Local News Archives for 2014-04

People in France Will Remember Flin Flon

On March 13th 18 students and 3 chaperones left Flin Flon for a life changing school trip to France.  Last night in front of the Board of Trustees for Flin Flon School Division Hapnot teacher Natalie Milligan and students Andie Shaw, Myla Bridgeman and Jeff Odegaard spoke about their travel experiences.  From tireless fundraising efforts to offset costs, to stories about flying and sight seeing, the students took turns at the podium during a colorful and interesting power point presentation.  Interesting to note that during their stay the students handed out Flin Flon coins to strangers.  The coins were courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce as gifts to France from Canada.  The weather during the trip was extremely good complimenting the traveler’s culture enriching experience.
In other news Superintendent Blaine Veitch encouraged parents and family members to attend the spring concert this evening presented by the grade four and five students at McIsaac School.  April is celebrated as music month in Manitoba Schools and Veitch noted the strong band programs in our Division.  On May 1st Hapnot band members will depart on a southern road trip that includes a date with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

 

You Still Have Time to Collect Pledges for a Mini Golf Tournament

The Flin Flon Kinsmen Club invites you to take part in their 24th annual mini golf classic on Saturday.  The Club’s Tom Therien says golfers collect pledges to golf in a fund raiser for cystic fibrosis.  He says for a 75 dollar minimum pledge to Cystic Fibrosis Canada they are going to let you take part in probably on of the best mini golf challenges you’ll ever encounter.  He says they start off at the Legion at noon, they’re going to play six holes there, they they’re going to move to the Royal Hotel and play another six holes and then they’re going to finish up at Burkee’s with another six holes and after that they’re going to feed you and give away some prizes.

Pledge forms are available from any Kinsmen member or from Tom at the Co-op store.

A Canadian Exploration Company Wants to Expand its Holdings Near Snow Lake

Rockcliff Resources has signed an option agreement to earn a 51 percent interest in the Talbot property from Hudson Bay Exploration and Development Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hudbay Minerals.  The property hosts the Talbot copper, gold, silver deposit covering just over four thousand hectares representing a geological environment similar to that of present and past producing base metal mines associated with bi-modal volcanic rocks in the Flin Flon Snow Lake Greenstone Belt.

Rockcliff’s President  Ken Lapierre states their portfolio now consists of four high grade deposits two of which have copper resources with significant credits in gold, silver and zinc.  He says it provides them with two high grade copper deposits in close proximity to each other near a highway and active power lines.  As a result the economic viability of the region is greatly enhanced and they look forward to advancing both deposits this year.

The Women Health Stop is Coming to Flin Flon

Women in Flin Flon and the surrounding area will have the chance to identify and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke, their greatest health risk.  A Women’s Health Stop session organized by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Northern Health Region will be held Friday from 12 to 3 at the Friendship Center on Church Street.  Primary Health Care Nurse Robbi Lynn Cooper Roberts says women of all ages will receive information about their risk factors.  She says at the Health Stop they’re going to try to get people to know their risk for heart disease and stroke by doing blood pressure checks, some pulse checks, certain people will be getting their cholesterol checked, some smoking cessation as well as signing up for some presentations for stress management and getting information on heart disease and strokes.

For more information call Robbi Lynn at 204-681-3137.

The deadline has been extended for you to report your pet hero

The Flin Flon Creighton and Area SPCA are looking for stories about pet heroes.  Their President Debbie Hiebert explains they’re looking for a pet that shows some degree of hero measure and they need a short paragraph on your pet describing that event which can be submitted by email long with a picture to the SPCA and you can see their website or facebook for more details.  She adds it doesn’t have to be a dog, it can be a cat or some other animal and if you have a hero on your hands just let them know.

             

The pet and owner receive a medallion and plaque.  Entries can be emailed to ffspca@mymts.net, mailed to Box 863 Flin Flon or dropped off at the shelter.  The deadline is May 16th.

Students music talents will be displayed tomorrow evening

Ecole McIsaac School students will be presenting their spring musical tomorrow evening.  Music Instructor Lara Smith says they are having the grade 4 and 5 students who will be campers for the musical that’s called Summer Camp and the grade 3 to 8 choir students will be singing behind them as campers as well.  She says basically it’s a comedy about students trying to find a place to belong at summer camp.

             

The musical begins at 7 tomorrow evening in the McIsaac School gym with a silver collection at the door.

It is not too late to apply for a grant for local projects

The Tri-Service Committee from the Rotary, Lions and Kinsmen Clubs along with CFAR and the Million Dollar Hole in One are accepting applications for up to five thousand dollars in grant money.  The Committee’s Bunny Burke says the grant applications are open to all of the organizations within the community be it hockey, baseball, the army cadets, or even a charity, a church, anyone can apply.  She says just give them the logic behind your application, what the funds will be used for and they rate them and select the recipient.

             

The deadline to apply is Friday. For information visit www.flinflononline.com or call Bunny Burke at 204-687-6967.

Traffic Services Are On The Move

After several months of preparation and consultation with partners and stakeholder the RCMP is relocating their Northern Traffic Services to The Pas.

Northern Traffic Services was created in 2009 and was managed from the Cranberry Portage Detachment with members based out of Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage, Snow Lake and Wabowden Detachments.  The relocation will have four members dedicated to traffic and criminal interdiction working out of The Pas Detachment.

Northern Traffic Services focuses on enforcement, education and prevention in areas such as impaired driving, unbelted occupants, excessive speed and intersection safety.

 

The Handi-van Drivers have been Recognized as Dedicated Volunteers

 The Flin Flon Lions Club hosted their handi-van drivers last week and presented them with a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Flin Flon, a Volunteer Appreciation Certificate from the Lions Club and the CAA Driving Angel Award which includes an angel pin, decal, certificate and a letter of thanks from CAA Manitoba.
Club Treasurer Monica Lone who nominated the drivers says the Driving Angel Awards honor people in the province who volunteer to transport seniors.
The eight drivers honored include Rick Hurst, Art Hughes, Rose Marie Ariko, LaVerne Hinzman, Lorne Moorhead, Ron Baschuck, John Taylor and Murray Steves.Club President Roger Poirier thanked the volunteer drivers for their dedication to keeping the service running for seniors and handicapped people in our communities.

The Deadline is Close to Apply for Grant Money

The Northern Neighbors and Thomas Sill Foundations have partnered with Hapnot Collegiate for a Youth in Philanthropy grant program. The Collegiate’s Corinne Mathews says grants are available to any registered charity within the Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach area and the high school group is not limiting the type of grants that they are sending out, they would like to see what is out there right now so pretty much anything is within range.  She adds they are accepting grant applications in the amount of one thousand dollars or less.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday.  To apply or for more information you can contact Corinne at Hapnot Collegiate at 204-687-7506.

 

Workers in Flin Flon will Pause to Remember Tonight

Today is recognized as a National Day of Mourning.  United Steelworkers local 7106 President Tom Davie explains they get together once a year on April 28th to pay respects to workers who are killed and injured on the job. He says they have a ceremony at their monument down by the Vic Inn with some speeches, wreath laying and after they go back to the Steelworkers Center and have a get together, coffee and just talk about what’s going on.
The ceremony gets underway at 7:30 tonight.

 

There is a new service developing in Flin Flon

NetSet Communications based in Brandon is bringing high speed internet to rural Manitoba. Corporate Account Manager Mike Reichert told the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce yesterday they are now officially in the Flin Flon Creighton region.  He explained they’ve got residential packages, small business packages and then they’ve got that they call their corporate enterprise packages.  He says anywhere from the basic home user with a couple of kids that are looking to do facebook, Netflix, online gaming to small businesses and then packages with greater band width available for some of the larger corporations in town.

             

Reichert says they have the equipment mounted and have started some residential service but are a month to six weeks away from full service.

             

Net Set is at the Trade and Leisure Show at the Sportex through today and tomorrow or contact their dealer and installer Streamer’s Hardware in Cranberry Portage or go to www.netset1.ca.

They are going without food for thirty hours

A group of students at Hapnot Collegiate is taking part in a thirty hour famine this weekend.  Organizer Corinne Mathews explains the famine is a fund raising and awareness event for World Vision.  She says each student needs to raise 60 dollars in pledges to be able to stay overnight but the main reason they do it is to raise awareness for what happens in third world countries so the students get a better idea of the conditions that other people live in.

             

The thirty hour famine began at midnight last night with students staying at the school overnight tonight with games and movies wrapping up at six tomorrow morning with breakfast for the students.  You can make a pledge to support the project at the school or by going to www.famine.ca and enter Hapnot at find a group.

A well known singer joins two choirs in Flin Flon Sunday

Juno award winning singer songwriter Shari Ulrich will be in concert with the Aurora and Flin Flon Community Choirs Sunday afternoon at 2 in the RH Channing Auditorium. The Flin Flon Choirs Director Crystal Kolt says it’ll be a great concert with a wide variety of things.  She says Shari’s going to be singing solo as well as joining songs that she has written that include the Flin Flon Community Choir and the Aurora Choir from The Pas and there’s also going to be three pieces the Community Choir will be doing independently.

            

Tickets are available at 20 dollars at Northern Rainbows End on Main Street.

You can view the talents of local quilters over the weekend

The North Star Quilt Guild is holding its Quilt Show at the Flin Flon Community Hall tomorrow and Saturday.  The Guild’s President Audrey Neufeld says there’s a lot to see at the show with about 150 quilted pieces that are made by people in Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach, Cranberry Portage and other areas and there’s also going to be raffles of quilts that have been made by these ladies.  She says they’ll also have a display of what they call comfort quilts which are quilts that they gather together once a month to create and then distribute them around the community to people who are in need.

             

Neufeld adds they will also have coffee, tea and cookies, a toonie parade and a merchants market.  The show is open tomorrow from noon to nine and Saturday from ten to four with admission five dollars each day.

You can support a new football program over coffee

Creighton Recreation and Creighton Community School are joining together to present a coffee house open mike tomorrow.  Recreation Director Channa Senyk says this is their first coffee house and they’re hoping for a great turnout.  She says a silver collection will be taken at the door and all proceeds are going towards the new football program.  Senyk adds they have Imriana Jones, One Way Ticket, Chad Pabianik and lots more and there’s an opportunity for anyone who would like to come up and takeover the mike and sing a song or two.

             

The coffee house starts at 7 tomorrow night in the Creighton School library with plans to hold another one in late May.

Information is available on becoming part of a search and rescue team

The Civil Air Search and Rescue Association or CASARA is looking for volunteers from this area.  The groups Gerry Angell says CASARA works under the wing of the military search and rescue with training provided for anyone interested in flying and working with quality people.  He says they get volunteers and they devote their time and efforts to train so they can be ready if there is a search anywhere in the province and look for overdue hunters, canoeists, aircraft and chase ELT signals.

             

To volunteer or for more information you can visit their display at CFAR’s Trade and Leisure Show at the Creighton Sportex today through Saturday or call Gerry at 306-362-2112.

Your poker skills can be tested this weekend

The Rotary Club of Flin Flon invites you to be part of their Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament this weekend if you’re 18 and older.  Rotarian Tim Smith says you can have fun while helping the club support community projects.  He says there’s cash prizes, entry fee is 150 dollars and that includes your supper.  He says they are going to start at 2 o’clock so if you already have your ticket you can show up just prior to 2 o’clock otherwise you will want a walk up ticket before they’re sold out so they’re going to open the doors at 1 o’clock to sell tickets at the door as well.

             

Smith adds they will also have sit and go tables to keep playing if you’re knocked out of the tournament early.  The tournament takes place Saturday at the Elks Hall with tickets available at Kleen-All.

The city is working at saving and controlling spending

The City of Flin Flon’s financial plan for this year was presented last night.  The total budget is 12.6 million dollars up from 11.7 million last year.  The mill rate is down 13.75 percent from last year for residential and 11.92 percent for commercial property largely due to the special levy for police and fire services being listed separate from the general tax bill.

             

Finance Chair Colleen McKee says they are dealing with government legislated sewer and water treatment plants, infrastructure that can no longer be patched it has to be replaced, our tax base is half what it used to be, the cost of recreation facilities continues to rise and at some point they may have to consider closures and taxpayers are reluctant to pay more.  She says they are saving several ways including implementing the special services levy, operation management, implementing some non-resident fees at facilities, setting guidelines for donations, working with the RCMP to reduce costs, the accommodation tax, and Hudbay grant equalization with the School Division all allowing 375 thousand dollars to be spent where it was needed,

             

McKee says they continue to lobby the provincial government and continue to look at how to reduce costs in the community evaluating what we need and what are essential services.

 

You can do a variety of shopping under one roof

102.9 CFAR’s annual Trade and Leisure Show starts tomorrow afternoon.  Manager Dianne O’Brien says they have a lot to offer shoppers again this year with just over seventy vendors.  She says they’ve got a lot of their old favorites like the fudge and all those sorts of things but they also have a lot of new things like Harley Davidson bikes, a lot of different quad companies, boat companies like Exclusive Auto Marine but also some new ones.  She adds they’ve got a lot of variety this year and are really excited about their 31st annual.

             

The Trade and Leisure Show is open at the Creighton Sportex tomorrow from 4 to 9, Friday from noon to 9 and Saturday from 10 to 4.

There is an answer to your question why am I angry

The Women’s Resource Center is offering an anger management workshop for women starting next week.  The Center’s Barb Hopkinson says the workshop is to promote an understanding of what anger is, the feelings and affects generated by anger, recognition of occurrences and effective ways to combat anger.  She adds the effects of anger can harm the family, the self, employment and anyone connected with the individual.

             

The course begins Monday at 6:30 and will run for eight weeks.  To register call the Women’s Resource Center at 204-681-3105.

Make a Change this Earth Day

Earth Day is being celebrated today and Earth Day Canada is asking you to help create a healthier world.  Their Director of Programs Ayal Lesh says they are asking people to make it count. He explains Make It Count is an engagement program that encourages Canadians from coast to coast to get involved in just everyday actions that can help reduce our impact on the environment.  He adds it’s a fun way to focus on a few areas of our everyday lives that can focus our attention in the time of year when everybody focuses their attention on the environment which is Earth Day.

             

Lesh says they hope the campaign will show that small changes can have a huge impact on the environment.  You can find out more at their website www.earthday.ca.

It is time to register your younger children for school

Parents are reminded to register your children for kindergarten in Flin Flon School Division.  Assistant Superintendent Dean Grove says they should be registered by April 30th.  He says anybody who has a child who is turning five in the year that they’re registering is eligible and they would need to get to the school in their contact area and get the registration papers.  He adds they ask that they take a copy of their birth certificate and if they don’t have that a copy of their health card so they can verify ages.

             

Information papers on preparing your child for kindergarten and registration forms are available at the elementary schools.  Students in the Kindervention Program don’t have to register as they are already registered for Kindergarten through the Kindervention Program.

V-Day will be recognized in Flin Flon Thursday

As part of V-Day the Women’s Resource Center is sponsoring a performance of the Vagina Monologues.  The Center’s Barb Hopkinson says the play raises funds and awareness.  She says it’s based on real women’s stories so it allows women who hear the stories to know they are not alone in their experience. She says it helps people who have experienced violence to heal and it inspires people, women and men, to get involved in V-Day efforts to stop violence against women and girls.

             

The Vagina Monologues will be performed by several local readers at 7 Thursday evening in the Hapnot Colligiate theatre.  A silver collection will be taken to support the Women’s Safe Haven.

Fish and moose are being hunted illegally in the province

Brian Barton, a Regional Field Supervisor for Manitoba Conservation says these are number one on the poaching list.  He says there are certain seasons to hunt certain animals. Most of the season for big game hunting run into the fall and some of them run into December with moose season, black bear season open in the spring and then stops during the summer and then opens up again in the fall.  Barton adds fishing’s on here until the end of this month and will then be closed until the 18th of May and then open back up after the spawning should be done and then fishing will be open for the summer.

             

Manitoba Conservation travels to boat launches and hunting camps to better educate hunters and fishers on illegal hunting.  For more information on illegal hunting or to report poaching activity call 1-800-782-0076.

You are invited to a morning of food, music and worship tomorrow

Three local churches have joined together for a Good Friday Service tomorrow morning.  Salvation Army Major Debbie Allen says it will be a time for sharing.  She says they’ll be joining together the Alliance, Pentecostal and Salvation Army for brunch prior to their 10 o’clock service of remembrance and Good Friday celebration.

             

The brunch starts at 9:15 at the Flin Flon Community Hall followed by the service.  Just over 200 people have attended past services.

             

The Amisk Lake Church of Denare Beach also invites everyone to their Good Friday service at the Denareplex tomorrow morning at 11 with gospel music, refreshments and prayers for the sick and needy.

 

Changes are coming to the curbside recycling program

Recycling Center Administrator Deb Odegaard says the schedule for the Red Bag Curbside Recycling Program will be changing effective April 30th.  She says there will be curbside pickup for all of Flin Flon that day and  pickups will continue for all of Flin Flon every second week.

             

Odegaard explains the change is the result of Creighton providing curbside recycling for their residents beginning May 1st.  In the past pickups were done in different areas on alternating Wednesdays except the fifth Wednesday which was very confusing.

             

Odegaard says residents who want their recycling picked up at the front curb pay for the service by purchasing a red bag for $3.50.  They are available at the Gas Bar, Acklands, Super K and the Recycling Center.

The Red Bags are placed on the curb and you can include two more bags or boxes of recycling with the red bag.

             

For more information you can call the Center at 204-687-6169.

 

It was a record year for the Co-op store with a new store being considered

General Manager Tom Therien told the North of 53 Co-op annual meeting last night they had sales last year of over 26.6 million dollars with total net savings of just over 2.3 million or 8.7 percent of sales all records for the Co-op with a successful year in all departments.

             

The Board authorized cash repayment to members of just over 609 thousand dollars from an allocation of 4 percent for food and 7.75 percent for petroleum with cheques now available at the store.

             

Therien noted their shopping center is old and its definitely time to look at a brand new store.  He says they have talked to the development company at the mall sight about property as well as Loblaws about the vacant Extra Foods building but they are not interested in selling.

             

Nominations were held for two three year positions on the board.  Two current members are seeking re-election Lyle Borgstrom and Erhart Dzuibak along with Del Ward.  An election will be held in the store May 9th with advance polling May 2nd.

A student received an award at a meeting last night

Last night’s Flin Flon School Board meeting started off with a presentation of a cheque and certificate for grade 12 Hapnot student Nicole Storey.  The Student Citizenship Certificate of Merit is awarded through the Manitoba School Board Association in recognition of exemplary citizenship in the school and community.  Nicole is the president of the safe grad committee, she is a member of the student council, was part of the trip to Nicaragua and is a huge part of fundraising efforts at the school.  Nicole shared her experience in Nicaragua with the board and said the trip was an amazing eye opener and would readily return. She said many local businesses contributed to fundraising efforts highlighted the spaghetti night at Chicken Chef where upwards of 25 hundred dollars was raised. She says she was surprised to get the nomination for the region and even though she didn’t win she was pleased her efforts were recognized.

Our Member of Parliament is concerned about education under funding

Churchill MP Niki Ashton reports she has visited many First Nations communities accessed by winter roads where she takes time to visit the schools.  She says she has been struck by just how hard communities, teachers, staff, parents and students are working but it is also clear what impact under funding is having on First Nations schools. Ashton says she saw first hand the appalling conditions in many of the schools, everything from rotting floorboards to a complete lack of running water, the lack of funding for the most basic school supplies and the lack of funding for key curriculum options.

             

Ashton says she is calling for fair funding for First Nations education and has expressed her deep concern regarding the lack of consultation on the First Nations Education Act.

A new taxi service is under consideration

At their meeting last night Flin Flon City Council received a letter from Sharon Robert requesting permission to operate a taxi company in Flin Flon. She notes they are looking at starting with two taxis increasing to five as demand warrants.  Letters of support from local hotels noted at present there is a lack of service particularly late at night.  The letter was referred to the committee of the whole council.

             

In other business Council approved the awarding of a contract for a feasibility study to learn the cost of replacing or refurbishing the Aqua Center so they will have the numbers ready when money becomes available to move ahead on the project.

             

In honor of Poetry Awareness Month local poet Glenda Hobbs attended the meeting and read several poems about Flin Flon including City on the Rocks, The Hundred Stairs, Flinty’s Reflections and one called Rumors that was about Johnny’s Confectionary.

             

Council approved funding of one thousand dollars for the Fire Works Committee and 475 dollars in lieu of Community Hall rental for Habitat for Humanity to hold their Celebrity Auction in November.

Easter is coming to the library

Flin Flon Public Library Administrator Cindy McLean invites children to the library tomorrow afternoon to celebrate Easter.  She encourages all children to join them for the movie It’s The Easter Beagle Charlie Brown.  She adds they’ll be having snacks, stories, an Easter egg hunt and the Easter bunny will be there.

             

The celebration runs at the library from 4 to 6 tomorrow afternoon.

You can go back to the sixties

The Central Canada Film Group is presenting the film The Sapphires tomorrow night.  The group’s Collin Davis says it’s about four young ladies who have a chance to launch a professional singing career back in the 1960s. He says it touches on a lot of elements from the 1960s that people will recognize like the Vietnam war and things like that adding it’s a real crowd pleasing film.

             

The Sapphires will be shown tomorrow night at 7 in the Hapnot Collegiate Theatre.  Admission is ten dollars.

A New York performance can be viewed next week

The Flin Flon Community Choir’s performance in New York last December can be seen Monday night.  Choir Director Crystal Kolt says they have received the DVD of the performance.  She says they received it from New York from their concert at the Lincoln Center and they’re going to be showing it on Monday, April 21st at the Hapnot Dorothy Ash Theatre at 7 o’clock.  She says it is reserved seating so if people are interested in getting a seat they should contact the Flin Flon Arts Council.             

             

The choir was part of the performance of Handel’s Messiah in New York.

             

Kolt adds there is very limited seating for the viewing so contact them soon.

 

Your kids can learn more about changes to the environment while winning prizes

Earth Day Canada is challenging children across the county to make changes to help the environment.  Their Director of Programs Ayal Lesh says they have a program called Act for the Planet which is part of their Eco Kids program and its really focused on helping kids to get more involved in the environment, sharing what they are doing for the environment through a photo or drawing element and that goes into a contest where kids can win some great prizes.

             

You can get more information on Act for the Planet and other environmental issues by visiting their website www.earthday.ca.  The contest runs until the end of this month.

You can still have input into a three year plan

The Flin Flon Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation is holding a community consultation tomorrow night.  The Corporation’s Laurence Gillespie says this is the last step in their community consultation process.  He explains for the past year they have been gathering people’s opinions about what they feel the community’s priorities should be and the whole point of the exercise is to basically work all those priorities into a three year plan.  He says they’ve got a draft plan ready and what they will do is go over the plan suggesting changes that people might have.

             

Gillespie says everyone is invited to the meeting being held tomorrow night at 7 in the city council chambers.

You can again shop for home and building supplies

The Habitat 53° Chapter of Habitat for Humanity will be reopening its ReStore for another season this week.  The ReStore accepts donations of building material, appliances, furniture and other gently used unwanted or discontinued items which they sell at reasonable prices to raise money to build a home that provides a family of low income with access to affordable home ownership.  Manager Kathy McCormick says they will be opening earlier this year with doors open Saturdays April 19th and 26th from 1 t 4. Then starting May 2nd they will be open Fridays from 1 to 4 as well as Saturdays from 10 to 3 until the end of September.  She adds their Re Store is located on the Armories lot beside Twin Motors.

             

The ReStore is also looking for volunteers to help during their business hours.  If you can help call Kathy at 687-6582 or Katie Anderson at 687-3935.

The Lions Club has its new slate of officers

At their meeting last week members of the Flin Flon Lions Club voted to accept a slate of officers for the 2014-15 Lions year presented by their nomination committee.

             

Elected President was Andy Wasylciw, Past President Roger Poirier, Vice Presidents Andy Stewart, Wayne Streamer and Ken Mansell, Secretary Isabel Stewart, Treasurer Monica Lone, Lion Tamer Wilf Schmitz, Tail Twister John Kuzub, one year Directors Joe Bradford and Joyce McLennan and two year Directors Joe McCormick and Terry McLennan.

             

The new executive takes office on July 1st.

 

Changes are taking place in our recycling program

At the Flin Flon and District Environment Council annual meeting Administrator Deb Odegaard reported we recycled almost 396 tonnes last year up 16 tonnes from 2012 with a goal of 500 tonnes a year. Three shipments of ewaste were also sent out.

             

Odegaard says there have been changes.  They now ship material to Winnipeg for sorting, Creighton has agreed to provide free curbside pick up starting May 1st, all red bag pick up in Flin Flon will change to every second week starting April 30th, they have purchased a recycling trailer to be placed at a convenient location in Flin Flon and are now doing dry cell battery recycling.

             

The meeting also honored the late Darrel Nomeland who had been a dedicated volunteer at the Center.

             

Odegaard presented two awards, a 15 year dedicated service award to Rhonda Lowe and a community support award to the North of 53 Consumers Co-op received by their Board President Dave Kendall.

Your ice shack should be off Saskatchewan lakes by Tuesday

The ice fishing season ends on April 15th in northern Saskatchewan and the Ministry of Environment reminds anglers that all fishing shacks must be off the ice by that date.

             

They report every spring a number of ice fishing shacks are abandoned on the ice of Saskatchewan lakes, creating identification, clean up and potential environmental challenges for the province.  Any litter or debris must also be removed when the ice shacks are taken off.

             

They warn if ice shacks are not removed owners may be prosecuted and the structure and contents may be confiscated or destroyed by the ministry.  They also warn anyone traveling on the ice should take extreme caution.  Slush indicates that ice is eroding from above and below at an advanced rate and changing temperatures can cause thermal cracks and pressure ridges which are indicators of unsafe conditions.

 

A politician came to Flin Flon to listen

Manitoba Opposition and PC Leader Brian Pallister was in Flin Flon yesterday as part of the party’s work to develop a northern plan.  Pallister says he came not to preach but to listen to northern concerns and there’s been an array of things expressed already and they’ve really just got started including concerns about health care, infrastructure, a lot of concerns about economic issues and people are concerned too about taxes and the level of taxation is always a concern to folks because when there is less money on the kitchen table there’s less things to buy.

             

During meetings in Flin Flon he said he heard concerns about community growth, keeping families here and being dependent on the mining industry.

Flin Flon art work is being featured at a gallery in Winnipeg

Seven Norva Center artists who are part of the Rural Art Mentoring Program are being featured this month at the MAWA Gallery on Main Street in Winnipeg.  Karen Clark from the Norva Center says featured artists were part of the mentoring program with artist Pauline Braun.  She says you had to apply to be accepted with the program and it was sponsored by Norva, the Manitoba Arts Network and the Manitoba Artists for Women’s Art or MAWA and as a result of the mentorship the group put together a show of the work they did during the mentorship.

             

The display will run until April 25th with artists Elaine Angelski, Marg Britton, Karen Clark, Sandra Dixon, Leanne Phair, Monique Rainville and Ron Watt of Flin Flon and Fran Cooper from The Pas and Debbi Fitzgerald from Gillam.

Ideas were shared with Manitoba’s opposition leader

Opposition and PC Leader Brian Pallister met with community representatives in Flin Flon yesterday afternoon to discuss local concerns as the party works to develop a northern plan.  He says there have been concerns about being dependent on the mining industry and there are issues also of concern with respect to community growth.  He in our area it’s kind of a unique thing as a lot of the new construction is not in town, it’s in surrounding areas and there needs to be some discussion on how they can do a fair or better job in making sure the revenues are available so that they community can continue to grow and support itself and build up.

              

Pallister says he also heard about issues with being close to the Saskatchewan border as well as about finding ways to encourage families to stay here.

It was pink in our schools yesterday

Yesterday the International Day of Pink was recognized in our schools.  At McIsaac School students wore pink and held a school wide pink pancake breakfast.  Guidance Councilor Carrie Alexander says it raised awareness at the school. She adds the Day of Pink is sponsored by the Canadian Red Cross and it’s for bullying prevention awareness.  She says they’ve had a lot of great donations from the community so it was a real community event this year.

             

At Ruth Betts Community School they had pink cupcakes and wrist bands, an awareness assembly, spot dances and prizes.  At Creighton Community School students wore pink today and on March 27th they held a anti-bullying awareness assembly and students wore pink on that day as well.

A coffee house will support a special exhibit

The Norva Center will be hosting a coffee house on Saturday night at 7.  Manager Mike Spencer says they’ll have a great line up of entertainment starting off with the drum group from the Friendship Center, then they’ll have quite a few local musicians including Chad Pabianek, CC Trubiak, Maria Mango, Doug McGregor and Ann Ross as well as Danny Michelle from Cranberry Portage.

             

Spencer adds they will also have a silent auction and raffle prizes.  He says funds raised will help them in hosting a nationally acclaimed exhibit in June called Walking with our Sisters which is a memorial for missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada and the United States.

Local involvement is an important part of the arts community

The Flin Flon Arts Council’s Crystal Kolt told the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce about her recent presentation to the Canadian Arts Summit in Banff, Alberta on does your community know it matters.  She outlined the involvement of people in our community in development of the Community Choir, the Arts Council and Culture Days including the dance down Main Street as examples of people being active participants in the arts.  Showing a picture she explained here’s hundreds of Flin Flonners including the Mayor, Councilors and our MLAdancing down Main Street.  She says if everyone is clapping their hands, singing or dancing you know you are doing something right.  She says it tells her that her city is engaged, pioneers or adventurers and creators where more often than not the response to trying something new is why not let’s try.

             

Kolt adds another example is local people being involved in provincial arts organizations and in attracting provincial and national support for local programs.

It is time for local artists to get their work ready

The 38th annual Northern Juried Art Show is being held in Thompson May 13th to 17th open to all artists north of 53 in Manitoba as well as Creighton and Denare Beach Saskatchewan.  Categories you can enter include painting, water color, drawing and print making, crafts, fibre arts, photography, sculpture and a youth category.  One of the organizers Jan Hall says artists should note a date change.  She says on their original call for entries she had the entry forms to be received by April 25th but she would like them to be there by April 15th if possible and then entries have to be at the free depots by the 25th of April.

             

Entry forms are available at the Norva Center on Green Street or at the Flin Flon Arts Council office.

Nature is the focus of an art exhibit

The Norva Center on Green Street is hosting an exhibit by local artist Lois Pederson. Pederson says the exhibit includes mostly nature pictures and some scenery under the theme Nature Gone Wild.  She says its water color done on yupo paper so the paint doesn’t get absorbed into the paper like it usually does, it lays on the surface so it gives a whole different look so they all kind of look abstract.

             

The exhibit will be at the Norva Center until the end of this month.  A free gala event related to this exhibit will be held at the Center Friday, April 25th at 7 p.m.

A Flin Flon man is receiving a national award

Flin Flon’s Bob Putko is among 46 volunteers from across Canada who received the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award in Ottawa yesterday.  The award recognizes living Canadians and permanent residents who have made a significant, sustained, unpaid contribution to their community.

             

The announcement stated Bob Putko is dedicated to helping seniors in his community.  He volunteers at bingo and games nights at the Northern Lights Manor senior’s center and drives residents to appointments throughout the city.  He is an active force with Meals on Wheels and the Simon House Bible Camp.  When he discovered both Simon House and the Northern Lights Manor were lacking in a recycling program, he started his own to promote waste reduction.

A fun evening will help keep our animals safe

The Flin Flon Creighton and Area SPCA is holding a Fur Ball Benefit Social Saturday.  President Debbie Hiebert says it’s to raise funds to keep their shelter operating.  She says they’re going to have different events at the social including a 50-50 draw, some raffles, they’re going to pull their kayak raffle winning ticket and the music should be good.  She says they’re bringing in a band called Bed of Roses and they’re a Bon Jovi tribute band from Winnipeg and should put on a good show.

             

Advance tickets are 30 dollars at the SPCA shelter, Northern Rainbows End, the Gateway or Alpine Convenience or 40 dollars at the door.

You can be part of a bullying awareness event

The Women’s Resource Center’s Youth Worker Jordana Ifergan invites you to mark the Day of Pink at 5 tomorrow afternoon at Pioneer Square on Main Street.  She says they’re encouraging everyone to come out and show their support by wearing pink to help put an end to bullying and discrimination.  She adds entertainment will take place a 5 and free t-shirts will be given away as well.

             

For information you can call Jordana at the Women’s Resource Center at 204-681-3105.

Fundraising for community based health needs will be the focus of a northern foundation

The Northern Health Region has announced the formation of a Northern Health Foundation.  CEO Helga Bryant says it will be a fundraising Foundation for the whole region particularly as it relates to capital projects.  She says they have one major project already announced and several in the queue and Regional Health Authorities cannot fund raise on their own so they need an organization such as a foundation to do that.

             

The idea of a Foundation had been floated when it was learned there was a 2.2 million dollar community commitment towards the planned upgrade of the emergency room at Flin Flon General Hospital.

             

Bryant says they will start with a small group that will establish the bylaws and then open it up for people from across the region to sit on the Board of Directors.

 

There is a new Alpha course for youth

A Youth Alpha course is being offered at the Flin Flon Alliance Church.  One of the organizers Kayla Bate says it’s an eight week program that offers a delicious supper, entertaining movies, music and a great discussion.  She says it will get youth talking about life’s biggest questions like why am I here, what does it all mean and it’s a great way for youth to explore faith in a relaxing comfortable atmosphere.  She says it’s non-denominational and all youth 13 to 18 are welcome to attend.

             

Bates adds Youth Alpha will start this Wednesday at 6 running until May 28th and there is no cost to attend.  Pre-registration would be appreciated but is not required.  You can call Bonnie at 687-3376, text Kayla at 271-5357 or check facebook at youth alpha dash Flin Flon.

There are opportunities for adult learning in Flin Flon

Last week was International Adult Learners Week and the Community Adult Learning Center offers courses free for any interested adult.  Barry is the Coordinator and explains their aim is to enhance your skills, employability and personal development.  He says their program offers upgrades in stages one, two and three equivalent to anything from grade one right up to high school.  He says they work with adults who come to their program and need an upgrade with literacy essential skills or haven’t used their math for a long period of time.  He adds they offer GED preparation and computer skills in areas such as word processing, excel and power point along with internet and email and their program has a very flexible schedule delivered one on one or in small group sessions.

             

The Center is open on the lower level of the Co-op Center Monday to Friday from 9 to 5 and follows the school calendar from September to June.

Do you consider your pet to be a hero?

The Flin Flon Creighton and Area SPCA are looking for stories about pet heroes.  Their President Debbie Hiebert explains they’re looking for a pet that shows some degree of hero measure and they need a short paragraph on your pet describing that event which can be submitted by email along with a picture to the SPCA and you can see their website or facebook page for more details.  She adds it doesn’t have to be a dog, it can be a cat or some other animal and if you have a hero on your hands just let them know.

             

The pet and owner receive a medallion and plaque.  Entries can be emailed to ffspca@mymts.net, mailed to box 863 Flin Flon or dropped off at the shelter.  The deadline is May 1st.

You can be part of a search and rescue team

The Civil Air Search and Rescue Association or CASARA is looking for volunteers from this area.  The groups Gerry Angell says CASARA works under the wing of the military search and rescue with training provided for anyone with an interest in flying and working with quality people.  He says they get volunteers and they devote their time and efforts to train so they can be ready if there is a search anywhere in the province and look for overdue hunters, canoeists, aircraft or chase ELT signals.

             

To volunteer or for more information you can call Gerry at 306-362-2112 or visit their display at CFAR’s Trade and Leisure Show April 24th to 26th.

First Nations should have mineral rights

A new study released by the Fraser Institute says Canada could improve its attractiveness for mining investment by allowing private ownership of mineral rights particularly if mineral rights were given to First Nations.

            

Senior Director Kenneth Green says mining development in Canada is fraught with uncertainty related to First Nations land claims and requirements that miners consult with First Nations.  He says the result is often endless rounds of negotiations with no end in sight.

             

Green adds providing First Nations with private ownership of mineral rights will create a framework grounded in property rights and common law would bring clarity to negotiations between First Nations and miners over project development.

             

The study notes mineral rights in Canada belong to individual provinces but can be leased to miners allowing them to develop the resource.  It found due to private ownership of mineral rights in the United States land claims disputes are less of a deterrent to mining investment.

A writer will present her work and advice Saturday

The Flin Flon Arts Council and Flin Flon Writers Guild are hosting a presentation by writer Louise Wallwein Saturday.  Organizer Landice Yestrau says Wallwein is the current writer in residence at the University of Manitoba so she’s going to be doing a presentation about her work which is largely writing for social change and trying to inspire the same kind of attitudes and work here in Flin Flon. She’ll be talking about her past projects, the projects she did in Winnipeg and what we can do here and maybe some general writing tips also.

             

The presentation begins at 9 o’clock Saturday morning over breakfast in the Northern Room at the Victoria Inn.  Anyone interested can attend with the only cost being breakfast ordered off the menu.

You can satisfy your love for poetry tomorrow night

The Flin Flon Writers Guild, Flin Flon Toastmasters Club and Flin Flon Public Library will be holding their 13th annual Poetry Night tomorrow.  The group’s Harry Hobbs says its part of National Poetry Month.  He says as usual they’ll have around 35 participants some coming from as far away as Winnipeg and representing different organizations and businesses in Flin Flon and it’s going to be a great night as always.

             

Hobbs invites everyone to Poetry Night at the Public Library tomorrow night starting at 7.

The sale of a mine in Snow Lake has been delayed

QMX and Northern Sun Mining Corporation have agreed to extend the closing of the proposed acquisition by Northern Sun of the Snow Lake property to May 31st.  The closing of this transaction remains subject to a number of conditions including receipt of all necessary government and regulatory approvals in Canada and China and Northern Sun securing the financing necessary to complete the acquisition.

             

QMX President and CEO Brett New says 2013 was a difficult year for the Company with the decision to discontinue development at the Lac Herbin Mine in Quebec and the sale of the Snow Lake property.  However he says QMX is continuing to pursue the sale of the Snow Lake property which will eliminate their bridge loan and allow the Company to focus on its Quebec operations by investigating other acquisition opportunities in the area.

Readers are needed for a presentation later this month

To recognize V-Day the Women’s Resource Center is presenting the Vagina Monologues on April 24th in the Hapnot Theatre.  Their Executive Director Colleen Arnold invites anyone interested to help out with the presentation.  She says they are looking for all people to take part in this event adding they are looking for cast members who are willing to speak and read the monologues and this year it’s the Vagina Monologues so all the speakers are women but they do welcome men to help them out in organizing the event.

             

If you are interested in helping out or taking part you can call the Women’s Resource Center at 204-681-3105.

The city is asking for financial assistance from the province

At last nights Flin Flon City Council meeting Council agreed to apply to the provincial government for disaster assistance in covering unusually high utility repair costs resulting from the large number of freeze ups and pipe breaks due to the extremely cold winter.  Mayor George Fontaine says this results from a Mayors and Reeves meeting in Snow Lake where the Mayor of The Pas reported the city of Winnipeg is applying to the province for funding to help cover their costs and the province has indicated they would be willing to consider the application. Mayor Fontaine says the situation in the north is worse when you consider the number of problems per capita and the city will be over budget because of this issue so we are as deserving as Winnipeg in receiving assistance.

             

In other business Council received the Fire Chiefs report for March indicating three calls during the month.

             

Finance Chair Colleen McKee reminds you of the public budget meeting on April 22nd.  She says it is important that the public attend and learn more about the city’s financial plan and raise any concerns they have.

 

Hudbay has extended its offer for Augusta

Hudbay Minerals is extending its offer to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Augusta Resource Corporation not already owned by Hudbay. The offer will now be open for acceptance until 5 pm on May 5th. Augusta is a base metal company focused on advancing the Rosemont Copper project in Tucson, Arizona.

             

Hudbay President and CEO David Garofalo says despite Augusta having discussed the Rosemont project  with interested parties since 2010 and 50 days having elapsed since Hudbay announced their intention to make their offer, Augusta has been unable to present its shareholders with a superior alternative to Hudbay’s bid.

             

Garofalo says Hudbay believes that the offer represents full and fair value and is the best alternative available to Augusta shareholders.

 

The north needs more attention

Last Friday Conservative MLAs Myrna Driedger and Dennis Smook visited Thompson to start a program of getting input from northern Manitobans.   Driedger says there needs to be a whole northern strategy that looks at various aspects to the north.  She says health care is certainly one, infrastructure, mining, tourism, whether its economic development, jobs in the economy, what can they do in all those levels to bring it all together so they have a really strong northern vision but everything ties together.

             

Other Conservative MLAs and their leader Brian Pallister will visit northern communities in the coming weeks and months to hear about northern concerns.

 

The SPCA can use your help

The Flin Flon Creighton and Area SPCA continues to work with animals at their shelter and Manager Carmen Hiebert says they are always looking for some help walking dogs and other tasks.  She says morning help is really essential around there especially on Saturdays and Sundays as they only have one worker on those days and it’s a big workload for one person so if anyone is feeling up to coming out and doing some deep cleaning and helping in the mornings from 8:30 to 10:30 Saturday and Sundays that would be great.

             

Hiebert adds they need volunteers to help with their meat draw at the Hooter on Fridays, selling Nevada tickets at the Legion on Wednesday nights and with their raffles and draws.  Application forms are available at the shelter at the corner of the Perimeter Highway and the Cliff Lake road or call them at 204-687-8744.  Their public hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 12 to 4:30.

You can support people with disabilities with a paper egg

The Bargain Shop in Flin Flon is taking part in the Easter Seals Paper Egg Campaign. The Director of Development for the Society for Manitobans With Disabilities Tammy Hildebrand explains what they have throughout various retailers across the province are paper eggs and they’ve got a chick symbolizing Easter, birth, new beginnings and so the chick is hatching out of the egg but it also has a disability component added so you’ll see some chicks in wheel chairs, some in a prosthetic arm and they are raising awareness for the cause which is raising money for children, youth and adults with disabilities all across Manitoba.

             

The Bargain Shop-Red Apple has been Paper Egg’s top national fundraising sponsor raising more than one million dollars in six years.

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