Local News Archives for 2017-02

Resource Numbers are Up at a Mine Near Flin Flon.

  

 

Satori Resources has issued a new resource estimate for the Tartan Lake Gold Mine Project 12 kilometers northeast of Flin Flon

             

Their President Will Ansley comments the new mineral resource estimate focused on a higher cut off grade concept reflecting the high grade nature of the deposit, upgraded the resource models, geostatistical analysis and specific gravity assumption utilized in the previous report.  He says the result is a significant increase in both the overall confidence level to indicated from inferred and gold grade to 6.32 grams per tonne from 5.12 grams per tonne which is consistent with what was previously milled in 1988-89 at Tartan Lake   Ansley adds at a conceptual mill rate of 450 tonnes per day their resource tonnage could potentially support several years of mill feed which is a tremendous head start for the Company as they continue to explore the property.

 

Alpha Invites You to Join Them Next Week.

 

The Alpha Course is starting a new session at the Flin Flon Alliance Church next Tuesday evening.  One of the organizers Menno Giesbrecht says Alpha give you the opportunity to investigate and discuss the big questions of life that we may think about but never discuss like is there more to life that what we’re experiencing right now, if there is a God why is there so much suffering in the world and is there life after death.  He explains they start off the evening with a meal at six o’clock, they sing a couple of songs, watch a video and discuss what they watched in the video in a small group and they’re done by nine o’clock.

             

Alpha begins next Tuesday evening at six at the Alliance Church with a celebration supper so you can learn what it’s about.  To register or for more information you can call the church at 204-687-8498.

 

There is a Change in Plans for Skiers.

 

 

The Flin Flon Ski Club had planned for their annual Val and Ivor Hedman Centaloppet to happen Sunday afternoon.  The Club’s Dave Price says Mother Nature made them decide it won’t happen this year.  He says as you know we’ve had very little snow this season so earlier this season they were able to put a track around the valley but then we’ve had melting weather so what’s left of the trail is pretty icy.  He explains they like to offer skiers a quality experience when they’re out there and unfortunately at this stage they’re not able to do that so at their meeting last week they decided that they won’t be having a Centaloppet this year.

             

Price adds this is only around the fifth cancellation in the 42 years of the Centaloppet and it’s usually been because of the extreme cold.  He says they are looking forward to better conditions next year.

 

Improvements in Ore Grades and Facilities are expected By Hudbay This Year.

 

In their 4th quarter financial results we reported on on Friday Hudbay President Alan Hair also gave an update on their Manitoba operations including Flin Flon’s Triple Seven Mine. He says ore production at their Manitoba mines during the fourth quarter was in line with the previous quarter. Overall copper and zinc grades were lower due to lower grades at Triple Seven and Reed, however in 2017 higher zinc grades are expected at Triple Seven as a result of the resequencing of the mine plan to prioritize stopes containing higher zinc grades which is expected to result in improved overall economics per tonne at Triple Seven.

             

Hair added at Lalor near Snow Lake technical work is underway on a new mine plan to increase throughput from the mine and associated milling facilities. He reports construction of the Lalor paste backfill plant is underway and they expect to complete the majority of the work before the end of the year which will reduce operating costs, increase mining rates and maximize ore recovery.

 

The Womens Resource Center Received Praise For Their Work.

Rochelle Squires (second from left) with Board members Shelly Craig, Linda Eryou and Barb Hopkinson

 

The Minster of Sport, Culture and Heritage brought her information gathering tour to the Women’s Resource Center in Flin Flon Saturday.  Rochelle Squires who is also responsible for the Status of Women says she is in awe at the services provided by the Center while dealing with economic challenges in the north whether its dealing with the industry or geographical boundaries, being border town also presents its own challenges and yet what she’s heard so far is that these women are not going to let any barriers stop them from providing the critical resources, often life saving resources, that they need to ensure that women and girls have supports that they need.

             

Squires says she is looking at emerging issues and needs as she reviews programs that fall under her portfolio.  She also met with staff at the Library, the Arts Council and Norva Center.

It Was A Busy Weekend at Denare Beach.

  King Trapper teaboiling event 

                                                    and trap setting

 

The 38th annual Denare Beach Winter Festival opened on Friday with a musher’s supper and wrapped up Saturday night with awards and entertainment. Event winners included for Kids Got Talent Precious Montgrand, turkey curling the Durettes team followed by the Butterball Bangers and the Denare Beach Fire Department and in the fishing derby the biggest fish went to Clint Banting, smallest Rick Banting, oldest fisherman Ken Chartrand, youngest Janea Neufeld, furthest away Shauna Jensen of Medicine Hat Alberta, first fish caught Lynette Kemp and second fish Craig Cowper.  The King Trapper was Brent Merasty and Queen Trapper Nikki Bayleff.  Bingo players packed the hall Saturday afternoon.

 

 

Hudbay Continues With Cost Reductions.

 

Hudbay released its 4th quarter 2016 results yesterday.  They report a net loss of 43.7 million dollars compared to a net loss of 255.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. They add while sales volumes were lower compared to the same quarter the previous year they benefited from lower operating costs and higher realized prices on all metals. President Alan Hair reflected on all of 2016 noting it was a year of volatile metal prices but their efforts to adapt the business in response to the environment paid off as they achieved their guidance levels, generated positive free cash flow to reduce debt while positioning the business to be ready to refocus and grow when market conditions improve.

             

Hair added they will continue to focus on efficiency improvements and debt reduction in 2017 in addition to advancing high return in house brownfield opportunities such as increasing the throughput from the Lalor Mine and developing the Pampacancha deposit at Constancia, Peru.

 

You Can Learn More About Banned Books.

 

 

The Flin Flon Public Library is celebrating Freedom to Read Week next week. Their Administrator Cindy McLean says this year they will be showing the movie The Book Thief which is based on the famous best selling book and is the story of a young girl who transformed lives during World War Two.  She says they’re going to be serving popcorn, cookies and coffee every day from 2 to 3:30 in the Library for Freedom to Read Week.

             

McLean adds you can also look over their display of banned books and why they were banned and they are offering a chance at prizes for checking out banned books.

 

A Provincial Strategy Is Designed to Promote Opportunities in Northern Manitoba.

 

 

Premier Brian Pallister and Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen have announced the next phase of the government’s Look North Strategy.  They describe it as a long term vision for sustainable economic and business development and growth in the province’s north.

             

Pallister explains the strategy encourages those from outside northern Manitoba to consider investing in the untapped potential of the region.  It includes a website www.looknorthmb.ca with information on building a business in northern Manitoba and encourages Manitobans to share their vision and love for the north by social media using hashtag #looknorthmb or by submitting short videos, photos or in writing.  A plan is also in development to engage First Nation communities with interest in increasing their participation in the economic benefits of mining.

             

Community meetings will be held including in Flin Flon in March with three Northern Economic Summits to be held in The Pas, Thompson and Churchill in April.

 

Educators Will Be Recognized for Their Role in Our Community.

Kinette Becky Cianflone (left) visits McIsaac School

 

The Flin Flon Kinettte Club is celebrating Kin Canada’s National Day of Kindness.  Their President Corinne Matthews says they have selected a special group of people to recognize this year.  She explains for Kin Kindness Day they are going to be honoring the people in our community who educate and take care of our youth.  She says they will be delivering cookies to the staff at each of the schools in Flin Flon and Creighton and to the early childhood educators at Guidance Nursery, Smiling Hearts and Kiddie Korner Day Care.

             

The cookies will be delivered by the Kinettes today and Monday.

 

It Was Budget Night for the School Division.

 

The Flin Flon School Board presented their budget plans for the 2017-18 school year at a public meeting last night. The School Division has planned a budget of just over 14.8 million dollars for the year an increase of 1.31 percent from this year’s budget.

             

 Provincial funding for the Division when compared to the actual dollars for 2016-17 is up 1.5 percent or just over 131 thousand dollars.

.            

The Division is proposing a 4.11 percent decrease or just over 213 thousand dollars to the Municipal Revenue requirement for 2017.  Because of the timing of the revenue being paid over two calendar years 2017 and 18 the Municipal Special Levy will increase by 5.32 percent or just over 218 thousand dollars. They note due to an immaterial increase in assessments this will result in an educational mill rate of 20.37 an increase of one from last year.  For 2017 the school division’s allocation of the grant in lieu of taxes paid by Hudbay has remained at 35 percent.

             

Some of the larger expenses planned include technology upgrades and building maintenance. Tom Heine questioned the possible purchase of the church building across from Ruth Betts School by the Division and the Food Bank and was told no decision has been made pending an environmental assessment of the building.

             

The budget still requires approval from the Board at their February 28th meeting.

Readers are Needed for a Presentation Next Month.

 

To recognize V Day the Women’s Resource Center is holding a special presentation in March.  The Center’s Carmen Fisher invites anyone interested to help out with the presentation.  She says right now they are looking for readers for the monologues so anyone who would like to read.  She says the event will be held March 18th at 7:30 in the Hapnot Collegiate gym and the tickets will go on sale shortly.  Fisher adds it you need any more information you can call her at 681-3105 at the Women’s Resource Center.

             

The Center’s casting call notes no acting experience is needed and there is no memorizing of lines.

Plans are in Place for a Weekend Festival.

 

The 38th annual Denare Beach Winter Festival takes place tomorrow and Saturday.  The Committee’s Crystal Banting lists some highlights noting it kicks off tomorrow night at the Denareplex with the musher’s supper which is all home made and delicious.  She says they have turkey curling that night, a bonfire, a pizza shoot and entertainment.  She adds on Saturday they have the fishing derby at 10 am, a pancake breakfast before the fishing derby, king and queen trapper, home business show, bingo, boot hockey, crib, a little bit of  everything so its going to be a super fun weekend.

             

The Festival wraps up Saturday night.  Banting adds due to a shortage of snow they have had to cancel the snow drags and horse drawn sleigh rides.

You Can Be Part of a Day of Kindness.

 

Saturday is Kin Canada’s National Day of Kindness as Kinsmen members and clubs celebrate their founding in February of 1920.  The Flin Flon Kinsmen Clubs Vice-President Tim Babcock says every community has a need for kindness and people performing selfless acts.  He says this year they would like to invite all the kids of the area to a sliding party at Kin Park.  The event will take place from 1 to 4 pm Saturday.  He says members of the club will be there to hand out hot chocolate and all kids will have their name entered to win a pool party at the Victoria Inn and this event will be weather permitting.

             

Babcock adds last year the Flin Flon Kinsmen were one of 134 clubs to participate in events across the country. They hung out at the Orange Toad for the afternoon and asked people to pay kindness forward as they paid for everyone’s beverages which came to a total over four hundred dollars.

Its One of Those Movies Everyone Should See.

 

The Central Canada Film Group continues their Films You Might Have Missed series Friday night. The group’s Collin Davis says they’ll feature the film Judgement at Nuremberg which is court drama at its best.  He explains after the Second World War was over there was a question of justice being served upon those who had served Nazi justice on the populous. He says Judgement at Nuremberg looks at how four Nazi judges were brought to trial and a lot of tough questions and tough answers were given. Were they responsible for war crimes or as judges were they simply enforcing the laws of their country, was it their job to decide if the law was right and were they guilty or not guilty?

             

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

Pink Day is Being Recognized in Local Schools Today.

 

Local schools will be using today’s national Pink Day to raise awareness with a larger celebration planned for later this year.

             

At Ruth Betts School they are wearing pink today and teachers will use the day to provide education on Pink Day in the classrooms. At Hapnot Collegiate they will wear pink today.  They also continue to hold Think Pink Fridays every week to raise awareness on bullying, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia.  McIsaac School like Hapnot and Ruth Betts are planning for larger events to recognize the second Pink Day, International Pink Day planned for April 12th.

             

This is the 6th year that the Canadian Red Cross has promoted Pink Day in Manitoba.

 

Summer Games, a Librarian and Grants Were All Part of Last Nights Flin Flon City Council Meeting.

 

At the meeting Council passed a resolution supporting an application by Flin Flon Parks and Recreation to host the 2020 Power Smart Manitoba Summer Games.  Applications must be in by February 28th.

             

Councilor Bill Hanson reported a new administrator has been hired for the Public Library.  Courtney Campbell comes of Flin Flon from Minto, Manitoba.

             

Council passed resolutions approving grant applications to the Small Community Active Transportation Fund for the Flin Flon Trail System Project which includes the Ski Trail, Boardwalk and Fitness trail at a total cost of 15 thousand dollars maximum as well as 50 thousand max for enhancing accessibility of sidewalks and pathways.

             

And Council received a request to take part in the annual poetry challenge by inviting a local poet to a meeting bringing poetry into the public eye and promoting local talent.  The event recognizes UNESCO World Poetry Day on March 21st and National Poetry Month in April.  Council has taken part in the past and referred the request to Committee of the Whole Council.

Flin Flon Will Benefit From The Latest Skills Training Grants.

 

 

Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart has announced the province will invest 1.5 million dollars in equipment for skills training in Manitoba schools.  From that total Flin Flon School Division will receive 20,522 dollars for Hapnot Collegiate,s woodworking and metals programs.

             

Wishart says technical vocational and industrial arts students in grades 7 to 12 will benefit from the 1.5 million dollar investment. He says with many of Manitoba’s certified tradespeople retiring in the next decade, businesses throughout our province will be looking for skilled workers.  He adds these investments will enable high school students to train with the same equipment used by industry and prepare them to work in their chosen field when they graduate.

 

A New Discovery in the Snow Lake Mining Camp.

  

 

Rockcliff Copper Corporation has announced drill hole assay results from its ongoing phase two drill program on the Talbot Property near Snow Lake.

             

Their President Ken Lapierre says drilling the main lens of the Talbot deposit in an area void of drilling has identified excellent grades over thick intervals with 16.1 meters grading 3.5 percent copper equivalent including 3.5 meters grading 5.2 percent copper equivalent.  He says drilling will now focus on testing the North Lens Deep Conductive Plate, a recently discovered vertical dipping geophysical target below the Talbot Deposit north lens.  Additional geophysics has discovered the Main Lens Conductive Plate, a new untested geophysical target below the main lens as well as the West Talbot Deep Conductive Plate which is a much deeper but larger flat lying target. Lapeirre adds they remain greatly encouraged not only by the consistent high metal grades and increased size potential of the deposit but by the metal potential of the untested stacked conductive plates proximal to the deposit. Drilling will continue until the winter break up.

 

A Fun Night Will Help Keep Our Animals Safe.

 

The Flin Flon Creighton and Area SPCA is holding their annual Fur Ball Saturday night.  Their Shelter Manager Carmen Ward says it’s a fund raiser to keep their shelter operating with a lot taking place. She says they have two bands coming in this year from Winnipeg.  They’re a Black Crowns tribute band and an AC/DC tribute band.  She says they’ve got lots of raffles going on, their 50-50 draw, Calm Air has donated a pair of tickets return Flin Flon to Winnipeg, they have a Tim Dubreuil original painting they’ll be raffling off and then at midnight they’ll be offering Domino’s Pizza so there’s lots of fun thing happening this year.

             

Tickets are 40 dollars at the SPCA Shelter, Northern Rainbows End and the Gateway.  Doors open at 8 Saturday night at the Flin Flon Community Hall.

Take Your Family Fishing This Weekend.

 

 

Manitobans and visitors to the province are encouraged to participate in a weekend of free ice fishing during this year’s Winter Family Fishing Weekend tomorrow through Monday.

             

Anglers will be able to fish without a licence province wide this weekend.  Conservation limits will apply and anglers are reminded to be sure conditions are safe before venturing out on the ice.  It is also important to let someone know where you are fishing and to wear appropriate clothing.

 

People Interested in Manitoba History Can Receive a Special Award.

 

The Manitoba Historical Society is accepting nominations for the Lieutenant Governor’s Award.  The Society’s Gordon Goldsborough says nominations are open to anyone.  He explains the award is intended primarily for people who have done service in promotion and preservation of Manitoba history so pretty much anyone who has done things like writing books, various art projects, running museums, anything that has an aspect of preserving and promoting Manitoba’s history can qualify.

             

Nomination forms and more information are available on the websites of the Manitoba Historical Society www.mhs.mb.ca or the Lieutenant Governor at www.manitobalg.ca.  The deadline is February 28th.

 

You Can Get Your Tickets Now For an Upcoming Entertaining Play.

 

 

Tickets are now on sale for the Ham Sandwich Theatre Group’s March performance.  Director Diane Therien says they will perform the Dixie Swim Club which centers around five women whose friendship began when they were in college and spans about 40 years.  She explains the play is a hilarious look at the trials and tribulations of their lives and how they interact with each other and they meet once a year in August at a cottage and every year there’s new events and adventures that they had and problems and life happenings that they have to deal with and it’s a hilarious look at all of those things and how they remain friends.

             

The Dixie Swim Club will be performed March 17th and 18th in the Flin Flon Community Hall with tickets now available at Northern Rainbows End on Main Street for 15 dollars.

 

Information Sessions are Available on Dementia.

 

The Primary Health Care Center will be hosting a series of telehealth seminars presented by the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.  The Society’s First Link Coordinator Marilyn Maartense says they are part of Telehealth Family Education for Those Experiencing Dementia.  She says the first one is on Tuesday, February 21st from 6:30 to 8 and the presentation will be a community outreach worker that is presenting on community mental health roles and services and how this could support a person with dementia and their friends and caregiver.

             

The sessions are held at the Primary Health Care Center.  The March 21st session will be Understanding Psychoses and Anxiety and the April 25th session will cover Food and Nutrition.  To register for the seminars online go to www.alzheimer.mb.ca or email outreach@alzheimer.mb.ca or phone 1-800-378-6699 and use the reference code Flin Flon.

 

UCN in The Pas Will See Upgraded Science Labs.

 

 

The Manitoba and Federal governments will invest one million dollars at University College of The North in The Pas.  Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement while in The Pas for the Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival.  He said the funding commitment to UCN will be for the renovation of science labs.  He said construction of some badly needed labs at UCN will provide some additional opportunities for quality training.  He added you’ve got to unlock the potential of your young people and the better facilities you can have the better for the students here and for all of us so they’re investing in the future.

             

The federal government will invest 550 thousand dollars while the provincial government the other 450 thousand.  An additional 500 thousand dollars for the 1.5 million dollar project will come from UCN.  The science labs are used annually by 120 students and are expected to be renovated by the next school year.

 

You Have What It Takes to be an Entrepreneur.

    

 

The Founder and CEO of Neechi Gear in Saskatoon Kendal Netmaker spoke to the Flin Flon Friendship Center’s Northern Connections Job Fair yesterday.  His message is that most people have the drive to be an entrepreneur.  He said he always asks people everywhere he goes if you weren’t doing what your doing right now or working a 9 to 5 job what would you be doing and most people have a dream that they tell him that they would actually do and he asks them next what’s stopping you from going after this dream.  He added he’s here to try to knock down some of those barriers and mental obstacles that stop people from trying to go after their dream because when you go after your dream you’re going to live a healthier life.

             

Netmaker outlined for the large number of students and others attending the steps to establish a successful business like his award winning Neechi Gear.  He explained it is a lifestyle brand that empowers youth through sports with five percent of the profits helping to fund underprivileged youth to take part in sports which was inspired by the support he received from his best friend’s family when he was interested in playing soccer starting in grade five.

 

Bylaw Changes Were a Large Part of Tuesday’s Flin Flon City Council Meeting.

 

 

Council passed on first reading a amendment to the Traffic bylaw that will prohibit the storing of things like vehicles, trailers, campers and boats on city streets during the winter.  They passed another bylaw amendment on first reading to raise the rates for garbage pick up from commercial bins.  They noted this was done in consultation with the Environment Council and they hope it will encourage people to recycle more.  Both amendments require two more readings.

             

Council passed on final reading a bylaw that requires people making a presentation to Council meetings to give five days notice of their presentation.  It was noted they always welcome delegations to their meetings and the notice will allow them to have a response prepared to issues raised.

             

Council also agreed to purchase a 22 seat bus to be used for the city bus service. They will continue to contract out the service but noted it will be cheaper if they provide their own bus purchased by the city using funding available from the federal and provincial governments for this purpose.

They Marched to Remember and to Call for Action.

 

The Women’s Resource Center held their annual Women’s Memorial March and Red Dress Project Tuesday evening.  Speaking to the group of marchers at Pioneer Square the Center’s Carmen Fisher explained this is the 27th year for the march and the third for the hanging of red dresses in the community and the visual of the empty red dresses is to remind us of the staggering number of women who are no longer with us.  She said we invite you to march with us in solidarity to mourn the loss of our sisters and to remember those who are still missing and we stand together and ask for action, we ask for answers and we ask for justice.

             

Fisher added the RCMP has identified more than one thousand cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women and that number continues to grow.

 

Diabetes Canada is Raising its Profile to End Diabetes.

 

The Regional Director for Manitoba with Diabetes Canada Andrea Kwasnicki says there are thousands of Manitobans living with Diabetes. She explains there are 125 thousand Manitobans that are living with diabetes, there’s another 202 thousand that are in the pre-diabetes stage and then another 54 thousand that are likely living with diabetes and don’t know it.

             

Diabetes Canada was rebranded from the Canadian Diabetes Association this week.  Kwasnicki says the idea is to shine a brighter light to make more people aware of diabetes as a bold step towards ending diabetes.

The Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach Region has the Potential for a Positive Future.

 

 

The Regional Economic Development Officer for our region Perry Trusty explained to the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce yesterday his assessment of this region.  He mentioned what he has found in our communities and what they offer to our many surrounding communities that use Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach for services.  He explained the hospital is a key asset, homecare is a key asset, mining and industry are key assets, education, art, culture, sports and related tourism from these fields is important for commercial success.  He said community assets like the rink, pool, golf course, community performing arts center are important for ongoing success in commerce adding serving this region with public and private services will help sustain this community in the long run.

  

Trusty added he believes mining will also continue to play a role in our future with Hudbay’s plan looking solid, junior mining companies working in the area and new technology’s ability to find new mines.

Fun Fund Raising Events Will Support the Aqua Center.

 

 

The Chair of the Aqua Center Community Committee Kara Plamondon told Flin Flon City Council last night they have raised 136 thousand dollars toward the Aqua Center upgrade project so far with support from the community and surrounding areas.  She says they are looking for grants and sponsorships as they move forward.  She says they have a fun fundraising idea from a man in The Pas who designs monopoly games that fit a community who will make one on Flin Flon with local sponsors and local history that will be available for the Canada 150 Homecoming this summer. They are also looking at a purchase a fish fundraiser as well as a dream draw.  Plamondon added her committee is committed to this project as the pool is one of the important things that draws people to this community.

             

On the topic of the Homecoming Councilor Colleen McKee reported they now have over 1550 people registered with the deadline today.  She says the deadline was set in order to plan venues for their events.  Once the numbers are reviewed they will determine how many more people can register.

There was a Lockdown at McIsaac School Yesterday Afternoon.

 

Flin Flon RCMP report they were called to McIsaac School at 12:10 yesterday afternoon and were advised the school was in lockdown.  They report it was the result of a student who had been asked to leave the school following an altercation with another student returning to the school and threatening the principal and causing some damage.  Due to the lunch break there were only about 15 students in the school and they were cleared out of the building.  The 14 year old student was later taken into custody without incident and the investigation continues.

Manitoba Has New Training Opportunities for Northern Indigenous Communities.

   

 

The provincial government is investing more than 170 thousand dollars in a wilderness safety training program to prepare Indigenous people for careers in mining and environmental industries.  The province is partnering with First Nations Mining Economic Development, University College of the North, Northern Manitoba Mining Academy and Workplace Education Manitoba to deliver wilderness safety training for up to 40 individuals from four participating communities. Training is currently underway in Mosakahiken Cree Nation and has been completed in God’s Lake Narrows First Nation and Opaskwayak Cree Nation.  Marcel Colomb Cree Nation will be the final community to participate.

             

Graduates are expected to secure entry level employment in mining and environmental industries including assisting in early mining exploration activities.  Other graduates will advance to formal prospector training.

 

The Numbers are Disappointing.

 

 

Statistics Canada released the population numbers from the 2016 Census last week. They showed the population of Flin Flon dropped just over 400 people from the 2011 Census.  Mayor Cal Huntley says the numbers were disappointing.  He says there’s a trend there and they recognize the trend and they’re going to try and deal with that going forward but there’s no doubt that it was disappointing. He adds you’re looking at from 2011 to now over five years almost a two percent kind of reduction so it’s concerning but it certainly wasn’t unexpected.

             

The population of Flin Flon dropped from 5592 in 2011 to 5185 in 2016.

 

 

 

Job Opportunities Will Be The Focus Tomorrow.

 Kendal Netmaker

 

The Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Center is holding their third annual Northern Connections Job Fair tomorrow.  Career Counselor Jolene Gardiner from their Partners in Careers Program says it’s an opportunity for people to check out career and training programs in the Flin Flon area. She says they will have their keynote speaker who is Kendal Netmaker coming from Saskatoon and he is the founder and CEO of Neechi Gear.  She adds they will also have many booths with different employers including Hudbay, Northern Mining Academy, Northlands College, UCN, First Nations University of Canada, the Armed Forces, Vale, Walmart, the Flin Flon Fire Department, a whole lot of employers and training services with lots of good information for people.

             

The Job Fair is free for anyone interested to attend at the Flin Flon Community Hall from 10 to 3 tomorrow with the key note speaker’s presentation at 12:15.

 

You Now Have Access to a New Help Line.

  

 

United Way and Volunteer Manitoba have launched a province wide online service called 211 Manitoba.  The United Way’s Heather Bloxom says people visiting the site will find a list of help and social services available throughout the province organized in groups like finance, children and parenting or housing and homelessness. She says there are about fifteen categories and you can click on them to get some sub-categories which will take you to where it meets your needs.  She adds within two to three clicks you should be able to find what is available in your community that will respond to the issues that you are trying to get support with.

             

The website for this service is www.mb.211.ca.

There is Still Time to Register for a Program Offering Help if You are Living with an Ongoing Health Condition.

 

 

The 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 later this month.  For information or to register you can call Christa at 204-681-3145.

Reaction is in From the Northern Health Region About Cuts Coming to Two Major Projects in the North.

 

Communications Coordinator for the Northern Health Region Twyla Storey says there’s disappointment that the Northern Consultation Clinic and The Pas Primary Care Clinic were on the chopping block by the provincial government especially as the projects were years in the planning. 

              Storey says on the other hand the Region is grateful for the 11 capital projects that were approved.  The renovation and upgrade projects include 5 in Thompson, 3 in The Pas, one in Gillam, one in Lynn Lake and in Flin Flon replacing the domestic water booster system and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in the isolation room at the hospital.

 

 

You Can Gather to Remember Tuesday.

  Memorial March 2016

 

The Women’s Resource Center is holding their annual Women’s Memorial March and Red Dress Project Tuesday evening.  The Center’s Carmen Fisher says the event recognizes the tragedy of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada. She says they will be meeting at Pioneer Square where they will do a welcome and after that they will march down Main Street and meet at the Friendship Center where they will have some entertainment, some guest speakers and they will have coffee, tea and bannock on hand.

             

The March begins at 5:15 Tuesday at Pioneer Square on Main Street.

Romance and Comedy are Coming to the Stage.

 

 

The Royal Manitoba Theatre Center brings its annual performance to Flin Flon next week.  The Flin Flon Arts Council’s Crystal Kolt says they will present the Last Train to Nibroc.  She explains it’s a romantic comedy set in the 1940s where a dashing pilot falls for a prim young missionary to be on a train bound for New York and he decides to follow her home to Kentucky changing both of their lives forever.  She says its going to be a great show as they always are from the Royal Manitoba Theatre Center.

             

The performance takes place next Friday at the Flin Flon Community Hall at 7:30.  Tickets are available at Northern Rainbows End on Main Street.

 

Your Children Can be In Motion Sunday.

 

The Community In Motion Committee is holding a Children’s Gymboree Sunday afternoon. The Committee’s Christa McIntyre says there’ll be a lot of fun activities as they’re going to have parachute games, a bouncy house, bopper balls and they’re going to have a mini-sticks area so they’ll have some sticks available but if people could bring them with them that would be great.  She adds they’ll also have hula hoops, skipping ropes, an alphabet game and free snacks while supplies last.

             

The Gymboree runs from 1 to 3 Sunday afternoon in the Flin Flon Community Hall for ages 2 to 8 and admission is free.

 

A Local Neighborhood Improvement program is Waiting for Word on Their Funding.

 

 

The Flin Flon Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation’s Laurence Gillespie says the funding they receive from the Neighborhoods Alive program has been put on hold by the provincial government.  He says they are now in uncertain times.  He explains normally their funding is renewed April 1st of each year but now this time they’re going to have to wait for the new provincial budget which should be coming down sometime in April to see whether they’ll be able to proceed or not.  He says normally they do up very heavily in the spring to launch their fix up programs and their small grant programs for the coming year but at this point they’re going to have to sit tight until they get indications that those programs will be continued under the current provincial government or not.

             

Gillespie adds if you think the programs are important to the community now is the time to urge the government to continue to support Neighborhood Revitalization programs.

 

 

The Population in Most of Our Area is Going Down.

 

Statistics Canada has released the population count results from the 2016 census.

             

It shows the population of the Manitoba portion of Flin Flon has gone down from the 2011 census by 7.8 percent to 4982 and the Saskatchewan portion down by 11 percent to 203 giving Flin Flon a population of 5185.

             

The population of Creighton has gone down 6.4 percent to 1402, Denare Beach down 5 percent to 779 and the Pas is down 2.6 percent to 5369.  Thompson moved in the opposite direction with its population going up by 4.2 percent to 13,678 while Snow Lake went up 24 percent to 899.

             

Manitoba’s population now stands at 1,278,365 with Saskatchewan at 1,098, 352,

 

The Voices of Chamber of Commerce Members Were Heard.

 

At their last meeting members of the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce responded to a request from the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.  They asked Chambers across the province to write to local MPs to persuade the Trudeau government not to implement a tax on health and dental benefits which would prevent many employers from providing this coverage.  The local Chamber sent a letter to MP Niki Ashton and encouraged their members to do the same.  Manitoba Chambers President Chuck Davidson says the campaign yielded positive results.  He says the Chambers across both Manitoba as well as Canada stepped up, expressed their concern about the potential impact this was going to have on small businesses throughout Manitoba and Canada and made sure their voice was loud and clear in terms of the impact and its their indication right now that the federal government has listened.

             

Davidson adds this has shown what can be accomplished by Chambers of Commerce when they have a common goal and message.

 

Your Input is Needed on a Five Year Plan.

 

 

The Flin Flon Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation is conducting a survey to provide them with input on their five year plan.  The Corporation’s Laurence Gillespie says this is part of their community consultation process.  He explains every few years they have to go to the community and basically get their take on what the priority should be for the FFNRC.  As part of that he says they’re going to be distributing surveys to a broad range of groups in Flin Flon and they also have surveys on line through a survey monkey website and the whole point of it is to see what they want them to do with their programs over the next five years.

              You can find the link to the survey attached to this news story at www.flinflononline.com.  Gillespie adds they would like to have this part of the process wrapped up by the end of this month.

 

              (Link to survey www.surveymonkey.com/r/BGJ7CRT )

 

Recognition is Being Given to Past CASARA Members.

 

The local Civil Air Search and Rescue Association unveiled a plaque at the Flin Flon Airport Saturday.  Member Gerry Angell explains the plaque recognizes CASARA members who have passed on who have contributed to the Flin Flon CASARA cause that others may live which is the motto of CASARA.  He says the unveiling took place by Sheila Boyce who is the daughter of Essie Douglas who was the first area commander of CASARA Flin Flon in 1987.

             

The plaque will hang in the terminal building at the Flin Flon Airport.

You Can Donate a Red Dress and Take Part in A Memorial March.

Red Dress Project 2016

 

The Women’s Resource Center is holding their annual Women’s Memorial March next week. The Center’s Carmen Fisher says part of the March is the Red Dress Project which is an aesthetic response to the more than one thousand missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada.  She says the event will take place at Pioneer Square February 14th at 5:15 and they will then do the Memorial March to honor the lives of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada.

             

The Center is in need of red dresses to hang around the community as part of this project.  If you have one you can donate give them a call at 204-681-3105.

You Have This Week to Nominate a Deserving Volunteer.

 

Lieutenant Governor Janice Filmon is requesting nominations for the Lieutenant Governor Volunteer Service Awards.  The Manager of Communications and Outreach for Volunteer Manitoba Dawn Bourbonnais says the awards are presented to individuals who represent the north, rural and urban areas of the province.  She says they have twelve categories that people can nominate in and each one has their own eligibility requirements but they really apply to anybody who’s done volunteer work in the last year or over the last ten years or throughout their lifetime.  She adds what they’re doing is recognizing all Manitoba’s volunteers in as many ways as they can.

             

To nominate a volunteer or for more information and a list of all the categories you can go to their website www.volunteermanitoba.ca/awards. The deadline is Friday.

 

Children Can Celebrate Reading by Going to the Library.

 

 

February is I Love to Read Month. The Administrator of the Flin Flon Public Library Cindy McLean says they will be recognizing children who read this month. She explains this month its Every Child is a Reader at the Library so to celebrate family literacy they will be giving every child who opens up a new account or checks out fifteen books a children’s book, a treat bag and a book bag and every time they complete one of these things they also get their name on their reading tree for a draw for a grand prize which is a super hero play set and a set of three super hero Barbie girls.

             

The Library will also be celebrating Freedom to Read Week from February 26th to March 4th.

Volunteers are Needed to Help With a Festival.

 

The annual Denare Beach Winter Festival is coming up February 24th and 25th.  One of the organizers Crystal Banting says they need a few more volunteers for mainly sitting at the door selling buttons and supper tickets and things like that.  She says they need a few volunteers to drill holes for their Saturday morning fishing derby and kitchen helpers are also on their list for volunteering as well.

             

You can volunteer by calling the Recreation Office at 306-362-2050, sign up at the Village Office or Post Office and the list is also posted on line under Denare Beach Recreation.

 

You Can Help Reduce the Red Tape Problem.

 

Every year hundreds of millions of dollars are paid by Manitobans due to government red tape and regulations.  Jonathan Alward with the Canadian Federation of Independent business says that’s about to change.  He explains the Executive Vice-President for CFIB issued a national challenge to every one of the provinces to commit to one for one red tape legislation which means for every new piece of regulation coming in one piece has to come out and Manitoba was the first one to agree to such legislation and they even took it a step further by agreeing to a two for one red tape legislation law for the first four years.

             

The province is looking for your input on how to reduce red tape.  You can share your red tape headaches at www.gov.mb.ca/reduceredtape until February 20th.

 

Students Presented the History of their Favorite Topics.

 

 

The fourth annual Heritage Fair was held at Ecole McIsaac School Wednesday.  One of the organizers Susanne Westhaver says it was excellent this year with 69 projects from Ruth Betts and McIsaac schools and 101 students participating.  She says the top three winners in no particular order were Cassidy Alexander and Nikki Keramydas with their project on the Metis, Erin Mansell with her project on the Children’s Wish Foundation and Brayden Abbott with his project on Mark McMorris.

             

Fourteen students involved in the top nine projects will be going on to the Red River Heritage Fair being held in Winnipeg on May 4th.

 

A Celtic Celebration Continues Next Week.

 

 

The third in a series of Celtic music presentations takes place next week. It started with Robbie Burns Night last weekend and a Celtic Kitchen Party tomorrow night.  Doug McGregor says Home Routes will host Mary Beth Carty next week featuring her lively energetic music.  He explains she’s from the east coast of Canada from Nova Scotia and she mixes traditional east coast music with music from Europe and Brazil, she plays the accordion, guitar, percussion, she’s performed around the world and she writes her own songs.

             

Carty will perform at Johnny’s Social Club Tuesday night with tickets at the Orange Toad and on Wednesday night at 183 Merton Boulevard with tickets available by calling 204-687-8193.

 

Celtic Music Will Be Featured Saturday Night.

 

 

Wood n Wire is presenting a Celtic Kitchen Party Saturday night at Johnny’s Social Club.  The Arts Council’s Crystal Kolt says it will be a wonderful entertaining night with Natalie Milligan.  She says Natalie has organized with other people in the community an amazing evening of Celtic music so you’re going to have the Panty Hose, they’re going to have Natalie who we know for her love and talent for Celtic music and a whole host of other performers during the evening.  She adds it’s going to be one of their regular ultra popular Wood n Wire cabarets that’s happening in Johnny’s.

             

This is the second in a Celtic series in the community following the Robbie Burns Night last weekend.  This performance will take place Saturday night at 7:30 at Johnny’s Social Club on Green Street with tickets available at the Orange Toad on Main Street.

 

It Will be a Place for You to Learn More About Job Opportunities.

Kendal Netmaker

 

The Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre is holding their third annual Northern Connections Job Fair Wednesday, February 15th.  Career Counselor Jolene Gardiner from their Partners in Careers program says this is an opportunity for people to check out career and training programs in the Flin Flon area. She says they will have employers including from the Northern Health Region, the Northern Mining Academy, Hudbay, Vale, they’ve got quite a few employers to give information to the students and people in the community.  She says their guest speaker is Kendal Netmaker and he’s the CEO and founder of Neechi Gear which is a clothes company that gives back to the children who can’t afford to play sports in the community.

               

The Job Fair is free to attend at the Flin Flon Community Hall from 10 to 3 Wednesday, February 15th.  There will also be a canteen open to raise funds towards Community Youth Resource Centre projects.

 

The School Division is Moving Forward in Several Areas.

 

Superintendent Constance McCleese reported to the Flin Flon School Board last night on the 2016-17 grade three and four French immersion provincial results.  They show that the Division students are performing quite well and above the provincial average. The Division has also received a letter from the provincial Minister of Education Ian Wishart stating that the month of February has been designated as Inclusive Education Month.  Schools, families and communities will work together to make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth throughout Manitoba.  The Division continues to work on the multi-year technology report as well as the report for the TVI building.

             

Board Chair Murray Skeavington thanked the community for their input at the recent public forums regarding the shortened school day as work continues on the information gathered with results expected by mid March.

 

A Local Dealer is Having a Super Bowl Experience.

 

 

Canadian Tire Associate Dealer Mario Delarosbil continues to enjoy a Super Bowl adventure.  It all began when he won the opportunity through Castrol Oil to bring the Vince Lombardi trophy to Flin Flon in November and he is now one of six dealers to attend a Super Bowl weekend.  He says there’s a welcoming celebration on Friday night with Castrol Oil and some VIPs from Canada and the United States.  Then on Saturday he will be visiting a Texas ranch with many activities on that 250 acre ranch and on Saturday night he’s also invited to a big NFL Super Bowl party with some American artists.

             

And that is all before the game itself.  Delarosbil says this is all due to the members of his team at Canadian Tire and their customers.  His next goal is to bring the Stanley Cup to Flin Flon.

 

More Information Once a Week.

 

 Publisher of the Reminder Valerie Durnin advises that effective this week their newspaper will publish once a week with larger editions and more local content.  She says they are coming out on Wednesdays and they’re doing that because for readers and advertisers both it’s a good day for them to get the information out so people can make their plans for the weekend, so businesses who place their ads with them and also people who are just looking for what’s happening around town will be able to find what they need in one place.  She adds they also did a readers survey last year and they asked a lot of things about the newspaper and what people liked and there were some suggestions that asked for the weekly paper.

             

At the same time the price for the paper will increase to $1.50.

             

The Reminder launched in 1946 publishing six days a week. The schedule changed to five days a week in the late 1970s, to three days a week in 2005 and two days a week in 2015.

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