Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
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Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 60 • Issue 41
Confirmed case of COVID-19 in Thompson announced Oct. 5
Book a way and pass Positive testto for preserve the virus is the first in the on Thompson/Mystery Lake health district early April memories of growing up insince Churchill BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Thompson’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 since early April was announced by the province Oct. 5, bringing the total number of cases in the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) area to 18, 12 of which are considered active. There were two people from the region in hospital due to the virus on Monday, one of them in intensive care. The only hospitals in the
NRHA that are designated as COVID sites for admission are St. Anthony’s General Hospital in The Pas and Thompson General Hospital, says a spokesperson for the health region. Patients from the region who test positive for COVID-19 are admitted to one of those hospitals unless their condition is deemed critical and requires critical care or ventilation, in which case they are transferred to Winnipeg for treatment. The case in Thompson was revealed by Nisicha-
wayasihk Cree Nation Chief Marcel Moody Oct. 4, when it was a presumed positive test, in an update to NCN members. Moody said the person may have been in contact with people from NCN and that the First Nation was restricting travel to Thompson for supplies to two people per household effective immediately. No children will be allowed to leave NCN and events such as poker games, church, sweats and ceremonies must be cancelled. Non-residents will not be allowed into the
First Nation unless they are essential workers. “No one should be surprised or caught off-guard by this announcement; we knew this day was coming. That’s why it’s important that we follow precautions and public health orders properly,” said Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook in an Oct. 5 press release after the new case in the Thompson health district was confirmed. “This positive case does not need to turn into an outbreak, but we need to start taking this virus
seriously.” The news release also reminded Thompson residents to stay home when sick, practise good hand hygiene, cover coughs and sneezes, maintain physical distancing when possible and wear a mask in group settings. It also recommended that only one person per household go out to run errands or pick up supplies when possible. Fifty other new positive tests for COVID-19 wee announced in Manitoba Oct. 5, including 35 cases
in Winnipeg, 12 cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region and three cases in the southern health region. The total number of cases in the province since the pandemic began is 2,191, 739 of which are considered active. Province-wide there are 23 people in hospital due to COVID-19, six of them in intensive care. Twenty-three people have died as a result of the virus while 1,429 people have recovered from their infections.
North Forge is launching in NorMan, and we’re telling success stories, to highlight business founders from across our Region. It’s an important time for us to consider ways for our communities to be more successful, and to seriously push to expand our economic opportunities by starting new businesses. The following is a summary of an interview done, as part of a video series, which will continue until November. You can view the series on North Forge social media.
My name is Rob Helstrom and I have a company H3Works, and we have a physical product and we’re moving into digital products in the next couple months. Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham I’m forty-eight and married, I have two The first positive test growing for COVID-19 in Thompson since early April was announced by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences up, mostly in Churchill. kids and live in The Pas, Manitoba. I province Oct. 5. was actually born here but over the BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say Photo by Andre Brandt years I’ve lived all over the North; such EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and as, Jenpeg, Sundance, Gilliam, Churchill, Wabowden, but I always wind up back in The Pas.
Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for Ourabout business two parts; we haveDeMeulles physical product manufacture and distribute locallyreally a book heris experiensaid that she we wrote my grandchildren here in The Pas/OCN area. We also have a second part of our business where we will branched ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they be lost if into the global market with digital products. So, we create online courses, digital assets, we’re Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” experimenting with social platforms like YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation H3works has been businessa for aboutof sixreasons. years. The first four years really focused on Gisele deMeulles saidinwritcouple as a we storyteller herself. our physical product but in the last couple years we’re now branching out into digital. ing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisWhen openingshe thewould business, you one of the first things thathiswe hadtory trouble was finding always thought know what, this andwith I would tell people the equipment. able to and find financing for go, do. financing to purchase some oftory, this stuff Eventually that’s in we mywerestories they would Theyouth other hurdle we had to overcome was there weregone already ‘That’s people innot thetrue, marketplace “Inthat. my I never head, it’s going to be is it?’ I’d go, selling at thewriting,” same product to secure retailers. felt good sheso weif had I don’t writecontracts it down,”with shedifferent ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, said.The “But when I moved positive outcomes from owning our own business being able make some our did ‘Youtodidn’t do allofthat, said. “My kids are notis goown decisions relyinging on somebody for thatdo part income. Ourgot kidstoget to Thompson toand getnotinto to get it else if I don’t it of the you? You’ve beareally work ethic it and they understand businessI’ve works important to show the school of from social work, and it’s how something al-and why old.’it’s I was like, ‘No, actually up point everyday and do job. ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was at that I had to your write for university and realized, My mom’s elder and you’re 27,’inand theyofwent I highly recommend opening ado. business in thean North. Mostly, control your ‘What?’” own destiny whenbad you at ownthis, your own business and starting in the a great place to start. ‘Holy, I’m not she’s an artist, she’s got soNorth isLooking back, some of There are all sorts of programs and people in the stories North really to support our own. So, right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful be- want those experiences are things some great resources there for youtells to gether startedshe andmight once you that a lotthere’s of skill in really university causeout she always notget dotoagain. point where you’re outgoing local market there’sCanada a whole global that you can reach. and came out of there with your stories at Parks in market “I did some pretty bizarre a very strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the writing and confidence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said CAN WE HELP YOU FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS? my writing. I write very put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn Visit northforge.ca or email jconaty@northforge.ca clear and that’s it. It’s there. for you because your story on me until after. That was a Some people say it’s kind of is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. blunt or direct. I don’t tend never done it and I thought, Being on a plane full of fuel
to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchfuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the Another thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though spurred her on voters was the same aboat another areaandthey’re dangerous Thompson will select newin city councillor a new very trustee to serve and hardon times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson the School District of Mystery Lake school board in a byelection Oct. 13. since the Hudson Bay Railabout that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When Voting will take place at the Thompson Regional Community Centre from 8 I go have the option to do that? back home, standing on the way a.m. suspended operations to 8 p.m. next Tuesday. north of Gillam last spring. I think right now Bayproperty looking in out on Any Canadian citizen aged 18 or older whothey’re has livedHudson or owned “ItThompson used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you for the past six months is eligible to cast ballots in the council and an thriving large community school board byelection. in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so and it’sDue just to dwindled downpandemic really sad for them because I small and youunder feel great.” COVID-19 precautions, no children or people 18 to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got years of age will be allowed to be present at the polling stations. now,” deMeulles bookJason under her belt, ill really thrive. on one There are says. five candidates for the want vacanttoposition council: Bayer, Though she’s not there built their worlds and deMeulles she may try Kathleen Bluesky, DavidThey’ve Kobliski, Ron Matechuk Bradensays McMurdo. any longer, her parents andof these there.candidates How would another. Interviews with each canwe be feel found to onproduce pages B-4 and B-5 her sister and other family if someone came to you and “I have another book in of this newspaper. said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker members still are. Two candidates are seeking election to the school board: Li Cripps and Bryan “My cousin owns the leave your home community story, more about personYoung. Interviews with these candidates can be found on Page B-2. hardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. says. you somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years Because of that, your loved ones and your it’s something I’ll focus on deMeulles finds it hard to history is gone?’” doing.”
Byelection day is Oct. 13