Local News Archives for 2017-01

Students Will Share Their Knowledge of Manitoba.

Red River Heritage Fair

 

The annual Heritage Fair is taking place tomorrow at McIsaac School.  One of the organizers Susanne Westhaver says students from Ruth Betts and McIsaac Schools develop projects on something that interests them about Manitoba history and the day is divided into four sections. She explains they will spend one of the sections in the gym presenting their projects to a judge and being adjudicated on that.  They will spend two sections doing various workshops in areas that interest them so they have beading and bannock making, the Seven Teachings, the RCMP are going to do a session, they have a Metis culture and music session, CFAR Radio is doing a session, they have a session with hoop dancing and one on winter survival.  She says in the last section of the day the students are in the gym with their projects to present to the rest of the school.

             

Westhaver adds from 4 to 5 the Heritage Fair is open to the public with awards presented at 5:30. The top 14 projects go on to the Red River Heritage Fair in Winnipeg on May 4th.

The History of the RCMP will be Shared With Students Tomorrow.

 

The Manitoba Government has declared February 1st Royal Canadian Mounted Police Day in Manitoba.  Flin Flon RCMP Sergeant Mark Svaren says they’ll use the day as a teaching opportunity.  He says they have been invited to take part in the Heritage Fair at Ecole McIsaac School tomorrow and they’re going to take that opportunity to educate our younger citizens there at the school on the history of the RCMP, everything from their beginnings in the march west up until today.

             

On February 1st 1920 our newly formed national police force formed by merging the North-West Mounted Police with the Dominion Police of Eastern Canada was officially named the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

 

Semester Change is Underway for Hapnot Students.

  

 

Hapnot Collegiate is nearing the end of their first semester. Principal Brent Bedford explains today is the last regular day of classes followed by three days of exams on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and Friday is an admin day where they will prepare report cards and then Monday, February 6th is the first day of regular classes where they start off with a brief 15 minute home room and then head right into the second semester.

             

New students and students wishing to change their semester two timetable can do so this week through Thursday in the office or with the Career Guidance Department.

 

You Can Update Your Work Skills.

 

The Employment Links Development Center is beginning a new session of EWIN or Entry to Work in The North Program February 13th.  The Center’s Barb Link explains they offer Manitoba residents life skills, upgrading your essential skills such as numberacy, reading, oral communications, some computer use, thinking skills, working with others and they will do certificate programs such as first aid, CPR, WHMIS, safe foods and others.

             

Link says you can come to their office at 51 Main Street this week for intake and registration with the deadline Friday for the session starting February 13th.  For information you can call their office at 204-687-8791.

 

Children Around the World are Receiving Your Gifts.

 

Operation Christmas Child reports Canadians invested time and money to pack over 664 thousand shoe boxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies and many other things during their 2016 shoe box campaign.  This total was nine percent fewer than 2015 but still consistent with the annual totals during much of the past ten years.  They attribute the reduction in shoe boxes to tough economic times in several parts of Canada during the past year            As we reported in November local Coordinator Pastor Jim Galbraith of the Baptist Church advised 319 shoe boxes were packed in the Flin Flon area their best year for the local drive yet.

             

Since 1993 Operation Christmas Child has collected and hand delivered more than 124 million gift filled shoe boxes to children in over 130 countries hurt by war, poverty, natural disaster, disease and famine many of whom have never before received a gift.

 

Information on Future Forestry Plans is Coming to Your Community.

 

 

Canadian Kraft Paper Industries in The Pas is holding public information meetings in northern communities for the next few weeks.  Area Planner Mike Paddock says they will discuss their forest harvest and renewal plans for two years starting June 1st.  He says that’ll include things like timber harvesting, forest renewal, road construction and road decommissioning.  He adds they’ll also be updating people on some new initiatives that are being undertaken by the new company.  He says meetings are open to everyone and they hope that people who have an interest or have questions or information to share will come out and meet them.

             

Meetings will be held Monday afternoon at 2 in the Cranberry Portage Legion Hall and Monday night at 7 in the Flin Flon Public Library Rotary Room.  For other times and locations visit their website at www.ckpi.com or call Mike at 204-623-8546 or Joyce at 204-623-8682.

You Can Celebrate Scottish Traditions.

 

The Flin Flon Arts Council is offering you an opportunity to pay tribute to Robbie Burns tomorrow night.  The Council’s Crystal Kolt says first of all there’s a full meal, a tribute to the haggis and there is entertainment for you of course in the Scottish tradition and it’s just really entertaining and a great time to celebrate special culture for out town.

             

The Robbie Burns tribute takes place tomorrow at six at Johnny’s Social Club on Green Street.  Tickets are 25 dollars and are available at the Orange Toad. 

 

You Dont Have to Know How Sing to Attract Attention.

 

 

The Central Canada Film Group continues their Films You Might Have Missed series tonight.  The group’s Collin Davis says they’ll feature the film Florence Foster Jenkins which is about a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer despite having a terrible singing voice.  He says she was an American socialite and amateur soprano who was known at the time and mocked for her flamboyant performance costumes and notably poor singing voice.  Although she performed somewhat regularly her overly devoted and long suffering husband somehow managed to keep her in the dark as to what the public was saying.

             

The doors open at 7 tonight in the Hapnot Collegiate Theatre with the film starting at 7:30.  Admission is free although there is a voluntary silver collection.

A Dance is Focused on Fitness.

 

The Creighton Community School Community Council is hosting a family dance tonight.  School Coordinator Carol Sutherland says it’s called the Fit Fun Family Dance and you come dressed in your favorite sports attire, your favorite jersey but no hockey sticks, roller blades or cleats for safety reasons.  She says this is a free dance for families complete with free snacks and all children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.  She adds the Kodiak bus will provide transportation to and from Denare Beach with pick up at the Band Hall at 5:15 and the Alpine at 5:30 returning at approximately 9 pm.

             

The dance runs from 6 to 9 tonight in the Creighton Community School gym.

 

Your Child Can be a Superhero.

 

 

The Flin Flon Public Library is holding registration for their Superhero Family Story Hour.  Administrator Cindy McLean says its taking place every Monday afternoon from 1:30 to 2:30 for children 2 and a half to 6 years old.  She says they’re going to be doing it a little bit different as all the children will be enjoying a super story, a super craft, a super music game and super snacks and they purchased quite a few beautiful super hero boys and girls capes and masks so every time the children come in to the super hero program they get to wear a super hero mask and cape so it’s going to be lots of fun.

             

You can register your child by dropping in at the Library or call 204-687-3397.

Young Students are Looking Into Future Careers.

 

14 students each from McIsaac and Ruth Betts Schools are taking part in a northern Career Trek program. Guidance Counselor at Ruth Betts School Sandy Kowal explains this is a program geared for grades five and six students basically chosen because the teachers believe that they have the capability to go on to post secondary but for some reason may not so its encouraging them to graduate from high school.  She says each of the Saturdays the students explore four different careers that are available post secondarily in the northern area.

             

Kowal adds it’s a four week program with three Saturdays at UCN in The Pas and this coming Saturday in Flin Flon at the Mining Academy and Hapnot Collegiate for a look at a total of 16 career opportunities.

A Snowmobile Fund Raiser Was a Success.

 

 

The Journey for Sight is a snowmobile ride that left Flin Flon last Wednesday finishing in Brandon Saturday.  It is held to raise money for the Lions Eye Bank of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario.  Committee Chair Brad Henderson says the Journey went well.  He says the snow conditions were a bit of a challenge but they were able to ride and in Brandon when they finished approximately 39 thousand dollars had been raised to that point with more to come and also the sled raffle will wrap up in February.

             

Henderson says 31 snowmobiles from across the province wrapped up the ride in Brandon on Saturday.  When all the money came in last year the Journey had raised over 83 thousand dollars.

 

You Can Enjoy Great Band Music.

 

School Bands will get together tonight for a winter band concert.  Band Director Anna Harrison says it will feature all the grade six to eight band students.  She says all the ensembles are featuring concert band music so the grade six students have written their own arrangements of short melodies, the grade sevens will be playing some sectional songs from things that are just blues, just clarinet, trumpet and trombone and then some full ensemble concert band music and the grade eights will be playing arrangements of concert band music while the jazz band has their own arrangements of couple of jazz standards.

             

The band concert starts at 7 tonight at Ecole McIsaac School.

Your Whole Family Can Celebrated Reading This Week.

 

You and your family are invited to be part of Family Literacy Day.  The event is sponsored by the Flin Flon Public Library and the Read to Me program whose coordinator Keely Patterson says they will be at the Pre School Fun Day today from 1 to 6 with a free book for the first 100 children attending. And then on Friday she says they will have a celebration at the Library.  She says it’ll be from 1 to 3 pm and again a free book will be offered to all children in attendance courtesy of the local Family Literacy Day sponsors.  She adds they’ll have the Flin Flon Junior Bombers, the Fire Department and RCMP as celebrity readers, there’ll be door prizes and snacks provided so it’s a great way to come out and celebrate National Family Literacy Day.

             

For more information you can call Keely at 271-4166 or Cindy at the Library at 687-3397.

 

The Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce has Questions About a Couple of Taxes.

 

 

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is asking Chambers and their members to write to their Member of Parliament.  They ask them to oppose the Federal government’s proposal to tax employer paid health and dental benefits which could result in many employers not providing this coverage. The Chamber will send a letter and urges members to write as well.

             

The Chamber will write to the City asking for an update on their accommodation tax.  Some members have shown interest in where it’s at and how the money being collected is being used.

             

City Councilor Karen MacKinnon reported discussions have been had with various groups and Councils and found they are all very divided on the issue of banning the use of plastic bags so Council will table making a decision on the topic. She thanked the Chamber members for their input.

             

Regional Economic Development Officer for Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach Perry Trusty will be the guest speaker at the Chambers next meeting Tuesday, February 14th.

You Can Learn More About Christian Unity.

 

 

A Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is being celebrated next week.  Salvation Army Major Debbie Allen says it’s a chance to join together with people from different congregations. She explains the idea is that all the churches would gather together to pray for unity among Christians.  She says each night Monday to Friday starting January 30th and also the Sunday they’ll have a service at different churches and they gather together with all the services staring at 7 pm.

             

The services take place all next week starting Monday at the Anglican Church, Tuesday First Baptist Church, Wednesday Cornerstone Brethren Church, Thursday Salvation Army Church, Friday Lutheran Church wrapping up Sunday February 5th at the United Church.

 

Details on Assisted Death Have Been Reported.

 

 

When medical assistance in death became law in Canada last June Doctor Brock Wright with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority was tasked with putting a provincial team of medical professionals together.  He explains they went to a number of organizations in Manitoba and asked them to go out to their members and help them identify individuals in those various professions who might be interested in participating in a medical assistance in dying team, people contacted them and based on that they put a team together.

             

To date 109 individuals have contacted the program with 25 receiving assistance, 28 people died unassisted, 17 are currently being assessed, 19 cases were declined and 20 were inquiries only.

 

You and Your Family Can Enjoy Reading Together.

  

 

A new session of Read to Me is taking registrations.  Coordinator Keely Patterson says they offer stories and a lot more. She says Read to Me is a great time for children and parents or caregivers to come out for two hours every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and they have circle time which is somewhat of a structured activity and then they move to snack time, the parents move off for a parenting session and the kids stay with the child care workers to do a craft, play games and have fun.

             

The new session of Read to Me starts January 31st in the Family Room at Ruth Betts Community School.  You can register at the Pre School fun day at the Flin Flon Community Hall tomorrow from 1 to 6 or call Keely at 204-271-4166.

 

The Deadline is Getting Close for You to Nominate Someone for a Special Award.

 

 

Individuals wishing to nominate deserving citizens for the Order of Manitoba have until January 31st to submit names for consideration for this year’s awards.  The Secretary for the Order of Manitoba Advisory Council Dwight MacAulay says each year up to twelve people receive the award.  He explains virtually anybody can be nominated who is living in Manitoba or has lived in Manitoba and has done something really quite exceptional for their profession, for their community, for the province or the country.  He adds the one thing people need to realize is that they do not accept posthumous nominations, that is the person you nominated has to be living.

             

For information or to make a nomination visit the Lieutenant Governor’s web site at www.manitobalg.ca or send it to Order of Manitoba care of the Manitoba Legislative Building, Winnipeg R3C 0V8.

Grant Money is Coming to Creighton.

 

Groups and organizations in Saskatchewan are benefiting from more than 1.3 million dollars in charitable gaming grants.  These come from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.  Through these grants Creighton will receive 5,051 dollars with 307 going to the Creighton Community Center and 4744 to the Flin Flon Motorcyclists Association.

             

These quarterly grants are based on 25 percent of the net revenues raised through licensed charitable gaming activities such as bingos, raffles, break open tickets and other events. Groups don’t have to apply for the grants as the reports they submit are used by the Authority to calculate the grants.

 

A Drill Program is Being Expanded.

 

Rockcliff Copper Corporation has reported drill hole assay results from its ongoing drill program on the Talbot Property which is part of their Snow Lake Project. The drill program is being expanded from 6 thousand meters to 7 thousand 5 hundred meters after they intersected 5.6 meters grading 5.9 percent copper equivalent including 2.8 meters grading 9.9 percent copper equivalent.

             

President Ken Lapierre says diamond drilling at the gold rich Talbot copper deposit continues to intersect high grade mineralization and that remains open in all directions.  He says the deposit is comprised of multiple lenses which is typical of large producing mines in the Flin Flon Snow Lake mining camp. He adds they continue to focus on resource expansion of the deposit as well as drill testing geophysical plates recently discovered from the resurveying of historical drill holes.

 

Flin Flon RCMP are Investigating a Break In.

 

 

RCMP report approximately 40 minutes after closing at 11 last night a male suspect entered Lloydy’s Corner Store on Green Street.  The five foot ten suspect wearing dark clothing and a backpack entered by breaking the glass in the doors.  An undetermined amount of merchandise was taken.  The RCMP investigation continues.

 

A Creighton Group Needs Your Support.

  

 

The Creighton Branch of the Saskatchewan Fish and Wildlife Federation is holding their annual banquet next Saturday, January 28th in the Creighton Community Hall.  The group’s Kevin Rose says it’s an important fund raiser explaining they are a non-profit fishing and hunting organization since 1961 with a focus on firearm safety.  He says the majority of the fund raising they do goes toward the upkeep and regulatory rules for their rifle range on the Hanson Lake road, adding a couple of years ago they were closed down because of these new regulations and that almost emptied the bank account.  Rose adds other ranges in Saskatchewan have had to pay tens of thousands to get their ranges to code and he foresees the next government inspection for them to be the same so without the support of the community they could one day lose this rifle range.

             

The evening will include a catered supper, cash bar, penny parade, raffles, trophies for hunting and fishing and a dance. Tickets are 45 dollars for adults and 15 for children under 12 and are available at Di’s Confectionary, Ginnell Bauman and Watt or any club executive member.

Equipment at the Hapnot Theatre is Gradually Being Upgraded.

Tom Heine, Collin Davis, Brent Bedford

 

The Central Canada Film Group presented a state of the art Blueray DVD player to the Hapnot Collegiate Theatre last night accepted by Principal Brent Bedford.  The group’s Collin Davis says they show films twice a month in the theatre with a charge of  ten dollars for Toronto International Film Festival films because the have to pay to show them and a silver collection for Films You Might Have Missed.  He says they’ve been showing films there now for three years and the silver collection money they’ve been collecting has just been constantly building up in their bank account and since there’s no point in them having a balance in the first place it’s only right that the money gets used to go back into the venue that they’re showing their films in.

             

The group’s Tom Heine adds they earlier cost shared replacing the projector with 2750 dollars matched by the School Division, purchased a new graphic equalizer and now the DVD player with plans to next upgrade the sound system.

Discussions are Underway on Hudbays Flin Flon Operations.

Zinc Plant

 

Hudbay staff and employees are meeting to discuss where the Company is going with the close of Triple Seven in 2019-20 and Reed Mine before that.  Director of Corporate Communications Scott Brubacher says they are looking at how to keep the Flin Flon Zinc Plant operating and save jobs.  He explains what they are trying to do over the coming year is figure our how do they maintain an economic and viable business in Manitoba and maintain the jobs that go with it because that’s what they want to do.  He says the fact is it’s just to early to say exactly what will happen or this or that will definitely happen as they’re at the beginning of the process so Hudbay will keep people informed about things as they move along and whenever there’s something to announce they’re committed to announcing it.

             

Brubacher says they have formed teams to look at ways to increase zinc volumes and cost reductions that could lead to a positive outcome.  He says Hudbay wants to secure the future as best they can under the circumstances with their intention of having the teams put a recommendation to management in 2018.

 

Hudbay Has Released its Production Guidance With its Capital and Exploration Expenditure Forecast for This Year.

 Triple Seven

 

Hudbay reports copper, zinc and precious metals production last year met or exceeded guidance ranges in both Manitoba and Peru.  This was due mainly to a full year of commercial production at the Constancia Mine in Peru and the ongoing ramp up of Lalor production near Snow Lake.  In 2017 production of zinc contained in concentrate is forecast to increase approximately 25 percent reflecting the continued ramp up of Lalor ore production and the re-sequencing of the mine plan at Triple Seven in Flin Flon.  Copper and precious metal production is expected to decline due to lower copper grades at Constancia and reduced mining rates and lower copper grades at Triple Seven.

             

Manitoba growth capital of 40 million dollars is allocated to the construction of a new paste backfill plant for the Lalor mine. Exploration spending of 10 million dollars is conservatively budgeted for this year but additional funds may be committed to high priority drilling targets. As well their anticipated zinc concentrate production from the Manitoba Business Unit this year is expected to result in full utilization of the Flin Flon zinc plant’s processing capacity with some zinc concentrate planned for sale to third parties.

 

Local Residents Have to Register Too.

  

 

At the Flin Flon City Council meeting Tuesday night Councilor Colleen McKee urged local residents to register for the Canada 150 Homecoming coming up this summer.  McKee who is also chair of the Homecoming Committee says they have 700 people registered so far and not many are local.  Their registration deadline is February 15th and she says if you’re not registered you won’t get into the events.  You can register online at www.picatic.com and search Flin Flon in the box at the top of the page or in person at City Hall at a cost of 60 dollars.

             

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

             

And Council received a letter from Miranda Brown regarding the need to upgrade Dadson Row Park since other parks in the city have been upgraded.  She asked what community involvement or initiative is needed in order to restore the park offering her help noting other parents in the area would also be willing to help.  The letter was referred to the Social and Community Committee.

 

You Can Provide Input on the School Day and Accessibility.

 

 

The Flin Flon School Board held the first of two public forums last night.  It was a follow up to a survey sent out in October on whether or not to shorten the lunch break and school day.

             

Board Chair Murray Skeavington reported the survey showed 72.5 percent in favor of shortening the day. Giving Ruth Betts as an example he said opening bell would be at 8:35, lunch from 11:30 to 12:30 instead of 11:55 to 1:10 with dismissal at 3:25 instead of 4. Students staying would have a supervised lunch in the classroom with attendance taken.  Discussion was held on which students would stay for lunch, the early close affecting parents work schedules and possible changes in the kindergarten program still being looked at.

             

The second part of the meeting was on the Manitoba Governments Accessibility Act with the Division working on developing their multi year accessibility plan to comply with the act. They are asking for input from the public to identify barriers faced in the schools. The draft on the plan is on the Division website.

             

The second public forum is tonight in the McIsaac School Band Room at 7 o’clock.

 

There is Help Available if You Are Living With an Ongoing Health Condition.

 

A Get Better Together program will soon be available in Flin Flon. Regional Community Health Developer Christa McIntyre says it’s a free interactive group program and is a six session program designed for individuals living with any type of ongoing health issue.  She says in the six weeks individuals can build confidence to better manage their illness through group support and discussion on a wide variety of topics such as healthy eating, physical activity, managing pain and fatigue, action planning and much more.

             

Plans are for the Get Better Together program to start in late February. For information or to register you can call Christa at 204-681-3145.

A Toronto International Film Festival Film Can be Seen Tomorrow Night.

 

The Central Canada Film Group is presenting the film Genius tomorrow night.  The group’s Tom Heine says this is a movie that is worth seeing.  He says it’s about the discovery of Thomas Wolfe, the eventual Nobel Laureate adding he’s very well regarded and kind of knocked the socks off a lot of people when they read his books back in the 20’s or 30’s when he was the most popular but his books really stand the test of time.

             

Genius will be shown tomorrow night at 7:30 in the Hapnot Collegiate Theatre.  Because it is a Toronto International Film Festival film admission will be ten dollars. Before the start of the movie the group will present a new state of the art DVD player they have purchased to the School Division.

 

Presentations Will Require Five Days Notice.

 

At their meeting last night Flin Flon City Council passed on first reading an amendment to the bylaw regulating Council and Committee Meetings. The amendment requires that anyone making a presentation to Council give five days notice on the content of the presentation so Council can be prepared with some answers to the issues raised.

             

Council passed on final reading a bylaw to allow conflicts over parking tickets and other tickets under the Traffic Bylaw to be settled by an adjudicator instead of going to court.  They also passed on second reading a bylaw to rezone the former Armories property from educational and institutional to highway commercial to allow for construction of the new Co-op store. The bylaw now goes to the province before coming back for final reading.

             

Council also applied to the Saskatchewan government for cost shared funding for upgrades to boost the water pressure in the South Hudson area and agreed to move their next meeting from February 7th to 14th to allow three members of Council to attend the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association convention.

Your Family Can Attend a Pre-School Fun Day.

 

 

The Flin Flon Parent Child Working Group is holding its first annual pre-school wellness fair January 25th.  The group’s Secretary Cynthia Groulx says the day is titled Fun in the Winter Sun.  She says they’ll have people from Primary Health, the Library, Baby and Me Best Beginnings, lots of activities, lots of information will be given to the parents, every station will host a game or event for the children, they will go around with their passports and at the end they will get a prize.  She adds they’ll be having food there like chili to be served to all of the people there, there’ll be some yogurt for everyone who wants some and everybody is welcome.  Groulx says even though they are targeting 0 to 6 years old it’ll be for the entire community to come check it out.

             

The Flin Flon Parent Child Working Group is part of the Norman Parent Child Coalition.  The pre-school fun day takes place Wednesday, January 25th from 1 to 6 in the Flin Flon Community Hall.

 

 

Over Nine Million Dollars Has Been Recovered in Saskatchewan.

 

Saskatchewan RCMP report they received just over 15 hundred tips through Crime Stoppers last year.  They received just over 8 thousand calls, made 24 arrests, assisted in clearing 37 cases, approved 16 thousand dollars in rewards handed out, recovered just over 583 thousand dollars in property bringing the total since 1987 to just over 9 million dollars recovered and seized almost 91 thousand dollars worth of drugs last year bringing the total since 1987 to just over 8 million dollars. Total property and drugs recovered since 1987 is over 17 million dollars.

             

The RCMP remind you you can make a difference. Visit their website saskcrimestoppers.com to learn more.

Our Member of the Manitoba Legislature Has a New Job.

 

 

Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey has been named the NDP’s new Caucus Chair.  He says he’s excited to have an expanded role.  He says from his understanding it’s chairing the meetings of Caucus and making sure that the business that they as a group need to get done gets done behind the scenes.  Hs adds sometimes he’ll be the spokesperson for Caucus, other times not depending on what issue is being talked about and then there’s administration duties, a link between people that work for the Caucus and the Caucus and the leaders office.

             

In making the announcement Interim Leader Flor Marcelino says Tom Lindsey is a lifelong advocate who fights for the priorities of working people.

 

The Quarter Century Club Continues to Grow.

Watch recipients who attended

 

Membership in Hudbay’s Quarter Century Club climbed to 3133 Friday night with the presentation of watches to 15 employees who have completed 25 years of continuous service with the Company.  The first ten watches were presented in 1951.

             

Safety awards were presented to 28 employees with 25 years, 17 with 30 years, 20 with 35 years and 5 with 40 years without a list time accident.  Award recipients were congratulated by President Alan Hair who reflected on their contribution.  He explained the reality is that back over the 20 years since he joined the Company they’ve seen some good times, some bad times and they’ve seen a number of mines come and go, that’s the nature of this mining business, it’s cyclical.  He said they’ve been basically in the business here for over 90 years since they started developing the original Flin Flon ore body and he thinks the longevity of the Company and its success has been due to people like yourselves in this room and the dedication you’ve shown and that’s what gives him the confidence in the future success of Hudbay here in Manitoba.

             

Also recognized were 79 employees who retired over the past year.

 

Alan Hair

 

 

Snow Mobilers Are Heading South This Week.

 

The Lions Journey for Sight leaves Flin Flon Wednesday morning from the Victoria Inn.  The Journey is the annual fund raiser for the Lions Eye Bank of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario.  One of the organizers Dean Lounsbury from the Dauphin Lions Club says around 20 snowmobiles from across the province will leave from Flin Flon.  He says they start snowmobiling out of Flin Flon on Wednesday, having dinner in Cranberry Portage and carrying on to The Pas in day number one.  Day two is leaving The Pas to places like Overflowing River where they have dinner concluding in Swan River.  He says day three is where the group will split with guys going down highway 83 to Roblin Russell area and the rest will carry on through the Duck Mountains to Willman Lake, Pine River, concluding in Dauphin.

             

The snowmobilers will be joined by other from across the province as they arrive in Brandon Saturday afternoon.  The Journey for Sight raised over 83 thousand dollars for the Eye Bank last year.

 

Funds Raised by the Christmas Kettles Were Up Across the Country.

 

 

The Salvation Army has reported it raised over 23.5 million dollars nationally through its Christmas Kettle Campaign.  That surpasses their 21 million dollar goal.  As we reported earlier the Salvation Army in Flin Flon raised 15, 750 dollars, up about 400 dollars over last year, for their Christmas Hampers, their Soup Days program and other things they do in the community.

             

Canadian Commissioner Susan McMillan says they are truly grateful for the continued support of their donors, volunteers and community partners who enable them to help 1.9 million struggling Canadians during the Christmas season and throughout the year.  She adds the kettle Campaign is their largest fund raising drive of the year and would not be possible without the thousands of kettle workers who volunteer their time.

 

A Workshop Will Lead to Positive Change.

 

The Women’s Resource Center is holding a workshop called Connections starting later this month. The Centers Barb Hopkinson says Connections is a weekly group for women that focuses on shame resilience.  She explains the group Connections is to explore the need to feel accepted, belonging and valued for the person one is.  She says it will help women to recognize shame, to practice empathy, explore triggers, vulnerabilities, practicing critical awareness, reaching out to others, thus creating, embracing and inspiring change.

             

The weekly program begins on January 25th at 6:30 and runs for eight weeks.  Pre-registration is required.  For more information or to register call Barb at the Women’s Resource Center at 204-681-3105.

 

Your Questions and Ideas Can Be Put to the Flin Flon School Board.

 

The Board is holding two community forums next week.  Board Chair Murray Skeavington says they have to do with two issues starting with the shortened school day.  He says its for any questions or comments that the public want to give them as they continue on the process of deciding whether they want to go ahead with this move or not.  He adds also in those two nights the government has mandated all public buildings have accessibility and that is a five year plan and they are going to unveil where they are sitting with their plan at that time.

             

The forums are being held Wednesday night at 7 in the mini gym at Ruth Betts Community School and Thursday night at 7 in the Ecole McIsaac School band room.

The Tentative Plan is to Carry On With the Trout Festival.

Anita Pruden, Melissa Richard, Anita Bradt

 

The Flin Flln Trout Festival Committee held an emergency meeting last night. It was to determine if there is enough interest to continue the Festival after this summer’s Canada 150 Homecoming Celebration.  They had only two executive members.  President and Treasurer Anita Bradt, Vice President Melissa Richard and Committee Chair Anita Pruden attended the meeting along with 11 other people.

             

For this summer’s festival being held along with the Homecoming Anita Pruden agreed to continue with Main Street Days June 29th and 30th, Rick Hall with the canoe events, Tina Law the parade, Melissa Richard the Fish Fry on the 30th, they need someone to run the Polar Bear Splash and someone has shown interest in running a Fishing Derby.  Volunteers are needed to help with all these events.

             

Anita Bradt continues as President and Melissa Richard as Vice-President but they would like people to work with them to prepare to take over an executive position in the future.  Colleen Arnold agreed to be Treasurer and Will Rigby Secretary.  It was decided with the interest shown at the meeting the tentative plan is to continue the festival into the future if that interest continues.  Their next meeting is March 9th at 7 at the Victoria Inn.

A Workshop Will Help With Your Finances.

 

The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Creighton Work Prep Center is holding an Introduction to Financial Literacy Workshop next week.  Job Coach Theresa Wride says the workshop will be held in Creighton Monday, Pelican Narrows Tuesday, Sandy Bay Wednesday and Deschambault Lake Thursday.  She says the workshop is for individuals who would like to learn more about finance.  She explains its interactive hands on activity will focus on the basics of banking, credit, saving and budgeting and the participants will also be equipped with financial literacy tools and resources that they will leave the workshop with adding those who can attend are individuals or even service providers who would like to learn more about financial tools to work with the people that they help.

             

The deadline to register is 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon and you can do that by calling Theresa at 306-688-1222 or email wridet@siit.ca.

The Best in Ukrainian Dancing is Coming to Flin Flon.

 

 

The Flin Flon Arts Council is hosting the Saskatoon based Ukrainian Folk Ballet Ensemble next week. This group has performed around the world, at Disney World and for the Queen.  Council Coordinator Crystal Kolt says it’s something we haven’t had here for a few years.  She says it’s going to be the traditional cultural dances with all the colors and costumes and it’s called the Yenshan Ukrainian Folk Ballet Ensemble and that represents more to what they are able to do with all that energetic Ukrainian folk dancing that we all want to see.

             

The show takes place Saturday, January 21st at 7:30 in the Flin Flon Community Hall with tickets available at Northern Rainbows End on Main Street for 30 dollars for adults and 15 for youth.

 

Operation Red Nose Brought Over 24 Hundred Manitoban Home Safely.

 

Operation Red Nose reports for 22 years they have helped Manitobans and their vehicles get home safely for the holidays.  During the 2016 holiday season 2414 volunteers gave 4136 rides in ten communities across Manitoba raising over 85 thousand dollars for a variety of organizations in the province.

             

As we reported last week in the Flin Flon area the Rotary Club’s Operation Red Nose provided 284 rides with 146 volunteers raising nearly 5 thousand dollars in donations from rides and with other fund raising that total will reach 13 thousand to donate to youth sports and other activities.

             

The President of Safety Services Manitoba Judy Murphy thanked everyone who volunteered or used the service making this year’s campaign another huge success.  The largest number of rides was Winnipeg with 1567 followed by Portage La Prairie at 497 and The Pas at 426.

 

 

Donations and People Fed Were up at the Food Bank.

 

The Lord’s Bounty Food Bank came through the Christmas season quite well.  Their Food Distribution Chair Dennis Hydamaka says it was both a sad and very rewarding season.  He says sad is that they are for the first quarter of October to the end of December up 17 percent over last year.  He says in November they set a new all time record feeding 372 people and that’s 120 more than they fed last November and this December they fed 256 people. They also handed out 14 Christmas hampers to families that included a complete turkey dinner and gifts for the children.

             

Looking at the positive side Hydamaka added there were several fund raisers and collections held for them over November and December so it was very positive on the intake side of things.

 

Fund Raising Continues to Upgrade the Pool.

 

 

The Chair of the Aqua Center Community Committee Kara Plamondon told the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce yesterday the pool is 40 years old and we really need to upgrade it.  She said they have accepted the recommendation from a consultant to maintain the present building and expand the facilities at a cost of 7 million dollars but this could be reduced or expanded depending on how much money they raise.  She explained their committee has just been doing basic fund raising up until this point in order to have enough money to be able to apply for grants and larger funding so right now they’re sitting at 87 thousand dollars that they’ve raised and that’s come from community groups like Rotary and Lions Clubs but also through fund raisers that they’ve done as a committee.

             

Plamondon adds as well as local fund raising they continue to look at grant money through the federal and provincial governments as well as support from surrounding communities that use the pool.

 

Winter May Affect Your Moods.

 

Some may call it the winter blues but it’s also called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.  That’s when the changes in the seasons can impact our moods and trigger periods of depression.  Dr. Wallbridge Hall, Director of Psychological Services at the University of Manitoba explains how SAD is different from typical depression. He says basically it’s the same symptoms as depression you would normally get except where they have identified  that there’s a pattern to the symptoms that occur seasonally so for most people that would be an increase in depression symptoms in the fall and winter.

             

If the symptoms improve during the spring and summer, there’s a good chance it’s Seasonal Affective Disorder.  The disorder is treatable with a variety of therapies such as medication, psychotherapy or light therapy.

 

Students and Staff are Still Struggling.

Flin Flon candle light service last February

 

The principal of a high school in a remote northern Saskatchewan community where a deadly shooting took place is speaking about how students and staff are coping nearly year later.  Greg Hatch of La Loche high school says people are still feeling traumatized. He says they have students who are absent, they have staff that are absent, students are struggling in school and he’s sure that there are many areas within the building that are very difficult for students and staff to be in starting from walking in the door every day.

             

A teenager who was 17 at the time pleaded guilty in October to two counts of first degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.

 

 

A New Recycling Program is Catching on in Denare Beach.

 

 

The Village of Denare Beach started a recycling pick up program on December 27th.  Assistant Administrator Meredith Norman says it is working well.  She explains every Tuesday morning people are to leave their recycling in a blue or clear bag on their curb by where their garbage would be picked up and they don’t have to sort anything, everything can go in one bag and they’ve sent out a list of what’s recyclable and what isn’t in their newsletter and they’ve put that in with the water bills.  She adds they had their second pick up and they’ve doubled in recycling bags that they’ve picked up so they think it’s going really well.

             

You can find more information in their newsletter printed on their website www.denarebeach.net .  Recycling fees are billed on the quarterly utility bills at 30 dollars per individual or 60 dollars per couple or family per year.

 

 

You Have One More Chance to Help Save the Trout Festival.

 

 

The Flin Flon Trout Festival Committee is holding an emergency meeting Thursday night.  Festival Vice-President Melissa Richard says the meeting will determine if there is enough interest to continue holding the Festival beyond this summer’s event.  She says they are desperately in need of some executive members as they’re down to two and they really need some help and some volunteers, just some more people to step up to help the Trout Festival to keep on running.  Richard adds if this continues and they don’t get any more volunteers, executive or members this would probably be one of the last Trout Festivals we’ll have.

             

The meeting is being held Thursday night at 7 at the Victoria Inn. Anyone who can help out or has an idea for a new event including as a fund raiser for your group is urged to attend the meeting or contact Anita at 271-0153 or Melissa at 271-2705.

 

Recycling Has Gone Down a Bit.

 

The year end totals are in for last year at the Flin Flon Recycling Center.  Administrator Deb Odegaard says numbers were down but it was still a successful year. She explains they actually dropped by 18 tonnes compared to 2015 as they were at 442 tonnes and the year previously they’d been at 460.  She says it’s not all bad news because the commingle which is the material that comes out of homes was actually up by over 11 metric tons so they’re really excited to see more people recycling in their homes and they’ve seen that over Christmas as they’ve had an awful lot of material come in over the past two weeks.

              For information on recycling you can contact the Recycling Center at 204-687-6169 or visit their website www.flinflonrecycling.org.

 

 

A Drill Program Continues to Show Good Results near Snow Lake.

 

 

Rockcliff Copper Corporation has reported additional drill hole assay and geophysical drill hole results from its ongoing exploration program on the Talbot property.  This property forms part of their Snow Lake Project in the Snow Lake Mining Camp.

               

A recently completed drill hole intersected the high grade mineralization of the Talbot deposit main lens with 5.3 meters grading 3.9 percent copper equivalent with 2 percent copper, 1.94 grams per tonne gold, .32 percent zinc and 20.03 grams per tonne silver. They report the survey results identified a new drill target that represents one of the largest undrilled conductive plates yet discovered on the property below the existing Talbot deposit north lens mineralization measuring 300 by 600 meters.

             

President Ken Lapierre says this discovery is a real testament to the significant upside potential of this property and their phase two drill program will continue immediately focusing on the discovery of additional mineralized lenses proximal to the Talbot deposit.

 

Your Opinion on Libraries is Important.

 

A provincial survey has been posted on the Flin Flon Public Library website.  Administrator Cindy McLean says local opinions are important in the survey as the province looks at making changes to libraries and libraries look for a much needed funding increase. She explains the premise of the survey is to determine how often patrons are visiting the library, their experience when they come to the library, what services they’re using, so its very important for public library services to establish what products are being used at the library and how the public is actually accessing the library.  She says the data will be used to determine some changes as the Minister is reviewing all public libraries so they’re hoping for a lot of positive changes.

             

You can fill out a short or longer survey by going to their website www.flinflonpubliclibrary.ca. Click on websites and then counting opinions.

Traffic Fatalities Were Part of the Holiday Season.

 

Manitoba RCMP report during their month long Holiday Checkstop Program 11,781 vehicles were checked during 250 checkstops.  During checkstops and regular patrols they charged 122 people with a criminal code impaired driving offence including impaired, over .08, refusal and impaired by a drug.  There were 37 other criminal code driving offences, 60 alcohol and drug related tiered administrative suspensions and 2633 other highway traffic act offences the most common being speeding and failing to stop at an intersection.

             

They also report six people lost their lives in traffic related collisions which includes four snowmobile collisions during the checkstop season.  Three of the six collisions reported are suspected to involve driver impairment.

 

You Can Apply for Grants for Your Group or Organization.

 

The Northern Neighbors Foundation is accepting applications for the Moffat Foundation funds that they receive each year. This year they will have 55 thousand dollars to grant in their communities that include Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach, Snow Lake, Sherridon and Cranberry Portage.  Their Chairperson Jane Robillard explains there are applications online at Northern Neighbors Foundation and also the grant applications and grant guidelines are at our public library.  She adds grants are made to non-profit organizations that have a registered charitable number so it’s non-profit and it’s for organizations that demonstrate a strong and committed responsibility to the community.

             

The deadline for applications is March 15th.

A Lot of People Got Home Safely Over the Holiday Season.

 

 

Operation Red Nose has wrapped up another holiday season of getting people and their vehicles home safely. The Rotary Club’s Committee Chair Ted Hewitt says the program again was a success.  He says this year in their November December season they provided a total of 284 rides, their most successful campaign for at least the past five years as prior to that he doesn’t have any statistics. He says they had 146 individuals who volunteered their time and the Rotary Club would like to thank all those who donated their time to this worthwhile endeavor noting those who used their service appreciated getting themselves and their vehicles home safely.

             

Hewitt says even though the service was free, riders donated close to five thousand dollars and with other Operation Red Nose fund raising efforts they expect to raise at least 13 thousand dollars. He adds the money stays in the community and in the past they have supported most of the parks, a new soccer field, the skateboard park, Camp Whitney as well as most of the groups that provide sports for children.

An Overdose Reversal Kit is Available in Flin Flon.

 

 

Those at risk of an opioid overdose now have access to naloxone kits and other supports across Manitoba including Flin Flon.

             

Naloxone is a medication used to reverse the side effects of opioid overdoses and is most efficient in preventing overdose deaths if administered within minutes of an overdose.  However Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen stressed that naloxone does not eliminate the risks associated with drug use especially in the case when powerful opioids like fentanyl and carfentanyl are used

             

Individuals who request a take home naloxone kit will receive training on overdose recognition and how to use the kit.  They will also be able to access information on addiction and harm reduction services.  In Flin Flon you can drop in or call to make an appointment at the Primary Health Care Centre at 1 North Avenue between 8:30 and 4:30 or call 204-687-1350.

 

Bylaw Readings Dominated Tuesday Nights Flin Flon City Council Meeting.

 

At the meeting Council passed on final reading a bylaw that requires the clear marking of civic addresses. This was requested by emergency services to make it easier to find homes in emergencies as many homes don’t have numbers on them.  The bylaw was amended to require numbers that are at least four inches high.

             

Council also passed on final reading a bylaw to adopt the provisions of the Manitoba Emergency Measures Act and approve and adopt the updated Flin Flon Emergency Plan.

             

Council passed on first reading an amendment to the Traffic bylaw that affects mainly parking tickets.  Instead of going to court to challenge your ticket the change allows you to go to a hearing with an adjudication officer.  Administrator Mark Kolt noted the change was made by the province since the court system was not really set up to handle such small amounts.  He said very few tickets are challenged and in the past those have been resolved before going to court.  The bylaw requires two more readings.

             

And Councilor Guy Rideout gave advance notice of a bylaw change coming up that will prevent the long term storage of vehicles, trailers, campers, boats and similar items on the street.  He says the main concern is for snow removal so the proposed bylaw would be in effect from October to April.

City Council Say They Are Moving Forward With Issues Affecting the Community.

 

At last night’s Flin Flon City Council meeting Deputy Mayor Colleen McKee responded to presentations made at the last council meeting on annexation of cottage areas and economic development.  She explained regarding cottage areas they are trying to engage the province as the legal representatives of the area through a resolution approved by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and will let that process take its course. She says that resolution gives them a stronger voice as it comes from a large group of communities dealing with similar issues.  Regarding economic development McKee says they have a three community committee to look at the process and have hired a Regional Economic Development Officer to assist them in moving forward, they are working on the Clean and Green Plan for the community and they are supporting groups, organizations and businesses that are also helping the community move forward and continue to invest in Flin Flon’s unique way of life.

             

McKee added they are also asking people who are planning to make a presentation at a Council meeting to have a copy submitted by the Thursday before the meeting which will give them a chance to review and have a better understanding of the issue and try to have answers available at the meeting.

 

It Was a Busy New Years Eve.

 

Operation Red Nose completed its final night of getting people and their vehicles home safely New Years Eve.  The Rotary Club’s Committee Chair Ted Hewitt says they were very busy after midnight.  He says they provided a total of 40 rides giving a year to date total of 284 and this number is more than a hundred over last year.  He adds they had a total of 20 volunteers from throughout the community to provide the service and lunch for the volunteers was provided by the Victorian Inn which was very much appreciated.

             

We’ll wrap up the full season of Operation Red Nose on tomorrow’s news.

Flin Flon Has a New Years Baby.

 

 

The first baby born at the Flin Flon General Hospital in 2017 waited until last night to arrive.  The baby boy Rowen Beatty was born at 10:44 last night weighing 3914 grams or 8 pounds 10 ounces. He is from Deschambault, Saskatchewan.

 

You Can Stay Active Through the Winter.

 

The Flin Flon Inner Wheel and Flin Flon Parks and Recreation are offering Walk in the Right Direction starting next Monday.  Recreation Director Caitlin Bailey says it’s a chance for those 50 plus to be active with a drop in fee of only two dollars. She says this program is going to offer a chance to be social and stay active with the cold weather outside, so they’re offering an instructor led walking and stretching with music, kind of a space where everybody gets together indoors to do some physical activity.

             

The deadline to register is Friday with walking taking place on most Mondays and Wednesdays from now through mid-April.  To register or if you have any questions contact the Recreation Office at 204-681-7542.

A Lot of Children Received Gifts With Your Help.

 

The Christmas Gift Program run by the Flin Flon Friendship Center went well again this year.  The program allows parents to give their children a gift at Christmas when circumstances prevent them from doing so.  The Center’s Program Events Coordinator Jeremiah Herrmann says donations and gift pick up made things very busy this year. He says the numbers were up and they ended up accommodating 162 families and it turned out to be 476 children so that is actually an increase of 21 families and 97 children this year.

             

This was the 23rd year for the Christmas Gift Program.

 

Drilling Continues After a Christmas Break.

 

Callinex Mines will continue drilling on their Pine Bay property near Flin Flon.  They have completed drilling and sent out samples for assays from one hole.  This hole tested the adjacent Pine Bay VMS horizon which is located to the northwest of the Cabin Zone VMS horizon that hosts their new discovery.  The Company expects assays back from this hole within two weeks and may complete additional drilling along the Pine Bay VMS horizon to further assess its potential.  Additionally Callinex has been drilling two holes to test the down dip extension of the new discovery.  These two drill rigs had been temporarily placed on hold over the holiday season with drilling expected to resume Thursday.

             

Callinex reports a cash position of approximately 10 million dollars and President Max Porterfield says as drilling resumes in the new year they will continue to be prudent with their treasury in order to achieve their goal to discover and develop economic VMS deposits.

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