Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
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Friday, November 17, 2023
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Volume 63 • Issue 43
Thompson Humane Society selected as Tim Hortons charity of choice for annual smile cookie campaign The Thompson Humane Society (THS) has been selected to be Tim Hortons charity of choice for it annual Smile Cookie campaign. The Smile Cookie began in 1996 in Hamilton, Ontario. The goal of the campaign was to raise money for local charities by selling a cookie decorated with a smiley face. As of 2023, the Smile Cookie campaign has raised over $ 19.7 million across the country. From the proceeds, 50% goes toward the local Tim Hortons charity of choice and 50% goes towards children's camps. This year's campaign runs from Monday November 13th to Sunday November 19th. The Thompson Humane Society's Board Chair, Oswald Sawh, says, "We are very happy that the local Tim Horton's has picked us to be their charity of choice for this year. The THS's Animal Health and Wellness Centre has been putting on animal health clinics in 2023 but it is a challenging when our partners, such as the Winnipeg Humane Society, needs to continuously bring in the needed equipment and supplies each time we put on a clinic." Sawh continues to state the use of the funds from the Smile Cookie campaign, "will be to purchase the basic equipment that is needed for services such as spay, neutering, vaccinations and other primary animal health services." Each cookie sells for $ 1.50 with a dozen selling for $ 18. "The more cookies that are sold, the more funds that will be raised for the THS, we encourage individuals and groups to purchase the cookies , they have up to Sunday November 19th. We will be having some of our volunteers and board members helping to make and sell the cookies in the Tim Hortons drive through, " says Oswald. The THS's mandate is to help lost, abandoned and abused animals in Thompson and the surrounding region. Oswald concludes by saying "this initiative not only helps the THS in satisfying its core mandate, it will help pet owners by supporting the purchase of equipment and supplies to allow for the delivery of ongoing spay & neuter, vaccination, and health clinics in Thompson." Oswald encourage individuals to also pre-order the cookies by contacting Tim Hortons for any large orders.
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Photo submitted by Oswald Sawh Board members Michele Nichol, Oswald Sawh, June McTavish, and Glenda Wier presenting the smile cookies with Tim Hortons general manager Ronak Patel.
Royal Legion remembers the fallen soldiers a hill ahead of the Battle 200 Thompsonites gathered stories they’re lives testify ans still reside in the Nickel making it harder for those of Kapyoung on April of beyond seating capacity to hold a vast history. Belt communities. In which never experiencing such Newstophoto by Ianwhy Graham 1950; the beginning of the remember the sacrifices of It is observed across Can- these men of are due Nickel our Belt battle forget we Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. In 1953 devastation Korean War. the fallen soldiers. ada each year on November respect each and every day wear the red poppy on erupted in the face of every The intense shelling that This memorial event 11th, that the anniversary for the freedom we so eas- our lapel. Let our freedom BY IANfamily GRAHAM For all the harsh weather write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say single as men left to followed cost the lives of was presented by the Roy- formed to stand a new ritual ily can take for granted. It’s never be taken for granted 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 their homes to stand for many soldiers out of the al Canadian Legion hosted while today, we as Canadian days such as this we exam- as the dawn forms a new Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just fi nd somewhere bears, a future they believed in. 26,000 that originally stood. by Mr. Oswald Sawh giv- people live the freedom that ine what has been forgotten day. deMeulles said if it a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would Looking at their children While many see this as a ing this yearly memorial was fought for, lest we for- and look back to our hon~Matthias J. Johnson is a ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people moved back to Churchknowing the fight would forgotten war, the Korean day that is reserved to re- get the sacrifices made by ored roots, so we can make have Local Journalism Initiative Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. be worth the price. Major War is recognized as an im- member those who stood the hero’s that left behind for a better future. reporter who works out of Manitoba northern director - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I George Flint of the 2nd North portant chapter in Canadian proudly while the World their whole World. With stories of the defin- the Thompson Citizen. The Gisele deMeulles saidPatriwrit- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the Battalion, Princess Military History as it was was at War. When we see According to the 2023 ing rifle fire and concussion Local Journalism Initiative ing something “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though cia’swasn’t Canadian Light she In- solemnly honored in the men and women reaching Government Canada Sta- blows, stories grow lost is funded by the Governalways thought would know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and fantry lead his she troops up you Gordon Beard Arena where into their senior years, the tistics pole, over 223 veter- with the passing of heroes, ment of Canada. BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, THOMPSON CITIZEN
do. “In my youth I never felt good at writing,” she said. “But when I moved to Thompson to get into the school of social work, at that point I had to write for university and realized, ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, right?’ I certainly developed a lot of skill in university and came out of there with a very strong skill in my writing and confidence in PREM SAWNA my writing. I write very clear and that’s it. It’s there. Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
tory, this stuff that’s in my head, it’s going to be gone if I don’t write it down,” she said. “My kids are not going to get it if I don’t do it and it’s something I’ve always wanted my mom to do. My mom’s an elder and she’s an artist, she’s got so many wonderful stories because she always tells her stories at Parks Canada in Churchill and I’ve always hounded her, ‘Please, just put it on tape, I will write it for you because your story is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community I INSURANCE did all that beforeSPECIALIST I was and it’s just dwindled down 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” * LIFE/MORTGAGE INSURANCEto such a small population now,” deMeulles says. Looking back, some of INSURANCE * SUPER VISA/VISITOR VISA those experiences are things Though she’s not there * DISABILITY INSURANCE she might not do again. any longer, her parents and * CRITICAL/HEALTH INSURANCE * RRSP/RESP/TFSA “I did some prettyINVESTMENTS bizarre her sister and other family www.akalinsurance.com stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. Email:Arctic psawna68@gmail.com high at -35,” said “My cousin owns the deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she Good Together... For You on me until People after. ThatWorking was a says. very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, Being on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to
I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go have the option to do that? back home, standing on the 204.914.4902 I think right now CELL: they’re Hudson Bay looking out on 36-1313 the Border feeling like they’re pawns bay, itSt., justWinnipeg gives you an in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so really sad for them becauseBROKER I small and you feel great.” MORTGAGE think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got * PURCHASING A DREAM HOME ill really want to RENEWAL thrive. one book under her belt, * MORTGAGE They’ve built their REFINANCE worlds deMeulles says she may try * MORTGAGE there. *How would we feel to produce another. REPAIR YOUR CREDIT if someone came to you and “I have another book in www.redstarmortgage.ca Office: 204.202.7793 said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker Email: psawna@redstarmortgage.ca leave your home community story, more about personand we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. you somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years your loved ones and your it’s something I’ll focus on history is gone?’” doing.”
PREM SAWNA, P.ENG., AMP