Far Resources reported earlier this month they are continuing their exploration program at their Zoro Lithium Property near Snow Lake.  As part of a planned drill program the Company intends to test the newly identified Dyke One extension and additional high grade lithium bearing dykes on the property.

Their President Keith Anderson says they are extremely pleased with the efforts of their technical and prospecting team who are responsible for the identification of the Dyke One extension beneath soil and snow cover.  He says this provides them with additional drill targets on Dyke One which to date hosts the majority of their high grade pegmatite hosted lithium as indicated in core from their drill holes.  Anderson adds they are planning to use mechanized equipment to expose additional pegmatite outcrop on the property which will ensure the best possible siting of drill holes for their winter drill program.

  Manitoba RCMP have released the results of week three of their Holiday Checkstop Program. 1960 vehicles were checked across the province during 42 checkstops with 22 people charged with a criminal code impaired driving offence all alcohol related.  The highest blood alcohol reading reported was .230 which is almost three times the legal limit.  Among other charges there were 588 highway traffic act charges laid during checkstops and regular patrols with the majority for speeding and seatbelt offences along with 142 warnings for various offences.

They also report there was one traffic related fatality during the third week of the program.  On December 22^nd two vehicles collided on Highway 9 about 30 kilometers north of Selkirk.  The driver of one vehicle who was unbelted was pronounced dead at the scene.

 The Flin Flon Friendship Center is ready for the December 31^st First Night Out Celebration.  The Center’s Program Events Coordinator Jolene Gardiner says it will be a great way for the family to welcome the New Year.  She says they have a supper which is included in the ticket price which will be a spaghetti and Caesar salad as well as a tossed salad with buns.  She adds they also have a photo booth for everybody to take pictures in, they’ve got all the noise makers and hats, they’ve got a balloon drop and door prizes every half hour, glow sticks, all kinds of fun stuff for the kids.

The doors open at 5:30 at the Flin Flon Community Hall with supper at 6:30.  Tickets are 5 dollars for adults, 2 for ages 6 to 17 and 5 and under are free.They are available at the Orange Toad, Gateway, Friendship Center, Alpine Convenience in Denare Beach and Di's Confectionary in Creighton.  They prefer that you buy your tickets in advance so they know the numbers for supper but they will be available at the door.

Around two o’clock this morning the power went off for 600 residents in Flin Flon. Manitoba Hydro reports areas affected included Boam, Ross, Adams, parts of Green Street and parts of Channing. They report the power was off for about four hours as crews patrolled the lines but they were unable to determine the cause but power was restored.  They have installed equipment to monitor the line to determine if is there is a problem.

The Hydro being off affected water pressure from the Gas Bar west including Uptown, South Hudson and Ross Lake areas. With the power restored the water is back to normal but if you are still experiencing problems you can call 204-681-7511.

Salvation Army Major Debbie Allen reports they again had a successful Christmas kettle and hamper program in the Flin Flon area. She says the generosity of the people of Flin Flon enabled them to raise 15,872 dollars which is about 100 dollars more than last year on the Christmas kettles and that’s wonderful and they thank you very much.  She adds they gave out fewer hampers this year, only 134 but it seems that the toys were down too so it looks like there are people who are doing better in Flin Flon.

Last year they packed 160 hampers.

Operation Red Nose was out last Friday and Saturday nights to get the Christmas weekend underway.  The Rotary Club’s Committee Chair Ted Hewitt says they had another successful weekend of getting people and their vehicles home safely.  He reports between Friday and Saturday nights they had 54 rides and their volunteers came from a variety of locations throughout the community including the Rotary Club.  He added they’re still looking for volunteers for this coming Friday the 29^th and obviously the more volunteers they get for New Years Eve December 31^st the better the service they can provide because it’s going to be very busy.

If you can help out you can pick up a volunteer form at Scotia Bank or online at www.operationrednose.com, fill out the form and take it to the RCMP office with two pieces of identification.

  The Flin Flon Arts Council is offering a theatre program for children in the new year.  Organizer Susan Gunn says there is a demand in the community for this type of activity for children who are interested in theatre so she’s working with two groups ages 8 to 11 and 12 to 14 and they’re going to be doing a theatre class that’s going to run once a week for the months of January, February and March and culminating in a final project which is a presentation that they’re going to show the community and its going to showcase everything they have learned about theatre and producing their own production.

Anyone interested can contact the Flin Flon Arts Council or email Susan at susancgunn@hotmail.ca and she will contact you with the details.

Its time to pack up your Christmas items. The Flin Flon Recycling Center’s Administrator Deb Odegaard reminds you there are some items they can’t take which includes any kind of wrapping paper, Styrofoam plates, cutlery, cups, packaging.  They can’t do any plastic bags and they also can’t do any disposable dishes like your paper plates and utensils.  She adds the only thing people should do is check the plastic cups that they have because some of them are now a number five or a number one and those would be recyclable and if they’re number six they are not.

Odegaard reminds you the Recycling Center will be closed on New Years Day. If you need any more information on recycling you can visit their website www.flinflonrecycling.org.

In his annual Christmas message Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall told the story of a family that was welcomed as newcomers to Saskatchewan.

“This Christmas newcomers from the world over will enjoy the holidays in their own way here in Saskatchewan because in the last ten years newcomers have again found hope here and chose Saskatchewan in record numbers to live without fear and to dream of a better future. May we always have that freedom and may we always have the freedom to celebrate Christmas.  Christmas is the ultimate story of hope because that’s what God gave to us all.  He sent his son Jesus as a tiny baby.  He left perfection to endure oppression because he loved us and chose to bring us that hope.  That’s what I believe this Christmas.”

 Wall concluded Christmas is the time of year to enjoy the wealth of simply being together with those we love and the fulfillment of helping someone in need.

 In her holiday message Manitoba Lieutenant Governor Janice Filmon says in this season the inherent goodness of people is on splendid display through countless charitable endeavors all across this wonderful province that we are so fortunate to call home.  She says the year long celebration of Canada’s 150^th birthday also reminded us of the greatness of our country, our shared patriotism and the value of inclusiveness and diversity in shaping our national identity adding our own provincial pride and vibrant multiculturalism suggest that Manitoba may be the heart of the country in more ways than just its geography.

Filmon concludes by wishing that the wonder of this time will fill your hearts and homes today and throughout the new year.

  In her annual Christmas message Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield mentioned the year as Canada’s 150^th anniversary noting Gord Downie’s comment on Parliament Hill that now we begin a new 150 years.

“It is my sincere hope that the people of Saskatchewan will embrace this new beginning and will reach out to those who may be different than us.  It is my prayer that we will work together to create more inclusive communities, where everyone is welcome.  Only we have the power to create the change we need in our country.

Over the past six years I have presented hundred of awards to deserving individuals.  There are many more who may not receive public recognition but who give of their time and their resources to improve the lives of others.  To all the generous and capable Saskatchewan volunteers I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making our province better.  You are proof that we are able to make a difference and that when we work together no challenge is too great.”

Schofield concluded by wishing you joy and peace through the coming year.

  Manitoba RCMP have released their week two results of the Holiday Checkstop Program. From December 11^th to 17^th 2306 vehicles were checked during 50 checkstops.  Results from both checkstops and regular patrols include 476 traffic related Highway Traffic Act charges laid with the majority for speeding and seatbelt offences with 140 warnings for various offences.  23 people were charged with a Criminal Code Impaired Driving offence with 22 alcohol related and one drug related with the highest blood alcohol reading .230 which is almost three times the legal limit.  They add there were no traffic related fatalities during the second week of the program which continues through the Christmas New Years season.

Employees at the Flin Flon Recycling Center and the Landfill will be taking some time off over the holidays.  Their Administrator Deb Odegaard explains the Recycling Center will be closed Christmas day and New Years day and they’ll be running with a reduced staff on Boxing Day. She adds the Landfill will be closed Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Years day.

The Recycling Center’s regular hours at 9 Timber Lane are Monday to Friday from 8 to 4 and the Landfill Monday to Saturday from 9 to 4:45 and Sunday from 12 to 4.  For more information on recycling or the Landfill you can visit their website www.flinflonrecycling.org.

Director and lead actor Raphael Saray invites you to tune in to 102.9 CFAR tomorrow night for the performance of a favorite Christmas story.  He says it will be performed at Johnny’s Social Club on Green Street explaining it’s a for radio broadcast of the classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life which is the story of George Bailey and his question of confidence and how his life touches so many others.  He says he and an all local cast will be doing it live from Johnny’s Social Club with live sound effects and it should be a unique experience and will be broadcast on CFAR.

The performance will start at 7 o’clock and run about an hour. Those at Johnny’s Social Club will also enjoy the performance of holiday music following the play.

City Hall Christmas Tree

At the Flin Flon City Council meeting last night Mayor Cal Huntley announced they have advised the Association of Manitoba Municipalities that they agree in principal with the sale of Cannabis in our community once it becomes legal.  He says it will be available online anyway and delivered to your home.  But he says there’s a lot more information needed on how it will be handled at the retail level before it becomes available.

Council approved an agreement between the City and Mark Kolt for his two year term as City Solicitor.  They also approved the appointment of Kathryn Drapak as Denare Beach’s representative on the Flin Flon Public Library Board.

Council also agreed to renew their membership in the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association at a cost of $651.17, they accepted the Fire Chief report for November indicating three incidents during the month, they approved on final reading a Traffic Bylaw amendment to allow the Citizens on Patrol to place their speed reading trailer at various locations around the community and Mayor and Council wished everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2018.

Chamber of Commerce President Karen MacKinnon presents Mayor Cal Huntley with the City's prize in the Chamber's Capturing Christmas photo contest.

Rockcliff Metals Corporation has updated its Mineral Resource Estimate for the Talbot Copper Deposit located near Snow Lake.  Their President Ken Lapierre says the new global National Instrument mineral resource of 4.2 million tonnes at 3.4 percent copper equivalent is a very significant milestone for Rockcliff.                               

Lapierre says to his knowledge only four mines Flin Flon, Lalor, Triple seven and Sherridon West, of the approximately 30 mines that have gone into production in the Flin Flon Snow Lake greenstone belt had an initial resource greater than the present Talbot Copper Deposit resource.  He says the deposit remains open in all directions and their present geophysical survey will focus on the large untested 1 kilometer by 1 kilometer anomaly located immediately below and in the footwall of the deposit. He adds their 2018 drilling will be planned to increase the potential size of this asset.

The Northern Health Regions Bruce Krentz says there is no bad weather for exercising just bad clothes.  He offers some tips for those looking to stay active during the winter season. He says just getting wet makes you cold a lot faster so watch out for that.  Wear waterproof clothes, ski pants and things like that and along that line dressing too warm can be a huge mistake in cold weather.  He notes when he was in the Arctic they had an expression that sweat equals death and once you start sweating then you’ve got to have a plan to keep sweating until you’re in a warm spot. He explains the way to avoid that is to dress in layers so you can take them on and off and keep in mind that stop and go activities are tricky because that’s when you sweat and then get cold so if you’re running run and if you’re walking walk.

Krentz adds that reflective clothing is a good idea with the limited sun light this time of year.

A ribbon was cut officially opening the Tim Hortons franchise at the Petro Canada Center in Creighton.  The Center and the franchise are owned by the Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies and PBCN Chief Peter A. Beatty praised the partnerships that developed the franchise on the Thomas Morin Indian Reserve in Creighton.  FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said benefits will go on into the future. He said that sign Tim Hortons says revenue, it says opportunity and it says jobs, for hundreds of years that’s what that’s going to do so let’s celebrate the next 10 or 20 years when this Tim Hortons franchise hits one million dollars for the towns of Creighton, Denare Beach and Flin Flon but more importantly the benefits go to the PBCN chief and council and their communities.

Former Grand Chief Ron Michel said we have to work together with communities like Creighton to develop economic opportunities noting PBCN’s population is 11 thousand of which 6 thousand are from new born to 20 years old.

World Vision Canada is urging you to join others in Flin Flon in giving a gift from their gift catalogue.  In the past five years Flin Flon residents have donated 55 hundred dollars to their gift catalogue.  Their Regional Manager in Manitoba Chris Schroeder says gifts can range from clean water to school and medical supplies to livestock for families in developing countries giving the example of a community receiving three goats and they were able to use their milk for their communities but also sell it at the market which gave them additional income which they used to buy sewing machines for their community so that youth were able to sew clothes for those who live in the area and these youth started selling those clothes at the market which gave them additional income as a community which they in turn used to purchase more livestock to help them with their crops in regards to having equipment for that.

Schroeder says this community is now self-sustaining so you know someone is receiving a gift that can significantly change their lives. You can learn more by visiting their website www.worldvision.ca/gifts.

Operation Red Nose had a 4^th successful weekend of getting people and their vehicles home safely.  The Rotary Club’s committee chair Ted Hewitt says this past weekend again went well.  He reports they provided a total of 57 rides in the two days which is good adding volunteers from the Steelworkers on Friday evening and from Hudbay staff on Saturday evening provided this service.  He says next Friday and Saturday the 22^nd and 23^rd Red Nose service will be available from 9 with the last call at 2:30.

Hewitt adds they desperately need volunteers to work this coming Friday and Saturday as well as the 29^th and 31^st or there may be no service.  Applications are available online at www.operationrednose.com or at Scotia Bank.  Just fill it out and take it to the RCMP office with two pieces of identification. If you have any questions you can call Ted at 204-687-7450.

The Ham Sandwich Theatre Group is holding auditions tomorrow night for their March production.  Director Sheri Pearson says they will perform the play Regrets Only, a play by Paul Rudnick and it’s a quirky little play about love, marriage, friendship and a little bit of politics mixed into the fray of the upper class on Park Avenue in New York City.  She says it’s set in the present day and they’re looking to cast six characters, two males and four females. She adds both males are in their mid 50’s but with make  up they can age any age of character and for the females it’s a mix of one in her late 20’s, two characters in their mid to late 50’s and one in their late 70’s.

Auditions are being held tomorrow night from 5 to 7 in the Flin Flon Community Hall.

A lot of appointments have been booked and gifts are being picked up starting today in a Christmas gift program.  The program run by the Flin Flon Friendship Center allows parents to give their children a gift at Christmas when circumstances prevent from doing so.  The Center’s Program Events Coordinator Jolene Gardiner says donations went well.  She says this year they’ve had lots of donations come in from various businesses and also local people around the community are just dropping off a lot of stuff for them.  She says its usually a well received program so they’re very happy to keep it going.

She adds people are now picking up gifts starting today and it goes right through to the 22^nd and they’ll have it all set up downstairs in the Headstart Program area and everybody’s got appointments so they just stop in an pick up their gifts and wrap them and they’re ready to go home for the tree.

You can still register to pick up a gift by dropping into the Friendship Center this week.

Manitoba RCMP have released the results of their week one Highway Checkstop Program.  They report from December 1^st to 10^th 2383 vehicles were checked across the province during 51 checkstops.  Among the charges from both checkstops and regular patrols were 50 people charged with a criminal code driving offence all alcohol related.  The highest blood alcohol reading reported was .340 which is more than four times the legal limit.  882 traffic related highway traffic act charges were laid with the majority for speeding and seat belt offences along with 200 warnings.  They add there were no traffic related fatalities during the first week of the program that continues through the Christmas New Years season.

Captain Ryan Keen and Bill Jackson after 2016 air show.

The Flin Flon Rotary Club will again be sponsoring an air show this summer.  The Club’s Bill Jackson says following the extremely popular air show they put on in July 2016 they have invited the Snowbirds back for another show. He explains the Canadian Forces Snowbirds are coming back as the Flin Flon Rotary Club has again invited the air demonstration team for another air show.  He says it’s going to happen at the local airport and this family event is being planned for Wednesday, July 11^th, 2018.  Jackson adds the Rotary Club is very pleased to organize this air show and they are planning on using this as a fund raiser for our new emergency ward at our local hospital.

An estimated five thousand people attended the 2016 air show.

The Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Capturing Christmas Contest.  Past President Dianne Russell says it’s a contest for Chamber members so people just take a picture of themselves, their stores, however they celebrate Christmas, maybe their staff, some people have sent in their pets.  She adds they send them by Facebook to the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce page or by email to flinflondistrictchamber@gmail.com and they have great prizes to give away that Manitoba Hydro sponsored so someone is going to win some great prizes just for sending them a picture.

The deadline to enter the contest that started on November 16th is Monday with a draw taking place to determine the winners on 102.9 CFAR Tuesday between 3 and 3:15.  The photos will be posted on the Chamber website and Facebook page.

The Flin Flon Young Musicians will be performing their annual Christmas concert Sunday night.  Director Susan Fulford says it features great young local talent.  She says this concert titled Breath of Heaven is a special time Christmas offering of her students, pianists, vocalists and featured singing group Kaleidoscope but not to be missed is Flin Flon’s own gold medal winning flutist Mikylo Odut.  She adds it’s a unique concert in that it’s held in the dark in candle light and the audience is invited to close their eyes if they wish and listen until the end when they may show their appreciation for these very accomplished young musicians.

The concert will be held Sunday night at 7:30 in the Lutheran Church on Second Avenue.  Admission is a donation with the proceeds going to Camfed which is an organization to support the education of young women in developing countries.

Members of the Citizens on Patrol Program want you to learn more about their group.  Chairperson Sinclair James says they will be holding a mass Main Street Patrol tomorrow at 4 and 7 o’clock to mark their third anniversary.  He says they’ll be walking down Main Street from the Community Hall down towards the Co-op and back handing out information pamphlets with contact information if you’re interested in joining.  He adds this event is to let the community know that Flin Flon Citizens on Patrol are an active group helping to prevent crime and promoting community safety.

If you are interested in joining Citizens on Patrol you can call them at 204-271-4881 or go online to www.citizensonpatrol.ca.

The Main Street Committee is presenting Moonlight Madness tomorrow night from 5 to 8. The Committee’s Dianne Russell says it’s a Main Street family night. She explains some of the businesses on Main Street are allowing home businesses to come into their stores so there’s going to be a lot of extra shopping at some of those businesses, you’ll just have to walk down the street and find them.  She says there’s going to be a gift wrapping center at Mugsy’s, Your Dollar Store and Big Dipper have an extra businesses in their store and they’ve got Santa whose going to be arriving at the Library, they’ve got fire pits, free hot chocolate and stuff going on right beside RBC and two dollar pizza at Rock City Diner.

Russell adds it’s a really great way to celebrate Christmas as it gets closer to us.

The Flin Flon Public Library has several events as we prepare for the Christmas season.  Administrator Courtney Campbell says that includes hosting Santa’s workshop during tomorrow’s Moonlight Madness and that means children can come in to meet Santa and take photos with him so they need to take their own photos on their cell phones or things like that and that takes place from 5 to 8 on Friday.  She says Friday is also the day of their Christmas raffle draw so people will be able to find out if they won the doll furniture package, the room rental package or the antique doll carriage.  Campbell adds they also have the 12 books of Christmas contest and they’re also taking food for fines for the Friendship Center until Friday so if you have some overdue books that you want to bring back without paying those heavy fines just bring in a non-perishable food item or a toy or a new book for the Friendship Center.

For more information on any of these events you can drop into the Library on Main Street or call them at 204-687-3397.

  In early October Saskatoon based Canadian Platinum Corporation signed a definitive agreement to sell its Peter Lake Property just west of Reindeer Lake in northern Saskatchewan to American Energy Metals Corporation.  The property hosts significant copper, nickel, cobalt and platinum group element mineralization.

Canadian Platinum announced last week it has elected to terminate the agreement as American Energy was unable to complete its corporate structuring failing to meet its initial obligations in the anticipated timeframe.

Their President Gary Billingsley says Canadian Platinum terminated the agreement in order to pursue other opportunities to advance the project. He adds given today’s metal prices Peter Lake remains a significant part of their project portfolio with the critical mineral claims in good standing for several more years without additional work requirements.

  The Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce received an invitation to talk with the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce.  Saskatchewan’s Director of Government Relations Curtis Hemming after learning about the Chambers discussion on border town challenges facing Flin Flon and Creighton contacted the local Chamber asking if they were interested in having a conference call with him and a rep from the Lloydminster Chamber on how they have dealt with some of the problems.  Dianne Russell, Kory Eastman and Colleen McKee plan to take part in the call on Friday.  Russell says this is an ongoing issue here and Lloydminster has dealt with similar issues so this is a good first step. 

The Northern Neighbors Foundation’s Betty Kendall reported their recent Endowment Day held by the Winnipeg Foundation to support local Foundations resulted in nine donations locally totaling 2850 dollars.  As a result the Winnipeg Foundation and the provincial government each added 570 dollars to the donation.

And Co-op Store Manager Tom Therien reported construction of the new store is proceeding well.  He says staring January 1^st they will be hiring and training between 25 and 50 people to work in the new store when it opens at the end of April.

The Salvation Army has set up an Angel Tree in Walmart to help collect toys for children.  Major Debbie Allen explains on the tree you will find tags and you pick up a tag and go shop for a child.  She says the ages are listed on that tag and then you check the age of the child, male or female and return it once its paid for to the service desk at Walmart and they will hold it for her to pick up.

Major Allen adds the toys will be distributed to children in Cranberry Portage and Sherridon as well as the Flin Flon Friendship Center’s gift program.  The Angel Tree will be in Walmart until December 22^nd.

Operation Red Nose completed its third weekend of getting people and their vehicles home safely in the Flin Flon area.  The Rotary Club’s Committee Chair Ted Hewitt says it was their best weekend so far this year.  He explains Operation Red Nose provided a total of 57 rides which is a big increase over the previous two weekends and they were quite happy about it.  He says they had a total of 14 volunteers from the Women’s Resource Center combined with the Friendship Center on Friday evening and 14 volunteers from the Cottagers and Friends on Saturday evening to provide this service adding next Friday the Steelworkers are providing the volunteers followed on Saturday by the Hudbay staff.

Operation Red Nose operates this coming Friday and Saturday and December 22^nd, 23^rd, 29^th and 31^st and Hewitt says they are in desperate need of volunteers for those last four nights.  You can find an application online at www.operationrednose.com or at Scotia Bank.  Fill it out and take it to the RCMP office with two pieces of identification.

On December 2^nd Northland Ford held their Teddy Bear Toss at the Flin Flon Bomber game.  Sales Consultant Doug Gourlay explains when the Bombers scored their first goal fans tossed Teddies over the boards.  He says there was a very enthusiastic crowd there and everything went great adding the Bombers scored a minute and a half into the game so they weren’t quite prepared for it but they collected a little over 230 in a combination of teddy bears and toys for the kids that all went to the Friendship Center last week and they’re going to distribute them in the area and there’s going to be a lot of very happy kids come Christmas.

This was the fifth year for the Teddy Bear Toss.

Six unions at Hudbay in Flin Flon and Snow Lake voted on a new contract today.

The International Association of Machinists Local 1848 had a 77 percent turnout with 68 percent voting to ratify the agreement.  The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1405 voted 86 percent in favor.  The United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 1614 had an 80 percent turnout with 90 percent in favor.  The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 451 had an 80 percent turnout with 86 percent in favor of ratification.

The United Steelworkers reported they don’t release numbers but local 7106 said the contract was ratified and local 9338 said they voted to accept Hudbay’s final offer.

The agreement comes into effect January 1^st and offers a 2.5 percent wage increase per year over the three year contract along with increases in pension and health benefits.

The residents of Churchill have been without rail service for over half a year and the situation doesn’t seem any closer to a resolution.  Member of Parliament Niki Ashton says that even though the Federal Government is starting to take action they don’t seem to understand how urgent the situation is.  She says Omnitrax is continuing to play games. She adds she sees the Federal government’s approach is quite positive but she’s concerned there isn’t the sense of urgency that is needed there, that construction season is passed but are they going to be ready in the new year to hit the ground running and ultimately how can we get Omnitrax out of the north because its been just one thing after another.

On another topic even though the NDP are in support of legalizing cannabis Ashton says they aren’t happy with the Federal Liberal’s approach and timeline.  She says resources are needed to support communities in the face of the tight timeline so everyone including the police can do the work they need to do and that’s still missing.

Residents of Denare Beach are again taking part in the Village of Lights by putting up Christmas lights.  Recreation Director Crystal Banting explains they just need their residents to decorate their houses with as many lights as they can and they have judging happening on December 15^th.  She says they have four prizes this year, first is a gift certificate for Canadian Tire from the Northern Village of Denare Beach for 100 dollars, second is a 75 dollar gift certificate from Rocky View Lodge, third is a two prime rib dinner from Rocky View Lodge and fourth is a 50 dollar gift certificate from Fieber Plumbing.

This is the ninth year for the Village of Lights.

The Flin Flon Friendship Center is planning the December 31^st First Night Out Celebration.  The Center’s Program Events Coordinator Jolene Gardiner says it’s a great way for the family to welcome the New Year.  She says they have lots of fun activities planned.  They’ve got a photo booth and this year they got rid of the pot luck supper so you pay five dollars for your ticket or two dollars for a child and they’ve got a spaghetti and Caesar salad supper planned.
             

The doors open at 5:30 at the Flin Flon Community Hall with supper at 6:30 followed by entertainment, dancing, a balloon drop and door prizes. Tickets are available at the Orange Toad, the Gateway, Friendship Center, Alpine Convenience in Denare Beach and Di’s Confectionary in Creighton.

Tm Hortons opened Monday in the Petro Canada center in Creighton.  Trevor Ives from the Peter Ballantyne group of companies that owns the center says they’re excited about the opening. He explains they’ve got the full Tim Hortons beverage line so all the teas, coffees, hot cappuccinos, ice mochas, the whole line of beverages and the whole baked goods line as well so bagels, croissants, muffins, cookies, Timbits and of course donuts and yogurt parfaits and that sort of thing.

Ives says the staff has been incredible at handling the large turnout since Monday and customers have been very patient as they learn.  They are open from 7 am to 10 pm.

The Creighton School Community Council is running its annual Santa Store at the school Tuesday and Wednesday.  School Coordinator Carol Sutherland says it gives the younger students a chance to so some Christmas shopping.  She explains through donations they are able to set up a store for the students from pre-k to grade six to shop for their families. All items go for 25 cents and will be gift wrapped so they will be a surprise on Christmas morning.  She adds the School Community Council is seeking donations for the Santa Store such as small ornaments, household items, knickknacks and things like that so if you are able to donate any of these items you can drop them off at the Community School office.

This is the 14^th year of the Santa Store at Creighton School.

The Manitoba RCMP officially launched its 2017 Holiday Checkstop program on December 1, and after the first weekend  they report it’s clear that Manitobans are still choosing to drive impaired.

Over the December 1 to 3 weekend, 21 people were charged with Impaired Driving and six alcohol related tiered suspensions were issued.

Inspector Ed Moreland says it’s only week one of their Checkstop and they’re already seeing high numbers of intoxicated drivers behind the wheel. He adds be assured that their officers will be out in full force over the holidays to stop and arrest any driver that decides to drive impaired.

Moreland says in the past decade, there has not been a single year when someone has not died on our roads during the holiday and one more death is too many.

  Creighton Recreation is sponsoring a bus tour of the Christmas lights in Creighton Wednesday night.  Recreation Director Channa Senyk says there will be several trips.  She says they are running one special run for the seniors at 5:30 with pickup at the Senior’s Center and four other runs starting at six and running every half hour from the Creighton Community Hall so people can come and while they’re waiting have hot chocolate and a cookie and visit before the holidays.

Senyk adds there is a sign up sheet for the seniors at the Manor interested in going on the senior’s bus tour.  The other trips are open to anyone interested in seeing the lights in Creighton.

A Canada 150^th Skate Day is being held this weekend.  The Flin Flon Friendship Center’s Program Events Coordinator Jolene Gardiner invites you to attend on Sunday at the Whitney Forum when they have a fun skate day planned with the Bombers.  She adds the Bombers are going to be doing a couple of activities and have some prizes to hand out and it’s a free event for everybody so come down to the Whitney Forum.

The Canada 150^th Skate runs from 12 to 2 Sunday.

The Christmas season is getting underway in Creighton tomorrow.  Recreation Director Channa Senyk invites you to their Christmas Family Dance tomorrow night.  She says its sponsored by Creighton Recreation, Creighton Community Center, Sask Lotteries and the Kids First North girls will be there doing crafts with the children.  She adds they expect a visit from Santa and there’s free treat bags for the kids.

The Family Dance is a free event and it gets underway tomorrow night from 7 to 9 in the Creighton Community Hall.

At their meeting Tuesday night Flin Flon City Council agreed to spend 35 hundred dollars to be part of Conquest Outback Productions Dimestore Fishermen outdoor television program.  Mayor Cal Huntley noted there will be an opportunity for local fishermen to be part of the production taking the hosts to fishing spots.  The city will also be able to post the video on their web page.  Councilor Colleen McKee added it’s a great way to promote our community.

Council also passed an amendment to the Traffic Bylaw to allow the Citizens on Patrol to place their speed reader trailer at various locations around the community. Council again thanked local fire fighters for the work in installing all the Christmas light at the Station Museum.

And Mayor Huntley says Council has no position yet on a letter from their last meeting from Spencer Payson of Payson’s Smoke N’ Vape asking for their support in applying for a licence to sell cannabis at the retail level.  He says they still have questions that need answering such as what regulations will apply to the handling of the marijuana once it has been purchased at the retail level.

For the 13^th year the local choir Borealis will hold a Service of Lesson and Carols for the Whole Community Sunday afternoon.  The choir’s Tim Spencer says the concert will support the Lord’s Bounty Food Bank while offering you music and readings.  He explains they’ve got some new faces in the Borealis Choir and they’ve got some new music with lots of opportunities for the congregation to sing along to some carols as well and they’ve got some new people reading the lessons this year.  He adds it’s a lovely community event and it’s important at this time of year to support the Food Bank.

The service will be held Sunday afternoon at 3:30 at the Lutheran Church on Second Avenue.  Admission is an offering of money or non-perishable food items for the Food Bank.

At their meeting last night Flin Flon City Council passed on final reading an amendment to the smoking bylaw. It sets the fines for people who smoke within five meters of the entrance to a public building.  The fines start at 50 dollars for a first offence rising to 500 dollars for the fourth and future offences.

Council approved the 2017-18 Whitney Forum fee schedule with the rates remaining the same as the past year.  They also approved the Recreation fee schedule with an increase in fees of four percent except Camp Whitney and the Tourist Bureau which remain the same as last year.

Council also approved their annual payment to the Manitoba the Crime Stoppers Program at 10 cents per capita or $518.50 for 2018 and Mayor Cal Huntley introduced the city’s new Treasurer Lyn Brown who replaces Glenna Daschuk who have moved to Municipal Administrator.

  Operation Red Nose had a successful second weekend in the Flin Flon area.  The Rotary Club’s Committee Chair Ted Hewitt reports over the weekend Operation Red Nose provided a total of 43 rides which was a big increase over the previous weekend adding they had a total of 17 volunteers from the staff at McIsaac School and the Kinsmen on Friday evening and 14 volunteers from the staff at Creighton School and the Ski Club on Saturday evening to provide the service. He says next Friday the Women’s Resource Center combined with the Friendship Center are providing the volunteers followed on Saturday by the Cottagers.

Operation Red Nose will again be available Friday and Saturday for the next three weekends as well as December 29^th and New Years Eve.  Volunteers are still needed for the 22^nd, 23^rd, 29^th and 31^st with application forms available online at www.operationrednose.com or at Scotia Bank which are then taken to the RCMP office with two pieces of identification.

  Flin Flon musician CC Trubiak’s new album will be officially released this weekend.  Trubiak says it’s his third release of original music.  He explains the new album is called McBain and basically it consists of songs that he has pretty much written since the moment he moved back here five years ago so it’s all original songs and very much based on life after returning home. He says this Friday and Saturday is when the album goes officially live to the public so what that means is it will be available on itunes and cdbaby.com for people who want to go and download the album.

The album will also be available at his official launch and performance at Johnny’s Social Club Friday and Saturday as well as at select stores here in Flin Flon including Northern Rainbows End as early as next week.

Rockcliff Metals Corporation through its subsidiary Goldpath Resources has purchased a 100 percent interest in the Lucky Jack Gold Property in the Wekusko-Herb Lake gold camp in Snow Lake.  The Lucky Jack Gold Property totals 15 mining claims covering 2557 hectares and is located immediately south of Rockcliff’s Laguna Gold Property that hosts the former producing Laguna Gold Mine.

Rockcliff President Ken Lapierre says while they remain focused on advancing their high grade Volcanic Massive Sulphide deposits the opportunity was there to grow their gold portfolio adjacent to their Laguna Gold Property as it has superior gold potential, excellent infrastructure and complements their existing gold assets.  He adds they look forward to exploring and advancing their geological understanding and gold potential at the Lucky Jack Gold Property next year.

The 24^th annual Christmas Gift Program is underway at the Flin Flon Friendship Center.  It’s designed to enable parents or guardians to give their children a gift at Christmas when circumstances prevent them from doing so.  The Center’s Program Events Coordinator Jolene Gardiner says you can register at the Friendship Center now to select gifts for children up to 17 years old.  She explains starting November 27^th they’ve been taking registrations for the Christmas Gift Program so right up to December 8^th you can register and then they have the gifts going out from the 18^th to the 22^nd of December.

If you have any questions about the Gift Program you can call Jolene at 204-687-8852 or Virginia at 204-687-8858.

In his reply to the Pallister government’s throne speech Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey raised the government’s lack of commitment to seniors housing particularly in Flin Flon where constant review seems to be the answer because they don’t have the courage to say yes or no. He says the last conversation he had about the building of the Hemlock Seniors Complex was in September this year and still under review adding still under review seems to be the standard answer when they’re afraid to say something has been cut and that’s clearly what’s happening here.

Lindsey also mentions other issues missing from the throne speech such as a job strategy for the north with 15 hundred known job losses coming in Flin Flon, Thompson and other points or a plan for roads, tourism, cell phone service, the high cost for internet and following up on the Look North report.

  Parade winner

The annual Santa Claus Parade of Lights was a success Friday night.  The nice weather and vehicles covered in lights attracted a lot of people to the parade down Main Street.  Judges decided the best entry was from the City of Flin Flon and they receive a six hundred dollar advertising package from the main parade sponsors the Reminder and 102.9 CFAR.  As the parade was lining up CFAR Manager Dianne Russell said they were pleased with the parade and the support they received.  She said they were very excited about the weather, it’s not that cold out and they expect the street to be full of kids and they were looking forward to the evening and it’s another great way to kick off the Christmas season.  She added this year they again had the Main Street Committee which is a sub-committee of the Chamber of Commerce that put this on as well as support from Hudbay and they also had a little bit of help from the Tire Shop this year in decorating.

There’s another Christmas event coming up on Main Street, Moonlight Madness Family Night on Friday, December 15^th from 5 to 8 pm.

Far Resources has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with exploration company Quantum Resources Limited.  Quantum has the right to earn an interest in the Thompson Brothers lithium project in Manitoba which is contiguous with Far Resource’s extensive holdings in the Snow Lake Region of Manitoba.

Under the Memorandum the two companies have agreed to exchange information and to work together to assess the viability and potential synergies of developing their lithium assets in Manitoba over the course of a one year period.  The Memorandum may be extended or terminated by either party on written notice.  During the period of the Memorandum the parties will explore the most efficient way to work together to move their projects forward through a mutually beneficial agreement to both parties.

 Flin Flon RCMP report a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle at Main Street and Fourth Avenue around 11:20 Saturday morning. Early investigation indicates the vehicle was southbound on Main Street and the pedestrian was not in the crosswalk.  He suffered a broken leg and cuts to his head.  He was taken to the Flin Flon General Hospital and then on to hospital in Saskatoon.  The Investigation continues.

  Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey in his reply to the Throne Speech questioned the Pallister government’s commitment to northern health care.  He asked how about the wait times that you would need to get in to see a doctor in northern Manitoba, how does three months just to get to see a doctor at the clinic and why is that?  He says it would appear there’s been some sort of cut in the number of doctors that are now available in Flin Flon.   Lindsey says there used to be five now there are three and apparently that meets some magic formula that they have that complies with their budget.

Lindsey also noted the shortage of nurse practitioners and also questioned what will be cut by the government next with 6 million dollars to come out of the Northern Health Region budget.

We’ll have more from his speech in tomorrow’s news.

Rockcliff Metals Corporation reports an Induced Polarization and resistivity geophysical survey has been completed at their Laguna Gold Property in their Snow Lake Mining Camp

Rockcliff President Ken Lapierre says the survey has identified seventeen significant high priority anomalies within the Laguna Gold Mine Trend worthy of follow up exploration. He explains the Laguna Gold Mine Trend is a minimum 5 kilometers long by 1 kilometer wide and hosts the Laguna Gold Mine and multiple additional gold rich, suphide bearing quartz veins with significant grab sample gold assays from trace to 620 grams per tonne.  Lapierre notes the Laguna Gold Trend was last drilled in 1944 and now with definition of these new untested gold targets is a testament to the excellent untested gold potential at Laguna.

The Women’s Resource Center is holding its annual candle light vigil Sunday afternoon to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The Center’s Colleen Arnold says the vigil will be held at the Montreal Canadians Alumni game Sunday afternoon. She says the vigil is in memory of the 14 young women who were tragically killed in the Montreal massacre on December 6^th 28 years ago.  She explains because the Montreal hockey game is here and it’s close to December 6^th they will be having a moment of silence at the game.  Players will be holding candles and they ask everyone to help them deliver the message to our community that we will stand united to end violence against women and girls.  She says they also ask you to take a moment in December 6^th to remember these women and reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society.

Arnold adds information will be included in the game program and they will be handing out rose buttons at the game for people to wear to show their support.

  The Flin Flon Health Auxiliary continues to raise money to support people at the Personal Care Home and Northern Lights Manor.  The Auxiliary’s Amy Ruckle explains the Auxiliary buys furniture and right now they’re in the process of putting one chesterfield and two chairs in each place and they have another chesterfield coming for each place and they have a game coming for the PCH and they have care packages for people who are in the emergency ward that have to be sent out of town and for anybody that comes to the hospital from another area that needs toothpaste, a tooth brush or any of that type of thing and these packages are given to them.

Ruckle adds they also purchased three wheel chairs for the third floor of the hospital and have a presentation of baby supplies to the New Years baby.  Their fund raising continues with a Christmas Shoppers Tea tomorrow from 1:30 to 3:30 at the United Church and a 50-50 draw on December 19^th.

Denare Beach will be holding its Jingle Bells Craft Sale and Home Business Sale tomorrow.  Recreation Director Crystal Banting says they have a full house this year with vendors and crafters included Moji Life, Osborne Books, Sweet Treats, Serious Paws Pet Treats, sewing, knitting, photography, Amisk Lake Soaps, Beach Glass by Vicky, woodworking, painting, Signature Homestyles, jewelry and they have Creighton Grads running the concession so you can come out and support them as well.

The Craft Sale runs from 10 to 4 tomorrow at the Denareplex in Denare Beach.