The Flin Flon Trout Festival will be partnering with Creighton Recreation by giving you and your family a perfect way to celebrate the Nation’s 156^th birthday with the Flin Flon Trout Festival Parade.

It all happens July the 1^st starting at 11am and Creighton Recreation Director Lindsay Shirran explains the parade route and how you can enter a float. " Creighton Rec is partnering with the Trout Festival and we have taken over the parade.The parade route will start at it's usual location at CFAR and will end up at the Hooter. Our theme this year is The Water And The Wild, which is a take on the City Of Flin Flon's theme and regionally through that. You can stop by and see me at the Rec office at 216 Creighton Ave, to pick up a form or you can e-mail me at creightonrecreation@sasktel.net.

You can also enter by clicking on the Trout Festival banner on flinflononline.com, or by going to the Trout Festival facebook page. Shirran also mentioned that they have already received some entries,  and if you would like to enter a float you need to let them know no later than June the 27^th.

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson was in Northern Manitoba yesterday stopping in the Pas to announce health care for communities in the North. Stefanson says they will be giving money to help expand the Pas Primary Health Care Clinic.

Stefanson also made her way to Flin Flon to present Queen Platinum Jubilee Awards. Stefanson says they are making the North a focus as we make our way towards a provincial election in the fall.

"We announced a 154 million to Northern Manitoba today in the Pas,  and we announced specifically for the Pas a new clinic, so 39 million dollars there. We came to Flin Flon where I was able to meet with mayor and council and a ceremony for the Queen's Jubilee. After this we are off to Thompson for some more Platinum Jubilee medals. It is great to be back in sunny northen Manitoba."

The recipients of Queen Platinum Jubilee Awards in Flin Flon as chosen by Flin Flon MLA, Tom Lindsay were: Carolyn Gibbons who has been a member of the Royal CDN Legion for over 15 years and volunteers extensively in the community. Robert Penner who has volunteered for the Royal CDN Legion extensively, serving three years as President. Donald Pleasance who was also a President of the Royal CDN Legion and is a veteran who volunteers in all types of capacities.

The Norva Centre will be hosting an Artist Retreat in Denare Beach, July the 16^th to the 23^rd.

Karen Clark is one  of the organizers and says this multimedia retreat is open to all kinds of different talents. " The artists retreat is a week long,  you come,  you do what you do deal. If you are a painter, a potter, composer, dancer or a writer. There is space at the Denareplex to come out and concentrate on your craft. It is nice to be with a group of like minded people who are in the creative jondras, the different media that they use. To talk about art is general to everyone, it applies to every media."

There will be a $180.00 registration fee which includes all your meals for the whole week. Clark also mentioned that they have a new thing this year including a Professor coming up from Brandon University Fine Arts Department. The professor is Lisa Wood who  will be doing morning work shopping and this is a great opportunity for everyone to be enriched by her input.

You can get more information or you would like to register contact the Norva Centre at 204-687-4237.

June is Pride Month across Canada and the City Of Flin Flon has declared June the 5^th to the 11^th Pride Week in Flin Flon.

One of the members of the local Pride group here in Flin Flon, Kristen Fristch says they have a whole week of events planned. "We are really excited about hosting Pride this year as it is the first time we have hosted during Pride month. We will start with the flag raising today at City Hall at 5pm followed by the Trans March. This Thursday, the Orange Toad is hosting Chords and coffee  for an acoustic evening starting at 7. This Friday we are really excited for our partnership with Aurora and Pine Bistro. We will be doing Pride Trivia from 9 to 11pm. On Saturday we will be doing Pride at Johny's with the Drag show starting at 8pm."

The week will conclude with the Pride Parade which will start uptown at 11 am and end at the Joe Brain Petting Zoo. There will be a barbecue to follow.  The festivities begin at City Hall today at 5pm for the flag raising.  Guest speakers include Mayor George Fontaine, Alain Lachapelle and  Cali Gerbrandt .

All the information for this week’s events can be seen on the Flin Flon Pride facebook page.

There is a special exhibit which is on it’s way to  City Hall. It is the Witness Blanket which is a powerful art illustration created by mast carver Carey Newman to recognize the atrocities of the residential school era in honor of the children and symbolizing reconciliation.

Director of the Norma Centre Megan Duplais  talks about how this version will make  it’s way to Flin Flon. " Because it is such a powerful experience and has such an important lesson in it, the Canadian Museum For Human Rights decided to make a travelling replica Witness Blanket. They took photos of the original and made these resolution photo panels. This is an opportunity to still get to experience the witness blanket which is so large it can't even fit in the Norva Centre. We worked with the City Of Flin Flon and they said we could use the Council Chambers for it."

The exhibit will be on display at City Council Chambers June the 12^th to July the 22^nd. Opening ceremonies will take place at Pioneer Square on June the 11^th at 2pm with a prayer, pipe ceremony and live performances.

Denare Beach will host their Community Wide Garage Sale which will take place tomorrow. Meredith Norman from the Village office lets us know how you can get your address added to the list.

"Residents can call the Denare Beach office at 306-362-2054 to have their address added to the list and we will take the time that they will be open. Right now we have about ten different locations on our list and a barbecue at New Horizons which will go on through out the afternoon."

Norman added that this is a great way for residents to have a yard sale and find they attract a lot of people out to Denare Beach to check out the sales. You will have up til 4:30 today to book your spot by calling 306-362-2054. You will also be able to donate to the Rec Sale table or rent a table at the Denareplex.

Simonhouse Bible Camp will be returning for another great summer of activities in a positive fun atmosphere with camps for all ages starting in July.

Camp Director Darrell Janzen says they are excited about returning after a layoff the past couple of years due to Covid.  " We are excited to be back and get some programs running again  this summer after a couple of years break from Covid. We are hearing that lots of kids are pumped up that they can come back to camp. We are taking registrations right now by going to our website at simonhouse .ca, which is the best way. You can also give us a call at 687-3340 or stop by our office which is just above Pharmasave."

The Camps will start July the 2^nd for staff training, then regular camps get rolling on July the 10^th. Simonhouse provide awesome adventures for children, youth and families from all over Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This will be a great way for kids to meet new friends from other communities.

Funding is always available for families that can’t afford to send their kids to camp. Once again you can register at simonhouse.ca.

The Flin Flon Pottery Club are running something special for Father’s Day. Laurie Belilse explains what they have planned for the kids starting this Saturday.

" We have got bisked mugs ready to go for the kids. They can come in and decorate them with under glazes which is basically paint. They can come in, it is a drop in thing, choose a mug, paint on it. We will  fire it and glaze it and it will be a dishwasher and microwave safe mug with art work on it for their dad."

The classes will be held at the Flin Flon Pottery Club location which is at the Flin Flon Community Hall on the Main level. There will be signage to direct the kids to the right place. There will be a cost of $40.00 and the classes will take place on Saturday’s June the 3^rd and 10^th , noon to 5  and Monday June the 5^th from 5 to 7pm.

You can sign up by contacting flinflonpotteryclub@gmail.com. This open to all kids 17 and under.

Some exciting news to kick off the summer for Flin Flon and the entire area. The Joe Brain Petting Zoo will be making it’s return to the community  and opening up tomorrow.

Rec Programmer Kelsey Anderson says they have lots of animals to greet visitors this year. " We will be opening this Thursday, we have lots of cute little animals this year. We have a lot of babies including goats and cows, bunnies and the cutest little lambs you have ever seen. We are excited for people to come down and meet them."

The Zoo will be open daily 11 to 7 and once again you can rent the facility for a birthday party, tour or any other group  event. They will also be announcing special events through out the summer.

If you would like to book the Zoo, contact Kelsey at 204-681-7542.

The District 64 Toastmasters which includes many clubs from across Manitoba, Northwest Ontario and Northern Minnesota  as well as the local group from Flin Flon held a special election over Zoom on the weekend.

Harry Hobbes who has been a member for many years says they received some wonderful news from the weekend’s election. " Doreen Roman who has been a long time member of our club was elected this past weekend to be Club Toast Director for all of District 64 which comprises all of Manitoba, Northwest Ontario and Northern Minnesota. This is the bottom member of what they call a District Trio. There are three main officers who lead the district each year. At the end of the year normally that person moves on to a higher level. If things go well, Doreen will be the District Director for District 64 in three years time. This is a very exciting time,  as this has never happened in our history that one of our members has been elected to the highest offices in Toastmasters." 

Toastmasters has been operating in Flin Flon for 45 years and if you are thinking you would like to become a member you can get more information off the Flin Flon Toastmaster Facebook page or by contacting Harry at: 204-687-6647

The 60^th Mine Rescue Competition took place in Snow Lake this past weekend.

The Vale team out of Thompson ended up being the winning team. The team consisted of Captain, Sean McKenzie, #2 position- Martin Murphy, #3 position- Rikki Stabback, #4 position Rob Chuipka, Vice Captain- Mathew Herman, Director of Operations- Alfred Szabo, Coach- Kelly Edwards and Senior Instructor Mike McDonald.

The Hudbay team out of Snow Lake ended up winning the First Aid competition. The team consisted of Mike Dejarlais- Team Captain, #2 position- Taylor Thiessen,#3 position Andrew Rachuk, #4 position Travis Fedak, Vice Captain- Katerina Njegoven, Director Of Operations- Jon Young, Technician- Bernard Fourie and the Coach’s were, Terry Hornyak, Trevor Thurston and Tracy Knutson.

Next year’s competition will be hosted by the Tantalum Mining Corporation on May the 24^th and 25th in Bernic Lake Manitoba.

The Salvation Army with the assistance of some other Flin Flon churches is putting together a community outreach program called We Love Flin Flon.

Captain Mark Burford explains what this program is all about.

“ The intent of this We Love Flin Flon program is to provide a free, fun,  accessible environment for  people of all ages to come and participate. There will be a free meal, activities, there will be live worship  music and teachings and sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our hope is that everyone that finds out about this will want to come and participate and build new friendships and relationships.”

This free family event will take place at Rotary Park on Wednesday June the 14^th starting at 5. They will also host two more events through out the summer. If you require any other information contact Mark at the Salvation Army at: 431-746-5820.

AT THEIR MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK COUNCIL REVIEWED THE LATEST CORRESPONDECE WITH A REQUEST FROM THE FLIN FLON

REPEATER CLUB FOR ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING THE VERY OLD SYSTEM WITH AN UP TO DATE STATE OF THE ART DIGITAL SYSTEM THAT

WOULD ALLOW FOR FARTHER COMMUNICATION WITH STRONGER SIGNALS. THE CLUB HAS BEEN OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM

FOR THIRTY YEARS PLUS ON THE MAIN STACK AS WELL AS THE 777 HEADFRAME. THE REPEATER SYSTEM ACTS AS ANOTHER LAYER OF

COMMUNICATION IN CASE OF A LOCAL OR NATIONAL EMERGENCY. THE REQUEST HAS BEEN REFERRED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. A

REQUEST FROM THE PHANTOM LAKE SOCCER CLUB LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIPS TO HELP IN THE FUNDING OF ITS YEARLY EXPENSES WAS

ALSO REFERRED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. A REQUEST FROM THE TROUT FESTIVAL FOR A PRIZE OR CASH FOR THE FISHING DERBY WAS

ALSO REFERRED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. MAYOR BRUCE FIDDLER HAS BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK AT THE OPENING CEREMONIES JUNE 11th

FOR THE WITNESS BLANKET EXHIBITION. IF HE CANNOT DO IT PERSONALLY A COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE ASK TO FILL IN FOR

HIM. THE MAYOR WAS ALSO INVITED TO BRING GREETINGS ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN AT THE CREIGHTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL GRAD WHICH

HE AGREED TO IF AVAILABLE IF NOT A COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE WILL FILL IN.

 

The Flin Flon Trout Festival will officially begin on Monday with the start of the month long fishing derby. Once again there are plenty of cash prizes that are going to be handed out including $1500.00 for first in the Walleye, Burbot, Northern Pike and Trout categories.

Co- Chair Dianne Russell looks forward to the beginning of the Derby" This fishing Derby is very exciting. people love it and lots more are getting involved. It is $30.00 for adults and only $10.00 for kids 15 and under. Get out there and pick up those tickets for a chance at a lot of great prizes. We have splash prizes, secret lake prizes, secret length prizes. A big thanks to all the sponsors who we couldn't do this with out."

Fishing kits can be picked up at DI’S in Creighton, Denare Beach Office, and Tempo Gateway.

Photos can then be submitted to flinflontroutfestival.com.  

Frontier Collegiate out of Cranberry is bringing an Indigenous version of the International play  and hit musical  of Greece.

This production will hit the Frontier Collegiate Gym on Saturday June the 4^th with two different show times including 2 and 7pm.

Mercedez Cote who is the Drama teacher,  is really looking forward to this show coming to Northern Manitoba.  " Everybody I have  talked to is so hyped up and so excited to see something so familliar being turned into something totally different. It is a really interesting take and so refreshing to see this group coming to Northern Manitoba. This group has focussed on big city's and larger areas, so it will be nice to see all these people come together in Cranberry."

This version will include all the original characters but will be set in an Indigenous setting which will include songs in Cree, Traditional Dancing and a ten minute wrap with the audience given a chance to chime in.

You can get tickets online by going to showpass.com/bear-grease.

THE FFSD TRUSTEES RECEIVED A PRESENTATION AT THEIR MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK.

RUTH BETTS VICE PRINCIPAL JIHAN IDIRIS WAS AT THE MEETING TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR PART IN A RECENT EDUCATIONAL

EXPERIENCE. A GRADE FOUR STUDENT WITH A HEARING DISABILITY AERABELLA HER MOTHER AND E.A. ANITA PILGRIM RECEIVED

ASSISTANCE FROM THE BOARD TO TRAVEL TO THE MANITOBA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF IN WINNIPEG. THERE THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE

COMMUNICATION PROGRAM WHICH IS PUT ON THROUGH THE MANITOBA FIRST NATION EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER IN CONJUNCTION WITH

THE INCLUSION BRANCH OF MANITOBA ED AND THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CONSULTING TEAM WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH

ALL YEAR. THROUGH THE PROGRAM AERABELLA WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT WITH LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. THE

PRESENTATION WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH A VIDEO OF THEIR FANTASTIC JOURNEY. DURING THE EXPERIENCE AERABELLAS MOTHER

WITNESSED HER DAUGHTER BLOSSOM WITH JOY WHILE THERE. ANOTHER TRIP IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONTH.

IN OTHER SCHOOL NEWS THE BOARD PASSED A MOTION TO APPOINT BAKERTILLY AS THE DIVISION AUDITORS FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY

FIRST 2023 TO JUNE 30th 2025. THEY ALSO PASSED A MOTION TO APPOINT LINDSAY PEARCE AS VICE PRINCIPAL AT ECOLE McISSAC

SCHOOL EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 5th THIS YEAR.
 

The Flin Flon Inner Wheel will once again be holding their car, boot sale at the Victoria Inn parking lot.

This will take place on Saturday June the 10^th between 10 and 1 pm.

The Inner Wheel’s Agnes Mills looks forward to bringing this popular event back to Flin Flon.

" It is a wonderful fundraiser for us, and we have raised thousands of dollars through out the years that I have been a member of this group. We got this idea for the boot sale from England. A member went over there and they were selling from the boot of their car which they call their car. We thought it was a catchy thing and we thought we would try it."

The Inner Wheel has raised thousands of dollars at this event throughout the years and have been able to make donations to the Gift and Life foundation, the new pool, local sick children and high school scholarships.

Hot-dogs, Hamburgers fries and drinks will all be sold at the event and you can contact Nora at 687-6188 or Agnes at 687-8204 for more information and book your spot.

Amisk Lake Church in Denare Beach is going to be hosting a 3 day gospel camp for all ages which will start this Thursday  and go right through Saturday.

Pastor Mark Ramshaw says they have a lot of fun activities planned:

" The team is going to be arriving on Thursday night and then on Friday after school  and Saturday at 4 o'clock they will be having a vocational bible school for the kids. The will have some games and bible stories and they will have pizza as well. Then later on that evening they will be holding a bible gospel gathering that everyone is invited to."

The Camp is free and you  can find out more information and sign up by contacting Pastor Mark at 306-240-5501.

The 47^th annual Northern Juried Art Show will take place in Thompson June the 19^th to the 24^th.

There will be lots of categories to enter including painting, watercolor drawing, print making, crafts, fibre art, photography, sculpture and a youth category.

The Arts Council’s Crystal Kolt lets us know how you can enter:

" You can register for the Northern Juried Art Show by e-mailing northernjuriedartshow@gmail.com, you can also get more information from Andrea   Stevens at mall of the arts. This is a great opportunity to showcase your talent as we know there is so much in Northern Manitoba."

There will be lots of awards up for grabs including a People’s Choice for $500.00 and a Best Of Show for $750.00.

The show will conclude with a Artist Reception and Art Show on Thursday June the 22^nd.

The Town Of Creighton is excited about the summer season and have lots of exciting events planned over the course of the next few months.

One of those events is a Community Yard Sale which will take place on Saturday May the 27^th.  Lindsay Shirran, the Creighton Rec Director says this will be a great opportunity to kick off the summer with a fun community event.

“The Town Of Creighton is promoting well being and a sense of community , so we are promoting our Community Yard Sale. This will be an opportunity where we have gathered addresses for local people to list their address,  and we will make a map so everyone will know where to go to attend the yard sale. It is a great opportunity to de-clutter, make the town clean and just get out and about.”

Lindsay also mentioned they will have maps posted on the town of Creighton website and their facebook page. They will also start to plant flowers in the community  next Saturday which is part of the Community In Bloom project.

For more information on any of these events you can call Lindsay or Tania at 306-688-3538.

There is a newly formed Neighbors Of The North and Public Safety Committee  who has reached out to various groups and organizations in our community on a way to handle crime in our area.

Yesterday on the City Beat Show on 102.9 CFAR, Councillor Judy Eagle was in to discuss this new organization and how it got started.

“This committee was recently formed by council, and it is to help address concerns in Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach. We share similar concerns, drugs, drug use, social issues and all the crime that comes from that. We hear all over the place that everyone has these problems, and that is true,  but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t move forward in a long term and meaningful way to fix these issues. It is not a fast fix and it has taken a long time to really recognize these issues as they grow and grow.”

There has already been some progress made as the Friendship Centre has hired a couple of Outreach workers and the Freedom Outreach Adult and Teen Challenge  will be opening an office on Flin Flon’s Main street soon.

There next meeting is planned for some time in June and if you would like more information you can contact City Hall and ask to talk to Lynn Brown.

WISE Kid-Netic Energy  will be hosting a Science and Technologies summer camp in Flin Flon from July the 24^th to the 28^th.

Julia Birnie who is the Logistics Coordinator says they have lots of fun themes planned for the kids this summer.

“We have 5 different theme days , Monday through Friday for our STEM Camp and our themes this year are Natural Disaster Day,Chemistry, Agriculture and Plants,Arts Meet Science and Technology and Coding. We try to get a vast array of topics for the kids. Each day has different science based activities that each camper will get to learn about earthquakes , codes and robots, make bouncy balls and there will be activities to get everyone moving as well.”

The camp will be open to kids 9 to 12 and registration is only $75.00 with limited spots available.

For more information and to register go to wisekidneticenergy.ca.

In the budget meeting, Treasurer Lynn Brown broke down where most of  their revenue is generated from which includes Tax levy’s, Non  Government Grants, Sales of Goods and Services ,  Conditional Grants and transfers from Reserves.

Brown also mentioned that their biggest expenditures include Public Works, Rec and Culture, General Govt, Environmental Health, Protective Services and Development.

 The City Of Flin Flon continues to work on Diversification, Development and Attraction which will include affordable home ownership assistance, industry attraction and diversification  and community safety initiatives.

Mayor George Fontaine has declared June the 5^th to the 7^th as Pride Week in Flin Flon  and City Council will be participating in Pride Events including entering a float in the parade.

There will be no city wide clean up this year and the City has waved the tipping fees at the landfill instead which will start this Saturday May the 20^th and go til June the 4^th.

The newly formed Neighbors Of The North Community And Public Safety Committee have reached out to the Flin Flon and Creighton RCMP, Creighton and Denare Beach councils, Friendship Centre, School Divisions, Chamber Of Commerce and Play It Safer Network to continue to make the area safer to live and find solutions to help combat crime.

              They report a decrease of 4 percent in calls for service in the north district in March from 6399 to 6113 compared to March last year.  That includes a decrease from 944 to 851 for common police activities with crimes against property down from 1249 to 1184, crimes against property down from 1249 to 1184, crimes against person down from 992 to 881 and drug enforcement down from 54 to 52.

              In traffic statistics fatal motor vehicle collisions in the north district in March were the same as March of last year with one and serious motor vehicle collisions were two up from one in March last year.

            Across the whole province traffic enforcement tickets issued went up 41 percent from 2239 in March last year to 3153 this year.

               Commanding Officer Captain Laurel Mymko presented awards to several Cadets.  The CWO Fisher Trophy for General Proficiency for a Junior Cadet went to Lance Corporal Ferguson Hill.  The Second Lieutenant M. Beauchamp Trophy for most improved Cadet was awarded to Lance Corporal Xavier Custer, the Major M.J. Naylor Trophy for Dedication and Commitment to Lance Corporal Axton Parker, the Army Cadet League of Manitoba Best First Year Cadet to Lance Corporal Jave McKay who received an engraved compass and the 2-3-2-8 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps Best Attendance Award to Lance Corporal Xavier Custer who received a one hundred dollar gift certificate.  The Captain P. Popp C.D. Trophy for Rifle Team went to five Lance Corporals Xavier Custer, Hayden Fieber, Keston Kurbis, Jave McKay and Axton Parker.

              There are 36 Cadets in the Corp from Cranberry Portage, Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach.