Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
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Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 60 • Issue 43
Five new cases of COVID-19 in the north announced Oct. 19
Locations of new cases include Thompson, Gillam, Wabowden and Cross Lake was also self-isolating and is in daily contact with Five new positive tests for health region officials. COVID-19 were reported Possible exposure to the in the Northern Regional virus occurred in Gillam Health Authority Oct. 19, at the Assiniboine Credit including one new case in Union Oct. 13-16 between Thompson. the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 Other new cases included p.m. each day. one in the Bay Line Health The Bay Line district case district, one in the Gillam/ is in Wabowden. Mayor Reg Fox Lake Cree Nation Meade said in a message health district, one in the posted on Facebook Oct. 18 Cross Lake/Pimicikamak that he and council had been Cree Nation health district informed of a positive case and one from an unknown in the community. district, which may be a per“Our health team will son from outside the north be doing testing tomorrow who was tested in the region morning for those who have or a former resident of the come into direct contact,” area who moved and did not said Meade’s message. update their address on their “Everyone will have a health card. chance for testing. Please There were seven active be patient and self-monitor cases and 10 recovered yourself until you are able cases of COVID-19 in to be tested.” Thompson on Monday, but O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree at least one other case in Nation in South Indian Lake the north – listed as havsaid Oct. 15 that there have ing come from the Nelson been three positive tests House/Nisichawyasihk among residents of the Cree Nation (NCN) health community, although only district – is an NCN mem- seeing non-epi-linked cases than doubled in the past two wearing a mask in indoor who had COVID-19 had two active cases are listed ber who lives in Thompson, in the Thompson area, so weeks and gone from three public places – we all know been working in Snow for the health district it is in according to information we’re watching that situa- overall in Thompson since what we can do and we Lake, adding the person on the province’s website. posted online by NCN Chief tion very closely.” Province-wide, cases in the pandemic began to 17 know that it’s challenging who tested positive was a Marcel Moody. Roussin also took time overall now, Roussin said to adhere to all the time, but resident of Thompson who Manitoba remain near allManitoba’s chief public to remind Manitobans that people are not powerless that would be my message had come to work in the time high levels. Cases were health officer Dr. Brent there is a ban on non-essen- against COVID-19. – let’s get back to the fun- community for Strilkiw- found in all five Manitoba Roussin said Oct. 19 that tial travel from the prov“I think what we need to damentals and we’ll start ski Trucking. The person health regions Oct. 19, he didn’t believe any fur- ince’s south to north of the continue to conclude is that seeing the interruption of who tested positive is now with 80 total cases found. ther cases had been linked 53rd parallel. we’re not helpless against transmission.” self-isolating in Thompson. Of those 80 cases, 51 were to the five at the ThompPossible exposures to There have been no pos- found in Winnipeg. Two “We’ve heard of people, this virus, that we’ll see son YWCA that prompted non-essential travel to the those numbers double, but COVID-19 occurred in sible exposure sites or other more deaths were also rethe province to declare an north. We’re also seeing it’s not out of our hands. Thompson at Salon Italia cases connected to the in- ported – a man in his 70s outbreak at the facility last increasing cases in the We can all take steps right between the hours of 11 itial case. and a woman in her 80s, week but that there were Northern Health Region now to reduce the impact a.m. and 6 p.m. on Oct. 9. “Contact tracing and both in Winnipeg and both new cases being found in that we’re watching very of that transmission. That’s Possible exposures also oc- identification of individuals linked to an outbreak at the Thompson in which the carefully so we want to en- those fundamentals,” Rous- curred on Maple Bus Lines affected by being in con- Heritage Lodge long-term source of the infection had sure that we’re protecting sin said. “We’ll continue to trips from Thompson to tact with this person has care home in the provincial not been identified. the north and the remote adhere to the northern travel Winnipeg Oct. 7-8 and Oct. been completed and those capital. The province has “We do know that we’re isolated communities,” he restrictions, all those fun- 9-10 between the hours of individuals have been sent now seen 42 deaths from seeing more cases in said. damentals – handwashing, 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. home to isolate as a pre- COVID-19, 21 of which Thompson,” Roussin said. have taken place OctoNickel Belt News photo by IaninGraham Although the number of staying home when you’re The Town of Snow Lake caution… public health “We know Foundation now that we’re casesnorthern in the north has more ill, physical distancing, confirmed that someone said that risk to the ber. On average, at least one Addictions of Manitoba director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing has up, mostly in the Churchill. general population of Snow death has been reported in BY IAN GRAHAM For all theeach harshday weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say Manitoba this Lake is low,” reads an Oct. EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill the dangers of polar month. 19 statement fromresidents the Town and Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere deMeulles test saidposiif it The Winnipeg of Snow Lake, signed off bears, a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would tivity rate has sat around on by Mayor Peter Roberts. ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say,Mayor ‘ThoseDwayne people have moved to Churchfour to five back per cent in reGillam Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the don’t.” off and I realized, ‘Holy choose liveinthere. They ill in days, a heartbeat. cent with the provinFormantosaid a message Vale Manitoba Opertractor, but the name of Irole, which has limited ex- fuel transmitting or contracting Manitoba northern director - Life in Churchill for posure She also reputation cats, I was probably sitting just leave,’ is quite “Irate miss the shoreline, around 4.2 per cent.I posted on Facebook Oct. 19 cial ations reported the first case North the company was kept to has the aoperations COVID-19 by checking for should Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, I19, miss the As of Oct. there of COVID-19 among people confidential to protect his and contact with employ- symptoms every day, wash- that all close contacts of the ing she privacy. “I just sort of thought, ees, “I had varied that spectful. we Gillam/Fox were in the are polar bears evencases though 1,743 active of whowasn’t work atsomething the company’s theresuch is aalow riskhisof ingAnother hands or thing using hand person inIfthe always sheon would know what, this his- tory and I would tell people her on was the same in district another who area COVID-19 they’re very dangerous and in Manitoba, sites in thought Thompson Oct. you The person who tested transmission to others with- spurred sanitizer regularly, covering Lake boat health do. thiswas stuff in my times Churchill think positive we would scream really and they would 28 miss peoplethe in Hudson hospital 16, two days after the case tory, positive lastthat’s at work on stories in our operations,” read go, the hard coughs andfacing sneezes, prac- Itested had been Iwith “Inconfirmed. my youth I never head, it’sand going to be gone ‘That’s Hudson Bay Rail- about thatand so why they Bay,” sheinsays. “Whencare I go and six intensive informed weredon’t self-isowas Oct. 10 is self-isolatupdate.not true, is it?’ I’d go, since tisingthe physical distancing, feltAngood at writing,” she if I don’t write well it down,” she ‘Yeah true.’ They’d go, to do themthat? back home, standing suspended operations with the disease. Outon of the update sent to coming and doing at home, Valeit’sencouraged its way wearing a mask and staying have latingthe andoption monitoring said. when Isaid moved ‘You didn’t do that, did north “My kids are not go- employees Gillam lasta spring. thinkfor right now they’re Bay looking on 1,743 active cases, out 1,484 pany “But employees the said. Vale said. andallcontracthome of if they have cold or Iselves symptoms, while Hudson to Thompson 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 are in Winnipeg. case involved a local con“Dute to the individual’s ors to reduce the risk of flu-like symptoms. the person with COVID-19 BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Vale reports that local contractor working at Manitoba Operations tested positive for COVID-19 Oct. 14
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 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
and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of Churchshe’s an artist, she’s got so Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someone came to you and Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave your home community put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace for **************************** you because your story on me until after.GO That was a says. LET’S GO! **************************** you somewhere else and all LET’S NORTHSTARS is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, your loved ones and your never done it and I thought, Being on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to history is gone?’”
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24 7:30 PM
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incredible sense. You feel so small and you feel great.” Now that she’s got one book under her belt, deMeulles says she may try to produce another. “I have another book in me,” she says. “It’s a darker story, more about personal growth and struggles. Maybe in the next five years it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”
SUNDAY OCTOBER 25 1:30 PM