Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 9
Friday, March 2, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
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Volume 58 • Issue 46
Smook selects Valentino as first deputy mayor of new council’s term, appoints other committee chairs during inaugural meeting
Canada Goose CEO donates $1 million towards polar bear conservation facility BY KYLE DARBYSON
KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
NEW SCHOOL TRUSTEES SWORN IN NEWS Polar Bears International PAGE 3
(PBI) received a $1 million donation towards the construction of a new facility in Churchill during their Polar Bear Affair gala in Toronto Feb. 27. Dani Reiss, president and CEO of Canada Goose, as well as a current Polar
SANTA CLAUS PARADE ALMOST HERE NEWS PAGE 5
PEOPLE FIRST THOMPSON CHAPTER RELAUNCHED NEWS PAGE 6
NORTHSTARS BEAT THISTLES AT HOME SPORTS PAGE 7
Even though they are still one member short, the newly elected Thompson city council held their inaugural meeting Nov. 7. After the councillors were sworn in by provincial court Judge Todd RamBearsMayor International board bow, Colleen Smook member and a former appointed the committee chairman of thatmayor. board chairs and deputy from 2008 to 2017, “The deputy mayor pledged the money, was somebody that which I had represents of worked with,about that Ihalf know, the money the organthat I know will do a great ization to raise for job, thathopes can stand in for Polarat Bears International me speaking engageHouse. said Smook. “In ments,” doing that, I would like to appoint Kathy Valentino as my deputy mayor.” “I recognize that we have difficult decisions ahead of us,” said Valentino, who previously served as deputy mayor under former mayor Dennis Fenske for two years. “But I think we are a good team and I look forward to making good and tough and well-informed decisions with all of you around the table. So thank you for the opportunity.” Valentino was also appointed chair of the finance and administration committee and of the legislative and intergovernmental affairs committee.
Incumbent Judy Kolada will head the recreation and community services committee and second-term councillor Duncan Wong was put in charge of public works and infrastructure. “I’m going to help the new councillors make Thompson better,” said “Over“Of the least decade of Wong. course, we’ll workinghave withour PBI, I have always disagreeseen firsthand the passion ments sometimes, not aland energy that the that’s team ways the same, but puts To intome, their important OK. that’s called research and to democracy and, efforts as long as ensure polar bears have we can come to the table a future,” saiddiscuss Reiss in and argue and anda press the release. a privmake better“ItofisThompilegeI’m to be part son, all afor it.”of helpThe remaining committee chair positions were distributed evenly between rookie councillors Les Ellsworth (communications), Brian Lundmark (development review), Earl Colbourne (human resources) and Jeff Fountain (public safety). The yet-to-be-determined final member of council, who will be selected through either a byelection or a judicial recount, will not receive a committee chair appointment right away. Smook used the rest of Wednesday’s meeting to set the tone for her next four years in office, saying that transparency and
Council takes first step towards reducing their ranks in October
ing them build a muchneeded facility which will serve as a launch site for that’s our size, we have the PBI’s research and educa- BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET most,” she said. tional activities on polar Council approved first Matechuk said that bear habitat conservation reading of a bylaw to resince the need to cut costs around the world.” duce the number of counis partly due to the new, The proposed Polar Bears International House, cillors from eight to six at lower grant-in-lieu (GIL) by a Citizen that photos Vale Manitoba Operconstruction of which is their Feb. 26 meeting Thompson by Kyle Darbyson vote of 6-3, with councilations pays the city instead expectedoftothe begin at theThompson city council posed for a group photo after their Nov. Members 2018−2022 lors Ron Matechuk, Dun- of property taxes, the counof thewrapped 2018 polar 7start meeting up.bear From left toWong right,and Duncan manager Anthony McInnis, JudyWong, Koladacity cillors who negotiated that season, will be built on Valentino, do- can Les Brian Lundmark, Kathy Ellsworth, Colleen Smook, Judy Kolada, Earl Colopposed. agreement could make it nated land on Churchill’s bourne and Jeff Fountain. Before the reduction possible for council to go main street and designed becomes reality, however, through a trial period with to be energy efficient and who meeting by saying communication in good were inmust the audience the bylaw be the day’s fewer members. ecologically It will night, since she said that her in councillors office will faith will besound. big parts of that subject of a public hear“If theterm three serve as a site to educate they her administration. will be a scheduled vital part only be successful if this the ing, currently that negotiated the visitors to Churchill about of securing the economic city and membersGIL, “We have opportunities of the for March 12, and then miserable, this very poor polar bears, our climate change and to improve communicultural well-being of public work together as a receive second and third GIL, were to do the honand thebetween urgent need to take cation mayor and Thompson moving forward. community andand holdresign each reading, which are tentaourable thing action, as well ascity provide council, between hall tively “Weslated are to also notMarch just other occur from accountable. council, we would broadcast facilities for a community of 13,678. “Asamy son of Darcy once and our community,” she 12 and March 26 respecthave couple weeks to media, support of polar bear We’re a region and a com- told somebody said to members the pubwhen I was ively. City manager Gary fi nd out whether we want research and outreach ef- munity of 55,000-plus getting one of my many lic directly. “We want open Ceppetelli says the bylaw to proceed all the way to forts, and visiting ‘It takes a lotsaid of minds and assist we want your people,” Smook. “We awards, must be said passed 180 days third reading on this,” scientists, educators and say feedback.” people to make my mother we want to be the Hub prior to the election date Matechuk, who repeated other whose work The guests new mayor also ac- of the North, benext the look good.’ made So that’s what of Oct. 24. If itlet’s is, the comments Feb. 12 and support are critical to knowledged the presence of Hub of the North. Let’s be I expect from the communelection could be a bit of when council voted 5-2 polar bear conservation. inclusive to all our com- ity: it will take all of you to members of Nisichawayasa case of musical chairs, to amend the Thompson TheCree facility will and include ihk Nation othera munities there.” meAct, and which councilstipulook with the out eight incumbent make Charter workspace, bunkhouse, surrounding communities councillors, Smook ended Wednesgood.” assuming all of lates that council should kitchen and storage space them decide to run again, have eight councillors and for equipment. competing for only six a mayor, to the effect that “This is the single largest donation PBI has available spots, along with reducing the number of council positions would received and it is an all the other candidates. ability to take in other people from Eliminating two council prevent “new blood” from amazing commitment to other countries to help improve their helping secure the polar positions would save just coming into council. lives.” Deputy mayor Colleen bear’s future,” said PBI under $20,000 in salarCanadian soldiers also fought and ies and perhaps about Smook said that isn’t neexecutive director Krista died in the Second World War, the Wright. “We’re humbled $5,500 to $16,400 in cessarily true as she and Korean War and in Afghanistan. Niki by this generous gift and travel expenses, based Valentino were among the Ashton, Churchill—Keewatinook on the amounts spent on top three vote-getters in extremely grateful.” Aski MP, said that they did so in the travel by the two lowest- 2014 despite having not spirit of cementing a “just and lasting spending councillors and been on council before, Erica and Dani Reiss do- the two highest spending while Coun. Penny Byer peace.” “We must remember initial towards in the fiscal year 2016. nated that $1 million said fresh faces don’t autocommitment to peace, ongoing Shrinking council to six matically equate to differPolarthat Bears International’s commitment to peace, that so manyin Church- would put Thompson in ent results. proposed facility soldiers in our forcesillhave fought “I’m not sure that whethduring the for,” organization’s line with other similarly she said. Polar Bear Affair gala in To- sized communities said er you have new blood Thompson MLA Kelly Bindle said Coun. Blake Ellis, a com- makes that great a differrontotoFeb. 27. it was Canadians’ duty remember ment reiterated by Coun. ence in what a council is photo by Kyle Darbyson soldiers who died. Nickel Belt News Kathy Valentino. Thompson Citizen able to do and accomplish Thompson commemorated Remembrance Day withona what ceremony at “We owe them everything and wecourtesy of “When you look at every depending the obphoto the C.A. Nesbitt Arena Nov. 11. will never forget that.” Polar Bears International other city or municipality Continued on Page 3
Thompson marks Remembrance Day BY KYLE DARBYSON
KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Hundreds of Thompsonites still assembled at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena Nov. 11 to commemorate Canadian soliders who gave their lives for their country. This year’s Remembrance Day marked 100 years since the signing of the armistice that ended the First World War, which killed over 60,000 Canadians. Mayor Colleen Smook reminded everyone that the 1914-1918 conflict was originally billed as “the war to end all wars.” “If you turn on your TV today you’ll see that’s not the case,” she said. “But in Canada we are so lucky to have our freedoms. We are so lucky to have the
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