Local News Archives for 2019-07

A Colorful Run Returns to Denare Beach This Weekend.

Denare Beach Recreation is holding their third annual Rainbow Run Sunday.  Recreation Director Mel Durette explains it’s a fun two kilometer run through the streets of Denare Beach where you get covered in colored powder.  She says the race will start at the Denareplex and end up at the main beach with a barbeque.  She adds registration for all participants is ten dollars and it starts at 3 o’clock at the Denareplex with registration by calling her at the Rec Office or you can register that day.

             

Proceeds from the Run support the Denare Beach Rec Board.

You Can Nominate a Business for an Award.

The Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures Greenstone are sponsoring their annual Entrepreneurs of the Year Award.  Chamber Past President Dianne Russell says they are looking for nominations from the communities of Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach.  She explains they’re pretty well open to anyone nominating a business that they think is worthy of this and all they have to do is get hold of Community Futures or Flin Flon District Chamber right on their website where there’s a email so they can just click on there. She adds they have sent out an invite to all of their members and they just want people to have a little bit of time to this year to think about who they’d like to nominate and really honor the businesses that help keep out community a great place to live as she thinks without these small businesses in our community we feel a little less of a community.

            

Nominations can be submitted emailing flinflondistrictchamber@gmail.com or call Community Futures Greenstone at 204-687-6967.  The awards will be presented at the annual Infusion Entrepreneurship Conference being held on October 28th.

 

 

Children Are Learning More About Science and Engineering This Week.

The University of Manitoba is again sponsoring a Kid-netic Energy Science and Engineering summer day camp in Flin Flon.  It is running this week at Ruth Betts Community School.  Jill Lautenschlager with Women in Science and Engineering at the University says they operate on daily themes and this year they have chemistry day, a natural disaster day and then they’re changing it up a bit with one day that covers agriculture as well as material science and then they’re going to have two days for code makers.

             

You can learn more about these summer camps by visiting their website www.wisekidneticenergy.com.  If you have questions email wise@umanitoba.ca or call 1-204-474-9340.

 

You Can Develop Your Digital Skills at No Cost.

The Information and Communications Technologies Association of Manitoba and University College of the North are teaming up to offer you an opportunity to improve your digital skills.  Their Program Director Margaux Miller says they will be offering their free DigitAll program through UCN in Thompson as well as other centres.  She explains in The Pas courses will start back up in September again at the UCN facility and they are also having great conservations with some other local communities so that’s currently what’s set up for end of summer and early fall and they they’re looking at delivering in-community training in Flin Flon and some other surrounding communities soon as well.

             

Miller adds through this program they plan to provide digital training skills at no cost to hundreds of Manitobans who will gain confidence in using computers, mobile devices and the internet safely, securely and effectively.  To learn more visit their website www.ictam.ca.

 

You Can Help Make a Music Weekend a Success.

The Blueberry Jam Music Gathering is coming up August 8th to 11th.  Volunteer Coordinator Katie Anderson says they could use more volunteers at Johnny’s Social Club, the main stage at the Tourist Park and the Rotary Wheel.  She says the Rotary beer tent probably needs some more and their food vending station and they need some for the entrances and some for the environment which is not a nice job but it is necessary just keeping the washrooms neat and tidy.

             

Anderson adds they are going to have a volunteer orientation Tuesday, August 6th from 4 to 7 at the Community Hall and it’s a come and go so you can come when it suits you and it’ll only be a few minutes.  You’ll learn about the job that you’ll be doing, you’ll get a schedule for yourself, you’ll be able to pick up your volunteer t-shirt and ask any questions that you’re concerned about.

             

If you’re interested in volunteering call Katie at 204-687-3935 and leave your name and phone number.

Accessing Health Care Was the Focus of a Meeting in Creighton Thursday Night.

Three Saskatchewan MLAs held a health check up in Creighton as part of their provincial tour to find out how people feel about health care in the province.  Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette was joined by the NDP health critic Vicki Mowat and Mental Health and Addictions Critic Danielle Chartier.

             

Mowat explained they have been raising in the Legislature the issue of northern Saskatchewan women having to travel four hours to give birth because of the lack of obstetrical services in Flin Flon.  Other issues raised at the meeting for Creighton people accessing medical services in the south include lack of public transportation, cost, no sharing of medical records between Manitoba and Saskatchewan, lack of access to long term care in Creighton and people leaving to be closer to medical services.

             

Chartier reported at least half the questions raised on their tour were around mental health and the addictions crisis and the lack of services available.

             

Issues raised at the meeting will be taken to the Health Minister when the Legislature reconvenes in October.

 

 

The Second in a Series of Flower Power Events is Coming Up Tomorrow.

The Flin Flon Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation and the Friendship Centre Youth Group continue their Flower Power concert series tomorrow.  The Corporation’s Laurence Gillespie says this one will focus on World Bubble Day which originated in Flin Flon with a variety of bubble events.  He explains that includes bubble cake, cupcakes, free ice cream and a full afternoon of entertainment by a variety of Flin Flon musicians who are donating their time for this.  He adds there’ll be all kinds of bubble making so bubble races, contests to make the biggest bubbles, bubble duels, bubble combat games, challenges to see who can get the bubbles to a certain location the fastest so everything bubble related will be the focus of the event this Saturday.

             

Flower Power Bubble Day runs from 12 to 4 tomorrow at Rotary Park.  The next event Dinosaur Races is planned for the following Saturday.

Small and Medium Sized Businesses in Manitoba and Saskatchewan Can Now Apply for Funding for Energy Saving Projects.

Last week the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna announced that small and medium sized businesses in the four provinces where the federal government carbon pollution pricing currently applies can now apply to the SME Project stream of the Climate Action Incentive Fund.

             

These businesses will be eligible to receive funding of up to 25 percent of the cost of projects that will make their businesses more productive and competitive as they reduce energy use, save money and cut greenhouse gas pollution. This amounts to 9.3 million dollars in total funding in Manitoba and 21.3 million in Saskatchewan with the funding allocated to eligible projects on a first come first served basis.  A wide range of projects are eligible including building retrofits, improved industrial processes, fuel switching and the production of renewable energy.  For details and an application package search Climate Action Incentive Fund.

Concerns About Health Care Continue to be Raised.

Churchill Kewatinook Aski Member of Parliament Niki Ashton reports

as she visits throughout our region health care continues to be a major issue.

 

She reports she has heard major concerns about the provinces privatization of our ambulance services, the loss of birthing services in Flin Flon, the lack of healthcare services in First Nations communities and ongoing concerns about people not having access to the healthcare they need.

 

She says their NDP caucus will fight to keep what we have and to improve and expand services and have also announced their commitment to expanding Medicare. Ashton explains the current system provides incomplete coverage so they are proposing to expand health care coverage to include dental, eye, hearing, and mental health care which she says is complete coverage that reflects the needs of 21st century Canadians.

 

Health Care is a Priority For People in the North.

In Flin Flon Tuesday Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew said people see a need to bring more health care services to the north.  He explained the basic idea is they want health care to be closer to home for people in the north especially for primary care like your doctor appointments things like that, that way when you do have to travel it’s more for the surgeries and the visits to specialists and things like that.  He said that’s something they want to do first to improve health care in the north and then the second is to focus on programs like the Northern Patient Transportation Program, like Lifeflight air ambulances for when people do have to travel south.    Kinew adds the NDP will cancel the privatization of Lifeflight to ensure service is available when and where needed.

             

Kinew met with city council and Hudbay in Flin Flon, teachers in Cranberry Portage and nurses in The Pas.

Expanding Community Involvement Was Part of an Annual Meeting.

The Flin Flon Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation held their annual meeting last night.  Chair Mark Kolt presented a report of their activities for the past year. Their small grants program supported Culture Days, Northern Juried Art Show, Trout Festival and Blueberry Jam Music Gathering.  Their biggest event was the first Flower Power Festival and they continued Flowers on Main Street with 60 flower pots on Main Street and at City Hall and the Station Museum.  In the future they plan to continue these Flower events as well as do more community outreach, get the word out on what they are doing and help more local groups access funding.  They are also going to play a role in helping to develop some affordable housing in the community, to work together with youth groups and do more with community events in general such as Culture Days, the Trout Festival, Flinty’s Birthday and other cultural events and would like to make Pioneer Square a more happening place in the summer by staging concerts and other events on a regular basis. 

 

The Mining Situation in Flin Flon Cannot be Ignored.

While in Flin Flon yesterday Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew called for mining support here in Flin Flon.  He and local MLA Tom Lindsey said the Pallister government has ignored the mining crisis in Flin Flon and other northern communities.  He said what we’ve seen is that there are hundreds of fewer people working and the response from Pallister’s government so far has been that this is business as usual but he thinks that the role of government is to take action when people are losing jobs or concerned that they may lose jobs in the future to ensure that there’s good quality mining jobs across northern Manitoba so that’s what he and Tom Lindsey are standing up for, for people who are working in the mining industry and of course the communities that benefit from having those jobs close by.

             

Kinew adds documents show there is less than 11 million dollars in the Mining Community Reserve Fund meaning even by the Premier’s interpretation of the legislation there is at least one million dollars available with Lindsey adding the Fund exists for this very situation to help communities facing a severe economic crisis yet Pallister refuses to use it.

You Can Learn More About a Local Service.

The Flin Flon Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation is holding their annual meeting tonight.  Executive Director Laurence Gillespie invites you to come out and learn about their programs. He says they’ll be reporting on the projects they have done in the past year and will be looking for input on what people would like them to do in the coming year.  He explains there’s been some changes in the way these Neighborhood Renewal Corporations work in recent years and so they’re interested in knowing with their resources what people would like to do with them so they’re doing a lot more with community events and things like that and would like to know if people think that’s a good idea or would they like them to devote more resources to other activities.

             

Gillespie adds they will also review the financial statement and hold the election of officers.  The meeting is being held tonight at 7 in Council Chambers at City Hall.

 

A New Art Exhibit Opens at Norva Tomorrow Night.

The Norva Centre is presenting an art display titled Earth Song with the opening tomorrow night.  The Centre’s Karen Clark explains it features work by Cheryl Zubrack an acrylic painter from Winnipeg and Ron Scott who is a wood turner from Wanless, Manitoba and the two of them have put together a selection of their work that compliments one another’s process and their land based orientation.

             

You’re invited to the opening and artists talk at the Norva Centre at 177 Green Street tomorrow night at 7 with the exhibit running until the end of August. You can also check out the recent renovations made at the Centre.

Manitoba Liberals Have Plans For Addictions.

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont has announced plans for the addiction crisis plaguing Manitoba Communities.  He says meth addiction is a fast moving epidemic and Manitoba is stuck in slow motion so we need to divert people from taking meth in the first place and make sure they can get treatment they need to recover.

             

Lamont says they will use a portion of the revenue from legal cannabis to implement a province wide public awareness campaign against meth, create drug stabilization units, fund transitional housing with mental health supports and expand harm reduction to reduce deaths and critical health incidents associated with injection drug use.

            

  Lamont has previously proposed creating a Manitoba Police Service to replace the contract policing currently being done by the RCMP which would have anti-gang and anti-drug units that could disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into the province.

 

An Annual Fishing Tournament is Set For the August Long Weekend.

The 30th annual Cranberry Portage Trout Challenge is coming up August 3rd and 4th on Big Athapap.  The committee’s Mike Wesner says the entry fee is 150 dollars for a team of two with great prizes again this year with first, second and third places all guaranteed so first place is 5 thousand dollars, second is 25 hundred and third is 2 thousand dollars and since this is the 30th annual you win a thousand dollars if you finish in 30th place.  He adds there is a youth angler competition so that’s ages 15 and under and first place for that is 350 dollars, second is 250 and third place is 200 dollars and there’s also a lot of hidden prizes for everyone throughout the derby.

             

The boat parade is Friday night August 2nd with a rules meeting to follow with a penny parade with lots of prizes and fishing on the Saturday and Sunday starting at 8 am.  For information and registration call 204-271-3465 or 271-0050.

 

You Can Join Millions of Others by Recycling Your Cell Phone.

A free cell phone recycling program recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.  Recycle My Cell reports just under 432 thousand devices were recovered last year bringing their grand total of recycled or reused cell phones over the past decade to just under 7 million.

             

The President of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association Robert Ghiz says they are thrilled to have played a significant part in encouraging more Canadians to recycle or reuse their old devices rather than throwing them in the trash or stuffing them in a drawer.

             

In Flin Flon Bell MTS is part of Recycle My Cell so you can drop used cell phones off at 35 Main Street.  The local Recycling Centre also recycles cell phones through their battery recycling program.

             

To learn how to prepare your cell phone for recycling go to www.recyclemycell.ca.

 

Last Wednesday Manitoba RCMP received a report of a sexual assault involving three teenagers aged between 16 and 18 years old.

The investigation has determined that a female youth in northern Manitoba was sexually assaulted by two males, and the incident was recorded and shared through social media.

A 16-year-old male has been arrested and charged with sexual assault, forcible confinement, and possession of child pornography.

An 18-year-old male has been arrested and charged with sexual assault, forcible confinement, possession, distributing and publishing child pornography.

Corporal Laura Ledrew of the Manitoba RCMP says they believe the video continues to be circulated on social media and possibly between individuals via text. She adds investigators are determined to track down and lay charges against anyone who further distributes the video so If you do receive the video or are in possession of it, you need to report it to your local police immediately.

To protect the identity of the victim, the RCMP will not be releasing any further details.

Niki Ashton says Proper Consultation is Needed.

As part of her summer tour in Northern Manitoba, NDP MP Niki Ashton visited Camp Morning Star on traditional Hollow Water territory in Manitoba. The purpose of the visit was to stand in solidarity with community members calling for proper consultation on a frack sand mine, the Wanipigow Silica Sand Extraction Project, on their land.
 
Ashton says residents must be given the full picture about the potential environmental and health risks. Their concerns and opposition to this project must be taken seriously.

 
Camp Morning Star was established in Hollow Water First Nation Traditional Territory in response to the proposed Wanipigow Silica Sand Extraction Project. 

 

PROVINCE ISSUES EXTENDED HEAT ADVISORY JULY 19,2019

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living is warning people about potential hot conditions for central and northern regions of the province.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting high temperatures in Manitoba on Sunday, and climbing Monday and Tuesday.  This system will bring hot conditions to central and northern Manitoba (including Flin Flon, The Pas, Norway House, Lynn Lake, Thompson and may also include Grand Rapids), with some areas experiencing this extreme heat for two to three days.

Everyone is at risk for the effects of heat.  However, during a period of prolonged heat, older adults, people with chronic illness and people living alone have a particularly high risk for heat illness, especially if they are living in an urban area or do not have air conditioning.  Others at greater health risks to heat include infants and young children, and people who work or exercise in the heat.

Take care of yourself and others.  Regularly check on neighbours, friends and older family members, especially those who are ill or living alone, to make sure they are cool and drinking water.  Visiting is best because it is easier to identify signs of heat illness that could be missed over the phone.

Never leave people or pets alone in a parked vehicle or direct sunlight.

Certain substances, including amphetamines, MDMA (ecstasy), cocaine, alcohol and cannabis, can alter mental status as well as increase the risk of over-heating.  Some medications can also increase your risk, so it’s important to ask your doctor or pharmacist whether the medication you’re taking affects your ability to cope with heat.

If you have many of the following symptoms, your body may be overheating and at risk of heat illness or heat stroke;
•    headache;
•    red, hot and dry skin;
•    dizziness;
•    confusion;
•    nausea;
•    rapid weak pulse; and
•    a complete or partial loss of consciousness.

The longer a person’s body temperature is above +40 C (+105 F), the greater the likelihood of permanent effects or death.

If these symptoms occur, immediately move to a cool place and drink water.  

Emergency medical care may be needed depending on the severity of symptoms.  If someone has a high body temperature, is unconscious or is confused, call for help.  While waiting, cool the person right away by moving them to a cool place, apply cold water to large areas of the skin or clothing and fan the person as much as possible.

Heat illnesses are preventable.  The health effects of heat can be reduced by:
•    drinking plenty of liquids, especially water, before you feel thirsty;
•    wearing loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing and a wide-brimmed hat;
•    planning outdoor activities during cooler times of the day;
•    limiting alcohol consumption;
•    avoiding sun exposure and considering cancelling or rescheduling outdoor activities;
•    going to a cool place such as a mall, community centre, public library or place of worship;
•    taking a cool shower or bath; and
•    blocking sun out by closing awnings, curtains or blinds during the day.

Regularly updated weather forecasts are available from Environment and Climate Change Canada at http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html.

For more information on heat and health, call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1 888 315 9257 (toll-free). Or, visit:
•   www.manitoba.ca/health/publichealth/environmentalhealth/heat.html

You Can Celebrate Parks Day This Weekend.

Canada Parks Day is being celebrated this weekend with free entry into Provincial parks. Visitors to provincial parks will not require vehicle permits from today through Sunday although nightly camping fees still apply.

             

Special events are being held to celebrate Canada Parks Day tomorrow afternoon at Bakers Narrows Provincial Park.  You can join the staff from 1 to 4 tomorrow afternoon in the picnic area for cake, ice cream, refreshments, hot dogs, prize draws and face painting and there will be a water bomber and helicopter with an initial fire attack crew at the Flin Flon airport.

 

The Governing PC Party and the Opposition NDP are Clashing When it comes to Issues Surrounding the Northern Manitoba Mining Community.

Wab Kinew, the leader of the Manitoba NDP, spoke with Arctic Radio News about how his party would focus on job creation with the Mining Community Reserve Fund. He says we need exploration to continue to identify the next generation of mineral reserves.  He noted the other thing is the NDP has a strong record of working with both workers and mining companies to be sure that deals get done in order to ensure that jobs stay in the north and he thinks there’s probably opportunities to create jobs in other sectors that are either some of the support industries for mining but also some new areas like cold weather testing.

 

His remarks follow statements from both parties that were released yesterday, criticising each other over their commitment to northern mining communities.

 

Its Not Too Early to Start Planning a Float.

The Flin Flon Pride Committee is holding their third annual Pride parade at 11 Saturday morning August 17th.  The committee’s Melissa Streitle encourages all community groups and businesses to help make Pride a success again this year by entering a float in the parade. She explains you can be a walking group, have a car or truck, you can ride your bike or make an incredibly elaborate float, your group can decide what works best for you, floats can be as simple or extravagant as you like. She adds they have had an overwhelming amount of support again this year and cannot wait to see their parade grow to show our support for equality and human rights.

             

You can enter the parade by emailing flinflonpride@gmail.com, message them on Facebook or pick up and drop off forms at Pharmasave on Main Street by August 15th.

A Mineral Property Has Moved One Step Closer to Development.

Foran Mining Corporation has filed their technical report for the recent revised resource estimate for the McIlvenna Bay Deposit 65 Kilometers west of Flin Flon. They note the Resource Estimate represents a significant milestone for the Company as it progresses with a Feasibility Study for potential development of the Deposit.

             

As they reported earlier there has been substantial growth in the Deposit since the 2013 Resource was issued demonstrated by the large increase in contained metal in the Deposit including an 89 percent increase in contained zinc, a 52 percent increase in contained copper, a 61 percent increase in contained silver and a 48 percent increase in contained gold in the indicated category.

             

In December 2017 Foran had announced an agreement with Glencore Canada Corporation to provide technical expertise and advice in order to advance McIlvenna Bay to feasibility in exchange for an off-take agreement on the metals and minerals produced from the Deposit.

Recycling Was Not Only a Success in Flin Flon Last Year But Also Across the Province.

At their meeting Tuesday night Flin Flon City Council received the 2018 annual report from Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba.  They report just over 84 million kilograms of packaging and printed paper was collected in 2018 which is consistent with previous years.  There were 144 participating municipalities and other partners and they welcomed three new First Nations communities who are actively recycling so 94 percent of Manitoba’s population has access to a residential recycling program.

             

The Flin Flon Recycling Centre reported earlier this year they recycled just over 510 thousand kilograms in 2018 beating their previous record of 500 set in 2007.

 

A Proclamation and Correspondence Highlighted Last Nights Flin Flon City Council Meeting.

Mayor Cal Huntley officially proclaimed the week of August 16th to 23rd as Flin Flon Pride Week commending its thoughtful observation to all citizens of our community.

             

Council received a report from Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers thanking them for their annual contribution to their program. To date they reported approximately 18 million dollars in goods, property and drugs have been recovered due to this program.

             

The Border Explorers Snowmobile Club advised they will be running their annual trail maps this coming winter which will be free to all snowmobilers in the area. Council referred their request to purchase advertising to the Finance Committee.

             

Councilor Ken Pawlachuk reported the Flin Flon Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation’s Flower Power event was well attended on Saturday at Pioneer Square and he thanked the Recreation Department and Tourist Bureau Campground staff for all the work and assistance they provide in preparing for the Blueberry Jam Music gathering coming up in the Campground in August.

 

Things Continue to Move Forward at the Hudbay Snow Lake Camp.

 A recent fire destroyed the kitchen at Hudbays Snow Lake Camp.  The camp had to be closed as the water, electrical and fire alarm systems were damaged in all of the sleeping trailers.

             

In a notice to employees Monday their Vice-President of the Manitoba Business Unit Robert Assabqui reported in the existing camp two dorms have now been opened up and they are working to repair the rest of the sleeping trailers which are expected to be back in service hopefully by the end of August.  He added a new kitchen is expected to be ready by today and additional sleeping trailers and beds are being brought in.

             

Regarding the workforce Assabqui reports the Lalor and Stall employees are now back at work and the Administration Team will continue to coordinate the accommodation arrangements. He adds his thanks to all who assisted following the fire calling that assistance truly incredible.

The Premier Will Look at One Request From Northern Communities But Not Another.

While in Flin Flon Friday I asked Premier Brian Pallister about the northern communities request for more use of the Mining Community Reserve Fund.  He explained he is not allowed to do any announcements during the pre-election period and won’t do that but he will say that fund used to be a lot higher before the NDP got hold of it and it went down below the ten million dollar mark and the rules said you can’t access it if its below ten million.  He said they’ve been building it back up but he can’t say anything about allocation because that would be wrong of him to do but he can says they’ve got plans to make sure that the fund is available for communities when they need adjustment support and that is why it was set up in the first place.

             

 When asked about a request to share profits from cannabis with municipalities Pallister said no as they already have the most generous support for local governments in the country and they don’t know yet if there will be profits to share and he doubts municipalities would want to share losses.

A Group of Young Entrepreneurs Made Good Use of Their Skills.

Community Futures Greenstone wrapped up their Biz Kidz Day Camp in Flin Flon Friday.  Camp Coordinator Kaylee Oulette says during the week the 9 to 13 year olds learned about business and they took those entrepreneurial skills to their market at Pioneer Square. She says they had 17 kids and it went amazing and the kids managed to sell out their products at the market on Friday and they made a lot of money and that’s always nice.

             

The Biz Kidz Day Camp is being held in Cranberry Portage this week and their wind up market will be part of the Artisans Market at the Museum Saturday from 11 to 3.  A Biz Kidz Camp is planned for Snow Lake from August 5th to 9th but more registrations are needed by calling the Greenstone office at 204-687-6967.

An Updated Plan for a New Aqua Centre is Being Developed.

Mayor Cal Huntley updated the Aqua Centre Community Committee on how the city is moving forward.  He explained they are looking at how they can get a new facility to meet the needs of all users so they are looking at existing facilities already working in other communities.  He noted they are very close to having paid off the water treatment plant and will have money to work with with their current debt load reduced.  He said they are close to deciding on a model for the new Aqua Centre at a cost of around 6.6 million dollars which is dramatically lower that what was proposed in the earlier feasibility study for a new facility.  Once they have narrowed it down they will meet with the committee because he can’t emphasize enough how important continued community input is.               

             

As fund raising continues the committee can use more help.  They have raised 290 thousand dollars with a raffle and golf fund raiser coming up August 24th.  Anyone willing to work with the committee can call Lindsay at 204-681-7517.

 

 

Discovery Day Was Held at the Northern Gateway Museum in Denare Beach Yesterday.

Historian Les Oystryk outlined some of the displays in the Museum on the archeological history of the Beaver Lake area.  He explained they would like to focus on and highlight some of the archeological work that Harry Moody and other people that he was able to attract to the area back in the 1950s and some of the First Nations people that helped him with his archeological field work over those years as well as some of the professional archeologists who came from places like Toronto and Ottawa to help interpret those sights over the years.

             

Oystryk adds they did have other archeological studies that were done on Beaver Lake in 1961 as well as in the early 90s funded in partnership with the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.  He noted the Saskatchewan and Manitoba Archeological Societies will be holding their first joint meeting from September 20th to 22nd in Denare Beach.

 

Manitoba Liberals Will Restore and Expand a Life Saving Drugs Program.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont announced his party’s plan to reinstate and expand the Life Saving Drugs Program.  He explained in April 2018 the PCs cancelled the Special Drugs Program which paid the total costs of necessary drugs for many Manitobans including insulin and cystic fibrosis.  As a result many faced increases in deductibles of hundreds of dollars a month for drugs they need to keep themselves alive.

             

Lamont says they will cover drugs for cystic fibrosis, cancer medications, diabetes drugs, reduced costs for test strips, CPAP breathing assistance machines and HIV medication.  As part of the program they will also remove the age restriction on insulin pumps for people with Type 1 diabetes.

             

Lamont says the investments would pay off by reducing health care costs elsewhere noting HIV medication can prevent further cases, CPAP machines can prevent cardiac arrest and better control of diabetes can prevent heart attacks, strokes, blindness and amputations.

 

 

The PCs Are Looking Forward to the Election in a Long Time NDP Riding.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister joined local Progressive Conservative candidate Theresa Wride for a lunch at Pioneer Square Friday.  Pallister said he has confidence in the Flin Flon riding with Theresa for the upcoming provincial election as she is well known in the community, well respected, well liked and he thinks that’s the key.  He said he also thinks he wouldn’t want to be an NDP candidate this time because they’re backing this big carbon tax that’s going to make it harder on people in the north and rural communities. The second thing he adds is the NDP are running on higher taxes, they don’t want the PST to come down.  He says he believe that taxes should be lowered and they’re promoting tourism and economic development in the north and he thinks we’ve got some good opportunities coming forward here.

             

Pallister added they reduced the PST one point and are taking the PST off home insurance leaving a little more on the kitchen table which is key to a lot of families.

 

 

A Series of Summer Concerts Celebrating the Main Street Flowers Begins Tomorrow.

The Flin Flon Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation and the Friendship Centre Youth Group begin a Flower Power Concert Series tomorrow.  The Corporation’s Laurence Gillespie says they’ll be at Pioneer Square on Main Street tomorrow from 12 to 4. He says their summer student Jacob Harvie has recruited a stalwart band of some of Flin Flon’s most interesting musicians and it will also involve a variety of children’s games, they’ll have a special Flower Power cake to slice up and hand out and there’ll be Flin Flon trivia questions hosted by a special MC.

             

Gillespie adds the next two concerts will move to Rotary Park on Saturdays July 27th and August 3rd.  The flower baskets on Main Street were provided by the Flin Flon Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation, the City of Flin Flon and Hudbay.

 

You Can Support the Journey For Hope.

The Journey for Hope walk held in Winnipeg supports the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society and its free programs and services.  Flin Flon’s Ray Berg is now visiting businesses and will be going door to door in our community to collect pledges to support the walk done by Katrina Tinman the Society’s Special Events Administrator.  He says last year he gained 6358 dollars but last year was different because he used index cards that explained how people can make donations online and that gained an extra 700 dollars.  He adds this year he has business cards also and he’s passing those out and he’ll have a donation table set up at the Co-op on different days and people can donate there.

             

Berg has raised well over 16 thousand dollars over the past four years noting anyone pledging 20 dollars or more will receive a tax receipt after the walk.  The Journey for Hope takes place Saturday, September 21st starting at the Forks in Winnipeg.

 

Its a Good Weekend to Try Fishing in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewans annual summer free fishing weekend is coming up. On Saturday and Sunday residents and visitors to the province are welcome to fish in any of Saskatchewan’s public waters open to sport fishing without purchasing a fishing licence. Anyone planning to take part in the free fishing weekend is reminded that all other fishing regulations including possession limits, gear restrictions and size limits on some lakes and rivers remain in effect.  Free fishing weekend does not apply in national parks and anyone planning on taking fish out of the province must purchase a licence.

             

The first free fishing weekend in Saskatchewan was held in the summer of 1989 to encourage participation in sport fishing and increase public awareness about the value and diversity of angling opportunities in the province.  More information on fishing in Saskatchewan can be found in the Angler’s Guide at www.saskatchewan.ca/fishing.

 

The Breast Check Mammogram Mobile Unit Will be in Flin Flon Later This Month.

Manitobas mobile breast screening clinic will be in Flin Flon from July 22nd to August 8th at the Primary Health Care Center.  Their Health Educator Larissa Sawchuk says this screening is important because breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and in Manitoba about 900 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 200 women will die from this disease every year so it’s important to get checked early and know if you’re at high risk.  She adds screening is just a process where you’ll go into their mobile vehicle for an x-ray with a female technologist in a private room.

             

For information on breast screening visit their website www.cancercare.mb.ca/screening or call 1-855-95-CHECK for information on appointments.

 

The Communities Economic Development Fund and World Trade Centre Would Like to Showcase Northern Manitoba Businesses at a Trade Show Later This Year.

The Kivalliq Trade Show is a major annual business event in the Nunavut Region and CEDF’s CEO Oswald Sawh says it’s a great opportunity for northern Manitoba companies to explore new business and learn about the market. He says this is a region that is very under serviced for both products and services everyday things that we take for granted, there is a huge gap in a lot of these services so for northern businesses, the ones that are really just in the back yard of Nunavut to be able to see okay there’s an opportunity for me to service this region.

             

The Kivalliq Trade Show will be held in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut from September 23rd to 25th.  The deadline to register for the Show is July 26th and up to eight northern businesses will get financial support up to 25 hundred dollars to cover travel costs to the Show. You can find more about the show at www.kivalliqtradeshow.ca.

 

 

Local Artists Can Share Their Ideas With Others.

The Norva Centre is hosting their annual artist retreat and open house next week.  The Centre’s Karen Clark says they invited local and out of town artists to share ideas and work on their art.  She explains they have a Batik Village that gets created and they also have Raku which happens which is an outdoor firing of pottery and besides these two kinds of activities they have painting, multi-media, print making, there’s a lot of things that happen. She says they have writers and they’re hoping this year to have a couple of composers come by like musical performers and she’s really looking forward to the whole thing.

             

Clark adds there will be a public display and sale of some of the work done during the week at the annual Retreat Open House Exhibition on Saturday the 20th in the afternoon at the Denareplex in Denare Beach.

 

There Was No Impact on Mine Production Following a Weekend Fire.

Over the weekend the kitchen at the Lalor Mine Camp near Snow Lake was destroyed by fire.  Communications Director Scott Brubacher reports there were no injuries.  He says they are working around the logistical disruptions relating to housing and food but don’t expect any material impact on production.  He adds they believe they can get camp facilities back to normal in a week or two.

 

Hudbay is Looking for a New President.

Hudbay Minerals reports Alan Hair has stepped down as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director for the Company.  Hair spent more than 20 years with Hudbay serving as Chief Operating Officer from 2012 to 2015 before being appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in 2016.

             

Hudbay’s Board has started a search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer.

             

Peter Kukielski has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer.  He has more than 30 years of extensive global experience within the base metals, precious metals and bulk materials sectors having overseen operations across the globe. 

            

  Hudbay has mines and other operations in Flin Flon, Snow Lake and other locations in North and South America.

You Can Discover History at the Museum Sunday.

 

              The Northern Gateway Museum in Denare Beach is holding their annual Discovery Day Sunday afternoon.  Board Member Jocelyn Enns invites everyone to see what’s happening at the Museum.  She says they’re going to give out their usual hot dogs and drinks and they have some bubbles for the kids.  She notes Les Oystryk is going to be making a presentation so they’d like everyone to come out and check out the Museum which is open until the end of August every day from 11 to 7.

             

Discovery Day runs from 2 to 4 Sunday at the Northern Gateway Museum in Denare Beach.

 

There Are Activities Planned for Your Children Next Week.

The Flin Flon Alliance and Pentecostal Churches are holding their annual Vacation Bible School evenings next week.  One of the organizers Denise Roy says there are a lot of activities for 5 to 12 year olds under the theme Kickin’ It Old School.  She explains just like last year they have the Devoted Ministries Team coming from Brandon, Manitoba and they do crafts and songs, have snacks and games with the children and there is a registration cost just like last year of 25 dollars for the week and a family discount if you have additional family members attending that are immediate then they will be able to register for 15 dollars.  She says this year they are also offering sponsorship for children.

             

Roy adds if money is an issue contact them and they can assist families that need help.  The event runs Monday to Friday next week from 6 to 8 PM at the Pentecostal Church at 180 Green Street. To register or for more information you can call Denise at 204-687-4238 or Ruth at 204-271-3931.

 

A Liberal Candidate Has Been Confirmed in Our Riding for the Upcoming Federal election.

Judy Klassen the MLA for Keewatinook was acclaimed last week as the official candidate for the federal Liberal party in our riding of Churchill Keewatinook Aski.  Klassen told the crowd at the nomination meeting she is honored and humbled by their support and will give her service to improving the lives of people in the north.

            

Klassen will be facing long time NDP incumbent Niki Ashton in the election as well at candidates from the Conservative Party, Green Party and the Peoples Party of Canada.  She says the people of the North are at a critical time of much needed investments adding we have already seen the damage of Conservative austerity in the north by Brian Pallister, further austerity under Andrew Sheer and the federal Conservatives would be devastating to northern Manitoba.  She adds Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberal party are the only choice to deliver the much needed investment the north needs.

 

Foran Mining Continues to Advance Their Exploration West of Flin Flon.

In his June report Foran Mining President Patrick Soares referred to their resource estimate at McIlvenna Bay 65 kilometers west of Flin Flon.  He noted the indicated resource increased by 65 percent from 13.9 million tonnes to 22.95 million tonnes containing 1.5 billion pounds zinc and 590 million pounds copper. Inferred resources are now 11.15 million tonnes containing 450 million pounds of zinc and 340 million pounds of copper.

             

Soares adds they are looking forward to a technical report to be available in mid-July.  He says they’ll also be gathering technical information throughout the summer including metallurgy, recovery, surface infrastructure and underground infrastructure all of which will lead into the mine feasibility due later this year.

 

There are Fun Camps for Your Children Again This Summer.

Simon House Bible Camp opened this summer’s first camp yesterday with their senior high camp.  Director Darrel Janzen says they also have junior high camps, junior camps and a two day mini mee camp coming up with fun activities planned all summer.  He explains they’re on a beautiful lake so they do lots of lake activities with new kayaks this year with grants from the Northern Neighbors foundation, they’ve got canoes, stand up paddle boards and other things like large games, crafts, archery, slack lining and of course they’ve got kids there to meet from other communities and have fun with them as well.

            

 Janzen adds they have financial assistance through the Sunshine Fund for those who need it so all children have a chance to attend camp.  For information or to register visit their website www.simonhouse.ca or call 204-687-3340.

 

Graduates bring new hope.

Across our region schools and post secondary institutions have held graduations. Our regions Member of Parliament Niki Ashton notes whether it’s a kindergarten, elementary school, junior high, high school or post secondary graduation there is one common element. At a time when we are facing many challenges from the economy through to climate change, graduates bring a new sense of hope, optimism and unique perspectives as they are rooted in our north but can connect with the world in ways that previous generations could not.

She adds the major challenge for all of us is to ensure that this generation of graduates does not end up worse off than previous generations. Unfortunately she says this has been the trend in recent years in terms of growing inequality and the environment. As MP for our region she extends congratulations to all the graduates of the class of 2019.

The Library is a Fun Place to be Again This Summer.

The Flin Flon Public Library is again offering summer day camps.  Administrator Courtney Campbell says the TD Summer Reading Club is underway with day camps all summer.  She says they have 22 camp days in July and August and 17 of them are free and they run 1 to 3:30 and there are lots of community guests.  She notes they’ve got Disney Day, Fire and the Park Day, Music Day, PCH Day, Reptile Day there’s lots of them and then in August they have STEAM week which is Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math and those are different days and that’s a 20 dollar charge and that camp runs from 11 to 3:30.

             

Campbell adds many of these camps are full so go to the Library to pick up a registration form and they will let you know which ones are still open or pick up a passport to keep track of your reading over the summer and be eligible for prizes.

 

A Walk Can be a Learning Experience for People Interested in Flin Flon History.

Local City Councilor and historian Ken Pawlachuk is again presenting walking tours of Flin Flon starting tomorrow.  He says the tours are open to anyone interested, they’re free and start at Pioneer Square on Main Street. He explains he goes over to the copper mural that’s there and then over to the copper bar and tells them a few stories about HBM&S and how we came to where we are.  He goes to the Community Hall and talks about our old red light district and stuff like that and then over to the open pit and talks about some of the challenges they had with processing the ore and if he can get into the Whitney Forum a lot of times that’s where he’ll take his tour and if they have time he’ll go across the road behind the Legion and they’ll go on the old sewer boxes there.

             

The walk will start at 11 o’clock at Pioneer Square every Saturday morning until the end of August and takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours.

 

The Winning Fish Have Been Tabulated.

The Flin Flon Trout Festival fishing derby ran from June 20th to 30th.  Organizer Dave Osika lists the top five cash winners with first going to Ray Lavis with a 43 ¼ inch fish and he got the 15 hundred dollar prize, second place went to Gerry Robertson with 37 5/8 inches and he got the thousand dollar prize, third went to Joel Hucaluk with 36 inches receiving 750 dollars, fourth was Ray Lavis again with a 33 incher and receiving another 500 dollars and fifth was Brittany Peeters with 31 5/8 inches and she got 250 dollars.

             

There were other fish prizes as well as draws for prizes and the winners will be contacted.

The Deadline is close to be Part of a Community Survey.

The Community Alcohol Management Plan Working Group is asking community members in this area to complete their community survey.  The Committee’s Christa McIntyre explains the CAMP working group with permission from community leaders in Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation is beginning a community group input process where they will be consulting community members, service providers, community leaders, individuals and families to find out what our overall knowledge, attitudes and behaviors are in relation to alcohol and alcohol related harms in our communities.                                                    

             

The CAMP working group is a community driven committee with 30 members representing 20 local services whose main focus is addressing alcohol related harms in this area by using the knowledge gained during this survey process. The survey ends tomorrow with paper copies at many locations or you can complete it online.  You can find the link attached to this story at www.flinflononline.com.

 

 

LINK https://s.surveyplanet.com/ldf6daDrm.

 

 

Kids Can Learn About Business Ideas.

Community Futures Greenstone is holding their Biz Kidz Day Camp in Flin Flon next week.  Camp Coordinator Kaylee Oulette explains the Flin Flon camp is now full with a lot of activities planned for 9 to 13 year olds.  She says in the mornings they’ll be at the UCN campus and she’ll be teaching the children what it’s like to be an entrepreneur, so they’ll be learning all about the basics of running their own business and what it’s like to finance your own money and all these different business terms and in the afternoon they’ll be going to the beach, to the petting zoo and throughout the week they ask the kids to create their own products and come Friday they’ll set up a market in Pioneer Square where the children get a chance to sell their own products and make a little extra spending cash this summer.

             

Greenstone is also planning camps for Cranberry Portage July 16th to 20th and Snow Lake August 5th to 9th.  Registrations are still open for these camps and you can register by calling their office at 204-687-6967.

 

An Application is Going in to Increase Water and Sewer Service Rates.

At their meeting last night Flin Flon City Council gave first reading to a bylaw to establish rates to be charged for water and sewer services.  They will be applying to the Public Utilities Board for example for an increase for unmetered service of three percent in 2020 and 2.5 percent in both 2021 and 2022.  This is due to increased costs for such things as labor, consumption and hydro rates.

             

Mayor Cal Huntley and Council congratulated the Trout Festival Committee on the success of the Festival weekend also noting the impressive fireworks display.

             

Council reminds residents if you have a concern or complaint about something in the community there are proper procedures to follow.  Appropriate numbers are available on their website, the City page in the Reminder or contact City Hall if those sources don’t set you on the right track                                                   

             

And they received a letter from Indigenous and Northern Relations thanking the City, the Fire Department and Fire Chief Chad Cooper for their support of the Northern Lights Fire Training Program assisting their volunteer fire departments in increasing their ability to provide fire protection services to their communities.

Your Kids Can Keep Active All Summer.

Summer in the Parks is underway sponsored by Flin Flon Parks and Recreation. Supervisor Haylee Werbicki says they’re offering a variety of programs for four to nine year olds with weekly themes.  She says the first week is nature themed and they have animal week, video game themed week, under the sea, super hero and art themed and they a holiday themed week and each week the craft for the week will be a theme to match the week.  She adds there’ll be field trips as they’re going to go out to Bakers and Denare Beach, Channing Beach, the SPCA, Fire Hall, Rotary Spray Park and the Creighton Spray Park.

             

Summer in the Parks runs Monday to Friday from 12 to 5 until August 23rd based at the Petting Zoo on Green Street.  Fees are 90 dollars a week, 300 dollars for four weeks or 500 dollars for the whole summer. For information or to register call Haylee at the Rec Office at 204-681-7542 or 306-514-1860.

 

Ralph McLean Is Running for The Green Party in Our Federal Riding.

The Pas native Ralph McLean will be running in the upcoming federal election for the Green Party in our riding of Churchill Keewatinook  Aski.  McLean originally got involved with the Green Party about 12 years ago and decided move back to Northern Manitoba to run for MP for our riding after living in Alberta for a few years.

He states being Indigenous he wants to make sure that Indigenous issues are coming forward especially for our riding like we need affordable housing, we need clean drinking water, infrastructure, we obviously need more work on the rail line, there’s a lot of environmental clean ups, we need a sewage lagoon for The Pas and there’s a lot of lithium in the north and we’re going to need to get at that. McLean added that there is a lot of growth and opportunity for our region and the people here have a lot to offer.

The Legion Building Has Been Damaged.

 

 

A building next to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 73 building at 73 Hapnot Street was being demolished this morning. As a result of a machine tipping during the demolition the south wall of the Legion was damaged resulting in the closing of the building until further notice.  The extent of the damage is still being assessed.

It Was a Great Day for a Parade.

The annual Trout Festival Canada Day parade sponsored by Northland Ford attracted a lot of people yesterday morning.  This year’s theme was The Water and the Wild.

             

Prizes for non-commercial floats went to the Alliance Church for first, the Flin Flon Community Band second and the Pride Committee third.  For commercial floats Phamasave was first, Creighton Pizza second and Arctic Beverages third. There were 14 classic cars entered in the parade.

             

The parade was followed by Canada Day events in Creighton in the afternoon and Denare Beach in the evening.

             

The Duck Race sponsored by the Freedom Outreach Program in Denare Beach was sold out. First and second place were won by Gayle Yungworth with ducks 447 and 446 winning a total of 450 dollars, third went to Shirley Gauthier 100 dollars with duck 128 and the draw duck went to Dallas DuRussell  50 dollars with duck 028

           

Fishing Derby results will be released tomorrow. 

 

      

The Most Fit Firefighter Has Been Determined.

The Beat the Chief competition was held at the Flin Flon Fire Hall Friday afternoon. Six firefighters tested their skills and fitness during a variety of tests. The top three were very close with Les Taylor first at 50.28 seconds followed by Aaron Simon at 50.70 and Chad Falk at 59.27.  They were followed by Brandon Powell at 1:05.50, Jordy Reykdale 1:06.56 and Nathan Elliott at 1:13.35. Taylor says it was anyone’s race and good for the firefighters and the community.  He says coming from his last department they never did anything like this where you run an obstacle course and he thinks it get everyone together, the community together and the kids together  to see that they do and it’s a fantastic experience.

             

Twenty kids took part in the earlier Beat The Chief Kids Competition.

 

 

 

 

A Fun Summer is Planned for Kids at Denare Beach.

Denare Beach Recreation is offering fun at their Day Camps starting today.  Recreation Director Mel Durette says they offer a variety of activities for ages 5 to 11.  She says its 12 dollars a day for the camp, 55 dollars a week, there’s an afternoon snack provided and the kids get to hang out at the beach, play, crafts, swim, they can spend all day at the beach.

             

The camp runs Monday to Friday from 10 to 5 until August 9th.  Denare Beach Recreation is also offering swimming lessons starting Monday, July 8th until August 16th.  Contact the Recreation Office for registration.

You Are Encouraged to Join People Across Canada in Going Fishing This Summer.

This is National Fishing Week sponsored by the Canadian National Sport Fishing Foundation for the past 18 years.  Their Communications Director Jessica Melnick says the idea is to encourage people to start or get back to fishing as there are a lot of advantages.  She says not only is it a heritage activity it has mental health benefits, it has physical health benefits, just getting outdoors and experiencing the natural environment without electronics or distractions, it’s very good for relaxation and mindfulness which is so popular right now for mental health and again benefits physical health as well.

             

For information on how to get started fishing visit their website www.catchfishing.com or see them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram Catch Fishing.

 

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