GRAND OPENING! SEE PAGE 16 FOR DETAILS Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 56 • Issue 45
FREE
TWIN MOTORS IS GIVING AWAY $10,000 GUARANTEED*
www.twinmotors.ca
DETAILS BELOW THE FOLD
A quiet man in a loud place TRCC GETS A NAME CHANGE NEWS - PAGE 7
WOLF RESEARCH IN THOMPSON NEWS - PAGE 8 Thompson Citizen photo by Kacper Antoszewski Mystery Lake Body Shop employe Keegan Sinclair, left, who is deaf and mute, demonstrates the work he performs for Thompson MLA Kelly Bindle Oct. 26. BY KACPER ANTOSZEWSKI KACPER@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
NORTHSTARS GET FIRST TWO WINS NEWS - PAGE 10
As part of Disability Employment Awareness Month and Take Your MLA to Work Day, Thompson MLA Kelly Bindle was invited to Mystery Lake Body Shop to shadow Keegan Sinclair, who is deaf and mute and is employed as a body worker at the shop in collaboration with the Society of Manitobans with Disabilities’ Supportive Employment Program. Accompanying Bindle and Sinclair were shop owner Danny Morris, SMD regional representative Brenda Davidson and Blake Robert, senior communications officer with the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party. Sinclair is 24 years old, and has been working at Mystery Lake for about four years, having grown
up in between Thompson and Oxford House. Sinclair went south to Winnipeg to attend the Manitoba School for the Deaf, which featured shop and technical skills. While Winnipeg provided Sinclair with many educational opportunities, he noted through an interpreter that he was glad to be back in the north, where he can be close to family, and easily partake in hobbies like fishing. “I really wanted to come back: the goal is to save up money, maybe move to Winnipeg, but right now I’ve found a career in Thompson, and that’s what I’m doing now.” Currently, Sinclair largely does sanding and priming prior to painting and box lining, as well as driving customers and picking up parts. The thing that stands out most
about Sinclair is his work ethic, Morris says. “His first day he was so excited to work, I gave him a van to sand, and he was done in half the time my normal staff takes.” Sinclair was even eager to work through the weekend. “He’s always correcting other people on their decals and sanding,” added Morris. “I really think that because he can’t hear, his sight and his feeling is amazing.” Morris says that it’s almost eerie just how easily Sinclair has integrated with the rest of the team as well: “There’s eight other staff, and he gets along with them all. I don’t know how he does it, but they guys are always laughing with each other.” Morris and other shop employees communicate with Sinclair through a combination of for-
mal North American Sign Language, a colloquial “Mystery Lake Auto Body language,” and through an app Morris recently discovered called ProDeaf, which provides accurate voice-to-sign language translation through his smartphone. Auto workers at MPI-certified body shops are required to carry ICAR collision repair certifications, which requires travel to Winnipeg to obtain; Morris notes he was able to arrange for an interpreter to be present during training sessions, to ensure Sinclair receives the same standard of training as other shop workers. Bindle was impressed at Sinclair’s ability to adapt to an industrial environment. “I commend you on your work!” the MLA remarked.
WOLVES OUT-BATTLED BY WARRIORS SPORTS - PAGE 10
U R TH ! H T W O N 0 3 NOVEMBER N O G INVENTORY BLOWOUT! N I C N A N I F 0% BUY ANY NEW OR USED $ S L E D O M WIN OUR 10,000 GUARANTEED GIVEAWAY! T C E L VEHICLE AND YOU COULD E S FULL DETAILS IN-STORE
www.twinmotors.ca
THOMPSON 40 Station Road, Thompson, MB 1-800-268-2312 • 204-677-2312
FLIN FLON 110 PTH 10A, Flin Flon MB 1-888-778-3686 • 204-687-3686
THE PAS Highway #10 South & 17th St. The Pas, MB • 1-888-623-6401
DAUPHIN 1212 Main St., South Dauphin Dauphin, MB • 1-888-270-6804
YOUR twin motors SALES TEAM: Adam • Sid • dave • CALL 204-677-2312