Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
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Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 60 • Issue 36
Lynn Lake man faces 67 criminal charges after alleged sexual abuse of minors
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
BY ERIC WESTHAVER FLIN FLON REMINDER
A 52-year-old man from Lynn Lake is facing dozens of criminal charges for alleged sexual offences involving boys aged 16 and under. Arnold Collier was arrested and faces a total of 67 separate charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference and other related offences. Lynn Lake RCMP began investigating July 23 when a report was
made of an adult male in the area possibly sexually exploiting boys. Once police investigated, they discovered the man had allegedly had young boys under age 16 over at his home, breaching previous court conditions against him. After over a month of investigation, RCMP have found 11 victims, all male and all under age 16. The victims have each told police they were sexually abused during a timeframe between 2017 and 2020 and said they had been
groomed with cash, drugs, alcohol and other items. A search warrant executed at Collier's home led to RCMP seizing what they described in a news release as "numerous items of evidentiary value." Collier has been remanded in custody in Thompson and is scheduled court to make a court appearance here Sept. 3. Lynn Lake RCMP and the force’s Major Crimes Services unit are continuing to investigate. “What occurred in this small
community is devastating. The RCMP, along with external partners, are ensuring that support is being provided to all of the young victims,” said Sgt. Paul Manaigre of the Manitoba RCMP. “Providing gifts is a common way offenders groom their young victims. It’s very important that parents are aware of this tactic and speak to their children about grooming.” RCMP believe they may have found all victims related to the case, but other victims or people
with information may have not come forward. Any possible victims or sources relating to the case are asked to call Lynn Lake RCMP at 204-356-8862 or to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or at manitobacrimestoppers.com. Survivors of sexual assault can contact Klinic Community Health, a partner of the RCMP, anonymously via their 24/7 sexual assault crisis line at 1-888-292-7565.
Travel to Northern Manitoba will be restricted again effective Sept. 3
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. BY IAN GRAHAM
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham
to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite Travel north of the the 53rd parallel in Manitoba will be restricted once again come Sept. 3, the provincial government announced Aug. 31. Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disreing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If weand were in the care workers and people toba Chiefs (AMC) and northern travel would be our leaders citizens BY IAN GRAHAM always thought she would you this history and I would tell people spurred boattoindoanother area EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET who know own what, businesses in Manitoba Keewatinowi returning.her on was the same continue everything do.The rising number tory, this stuff that’s in my hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream stories and they would go, the area or need to trav- Okimakanak (MKO), First “We are fortunate that, they can to prevent the my youthcases I never it’sto going to begoods gone ‘That’s true, is it?’ I’dthat go, since theour Hudson Bay Railthat so why don’tvirus they of“In COVID-19 in head, el there deliver Nationsnot organizations to date, measures have about introduction of this felt good atManitoba writing,” has she if writeprofessional it down,” she ‘Yeah go, way the communities.” option to do that? operations southern orI don’t provide called it’s for true.’ a newThey’d travel ban beensuspended effective in keeping have into our said. “But the when I moved said. didn’tthe dofirst all that, did north “MyVisitors kids are are notalso go- ‘You of Gillamout last of spring. right now they’re prompted provincial services. following positive COVID-19 the I think Roussin announced 28 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 government to reinstate a allowed to travel directly test for COVID-19 in the First Nations in Northern new positive tests for the school of social work, and it’s something al- north old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s ban on non-essential travel to campgrounds or I’ve lodges since April, which Manitoba,” Settee said in COVID-19 in Manitoba at point Manitoba. I had to write ways wantedManitoba. my mom to Iwas did announced all that before I was it’s just dwindled sad for them to that Northern in Northern Aug. 23 and a press release. “Ondown be- really at Monday’s pressbecause confer-I forThe university and realized, do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of Churchnew ban takes effect Manitoba’s chief pub- and declared recovered half of MKO, I send my ence – 13 in the Prairie ‘Holy, 3I’m notwill bad include at this, lic she’s an artist, she’s so five now,” deMeulles says. as Mountain Looking back, some of thanks ill really want to thrive. Sept. and health officer Dr. got Brent days later. to Dr. Roussin region, seven right?’ I certainly wonderful stories be- those experiences Though she’s not there built their exemptions fordeveloped people many Roussin says the novel A previous banare on things travel well as the province of They’ve in Winnipeg, six worlds in the a lot oflive skillin in university she always her she might notwas do again. longer,for her listening parents and How wouldand we two feel who Northern cause coronavirus couldtells spread to the north in place any Manitoba to there. southern region and came out of there with stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someone came to you and Manitoba, employees significantly if it gets into from April 16 to June 26. First Nations leadership in the Interlake-Eastman a strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always likeGrand fuel hauls intoGarthe members ‘I’m sorry, have to still are. ofvery government agencies a remote or isolated com- stuff MKP Chief and putting this measure is said, region. The you Northern writing and confi dence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave your home community and Crown corporations munity and that he had rison Settee said the or- put into place. We have no Regional Health Authormy writetovery on consultation tape, I will write it deMeulles. dawn store there,” we’rehad going displace whowriting. need to Itravel the put beenit in with ganization “It wasdidn’t pleased to hardware cases of COVID-19 in she our and ity area its tofirst case clear andfor that’s it. It’shealth there. the for you because your story hear on methat untilrestrictions after. That wason a MKO says. First Nations and since you somewhere else all region work, Assembly of Maniearly April onand Aug. Some people say it’s kind of is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, your loved ones and your blunt or direct. I don’t tend never done it and I thought, Being on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to history is gone?’” EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
For all the harsh weather and the dangers of polar bears, deMeulles said if it had been viable she would have moved back to ChurchillThompson in a heartbeat. Citizen file photo “I miss the shoreline, I miss the rock, I miss the polar even though 22 butbears that case was listed they’re very dangerous as recovered as of Aug.and 28. I really miss thehave Hudson To date, there been Bay,” says. “When I go 1,214 she cases of COVID-19 back home, standing the in Manitoba sinceon the Hudson Bay looking out on pandemic began and 469 the bay, it just gives you an were active as of Aug. 31. incredible sense. feel so There were 11 You people in small anddue you to feelthe great.” hospital virus thatincluding she’s one got onNow Monday, one book under her belt, in intensive care. Fourteen deMeulles says shefrom may the try people have died to produce another. virus in the province so far.“I have another book in me,” she says. a darker Since early“It’s February, story, more about person137,499 Manitobans have al growth and struggles. been tested for the novel Maybe in the next five years coronavirus. it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”