytime events and heats or the evening finals, which start at 7 p.m., the track meet will be livestreamed on YouTube at https://m.youtube.com/ watch?v=VToL44iU8L8.

Four teams competing at provincial mine rescue competition in Snow Lake this month

Hudbay Minerals is hosting the 60th-annual Manitoba Provincial Mine Rescue Competition at the Chisel North Mine in Snow Lake May 26-27.

In addition to the host team, the other competitors include a team from Vale Manitoba Operations in Thompson and one from Tantalum Mining Corporation of Canada in Bernic Lake, as well as a Manitoba

Mutual Aid Team, led by a host-mine captain and director of operations with four members from the other participating mine operations.

This is the first time that a mutual aid team has been part of the competition.

“The concept of ‘Mutual Aid’ is fundamental to a safety-focused mine rescue culture,” said Stacy Kennedy, co-chair of the

Mining Association of Manitoba’s mine rescue committee and the head of Vale’s operations in Thompson. “We’re excited to see how this new element contributes to the spirit of competition and lessons learned by all our participants.”

The mine rescue competition consists of written exams, first aid challenges and a firefighting test, followed by a simulated rescue mission conducted by presiding judges Neil Spencer of Sling-Choker Mfg. (Thompson) Ltd. and Jamie Mortson of Alex MacIntyre & Associates Ltd., who are both highly experienced certified independent Manitoba mine rescue instructors.

The mine rescue competition is intended to help members of participating mines’ rescue teams sharpen their lifesaving skills.

“More than an important industry competition, this annual event is an opportunity to inform our communities and Manitobans about our mining operations’ reliance upon effective mine rescue teams,” said Kennedy. “Mining operations cannot and do not operate without the presence of experienced and well-trained mine rescue workers on site at all times.”

This year’s edition is spe- cial because it is the 60th anniversary of the competition, said the mining association’s mine

“Our participants are equally as excited to contribute to our province’s deep mine rescue legacy as they are to compete!” he said.