Local News Archives for 2019-04

The Recycling Program Had Its Best Year.

The Flin Flon Environment Council held their annual meeting last night.  Recycling Center Administrator Deb Odegaard reported they recycled 510 tonnes last year beating the previous record of 500 in 2007.  She noted commercial tonnage decreased by 6.4 tonnes which is concerning as it reflects household recycling but that may be related to less newspaper in the mix. They recycled a record number of household batteries at 655 kilograms and sent out 30 tonnes of electronics. Odegaard also noted the red bag curbside program averages 10 to 15 bags weekly and is covering costs and pickup from businesses continues to be a major part of their operations. 21 tubskids, 35 barrels and 3 pails of hazardous waste were shipped from the Depot at the landfill.

             

Odegaard presented the Employee of the Year Award to Mike Anderson, Board Member Award to Bob Lyons and Volunteer Award to Ray Berg.  She concluded by noting advertising to encourage more people to start recycling will be the focus of this year.

 

Deb Odegaard and Mike Anderson

Bob Lyons

Ray Berg

The New Democrats Have Their Candidate.

Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey is seeking a second term in the Manitoba Legislature.  Lindsey was nominated to be the NDP candidate in Flin Flon constituency over the weekend.  He outlines the issues he sees as priorities in this area noting health care is number one including northern patient transportation and being able to give birth in Flin Flon.  He adds on the wider constituency the job issue is a huge issue as we see mining on the decline and while Hudbay says Triple Seven is going to last a little bit longer we need to see more exploration and things like that to kick start the economy and so far the only thing this government has ever talked about is tourism which is good but tourism in conjunction with some good paying jobs will be really what’s needed.

             

Lindsey says provincially issues are health care and possible job cuts as a result of the ongoing education study.

 

Flin Flon's Top Mine Rescue Team Has Been Selected.

The top mine rescue team at Hudbay in Flin FLon has been chosen following the annual competition among the Company’s five mine rescue teams.  Their Emergency Preparedness and Security Officer Marshall Manns says the winning team consists of Captain Mike Desjarlais, Rob Johnson, Jarrod Ritch, Mike Basham, David Green is the Vice-Captain and Phil Cardell is the Director of Operations.

             

Manns says this team will compete in the provincial mine rescue competition being held May 24th and 25th at Flin Flon’s Triple Seven Mine.  Other teams competing will be Hudbay from Snow Lake, Vale from Thompson and Tanco from Lac Du Bonnet.

 

They Gathered to Remember Last Night.

The United Steelworkers Local 7106 held a ceremony at their monument to mark the National Day of Mourning.  Their Health and Safety Rep Lori Guitard explained it’s a time to remember workers who have died or been injured on the job. She said with each person that we have lost in any preventable tragedies the effect is multiplied among the families and the loved ones that are left behind adding each death changes many lives forever and the hardship they will endure for a lifetime.  She said as long as there are employers who cut corners to maximize profits, speed up production for that reason and gamble with worker’s lives every other day of the year this is the day we speak our truth about what’s happening in our workplaces.

             

 Wreaths were laid by various union and community representatives. MLA Tom Lindsey noted its people that pushed for the changes that have been made in the workplace and we need people who make the rules to continue to hear all our voices as we mourn for the dead and fight for the living.

 

An Information Session on Dementia is Coming Up Tomorrow.

The Primary Health Center is hosting a telehealth session tomorrow evening presented by the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.  This session will deal with driving and dementia presented by Annie Lovering a Medical Assessment Policy Analyst with Manitoba Public Insurance.

             

The session will be held at the Primary HealthCare Center tomorrow evening from 6:30 to 8. To register online go to www.alzheimer.mb.ca, email alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca or call 1-800-378-6699. If you don’t have a chance to register you can still drop in. Those attending are asked to use the staff door at the Center facing Hudbay not the main entrance.  Staff will be monitoring the door and will let you in. You are encouraged to arrive by 6:15 as the session begins right at 6:30.

 

Snow Lake and Area Residents Have Extra Shopping Opportunities.

The Snow Lake Chamber of Commerce is holding their fifth annual Spring Trade Show tomorrow and Wednesday.  President Gerard Lamontagne says this show is looking to be their best ever and for the first time they’ve actually had to turn away vendors.  He explains they’ve got cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, quads, pontoon boats, popcorn, fudge, candies, local vendors from the home based businesses, a whole array of stuff basically anything you need for the house and home.

             

 The Trade Show is being held in the Wilfred T. Lipton Arena in Snow Lake tomorrow from 3 to 9 and Wednesday from 11 to 6.

 

Your Children Still Have a Few Days Left to Help Name a Future RCMP Musical Ride Horse.

The RCMP are asking for help in naming twelve foals that will be born this spring at the RCMP breeding farm in Ontario.  Up to twelve winning names will be selected including one classroom entry.

             

To qualify names must begin with the letter”R”, participants must be 14 years old or younger, only one entry per child will be eligible, contestants must live in Canada, entries must be received no later than Tuesday.

             

The children whose names are selected will each receive a prize pack that includes a photo of the foal they named, a certificate signed by the RCMP Commissioner and an engraved horse shoe.  The winning classroom will receive a framed photo of the foal they named along with the signed certificate.

             

To enter online or to get the mail in address go to your favorite search engine type in name the foal contest 2019.

 

A Tribute to Fallen Workers is Being Held Sunday Night.

April 28th is recognized as a National Day of Mourning.  Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey says it commemorates workers who have been killed, injured or otherwise made sick while on the job with statistics showing 951 workplace fatalities were recorded in Canada in 2017 along with over 251 thousand accepted claims for lost time due to work related injury or accident.  He adds on the Day of Mourning we grieve for those we’ve lost and for the loved ones they left behind.  However he notes we also have to renew our commitment to preventing further occupational related deaths, injuries and diseases by improving health and safety in the workplace.

             

Lindsey will take part in the Day of Mourning in Flin Flon at the United Steelworkers Local 7106 monument Sunday night at 7:30 beside the Victoria Inn.

 

A Cooking Workshop Starts Next Week.

The Women’s Resource Center is offering a cooking workshop starting Wednesday.  The Center’s Marci Lyon explains this will be a five week workshop that starts on May 1st and it is cooking meals on a budget, simple, fast, easy, delicious and healthy meals to provide the best meal in town.

             

The workshop starts Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 to 3:30 upstairs at the Women’s Resource Center at 60 Hapnot Street.  You can register by calling the Center at 204-681-3105.

 

A Flin Flon Event Received a Special Award.

The Northern Manitoba Tourism Awards were presented last night.

             

The Event of the Year Award went to Flin Flon’s Blueberry Jam Gathering held for the first time last summer.  The Partnership Award went to Calm Air, the Award of Distinction to Volker Beckman of Thompson, the Innovation Award to Churchill’s Night Under Lights and Opaskwayak Indian Days on OCN and Wapusk Adventures in Churchill shared the Indigenous Tourism Award.

 

Magic Develops During a Funny Movie.

The Central Canada Film Group is presenting the film The Thief tomorrow night.  The group’s Colin Davis says this is fun film as it’s a very entertaining Italian film from 1980 so it is a subtitled film that follows Caleb who is a con man and a would be magician and his constant attempt to fool people with his magic.  He says one escapade leads to another as he tries to get rich quick and it takes place in the Holy Land two thousand years ago and he just wishes he could be as good as that other magician he keeps seeing who’s working all these miracles.

             

Davis adds this is a very funny film but is restricted to an audience 18 and over. The Thief will be shown tomorrow night at 7:30 in the Hapnot Collegiate Theatre and admission is free,

 

You Can Learn More About Recycling.

The Flin Flon Environment Council is holding their annual meeting Monday night.  Recycling Center Administrator Deb Odegaard invites you to the meeting. She explains the annual meeting is a chance to review what’s happened in the past year and to honor some of the people who’ve been a very important part of making recycling happen in our community and then they’ll also do the business information around the financial reports and election of the Board of Directors.

             

The meeting starts at 7 Monday night in Flin Flon City Council Chambers.  They also have information on recycling available at the Leisure Show today through Saturday at the Creighton Sportex.

 

An Education Review was the Focus of a Flin Flon School Board Meeting Tuesday.

This past January the Manitoba government announced a new commission on K to 12 education asking the provinces residents for their thoughts about the future of our education system.  This will be the first time in decades a full review will be conducted.  The goal is to find the best solutions for Manitoba’s education system so students will be prepared to succeed in today’s modern world no matter what path they choose.  This past Tuesday Superintendent Constance McCleese announced two students from Flin Flon will be joining other students from across the province sharing their views in Winnipeg next month.  Camryn Stuckless has been selected to represent Many Faces Education Center and Andy Richard has been selected to represent Hapnot Collegiate.  The two students from our School Division will be able to give their perspectives on education as they attend schools with different curriculums.

             

If you are interested in participating in this survey you can do so online at www.forms.gov.mb.ca/education-review-public.

 

Flin Flon Individuals and Events Are Among Nominees for Special Awards.

The Northern Manitoba Tourism Awards are being presented in The Pas tonight. There are four nominees in each of the five categories and Flin Flon is represented in three of them.  The Blueberry Jam Music Gathering is among those nominated for Event of the Year, Flin Flon Culture Days for the Partnership Award and Becky Cianflone and Ken Pawlachuk for the Award of Distinction Administrative Award.

             

The Awards are being presented tonight at the Kikiwak Inn.  Other nominees are from The Pas, Thompson, Norway House, Snow Lake, Gillam and Churchill.

 

Flin Flon Firefighters are Part of a Stairclimb Challenge Supporting Cancer Treatment.

On Sunday May 5th firefighters from Flin FLon will climb the steps of Calgary’s Bow Building.  Led by Fire Chief Chad Cooper firefighters Aaron Simon, James Dauk and Nathan Elliott will climb one of western Canada’s tallest buildings in support of firefighters and citizens living with cancer. Cooper says the annual event is hosted by the Calgary Firefighters Benevolent Society noting the stair climb involves seven hundred and seventy-five vertical feet consisting of 1204 steps in 55 flights of stairs adding the group has been training for the past several months.

             

Cooper adds the event raises money for Wellspring Calgary which is a non-profit that helps provide care to people diagnosed with cancer and while money is donated directly to their support center they also pass out some of the funds raised to the Firefighters Assistance Charitable society noting 17 presumptive cancers are recognized occupational hazards of the firefighter’s job.

             

You can donate to the cause at www.calgarystairclimb.com, click on show a firefighter support and search for Flin Flon.

Two Local Wrestlers Have Received a New Award.

Last August Mayor Cal Huntley announced the new City of Flin Flon Excellence Award.  The first recipients of the award were announced as local wrestlers Hunter and Carson Lee.  They represent Flin Flon at wrestling events around the world winning numerous awards where they display the City of Flin Flon flag. The award is a picture by local photographer Randy Whitbread of the statue of Flinty with a northern lights background.

             

Both Hunter and Carson were in Flin Flon on the weekend so Mayor Huntley presented them with the award at City Hall on Saturday. You can see a picture of them with the award attached to this story at www.flinflononline.com.

 

Child Dental Care Should Start Early.

April is Oral Heath Month. Bruce Krentz from the Northern Health Region says our children’s dental care should start as soon as their first tooth appears.

 Krentz explains there’s a program Healthy Smile Healthy Child available in Manitoba that has been going on for a little while highlighting oral health for kids and it really sets you on a good path for life.  He says there’s simple things you can do so brush your child’s teeth twice a day and help them brush their teeth until they’re eight, that’s what these guys are recommending.

Other tips include avoid giving your children sugary drinks like juice and sodas and taking your child to the dentist around the time of their first birthday.

 

Find out more on their facebook page at Healthy Smile Happy Child.

You Can Have Someone Arrested This Week.

The Women’s Resource Center is holding a Jail N Bail fund raising event during the Leisure Show at the Creighton Sportex Thursday through Saturday.  The Center’s Executive Director Colleen Arnold explains volunteers do hard time for a good cause by collecting and donating bail money. She says the event begins when participants contact the Women’s Resource Center and request to turn themselves in or they can have their boss, spouse, a politician, a friend or a co-workers arrested and then the mock police officer arrests the jailbird and whisks them off to jail and then the jailbird starts raising bail prior to their arrest and the donations go the the Women’s Safe Haven.

             

Over the past four years they have raised almost 9 thousand dollars for the Safe Haven.  Arrest forms are available by contacting the Women’s Resource Center at 204-681-3105 and forms can be faxed or emailed to you.  All bail donations of 20 dollars or more will receive a tax receipt.

 

                                                             

The Deadline to Register Your Younger Children for School is Approaching.

Parents are reminded to register your children for Kindergarten in Flin Flon School Division.  Administrative Assistant Kathryn Church says the deadline for registering is a week away.  She explains registration is open for the 2019-2020 school year and this is for children who will turn five by December 31st 2019, the deadline to register is April 30th and families are asked to register at the school in their catchment.  She notes if you have any questions about your catchment you can call the schools.  Church adds School of Choice applications are available online or at the Division office and the deadline to apply for School of Choice is May 15th.

            

  More information is available at both McIsaac and Ruth Betts Schools or by contacting the Division office.

 

Cranberry Portage RCMP are looking for a missing woman (LOCATED APR 23)

On April 13 Cranberry Portage RCMP received a report of a missing 23-year-old female. Skye Charlette was last seen on April 10 in the community of Cranberry Portage.

Skye Charlette is 5’7”, 125 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes.

She may be in the Thompson, Nelson House or Flin Flon areas.

If you have any information please call Cranberry Portage RCMP at 204-472-4040 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

 

A Long Time Member of the Local Chamber Was Honored Tuesday.

The Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce said thank you to Bunny Burke for her years of service as a member of the Chamber and in the community as she retires from her position with the Chamber.  Past President Dianne Russell reviewed some of her many involvements whether it was a barbeque, festival event, spring clean up, community parties, economic committees, Rotary, Chamber, Cadets, Legion, municipal provincial committees, the list goes on and Bunny’s name was always connected.  Russell said as she became more involved in the community and Chamber specifically she came to realize that Bunny was always an integral part of pretty much every aspect.  It could have been Secretary, Treasure, President, fund raiser, it really didn’t matter you were always there.

             

Other members shared their memories of working on projects with Bunny.  She received a certificate of appreciation for her over 40 years with the Chamber as well as a framed picture of her with the city mascot Flinty.

A New Store is Off to a Good Start.

General Manager Tom Therien told the 74th annual meeting of the North of 53 Co-op last night 2018 was an historic year for the Co-op. Their new store opened last April 27th on time and on budget with sales better than expected.  He noted with the new store they expected to experience a few lean years in terms of local loss and the 2018 financial statement reflects that with depreciation of the new building and equipment being the largest factor of the loss.  He reported they will not be allocating any of the net savings of just under 339 thousand dollars to their membership but instead will be transferring it to their reserve fund.  They expect 2019 will be a lean year as well but they should be on track for allocation in 2020.

             

Nominations were held for three positions on the Board for three year terms.  Linda Clark, Dave Kendall and Rob Schiefele will be seeking re-election with Tim Davis also letting his name stand. Advance voting will take place in the store Wednesday May 1st and regular voting Friday May 10th.

 

Earth Day Should be Celebrated Every Day.

The Flin Flon Environment Council is asking you to remember Earth Day Monday.  Recycling Center Administrator Deb Odegaard explains Earth Day actually started in 1970 when a Republican and a Democrat were appalled by an oil spill and it’s been great that it continues and its focus has changed from different kinds of issues but it’s always important to remember that earth is what provides us life and we need to take care of it so April 22nd is a good day but it would be good to make every day Earth Day.

             

Odegaard also reminds you their annual meeting will be held on Monday the 29th at 7 in Council Chambers at City Hall and they will be at the Leisure Show next Thursday to Saturday at the Creighton Sportex.

You Are Invited to Take Part in an Earth Day March Monday.

Students and staff at Frontier Collegiate in Cranberry Portage will be taking part in a March for Climate Change Monday afternoon.  Teacher Bill Taylor explains scientists have stated for years that our changing climate can be attributed to humans increased carbon emissions.  He says the new climate change report released earlier this month indicates that Canada’s climate is warming at roughly twice the rate of the rest of the world. He adds adults are not doing enough to reduce climate change and it’s time for the youth to act.

             

The Frontier Collegiate Climate Change March will take place from 12:40 to 1:40 Monday afternoon.  Taylor says you can join the march, come out and watch the march or take climate change action on your own.   

City Council Will Again Take Part in A Special Day of Remembrance.

At their meeting last night Flin Flon City Council was invited by the United Steelworkers Local 7106 to take part in their annual National Day of Mourning Ceremony on Sunday April 28th at 7:30 at the Steelworkers Monument beside the Victoria Inn. It honors those who have been killed or injured while at work.  Mayor Cal Huntley said Council will be represented at the ceremony.

             

Councilor Colleen Arnold reported on the success of the Northern Urban Reserves, Municipalities and Economic Development conference she recently attended in Thompson.  She said it looked at the benefit of partnerships with Indigenous communities and urban reserves as well as Indigenomics and the Indigenous contribution to our northern economy,

             

Councilor Colleen McKee reminded artists Friday is the deadline to enter artwork for the Main Artery Main Street Art Gallery by emailing flinflonmainstreetgallery@gmail.com.

             

And Council accepted the Fire Chiefs report for March indicating four incidents, three involving traffic and a false alarm.

 

Flin Flon City Council Continues to Move Forward on a Strategic Plan.

Last night Council released their Strategic Plan for 2019-22. Mayor Cal Huntley said we are the first community to develop such a plan in direct consultation with the community.

             

Each of the pillars outlined in the plan represents a broad area of importance to the future of the community and has attached key action items with financial and allocated resources to enable the success of the plan.  The pillars include health and wellbeing, infrastructure and smarter technologies, economic development, effective governance, comprehensive seniors programs, youth engagement and retention, beautification, workforce management, recreation and leisure and tourism.

             

Mayor Huntley noted many of the initiatives are already being worked on and the plan will give further guidance.  He says each year the plan will be reviewed and adjustments made as needed.

            

  Copies of the plan can be found at City Hall and will soon be on their website.  A new website is in the development stages that will allow for community feedback.

 

An Ore Body West of Flin Flon Could be the Source of Future Local Jobs.

The President and CEO of Foran Mining Patrick Soares spoke to the local Chamber of Commerce yesterday on their McIlvenna Bay project 65 kilometers west of Flin Flon.  He said they got involved in 2010 and have done around 8 million dollars in drilling since 2017.  He explained depending on the ongoing feasibility study and if they can get financing it would take about two years to get into production and they have been in discussions with Hudbay on processing ore here so they hope to have some news from that in the next few months because all that will have to be incorporated in a feasibility study because they need to know what Hudbay is going to charge them to process the ore here and that’s going to be a factor on whether they go ahead and build their own mill or whether they use the processing facilities here.  He says they believe that McIlvenna Bay offers an opportunity for at least 10 to 12 years of life initially and that would open about the time that Triple Seven is shutting.

            

  Soares added if they move to production they would be looking at about 30 people in their mill if that’s the way they go and around 80 underground depending on the size of tonnage and they will hire locally wherever they can.

The Earth is Struggling to Survive.

The Central Canada Film Group is taking part in National Film Day tomorrow.  The group’s Tom Heine says this is a Canada wide event that shows Canadian films and they are showing Anthropocene A Human Epoch.  He explains most people know the geological history of the world has been split up into various groups and eras and we are now in possibly the largest mass extinction event that we know about and it’s basically due to human interactions with the environment. He adds we’re degrading the environment, there are too many of us and the movie is basically an essay about what we’ve done to the surface of the planet.

             

This film will be shown tomorrow night at 7:30 in the Hapnot Collegiate Theatre.  Admission is free but a silver collection will take place to cover some of the expenses in getting this movie.

 

You Can Change Your Relationship With Food.

Community Dietician Joanna Ledoux is holding a how to workshop with both evening and daytime sessions starting later this month.  She says it’s about Craving Change and the workshop is actually a three session course and it’s a how to workshop on changing you relationship with food so they’re going to be talking about how people understand why they eat the way they do, learn how to comfort themselves without food and they’re going to change their thinking and change their eating.  Ledoux is asking people to register by calling her at 204-681-3149 or email jledoux2@nrha.ca.

             

The workshop will run Mondays April 29th and May 6th and 13th from 6:30 to 8 at the Flin Flon Primary Health Care Centre and on Thursdays May 9th, 16th and 23rd from 10 to 11:30 in the Family Room at Ruth Betts School.

Hudbay Continues to Move Forward in the Snow Lake Area.

Hudbay is hosting a site visit by analysts and investors to its Lalor Mine near Snow Lake today.  They also released their first quarter 2019 Manitoba production results.

             

Hudbay President and CEO Alan Hair says their Manitoba business unit delivered strong production performance in the first quarter this year as a direct result of the ongoing efforts of their operations team to drive continued improvements and efficiencies.  He added they are also very pleased with the recent results from their exploration activities including further drilling in their newly discovered 1901 Zone between the former Chisel North Mine and Lalor Mine near Snow Lake.

             

Hudbay increased ore mined at Triple Seven in the first quarter by 8 percent compared to the same period last year due to improved availability of the scoop and truck fleet and a focus on improving key performance indicators in the drilling, blasting and backfill processes. Lalor production ramped up to 45 hundred tonnes per day in February.  Ore processed in Flin Flon in the first quarter was 26 percent lower due to the Reed Mine closure and improvements to the Stall concentrator in Snow Lake.

 

 

The Lions Club Has Their New Executive.

At their meeting last week members of the Flin Flon Lions Club elected their new executive.  Alan French will become President of the Club while Joe Bradford is Past President.  Vice-Presidents include Wayne Streamer, Jim Cassidy and Ken Mansell.  Debbie Kuzub continues as Secretary and Monica Lone as Treasurer.  Lions Tamer is Janice Cassidy and Neal Dimik will serve as Tail Twister.  One year Directors are Roger Poirier and Joe McCormick and two year Directors include Lisa Tower and Jan Nikkel.

             

The new executive takes office on July 1st.

 

Business People from the South Will Learn What Is Available in The Pas Area.

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce will hold economic development tours in The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation on April 24th and the 25th.  Their President and CEO Chuck Davidson explains this is an initiative that they undertook last summer and over the course of the next 18 months they’re going to be doing six economic development tours of northern Manitoba communities.  He says they really want to provide an opportunity for business people from the southern part of the province and Winnipeg to come to The Pas and OCN and look at what some of those opportunities are going to be. Davidson adds they bring 25 business people to The Pas and OCN and over the course of the two days will set up tours and meetings for people that are looking at doing business in the area to provide a better understanding of what business opportunities exist. The Chamber’s schedule calls for them to be in Flin Flon in October.

Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey Honored Three Cranberry Portage Students in the Legislature Last Week.

Lindsey said the three students have devoted their time and energy to mastering their skills and deserve congratulations.  He noted Austin Halkett from Brochet has completed the Building Construction Program and will soon be seeking an apprenticeship in the building trade. Jonathan McDougall from St Theresa Point and Alexis Ballantyne from Traders Lake are enrolled in the Automotive Service Technician program at Frontier and will be completing it this year with Jonathan seeking employment as a welder and Alexis an apprenticeship in the automotive trade.  He stated these three students represent some of the best we have and they are going to transform their trades with their creativity, talent and perseverance.  He added while they continue to hone their skills and strive for more we are tremendously proud of what they have already accomplished and he thanks their instructors and Frontier Collegiate for giving them such a great education.

             

The three were present in the gallery at the Legislature during Lindsey’s statement.

 

Its Time to Register for an Easter Celebration at the Library.

The Flin Flon Public Library is holding an Easter Party April 24th.  Administrator Courtney Campbell invites you to register your children now.  She says they’re going to have stories, crafts, snacks, all of the fun stuff that they usually do for the kids as well as a visit from the Easter Bubby so they’re very excited to do this annual party for the kids as it’s a big deal for them.  She adds they need you to call the Library at 204-687-3397 to reserve a spot and there are only 30 spots for kids age 4 and up and they’re already starting to fill up so give them a call or drop in and reserve your spot today.

             

All children must be accompanied by an adult.  The party runs from 4:30 to 6 Wednesday April 24th.

Local Band Students Will Experience a Music and Arts Festival.

Grade seven band students from Flin Flon School Division are heading to The Pas Monday.  Band Instructor Anna Harrison says they will be part of The Pas Music and Fine Arts Festival.  She explains they play at MBCI and they’re bringing up a clinician from Winnipeg to listen to them play and he gives them feedback and works with them for an hour and then they come back home so this is a really quick trip into The Pas with a chance to play in a new venue and get some feedback from an expert.

             

Harrison adds they will have around 40 local band students taking part in the Festival this year. This is the second year her grade seven students have attended the Festival.

 

A Northern Manitoba Member of the Legislature Wants to Represent Our Federal Riding.

The MLA for the provincial riding of Keewatinook Judy Klassen has filed her papers to seek the nomination for the Federal Liberal Party in Churchill Keewatinook-Aski.  The riding has been held by NDP Member of Parliament Niki Ashton since 2008.

             

Klassen is originally from the First Nations Community of St. Theresa Point.  She says the continued commitment to the north by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government is crucial in both achieving more Truth and Reconciliation initiatives as well as building our northern economy. Klassen adds the time of the Ashton family representation in the north is over and now is the time for representation and leadership that can get results for the north.

 

Travel Was The Focus of Tuesday Nights Flin Flon School Board Meeting.

Teacher Daniel Dillon and two of the 37 Hapnot students who were part of this year’s Travel Club adventures in Europe gave Board members a brief overview of their recent trip.  This was the largest group of travelers to participate to date exploring six countries in just twelve days.  Their presentation began with Dillon thanking the Board for approving the trip that saw students exploring the many historic landmarks, museums and art galleries and castles of Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany.  The students bonded in separate groups for various tours working and respecting each other also learning valuable time management skills.  For the first time travelers going in a group may be the best avenue as it encourages learning and Dillon mentioned that on each trip he has been on students return a changed person. 

             

The Board acknowledged the students and are proud they represented our community in such a respectful manner. Dillon made the next travel proposal to the Board which will take the students to Ecuador in two years.  The Board will discuss the proposal over the next two weeks and a response is expected at the nest meeting April 23rd.  Additional thanks were given to the organizers and supervisors for this trip Natalie Milligan, Mark Wendlandt, Monique Rainville, Amber Hay, Cheryl Ruckle and Daniel Dillon.

 

Too Many Billionaires are Receiving Our Tax Money.

In Question Period this week Member of Parliament Niki Ashton asked the Prime Minister why money is going to his billionaire friends when First Nations and hurting Canadians get nothing.  She explained last week she asked this government to address urgent food insecurity in our north because of climate change and did they ever deliver giving 12 million dollars to Loblaws a company headed up by the second richest Canadian.  She added Liberals also gave 4.5 billion to a rich American oil company and in the eyes of this Liberal government it’s clear that every problem can be solved by giving money to your billionaire friends and meanwhile First Nations already hurting from climate change get nothing.

             

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna outlined what they government has done on climate change noting the money to Loblaws to update to energy efficient freezers and coolers will be equivalent to taking 50 thousand cars off the road ayear and the company is paying three quarters of the cost.

 

You Can Satisfy Your Love of Poetry Friday Night.

The Flin Flon Writers Guild, Flin Flon Toastmasters and Flin Flon Public Library will be holding their 18th annual Poetry Night Friday.  The group’s Harry Hobbs says its part of National Poetry Month and they are looking forward to a good array of readers from different parts of Flin Flon.  He says they’re having the MLA and guests from different organizations as well as Toastmasters and local authors reading so it should be a good evening.

             

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

Your Non-Profit Organization Can Now Apply for Government Grants.

The Manitoba government has launched a new Building Sustainable Communities Program that will streamline and modernize grant support to non-profit organizations.
The new $7.9-million program replaces seven legacy grant programs.
Eligible applicants for the new program include non-profit organizations, charitable organizations, municipalities, and Northern Affairs Community Councils.  The program will provide a maximum provincial contribution of up to 50 per cent of total eligible project costs to a maximum grant of $75,000.
The new program will have two intakes per year at set times, successful applications will need to demonstrate how their projects provide an overall positive benefit for their community and partnerships are encouraged. 
Intake for the program is open and application deadline is May 22.  For more information, or to submit an application, visit www.manitobago.ca.

The Pas MLA Amanda Lathlin spoke in the Manitoba Legislature recently about the mental health crisis affecting youth in Northern Manitoba.

 According to Lathlin the crisis is linked to higher rates of poverty and addictions and the effects of intergenerational trauma. As a result indigenous youth are six times more likely to commit suicide and experience substance abuse than anyone else in the province.  Lathlin said there are not enough mental health resources available in the north to help our children.  She noted most First Nation communities do not even have a permanent mental health professional and in order to see a psychiatrist our northern youth have to leave their home and travel hundreds of miles away from their friends and family.  She added a report called for the removal of the geographical gap in the treatment access nearly a year ago but this government has done nothing, in fact it made it harder for our northern youth and their families to seek treatment.

Lathlin concluded by saying northern Manitobans deserve better because too many youth have already taken their lives because they couldn’t get the treatment they needed.

Thousands of People Involved in Theatre Are Now Aware of Flin Flon.

The owners of the Big Island Drive In Theatre Dawn and Dan Hlady attended a Cinemacon conference in Las Vegas last week.  Dawn says on opening night they were acknowledged for their little Drive In Theatre among theatre owners, movie producers, film writers and actors.  She explains on opening night they got a big shout out from the manager of Cinemacon who put Flin Flon up on the screen at the Coliseum at Caesar’s Palace so there’s about five thousand people who are now aware of where Flin Flon is way up in northern Canada where that little Drive In starts movies at 11 o’clock at night so our situation is quite different from a lot of other attendees that were there.

             

Cinemacon is sponsored by the National Association of Theatre Owners.  You can hear more on the event tomorrow morning at 8:30 with Raphael Saray.

 

Creighton Denare Beach Area Residents can Provide Input on the Future of Education.

The Government of Saskatchewan is looking for public input into the future of education in the province.  Education Minister Gordon Wyant says they want to hear from students, parents, educators and school staff to better understand what they want for the future of education to ensure schools are on the right path to meet the needs of students as they look forward to the next decade.

             

A consultation process began last fall with education partners and schools divisions are creating opportunities for parents and students to participate in person.  To take part in the online survey visit their website www.saskatchewan.ca and click on future of education survey.

 

The Manitoba Government is Recognizing This Month as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The government is raising awareness of the serious issue of sexual violence.  The Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Centre Colleen Arnold says sexual violence is a serious issue across Canada but especially in Manitoba.  She explains according to Stats Canada in 2015 there were 1356 police reported sexual assaults in Manitoba and the rate is more than 104 sexual assault victims for every 100 thousand people which is almost two times the national rate which is more than 59 victims per 100 thousand population and these are alarming but even more alarming is that research shows 95 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to police.

             

For information on available supports, health information, police information, information on consent or to participate in discussions and share information visit the You Are Not Alone webpage at www.gov.mb.ca/youarenotalone.

 

Three Flin Flon Women Topped a Weekend Fishing Derby.

The Flin Flon Rotary Club held their 5th annual Flinty Fishing Derby Sunday at Bakers Narrows.  468 People entered the derby with 35 prizes totaling around 90 thousand dollars with 31 fish caught.

             

The top five winners all with northern pike were Morganna Senyk of Flin Flon first with  100 centimeters receiving 25 thousand dollars cash, second Shelly Yeo of Flin Flon 99.5 centimeters receiving a 14 foot Lund boat with motor and trailer, third Theresa Wride of Flin Flon with 93 centimeters receiving a Polaris Quad, fourth Bobby Smith of Flin Flon 92 centimeters receiving a fly in fishing package for four and fifth was Darnell Francoeur of The Pas 83.5 centimeters receiving Calm Air tickets for two.  The top combination winner taking part in this derby and the Bill Bannock derby in The Pas Saturday was Dustin Dorion of The Pas with three fish totaling 164 centimeters winning 25 hundred dollars and the hidden fish prize of 25 hundred dollars went to Bobby Smith of Flin Flon.

             

The derby ran from 11 to 2 Sunday with the first fish caught one minute into the derby.

 

Your Children Can Help Name a Future RCMP Musical Ride Horse.

The RCMP are asking for help in naming twelve foals that will be born this spring at the RCMP breeding farm in Ontario.  Superintendent Kevin Fahey says this is the 80th anniversary of their breeding program and they can’t think of a better way to name the foals that are born at their farm than by asking kids across Canada to help them.  Up to twelve winning names will be selected including one classroom entry.

             

To qualify names must begin with the letter”R”, participants must be 14 years old or younger, only one entry per child will be eligible, contestants must live in Canada, entries must be received no later than April 30th.

             

The children whose names are selected will each receive a prize pack that includes a photo of the foal they named, a certificate signed by the RCMP Commissioner and an engraved horse shoe.  The winning classroom will receive a framed photo of the foal they named along with the signed certificate.

             

To enter on line or to get the mail in address go to your favorite search engine type in name the foal contest 2019.

 

A Course is Coming Up for People Involved in the Service Industry.

The Northern Manitoba Mining Academy and University College of the North in Partnership with the Manitoba Tourism Education Council is offering Smart Choices Responsible Service Certification in May.  The Academy’s Craig Cowper explains this Smart Choices course focuses on current laws, major requirements and responsible strategies when serving or selling liquor so courses like this have been around for a number of years but there’s been some new requirements for retailers including beer vendors and liquor vendors.  He adds the Northern Manitoba Mining Academy is offering this course via Zoom which is a video conference so students can come to the classroom here while we have an instructor in Winnipeg.

             

The course will take place at the Northern Manitoba Mining Academy in Flin Flon from 9 to 4 May 14th with registration 76 dollars.  You are encouraged to register early by emailing crcowper@ucn.ca or call 204-687-7038.

 

You Can Learn Where Our Community is Going Over the Next Four Years.

At their meeting Tuesday night Flin Flon City Council announced they will be releasing the city’s Strategic Plan for 2019 to 2022 on Tuesday April 16th at 6 o’clock in city council chambers.  The plan was developed after extensive public consultation. The presentation is open to the public.

             

Council gave final approval to the bylaw establishing a per parcel rate for protective or police and fire services. The rate for this year drops to 395 dollars from 698 last year due to a drop in population below five thousand so the province picks up a larger portion of police costs. The bylaw allows for an increase of up to three percent over the next two years.

             

The Flin Flon Arts Council’s Crystal Kolt advised Council Lieutenant Governor Janice Filmon will be in Flin Flon during Culture Days from September 26th to 28th and will be taking part in several events.

             

And Councilor Colleen McKee reported the Finance Committee has been working on seniors housing and an initiative will be coming soon to help them move forward.

 

A Fundraiser Will Support Northern Patients.

Ann Ross and Doug McGregor are hosting a fund raising concert Saturday to support A Port in the Storm.  Ross explains A Port In The Storm is a hostel in Winnipeg that provides accommodation for rural and northern people requiring long term medical treatment in the city.

             

Ross adds they have a great variety of 13 local entertainers.  The concert takes place Saturday at Johnny’s Social Club at 7:30.  Tickets are ten dollars and you can reserve a seat by emailing rossann53@hotmail.com.

 

You Can Support Curling at the Uptown Curling Club.

The Flin Flon Curling Club is holding an indoor garage sale along with a bake sale Saturday.  The Club’s Della Chilson says it is a fund raiser for the Club and the money will be used for general monthly expenses and some minor repair jobs until they receive their registrations again in the fall.

             

The sale will run from 8:30 to 2 Saturday in the Curling Club lounge. Anyone who can donate items for the garage sale or baking can drop them off Thursday from 4 to 8 or Friday from 1 to 6.

             

The Curling Club will also be holding two draws on August 2nd.  The first is for a patio swing and Broil King barbeque and the second for a two night all inclusive stay at Rocky View Lodge for four people.

 

Triple Sevens Life has Been Extended and Lalor Gold Production Will Increase.

Hudbay has approved an early works program at its Rosemont project and provided its annual mineral and resource update.  President Alan Hair says they are pleased to be moving forward at Rosemont in Arizona to carrying out the early works in parallel with financing activities for the project.  He adds they continue to drive momentum across their business with the Snow Lake Lalor Mine’s successful ramp up to 45 hundred tonnes per day, extending Flin Flon’s Triple Seven mine life to 2022 and moving Rosemont forward in a prudent manner.

             

The report states the Triple Seven Mine life has been extended to the second quarter of 2022 based on the most recent estimate of mineral reserves.   It also notes they expect Lalor annual gold production to more than double from current levels once the New Britannia mill is refurbished in 2022 and the updated resource model at Lalor includes 5.9 million tonnes of inferred mineral resources which have the potential to extend mine life beyond ten years while feeding both the Stall and New Britannia mills.  Hudbay also continues to conduct drilling on the new discovery in the Snow Lake region and is encouraged by the mineralization intersected in recent holes.

 

Nominations are Open for Special Tourism Awards.

April 10th is the deadline to nominate people or events for the Northern Manitoba Tourism Awards. The President and CEO of Travel Manitoba Colin Ferguson says there are a lot of things happening in the north. He explains there are five categories Innovation of the Year Award, Indigenous Tourism Award, Event of the Year Award, Partnership Award and an Award of Distinction for an ambassador in the area.  He says self-nomination for tourism related businesses are also welcome and they’re confidential so if you believe that you’ve got a great product and nobody has nominated you, you can nominate yourself and nominations can be made in more than one category as long as the criteria for each category is met.

             

You can nominate a person or event online at www.manitobatourismawards.awardsplatform.com.  The awards dinner will be held April 24th at the Kikiwak Inn in The Pas.

 

A Company Has Been Fined Following a 2016 Explosion in Flin Flon.

Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade is reminding employers to ensure workplaces are safe after an employer was prosecuted for violations of the Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations.

The Department reports on May 24, 2016, a contracted worker for Flin Flon-based Superior General Partner Inc. was performing maintenance on a propane pump truck in a maintenance garage.  The vehicle had been parked in the garage since the previous evening, during which time residual propane from the dispensing system of the pump truck unknowingly seeped into the garage.  When the worker lit an oxygen/acetylene cutting torch, it caused an immediate explosion and the worker suffered serious injuries.  Debris from the explosion spread over a city block, posing a threat to public safety.  This past February  Superior General Partner Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety and health of members of the public in relation to their workplace activities.  The employer was ordered to pay $70,000 in fines and penalties.

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